Latest news with #Strother
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AstroTurf Names Matthew Strother General Manager of the Northwest Region
DALTON, Ga., May 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AstroTurf®, the industry leader in synthetic turf innovation, is pleased to announce Matthew Strother as the General Manager of the Northwest Region. With more than 30 years of experience in construction, facilities management, and strategic development, Strother brings a powerful combination of leadership and operational expertise to this new role. A second-generation general contractor, Strother has overseen more than $1.5 billion in construction, infrastructure, design, and entitlement projects over the course of his career. His professional background includes a unique blend of construction oversight, debt and funding strategies, and coordination of large-scale teams, particularly within the educational sector across the western United States. Strother's extensive experience includes work on K-12 school campuses, athletic fields, special education facilities, high-end residential developments, commercial buildings, and public-private partnership projects. His proven ability to deliver high-quality results on time and within budget makes him ideally suited to lead AstroTurf's continued growth throughout the Northwest. In his new role as General Manager, Strother will lead regional business development and operations efforts, strengthen customer relationships, and help schools, municipalities, and sports organizations design and build premium athletic facilities powered by AstroTurf's advanced turf systems. Philip Snider, Chief Operating Officer of AstroTurf, expressed strong confidence in Strother's capabilities:"Matt is a seasoned professional who understands every angle of the construction and athletic facility world. His ability to bridge funding, design, and execution is unmatched. We're excited to see him lead the Northwest region, where his leadership will drive continued success for our clients and our team." AstroTurf continues to grow its national footprint by investing in regional leadership and delivering sport-specific systems that meet the highest standards of safety, performance, and sustainability. About AstroTurf®AstroTurf® is the original innovator in synthetic turf, trusted by top-tier athletic programs and organizations for over 60 years. As a proud member of the SportGroup family, AstroTurf provides high-performance surfaces backed by a legacy of excellence in research, design, and customer service. Learn more at Media ContactGary Jones800-723-8873 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE AstroTurf Sign in to access your portfolio
USA Today
26-04-2025
- USA Today
Hunter, 82, mauled by bobcat while calling turkeys
Hunter, 82, mauled by bobcat while calling turkeys An 82-year-old hunter is recovering from a rare bobcat attack that occurred while he was calling turkeys on his property in Wilcox County, Alabama. Claude Strother, an avid hunter for 50 years, was left bloodied, with a bite to the back of his head and scratches to his face. But he felt good enough after the April 18 mauling to immortalize its aftermath with selfies before seeking medical attention. Those images, shared by his daughter to Facebook, reveal a dazed man who's fortunate to still have the use of both eyes. In a Facebook reel, Strother explained that he usually positions himself beside a large tree for cover while calling turkeys. ALSO: Alligator caught on porch cam trying to break into Florida home But this time he sat between two narrow trees, in camouflaged clothing, leaving his head and back exposed. The bobcat, most likely responding to his turkey calls, pounced at their source, striking Strother from behind. The force was so great that Strother thought somebody had struck him with a baseball bat. 'It hit behind my head,' he recalled. 'My whole head is sore. His claws hit right above my eyes. Not any real damage, although there was a lot of blood.' When Strother rose, he looked backward, then forward, and saw 'this giant bobcat trotting off.' Strother told Fox 10 News that the bobcat probably mistook him for a turkey. 'My yelping was real good,' he joked. It can be considered a freak accident, although hunters should always be wary when using calls that might attract predators. Strother's daughter, DeAnn Strother McGilberry, shared a bit of her dad's hunting prowess: '4 Royal slams, 8 Grand slams , 247 personal turkeys and 75 plus turkey kills for friends and family he has called up. And he keeps a journal of every hunt, what a treasure this will be for generations to come.'
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Most polluted': These Arizona counties have some of the worst air quality in the country
Maricopa and Pinal counties have some of the most-polluted air in the country, according to a report by the American Lung Association, continuing a trend of worsening ozone pollution that has puzzled local officials and regulators in recent years. The Lung Association's annual 'State of the Air' report, released April 23, shows worsening ozone levels and concerning levels of fine particulate pollution in the Phoenix area. The report measured those two pollutants in every U.S. county between 2021-2023. Pinal and Maricopa counties were among the 26 counties that received 'failing grades' in all three categories — a group called the "most polluted places to live" in the report. "We want people to be aware of the air they're breathing and the quality of that air," said JoAnna Strother, ALA's senior director of advocacy. Metro Phoenix now has the fourth-worst ozone pollution in the country, up from fifth place in 2024. The region is ranked 20th for year-round particulate pollution and received a 'failing grade' on its short-term particulate pollution levels. The report found that 84% of Arizonans live in communities with unsafe levels of at least one pollutant, nearly twice the national percentage of 46%. Both ozone and fine particulate pollution can harm human health, especially for people who work outdoors or suffer from chronic heart or lung conditions. Across the nation, the report showed more people living with unhealthy air quality than at any other point in the previous decade. The report saw a continued degradation of national air quality levels over the last 10 years, indicating a 'distressing reversal' of previous successes. What's happening? Ozone pollution is usually a summer problem in Phoenix. This year, it lingered into fall Using regulations under the Clean Air Act, the U.S. has slashed its air pollution levels, but the report states that climate change is adding new challenges to those victories. The report suggests that wildfires and high temperatures caused much of the worsening air quality noticed in recent reports. 'Extreme heat, drought, and wildfires are all contributing to air pollution across the country but especially here in Arizona and the West," Strother said. "We've seen our changing climate start to almost undo some progress we've made since the Clean Air Act has been in place." The report states that efforts to clean up ozone-forming emissions in western states have improved air quality, but wildfires and heat waves may have counteracted that success. Across the country, the 2025 State of the Air report showed a rare rise in ozone levels, with previously 'untroubled' areas now receiving bad ozone grades. Arizona — and Phoenix in particular — struggles with ozone pollution because of sunny, windless days, proximity to western wildfires, and a high reliance on cars. Other sunny western states also ranked high for ozone levels: California, Colorado and Texas all had multiple metro areas in the top 10 for ozone pollution. Arizona also receives ozone-forming emissions from international sources, such as Mexico and China, and other states, such as California. While stratospheric ozone protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation, ozone is a health risk at ground level. Chemicals in car exhaust, natural emissions from vegetation and fumes from gasoline pumps and wet house paint all combine in the atmosphere to create ozone. Emissions from wildfires can be components in ozone, while sunlight and a lack of wind create the right conditions for ozone to form. Regulations: The EPA just hit pause on upping Phoenix's air pollution status. What happens next? Metro Phoenix has teetered in and out of compliance with the federal government's changing air quality standards for decades. Until 2017, ozone levels were declining in the region as local officials focused on reducing congestion on regional freeways to push down emissions and improve ozone levels, among other measures. But in recent years, metro Phoenix has seen a strange trend: Human-caused, regional emissions are decreasing, but data collected by ground-level regional monitors show ozone levels are ticking upward. The Environmental Protection Agency halted the Phoenix area's expected re-designation to the "serious" ozone nonattainment category on April 10. That category could have meant more restrictions for the Phoenix area, including some that local officials feared would harm the local economy. A research team assembled by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is conducting field studies to understand the sources and possible solutions for rising ozone levels. Beyond ozone, the Phoenix area also struggles with particulate pollution — tiny bits of solids and liquids that fill the air from factories, power plants, gasoline engines, wildfires and wood stoves. The Phoenix metro area ranked 28th-worst in the nation for short-term particle pollution and 20th for year-round particle pollution in the State of the Air report, both slight improvements from their rankings in the 2024 report. For Strother, the two pollutants form a combined health risk for over 1 million Phoenix-area residents. Ozone inflames and damages airways and lungs, increasing vulnerability to pulmonary infections and exacerbating respiratory diseases like asthma. Recent research has also shown that high ozone levels send more people to the hospital for heart attacks and strokes. Scientists also say ozone has growing linkages to neurological and fertility issues. Particle pollution can be more serious, with numerous scientific studies linking it to premature death in people with heart or lung disease. It can also cause a range of nonfatal but disabling heart and lung conditions and has been linked to lung cancer. "Ozone acts as sunburn to the lungs, while fine particulate matter can lodge deep down in the lungs," Strother said. Dust pollution: After months of dry weather, could strong winds spread valley fever fungus in Phoenix? A significant chunk of the Phoenix area's population is particularly vulnerable to these health risks. The region is home to almost 1 million senior citizens (age 65 and up) and roughly half a million individuals dealing with asthma. Hundreds of thousands of residents also deal with cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the report. Strother encouraged Phoenix area residents to check local air quality reports and forecasts before going outside. ADEQ issues daily air quality forecasts with hourly outlooks, available at its website. Maricopa County also posts air quality updates on its website. "We live in a beautiful state where people like to do a lot of activities outdoors, so paying attention to air quality index and forecast will help people to protect themselves," Strother said. The American Lung Association is a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to improving lung health. It has released its State of the Air report each year since the year 2000. Austin Corona covers environmental issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to Environmental coverage on and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Sign up for AZ Climate, our weekly environment newsletter, and follow The Republic environmental reporting team at and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Metro Phoenix ozone problem worsens, now 4th worst in country
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Project XV Museum honors David Strother Day with gala
EL PASO, Ill. (WMBD) — April 4 is David Strother Day, commemorating the first African-American man to vote in Illinois after the passing of the 15th amendment. On Friday evening the Project XV Museum is hosting its annual gala and a ribbon cutting to honor this milestone. 'To be able to see the exhibit that honors David Strother. It means everything,' said Project XV historian Barb Lancaster. Strother was a barber, husband and father. On April 4, 1870 he voted in El Paso. The Project XV Museum is a nonpartisan comprehensive voting rights museum created in Strother's honor. The site of the museum is his barbershop from 1872. The annual gala is held as close as possible to the voting date. This year, it fell on the 155th anniversary of Strother's historical vote. 'I hope that people will be inspired when they come to our museum and realize that their vote is their voice. And we don't care who you vote for, we just want you to vote,' said Lancaster. At the museum is a newspaper clipping mentioning David Strother was a pallbearer at the funeral of Thomas H. Lindsay. He was a wealthy Peoria pioneer. Coming to the city before he was 10 years old, Lindsay was one of the River City's first Black citizens. The museum also hosts a block party in August to celebrate David Strother's birthday. The museum board hopes to raise enough money from Friday night's gala to install an elevator to make the museum accessible to all visitors. You can contact the museum to schedule a progress tour before the official opening. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
From slavery to civil rights then disrepair: Rebirth nears for Lebanon's Pickett Chapel
History's fingerprints are literally visible on a Lebanon church that was originally built by skilled slaves and free Black people for a white congregation in 1827. But Pickett Chapel at 209 East Market Street is more than an ongoing restoration project with a future as a museum and small events venue. There is a new life coming, and the rebirth is near. The church is a symbol for hard lessons learned. It's a teacher with hands-on experience in slavery that can still be seen today. The fingerprints of the slaves who built Pickett Chapel are permanently etched into many of the reddish-brown bricks that make up the building's exterior. More than 100 years after the prints were left behind, Pickett Chapel became a community venue in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. That included a particularly violent disturbance one evening in downtown Lebanon that targeted activists – some of whom regularly attended the church. Now and many generations later, Pickett Chapel continues to shake loose from disrepair as old gives way to a gleam like white hair on the aged. The simple-styled building's perseverance is personalized by Harry and Mary Harris, a Lebanon couple married for 68 years who mortgaged their home in tandem with other co-signers to bring the Chapel back. 'We're all equal in the sight of God,' Mary Harris said, 'and (from) slavery to where we are now, it has taken people who have felt that in their hearts … to treat each other like brothers and sisters. And to be treated with respect. 'That's why this museum is so important to us, to get it finished and let people know the truth. History is the truth and that's what we want to share.' Harry Harris, 88, and Mary Harris, 86, put their home 'on the chopping block,' with several cosigners on the Wilson County Black History Committee in order to buy Pickett Chapel in 2007. The Harrises attended Pickett Chapel as kids. The purchase was similar to how a group of freed slaves bought the church in 1866 for a reported $1,500 – 10 years after the white congregants built a new church on East Main in Lebanon and moved. 'Scary,' Mary Harris said softly about the financial investment and risk they took to buy Pickett Chapel. The Wilson County Commission approved a $25,000 donation in July 2017 for the restoration, which allowed the Black History Committee to pay off the remaining portion of the initial loan, she said. There were about 8,000 enslaved people in Wilson County out of a total population of 26,000 when Pickett Chapel was built, according to Gratia Strother, archivist for the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church. The enslaved could be often rented for big projects during the time-period, Strother said. And it's likely the white Methodists who commissioned the church in 1827 assigned some of the workers they enslaved to work on Pickett Chapel. 'It is much more likely than unlikely that enslaved workers also made the brick used in Pickett Chapel,' Strother said. 'The most emotionally powerful moment for me was finding a child's fingerprints on the East wall. Four little fingers imprinted into the soft brick as it was being removed from the molds. 'Brickmaking was incredibly hard work." Molds typically held several bricks and were very heavy as a result, Strother explained, noting it was likely that an adult worker slammed the mold on the ground and lifted it back up, leaving the bricks in the dirt. The United Methodist Church 'is committed to acknowledging the injustice of all oppression,' and is committed to the work of anti-racism, Strother said. 'A small, enslaved child working in the brickyard would likely have been assigned to pick up each brick and stack them on a wagon for transport to the construction site," she added. "That child would have done this hard work, likely for about twelve hours a day for days on end.' Once the church opened in 1829, white people and the enslaved likely worshipped there. 'They were gifted enough to do all this work,' said Harry Harris, who played center field for the Lebanon Clowns Negro League baseball team. 'It's important to know how it came about, that the slaves built it by hand and how it was used.' Harry and Mary Harris met in grade school, They both attended Pickett Chapel's youth group and continued attending into adulthood. The Harrises have three children and raised them in Pickett Chapel. The church had congregants involved in the Martin Luther King Jr.-led Civil Rights movement, and Pickett Chapel was a meeting place for the Wilson County Chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality under then Pastor D.W. Simmons, which involved many from the area including those from outside the church, Mary Harris said. On March 13, 1962, a group of activists went to the Capitol Theatre just off the square for a non-violent demonstration. The attendees had lighter fluid tossed around them and eggs thrown at them with injuries and bloodshed, according to news reports. After working at a local bank, Harry Harris went home and accompanied a friend back to the square to support the activists. The windows of his 1951 Ford were smashed in and Harry Harris remembers returning home to his wife roughly a mile away with glass in his hair. Sisters Maggie Benson and Sally Palmer, both cousins of Mary Harris, participated in the demonstration from Pickett Chapel, Mary Harris said. 'It was scary," she said. She was at home with the children that night. 'We didn't know what might happen to people in the Black neighborhood.' Afterward, then Lebanon Mayor Charles D. Lloyd appointed a biracial committee to address racial inequality in the city. 'Restoring Pickett Chapel is important to remember the past, but also to help us move into the future,' Lebanon Mayor and City Historian Rick Bell said. 'From a historian's perspective, this building represents generations who were enslaved and their descendants who fought for equality. It is also an important part of our religious history and the birthplace of churches that continue in our community. 'As mayor, I believe that a restored Pickett Chapel will be the centerpiece of a revived Market Street and further commercial growth in our Historic Downtown.' Pickett Chapel's congregation moved to a new building on Glover Street in 1973 because of growth and became known as Pickett-Rucker United Methodist Church, which is still operating today. The original church building continued to be used as a community theater for years. However, by the early 2000s, Pickett Chapel was vacant, in disrepair and condemned, Mary Harris said. The craftsmanship and materials used to build Pickett Chapel ― lumber and bricks ― are still in use almost 200 years later and its direct historical connection to slavery, two churches and Civil Rights are all part of Pickett Chapel's history, Committee Board Member Bill Moss said. Hopes are that area schools and the community will utilize Pickett Chapel, which has already gathered items for the Roy Bailey African American Museum and History Center that Mary Harris hopes to open there. 'We want the true story of history and the interactions of that church and how important it was to this community,' Moss said. About $300,000 has been raised in the last five years by the Wilson County Black History Committee through grants, fundraisers and donations to restore Pickett Chapel. About $550,000 is estimated to complete the entire project. Already done are structural repairs, new heat and air-conditioning and new electrical systems. A portion of the barrel ceiling is also finished. Bob Black, who now owns the Capitol Theatre with his wife, has been on the Wilson County Black History Committee board and has been a financial supporter of the Pickett Chapel restoration. 'We must keep alive the history of the Civil Rights movement in assuring there are places to keep the dream alive,' Black said. 'Pickett Chapel will allow us educate the children who are no longer being enlightened in our education system.' The Wilson County Black History Committee has applied for a 'Preserving Black Churches' grant that Mary Harris hopes can complete the work – perhaps by the end of the year. The chapel has already been used for small community events. 'It will mean everything. It has been such a journey,' Mary Harris said of the project nearing completion. 'There is a connection with a lot of citizens here, and we want to represent who we are and to be inclusive. 'We don't have a lot for our youth, so one of the hopes for the future of this project is that it will continue and there will be enough interest to hold on to it for generations.' The church will celebrate the 159th anniversary of Pickett Chapel and Pickett-Rucker UMC since the freed slaves purchased the building in 1866 during the weekend of March 15-16. The pre-anniversary celebration will be from noon-3 p.m. on March 15 at Pickett Chapel. Pickett-Rucker UMC will hold regular morning worship at 10:45 a.m. that Sunday with lunch served afterward. Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@ and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Slaves, civil rights, disrepair: Lebanon's Pickett Chapel nears return
