Wee County News - Issue 845

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weecounty Alloa & Hillfoots

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Friday 14.10.11 Issue 845

In this issue...

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Banchory Primary

Tea room to sell drink

Pupils design their own book cover Page 3

Cambus Inn granted alcohol licence Page 7

Postie can’t be bothered

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Royal Mail worker kicks can across the street whilst standing beside a bin

lloa residents were left disappointed after they saw a postman kick to the side a can left in a post box when a bin was just a few metres away. The careless postie was emptying mail from the Primrose Street pillar box on Monday, October 10 when a crushed up can tumbled out and onto the pavement. Instead of picking up the can and putting it into a bin, he kicked it to the side before continuing with his duty. One resident, who witnessed the littering said: “I was sitting in my car waiting to meet someone and I saw the postman emptying the post box. “A little crushed up can fell out as he took out the post and landed on the pavement at his feet. “There was a bin not far away so I assumed he would put the can in the bin but he just kicked it to the side and walked away. “I couldn’t believe my eyes, it would have taken him less than a minute to put it into the bin. “It’s terrible as the rest of the street seemed pristine.” Alloa, particularly Primrose Street has undergone a revamp as part of the Alloa Town Centre Business Improvement District and Imagine Alloa. The groups have improved signage in the town, installed artwork and generally tried to ensure the place is clean and tidy to encourage businesses to trade in the town and to make it an attractive place to shop. A second witness said: “I was shocked, we should all be working together to keep Alloa clean and tidy. People shouldn’t be putting litter in the post box in the first place. “We’ve all got to live here so we should make the most of it.” Councillor Eddie Carrick, said: “It is

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The bin

Primrose Street, normally a nice place except when the Postie makes a mess. simply unacceptable for people to throw their rubbish on the ground for others to deal with it. There’s no excuse for littering anywhere, and especially in Alloa town centre where there are many bins, including a number of new ones installed as part of the Imagine Alloa project. Litter in the town centre gives a very poor impression of the area and I would ask for everyone’s co-operation in keeping our beautiful area litter-free.”

Jennifer Bird, External Relations Manager, Royal Mail Group said: “Our postboxes can often be subject to misuse by members of the public. Items of rubbish should be removed from the box by our postmen and women and should be disposed of sensitively. “Royal Mail would like to thank our customer for bringing this matter to our attention and our staff will be reminded to dispose of litter properly.

“Postboxes are designed to allow customers a degree of flexibility on the size of items that are posted within them. Where there is a frequent problem we can fit restricter plates to narrow the opening to allow letters only to be posted. “This though can have an impact on our posting customers and we would ask members of the public that they dispose of their rubbish in the correct way.”

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Friday 14.10.11

In your

weecounty

this week

Family Announcements Entertainment

P2 P18

Including this week’s stars, the witty colum Q’s Views, puzzles, pet of the fortnight and those dodgy pics!

District News

P20

weecounty LETTERS Dear weecounty, I just wanted to say it’s really great to see how many people held coffee morning’s to raise money for Macmillan. It’s nice to see smiling faces, young and old putting in a little bit of effort to help raise some more money for the charity. I think this is especially good when there is so much bad news in the press and on tv I enjoy seeing some positive news. Pretty much everyone has been in contact with a person affected by cancer so it spurs a lot of people on to raise even more money. Personally, I think the people at Macmillan do super work to support people with cancer and their families and deserve to have support. Yours sincerely, Annette McDonald, Dollar

What’s on in your Wee County

Lifestyle

P19 & 21

Short break ideas and first impressions for men

Property

P22 & 23

Thinking of moving abroad?

Recruitment P24 Services P25 Looking for a plumber, builder, roofer in your area, check out what the weecounty services has to offer

Motoring

Dear weecounty When reading the piece about the 80mph debate and I do agree that it will not happen and in my opinion should not happen. Not because I think it is dangerous but because I feel the cost would be too high to change signage and other things. I agree that education would be the key, as long as it was not too costly, as teaching kids that cars can kill should stop them from driving recklessly. This would stop them learning the lesson when their friends or even themselves are seriously injured or even killed in a car crash from speeding.

Katie, sent in via e-mail

Mr B Dodds, Sauchie

Family Announcements

Birthday only Greetings

BIRTHDAYS

P26 & 27

Fixing your beloved car, or flogging your old run around, have a read at the weecounty motoring for some tips and hints

weecounty Sport

P28 - 32

weecounty Contacts Ellismuir House, Ellismuir Way, Tannochside Park, Uddingston G71 5PW

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Dear weecounty, I’ve been reading on the news about same sex marriage and how some faith groups want there to be a referendum on the issue. I do agree that everyone should have their say on the matter and that obviously includes the faith groups but I also think that everyone deserves the right to marry whoever they want. For once, I totally agree with the Scottish Government that same-sex marriage should be introduced but ministers etc shouldn’t be obliged to perform the ceremonies. Why shouldn’t same-sex couples have the same rights as mixed couples? They are doing nothing wrong so should have the same rights. There’s going to be faith groups that are happy to marry same-sex couples and ones who aren’t and that should be their decision to make too.

Happy 32nd Birthday Carlos Buntha love Lee and kids xxx

Congratulations to Lorraine and Stuart on the birth

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Friday 14.10.11

PLENTY OF FOOD FOR HARVEST

Pupils design their own book covers

3

Picture by Andrew Wightman

A

fter the book cover competition was finished, Banchory school looked towards their Harvest Thanksgiving collection. The whole school had been collecting

food items to hand out to the elderly and vulnerable in their community. The pupils received help from the Tullibody Healthy Living initiative to package up their harvest for delivery.

MP raises £285 in coffee morning

Picture by Andrew Wightman

Charity event held in constituency office

G

ordon Banks MP for Ochil and South Perthshire hosted a MacMillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning recently to help raise funds for the charity. The event was registered as part of the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning which MacMillan hopes will raise £8.5m across the UK, and was held at Gordon’s constituency office at 49-51 High Street in Alloa. It was a busy morning indeed, with a steady flow of people waiting to have coffee with their MP and look around his offices. The event was declared a great success with approx.£285.00 raised in the space of just two hours. Speaking after the event, Gordon Banks MP said; “It was an excellent chance to raise awareness of MacMillan and the amazing

anchory Primary school held their annual book fair last week, incorporating a school wide competition. The pupils were given a

task to design a book cover for made up books. The winners, which was a difficult task for the judges to select, saw the recipients each

receive a £10 book voucher. Selecting the winners was so difficult that the judges selected a further three runners-up.

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work they do to provide support to people with cancer.” “I was absolutely delighted at the turn-out and the opportunity to meet new and well-known faces. There was a certain bit of “back to the future” with the event, as many

people in Clackmannanshire will remember my office used to be Toma’s Cafe in a different life and many guests regaled with stories of their visits to the building in its previous role”. “I am looking forward to next year’s event already!”

Taxi involved in Road Traffic Accident A

B

School wide competition to find the best entries

taxi was involved in a road traffic accident in Menstrie while occupants were stopped near to a cash machine. In the early hours of October 9 a Skoda Octavia was in a collision with a Citroen Berlingo vehicle. The fire service raced to the scene and four passengers from the Skoda required to be

cut from the vehicle. They were subsequently taken to Forth Valley Royal Hospital and were released after treatment for minor injuries. The driver and one passenger in the Citroen Berlingo were unhurt during the accident. A spokeswoman for Central Scotland Police said: “I can confirm a two car collision on Menstrie Street East at 3.35am.”

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Friday 14.10.11

Shipwreck AHOY!

weecounty Alloa & Hillfoots

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isitors to the next meeting of the Kincardine History Club will hear about shipwrecks. The next meeting is being held on Wednesday, October 19 at 7pm in the Community Centre. The club will welcome Stephen Liscoe, who will be

Second Wedding Show announced Brides given the chance to say ‘I do’ to wedding suppliers

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09.09.11 ... In this issue

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in the best newspaper terms we will become again, not only in once portfolio the County but in sales too. ts across our to us of new titles further developmen of readership are important with see the launch which will Our advertisers like to work time, old ones reappear. community we would and some also, and that this difficult economic during this the challenges that We believe provide the foundation will in the them to day basis. to appreciation trail-blazing stage Wee as we appreciate and face on a day the of a new history of businesses if you have something – long and honourable Remember, do get in contact help with us, please and share with you County News. nothing without the It share is to talk community. Our paper we are happy of the local to us going, news stories! journey. It’s going and support which keeps and your in the news each – informative, is that relationship Do join us have to deliver the paper itself – like the enabling us In the past, there may be past. fun. every week. that was the that exciting and issues but to think been some we would like Going forward,

better we are again‌ certainly ELL, here never, and have not late than that you to pretend not trying absence. the technical noticed our bore you with we will simply We won’t details, but how and economicfor reminding us of just County say “thanksâ€? community The Wee missed in the these been. either, that News has the print No one is pretending, times for we are are not challenginggenerally and industry of readers’ journalism of the depth deeply aware return to print. be we there will affection as few weeks next the Over

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Lornshill athletic track d opene officially Page 9

Alloa man drowns in Caribbean

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of walk and one start of the halfway down. figure at the “tribute� trees alarmed artist Rob the slender have been designed by on ASSERS-BY year’s The figure, of vandalism as part of last of several by evidence the tree-lined path Mullholland one Walk, project, is Parliament y Alloa Tower. Imagine Alloa dotted around the town 14th-centur been leading to polished such artworks objects have marine grade Two decorative Sentinal statue – made from which has a highly the reflective damaged – stainless steel over 2.7 mirrored surface. standing at a ton, Each figure, weighing nearlyform. metres and and own shape body and one creates its the upper been dented In this case, arms have of the upraised clearly in an act of several times over on the vandalism. been broken The tree has trunk and now lies at of the signs show lower part angle, again a 45-degree interference have also deliberate its branches trees along Several of Each of the been sheered. also leads to the Tesco plaque ‘in the path, which carries a tribute superstore, of Mark Lovell’. Central loving memory contacted but they The Wee County regarding this, about our Police Scotland for comment were unavailable going to print. the time of enquiry at

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Renow ned visits Retro artist Petra Kaiser Glass in Centre Alloa Pages

By Alison

Mann

ulliallan Castle could be to a single force after Scottish policehome dismiss Kenny MacAsk ed Glasgow it was reveale and Edinburill d this week. gh Current nationa ly being used as the l police training Tullialla academ n y, the whole is ideally situated cessible of Scotland, and to service in all is Plans for directions of very actravel. a single service have already police and fire nounce been d in the Scottish anbut the Justice Parliam Secreta ent that the ry has Scottish at Tullialla Police Collegehinted headqu n could be home arters. to the MacAsk headqu ill believes the arters should new in Edinbur not be gh or Glasgow based tion of this is evident . IndicaPolice Headqu as Strathc arters lyde in Glasgow is current at Pitt Street ÂŁ2.5m ly for (althoug h they are sale at be moving Glasgow to a new ÂŁ38m believed to ’s east office in end.) If not the ters, Tulliallahome for the n will play headquarthe new a major single but the role in When asked force. Scottish have Royal Governm about the headqu ent should Assent arters he new MacAsk by next be Edinbur said: “It services summe will not gh or Glasgow of ACPOS ill added: “As which build seems Preside r. of what fine as . nt Tullialla we already on the strength will lead Chief Constab chief constab a place as n le Smith the “In the have. s Fire any police service.reform on behalf Officers The single le to be based.â€? for a ASPS, SPF,police service, and the of the forward the ACPOS, “I know SPSA FBU are and running police force , not looking people looking could forward and SCDEA are like in as early “I know back. , not back, determi as April be up the Chief Constab the services will, ned challen this journey is le 2013 challen ging one with Governmto work construand are at ge and Smith, rise to Protec new services a tough - change times a shape and ting the ent to deliver ctively tive and call we can deliver Wee which the - but this is is always efficien an effecCount be proud a journey t new Scottish Service whole of y for of, . Plans for Scotlan 21 Years Police “In fire d is on.â€? ‡ 'HYL the single outline & rescue, Burglar police force FHV LQ the all eight Alarm FOXGLQ front 32 division force would Chief J ÂżUH and rear & Comm s Home Monit s to stave be split into DODUP ‡ No Depos tion. ored off centrali ER[HV ercial with )RU 6 it Police sa‡ Â… 0 FRWWLV 24hr Resp K 3ROL Phon onse. FH 5H ‡ 0R RQWKO\ E\ 6WDQGLQJ eline: 2 VSRQV dema H DODU Major servic 2UGHU ‡ :HH &QWK &RQWUDFW )XOO 3 nding 0LQLP acpos P LQVWDOOHUV es Includ RXQW\ XP DUWV ‡ policy ed. &&79 5H /D PXVW www ODERX XQFK 6 criter PHHW 6HUYLF .glen U If you ia WKH SHFLDO HG 0D dale secu have LQWDLQH no servic offer you G 5H rity.c e provid a one SDLUHG inspec o.uk er we tion for time only can Wee Count ÂŁ50 plus and vat. parts, batter y ies

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D Day for Alva Pool By Alison Mann

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he fate of the Alva pool now rests in the hands of Clackmannanshire council as members of Ochil Leisure Enterprises handed in their business plan today (Friday). The group rallied round support and handed their plan to the council, which if accepted could create much needed jobs in the area as well as providing obvious health benefits. Their proposal outlines their plans for

Burglar Alarms Home & Commercial

keeping the Alva pool open for members of the community. Simon Kindlen, spokesman for the group said: “At our most recent meeting we discussed the project and came to the conclusion that it’s about more than the pool. “It’s also to do with the health of a community and the wealth of a community and creating jobs. “It is a fallacy that you can’t make

money from a pool. “It will be a cultural community hub as well.� OLE had previously written a letter to Clackmannanshire council informing them that the report submitted today would be an ‘interim business plan’. Time constraints meant they could not produce a full report. Within the letter, signed by Jenny Paterson, the group state the interim

business plan will: “Summarise research to date and include financial modelling to show what scenario will be sustainable and provide health and community benefit. “The second stage will be to engage a team of consultants to undertake in depth research and business planning on behalf of the group. “Ochil Leisure Enterprises are currently exploring a number of options

Continued on page 13

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talking about Shipwrecks around Fife. Meetings are held fortnightly and notices for each meeting are displayed throughout the village. Each meeting has a charge of ÂŁ1.50 and an annual Community Association charge of ÂŁ3.50.

By Alison Mann

B

ride’s to be will be delighted to know Clackmannanshire council has organised a second wedding show to take place this month, after the hugely successful event in May. The open day and wedding show in May was the first chance local brides and grooms-to-be got a look at the new facilities available for weddings and receptions at the refurbished Alloa Town Hall. Since then, the Hall has hosted 11 weddings and receptions in the past six months. The show will give visitors a chance to meet members of the council’s Regestration Service who will be providing information about the legal formalities of getting married. Around 170 marriages take place in Clackmannanshire every year and over 60% of couples celebrate their happy day with a civil marriage performed by a Registrar. Civil marriages can be conducted either in the Registration Office in Alloa, or in certain designated halls such as Alloa Town Hall, or in another approved venues. Alloa Town Hall has a choice of rooms that can accommodate ceremonies between 50 and 160 people, and receptions for up to 200. Planning a wedding can be a potential minefield of stress and worry. Sourcing all of the companies and products to make the big day as perfect as possible can fill the bride and groom-to-be with anxiety.

The council has worked hard to bring together a range of companies and industry professionals who can help make the day complete. This special event takes place at Alloa Town Hall on Sunday October 16 from 1 until 4pm and admission is free. There will be over 20 local businesses including photographers, florists, caterers, venues, favours, cars, beauticians, and lots more. So whether you are just starting to plan your wedding or you are looking for those final finishing touches, get yourself along to The Wedding Show, and get all the help, advice and ideas you could need to help you plan and organise your perfect day.

weecounty Crowds turn out for musical feast

Friday 14.10.11

News Brief Rural thieves stole £9,000 worth of goods overnight during raids close to the Wee County. Police believe the two raids, during which equestrian equipment and two quad bikes were stolen, are linked. The criminals entered Muirhead Stables in Blairingone on the border of Kinross-shire and Clackmannanshire after 8.30pm on October 6. They took a Bombardier Outlander 400 quadbike and a substantial amount of equestrian gear. Before that around 6.30pm the intruders had entered a farm six miles away at Cleish near Kinross and made off with two Stihl brand chainsaws and a Sizuki King quad bike. Stolen items included four brown leather bridles, 10 horse leg bandages, a pair of Lister grooming clippers, two pairs of metal horse shoes and a black coloured GPA riding hat. The goods from both raids were valued at more than £4500. Police are appealing for information regarding these crimes, contact Tayside Police on 0300 111 2222 or anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Nova Scotia Band play special concert in Dollar

M

usic in Dollar’s opening concert drew in a record breaking audience at the Dollar Academy show. A record audience of 145 listened to the sounds of the Nova Scotia Jazz Band play in the Gibson Hall, Dollar Academy on Saturday, October 8. The band managed to carry on despite half the ensemble being held up in traffic en route from Edinburgh. Before the interval, Duncan ‘Fingers’ Finlay and Mike Daly ‘held the fort’ playing jazz guitar, banjo and cornet. Their improvisation of pieces usually played by the quartet

showed their musicianship to the full and their efforts were clearly appreciated by the audience. After the interval reinforcements arrived in the shape of John Burgess on clarinet and saxophone, and Ken MacDonald on string bass. The band members, despite their name, all come from Scotland. They played a wide selection of well-known and new – at least to some of the audience – jazz and swing classics from the likes of George Gershwin and Stan Getz, keeping the audience’s feet tapping throughout the concert.

The Nova Scotia Jazz Band in action at Dollar Academy

John Burgess and Ken MacDonald from the Nova Scotia Jazz Band struttin’ their stuff at Dollar Academy

Science success at Dollar Academy Dollar pupils reach final of national competition

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F

ive Form IV Dollar Academy pupils have reached the finals of a prestigious national competition after winning a place in the finals of the 2012 National Science & Engineering Competition. They will now go head-tohead with students from across the country in an attempt to claim one of the UK’s most well-known science and engineering honours for young people. Katherine Gillespie, Sarah Hawkins and Maddie Jamieson excelled in the regional heats of the competition with a study into the psychology of exams. Ciara O’Connell and Bethan Scott also impressed the judges with their investigation in to the most effective throat lozenge. The girls’ entries will be presented to over 30,000 people at The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair, the country’s single biggest celebration of science and engineering for young people, held at The NEC, Birmingham from 15th

5

Ciara O’Connell and Bethan Scott, presenting their project ‘Which Brand of Throat Lozenges is the most Effective?’ They won Most Creative Silver Project at the fair in Perth. to 17th March 2012. Sir Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the British Science Association which runs the National Science & Engineering Competition, commented: “The National Science & Engineering Competition aims to inspire the talent of the future by making science, engineering, technology and maths more appealing for young people. These entries shows just how exciting and extraordinary science and engineering can really be. We’re thrilled that the Dollar Academy students have got through as regional finalists; their projects really caught our imagination and we wish them all the best for the national finals at The Big Bang Fair in Birmingham.” Commenting on the

achievement, Mr Charlie Ainge, Head of Biology at Dollar Academy, said: “There’s a real passion for science here at Dollar and the entire department strives to provide our pupils with interesting and creative ways to explore the practical applications of the subjects they are learning. Entries were to the National Science Competition this year were really excellent and we were delighted to have five of our pupils in the final. The girls set themselves a difficult task and dedicated a lot of time and effort into their investigations. The outcome was a project at a level which could rival work produced by pupils much further up the school. Well done to our scientists of the future.’

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weecounty

Friday 14.10.11

Alison Mann Pigs ears and jalepeno vodka - welcome to Tallinn

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral at night

I

Alison at Kiek in de Kok tower

have been off on holiday for the past week, relaxing in Tallinn, Estonia. My holiday started, on a somewhat awkward note as my boyfriend Iain and I got off our flight from Edinburgh pretty late in the night. Iain, at the start of the flight, had found two passports on the seat next to us and had immediately passed them to an air steward, as he was worried they belonged to a passenger who would now be unable to pass through customs. Unfortunately, the air steward didn’t check the names and passed them off the plane before our departure. Somewhat more unfortunately, as the plane arrived in Tallinn, I heard rummaging coming from the seats behind and mumblings about misplaced passports.

Anyway, I don’t know whether they got into Tallinn, we certainly didn’t see them on the return flight...oops. The following day we managed to explore Tallinn and its medieval streets and buildings. The whole place is surrounded by a big town wall and looks pretty impressive when you first see it. Inside, the town is a typical medieval town, with spires on buildings, cobbled streets and old-fashioned architecture. The thing that interested me most though, is the history of Estonia, which is very, very recent. I always think of history as something that happened a long time ago and tourists visiting Scotland learn about castles and William Wallace. However, in Tallinn, tourists learn about the German and Russian occupations, the latter only ending in 1991.

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Walking around the various museums it was so difficult to think that within my lifetime the people living here were subjected to a communist regime. One startling fact was before World War Two they were occupied by Soviet Russia but when the war came and the Nazi’s invaded, people actually thought the Nazi’s were saviours – life under Russia had been so awful. During the German occupation, Russia bombed the city to the ground and when they re-occupied the country after the war citizens were asked to donate their time to re-building the area, which they did. Obviously, everyone has heard of Joseph Stalin and the terror he reined across many countries but to be standing somewhere where that legacy only ended so recently really put it into context. To think that a city bombed in 1944 looks so beautiful now and is so vibrant and full of business and enterprise is pretty amazing. It was a really fascinating trip and added with trying the local delicacy of crispy pig ears and being served a shot of vodka with jalapenos as a palette cleanser after a main meal made it quite unique.

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Alexander Nevsky

The Parliament building in Tallinn which sits in the city walls

Tallinn sits on the coast looking towards Finland

The medieval town gates surround the old town

weecounty

Friday 14.10.11

7

Climbing frame a reality at Menstrie

Funds raised to finance new outdoor climbing frame for the children

Cambus Inn granted alcohol licence

D

etermined students at Menstrie nursery have been doing lots of fundraising to buy a climbing frame. The children raised £544.30 on Saturday, October 1 at Asda Alloa which will go towards buying an outside climbing frame for the nursery. A spokesperson from the nursery said: “A big thank you to all parents and Alloa Asda customers who helped Menstrie Nursery. “Thanks also to S&G Pro Cleaning for supplying the nursery with hi-viz waistcoats to use on our outings.”

Council approved application at latest meeting By Alison Mann

A

Cambus tea room has been granted an alcohol licence by Clackmannanshire Council. During a meeting of the council’s Licensing Committee on October it was decided that the Cambus Inn should be given a licence. The premises, currently operates as a tea room also serves evening meals and now, thanks to the new licence, will be able to serve drinks alongside this. There had been three objections by local residents to the licence application that were submitted to Clackmannanshire Council on July 26. The main complaint raised in the objections was bins of being left at the front of the premises, which the objectors felt were overflowing with litter. One resident stated: “The bins are left out on the edge of or the middle of the street every single day, which compromises the road safety of the residents who are under bin height.” However, the licensing committee

were satisfied this was not a regular occurrence and proceeded to grant the licence. The Main Street venue had originally been used as a pub in the village until it was closed four and a half years ago. Lesley Blair, owner of the Cambus Inn told the Wee County News: “I am delighted to receive the licence, we’ve had so much local support. “We are a tea room which also serves evening meals and now we’ll be able to serve drinks with that.” The owners will also be tarmacing the car park for the premises making it easier for customers to park within the dedicated area, which is currently made up from gravel. Clackmannanshire west councillor who covers Cambus, Tina Murphy said: “I have to stress that I am not on the licensing committee but I am satisfied the application was given due process and satisfied everything was done correctly. “The applicant informed everyone in Cambus of the plans and no one has come to me with any problems.”

Hawkhill locals attend meeting to discuss community improvements By Alison Mann

MP lobbies for Government to recognise the importance of Dance

Gordon Banks MP for Ochil and South Perthshire took part in a debate in parliament recently stressing the benefits of dance to young people and the UK economy. Speaking after the event Gordon Banks said: “I am utterly convinced that there are great merits in dance and indeed other performing arts in ensuring that youngsters learn a range of skills. Dance not only is a great way to keep fit, it also demand teamwork, discipline and self control.

Clackmannanshire has a great record of youngsters engaging in the performing arts largely due to the excellent facilities and experiences provided by Forefront Stage School and it is vitally important that both Westminster and Holyrood governments recognise the value that is gained in society of such engagement. Many children from Clackmannanshire have been lucky enough to secure professional training places in the UK’s most prestigious facilities due to their early years experience with Forefront but funding is always a challenge.

New ‘asset based’ approach to development adopted

T

he Clackmannanshire Alliance held a successful listening event in Hawkhill Community Centre, Alloa. The event was attended by 53 local residents and was the first stage of an initiative which aims to give local people the support they need to change their area and change the way public services are delivered. Following on from the event, a walkabout of Hawkhill will be held on Thursday October 13. Members

of Hawkhill Community Association Management Committee, local residents and representatives from the Clackmannanshire Alliance partners will tour the estate, enabling them to identify areas that would benefit from their combined attention. There were four topics up for discussion at the listening event which included various questions such as how would you spend £1,000 on the area, what would you like to see happen at the centre, why is Hawkhill a great place

Courses are not cheap and often there is a need to locate in London to secure the best opportunities and that is where in the past Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) have come in. However last year the Westminster government had to be dragged kicking and screaming to secure DaDAs but without the ongoing commitment for years ahead. This is something that must be addressed as we will be short changing both our youngsters and indeed the UK economy if we fail to do so. to live and if you had three wishes, how would you improve your life? These topics stimulated discussion and ideas generated were noted. Participants were also surveyed about their area. Chair of the Clackmannanshire Alliance Councillor Sam Ovens said: “Clackmannanshire Alliance is looking at engaging and developing our communities using the ‘asset-based’ approach. Key to the asset-based approach is that the community themselves decide the issues they want to address and these events show that the people of Hawkhill are ready, willing and able to engage with this new approach.”

8

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Friday 14.10.11

News Brief Wee County locals are invited to attend a fund raising bingo tea to raise cash for Clacks Kinship Carers. The bingo tea will be held at Hawkhill Community Centre on Thursday, October 13. Tickets are £1 and includes tea, coffee and nibbles, please bring a cup. Doors open at 6.30 pm, eyes down at 7.00pm. All proceeds will go to Clacks Kinship Carers Group. ______________________

Menstrie Community Council is asking the local community to get involved in its woodland clean-up to help keep the village beautiful. The event is on Saturday October 29 from 10am until 2pm, with volunteers meeting at the Scout Hall to start the day. So grab your gardening gloves and willies in a show of support for the tidy up.

Alva company announce good figures for 6 months trading By Alison Mann

A

n Alva medical testing company has announced that it is expected to see £5.3million turnover for the past six months trading. Omega Diagnostics, have issued a trading update which shows turnover for the six months to September 30 2011, is expected to reach £5.3million. The company’s allergy and autoimmune products brought in the biggest revenue up 774% to £2.28million from £0.27 last year. Food intolerance products and infectious disease products also brought in an increase in revenue.

Cologne

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Alva pool campaign continues OLE continue with their efforts despite waiting on the verdict from council

By Alison Mann

D

espite waiting on the news from their recent application to Clackmannanshire Council, campaigners to save the Alva pool are continuing with their efforts to create wealth and jobs in the area. Members of Ochil Leisure Enterprises (OLE) will be meeting with council leaders and officials on October 24 at the pool complex. They will have the chance to present their plans for the pool, which they formally handed in to Head of Facilities Management at Clackmannanshire council, Stephen Crawford on September, 30. The group hope the council will hand over the pool through an asset transfer and they can

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Munich

support for the project, one such way is to vote for them to receive a £6,000 grant from RBS Community Force. Ochil Leisure Enterprises has entered the competition which will see groups from areas across Scotland receive grants according to how many votes they receive. To vote for OLE phone 0800 2100 245 or vote online at bit. ly/olerbsvote. Supporters can also become members of OLE, to do to this down load a membership form from bit.ly/olemember. Membership costs £1. Supporters can finally write a letter to the council expressing support for the pool complex to Leader of the Council, Greenfield Houyse, Tullibody Road, Alloa, FK10 2AD.

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Markets run from 25th Nov - 24th Dec

This year Berlin has sixty Christmas markets both large and small for you to enjoy. Browse the stalls and discover unique Christmas gifts. Return direct flights from Glasgow to Berlin and 3 nights central 3 hotel with breakfast from only £229pp.

Prague

run it for the benefit of the Alva community and beyond. OLE believe the Alva Pool has the capacity to provide good quality sports and leisure facilities that both promote community participation and contribute towards the longterm health of the people of Clackmannanshire. The pool would not only provide a swimming pool for the area, it would also act as a community hub with a cafe and meeting rooms on site. The group have been working hard to rally round support for the cause, gathering over 5000 signatures on a petition and getting letters of support from various organisations and individuals including Shirley Robertson OBE. There are easy ways to show

Christmas Markets

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Budapest

The company also revealed they had set up a subsidiary in India that will allow them to retain control over the supply chain of allergy products. The company said in the trading update: “India in particular has been one of the largest global markets for the Group for many years and as such, having the right channels to market in place ahead of launching allergy tests is key. “We therefore took the decision to set up a direct presence in India via the recent establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary; Omega Dx(Asia) Pyt Ltd. “The initial costs of this operation will be minimal and the scale up will only take place to coincide with the completion of product registrations. “Having a direct presence will enable us to retain control over the supply chain of allergy products to end users but will also act as a resource that can provide distribution to other companies’ products that could provide near term benefits.” Omega Diagnostics specialises in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, particularly Syphilis, TB and Dengue Fever amongst others. Within the update, Omega attributed the expected 68% rise in turnover for the six months was due to the acquisition of Germany-based allergy testing business Allegropharma Joachim Ganzer in December 2010. The update was released in advance of interim results due out on November 25.

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weecounty

Friday 14.10.11

9

Girl Guides celebrate year of achievement

Award evening held for Wee County Guides

M

embers of Girl Guiding Clackmannanshire took part in a fun event last week, where they reminisced about the year and were presented with awards and prizes. Some of the Guides received prizes for long service along with their bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh awards. The event was held in Parklands, Alva on October 7 and was a fun night for the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides that attended. The Tulliallan Guides were given this year’s Guide Challenge Shield and eight members of Girl Guiding Clackmannanshire were given the Baden Powell Award – the award for top merit for any

STARTING

THIS

WEEK in your

Pictures By Andrew Wightman member, given to those who take part in tough challenges and adventures. The event also allowed members to talk about their last

year whilst listening to words and comments from guiders and hear reports on guiding. The Clackmannanshire Branch was founded in 1920

and is broken into eight districts, Alva and Menstrie, Tillicoultry, Dollar and Muckhart, Tullieallan, Clackmannan, Alloa, Sauchie, Tullibody and Cambus.

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Friday 14.10.11

Alert community wardens halt van thief

11

Two patrolling wardens witness suspicious activity By Alison Mann

C

ommunity wardens have managed to arrest a man suspected of breaking into a camper van at Castle Campbell. The Clackmannanshire council wardens and community police officers worked together to arrest the man at the Dollar site. A number of thefts at beauty spots Gardmorn Dam, Sauchie and Castle Campbell led wardens carry out regular visits to the car parks at the areas. The patrols work to act as a deterrent to would-be thieves

and the wardens also leaflet cars warning drivers about leaving valuables such as satellite navigation units in full view. Last Monday, October 3, two wardens patrolling the Castle Campbell car park saw people in a silver car acting suspiciously near to a parked camper van. They sped off before the wardens could speak to them but they noted the cars details. The wardens passed the information to a community police officer who could confirm the camper van had been broken into and a number of personal items

had been stolen on October 3. On October 4 the police officer spotted the silver car and stopped the driver who was then arrested and charged. Councillor Eddie Carrick, Sustainability Portfolio Holder said: “This is a prime example of successful partnership working and clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of our community wardens and the close working relationship they have with community police officers. Craig Rankine, Community Policing Sergeant for Clackmannanshire said: “This

was an excellent example of the close working relationship we have with our colleagues in Clackmannanshire Council and of the benefits of this partnership. “The Community Warden project is unique in Scotland in the way in which we daily deploy Police officers and community wardens to work together to achieve joint objectives. “Everyone involved in this case should be congratulated for their efforts, which directly lead to the apprehension of a male and the recovery of stolen property.”

Carbon capture project at Longannet under threat Scottish Power seeking £1bn of funding to finance carbon capture and storage technology By Alison Mann

P

lans to develop carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology at Longannet are reportedly under threat. ScottishPower are currently trying to secure £1bn of UK government funding to help pay for the project. Despite ScottishPower and the Department of Energy and Climate Change insisting negotiations are continuing it has been reported that the scheme could be close to collapse. Longannet are currently the only entrant in a government run CCS competition for the funding after E.On dropped plans for a plant at the proposed Kingsnorth power station, Kent. In June, ScottishPower and its partners National Grid and Shell UK announced plans to create an onshore pipeline carrying up to two million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) as part of a CCS scheme to pump emissions from Longannet to the North Sea. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing is “alarmed” that the programme may be under threat. He said: “The CCS project at Longannet is of huge significance, not just to Scotland but to the rest of the UK and Europe, and I am alarmed by recent reports that the project is at risk. The First Minister spoke to Energy Secretary Chris Huhne last week to raise his concerns and to press for a speedy resolution to this important issue. “While Longannet is ready to be one of the world’s leading CCS whole chain demonstrator project, the Treasury and DECC appear to disagree over the necessary funding - despite the whole project set to cost less than one tenth of this year’s estimated

North Sea oil and gas revenues (£13.4bn). “No final decisions have been taken and I urge the UK Government to do all it can to save this project.” Environmental lobbyists WWF have said that abandoning the scheme would be a “major blow”. WWF Scotland’s Director, Dr Richard Dixon, said: “This news is deeply worrying. If that UK truly wants to lead the development of this technology, as many politicians have said, then we do

hope that all those involved can find a way to make this project happen. “It would be a major blow to international efforts to develop carbon capture and storage if this scheme were not to happen at Longannet. “Longannet is the right sort of power station in the right place to do this kind of large-scale trial, potentially learning lessons which could help reduce emissions at thousands of coal power stations around the world.

“It would be a major setback if the only remaining scheme in the government’s CCS competition now fell at the final hurdle.” A report by WWF previously found Longannet power station to the best option for UK Government trials to capture carbon emissions. The environmental group warned that other sites being considered would result in vastly higher carbon emissions equivalent to Scotland’s total annual emissions in 2050.

12

weecounty

Friday 14.10.11

e f i l l rea

N O S I PR STORIES

WARNING: EXPLICIT MATERIAL

From the author of Underbelly

Following on from last week’s prison story, here is the next story in the series, again, this story’s and the rest in the series will be a collection of real life prison stories from someone who started a life sentence when he was only a young man. These will be factual, real and sometimes upsetting, but I believe it’s the only way that they can be told. Sit back and learn, hopefully reading these true life events will tell the youth of today that prison is not a place you want to be.

CABBAGE, KEECH & FLIES……

I

would like anyone who seems to be heading towards a life in prison to take this story in and realise that this can happen to anybody, one of the saddest things that strikes me about the following situation is that there were many people that went through these kind of situations before me, and many more, who I used to see with my own eyes, after me …. All thinking that they would be the one who could beat the system, the only way to beat the prison system is NOT to become part of it in the first place. ....... So there I was, lying on bottom flat of C-Hall, which is the segregated punishment floor, in Perth Prison, with 4 days to go before I was back upstairs to Mainstream and mixing with the general prison population. Don’t really know why I was looking forward to this as I was still in the jail, and would just be up on another landing. Ironically, years later, for a short while, Solitary Confinement became a privilege in prison. A Governor in 1985 pioneered what they called ‘’Time-Out’’. This is where, when you had become fed up with prison-life you could ask for a Time-Out and they would give you a 2-week ‘’holiday’’ in Solitary Confinement, get yourself away from all the pressures of jail daily life and come back a little more refreshed ---- and it actually worked. A good book with 2 weeks peace & quiet, just what the doctor ordered. Anyway, here I am, 4 days to get out of here, but as I’ve

said before, life in prison can always go in directions that you can’t imagine. I was in cell 3, next door to me in cell 4, was Robert Mone, a creepy wee fella. I observed Mone for years in Perth Prison. The boys who put this mag together asked me if there was scope for a “Peedo Page’’ in it where they would highlight ‘Beasts’. I told them it was a bad idea. These ‘beasts’ thrive on themselves being in the National Press. They absolutely love it. If they open a paper and they are splashed all across it, it is like their Christmas and Birthday have just came at the same time. It’s sickening, which is why there is not a ‘’peedo page’’ in Underbelly. What I will say about Beasts (sex-offenders) is that there is no cure, you can bet your last penny that they are going to

re-offend again, there is nothing surer, nothing more certain. And as for Robert Mone and Thomas McCulloch, and I know I’m just a guy whose theory is going up against many Learned people with Phd’s and all the

rest. But I know personally, many of the psychiatriasts, psychologists, social workers, parole board members, and a general selection of do-gooding public, who are involved in getting these guys released, and they are all very nice people -------- but they are getting this one wrong. If Mone & McCulloch are released, they will re-offend. And I, and many others feel, that it will be spectacular. These guys aren’t looking to fit back into society and lead a normal productive life, these guys are looking for a swansong hit back at society. In recent months Mone has been breaking some prison rules, minor things. I believe, and this happens often in prison, that he is breaking some minor rules as he knows this will stop the Parole Board from releasing him. McCulloch, on the other hand , is desperate to get out. It was always accepted by prisoners that McCulloch was the nastier out of the twosome. After the Carstairs breakout, McCulloch was put in an isolation unit in Peterhead and was not seen by any other prisoners for over 15 years. Whereas, Mone was put on the bottom flat of C-Hall in Perth which is not as strict. The prison service knew who the maddy was, that’s for sure. If the parole board want to let these guys out, let them loose with the condition that they have to live in THEIR (the parole board members) own street. I can tell you now, if that was the conditions, they would never be released. In the next cell, number 5, was a wee guy I had known for a few years now, Goblin. The wee man was from Maryhill and I’d met him a few years earlier through a strange set of circumstances. Before I was arrested, when I was on the run, I had moved into a flat in the Southside of Glasgow with the intentions of lying low. On the first day in the flat, which was in the basement and had

bars on the windows, I heard a knock at my door. Looked through the spy-hole and there was 2 big uniformed coppers there. I sneaked back into the living room and another copper was standing at the basement window looking right at me. “Can you open your door please Sir, we’d like to ask you some questions”. Trapped, so I opened the door. The 2 coppers said they’d like to ask me some questions regarding a murder that had taken place …… ( I was gulping like a guppy fish by this time) ……. In the back-court of this close …….. Whit !!!!! It wasn’t me they were after …. Wow. As they explained what had happened and I told them that I had just moved in that day, they thanked me and moved onto the next door. As it had happened, an Asian man had been found dead in the backcourt of the close. No foul-play was suspected and he had been flown back to his own country for burial. Seemingly, the pre-burial procedures had shown up bruising that was inconsistent with the fall the man had supposed to have taken. The case was re-opened back in Glasgow as a murder investigation. As it happens, this Goblin and another fellow Eagie, seemingly had mugged the man in the back-court of the close. They were eventually arrested and convicted of Culpable Homicide and got 7 and 8 years respectively. This is when I had first met him, Goblin had never meant to kill this guy and found it hard to cope with what he had done. He also found the jail time hard to do and in

recent months I had watched the wee guy come apart and slowly go stir crazy. He was in the Segregation cell for taking a civilian worker hostage and demanding a helicopter in exchange for the civilians release. By the time Goblin reached cell number 5 it was obvious that his mind had gone. So there we were, me in 3, Mone in 4, and Goblin in 5, and I had 4 days to go ……… or so I thought. The next day at lunchtime my cell door was opened and my dinnerplate was slid along the ground on the inside of the door. This is how you are served in the digger (segregation). Can always mind the dinner, Stew, Tatties and Cabbage. For some reason I can’t eat cabbage, couldn’t then and still can’t now. All the cabbage water was slurping in and around my tatties and stew spoiling the whole dinner for me, so I banged the door and when the screw came to the door I told him the script. Nothing he could do now, so I picked away at what I could to satisfy my hunger. The next day, my dinner was slid in again ….. and again it had cabbage all over it. I knew now they were at the wind up, but I kept calm about it and asked to see the Principal Officer. When he eventually came to see me I explained the whole ‘’cabbage’’ thing once again. I’m telling this story because anybody in prison will tell you that the smallest thing can set you off. The screws know this and act accordingly.

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weecounty

Friday 14.10.11

Eden Beauty Emporium

New grants available to COMPETITION WINNER help improve local areas By Alison Mann

C

T

he Wee County News would like to thank the many local residents who entered our Eden Beauty Emporium competition. We are now pleased to announce that BARBARA KENNY of Clackmannan is the lucky

entrant who will be receiving a make-over at the store. She will receive a cut and colour, manicure, fake bake and fish pedicure in the store. Well done!

2012 Calendar Competition T

here is still lots of time for all budding Wee County photographers to enter our fabulous calendar competition. Since announcing the compeition we have been inundated with lovely snaps so send yours in to be in with a chance of winning. To re-cap, the weecounty are holding a competition for the 12 best photographs taken by weecounty readers. Whether you are a budding photographer, or just happened to have snapped in the right time or right place, we want your images. The subject matter could be anything you wish, images of people, pets and scenery from in and around the Wee County. A percentage of the proceeds of this year’s sales will be donated to local charity, Central Careers. We would ask though that RECENT ENTRIES

you give your photo a name, and we don’t mean ‘Henry’ unless it is a picture of Henry! We also need the images to by either supplied in original print, or in the case of email must be 300dpi or higher in jpg, pdf or tiff format. The photos will be judged independently by Angel Photography and the winning entries will receive 2 free calendars each. We will need images from all seasons for the calendar and the winners will have their name published on their photo. Entries are now open and you can get your photos to us in 3 ways: Post: The Wee County News Calendar Competition, Ellismuir House, Ellismuir Way, Tannochside Park, Uddingston G71 5PW Email: weecounty@ hubpublishing.co.uk

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Facebook: Upload your pic to the Wee County News facebook page. Calendars will be on sale from mid November. Closing date is Friday 4th November. * We will do our best to return any photographs sent, but we cannot guarantee the return of any photos posted to us.

ommunities wanting to improve their local environment in Clackmannanshire have the opportunity to benefit from new grant funding following the launch of the Central Scotland Green Network’s (CSGN) Community Projects Fund. Supported by Forestry Commission Scotland, CSGN’s Community Projects Fund will provide one-off grants of up to £1,000 to local community groups to improve their local environment. All projects must be within the CSGN area, with applicants submitting a short application form by no later than November 11. Keith Geddes, chair of the Central Scotland Green Network Partnership Board, said: “Following the success of our CSGN Development Fund, we are pleased to be able to provide this funding for grass roots community projects. “The Community Projects Fund gives community groups

a fantastic opportunity to enhance existing greenspace, create new woodlands, plant trees and wildflowers, or improve access to walking and cycling networks. “The funding awarded will support improvements to the local environment in Clackmannanshire, encouraging healthy living amongst the residents by providing attractive recreational opportunities and promoting a stronger sense of community.” The £50,000 Community Projects Fund is being administered by Central Scotland Forest Trust. For further information and to download an application form, please visit their website at www.csft.org.uk As one of the Scottish Government’s 14 ‘National Developments’ in the second National Planning Framework, the CSGN will change the face of Central Scotland, by restoring, transforming and greening the landscape of an area stretching from Ayrshire and Inverclyde in the west, to Fife and the Lothians in the east.

By entering the competition, you agree that photographs supplied are not subject to copyright and give permission for these images to be used by HUB Media. There will be no monetary reimbursement for any expenses occurred or form sale of the calendar. Good luck!!!

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Friday 14.10.11

Farewell Father School chaplain leaves to pastures new

weecounty MP comments on draft Boundary Commission for Scotland report Speaking after the publication of the draft Boundary Commission for Scotland report, Gordon Banks MP for Ochil and South Perthshire said,

School pupils from St Mungo’s primary said good bye to their school chaplain as he moves away. On September 28, Father Michael paid his last visit to the school where he had been the chaplain for five years. Father Michael had joined in on many school outings and visits to the cinema, all of which he greatly enjoyed. Now based in Dundee at the Cathedral house, Father Michael will be carrying out his duties there and will be in charge of two parishes. The whole school wished him well and sang for him during an assembly. Pupils, Jamie Dowds and Mairead Morton presented Father Michael with a small gift and a card.

“I am very disappointed that the seat of Ochil and South Perthshire has been dismantled in this review but then that is not different to many many existing seats. The draft proposals divide Ochil and South Perthshire in three ways with the lions share constituting a significant part of the proposed Clackmannanshire and Dunfermline West seat, covering Clackmannanshire where I have lived for over 40 years and Fife where my father lived and worked and where I worked for nearly 20 years before becoming a Member of Parliament, so it is an area I know very well. However it is worth noting that as these are draft proposals changes can be made and eventually it will

be Labour Party members who decided who will be their representative and of course the electorate at large that will decide who will be their Member of Parliament. Clackmannanshire and Dunfermline West has significant attractions to me but it is appropriate to await the completion of the consultation process that will result in the final decisions being made. The real issue in this matter is that the Government is spending time and effort gerrymandering a reduction in Scotland’s voice at Westminster at a time when we need to be focussing on a way to stimulate the economy and create jobs for people. Again it appears to be the wrong priorities.

Pupils encouraged to send in their favourite recipes for new healthy cookbook By Alison Mann

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ee County school pupils are being invited to send in their favourite recipes to make up part of a healthy cookbook. Pupils can still enter the Inverawe Smokehouses’ recipe competition before the closing date on November 30. Celebrated smokery Inverawe launched the recipe competition to encourage healthy eating, particularly amongst school children. The award-winning smokery also plans to create the Inverawe Cookbook for Children from a selection of popular recipes. The competition is open to youngsters aged five to 16 and to enter they simply have to send in their favourite healthy recipe to roanna.katz@bigpartnership.co.uk. Rosie Campbell-Preston, owner of Inverawe Smokehouses, said: “Educating children about healthy eating is so important and we want to play our part in encouraging young people to get involved with cooking and making healthy choices for themselves. “As a mother I know the importance of a good, balanced diet and I hope this competition will encourage children to think about the healthy food they enjoy. We have had a great response to the recipe competition so far and look forward trying out more fantastic recipes.” The pupil who submits the winning recipe and their school will both receive Amazon vouchers to the value of £100. The runner-up and their school will each receive £50 worth of vouchers. Inverawe Smokehouses was established by

the Campbell-Preston family in 1974 and has been producing its award-winning produce from the banks of Loch Awe ever since. The premium smokery only selects the finest raw materials and experts follow the same, age-old, slow smoking process to ensure the exquisite Inverawe taste is achieved every time.

“We have had a great response to the recipe competition so far and look forward trying out more fantastic recipes.” Submissions to the competition can be made by emailing recipe suggestions to Roanna.katz@bigpartnership.co.uk or posting to The Big Partnership, 5 Park Circus Place, Glasgow G3 6AH no later than November 30 2011. For further information about Inverawe Smokehouses and to order, please call 08448 475 490 or visit www.smokedsalmon.co.uk

weecounty

Friday 14.10.11

Alloa Academy Notes Inter-House competition

Congratulations to pupils in Bruce House who have again won this week’s Inter-House competition and gain 15 points for the House. Erskine were in second place gaining 10 points with Schaw in third place gaining 5 House points. Only 12 points separated Erskine House from Schaw House this week, so it was an extremely close competition. 1E2 and 1B1 topped the weekly co-operation list this week, so well done to them.

Assemblies

During last week’s assemblies pupils had the opportunity to listen to some of the writing pieces produced by S3 pupils in response to a poem entitled “Blessings”. In their pieces pupils focussed on the things in their lives for which they are thankful including their parents, friends, love and perseverance.

Achievements Our Jeans for Genes day

was a great success with a fantastic total of £734.17 being raised. Well done to everyone who contributed and wore their jeans with school uniform tops. Our S4 pupils returned to school this week after being on work experience over the last two weeks. Almost all of them report having had a very positive experience and several have had career choices confirmed by their week’s work. Overall, employers’ reports have been extremely positive in their levels of praise for S4 students with regards the other punctuality, workrate and commitment.

Open Evening

We will be having our 1600x800 Open Evening on Wednesday 12th October from 6.00p.m. until 8.00p.m. You are all cordially invited to visit the school and see at least two pieces of work from each of our students displayed in various areas around the building. There will be a range of displays and demonstrations and you will have the opportunity

to award Merit points to students for the work that you judge to be the most interesting. We look forward to welcoming you on that evening.

Learning Festival

On Thursday of this week, we will be having our Learning Festival where S1 pupils will be sharing what they have learned with pupils from Primary 7 in our associated schools. S1 pupils will actually teach the Primary 7 pupils some of the wide variety of skills that they have been working on. We look forward to sharing the learning and having fun.

Fortnightly focus

Our fortnightly focus continues to be on homework with pupils being asked to note homework carefully and ensure that it is completed. Parents can also help in this focus by asking to see the homework planner and signing off the week’s work.

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Complaints lodged fall for Central Scotland Police 22.9% reduction compared to previous year By Alison Mann

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he police force that serves the Wee County has received the largest fall in complaints compared to other Scottish forces. The number of complaint allegations received by Central Scotland Police for 2010-11 is down 22.9% compared to last year (2009-10). The results, released in a report published by the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland (PCCS), showed that Central Scotland Police faired significantly better than the Scottish average – a national reduction of 8.8%. In 2010/11 the force recorded 211 complaints compared to 2009/10

when they received 243. Central Scotland Police received 7.2 complaints per 10k of the area’s population, which is the second successive fall for the force. The force also saw its previously upward trend in allegations received come to a stop, the rate of 11.8 allegations per 10k of the population is now one the lowest nationally. The top three types of allegation that were closed by Central Scotland Police in 2010/11 were for irregular procedure, incivility and neglect of duty. Irregular procedure was down from 106 in 2009/10 to 92 in 2010/11 and incivility complaints were down to 48 in 2010/11 from 65 in 2009/10. Neglect of duty complaints were down to 39 in 2010/11 from 44

in 2009/10, the only categories where the force increased complaints was oppressive conduct, discriminatory behaviour and corrupt practice, however, these were very small increases. Chief Inspector Audrey McLeod, Head of Professional Standards, said: “The reduction in the number of complaints about the police is a positive sign. “Complaints are part of the bigger picture of improving public satisfaction and we continually monitor the trends which emerge as we deal with complaints. I am keen to ensure we capture every opportunity to learn from complaints and make improvements to our delivery of service to the public.”

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Friday 14.10.11

Drop a dre in 6 week

Dreading the party season for fear of what to wear?

A

re you fed up dressing to disguise your wobbly bits then feeling self-conscious all night? Here at the Wee County we are getting organised and planning our Christmas party. It should be an event to look forward to but as happens every year, the discussion soon turned to how much weight we had put on after over-indulging during our summer holidays and how we would manage to look perfect in our party outfits. So with the help of a top nutritionist we have decided to give the Wee County a helping hand to get gorgeous over the next six weeks. We will be running a feature over the coming weeks to help you drop a dress size and are giving you your first instalment this week. We will give you diet sheets and exercise tips to follow which will run right up to the start of December, just in time for the party season. You could even cut them out and re-use them for the dreaded Christmas weight you hate in January. Take this helping hand to fit into your party outfit this Christmas. Let us know how you are getting on by post or by visiting us at our new Facebook page.

T

his diet is designed for maximum energy and fat loss. Over the course of the day you will eat a perfect balance of appetite suppressing protein, wholesome energising carbohydrates and essential fats. This will keep your blood sugar levels

7 Day Diet Plan

Follow this plan for 2 weeks

Do you have a die you’d like to ask Ca

Email weecou

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Breakfast – one poached egg served on one slice of toasted multigrain bread. Glass of un-sweetened orange juice.

Breakfast – two weetabix with semi-skimmed milk. Top with a generous portion of blueberries (buy frozen blueberries to save money and prevent wastage) Snack – small Tupperware dish of mixed dried fruit and unsalted nuts Lunch – half a carton of fresh Minestrone Soup. 2 dark ryvita topped with extra light soft cheese, sliced tomato and a slice of lean ham Snack – 30g ‘nakd’ energy bar - cocoa orange flavour Dinner – 90g lean beef stir fry strips cooked with beansprouts and mixed peppers in Blue Dragon ‘oyster and spring onion’ sauce. Serve with a portion of soba noodles and steamed pak choi.

Breakfast – 2 slices of rye bread, toasted and topped with peanut butter and a small sliced banana Snack – 2 kiwi fruit Lunch – half a pack of barbeque flavour cooked chicken strips served on a bed of spinach, watercress and rocket leaves with cucumber, tomato, mixed peppers, beetroot and spring onion. Dress with balsamic vinegar and a low fat dressing of your choice (30 calories or less per tablespoon) Follow with a pot of low fat yoghurt. Snack – a 99 calorie ‘drifter’ bar Dinner – Tesco “light choices” chilli prawn tagliatelle. 1 slice tesco ‘healthy living’ garlic bread

Breakfast – 35g large flake porridge oats cooked with semiskimmed milk and topped with blueberries Snack – orange Lunch – sandwich on multigrain bread with home-made egg mayo (use thick sliced bread, 2 hard boiled eggs and extra light mayo) Snack – 2 oatcakes spread with low fat soft cheese Dinner – 150g turkey steak chopped and threaded onto 2 skewers with alternate chunks of courgette and mushroom. Drizzle with blue Dragon ‘sweet chilli’ sauce and grill under cooked through. Serve with a medium sized baked sweet potato

Snack – small pot of total 0% greek yoghurt Lunch – 30g of crumbled feta cheese served on a bed of spinach leaves with plum tomatoes, red onion and sliced cucumber. Dress with balsamic vinegar and a little extra light mayo and serve with one wholemeal pitta bread.

Say goodbye to that muffin top

steady and wipe sugar cravings a energy is ‘drip fe your system over extended period Add as much f salad and veg as like to any of the or snacks (with t exception of swe and potatoes as are higher in cal

Snack – 2 nairns ‘dark choc chip’ oat biscuits Dinner – chicken breast cooked in tomato passatta with mushrooms, onions, peppers, rosemary, black pepper and garlic. Serve with 4 heaped tablespoons of wholemeal pasta and a large side serving of steamed broccoli.

Friday 14.10.11

ess size ks

e out as ed’ into r an d of time. fresh s you e meals the eetcorn s these lories)

Exercise Guidelines for strength and cardio training

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Additionally, allow 300ml of semi-skimmed milk for use in tea and coffee. Drink as much plain water as you can as this is a natural appetite suppressant. Alternate this with herbal teas and sugar free squashes when you feel the need for more of a taste.

or best results, this strength workout should be performed twice a week, allowing at least 48 hours rest between sessions for muscle recovery. Complete 12 repetitions of each exercise, paying careful attention to technique. For best results, blast through the workout twice in a circuit style, moving quickly between the exercises to keep your heart rate up and burn maximum calories in the session. Resistance training of this type is a perfect complement to cardiovascular training in the form of running, walking, swimming or aerobics classes. Aim for a minimum of two cardio sessions per week of 30-45 minutes to boost your fat loss and body sculpting results.

Workout 2: CHEST PRESS on ball 6kg

et or fitness related question arolyn over the next five issues?

unty@hubpublishing.co.uk Friday

Breakfast – 2 weetabix with semi-skimmed milk and one small sliced banana Snack – 2 nairns ginger oat biscuits Lunch – wholemeal pitta bread filled with sweet chilli chicken strips, a tablespoon of hoummus, cucumber, tomato and fresh spinach leaves. Snack – apple Dinner – healthy takeaway/restuarant options: Indian – Tandoori chicken or chicken tikka served with 4 tablespoons of boiled rice OR one chapatti and s salad with spiced onions (instead of using the fatty sauce given, try using some of your own extra light mayo) Chinese – Chicken in ginger and spring onion served with a small portion of soft noodles or boiled rice and a large side order of stir fried vegetables Nandos: mediterranean salad with an added chicken fillet with a side order of ratatouille and a cup of frozen yoghurt to finish.

Saturday

Sunday

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs or a small tin of beans on 1 slice of toasted rye bread Snack - orange Lunch: large mixed salad of spinach, tomato, cucumber, pepper, onion and beetroot. Add 3 slices of lean turkey breast meat and a tablespoon of reduced fat coleslaw. Snack – 2 kiwi fruit Dinner: Lean fillet steak or tuna steak cooked as preferred. Serve with chunky sweet potato chips.

Breakfast – 45g bowl of All bran with sliced strawberries and blueberries. Serve with splash of semi skimmed milk Snack – pot of low fat yoghurt Lunch – large bowl of home-made lentil/ vegetable soup. Serve with 2 ryvita spread with hoummus Snack – 2 kiwi fruit Dinner – roast chicken piece (no skin) served with 3 new potatoes, broccoli, peas and carrots

PULLOVER ON BENCH – legs elevated to make tummy work harder

PLANK POSITION – hold for 45-60 seconds. On second set bring alternate knees in towards chest for 20 reps.

DIPS OFF BENCH – with feet as far as possible from bench to make it harder. 2nd set with feet elevated on BOSU ball (you could try this with feet up on small step)

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weecounty

Friday 14.10.11

Your Horoscope Predictions By Anne Smith Aries (21 March - 20 April)

You are in a mind-set of giving advice and not of one to listen, I would suggest that you take heed of the advice you would give to others as this is the answers to your own problems, those around you may say things that fill in the missing blanks of what is going on around you at this time.

Taurus (21 April - 21 May)

The harvest moon on the 17th May is a great time for you as an earth sign, you will be drawn into nature, if you follow your instinct and take that walk you will let go of all the negatives of the past and embrace a fresh start as this is indeed time for your new year to begin and a new way of thinking.

Gemini (22 May - 21 June)

The sun enters your sign on the 22nd of May and we are just going into a new moon phase and a new you, you seem to have released some of the demons from your past and a lighter much happier Gemini is surfacing. Time to blow away the cobwebs and start again.

Cancer (22 June - 23 July)

Being so perfect is so exhausting trying to do everything yourself and not allowing others to help is futile. You cannot continue in this manner, you are not perfect admit it; Time now to change your way of thinking, time out is needed!

Leo (24 July - 23 Aug)

A time of new- adventures, new interest’s which may seem daunting at first, but it is putting you in the centre stage and before you know it you are playing the starring role and loving every minute of it. Change is good.

Virgo (24 Aug - 23 Sept)

The new moon on the 17th May gives you a chance to re-evaluate your life; you are deciding what and who should stay and who should go. This is a good thing as you are decluttering for the rest of the years; some of you may hear from an old flame, resist the power of temptation by exploitation??

Libra (24 Sept - 23 Oct)

Mercury has been direct from the 23rd of April which helps you clarify communications around you, however, you seem to have taken on an air of authority on how you deal with people, a word of caution…. Pride comes before a fall, oh wee gentle Libra where art thou!

Scorpio (24 Oct - 22 Nov)

As with all projects it takes time for them to come to fruition, just ask a farmer, your money situation will improve but it takes time and nurturing, i would also suggest you make a budget for the rest of the year and stick to it.

Sagittarius (23 Nov - 21 Dec)

You have at last come to a place of peace and life is ticking along smoothly. You are a very friendly and chatty sign and because you are feeling so relaxed you may let slip one or two things that you should keep to yourself, be careful of who you tell your secrets to!

Capricorn (22 Dec - 20 Jan)

There seems to be a storm brewing as you feel a surge of emotions ready to surge forward and erupt like a volcano…. No, no, she has suppressed it again, you know it would be good for you to blow of all that steam as suppressing your feeling will make you ill, try to let go, scream if only a little.

Aquarius (21 Jan - 19 Feb)

After a few difficult weeks so seem to have turned a corner and you can see the sun shine once more. This is a great time for organising as Saturn the plant of structure puts order into both love and life. Make the most of this period and spend time in activities you enjoy.

Pisces (20 Feb - 20 Mar) Time to become a hamster and store some wealth away for leaner times. Your finances are good at the moment but communications and travel are not. Check the details on travel arrangement once then twice to ensure you have the correct information, Try to avoid making big plans around the 17th May, as this moon affects you concentration.

Anne is a Spiritualist Medium, Tarot reader and a Reiki Master & available for private consultation, healings and church services

contact, ANNE on

07506723569

Sizzling Suzie’s Entertainment weecounty Spring Spreads Q’s Views! The Wee County is pleased to have the infamous ‘Q, from Airdrie’

writing for the Entertainment Pages, to give you all some comic Hi everyone. Thank goodness all that election fever is over. Easter is over, the wedding is over relief. As a regular contributor to the Glasgow Metro newspaper, and a regular in the comedy scene in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Q has and the schools are back to normal. Nothing to given the Wee County an exclusive column, which we are sure will look forward to but the nights getting longer and have you wanting for more in the next edition of the Wee County! the days getting warmer. pitfalls though. penalty I conceded that cost us the and make a run for it whilst he is Yes, compared THE BEST JOB IN It has it’s game”.and generally distracted. If he has a gun, I’d best to such iconic Your garden needs mowing, weeded It’s time FIFA clamped down on these run in a zig-zag formation and hope cars it was THE WORLD…EVER overhauled. Despite the hard graft it is so much spoilt children. Capped their wages, for the best. Gun laws save lives. an absolute Imagine a job where you get paid lots established a code End of. shed. Whilst the GTi or XR3i could nicer looking out onto a spruce garden than anof conduct for of money for doing very, very little. A them, and IQ tested them before go from 0-60mph in 10 seconds, the job where no matter badlymeadow. you overgrown weedhow filled As it has been allowing them to kick a ball. Most Lada could manage 0-10mph in 60 perform, you still get paid. And if you unusually warm theseit’slast it has beenshould be of all, their managers seconds. continue to underperform, yourfew weeks TWITTER given for the power to sack them for If you remember this car, you’ll boss who gets to blamed and sacked, hard trying fathom what to make dinner. You If you are unaware of what Twitter is, being rubbish. Suddenly they’d be remember how bad it was, and that and not you. it is a website which simply asks the take stuff out the freezer in the morning and by accountable and would have to face jakies would often get alongside Lada Imagine a job where you can be question “What are you doing?” to reality. drivers at traffic lights and shout the time itdriving, comescaught to cook have gone right banned from usingit you up You can then update it with your the world as we know it would abuse at them. drugs, arrested So for duffing up movements as often as you please. off theor idea. this week I haveThen come up with be a better place. What you may not know is that the someone in a pub, and your employer There is a word for someone who awillfew that arewhat. lovely in all weathers.. A owner of a Lada dealership got wise stickdishes by you no matter wants to know your movements all the to this, and drove around in a Lada They’ll even let to work gorgeous stiryoufrycome that takes minutes, even less if time. And that word is “Stalker”. Riva with a Cosworth engine hidden wearing an electronic GANGSTERS Therefore folks I implore you, do not you also come up underneath the bonnet. tag. buy prepared vegetables. I have I read a report that go on this site and follow lives of The jakies would get alongside Imagine with a afilling warm chicken salad. You cancriminal roast gangs are celebrities. Your own life is far more him and dish out abuse, only to be job where no matter suffering a shortage important. your own chicken or buy a cooked hot one from astonished when the lights turned how much of a scumbag of weapons, and as a And please don’t set up your own the supermarket. I prefer to roast my own as you to green and a car wth 1960’s you are, people will forgive result have to borrow off each Twitter site. It will only disappoint you technology beat them in a drag you and treat all you the like fantastic roasting juices get to use intojustthe other. I can imagine the when nobody cares what you’re doing. race. The very next day they’d get you’re the conversations: “Hi Jeff, could I dressing. I have old themselves down to his dealership to best thing since toilet also come up with a lovely please borrow your pistol enquire about trading in their pimped paper. from Yes folks, talking BACK AFTER A blast theI’mpast dessert. One which the for aweans wee job I have on?” about footballers. “No. You still haven’t will absolutely love. LONG ABSENCE They really, returned my rifle yet, and really sicken when you gave me back my shotgun me. Not just the barrel was missing” with their weekly wages Does this mean that the police are which exceed the gross national winning the war on gun crime? product of Greece, or their constant 3 skinned chicken breasts sliced into 1 inch pieces I certainly hope so. I spoke to an crimes which seem to pass with American friend about the matter, OR 2-3 quick fry steaks cut into 1 inch strips impunity. and his solution on gun crime is that 1 tsp grated ginger I’m fed up with them not trying a leg we should all be armed, now. When I 1ontsp crushed garlic the park, cheating the fans, and asked for an explanation, he replied ½ a savoy cabbage shredded finely still getting paid for it. “We don’t get many stabbings in the 4If spring onions cut into ½ inch pieces US”. I behaved like them, I’d be selling 2the carrots cut into Big Issue, or inribbons Barlinne.with Theya peeler Yes, that’s because they have guns that their per weekwith isn’ta peeler 2protest courgettes cut £20k into ribbons instead you maniac. enough, butof never saysnap “Here’s some Small pack sugar peas or mange If atout ned pulls a knife on me, I of my wages back for that stupid can shout “Look, free Buckfast!”, Large handful of beans sprouts

Sweet Chilli Stir-fry

Small can of horse chestnuts drained Handful of roasted peanuts ½ bottle of sweet chilli sauce Large splash of soy sauce 1 pack of egg noodles or rice noodles 2 tbsp oil

DODGY PARKING

Heat oil in a very large non stick frying pan or wok. Have the heat on high . Add the chicken or beef and fry off very quickly. Add the ginger and garlic. Add the vegetables and fry quickly moving them all the time to prevent sticking. Add the nuts and chestnuts. soy sauce chilli We are on theAdd prowlthe to findnoodles the Wee County’s dodgyand parkers but we need your help! Unfortunately, cannot do campaignminute on our own so please send in sauce. Continue we cooking forthisanother to– heat your dodgy parking pictures to weecounty@hubpublishing.co.uk. Does one of your the noodles stirring continuously.If so, take a picture of the evidence and colleagues suffer from dodgyparkingitis? send it to us! Don’t worry, all identities will be protected and vehicle registrations blanked out. This is all in the name of good fun, and in no way are we personally attacking any individual or group.

Email angelanne@btinternet.com or visit www.angelanne.co.uk

Ice cream sandwiches

ANGEL ANNE Psychic Medium

1 small tub of soft scoop vanilla ice cream 1 small pack of digestive biscuits Strawberry jam Chocolate spread

Had the news got to me before The Hub went to print, I would have had an absolute field day. If you don’t remember Ladas or simply haven’t heard of them, let me explain. The Lada Riva was a Russian built car of the 1980’s, and could be compared to iconic cars of that era such as the Golf GTi or Ford Escort XR3i.

Recently featured in “Pick Me Up” Magazine Works all over the UK Giving Workshops, Talks, Running Courses, Private/Group Readings Runs Development Groups in Glasgow and Teaches Reiki and How to read The Tarot For More Information

cream with lemon tried it hee hee.

Across 1 Dock (5) 4 Sore (7) Spread one biscuit with 8 Rubbish (7) jam another with chocolate 9 Sacred song (5) spread and spoon on some 10 Boulders (5) ice cream close11 toSincere make(7)a Real (6) sandwich. You 12 can use any 14 Blemished (6) flavour combinations you 17 Ancient Japanese warrior (7) 19 Concur like. I love chocolate ice(5) Ashen (5) curd. Don’t knock it21 until you’ve 22 Before (7) 23 Least difficult (7) 24 Viper (5)

up rides for what they thought was an affordable Russian supercar. I still giggle when I think of gullible jakies in their Lada Rivas trying to challenge GTi drivers to a race. Or the time my neighbour reported that his Lada had been stolen, and the police refused to believe him.

DODGY Picture

Have you got any dodgy pictures that you would like to add to our ‘Dodgy picture hall of shame’? Then send them in and the next dodgy picture might be yours in a future issue of the hub for everyone to see! weecounty@hubpublishing.co.uk

SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

Food for the soul

E-Mail angelanne@btinternet.co Visit; www.angelanne.co.uk Telephone 07506723569

Just before the last edition of Q’s Views was published, it was announced that Lada would be manufacturing cars once more.

Down 1 Bet (5) 2 Fruit (7) 3 Emblems (5) 4 Fragments (6) 5 Endanger (7) 6 Fire (5) 7 Restricted (7) 12 Relieve of blame (7) 13 Abbreviate (7) 15 Concerned (7) 16 Straightforward (6) 18 Relocates (5) 19 Main artery (5) 20 Mistake (5)

weecounty

Lifestyle

Friday 14.10.11

Break to Bruges

I

f you love chocolate, beer, canals and charm, the Belgian city of Bruges, just a train drive away on Eurostar, offers the perfect destination for a city break. It is regarded as the best preserved medieval city in northern Europe as is fondly known as the Venice of the North. The historic city centre is surrounded by picturesque canals and enclosed within ancient city walls. Once inside, everything is close to hand. There is street after street of charming centuries-old houses, majestic gothic churches, plenty of chocolate shops and canalside bars, cafes and restaurants. For most tourists, the best feature of Bruges is the winding cobbled streets that lead to the main tourist areas of Market Square, with its open air cafes, and Burg Square, home to the oldest gothic city hall in Belgium. The belfry on Market Square is one of Bruges’s most distinctive landmarks. Its bell tower dates back to the 13th century and is over 80m high. If you climb the 366 steps to the top you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views over the city’s skyline. The cobbled streets boast plenty of tempting chocolate shops, so don’t expect to stick to a healthy diet. The chocolatiers are highly skilled and their creations are nothing short of works of arts, so you can expect to

Canals and character Bruges makes an ideal city break. pay quite a lot for the privilege of eating their creations. Once you’ve eaten all the chocolates you could want you can wash it down with a speciality beer from one of the beer boutiques.

PET of the week

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There are also two historic breweries offering tours where you can sample Straffe Handrick, Brugs Tarwebier and Brugse Tripel beers straight from the barrel. You can buy chocolates and beer much cheaper in the local supermarkets, but that certainly spoils the shopping experience and the chocolate and beer won’t have the same handmade quality. The religious sites of Bruges are another big draw for tourists. The Basilica of the Holy Blood is a beautiful gothic church on Burg Square and houses a vial of blood that is believed to have come from Jesus. There is an

weecounty

ambient Romanesque-style chapel underneath the main church. The Church of Our Lady dates back to the Romanesque and gothic periods. The east end of the church is home to the tombs of Charles the Bold and his daughter, Mary of Burgundy. The church also has a small but lovely Michelangelo sculpture of the Virgin and Child. One of the main cultural highlights of Bruges is the City Museum of Fine Arts. The collection mainly focuses on works by painters who either lived or worked in Bruges and spans several centuries. There are plenty of arts and crafts shops scattered around the city,

specialising in works by local artists and lacework. As Bruges is a perfectly compact city, getting around is easy on foot. If you want to sit back and enjoy the view you can hop on a boat for a tour of the city’s beautiful canals. Tours only cost a few euros and it is the best introduction to Bruges. Like Amsterdam, cycling is a popular way to get around the city and you can rent a bike from many locations. The best way to travel to Bruges is on the Eurostar service to Brussels’ Gare du Midi and then a connecting local train service to Bruges, in total taking just 3 hours 20 minutes from London.

Recipes

HOME MADE TOMATO SOUP

B

Age: 6 years old

e i n n Bo

Lives: with her daddy Kevin Breed: Black Labrador Likes: cuddles, swimming and running :-) Dislikes: going fast in the car :-) To submit your pet please send a photo of your pet to weecounty@ hubpublishing.co.uk or post your photo to The Wee County News, Lomond Suite, Ellismuir House, Ellismuir Way, Tannochside Park, Uddingston G71 5PW with your name, your pets name, breed, age and his or her likes and dislikes. * although we will try, we cannot guarantee the return of any photos posted to us.

ritish tomatoes are at their ripe and succulent best at this time of year and there’s no better way to enjoy them than in a warming home-made soup. This recipe can be frozen for up to three months if you make a large batch. Serves 4-6. INGREDIENTS 2tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 stick of celery, finely chopped 1 small carrot, peeled and chopped 2tsp tomato puree 2lb 8oz ripe tomatoes, washed, destalked and quartered pinch of sugar 2 bay leaves, roughly torn freshly ground black pepper 1200ml vegetable stock, using 2 stock cubes METHOD 1. Heat the oil in a large heavy-

based pan. Add the onion, celery and carrot and cook over a low heat for around 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft. 2. Add the tomato puree and stir to coat the vegetables. 3. Add the tomatoes, sugar and bayleaf pieces and a good grind of black pepper. Stir, cover and cook on a low heat for 10 minutes until the tomato juices begin to flow. 4. Slowly pour in the stock, stir and

bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover and cook for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. 5. Discard the bayleaf pieces, then pour the soup into a blender in batches and blend until smooth. 6. Return the blended soup to the pan and reheat, seasoning to taste. Serve with a swirl of cream in each bowl for decoration.

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weecounty

Friday 14.10.11

What’s on in your weecounty ALLOA

Pilates: Change your shape for Christmas with Pilates. Every Wednesday from 6pm to 7pm in Ludgate Church Hall, Alloa. To book telephone Lorna on 07533173335. St Mungo’s Parish Church of Scotland: Following the very successful evening last week when Jack Deleney and family entertained guild members, a service of Dedication took place on Sunday which was conducted by Rev. Sang Y Cha. The guild continue their Autumn programme on Tuesday 18 October at 7.30pm when Rev. Joanne Finlay from Fossaway Parish Church will give a talk on the guild project “A Place For Hope”. All are welcome. Alloa Community Council: The date for the table top sale has been changed, it will now take place on Saturday, November 5. Tables are £5 each. Book early to avoid disappointment. The council are taking names for Alloa over 70s Christmas meal on 3 December. Tickets will be available soon – the book is in the foyer at the old peoples hall, Erskine Street , Alloa. The combined celebrations for the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the Alloa community festival will be on the 9 June 2012 at Greenfield Park.

ALVA

SNP Alva Branch: The next meeting will take place on Thursday October 13 in the library/local office at 7.30pm. All members welcome and anyone interested in joining the party. Alva Parish Church Guild: There is a meeting of the guild on Tuesday 18 October at 7.30pm in the Eadie Hall. Joyce Bell is giving an illustrated talk about live in Quatar. Anyone who is interested is welcome. Darby and Joan Club:

Dominoes result – 1 Mrs M Nolan, 2 Mrs M Turner, consolation Mrs M Peggie. Whist result – 1 lady Mrs E Campbell, consolation Mrs M Hill. 1 gent Mr I McLachlan, consolation Miss C Blair. New members welcome every Wednesday at 1.45pm.

CLACKMANNAN

The Circle of Friends: The next meeting will be held on Thursday 20 October in Clackmannan Town Hall at 7pm. Chill Out Group for Carers: The next Chill Out Group will be on Friday 28 October at 1pm to 3pm in Clackmannan Health Centre. Telephone 219288. Clackmannan Community Council: The next meeting will be held in Clackmannan CAP on Monday 17 October at 7pm. Senior Citizen’s Christmas Party will be held in Clackmannan Town Hall on Wednesday 7 December at 2pm. Tickets for the above will be given out on Friday 25 November at 9.30am in Clackmannan CAP on a first come first served basis – maximum 2 per person. All senior citizens are welcome.

COALSNAUGHTON

Coalsnaughton Burns Club: Cash bingo every Monday in the lounge. Contact Cliff on 01259 750517 for details. Eyes down 8.15pm, finished by 9.45pm.

DOLLAR

Dollar Bridge Club: The second round of the Hooper Cup was played on Thursday 6 October. The results were as follows – 1 D Colquhoun and S Harris 65.2 per cent; 2 K Ross and E Howman 63.8 per cent; 3 K Anderson and K Marshall 59.8 per cent; 4 M Young and I Young 57.6 per cent; 5 J Scales and J Broadbelt 55.1 per cent; 6 K Gow and D Gow 54.8 per cent; 7 J Toshack and J Reid 51.8 per cent.

FISHCROSS

Wee County Walkers: Why not join in the free walks led by Wee County Walkers? Become fitter as you enjoy an easy interesting walk. No need to book. Meet us in the car park beside Cats’ Protection just before 2pm on Tuesday. Back in time to meet the children coming out of school. Walks are suitable for all ages and abilities. Find out about local history as we walk. Put on comfortable footwear, dress for the weather and enjoy. Short safe walks open to everyone. Contact Jane on 01259 290316 or 07825 052677 for details. Come on your own or bring a friend.

KINCARDINE

Kincardine History Group: The next meeting is on Wednesday October 19 at 7pm in the Community Centre. The group welcome back Stephen Liscoe who will be talking about “Shipwrecks around Fife”. Visitors welcome.

MENSTRIE

Friends of Menstrie Gala: The Friends are starting to meet again to plan next years event. The first meeting will be on Tuesday, October 18 (and thereafter the third Tuesday of each month). It will be held in the Community Room inn the Dumyat Centre at 7pm. Anyone who would like to get involved please go along. You don’t have to go to every meeting but they would like to meet with people who want to help them. There will be a bingo tea in aid of the Gala funds on Thursday October 27 at 7.30pm in the Community Room of the Dumyat Centre. Please note that these bingo teas will be on a Thursday now, due to other commitments within the Dumyat Centre.

MUCKHART

Muckhart Coronation Hall Centenary event. This weekend, 15th and 16th October between 11am and 3pm, there will be an exhibition of photos, documents and memorabilia of Muckhart to celebrate 100 years of the Coronation Hall. You are welcome to come along to the hall and have a cup of tea and a cake with us. Entrance is free and refreshments are £2.

POWMILL

Powmill SWRI: President Mrs Mary Wilson welcomed members old and new to the first meeting of the 2011/2012 syllabus. Adele Hamilton from Integro gave a very interesting and informative talk on colour and style analysis. Vote of thanks was proposed by Gracie Wilson and supper was provided by Ruth Briscoe and Betty Bruce. Competition results were as follows: Favourite Scarf – 1 Janet Mitchell, 2 Sharon Buchanan, 3 Fiona Black. Rhubarb Tart (shortcrust pastry) – 1 Sharon Buchanan, 2 Elsie Johnston, 3 Janie Buchanan, Garden Gem – Mary Wilson.

SAUCHIE

Sauchie and Fishcross U F Church: Last Sunday morning, Rev Graham Brown spoke on the theme, “Problems of Complacency”. Helen Fleming read part of Revelation chapter 3. There was no Evening Service as we joined with friends from throughout the county for the Commissioning Service of Ian Paget as COLT Worker for Clackmannanshire. The Women’s Christian Fellowship meets on Wednesday at 7.30 p.m. when Hamish Wishart will be the speaker.

The Women’s Association meets on Thursday at 2.15 p.m. Victor and Irene Kean will speak and share. The Bible Study and Prayer Meeting follows at 7 p.m. and the Choir Practice at 8.10 p.m. The Friday Club for Kids (Leo Club) meets on Friday from 6 until 7.30 p.m. All children at Primary School are welcome. On Sunday, the Morning Service and Kites Group (for children) both meet at 11 a.m. The Morning Service will be a special service for Healthcare Sunday. Evening Service will be as usual at 6.30 p.m. The Congregational Board meets on Monday at 7 p.m.

TILLICOULTRY

Tillicoultry Bridge Club: Results from Monday 10 October – N/S 1 Jimmy Hamilton and George Smith 1830; 2 Helen McKillop and Tom Sommerville 240; 3 Margo Webster and Kit Gow -310. E/W 1 Margaret Bowie and Kay Anderson 2690; 2 Ken and Alison Ross 2310; 3 Judith Keys and Martin Pringle 1640. Tillicoultry OAP: The next meeting will be held on Monday 17 October at 2.30pm. Entertainment for the day is Gordon Cowan. New members welcome.

TULLIBODY

Tullibody History Group: On Thursday 27 October the group meet at 7.30pm in The Heritage Centre in Abercromby Place. There will be a talk by Margaret McGregor, a local artist talking on ‘Life on Alloa Inch’. Members and non-members welcome. There is a nominal charge of £1 for members , £1.50 for non-members. Tea and coffee will be served following the talk.

weecounty

Lifestyle

FELLAS: First impressions do count! W

omen spend a great deal of time deciding what to wear on a day-to-day basis, taking into account what suits them and what is “so last year”. Most men, on the other hand, tend throw any old thing on. You don’t have to be a metrosexual to look good, but it helps. Men love science, right? So, know that there is scientific evidence to support the idea that what you wear really does make a difference in your world. Behavioural scientists warn that a first impression is a strong one. Someone’s evaluation of you takes 30 seconds or less, and can be so strong that it could take as long as five years to erase. Clothing plays a huge role in the first impression, especially at job interviews or meeting the in-laws or

meeting a potential mate. Think of clothes like your peacock feathers. Learning how to appropriately display your feathers could make sure that your first impression lasts, in a positive way. You will never get a second chance. Patterns, like stripes, create optical illusions. While vertical stripes draw the eyes up and down helping to establish a thinner body, wide horizontal stripes make the eye move left to right, creating a broadening effect. That’s a nice way of saying you could look as wide as a bus. Heavier fabrics give the impression of a heavier body. Culprits include tweed, wool suits and bulky jumpers. Light to medium weight fabrics, such as cotton, twill and linen, visually remove pounds. Green, blue, and violet are associated with water, sky and

Friday 14.10.11 foliage. They are calming, unassuming colours and they appear to recede. This is handy knowledge if you want to appear less heavy, dominant or aggressive. Red, orange, and yellow are associated with fire and the sun. They psychologically suggest emotion, energy and warmth while optically appearing larger. That’s something to remember if you want to slim down rather than beef up. Colours may also influence the behaviour and moods of those you are trying to impress, both positively and negatively. Colours create feelings and emotions, which is why you would never wear a sunny yellow shirt to a funeral, opting instead for solemn tones. The simple act of choosing the colour of a tie could speak volumes about you. Here are some of the moods and emotions associated with colours: RED: Not for the shy and retiring type. Dominance, power, attention, sexual energy, determination, passion, persistence, excitement and strength. PINK: Yes, men can wear pink too! Upbeat, good health, calming, friendly, compassionate and faithful. ORANGE: Very “now”. Happy, courageous, successful, enthusiastic, bold, adventuresome, friendly, warm, informal and welcoming. BROWN: Salt of the earth type. Informal, reliable, approachable, relaxed, stable, and earthy. YELLOW: A positive colour. Alert,

optimistic, stimulating, enthusiastic, playful, cheerful, communicative, expressive and intelligent. GREEN: Lucky for some. Relaxing, compassionate, prosperous, prestigious, growth, vitality, harmony and efficiency. TURQUOISE: Like a dip in the ocean. Refreshing, cool, imaginative, innovative and youthful. BLUE: For the blue-bloodied type. Knowledgeable, trustworthy, serious, responsible, social stature, caring, good health, tranquil, intuitive, calm, honest, loyal and showing integrity. LIGHT BLUE: Perfect for romance. Peaceful, sincere and affectionate. PURPLE: The prince of colours. Spiritual, passionate, visionary, regal, respected, dignified and luxurious. LAVENDER: For sexy nights in. Romantic, imaginative and associated with fantasy. BLACK: Not just for funerals. Elegance, authority, dignity, sophistication, seductiveness and mystery. GREY: Perfect for job interviews. Brainy, classy, efficient, sophisticated and confident. WHITE: The colour of angels. Virtue, cleanliness and status.

Can your relationship Thinking survive retirement? I T

hink about your relationship after retirement and how do you see it? Languorous breakfasts together in the conservatory? Couples-only cruises? Holding hands on long walks along the promenade? In reality, retirement can put a lot of stress on even the most secure of relationships, after years spending just a few hours together a week you’re suddenly plunged in to 24 hours a day, seven days a week with the same person. So how do you ensure your relationship survives retirement? Prepare for success Take time BEFORE you retire to evaluate your relationship and how you intend to make the most of it when you have more time together. Talk about what you imagine your life will be like and to discuss the places where your fantasies don’t match. Make a plan which both of you are happy with - where will you holiday? Will you move house? What hobbies will you enjoy together and apart? Manage your expectations Be aware that retirement won’t be perfect every step of the way. Spending all this time together will result in some disagreements so don’t expect a bed of roses, excitement every day or constant romance. Appreciate what you have in your stable relationship and the time you have together in retirement. Share your hobbies Supposing your husband loves golf, or your wife is a gardener extraordinaire. Spend time appreciating your other half’s passions, whether you enjoy them or not. A relationship is all about give and take and you never know, you may discover a skill for putting or a love of roses yourself. But not all of them In every relationship, from the fledgling romance to the long-standing love, couples need space from each

other. Make time just for you and allow your partner to spend time apart as well. This may involve taking solo holidays, spending time with friends or taking a class. But if it just means taking a relaxing bubble bath a couple of times a week or reading a book in the study, that’s good too. Stay positive When you and your partner find yourself in each other’s company day in, day out you’ll undoubtedly come across problems. But even if hidden resentments bubble to the surface, you disagree on how to spend (or save) your nest egg or you just begin to get under each other’s feet, keep a positive outlook, remember why you looked forward to this time and enjoy it as best you can. If in doubt ask for help It might be as simple as chatting with a friend or you might choose to contact a relationship counsellor but the important thing is that you know there’s no shame in admitting there’s something not right in your marriage. Retirement can be more stressful than any of us expect but ask for help and take advice and it can be just as wonderful as you hoped.

Sharing hobbies, such as golf, can aid your relationship.

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Men, remember dressing well will reap its rewards.

outside the box

f you struggle to name a hobby that interests you, chances are you are the kind of person who sits for hours on end in front of the telly. Watching TV may not sound much like a hobby, and in many ways it isn’t, but it is the number one choice for leisure time for millions of people. And as far as hobbies go, watching TV is probably one of the most detrimental to your health, even if it won’t give you square eyes. It is time consuming, noncommunicative, passive and sedentary - so sedentary that you don’t even have to think or move, apart from blinking your eyes. Yet many people choose watching TV over the thousands of other hobbies out there that are skilldefining, constructive, activity-based or lifestyle enhancing. Even people who might count watching TV as a hobby would probably agree that it is frequently boring and a waste of time, but it’s something to do. Most, too, would be surprised if they totalled up the hours spent, or wasted, this way every week. Try it and work out how much of the year you spend in front of the box. You may be horrified if you work it out over a lifetime. Critics and parents who ban their children from watching too much TV would claim that passively watching warps minds of creativity. They believe viewers become slaves to it, instinctively switching on and becoming transfixed. No one can argue that it promotes laziness and non-interactive behaviour. Telly addicts, however, would say that it provides a relaxing break for minds after a taxing day at work or school. If you are one of those who claims that watching the box helps you to relax, can you really justify the sheer amount of time and talent wasted every week, year or lifetime? If you have other talents or old interests that

Switch on, switch off - TV is many people’s idea of a spare time activity. have lain buried for decades, you could use that time to do something creative and stimulating. Taking up a more constructive hobby can enrich your life skills and provide a good example to your children. You can choose a hobby that will involve the whole family in an active way instead of all blindly staring at the box every night. There is an infinite number of things you could do instead. The trick is to find something that gives you a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment; something that can give you the sense that you have accomplished something. TV is often just a fallback for people who don’t plan other, more constructive things to do. Interesting things to do won’t just fall into your lap, so plan your days to include at least some stimulating activity, even if it’s just reading a book for an hour or playing a board game with the children.

22

Property

Friday 14.10.11

weecounty

Property is hot in Florida

Florida is famous for its Disney theme parks and sun-kissed oranges, but has the fun and zest been squeezed out of its property market? Or is the sunshine state still a desirable place for property bargain hunters?

The Florida coast is attracting an increasing number of property investors.

T

he credit crunch in America may have hit properties hard, with banks scared to lend and potential buyers unsure of the market, but smart investors are reaping the benefits of the weak dollar and downturn in the US economy, by snapping up affordable real estate while the going is good. Rather than fear the current climate, property website, themovechannel.com gives you four good reasons why now may be a good time to consider investing in the Floridian sun.

1. Lifestyle

The mix of sun, fun and the English tongue had led to thousands of British investors spilling into Florida and it can never be emphasised enough that the ‘sunshine state’ is one of the most attractive destinations in the world for tourists and those looking to relocate. With its cosmopolitan cities, world-

class beaches, golf courses and general sporting facilities, Florida offers an attractive, affordable lifestyle to buyers from anywhere in the world. On top of this, consider the allure of more than 300 days of sunshine per year, Disney theme parks, miles of beautiful beaches and breathtaking national parks.

2. Affordability

Florida is one of the least expensive states to buy in and properties there are attracting increased attention from UK investors. With the pound doubling up against the dollar after tremors within the US sub-prime mortgage market, Brits are taking advantage of depressed prices to snap up bargain homes in the sun In the meantime, developers are being forced to go that extra mile to close a sale, with many offering leaseback deals, inclusive furnishing

packs and all financial costs covered as added incentives. Brandon Petty of US real estate firm, Brandon Petty Realty, says: “Being a new home builder and real estate investor myself, I can see both sides of the market. There is no better time to buy a house. Interest rates are very low and developers are willing to discount houses to clear inventory. It’s time to get off the fence and go get yourself a good home with built-in equity.” So with prices plummeting and a surplus of inventory, there are bargains to be had for those who know how to spot a good deal and negotiate a discount - some property investors are even snapping up condominiums in sets of 20 or more.

3. Economy

The state’s strong economy is another positive factor for Florida’s property

market. New job creation remains well above the national average, especially in sectors like professional services, healthcare, trade, education, leisure and hospitality. Florida has always been one of the most popular states for Americans to move to. It remains a strong lure, particularly for retirees, in fact, about 90 percent of the state’s population growth since 1950 - from about three million to more than 18 million - has stemmed from migration, with the lion’s share coming from other US states.

4. Weather

If year-round blue skies and searing hot sunshine is your cup of tea then Florida

could be the location for you. Promising 360-days-a-year of sun and average summer temperatures of 32 degrees, the sunshine state has an enviable climate. So even though June is known as the wettest month, it just serves as a temporary respite from all that wonderful sunshine. Managing director of themovechannel. com, Dan Johnson, says: “Even though gains may look unlikely short term, now could be just the right time to spot a bargain before prices begin to pick-up, allowing you to survey the stars and soak up the sun while attaining your American dream home.” For more information go to: www.usa.themovechannel.com

weecounty

Property

Friday 14.10.11

23

Tips for renting your home

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Make sure you’re not renting out your home illegally.

Why not advertise your property with the Wee County News?

Call

01698 803 909 or email sales@hubpublishing.co.uk

ith the current unpredictable state of the housing market many homeowners are deciding to rent their homes out instead of selling. While this sounds like an ideal solution, homeowners need to be wary. Many may be breaking the law if they are not aware of the regulations governing renting out a property. If you are thinking of renting out your home it’s critical you know the relevant laws or you could end up in serious trouble. Lynsey Sweales, director of mortgage broker, The Money Centre, says: “I think it is a sensible idea for some homeowners to look to rent their properties out, to sell in our current climate may lose homeowners money. It is extremely important however, to make sure that any new landlords take action and do their homework with rules they need to work with.” To ensure you say the right side of the law, The Money Centre shares some top tips to make sure you are a good landlord. 1. Speak to your lender Your mortgage lender needs to know that you are renting out your home. Some lenders will allow it, but the majority won’t. Speak to a buy-to-let mortgage broker who can help you change your mortgage over to a buy-to-let mortgage to be on the safe side.¨

2. Insurance You need specialist landlord’s insurance for your property when renting it out to tenants. You also need buildings insurance and also contents too, should you rent it furnished. 3. Tenancy deposit scheme This is now a legal requirement. For all tenancy agreements that started on or after the 6th April 2007 landlords are required to protect their tenants’ deposit using one of the government authorised schemes. Within 14 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord is required to inform the tenant of how it’s protected. There are three schemes to choose from. For more information go to: www.direct.gov. uk/en/TenancyDeposit. 4. Gas certificate This is also a legal requirement. You will need a new Corgi certificate each year. A copy must be left with your tenants for their records. Contact a certified Corgi registered gas engineer. 5. Energy Performance Certificate Effective from the 1st October 2008, landlords will have to make an energy efficiency performance certificate (EPC) available to prospective tenants as part of the lettings process. The certificate, which will be valid for 10 years, rates the energy efficiency of a property on a scale of A-G, and makes recommendations for

improvement. The most energy efficient homes are in Band A. Landlords will not be under any obligation to follow any recommendation in the EPC or carry out work to improve the energy efficiency of their property. However, it is worth considering that tenants may use the certificate to help them choose which property to rent, making higherrated properties more desirable. The EPC is required by law when a building is constructed, sold or put up for rent. EPC’s can only be produced as a result of a survey by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor. They are used to collect standard information on the property including its size, how it is constructed and its hot water and heating systems. 6. Tax return As a landlord you are now running a business, you will need to complete a tax return. Any good accountant should be able to advise you and help you with the paperwork involved. The Inland Revenue can track you down years after you may have stopped renting the property or even sold it, so don’t forget this tip. 7. Join a Landlord Association These organisations are a lifeline to any landlord. If you have any tenant problems or questions then landlord associations are a great helping hand. You can find your local one using the internet.

24

Jobs

Friday 14.10.11

BAR STAFF Job No: ALL/22781 SOC Code: 9225 Wage MEETS NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE Hours WEEKENDS Location TULLIBODY, CLACKMANNANSHIRE FK10 Duration Permanent Date posted 05 October 2011 Pension details No details held Description Bar staff required for busy village pub. We are looking for cheery motivated people to join our team. Training advantageous but not essential as we can provide this. This entails mainly weekend work with extra shifts available in the run up to Christmas, out busiest time of the year. Previous applicants need not re-apply. How to apply For further details about job reference ALL/22781, please telephone Jobseeker Direct on 0845 6060 234. Lines are open 8.00am - 6.00pm weekdays only. All calls are charged at local rate. Call charges may be different if you call from a mobile phone. Alternatively, visit your local Jobcentre Plus Office and use the customer access phones provided to call Jobseeker Direct. The textphone service for deaf and hearing-impaired people is 0845 6055 255

Pension details No details held Description This vacancy is being advertised by Brightwork Ltd who are operating as an employment business. We are currently recruiting for our client in Alloa and require a temporary Cleaner. Candidates must have previous cleaning experience and be able to use a buffing machine. Main duties include buffing, vacuuming, dusting, polishing, emptying bins, cleaning toilets and any other duties as required. Hours of work are on a split shift basis which is Monday to Friday 0600 - 0800 then 1500 - 1915. Total of 31.25 hours per week. Candidates will have to apply for a PVG for this work which Brightwork will pay part of. This is temporary work on a week to week basis. How to apply You can apply for this job by telephoning 0131 4749192 or 0131 2758000 and asking for Alex Ramsay.

CHEF Job No: ALL/22791 SOC Code: 5434 Wage Exceeds Nat Min Wage Hours 40 - 45 PER WEEK, 5 DAYS FROM 7, BETWEEN 10:30AM 9PM Location Alloa, Clackmannanshire FK10 Duration Permanent Date posted 10 October 2011 Pension details No details held Description Must have previous experience. Relevant qualifications would be an advantage. Must have food and hygiene certificate. Duties will include the day to day running of the kitchen and also keeping the working areas clean and tidy. How to apply You can go and see the employer about this job without telephoning beforehand. Ask for Nick French at The Ochil View, Ochilvale Terrace, Fishcross, ALLOA, Clackmannanshire, FK10 3HT.

Jobseeker Direct on 0845 6060 234. Lines are open 8.00am - 6.00pm weekdays only. All calls are charged at local rate. Call charges may be different if you call from a mobile phone. Alternatively, visit your local Jobcentre Plus Office and use the customer access phones provided to call Jobseeker Direct. The textphone service for deaf and hearing-impaired people is 0845 6055 255.

FORKLIFT DRIVER Job No: ALL/22780 SOC Code: 8222 Wage £6.08 Per Hour Hours 6am-2pm and 2pm-10pm Location ALLOA, Clackmannanshire FK10 Duration Temporary Date posted 05 October 2011 Closing date 14 October 2011 Pension details No details held Description Forklift driver required to work on an ongoing temporary basis. You will be CLEANER ELECTRICIAN’S MATE required to work on a shift Job No: ALL/22782 Job No: ALL/22773 rotation basis, hours of work SOC Code: 9233 SOC Code: 9139 will be 6am-2pm and 2pmWage £6.08 Per Hour Wage Negotiable depending on 10pm. Flexibility is required to Hours 31.25 over 5 days experience cover overtime and occasional Location ALLOA, Hours 40 per week, Mondaynightshift. Duties will include Clackmannanshire FK10 Friday, 8am to finish movement of glass to and from Duration Temporary Location Alloa, the warehouse, heat shrinking Date posted 06 October 2011 Clackmannanshire FK10 of pallets and general forklift Closing date 14 October 2011 Duration Temporary duties. Please contact Wendy Date posted 05 Halliday on 01259 218822 Ext 4239. October 2011 Pension details How to apply You can apply for No details held this job by telephoning 01259 218822 ext 4239 and asking for Description Wendy Halliday. Must have Telesales Executive previous Are you looking to make the next move that MORTGAGE ADVISER experience. Jinky return s to V Job No: ALL/22784 iewpa will put your career on the right path? Duties to rk SOC Code: 3534 include This is an outstanding oppertunity to join an Wage £20,000 - £25,000 assisting the expanding newspaper group. Electrician and (depending upon experience) £129 Hours Full Time Monday Friday You will be part of a dynamic and friendly all general 9.00AM-5.00 PM + Sat work. tidying up. This sales enviroment, where rewards reflect Location Alloa, is a temporary Athle ti effort. Clackmannanshire FK10 Perth c success fo post for 4 disab ility s r Duration Permanent tars We will expect you to have drive, months. Date posted 07 October 2011 How to apply determination and flair. Pension details No details held For further A lack of sales experience is not an issue as Description This Vacancy is details about e asy c arpets being advertised on behalf of we pride ourselves on our excellent in-house job reference Grosvenor Financial Associates ALL/22773, training. Ltd who is operating as an please But we will expect you to have excellent employment agency. OTE weec telephone

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HUB Media Ltd Scott Mochar Ellismuir House, Ellismuir Way, Uddingston G71 5PW Tel: 01698 803909 Email: scott@hubpublishing.co.uk

Americ an Ret

Renow ned artist visits Petra Retro Kaise Glass Centr in Alloa r e Pages

0800 318 08 3

Send your CV with a covering letter by post or email to:

news

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weecounty ÂŁ35,000+ other substantial banking benefits. The candidate will provide a high quality customer driven service by identifying customer needs, and where appropriate sell products and services to meet those needs, with particular emphasis on selling Mortgages, and associated Protection products, ensure where possible customers have a full review of their Financial needs. Must have full CeMAP or MAQ or CF1 and CF6, or CEMAP Bridge, have registered Mortgage Advisor Status (RMA Status) currently or very recently held, top 35% of National League table which can be evidenced, experience of achieving or exceeding targets and previous Banking or Building Society experience a strong advantage. Telephone Phil Calver on 01473 230923 or e-mail CV to phil.calver@crown2k.co.uk. How to apply You can apply for this job by telephoning 01473 230923 or 01473 239923 and asking for Phil Calver. SCAFFOLDER Job No: ALL/22783 SOC Code: 8141 Wage Exceeds National Minimum Wage Hours 40 hours over 5 days Location ALLOA, Clackmannanshire FK10 Duration Temporary Date posted 06 October 2011 Closing date 15 October 2011 Pension details Pension available Description This vacancy is being advertised on behalf of ABC Contract services who are operating as a recruitment business.2 part 2 scaffolders required for various temp contract in and around the central belt area.Applicants must be CISRS qualified and be able to supply a reference.This role will be price work.Duties will be stripping down scaffolding on various sites around the central belt. How to apply You can apply for this job by telephoning 0141 3532354 and asking for Jan Witkowski.

Reporter/Trainee Reporter A re you looking to make the next move that will put your career on the right path? Or perhaps hoping to take that first step into the world of journalism? Hub Media is looking for a talented reporter / trainee reporter to join its team working on the Wee County News, based in Alloa. The successful applicant will be adaptable and able to cover news and sport while bringing exciting ideas to the table. We are looking for an ambitious reporter or graduate with a qualification in journalism, shorthand and knowledge of Scots Law. The ideal candidate will have an excellent news sense and the ability to remain calm while working to a strict deadline.

This is an opportunity to join an expanding company who have a strong portfolio of newspapers across South Lanarkshire, Perthshire and Clackmannanshire. Three papers will be launched from the Alloa office in the very near future and you will play a key part in shaping their content. A car owner would be preferred. Send written applications, including CV and clippings to: Hub Media Ltd Scott Mochar Ellismuir House, Ellismuir Way, Uddingston G71 5PW Tel: 01698 803909 Email: scott@hubpublishing.co.uk

weecounty GARAGE DOORS

Friday 14.10.11

weecounty services

GARDENING SERVICES

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INDUSTRIAL AND HOME BLINDS

Reid Tree & Garden Services

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25

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TILER

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call: 0141 571 7590

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• All Tree Work • Garden Work • Fencing • Colour Gravel Laid • Slabbing • Turfing • Power Washing • All Building Work • Driveways • Monoblock

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Friday 14.10.11

Motoring Winter is just around the corner - time to get ready Tyres are an important part in winter driver safety

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ALLOA AUTO CARE

Tel: 01259 729 444

Personalised Quality vehicle servicing

R.G. Autotech

Right tyres are essential in winter conditions

ensure greater driving safety in winter maintenance that all drivers should be doing, regardless of whether they make the switch to winter rubber or not. “Our ‘Magnificent 7’ has been compiled by industry experts who know what they’re talking about. If drivers follow our advice then they’ve got a much better chance of staying safe on the roads this winter.” TyreSafe’s tips include checking for adequate tread depth by taking the 20p test, ensuring tyres are properly inflated and inspecting the conditions of tyres by looking for any lumps, bulges and cracks. They also cover the spare tyre, removal or jacking of wheels on any vehicles that are not used in the winter months. For anyone confused by these or any other aspect of tyre safety, TyreSafe’s final piece of advice is to visit one of the many tyre dealers and garages who are offering free tyre safety checks as part of October’s tyre safety month. from “Seven is seen as a lucky number by many, but luck plays no part when it comes to tyre safety.

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Regular checks and maintenance are vital. However, if you’re at all unsure about any aspect regarding tyre safety, don’t leave it to chance. Call into your nearest dealer and get them checked out by an expert,” concludes Jackson. The tips are, 1 Make sure your tyres have adequate tread depth to keep you safe and legal by taking the 20p test. 2 Ensure your tyres are properly inflated and checked at least once a month and before any long journeys. 3 Check the condition of your tyres by looking for any lumps, bulges or cracks and remove any objects embedded in the tread. 4 When checking the tread, pressures and condition, don’t UNLEADED forget the spare. 5 Consider fitting winter weather tyres for ASDA - Alloa 129.7 the whole winter period. At Morrisons - Alloa 129.9 temperatures below 7 degrees Tesco - Alloa 130.9 C they provide much better safety and grip. 6 Remove Highest - 134.9 wheels or jack the weight off any vehicles’ tyres that will DIESEL not be used over the winter ASDA - Alloa 135.7 months such as caravans, Morrisons - Alloa 135.9 horse-boxes or motor-cycles. 7 Visit your nearest particTesco - Alloa 135.9 ipating tyre dealer for a free Highest - 140.9 tyre safety check.

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day, you should have them checked by a professional and replaced if there’s even a hint of danger. That way, you can drive easy knowing your tyres are up to scratch even if you are caught out in heavy snow. Here at the Wee County News we’ve brought you the best tyre retailers in the area who can help you stay safe on the road and give you top notch tyres. Of course fitting new or winter tyres is a great way to ensure greater driving safety in winter but here’s some more top tips compiled by TyreSafe to give you an extra helping hand. The advice from TyreSafe www.alloaautocare.co.uk comes just days after the Vehicle Service and Repair Centre Department for Transport issued its latest road Spax Suspension casualty report which Silicon Hoses Supplied showed that in 2010, there New Alloy Wheels were more than 1,200 Pipercross Filters road casualties in the UK Milltek Sport Exhausts from tyre related accidents, Magnex and Mongoose Exhausts emphasising the need for Free Vehicle Checks better tyre care. Air Conditioning Stuart Jackson, UPGRADE YOUR TYRES FOR THIS WINTER chairman, TyreSafe, explained: “While fitting 51 Alloa Road, Tulibody, FK10 2TR winter weather tyres is an obvious and sensible option, there are plenty contact@allaautocare.co.uk Mon-Fri: 8.30am - 5.30pm, Sat 8.30am - 1.00pm of other aspects of tyre

o doubt we can all remember the treacherous weather last winter that saw people stuck in their cars for hours on end. We can also, no doubt, remember the skidding tyres as we tried to get out of the driveway in the packed snow. This tough ware and tear has no doubt played havoc with your tyres and many of us won’t give them a second thought until we are sliding around trying to escape the snow when it arrives this winter. To make sure your tyres are safe for the snow, and for driving every

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Friday 14.10.11

27

Motoring

Routes to a good deal W

hile a great many people don’t consider anyone other than their local dealer to supply a brand new car, there are alternatives that are worth exploring.Certainly there is some value in establishing a relationship with the garage that’s likely to be servicing the car, but this needs to be weighed against potential savings elsewhere. The main options are importing the car from abroad and sourcing it from a car broker.Importing cars was big business a few years ago when substantial savings could be made. It’s now much less attractive, in the main, as dealer prices in the UK and Europe have come closer together. In some cases a UK dealer will now be able to match or even beat the import price of certain models. Much depends upon prevailing exchange rates.But if you do your research and believe there is a substantial saving to be had on the new car of your dreams, you can either talk direct to a dealer or use an import specialist company to do it for you. A web search will reveal dealers in other European countries who are geared up to supplying UK customers. Ireland and The Netherlands are good bets, especially as you generally won’t face any language problems. You do need to do your homework though, ensuring you’re

getting a car with the UK specification, and managing the paperwork. Remember too that your purchase will be covered by the consumer legislation in the relevant country, and the warranty will be the one that applies there too. It may be different to the threeyear cover available in the UK.There are specialist UK firms that will manage the whole business for you, if you prefer. One advantage is that if that company imports the car and it is then first registered here, you have full British consumer law protection with the potential to claim against the supplier if things go wrong.European competition laws mean there should be no problem getting a righthand-drive car anywhere, but remember that when you come to sell the car later in its life, the fact that it’s an import will probably reduce its value. An increasingly popular method of obtaining a discount new car is through a broker. Some of these businesses, which are easily findable from car magazines or via the web, started out as importers - some still sell imports as well as UK sourced cars. Others began by harnessing the power of large fleet purchases to force down prices, which they then passed on.Nowadays, the bulk of brokers deal in UKsourced stock. Many will have relationships with dealers whereby they effectively take oversupplied stock off their hands. Often showrooms will over-order and pre-register cars to meet sales targets. Rather than be seen giving huge discounts to individuals coming through their doors, just to shift the surplus, they’ll sell at a minimal profit through a broker. In other cases the broker, by virtue of bulk buying, has the

muscle to push prices below what a dealer will offer any individual. The result is pretty much the same, as far as the canny car buyer is concerned. Typically the broker quotes a price at least £1,000 below what the showroom’s sticker says. On more expensive cars it can run to thousands of pounds. It’s simplicity itself in terms of operation for the buyer. Normally, you approach the broker, confirm the reduced price you’ll pay, and will shortly after receive a call from a main dealer somewhere in the UK. From here in you deal entirely with the dealer, as you would when buying any new car, except that the price has been fixed. You pay your deposit, the car is ordered and, in the fullness of time, it arrives on a transporter outside your house. Delivery is normally included in the price. The commission to the broker is handled by the main dealer.There are, of course, some disadvantages to dealing with a garage at the other end of the country, but, to be fair, they’re pretty insignificant, if you know exactly what you want. You will need to be sure of what you are buying from a broker. It may be brand new, with you as the first registered owner sourced from a UK main dealer. It may be an import. Or it may be a pre-registered car. In the last of these categories, you will be shown as the second owner, and the price should reflect the reduction in value of the car because of that.Also, look out for special offers from brokers. They may have a batch of a particular model to shift, which could mean even better discounts. If you are flexible about your choice, or very patient waiting for

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WEE COUNTY GOLF TOP TWENTY FINISH FOR ALLOA JUN IORS

I

n the final of the Highland Spring Junior Masters held last Sunday over the Queens course Gleneagles, the two Alloa juniors put in a creditable performance. From a field of 50 boys, County Junior Boy Champion Brian McAdam finished with 28 points (19th equal) in the Stableford event and smooth swinging Gregor McEwan went one better with 29 points (16th equal)---- the winner scored 36 points.

SCOTTISH ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIP WASHED OUT

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Dollar Champions

Muckhart Golf Club

Latest results

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his season’s trophy winners took to the slopes of Dollar on Sunday 9th October to decide the 2011 Champion of Champions. Although the weather wasnt at its best the golf was, it produced some very keen competition and reflected the high standard of the qualifying players. Emerging as the first winner of this new event, introduced by former Captain Jerry Cant, with a fine one over par 70 was 9 handicapper Alan Meikle Jnr to return a net 61. In second place was Vic Allan (6) with a net 65 and third Robert Hamilton (15) 66. Saturday 8th October 2011 - Captain’s Prize Div 1: 1st Charles Murray (6) 43 pts; 2nd Brian Miller (10) 37 pts; 3rd David Borrowman (10) 37 pts. Div 2: 1st Stephen Leitch (13) 40 pts; 2nd Craig Smith (13) 38 pts; 3rd Scott Maxwell (21) 33 pts. Dollar Ladies Saturday 8th October 2011 - Medal Final 1st Olive O’Sullivan (19) 70; 2nd Linda Sommerville (21) 71. Dollar offers new members 15 months golf for the price of 12 plus the 2012 special discount. Telephone 07703 572344 or visit www. dollargolfclub.com for further details.

ast week’s Scottish Alliance Championship due to be played over 54 holes was curtailed to a single round due to the weather conditions. Prizes were awarded over one round only, with county players in the prize list--- Seniors Order of Merit winner Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) tied for first place in the Senior Scratch he last competition of the season - the Graham division with a score of 82 and Alloa’s Ray Barton picked up the 4th equal handicap Trophy was held last Sunday at Tillicoultry Golf prize with a net score of 75. Experienced Club with the Blue Team - pictured, winning the campaigner Alan Glass (Alloa) distinguished trophy. himself with a hole in one at the 8th and The weather held out to give the competitors very collected a special prize. pleasant conditions to play in and a great end to the golf season. COUNTY SENIORS Results - Blue Team 5.5, Red Team 2.5. The Blue AUTUMN MEETING team successfully hold on to the trophy. Thanks to all who took part and to the ladies for 8 County Senior golfers braved the providing the raffle and soup and sandwiches at the wet conditions at Braehead in the close of play. Clackmannan County Seniors Autumn

SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER WINTER LEAGUE OPENING COMPETITION – STABLEFORD Div 1 1st – A Reid – 38pts 2nd – S Smart – 37pts

Alan Meikle Jnr, winner of the Dollar 2011 Champion of Champions event.

Div 2 1st – S McGhie – 40 pts 2nd – A Wilson – 39 pts.

SUNDAY 9TH OCTOBER IZAT MEDAL ROUND 6 – CSS-75 Div 1 Div 2 1st – J Irwin – 82-9=73 1st – G Bilton – 87-18=69 2nd – J Law – 84-9=75 2nd – N McKenzie – 96-20=76 Scratch – Alan Gooding - 78 SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER LADIES CLOSING COMPETITION

Tillicoultry Golf Club

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3

Meeting. Played in three divisions as a Stableford competition, five scores of 36 points were recorded and……. taking care not to fall foul of data protection on ages, the prize-winners (in mixed order) in the three divisions are as follows. WINNING SCRATCH W Bell (Tulliallan) 27 points; M Niven (Alloa) 29 ; V Allan (Dollar) 30 RUNNER UP SCRATCH. B Christie (Braehead) 21 I Peddie (Tulliallan) 20 W Hatley (Tillicoultry) 26 WINNING HANDICAP. M J Todd (Dollar) 36 H Hunter (Alloa) 33 G Ferguson ( Braehead) 36 RUNNER UP HANDICAP. A Parker (Tulliallan); D Hawke (Braehead) 33 ; C Beattie (Braehead) 36 3RD PLACE HANDICAP. R Macdonald (Dollar) 32; B Macdonald (Dollar) 34 F Anderson (Braehead) 31 A team competition was run alongside the individual event with Dollar scoring 138 points (Todd 36, Allan 36, R Macdonald 34, B Macdonald 32) and finishing 1 point ahead of home team Braehead.

COUNTY ORDER OF MERIT FINISHES

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ounty Secretary Tommy Johnson has completed the 2011 Order of Merit rankings with Michael Robertson confirmed as retaining his 2010 title. 1. Michael Robertson (Alva) 545 points; 2 Jamie Aitken (Alloa) 500; 3. Scott Moffat (Braehead) 475; 4 Lawrence Allan (Alva) 340; 5. David Milloy (Alloa) 240 6 John Gullen (Tillicoultry) 227.5

CRUNCH TIME FOR CALLUM ON CHALLENGE TOUR

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ith only two events left on the Challenge Tour schedule, it looks like Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay will be heading back to the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain next month. Over a week ago, Callum just missed the cut by one shot after a brilliant second round, and in last week’s event at Lyon, Callum started well but two over par rounds of 74 and 73 left him down the field on his two under par total of 282 ( 67,74,73,68). Callum plays in the Rome Open this week, when the Challenge Tour moves to Italy for the end of the 2011 season.

WINNERS A Glaister, G Black & A Cragg

RUNNING

Central Runners compete in Tayside

East District Cross Country Relays held at Camperdown Park, Dundee on Saturday 8th October.

Strong start: The start of the men’s race with Central vests already to the fore

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he young females race was first off and the team of three Central runners took a fine fourth place on the 2,500metres loop of the park and trails. Eilidh Russell set off on the first leg for Under 13 runners and held the team well in contention with a run of 9min 47secs coming to change-over in twelfth place. Eilidh MacCorquodale took the team up into sixth place on the Under 15 leg with a strong run in a time of 9.07. Eilidh handed on to Emily Greenan for the Under 17 leg, with Emily moving up two places to finish in fourth place and holding off top quality opposition coming from behind as she ran a 9.14 timing. The Young Male athlete’s race was held over the same 2,500 metres loop as the Young Females. Under 13 Anthony Quinn started Central’s ‘A’ team challenge and looked highly competitive as he came round in 20th place (9min 29secs). Under 15 Aidan Cameron picked up the challenge with a swift effort of 8min 38secs to pull the team up to 13th overall. Malcolm English (Under 17) finished off the Club’s effort with a 9min 33secs effort as the team finished 19th overall. An incomplete ‘B’ team saw Under 13 Jamie Price running well to come home 22nd in 10.02 with Under 15 Kieran Potter (9.45) finishing in 25th overall at the end of the second leg as all the Boys picked up useful experience. Central ladies had a top class pedigree in the event, but with something to prove from the previous year when finishing outside the medals. For the first team, the

first of three legs was taken on by Jennifer Emsley who worked strongly to deliver the team to the first changeover in fifth place with a time of 14.21. Karen Montador continued on her comeback trail as she quickly took the team into third and then had a battle for top spot with runners from Edinburgh and Fife teams. At changeover she brought her team into equal second place with Fife having run a fine 14min 10secs leg. Final leg runner Emma Raven had to contend with Hester Dix who has been in tremendous form of late. Both quickly dispatched the leading Edinburgh team before Hester pulled clear, with Emma bringing the Central team with a comfortable silver medal place with her run of 14.29. The Central ‘B’ team produced another fine performance to finish fifth. Lyndsay Morisson kept her team well placed with a fine seventh place in14.45 after the first leg, with Alison McDonald pulling the team forward into fifth with her 14.30 timing and Karen Glover held that position with a 15.32 clocking. The ‘C’ team was led off by Jane Waterhouse with 17.03 in 22nd place, Lyndsay Aitken brought the team to 20th with 18.05 with Clare Brisbane bringing the team home in 20th place with 18.01. The Central’s Mens Teams have a history of winning both Gold and Silver medals going back some three years so there was pressure on the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams to deliver once again. With four legs of 4,000 metres it was Michael Wright who came round in fifth for the

‘A’ team (12min 14secs) but Alastair Hay showed progress on his comeback trail in fourth (12.03) for the ‘B’ team. Alex Hendry underlined his recent fine form as he pulled the ‘A’ team through to first overall with the second fastest leg of the day (11.51). Scott Green also had a strong showing with 12.17 as Central’s ‘B’ team settled into second place ahead of the chasing Edinburgh AC and Corstorphine AAC teams. John Newsom (12.00) looked imperious on the third leg extending the ‘A’ team’s lead to over a minute while Alasdair Anthony (12.54) was consolidating the ‘B’ team’s second place. Lewis Millar carried the responsibility for the final leg finishing off his solo run in 12.21 for 48min 26secs overall as the team lifted the Gold medals. Cameron Milne also produced a resolute leg (12.45) to ensure the ‘B’ team went home with Silver in 49min 59secs overall, some 20 seconds ahead of a fast finishing Edinburgh team (50.19) vying with Corstorphine (50.21) in an exciting finish. Central’s ‘C’ team saw three Under 20’s pushing through well - Ross Milne (13.05/14th), David Hutchison (13.13/ tenth), Tom Watson (13.22/eighth) with the experienced Chris McHardy anchoring the team to an excellent eighth overall with a 14.01 leg for 53.41 overall. Central’s top Masters team of Alex Milne (26th/14.28), Hugh Buchanan (29th/15.15), Allister Hargreaves (27th/14.47) and Phil Hendry (15.42) finished 25th overall and fourth Masters team, so just outside the medals. A

In contention: Jennifer Emsley pushes forward ahead of GB international 800m runner Lindsay Sharp from Edinburgh AC on the trail section

Good work: the trio of Jennifer Emsley, Karen Montador and Emma Raven enjoy medal presentation further youthful team of David MacKinlay (31st/14.44), Colin Alexander (27th/14.30), David Lindsay (23rd/14.40) and Kenneth Hislop (18.13) finished 29th overall, while the Club’s second Masters team of Cameron Campbell (44th/17.12), Alan Gall (44th/17.06), George McHardy (42nd/19.22) and John Millar (20.05) finished 40th overall and tenth Masters Team. It was an overall superb effort from six full teams.

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RUGBY

Hillfoots RFC 34 Mackie Academy FP 14

RBS CALEDONIA REGIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 Results: Saturday 8th October Aberdeen Uni 19 : 19 Strathmore Hillfoots 34 : 14 Mackie Acad FP Gordonians 36 : 25 Orkney Aberdeenshire 25 : 0 Glenrothes Caithness 10 : 19 Highland

Weekend Fixtures: Saturday 15th October

Hillfoots pushing to get over the line against Mackie FP (above)

RUNNING

Wee County Harriers race in Loch Ness marathon A brave team of 8 Wee County Harriers faced the challenge posed by the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon on Sunday 2nd October. Meeting at 7:30 am in Inverness they were carted out on buses to the start in Whitebridge with 2400 other runners. Sprits were high even though during the journey the clouds were getting blacker by the minute and when the start gun was fired at 10 am it was raining heavily. The race course of 26.2 miles from Whitebridge to Bught Park in Inverness follows a downhill route for the first 5 miles. It is then undulating with a few short inclines before the testing 2 mile climb just after Dores at mile 18 causing the kind profile of the last 6 miles to be just as strenuous as the hills! The middle section of the route runs alongside Loch Ness providing spectacular views of the Loch which distracts from the difficult endurance event and makes the effort well worthwhile. Support was plentiful with several

Mackie Acad FP V

Aberdeen Uni

Orkney

V

Strathmore

Glenrothes

V

Hillfoots

Highland

V

Gordonians

Caithness

V

Aberdeenshire

RBS CALEDONIA REGIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 Team Played ABERDEENSHIRE 6 STRATHMORE RFC 6 HILLFOOTS RFC 6 HIGHLAND RFC 5 ORKNEY 6 CAITHNESS RFC 5 GORDONIANS RFC 5 GLENROTHES 6 MACKIE ACADEMY FP 6 ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY RFC 5

W 5 4 4 4 3 3 1 1 1 1

D 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

L 1 1 2 1 3 2 4 5 5 3

F : A 134:72 145:104 126:94 111:83 127:122 104:108 107:136 83:146 117:189 127:127

Bonus 3 1 2 2 5 0 3 2 2 4

Points 23 19 18 18 17 8 7 6 6 5

Dutch visitors to Alloa RFC Staring College train with colts

A

Jane Binnie (4:30:51), Gordon McNeil (3:29:33), Fiona Craig (friend of WCH, 4:25:21) and Karen Thomson (4:32:54) at the finish in Bught Park. locals in the villages on the route and in Inverness cheering us on our way, along with handing out gratefully received jelly babies. The finish in Bught Park was very well organised with a medal and goody bag for every runner completing the marathon; with the sun shining by this time everyone was still smiling, proud of their achievement. Personal bests were ran by Mike Hutchison in 3:16:00, Gordon McNeil in 3:29:33 and Sandy Dunn in 3:38:35. The finishing times for the rest of team were Glen MacDonald in 3:47:33, Judith Sullivan in 3:52:06, Jane Binnie in 4:30:51, Karen Thomson in 4:32:54 and Jess Neal (with an injury) in 5:55:51.

A fantastic weekend was had by all and many will return to do it all again next year. The Wee County Harriers welcome new members of all abilities. If you are looking for motivation to keep you exercising outdoors through the winter, or would value the safety that running in a group can bring, please come along to training at 6.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The club meet in the car park of the Leisure Bowl Alloa. New members are welcomed for a few weeks before making a decision about joining the club. If you are thinking about tackling next year’s Alloa Half Marathon on 18th March 2012, now is an ideal time to start training.

lloa Rugby Club played host last Saturday to Staring College from The Netherlands who wanted to take part in some rugby activity as part of their visit to Scotland. The Dutch youngsters seem to take very well to the Scottish mud, somersaulting through puddles and hitting tackle bags with venom ..... and that was just the girls!! A vote of thanks was given to Alloa Colts coaches Jim Boyd & Alex Jess who put the kids through their paces and

special mention the Alloa colts squad who joined in the session and helped served traditional Saturday evening fare, “pie and beans” to their Dutch guests. Alloa’s S1 / S2 combined side with Grangemouth R.F.C. were in action at Tillicoultry at the weekend. This squad are improving week on week both in terms of numbers and skill levels. The kids are very enthusiastic and put is some great tackling. They scored two tries, the first from Craig Snaddon who put in some great running to score in

the corner. Then quick thinking from Jack Birnie put in one of the Grangemouth lads for a second try. Other Alloa members who performed so well on the day were Logan and Cameron Rock, Charlie Reynolds, Jack Stewart, Ewan Hughes and Jack McDonald. Training for this squad is on Sundays at Earlsfield from 10am to 12 noon and all new players are welcome. Take a look on Alloa Rugby Club’s Pitchero website for details.

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RUGBY

Alloa RFC 10 Stirling Uni RFC 14

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he incessant rain and blustery wind dictated the scrappy nature of this match with both sides struggling to master the conditions. Alloa were first on the scoreboard after 10 minutes when Alan Keir kicked a long range penalty awarded when the Uni defence strayed offside whilst attempting to pressure the Alloa backline, which in fairness they managed to do well for the rest of the afternoon. Their rush defence paid off 15 minutes later when they managed to charge down an attempted clearance kick in the home sides “22 with the bouncing ball landing

nicely for their Stand Off who had no trouble scoring a converted try from close range. Alloa seemed committed to playing an expansive game, which seemed strange given the conditions and their apparent superiority up front and they may have been better advised to keep the ball in the forwards, who were having some success with their pick and drives. However, they did manage to score the best try of the match when a lovely weighted kick from Colin Jess fooled the onrushing defence and Kris Aitken was first on the scene to dive over for a well worked score and a half time lead

of 10-7. With the pitch now becoming something of a quagmire, the quality of rugby on display was never likely to improve and the only score of the

RBS CALEDONIA REGIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 2 MIDLANDS Team Played GRANGEMOUTH STAGS RFC 5 HARRIS ACADEMY FPRFC 5 ST ANDREWS UNIVERSITY 5 MADRAS RUGBY 4 STIRLING UNIVERSITY RFC 4 BLAIRGOWRIE RFC 4 ALLOA 4 FIFE SOUTHERN 5 CARNOUSTIE HSFP 5 KINROSS 5

W 5 5 4 3 2 2 1 1 0 0

D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 5

F : A Bonus Points 163:22 2 22 119:87 2 22 144:63 4 20 122:48 3 15 82:69 3 11 47:66 1 9 43:59 2 6 36:118 1 5 55:142 1 1 61:198 0 0

half typified the whole match when the student’s forced a turnover ball deep in their own half. following a lack of communication in the Alloa backline. The resultant spilt ball was hacked ahead and as Alloa had been on the attack, their defence was stretched and were unable to stop the Stirling winger from sprinting in for the winning score. Alloa tried hard to regain the lead, but too often they chose the wrong options at the critical time and had to be content with a losing bonus point. Alloa now travel to St Andrews on Saturday to face last year’s league winners, Madras.

RBS CALEDONIA REGIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 2 Results: Saturday 8th October Madras 52 : 15 Kinross Fife South 0 : 20 Grangemouth Alloa 10 : 14 Stirling Uni Blairgowrie RFC 0 : 22 St. Andrews Uni Carnoustie HSFP 14 : 23 Harris Acad FP

Weekend Fixtures: Saturday 15th October Kinross

v Fife South

Madras

v Alloa

Grangemouth v Blairgowrie RFC Stirling Uni

v Carnoustie HSFP

St Andrews Uni v Harris Acad FP

GYMNASTICS

Success for Alloa in Perth A

lloa Gymnasts do it again! In the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics competition in Perth on Sunday 11th September, which saw competitors from gymnastics clubs all over Scotland compete, our Alloa Amateur Gymnastics Club boys proved once again they are the boys to beat. The competition attracted Beginners and more experienced Intermediate competitors from eight Scottish clubs with a total of 68 contenders seeking the prizes and our Alloa boys proved they are up their with the best of them.

In the Beginners Under 8’s category Elliot Clarke finished fourth and in the Under 12’s Dale Carberry came sixth with a creditable display against stiff competition. Connal Doogan however, who has just joined Alloa from Perth, picked up the Individual Gold in the beginners Under 10’s category his first competition since joining the Alloa club. In the Under 10’s Ciaran Bisland won Individual Gold in the Under 10’s Intermediate category in a year which has seen Ciaran invited to additional Scottish training with

the National Squad. Well done Ciaran! Finally in the Under 12’s competition Liam Park added to his medal collection winning his first individual Gold medal at Intermediate level, narrowly beating his closest rival from the Falkirk club, and taking the spoils on the day. This was a fantastic medal haul for the Alloa boys in what was a keenly fought competition against a very large pool of top level competitors from across Scotland. Clackmannanshire is proud of you - well done boys!

Back row left to right: Liam Park (Gold), Dale Carberry, Mark Gibson, Connal Doogan (Gold), Rory Hunter Front row left to right: Rory Bell, Alasdair Findlay, Ciaran Bisland (Gold), Cameron Lynn, George Gilvear, (competitors not in the photo Elliot Clarke and Robbie Warnock)

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BOWLING

Clackmannan Bowling Club ‘Days Gone By’

Gents at Clackmannan Bowling Club - Familiar Faces’ Circa 1978 Tom Kinross, June Holliday, Chic Reid, Wullie Hall, Jimmy McNaughton, Jock Mitchell, Len Carberry, Jimmy Beaton, Jim Blyth, Sandy Beattie and others that need picked out.

‘Ladies at Clackmannan Bowling Club - Familiar Faces’ Circa 1977 Throwing the Bowl Is June Holliday. amongst others are..... Jean Rennie, Daisy Blake, Nell Gordon, Betty Russell, Janet Morton, Nan McBeath, Hetty Kirk, Betty Johnstone, Marion Reid & Others that need picked out.

Sauchie host high flying Oakley Utd Manager looking forward to home match

W

e play Oakley this week who are currently league leaders and have proved this season already they can be very consistent and finish teams off. They have an unbeaten record in the league so far and I have no doubt they will be coming to Beechwood this Saturday to really push us and win the game. Oakley along with ourselves are newly promoted and they are a well organised team and with their record so far in the league I’m sure they will be thinking they can go on and have a real go at winning the title. Our season has been good so far, beating four super league teams already and sitting sixth in the league table, we do feel that this game on Saturday is our biggest game of the season so far and our players will need a good weeks training and will then need to focus on what is required to win the game. We are still a young side although we have added a few experienced players we still have some

Manager Fraser Duncan attributes to pick up that will help us get to where we as a club want to be and that is playing in the Super league. We must win our home games, its vital to our season and then pick up as many points on the road as possible. It’s a tough league

with some very good footballing sides in it and every game is like a cup final at the moment because the table is so tight and no teams want to drop points. We have a few injuries this week but hopefully with the players getting a rest last week due to bad weather we can clear up a few of the niggling knocks and get them back to full fitness. James Donaldson is still on holiday and with injuries to Jon Tully, Adam Bonar, Billy Brotton we need to get these players back as soon as. Good news is Kenny Feaks seems to have got over his shoulder problem so that’s a bonus. It’s a huge game for the club and we will be going all guns blazing to get the three points and good performance we are striving for. Please come along and support your local junior team and hopefully we can provide the standard of performances we have been producing and get the result required.

Junior Football League L 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 1 1 2

CHARITY SINGLES - SPONSORED BY OAKWOOD & ABERCROMBY

T

he Gents Prelims will be held on Monday Oct 24th at the Oakwood & Abercromby with a 730pm prompt start ! The Finals of the Ladies & Gents will be held in the Oakwood on Friday Oct 28th with a 730pm start All names for venues will be in next week’s paper ! LEAGUE HOLIDAY The League will be on Holiday on Friday Nov 4th for the Berwick Darts Weekend. CAPTAINS MEETING The Next meeting will be held in the Oakwood on Tuesday Nov 1st with a 7 30pm start , £4 League fees and County Fives Fees are due £15 per

Wee County Fanzone

Team TENNENTS CUP The Semi Final & Final will be held on Friday Oct 21st at the Oakwood Lounge , All players need to be in venue for 730pm COUNTY MATCH Clackmannan county played their first ever home game last Saturday at the Oakwood against Central , Mens A lost 7-5 , Mens B lost 6-0 , Ladies A Drew 3-3 Ladies b Lost 3-1 , The County are away to Perthshire on Sat Nov 19th , Players are asked if possible to take their own cars for transport. Please contact Davie Hanson to claim petrol money and to inform us who you are taking in Car.

Weekend Fixtures: Saturday 15th October Alloa Athletic v Berwick Annan Athletic v Elgin City Clyde

v East Stirling

Peterhead

v Stranraer

Queen’s Park v Montrose

Irn Bru Division 3: League Table

Home Away TEAM P W D Oakley United 4 2 0 Glenrothes 4 2 0 Penicuik Athletic 4 2 0 Sauchie Juniors 4 1 0 Broughty Athletic 4 0 1 Tayport 4 0 0 Newtongrange Star 4 1 0 Broxburn Athletic 4 1 1 Armadale Thistle 4 0 2 Ballingry Rovers 4 0 1 Arniston Rangers 4 0 1 Downfield 4 0 0

DARTS

F 8 7 8 1 3 1 3 4 0 6 1 2

A 0 4 4 0 5 3 2 2 2 7 3 4

W D 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 1 2

F 6 4 2 6 4 4 3 2 0 1 1 3

A 4 3 1 6 2 0 5 7 0 4 5 7

GD Pts 10 12 4 10 5 9 1 7 0 7 2 6 -1 4 -3 4 -2 3 -4 2 -6 2 -6 0

Pld W D L W D L GD Pts Annan Athletic 8 4 0 0 3 0 1 10 21 Stranraer 8 3 1 1 2 0 1 9 16 Alloa Athletic 8 2 1 0 3 0 2 0 16 Elgin City 8 4 0 1 1 0 2 7 15 Clyde 8 2 0 2 1 2 1 0 11 Queens Park 8 1 1 1 2 1 2 -1 11 Berwick Rangers 8 2 0 2 1 1 2 0 10 Montrose 8 2 0 2 1 0 3 -6 9 Peterhead 8 0 1 2 1 0 4 -6 4 East Stirlingshire 8 1 0 4 0 0 3 -13 3

weecounty sport CENTRAL RUNNERS COMPETE IN TAYSIDE

Page 28

Great peformance by Hillfoots T

illicoultry side, Hillfoots, welcomed Stonehaven based Mackie on Saturday, with a tough encounter on the cards after the sides meeting in the cup earlier in the season. The visitors started the match, kicking off up the pitch to an eager ‘Foots side. Gathered in by the home-side’s forwards, they marched back down the park, deep into opposition territory. Play started at a fast pace and soon, the Hillfoots backs were controlling the game. Move after move saw the ‘Foots move further down the park. A ruck infringement gave the home-side a penalty just in front of the posts. This gave Ali Page an opportunity to kick Hillfoots into the lead, which he duly converted. Mackie re-started and again Hillfoots pressurised back down the park. The forwards again uniting well powered their way closer to the line. The ref blew for a scrum 5-metres out, the forwards packed down and drove the opposition within inches of the line. The pack reset for the second phase and a quick pop from Gregor Manson saw Davie Cree charge over from a few metres out for his 1st league try in his 89th appearance, “89th time lucky” he was heard saying as he celebrated. The conversion was slotted well by Page and Hillfoots took a 10 point lead. The visitors kicked back up the park from the re-start and

Wee County News is registered at the Post Office and is published weekly, every Thursday by HUB Media Ltd., Suite 17, Ellismuir House, Ellismuir Way, Tannochside Park, Uddingston G71 5PW. Printed by Newsquest, Cambuslang, Glasgow.

Hillfoots RFC 34 Mackie Academy FP 14

Gregor Manson looking to start his side’s attack ‘Foots maintained the form set early on in the game smashed their way back down the field. A great handling display from the backs saw them break the line of defence several times before eventually a kick through was gathered up by Calum McGee and quick hands from Manson to Jamie Doyle, who threw a high looping pass out to motoring Hooker, Keith Slade, who selflessly popped off to Kevin Aitken to score in the corner. A great all round team try that put the local side in front by 15. The kick was missed, but ‘Foots still maintained the quality needed to command a lead. Play stalled for a while and Mackie started to come into the game, this didn’t unnerve the Hillfoots defence and great tackles from the likes of

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Craig Scott and David McCulloch kept the clean sheet in-tact. The home side received a scrum on the opposition 22-metre line, they pulled off a specialised forwards move where, No.8 Gavin Spowage, breaks from the pack then off-loads to David McCulloch. McCulloch breaks a couple of tackles and pops off to scrum-half Manson to leave him clear for a 20-metre run in. Page converted to take ‘Foots 22 points ahead. This play drew the ref’s whistle for half-time and Hillfoots went in confident of a successful 2nd half to come. Hillfoots kicked off up the pitch and with the coach mentioning at the break, that the first 10 minutes of the second half “the most important period of the game”, they

didn’t let his words fall on deaf ears. Immediately ‘Foots were down the throats of the Stonehaven side. It wasn’t long before powering prop Sandy Penman made a break up the wing in front of the home crowd. Palming off one or two players and driving well inside the 22 he offloaded to winger Kenny Paterson, who outpaced the visiting full-back to score under the posts. Page converted giving Hillfoots a 29 point lead and the try meaning that the local side secured a scoring bonus point, vital to survival and promotion in the league. The foot was firmly on the gas now and Hillfoots were coasting to a victory. A good break by the forwards released the backs up the park to set-up a ruck metres from the line.

Quick thinking from Manson at the base of the ruck saw him throw a miss pass to winger Paterson to run in his 2nd try of the day and Hillfoots 5th. This point would end the scoring for the day for the Hillfoots lads, and with a few slips in defence they let Mackie back into it with 2 late scores and building pressure to the end, but the locals stayed resilient and held out for a 34-14 win. Man of the Match went to front row veteran Sandy Penman with Calum McGee and David Cree in close contention. Hillfoots travel to Fife to face Glenrothes on Saturday for a 3pm kick off. A bus will be travelling from the club and if any supporters wish to attend feel free to do so. If you require a space on the bus, contact the club.

How they break in without an alarm

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