Latest news with #JosephMcDonald
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Residents protest over compost factory smell concerns
A crowd of more then 200 people gathered outside Mid Ulster Council offices to voice concerns about new planning proposals linked to a controversial compost factory in County Tyrone. People who live close to the factory near Killeeshil have previously claimed their lives are being impacted by a bad smell which they say is coming from the factory. Last year, the company Northway Mushrooms went into administration and the operators of the site are now Sawgrass Substrates Ltd (SSL). In a statement, the company said it acknowledged the concerns raised by some local residents regarding odour, but that it maintained "full compliance with all environmental requirements". A spokesperson for SSL added: "We take all community feedback seriously and are committed to operating responsibly and in line with our Waste Management Licence strictly regulated by the NI Environment Agency (NIEA)." Work at the factory involves the mixing of hay, chicken litter, and water to create a compost for mushroom growing. In March last year, local residents protested outside Northway Mushrooms to voice their concerns about a smell that they say they've been living with for years. Months later, the local school and GAA club said the smell was still impacting children's everyday lives. On Friday, members of the Cabragh Concerned Residents Association (CCRA) were once again protesting, this time outside Mid Ulster Council offices in Dungannon. Joseph McDonald is a member of Cabragh Concerned Residents Association (CCRA). Speaking at the protest, he said: "What you see here today is the spirit of our community, we're annoyed and distressed by what we see as an injustice." He said this issue has been ongoing for five years and they have been living with the smell which is like "rotten broccoli, it hits your chest and lungs". "Mentally it's not good for the community, you go out and put clothes on the line and the clothes are stinking, just even simple things like that. The hallway in my house is stinking," he said. "Clean air is meant to be a basic human right, we're not getting that and we're putting out a message to our council tonight that something seriously needs to be done about the odour in this area." Protestors held placards and posters chanting "stop the stink". Many of the protesters said they believed the smell had gotten worse in recent months. Concerns surrounding odour issues at the factory in Killeeshil have been discussed several times at Mid Ulster Council. The protest on Friday is also connected to a new planning application linked to the factory. An application for a proposed "additional bio and roughing filter, yard extension (for bale storage), boundary fence and ancillary site works" has been recommended for approval. It is due to be presented to Mid Ulster's planning committee on Tuesday. A spokesperson for Mid Ulster Council said the purpose of the planning application was to "facilitate additional storage areas to ensure production is not interrupted" and that the proposed additional equipment would "mitigate emissions from the previously approved operations". The application has had more than 180 letters of objections, many of which are from local residents who live close to the factory. Speaking at the protest on Friday a number of the protestors said they still had "serious concerns" that there would be still be ongoing odour issues. In a statement, SSL said it had "invested significantly in advanced odour reduction technologies". A spokesperson added: "To demonstrate our proactive commitment to the local community, an additional odour control facility is proposed with a capex of £1.2 million investment. "This is not required as part of any regulatory requirements, but rather, our wider commitment to enhance the mitigation on site. Notably, no extension of the facility or further processing is proposed as part of the scheme. " The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) investigates environmental safety breaches. BBC News NI contacted NIEA about the latest protest but did not receive a response. Tyrone mushroom compost producer in administration Residents voice mushroom site smell concern 'Sickening factory smell is affecting our lives'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Boil water advisory impacts St. Marys restaurants
ST. MARYS (KSNT) – A boil water advisory in St. Marys is forcing businesses in town to change how they operate. While the boil water advisory is not ideal for people in St. Marys, Pilgrim's Keep is making it work. The restaurant's general manager gave 27 News a look at what they're doing differently,while the advisory is in place. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) issued a boil water advisory Monday, April 23. People in St. Marys are being told to boil tap water for at least one minute, until the advisory is over. The advisory does not require restaurants to shut down. 'We went out and got a lot of jugged water, bottled water to have in the restaurant to offer to our patrons,' Pilgrim's Keep General Manager, Joseph McDonald said. 'As well as bagged ice to be using that for our drinks.' Washburn University club sales plants, encourages sustainability The Pilgrim's Keep restaurant is making sure its dishwashers are working properly, bleaching everything and telling customers about the advisory. 'I appreciate everyone, you know, so coming and giving us business and if anything, else were to happen, whether they deem it more than just, you know, advisory, then we'll always let everyone know through our social media,' McDonald said. The KDHE said the advisory was issued when the city's water system lost pressure. That allows the water system to potentially be contaminated with bacteria. The department can lift the advisory after testing the city's tap water samples. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Marywood University aviation program spreads its wings
Capt. Joseph McDonald joined Marywood University's Aviation Management program in 1999, when it started. Over 25 years later, the former American Airlines pilot and director of the program will see it expand from Northeast Pennsylvania into the Philadelphia suburbs. The Scranton-based program will spread its wings, collaborating with Fly Gateway Aviation Institute, where it will offer students to the south a chance to learn the aviation business and pursue a career in the field from an operation at Wings Field Airport, also known as the 'Blue Bell Airport,' in the Philadelphia suburb of Blue Bell. McDonald explained that the Aviation Management program offers two tracks. * Marywood University's Aviation Management Program, which is set to expand out to the Philadelphia suburbs at 'the Blue Bell Airport' in Blue Bell, Pa., boasts 78 students currently enrolled, 12 of whom are women. (Marywood University / Submitted) * Marywood University's Aviation Management Program, which is set to expand out to the Philadelphia suburbs at 'the Blue Bell Airport' in Blue Bell, Pa., offers students a chance to operate flight simulators and even fly aircraft in their first year as students. (Marywood University / Submitted) * Marywood University's Aviation Management Program, which is set to expand out to the Philadelphia suburbs at 'the Blue Bell Airport' in Blue Bell, Pa., is under the direction of Captain Joseph McDonald, a retired 38-year American Airlines pilot. (Marywood University / Submitted) Show Caption 1 of 3 Marywood University's Aviation Management Program, which is set to expand out to the Philadelphia suburbs at 'the Blue Bell Airport' in Blue Bell, Pa., boasts 78 students currently enrolled, 12 of whom are women. (Marywood University / Submitted) Expand 'We have the professional pilots' side, and the airline Aviation Management track,' said McDonald, who noted students in the program graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. There are 78 students currently in the aviation program. Sheryl Lynn Sochoka, the director of communications at Marywood, elaborated on the program. 'Through an all-in-one integrated program, students receive aviation-specific training with a strong business foundation, providing the leadership and management skills needed to succeed in today's aviation industry,' she said in a news release. 'Students can take all non-pilot related courses online to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, while taking in-person flight courses and instruction at the Blue Bell Airport.' McDonald said the program's progress is moving along at Mach speed, and organizers are currently in the process of finalizing all the details of when the operation will take flight. 'We took our time to make sure we were doing it correctly,' McDonald said, indicating the program will launch in its new location 'fairly soon.' 'We're just waiting for FAA approval for satellite operation,' he said, with paperwork needed to satisfy certain requirements. Fly Gateway Aviation Institute is under contract to provide aircraft and instructors, McDonald said. As part of their training, students have access to a fleet of modern aircraft, including the 2022-2024 Piper Archer 100i. 'We have five new airplanes. The students went down to Florida and flew them up for us fresh from the factory,' McDonald said. 'They are brand new right out of the factory.' McDonald estimated the 2025 models are valued at around $475,000 each, and said students also train with the 2022, 2023 and 2024 models. The retired pilot, who worked with American Airlines for 38 years, said the aviation industry is a strong career choice. 'You're never going to be complacent,' McDonald said. 'You're always studying. … It's a great career and a majority of our students who go into it stay with it.' He said there are 'more facets than just working for the airlines,' adding that there is work in the private sector, at airports, for the FAA, in corporate aviation and more. 'There's many avenues. … There's different levels,' McDonald said. Marywood's Aviation Management program sets students up with what is essentially a 'Ph.D. equivalent of aviation,' the restricted ATP (airline transport pilot) program. He said that 'regular ATP' has a requirement of age 23 with 1,500 hours of experience, but graduates of the Marywood Aviation Management ATP program can be 21 and log 1,250 hours of flight time. 'We have an FAA program in place where we can reduce it (requirements),' McDonald said. 'They usually come out and become flight instructors, get nine months to a year, get their 1,250 hours and join a regional airline.' Anthony Nestico, the assistant director of the Aviation Management program and a JetBlue first officer, said students get hands-on experience at Marywood. 'At Marywood University, we believe in learning by doing. Students in our program fly during their freshman year,' Nestico said. 'Most pilot programs make them wait until their sophomore or junior year before they ever get to fly a real airplane. While we have airplane simulators to get them started, they are soon prepared and equipped to take flight in their first year.' McDonald said the typical starting job in the field is around $60,000 to $80,000. One study indicates a first officer, also known as a co-pilot, will earn between $100,000 and $230,000 annually, with a Delta captain earning about $300,000 to $400,000 per year. Another report places the salary of regional airline first officers at $90 to $150 per hour, with an American Airlines subsidiary, Piedmont Airlines, paying first officers $96,000 per year. McDonald, who teaches four courses at Marywood and said he's there 'just about every day now,' said the students who graduate from the university's Aviation Management program are flying high. 'It's very refreshing to hear they are working, they are out there in the industry,' he said. 'We're quite fortunate.'
