For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) A teenage boy has been rushed to hospital after he slammed into a tree and two parked cars on a main Western Sydney road while allegedly trying to flee police on Friday morning A 14-year-old boy has been seriously injured after he crashed into a tree and parked cars while allegedly trying to flee from police in Sydney's west New South Wales Police were patrolling Luxford Rd in Whalan on Friday just before 1am when they spotted a motorist driving dangerously Officers attempted to pull the driver over but he failed to stop A pursuit was initiated but ended a short time later when the reported Holden Captiva slammed into vehicles parked on the road and a tree on the same road He was later freed and treated by paramedics before being taken to Westmead Children's Hospital where he remains in a stable condition Footage from the scene showed the front of the car unrecognisable while other vehicles the boy allegedly crashed into with significant damage The road was closed for some time but reopened before the morning commute One resident living along the usually busy road revealed they had heard the loud screech of brakes and then a "bang" which woke up some family members "Many of us were outside here were really concerned It was pretty crazy and I really feel for the family Parts can be replaced but people cannot," she told Sunrise Anyone with information on the incident should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Investigation under way into cause of explosion at social housing complex in Sydney’s west that left one woman dead The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has indicated there could be more money on the way for social housing stock and repairs in this month’s budget after a woman died when a townhouse with a history of suspected gas leaks in Sydney’s west exploded Mhey Yumol Jasmin’s body was found in the rubble on Monday morning after two days of searching at the Whalan social housing complex where two gas meters were found to be damaged in recent months has vowed to closely monitor the department investigation into the incident after being made aware of reports that residents living in the townhouse complex had “raised the issue of the smell of gas within the last 12 months” Homes NSW was on Monday compiling a list of all work requests made for the Waikanda Crescent complex over the past five years with NSW police and Fire and Rescue NSW also investigating there were two known broken gas meters in the past seven months 0:48Drone footage shows Sydney home in ruins after Whalan explosion – videoIn November a resident reported a suspected gas leak and a contractor attended gas provider Jemena attended the property and resolved the issue the maintenance company contracted by the government responded to an urgent work order after a resident again reported smelling gas The contractor found the gas meter union had split and the part was replaced Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Ventia said it took incidents like gas leaks “seriously” and responded to them swiftly “In the last 12 months Ventia has received two reports of the smell of gas at the impacted property with one referred to the gas utility,” a spokesperson said Homes NSW said it would not comment due to the police investigation “Our thoughts remain with our residents and the neighbours that were impacted by the incident at Whalan over the weekend,” a spokesperson said Displaced residents are being offered temporary accommodation until permanent solutions can be found Det Supt Darren Newman from NSW police said investigators would pick through what remained at the property over the coming days as they worked to determine the cause of the blast maintenance and inspection logs would be reviewed A spokesperson for Jemena said the company was “cooperating fully” and that the “investigation into the cause may take some time” The Master Plumbers Association of NSW chief executive said gas could be “dangerous” and urged anyone with concerns about their own homes to call emergency services Free daily newsletterOur Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day telling you what’s happening and why it matters It’s dangerous stuff,” the former NSW Liberal MP said The Australian Society of Building Consultants president said explosions of this size were not frequent and needed to be properly investigated “Gas explosions are not pretty – that’s why we treat them with such a high degree of seriousness,” he said Speaking generally about the state of public housing in NSW Minns said on Monday that it was a “real concern” He said there had been a reduction in housing over the past decade “at precisely the same time as we had an increase in homelessness and a housing crisis in the state” “Something’s got to give here,” the premier said “We’re hoping to look at it very closely in the NSW budget because the circumstances as they currently exist aren’t good enough.” The sector was disappointed by measures included in the budget last year, saying they amounted to “crumbs” when compared with the scale of need in a state experiencing a “chronic housing crisis” people are forced to choose between staying in rundown and unsafe accommodation or sleeping rough.” Credit: AAP/ Fire and Rescue New South WalesThe company contracted to maintain a public housing property annihilated in a suspected gas explosion that killed a woman in Sydney’s west has been paid more than $1.5 billion by the NSW government NSW Police is investigating the cause of the explosion at the property on Waikanda Crescent in Whalan after emergency services for days combed through the wreckage searching for the body of Mhey Yumol Jasmin Neighbours of the Waikanda Crescent property have reported smelling gas over the past year with at least two reports made to the company contracted by the state government for the maintenance of the property Get the first look at the digital newspaper curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The Nightly can reveal that the NSW government has paid essential infrastructure services provider Ventia $1.54 billion for the maintenance of the state’s 130,000 public housing dwellings since 2016 which slugged taxpayers $246 million for a year of maintenance services was scheduled to end on December 16 in 2020 but was amended under the previous Coalition state government to end on June 30 in 2024 “Homes NSW is currently finalising negotiations with businesses to partner with for the new and reformed maintenance system which will commence in July 2024,” said the spokesperson “The Homes NSW Maintenance Hub will be live and available for people to call with maintenance-related enquiries from July 1 The overhauled maintenance system will cost an estimated $4.5 billion over a period of potentially 10 years with the money spread between different contractors as required This week NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged maintenance of public housing was lacking as she flagged announcements in the sector in the looming state budget ‘‘We are still receiving information about the maintenance on the property,” she said currently maintenance is outsourced in NSW public housing.” Rescue teams worked around the clock to comb through the ruins in Whalan Credit: Mark Evans/AAPNSW Greens spokesperson Jenny Leong said the state government had a responsibility to ensure public housing properties remained at a safe and habitable standard “The recent tragedy at Whalan is a painful reminder that adequately maintaining public housing is a matter of life and death,” she said many of whom have underlying health conditions are forced to wait months for mould removal and repairs to broken hot water systems - if contractors show up at all.” was visiting her mother on Saturday when the townhouse exploded the property collapsing into a pile of brick and concrete Her family thanked emergency service personnel for their efforts in searching for the 30-year-old nurse whose body was found in the kitchen of the collapsed home at about 3.20am on Monday “We’d also like to thank the public for their prayers and for respecting our privacy at this tragic time,” said the family in a statement Jasmine Mhey was killed in the blast. Credit: 7NEWSRace to find person trapped after townhouse collapseAustralia2 Min Read02 Jun 2024Ventia state and government agencies and earlier this month was awarded an asset management award for sustainability over work the company completed with Transfield on the M2 Motorway in Sydney’s Hills district A Ventia spokesman said the company was cooperating with Homes NSW as the gas explosion in Whalan remained under investigation “Ventia works closely with Homes NSW to deliver tenant services including responding to items such as reported gas leaks which it takes seriously and responds to swiftly,” he said in the last 12 months Ventia has received 2 reports of the smell of gas at the impacted property Energy infrastructure company Jemena has said it is cooperating with the investigation into the suspected gas explosion It is understood responsibility for a property’s internal gas works is with the owner of a property Emergency services returned to the property on Tuesday after residents reported smelling gas Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T ABC News News HomeWoman's body found after explosion at Whalan townhouse in Western SydneyShare LIVE 336d ago Link copiedShareShare articleIn short: Authorities have found the body of Mhey Yumol Jasmin who was missing following an explosion at a townhouse at Whalan in Sydney's west on Saturday.Five people were injured and multiple properties were damaged in the blast Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion but say it could take days.A woman's body has been found after an explosion at a townhouse in Sydney's west was unaccounted for following the explosion at Waikanda Crescent in Whalan After a day-and-a-half-long search by crews her body was found at the scene just before 2.30am on Monday has been identified as the woman found in the rubble of Saturday's house explosion had been delicately sifting through the rubble looking for Ms Jasmin in the aftermath of the blast They moved slowly so as not to create more damage that could further endanger her Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said authorities were able to access certain rooms to the building that had been buried by rubble with the use of "heavy machinery" and "a large crane" on Sunday It was after clearing large amounts of slab that Ms Jasmin's body was discovered It is understood she was found in the kitchen area of the apartment The woman's body was located on Monday morning just before 2.30am Authorities discovered the woman's body after clearing large portions of concrete slab using a crane and heavy machinery Commissioner Fewtrell said it was an "inherently extremely complex and dangerous" situation his officers were working in NSW Police Detective Superintendent Darren Newman said officers were at the "very confronting scene" five minutes after the explosion occurred He said his team spoke to the woman's family early on Monday "Mum's devastated," he said "We've been working closely with her ever since this was reported." NSW Police were at the scene five minutes after the explosion occurred four units in the complex collapsed and nearby properties were damaged in the explosion Those who were injured were taken to hospitals in St George and Hawkesbury NSW Police formally confirmed Ms Jasmin's identity on Monday morning The block of houses is owned by the state government and used as residential housing for seniors Emergency crews worked overnight to try to locate the woman Ms Jasmin's family has thanked emergency services "for their tireless efforts over the past few days" "We especially want to thank all the police officers NSW Fire and Rescue personnel and NSW Ambulance paramedics," they said "The family is so appreciative of their support "We'd also like to thank the public for their prayers and for respecting our privacy at this tragic time." Crews slowly and methodically removed rubble from the explosion site said it was "catastrophic" for them so I can't even fathom what's going through their heads." said it was "catastrophic" for the family Ms Toia said she saw "raw emotion" from the woman's mother in the aftermath of the explosion NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson told ABC Radio Sydney it was a "really heartbreaking end to what was a painstaking search". "They [emergency crews] did absolutely everything they could," she said. Rose Jackson at the site of the explosion on Monday. (ABC News: Keana Naughton) Ms Jackson said she has not spoken with the woman's mother but would contact her. However, she said she has spoken with affected residents. An urgent investigation has been launched following reports community members smelled gas in the lead-up to the incident. On Sunday, a number of residents told the ABC they had smelled gas days prior, with one local taking it up with the provider. Detective Superintendent Newman said independent gas experts would be examining the site on Monday to find out how the explosion occurred. Police will work with gas suppliers and anybody involved with its supply to the townhouse in their investigation. A "human chain" of emergency personnel has been moving each piece of debris by hand. (ABC News: Brendan Esposito) Ms Jackson said the maintenance logs for the property have been checked and noted that "there were two reports of issues with the gas meter within the last 12 months". "On both those instances, there was an urgent response and a part was replaced and both the maintenance team and the gas supplier checked that and reported that there were no issues." "We will be looking at whether that [gas] was a contributing factor."  In a statement, she said she was "deeply concerned by the accounts of residents who raised the issue of the smell of gas within the last 12 months". "I have instructed Homes NSW to urgently investigate this matter." Locals affected by the explosion will be able to access alternative accommodation and other assistance. (ABC News: Brendan Esposito) Authorities have said the investigation could take days. Energy infrastructure company Jemena said it was "cooperating fully" with the investigation. "We expect that investigation to take some time and at the moment the cause of the incident is still unknown," the company said in a statement. "There is significant damage to the area which means that the investigation into the cause may take some time." Jemena said it was fully cooperating with the investigation in a statement on Monday. (ABC News: Keana Naughton) The government has announced that residents impacted by the explosion will be able to access alternative accommodation and other assistance, including vouchers for clothing and furniture. Tenants who relocate will have the option to return to Waikanda Avenue once the remedial work has been completed, with the government paying for packing and moving. Gail Matycz, whose house is two doors down from the explosion, said she would be taking up the offer. Resident Gail Matycz says she does not feel safe in her home. (ABC News) "I'm not sleeping in my house … I don't feel safe, not at all," Ms Matycz said. "There must be damage underneath because there's all cracks and everything." Detective Newman said every angle would continue to be investigated until the cause of the explosion was discovered. The press conference has now finished for the morning. Copy link3 Jun, 12:50amMon 3 Jun 2024 at 12:50am'Five minutes after the explosion'Detective Newman said first respondents were on the scene five minutes after the explosion was reported. He said he was very proud of the team that had been working tirelessly since Saturday to search for the woman and investigate how the explosion occurred. Copy link3 Jun, 12:48amMon 3 Jun 2024 at 12:48am'Mum's devastated'Detective Newman said his team had to deliver a 'death message' to the victim's family this morning. "Mum's devastated," he said. Authorities have confirmed five people and a small dog have been evacuated from the Whalan property But one person is still unaccounted for and the desperate search continued on Sunday The cause of the explosion has not been formally determined One person still feared trapped after Sydney townhouse explosion The NSW Small Boats Regatta serves as the first hit out on home waters for (mostly) NSW crews often following extensive time away from Sydney on summer training camps the event is often used to evaluate speed ahead of the selection-critical NSW State Championships in a fortnight’s time The men’s singles only see a handful of entries this year but it’s set to be a cracking race nonetheless Nick Whalan is making the step up to heavyweight competition this year where he claimed a silver in the single at the NSW State Championships in 2024 Nick has been reasonably competitive in the U23 field at the Nepean time trials this season It will be very intriguing to see what Nick is capable of over 2km now that he’s free from the shackles of the 72.5kg weight limit Oscar Beregi – UTS Haberfield Rowing Club Another athlete who has stepped up to the U23 category this year Oscar Beregi joins the final ‘underage’ group after a successful U21 campaign as well as a win for NSW in the Interstate Youth Eight The Riverview Alumni will be looking to stamp his authority on this field after a tight tussle at the last time trial that saw all three of these athletes separated by just six seconds over 5km Joeys old boy Charlie Hine completes this all-GPS trio as he looks forward to his first race in the U23 category this weekend Charlie and Nick were competing in a pair at the early time trials of the season they have now both opted for the single scull as the focus turns to 2000m racing After a gruelling camp in the snowy mountains seeing how this battle shapes up will be interesting With margins between these three scullers being so tight at the backend of last year expect a fiery matchup in the U23 singles this weekend but I expect the sculling experience that Oscar Beregi has built over the past two years will likely net him the win Both Hine and Whalan stand every chance of overturning that I expect the margins to be within two boat lengths at the line Involved in the sport of rowing since 2012 Chris has found himself more at home in the finish tower commentating major Australian regattas since 2019 Chris joined the JRN team in 2024 covering all things Australian rowing Chris launched ‘Rowing Down Under’ a JRN Podcast to cover all things Australian Rowing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email In preparation for their historic showdown on the tideway Oxford and Cambridge have been taking on top competition from across the country I was both excited and a little sad about her recent announcement to leave rowing behind Following a successful first series in 2024 JRN is delighted to announce the second season of Sharing the Podium About Contact  On June 1, an explosion in a Western Sydney public housing complex claimed the life of a young woman, seriously injured another five people, and left numerous homes damaged or destroyed. Neighbours of the Whalan townhouse complex spoke to World Socialist Web Site reporters last week about the dire conditions and poor maintenance of public housing, as well as their firsthand experience of the terrifying incident. Gail, who lives in a townhouse next door to the complex that was destroyed, told WSWS reporters: “I’m still traumatised. I was sitting at the dining room table and all my light fittings just fell out. The glass sliding doors at the back just shattered. There’s little holes in the ceiling. “Next door to me, his ceiling nearly came down on his head, but he’s all right.” In line with the comments of experts and other residents, Gail thought a gas leak was likely the cause of the explosion. She pointed to longstanding issues with getting maintenance done: “We could smell gas for months and months. We called the gas company out, but they couldn’t find anything.” She was concerned that, even after the explosion, housing authorities were showing a shocking level of disregard for the safety of residents. She said: “The housing department said I can come back here. But there’s no electricity or gas—you can’t have a shower, you can’t cook. It’s just ridiculous. “They reckon there’s not much damage in my place, but there’s cracks all along the driveway which weren’t there before. “They said they’re going to fix my back door—I mean there’s more than the back door in this place. As far as I’m concerned, they’ve got to pull them all down. “Once they pull [the next-door building] down, which they’ll have to, they’re going to see more damage. I reckon walls are going to fall out in my place.” Gail’s daughter, who also lives in public housing, said, “The department of housing puts a band-aid on things. “I’ve got a property out at Willmot [a nearby suburb]. My whole back wall is like a sponge and the moisture is coming through my bedroom. I’ve got watermarks on my ceiling. “Major repairs have to be done, but they’ve come out and put two little plates on the back wall. What’s that going to do? “Maintenance don’t follow up on where the problem’s coming from. They just fix it and get out as quick as possible. My back fence is a rotting wooden fence. They just put a brace on one bit of wood and they nail another bit of wood on, but they won’t replace it. A band-aid is all it ever is.” Gail agreed, saying, “once you get to a certain age and they put you in these over-65 homes. They forget about you. They don’t do anything. You call maintenance and they never come out. Nothing ever gets done.” Sandra and her husband live across a lane behind the devastated building. She said “It’s just been a shock. It’s a disaster. I’ve never heard anything like it. This gas leak has apparently been going for years and not fixed up.” They were watching TV when the explosion happened: “My husband was in the lounge room. He was actually facing the explosion, I think that’s why his hearing’s gone. “You can’t explain what it was like. At first I thought [the neighbour’s] tree had fallen down and [my husband] said, ‘that wasn’t a tree.’ We looked across and couldn’t believe our eyes.” “We’re living in there. We’re hoping that they’ll board up the windows at least, because it was a bit cold last night. The windows were all blown out. We’re just lucky we had those fly-screens on, they really saved us. “We’re waiting for the housing department. We’ve owned this house for 50 years, it’s not public housing, and we’re insured, but [the housing department] haven’t done an assessment, so we can’t do anything yet.” Pointing to the ceiling under the eaves of the house, she said, “all this has got to come down. It’s all asbestos. It’s very scary.” “They fixed the tiles in the roof last night. They got up at five o’clock in the night, because we complained and complained, and we said if it rains tonight, the ceilings will all come down.” Australian firefighters are going door to door with this lifesaving advice for winter ShareGet SBS News daily and direct to your InboxSign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.Your email address *Morning (Mon–Fri) Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE PORT PIRIE - Clynton and Leonie Whalan had been working on their family history for decades but it was when […] Get an all ACCESS PASS to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription Get an all access pass to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription This is probably not the page you’re looking for Rescue teams had worked around the clock looking for Mhey Yumol Jasmin after the blast in Whalan on Saturday A mother has been left “devastated” after a woman was found dead in the rubble of a social housing townhouse in Sydney’s west after it collapsed on Saturday following a massive explosion that was felt in neighbouring suburbs New South Wales police and fire and rescue services had been searching for Mhey Yumol Jasmin, who had been unaccounted for after the blast on Waikanda Crescent in Whalan, before her body was found early on Monday morning. Read moreDet Supt Darren Newman from NSW police said Jasmin’s mother was “devastated” after her daughter’s body was located in the kitchen of the collapsed home at 3.20am “We had to deliver a death message this morning,” he said In a statement released through NSW police on Monday morning Jasmin’s family thanked emergency services personnel “for their tireless efforts over the past few days” “The family is so appreciative of their support kindness and assistance,” the statement said “We’d also like to thank the public for their prayers and for respecting our privacy at this tragic time.” Emergency services will continue to pick through what remains of the property over the coming days as they investigate the cause of the blast A spokesperson for gas provider Jemena said the company was “cooperating fully” with investigators “There is significant damage to the area which means that the investigation into the cause may take some time,” the spokesperson said has ordered an investigation from the department following reports that residents had raised concerns about smelling gas over the past year 0:48Drone footage shows Sydney home in ruins after Whalan explosion – video“I am deeply concerned to hear of accounts from residents who reportedly raised the issue of the smell of gas within the last 12 months,” she said “I have instructed Homes NSW to urgently investigate this matter The department are currently checking maintenance logs for any history of this.” Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025 Free daily newsletterOur Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day She said what had happened was “devastating” and the safety of residents was the first priority “Our immediate concern is ensuring everyone is receiving the care and support they need during this distressing time,” she said including firefighters who responded to last year’s earthquake disaster in Turkey A police dog and acoustic devices were used to search for survivors said the work had been particularly dangerous “Anytime you have a building that undergoes a shock and a structural failure particularly on a scale of what occurred on Saturday it is inherently an extremely complex and dangerous situation,” he said Crews earlier rescued a woman in her 60s and a woman in her 70s from the ruins, and later saved a small dog that was unharmed. The women were among five people at the scene taken to hospital on Saturday afternoon – three to Mount Druitt hospital and two to the Hawkesbury district health service. All had been released by Sunday morning. NSW Ambulance chief superintendent, Ian Johns, paid his respects to the victim’s family. “Someone has lost their life in this incident and we pay our respects to that family and to their friends and to this community,” he said. Mental health support will be provided for those affected at the Mount Druitt health centre. The body of a woman has been found in the rubble of a home in western Sydney. The building collapsed after a major explosion shook the suburb of Whalan at the weekend. Residents have told the ABC they had smelled gas in the area in the days prior to the incident. Rose Jackson the New South Wales Housing Minister tells Newsradio’s Tom Oriti, multiple investigations are underway into what caused the explosion. Emergency crews, including police rescue, worked overnight to try to locate the missing woman.(ABC News) Published: 7 Jan 2025Tue 7 Jan 2025 at 10:30pm Published: 6 Jan 2025Mon 6 Jan 2025 at 10:30pm Published: 6 Jan 2025Mon 6 Jan 2025 at 12:00am Download the ABC listen app for free music podcasts and playlists Add videos to your saved list and come back to them any time Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders Fillmore County Journal "Where Fillmore County News Comes First" April 21, 2025 by Leave a Comment The Whalan City Council was educated on the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail that is being planned and how Whalan could be included in the trail Present at the regularly scheduled council meeting on April 14 City Clerk/Treasurer Teresa Grossell was also present The council approved the Agenda as presented and approved the Minutes from the March 10 council meeting and the Treasurer’s Report Alex Shapiro with the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail attended the council meeting to provide information on the trail what has been done thus far and what they hope to accomplish in the future “Our project is an effort to establish a 100-plus mile backpacking trail through the driftless area of Minnesota in the style of the national scenic and recreational trail system supported by volunteers and operating as an independent organization,” stated Shapiro Whalan has the opportunity to be included as part of the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail which would bring visitors and business to town Organizers of the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trial will be holding a public forum at the Whalan Town Hall on Monday The public is welcome to attend the forum to learn about the proposed trail and ask any questions they may have The council approved Ordinance 2025-01 – Electric Franchise Agreement with MiEnergy Ordinance 2025-02 – Electric Franchise Fee and approved the Summary Publication of Ordinances in local newspaper No update was given on the meter socket installation near the bike trail Several of the used electric meters have been sold at $15 each The discussion of the Block 12 Well meeting regarding electric costs was tabled until next month The council has received an application for a liquor license from Pat and Karna Hudoba of Aroma Pie Shoppe The Hudobas attended the meeting virtually to discuss their proposal There are many things for the council to consider on the issue before deciding as to whether to approve the liquor license The council will investigate the matter and communicate with Hudobas and will report their findings at the May council meeting An ad to sponsor the Music in the Bluffs was approved by the council at a cost of $39 After a discussion on the two CDs that will be reaching maturity soon The 2024 Financial Statement prepared by Smith Schafer was approved by the council The councilmembers’ Walking Tour of Whalan will take place on Tuesday The council takes this opportunity to walk around town and see if there is anything that needs attention or repairs The subject of DNR Agreements was on the agenda but as the city has not received the paperwork from the DNR yet The 2025/26 Business License Renewals were approved Renewals are due in May to be effective on June 1 Grossell gave the council an update on what she has been working on and the upcoming reporting that will soon be due The County Hazard Mitigation Survey was submitted one of two electric reports has been completed and quarterly taxes have been taken care of The second of the electric reports will be completed soon The city of Whalan has received a grant in the amount of $2,000 from the Lanesboro Area Community Foundation (LACF) The council shared their appreciation to LACF for the grant amount The council approved of accepting a $500 donation from MiEnergy for improvements at the ballpark Backflow installations have been completed per Sanitary Survey Report Findings Filed Under: Business, Feature, Government Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" © 2025 · Website Design and Hosting by SMG Web Design of Preston, MN. Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWHALAN (KTTC) – The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) said that residents in Whalan should be on the lookout for wood piles being burned along Hwy 16 soon is of dead trees that MnDOT recently removed to improve safety MnDOT selects days for burning based off of when conditions are suitable for safety Crews with MnDOT will be monitoring the burning operation can stay safe while the burning continues: Find stories like this and more, in our apps Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Neighbours of a townhouse that exploded on Saturday have recounted the devastating moment a woman realised her daughter was trapped under the collapsed block in Sydney’s west as the frantic search for her entered a second night Five people were injured when a blast exploded the government-owned seniors’ housing complex about 1pm on Saturday at Waikanda Crescent in Whalan Fire and Rescue NSW crews remained at the property in a race against time to find the woman believed to be missing under the rubble bringing in a forklift truck to assist with the removal of debris and using search cameras to peer under the rubble and concrete slabs search and rescue teams used a crane to remove part of the front roof that was still intact to make it safer for workers to search underneath it They were preparing to work through the night Five people on Saturday were hospitalised following the blast that reportedly rattled windows in suburbs more than 10 kilometres away but all were assessed and discharged by Sunday morning which is all that remained behind the front of the property Neighbours who helped the mother of the missing woman said she was a nurse who was visiting her mother when the building exploded and damaged many homes on the street ‘When [the missing woman’s mother] saw what the building looked like she just stopped and said nothing; she was in shock.’ who lives in the house that backs onto the destroyed townhouse said he was lying on his couch next to two large windows when he walked into another room he heard “a massive bang” which shattered the loungeroom windows and scattered the glass all over the couch he had been lying on where he could see the remnants of the exploded townhouse He said the missing woman’s mother had been away from the building but returned a short time after the explosion and was screaming out for her daughter when she saw what the building looked like she just stopped and said nothing; she was in shock,” he said Ivica Videc was lying on his couch two minutes before the explosion shattered the windows above it and helped the mother of the missing woman.Credit: Edwina Pickles who did not want to give their last names for privacy reasons They said they gave the shaken woman a blanket and some water because she had been holding her jacket over her head in the pouring rain Videc said he was lucky not to have been on his couch two minutes earlier as he could have been badly injured and hoped the missing woman would be found alive “Her mother called the restaurant she works at as well as her nursing [job] but she knew she was there [in the building],” he said Several residents on Waikanda Crescent showed this masthead their smashed windows Some complained there had been a strong gas odour coming from the building for weeks including one woman who stopped walking down the lane behind the house due to its potency A crane moving cement away from the site of a gas explosion in the western Sydney suburb of Whalan.Credit: Nine Another woman who lived on the street said residents she knew in the complex had been asking for the gas to be fixed for months and she was not surprised this occurred NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson said she is “deeply concerned to hear of accounts from residents who reportedly raised the issue of the smell of gas within the last 12 months” The department are currently checking maintenance logs for any history of this,” Jackson said Authorities have not confirmed the cause of the explosion Rescuers go through the debris of the Whalan townhouse that exploded on Saturday.Credit: Nine News Jackson also said temporary accommodation is being arranged “for anyone who requires it” Homes NSW will develop an action plan to provide new long-term housing and other support services including vouchers for clothing and furniture and counselling Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said on Sunday that it was too early to rule out the possibility that the woman wasn’t alive we’ll continue this operation as a rescue effort,” Fewtrell said Neighbours comfort each other following the explosion.Credit: Edwina Pickles He said the blast would have “certainly been a very challenging scene for someone to survive” “This is still within the window for someone to survive,” Fewtrell said in a statement on Sunday afternoon we had the Thredbo landslide…it was almost a week when Stuart Diver was rescued…hence the effort to really be exploring the building as thoroughly as we can.” “Our urban search and rescue experts are looking at those spaces where someone might be found – whether that is lifting parts of the slab up to gain access or drilling holes through the slabs or other pieces of debris and then inserting search cameras and putting those cameras into those spaces and checking them out for any signs of the missing person.” Fire and Rescue has also brought in specialist acoustic monitoring equipment to listen for taps or other noises that could indicate life under the rubble Fewtrell explained that crews would momentarily stop work on the site and listen for “even the faintest of sounds” “There are small pockets and areas that are caused by the different parts of the building structure falling on top of each other and so the crews are working their way through those.” Fewtrell would not be drawn on the cause of the explosion and said authorities would look at “all different possibilities” A shot of the remains of the Whalan house explosion The building experienced “total destruction,” Fewtrell said A woman who lives in a neighbouring street to the destroyed townhouse said she was freezing sleeping on Saturday night because all of her windows were blown Another woman said she was nearly hit in the head with a small piece of concrete while walking down her street Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter was trapped under the collapsed block in Sydney\\u2019s west Five people were injured when a blast exploded the government-owned seniors\\u2019 housing complex about 1pm on Saturday at Waikanda Crescent in Whalan he heard \\u201Ca massive bang\\u201D which shattered the loungeroom windows and scattered the glass all over the couch he had been lying on He said the missing woman\\u2019s mother had been away from the building but returned a short time after the explosion and was screaming out for her daughter she just stopped and said nothing; she was in shock,\\u201D he said \\u201CHer mother called the restaurant she works at as well as her nursing [job] but she knew she was there [in the building],\\u201D he said NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson said she is \\u201Cdeeply concerned to hear of accounts from residents who reportedly raised the issue of the smell of gas within the last 12 months\\u201D \\u201CI have instructed Homes NSW to urgently investigate this matter The department are currently checking maintenance logs for any history of this,\\u201D Jackson said Jackson also said temporary accommodation is being arranged \\u201Cfor anyone who requires it\\u201D Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said on Sunday that it was too early to rule out the possibility that the woman wasn\\u2019t alive \\u201CAnd wherever there\\u2019s any chance we\\u2019ll continue this operation as a rescue effort,\\u201D Fewtrell said He said the blast would have \\u201Ccertainly been a very challenging scene for someone to survive\\u201D is to thoroughly explore the scene.\\u201D \\u201CThis is still within the window for someone to survive,\\u201D Fewtrell said in a statement on Sunday afternoon we had the Thredbo landslide\\u2026it was almost a week when Stuart Diver was rescued\\u2026hence the effort to really be exploring the building as thoroughly as we can.\\u201D \\u201COur urban search and rescue experts are looking at those spaces where someone might be found \\u2013 whether that is lifting parts of the slab up to gain access or drilling holes through the slabs or other pieces of debris and then inserting search cameras and putting those cameras into those spaces and checking them out for any signs of the missing person.\\u201D Fewtrell explained that crews would momentarily stop work on the site and listen for \\u201Ceven the faintest of sounds\\u201D \\u201CThere are small pockets and areas that are caused by the different parts of the building structure falling on top of each other and so the crews are working their way through those.\\u201D Fewtrell would not be drawn on the cause of the explosion and said authorities would look at \\u201Call different possibilities\\u201D The building experienced \\u201Ctotal destruction,\\u201D Fewtrell said Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories \\u2018When [the missing woman\\u2019s mother] saw what the building looked like she just stopped and said nothing; she was in shock.\\u2019 Residents in the Whalan social housing complex where a townhouse exploded on Saturday afternoon made at least two separate reports of gas leaks in the past 12 months Despite ordering her department to provide a list of maintenance jobs connected to the seniors housing complex over the weekend Housing Minister Rose Jackson has yet to receive a full list of the work attached to the property The explosion levelled parts of the building.Credit: Edwina Pickles A townhouse within the complex exploded on Saturday afternoon, the sound of which was heard in suburbs more than 10 kilometres away Five people were hospitalised and later released and in the early hours of Monday morning rescuers found the body of trainee nurse Mhey Yumol Jasmin The first report of a gas leak at the site came in November last year when a resident reported a suspected gas leak from a meter on the property A contractor visited the property on the same day and found an issue with the gas meter at the front of the property They fixed the leak and reported the fault to gas provider Jemena which also replaced the meter on the same day The second report came in April this year when a resident reported smelling gas coming from around the meter the company contracted to manage Homes NSW’s properties was sent to the property and found that a fitting on the meter had split and replaced it immediately Victim Mhey Yumol Jasmin and flowers at the Whalan explosion.Credit: Kate Geraghty Jackson said she was “deeply concerned” about the reports of the leaks “The department [is] currently checking maintenance logs for any history of this,” she said “Our priority is for this search to be thorough and we will have more to say in the coming days.” Jackson said the first question to answer was what caused the explosion – something authorities have been hesitant to detail was it something that could have been known about ‘If you’re asking me more generally about the state of social housing … it’s a real concern.’ “It’s interesting just to see the damage is very much at the rear of the property and a lot of the maintenance issues had been in relation to meters at the front “We’re not clear yet on what has or hasn’t worked.” Jackson said Jemena’s records on the property “just hasn’t been coming through yet” The gas company did not respond to The Sydney Morning Herald’s specific question about whether it had passed on the records but in an earlier statement said it was “fully co-operating” with inquiries NSW Premier Chris Minns said the previous government had not kept up to date with “basic maintenance” of social housing in the state “I don’t want to prejudge the investigation into the circumstances relating to that explosion but if you’re asking me more generally about the state of social housing … it’s a real concern,” he said The Herald had previously reported the concerns of several residents who said the street had smelt strongly of gas for more than a year and had believed the issue had been reported to authorities One resident said the smell was so bad that she had stopped taking her children to school past the laneway behind the townhouse Fire and Rescue NSW handed control of the property over to NSW Police Police will continue the investigation into the blast Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert A townhouse within the complex exploded on Saturday afternoon the company contracted to manage Homes NSW\\u2019s properties Jackson said she was \\u201Cdeeply concerned\\u201D about the reports of the leaks \\u201CThe department [is] currently checking maintenance logs for any history of this,\\u201D she said \\u201COur priority is for this search to be thorough and we will have more to say in the coming days.\\u201D Jackson said the first question to answer was what caused the explosion \\u2013 something authorities have been hesitant to detail \\u201CIt\\u2019s interesting just to see the damage is very much at the rear of the property and a lot of the maintenance issues had been in relation to meters at the front \\u201CWe\\u2019re not clear yet on what has or hasn\\u2019t worked.\\u201D Jackson said Jemena\\u2019s records on the property \\u201Cjust hasn\\u2019t been coming through yet\\u201D The gas company did not respond to The Sydney Morning Herald\\u2019s specific question about whether it had passed on the records but in an earlier statement said it was \\u201Cfully co-operating\\u201D with inquiries NSW Premier Chris Minns said the previous government had not kept up to date with \\u201Cbasic maintenance\\u201D of social housing in the state \\u201CI don\\u2019t want to prejudge the investigation into the circumstances relating to that explosion but if you\\u2019re asking me more generally about the state of social housing \\u2026 it\\u2019s a real concern,\\u201D he said The Herald had who said the street had smelt strongly of gas for more than a year following the discovery of Jasmin\\u2019s body Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens \\u2018If you\\u2019re asking me more generally about the state of social housing \\u2026 it\\u2019s a real concern.\\u2019 In the countdown to the 2023 Water Polo Australia (WPA) Annual Awards WPA is pleased to unveil the Hall of Fame inductees for 2021 and 2023 CLICK HERE to get your tickets to the 2023 Water Polo Australia Annual Awards that will include presentation of the Hall of Fame inductees The Water Polo Australia Hall of Fame recognises those individuals who have made an exceptional contribution over an extended period of time to water polo as a player Four-time Olympian Thomas Whalan will be inducted into the Water Polo Australia (WPA) Hall of Fame Whalan’s contribution to water polo in Australia spanned beyond the pool deck and into the boardroom Whalan was a member of the WPA Athletes Commission between 2004-2012 and was its Chairman from 2008 He became a WPA director in 2012 and served as President from 2017-2019 Whalan’s illustrious playing career saw him represent Australia at the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000 one of a very elite group of athletes to represent Australia at four Olympic Games He was the team’s vice-captain in Athens and assumed the captaincy for the next two Olympiads He played at five World Championships (Fukuoka 2001 the FINA World Cup in Sydney in 1999 and 10 FINA World League tournaments between 2003-2012.  Whalan’s medal haul during this time included silver at the FINA Junior Men’s World Championships in Kuwait in 1999 and bronze medals at the FINA Men’s World League Final in Berlin 2007 and Genoa 2008 Whalan led the Sydney University Lions to three national titles in 2002 2003 and 2005 from seven grand final appearances He steered the club to eight first grade NSW premierships from 2000 until his retirement in 2012 Thomas played in the Spanish League with CN Barcelona between 2001-02 where they won silver He was the highest goal scorer in the Spanish League that year and his club won the Copa Del Rey Kings Cup Thomas moved to Club Atletic Barceloneta where the team won the Copa Del Rey Kings Cup and finished second overall in the Spanish League Whalan moved to the Italian League where he played with SS Nervi in 2005-06 and RN Sanova from 2006-09 Whalan returned to Club Atletic Barceloneta and this time the team won both the Copa Del Rey and Spanish League The team also finished as quarter-finalists in the prestigious Champions League Water Polo Australia (WPA) is pleased to announce that four-time Olympian Thomas Whalan has been awarded Life Membership of WPA Whalan’s contribution to water polo in Australia is distinguished and extraordinary his involvement spanning many roles including player He was the team’s vice-captain in Athens and assumed the captaincy for the next two Olympiads.   Thomas joined the WPA Board as a Director in 2012 but continued to be involved in water polo He currently serves as a member of Water Polo Australia’s Foundation Committee responsible for providing recommendations to the Board on matters relating to the raising of funds through the WPA Foundation projects and the allocation of raised funds Thomas has always been known to give his time and share his knowledge and experience as an athlete to  drive better offerings for today’s aspiring future Olympians.   Thomas was also inducted into the Water Polo Australia Hall of Fame Water Polo Australia would like to congratulate Thomas on his Life Membership Emergency crews are continuing to search for a person feared to be trapped under rubble after a townhouse in western Sydney exploded and collapsed on Saturday Rescue teams are continuing to search the rubble for a person believed to be trapped under debris after an explosion nearly flattened a house in western Sydney A two-storey townhouse located in the suburb of Whalan was almost completely levelled just before 1pm on Saturday by an explosion Most of the building collapsed shortly after and emergency crews rushed to Waikanda Crescent where they evacuated five people were rescued by firefighters and treated by paramedics Fire and Rescue NSW said they were prevented from accessing the rubble straight away because of a large gas leak “The gas mains now have been isolated and those specialists are clearing the rubble,” an update said reported by the Daily Telegraph to be a trainee nurse who was visiting their mother at the time of the incident Firefighters are using seismic monitoring equipment to detect any sounds under the ruins of the house which could point to the location of the missing person It is understood a specially trained search and rescue dog is also at the scene sniffing at the rubble “It is certainly plausible that someone could still be alive in there it has certainly been a very challenging scene for someone to have survived,” NSW Search and Rescue Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell said on Sunday the physical impacts of that explosion and then of course the consequence of the structural collapse.” WHALAN | Firefighters search rubble of Whalan collapse as one person reported missing - VIDEO. Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have begun clearing rubble at the scene of an explosion and building collapse today at Whalan, in Sydney’s west.Th... https://t.co/jyujmTxi8g at times during periods of torrential rain in their efforts to find the missing person A fire is reportedly burning underneath the debris and is proving difficult to put out and furniture smashed into pieces on the ground while nearby properties had their windows and fences blown out by the impact of the explosion Fire and Rescue NSW have yet to formally determine what caused the explosion.  ABC News News HomeNews coverage Roscoe Whalan with correspondent Zoe Daniel in the ABC Washington bureau on his last day. (ABC News) Link copiedShareShare articleThe ABC bureau in Washington DC is a small office made up in total of eight full-time staff, but it often has fewer than three or four people on deck at any one time. You'd recognise many of them: correspondents Zoe Daniel, Stephanie March and Conor Duffy, with regular cameos from Philip Williams and Greg Jennett. Behind the scenes, over the past three years, has been me. I would hear the latch of the front door and the sound of a pelican case rattle over the lip of the door frame and one, two seconds later a face would appear: Stephanie March and cameraman Adrian Wilson returning from the shooting massacre in Parkland, Florida, or Zoe Daniel and John Mees back from another trip to middle America (from Indiana to West Virginia). Often, these colleagues had been punching the clock from 5 o'clock in the morning until late into the night. Roscoe Whalan (far right) with correspondents Michael Vincent and Zoe Daniel and cameraman Brad Fulton at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. (ABC News: Michael Vincent) I would watch them come and go like an air traffic controller, bringing in one crew for landing allows another to take off to some far-flung part of the US to tell another story. Often scheduled flights get delayed or diverted to some other American disaster. As a former TV reporter on Australian commercial television, where my work was obvious because my face was on TV, family and friends have grappled with what it is that a "bureau producer" does. In Washington, it's essentially a juggling act of editorial decision-making, logistics, morale management and good old-fashioned journalism grunt work. If a story breaks, the decision to cover it comes by the bureau. If we need to travel, together to find a way to get there.. Correspondent Michael Vincent and producer Roscoe Whalan at the scene of the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016. (ABC News) From a phone call in the middle of the night from Zoe on Thanksgiving weekend to tell me Fidel Castro had died, to another from Conor as I drove to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to tell me Alexander Downer had played a key role in the instigation of the Russia investigation, the news doesn't stop — not even during the holidays. In the US, it's insatiable — the waves of news crash onto the shore every day in incredible volumes. One story is superseded by the next story one hour after another and it rarely relents. My floatation device was my desk: each day I'd sit and brace for the storm, monitoring at least three cable networks, wire services, email, TweetDeck and my phone — trying to keep my head above the news waters. There was also a "squawk box" that sat behind my desk, which is a news alert service that advises of everything from "a bear stuck in a tree in California" to "senators reacting on Capitol Hill". Those voices, each distinct and unique, became friends. There's the surety that Howard will repeat everything three times and then the calm tone of Deidre in times of tragedy. The "squawk" we fear the most usually starts with the announcement of "aerials", vision from an affiliate helicopter. And then news of a "possible shooting", occurring at a school or a place of business makes the circumstances grim. From that first alert: it's to social media and cable news to try and learn more. I narrow the search to a city, then a school and then to those who were there, to learn the gravity of the situation. Is it East Coast or West Coast? What time zone? How quickly could we move a team to the location? Who will go? I scroll through the week ahead in my mind and work out who we can deploy and who can cover the story from the bureau until the crew gets to the scene. A brisk walk to the edit suite to let either John or Adrian know that they should probably pack a bag and then back to my desk to find out more. Now, let's look at flights — if they can make it, what time will they land and how soon can they begin filing to our programs in Australia? Soon it may be impossible to think of America's reaction to gun violence without thinking of the students who stood up against it. (Reuters: Jonathan Drake) Wait: there's a student who's escaped being interviewed live on TV. Hit record. Listen. Mark and cross-reference their account with the information we have from the police. What will we learn today and the next day and how long will this story "run"? How many cable news networks have gone to rolling coverage? One, maybe two, but MSNBC has just switched out of that coverage, maybe it's not that bad — wait, CNN now has its "national security experts" calling in. More news: there's just one shooter, they've been "neutralised". Police scanners say five people have been shot, still unconfirmed. Back to the flights: if we catch the 5pm then the crew will be there by 7pm, which is 8pm local, which is 10am AEST, which means they could be live on The Midday Report, if everything goes well, at least from the airport — the scene is another 50 kilometres away. What about cost? Weighing up flights, car hire, miscellaneous — it's a delicate calculation. Squawk: Police press conference in 10 minutes. Fact: Three killed and the shooter "neutralised". Another, now rather sad, fact: not bad enough for us to go. An hour has passed, the coiled springs slowly uncoil. We exhale, relieved that we've avoided jettisoning into another tragedy in America for one day. Another hypothetical filing plan plotted, executed in my mind before being cast to the scrap heap of stories that didn't quite happen. And, back to "situation normal" and the day we were already planning. Roscoe Whalan with correspondent Stephanie March and cameraman Brad Fulton in the media centre at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia (ABC News) To work in a bureau is an awesome responsibility. In the DC bureau, literally as Australia sleeps, a small team works to determine what Australians need to know. For every story that comes out of the Washington bureau there are another 10 that we've monitored, considered and debated before not reporting. In the age of Trump and "fake news" there's a constant and robust discussion about the merits and veracity of each story. Working for the ABC in the pre-Trump days, (I know, feels like forever ago, right?) the news cycle had a definite rhythm. The bureau would produce a couple of TV stories a week, a smattering of crosses and radio news updates in between long-form features for 7.30. Now, the bureau pumps out news at an extraordinary rate. From radio news to current affairs, TV crosses throughout the morning and a TV package at night, don't forget analysis for online too. More times than I can remember all three correspondents offered a full suite of coverage on the same day. Repeatedly, the questions we come back to are: What does this story actually mean and how does it fit into the broader picture? Getting to the bottom of why something matters and explaining that to our audience so they care is the challenge. I've sometimes ventured out of the bureau to witness big stories first-hand, including spending an incredible two weeks on the road during the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, election night in New York, as well as tragedies such as the Orlando massacre. On the first day of a road trip in Cleveland, in an attempt to get ahead by logging some interviews in the backseat, I dropped the proxy card the footage was recorded on down the side of the seat and my fat little fingers couldn't quite recover it. Fast-forward 30 minutes and we're at a dodgy old garage on the south side of Cleveland, having the entire back seat of our brand-new hire car removed by a mechanic before the damn thing finally slid out! Cameraman Brad Fulton, Zoe Daniel and Roscoe Whalan (right) with the mechanic who retrieved a precious proxy card which disappeared down the side of the seat in their car. (ABC News: Roscoe Whalan) The bureau supervising producer's job is unusual. It's about predicting the questions that correspondents will have before they even ask them. It's juggling what's not only coming up in the next hour, but in the next week and months ahead. It's taking note of bumps that may occur along the way and smoothing them out before impact. It's remotely helping Adrian Wilson and Steph March navigate the flood waters of Hurricane Harvey and calling every hotel in the greater Houston area at 1am to find them somewhere to stay (even if its 1/5 on TripAdvisor). Or it's a phone call from Zoe on voting day in Alabama asking if I could locate a tripod that may or may not have been left in some rural town of Alabama and whether we could get it back (we somehow did). It's predicting what story comes next and how it's going to impact everyday Americans and the world and getting a head start on that story before it catches up with you. Roscoe Whalan and Zoe Daniel at the Republican National Convention in 2016. (ABC News) I've shed tears on the phone to mothers discussing the perils their children face without health care or the uncertainty of a future for those who had protection under DACA revoked. I've met those who were inside the Pulse nightclub when Omar Mateen opened fire and killed 49 people, one told me how he lost seven friends that night. I've shared many laughs and stories with "Trump's America", lifelong Democrats who voted for Trump and traditional Republicans. These folks, from Ohio to Alabama, have given some of the best insight into the American psyche and are some of the kindest people I've had the privilege of meeting here. I will always remember the call I made at 3.30am from the confines of the miserable Javitz Centre in New York City where Hillary Clinton's supporters gathered on election night. The phone barely rang before a deep belly laugh came through the receiver. "We did it, we won!" the voice said in equal parts joy and delusion. "Congratulations, Mike," I said and couldn't help laughing either. Mike was one of the first Trump supporters I'd had the pleasure of talking to since before the Conventions. We spoke every few weeks about stories and what was happening in the countdown to election day. I was calling him because, with the outcome of the election a couple of hours in the rear vision mirror, we needed to go to the heartland and again share the stories of those who delivered the White House to Donald Trump. "Do it," Mike said, "get on the next plane out here". We went back to the hotel and drank a lukewarm beer in the lobby at 4am. I lined up the trip and Zoe and Brad were on their way just a few hours later. If we thought the election was a battle, the real one had just begun. Leaving the States, there's a feeling of incompletion. A frustration that for all of the disruption, it remains stuck in a self-inflicted battle with itself. A country that continues to baffle me, but simultaneously one for which I continue to have a great affinity. The artist has painted it black and attempted to start over. The layers remain and maybe the canvas will begin to make sense again, but the masterpiece will never be finished. Now, moving to the ABC London bureau, I face familiar but different challenges. Our immediate patch has extended from one to more than 30 countries, at a time of geo-political uncertainty. The time zone has changed — I will continue to work through the Australian night — but the challenge remains: telling stories that matter, making the audience care and expanding their understanding of the world. July 15, 2024 by Leave a Comment You are invited to come and rejoice with the congregation of the Whalan Lutheran Church in Whalan as they celebrate the sesquicentennial of the church on July 21 As an added bonus Brad Boice will entertain the crowd at 2 p.m Commemorative items will also be available for purchase to mark this very special occasion This is the perfect opportunity for past and present members of the congregation neighbors and everyone else to come together at the church There is a long and interesting history associated with the Whalan Lutheran Church which was organized on August 16 became the first pastor at Whalan Lutheran Church He would serve the church three separate times over the next 20 years The membership of the church began with 12 families and quickly gained another nine families to add to the congregation church services were held in the school house issue the Lanesboro Journal reported on the dedication of the Whalan Lutheran Church held on September 16 stating “On Sunday last the church was dedicated and the event was the most notable in the history of Whalan as the place never entertained so many people before at one time that had worked so long and patiently to erect the church served a free dinner in which all the people in Whalan assisted liberally and it is said that about 1,000 persons were entertained and that the dinner was abundant and excellent.” Early services held at Whalan Lutheran Church were spoken in Norwegian but over time the transition was made to English Many pastors have served the congregation at Whalan Lutheran Church over the years the congregation size stands at approximately 110 people today Thomas Steenson began a Sunday school program at Whalan Lutheran Church and later The Whalan Luther League was established in 1908 which provided a sense of fellowship to the youth members of the church The Ladies Sewing Society of the church was organized in 1886 in which the women paid dues (starting at 50 cents each per year) worked on projects and then sold the projects to raise money and in July 1894 the Ladies Sewing Society donated $402.14 to the church building fund and in September of the same year they donated another $33.65 to the fund which really helped to make the construction of the church possible There have been a number of improvements made to the church since it was first built In 1947 the interior church walls were refinished with plaster These windows are still spectacular to this day and are a joy to look at and appreciate There were major improvements made in 1970 including the construction of the narthex that was built onto the front of the church with bathroom facilities and lounge were also added at this time a room was added on to the back of the church where families are able to gather and worship before a funeral Improvements have continued to be made as necessary which has helped to preserve this quaint house of worship The Whalan Lutheran Cemetery Association was formed in 1984 to provide management and funds for the perpetual care of the cemetery After being members of the American Lutheran Church (ALC) there was a change in 1988 when the church joined the Evangelical Church Although there have been many changes since the church was organized the sentiment of why the building stands is the same as the day it was built Join the congregation of Whalan Lutheran Church and the city of Whalan for a day of celebration on July 21 The address of the church is 903 Oak Street in Whalan Filed Under: Business, News