Local News
Fund to close
A LONG running fund which has helped aid Queen of the South FC to bring through the footballers of the future will soon be no more. The QOS ‘Tanner’ Fund was originally set up four years ago by Doonhamers supporter Richie Nicoll and other lifelong Queens supporters. Its aim was to aid the manage...
Arts projects share fund cash
GRANTS totalling £50,000 have been made from the Dumfries and Galloway Regional Arts Fund 2024/25. And 13 groups across the region are benefitting this year, with cash for their projects. They are: Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival: £7500 for Performing Arts Live 2024–2025. Wigtown Festival Co...
Prisoners turn their hands to prop making
MEDIEVAL props made by prisoners at HMP Dumfries will be at the centre of the 750th anniversary celebrations of Robert the Bruce later this summer. As part of a year-long programme of events to celebrate the birth of the Scottish king, the Medieval Bruce Heritage Trust in partnership with The People...
Top marks after school and nursery inspection
A DUMFRIES primary school has received a glowing report card after being scrutinised by inspectors. New Abbey Primary’s staff and pupils were praised in the report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIe), and the school was found to have a “happy, inclusive and positive learning envi...
UFOs spotted!
THREE UFO sightings in Dumfries and Galloway have been recorded and officially documented over the past three years. Some eagle-eyed residents have shared their close encounters with mysterious flying objects in the sky. The first was a “circular UFO” spotted in the skies above the Solway Coast ...
Veterans work proves a winner
IT was a double win for the region at the recent Scottish Veterans Awards. The Dumfries and Galloway Veterans Garden won the health and wellbeing award, while Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Archie Dryburgh MBE was named role model of the year. Each of the winners were ...
Lorry park ‘coming soon’
WORK has started on a new lorry park just outside Gretna. It is located on land next to Richardson House at Mill Hill and will feature 40 spaces for HGVs, as well as welfare facilities, a maintenance area and storage. The development, named Junction 45 Ltd, Truckstop and Service Station, falls on th...
ANNANDALE Sailing Club hosted its first 2024 open meeting for visiting sailors last weekend. Eight single-handed D-Zero dinghies battled it out over the two days for the class’ Northern Championship. Competitors came from Largs, Dalgety Bay in Fife, West Kirby on the Wirral, Leigh and Lowton near ...
Labour picks James to fight election
DUMFRIES man James Wallace has been selected by the Scottish Labour Party as their General Election candidate for the Dumfries and Galloway Constituency. He is aiming to reclaim the seat that his party last won 19 years ago. Conservative MP Alister Jack has represented Dumfries and Galloway since 20...
Health board chairman stands down
NHS DUMFRIES and Galloway chairman Nick Morris is to step down from his role in July after five years at the helm. He started in the post in January 2019, bringing with him 33 years’ of experience in health and social care. Speaking as he prepares to resign the role, Mr Morris said: “I am […] ...
Over 2200 road repairs already made
A SENIOR councillor has given an update on pothole and road repairs in the region. Cllr Jackie McCamon represents Mid Galloway and Wigtown West but also holds the portfolio for roads as part of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s administration. She posted an update on the current position, saying: ...
Man accused of assisting an offender enters not guilty plea
A MAN has denied helping to dispose of a car belonging to murdered Annan man Paul Taylor. Marcus Goodfellow of Carlisle faces charges which allege he helped murder suspect Jack Crawley dispose of Taylor’s Vauxhall Corsa between October 17 and October 20 last year. And that he arranged transport aw...
Town’s windfarm views to be taken on board
MOFFAT residents will be re-consulted about their views on the proposed Scoop Hill windfarm. The town’s community council decided at last week’s meeting that they would carry out their own community consultation regarding the proposals put forward by Community Windpower Ltd (CWL), in order to ga...
Sanquhar dad’s marathon thank you
SHANE Saunders is in training to run the Edinburgh Marathon to raise funds for the service that has been supporting his son since he was three-years-old. The Sanquhar based dad and his wife Nicole praised the support they have received from Quarriers Dumfries and Galloway Family Support Service. The...
Top award for young jockey
A YOUNG jockey hailing from Gretna is celebrating after being named Champion Conditional Jockey. Patrick Wadge was handed the trophy on Saturday at Sandown’s Jumps Finale meeting following an impressive season of 37 winners. The 22-year-old is based in Kinross with trainer Lucinda Russell. He star...
Gav’s open for talks with Queens
QUEEN of the South striker Gavin Reilly insists he’s not decided his future amid speculation he could leave the club at the end of the season. There had been whispers around Dumfries that the 30-year-old was considering dropping down to part-time football next campaign. But the Gretna-born forward...
Wylie on podium in race opener
THORNHILL racing driver Ross Wylie began the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup GB season with a Pro-Am class podium on Sunday. The season roared in to action in changeable conditions at Donington Park. And Wylie ultimately claimed third in class in his Glenturret/Tunnock’s supported 911 GT3 entered and pre...
Board reaches out to town groups
DUMFRIES Town Board has reached out to a number of key partners locally as it prepares the long term plan for Dumfries Town. Chairman Richie Nicoll and members Campbell Young and John Dowson, with help from Simon Jones, paid a series of visits last Friday and started conversations with Robin Wishart...
Shows still on hold at Sands
THE Sands Centre auditorium in Carlisle, which has been closed since September, will not be reopened this year, it has been revealed. In September it was announced that events there had been postponed following the change in government guidance on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC, which ...
‘Reckless’ drivers under fire
RESIDENTS living along the A708 outside of Moffat have slammed the ‘careless and reckless’ driving of log lorries along the ‘crumbling’ road. The issues relating to the Selkirk road were first raised at the February meeting of Moffat and District Community Council (MDCC) by inhabitants, who ...