The speculation is over; Debenhams have announced they are coming into Dumfries town centre, in the former TJ Hughes store. The nationwide retailer announced the news through reports from the BBC and Dumfries Courier, that they will be developing the store, which is owned by the BAE Systems Pensions Fund.

Debenhams is the second largest department store chain in the UK and operates 161 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Debenhams also has 61 international franchise stores in 24 countries and six Magasin stores in Denmark.

We’ll bring you reaction and response, throughout our programmes on Monday, but there’s an air of excitement and relief in the town that there’s some good news for our region’s capital town centre, following store closures and depressed sales. If you have something to say on the subject, please let us know.

Dumfries Retailers Association Chairman, Rab Smith endorsed the news; “Debenhams moving into the former TJ Hughes building has to be a positive for the town centre. At 24,000 sq ft, it was always going to be difficult to find a retailer large enough to fill it. We now need to encourage more independent retailers into the town centre to fill the forty smaller units that are available.”

Looking for something cool to do kick start the new year?

Drop in on free ‘Try Curling’ sessions at Dumfries Ice Bowl on Saturday 21st January.

Curling is a fantastic way to exercise, meet new people, and have fun. These free drop in sessions are open to anyone aged 8 – 80+ and cater for all levels of ability. Their qualified coaches will welcome you along, teach you the basics of the game and show you how to deliver curling stones full length.

All you need to try curling is a pair of clean, flat, rubber soled shoes (trainers are ideal) and loose fitting, warm clothing. Stones, brushes and all other equipment will be supplied for you.

You can Try Curling at Dumfries Ice Bowl on

21 January

10.00am – 12.00noon

To reserve your place or for further information email to Graham Sloan on graham@royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org or telephone Andy McLean on 01387 243568.

Thornhill Butcher and Alive 107.3fm presenter Iain Renicks was today awarded the Scotch Pie world Championship  at today’s awards luncheon at Carnegie College in Dumfermline . The trophy was presenteed by BBC Masterchef  Gerry Goldwyre.

The family firm from 117 Drumlanrig Street, Thornhill  has been a stalwart of the 13-year-old competition. And the firm have had an anxious wait following the judging in Dunfermline in mid-November before finding out that they have won the big prize.
Iain Renicks helps run the busy shop with his mother Ellen and his brother Jim. And he admitted to being shocked to have won the coveted prize after 13 years of trying.
The 44-year-old businessman picked up the wooden pie trophy in Dunfermline and baked 18 pies before selecting four for the judging in November. But he would not reveal the recipe which has brought him success for the first time after being a runner-up in the first competition.
Mr Renicks dedicated the award to his late father John who started the business 25 years ago.
The part-time local radio presenter and a former chef admitted: “I use Galloway beef in our pies and I added more seasoning this time. I’d worked out that the judges like a little extra spice to the mixture. Congratulations also to Ballards Butchers of Castle Douglas, J.B Houston of Dumfries , The Little Bakery of Dumfries and T H Carson of Dalbeattie who all collected awards in the competition.

A new structure for supporting and developing the Arts in Dumfries and Galloway has been developed by the region’s arts sector following consultative meetings in October and November. Individuals and organisations involved in the provision of Arts of all forms across Dumfries and Galloway were involved in the meetings. The level of attendance showed that there is a vibrant and committed Arts sector in our region.

Each of the four areas of the region will have its own forum or arts hub, linked to a regional arts hub for organisations which operate region wide.

The Council will support the Arts sector in establishing the various operational hubs. Ailsa Freeman (Annandale and Eskdale), Scott Grant (Nithsdale), David Lockwood (Stewartry), Colin Freeman (Wigtownshire) and Rebecca Coggins (Regionwide) are the local contacts. They have received an excellent response from arts sector groups and individuals registering an interest in participating in the various Arts Hub meetings and meetings are now being scheduled in January.

It is proposed that each Arts Hub Chairperson/Champion will represent their Hub on a strategic group being referred to currently as the ‘Chamber of Arts’. The Chamber of Arts will work closely with Creative Scotland to develop a regionwide strategic partnership for the development and delivery of the Arts across the region. The Council’s overall lead officer who will support the sector in developing this concept is Richard Grieveson.

It is proposed that over the following months this structure will develop further. More regionwide Dumfries and Galloway Arts Sector open meetings will take place in the spring to keep everyone updated and to review, reflect and share our progress to date and plans for the immediate future.

The dates and times of the initial meetings are as follows:-

Hub ,Date, Time, Venue

Annandale and Eskdale 09-Jan 2pm Meeting Room, Annan Swimming Pool

Stewartry 11-Jan 10am Kirkcudbright Council Offices

Wigtownshire 11-Jan 6.30pm Ryan Centre

Nithsdale 17-Jan 2pm DG One

Region-wide 19-Jan 10.30am Gracefield Arts Centre

Please get in touch with your local contact to let them know if you can attend by phoning 030 33 33 3000.

We do apologise for service difficulties this afternoon with our internet streams. Our service provider is working hard to restore the service as soon as possible. Please check back.

UPDATE AT 12.10AM, 5 January – FULL SERVICE NOW RESTORED. Sorry for any inconvenience from the problems over the last 8 hours, which were due to circumstances outside our control.

Our sports reporter, Stig Nordkil, caught up with Queen of the South FC manager, Gus MacPherson for the first time this year, following their 1:2 home defeat to Hamilton yesterday.

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Blackburn Rovers Dumfries born centre half Grant Hanley put a dampener on Sir Alex Ferguson’s 70th birthday celebrations as he popped up to score the winner in Blackburn’s shock 3-2 win over United at Old Trafford yesterday. BlackBurn were two up at halftime through Yakubu but lost 2 second half goals by Berbatov . A flapping effort from United’s De Gea resulted in the Scottish international  heading the winner.

Play Talk Read campaign promotes ‘good old fashioned fun’ over the festive season.

New Minister for Children & Young People encourages parents to make the most of simple activities.

This festive season, the Scottish Government’s Play Talk Read campaign is encouraging mums and dads to have some ‘good old fashioned fun’ with their little one’s by revisiting games and past-times from their own childhood.

Newly appointed Minister for Children & Young People, Aileen Campbell is reminding parents that despite the wish list of dream toys on the Christmas list this year, it doesn’t have to be about expensive gifts or costly days out – it’s simple time and attention that really counts.

The Play Talk Read campaign champions positive interaction with under threes from day one through simple inexpensive activities – playing, talking and reading. It provides parents with the tools to stimulate their little ones and put in place the building blocks for future use by equipping them with the confidence and knowledge to engage in meaningful play.

Research underpinning the campaign shows that brain development is most rapid from 0-3 and that investing in quality time doing simple activities during this period will have positive repercussions for their long-term development. Imaginative play is therefore a vital source of physical, emotional and intellectual stimulus for them.

Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People said: “Christmas time can leave parents feeling worried they have to splash out on lots of expensive toys. It’s important for mums and dads to know it’s the simple things that have a big impact such as playing with their kids more, or just spending time talking or reading with them. All of which costs nothing and can bring huge benefits for family life and a child’s positive development.

“The holiday season is a great opportunity to have some fun together as a family and revisit some of the old classic games from our own childhood such as hopscotch, skipping or head shoulders knees and toes. Overall, its quality time and attention that makes all the difference – simply playing, talking and reading with little ones and having good old fashion fun.”

For further information, please see: www.playtalkread.org

Police are seeking witnesses to a dog attack on an 80 year old woman as she walked out of the car park at Barn Raws in Dumfries at around 1550 hours on Friday 23 December 2011. At that time the following described two boys were with a Jack Russell type dog when it attacked the woman and bit her. The boys ran off with the dog after the attack. The woman attended Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary where she was treated for wounds caused by the bite to her arm. The two boys are described as 1) white, 5’ 4” tall, aged 14/15 years, wearing dark clothing and a black woollen hat with white flecks on it. (2) White, in his late teens, 5’ 9” tall, wearing a light coloured top. Both spoke with local accents.

Find out where Santa Claus is as he travels the globe today!! http.www.noradsanta.org/en/