Latest news with #Pullen
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carnation, WA fed up with traffic from Remlinger Farms concerts
The Brief Two sold-out concerts at Remlinger Farms caused severe traffic congestion in Carnation, frustrating residents due to gridlock at the intersection of State Route 203 and Tolt Hill Road. The Seattle Theatre Group, responsible for the concerts, is seeking solutions to improve traffic flow, acknowledging the impact on local infrastructure and planning adjustments for future events. The City of Carnation advocates for a roundabout at the problematic intersection, but funding has not been allocated; STG encourages concertgoers to arrive early and stay late to avoid peak traffic. SEATTLE - What was supposed to be a weekend of music and summer fun turned into a traffic nightmare for many in the Snoqualmie Valley. Two sold-out concerts at Remlinger Farms brought bumper-to-bumper gridlock to the rural town of Carnation, prompting frustration from residents. The trouble spot — the intersection where State Route 203 meets Tolt Hill Road, the only major route in and out of Carnation. Over the weekend, the road was packed with cars heading to and from two sold-out Leon Bridges shows. The traffic jam was so severe, locals posted online that they felt trapped in their own neighborhoods. What they're saying Fred Pullen, a longtime resident of the valley, shared his frustration with FOX 13 Seattle. Pullen feels endeared to Remlinger Farms for its decades of commitment to the community, but says these major productions have seriously interrupted traffic flow. "Even with traffic management on site, Highway 203 can be backed up for miles. This is a main thoroughfare for the community, and the concerts can add hours to even a short errand," said Pullen. "This also interferes with other local businesses." Instead of shying away from criticism like this, the Seattle Theatre Group that runs the Remlinger Concert series is seeking solutions. STG, which is also responsible for running iconic venues like The Paramount Theatre in Seattle, partnered with Remlinger Farms in 2024 to bring major shows to the small-town venue. But Nate Dwyer, Chief Operating Officer for STG acknowledged that these events can overwhelm local infrastructure. "Big concerts with 6,000 people can be absolutely shocking," he said. "So making sure we have a direct line, a face, we don't want to be a faceless organization." According to Dwyer, adjustments were made between Friday and Saturday's shows, and more changes are being planned to help traffic move more smoothly in the future. "For us, it's really about ingress and egress. So what is it like to come to the venue? Arrive at the venue? Get in? We want to make that easier, so if that's more entrances that's what we're going to try," said Dwyer. The other side The City of Carnation declined to go on camera but issued a statement noting that the problematic intersection is not under city control — it falls within King County's jurisdiction. "The City of Carnation has been advocating for a roundabout at this intersection to increase traffic flow and public safety for at least three years. We were disappointed to see that the funding was not allocated in the state transportation budget for this fiscal year," the statement said. What's next Dwyer noted that Carnation is in the county's designated urban growth area, with plans for significant development ahead. "So there are designs to have hundreds more housing units and hundreds more jobs in the coming years," said Dwyer. "If there's something the city or county can do to make it more improved at the state level with WSDOT, that's great. We can't count on any of those things happening short term. So it's really on us to find solutions." Dwyer advised attendees to avoid peak traffic by arriving early and staying late. He noted that Remlinger Farms offers a range of activities, including animal encounters, berry picking, and kids' rides, which can be enjoyed before the show. Afterward, instead of rushing out with the crowd, Dwyer suggested lingering a bit—perhaps grabbing a slice of pie—before heading home. The Source Information in this story comes from original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle reporter Lauren Donovan. Wenatchee dad, 3 young girls unreachable, missing person alert activated 'Shut your legs' comment, rating female staff: Snoqualmie Police Chief fired after probe DOJ to announce drug trafficking arrests in Seattle Washington state named 'sanctuary jurisdiction' by Trump admin, 35 of 39 counties listed Motorcyclist speaks out after arrest made in Auburn, WA hit-and-run nearly 2 years ago WA beekeeper working to save millions of bees involved in crash in Whatcom County FBI scrutiny puts pressure on Seattle mayor after protest clash To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Metro
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Pullen: In snooker only the strongest survive so you have to become one of them
Twice coming through Q School by just 19 years old is some effort and Liam Pullen is rightfully proud of the achievement, although he hopes never to be back there again. The teenager first won his place on the World Snooker Tour in 2023, but after a difficult second season in particular, he was back at Q School this month fighting for his professional future. An impressive run of five wins meant he is straight back on tour, although it is never straightforward in the cauldron of Q School. Pullen made 73 in the first frame of his final match with Umut Dikme, only to lose it despite the German requiring two snookers. Not the best start to the all-important contest. 'I went to the toilet, gave myself a proper speaking to,' Pullen told Metro. 'I won't say what I was saying to myself, but it was severe. I knew that this is do or die.' The teenager would win the next three frames and get over the line with a 4-2 win. 'I'm really proud of myself and happy with how I've come through,' he said. 'There's a lot on the line, it feels like the be all or end all. Otherwise it's one more year to try and get back on again. 'I think Q School is a completely different thing to playing in the World Championship or anything. 'In the semi-finals, I was 3-0 up against Alfie [Davies]. I thought, 'Oh right, this is good, I'm confident.' Then I just hit a brick wall and it was awful. It was just so hard. 'Hopefully, I don't have to go back there for, well…forever. Now I've got to kick on and improve as a player and learn.' After an encouraging first season on tour, the second was a bit of a disaster, winning just £7,500 in prize money and feeling confidence drain away. 'It was much harder the second year,' he said. 'Just a lot of knocks and I sort of got into a rhythm of losing. It was horrible, to be honest. 'Maybe I lost a tiny bit of enjoyment because of constant losing. It felt like…it was just really hard. 'But you've got to come out of it the other side. There's no point sulking, because that's going to get you nowhere, sadly. I wish sulking did get you somewhere because snooker players, in that department we're right up there. I think that's just the nature of the game, how hard it is.' Far from deterred by his tough couple of seasons on tour, Pullen has banked the experience and feels ready to go again as an improved player. 'I think I've learned a lot from those two years,' he said. 'Now I know what to do, know what the craic when I'm turning up at all these different places. I look forward to the challenge ahead and I'll try my best and I'll be ready for it.' The Yorkshireman has fixed the problem of losing a 'tiny bit of enjoyment' as his passion for the game is what drives his tireless practice at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds and ambition for decades more to come on tour. 'I've really enjoyed just doing what I want to do for the rest of my life,' he said. 'That's what I want to do, play snooker for the rest of my life. 'I think those last two years are a stepping stone and I've really learned a lot. I've got to use it to my advantage and try and correct things I did wrong. 'In snooker you have to sink or swim. Only the strongest survive, so you've got to become one of them.' MORE: China's Bai Yulu retains World Women's Snooker Championship MORE: Barry Pinches names career highlight, biggest regret and 'crying shame' in snooker MORE: Alfie Burden talks World Seniors redemption, online abuse and Q School bloodbath
Sunday World
08-05-2025
- Sunday World
Criminal who had ‘flings' with two prison workers sent back to jail after a week on the run
A prison nurse was jailed for six months after she admitted to misconduct in a public office following their 'relationship' A criminal who had flings with two prison workers has been sent back to prison after he spent a week on the run. Harri Pullen (27) was arrested after he was caught dealing drugs, only to flee custody in a getaway car after requesting to use the bathroom. The gang member was released from prison after serving a four-year sentence in Bridgend, Wales, only to be nabbed for selling crack cocaine on his e-bike. He was discovered with five wraps of crack cocaine, a burner phone, an iPhone and £90 inside a bum bag. When detained, he told police he had a pain in his head and was taken to hospital for treatment. Pullen escaped in a getaway car when he was permitted to go to the bathroom. He was still wearing handcuffs as he ran through the hospital car park and ambulance bay to escape. Officers ran after him, but he managed to get away when he jumped into a car that fled at speed. One week later, he was found hiding in a farmhouse and tried to escape again but eventually surrendered. Julia Cox, defending, told the court that her client was 'immature' and suffered from 'hypochondria', believing that he had a brain tumour. 'This was not anything that was pre-planned. It was more opportunistic than that. 'It was upon his family's attendance at the hospital that he, in his words, 'lost his head'.' Pullen pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including drug possession, escaping custody, and dangerous driving and will return to prison for six years. During his previous stint behind bars, he had flings with a prison officer and a nurse. Ruth Shmylo (26) was accused of having an 'inappropriate relationship' with Pullen between December 2020 and April 2021 while she was working at HMP Parc in Wales. Cardiff Crown Court heard that Pullen passed Shmylo a note with his phone number on it. She said she pushed it back, to which he threatened her, asking: 'Do you know what you've just done?' Prison officer Ruth Shmylo She told the court that Pullen had initiated phone sex with her, and she repeatedly asked him to stop, adding that she viewed it as sexual harassment. Shmylo was found not guilty of misconduct in public office and walked free following the trial. In 2022, 27-year-old medic Elyse Hobbs was jailed for six months for having an 'inappropriate relationship' with Pullen. Convicted drug dealer Harri Pullen News in 90 seconds - 8th May 2025 The Manchester woman admitted to misconduct in a public office while working at HMP Parc. Cardiff Crown Court heard the pair met when Hibbs was giving Pullen medical treatment. He was moved to HMP Manchester – commonly known as Strangeways Prison – after concerns were raised about the inmates' behaviour. Hibbs handed her phone number over to friends of Pullen who had asked them to track her down online. They then engaged in 'flirtatious' conversations over a six-week period in 2021. Elyse Hibbs Hibbs eventually asked Pullen to stop contacting her, and she resigned from her job. Days later, she was arrested and struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe told the court that their conversations were "wholly inappropriate"., "The conversations do contain several references to the defendant asking the inmate not to contact her, nevertheless the contact does continue. "They also reveal the inmate thought very little of the defendant; he was quite clearly manipulating her." Adam Sharp, defending, said that the contact happened while the inmate was in a different prison, adding that his client didn't make any gains from the romance - financial or otherwise. "The misconduct was not face-to-face, it wasn't even within physical proximity to each other." He also said his client, who was 23 at the time of the offence, "young, impressionable and relatively inexperienced" and "emotionally vulnerable".
Metro
07-05-2025
- Metro
'Loverboy' who romanced two prison workers caught after week on the run
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A gang member-turned-Romeo who had a fling with a prison worker is now back behind bars. Harri Pullen, 27, had alleged inappropriate relationships with a nurse and a prison officer during a four-year sentence in Bridgend, Wales. Pullen was freed after serving his time, only to be arrested in Newport with crack cocaine in March. Video showed Pullen, who had only been free for a few months, resisting officers who caught him dealing drugs on an e-bike. He told police he was suffering from head pain so he was taken to Grange University Hospital, Cwmbran, for treatment. Yet Pullen escaped into a 'getaway car' when he asked to use the toilet. He was found a week later hiding in a farmhouse and was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison. Former prison nurse Elyse Hobbs, 27, from Newbridge, Caerphilly county, was previously jailed over her relationship with Pullen. Ruth Shmylo, 26, was accused of being with Pullen after he secretly called for phone sex from his cell. Shmylo was sacked but cleared of criminality during a 2023 trial, where she described the phone call as 'sexual harassment'. Newport Crown Court heard last month that Pullen had been freed for only a few months when he was arrested. Prosecutor Alex Granville said Pullen was found with five wraps of crack cocaine, a burner phone, an iPhone and £90 inside a bum bag. Pullen was still wearing handcuffs when he ran through the hospital car park and ambulance bay to escape, the court heard. Granville said officers ran after the defendant, adding: 'After about 20 seconds of running, the officers were about 20 meters behind the defendant, who was still in handcuffs in a front position. 'At this point, a vehicle appeared to reverse up the ramp from the exit of the hospital, the passenger door was opened and the defendant got in and it left at high speed.' Pullen was found at a farm on the outskirts of the city and attempted to dodge capture by driving a Mercedes to a cul-de-sac. He then tried to flee for a third time on foot but complied when police pointed a Taser at him. Julia Cox, defending, said Pullen was 'immature' and suffered from 'hypochondria', an anxiety disorder where people worry about their health. He believed that he had a brain tumour for four years. More Trending She added: 'This was not anything that was pre-planned. It was more opportunistic than that. 'It was upon his family's attendance at the hospital that he, in his words, ''lost his head'.' Pullen pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, dangerous driving, and escaping lawful custody. At the end of the hearing, Pullen said: 'Thank you and I apologise.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: First picture of 'super nice' and 'helpful' man stabbed to death in his flat MORE: Women are being 'body slammed' in terrifying trend spreading across London MORE: Evidence from Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner's lair revealed for first time
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Loverboy' prisoner finally back behind bars after double affair and week on the run
'Loverboy' prisoner finally back behind bars after double affair and week on the run Loverboy prisoner Harri Pullen has been put back behind bars following an escape from hospital, just months after he served time for relationships with two prison staff (Image: SWNS) A loverboy prisoner who had flings with two prison staff spent a week on the run after escaping in handcuffs from hospital - and has now been put back behind bars. Gang member Harri Pullen, 27, had alleged romances with a prison officer and jail nurse during a four-year stretch. He was freed after serving his time behind bars but returned to his life of crime - and has now been jailed for a further six years. Harri Pullen is back behind bars (Image: Wales News Service) Former prison nurse Elyse Hibbs, 27, was previously jailed for her inappropriate relationship with Pullen when he was behind bars. ADVERTISEMENT Ruth Shmylo, 26, was sacked from her job as a prison officer over the alleged romance with Pullen after he called her for phone sex from his cell but cleared of criminality during a trial. A court heard Pullen had been free for a matter of months when he was injured resisting officers who caught him drug-dealing on an e-bike and he was taken to hospital for checks. Pullen was injured resisting officers during his arrest (Image: Wales News Service) Pullen was still wearing handcuffs when he made a run through the carpark and ambulance bays of the hospital in Cwmbran, Gwent, and jumped into a "getaway car" to flee. He then spent a week at large and was eventually discovered hiding in a countryside farmhouse outside Newport. Pullen had been arrested after plain-clothed cops saw two men acting suspiciously riding an e-bike through Newport city centre. ADVERTISEMENT Pullen was taken to hospital, where he later escaped (Image: Wales News Service) Prosecutor Alex Granville said Pullen was found with five wraps of crack cocaine, a burner phone, an iPhone and £90 inside a black bum bag. He said: "The defendant was conveyed to custody but after complaining of head pain he was transported by police for medical care." Mr Granville said that while at Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran, Gwent, four women family members tried to visit Pullen but were told they were "unable to stay." He added: "Having been taken out to the van he asked to use the toilet so was taken back inside. Upon having used the toilet and exiting the building the defendant ran off from officers. "They proceeded to run after the defendant. He ran through the car park and ambulance park, down the ramp and towards the exit of the hospital. ADVERTISEMENT "After about 20 seconds of running the officers were about 20 meters behind the defendant who was still in handcuffs in a front position. "At this point a vehicle appeared to reverse up the ramp from the exit of the hospital, the passenger door was opened and the defendant got in and it left at high speed." Newport Crown Court heard that when Pullen was eventually discovered at a farm he tried to flee again - this time driving off in a Mercedes but police followed the car to a cul-de-sac. Pullen tried to flee on foot but was "red-dotted" with a taser and "eventually complied" when a police dog joined the hunt. Julia Cox, defending, said Pullen was "immature" and suffered from "hypochondria" believing that he has had a brain tumour for approximately four years. ADVERTISEMENT She added: "This was not anything that was pre-planned. It was more opportunistic than that." "It was upon his family's attendance at the hospital he in his words 'lost his head'." Pullen pleaded guilty to 11 charges including possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, dangerous driving, and escaping lawful custody. Pullen appeared via videolink from Cardiff Prison and played with his hair and chatted with prison officers throughout the hearing. Judge Daniel Williams jailed Pullen, of no fixed abode, for a total of six years He told him: "Police saw you on an electric bike with another in the centre of Newport on March 26. "You were riding the bike and in possession of crack cocaine, some five wraps, as well as a quantity of cash and two phones, one of which was a burner phone. "In custody you complained of head pain so you were taken to Grange Hospital where when you were walking to the police van having left hospital you made off. "You got into what's best described as a getaway car and spent seven days at large. "You were ultimately arrested on the 2nd April but not before you involved yourself in a police chase of sorts." At the end of the hearing Pullen said: "Thank you and I apologise." Ruth Shmylo (Image: Wales News Service) During Shmylo's trial in December 2023 the court heard Pullen had been moved to HMP Manchester - also known as Strangeways - and added her to his approved calls list but their conversations were recorded by officials. The calls, played to the court, included Pullen repeatedly telling her "I love you." She was sacked from her job after other complaints involving "flirtatious" behaviour with inmates and wearing "skin-tight trousers" to work. But the court heard she had previously made corruption reports of her own against other staff who were colluding with inmates to tamper with prisoner's food. Claire Wilks, defending, said Shmylo should have been treated as a whistleblower but was instead "hung out to dry" by bosses at the controversial HMP Parc and called "a grass" by her colleagues and assaulted. Ms Wilks said it was no surprise that given her previous treatment at the jail she wouldn't report phone calls with Pullen as she feared the consequences. Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe told the court that after being arrested Shmylo admitted she had phone sex with Pullen. Mr Cobbe said: "She conceded during the course of her interview that she had had phone sex with the inmate. "She explained this was principally the inmate saying things to her, noting that 'I was listening for the best part of it'. "That means she was actively engaging in phone sex with the inmate - or some of it." Shmylo told the jury she cried when Pullen tried to initiate phone sex. Ms Wilks asked her: "Did you have any sexual arousal from the phone calls?" Shmylo answered: "No. The first time when I came to be aware Harri was masturbating I asked him to stop. I repeatedly asked him to stop and I cried. "It made him really angry and his exact words were: 'You're making out like I'm kind of nonce. "It was like I had insulted him because I was crying and I was repeatedly saying: 'I'm not doing this I'm not doing this.'" Shmylo, of Treforest, Pontypridd was cleared of one charge of misconduct in a public office. Elyse Hibbs (Image: Wales News Service) Nurse Hibbs claimed she was "pressurised" into flirting with Pullen - but a judge sent her to prison for six months. After being released Hibbs was taken to disciplinary hearing by the Nursing Midwifery Council to decide if she was fit to carrying on her career. The hearing found that her "fitness to practise" was impaired by her conviction, and she was handed a 12 months suspension order. This means that she may practice nursing again once the 12 months order is lifted to carry on her career. Qualified health worker Hibbs met the prisoner while giving him medical treatment in her jail and he contacted her on Instagram. Mr Cobbe said: "The calls between them were flirtatious. They talk about the prison, staff within the prison, he tells her that he loves her and she tells him he doesn't know her to love her. "He tells her that he loves her and she tells him that she loves him too. The calls included references to the defendant's existing partner and the inmate continuously suggested he would replace him and be in a relationship with her." Cardiff Crown Court heard the two swapped messages on Instagram by contacting each other through an account held by the inmate's friend. Hibbs quit her post at HMP Parc in July 2021 and was arrested a week later and admitted exchanging messages with Pullen. She told police she was scared to end the contact after he had previously threatened her. Mr Cobbe said: "She explained that she and the inmate were never in a sexual relationship of any kind at all. "She accepted she should have reported the matter but that she got in too deep and couldn't get out." Hibbs, of Newbridge, Gwent, admitted misconduct in a public office. Adam Sharp, defending Hibbs, said the prisoner was known within the system to be a "particularly manipulative individual". He said: "She was young, impressionable, inexperienced and vulnerable to the malign influence of the inmate who sought to exploit her." Mr Sharp said Hibbs had "dedicated a significant part of her adult life" to nursing but her conviction meant she would be banned from the profession. Recorder of Cardiff Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, told Hibbs: "You knew what you were doing was wrong, you had training but nevertheless you went ahead and formed what was clearly an emotional relationship with this prisoner. "Although you were young you held a position of responsibility as a nurse and as a member of prison staff. You failed to report initial contact despite advice from a colleague and training you had had. "You engaged in flirtatious relationship initially, you failed to report the on-going contact and you failed to report that this inmate had upon him and in custody an unlawful device."
