YALLAHS, St Thomas

A 15 year-old schoolboy who was taken into custody for possession of a firearm was brought before the Yallahs Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

Reports are that the teenager was observed acting strangely along the main road in Yallahs, about 7:15 p.m. last week Friday. When he was approached, he attempted to run but was chased and held by the police who searched him and found the pistol in a bag he was carrying.

- Arthur Green

BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth

The Black River Fire Station has received a new fire truck increasing the number in the parish to three. With the capacity to hold 5,000 litres of water, the truck also has a foam tank, and and boasts modern firefighting safety features.

"We are very grateful for this new fire unit because in recent times we have not been able to manage well (while) fighting commercial as well as bush fires in the parish," said Homer Morris, deputy superintendent of the St. Elizabeth Fire Brigade at the handover ceremony recently.

- Rayon Dyer

SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has invested over $3 million to help upgrade the Church Pen domestic water supply system in St. Catherine. In the next two weeks, pipes will be laid throughout the community enabling residents to get water in their taps.

The signing of the agreement took place in Church Pen on Wednesday between JSIF and the Church Pen District Development Committee.

The project will benefit approximately 734 households in Gordon Wood and sections of Church Pen which have been out of piped water for several years.

- Rasbert Turner

BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth

Brighter days are ahead for some St. Elizabeth communities as 100 new street lights are to be installed in all 15 divisions in the parish by the Ministry of Local Government.

This was disclosed at the recent meeting of the council by Mayor of Black River, Councillor Franklyn Witter.

Explaining the individual allocation of the street lights for each division, Mayor Witter said that seven of the nine Jamaica Labour Party councillors will get seven street lights each for their divisions. The six People's National Party councillors will get five street lights each. The mayor and deputy mayor will get nine and 11 respectively.

- R.D.

BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth

The St. Elizabeth Parish Council is yet to give a clear indication as to when it will reopen the newly-constructed animal pound at Myersville in the parish.

The $4 million animal pound has been closed for more than three months since businessman, Neville Scott, gave up the operation of the facility following threats on his life.

However, Chairman of the Council, Franklyn Witter, said that the council was working to have the facility back in operation very soon.

- R.D.

DISCOVERY BAY, St Ann

Residents of Discovery Bay and surrounding communities in St. Ann are currently benefiting from a dental Health Fair sponsored by St. Ann Jamaica Bauxite Partners and organized by the Grateful Hill Baptist Circuit of Churches.

The programme, which was started under the leadership of the Rev. Donald Lawrence in partnership with a team of missionaries from Mississippi, USA, led by Dr. Frank Greer, has been in existence for the past five years. St. Ann Jamaica Bauxite Partners joined forces with the church this year to give the fair a bigger audience and better reach.

KINGSTON

Just a few weeks after a proposal was brought to Cabinet for the establishment of a Food Advisory Committee (FAC), an interim body is now a reality.

The aim was to streamline food safety agencies.

Established to provide independent scientific advice and support to the Minister of Health, the FAC will also maintain national, regional and international networking and access risks related to the food chain and educate the general public about food risks.

Additionally, the mandate of the FAC will include an overview of the food chain to provide a coherent scientific basis for policy and legislation.

The committee will report to the Minister of Health, Horace Dalley.

Headed by former executive director of the Bureau of Standards, Rev. Dr. Artnel Henry, the team comprises 19 persons stretched across various ministries, legal offices and educational institutions.

MAY PEN, Clarendon

Four residents of Clarendon, who have given more than 20 years of voluntary service to their communities, were honoured on Monday, during the parish's annual Heroes Day salute.

Valenton Wint, Millicent Douglas-Clarke, Pauline Scoburgh and Jessie-Ann Louise Hill were presented with plaques and citations in recognition of their outstanding contributions, at the function held at the May Pen Courthouse.

Ethel Brown, cultural committee member described the honourees as "unsung heroes," who had made significant contributions to their communities.