Latest news with #GordonJones
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After more than a decade, Boise's West End is about to see some big changes
For years, Boise's West End neighborhood has seen promise after promise that the vacant, dirt and weed-filled lots along Fairview Avenue or Main Street would become something new and exciting. They could become new apartments, new shops and hotels and cafes and restaurants, developers said. Many of those dreams have faded or been paused. Driving down Fairview or Main, you're still faced with the same empty lots that dominated the area in 2016, when investors and developers said they hoped to see the area flourish within the next decade. But one key project to unlocking the West End, and something that could catalyze development of those still empty lots, is taking root: The River District. Developers, investors and stakeholders hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday to kick off construction for the 10-acre development at 3150 W. Main St. The developers promise 220 town houses and apartments, a 125-room Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel, 20,000 square feet of retail space and a 640-stall parking garage. Most of all, they promise the long-sought Boise campus for the College of Western Idaho. 'This milestone is over a decade in the making,' said Gordon Jones, president of CWI, in a news release. 'We acquired this land in 2015 with a vision to expand our impact and serve the community in new and meaningful ways. The River District reflects our commitment to investing in Idaho's future through education, opportunity and innovation.' CWI leases buildings throughout the Treasure Valley. The River District would bring many of its programs, such as computer science, cybersecurity and business, under one roof in a four-story, 101,000-square foot academic building. The site — the former Bob Rice Ford car dealership on the northwest corner of Main and Whitewater Park Boulevard — abuts the Boise River Greenbelt and has for years acted as a parking lot for people using Quinn's Pond and Whitewater Park. 'This is an ideal setting for a thriving, mixed-use development that enhances quality of life in Boise,' said Tommy Ahlquist, founder and CEO of Meridian development company Ahlquist, in the release. CWI had planned to use the entire site for its campus when it bought the property for $8.8 million. But the plans faltered after voters in 2016 rejected a $180 million bond measure to build it. Eight years later, CWI agreed to a public-private partnership with Ahlquist. The partnership let the college build a new campus with money from its own building fund, donors and expected business revenue without asking voters for tax money. Ashley Smith, CWI spokesperson, told the Idaho Statesman in March that the academic building was to cost $38 million. 'CWI's goal was to always have a facility in downtown Boise to serve our students in Ada County, and we're still able to do that,' Smith said then. CWI and Ahlquist brought on several partners, including Wisconsin-based Raymond Management Co., Sun Valley's Centered wellness clinic, Boise's Hummel Architects, Eagle's Paradigm Construction Co. and Meridian's Engineered Structures, Inc. Raymond Management also built downtown Boise's Home2Suites hotel and the Hampton Inn & Suites. Ahlquist told the Statesman in 2024 that the campus would have the look and feel of The Village at Meridian. 'I think they're going to have a legacy site here,' Ahlquist said then. 'This is going to be a wonderful place to live.' Were Boise homeowners illegally taxed? Idaho Supreme Court to weigh in A new law was supposed to help emergency services handle growth. It isn't working Failed chip-sealing led to cracked windshields in 2024. ITD wants to fix it As Boise builds up, Eagle tees up density restrictions with little public input
South Wales Guardian
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Cwmaman Community Centre hosts Loneliness Awareness event
The event, 'With our hands, we connect communities', took place at Cwmaman Community Centre, Glanamman, on June 6. It was organised by Cwmaman Town Council, Pobol, Community Fridays, and Connecting Carmarthenshire. The gathering focused on bringing people together via creativity, conversation, and shared experiences, highlighting the positive impact of community engagement on reducing loneliness and improving well-being. The day featured free refreshments and lunch, creative and well-being workshops, as well as information stalls providing support to all ages. Bilingual talks and discussions, including contributions from Adferiad Recovery, Arts Care-Gofal Celf, and Military Veterans Club Cymru, explored how support connections can reduce loneliness. (Image: Stuart Ladd) (Image: Stuart Ladd) (Image: Stuart Ladd) (Image: Stuart Ladd) (Image: Stuart Ladd) (Image: Stuart Ladd) (Image: Stuart Ladd) (Image: Stuart Ladd) (Image: Stuart Ladd) Cwmaman Mayor Gordon Jones started the event at 10am, with children from Ysgol Y Bedol performing songs. This was followed by the Goldies singers. A well-being walk also took place, offering participants views of the Amman Valley. The event marked the beginning of Loneliness Awareness Week, which runs from June 9 to 15. The initiative aims to draw attention to the importance of community connections in combating loneliness and fostering mental well-being.
CBS News
03-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
After 60 years, the search for a missing plane in Lake Superior continues
Search team that found missing plane in Michigan's Lake Huron aims to help more families Search team that found missing plane in Michigan's Lake Huron aims to help more families Search team that found missing plane in Michigan's Lake Huron aims to help more families Experts searching for plane wreckage in Michigan's Lake Superior turned up logs and rocks on the bottom but no debris from an aircraft that crashed nearly 60 years ago, carrying three people on a scientific assignment. A team from Michigan Technological University returned last week by boat to get closer to 16 targets that appeared on sonar last fall, more than 200 feet below the surface of the vast lake. The crew used side-scan sonar and other remote technology. "We did not locate any sign of the wreckage of the missing aircraft," said Travis White, a research engineer at the Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Tech. "However, we did validate our technical approach, as we found physical objects in each target location." The Beechcraft plane carrying pilot Robert Carew, co-pilot Gordon Jones and graduate student Velayudh Krishna Menon left Madison, Wisconsin, for Lake Superior on Oct. 23, 1968. They were collecting data on temperature and other lake conditions for the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Seat cushions and pieces of stray metal have washed ashore over the years along the Keweenaw Peninsula. But the wreckage and the remains of the men have never been found. "We're probably not going to find a fully intact airplane," said Wayne Lusardi, state maritime archaeologist. An autonomous vessel was launched last September, recording sonar readings and other data. After studying those findings over the winter, White, Lusardi and others returned to Lake Superior. "Unfortunately, the targets turned out to be mostly natural: large sunken trees, logs, rocks," White said by email. Metal cans on the lake bottom, believed to be 75 years old, give "hope that the plane wreckage may be reasonably well-preserved and not buried," he said. White said the next challenge will be how to continue the work. "We may attempt a crowdfunding model to see if we can raise some funds for future mapping activities that could help us locate the plane or other historic wrecks," he said. The initial search last fall was organized by the Smart Ships Coalition, a group of more than 60 universities, government agencies, companies and international organizations interested in maritime autonomous technologies. The video above was first published on Aug. 30, 2024.
Associated Press
03-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
After 60 years, the search for a missing plane in Lake Superior remains fruitless
Experts searching for plane wreckage in Michigan's Lake Superior turned up found logs and rocks on the bottom but no debris from an aircraft that crashed nearly 60 years ago carrying three people on a scientific assignment. A team from Michigan Technological University returned last week by boat to get closer to 16 targets that appeared on sonar last fall, more than 200 feet (61 meters) below the surface of the vast lake. The crew used side-scan sonar and other remote technology. 'We did not locate any sign of the wreckage of the missing aircraft,' said Travis White, a research engineer at the Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Tech. 'However, we did validate our technical approach, as we found physical objects in each target location.' The Beechcraft plane carrying pilot Robert Carew, co-pilot Gordon Jones and graduate student Velayudh Krishna Menon left Madison, Wisconsin, for Lake Superior on Oct. 23, 1968. They were collecting data on temperature and other lake conditions for the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Seat cushions and pieces of stray metal have washed ashore over the years along the Keweenaw Peninsula. But the wreckage and the remains of the men have never been found. 'We're probably not going to find a fully intact airplane,' said Wayne Lusardi, state maritime archaeologist. An autonomous vessel was launched last September, recording sonar readings and other data. After studying those findings over the winter, White, Lusardi and others returned to Lake Superior. 'Unfortunately, the targets turned out to be mostly natural: large sunken trees, logs, rocks,' White said by email. Metal cans on the lake bottom, believed to be 75 years old, give 'hope that the plane wreckage may be reasonably well-preserved and not buried,' he said. White said the next challenge will be how to continue the work. 'We may attempt a crowdfunding model to see if we can raise some funds for future mapping activities that could help us locate the plane or other historic wrecks,' he said. The initial search last fall was organized by the Smart Ships Coalition, a group of more than 60 universities, government agencies, companies and international organizations interested in maritime autonomous technologies.
