Latest news with #Yoder
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pottsville School Board adopts 2025-26 district budget with no tax hike
Property owners in the Pottsville Area School District will avoid a tax increase this upcoming budget year since the school board has approved a 2025-26 spending plan with no millage increase. The board voted 9-0 during its meeting last week to approve the budget and keep the millage rate at 45.4025. The budget balances expenses and revenue at $51,842,309. District officials have spoken about the dire fiscal situation the district was in as recently as 2019, when the Pennsylvania Auditor General's office said that Pottsville was at risk of being placed on financial watch by the state. By contrast, the 2025-26 budget avoids a tax hike while adding important personnel, making much-needed improvements to buildings and infrastructure, increasing programming for students, and maintaining reserves despite rising expenses, officials said. The approved millage rate means that a property assessed at the district's median rate of $27,030 next year will pay $1,227 in taxes. Pottsville has now not raised taxes 12 of the last 19 years. The assessed value of real estate within the district decreased by $813,770 to $295,279,815 since last year. Though there were net in assessed values in Norwegian Township, Palo Alto and Port Carbon totaling $712,045, there was a decrease in assessed values in the city of Pottsville of $1,525,815. New staff approved for next year includes four additional teachers in the elementary school to continue to lower class sizes and a behavior interventionist to provide more support for special education students. Also added was a library media specialist for the middle and high schools and an additional physical education teacher at the high school. The upcoming school year will also include new math curriculum in K-6th grades. The high school will be receiving significant funding from the district's Crimson Tide Foundation to purchase approximately $100,000 in new technology including live-streaming equipment for the middle school, upgraded computers for the PAHS Publications program and resources for the high school's drone certification program. Dr. Sarah Yoder, superintendent, said that the largest financial challenges in drawing up the new budget were increased costs, including those for facilities and employee healthcare. The district's restructuring of its healthcare plan, though, will provide savings long-term, she said. Improving and maintaining the facilities based on the district's five-year facilities plan will remain the biggest difficulty based on needs to upgrade aging schools and equipment, she said. Grants that the district secured were important additions to the district's revenue, Yoder said. The district obtained an Emergency Connectivity Fund grant of nearly $1 million that enabled it to buy new technology beginning last school year and save money this upcoming year. A PennDOT grant received by the district increased the state Department of Education funding Pottsville received for transportation reimbursement and increased the number of students who have access to school bus transportation. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act state grant funds for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 totaling almost $1 will continue to support the district in terms of staffing, professional development, dual enrollment, health and wellness and more. By improving its credit score three levels in recent years the district will save money when it someday has to borrow funds since it will get a significantly lower interest rate, Yoder said. School board president Linda Wytovich agreed that the district must continue to focus on its aging buildings and athletic facilities, though the cost of the work needed will be millions of dollars. The top priorities are the high school, which was built in 1933, and Veterans Memorial Stadium, which opened a year earlier. The middle school and Martz Hall arena opened in 1970, and the elementary center in 1981. 'Each year we work towards balancing the needs of the students, staff, and facilities while keeping our taxpayers in mind as we build our annual budget and plans for the future,' Wytovich said. 'To date, we are moving in the right direction. I'm proud of the work the board and district's administrative staff has accomplished. I'm also thankful for the community's support and patience as we continue to build a better district.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
When it comes to 'Most Hospitable' in Ohio, WorldAtlas picks these three nearby towns
has ranked the nine Most Hospitable Towns in Ohio, and three of them are just around the corner. Making the list are Millersburg (Holmes County), Sugarcreek and Mansfield. Millersburg (Holmes County) was chosen for its Amish heritage and close-knit community ties, according to Mansfield was picked for its family-friendly attractions and Kingwood Center Gardens and Sugarcreek's lure is its Swiss heritage and unique culture. is an online educational website the specializes in geography and related topics. It offers content including maps, articles and data, covering areas such as geography, sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics and travel. The site, which offers fact-checking, aims to provide accurate information, serving as a resource for educators and students. The Millersburg and Holmes County community hosts friendly residents who lead a simple life, according to WorldAtlas, which notes Yoder's Amish Home provides a feel for everyday Amish life through barn visits, buggy rides and other practical activities. Hershberg's Farm and Bakery entices newcomers with delicious baked goods and similar Amish treats, including pies, jellies, and jams. Visitors also can shop for antiques and handcrafts while interacting with receptive shopowners. The site also mentions the county's festivals. Mansfield has an impressive spectrum of family-friendly attractions, according to WorldAtlas, which lists the 47-acre Kingwood Center Gardens as a notable greenspace with its colorful blend of flowers, herbs and shrubs The Renaissance Theatre treats guests to live performances in a 1,400-seater venue, known for hosting singing, acting, and dancing shows. The town organizes several events throughout the year, with the Peace on My Block Party bringing families together. The fun festival aims to stop bullying and violence in the community through peaceful interactions and entertainment for kids of all ages, the website notes. Sugarcreek is known for its Swiss heritage and neighborly residents, according to WorldAtlis. Tourist visit to explore its unique culture at the Alpine Hills Historical Museum and Information Center. The center showcases rare exhibits depicting a unique combination of Amish and Swiss heritage The Dutch Valley Restaurant welcomes guests to try its rich traditional cuisine, featuring Amish-style. The annual Ohio Swiss Festival is a great time to join the community in celebrating its Swiss heritage through a variety of traditional activities, says the website. Other areas listed in the Top 9 Most Hospital Towns in Ohio are Twinsburg, Circleville, Marietta, Geneva-On-The-Lake, Sandusky and Waynesburg. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: WorldAtlas picks Millersburg, Sugarcreek, Mansfield as hospitable
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
KLETC breaks ground for two facilities, a move to modernize how officers are trained
YODER, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center is breaking ground on new facilities to provide a better educational and training experience for law enforcement officers in training. KSN looks into the first steps for the project. The groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the construction of the Professional Development and Administration building and a housing facility in Yoder. Community cleans up cemetery after tornado Funded by the State of Kansas, around $20 million will be spent on building these. It's a move to essentially modernize the way law enforcement officers are trained, by providing them hands-on and real-world experience. The ultimate goal is not to have instructors impeded by a lack of facilities. 'We need an indoor firearms range. We need facilities that mimic the kinds of circumstances that officers are going to find on the job. So, we need to be able to have houses that we can turn into crime scene houses. We need houses that we can do forensic analysis and forensic evidence collection. So all of those things, we don't have them,' said Darin Beck, Vice Provost of KLETC and Director of police training for the State of Kansas. 'Educating all of these law enforcement officers, there's a lot that goes into that. And they just really did not have enough space to be able to do what they wanted to do. So, this really gives them the ability to continue their mission and to be able to get more and more folks through this system,' said State Rep. Dan Hawkins, Speaker of the House, Wichita. 'More instruction, more creative instruction, more leadership development for our public safety and law enforcement officials across the state. And that means better service in every community that we represent,' said Barbara Bichelmeyer, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, University of Kansas. They said that the training facilities will especially help smaller agencies in rural areas, saying these buildings will allow them to extend training all throughout the state. They also said cities like Wichita already have their own training facilities. However, that's not the standard for many other parts of Kansas. This is their way of providing equal training for all officers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Global News
09-05-2025
- Global News
Florida man gored by bison at Yellowstone National Park
A Florida man was injured after he was charged and gored by a bison at Yellowstone National Park on Sunday. Park officials repeated their frequent warning not to get too close to wildlife while visiting the national park ahead of the busy summer season. The 47-year-old, who had approached the bison, escaped with only minor injuries and was treated by emergency medical personnel, according to the National Park Service (NPS). Park officials declined to say more about the visitor from Cape Coral, Fla., or give further details about Sunday's attack, but they did say it took place at Lake Village, an area of cabins, a lodge and campsites on the shore of Yellowstone Lake. The NPS said the incident is currently under investigation and that it was the first reported incident of a person injured by a bison in 2025. Story continues below advertisement Man gored by bison in Yellowstone on May 4. Always stay 25 yards away from bison! Read more: — Yellowstone National Park (@YellowstoneNPS) May 7, 2025 Bison can be aggressive when people don't give them enough space, park officials said in their statement, and have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other wild animal. At least two people were gored by bison last year, including an 83-year-old South Carolina woman who was seriously injured. The woman was near the Storm Point Trail at Yellowstone Lake in June 2024 when the bison lifted her about a foot off the ground with its horns, park officials said, adding that the bison was defending its space. 1:33 Video shows bison injuring man at Yellowstone National Park In April 2024, an Idaho man was arrested on alcohol and wildlife-related charges after he was accused of kicking a bison at Yellowstone National Park, sustaining minor injuries. Story continues below advertisement Clarence Yoder of Idaho Falls was arrested by park rangers, who transported him to a nearby medical facility before dropping him at a county detention centre. 2:00 Bison in Atlantic Canada? Nova Scotia farm hopes to become tourist attraction Authorities were notified of the bison brouhaha after a parkgoer reported seeing an individual 'who harassed a herd of bison and kicked a bison in the leg' near Yellowstone's west entrance, park officials wrote in a press release. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Authorities said Yoder's injuries weren't serious. Park rangers eventually located Yoder's vehicle in the town of West Yellowstone and took him and the driver of the car into custody. The vehicle was driven by McKenna Bass, also of Idaho Falls. She, too, was arrested on alcohol and wildlife charges. Both appeared in court on April 22, 2024 and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Each charge comes with a maximum fine of US$5,000 and six months in jail. Story continues below advertisement In July 2023, a Phoenix woman was gored by a bison at Yellowstone National Park, according to the National Park Service, leaving her with 'significant injuries to her chest and abdomen.' Amber Harris was visiting Yellowstone and was walking with another person in a field near the Lake Lodge Cabins on the north shore of Lake Yellowstone when they came across two bison. 'Upon seeing them, the visitors turned to walk away from the bison,' the National Park Service stated, but one of the bison charged at them and gored the woman. The woman was seriously injured and had to be transported by helicopter to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. (Heads Up) A 47-year-old female from Phoenix, Arizona, was gored by a bison near the Lake Lodge Cabins on the north shore of Lake Yellowstone the morning of July 17. Always stay more than 25 yards (23 m) away from bison. Learn more: — Yellowstone National Park (@YellowstoneNPS) July 17, 2023 Story continues below advertisement Chris Whitehill, the woman's fiancé who was with her at the time, told Phoenix television station KPNX that the bison struck her 'head-on and she was airborne.' 'I think she did one or two backflips in the air, and I was screaming and yelling trying to distract him. She landed pretty hard on her back.' Harris was stretchered out of the field and transferred to a helicopter and taken to hospital. 'I sustained 7 spine fractures, bilateral collapsed lungs and bruising all over. Glory to God all my vital organs look good,' Harris added. 2:10 Rare white bison pair becomes 'sign of hope' for Alberta First Nation The National Park Service mandates that visitors stay at least 23 metres away from large animals like bison. Bison are the largest mammals in North America, can reach speeds of up to 55 kilometres per hour when charging and are able to jump several feet. About 2,300 to 5,500 bison live in the park. Story continues below advertisement — With files from Global News and The Associated Press
Malaysian Reserve
06-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
CREDIT CARD VETERAN RODNEY YODER JOINS COIGN AS CFO
MCLEAN, Va., May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Coign, a leading fintech company, is proud to announce the appointment of Rodney Yoder as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With over three decades of financial leadership in banking, fintech, and high-growth companies, Yoder brings outstanding expertise to Coign's executive team. For more than a decade Yoder held senior leadership roles at Barclays, cultivating deep expertise in global payments, private banking, and credit. He also oversaw forecasting, risk management, and innovation strategies while leading a global finance team of 70 professionals. His earlier positions at Swift Financial and Bank of America/MBNA underscore his ability to build robust financial infrastructures, manage multibillion-dollar portfolios, and drive both cost efficiencies and revenue growth. 'Throughout his career Rodney has be a leader at Fortune 500 financial institutions, offering a unique perspective on credit, markets, and strategic vision,' said Rob Collins, CEO of Coign. 'As we continue to scale and evolve as a fintech platform, his experience navigating complex transformations and delivering results across diverse markets will be incredibly valuable.' 'I'm excited to join Coign at this pivotal moment,' said Rodney Yoder, CFO of Coign. 'The opportunity to shape the company's next chapter of growth—by building strong financial foundations, optimizing capital strategy, and fostering innovation—is exciting. I look forward to collaborating with the leadership team to deliver long-term value for our customers, employees, and investors.' Yoder's career is marked by significant achievements, including spearheading financial planning for large-scale portfolio programs, assembling global finance teams, and developing systems and models that have driven successful audits, strategic transactions, and sustained growth initiatives. Most recently, as CFO of Sunlight Financial, Yoder orchestrated a strategic transformation, guiding the company through its transition from public to private status. He played a pivotal role in evaluating strategic alternatives, securing $90 million in debt and $65 million in equity financing, negotiating loan agreements to enable $2.5 billion in forward flow loan financing, and implementing interest rate hedge programs to mitigate risk. About Coign Coign is the premier fintech platform for conservative Americans, offering credit cards and financial solutions designed to align with their values. Through a leading center-right media strategy, low customer acquisition costs, and a commitment to trust, Coign is building the largest conservative community in U.S. history, uniting millions to strengthen America's foundations. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Coign
