Bill Campbell

Two prominent Palmerston trees threatened with the chainsaw earlier this year remain standing, but the future of one remains unclear.

A scheme designed to make it easy for tourists and other visitors to Otago to recycle their waste was launched in Hampden on Saturday.

The Waihemo water working party is likely to rule out the previously proposed $28 million coastal pipeline from the Waitaki River and Oamaru to serve the Palmerston, Dunback and Goodwood areas.

Some big names in Otago sport will tuck into breakfast with East Otago residents on Sunday.

English sheep dog trials held at Shag Valley Station last weekend by the Waihemo Collie Club attracted 97 entries from Marlborough to Southland. They were the first sheep dog trials held in the lower South Island under English sheep dog trial rules, organiser Lloyd Smith, of Palmerston, said.

A St John ambulance may be based in Palmerston, staffed by local volunteers.

Strong support for the return of a suburban train service from Dunedin to Port Chalmers and up the north line to Waitati, Waikouaiti and Palmerston was apparent at a public meeting attended by more than 200 people in the Waitati hall this week.

Pig carcasses dumped over a bank in Newcastle St, Hampden, last week were removed at the weekend after neighbours complained about the smell.

More than 50 people, including Palmerston and Hampden Anglican church members and Waianakarua and Palmerston Lions, have flocked to Hampden and Katiki beaches over the last two Sundays, but not to sunbathe - they have been gathering rubbish.

Community housing review is needed in Palmerston, Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton has told the Waihemo Community Board.

Three East Otago High School sports teams have won their respective grade competitions in senior hockey, senior basketball and junior hockey in a sporting trifecta in the last two weeks of the winter sporting season.

A sewerage scheme is still being sought for Hampden after more than two years of effort by the Hampden sewerage working party, the Waihemo Community Board and the Waitaki District Council.

A new early child-care programme is scheduled to start soon at the Palmerston Playcentre.

Sixteen Japanese pupils from Nichidai Third Junior High School took part in last week's annual Cultural Extravaganza presented by East Otago High School pupils. Nichidai High School pupils have visited the school annually over the past four years.