Latest news with #Gaston
Daily Record
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Stirling Albion keeper ready for new role as he hopes for quieter season
The 38-year-old keeper -who played every minute for the Binos last season - has taken on new responsibilities in the coaching staff, but is hoping to be less busy on the pitch this time around. It's been another busy summer for Derek Gaston ... but the veteran keeper is hoping he's less occupied between the Stirling sticks this season. The 38-year-old signed on for another season at Forthbank last week after a change in circumstances behind the scenes at the Binos prompted a U-turn on his initial decision to seek pastures new for the upcoming campaign. With goalkeeping coach Calum Erskine moving on to a full-time club, Gaston has now stepped up to take on goalkeeping coach duties alongside his playing role. But despite his added responsibilities, Gaston insists he won't take his eye off the ball on his important job as the last line of the Binos defence after a campaign where he made a league-record 133 saves behind a defence which struggled for long stretches. Gaston told the Observer: 'It just seems to fly in every summer and so quickly, you're back in and getting to work. 'We were just a wee bit off in terms of the contract talks at the start of the summer, the gaffer wanted to keep me but that wasn't possible for budget reasons. 'I was actually on holiday in America when the gaffer phoned me to find out if I had anything lined up yet and whether I'd be interested in taking on the coaching side of things as well as playing. 'It was pretty straightforward from there, it had freed up a little in terms of wages and I got offered the terms; I didn't want to leave the club in May so it was nice to get it all sorted out. 'I've been preparing for coaching for a number of years, getting all of the badges and moving to the top of the ladder on that front because I wanted to have all of that in place when I do hang up the gloves. 'Getting the opportunity to work at the senior level is something I'm really looking forward to. 'There were a lot of saves to be made last year and I was pleased with my own personal performance, but I think we had the second worst record for clean sheets so that's something we need to address going into next season. 'It looks like it's going to be an almost completely new defence, so I'm hopeful that I won't be as busy and that will be on the front foot most weeks as an attacking side. Gaston arrived at Forthbank a little over 12 months ago as a rare arrival in the chaos following the dismissal of Darren Young - with several experienced faces in that squad relegated from League One going elsewhere as the managerial appointment dragged on. The keeper believes it's a very different vibe around pre-season this time as boss Alan Maybury pulls together what looks to be a strong squad for a League Two tilt with more new arrivals expected in the coming days. 'It has been a lot smoother and easier in terms of pre-season and it helps us that we have a good group still here from last season. 'There were trialists and new faces coming in last season, but the manager has his own players in the door now which means we can really have a proper pre-season sorted.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
1 hurt in shooting on I-85, MEDIC says
One person is being treated for life-threatening injuries after a shooting near the Mecklenburg-Gaston County line Tuesday morning, MEDIC said. Police responded to the scene near a weigh station on the southbound side of Interstate 85 around 6:45 a.m. A truck was seen on the scene with both front windows shattered. There is no word on the cause of the shooting or a suspect. This is a developing story. Check back at for updates. VIDEO: 1 hurt in Uptown shooting, MEDIC says
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CT business owner admits to using $1.1M in COVID relief funds for travel, jewelry, cars
An East Granby woman has pleaded guilty to federal charges and has agreed to pay restitution in connection with a scheme in which authorities said she defrauded COVID-19 pandemic relief programs of more than $1.1 million. Karen Gaston, 44, appeared in federal court in New Haven on Thursday and waived her right to be indicted, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making illegal monetary transactions. According to federal authorities, Gaston in 2020 controlled a number of businesses, some of which were active while one was not and another had only one client. These included LNK, Elegant Clinical, Ruby Red LLC and Diamond Shine LLC. LNK and Diamond Shine LLC were operational but shared resources and employees, officials said. Ruby Red LLC had only one client and Gaston was its sole employee, according to authorities. Elegant Clinical was no longer operational. Beginning around April 2020, Gaston submitted loan applications to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) — both of which provided emergency funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The applications Gaston filed 'falsely represented the status of the operations, resources and employees' of the businesses she controlled, according to federal officials. She also reportedly filed loan applications at separate financial institutions 'in order to disguise the true nature of her criminal activity,' officials said. The loan applications falsely represented that her businesses were all active and operating, authorities said. They also falsely represented the number of employees and the amount of wages purportedly paid to them, which were outlined in fraudulent tax returns and tax related documents, according to officials. Authorities said Gaston also falsely represented that a family member — who was used as an applicant on an application — was a part owner of one of the businesses. Gaston reportedly received a little more than $1.1 million in PPP and EIDL loan funds through the scheme, according to officials. Instead of using the funds for payroll or other operating expenses, she reportedly spent the money on 'personal expenditures, including travel, food, luxury home goods, expensive jewelry, cars and paying off her home mortgage,' the U.S. Attorney's office said. As part of the plea deal, Gaston has agreed to pay full restitution. She also agreed to forfeit a $39,521 ring she purchased in July 2020 from the jeweler Harry Winston. Gaston is free on a $100,000 bond while she awaits sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. She faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
East Granby woman pleads guilty to $1.1M pandemic relief fraud
EAST GRANBY, Conn. (WTNH) — An East Granby woman pleaded guilty Thursday to defrauding COVID-19 pandemic relief programs of more than $1.1 million, according to the department of justice. Shelton man pleads guilty to fraudulently filing for COVID-19 relief funds Karen Gaston, 44, controlled entities including LNK, Elegant Clinical, Ruby Red LLC and Diamond Shine LLC. LNK and Diamond Shine LLC were operational, but shared resources and employees. Ruby Red LLC had only one client and Gaston was its sole employee and Elegant Clinical was no longer operational. Beginning in April 2020, Gaston allegedly submitted loan applications to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs), two pandemic-era resources, that falsely represented the status of the operations, resources and employees of these entities. She also filed loan applications at separate financial institutions in order to disguise the true nature of her criminal activity. She received over $1.1 million in PPP and EIDL loan funds through this scheme, spending the money on personal expenditures, including travel, food, luxury home goods, expensive jewelry, cars and paying off her mortgage. She's facing a maximum 30 years in prison and has agreed to pay full restitution. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Agriland
11-06-2025
- General
- Agriland
Cavan catchment pilot sees farmers change pesticide usage
A pilot catchment programme in Co. Cavan focused on reducing pesticide usage is aiming to influence national policy as early indications show positive changes occurring in the area. The Erne-Larah Water Source Protection project was designed to understand how landowners can prevent pesticides from getting into drinking water sources. Thirty-five farmers with land in Co. Cavan have been implementing measures on their farms as part of the project. Measures farmers have undertaken include creating and targeting buffer zones and tree/hedge planting along a watercourse to reduce sediment run-off; and mulching and weed wiping. Other steps include stock-proofing watercourses with fencing and the provision of alternative drinking sources such as pasture pumps; and improving pesticide storage, spill kits, and drip trays. One of the main goals of the project is providing evidence that managing water catchments is an effective way to protect water sources from pesticides. The project also aims to test water source protection measures that can be rolled out on a wider scale as part of national policy. According to Uisce Éireann, the Upper Erne catchment was chosen as a testing ground in part due to pesticide exceedances in local drinking supplies. In addition, the catchment has a landscape representative of other water source catchments with pesticide exceedances, due to its agricultural intensity and the nature of its land (grassland dominated with poorly drained soils). Pesticide of particular concern Speaking at the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Water Conference in Co. Galway today (Wednesday, 11) was Lorraine Gaston, integrated catchment manager with Uisce Éireann. Gaston said: 'Back in 2020 when the project scoping was underway, there were 36 public water supplies with exceedances of pesticides nationally.' However she noted that exceedance of pesticide in drinking waters in Ireland are not at levels that would pose a public health risk. 'At the time, a pesticide called MCPA was a particular concern because it accounted for 58% of the pesticide exceedances nationally.' This is a selective herbicide, Gaston explained, designed to kill weeds whilst protecting crops, and commonly used for treating rush infestations. 'MCPA is highly soluble and it has a low affinity towards organic sediments. It can remain in soil for some time and it is persistent in water.' Most of the measures were implemented on the farms as part of the project last year, with some to come this year, after which a preliminary project evaluation will be done. The 35 farmers that signed up to the voluntary project all received a free water and environmental management plan along with free support and advice from an adviser. 'All farms that needed them received a pesticide storage unit, spill kit and drip tray,' Gaston explained. 'In terms of grassland management, 14 farms received mulching and a weed wiping service, 15 farms received stock-proof fencing and alternative drinking water points, and we also held a training event in the catchment to demonstrate riparian buffers and proper sprayer usage. 'Mulching can help suppress rushes by weakening the plants over time and stopping the spread of the seeds. We intend to do another round of mulching this year, followed by weed wiping – a targeted way of applying pesticides directly to the rushes rather than spraying. 'It also uses glyphosate instead of MCPA, which is lower risk to water compared with MCPA,' she added. Additionally, farms were provided with solar-powered troughs and/or pasture pumps, depending on the particular needs on a farm. Targeted buffer zones were created to intercept an overland flow pathway, and native trees were planted, acting as an additional buffer and helping to limit run-off whilst enhancing biodiversity. Monitoring shows early indications that there is a positive outcome emerging for MCPA loads in the catchment. A key outcome of the project for participants has been that 70% said they have changed the way they apply pesticides, and 59% are likely to reduce or stop pesticide use in the future. 'Given the nature of the land in this particular catchment, there is an understanding that many of the farmers won't be able to stop using pesticides altogether,' Gaston added. With the pilot project due to finish this year, those involved are aiming to highlight the key learnings that could potentially be rolled out as part of a wider programme, and what findings could be used to influence policy. Essential for food production Opening the EPA's conference today, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with responsibility for nature, heritage and biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan stressed that water is our 'most important natural resource', essential for growing crops and raising livestock. Minister O'Sullivan added: 'Healthy ecosystems depend on clean water for plants and animals in so many ways; water is central to our economy and our way of life. 'Managed effectively, water plays a key role in strengthening the resilience of our social, economic and environmental systems.' However, the minister said that significant improvements in water quality have not been delivered at the pace needed, despite 'best efforts'. Ireland, nonetheless, remains above average in terms of compliance compared to the rest of Europe, with 54% of surface waters in Ireland are in good or high ecological status, compared to the EU average of 39%, the minister explained. 'We are facing many issues such as the resilience of our water supplies, the loss of pristine water bodies, the restoring of the natural functions of our rivers for biodiversity and flood protection,' he continued. 'It is imperative that we focus on meeting these challenges as a society, to put this country on a more sustainable environmental pathway. 'We have made very good progress in the last number of years. Governance has been strengthened, delivery programmes have been put in place and measures will be targeted locally to deliver positive environmental outcomes. 'However, in reality, we still have some distance to travel,' Minister O'Sullivan added.
