All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe alleged victims arrived at the home one-by-one on the afternoon of September 19, 2023 to find the accused kidnappers hiding inside. They were allegedly dragged through the front door, forced to sit down, had their phones taken and were threatened. "You have pissed off some very heavy people, bikies are involved and they're not happy," one of the accused kidnappers allegedly said. One man - among a group who had broken into a shed and stolen the cannabis six days earlier - was met with a savage beating when he arrived home, according to court documents. He was allegedly pulled into the house, shoved into a wall, headbutted multiple times and then repeatedly punched in the head. His father - who had allegedly been the first to be detained - watched as blood splattered all over his son's face and the walls. He was allegedly pushed to the ground, questioned and repeatedly struck in the head, arms and wrists with the breaker bar - a long metal tool. At one point, one of the alleged kidnappers is accused of waving a knife in the man's face before taking a picture of him sprawled out on the loungeroom floor, blood streaming from his nose. The four accused kidnappers - Brodie Hodgson, his cousin Michael Hodgson, Dylan Liston-Smith and Timothy Searles - have all pleaded not guilty to a string of kidnapping, break and enter and detaining charges. Due to the number of co-accused and the estimated length of the trial, the matters were moved to Sydney where they were mentioned in the Downing Centre District Court on Friday afternoon and the group were committed to face a three-week trial in February, 2026. The four men will face trial in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court.According to court documents, the alleged kidnapping plot had its genesis in a break-in at a shed on Brodie Hodgson's property on September 13, 2023. The shed had been set up as a hydroponic grow house and at some point four people broke in and stole a large amount of recently harvested cannabis. The group used plastic storage containers to transport the cannabis to waiting vehicles and returned to the home at Argenton to begin trimming the cannabis for sale. It is alleged that Brodie Hodgson became aware of the break-in and began formulating a plot to recover the stolen product, recruiting several friends. It was about 4pm on September 19, 2023 when Brodie Hodgson allegedly knocked on the door at Argenton and found the father of the man he thought had broken into his shed. "There's some mean blokes around the corner and they're gonna come around and they're not happy, so you better tell me what you know," Brodie Hodgson allegedly told the man. The father said he had no idea what he was talking about and Brodie Hodgson allegedly made a call, telling someone "the coast is clear to come around". He was allegedly armed with a knife when he pushed the father into a chair and said: "Some people are going to get hurt bad 'cause you're dealing with the wrong people". Two other men - who prosecutors allege were Liston-Smith and Searles - arrived at the home and began searching for the stolen cannabis. One of the men - alleged to be Searles - began smashing up the house, breaking a TV and laptop, according to court documents. While they were allegedly interrogating the father and searching through his phone another man, apparently completely unrelated to the cannabis theft, arrived at the home. He was also allegedly detained and forced to hand over his phone, his captors allegedly ignoring his pleas to be let go so he could pick up his child. The man who lived at the home and had been involved in the break-in was the next to arrive. He was allegedly dragged inside and bashed, but maintained he had no involvement in the theft. Brodie Hodgson then called his cousin Michael, who allegedly arrived a short time later and told the trio they had "pissed off some very heavy people" and "bikies were involved". Later, a fourth man arrived at the home, looking for one of the other alleged victims, and was allegedly promptly dragged inside and questioned. He denied any knowledge and cast doubt on the theory that the man they had allegedly savagely bashed was involved either. Gradually, things de-escalated and with the four men maintaining they had no knowledge of or involvement in the cannabis theft, the alleged kidnappers began considering whether they had made a mistake, according to court documents. "I think we've got the wrong house", one of them allegedly said. They handed back the phones, allegedly uttered a few more threats and then left. The matter was not reported to detectives and was only discovered when police later stumbled upon the photograph of the alleged victim bloodied and sprawled out on his loungeroom floor. From there police launched an investigation and worked to identify everyone who went to the home on the afternoon of the alleged kidnappings. Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Don't miss your weekly Knights update Get the latest property and development news here tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords SUMO architects introduces a breezy dwelling, dubbed ‘BE house,’ for a family of four in in argentona a small city situated 30min by car from barcelona the house is situated along a plot of 370 square meters with an optimized orientation within its natural and built surroundings the house was designed inspired by passive house principles and defined by its offset occupiable facade the concrete floor on the ground floor allows the interior to become a low heating and cooling demand building the design team at SUMO architects (see more here) explains the construction of its BE house and first floors are built with a ‘dry industrialized system.’ the frame stands as an assemblage of wooden slabs and a façade finished with thermo treated pine wood strips a hot galvanized steel tube profile defines the porch a slim structure generates an intermediate space between the inside and the outside wooden rolled shooters protect the house from sun radiation and allow cross ventilation each material is used where it is most efficient — the team employs a green roof to protect against the exposure to direct sunlight to avoid overheating a photovoltaic plant integrated on the roof produces the energy that the house needs accumulation batteries allow the house to be unplugged from the electricity grid AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style February 1 Chemicals and materials science giant Dow announced the appointment of Andre Argenton as Vice President of Environment Health and Safety (EH&S) and Chief Sustainability Officer Argenton will succeed Mary Draves in the role upon her retirement in April Draves has been with Dow for over 32 years and has served as Vice President of EH&S and Chief Sustainability Officer since 2019 Mary has lived her passion for using science innovation and collaboration to drive meaningful change who inspires others to reach further and to find the best answers Her legacy will carry on through the many people whom she has influenced during her time with Dow I wish Mary and her family every happiness in this next chapter of life.” Argenton will be responsible for corporate EH&S governance and corporate sustainability including the reporting and disclosure of Dow’s ESG performance most recently serving as Vice President of Research and Development responsible for leading a broad portfolio of research programs and world-leading innovation capabilities The appointment follows the announcement by Dow in October at its 2021 Investor Day of plans to allocate approximately $1 billion per year of capex on investments aimed at decarbonizing its global asset base. Dow introduced a 2050 carbon neutrality goal in 2020, with the release of a series of sustainability commitments which also included targets to reduce net annual carbon emissions by 15% by 2030 along with waste reduction and sustainable packaging pledges.  we have outlined a clear and ambitious plan to use our innovation and sustainability expertise to drive near-and long-term growth in the key markets we serve Andre’s scientific expertise and business experience will help us further advance our focus on decarbonizing and developing circular and sustainable materials that will help us achieve those goals.” Companies / Executive Moves / Join our mailing list for the latest breaking ESG investment news LevelC-LevelSVP / EVPDirector / VPManager / SupervisorMid or Entry LevelFreelance / ContractStudent / InternRetiredOther FunctionAccounting & FinanceBusiness Development & SalesCustomer SupportFacilitiesHR & TalentInvestingLegalMarketing & CommunicationsOperationsR & DProcurement & ContractingSupply Chain & DistributionSustainabilityStrategyTechnologyOther We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyse how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Join the ESG Today daily newsletter and get all the top ESG stories FunctionAccounting & FinanceBusiness Development & SalesCustomer SupportFacilitiesHR & TalentInvestingLegalMarketing & CommunicationsOperationsProcurement & ContractingR & DStrategySupply Chain & DistributionSustainabilityTechnologyOther A sustainable future is created in partnership this feels like a natural moment for reflection because that is what our ‘Imagine Better’ theme is all about I feel that in the space of sustainability a critical question is: what are the foundational pillars in the successes from these 125 years that can help us create a more sustainable future for all Protecting people and the environment is part of our DNA part of everything we do and every decision we make I believe that science and technology are fundamental to all we do and I believe that partnerships are the catalyst This has been the case throughout our Company’s existence “PROTECTING PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT IS PART OF OUR DNA PART OF EVERYTHING WE DO AND EVERY DECISION WE MAKE." We continued to renew our 10-year commitments over the next decades guiding our sustainability strategy and actions the world is facing significant challenges with climate change being a clear one to be addressed there is tremendous opportunity for a materials science company like Dow we need to base our actions in science and engineering We continue to strengthen our partnerships and forge new relationships to collaborate with experts who bring complementary skillsets we can catalyze our impact to sustainability our teams are continuously challenging the status quo to find better more efficient ways to deliver on our commitments that put us on a path to achieve 5 million metric ton of CO2 reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050 to eliminate plastic waste from our environment and drive circularity and increase our positive environmental impacts on society we are joining forces with like-minded partners who are as invested as we are in creating that sustainable world Particularly in a time when the climate crisis has never felt more urgent these partnerships are more important than ever The challenges we are solving in partnership are incredibly complex You can't develop a new material with an improved carbon footprint without alignment across the value chain on the properties and the processability of the new material You can't answer an energy challenge without partners in the energy sector You can't completely redesign a process to enable an existing material to be produced with a superior CO2 footprint without understanding the impact this new process has on new feedstocks and its associated scope 3 emissions I couldn’t be more optimistic about the shared journey we’re on because of the talent we have and the powerful relationships we’ve built we can imagine better and combine the power of our materials science expertise with the needs and insights of our diverse partners to deliver on the promise of a sustainable future for our people and planet for the next 125 years and beyond Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Environment DOWDOWDow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future We operate manufacturing sites in 30 countries and employ approximately 36,000 people Dow delivered sales of approximately $43 billion in 2024 References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc and its subsidiaries.​​​​Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com More from DOW designed for organizations committed to maximizing their impact designed for organizations looking to scale impact designed for organizations ready to amplify their impact message Share your brand’s purpose through high-impact original content crafted by the TriplePundit editorial team Talk to our team about maximizing your impact communications with 3BL Experience the latest ESG and sustainability news reported by veteran journalists Celebrate your company’s placement on this prestigious ranking Discover what consumers expect from businesses and actionable tips for effective impact communication See how sustainability communications performed throughout 2024 to refine your strategies in the coming year Uncover the top 10 red flags in impact content and practical advice on how to combat these mistakes We help organizations share their sustainability communications with audiences around the world Learn more about the people behind our brand MIDLAND, Mich., February 3, 2022 /3BL Media/ - Dow (NYSE: DOW) today announces that Mary Draves Health and Safety (EH&S) and chief sustainability officer has announced her decision to retire in April 2022 following more than 32 years of service with Dow vice president of Core Research and Development (R&D) and will assume the role upon Draves' retirement including the reporting and disclosure of Dow's Environmental Argenton joined Dow in 1999 in Brazil as a research scientist working with various Dow technologies in close collaboration with customers aligned to a broad range of applications like home and personal care he held numerous leadership positions including director of Core R&D and global R&D director of the Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure business where he was responsible for the pipeline of innovation programs In his last role as vice president of Core R&D he was responsible for a broad portfolio of research programs and world-leading innovation capabilities He serves on several academic advisory boards for chemical engineering and chemistry including U.C Berkeley College of Chemistry and University of Michigan Department of Chemical Engineering He holds a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Sao Paulo "As we announced at our 2021 Investor Day, we have outlined a clear and ambitious plan to use our innovation and sustainability expertise to drive near-and long-term growth in the key markets we serve," said Jim Fitterling "Andre's scientific expertise and business experience will help us further advance our focus on decarbonizing and developing circular and sustainable materials that will help us achieve those goals." Draves has served as vice president of EH&S and chief sustainability officer since 2019 she oversaw the best-ever Company safety performance comprehensive ESG report and was instrumental in designing Dow's sustainability targets to address climate protection and advance a circular economy Draves previously led Dow's groundbreaking Valuing Nature Goal the first-ever commitment by a corporation to factor nature into its business decisions Dow is more than halfway toward $1 billion of net present from value in nature-based decisions she was named to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's Council on Climate Solutions Draves joined Dow in 1989 and held several manufacturing and EH&S leadership roles She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and Master of Science in technological processes from Saginaw Valley State University who inspires others to reach further and to find the best answers," said Fitterling "Her legacy will carry on through the many people whom she has influenced during her time with Dow I wish Mary and her family every happiness in this next chapter of life." Kyle Bandlow +1 989 638 2417kbandlow@dow.com The expansion renovations began in late 2021 and involved a 9 million euro investment The goal was to achieve "a complete reorganization of the production and storage areas more collaborative workspaces," according to the company."We are investing in a production network prepared for the future and a resilient supply chain in Europe The current investments highlight the importance of Beiersdorf's production plants in this country," said Malte Schulz vice president of supply chain in Europe and North America by 26 June 2024 The Argenton Hotel has launched a brand new menu that’s bound to warm up your winter Under the expert guidance of head chef Nat the Lake Macquarie hotel launched the new menu yesterday featuring a range of pub favourites winter warmers and a few surprise dishes that are sure to be a hit with both the regular patrons and new visitors Seafood lovers have really been taken care of here with the new menu stacked with ocean goodies served with rice and seasonal greens and the fish tacos giving you a taste of the sea wrapped up in soft tortillas Anyone looking for a winter warmer should check out the lamb shank which is slow-cooked to perfection and served with mash and peas But out of everything we’ve seen from the menu we reckon the new steak sandwich You can try out the new menu for yourself by visiting The Argenton Hotel at 515 Lake Road Argenton. Visit argentonhotel.com.au for more information Privacy Policy Our simplified product lineup offers bespoke and affordable advertising options designed to capture the attention of our hyper-local audience We create original and engaging media to tell your story sell your tickets and get people through the doors it’s on Newcastle Live – the Hunter’s source of entertainment and lifestyle news and information We’re devoted to all the great things happening in the region We’ll keep you up to date with what’s on in Newcastle and across the Hunter region Water supply and normal pressure have returned to Hunter Water customers across multiple suburbs in western Newcastle and northern Lake Macquarie It follows a water main break – approximately 500mm in diameter – under Lake Road which occurred about 6am on Wednesday 30 April The incident affected suburbs such as Killingworth crews are working as quickly as possible to repair the section “There are different reasons why a water main can break,” a Hunter Water spokesperson said the soil can move and possibly cause a break “If any customers experience discoloured water we encourage them to clear their pipe work by turning on an outside (or inside) tap and letting it run for several minutes until clear water flows police and Transport for NSW (TfNSW) controllers are diverting motorists on Lake Road “Eastbound traffic is being put on westbound lanes while they’re being directed through side streets “The diversions and delays may continue after the water main is fixed because Hunter Water contractors will be resurfacing the section of Lake Road motorists should allow extra travel time.” Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here Click through to read our latest Issue of Newcastle Weekly 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. It is set to be reopened in July or August.The Argenton Hotel on Lake Road Argenton closed last month for a multi-million-dollar redevelopment including extensive building works All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe venue will be closed for up to six months with hopes to reopen in July or August Owners Campbell and Clare Rogers are no strangers to renovations They purchased the Sydney Junction Hotel in 2014 and transformed it into one of the region’s premier hotels They also bought the Gunyah Hotel last year “The hotel has undergone many smaller scale renovations in the past but we have decided to close the doors and completely redevelop the hotel mainly due to the sheer scale of works we are about to undertake” Mr Rogers said “ … This renovation is aimed at providing a more modern casual venue that the local community can be proud of.” A spacious fully licenced restaurant in a prominent location in Charlestown is for lease at $50,000 or for $599,000 as a potential sale price It offers “exceptional value for size and location” according to Matt Nelson from Raine & Horne Commercial The property has a seating plan of 80 with 50 inside and 30 in a private undercover courtyard. There is a commercial grade kitchen and licenced bar and the property is in a well-exposed main road location.  GOOD POSITION: This property is for sale or lease and has a well-exposed main road location UNIQUE OFFERINGColliers International Byrne Tran and Adam Leacy describe a large site they have listed as “a unique opportunity to purchase a property located on one of the main roads servicing Warners Bay” The property at 5-7 King Street is 8081 square metres in size and is currently zoned B7 Business Park It is for sale by Expressions of Interest closing April 12 Today's top stories curated by our news team. 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A MAN accused of setting fire to a house at Argenton and then confronting responding police with a knife will apply for bail this week Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueGeoffery Mark Sturgeon appeared in Toronto Local Court on Tuesday charged with damaging property by fire using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention and three counts of damaging property Mr Sturgeon did not enter any pleas or apply for bail and the matter was adjourned until Thursday when he is expected to make an application for bail Police say they responded to a house fire on Park Avenue at Argenton About 6.30pm on November 5 and attempted to speak to Mr Sturgeon in the home Mr Sturgeon allegedly confronted police with a knife and retreated into the house police helped Mr Sturgeon from the home and started first aid He was taken to John Hunter Hospital with burns to his face shoulders and torso before being transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital for specialist treatment He was later charged and refused bail by police The incident was initially treated as a critical incident by police