Nelson Weekly Your Community Newspaper
Tuesday 2 October 2012
Science fair winners
Fishing in the sun
Appletons Hen Houses & Poultry Supplies
Page 22- 23
Page 8
Page 27
Huge drop in robbery A huge drop in robbery and extortion offences in Nelson is a key trend in the latest police statistics released yesterday. But about a quarter of all crime recorded in the wider Tasman district – which includes Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough and West Coast – still involves theft or similar offending. Overall, crime in the July 2011 to June
2012 year compared with the June 2010 to July 2011 year has risen 1.5 per cent. Tasman District has in recent years had good crime resolution rates, say police, and this year the rates in all areas have improved. Police say proactive work around catching drug dealers has seen a 605 per cent jump in the number of offences related to deal-
Prolific hospice fundraiser nearly there A decade ago Stoke woman Shirley Miles put her London heritage to the best use she could think of and is now just $8000 short of her goal to raise $100,000 for the Nelson Hospice. As the Pearly Queen, Shirley has collected $92,000 for the Nelson Hospice, attending the Saturday market and other events all over the region. But with failing health Shirley isn’t sure she will be able to continue another year and is hoping for a big community push to help her reach her goal for the hospice. This Saturday, to say thanks and to try to help her reach her goal, a local BNI group will be helping her collect at the market and the hospice is presenting her with a Höglund Glass crystal. To be a Pearly Queen you have to have been born in London with one hundred years of London an-
ing and trafficking illicit drugs. The district also recorded greater than 99 per cent resolution for this offending. Tasman District commander superintendent Richard Chambers says those figures show the success police have had in targeting drug dealers. Tasman also recorded a 54.2 per cent increase in sexual assaults and related offenc-
es in the same period but superintendent Chambers says the increase in the figures for sexual offending were attributed to a small group of serious offenders apprehended throughout the district and put before the court for multiple offences. They include Nelson man William Mortensen
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The Pearly Queen Shirley Miles is getting close to her goal of raising $100,000 for the Nelson Hospice. Photo: Phillip Rollo.
cestry and with the agreement of fellow Londoners. It was the week before Christmas in 2002 when Shirley decided to use her heritage and collect donations for the Nelson Hospice as the Pearly Queen. Her outfit has evolved since then and features images significant to Nelson, including waves, anchors, grapes, fishing nets with fish and a large scallop shell, a pine tree, the Nelson Cathedral and Shirley’s Civic Award badge for community service. Her white ostrich plumes in the hat are traditional. Shirley says she is determined to try to reach her goal but it is increasingly difficult. “I have to keep going as long as I can to help keep it in the public eye. I hope that when I retire the costume will be in the Nelson Museum to continue to remind people of the need to support the hospice.”
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