Latest news with #JimWard
RNZ News
17-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Worry and speculation as long-serving manager of Molesworth Station suddenly resigns
Jim Ward, former manager of Molesworth station. Photo: PAMU / SUPPLIED Worry and speculation about the future use of New Zealand's largest livestock station are rising following the sudden resignation of its long-term manager. Crown-owned Molesworth station has about 500,000 acres in the high country - stretching from inland Blenheim to Hamner Springs further south. The farm manager of 24 years, Jim Ward, abruptly resigned this week and sources say he was increasingly frustrated about the lack of action to control wilding pine trees that are starting to cover parts of the station's farmland. There's also speculation parts of it could be converted into pine forests, despite it having the largest cattle herd in the country. The station is administered by the Department of Conservation for the Crown, and it leases out much of the land to Pāmu - formerly Landcorp - which employs all the stock-hands who work there. A Pāmu spokesperson said its workforce can flex to support change when required and that a transition plan is in place, including a recruitment process to replace the Farm Manager. Wilding pines on Molesworth Station. (File photo) Photo: RNZ/Sally Round Pāmu said Ward, and his wife Tracey's devoted service had been instrumental in shaping the station's presentation and success as a taonga for the country. It said Pāmu and DOC have made substantial efforts to tackle wilding confiders. "However, they continue to be a challenge to the future of farming, conservation and recreation on the reserve (Molesworth Station)." When asked by RNZ whether it was considering transitioning some of the land into forestry it supplied the following statement: "In December 2024, the government invited partnerships to plant trees on Crown land. While Molesworth was included in initial mapping as a potential site for tree planting, the Department of Conservation (DOC) has clarified that this is only indicative and subject to further evaluation. The proposal is part of a broader climate initiative to plant trees, but specific areas, species, and planting conditions are still under review." Bulls and cows at Molesworth. (File photo) Photo: Pāmu said none of its other 111 farms across the country had been included for potential pine planting. The spokesperson said its lease for the farm ends next year, or when the Molesworth management plan is completed which includes decisions about future management, and how the land will be used. DOC's Northern South Island Operations Director Martin Rodd said Ward always had the best interests of Molesworth at heart and was passionate about ensuring it was well looked after. Rodd said DOC was working through future options for the station and that farming will continue to be an important part of the reserve's future. Meanwhile farmers were shocked about the station manager's sudden resignation and were concerned it may have been caused by the lack of action taken to control wilding trees, and future plans for the land. Matt Simpson owned a station in south Canterbury and said it's a shame the high country had lost such an advocate, and it meant a lot of knowledge had 'walked out the gate'. Simpson said it would be a big mistake if areas of the station were converted into forestry. He added that it had been a challenge to try and control the wild trees on Molesworth as they self-seed quickly and spread through valleys. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Cision Canada
14-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
PROENERGY Awarded Contract to Build, Own, and Operate Fast-Start Power Facility in New Brunswick, Canada
SEDALIA, Mo., July 14, 2025 /CNW/ -- PROENERGY has been awarded a contract to develop, construct, own, and operate the New Brunswick Power Corporation (NB Power) Renewable Integration and Grid Security (RIGS) project in Centre Village. The facility—a 400 MW PowerFLX installation driven by eight aeroderivative turbines—will operate under a power purchase agreement with NB Power as the offtaker for 25 years. The facility will maximize the potential of the province's renewable investment. It will provide the reliable backup support that wind and solar generation requires in addition to providing grid stability. "At NB Power, our commitment is to provide secure and sustainable energy for New Brunswickers. Launching this generation expansion project addresses the pressing need to enhance our grid's reliability and security to meet the unprecedented growth in energy demand," said Lori Clark, President, CEO & Chief Nuclear Officer. "Partnering to secure additional electricity and capacity through this project ensures we can confidently navigate the energy transition, providing New Brunswickers with the reliable electricity they need, when they need it most." Located in Westmorland County, New Brunswick, the facility will minimize impact on the surrounding environment due to its proximity to existing transmission and fuel infrastructure while reducing provincial reliance on oil, coal, and imported power. "This project is an essential part of a clean, reliable, affordable power grid, and it's a great example of our approach to Indigenous-led, responsible development," says Jim Ward, General Manager of North Shore Mi'kmaq Tribal Council. "We need clean energy, and we need to keep costs down and keep the power on. We've seen in other places how too much renewable energy can cause grid failures or high costs. To avoid those issues, this load-following power plant is a perfect complement to New Brunswick wind and solar power now and in the future. PROENERGY has been a great partner on this. We welcome other developers to get in touch with us." The project will enter commercial operations in 2028. "Our team has a deep understanding of Eastern Canada. PROENERGY appreciates the trust placed in us by NB Power and the North Shore Mi'kmaq Tribal Council to provide the reliable fast-start power they need," says Jeff Canon, PROENERGY President and CEO. About PROENERGY Based in Sedalia, Missouri, PROENERGY is a global peaking-power solutions provider with operational experience on every continent. The company offers vertically integrated aeroderivative power solutions, including equipment, engineering, construction, operations, repair, maintenance, research, and true, turnkey power generation facilities that include the complete balance of plant. For more on PROENERGY, visit
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eloise restaurant in West El Paso to close after 13 years of service
Eloise, a contemporary restaurant owned by El Paso musician Jim Ward and his wife Kristine, is closing at the end of July. The restaurant has been in operation for 13 years. Ward shared the news on Instagram, saying in a video, "I want to share a little bit of news with you all. Our lease is up for renewal and due to some pretty chaotic economic conditions, we've made the decision to not renew our lease." "We did want to just take a second and say how much we've enjoyed the past 13 years. Being a part of this community means everything to us and the support and love that you've all given us and our staff means everything," he said. Ward said the final day of service is Thursday, July 31, which means nine weeks to enjoy your favorite burgers and other popular dishes. The restaurant had already survived a challenging economic period during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and relocated to its current location at 126 Shadow Mountain Drive in 2022, when the previous lease expired. More: Teriyaki Madness, Basilico Brick Oven Pizzeria among 5 new places opening in El Paso area The restaurant has a unique, whimsical look inspired by filmmaker Wes Anderson. Bar patrons can take their last drinks sitting around the bar at the center of the space. More: Teriyaki Madness, Basilico Brick Oven Pizzeria among 5 new places opening in El Paso area María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@ @ on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Jim Ward's Eloise to shut doors July 31 amid economic pressures
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
El Paso's Eloise restaurant announces closure at end of July
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The owner of El Paso's Eloise restaurant announced on social media on Friday afternoon, May 30, that they will close their doors at the end of July. 'Our lease is up for renewal and due to some pretty chaotic economic conditions, we made the decision to not renew our lease,' Jim Ward, owner of Eloise Restaurant and Bar, said. Ward said the restaurant's last day of service will be on July 31. 'We did just want to take a second and say how much we've enjoyed the past 13 years. Being a part of this community means everything to us and the support and love you all given us and our staff means everything. For now, we're going to put Eloise on a shelf and we will go from there,' Ward said. Eloise originally opened in 2012 along Shadow Mountain Drive in West El Paso as a coffee shop. Since then, Eloise has grown into a restaurant and bar and relocated to a larger space down the street at 126 Shadow Mountain, Suite A. For more information about Eloise, you can visit their Instagram and Facebook accounts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Books in brief: No Ordinary Bread; Journeywork: A Creative Life; and Can I Have Your Charm Bracelet When You Die?
No Ordinary Bread By Jim Ward Ace of Swords Publishing, €18 An ambitious, promising debut novel of conflicting ideologies fishing for men's souls. The story is set in rural China in the midst of the civil war, and is experienced through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy witnessing first-hand the spiritual revolutions within the country: both the surgent Chinese Communist Party, and the Catholic Church missionaries in the determined teachings of a Belgian Jesuit. A clash of wills is inevitable and lives are changed forever. Ward writes in an unadorned, straight-ahead style (which works well considering the narrator), and he shifts easily into expansive, more philosophical realms when the political provocateurs push their way to the centre of the story. A cleverly structured historical novel, rich with lively dialogue; a fine first book. NJ McGarrigle Journeywork: A Creative Life By Dave Duggan Nerve Centre, £12.99 Derry-based writer and dramatist Dave Duggan's luminous collection of 13 essays offers a deeply personal map of a life shaped by story, language, resilience, and artistic vocation. Moving between memoir, reflections on illness, his working-class background, and meditations on creative practice, Duggan explores imagination with clarity, grace, and hard-won wisdom. 'Adapt and persist. Don't doubt,' he urges, a quiet anthem of endurance throughout. The author is edging towards 70, but his work exudes the energy of a writer just beginning – curious, lucid, and alive to the world. 'My father had books. My mother had songs,' he writes. With wit, humility and insight, Duggan weaves local politics, international literature, and poignant moments, including an Oscar nomination for Dance Lexie Dance, into a celebration of creativity, resilience and artistic bravery. Adam Wyeth Can I Have Your Charm Bracelet When You Die? A Dublin Childhood By Sheila Hamilton Hen's Teeth, €17.50 Esther, an adored aunt of the child narrator, is having man trouble. 'Hold the bone and the dog will follow', is her mother's play-hard-to-get advice. 'He's gorgeous looking, a model for a coddle he'll do for a stew!', says a sister. Everyday joys and cares in two loving households fill two-thirds of this endearing 1970s-1980s south-inner-city memoir 'sprinkled with the lightest embellishment'. Childhood is followed by interludes in New York and Amsterdam that do not lessen the family bonds as cruel illnesses blight the adult lives of the author, her mother and Esther. Hilarious, then heartbreaking, this is a story 'shared with love' and with charm. Ray Burke
