Latest news with #Lipski
Chicago Tribune
20-06-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
New Kouts library garden with pig sculpture reflects community
The new $170,000 garden at Kouts Public Library was a dream come true for youth services librarian Dawn Ailes. When the Rotary Library Garden across from Valparaiso Public Library opened, Ailes' reaction was 'When do I get mine?' Porter County Public Library System Director Jesse Butz said. Ailes wielded the large pair of scissors to cut the ribbon Wednesday to dedicate the new library garden at Kouts. The Kouts garden is the fourth to open in the library system, joining the ones at Valparaiso, Portage and South Haven. Hebron's garden is set to debut next year. For each, 'we try to make it a reflection of the community,' Butz said. 'We really wanted to capture the essence of Kouts,' Library Board President Olga Granat said. Having a pig sculpture as the centerpiece seemed a natural. Kouts holds an annual Pork Fest in recognition of Harold Heinold's success in putting the town on the map with Heinold Hog Market, which was a major player in the pork trading business. Heinold wrote the rules for trading hog futures for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in 1996. Butz's work on the library garden shows. In planning features, he even found a spider structure to make the trash can more attractive. A story walk at the new Kouts Public Library begins with a caterpillar that turns into a butterfly, leading to this pollinator station where visitors can plant and tend flowers. At Kouts, 'we had a ton of volunteers,' Butz said. He recalled a child 7 or 8 years old using a shovel as the finishing touches were being put in place. 'This wasn't a professionally designed garden. This was our team,' Butz said. When it was time to plant the flowers, the staff pitched in. 'Dawn was calling everybody she knew,' branch librarian Jack Lipski said, to get volunteers to pitch in when the flowers arrived. 'She does amazing things here,' Lipski said. Even before the grand opening, Ailes began using the garden for children's programming. Porter County Commissioner Barb Regnitz is enchanted with the garden. 'Libraries are magical. They transport you to places that are only limited by your imagination,' she said. 'This is just an outstanding library, a beautiful place,' Commissioner Ed Morales said. Porter County Council President Andy Vasquez is no stranger to the library. 'If you don't think something's happening down here in south county, come on down to Kouts,' he said. Lipski said when it was time to plan the library garden with Butz and Ailes, he was excited. 'I didn't know how we were going to do this, but we did it.' 'A lot of it was planning it out,' Lipski said. The town granted permission for the fence to be closer to the road than normally would be allowed, a way to keep kids safe from traffic as they roam the garden. A couple of them had already climbed on the pig sculpture before the garden was officially dedicated. 'This town needs something to bring in more people. This town needs this. The library needs this,' Lipski said. 'There's so much growth potential down here.' 'I love south county. I couldn't imagine being the branch manager anywhere else,' he said. 'I like to go and spread the good news of Kouts.' During the grand opening, a German band played loudly in the library. The volume didn't bother Lipski. He doesn't shush patrons as a stereotypical librarian might. 'The library is for them,' he said. Next on the library system's agenda is the Hebron location, Butz said. Hebron's library is on a tiny lot, which limits what can be put in place there. Behind the Hebron police station, a story trail is already in place, Butz said. The Hebron Redevelopment Commission donated $28,000 for an in-ground grand piano so children will be able to step on the keys and play notes, Lipski said. 'Donors can make a big difference,' Butz said. Features at the Kouts location already in place can still be sponsored, he said.
Daily Record
04-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Chilling video shows diver's last moments 300-feet below water after ignoring warnings
Yuri Lipski, a Russian-Israeli diver, died after he ignored warnings and dived solo into the Blue Hole in the Red Sea, Egypt. His body was found nearly 300 feet underwater A harrowing clip captures the dreadful last moments of a diver's life before he met with a tragic fate at a dangerous diving location after disregarding safety advice. On 28 April 2000, Russian-Israeli scuba diver Yuri Lipski descended into the infamous Blue Hole situated in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt and tragically failed to return. It is believed that nearly 91 metres below the surface, Lipski suffered the fatal effects of nitrogen narcosis, caused by the high pressures at such depths, which can manifest in disorientation, illusions, euphoria, and poor decision-making. Yet, following the calamitous event, Lipski's helmet camera was retrieved, providing a bone-chilling perspective on his last moments, according to a report by the Daily Star. The camera footage unveils the stony seabed while Lipski's breathing creates an eerie soundtrack. Lipski had hoped to record the iconic arch within the Blue Hole, a detail confirmed by Tarek Omar, a seasoned technical diver who encountered Lipski in Egypt prior to his ill-fated dive, reports the Mirror US. Despite Omar's warnings and recommendations for significant preparatory training, earnestly stating "I said 'OK, so you'll need two weeks' training with me first, and then we'll film'," as recounted to The Guardian, Lipski refused due to time constraints and proceeded with the hazardous solo dive. His remains were recovered the morning after his dive. The site of the incident, the Blue Hole, whilst being a magnet for diving enthusiasts, has a grim reputation, attributed to the deaths of possibly as many as 200 individuals. "Recovering bodies is a case-by-case thing; I do it pro bono," Omar revealed to Scene Arabia. "It is a very critical and difficult thing to do – it requires more than just being a technical diver, it takes more than experience. It is very hard because you dive deep and you stay down to locate the remains." The notorious Blue Hole has claimed up to an estimated 200 lives, making it an infamous spot for diving enthusiasts. This underwater chasm, a submarine sinkhole, plunges to about 100 metres at its deepest point and boasts two channels into the ocean, presenting a thrilling yet treacherous challenge for daring divers from across the world. Yet for Omar, this perilous place is as familiar as his own home. "I know it like my kitchen," he confided to Cairo Scene, recalling his initial foray among numerous "missions" undertaken in nearly two decades exploring the Blue Hole. Notably, one of his expeditions etched his name in the record books with a remarkable 209-metre dive.
Irish Daily Mirror
04-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Diver's horrifying death after ignoring warnings and filming final moments
A harrowing clip has captured a diver's final moments before his tragic death at a notorious diving spot after ignoring warnings about the perilous nature of his actions. On April 28, 2000, Russian-Israeli diver Yuri Lipski took the plunge into the infamous Blue Hole in the Red Sea off Egypt and tragically never emerged again. It is believed that Lipski succumbed to the effects of nitrogen narcosis nearly 300 feet below the surface, where the intense pressure likely caused him to experience euphoria, confusion, hallucinations, and poor decision-making. In a grim twist, Lipski's helmet camera was found intact, providing a haunting glimpse into his last moments, as reported by the Daily Star. The recovered footage eerily displays the ocean floor while the sound of Lipski's breathing resonates ominously. Lipski had hoped to film the renowned arch of the Blue Hole, according to Tarek Omar, a technical diver who had met Lipski in Egypt prior to his ill-fated dive, reports the Mirror US. Omar, known as 'The Elder Diver', had warned against the risky solo dive without proper training. "I said 'OK, so you'll need two weeks' training with me first, and then we'll film'," Omar recounted to The Guardian. However, constrained by time, Lipski turned down the offer for training and went ahead with the dive alone. His body was discovered the following morning. The Blue Hole, a submarine sinkhole that attracts divers from around the world, is infamous for its treacherous conditions, with some estimates suggesting that as many as 200 people may have lost their lives there. "Recovering bodies is a case-by-case thing; I do it pro bono," Omar told Scene Arabia. "It is a very critical and difficult thing to do – it requires more than just being a technical diver, it takes more than experience. It is very hard because you dive deep and you stay down to locate the remains." With around 200 fatalities recorded, The Blue Hole remains an infamous yet beguiling destination for scuba enthusiasts globally. This submarine sinkhole, which plummets to approximately 100 metres at its deepest point and features two oceanic connections, presents dual allure and peril—a stone's throw from the shoreline. For Omar, this renowned diving haven has become second nature. "I know it like my kitchen," he disclosed to Cairo Scene, reminiscing over his initial journey into what would become numerous retrieval voyages. A veteran of nearly two decades exploring the depths of the Blue Hole, he once surfaced from the abyss with a title in hand subsequent to an astonishing 209-metre dive.
Daily Mirror
04-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Chilling footage after diver ignored warnings and recorded his final moments
Yuri Lipski's body was recovered the next morning after he plunged to his death in the Blue Hole in the Red Sea, Egypt, and his helmet camera was found intact A harrowing clip shows the heart-stopping final moments of a diver at a deadly diving site, after he ignored cautions about his actions. On April 28, 2000, Russian-Israeli adventurer Yuri Lipski went down into the abyss of the Blue Hole in Egypt's Red Sea and vanished. Tragically, Lipski is believed to have died around 300 feet underwater, a depth where high pressure may have caused nitrogen narcosis – leading to a dangerous state of euphoria, bewilderment, hallucinations, and impaired judgment. Miraculously, Lipski's helmet camera was recovered, capturing a ghostly glimpse into his last breaths as reported by the Daily Star. The eerie film shows the ocean seabed rocks while Lipski's breathing reverberates in the background. He planned to record the famed arch of the Blue Hole, explained Tarek Omar, a seasoned diver who had met Lipski before the doomed expedition, reports the Mirror US. Omar, nicknamed 'The Elder Diver', initially discouraged the reckless unaccompanied mission, saying: "I said 'OK, so you'll need two weeks' training with me first, and then we'll film'," he told The Guardian. However, pressed for time with just a weekend free, Lipski turned down the essential training and dove alone. By the following morning, his remains were discovered. The Blue Hole, prized among divers but infamous for its perilous conditions, has seen up to an estimated 200 souls lost to its depths. "Recovering bodies is a case-by-case thing; I do it pro bono," Omar revealed to Scene Arabia. "It is a very critical and difficult thing to do – it requires more than just being a technical diver, it takes more than experience. It is very hard because you dive deep and you stay down to locate the remains." The Blue Hole, notorious as a diving hotspot, is believed to have claimed up to 200 lives. This submarine sinkhole, favoured by scuba enthusiasts, plummets swiftly to about 100 metres at its deepest with dual openings to the sea, posing a tempting yet perilous challenge for adventurers worldwide. Yet for Omar, this daunting location is as familiar as home. "I know it like my kitchen," he told Cairo Scene. Recalling his initial sortie of countless "missions" Omar's two-decade tenure at the Blue Hole has even seen him emerge with accolades, notably an impressive record-breaking 209-metre dive.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Two more fires in Milwaukee happen in residences without sprinklers: 'None of that has to happen'
Two Milwaukee fires on June 1 that displaced nearly 40 people shared a troubling characteristic: no sprinklers. The lack of sprinklers prompted a call from Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski to address the issue, which has taken on increased prominence following a Mother's Day blaze that killed five people in a four-story apartment with no sprinklers in May. 'It looks like Godzilla took a bite out of both buildings. None of that has to happen,' Lipski said. 'Smoke alarms alert them to the problem; sprinklers allow them to get out.' Lipski's call to action came after the June 1 fires. About 25 people were displaced after a fire started at a 14-unit apartment at 4422 W. Hampton Ave. Less than 10 hours before, a four-unit apartment building at 8711 W. Villard Ave. set fire, displacing 14. Between the two fires, one person was injured and one firefighter had minor injuries. Investigators have yet to determine causes of the two fires, Lipski said. Lipski said sprinklers would have made a "dramatic difference" in these cases, echoing what he said following the Highland Court apartment fire in May. Since that fire and Lipski highlighting the issue, the lack of sprinklers in Milwaukee residences like these have come under scrutiny. That's allowed at these three buildings, and others like them, because of building code rules that allow buildings built before 1974 with certain sizes, shapes, dimensions and occupancy not to have sprinklers. The Hampton Avenue building was built in 1973 and the Villard Avenue apartment in 1962, according to online property records. On May 28, city officials met to review Milwaukee's sprinkler code, which is dictated by state law. That is due to Act 270, which then-Gov. Scott Walker signed into law 12 years ago and took away the ability of local governments to adopt municipal ordinances that are more restrictive than state law. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel previously reported that many state legislators, who were landlords themselves, helped pass laws around that time that undermined renter's rights. At the meeting, city officials said they are proposing increasing the number of fire protection inspections to twice a year in response to the Highland fire. The cost of adding sprinklers to buildings is a frequently cited reason for not requiring them and Lipski has pushed back against that repeatedly. At the meeting, he said it costs about the same as adding new carpet to a unit. On June 2, Lipski said he was feeling 'OK' about city officials' interest in addressing the issue. 'This has been a problem that's existed since sprinklers existed,' he said. 'It's not hyperbole. It's not fearmongering. It's happening and we got to see if we can fix it. If we try and we fail, then we'll just keep trying.' Officials estimate between 30,000 and 50,000 Milwaukee residents live in buildings without sprinklers. Milwaukee Common Council members Andrea Pratt and Mark Chambers Jr., who represent the areas where the June 1 fires occurred, did not immediately respond to Journal Sentinel requests for comment. The Red Cross opened a temporary shelter at Saint Paul Lutheran Church for tenants of the Humboldt fire, said Jennifer Warren, spokesperson for American Red Cross Wisconsin Region. Four people stayed overnight. Red Cross plans to host a Multi Agency Resource Center to help tenants secure another apartment. No date has been set yet. David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Two more fires in Milwaukee happen in residences without sprinklers
