Latest news with #ScottThomas
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Firefighters reflect on Realty Tower Explosion one year later
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)- A lot has happened over the past year since that deadly Realty Tower gas explosion. The blast claimed the life of Akil Drake and injured nine others. It happened one year ago, around 2:45 p.m. Crews worked for weeks, trying to clear some of the debris and piece together what happened. But there were questions over the building's stability. That's why city officials made the call to evacuate International Towers starting June 20. That building sits right next to where the explosion happened. After a lot of debate on whether the Realty Building could be saved or needed to be torn down, the decision was made to demolish it. Demo began July 12 and officially finished September 25. Many businesses near the blast site had to be closed while all of this was happening. A phased reopening of that area started August 19. One week ago, the NTSB released the explosion investigation docket to the public. It includes preliminary reports, accident summaries, field notes, maps, interviews, images of the damage, and much more. Several area departments stepped up around the Valley one year ago today when the Realty Building exploded. But three men were given higher honors at the statehouse. Youngstown firefighters Scott Thomas, Tommy Gibbs, and Joseph Koziel received the Fire Service Valor Award for their heroic actions following the explosion. According to the State Fire Service Hall of Fame, they were inducted based on their efforts that reflect the core values of the fire service: courage, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to protect and serve. Captain Gibbs explained that he thought at first this was just a nuisance call. Something that was going to just turn into nothing. Then they heard the explosion, seeing the smoke. 'It's changed the way I look at the training and how you go about things. If I'm always, you can't train for every call, but we can train for how we're going to act on these calls,' said Captain Tommy Gibbs 'Everybody now realizes that, you know, any time that tone hits, it can be anything,' said Batt. Chief Timothy Frease. One of the injured was a woman whom Captain Gibbs and Battalion Chief Frease pulled from the rubble in the basement. One thing each man shared about that day was how much worse it could have been. 'Some divine intervention definitely played a key role in that,' said firefighter Scott Thomas. 'Especially with the time of the day and the occupancy of the building. We figured there was going to be a lot more people in there. Thankfully, a fire alarm got pulled and people got out,' said firefighter Joseph Koziel. Meanwhile, a settlement has been reached in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Akil Drake. Drake's estate will receive $6.1 million. After attorney fees, the family will receive just over $3.6 million. Y-O Properties 47 LLC paid $3 million in the settlement. Enbridge/Dominion paid $2.9 million, while Niedler Architecture and MS Consultants paid $100,000 each. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Conrad Industries Announces First Quarter 2025 Results and Backlog
MORGAN CITY, La., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Conrad Industries, Inc. (OTC Pink: CNRD) announced today its first quarter 2025 results. For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the Company had net income of $3.9 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.77 compared to $1.5 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.30 during the first quarter of 2024. The Company's financial reports are available at During the first three months of 2025, Conrad signed $67.3 million in contracts in its new construction segment compared to $51.8 million added to backlog during the first three months of 2024. Conrad's backlog was $292.0 million at March 31, 2025, $293.8 million at December 31, 2024 and $247.3 million at March 31, 2024. The Company also announced that its board of directors has authorized the Company to purchase up to $2.0 million of its common stock. The Company plans to use cash on hand or generated from operations to purchase the stock. Acquisitions may be made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions as permitted by securities laws and other legal requirements. The timing, prices and sizes of purchases will depend upon prevailing stock prices, general economic and market conditions and other factors as management deems appropriate. The program does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and may be commenced, suspended or discontinued at any time or from time to time in the Company's discretion without prior notice. Conrad Industries, Inc., established in 1948 and headquartered in Morgan City, Louisiana, designs, builds and overhauls barges, dredges and dredge support equipment, tugboats, ferries, drydocks, liftboats, offshore supply vessels and other steel products for both the commercial and government markets. The company provides both repair and new construction services at its five shipyards located in southern Louisiana and Texas. For Information Contact:Scott Thomas (985) 702-0195SAThomas@ View original content: SOURCE Conrad Industries, Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local firefighters honored for lifesaving acts
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKBN) – The 44th Annual Hall of Fame and Fire Awards ceremony took place Wednesday in Columbus, honoring heroes across Ohio's fire service. Out of 50,000 firefighters statewide, 22 were recognized this year, including three from Youngstown. Scott Thomas, Tommy Gibbs and Joseph Koziel were honored for their bravery during the Realty building explosion last May. They risked their lives to save others inside the crumbling structure and received the Fire Service Valor Award for their courage. 'I think some divine intervention definitely played a key role in that,' Thomas said. 'Especially with the time of day and the occupancy of the building. We figured there were going to be a lot more people in there. Thankfully, you know a fire alarm got pulled and people got out,' Koziel added. 'It's changed the way I look at training and how I go about things… you can't train for every call, but we can train for how we're going to act on these calls,' Gibbs said. In Trumbull County, Fowler firefighter and EMT Travis Birch was also recognized. In July 2024, he rushed to a house fire in Vienna Township. Birch wasn't on duty, but that didn't stop him. He jumped into action and rescued a woman trapped inside. 'I was cooking dinner for my kids when they got off of school. We got called for an occupied house fire, so I responded from home in my personal vehicle. I had to pass the residence to get to the station, so I ended up stopping,' Birch said. Birch didn't hesitate. Without any protective gear, he broke through a glass door and pulled the woman to safety. He also received the Fire Service Valor Award. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
3 firefighters honored for work in downtown explosion
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Not quite one year ago, first responders flooded the Realty Building in a rush to save those who were trapped inside after a gas explosion rocked the city. Now, some of them are being honored. Scott Thomas, Tommy Gibbs and Joseph Koziel of Youngstown are set to be honored with the Citizen's Award on Wednesday at the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Fire Service Award Ceremony. Each year, the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of State Fire Marshal and the Department of Public Safety's Division of EMS come together to honor courageous men and women who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. This awards ceremony recognizes the bravery, commitment, and sacrifice they make every day on behalf of communities throughout the state. Also receiving recognition is Travis Birch of Newton Falls. For any friends or family members who may want to watch the ceremony, it will be livestreamed here on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Gerry Ricciutti contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
POLICE NEWS: Fire departments respond to motel fire in Goshen
A fire at a motel resulted in many emergency departments rushing to the south side of Goshen late Saturday night. Goshen police reported that the fire was called in at 10:48 p.m. Saturday at the Super 8 Motel, 2628 Lincolnway East. Occupants were evacuated and the departments were able to locate and extinguish the fire without injuries in just a few minutes. All 18 rooms with occupants were moved to other hotels. According to Goshen Fire Investigator Scott Thomas, the fire appeared to have originated at an exterior high voltage electrical box and was mostly contained to the outside of the building. Mutual aid was provided by Millersburg-Clinton, Jackson, Concord and Benton fire departments. South Bend woman hospitalized, arrested in Elkhart County crash A woman was arrested after she flipped her vehicle while reportedly under the influence early Sunday morning. Elkhart County deputies reported that at 2:08 a.m. Sunday, Aureliano Medina Pereira, 36, of South Bend, was traveling west on U.S. 20 west of C.R. 11 in a 2024 Toyota RAV4 when she made an unsafe lane movement and went right of the fog line and impacted the guard rail in a construction zone, flipping her vehicle onto its top. Medina Pereira was transported to Elkhart General Hospital for chest pain, and arrested on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. HIT-AND-RUN • A 61-year-old woman reported to Goshen police at 11:46 a.m. Friday her vehicle was struck by another vehicle at an unknown location. • A 45-year-old woman reported to Goshen police at 3:54 p.m. Friday, someone hit her vehicle in the parking lot of Chalet Party Shop, 2703 Caragana Court. ARRESTS • A 26-year-old woman was arrested and jailed by Elkhart County deputies at 7:03 p.m. Friday on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, possession of cocaine after and driving without insurance after she drove off the roadway on C.R. 7 north of C.R. 26 and struck a speed limit sign. • A 39-year-old woman was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 1:29 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of meth, a legend drug and paraphernalia after she was stopped for an infraction in the 200 block of Chicago Avenue. • A 27-year-old man was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 4:27 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of a false ID and driving without a license following a traffic stop near Lincolnway East and Madison Street. • A 46-year-old man was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 4:52 p.m. Friday on a charge of possession of a controlled substance after police were called to the 1600 block of Wilden Avenue for a possible burglary and instead found him there with an active warrant out of St. Joseph County. The man was taken into custody and transported to St. Joseph County, where he was transferred into the custody of a St. Joseph County deputy. • A 15-year-old boy was arrested by Goshen police at 8:03 p.m. Friday at on charges of resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct in the 100 block of North Main Street after police were called to the area for a fight. The juvenile was released to his guardian. • A 40-year-old man was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 12:09 a.m. Saturday on charges of possession of cocaine and operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he was stopped near Elkhart Road and Midway Road for moving violations. • A 28-year-old woman was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 3:17 a.m. Saturday on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated after she was stopped by police near South Third Street and West Lincoln Avenue for an equipment violation. • A 31-year-old man was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 2:15 a.m. Saturday on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment after he was stopped for a moving violation near Elkhart Road and Midway Road. • A 57-year-old woman was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 8:24 a.m. Saturday on charges of intimidation, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, public nudity, resisting law enforcement and malicious mischief after police were called to the area of Everwise Credit Union for a woman reportedly urinating on the sidewalk. • A 69-year-old man was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 10:51 p.m. Saturday on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment after he was stopped for moving violations near C.R. 15 and C.R. 28. • A 22-year-old man was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 1:16 a.m. Sunday on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and possession of marijuana following a vehicle crash near Goshen High School on Lincolnway East. • An 18-year-old man was arrested and jailed by Goshen police at 6:30 a.m. Sunday on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage as a minor after police were called to the 14000 block of C.R. 38 for a vehicle in a ditch. RESIDENTIAL ENTRY A 34-year-old man reported to Goshen police at 11:34 a.m. Saturday two women walking into his unlocked and open house in the 400 block of East Lincoln Avenue without his permission. CRIMINAL MISCHIEF Goshen police were called to Snyder's Men's Shop, 126 S. Main St., for a burglary alarm at 3:28 a.m. Saturday. Upon arriving on scene, officers observed damage to the front window of the business. EMBEZZLEMENT Goshen police arrested a 17-year-old Meijer employee at 8:48 p.m. April 30 for a series of thefts the store, 4522 Elkhart Road, claims he committed. He was arrested and released into the custody of his guardian, with charges sent to the prosecutor for review. THEFT Goshen police were called to the 400 block of Queen Street at 6:27 p.m. Thursday for a theft from a vehicle during the early morning hours. FRAUD • Novedades Hernandez, 633 S Main St., reported to Goshen police at 1:33 p.m. Friday receiving fraudulent checks. • A 34-year-old man reported to Goshen police at 1:08 p.m. Friday an identity deception in Goshen. • A 73-year-old woman reported to Goshen police at 3:15 p.m. Saturday fraudulent activity. • A 72-year-old man reported to Goshen police at 6:05 p.m. Saturday being the victim of tax fraud.
