Latest news with #Dann
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Defeat for democracy'? Waldport City Council reinstates mayor after hostility complaints
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After consulting their attorney in a closed executive session, Waldport City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday, reinstating Mayor Heide Lambert after she was expelled amid complaints she created a hostile work environment. The resolution comes after Mayor Lambert challenged the decision, leading Lincoln County Circuit Court Judge Sheryl Bachart to order the mayor's reinstatement. The mayor's removal and reinstatement stems from letters sent by two City of Waldport employees on March 27, alerting City Council of 'unacceptable and aggressive behavior' from the mayor two days earlier when the mayor visited City Hall to get her mail. 'Mayor Lambert was clutching a small stack of envelopes, demanding to know why the letters had not been scanned to her and council,' one employee wrote. 'I greeted Mayor Lambert, asking how I might help. She, obviously frustrated and with an accusatory tone, commanded to know why the letter scans had not been sent to her, as they were addressed to her. I let her know that the letters had, in fact, been scanned and sent to (City Manager Dann Cutter) and that their delivery would come from either Dann or (another City Hall staffer). As that is their role.' Beloved Portland restaurant to hold steak sale amid temporary closure 'She continued, in a confrontational manner, by insisting the letters be scanned to her and stated that 'all these letters are complaints against Dann,' as she clasped the letters, shaking them at us in emphasis. How she could possibly be aware of the contents of the letters without having read them is beyond me,' the letter continued. 'During a pause in her relentless onslaught, I let Mayor Lambert know that since none of our answers would satisfy her, we should end this conversation, and she should speak with Dann. She, of course, had the last word saying, 'I won't be speaking with Dann. I will be speaking with legal counsel,'' the letter claimed. 'I'm not easily intimidated,' the letter continues, 'but Mayor Lambert's behavior was not only out of line but was also in violation of city charter.' A new variant of COVID-19 may be driving up cases in some parts of the world, WHO says In response to the complaints, the mayor sent a letter to City Council, explaining, 'I have read both letters and feel concerned that my statements and demeanor, thoughmisinterpreted, might have contributed to feelings of unease, and I apologize for notrealizing this at the time.' The mayor continued, 'While I want to be accountable for anything I may have said or done that caused either of these employees to feel 'uncomfortable' or 'Intimidated,' I am baffled by the allegations and do not believe I was 'aggressive.' Nor do I think I violated the city charter.' Lambert explained that a community member had previously approached her at a supermarket and informed her that he submitted a complaint about Cutter. Before the City Hall incident, the mayor said she was advised to speak to CityCounty Insurance Services — claiming she was advised by 'CIS Attorney Ross (Davis)' to pick up her mail and ask the county clerk to scan the letters and send them to council and the city attorney. However, Davis claimed, 'I have read Ms. Lambert's 4/1 email. First, I am not an attorney and never claimed to be. Second, I did not advise her in anyway as she describes. She brought up thecomplaint and I advised to follow whatever City protocols there are for complaints against any employee by a citizen.' In a unanimous vote on April 3, City Council expelled the mayor, citing a violation of the city charter, which states no member of the council shall directly or indirectly attempt to direct a city officer or employee in the performance of their duties. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now One week later, the then-former mayor appeared at an April 10 City Council meeting where she was asked several times by council members to leave, but officials said she refused and hindered the meeting. Members from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office attempted to remove Lambert peacefully, explaining the legal consequences. Officials said she continued to refuse. Oregon Coast safari park owner arrested, 44 guns, 80 grams of meth seized Eventually, Lambert was escorted outside and cited for disorderly conduct before being released, where she was able to return to the meeting and sit in the public seating area. In a , Lincoln County District Attorney Jenna Wallace later announced she would . 'We have never had an elected city official treat staff this way. What may seem like a minor incident is actually a serious legal concern,' Waldport City Council previously said. 'Hostile work environment complaints lead to staff leaving positions, to costly lawsuits against the city, and to a near stop in city operations. In January, each of us, including Mayor Lambert, swore to uphold the Waldport City Charter and the Oregon and United States Constitutions. We take that pledge seriously.' Lambert previously said this is a complicated situation, because community members had written formal complaints to her about the city manager that were labeled confidential. PDX travelers: No Real ID, no problem so far 'I went in to pick it up, and it had already been opened, and it had already been sent to the person that the complaints were about. And that was where I was confused,' she said. 'So, I asked the city clerk to email the council those complaints, and I was told that was not what they were directed to do.' Lambert hired a lawyer, previously telling KOIN 6 News that she had no interest in suing the city she was elected to lead but was prepared to take this issue to court if it's not resolved. 'I'm fighting for my seat. I have to stick with my voters, and I have to keep running, keep fighting for my seat,' Lambert said. 'I guess if it's decided that I can be removed, then I'll have to be reelected.' Tiny opossum settles in at Oregon Zoo after being rescued from wild In response to Mayor Lambert's reinstatement, Waldport City Manager Dann Cutter raised concerns, telling KOIN 6 News this marks a 'defeat for democracy.' 'The mayor is claiming this is a victory for democracy. Sadly, I think it's the exact opposite. It showed that the threat of an expensive lawsuit can be used to silence elected officials from preventing abuse of power and corruption,' Cutter said. The city manager then pointed to an ongoing lawsuit filed in 2023, which names Lambert. The lawsuit was filed by two staffers for the City of Yachats against the City — alleging they experienced discrimination and workplace harassment under several city managers, including Lambert, who was hired as the Yachats city manager in 2022. A spokesperson for the city told KOIN 6 News the city has no comment on the pending litigation. 'Two years ago, Ms. Lambert was named in a lawsuit with the city of Yachats, alleging discrimination and the creation of a hostile environment. Yachats is still fighting that lawsuit. Instead, the Waldport Council attempted to stand up for their staff when the same hostile environment was created here. Technicalities of the law were used to threaten the city with hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars to fight over what boils down to an unlawful direction of city staff by an elected official – the very definition of abuse of power. The Council absolutely acted in the city's best interest then, and bravely, did the same last night – knowing that a small town cannot afford the fight, even when right. So, they put it back in the citizens hands to do the right thing,' Cutter furthered. 'The question is, will they? Will citizens stand up for the staff who work hard to build the city up? Or will they instead support a continuation of the behaviors for which their neighboring city is still paying. Because, after all is said and done, the Mayor never apologized to the employees,' Cutter said. 'She claims she is supporting women's rights – but they are women too who have been subject to harassment and ridicule for daring to stand up against those unlawful actions. Instead, the mayor wants to make this about the City Charter, attempting to hide behind technicalities of process.' 'So, no, this is a defeat for democracy and the protections against abuse by those in power – a theme we are seeing playing out nationally as well,' Cutter concluded. KOIN 6 News has reached out to Mayer Lambert and Waldport City Council President Greg Dunn for comment. This story will be updated if we receive a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Wasted a whole trip to Palatka:' Some Blue Crab Festival guests mad about pricey food, no carnival
Many attending the Blue Crab Festival in Palatka last weekend were 'shell-shocked' and disappointed with this year's event. They said the annual three-day festival featured high food prices, fewer vendors, and no carnival like they had in previous years. The Palatka Blue Crab Festival is an annual tradition, and has been for nearly 30 years. However, this year some festival goers were left disappointed with this year's event. 'It made me feel like I wasted a whole trip to Palatka,' festival attendee Andie Dann said. 'I'm wondering if I'm going to attend, you know, next year or any years, you know, after this one.' Dann has been attending the Palatka Blue Crab Festival for 20 years. Some of the complaints she and other people had were about the high food prices. 'This is a small-town festival. We don't need big city prices,' Dann said. Larissa Ricketts-Owens owns Modern Reality in downtown Palatka. She has been attending the festival for years, and was shocked to see how expensive the food was this year. 'I got one of the lobster rolls from the one of the food trucks down by the band shell, and it was $39 for a lobster roll that literally had four pieces of lobster on it with a stale bun,' Ricketts-Owens said. Another photo sent to Action News Jax shows a King Crab leg an attendee purchased at the festival over the weekend. They said it cost them $50. For the last four years, the festival has been produced by Ancient City Entertainment. The City of Palatka is one of the festival's main sponsors. Eddie Cutwright is the Community Affairs Director for the City of Palatka. He says the city had no role in determining the prices. 'The city was not in charge of anything that had to do with the event,' Cutwright said. 'We just help her (Ancient City Entertainment) with staffing and also blocking off roads for the event. Any vendors, anything that came through that area was placed and reserved spots through her.' [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] We reached out to Ancient City Entertainment and they provided us with a statement: 'My name is Jeanetta Cebollero, I've been the director of Palatka Blue Crab Festival the past 4 years, where we have since revitalized the town's branding, marketing. I worked very hard to bring in national acts and include new amusements and vendors. 'I've worked alongside the City of Palatka for 4 years to execute this project. Each year, they have made significant funding cutbacks and had a staggering administrative employment turnover rate that had disproportionately affected the success of the event. 'This year, specifically, the City of Palatka chose to make some very distinct changes regarding the footprint of the festival to appease the merchants of St. Johns Ave. This moved paying vendors to a marina space where we had previously booked a carnival in years past. They chose not to move forward with the carnival. They also voted to not allocate any marketing dollars to the event this year from The Tourism Development Council, which has been crucial in the past for the implementation of success in driving visitors to their flagship and largest tourism event of the year. 'After trying for 8 months to get them to approve a contract, they finally decided on a minimal effort approach. 'To put it mildly, we are disappointed in the partnership renewal contract that was decided by City of Palatka commissioners, but would love to acknowledge the hard work of the sanitation workers, parks and recreation, and festival workers and organizers who are the actual boots on the ground. Best, Jeanetta Cebollero [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] In regard to the carnival and footprint changes referenced in Ancient City Entertainment's statement, Wright said that a conversation was had between them about the decision. 'Other than the foot traffic of bringing it down to 4th Street, that was a common conversation that we had early on as a group. And that was just to try to accommodate some things when we said we was not bringing, when she said, and we agreed that they was not bringing the carnival back because we had some issues with the carnival last year. But that's how that foot track got smaller. But as far as vendors and everything of that nature, that's all the coordinator's responsibility,' Cutwright said. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
SLCSD reflects on phone policy
SARANAC LAKE — Saranac Lake High School banned cellphones before it was cool. The still-yet-to-be-approved state budget includes a 'bell-to-bell' ban on smartphones in schools across the state, but SLHS has already been doing this since the start of the 2023 school year. At graduation last June, SLHS Principal Josh Dann said he felt the policy went over well, after a challenging start. The policy's been controversial among the students it affects and some of their parents, and it's certainly gone through some growing pains, Dann said. But administrators and even some students say it's for the best and has improved school. At the very least, Dann said it's made the hallways louder. RIP THE BAND-AID OFF Previously, school policy was that students could have phones in non-academic areas — hallways, study halls, the cafeteria. But while discussing this in a faculty meeting one day, Dann said they realized students were still on their phones around a third of the day. They decided to just 'rip the Band-Aid off' and blanket-ban phone use during school. 'We felt the cellphones were getting in the way of them being successful in school,' Dann said. Listening to music, watching movies or keeping a Snapchat streak alive are all appropriate, if the work is done, Dann said. But he found phones led to procrastination. SLHS bans phone usage from the time students arrive until dismissal. Students usually keep the phones in their pockets or bags — Dann said students don't use seem to use lockers much after the coronavirus pandemic. Things are a bit easier for SLHS — the building barely has any cell phone service anyway. The WiFi password is changed regularly to avoid it being figured out and disseminated. 'I GOT USED TO IT' The change was toughest on the seniors last year, who had gone nearly their whole school years with some use of their phones. Dann's daughter was one of them. He said they all thought the policy was crazy. Elijah Schenk, who graduated last year, said though the cellphone ban didn't feel great at first, he felt it was a good choice. 'It made paying attention much easier, not worrying about who posted this or who texted me,' Schenk said. 'Yes, it makes people upset, but the people in question are mostly high school kids who have what is considered an addiction, maybe even a dependency, to their phone. Not to sound like an old man but staring at a phone for long periods of time really does rot your brain, as I experience it if I use my phone extensively.' It was difficult coming out of the pandemic, when phone restrictions were 'very loose,' he said, but 'after a while I got used to it like any other policy or rule.' 'It even felt nice to just ignore my phone and choose other alternatives,' he said. Dann said they faced only a little pushback from parents. 'They know we're not doing this to be jerks,' he said. 'We just feel its a healthy tactic for a school.' 'ALL OF THE KIDS WERE SO MAD' The pushback they did get was from parents worried about what would happen in an emergency, if they'd be able to contact their child. Dann said they talked with local and state police about this and they said students need to be focused and present in an emergency. 'They said students shouldn't be communicating with parents anyways during emergencies,' Dann said. 'They should be listening to school authorities and listening for good directions.' And the students? 'They hate it,' Dann said. Current SLHS Junior Gabby Mitchell said the cell phone ban has been difficult. 'Having little breaks to play my games, I had to get used to not having that,' she said. She misses these mental breaks, especially during lunch. This has been the schoolwide sentiment since the ban started two years ago, she said. 'Oh, I was so mad,' Mitchell said. 'All of the kids were so mad.' 'A WHOLE BATTLE' The rule has strict enforcement, which Dann said takes vigilance from teachers. There are loopholes they're trying to close. They've stopped giving warnings. If they see phones or headphones out, they confiscate them. 'They see your phone for just a split-second and they take it,' Mitchell said. 'If you figure out the WiFi password, they take your phone right away.' Junior Lilly Latham said one time her phone slid out of her pocket, so she looked at the time before she pushed it back in. But a teacher saw that and eventually she was threatened with suspension if she didn't give up her phone. 'It was a whole fight, it was horrible,' she said. Latham said she feels for the students in the rest of the state who will be joining Saranac Lakers in the school phone ban. 'I feel bad for them,' she said. 'Honestly, I would just listen, because it's not worth the consequences,' Latham added. 'Even though you have an opinion, you think it's stupid, just try to listen because it's just better in the end. … You won't win unless you have some serious people backing you up.' In middle school, Latham successfully petitioned the school board to allow hats in the dress code. It took a lot of work, she said. CHECK YOURSELF Dann said students know if he believes something is best for them, he's not going to waver. He wondered if maybe they'll admit it was beneficial after they graduate. 'It's with good intentions,' he said, not to make life miserable. He said phones are useful tools, but also a distraction. He's hoping to create practices that last after graduation and matter in college and in the workforce. The goal is to encourage in-person socialization, improve focus and for students to be present in the moment. 'Even for me, personally. I have to check myself, my cellphone usage,' Dann said. If a student's phone vibrates with a notification, there's an impulse to attend to it. Dann sees a lot of anxiety about responding and reacting immediately. 'There's a lot of maintenance that they're putting on themselves to uphold all this,' he said of social media. LIFE OUTSIDE OF A SCREEN Before the ban, Dann said hallways during class transitions were quiet and most people's heads were down. 'It seemed like there was no noise going on, and all of it was because of the cellphones,' he said. After the policy took place, the change was immediate. 'This place was so loud. The senior lounge was loud, the hallways were loud,' Dann said. 'It took some getting used to, because we were so used to it being quiet. Now that they couldn't use their phones, they were actually communicating with each other and having conversations.' For New York students who will be new to this policy, Schenk had some advice. 'Take advantage of that policy and experience life outside of a screen,' he said. 'Experience and education is valuable, no matter how boring it seems.' NO HALF-MEASURES Dann had a recommendation for other schools joining the phone ban — don't do half-measures. 'What's interesting about high school is that any change that's made, within three years, it just becomes an expectation,' he said. Current SLHS Junior Paxton Leerkes said he doesn't use his phone a lot, but he feels they should be able to have them for emergencies. He remembers when the ban started that 'everyone was mad.' He said not having the phone helps with his focus, but he also wants it for its calculator. However, he understands the rule. 'Just have school before phones,' Leerkes said. Around a dozen states have some sort of ban or restriction on cellphones in schools. 'We've protected our kids before from cigarettes, alcohol, and drunk driving, and now we're protecting them from addictive technology designed to hijack their attention,' Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an announcement of the plan. Schools will have some flexibility in how they implement the ban, and the law includes exemptions for students who might need phones for medical reasons, learning disabilities or if they don't speak fluent English. When SLHS students came back to school after Spring Break this week, Dann noticed there was a period of more discipline for phone usage as students adjusted to not being able to use them all the time. 'It's an addiction,' he said.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Perth Now
Gangland figure's alleged killer makes bid for freedom
A man accused of murdering an underworld figure has criticised the police case against him as he made a bid for freedom. Adris Kheyali, 23, applied for bail in the Victorian Supreme Court on Tuesday after he was charged in April with Mohammed Keshtiar's murder. Mr Keshtiar, who was linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs and Middle Eastern crime groups, was walking with another man in South Yarra in August 2023 when he was shot at from a car. Police allege Kheyali was the gunman who then got out of the vehicle and fired further shots to ensure Mr Keshtiar was dead. Kheyali was first arrested over the killing in September 2024 but was released pending further police inquiries. He was re-arrested and charged with murder on April 4 after a person, known under the pseudonym Witness O, gave a statement to police. Kheyali's barrister Dermot Dann KC told the court his client maintained his innocence and the prosecution case against him "had its problems". Mr Dann pointed to the lack of forensic evidence and incriminating messages on Kheyali's phone, as well as the fact his client had made no admissions and instead denied any involvement. "It certainly can't be said it's a strong case," Mr Dann told the Victorian Supreme Court. Kheyali's mother, grandmother and uncle had put forward a $800,000 surety in support of his bail and the 23-year-old would comply with electronic monitoring if released, Mr Dann said. The barrister also argued Kheyali was not a flight risk, despite being born in Afghanistan and his wife living in the foreign country. Mr Dann noted Kheyali had the rest of his family in Melbourne and he had travelled three times since Mr Keshtiar's death and returned back to Australia without any issues. Kheyali had been prohibited from leaving the country since September after he was bailed on unrelated drug possession and driving offences. But Mr Dann said his client followed those bail conditions even though his wife was in a coma after giving birth to their stillborn child in November. Those factors, alongside potentially lengthy delays in the court proceedings, warranted Kheyali being released into the community on stringent bail conditions, Mr Dann said. But prosecutor Peter Pickering argued there were no conditions that could reduce the risk of Kheyali reoffending, fleeing the country or contacting witnesses. He alleged Kheyali was the one who got out of the car after Mr Keshtiar was initially shot and fired more bullets to ensure he was dead. "This is not a just a random shooting - this is a targeted attack," Mr Pickering told the court. He argued Kheyali would be able to identify Witness O and could potentially interfere with the witness. He conceded the $800,000 surety was a large amount but argued the family's ability to monitor Kheyali and ensure he complied with bail was very limited. Kheyali blew kisses and said "I love you" to family members as he was led out of the courtroom on Tuesday afternoon. He also thanked Justice Rita Incerti, who will hand down her bail decision on Wednesday.
CBC
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Buses will travel in both directions on King Street starting today
The one-way street will see bus-only travel heading east and west Driving along King Street could come with some surprises on Monday as city buses will begin operating in both directions. As part of London's rapid transit expansion, London Transit Commission (LTC) buses will be running on a new westbound bus-only lane between Wellington Street and Ontario Street, complementing the existing eastbound lane. That means buses will now travel both east and west on the bold red lanes with diamond symbols, while general traffic on King Street will remain eastbound only. While lanes designed for buses heading west have been on King Street for some time now, they'll finally be operational, starting today, according to Jennie Dann, London's construction and infrastructure director. "What people will see on the street is that contraflow lane separated by a double wide yellow line, as well as red paint. In that lane there's white diamonds, directional arrows and bus only text, along with lots of signage to help indicate to Londoners that is not for vehicles, it's for buses, and that those buses will be traveling westbound," said Dann. The new lanes are part of the East London Link project, designed to enhance transit reliability and frequency. Separating buses from mixed traffic aims to reduce congestion and improve mobility for transit users, according Dann. LTC Route 94, which runs from Argyle Mall to Western University, will operate in both directions along King Street between Wellington Street and Ontario Street. While cycling is typically allowed in curbside bus lanes (although the city encourages cyclists to use Dundas Street, which has dedicated bike lanes), Dann said the rule does not apply to the westbound lane on King. "That's because ... if a bus were to overtake a cyclist, they're not able to go around them because they'd be entering into oncoming traffic," Dann said. In the lead-up to the King Street contraflow bus lane opening, the city has been hard at work trying to inform Londoners. Those efforts includes an information website, radio ads, ads on streaming services, outreach to local businesses and plenty of signs. "We recognize that the contraflow lane and just navigating rapid transit corridors is a big change for Londoners," said Dann. And while Londoners have generally adapted well, there are still some behaviours on the road that hurt the efficiency of the bus lanes, and also contribute to danger on the roads, Dann noted. "One of the things that we really try to emphasize the most is no stopping or parking in those red lanes," she said. Also, it's worth noting the areas drivers are allowed to make right turns have changed as well. "If [the red bus lane] is not hatched and you see a no right turn sign, then you need to continue on to the next available spot where you can make that right turn," Dann said.
