Latest news with #HenryWilliams
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Is Sasquatch real? Many residents of Harrison Hot Springs would say yes
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Henry Williams wasn't always a believer in the Sasquatch. Growing up, he had of course heard the tales of old — of a legendary hairy, bipedal primate said to roam the forests at sundown. Yet for much of his life, 76-year-old Henry had shrugged these stories off without much thought. They were used to remind youngsters to come home before nightfall, he'd reasoned. All that changed, however, on the day that the Sasquatch came to pay him a visit two decades ago, near his home in Squamish in southwest British Columbia. 'It threw a huge boulder into the middle of a nearby river,' says Henry, flinging his arms wide to imitate an almighty splash as we chat in the lobby of the Harrison Hot Springs Resort, a historic hotel famed for its natural thermal pools 60 miles east of Vancouver. I've come here for one reason: to track down the elusive Sasquatch. The Sasquatch has stalked the human psyche, and perhaps the forests too, for millennia. The beast — known as Bigfoot in the US and the Yeti in the Himalayas — has loomed particularly large in the oral traditions of the First Nations communities of Canada, as Henry, who is a member of the Squamish People, tells me. Semi-retired, Henry now works as an elder in his community, passing down Indigenous knowledge, including tales of the Sasquatch. Henry explains that for the Squamish, it's the guardian spirit that protects the wilderness, serving as a sacred bridge between the human and natural worlds. While the Sasquatch has typically been portrayed as a bloodthirsty creature in TV series such as The X-Files, for Henry it's not a figure to fear. 'It's seen as a symbol of good luck if it chooses to pay you a visit,' he says. I'm not surprised to find a Sasquatch scholar in Harrison Hot Springs — this town is British Columbia's Sasquatch capital, with a dedicated event in June each year that brings the local Sts'ailes First Nations together for a weekend of Sasquatch storytelling. Sightings abound in this tiny lakeside hub, which is fringed with green mountain ridges and tangled woodlands of Douglas fir and western red cedars. Local lore has it that the mysterious mammal is attracted by the water, coming here to sip from the geothermal pools that skirt glacier-fed Harrison Lake. Despite its population of just 1,900 residents, Harrison Hot Springs attracts 20,000 visitors annually — many of them hoping to catch sight of the beast. The fascination with the Sasquatch of Harrison Hot Springs dates back to 1929, when writer and government agent JW Burns, who lived nearby, penned an article titled 'Introducing B.C.'s Hairy Giants' for Maclean's magazine, featuring first-hand accounts from the Sts'ailes community. In 2017, a dedicated Sasquatch Museum, filled with hairy mannequins and maps of sightings, opened in Harrison Hot Springs' visitor centre, alongside a walking trail, complete with Sasquatch statues. Gift shops now sell everything from yeti-style slippers to mini powdered doughnuts known as 'Sasquatch Balls'. Henry says any visitors hoping to catch a glimpse should first brush up on some Sasquatch etiquette. 'Offer food so that it becomes a friend,' he advises. 'After it visited me, I took a couple of apples down to the riverbank and placed them up high on a tree.' Returning the following day, he discovered that the apples had completely disappeared. 'They hadn't been pecked by birds,' he says, pausing for dramatic effect. 'They had been taken whole.' 'The Squamish are a verbal society, so our stories are passed by word of mouth and change from village to village,' he continues. The shape-shifting beast — which is so hard to pin down as it's thought to move between realms, even vanishing at will — is also gender fluid, he says, adding that his people speak of a forest-dwelling Sasquatch-like figure called Kalkalilh. 'She's around seven-feet tall,' he says, eyes wide. 'In my community, it's said that if you push her into a fire and she burns, a flock of ravens is released from her hair.' Henry explains that this symbolises transformation. Through the window, as guests pad past us in towelling robes bound for the hot springs, Harrison Lake shimmers in the midday sunshine. Soon, I wave goodbye to Henry and stroll a few minutes to the hot springs myself — the emerald waters are thought to offer healing benefits. A handful of bathers have beaten me to it, already reclining in the geothermal pools. Each one is just a few feet wide, bordered by rocks and set against old-growth forest. As I plunge my feet into the warm water, there's a rustle in the thicket behind me. Quietly, I take Henry's advice: I step out of the pool and place an apple at the base of the tree. Published in the May 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
CTV News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Ghost of Gizmo: Leake hoping to be special teams star that has eluded Elks
Edmonton Elks' Javon Leake (22) escapes a tackle by Calgary Stampeders' Ben Labrosse (29) during first half CFL football action in Calgary, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh There was a time, ages ago, when fans in Commonwealth Stadium rose and roared in unison as Henry (Gizmo) Williams picked his way through a horde of defenders to return another kick for another touchdown. Now there is only the ghost of Gizmo. Since Williams retired in 2000 — having set more than 20 CFL records for punt and kick returns, including 31 return touchdowns — it's been a mostly fruitless search for a long-term returner to give some punch to the Edmonton Elks' return game. In the last 10 years Edmonton has had only one return touchdown — in 2023 by Deontez Alexander, who played only two games for the team. The latest to try is Javon Leake, who last year had the fastest recorded speed by a ball carrier in professional football. He had some success last season, but never reached the end zone. 'I'm back at returner and I've got a point to prove this year,' said Leake, who joined the team last year and can only imagine the feeling of a return touchdown. 'Man, here with coach (Mark) Kilam and knowing the returner who was here, Gizmo, it's going to feel amazing.' While it is one of the most exciting plays in football, returning a kick for any substantial gain, let alone a touchdown, takes a co-ordinated and efficient effort by lot more players than just the one with the ball. 'There are a lot of things that have to go right,' said Kilam, a highly respected special teams coach before assuming the head coaching job with the Elks this winter. 'Twelve guys have to do their job.' It starts with the returners first step and becomes successful when everyone involved executes properly. That first step, said Leake, is important in creating misdirection for the kicking team. 'Just selling it, making the defence go one way, just setting up your return, setting up your blocks,' Leake said. 'It's a lot of points that go into it, but the important one is that first step.' Then he counts on his teammates to execute their blocks correctly to create the hole he needs to break through the initial wall of defenders. 'Then me trusting my guys that they're blocking down the field and then just hitting it, the vertical.' Elks linebacker Josiah Schakel says the blocking team has to know where the returner is headed so they can block the defenders away from the direction of the play. 'You're reading the returner,' he says. 'If he decides to go one way, you're trying to flip your block the other way.' And when everybody does their job, says Leake and Schakel, it can be electrifying for fans and teammates. 'There's nothing better,' said Leake. 'The whole crowd goes crazy; the sideline goes crazy. I feel like there's no better play than a missed field goal return, or a regular punt or kick return.' 'Coach Kilam always talks about the best play in the CFL, the missed field goal return,' added Schakel. 'That's a 10-point swing. That's why the fans get excited. You can watch it, when someone begins to return a field goal, the fans start raising as they realize, 'Hey, this is going for a touchdown.' ' And, he adds, there's personal satisfaction as well. 'Man, when you get a great block and you know you're won that battle, you feel good inside and you're readying to go for the next play.' And when, or if, Leake or a teammate does return a punt, kick or missed field goal for a touchdown, it will be, said Schakel, 'amazing.' 'I feel like the whole team will light up if we start returning kicks. That's just going to change our game. We're a three-phase team so if special teams can contribute to scoring that's going to help the whole team.' No decisions have been made on who will be returning kicks for the Elks, largely because Kilam hasn't had the opportunity to really study the players. Something, he said, is tough to do in practice. 'Returners is a position you really have to get into the game to really get the evaluation,' Kilam said. 'Until that point, we're learning the rules, fielding the football, understanding where to go, but it's definitely a position, when the lights come on you see who's got it and who doesn't.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 21, 2025. John Korobanik, The Canadian Press
Business Upturn
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Pyxis Tankers Announces Date for the Release of the First Quarter 2025 Results
Maroussi, Greece, May 20, 2025 – Pyxis Tankers Inc. (NASDAQ Cap Mkts: PXS), an international shipping company with a focus on the seaborne transportation of refined petroleum products and dry bulk commodities, today announced the following: We will issue our unaudited results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2025, before the market opens in New York on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Advertisement A presentation of the first quarter 2025 financial results will be available on the Pyxis Tanker's website, under the Presentations section of its Investor Relations page. About Pyxis Tankers Inc. The Company currently owns a modern fleet of six mid-sized eco-vessels, which are engaged in the seaborne transportation of a broad range of refined petroleum products and dry-bulk commodities and consists of three MR product tankers, one Kamsarmax bulk carrier and controlling interests in two dry-bulk joint ventures of a sister-ship Kamsarmax and an Ultramax. The Company is positioned to opportunistically expand and maximize its fleet of eco-efficient vessels due to significant capital resources, competitive cost structure, strong customer relationships and an experienced management team whose interests are aligned with those of its shareholders. For more information, visit: The information on or accessible through the Company's website is not incorporated into and does not form a part of this release. Company Pyxis Tankers Inc. 59 K. Karamanli Street Maroussi, 15125 Greece [email protected] Visit our website at Company Contact Henry Williams Chief Financial Officer Tel: +30 (210) 638 0200 / +1 (516) 455-0106 Email: [email protected] Source: Pyxis Tankers Inc. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Associated Press
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP '25: A look at PGA wins by Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jack Nicklaus
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A look at some of the anniversaries this year at the PGA Championship: 100 years ago (1925) Site: Olympia Fields Winner: Walter Hagen Runner-up: Bill Mehlhorn Score: 6 and 5 Winner's share: $1,000 Noteworthy: This was the second of six straight years that Hagen won a major. AP story: Walter Hagen has the national professional golf championship tucked away as the result of one of the most spectacular matches in the history of golf played yesterday at Olympia Fields Country Club when he defeated William Mehlhorn, 6 and 5. To win the title for the third time, Hagen played 31 holes in 114 strokes, or 10 under fours and six better than par. Hagen to win had a few breaks of luck and fought with all his skill throughout the tournament to retain his only major title. 75 years ago (1950) Site: Scioto Country Club Winner: Chandler Harper Runner-up: Henry Williams Score: 4 and 3 Winner's share: $3,500 Noteworthy: This was the only year Harper made it as far as the quarterfinals in the PGA. AP story: The state of Virginia can continue in a state of elation. Long used to crowing about its homered hillbilly golf champion, Sam Snead, it now has Chandler Harper, too. Harper won the national PGA title yesterday. He defeated little-known Hank Williams, 4 and 3, in the scheduled 36-hole finale over the range Scioto Country Club acres. At 36, Harper succeeded Snead as PGA king. He became the oldest player to grab the crown since Jock Hutchinson won in 1920 at the same age. 50 years ago (1975) Site: Firestone Country Club Winner: Jack Nicklaus Runner-up: Bruce Crampton Score: 70-68-67-71—276 Margin: 2 strokes Winner's share: $45,000 Noteworthy: Nicklaus won the Masters and PGA in 1975 and was a combined three shots behind in the other two majors. AP story: Jack Nicklaus, the greatest player of his age and perhaps the finest this ancient game has ever produced, methodically turned back challenging Bruce Crampton with a 1-over-par 71 and acquired an incredible 16th major golf title Sunday by winning the 57th PGA National Championship. Nicklaus, who now has only his own records to break, led all the way on the hot, humid, hazy day and won this one by two strokes over Australian Crampton with a 276 total. That's four strokes below par on the vast, sprawling acres of the famed Firestone Country Club course, 7,180 yards of rolling Ohio countryside that, through the years, has served as Nicklaus' happiest hunting grounds. He's now collected, $374,830 in winnings from events on this course alone. 25 years ago (2000) Site: Valhalla Golf Club Winner: Tiger Woods Runner-up: Bob May Score: 66-67-70-67—270 Margin: Playoff. Winner's share: $900,000 Noteworthy: Woods and Jack Nicklaus played in the same group for the first time at a major. AP story: Tiger Woods finally got a fight to the finish. All summer long, he had been winning major championships with frightening ease. Fifteen strokes in the U.S. Open. Eight strokes in the British Open. He was no less spectacular Sunday in the PGA Championship, when he had to reach down and battle back against a player few people even knew until their thrilling drama unfolded on the back nine of Valhalla Golf Club. When it was over, the legend grew. In a fitting conclusion to perhaps the greatest summer of golf, Woods birdied the last two holes in regulation and won the PGA Championship in a playoff over Bob May to become the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win three majors in one year. Both made five birdies, two sensational par saves and had a 31 on the back nine. Woods outlasted May by taking only three putts in the three-hole playoff, the last one a 2-foot par putt for his third consecutive major. 20 years ago (2005) Site: Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower) Winner: Phil Mickelson Runners-up: Steve Elkington and Thomas Bjorn. Score: 67-65-72-72—276 Margin: 1 shot Winner's share: $1,170,000 Noteworthy: Mickelson was the first player since Bob Tway in 1986 to win the PGA by one shot with a birdie on the last hole. AP story: Phil Mickelson delivered another dramatic finish in a major on Monday, flopping a chip out of deep rough to 2 feet for a birdie on the final hole and a one-shot victory in the PGA Championship. The putt wasn't nearly as long as his 18-footer to win the Masters last year, and there was no need to jump for joy this time. Still, it was a sweet conclusion to a major championship season that had gone sour until he put together his best golf of the summer stretched over five days at Baltusrol by a storm-delayed final round. It was the first Monday finish at the PGA Championship in 19 years. And not since 1986 at Inverness had a player from the last group won with a birdie on the 72nd hole at the final major. 10 years ago (2015) Site: Whistling Straits GC (Straits) Winner: Jason Day Runner-up: Jordan Spieth Score: 68-67-66-67—268 Margin: 3 shots. Winner's share: $1,800,000 Noteworthy: Day had at least a share of the 54-hole lead in the final three majors of the year. AP story: Worried that this year might turn out to be a major failure, Jason Day never gave Jordan Spieth or anyone else a chance Sunday. He delivered a record-setting performance at Whistling Straits that brought him a major championship he started to wonder might never happen. Three shots ahead with three holes to play on a course with trouble everywhere, Day blasted a drive down the fairway on the par-5 16th and hit a towering 4-iron into 20 feet. He bit his lower lip, swatted his caddie on the arm, knowing his work was almost done. The two-putt birdie put him at 20-under par. He shared the 54-hole lead at the U.S. Open and the British Open and had to watch someone else celebrate. 5 years ago (2020) Site: Harding Park GC Winner: Collin Morikawa Runners-up: Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey Score: 69-69-65-64—267 Margin: 2 shots Winner's share: $1,980,000 Noteworthy: It was the first major played without spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic. AP story: The shot will be remembered as one of the best under pressure that hardly anyone witnessed. It made Collin Morikawa a major champion Sunday in a thrill-a-minute PGA Championship that not many will forget. Morikawa hit driver on the 294-yard 16th hole that was perfect in flight and even better when it landed, hopping onto the green and rolling to 7 feet for an eagle that all but clinched victory on a most quiet Sunday afternoon at Harding Park. In the first major without spectators, the 23-year-old Californian finished with a bang. He closed with a 6-under 64, the lowest final round by a PGA champion in 25 years, for a two-shot victory over Paul Casey and Dustin Johnson, two of 10 players who had a chance on the back nine. ___ AP golf:
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Yahoo
Michigan cracks down on 13 illegal gambling websites
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The Michigan Gaming Control Board () has sent cease-and-desist letters to 13 illegal offshore gambling websites. The MGCB says the illegal offshore websites operated without proper state licenses and unlawfully targeted Michganders. List of the illegal websites: Captain Jack Casino Casino Brango Ducky Luck Casino El Royale Casino Jazz Casino Jazz Sports Casino Racebook, Looselines Planet 7 Casino Red Dog Casino Royal Oak Casino Silver Oak Casino Skybook Slots of Vegaswere These sites were based outside the U.S. in , , and the . The MGCB says the websites allowed users to gamble using a variety of payment methods, such as credit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies. The websites would use restrictive withdrawal practices, demanding players meet high wagering thresholds before accessing their funds. MGDB says these practices leave users vulnerable to financial exploitation and undermine the fairness of the gambling experience. These websites are not regulated to Michigan's standards for responsible gaming, consumer protection, or data security, putting users at further risk of fraud and identity theft. 'These illegal gambling websites put Michigan residents at significant personal and financial risk,' said Henry Williams, Executive Director of the MGCB, in a news release sent to 6 News. 'Our priority is to maintain a secure and regulated gaming environment. These websites not only violate Michigan`s laws but also engage in deceptive practices that endanger consumers, including withholding winnings and imposing unfair wagering requirements,' added Williams. How to protect yourself from unregulated gambling websites: Only engage with online gambling sites authorized and licensed by the If you believe you have encountered illegal gambling activity or a suspicious online platform, report it by calling the MGCB hotline at 1-888-314-2682 or by emailing Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
