Police in Dumfries and Galloway have celebrated the success of a recent operation which focused on caravan crime and safety.

Operation Breakaway 3 took place during the lead up to the busy Easter weekend, during the operation police managed to recover two stolen caravans worth nearly £20,000.

The initiative involved officers from the Roads Policng Unit, Ports Unit and colleagues from ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, which included a Leisure Vehicle representative.

Officers took part in high-visibility checks in the ports at Stranraer and Cairnryan, as well as on the busy A75.

Officers and their colleagues from Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Service visited caravan parks in the area issuing crime prevention, personal safety and fire advice to members of the public. Read the rest of this entry

On the Thursday 26^th May, Cycling Dumfries will be holding its inaugural meeting at Mi Amore on the corner of Bank St and Irish St. Cycling Dumfries is a brand new cycling group that will be campaigning to improve conditions for cyclists in and around the town so that anyone who wants to can use their bike to get around. Anyone who is interested in cycling – even if they don’t ride much or don’t even have a bike – is welcome to attend.

Cycling is a healthy, active way to get about that not only saves you money and keeps you fit but can make the whole town a more pleasant place to be, cutting congestion and pollution and easing pressure on the roads. More that 25% of car journeys in the UK are less than half a mile and 68% of journeys in Dumfries are less than 5 miles, distances which are ideal for cycling. Yet many people simply don’t feel able to get about by bike whether because they are worried about the traffic, don’t have a bike or anywhere secure to keep it, or don’t know how to go about it. Many parents would also like to see their children have the freedom to get around by themselves as they did when they were teenagers but feel it’s now too dangerous to let youngsters out on their own. While there have been some good cycling and walking facilities built around the town – such as the Maxwelltown Railway path and the Caledonian Cycleway – they’re still not joined up enough to make using your bike to get to the shops, school or work as easy as it could be.

Cycling Dumfries is a grass roots campaign which aims to identify and tackle some of these barriers to cycling, urging the council to do more and to make the legacy of the Go Smart! campaign permanent. We welcome the participation of anyone who lives or works in and around the town – including the outlying villages – or anyone who’s interested in promoting everyday cycling in the area. Anyone who’s interested can find out more by visiting our website on http://cyclingdumfries.wordpress.com or email Sally Hinchcliffe (sallyhinchcliffe@gmail.com)

If you are a young disabled person aged 12 – 25 then the DG Voice Youth Matters Conference 2011 is not to be missed.

Share your views at the free ‘Youth Matters’ day from 10am to 3.30pm on 24th June 2011 at DG One, Hoods Loaning, Dumfries. The event is funded and supported by the Council, NHS and Holywood Trust.

The conference also has support right across the third sector including Parents Inclusion Network (PIN), Princess Royal Trust for Carers (PRTC) and Users and Carers involvement (UCI) in relation to supporting carers. LGBT has worked with the Council’s Community Learning and Development service to develop the workshops.

This conference will be an opportunity for young people with a disability to tell decision makers what needs to happen for them to live their lives to the full as equal citizens in their communities. The conference organisers can enable attendance and participation for young people with a wide range of disabilities. Read the rest of this entry

The 9^th Spring Fling will take place throughout Dumfries and Galloway from 28-30 May 2011.  Over 85 participants across the county will open their doors to the public over the bank holiday weekend giving the opportunity to see artists at work, join a workshop or just buy while travelling to studios amid some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland.  This is the most successful artist open studios event of its kind in Scotland.

In addition to the core open studios trail there is an exciting programme of additional events for Spring Fling visitors, including a ceilidh and hog roast, magical mystery bus tours and a free guided bike ride and guided walk.  New for this year will be a guided Spring Fling walk on Sunday 29 May which will take in 3 artists at 2 studios.  (Details of these activities are at end of release).

This year’s artist-in-residence, Deirdre Nelson is a graduate of Glasgow School of Art. She is a textile artist whose work uses research into textile and social history. Narrative plays a part in her creations, which combine traditional and contemporary techniques. In 2008 she received the Jerwood Makers Award.

Based at The Bookshop in Wigtown, Nelson’s exhibition is the result of a 10-day Spring Fling residency at Wigtown Book Festival last autumn.  Wandering through The Bookshop word related textile works are on display. In addition to viewing the works, visitors will be able to add to the collection of ‘favourite words’ on their visit and become part of this ongoing project.

Says Nelson “Throughout the residency I became a ‘word collector’, gathering favourite words from both writers and visitors to the festival. The resulting words have been a source of inspiration for embroidered and printed textile works, which you will discover by roaming the unusual gallery setting of the largest second hand bookshop in Scotland.”

Spring Fling is supported by Dumfries & Galloway Council and EventScotland. More info: spring-fling.co.uk

Police in Kirkcudbright can confirm the name of the man who died as a result of injuries sustained in yesterdays (Thursday 19 May) fatal road traffic collision is:

* WOJCIECH GRABOWSKA, aged 52 years, from Gatehouse of Fleet

The collision occurred at around 05.55hrs yesterday near the Twynholm bypass and involved a silver coloured Renault Megane.

Mr Grabowska was driving the vehicle and was taken to DGRI to receive treatment on serious injuries sustained. He later succumbed to his injuries.

The three other local male occupants of the vehicle, one aged 48 years and two 25 year olds, were all taken to DGRI to receive treatment on minor injuries sustained. Two were later released, one of the 25 year olds remained in for overnight observations.

On the 8 June at 19:00 at Casa Mia Dumfries, Lighthouse Church are holding a fantastic night of great food and entertainment to help raise funds for the New Life Centre in Malawi.

Pastor Sandy Jamieson says, “Come and enjoy a great evening with a 3 course dinner all for just £20. We’re also having live music, a disco and a magician.

Give me a call to book your tickets 07799178108,why not try to book a table of 10? You’ll have a blast!”.

Alive presenters Iain Renicks and Michael Greaves Mackintosh are embarking on an unusual fundraiser for the station . They are endeavouring to broadcast for a solid 24 hours non stop .Kicking off at midnight on the 10th of June until midnight on Sat 11th June and they hope to get lots of sponsorship to do it . Iain said ” We were inspired by Chris Moyles doing his marathon broadcast for Comic Relief and thought it would be a great way to raise funds for the station”.
Iain and Michael hope to have lots of different shows within their broadcast which will also include some live acoustic music as well as a show which will hopefully showcase some local talent and the guys are looking for contributors, they will also be welcoming there fellow presenters to pop in and help keep them awake.
If you wish to sponsor the guys there are sponsor sheets available or you can contribute through the Donate section on this website.

Michael Greaves Mackintosh and Iain Renicks

The Spring Watch project is a partnership between Dumfries and Galloway Council Safer Route to Schools, Local Ranger, Active School Co-ordinators and the Police and Forestry Commission.

This group has co-ordinated guided walks around Wigtownshire for young people to learn more about the natural environment outside the school campus and within their own local area. Over 500 pupils have taken part this Spring. Funding support from the Machars Lions enabled this event to take place.

Community Constable Alison Hannah said: “It is hoped that the experience will encourage young people to consider more active pursuits in the future and persuade their family to join in.

“Getting out and about with family members and enjoying the natural environment provides a healthier option for their leisure time.”

Emergency services are currently in attendance at a serious road traffic collision on the A75 Gretna to Stranraer road, approx 400 yards east of Glengap junction at entrance to Twynholm.

The A75 is closed at that location; diversions are being put in place. Police are asking drivers to avoid the area until the road reopens.

Police in Kirkcudbright are appealing for witnesses. The collision occurred near the Twynholm bypass at around 05.55hrs and involved one vehicle, a silver coloured Renault Megane. The car contained four local males.

All four occupants of the vehicle have been taken to DGRI to receive treatment on injuries sustained. One is currently in a serious condition and the remaining three have minor injuries.

The road is currently closed to allow police investigations to take place. Diversions are in place and drivers are asked to avoid the area if possible and if travelling in the area to expect delays.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who was travelling in the area around the time of the incident or who seen this vehicle prior to the collision. If you have any information on this incident please contact police on 0845 600 5701 or any police officer. Information can also be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Wednesday Breakfast guest is Amanda Holden Go Smart coordinator chatting to Annette Richards.  Amanda will give an update of the Go smart opportunities and challenges!

 If listeners have a question to put to her they can email Annette at hello@aliveradio.net or text in today or tomorrow morning’s show