Latest news with #MaryLou
The Advertiser
28-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Rhythm of disasters: meet the veteran volunteers helping in flood aftermath
They never get easier, but Dianne Skaines has seen so many natural disasters that she recognises the rhythm of these things. By lunchtime on Wednesday, the recovery centre at Maitland Town Hall had seen about 20 families, farmers, and homeowners displaced or rocked by the week's flooding. A dozen or so support organisations, insurers, chaplains, and other services had set up shop under the control of the state government's reconstruction authority, which will operate the recovery centre for around the next week to help connect displaced and flooded residents find the support they need. Mrs Skaines, representing the Red Cross and cradling a small dog called Mary Lou while her owner sought advice inside, had seen it all before. She joined the NSW State Emergency Service shortly after the 1989 Newcastle earthquake. During the Pasha Bulker storm, she rode a flood boat through Hamilton North, helping people and their pets out of the water. Later, as a volunteer firefighter on blackout training, she remembers seeing a scurrying animal in the low light and reaching down to collect it. She picked it up, and it bit her, though she did not mind. She put it into her helmet to keep it safe. When an officer came around, they joked she had rescued a rat. "I'll wear that," she said with a good-hearted smile, gently petting Mary Lou. "They're all God's critters." Mrs Skaines has been volunteering with one organisation or another for more than 30 years. Lake Macquarie's Gail Campbell, also in the Red Cross t-shirt, was also a long-time volunteer and their team leader for the day, With Margaret Olsson, from Thornton, the trio had decades of experience between them in helping people when it felt the walls had come crashing down. "We meet and greet," Mrs Campbell said gently. "Offer them a cuppa and start them off. They can have a little bit of a talk and then get taken around to where they need to go." Most residents who attended on Wednesday were looking for advice on dealing with mould, and some were asking about financial help to get back on their feet. All were looking for answers and support. Few walked away with all the answers they came looking for, Mrs Skaines said, but they got what they needed. Importantly for the three volunteers, they did not feel alone as they left. "It's good for them to come in and have a chat," Mrs Campbell said. "Someone to talk to," Mrs Olsson said. The federal government has pledged a disaster recovery payment of up to $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children, on top of personal hardship payments of up to $900 per family. Up to 13 weeks' income support will be available, and primary producers will have access to concessional loans and freight subsidies. About 3500 people remain isolated along the NSW mid-north coast, despite waters receding in recent days, AAP reported on Wednesday. "Recovery is going to take time," Federal Emergency Services Minister Kristy McBain told ABC radio. "This isn't going to be something that is done quickly and we've reiterated that we will be there for the long haul." - with reporting by AAP They never get easier, but Dianne Skaines has seen so many natural disasters that she recognises the rhythm of these things. By lunchtime on Wednesday, the recovery centre at Maitland Town Hall had seen about 20 families, farmers, and homeowners displaced or rocked by the week's flooding. A dozen or so support organisations, insurers, chaplains, and other services had set up shop under the control of the state government's reconstruction authority, which will operate the recovery centre for around the next week to help connect displaced and flooded residents find the support they need. Mrs Skaines, representing the Red Cross and cradling a small dog called Mary Lou while her owner sought advice inside, had seen it all before. She joined the NSW State Emergency Service shortly after the 1989 Newcastle earthquake. During the Pasha Bulker storm, she rode a flood boat through Hamilton North, helping people and their pets out of the water. Later, as a volunteer firefighter on blackout training, she remembers seeing a scurrying animal in the low light and reaching down to collect it. She picked it up, and it bit her, though she did not mind. She put it into her helmet to keep it safe. When an officer came around, they joked she had rescued a rat. "I'll wear that," she said with a good-hearted smile, gently petting Mary Lou. "They're all God's critters." Mrs Skaines has been volunteering with one organisation or another for more than 30 years. Lake Macquarie's Gail Campbell, also in the Red Cross t-shirt, was also a long-time volunteer and their team leader for the day, With Margaret Olsson, from Thornton, the trio had decades of experience between them in helping people when it felt the walls had come crashing down. "We meet and greet," Mrs Campbell said gently. "Offer them a cuppa and start them off. They can have a little bit of a talk and then get taken around to where they need to go." Most residents who attended on Wednesday were looking for advice on dealing with mould, and some were asking about financial help to get back on their feet. All were looking for answers and support. Few walked away with all the answers they came looking for, Mrs Skaines said, but they got what they needed. Importantly for the three volunteers, they did not feel alone as they left. "It's good for them to come in and have a chat," Mrs Campbell said. "Someone to talk to," Mrs Olsson said. The federal government has pledged a disaster recovery payment of up to $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children, on top of personal hardship payments of up to $900 per family. Up to 13 weeks' income support will be available, and primary producers will have access to concessional loans and freight subsidies. About 3500 people remain isolated along the NSW mid-north coast, despite waters receding in recent days, AAP reported on Wednesday. "Recovery is going to take time," Federal Emergency Services Minister Kristy McBain told ABC radio. "This isn't going to be something that is done quickly and we've reiterated that we will be there for the long haul." - with reporting by AAP They never get easier, but Dianne Skaines has seen so many natural disasters that she recognises the rhythm of these things. By lunchtime on Wednesday, the recovery centre at Maitland Town Hall had seen about 20 families, farmers, and homeowners displaced or rocked by the week's flooding. A dozen or so support organisations, insurers, chaplains, and other services had set up shop under the control of the state government's reconstruction authority, which will operate the recovery centre for around the next week to help connect displaced and flooded residents find the support they need. Mrs Skaines, representing the Red Cross and cradling a small dog called Mary Lou while her owner sought advice inside, had seen it all before. She joined the NSW State Emergency Service shortly after the 1989 Newcastle earthquake. During the Pasha Bulker storm, she rode a flood boat through Hamilton North, helping people and their pets out of the water. Later, as a volunteer firefighter on blackout training, she remembers seeing a scurrying animal in the low light and reaching down to collect it. She picked it up, and it bit her, though she did not mind. She put it into her helmet to keep it safe. When an officer came around, they joked she had rescued a rat. "I'll wear that," she said with a good-hearted smile, gently petting Mary Lou. "They're all God's critters." Mrs Skaines has been volunteering with one organisation or another for more than 30 years. Lake Macquarie's Gail Campbell, also in the Red Cross t-shirt, was also a long-time volunteer and their team leader for the day, With Margaret Olsson, from Thornton, the trio had decades of experience between them in helping people when it felt the walls had come crashing down. "We meet and greet," Mrs Campbell said gently. "Offer them a cuppa and start them off. They can have a little bit of a talk and then get taken around to where they need to go." Most residents who attended on Wednesday were looking for advice on dealing with mould, and some were asking about financial help to get back on their feet. All were looking for answers and support. Few walked away with all the answers they came looking for, Mrs Skaines said, but they got what they needed. Importantly for the three volunteers, they did not feel alone as they left. "It's good for them to come in and have a chat," Mrs Campbell said. "Someone to talk to," Mrs Olsson said. The federal government has pledged a disaster recovery payment of up to $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children, on top of personal hardship payments of up to $900 per family. Up to 13 weeks' income support will be available, and primary producers will have access to concessional loans and freight subsidies. About 3500 people remain isolated along the NSW mid-north coast, despite waters receding in recent days, AAP reported on Wednesday. "Recovery is going to take time," Federal Emergency Services Minister Kristy McBain told ABC radio. "This isn't going to be something that is done quickly and we've reiterated that we will be there for the long haul." - with reporting by AAP They never get easier, but Dianne Skaines has seen so many natural disasters that she recognises the rhythm of these things. By lunchtime on Wednesday, the recovery centre at Maitland Town Hall had seen about 20 families, farmers, and homeowners displaced or rocked by the week's flooding. A dozen or so support organisations, insurers, chaplains, and other services had set up shop under the control of the state government's reconstruction authority, which will operate the recovery centre for around the next week to help connect displaced and flooded residents find the support they need. Mrs Skaines, representing the Red Cross and cradling a small dog called Mary Lou while her owner sought advice inside, had seen it all before. She joined the NSW State Emergency Service shortly after the 1989 Newcastle earthquake. During the Pasha Bulker storm, she rode a flood boat through Hamilton North, helping people and their pets out of the water. Later, as a volunteer firefighter on blackout training, she remembers seeing a scurrying animal in the low light and reaching down to collect it. She picked it up, and it bit her, though she did not mind. She put it into her helmet to keep it safe. When an officer came around, they joked she had rescued a rat. "I'll wear that," she said with a good-hearted smile, gently petting Mary Lou. "They're all God's critters." Mrs Skaines has been volunteering with one organisation or another for more than 30 years. Lake Macquarie's Gail Campbell, also in the Red Cross t-shirt, was also a long-time volunteer and their team leader for the day, With Margaret Olsson, from Thornton, the trio had decades of experience between them in helping people when it felt the walls had come crashing down. "We meet and greet," Mrs Campbell said gently. "Offer them a cuppa and start them off. They can have a little bit of a talk and then get taken around to where they need to go." Most residents who attended on Wednesday were looking for advice on dealing with mould, and some were asking about financial help to get back on their feet. All were looking for answers and support. Few walked away with all the answers they came looking for, Mrs Skaines said, but they got what they needed. Importantly for the three volunteers, they did not feel alone as they left. "It's good for them to come in and have a chat," Mrs Campbell said. "Someone to talk to," Mrs Olsson said. The federal government has pledged a disaster recovery payment of up to $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children, on top of personal hardship payments of up to $900 per family. Up to 13 weeks' income support will be available, and primary producers will have access to concessional loans and freight subsidies. About 3500 people remain isolated along the NSW mid-north coast, despite waters receding in recent days, AAP reported on Wednesday. "Recovery is going to take time," Federal Emergency Services Minister Kristy McBain told ABC radio. "This isn't going to be something that is done quickly and we've reiterated that we will be there for the long haul." - with reporting by AAP
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Olympian Mary Lou Retton Arrested on DUI Charge
Originally appeared on E! Online Mary Lou Retton has landed herself into some legal trouble. The Olympian—who was the first American woman to win an individual, all-around Gold medal at the Games—was arrested on May 17 on a DUI (driving under the influence) charge, as seen in court records from the West Viriginia Magistrate Court system obtained by E! News. According to the filing, Mary Lou was arrested and charged on one count of 'driving under influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs; penalties.' The 57-year-old was issued a personal recognizance bond of $1,500 which she paid later that same day. E! News has reached out to reps for Mary Lou but has not yet heard back. The gymnast's legal challenge comes less than two years after she suffered a serious health scare after coming down with a severe form of pneumonia, landing her in the ICU in the fall of 2023. At the time, Mary Lou's 28-year-old daughter McKenna Kelley—who she shares, in addition to daughters Shayla Kelley, 30, Skyla Kelley, 24, and Emma Kelley, 22, with ex-husband Shannon Kelley—kept fans and loved ones apprised of her mother's condition on social media. More from E! Online How The Handmaid's Tale Series Finale Ended After 6 Seasons—With One Big Burning Question Duck Dynasty's Sadie Robertson Details Final Moments with Grandfather Phil Robertson American Music Awards 2025: See All the Celebrity Red Carpet Fashion Writing that her mother was 'fighting for her life,' McKenna wrote on a Spotfunder fundraiser, 'She is not able to breathe on her own. She's been in the ICU for over a week now. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details." Mary Lou's daughter also shared that, at the time, the Olympian was uninsured, asking for prayers as well as donations to help with hospital bill payments. "ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom," McKenna added. "Thank y'all so very much!" Months after her recovery, Mary Lou addressed the backlash McKenna and her other daughters received over seeking to crowdfund. "They didn't deserve that," Mary Lou told Entertainment Tonight in May 2024. "They were just trying to take care of me. I don't care about the naysayers. There are trolls everywhere. It's what makes us America. Everybody's got an opinion, but it is what it is." Noting her month-long stint in the ICU left her with bills that were still coming months later, Mary Lou added people 'can't imagine' the cost of her treatment. But despite the backlash, the Olympic athlete noted how pivotal the support of her daughters was at that time. "You're welcome to your opinion but you weren't in that situation," she argued. "My daughters stepped up to the plate, and they saved my life and all the love and support saved my life." For more celebrities who have opened up about health scares, keep reading. Brian Austin GreenAdam DevineJason Tartick's Back InjuryCasey Fitzgerald's Neck Injury From Hockey Skate BladeMatt Kirschenheiter's Heart AttackTracy Morgan's Medical EmergencyChristy Carlson Romano's Eye InjuryAmy Schumer's Cushing SyndromeHailey Bieber's Blood ClotJustin Bieber's Ramsay Hunt SyndromeJamie Foxx's Brain Bleed & StrokeEmilia Clarke's Brain AneurysmCori Broadus's StrokeShailene Woodley's Health Battle For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Anytime Fitness prepares to take on the 'Murph'
BRANDON, S.D. (KELO) — A fitness center in Brandon is honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice with a special event this holiday weekend. Mary Lou Lacey is a regular at Anytime Fitness in Brandon. 'I come into Anytime Fitness at least six days a week, sometimes more than once a day,' Brandon resident Mary Lou Lacey said. South Dakota agencies seek out ICE authority under 287(g) The 68-year-old is also a Veteran. 'I was in the Army. I was a truck driver for three years, I was mainly on the east coast in Virginia,' Lacey said. This morning, Mary Lou's getting in a few squats, just one of the requirements of the 'Murph'. 'So, it's 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, and 300 squats, and then you come back in and you do your last 1-mile run as a finisher (laugh),' Lacey said. Mary Lou says the mental aspect is the most challenging part of the workout, which is a tribute to Lieutenant Michael Murphy, a Navy Seal who was killed in action in 2005. 'We all want to be remembered and he gave us everything, so we're going to remember that by doing this challenge,' Lacey said. 'It is a wonderful way to truly remember what Memorial Day is all about, those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms so we can come here as a community and do a workout like this as a group,' Anytime Fitness owner Jayme Smid said. Jayme Smid owns Anytime Fitness and encourages people of any fitness level to participate. 'We'll break it up and we'll do 25 pull-ups or 50 push-ups at a time, so it doesn't have to be that daunting 200 number, because at the end of the day while it's going to challenge you no matter what fitness level you're at we want you to feel accomplished,' Smid said. And Mary Lou says it's worth the pain. 'It's going to make you feel good, it's going to hurt, but in the long run you're going to feel good and you're going to feel like you respected someone who sacrificed for us,' Lacey said. The 'Murph' starts at 8:00 Saturday morning at Anytime Fitness in Brandon. There's no cost to participate, but you are encouraged to pre-register. Veterans talk real reason for Memorial Day Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
These 2 historic Arizona buildings are among most at risk. Here's what makes them special
Two Arizona Historic places are among the most endangered in America, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The organization placed Phoenix's whimsical Mystery Castle and Flagstaff's charming May Hicks Curtis House on its 2025 list of America's 11 most endangered historic places — a national call to action aimed at saving irreplaceable pieces of U.S. history. Every year, the nonprofit highlights sites across the country that face urgent threats, from natural disasters to development pressures. This year's list, released May 7, also includes communities still reeling from 2024's Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, a Catskills resort in New York, and the Pamunkey Indian Reservation in Virginia. 'Preservation has such a powerful impact on the communities where it happens through telling the stories of our community,'' Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, told USA TODAY. 'It inspires community pride and creates economic opportunities.'' Here's why these two Arizona sites made the list — and what is being done to save them. Mystery Castle is a beloved Phoenix landmark that sits near where Seventh Street ends at South Mountain. The castle has been closed to the public for more than a year as it faces an uncertain future that threatens to end in demolition. Boyce Luther Gulley built this 18-room, three-story "castle" for his daughter Mary Lou from found or inexpensive objects, including old automobiles, telephone poles, street signs, glass bottles, plow discs, railroad tracks and scrap metal. It's reportedly held together by a combination of mortar, cement, calcium and goat milk. Yes — goat milk. Gulley, who battled tuberculosis, moved to Arizona and left his family behind. Around 1934, he began building the Mystery Castle for his daughter without plans, permits or formal architectural or engineering training — though he was a talented craftsman and artist. It wasn't until Gulley died in 1945, however, that his wife, Frances Bradford Gulley, and Mary Lou found out about the castle. They eventually moved in and called it home. They later would transform the castle into a nationally known tourist attraction from the 1950s-2000s, but it is now in a state of disrepair. Since Mary Lou Gulley's passing, the castle has been looked after and managed by the Mystery Castle Foundation. She formed the foundation with the goal of preserving the castle, a Phoenix Point of Pride. Phoenix officials confirmed that a demolition permit request for the Mystery Castle was denied on Nov. 22, 2023, and the property was given a one-year stay of demolition. A representative of the Mystery Castle Foundation, Linda Spears, told The Arizona Republic in August 2024 that requesting the demolition permit last year was "the first step in working with the city of Phoenix to preserve it." Monsoon damage and vandalism have taken a toll on the structure, Spears said. Phoenix officials estimated the castle would need more than $3 million in preservation and rehabilitation work. This site commemorates May Hicks Curtis, who sewed the first Arizona state flag in 1911. Located just off the original 1920s alignment of Route 66 in Flagstaff, Hicks built the house in 1913 adjacent to two boarding houses operated by her and her mother, which likely served early Route 66 travelers. With new development moving forward on the lot where the house has stood, the house is under imminent threat of demolition, but the city of Flagstaff is working to relocate and rehabilitate the house for community use while commemorating the important historical significance of the site. Curtis lived in the house for decades, and as the property most closely associated with her legacy, the house represents her active community involvement and contributions to Arizona's history. Curtis participated in Flagstaff's Women's Club and the Arizona Historical Society, among numerous other organizations, and devoted her life to improving her city and her state. She also carved out her role in Arizona's history by co-creating the largest existing collection of pre-WWII photographs of Flagstaff with her first husband, Frank Curtis. City officials said relocation is the only way to prevent demolition of the historic house, so the city took ownership of the building and is moving it to a temporary location. More funding would be necessary to move the house to a permanent location and start the rehabilitation process. Additional grant funding for initial stabilization and condition assessment was provided by the Arizona Community Foundation and the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. Flagstaff officials said the city hopes to raise public awareness and seek new partnerships for rehabilitating, interpreting, and activating the house. Future uses could include serving as municipal offices or providing publicly accessible community space, along with public interpretation of the importance of May Hicks Curtis' contributions to Flagstaff's history. 'The May Hicks Curtis House stands as a testament to the rich history and heritage that have shaped Flagstaff, and its preservation ensures that future generations will continue to draw inspiration from the stories it holds," said Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett. "Thank you to Secretary Fontes for helping promote the history of May Hicks Curtis and her connection to the Arizona flag, as well as to our partners for helping to make this relocation and rehabilitation a reality.' The National Trust, chartered by Congress in 1949, spends about a year selecting sites to include on its endangered list, considering factors such as its importance to the community, whether there's a strong partnership to support preservation and what impact the site might have once it's protected. 'They're compelling because of the stories they hold and because of what will happen there after they're preserved," said Quillen. The listings began in 1988. The recognition doesn't come with funding, but often garners attention and support for the sites. The organization's website, also has resources for community leaders seeking to engage in preservation projects in their neighborhoods and cities. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 2 historic AZ buildings are among most at risk in US
Irish Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mary Lou McDonald on Dáil speaking time row, Pope Francis, and loss of father
Mary Lou McDonald has said it will 'never be acceptable' to blur the lines between opposition and government, as she addressed the recent Dáil speaking time row on Friday's Late Late Show. The Sinn Féin leader appeared as the first guest of the night, chatting with host Patrick Kielty about the loss of her father last year, why she wouldn't run for president, the Dáil speaking time row, and her admiration for Pope Francis. With Pope Francis' funeral taking place on Saturday morning, the conversation started with Patrick asking Mary Lou how significant the loss of the Pontiff was to the world. 'I think we can safely say that the world has lost a very very good man and is the poorer place for it,' the Sinn Féin leader shared. 'I mean for me he was very much a champion of the poor, even the choice of the name Pope Francis…. he was for the underdog, the excluded. 'He rang Gaza city every evening, imagine that? Even when he was really really sick and struggling himself and that I think, above all other gestures, told the world who he was. 'So tomorrow he will go to his rest and I only hope that whoever his successor is follows in the same train.' Turning to Dáil speaking time row, Patrick asked the Sinn Féin leader if things were going to 'calm down a bit'. 'This is now my fourth Dáil term and I thought I had seen it all until I discover I hadn't,' Mary Lou told Patrick. 'So imagine this, that Michael Lowry resurrected Lazarus, like the key man informing this government, and the guy that they all believe they have to keep happy. 'So that was one thing that I did not predict, and then we moved to the crazy situation of suggesting you could be in government and opposition at the same time. 'So of course as the opposition, we couldn't tolerate that and it wasn't really about who got how many minutes, it was about the fundamental principle that for the system to work and for people to be represented properly, there has to be a clear distinction between government and opposition. 'So it got a very heated response and rightly so Paddy.' She added: 'Look, we have work to do, children can't get school places and people are looking for medical treatment that they can't access. 'I'm dealing with a lot of women who are suffering with endometriosis and other conditions, so there's work to be done and we have to crack on with that but let me say this it will never be acceptable to blur the lines in the way that this government sought to blur them. 'Having gone to the electorate, they formed their government, I accept that, I accept the verdict of the electorate but I also know that they told lies around the housing numbers, they did that brazily. 'We only could verify that after the fact. 'I know that's your opinion,' Patrick chimed in. 'Well I'm stating fact, actually,' Mary Lou said, to applause. 'But that's what happened. I found that very hard to take, but they formed the government and that's alright. 'But you can't run the government and also run the opposition, that's never going to be okay and I would hope after the next election, whenever that is… I hope that that respect for those distinctions will be reinstated'. Patrick's beloved mother, Mary Kielty passed away peacefully at her home in Dundrum, Co Down on March 8 of this year. Mary Lou's father, Patrick Bernard McDonald, who was known fondly as Paddy, passed away on Monday July 29, 2024 at the Caritas Nursing Home on Merrion Road. Reflecting on the process of grief, Patrick asked Mary Lou where she was in her own journey. Patrick asked: 'We're almost the same age. We both lost parents in the last 12 months. I'm sort of in the early stage process. Where are you on that journey after losing your dad? 'Still processing it, to be honest with you,' Mary Lou shared. 'And I'm sorry about your mom, that's really, really hard. 'I had a complicated relationship with my dad, and initially, when he died, I couldn't figure out, did that make it harder, or did it make it less hard? 'So I think what I've learned in the intervening period is it's always hard to have one father, you have one mother, and when they go, it's the finality of it, right? 'Everybody's carrying something in their life… I kind of did my best always to have a relationship with them. I didn't always succeed. That's the truth. 'But I'm at peace with that now, but I think I'll probably spend the rest of my life fully processing that it never stops. It never stops.'
