Latest news with #RichardMills
Irish Independent
30-05-2025
- Irish Independent
‘You know when somewhere is bad – we got a shiver and moved away': Why do we fear fairy forts?
Irish people won't touch them, roads are diverted around them and tales of misfortune abound, but what's behind our belief in the mythical powers of ringforts? A new book attempts to find out Today at 21:30 Something strange happened when author Jo Kerrigan was just a few months into researching her latest book. Alongside her husband and photographer Richard Mills, she trekked to an idyllic rural setting north of Cork, near Millstreet, to photograph a place where earthen banks formed a circle to create a rath or fairy fort.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Plant City homicide under investigation
The Brief Plant City police are investigating a homicide that occurred on Wednesday night. Police say there were reports of shots fired in the 900 block of Waller Street around 9:30 p.m. and a 21-year-old man was found dead at a home within the 2900 block of Forest Hammock Drive. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Plant City Police Department at (813) 757-9200. PLANT CITY, Fla. - Plant City police are investigating a homicide after they say a man was shot to death on Wednesday night. What we know According to the Plant City Police Department, officers went to the 900 block of Waller Street around 9:30 p.m. to investigate a report of shots fired. While dispatchers were communicating with officers, the communications center got more information that a victim may be injured. READ:Double murder suspect out on bond busted after bolting from deputies: HCSO Authorities confirmed that an injured victim was at a home within the 2900 block of Forest Hammock Drive. Upon arrival, police found a 21-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Lakeland Regional Healthcare, where he later died from his injuries. What they're saying "Our hearts go out to the victim's family as they endure this unimaginable loss," said Chief Richard Mills. "We are doing everything in our power working tirelessly and using every available resource to uncover the truth and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice." What we don't know Police have not released a motive for the shooting, nor have they released a suspect description. What you can do Investigators urge residents in the area to review their security cameras for any footage that may assist in the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Plant City Police Department at (813) 757-9200. The Source This story was written with information provided by the Plant City Police Department. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man shot multiple times in Plant City homicide; police look to ‘uncover the truth'
PLANT CITY, Fla. (WFLA) — Police are looking to 'uncover the truth' after a man was found with multiple gunshot wounds at a Plant City home Wednesday night and later died from his injuries. Officers with the Plant City Police Department said someone called 911 around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday to report hearing gunshots near Waller Street. 'Cross Country Killer' set for execution today at Florida State Prison Police learned someone may have been injured as they were making their way to the area. They later found an injured victim a home on Forest Hammock Drive. Officers said the 21-year-old man had been 'shot multiple times.' He was taken to Lakeland Regional Healthcare, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. 'Our hearts go out to the victim's family as they endure this unimaginable loss,' said Chief Richard Mills. 'We are doing everything in our power, working tirelessly and using every available resource to uncover the truth and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.' There was no suspect in custody as of Thursday afternoon. Detectives are asking residents in the area to review their security cameras for any video that could assist in their investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Plant City Police Department at813-757-9200. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Agriland
26-04-2025
- General
- Agriland
‘The stories of those who dare to touch a fairy fort are frightening'
Folklorist and author, Jo Kerrigan, has urged farmers to steer clear of fairy forts where possible, to avoid evoking the notorious wrath of their other-worldly occupants. Kerrigan has become an expert on the mystical fairy fort after researching the subject and its corresponding myths and customs for her new book, Irish Fairy Forts: Portals to the Past, which is now available in all good book stores. Alongside her husband and photographer, Richard Mills, Kerrigan spent the last couple of months tracking down as many fairy forts as possible to include in the book, which serves as an ode to the some 45,000-60,000 of these iconic structures found dotted across the landscape. While varying in size and formation, Kerrigan said that fairy forts are always circular, and often flanked with indigenous flora, such as the hawthorn tree, which Kerrigan said has mythical properties in Irish folklore. Examples of fairy forts. Image source: Richard Mills As a long-time believer in fairy forts, Kerrigan has advised people to treat fairies – or the 'good people' as she likes to call them, and who she views as the true custodians of the countryside – with the reverence they deserve. Calling out to farmers, Kerrigan said: 'Please leave them alone. You don't need that small circle of land all that much. You don't need to build your calf shed or your son's house immediately on that spot. Try to avoid damaging them. 'If interfering with a fairy fort on your land is truly unavoidable, go to the fort, explain to the good people what you have to do and try to make amends. Seek their forgiveness. 'We need to realize that they've been here a lot longer than we have. They are the nature, they're the whole power of the landscape world around us, and we need to respect them and treat the countryside they're looking after with respect.' Fairy forts Kerrigan has heard of countless tales of misfortune and adversity from individuals and farmers alike who have made the mistake of damaging a fairy fort, branding the implications of doing so as 'frightening'. 'The stories of those who dare to touch a fairy fort are frightening,' she added. In her book, she recounts the story of Richard Lundy, a wealthy man who lived in Ardanagh, Co. Monaghan, who allegedly experienced considerable personal and professional woes after knocking down a large fairy fort on his land. Kerrigan explained that, while deconstructing the fort, two horses of Lundy's died, his workmen became ill or injured, his daughter lost her sight and, within a year, all of his livestock died. Subsequently, the surname Lundy became obsolete in the area. This was just one of the stories commemorated in the School's Collection, a compilation of folklore compiled by Irish schoolchildren in the 1930s and assembled by the Irish Folklore Commission to preserve Ireland's oral tradition and material culture. According to Kerrigan, the collection contains many references to fairy forts and served as an important primary source for her research. Jo Kerrigan and Richard Mills outside a fairy fort. Source:'Irish Fairy Forts: Portals to the Past' The husband and wife duo allegedly experienced their own series of unfortunate events while attempting to photograph a fairy fort in west Cork last summer. Kerrigan told Agriland that on arriving at the site of the fairy fort, Mills discovered that both his camera battery and spare battery were dead, despite the fact that both were charged beforehand. Dumbstruck, the two returned to the car to make the trip back home empty-handed, but found the car would not start. 'We tried everything but the car wouldn't start. So we rang the AA and they said it could be at least two hours before they got to us,' she said. 'In the meantime. while we were waiting, several farmers passing by in their tractors stopped to ask us if we needed any help, 'When we explained what had happened, they all said the same thing – 'What do you expect when you're interfering with themselves?'' The folklorist explained the earliest records of fairy forts in Ireland date back to pre-Christian Ireland, when they were perceived as portals to 'the other world'. According to legend, fairies derive from the 'Tuatha Dé Danann', meaning the folk of the goddess Danu, a supernatural race featured in Irish mythology who were allegedly driven underground after they were tricked by the Celts upon their arrival on Irish shores. Ironically, Kerrigan believes we have the British to thank for the preservation of fairy forts across the Irish countryside and that our lack of industrialisation can account for their abundance. 'The English colonists wanted to make sure that we [the Irish] didn't get in the way of their development and so they squashed any signs of industrialisation in the south, which helped preserve the fairy forts.' Kerrigan claimed. She explained that the prohibition of Irish language and culture also made the Irish more protective of their customs and heritage. When the Free State emerged, Kerrigan said the fledgling Irish government undertook several initiatives to salvage our cultural heritage, including the Schools Collection, as a means of distinguishing Ireland from our former rulers. In a world increasingly dominated by science and logic, Kerrigan fears we are losing touch with the natural world and has called on the youth to put down their phones and embrace the beauty and intrique that lies in abundance in the Irish countryside. Her new book serves as a rallying cry to this effect.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Creative Realities Inc (CREX) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges and ...
Revenue: $11 million for Q4 2024, down from $14.5 million in Q4 2023. Gross Profit: $4.9 million for Q4 2024, compared to $7.5 million in Q4 2023. Adjusted EBITDA: Approximately $0.5 million for Q4 2024, down from $2.8 million in Q4 2023. Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): Run rate of $16.8 million. Cash on Hand: Approximately $1 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $2.9 million at the end of 2023. Gross Debt: Approximately $13 million at the end of Q4 2024. Net Debt: Approximately $12 million at the end of Q4 2024. Leverage Ratio: Gross leverage of 2.59 times and net leverage of 2.39 times at the end of fiscal 2024. Settlement Payment: $3 million in cash and a $4 million 30-month promissory note related to Reflect Systems acquisition. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with CREX. Release Date: March 17, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Creative Realities Inc (NASDAQ:CREX) closed out its best year in company history with revenue exceeding $50 million and an adjusted EBITDA of 10%. The company resolved its outstanding contingent liability from the purchase of Reflect Systems in 2022, providing financial flexibility and eliminating uncertainty. The introduction of the AdLogic CPM+ platform is expected to drive growth by offering a comprehensive ad tech solution, enhancing targeting precision, and reducing costs. Creative Realities Inc (NASDAQ:CREX) anticipates revenue acceleration and improved performance in the second half of 2025, driven by a strong pipeline of opportunities. The company achieved SOC 2 Type 1 compliance and expects to achieve SOC 2 Type 2 certification, enhancing the credibility of its enterprise-grade offerings. Fourth-quarter revenue decreased to $11 million from $14.5 million a year ago, with gross profit also declining from $7.5 million to $4.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was approximately $0.5 million, down from $2.8 million in the previous year. Cash on hand decreased to approximately $1 million at the end of 2024, compared to $2.9 million at the end of 2023. The company expects minimal or no tariff issues, but potential increases in steel prices could impact costs. Creative Realities Inc (NASDAQ:CREX) anticipates a slow start to 2025, with adjusted EBITDA profitability expected to be just barely positive in the first quarter. Q: Can you provide insights into the current state of customer conversations and the potential impact of tariffs on your business? A: Richard Mills, CEO: We have a frozen pipeline of projects nearing completion, with some expected to finalize soon. Tariffs are a concern, particularly regarding steel and display screens, but we anticipate minimal impact on most projects. The market is still assessing tariff implications. Q: How are retail media opportunities affecting deal sizes and timelines? A: Richard Mills, CEO: Retail media networks involve complex planning and significant CapEx, leading to extended timelines. These projects are substantial, often ranging from $40 million to $100 million, with a strong ROI expected within 24 months. George Sautter, Chief Strategy Officer, added that CRI's comprehensive solutions simplify deployment, providing a competitive advantage. Q: How are existing customers responding to the new AdLogic platform, and what impact will it have on margins? A: Richard Mills, CEO: Customers are embracing AdLogic as it enhances their digital operations, offering programmatic capabilities. George Sautter, Chief Strategy Officer, noted that the platform expands CRI's addressable market, driving both new customer acquisition and existing customer upgrades to retail media networks. Q: Can you elaborate on the financial outlook for the second half of the year and the factors driving revenue growth? A: Richard Mills, CEO: We expect adjusted EBITDA profitability in Q1, with significant revenue growth in the second half driven by large projects. We anticipate exceeding 2024's revenue and EBITDA, with several major retail media networks and QSR projects poised to launch. Q: What is the status of the BCTV project and its impact on installations? A: Richard Mills, CEO: BCTV installations paused for 90 days due to funding discussions with their private equity backers. We expect installations to resume in June, with moderate increases in the second half of 2025. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
