Teesside stories you may have missed this week
Here are some stories you may have missed on Teesside this week.
"It was like nothing I'd ever seen," 102-year-old RAF veteran Kenneth Johnson said of the VE Day celebrations in 1945.
He is one of thousands across the north-east of England and Cumbria who commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe.
Services and parties took place, including parades in Redcar, ahead of the lighting of beacons as part of a national hilltop ceremony.
"Everyone was waltzing and snake dancing [conga lines] - it seems quite silly now," Mr Johnson, from Darlington recalled.
Read about Mr Johnson's memories here
llegal vapes and tobacco worth more than £12,000 were stored under "rotting waste" in wheelie bins, Trading Standards officers found.
The officials seized 685 packs of cigarettes, 24 packs of hand-rolling tobacco and 83 illegal vapes from bins outside a shop in Darlington.
Cleveland Police informed Darlington Borough Council after spotting a shop worker removing tobacco from the bins where it was being used as off-site storage.
Read the full story here
Little jumpers knitted by grandmothers are being used to prevent penguins caught in oil spills from getting ill while trying to clean their feathers.
Dubbing themselves the Knitting Nannas, the group based at Hazelgrove Court Care Home in Saltburn, Teesside, have been sending their mini creations to a charity in Australia.
The woolly tops are used as a barrier to stop the birds ingesting toxic chemicals when they try to preen themselves after swimming through oil.
Read all about the Knitting Nannas story here
A football fan paid £1,000 to help others travel to Wembley for an FA Trophy final.
Lifelong Spennymoor Town FC fan Gary Finley said he had to "follow his heart" and pay transport costs for more than 65 fans going to watch their team play Aldershot Town on Sunday.
It comes after Spennymoor Town Council refused to help the club pay for fans to travel to the final as part of their Back the Fans and Pack the Stands campaign.
Read all about this act of generosity here
Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Eight World War One pillboxes are Grade II listed
A rare semi-circular bunker-like structure is among eight World War One pillboxes in Norfolk that have been granted Grade II listed status. The concrete buildings were built in Norfolk between 1916 and 1918, designed to protect a stretch of English coast from a potential German sea invasion, including the semi-circular one at Bacton Wood. They still have their original steel doors, gun loop shutters and white-painted interiors, according to Historic England. Its East of England regional director Tony Calladine said they were "a reminder of a time when determined communities prepared to defend Britain during the Great War". Listed buildings are buildings of special architectural or historic interest with legal protection. All but one of the newly-listed pillboxes are in the North Walsham area and they are: Two defending the Common Road and Bradfield Beck crossing point at Bradfield Common A rare semi-circular pillbox at Bacton Wood, guarding a canal bridge Two circular pillboxes at White Horse Common at the Edbridge Mill crossing Two either side of Bacton Road, Little London, defending the canal bridge The final pillbox is another circular one at Wayford Bridge, near Stalham. The pillboxes were positioned along the River Ant and the North Walsham & Dilham Canal - waterways that could provided further defence in The Broads. They are all slightly inland and were part of a network of pillboxes which were designed to "provide a barrier to invading enemy troops", said Mr Calladine. Pillboxes were generally camouflaged against the landscape to hide the occupants from enemy view. Most were installed with small holes in the walls called loopholes where weapons could be fired from. The first pillboxes were built by the German army on the Western Front, but as the threat of invasion increased in Britain, they began appearing along the east coast of. "The listing of these pillboxes recognises their historic significance and exceptional durability," Mr Calladine added. Historic England hopes people will add their photographs and drawings of the pillboxes and share their stories to its Missing Pieces Project. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story D-Day training pillbox converted into home for bats Former helter-skelter among new listed buildings Storms unearth sand-filled World War Two pillbox World War Two defences emerge from UK beach Related internet links Historic England
Hamilton Spectator
24-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Too close for comfort: Residents encounter coyotes this summer
Coyotes have long been part of Niagara-on-the-Lake's landscape, but recent sightings have some residents on edge, saying the animals are venturing too close for comfort. Wandering through gardens, stalking pets, and lingering in tourist areas, coyotes are leaving some too afraid to walk their dogs or let pets outside. But the Humane Society of Greater Niagara says more sightings don't necessarily mean there are more coyotes — and the Ministry of Natural Resources says it hasn't received any recent reports from the area. The town says it has received one service request related to coyotes and directs all complaints to the humane society. Cortnie Welychka, senior manager of operations at the humane society, said the rise in sightings is likely due to growing public awareness, more homes near natural corridors like the Niagara Escarpment, and faster information-sharing through social media and 'neighbourhood networks.' 'Coyotes have always been present in Niagara,' she said. As agencies and the town aim to balance coexistence with safety, officials stress the importance of not feeding coyotes — intentionally or not — as this can cause them to lose their fear of people and become aggressive. Meanwhile, some residents are calling for stronger measures to keep coyotes out of urban areas and are urging people to stay educated on risks to prevent conflict. NOTL makes ideal habitat for coyotes, Welychka says Welychka said NOTL presents 'a unique environment for coyotes.' Its mix of residential neighbourhoods, farmland and tourist areas provides them with easy access to food, shelter and safety from natural predators, she said. And they're not picky eaters either. Coyotes will happily grab whatever curbside takeout is available. Unsecured garbage, compost, pet food, bird seed and fallen fruit all make for an easy meal — the rodents they attract are just a bonus on the menu. Properties in town with thick brush, vineyards, and green spaces give coyotes the cover they need, creating cozy spots to den and quiet routes to slip through neighbourhoods. Welychka said they are smart and adaptable, hence why they can thrive in suburbs and urban areas. The town's steady stream of visitors doesn't help, she said — with more food scraps left behind and less caution around pets, coyotes are more likely to venture closer. Encounters leave residents feeling unsafe Old Town resident Sheryl Johnson said she will not take her three Yorkies, Mia, Portia and Pandora, for a walk — or let them into her backyard. One time, Johnson encountered a coywolf — a coyote-wolf hybrid — that stalked her while she was walking the two Yorkie-Havanese mixes she had at the time, Parker and Pennelope. 'I picked up both dogs and I ran,' she said. Johnson grew up on a Niagara farm and is used to seeing coyotes, but as more subdivisions go up, she said the animals are being pushed closer to town — human behaviour, including neighbours feeding them, is making the problem worse. 'They're even coming out in the daytime in a way they have never come out before,' she said. Some coyotes in the neighbourhood, including a mother and her two cubs, have started to appear almost tame, she said, a change she's noticed more in recent months. 'But they never can be tamed,' she said. 'They're wild animals. They have wild instincts for a reason. It's what keeps them alive.' 'It's not up to us.' Johnson most often sees coyotes on Ball, Delater, Ricardo and sometimes Front streets: Busy areas near hotels, beaches and tourist foot traffic. She even saw coyotes take down a deer at Parkway and Ricardo once. 'One of my first concerns was, kids are unpredictable. Kids will try to pet something that looks like a dog. How do they know any different?' she said, adding there are lots of children nearby. Last fall, a friend of Johnson was devastated after a coyote killed her chihuahua. 'All (the owners) heard was a little tiny rustling of the leaves and then a small whimper,' said Johnson, emphasizing how quickly and quietly an attack can happen. Resident Barbara Worthy said she's seen coyotes around for years, but never this many. Their growing presence has left her feeling like she's living in 'watchful cautiousness,' she said. 'I can't go out walking down the street at night anymore outside my house,' she said, calling the issue 'an inevitable problem of nature and urbanites.' Worthy once had a close encounter in Old Town when a coyote came around the corner and up her driveway, just as she was getting into her car. She quickly scooped up her dog, Louie — a 10-year-old, six-pound white multi-poo and beloved museum mascot — and got him inside. Though she didn't feel in danger, the moment was 'a bit nerve-wracking,' she said. Last week, she spotted five coyotes playing in the street, right outside her front door, around 1 a.m. 'My dog was barking his head off,' said Worthy. 'It's not like they're just walking down the street. They're walking the scene — going in and out of gardens,' she added. Marah Minor, the town's communications co-ordinator, said that while the town does not intervene in routine sightings, it may step in if a coyote poses a public safety risk, working with the humane society and provincial wildlife authorities to assess the situation. Feeding coyotes increases risks Purposefully or not, feeding wildlife is 'one of the greatest risks when it comes to coyote habituation,' said Welychka. And not only is it dangerous, but Welychka said it's prohibited under NOTL bylaws and enforceable with fines. Mike Fenn, spokesperson for the Ministry of Natural Resources, said attractants like pet food left outside, excess bird or squirrel feed, and food scraps should be removed, as they can teach coyotes to associate humans with easy meals. 'They are also opportunistic feeders,' said Fenn. Over time, this can condition them to 'become aggressive and dependent on humans for food,' he said, leading them to return more often and lose their caution around people. 'Once coyotes lose their fear of humans, the risk of conflict rises,' said Welychka. Johnson said this dependency isn't good for coyotes either — it disrupts their natural behaviour. Coyotes not naturally dangerous, experts say Welychka said one of the biggest misconceptions about coyotes is that they are 'inherently dangerous to people.' 'In reality, coyotes are naturally shy and try to avoid human contact,' she said. Native to Niagara and having adapted to life near people, coyotes are not normally aggressive toward humans. It's actually rare, said Welychka, often tied to being fed or getting too comfortable around humans. 'Lethal control measures are often misguided,' said Welychka. 'Removing coyotes typically creates a territorial vacancy, prompting new coyotes to move in and sometimes causing an increase in reproduction rates.' Johnson said even when bred with domestic animals, coyotes remain wild. On a farm near where Johnson grew up, a coyote bred with a dog. The family tried to keep one of the pups, but Johnson said it couldn't be domesticated and was turned over to a conservation area for safety reasons. Co-existence involves careful measures and 'hazing' To get coyotes to keep a distance, Welychka said to make some noise. 'It's important for residents to act assertively during an encounter, never turning their back or running,' she said. Clapping, yelling, banging pots or blasting an air horn can scare them off, and waving your arms, flapping a garbage bag, opening umbrellas or spraying water helps send the message too, Welychka said. In the past, residents were seen carrying large sticks and baseball bats to stay safe. 'Hazing should be practiced consistently,' she said. Welychka advised pet owners to take extra precautions, especially when protecting small pets that can look like prey to coyotes. Never leave dogs or cats unattended outside, she said, 'particularly during early morning and evening hours when coyotes are most active.' People should also walk dogs on short — not retractable — leashes, keep cats indoors, bring pet food inside after feeding, clean up outdoor food sources like compost or bird seed, and consider motion lights, fencing, and other deterrents to help keep properties safer, she said. The ministry's advice is straightforward: 'If you encounter an aggressive coyote, remain calm, use a flashlight, make a lot of noise, avoid turning your back, and never approach it. Once at a safe distance, contact 911,' said Fenn. Worthy said the goal is for people and coyotes to be able to co-exist:'We don't want to eradicate these wonderful animals.' 'They have their right to be here too,' she added. 'But we don't need them to be urbanized like this.' Johnson said the town's approach seems 'problematic' to her. 'The town said they couldn't do anything until the coyotes became a nuisance. So it's like, what, they have to bite somebody before the town can do anything?' she said. Johnson said the town should post signs to warn residents and visitors where coyotes are most active — and enforce property standards in those areas. It should also explore how to relocate coyotes to safer, non-urban areas. 'I don't want to cause (coyotes) harm,' she said. 'I also don't think they should be where we have all the tourists.' Coyotes aren't pets and shouldn't be treated like them, said Johnson — food sources need to be limited and wildlife kept out of urban areas, much like how bears are managed. Johnson said educating residents on risks and prevention is key. With so many tourists, dogs and small children, 'in Old Town, it's just too dangerous,' she said. 'I find it very disconcerting.' Minor said the town's approach focuses on public education, with tips, reporting guidance, and safety info available on its website at . paigeseburn@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Chicago Tribune
23-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Mayor Brandon Johnson announces $40 million to upgrade Chicago's homeless shelters
Tania Navarrete welcomes a group of city employees to her new apartment on the South Side. She guides them through the living room and bedroom and then into her kitchen. Art lines the walls and the fridge is fully stocked with food. The employees, on a 'special assignment' for the day, are with the city's Homeless Outreach and Prevention team. They helped Navarrete find and move into the new apartment about a month ago. The 33-year-old had lived for about three years inside a tent at the contentious Gompers Park homeless encampment after being evicted from her apartment. 'It's so comfortable here compared to the park,' Navarrete told the Tribune. 'So much problems over there. I better stay here.' The group of four employees made a quick stop at Navarrete's apartment last week to check in and bring her supplies, including food, bedding and a new toy for her black cat, Tinkerbell, a stray that Navarrete picked up at Gompers. The team spends their days building trust with many of the more than 7,000 people across the city experiencing homelessness. The goal is to help them rebuild and improve their lives. Navarrete is a success story, a bright spot in a system plagued with inequities and community pushback. But success stories take time and require resources, Luis Santiago, a community intervention specialist said. And there's two resources he said he's lacking most in his job — affordable units, particularly on the Northwest Side, and quality shelter space. The city combined its migrant and homeless shelters, called the 'One System Initiative,' to mixed success. 'Shelter space is so tight right now because of One System,' Santiago said. 'We just need more shelter, and that takes funding.' In a step toward that goal, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Family & Support Services announced Wednesday a $40 million investment to 'modernize' homeless shelters throughout the city, calling it the 'largest local shelter capital investment in Chicago's history.' Seven shelters received provisional grants, according to DFSS. Citywide the department hopes to improve around 750 permanent shelter beds, increase Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility and create 350 beds in private rooms citywide, a news release said, citing research that shows noncongregate shelters improve health and housing outcomes. 'Overall, this is an investment for healthier, safer and more private and more accessible facilities,' Johnson said at a news conference at Saint Leonard's House, a grant recipient that provides interim housing for formerly incarcerated men on the Near West Side. 'This investment spans across the city to seven shelters on the North, South and West sides of our city so that residents experiencing homelessness can find quality shelters wherever they are,' Johnson added. Half of the money for the program will come from federal funding, specifically the HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program, DFSS said. The other $20 million will come from locally issued bond funds. Meanwhile, the city faces a more than $1 billion anticipated deficit for 2026, a major pending union contract and other budget challenges. 'We are facing a budget dilemma, but we can fix it,' Johnson told a group of shelter officials at a roundtable Wednesday. 'We just have to have the political will … What I don't want is this zero sum where we have to cut services and find these so-called efficiencies that end up leading to closures.' Shelter operators said the money is long overdue and will be put to good use. Ivory Snow, chief administrative officer for Saint Leonard's Ministries, said the nonprofit plans to use the grant to install air-conditioning, convert shared spaces into about 40 private bedrooms and add ADA accessible bathrooms. 'Allowing for peace and privacy and dignity, just being able to go to your own room and if I need to chill and have a moment and kind of process today, our residents will be able to do that,' Snow said. At a Franciscan Outreach shelter, executive director Robret Simpson said they recently had to evacuate when temperatures climbed above 90 degrees. They want to use the grant money to install air-conditioning, she said. They also plan to move the women's dorm so female residents don't have to walk through the men's dorm, as well as build a dining room. 'Our guests stand up to eat in 10 minute increments with partitions, because that's what we have to do,' Simpson said. 'It's creating a space where we are matching not just what we're trying to do in services with the space that they're existing in, but also creating a better hope for a population that we all know has been historically disconnected from that feeling.' 'So for us, it's life-changing,' she added. A Garfield Park transitional home run by Inner Voice plans to install a lift to bring people to the first floor and install an accessible bathroom, said Jackie Edens, the group's president and the city's former director of homeless services. 'ADA accessibility is also beyond just mobility, but it's about vision and hearing too,' she said. 'So that was all taken into account. A lot of these architectural plans, the renderings were being thought of, so (we are) trying to be holistic in our approach to serving people with any kind of disability.' People with disabilities — which make up about 19% of the adult homeless population — have long expressed concerns about the lack of accessible shelter space. A number of lawsuits have been filed against the city accusing the shelter system of failing to provide accommodations mandated by federal law. Iliana Rivera Haven, a housing community organizer with the disability rights group Access Living, which is part of several lawsuits, said in a statement that the city has denied people with disabilities access to its shelters for decades and that 'any investment in ADA compliance to correct that problem is a win for the people of Chicago.' 'That said, even though we have been fighting for accessibility for years, this announcement was surprising news to us and to our allies working to end homelessness — we've received no details on the city's plans or how this investment will address long-standing barriers,' Rivera Haven said. 'Advocates with lived experience would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the city to ensure this funding delivers real change for disabled Chicagoans experiencing homelessness.' Doug Schenkelberg, executive director for the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, said the organization supports Johnson's efforts to 'create safer, more dignified spaces for unhoused Chicagoans, particularly at a time when the federal government is poised to abandon housing investments and embrace racist policy choices.' 'It is crucial for the city, state and federal governments to pair investments in shelter with more permanent solutions — housing with supportive services — so all Chicagoans have a safe place to call home,' Schenkelberg said.
