Latest news with #JohnHealy
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Horrifying secret of unassuming US town known as 'nub city'... where residents do the unthinkable for cash
Framed by lush woodlands, rolling farmland and glistening springs, the sedate town of Vernon in northeastern Florida has a fairly blissful appeal. But the tucked-away community of just over 700 residents has a grisly history lurking under the surface. When industry in the rural town died out during the first half of the 20th century, with the closure of the sawmill and steamboat port, many residents struggled to make ends meet. And that's when a bizarre and horrifying money-making scheme made its rounds and earned the town its nickname: Nub City. In a New York Times article published in 1972, insurance investigator John Healy reveals how people in Vernon started chopping off their own limbs to make false accident claims. Mr Healy, who worked for the Continental National American insurance group at the time, told how a 'three‐year orgy of self‐maiming that started with a claim for about $5,000 and petered out with one around the $300,000 level.' The piece reports that around a dozen of the town's residents were 'missing feet, arms, hands or eyes,' but other reports state that the number of maimed locals was closer to 50. Giving an insight into Vernon life at the time, Mr Healy wrote: 'To sit in your car on a sweltering summer evening on the main street of Nub City watching anywhere from eight to a dozen cripples walking along the street, gives the place a ghoulish, eerie atmosphere.' L.W. Burdeshaw, who also worked as insurance agent in the area during the 1970s, said that the incidents were put down to a variety of incidents which later transpired to be false. He said his list of policyholders in Vernon included a man who accidently shot his foot off while protecting chickens, another man who lost his hand while trying to shoot a hawk and a man who purchased insurance and then, less than 12 hours later, shot off his foot while aiming for a squirrel. While numerous claims went through, insurance investigator Mr Healy said suspicions were raised when the claims started reaching the six figure mark. He revealed: 'We got in on the thing with a claim at about the $100,000 level. I solved it pretty quickly.' One insurance investigator told the St. Petersburg Times that a local farmer made more than $1 million after taking out policies with '28 or 38 companies' before losing his foot. Before making the claim, he was apparently 'paying premiums that cost more than his income.' While the man's injury looked suspicious, with a tourniquet in his pocket and the fact that he had swapped his car that day for his wife's which was an automatic instead of a stick shift, the jury found it difficult to believe he would shoot off his foot. However, eventually the insurance companies cracked down on the insurance scam that was circulating through Vernon and the trend petered out. Mr Healy said when he was interviewed in 1972: 'After the first few times, nobody could collect anything more than nuisance value, and then nothing at all. 'We informed the local authorities about the thing, though there's not much they can do about it. 'And don't think those people down there can get accident insurance any more. I haven't heard anything from there for at least two years.' In some online threads, Vernon residents talk about the town's mysterious history and their memories of what was going on. Kelly Crocker wrote on YouTube in response to the 1981 documentary simply titled 'Vernon, Florida': 'My hometown. Was once called Nub City. 'When I grew up, there were seven local men with nubs. Some were legitimate accidents and others said to be fraud.' Meanwhile, another commenter added: 'Yep, from there too and there were plenty of "accidents" before the 80's fraud charges.' There is little in the way of imagery from Vernon's darker days. However one brawl, which took place during a local council meeting in 1984, was caught on camera and it shows resident James Armstrong wearing a hook in place of a missing left hand. When a reporter later asked his councilor wife Narvel how he lost his hand, she implied it was the result of self mutilation, by simply responding: 'I think you know.' Errol Morris, who was the film director behind the aforementioned documentary 'Vernon, Florida', originally set out to make a movie about Nub City and the insurance claim saga. However, he claimed that threats from residents who didn't not want the story being made public made him rethink his narrative. He told one reporter, following a particularly harrowing encounter: 'I knocked on the door of a double-amputee, who was missing an arm and a leg on opposite sides of the body - the preferred technique, so that you could use a crutch. 'His buff son-in-law, a Marine, beat me up. I decided whatever I was doing was really, really stupid and dangerous.' Instead of insurance 'scammers', Morris' documentary purely focuses on what life was like in Vernon in 1981, with a worm farmer and a turkey hunter among his subjects. Today, Vernon has moved on from its gruesome past with no amputations in sight. Touching on what it is like in the 21st century, one resident explains: 'I grew up near Vernon and live there now. 'The town is still full of eccentrics (we have a guy who exclusively rides his lawnmower around town) but it's nothing like it used to be. 'State highway 79 was expanded to four lanes a while back, and it's construction knocked out dozens of little shops and homes. 'The whole place has been taken over by asphalt. I wish it would go back to how it was before.'
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Gregor Poynton MP welcomes news that Scottish Military homes are to be upgraded
Military personnel across Scotland are set to benefit from record additional funding to improve family accommodation for the Armed Forces. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The investment will mean that personnel in Scotland will see more urgent repairs and maintenance, from fixing unreliable boilers and leaky roofs to tackling damp and mould in service family accommodation, alongside development of new housing. The extra investment means over £7 billion will be spent UK-wide on military accommodation in this Parliament, including £400m investment in Scotland to improve conditions for personnel living in Single Living Accommodation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The upcoming Strategic Defence Review will confirm an additional £1.5 billion in funding for military family accommodation nationwide, helping to renew the nation's contract with those who serve, and supporting the UK Labour government's Plan for Change. There are over 3,000 military homes in Scotland, helping to house some of the 11,000 Scotland-based personnel, which will now be considered for this funding. Labour has announced a £400 million boost to improve military housing in Scotland. The £7 billion will be spent across this Parliament on service family accommodation and single living accommodation, to deliver a generational renewal of Armed Forces accommodation. This will be guided by the forthcoming Defence Housing Strategy – which is proceeding at pace and has already seen the announcement of a new Consumer Charter to strengthen housing standards for forces families. The Strategic Defence Review will set a path for the next decade to transform defence and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad. It will end the hollowing out of our Armed Forces and make defence an engine for growth across the UK. Commenting, Gregor Poynton MP for the Livingston constituency said: "This constituency has a proud connection to our armed forces, from being home to hundreds of serving personnel, veterans and their families through to the award-winning Military Museum of Scotland in Wilkieston. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But supporting our armed forces means more than just thanking our troops and remembering the past, it's about investing in their future. Scotland's 3,000 military homes will benefit from a £400 million upgrade, part of a £7 billion UK-wide plan to make homes fit for heroes. Gregor Poynton MP with Defence Secretary, John Healy MP in the Livingston constituency. 'Defence can be a true engine for growth and Livingston is ready to play its part. I'll keep pushing for investment here and I'm urging the SNP Scottish Government to drop their opposition to defence investment and get behind this vital spend.' Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: 'Our Armed Forces personnel make extraordinary sacrifices to serve our country. 'For too long, many military families have lived in sub-standard homes, but this government is taking decisive action to fix the dire state of military accommodation and ensure that our heroes and their loved ones live in the homes they deserve. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Our government is determined to end the hollowing out of our Armed Forces. We are investing and acting fast, to fix forces housing and renew the nation's contract with those who serve. "The delivery of the Government's new Consumer Charter will see immediate investment in urgent renovation of 1,000 homes in most need of repair. The Charter will also see basic consumer rights rapidly introduced for forces families, including essential property information and higher move-in standards, more reliable repairs, a named housing officer for every family, and access to a robust complaints system – helping to deliver homes fit for our heroes. Minister for Defence People and Veterans Al Carns said: "After years of unacceptable living conditions our service personnel had to endure, we are delivering the much-needed investment into military homes in Scotland that puts our service families first. 'This new funding will ensure that those who protect our nation, and their families, can live in homes they can be proud of. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We promised better housing for our military families across the United Kingdom and we are delivering on that promise." The SDR says that the MOD should improve the overall standard of military accommodation, including prioritising sites that are in most urgent need of repair.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Defence plan will ensure UK is ready for war, minister says
The government will invest billions of pounds to move the UK to "war-fighting readiness" in the face of a new era of threats from nuclear powers like Russia and China, the defence secretary has said. The government has accepted all 62 recommendations set out in a long-awaited Strategic Defence Review (SDR), including building 12 new nuclear-powered submarines, six new munitions factories and embracing technologies like artificial intelligence. Britain's army needs to become "10 times more lethal" to face a "new era of threats", John Healy told MPs on Monday. Conservative shadow defences secretary James Cartlidge called the plans a "damp squib" which were "underfunded and totally underwhelming". UK to build up to 12 new attack submarines At a glance: Key points from government's defence strategy Britain's defence review has grand ambition. Now it needs the money The SDR, carried out by former Labour Defence Sectary Lord Robertson, found the UK's armed forces are "not currently equipped" to fight opponents like Russia or China, with inadequate stockpiles of weapons, poor recruitment and crumbling morale. The report warned the UK is already experiencing daily attacks on its critical national infrastructure, testing the economy's vulnerabilities and "and challenging its social cohesion". Russia is "an immediate and pressing threat", as the invasion of Ukraine "makes unequivocally clear its willingness to use force to achieve its goals", the report finds. Meanwhile, China is a "sophisticated and persistent challenge", the review warns, and is "likely to continue seeking advantage through espionage and cyber attacks" and is expected to have 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030. To fight this, the Ministry of Defence must embrace new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robots and lasers, the review recommends. In a Commons statement, Healey said: "The threats we face are now more serious and less predictable than at any time since the end of the Cold War. "We face war in Europe, growing Russian aggression, new nuclear risks, and daily cyber-attacks at home. "Our adversaries are working more in alliance with one another, while technology is changing the way war is fought. We are in a new era of threat, which demands a new era for UK defence." Other announcements in the review include: A new "hybrid Navy" with Aukus submarines and autonomous vessels that can patrol the North Atlantic £15bn to be spent on new nuclear warheads Commitment to £1.5bn to build six new factories to enable an "always on" munitions production capacity Building up to 7,000 long-range weapons including missiles or drones in the UK, to be used by British forces Pledge to set up a "cyber and electromagnetic command" to boost the military's defensive and offensive capabilities in cyberspace Extra £1.5bn to 2029 to fund repairs to military housing £1bn on technology to speed up delivery of targeting information to soldier Healey said the changes will help "create a British Army which is 10 times more lethal". He also signalled the government planned to increase the size of the Army from 74,400 to at least 76,000 full-time soldiers after the next election. The UK's army cadet force or volunteer young people by 30% and offering a "gap year" to people interested in sampling military life. The review was drawn up with the expectation that defence spending would rise to 2.5% of national income or GDP by 2027 - up from around 2.3% now. But what the review describes as a "small uplift" in the Army has not yet been funded. A defence source has also told the BBC the commitment to build up to 12 new attack submarines would require an increase in defence spending to at least 3% of GDP. Ministers say they expect to spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2034 at the latest but have guarantees - and the run-up to the review's release has been dominated by a political row over when government will hit the milestone. The Conservatives say the move - which would hike spending by around £20bn a year - should be met by the end of the decade. Cartlidge said that "without the funding, [the review] is an empty wish list" and the "ships and submarines it talks of are a fantasy fleet". The government "wants to send a strong message to Moscow, but the messages he's sending are profoundly weak", Cartlidge added. "After so much hype, the SDR is a damp squib," he said. "It's overdue, underfunded and totally underwhelming. Our armed forces deserve better than this." But Sir Keir Starmer argued the review would help create a "battle-ready, armour clad" nation. Speaking in Scotland earlier on Monday, the prime minister said: "When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, the most effective way to deter them is to be ready, and frankly show them that we're ready to deliver peace through strength." Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Defence plan will ensure UK is ready for war, minister says
The government will invest billions of pounds to move the UK to "war-fighting readiness" in the face of a new era of threats from nuclear powers like Russia and China, the defence secretary has government has accepted all 62 recommendations set out in a long-awaited Strategic Defence Review (SDR), including building 12 new nuclear-powered submarines, six new munitions factories and embracing technologies like artificial army needs to become "10 times more lethal" to face a "new era of threats", John Healy told MPs on shadow defences secretary James Cartlidge called the plans a "damp squib" which were "underfunded and totally underwhelming". The SDR, carried out by former Labour Defence Sectary Lord Robertson, found the UK's armed forces are "not currently equipped" to fight opponents like Russia or China, with inadequate stockpiles of weapons, poor recruitment and crumbling report warned the UK is already experiencing daily attacks on its critical national infrastructure, testing the economy's vulnerabilities and "and challenging its social cohesion".Russia is "an immediate and pressing threat", as the invasion of Ukraine "makes unequivocally clear its willingness to use force to achieve its goals", the report China is a "sophisticated and persistent challenge", the review warns, and is "likely to continue seeking advantage through espionage and cyber attacks" and is expected to have 1,000 nuclear warheads by fight this, the Ministry of Defence must embrace new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robots and lasers, the review recommends. In a Commons statement, Healey said: "The threats we face are now more serious and less predictable than at any time since the end of the Cold War. "We face war in Europe, growing Russian aggression, new nuclear risks, and daily cyber-attacks at home."Our adversaries are working more in alliance with one another, while technology is changing the way war is fought. We are in a new era of threat, which demands a new era for UK defence." Other announcements in the review include:A new "hybrid Navy" with Aukus submarines and autonomous vessels that can patrol the North Atlantic£15bn to be spent on new nuclear warheads Commitment to £1.5bn to build six new factories to enable an "always on" munitions production capacityBuilding up to 7,000 long-range weapons including missiles or drones in the UK, to be used by British forcesPledge to set up a "cyber and electromagnetic command" to boost the military's defensive and offensive capabilities in cyberspaceExtra £1.5bn to 2029 to fund repairs to military housing£1bn on technology to speed up delivery of targeting information to soldierHealey said the changes will help "create a British Army which is 10 times more lethal".He also signalled the government planned to increase the size of the Army from 74,400 to at least 76,000 full-time soldiers after the next UK's army cadet force or volunteer young people by 30% and offering a "gap year" to people interested in sampling military life. The review was drawn up with the expectation that defence spending would rise to 2.5% of national income or GDP by 2027 - up from around 2.3% what the review describes as a "small uplift" in the Army has not yet been funded. A defence source has also told the BBC the commitment to build up to 12 new attack submarines would require an increase in defence spending to at least 3% of GDP. Ministers say they expect to spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2034 at the latest but have guarantees - and the run-up to the review's release has been dominated by a political row over when government will hit the Conservatives say the move - which would hike spending by around £20bn a year - should be met by the end of the decade. Cartlidge said that "without the funding, [the review] is an empty wish list" and the "ships and submarines it talks of are a fantasy fleet". The government "wants to send a strong message to Moscow, but the messages he's sending are profoundly weak", Cartlidge added."After so much hype, the SDR is a damp squib," he said."It's overdue, underfunded and totally underwhelming. Our armed forces deserve better than this." But Sir Keir Starmer argued the review would help create a "battle-ready, armour clad" in Scotland earlier on Monday, the prime minister said: "When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, the most effective way to deter them is to be ready, and frankly show them that we're ready to deliver peace through strength." Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
The Independent
31-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Rachel Reeves told it is ‘impossible' to invest in growth, public services and net zero in spending review
Spending commitments on defence mean it is 'impossible' for the chancellor to invest in economic growth, public services and 'net zero' policies when she allocates money for the next three years, leading economists have warned. Rachel Reeves will face "unavoidably" tough choices as she set out her plans in a spending review in just over a week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies says. The government has pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GPD within the next two years. But on Saturday, ahead of the launch of a new defence strategy on Monday, the defence secretary John Healy went further as he said there was 'no doubt' the UK would meet its target to raise the level to 3 per cent by 2034. The IFS said the spending review, due to be unveiled a week later, would be dominated by money for defence and the NHS. IFS research economist Bee Boileau said funding for other priorities will likely slow to a "trickle". She said: "At the spending review the government faces some unavoidably tough choices, particularly as, after turning on the spending taps last autumn, the flow of additional funding is now set to slow to more of a trickle. "Take capital spending: government investment is set to be sustained at historically high levels in the coming years, but most of the increase happened last year and this year, and it looks as if all of the remaining increase in funding over this Parliament has already been allocated to defence. "Simultaneously prioritising additional investments in public services, net zero and growth-friendly areas within this envelope will be impossible." On Saturday the Independent revealed that Angela Rayner and Ms Reeves were at loggerheads over the spending review as t he deputy prime minister's department passed an unofficial deadline to settle its budget until the next general election without securing an agreement. With the review set to be unveiled on 11 June, departments have told The Independent that the Treasury wanted its plans agreed by the start of this weekend. But The Independent understands that Ms Rayner's Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is one of several departments yet to settle with Ms Reeves and her deputy Darren Jones. The review will see Ms Reeves announce the government's day-to-day departmental budgets for the next three years and investment budgets for the next four. The Local Government Association has called for councils to get a "significant and sustained" boost to funding so they can deliver vital services. "Councils in England face a funding gap of up to £8 billion by 2028/29 and have already had to make huge savings and efficiencies over the past decade," LGA chairman Pete Marland said. "They desperately need a significant and sustained increase in overall funding in the spending review to meet the requirements being placed on them. "Without adequate funding, councils will continue to struggle to provide crucial services, with devastating consequences for those who rely on them, and it will be impossible for them to help the Government achieve its reform and growth agenda." The Liberal Democrats urged the Government to put money into social care. "Ending the crisis in our NHS must be a top priority, but unless they fix social care too, ministers will just be bailing water from a sinking boat with a spoon," the party's treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper, said. "Vital NHS investment risks going to waste if hospitals can't discharge patients who don't need to be there and if local authorities don't have the resources to care for people in their homes and prevent them going to hospital in the first place." She also urged the Government to urgently negotiate a bespoke UK-EU customs union, to boost the economy, before looking at "painful cuts to already stretched budgets", from justice to farming.
