Latest news with #Neff
Otago Daily Times
19-06-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Road kit to be kept by county
The main north road near Waitati. — Otago Witness, 7.7.1925 Lepers to live in comfort The Chairman of the District Highways Board No 16 wrote asking if the Waikouaiti County Council would take over the road construction plant now being purchased by the board, to be used on the work of re-forming the Waitati road when that work was completed, and also if the council wished the board to procure a tractor for it. It was decided that the council should take over the plant at the end of September, provided a sufficient amount were allowed for depreciation. With regard to the tractor the councildesired to make its own arrangements. The nine lepers, consisting of four Maoris, two Chinese, and three Europeans, who are shortly to be transferred from Quail Island, Lyttelton Harbour, to Mokogai leper station in the Fiji group, are assured of a delightful home. Dr Frengley, of Auckland Hospital, who returned to Auckland on Thursday by the Navua after five weeks among typhoid cases at Suva, had the opportunity of visiting Mokogai, and stated that it was one of the most beautiful and attractive islands that could be found anywhere. Mokogai, an island with an area of about five square miles, lies about 25 miles north-east of Levuka. "There are some 300 lepers living on this delightful place," said Dr Frengley, "and I am told that many who recover from the scourge of leprosy do not want to leave it. Here in a tropical climate, surrounded by all the beauties of Nature, the lepers pass away the time as happily as is possible. Indeed, the New Zealand lepers could not go to a better place." Dr Neff, a Canadian, was in charge of the station, and he had eight nuns assisting. They were wonderful people, and were doing splendid work. The island was equipped with schools and an up-to-date hospital with proper wards, etc. Everything possible was done to ensure the happiness of the lepers. Few of the lepers were in a bad state, and the majority of them were improving. Marriage is prohibited, and the men and the women live in different settlements. Both sexes are allowed to intermingle, however, at certain periods during the day. The lepers grew all their own food and were paid for their labour. They also ran a co-operative store, and generally spent their earnings in small luxuries. The community was run by lepers for lepers. They had their own policemen. All the patients at present at Quail Island have consented to go to Mokogai. The Quail Island station will be closed, and the cost of maintenance of the lepers at Mokogai will be borne by the New Zealand Government. Wood for the trees In this virgin land we suffered from a plethora of forest, and such was our reckless human nature that we had destroyed with both hands what should really have been preserved. The pioneer had to cut down trees to make room for pasture and cropping land, and the removal of the pristine forest from good land was wise and essential. But, unfortunately, this spirit of destruction was let loose indiscriminately, and mile upon endless mile of forest had been destroyed for the sake of a range of scraggy hill pasture whereon a few disconsolate sheep eked out a miserable existence. The land steadily deteriorated by erosion, and the rainstorms descended upon it, and with nothing to check them carried away even the scanty soil rushing it down in muddy cascades to silt up the creeks and rivers. — ODT, 20.6.1925 Compiled by Peter Dowden
Chicago Tribune
14-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Porter and Lake counties to defend against Cleveland-Cliffs assessment challenge
Cleveland-Cliffs is challenging the assessed valuation for its steel mill operations in Porter and Lake counties, prompting the assessors from both counties to mount a defense. The dispute could ultimately be decided by the Indiana Board of Tax Review in Indianapolis. Porter County Assessor Sue Neff during Wednesday's Burns Harbor Town Council meeting requested that the town pitch in up to $23,000 toward hiring an appraiser and legal assistance to make Porter County's case. Neff said she believes it may cost up to $100,000 for the county to present its defense before the Indiana Board of Tax Review. She is also soliciting financial help from the Duneland School Corporation and the Westchester Public Library. 'We just feel we really have to fight this,' Neff said. The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance set the value of land and structures owned by Cleveland-Cliffs in Porter County at $134,557,900 this year, which is a more than $16 million increase. Taxes are paid the next year based on the valuation from the prior year. The higher valuation would mean increased collections of $348,000 next year, Neff said. Cleveland-Cliffs pays nearly $2.6 million in property taxes this year, according to the Porter County Auditor's Office. Cleveland-Cliffs reacted to its increased tax assessment with an appeal to the Indiana Board of Tax Review. Neff said the initial step is for the county to hire its own appraiser, who would do an independent appraisal of the land and structures of Cleveland-Cliffs. 'If you don't have an appraisal, you're never going to win,' Neff said. Neff said she believes that large industrial properties, like Cleveland-Cliffs, have been traditionally undervalued in tax assessments. Cleveland-Cliffs has recently reported losses in quarterly earnings statements, which may be a factor in their decision to challenge the tax assessment, Neff said. 'We believe that they want to go even lower than last year's assessment, which is money out of all the taxing units' pockets,' Neff said. Burns Harbor would receive $77,000 in additional tax receipts next year if the $16 million increase in assessed valuation held, Neff said. It's important to protect the flow of tax receipts coming from Cleveland-Cliffs, especially with recent Indiana Senate Bill 1 limiting the growth of future tax receipts for local governments, Neff said. 'What my hope is once I get this appraisal, we're going to be able to sit down with these Cleveland-Cliffs people,' Neff said. If the appraisals are close, Neff believes a settlement could possibly be reached rather than going before the Indiana Board of Tax Review. That would also reduce the expense that would come from having a hearing before the board. Neff said she has also talked with the Duneland School Corporation — which would stand to lose the most potential tax revenue — and the Westchester Public Library about contributing toward the county's effort. The Burns Harbor Town Council decided that it needed more time to review Neff's request. The council could vote on the proposal next month. Town Attorney Clay Patton suggested that the town — which deals daily with the town's largest employer — could make their own contacts with the company to determine what they are seeking. Council members and Neff said that Cleveland-Cliffs has been a 'good neighbor' and has made many contributions to the local community over the years. Cleveland-Cliffs officials didn't return a message seeking comment. Meanwhile, Lake County Assessor Latonya Spearman said that she has talked with Neff and is leaning toward joining in the defense of the tax assessment of Cleveland-Cliffs. The tax assessment of Cleveland-Cliffs operations in Lake County was scheduled to rise to $121,970,300 this year, up from $114,997100. The steelmaker's operations in East Chicago yielded $3,498,579 in tax collections for Lake County this year, Spearman said. Spearman said a frustration is that the counties have nothing to do with setting the assessments for large industrial properties — that is done by the Department of Local Government Finance. 'We're just trying to work through all the red tape. It does appear that we're moving in the same direction,' Spearman said, regarding joining a defense to the challenge from Cleveland-Cliffs.
TimesLIVE
10-06-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Chevron CEO warned staff of safety issues before fatal Angola platform fire
"Preventing fatalities and serious incidents is our top priority," a Chevron spokesperson said when asked about the video. On May 20, a fire broke out on a Chevron-operated deepwater platform about 97km off Angola's coast. Three workers died and another 15 workers were injured. Last year the company recorded 12 serious injuries and one fatality, according to its corporate sustainability report. Some of the injured workers from the Angola fire are still receiving treatment, said Clay Neff, Chevron's recently named president of upstream, in a separate video message to staff on May 30, which was also viewed by Reuters. An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way and the company expects to learn more in the coming weeks, he added. Chevron has held what Wirth called safety stand-downs across the business, or meetings to discuss safety. 'We prioritise safety above production, and we show it through actually stopping production, and have the time to talk to folks and hear from them as well," said Marissa Badenhorst, Chevron's vice-president of health, safety and environment, in an interview with Reuters. "We hear what is getting in their way, what they're concerned about … and then we learn and we start work back up.' In his May 30 video addressing the Angola incident, Neff echoed Wirth's earlier message, telling staff that there was an increase in reported incidents across the business that could have resulted in serious injuries or fatalities, many involving routine daily tasks. "These were close calls where seconds or feet could have changed everything and they are stark reminders no one is immune," he said. Neff called on employees to understand risks, do proper planning and understand what skill sets are required: "Nothing matters more than everyone going home safe."
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Chevron CEO warned staff of rising safety issues before fatal Angola platform fire
By Sheila Dang HOUSTON (Reuters) -Chevron CEO Mike Wirth told employees they needed to reinforce safety standards after a growing number of injury near-misses in an internal video message on April 29, just weeks before three workers died due to a fire on one of the company's oil platforms in Angola. "We've seen a concerning increase in serious near-misses, especially over the last few weeks," Wirth said in the video, which Reuters has viewed. "Some of these events could have resulted in fatalities." The warning came after the U.S. oil major announced in February that it is laying off up to 20% of its workforce to cut costs. Several top energy companies including rival ConocoPhillips and oil service provider SLB have planned layoffs this year as the lowest oil prices in four years reduce their revenues. In the two-minute video titled "do it safely or not at all," Wirth told staff to double down on safety practices, regardless of challenges inside and outside Chevron. "I know there's a lot going on right now, with changes underway both inside the company and in the world around us," he said. "I learned some people feel that speaking up and stopping work is risky in the current environment. It is not." Wirth also said the company was working to reinforce and recommit to a focus on safety. "Preventing fatalities and serious incidents is our top priority," a Chevron spokesperson said when asked about the video. On May 20, a fire broke out on a Chevron-operated deepwater platform about 60 miles (97 km) off Angola's coast. Three workers died and another 15 workers were injured. Last year, the company recorded 12 serious injuries and one fatality, according to its corporate sustainability report. Some of the injured workers from the Angola fire are still receiving treatment, said Clay Neff, Chevron's recently named president of upstream, in a separate video message to staff on May 30, which was also viewed by Reuters. An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway and the company expects to learn more in the coming weeks, he added. SAFETY STAND-DOWNS Chevron has held what Wirth called safety stand-downs across the business, or meetings to discuss safety. 'We prioritize safety above production, and we show it through actually stopping production, and have the time to talk to folks and hear from them as well," said Marissa Badenhorst, Chevron's vice president of health, safety and environment, in an interview with Reuters. "We hear what is getting in their way, what they're concerned about … and then we learn and we start work back up.' In his May 30 video addressing the Angola incident, Neff echoed Wirth's earlier message, telling staff that there was an increase in reported incidents across the business that could have resulted in serious injuries or fatalities, many involving routine daily tasks. "These were close calls where seconds or feet could have changed everything and they are stark reminders no one is immune," he said. Neff called on employees to understand risks, do proper planning and understand what skill sets are required. "Nothing matters more than everyone going home safe."
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Chevron CEO warned staff of rising safety issues before fatal Angola platform fire
By Sheila Dang HOUSTON (Reuters) -Chevron CEO Mike Wirth told employees they needed to reinforce safety standards after a growing number of injury near-misses in an internal video message on April 29, just weeks before three workers died due to a fire on one of the company's oil platforms in Angola. "We've seen a concerning increase in serious near-misses, especially over the last few weeks," Wirth said in the video, which Reuters has viewed. "Some of these events could have resulted in fatalities." The warning came after the U.S. oil major announced in February that it is laying off up to 20% of its workforce to cut costs. Several top energy companies including rival ConocoPhillips and oil service provider SLB have planned layoffs this year as the lowest oil prices in four years reduce their revenues. In the two-minute video titled "do it safely or not at all," Wirth told staff to double down on safety practices, regardless of challenges inside and outside Chevron. "I know there's a lot going on right now, with changes underway both inside the company and in the world around us," he said. "I learned some people feel that speaking up and stopping work is risky in the current environment. It is not." Wirth also said the company was working to reinforce and recommit to a focus on safety. "Preventing fatalities and serious incidents is our top priority," a Chevron spokesperson said when asked about the video. On May 20, a fire broke out on a Chevron-operated deepwater platform about 60 miles (97 km) off Angola's coast. Three workers died and another 15 workers were injured. Last year, the company recorded 12 serious injuries and one fatality, according to its corporate sustainability report. Some of the injured workers from the Angola fire are still receiving treatment, said Clay Neff, Chevron's recently named president of upstream, in a separate video message to staff on May 30, which was also viewed by Reuters. An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway and the company expects to learn more in the coming weeks, he added. SAFETY STAND-DOWNS Chevron has held what Wirth called safety stand-downs across the business, or meetings to discuss safety. 'We prioritize safety above production, and we show it through actually stopping production, and have the time to talk to folks and hear from them as well," said Marissa Badenhorst, Chevron's vice president of health, safety and environment, in an interview with Reuters. "We hear what is getting in their way, what they're concerned about … and then we learn and we start work back up.' In his May 30 video addressing the Angola incident, Neff echoed Wirth's earlier message, telling staff that there was an increase in reported incidents across the business that could have resulted in serious injuries or fatalities, many involving routine daily tasks. "These were close calls where seconds or feet could have changed everything and they are stark reminders no one is immune," he said. Neff called on employees to understand risks, do proper planning and understand what skill sets are required. "Nothing matters more than everyone going home safe." Sign in to access your portfolio
