Rachel Taylor

Winning the New Zealand short head and yard title last week in Gore with dog Ace has fulfilled a private ambition for Palmerston farmer and contract stockman Lloyd Smith.

Overwhelming public support for the Clutha Recreation Centre means the development will get $2.5 million in ratepayers' money, rated across the Clutha district.

Clutha Mayor Juno Hayes announced yesterday Charles Hakkaart had secured a second term as the Clutha District Council's chief executive officer.

Being unable to defend his daughter in her last hours compels Owaka man Bevan Smith to keep fighting for his daughter's murderer to remain in jail.

The building of a $780,000 pumping station in Mill St, Milton, cannot come soon enough for Queen St residents Shelley and Jason Walker.

Competitors drawn on the first day of the Tux New Zealand sheep dog trial championships would not be blamed for thinking they had drawn the short straw, as the weather closed in around the Stoney Creek hills, near Gore, yesterday.

Just because anybody can work in the hospitality industry doesn't mean they should, says Rosebank Lodge restaurant and function supervisor Monique Rutene (21), of Balclutha.

Balclutha Primary School principal Paddy Ford rewarded his pupils for raising more than $1000 for World Vision by dying his hair green and purple yesterday.

Paul David Bailey, who murdered Owaka teenager Kylie Smith 18 years ago, has again been denied parole, according to the victim's father, Bevan Smith.

Mark MacDonald, a 15-year-old musician from Maheno, was doing his acoustic best to attract a crowd during the first day of the "Freeze Ya Bits Off" busking contest in Gore yesterday.

Members of the Southern Steel netball team visited schools in Milton, Balclutha and Clinton yesterday, as part of the "Click it" road safety campaign.

Most roads in the Clutha district were open again yesterday, but Clutha District Council staff said it could be months before the cost of the damage caused by the flooding was known.

The Walker family's back yard in Queen St, Milton, was completely underwater yesterday.

Clinton's future as a service town to the rural community was strengthened yesterday, when its 24-hour automated fuel stop was officially opened.

It is shaping up as a bumper year for Milton boat-builder Steve McLay.