Sally Rae

When Jason Campbell recently started working in the retail section of Campbells Butchery, he continued a long family tradition at one of Oamaru's oldest established businesses.

Wanted: 12 North Otago people keen to learn about writing a short film script.

Kakanui artist Peter Cleverley says he is looking forward to working with pupils at Weston School as part of the Artists in Schools programme.

Glenway mother-of-three Fiona Andersen admits she had "mummy goggles" when she took an award-winning photograph of her two young daughters.

The parents of a boy with a split kidney who was sent home from Oamaru Hospital last month and told to "harden up" are not making a formal complaint.

Benmore dam is spilling water this week for the first time in nearly five years, creating a spectacular scene for visitors to the Waitaki Valley.

Young dog triallist Todd Rowland, in his first full season of the sport, helped create an Otago trifecta at the Tux South Island sheep dog trial championships at Geraldine on Friday.

Oamaru Harness Racing Club life-members Neville Simpson and Jack Browne are looking forward to a special race meeting at the Oamaru racecourse tomorrow.

When Tristine Simpson had her first child nearly 27 years ago, she joined the Tokarahi sub-branch of Plunket.

The vision of four North Otago farmers in the 1970s has paid off, with the historic Nicol's Blacksmith Shop in Duntroon receiving national recognition from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

Waitaki First chairwoman Helen Brookes says she was "absolutely stunned" when she learned yesterday the Waitaki Protection Trust would withdraw its appeal to the Environment Court against the proposed north bank tunnel concept power scheme.

A report by commissioner Mike Allison on the troubled Otepopo School at Herbert has found a community concerned about the viability of its school and divided in its views over the future.

It all started when Lisa Pope's grandparents, Stan and Jean Roney, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary at the Star and Garter restaurant in 2005.

The New Zealand Spinal Trust is again reaping the fruits of the labour of volunteer pickers at boutique vineyard Ostler Wines in the Waitaki Valley.

Oamaru artist Christopher Wright (above) is excited about his first solo art exhibition.

"I just do what has to be done," Ross McMillan says with a broad grin as he peels potatoes at the North Otago dog trial championships being held on his family's Waianakarua farm.

When Neal Hayes turned 17 a few weeks ago, he celebrated his birthday by inviting some friends over to play on his Xbox - on the big screens at the family-owned Oamaru Movie World 3.