Retired teachers fêted

FALMOUTH, TRELAWNY:

Retiring teachers Edna and Icolene Ricketts were lauded at the Falmouth All-Age School's appreciation function at the Falmouth Methodist Church last Thursday.

The sisters were applauded for giving yeoman service, not just to academics, but also to all areas of the school's life. Principal, Talbert Golding characterised them as the epitome of professionalism.

The citation prepared for them spoke of their unwillingness to accept mediocrity and their ability to motivate. Icolene, who retired a year ago, served for 31 years, and is also known as a writer and poet, talents which were used at almost all official school ceremonies.

Edna who did 33 years only recently retired. Among her strengths is her ability to test, management and dance. Edna became a resource teacher in testing and management for the Ministry of Education and once won the national teacher of the year in 'Traditional Folk Form' in dance.

Saxophonists Fabian Brown, Miss Sophia Campbell, Adrian Dell and children from the school did a number of items in their honour.

- Richard Morais

New doors open to Curphey Home

MANDEVILLE, MANCHESTER:

Curphey Home, in Manchester, a shelter for ex-soldiers, has received a donation of $25,000, from Lyn's Funeral Home, to carry out minor repairs at the facility.

Director of the funeral home, Calvin Lyn, said he made the gesture, because he wanted to show his personal appreciation to the ex-soldiers for giving of themselves to defend the country, mainly in World War 1.

In accepting the gift, Clifton Irwin, superintendent of Curphey Home, said the money came at a good time, as a number of doors needed to be replaced.

Curphey Home has 16 residents, 15 males and a female, ranging from 67 to 91 years of age.

- JIS

Farmer spends Christmas in jail

BIGWOODS, WESTMORELAND:

Oran Allwood, a 24-year-old farmer of Lennox Bigwoods in Westmoreland spent Christmas behind bars following which he will face the courts to answer to charges of dealing in and possession of ganja.

He was arrested at noon on Monday when a police party from the Savanna-la-Mar station and members of Kingfish swooped down on him and seized 100 lb of cured ganja.

The police say a chicken coop at Allwood's home was searched and the contraband found in five plastic rice bags along with a number of mature plants wrapped in a blue tarpaulin.

Investigators said they had been watching what they termed 'suspicious movement' of Allwood because he was believed to be in the guns-for-drugs trade with Haitians.

Allwood will appear in the Savanna-la-Mar RM Court on December 30.

- Dalton Laing

Returning residents give back to Portland

PORT ANTONIO, PORTLAND:

The Port Antonio Hospital, in Portland, has received 27 sheets from the parish's Returning Residents Association.

The sheets, which were handed over last Thursday, were obtained from health institutions in the United Kingdom (UK), as a result of the efforts of the association.

Chairperson of the association, Meryl Higgins, presented the sheets to the Matron of the hospital, Barbara Burke.

Making the presentation, Higgins said her organisation was pleased to be able to provide the assistance, and pledged further support to the hospital.

Accepting the gift, Matron Burke thanked members of the association for their kind gesture, saying that it would go a far way in enabling the hospital to meet its commitment to patients.

She said the presentation was very timely, as the hospital needed the sheets, and appealed to other organisations in the parish to emulate the example set by the Portland Returning Residents Association.

- JIS

JAS branch records successful year

BLACK RIVER, ST ELIZABETH:

One year after its formation, the Morningside branch of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), in St Elizabeth, is reporting success in meeting a significant number of its targets.

Addressing the organisation's anniversary dinner at the Morningside Primary School last Thursday, Carmen Jacobs, secretary, said the group held monthly meetings consistently throughout the year and, in the process, received support from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority and the Social Development Commission, Jamaica Foundation for Life Long Learning, among other entities. Their input, she pointed out, enabled the organisation to assist a number of members with fertiliser and farm supplies, and recommendations for jobs.

In his address, guest speaker, and president of the St Elizabeth branch Societies of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, Roy Morrison, encouraged the members to collaborate with the various agencies, and make use of training opportunities available to farmers.

The Morningside JAS branch has over 65 members, and is headed by President, Errol Vincent.

- JIS

Road repairs begin in Mount Olivet

Othneil Lawrence, member of parliament for Northwest St Ann, gesticulates as he speaks with a tractor operator in Mount Olivet, St Ann. Repair work has started on the Mt Olivet main road. - Photo by Carl Gilchrist

OCHO RIOS, ST ANN:

Remedial repair work started on the weekend on sections of the road running through Mount Olivet and Mount Pleasant communities in St Ann, three weeks after residents there mounted protests over the condition of the road.

A tractor was in the communities to grade the road, as an interim measure. Fullscale repairs will begin in January on the approximately two miles of roadway.

Member of Parliament for North West St Ann, Othneil Lawrence, who had committed to have repair work started after the protest, said last year's estimate of $4.5 million to fix the road had now increased to approximately $10 million.

Lift Up Jamaica had committed $4.5 million last year. Lawrence said he would now match the amount with funds from his Community Development Fund.

Contract for the repairs has already been awarded, Lawrence said.

The deplorable road conditions, which have existed for several years, forced taxi operators who ply the route to increase fares, sometimes doubling them.

- Carl Gilchrist

Clarendon police continue community relations drive

MAY PEN, CLARENDON:

The Clarendon Crime Prevention Committee treated hundreds of children on December 14, at the May Pen Police Station, as part of its effort to reach out to members of the public.

Superintendent of police, in charge of the Clarendon division, Dathan Henry, said the children's treat was a tradition and had been very successful over the years in helping to foster a better relationship between his organisation and members of the various communities.

Henry said that the Exeter station was recently closed, postponing the treat for that community. However, a treat would be put on for Exeter at the community centre at a later date.

Superintendent Henry explained that the treat is one medium through which the police are able to demonstrate to the children that they are not "beasts of intimidation," but rather, friends, who are vested with the responsibility to guide and protect them.

Several public and private sector entities collaborated with the police to make the event special for the children. These included May Pen Ice, Kenny's Esso, Juici Patties, Nestle Jamaica Ltd, Shagouri Aggregates and the Bank of Nova Scotia.

- JIS