Stories for 1 July 2005

News

Back in time

Halesowen historian and author Anthony Page has launched his latest collection of Rowley Regis memories.   more...

`Everyone will really miss her'

Devastated staff and students at a Quinton school are reeling after the shock death of a popular 22-year-old teaching assistant.   more...

Fraudster guilty

A 25-year-old Halesowen woman is facing jail for her part in a massive fraud which saw half a million pounds worth of cars conned from owners.   more...

Honours for sports stars

Some of Dudley borough's sporting stars were recognised in an innovative sports awards ceremony.   more...

Junior lifesavers are ready for finals

Young lifesavers at a Cradley school are through to the regional finals of a first aid and fire safety competition.   more...

Call to close estate lanes

Campaigning Cradley residents want alleyways which back onto their homes closed claiming they attract gangs of yobs which make their lives a misery.   more...

Phone mast plan booted out

Councillors have booted out plans for a new phone mast in Halesowen and issued a stark warning for mobile operators.   more...

Make it history

Halesowen folk helped start making poverty history last Saturday, as the town centre became a mass of white balloons and wristbands.   more...

U-turn in pool

Parents in Sandwell could soon be allowed to bring more than one child to their local swimming pool - after a policy U-turn from leisure chiefs.   more...

Praise for firm in flies fight

Sandwell Council leader Cllr Bill Thomas praised a landfill operator for taking action to prevent swarms of flies plaguing a landfill site in Rowley Regis.   more...

A chance to help

A Lapal girl has appealed for funds for an African adventure which will see her help build a new school.   more...

Crack team to fight rogue traders

A crack operation to combat Sandwell rogue traders was staged in the borough.   more...

In the finals

A top class Cradley Heath business has beaten off 18 competitors to claim its place in the grand final of the British Insurance Awards.   more...

Dan's a star... twice over!

A member of a Halesowen pantomime group will be working seven days a week as he gets ready for double duty in two separate productions.   more...

Honours for Sylvia

Sandwell Council officer Sylvia Stephenson   more...

School gets to food finals

A health conscious Halesowen school is set to battle it out with some of the nations top schools after winning a regional heat of the national teaching awards.   more...

Putting the yobs to work

YOUNG offenders have been given a taste of hard graft with thousands of hours of work carried out in the borough during the past year.   more...

Blooming great idea

Four green-fingered fundraisers in Cradley Heath will be opening their own back gardens to help raise cash for a local club.   more...

Peak challenge for climbers

Six courageous climbers are preparing to take on Britain's three highest peaks in just 24 hours for charity.   more...

Spend a penny- soon

Cradley Heath residents are being assured the town centre toilets will soon be back in working order.   more...

Fraud admitted

A Cradley Heath fraudster who took part in a plot to rip off the company he worked for to the tune of £19,000 narrowly escaped jail.   more...

Pet saved by firecrew

A family pet was saved by a firecrew after falling down an open manhole.   more...

Police hold key to breaking up gangs

New police powers to break up gangs of yobs have been agreed for eight areas in south Sandwell in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour in the borough.   more...

Nurturing the artistic

Pupils at a Rowley Regis school are looking forward to treading the boards in style after the opening of a new £3,000 creative arts room.   more...

Drink driver banned from road

A 25-year-old Halesowen man was banned from driving for four years after he admitted drink driving.   more...

Brushing up on talents

Springfield Primary School, Doulton Road, Rowley Regis youngsters have been brushing up their artistic talent during a week-long arts week.   more...

Fury over phone mast loophole

Planning chiefs have vowed to probe phone masts on a Quinton building after "shocked" campaigners said they will fight against them.   more...

Witness plea after robbery

Police are appealing for witnesses after a teenager was robbed in Quinton.   more...

Learning history the real way

Old Hill school kids stepped back 500 years to live life as a Tudor for the day.   more...

Two month garden waste collection backlog

Green-fingered Sandwell folk could be left waiting for nearly two months to have garden waste collected.   more...

From wasteland to wildlife

Green-fingered youngsters at a Rowley Regis primary school have been getting to grips with an area of wasteland ruined by yobs.   more...

Waiting times for drug treatment meet targets

Waiting times for adult drug treatment in Sandwell are now wellwithin national government targets, according to borough health chiefs.   more...

Dolphins prove a hit with kids Jamaica success prompts fundraising bid

An Oldbury special school is already planning a return trip after their £25,000 holiday of a lifetime to swim with dolphins in Jamaica proved such a hit with students.   more...

`Let's drive yobs out'

Furious residents on a Rowley Regis estate have put their names to a petition to rid their street of yobs.   more...

Bypass work stalls `green' box pick-ups

Blackheath residents have been left fuming after bypass chaos has left them with weeks of uncollected rubbish.   more...

Sending off the competition

A Halesowen referee is showing the red card to her competitors after becoming the first woman to scoop a top award.   more...

Stepping back in time for war exhibition

Quinton folk can step back in time for a nostalgic trip at a war exhibition.   more...

Toddlers get £1.8K boost

The original founder of a Quinton Parents and Toddlers group returned to join in celebrations after it scooped a lottery grant of more than £1,800.   more...

Extra help and time to recycle

Extra staff members are being drafted into an Oldbury recycling centre in a bid to meet the huge public demand.   more...

Driving out yob culture

Sandwell's community street wardens are stepping up their drive to tackle antisocial behaviour by targeting the borough's `hot spots' as part of the Together Action Areas programme.   more...

Rockin' on the road to stardom

A Halesowen rock band has taken a further step to stardom after being selected to play at a prestigious music festival.   more...

Fight to stop care homes goes to Europe

Protesters against controversial care homes for problem children in Rowley Regis have vowed to take their fight to Europe.   more...

Firm fined for illegal tipping

A Cradley Heath business has been fined thousands of pounds after illegally dumping waste with no licence.   more...

Clent Hills body named

The skeletal remains of a body found in woods near Halesowen have been identified as those of a 76-year-old Wollescote, Stourbridge, man.   more...

Demand park security

Almost daily one reads of wanton vandalism, anti-social behaviour into the small hours, drinking, drug taking and threats by marauding gangs to local residents in Dudley's parks, which are fast resembling battered war zones.   more...

Methane threat?

I was interested to read in your paper that building permission has been granted on the ex-Danks of Netherton site, Halesowen Road.   more...

Unemployed should work for their dole

I have my husband's gravestone in Netherton Church and for the last month I have been disgusted with the state of the ground.   more...

Parade a waste of taxpayers' money?

How nice it was to see the crowds lining the streets for the mayor's parade on Sunday!!!   more...

Build Netherton by-pass instead

I was interested in the information in your June 9 issue regarding the raising of the road level of Halesowen Road.   more...

Locals deserve a better deal

No doubt there will be calls of `boring' but I think it is worth making a further couple of points about the new Tesco store in Stourbridge Road.   more...

Entitled to hold my own opinion

I feel it necessary to answer HS Cook (26/05/05 and 16/06/05). The fact that a personal attack was made on Mr Street and myself is not the issue.   more...

What chance to object?

Re "Pubs plan `ok' by cops" - Halesowen News, June 9 2005. As a very near neighbour of the Maypole, one of the pubs applying for extended licenses, I was dismayed to hear that no objection would be made by West Midlands Police and ask myself what chance have I and others who live near this pub, which is in a reasonably quiet residential area, have of strongly objecting to these proposals.   more...

Remember three R's!

Having recently moved to Hayley Green I am dissapointed to find no implementation of a kerbside collection scheme for recyclable household waste, in an area were such a scheme would be well received by local residents.   more...

What about us?

Dudley town is to receive an expensive makeover to improve its image.   more...

£33m to make zoo a world class venue

AFTER years of behind-the-scenes wrangling, the wheels have finally been set in motion for the £33m transformation of Dudley Zoo into one of the country's top tourist destinations.   more...

Lions' surprise for editor Jeff

THE tables were turned on Stourbridge News editor Jeff Jephcott when he received a surprise commendation for his services to the community.   more...

Record year for town's showpiece

THERE was fun in the sun for all the family at the biggest and brightest ever Stourbridge Carnival.   more...

Zoo site will be top attraction again St Modwen promise quality rejuvenation

DELIGHTED developers have promised to provide Dudley with a world class tourist attraction after getting the go-ahead to rejuvenate the castle site.   more...

Closures upgraded

Continued from page one...   more...

Ordinary folk won't benefit

NOT all are happy with the multi-million pound project after it was branded `nothing more than a cloned housing estate' by objectors.   more...

Second art college named as Hillcrest

STAFF and pupils at Hillcrest School in Netherton are celebrating again after it was made a specialist performing arts college by the government.   more...

Polishing smiles with song

KIDDIES at a Lower Gornal school were left smiling thanks to a visit from a rapping granny.   more...

Lillian marks her century

A DUDLEY woman celebrated her 100th birthday with a tea party and a visit from the Mayor of Dudley.   more...

Our little princess Tragic Georgina dies after being trapped in tumble dryer

A BRIERLEY Hill man has spoken of his grief after his three-year-old granddaughter was found dead in a tumble dryer with her beloved pet cat.   more...

Bishop's visit to hospitals

The Bishop of Worcester will be in Dudley next week to meet hospital chaplains working in the diocese.   more...

Big sale for cancer trust

A Woodsetton pub will be holding a table-top sale on Sunday July 3 to help raise money for the Youth Cancer Trust.   more...

Garden party marks peace

St Mark's Church in Pensnett will be holding a garden party on Saturday July 2 to mark 60 years of peace following the end World War Two.   more...

Inspectors drill in Brierley Hill Forward move on £25m town centre

DRILLING rigs and site inspectors have been making appearances in Brierley Hill in a bid to tackle a £25m improvement scheme.   more...

Is your garden a winner?

THE borough's best-kept gardens and brightest hanging baskets will come under the spotlight in a new competition.   more...

New houses to breathe new life into Wren's Nest

A NEW housing development proposed for a Dudley estate will go ahead after councillors gave it their blessing.   more...

All arty talents on display

PUPILS at Priory Primary School showed off their creative side last week in an exciting art exhibition.   more...

£3K for Action Heart

DUDLEY-BASED cardiac charity Action Heart has benefited to the tune of £3,000 thanks to a fundraising evening with football cult hero Frank Worthington.   more...

Scoop poop or face £50 fine warning

DUDLEY dog owners are being urged to clean up after their pooches or face a £50 fine.   more...

Great artists from USA at glass centre

DUDLEY College's International Glass Centre will be going transatlantic next year for an innovative link-up with renowned American artists.   more...

Pub boss back behind the bar

A QUARRY Bank pub manager who was forced to live in his caravan with his wife after his pub was set on fire - is delighted he's back behind the bar.   more...

More choice for disabled people

DUDLEY'S disabled folk are set to benefit from a new scheme aimed at giving them more choice and control.   more...

MP backs `free' cash machines

Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho has today (Friday July 1) welcomed new rules to protect consumers from unwittingly paying cash machine charges.   more...

Picnic with best bears

TODDLERS at Dudley Wood Primary School had a great day when they brought in their favourite cuddly toys for a teddy bears' picnic.   more...

Spooky beat for bobbies

A GROUP of brave bobbies hope to boost funds for the Stourbridge Cyberbus by spending the night in `the most haunted house in the Midlands'.   more...

Vermin plaguing rubbish-filled streets Calls for wheelie bins to fight cat-size rats

PEOPLE living in Netherton are calling for wheelie bins for the borough after claiming black sacks filled with rubbish are attracting rats `as big as cats'.   more...

Special day for Sunfield

Sunfield School, Clent, is holding its summer carnival and craft fair tomorrow (Saturday July 3).   more...

B'ham Road one-way only

Birmingham Road in Dudley will be closed one-way for the next three Sundays to carry out repairs and resurfacing.   more...

Beacon and Castle AGM

People can attend the first AGM of Dudley Beacon and Castle's patient and public involvement in health forum today Thursday June 30.   more...

Gentlemen are on song

The Gentleman Songsters Male Voice Choir will be taking to the stage at Brierley Hill Civic Hall this weekend.   more...

Spring lambs

Keepers at Dudley Zoo have celebrated the birth of six new cuddly additions - Icelandic lambs.   more...

Head to head with mayor and campaigners Pool battle rages on with a war of words

A WAR of words is expected to break out between mayor cllr Ian Kettle and Save our Swimming campaigner Phil Steven when they go head to head.   more...

Our hospitals' MRSA drop

RUSSELLS Hall Hospital is again the best in the region for combating the deadly MRSA bug, according to the latest figures.   more...

Life's a beach!

HUNDREDS of youngsters poured into Himley Hall for its annual under fives fun day despite the threat of thunderstorms.   more...

Drumming up fun

PUPILS at Brockmoor Primary were banging the drum for the arts when a team of African percussion experts visited the school on Monday.   more...

A second mast spurs petition

FURIOUS Milking Bank residents are up in arms after plans were unveiled for a second phone mast only yards away from another proposed tower.   more...

Traffic chaos ahead Speed limit down to 10mph on one of town's busiest main roads

DUDLEY drivers are facing months of tailbacks when work begins to strengthen a railway bridge along one of the town's busiest A roads.   more...

Jive champ lessons

DUDLEY residents will have the chance to jive and swing with the best of them thanks to a new dance class run by former world champion Hannah Smith.   more...

Scheme to have your say about council's housing services

DUDLEY Council tenants can have their say about housing services thanks to a new suggestion scheme.   more...

Art Fest from the Bard to rock Our answer to Glastonbury!

THE borough's best musicians, dancers and actors have been gathering at Himley Hall this week for a summer festival of art.   more...

Have your say on children's centres

KIDS as young as three will be quizzed about what they want to see at two children's centres opening in Dudley in spring next year.   more...

Weddings - Simms and Hampton

James Simms and Kelly Anne Hampton married at St Marys Church in Hurst Hill.   more...

Racial equality council folds But bosses vow to fight racism

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION bosses are pledging to press on with the fight against prejudice after it was announced Dudley Racial Equality Council was folding.   more...

Don't pay to use CCTV warning

BOROUGH businesses have been warned about a scam cashing in on confusion over new laws brought in this year.   more...

Your right to info on health services

DOZENS of requests - some requiring up to 800 separate pieces of information - have flooded into Dudley health trusts since new laws were brought in at the start of the year.   more...

Man avoids jail for £1.5K parrot theft

A 27-YEAR-OLD man who stole two African Green parrots worth more than £1,500 has been given a 12-month conditional discharge.   more...

School grows its own meals

Budding Charlie Dimmocks at Kate's Hill Primary have rolled up their sleeves to create a school garden for growing healthy veg.   more...

Law ends gangs gathering

POLICE officers will be able to disperse gangs of unruly teenagers terrorising folk on a trouble-ridden Dudley estate, thanks to a new law.   more...

Three hurt as car hits bus

Three people were taken to hospital after the car they were travelling in crashed into a bus in Dudley town centre last night.   more...

A little Hi-de-Hi!

ALL the fun and frolics of the seaside were had at the Beacon Centre for the Blind, when it was transformed into a holiday camp.   more...

£100K up for grabs

VOLUNTARY groups can stake their claim for a share of more than £100,000 being handed out to boost activities for youngsters.   more...

Give time to PDSA

VETERINARY charity PDSA is on the lookout for volunteers to lend a hand at its charity shop in the High Street, Dudley.   more...

Chat to matron

PATIENTS and carers at Bushey Fields Hospital will have the chance to quiz matrons thanks to a new initiative.   more...

Scrap yards targeted in stolen car crackdown Half are never recovered

WEST Midlands police have promised to keep salvage yards in Dudley in the spotlight following a stolen vehicle crackdown earlier this month.   more...

Burst mains close road

Repair work to a burst water main will mean Brewery Street in Kate's Hill, Dudley, is closed today, Friday.   more...

Anglers getting hooked at pool

KEEN anglers are set to get hooked on new facilities at Parkes Hall Pool.   more...

MP praises school award

DUDLEY South MP Ian Pearson has praised Northfield Road Primary School in Netherton for its high standards in teaching literacy and numeracy.   more...

Join free hedge fact finding day

DUDLEY'S precious hedgerows will be the focus of a free training day for environmentally-minded borough residents.   more...

Poverty protest at Top Church

DUDLEY campaigners will be forming a human chain around Top Church to make a stand against world poverty.   more...

Students on stage

Dance students from Halesowen College will be taking to the stage tonight at Birmingham's DanceXchange.   more...

Surgery cancelled

Blackheath Councillor Mary Docker's surgery will not be held today, Friday, July 1.   more...

Elders prove to be poor role models

EXPERIENCE of a typical Saturday shop in the warm, friendly, clean town of Stourbridge.   more...

Devastated and sickened by theft

TO the person who stole a large bouquet of flowers from my doorstep last week - you know who you are - I live on Penfields Estate.   more...

Speed signs you can see

FOR many years, Sonia and I have been regular visitors to North Norfolk where the speed warning signs are in regular use.   more...

Spreading fear and prejudice

I AM writing in response to your invitation to comment on your main feature article on June 23.   more...

Banning festival rain

IT'S a well known fact that 23.2 per cent of British voters can't be bothered to use that franchise - rather to be criticisers of current events, as are 37.9 per cent of English schoolgirls.   more...

Appalled by audacity of council's cabinet

AS an ex-serviceman I am appalled at the audacity of the present council cabinet who on one hand raised objections to a march commemorating the end of the War in Europe by the VE Veterans.   more...

We have genuine supporters, not cardboard cut-outs

SO Diana Coad continues to blame UKIP for her failure to convince the people of Stourbridge to vote for her.   more...

Just smile and say hello

I HAVE been involved in the transition of clients with learning disabilities into the community for many years.   more...

Put customers first

We still do not have a post box on Wynall Lane, Wollescote.   more...

Nothing left to champion

I CAN'T hide my disappointment regarding the proposed development now due to go ahead unabated with Modwen developers.   more...

Evil sects will `mushroom'

I REFER to the letters by Messrs Paul Sawtell and Councillor Tim Crumpton, the latter accusing me of bigotry.   more...

Inspectors kick off £25m task

DRILLING rigs and site inspectors have been making appearances in Brierley Hill in a bid to tackle a £25m improvement scheme.   more...

Garden delight

KINVER gardeners are enjoying the fruits of their labour after the open gardens weekend was a runaway success.   more...

Forgotten graves' safety spruce up

NEGLECTED gravestones at Stourbridge and Lye cemeteries are to be spruced up as they are posing a health and safety risk.   more...

Honours at innovative ceremony

SOME of Dudley borough's sporting stars were recognised in an innovative sports awards ceremony.   more...

MP launches business fund

DUDLEY South MP Ian Pearson is set to launch a new £20 million fund for businesses in the West Midlands.   more...

Strongman's sponsor plea

DUDLEY man mountain Ade Rollinson is urging businesses to put their weight behind a charity strongman contest at the Dell Stadium.   more...

Alcohol addict died in flat

A 33-YEAR-OLD Wordsley man found dead in his flat died of alcohol poisoning, an inquest heard.   more...

Thieves target pharmacy shop

POLICE are appealing for information after a break-in at Kinver Pharmacy at the weekend.   more...

History in print - 100 years on!

A HAGLEY cricket fan and historian has written an account of the first ever county cricket match to be played in Stourbridge.   more...

Untaxed cars in crushing clampdown

DUDLEY'S drivers have been warned abandoned and unlicensed cars will be crushed unless they act now.   more...

Tragic tot, 3, dies in dryer

A BRIERLEY Hill man has spoken of his grief after his three-year-old granddaughter was found dead in a tumble dryer with her beloved cat in her arms.   more...

Fury over dead mum court case

MAGISTRATES have convicted a Lye mum-of-eight for not paying a TV licence less than four weeks after she died.   more...

Addict, 34, overdosed

A QUARRY Bank man found dead in his flat died from a heroin overdose, an inquest heard.   more...

Swimming showdown

A WAR of words is expected to break out between Mayor Ian Kettle and Save Our Swimming campaigner Phil Steven when they go head to head.   more...

£10K fine for trapped finger in bowling alley

A STOURBRIDGE nightclub has been hit with a £10,000 fine for an accident in which a 21-year-old worker's finger was trapped in bowling alley machinery.   more...

Record year

THERE was fun in the sun for all the family at the biggest and brightest ever Stourbridge Carnival.   more...

Four months in jail for thief, 24

A THIEF with a blatant disregard for other people's property has been jailed for four months.   more...

Shamed sir faces prison

A FORMER Stourbridge teacher is facing jail after he admitted downloading sick child porn on to a school computer.   more...

School joy at top award

A KINGSWINFORD primary school is leading the way for schools in the borough after been awarded a top award for high standards in ICT.   more...

Farewell to hero Bill, 91

A MEMORIAL gathering is to be held in honour of a "most remarkable" Wollaston war hero who died earlier this month.   more...

Mayor pops in for a nice cuppa

Afternoon tea at Himley Country Hotel brought in more than £800 for patient care at Mary Stevens Hospice.   more...

Poetry book bust-up leads to brutal attack

A BRIERLEY Hill man who brutally bashed a drinking buddy over the head with a pickaxe handle because he thought he was going to damage his poetry book has avoided spending time behind bars.   more...

Getting tough on dirty dog owners

DUDLEY dog owners are being urged to clean up after their pooches or face a £50 fine.   more...

Poor turnout but easy win

THERE were no surprises in the South Staffs election as sitting MP Sir Patrick Cormack was returned to Westminster.   more...

£25K benefits fiddler escapes prison term

A HAGLEY woman who fiddled nearly £25,000 in incapacity benefits while she was working has avoided a jail term.   more...

Services are poor - report

A NEW report produced by a Stourbridge rail group slams poor rail and bus interchange services for commuters.   more...

Frank nets £3k...

DUDLEY cardiac charity Action Heart has benefited to the tune of £3,000 thanks to a fundraising evening with football cult hero Frank Worthington.   more...

Hospital `best'

RUSSELLS Hall Hospital is again the best in the region for combating the deadly MRSA bug, according to the latest figures.   more...

Kids' glass minis

ARTISTIC youngsters at a Stourbridge school have been showing off their masterpieces in the town centre.   more...

Glass centre's US link

DUDLEY College's International Glass Centre will be going transatlantic next year for an innovative link-up with renowned American artists.   more...

HOSPITAL HORROR! Devastated mum told dead boys were girls

A tragic Quinton mum said she may "never get over" the death of her twin baby boys after a devastating blunder meant they were actually girls.   more...

Safeway is to close town store

Halesowen's largest supermarket Safeway is set to close in a devastating blow for the town.   more...

John's on his bike for history

A VINTAGE motorcycle enthusiast from Halesowen was among thousands of people who stepped back in time to relive the days of wartime Britain at the weekend.   more...

Real `buddies'

Halesowen school kids have been doing their bit for global education with the help of paper `buddies'.   more...

  
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