Latest news with #JudyHamilton
The Courier
4 days ago
- Business
- The Courier
New council sheltered housing planned in Dunfermline as progress made on another city site
A new council sheltered housing complex is planned for Dunfermline. Fife Council has signed an agreement with Campion Homes for 40 sheltered homes on empty land between Evershed Drive and Aberdour Road. Work on the £9.23 million development, next to Canmore Primary School, is expected to begin in July with a completion date of summer 2027. There will be a mix of one and two-bedroom flats, including 13 wheelchair properties. Funding has come from the Scottish Government's Affordable Housing Grant and Fife Council's Housing Revenue Account capital budget. Councillor Judy Hamilton, housing spokesperson, said: 'I'm delighted that in the face of a housing emergency, we are continuing to deliver our ambitious affordable housing programme, one of the country's largest social house-building programmes, while the pressure on housing services continues to be relentlessly high.' Meanwhile, Fife Council says it expects work on 45 new homes at Bellyeoman to be completed by summer 2027. It comes after the local authority appointed CCG (Scotland) Ltd the contract to complete the work, which was halted when previous contractor First Endeavour LLP went into receivership in March 2024. CCG (Scotland) Ltd has also been given the contract to finish 51 new homes at New Flockhouse in Lochore, while Clark Contracts Ltd has taken on the contract for 72 new homes at Lochgelly Road in Lumphinnans, as part of the same project. Work on all these sites is expected to resume in June.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
150 students and 50 adults are rescued from elementary school after flood waters consume town
Around 150 students and 50 adults evacuated Westernport Elementary School in Maryland via rescue boats Tuesday after severe flooding reportedly reached the second floor. It took 15 boat trips to safely get those in the school to safety, Allegany County spokesperson Kati Kenney said. Students were taken to a church on higher ground, where they remained under the care of teachers and staff until their parents arrived. "The first floor had been flooded all the way to the ceiling,' William Wade, a fourth-grader at the school, told KDKA. "I'm just happy to be alive," Wade added. Hours of heavy rainfall in Maryland also swamped downtown homes and businesses, prompting evacuations in nearby areas. Emergency crews from surrounding counties were assisting, but no injuries had been reported as of late Tuesday afternoon. Heavy rainfall on Tuesday also affected parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania, including Albemarle County, Virginia, where an unnamed 12-year-old boy went missing after being swept away by floodwaters overtaking a roadway, according to a 911 caller. A flood warning is in effect in the area until 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Westernport, Maryland, Mayor Judy Hamilton noted that while the town has a history of severe flooding, Tuesday's events were unexpected. "It just seemed to happen all at once," she said. "My heart is breaking." Parts of Allegany County received over 4.65 inches of rain in 24 hours, with more expected through Wednesday morning, according to the governor's office. Residents noted they haven't seen flooding this bad since 1996. Search efforts were paused overnight due to poor visibility and safety concerns, but will resume Wednesday. The Albemarle County Fire Rescue asked residents not to 'self-deploy' amid the dangerous conditions and that the department is not requesting any volunteer efforts at this time.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Flash flooding forces evacuation of elementary school in western Maryland
Flooding in rural western Maryland forced the evacuation of an elementary school Tuesday afternoon as water began to breach the second floor, according to local officials. Downtown homes and businesses were also inundated with floodwaters following hours of heavy rain. Officials reassured the public that students and staff were safe as concerned parents and other community members posted on social media wondering how long the emergency situation would last at Westernport Elementary School. Allegany County spokesperson Kati Kenney said responders used rescue boats to safely evacuate the school. About 150 students and 50 adults were evacuated during 15 boat trips. Kenney said additional evacuations were underway in nearby areas, with reports of people trapped in cars and houses, but no injuries had been reported as of late Tuesday afternoon. She said emergency crews from surrounding counties were helping with the response. Roads throughout the area were closed due to flooding, including major arteries, according to the Allegany County Sheriff's Office. Westernport Mayor Judy Hamilton said the town has been prone to severe flooding in the past, but they weren't expecting it today. 'It just seemed to happen all at once,' she said. 'My heart is breaking.' She said the evacuated students were taken to higher ground and sheltered in a church building, where they would be kept safe by teachers and staff until their parents could pick them up. With a population under 2,000 people, Westernport is located in far western Maryland along the West Virginia border. Its downtown was built around where Georges Creek flows into the North Branch Potomac River. The National Weather Service reported widespread flash flooding in the area Tuesday afternoon. Hamilton said she's trying to get in touch with Maryland's governor to request emergency assistance. She said the last time the town suffered devastating flooding was in 1996. 'But we're strong and we always build back,' she said.
Associated Press
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Associated Press
Flash flooding forces evacuation of elementary school in western Maryland
WESTERNPORT, Md. (AP) — Flooding in rural western Maryland forced the evacuation of an elementary school Tuesday afternoon as water began to breach the second floor, according to local officials. Downtown homes and businesses were also inundated with floodwaters following hours of heavy rain. Officials reassured the public that students and staff were safe as concerned parents and other community members posted on social media wondering how long the emergency situation would last at Westernport Elementary School. Allegany County spokesperson Kati Kenney said responders used rescue boats to safely evacuate the school. About 150 students and 50 adults were evacuated during 15 boat trips. Kenney said additional evacuations were underway in nearby areas, with reports of people trapped in cars and houses, but no injuries had been reported as of late Tuesday afternoon. She said emergency crews from surrounding counties were helping with the response. Roads throughout the area were closed due to flooding, including major arteries, according to the Allegany County Sheriff's Office. Westernport Mayor Judy Hamilton said the town has been prone to severe flooding in the past, but they weren't expecting it today. 'It just seemed to happen all at once,' she said. 'My heart is breaking.' She said the evacuated students were taken to higher ground and sheltered in a church building, where they would be kept safe by teachers and staff until their parents could pick them up. With a population under 2,000 people, Westernport is located in far western Maryland along the West Virginia border. Its downtown was built around where Georges Creek flows into the North Branch Potomac River. The National Weather Service reported widespread flash flooding in the area Tuesday afternoon. Hamilton said she's trying to get in touch with Maryland's governor to request emergency assistance. She said the last time the town suffered devastating flooding was in 1996. 'But we're strong and we always build back,' she said.
