Latest news with #Ironton
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
Man indicted on charges related to child pornography
Jul. 6—An Ironton man has been indicted by the Lawrence County Grand Jury on multiple counts related to possession of child pornography. Flint E. Topping, 54, was charged with 20 counts of fourth-degree felony pandering sexually orientated matter involving a minor or impaired person and five counts of second-degree felony pandering sexually orientated matter involving a minor or impaired person. The range on the 25 charges is from Feb. 23, 2021 to June 11, 2024. Lawrence County Sheriff Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Kodi Pizelli said a person that Topping lived with turned over a personal device to the police. Pizelli said they found items that were child-orientated pornographic material and had been downloaded from the internet and there were no videos that indicated Topping had videotaped a child. Topping is currently serving a sentence in Lorain Correctional Institution for felonious assault and kidnapping for a December 2010 incident during which Topping beat a woman and pulled the hair from her head while they were inside a vehicle. He was sentenced in 2011and is eligible for parole this December. Topping previously served seven years in prison for the rape of a girl under the age of 13 and has also been convicted of sexual imposition, attempted failing to report as a sex offender and disorderly conduct. —26-year-old Jonathan C. Imes, of Ironton, is facing two indictments from an incident at The Auger. According to the indictment, on April 16, Imes "knowingly caused physical harm" at the bar and the property involved was valued at $1,000 or more. He is facing a fifth-degree felony vandalism charge for that. He is also facing a first-degree misdemeanor charge for allegedly taking liquor. Ironton Police Detective Capt. Brian Pauley said Imes didn't steal anything from the bar. "He broke the glass by the patio and then broke glass to get in the big doors," he said. "He told us he left his phone in there and went back in to get it. All he took in there was a couple swigs of liquor. He didn't steal anything from inside the building, just caused a lot of damage by breaking the glass." —Kenneth B. Wilson Jr., 35, no address, is charged with fourth-degree felony railroad vandalism for allegedly putting an object on the railroad tracks and second-degree misdemeanor resisting arrest. Pauley said he put "a big rock on the railroad, trying to derail a train." —William Z. Earls, 37, Chesapeake, has been indicted after allegedly trying to strangle a woman March 25. He is charged with third-degree felony strangulation and first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence. Other people indicted and their charges include: —Tony Lee Wilson II, 34, Kitts Hill, third-degree felony tampering with evidence. —Kristy S. Tindall, 40, South Point, fifth-degree felony theft. —Kayla Dawn Thompson, 29, Huntington, West Virginia, third-degree felony illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility and fifth-degree felony possession of fentanyl-related compounds. —Sandra Kay Compston, 42, South Point, third-degree felony illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility and fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs. —Kenneth Blanton, 48, Ironton, third-degree felony illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility and fifth-degree felony possession of fentanyl-related compounds. —Robert A. Erwin, 46, South Point, third-degree felony having weapons under disability and first-degree misdemeanor aggravated menacing. —John P. Blair, 46, Ironton, fourth-degree felony failure to appear. —Carl E. Tooley, 42, Huntington, West Virginia, fourth-degree felony failure to appear. —Trevor J. Hodge, 25, Huntington, West Virginia, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs. —Daniel Reece Pannell, 39, Huntington, West Virginia, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and fifth-degree felony possession of fentanyl-related compounds. —Jason Matthew Wilson, 42, Crown City, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and fourth-degree felony improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. —Patrick R. Shanahan, 40, Chesapeake, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs and fifth-degree felony possession of fentanyl-related compounds. —Leslie Ann Lewis, 44, Ironton, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs. —Ronald P. Gumbert, 51, South Point, fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs. You Might Like News Fireworks schedule News Running for royalty (WITH GALLERY) News 'There She is....' News Traffic stop nets 52 grams of cocaine
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PureCycle plans to add 1B pounds of capacity by 2030
This story was originally published on Waste Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Waste Dive newsletter. PureCycle plans to add 1 billion pounds of capacity before 2030 by opening new facilities in Belgium and Thailand. The Florida-based recycled resin producer will also continue with plans to build its purification facility in Augusta, Georgia. Plans include building a production line in Rayong, Thailand, capable of producing 130 million pounds annually, and another in Antwerp, Belgium. Both locations offer 'access to mature feedstock opportunities, strong infrastructure synergies and low-risk expansion opportunities,' the company said in a news release. The major expansion plans, expected to cost around $2 billion, are backed by a $300 million series B capital raise from a group of new and existing investors. PureCycle expects the Rayong facility to open in mid-2027, while the Antwerp facility is expected to open in 2028. The announcement signals a new business strategy for PureCycle, which produces recycled resin using a solvent process. It spent the better part of 2024 and early 2025 working to catch up after a series of operational and budget challenges marked by mechanical problems at its flagship Ironton, Ohio, facility. After several processing setbacks and years of reported earnings losses, PureCycle announced Q1 revenue of $1.6 million, the first reported revenue in the company's history. During an earnings call in May, CEO Dustin Olson attributed that change to improved production volume, better uptime at the Ironton facility and higher sales demand for its PureFive resin. Fixing key problems at Ironton was a critical step toward being ready to execute the company's larger global production plan, Olson said during a call with investors on June 17. 'We have learned a tremendous amount from our experiences of scaling and ramping Ironton and building out feedstock infrastructure, developing commercial relationships and qualifying numerous customer applications,' he said. Olson said a combination of factors will help grow demand for PureCycle's recycled resin, including extended producer responsibility laws and minimum recycled content laws in the U.S. and Europe. Packaging waste regulations are ramping up in Europe. 'We believe an enormous addressable market ahead of us is there for the taking,' Olson said. 'We aim to be the first global recycling company that can serve global brands with high-quality product consistently, regardless of location or feedstock.' The planned new facility locations in Thailand and Belgium are meant to optimize PureCycle's business operations and 'structure a growth plan that we believe is the lowest risk, highest return and fastest to market,' he said during the call. Series B investors for this round include Duquesne Family Office LLC, Wasserstein Debt Opportunities, Samlyn Capital, Pleiad Investment Advisors and Sylebra Capital Management. The series B funding is structured as convertible perpetual preferred stock. Shares will pay dividends of 7% a year and can be paid in kind or in cash at the company's discretion, Olson said. The stock has a conversion premium of 30% of the 10-day volume weighted average price set on June 16, the day of the deal's closing, PureCycle said. Olson said the $300 million cash infusion from investors, along with 'other capital sources,' will allow PureCycle to fund the full $2 billion price tag for the planned additions with about $300 million in 'excess financing resources.' The entire project is expected to result in about $600 million of run rate earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, he told investors during the call. In Thailand, this plan will be propelled by a new partnership between PureCycle and IRPC Public Company Ltd. to build a new polypropylene recycling facility, located in an IRPC's 'eco-industrial zone' where IRPC already operates, Olson said. PureCycle says it can use IRPC's existing site infrastructure to reduce the costs of its own construction activities. PureCycle expects to start construction there in the 'second half' of 2025, the company said in a news release. Meanwhile, PureCycle is working to receive final permits to build in Belgium, which it expects to be in hand sometime in 2026, Olson said. PureCycle will still build out a facility in Augusta, Georgia, where it originally broke ground in 2022. Olson said the company has decided to move 230 million pounds of capacity 'earmarked' for the Augusta facility to Thailand and Belgium because those locations already have existing infrastructure and lower capital expenditure costs that can bring those projects online faster. 'For Augusta, we're going to focus on finalizing the engineering work we've already been working on' for what it dubs the facility's Generation 2 design, expected to have a capacity of about 300 million pounds a year before compounding. PureCycle plans to announce the actual design capacity in early 2026, he said. Pre-processing capabilities at the site are expected to be operational by mid-2026, and PureCycle will be 'integrating the learnings from Ironton' into Augusta and future facility designs, the company said in a news release. The first purification line in Augusta is expected to be operational in 2029. Recommended Reading PureCycle reports 'significant progress' toward profitability in Q4 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
07-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Trailheads of remembrance'
Jun. 7—1/17 Swipe or click to see more The Campbell House (Submitted photo) 2/17 Swipe or click to see more A crowd bows their heads in prayer at the unveiling of an Appalachian Freedom Initiative historic marker at the Campbell House in Ironton on Wednesday. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 3/17 Swipe or click to see more Dr. Andrew Feight, director of research and outreach for the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative at Shawnee State University, at the unveiling of an historic marker at the Campbell House in Ironton on Wednesday. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 4/17 Swipe or click to see more Nicole Cox, president of the Lawrence County Historical Society, unveils an Appalachian Freedom Initiative marker at the Campbell House in Ironton on Wednesday. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 5/17 Swipe or click to see more Marty Conley, director of commerce and tourism for the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, speaks at the unveiling of an Appalachian Freedom Initiative historic marker at the Campbell House in Ironton on Wednesday. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 6/17 Swipe or click to see more Susan Taylor sings "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the unveiling at the Campbell House. 7/17 Swipe or click to see more An Appalachian Freedom Heritage historic marker was unveiled on Wednesday at the Campbell House in Ironton. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 8/17 Swipe or click to see more Quinn Chapel AME (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 9/17 Swipe or click to see more Kristen Martin and Susan Taylor sing at the unveiling of an Appalachian Freedom Initiative historic marker. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 10/17 Swipe or click to see more Marty Conley, director of commerce and tourism for the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, speaks at the unveiling. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 11/17 Swipe or click to see more A crowd gathers at the unveiling of an Appalachian Freedom Initiative historic marker at Quinn Chapel AME in Ironton on Wednesday. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 12/17 Swipe or click to see more The Rev. LaCreta Rutledge Clark, presiding elder of the Cincinnati District, gives the invocation and sings the unveiling of an Appalachian Freedom Initiative historic marker at Quinn Chapel AME in Ironton on Wednesday. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 13/17 Swipe or click to see more A crowd, including Lawrence County Economic Development executive director Bill Dingus, bows their heads in prayer. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 14/17 Swipe or click to see more Chris Saunders, local historian, watches the unveiling. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 15/17 Swipe or click to see more Ironton Mayor Samuel Cramblit II speaks at the unveiling of an Appalachian Freedom Initiative historic marker at Quinn Chapel AME in Ironton on Wednesday. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 16/17 Swipe or click to see more Nicole Cox, president of the Lawrence County Historical Society, shakes hands with Bishop Stafford J.N. Wicker, presiding prelate of the Third Episcopal District, at the unveiling of an Appalachian Freedom Initiative historic marker at Quinn Chapel AME in Ironton on Wednesday. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) 17/17 Swipe or click to see more An Appalachian Freedom Heritage historic marker was unveiled on Wednesday at Quinn Chapel AME in Ironton. (The Ironton Tribune — Heath Harrison) Appalachian Freedom Heritage markers unveiled in Ironton Two dedication ceremonies took place on Wednesday in Ironton, as Appalachian Freedom Heritage markers were unveiled at Quinn Chapel AME and the Campbell House. The markers, which document the history of the Underground Railroad in the region, "span nine counties across three states," Marty Conley, tourism director for the Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation, said. "This is a Tri-State effort in the truest sense," he said, noting that, altogether, there will be 27 markers placed across Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. "It reflects what we achieve we come together." The sites are being added the National Park Service's Network to Freedom, and were paid for through a POWER grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. The 27 markers in the Tri-State will comprise the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tour, designed to preserve historically significant locations and promote economic development through cultural tourism in the Appalachian region. The first ceremony took place at the Campbell House, located at 305 N. Fifth St., which currently serves as the home of the Ironton Lawrence County Community Organization. The home was built in 1850 by John Campbell, an abolitionist and the founder of Ironton, and his wife, Elizabeth. Dr. Andrew Feight, of Shawnee State University, the director of Research and Outreach for the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative, said Campbell's work opposing slavery began in the 1850, and intensified on his move to Ironton in 1851. The home served as a station on the Underground Railroad, providing shelter those escaping slavery in Kentucky and Virginia (now West Virginia) to the Hanging Rock district of Ohio, where some settled and others followed a network north to Canada. "People risked everything for lives and freedom and stood on side of justice," Conley said. Ironton Municipal Judge Kevin Waldo led the Pledge of Allegiance in character as Campbell and introducing Susan Taylor, who sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." The marker at the Campbell House, as well as the one at Quinn Chapel, was unveiled by Nicole Cox, president of the Lawrence County Historical Society. Dozens turned out for both ceremonies, with the larger of the two taking place at Quinn Chapel, located on South Eighth Street, where speakers included the Rev. LaCreta Rutledge Clark, the presiding elder of the Cincinnati District and Bishop Stafford J.N. Wicker, the presiding prelate of the Third Episcopal District. Also speaking was local historian Chris Saunders, who Conley praised for his extensive research on the Underground Railroad in the region. "He has uncovered so many stories," Conley said. The history of Quinn Chapel began in 1856, when it was founded as African Methodist Church of Ironton by Retta and Gabe N. Johnson. The first and oldest Black church in Ironton, it also served as a stop for those escaping slavery and making their way through Ohio. The current church building was constructed in 1909 and served the congregation until 2024, when it closed, concluding its 150 active years of history. The Campbells and those at Quinn Chapel were part of a larger network of abolitionists throughout the region, Wicker said, using a piano as a metaphor for the effort. "And it takes black and white keys to make beautiful music," he said. "We are here today because of a group of courageous people." Further unveilings are planned for coming months, such one on Aug. 14, in Greenup, Kentucky, marking a site where 58 enslaved people revolted in 1829, during a forced march to Mississippi. Sixteen of the group escaped, but were later recaptured. Portsmouth is receiving two markers, with one at Pleasant Green Baptist Church, the city's oldest active Black Baptist congregation. It was founded by formerly enslaved individuals and allies and also has deep connections to Underground Railroad history. The second will be at Allen Chapel AME Church, a historic African American church with roots tracing back to the pre-Civil War era. The church's members, including John J. Minor and his wife, Martha Minor, Joseph Love, John Q. Weaver and his wife, Mary Weaver, actively participated in the Underground Railroad. Conley said the hope is that the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tour will serve as "educational trail and moral compass." "These are trailheads of remembrance," he said. "Future generations can learn from the past and be inspired by it. We want to make sure the history that happened here is never forgotten." He said they hope to "tell the full story of our region and the legacy of the Underground Railroad for future generations." "This is not the end, but the beginning of a larger story that we are proudly preserving and sharing with the world," he said. For more information, visit www. You Might Like News Man in cape, underwear breaks into West Portsmouth Dollar General News Nearly $200K awarded in Healthy Communities grants to Lawrence groups by Pallottine Foundation News Proctorville woman killed in WV crash News Facing Hunger Foodbank will have drive-thru food distribution on Friday
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Recognizing the Underground Railroad
May 31—Two sites in Ironton to be dedicated on Wednesday The Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative will be dedicating two of Ironton's historic sites in Ironton that were part of the Underground Railroad. On Wednesday at 10 a.m., a marker will be put on the Campbell House, which was the residence of John and Elizabeth Campbell and served as a station for Underground Railroad operations in Lawrence County. The Campbells worked with other local abolitionists to assist freedom Then at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, they will mark Ironton African Methodist Church in Ironton. Now knowns as Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, it was founded by Retta and Gabe N. Johnson. The couple helped freedom seekers escape through the Hanging Rock Iron District, a region encompassing the Tri-State area of Ohio, Kentucky and what was formerly part of the state of Virginia and is now part of West Virginia. "It is exciting to see this federal investment in the historical assets we have in the Tri-State region. Our research is recovering important lost chapters of local history that will transform our understanding of the past and help draw interest and visitors to the region," said Dr. Andrew Feight, Director of Research and Outreach for the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative. "This is a history for which we all can be proud as Americans and it's an honor and a humbling experience for me to play my part in the endeavor." Marty Conley, LEDC/Tourism director of Lawrence County, said they are honored that the Appalachian Heritage Freedom Tourism Initiative has helped make it possible for the National Park Service to recognize these Underground Railroad sites. "This is a meaningful step in preserving these stories, and we look forward to safeguarding even more local history for future generations," he said. The Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative recently reached a significant milestone in its mission to document the region's Underground Railroad history, with an additional eight verified sites now officially listed on the National Park Service's (NPS) National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Supported by an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER Grant awarded to the Lawrence Economic Development Corp. (LEDC), this nine-county, Tri-State project spans the tristate region of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. When completed, the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tour will consist of 27 verified Network to Freedom sites. The initiative aims to preserve historically significant locations and promote economic development through cultural tourism in the Appalachian region. The Network to Freedom program, created by Congress in 1998, highlights more than 800 places and programs. The Network verifies that each one is a true story about the men, women and children who freed themselves or were helped by others to escape enslavement. Some succeeded and others, tragically, failed. The Network to Freedom program has listings in 41 states, Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. For more information on the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative, and for additional image requests, visit or contact Conley at marty@ or Feight at afeight@ or Dr. Cicero Fain III at fainc@ You Might Like News Ashland woman killed in UTV accident News Council to fill Arthur seat News A tradition of honor (WITH GALLERY) News Former local meteorologist arrested
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
In Our View: Memorial Day 2025
Memorial Day is here. What many consider the beginning of summer was once called Decoration Day — the day when Americans decorated the graves of those who died fighting our wars. In 1967, Congress changed it to Memorial Day. Its history dates back to 1868, when General John A. Logan created Decoration Day to decorate the graves of those killed in the Civil War. We've been decorating the graves of our veterans ever since. This area has always had a strong connection to Memorial Day. Ironton's Memorial Day parade is longest running Memorial Day parade in America. It starts at 10 a.m. today. Local veteran Mike Wurts is the one who leads the efforts to place an American Flag on each service member's grave. Thousands of flags are placed on graves each year. Wurts is a frequent attendee at city and county meetings to keep commissioners informed of local happenings for veterans. He doesn't seek attention, but he deserves it for his ongoing efforts. In 2010, the Kentucky Legislature created the Northeast Kentucky Veterans Cemetery located off the Industrial Parkway near I-64. It may be the prettiest cemetery in our area. We encourage you to pay it a visit. Kentucky created five veterans cemeteries around the state. The Northeast Kentucky Cemetery has 75 acres and nearly 2,000 burials and internments. Memorial Day is special. It is much more than a day for a cookout or the start of your vacation. We couldn't enjoy either if it weren't for those who fought for our freedoms.
