by Garth ApThomas
A 10-year-old Wrexham schoolgirl is recovering at home after contracting swine flu.Ebony Charles, who attends St Giles Juniors, came down with the illness on Thursday and her family were initially devastated for her.
But she has shown tremendous resolve, her condition has picked up over the weekend and is looking to be well on the road to recovery.
Ebony’s mum, Sue, of Rhosymedre, said that the first signs of illness included a severe headache and feeling sick.“The school got in contact to say that Ebony was poorly. I went over to pick her up and she did look rough, very pale.”
Sue got in touch with her GP and swine flu was diagnosed.
She went to fetch a prescription from the Maelor Hospital and the medication has been working well.“Ebony has picked up a bit over the weekend and looks to be recovering well.
It is such a relief. When I first realised she was ill I was hoping it would just be something like a small viral infection.
I was mortified when swine flu was diagnosed.“We are a big family, with my husband and seven children there are nine of us.
“We were advised to carry on our normal day to day lives.“Ebony has been really good.
"In the beginning she was so bad it felt like her head was going to blow up,” said Sue who has been devotedly nursing her daughter through the illness.
Sue herself came down with a bug on Sunday, but she managed to shake it off within 24 hours.
“I started to get symptoms like headaches and really bad coughing and did think I was starting to get swine flu myself.
But thankfully it has passed off now almost as quickly as it came.
“I would also like to thank the doctors for all their expertise and care, they have been very good.”
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Wrexham taxi driver assault man claims his drinks had been spiked
By Claire Gallagher
A FATHER punched a taxi driver seven times on the head following an argument with his wife.
On June 6 Richard Arthur Carroll attended his son’s christening and then he and his wife went out drinking with friends in Wrexham.Carroll, 27, of Concorde Row, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court to admit assaulting taxi driver John Anthony David Barratt by beating and damaging a wooden fence belonging to Brian Clifford Matthews.
Rod Williams, defending, said: “The christening was at All Saints at 12.30pm and there was a reception at the Wynnstay at 2pm.“It finished at 6pm and they went into town with friends.
“He normally drinks pints of lager but later discovered his friends had been spiking his drinks during the course of the night.”
The couple left to get a taxi at about midnight.Emily Downing, prosecuting, said: “The taxi driver picked up the defendant with a female and was taking them to a specific location.
“An argument ensued and the female started saying ‘help me, take me to my mums.’
“The taxi driver told the defendant to get out. Barratt walked to the passenger side of the car and then the defendant punched Barratt.
“Barratt received seven more blows to the head. He grabbed him by the neck to restrain him and they fell through a fence.”
Mr Williams said that his client, a gas engineer, wanted to apologise to the taxi driver and the resident whose fence was damaged.“He accepts full responsibility and he’s thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour,” he said.
“The incident occurred as a direct consequence of too much alcohol. He will lose his job and he is the main breadwinner.”
Magistrates ordered Carroll to pay compensation of £100 to Mr Barratt, to pay a fine of £300 with court costs of £60 and a victim surcharge of £15.
Magistrates chairman Pat Thomas said: “You make sure nobody else sticks anything in your drink.”
A FATHER punched a taxi driver seven times on the head following an argument with his wife.
On June 6 Richard Arthur Carroll attended his son’s christening and then he and his wife went out drinking with friends in Wrexham.Carroll, 27, of Concorde Row, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court to admit assaulting taxi driver John Anthony David Barratt by beating and damaging a wooden fence belonging to Brian Clifford Matthews.
Rod Williams, defending, said: “The christening was at All Saints at 12.30pm and there was a reception at the Wynnstay at 2pm.“It finished at 6pm and they went into town with friends.
“He normally drinks pints of lager but later discovered his friends had been spiking his drinks during the course of the night.”
The couple left to get a taxi at about midnight.Emily Downing, prosecuting, said: “The taxi driver picked up the defendant with a female and was taking them to a specific location.
“An argument ensued and the female started saying ‘help me, take me to my mums.’
“The taxi driver told the defendant to get out. Barratt walked to the passenger side of the car and then the defendant punched Barratt.
“Barratt received seven more blows to the head. He grabbed him by the neck to restrain him and they fell through a fence.”
Mr Williams said that his client, a gas engineer, wanted to apologise to the taxi driver and the resident whose fence was damaged.“He accepts full responsibility and he’s thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour,” he said.
“The incident occurred as a direct consequence of too much alcohol. He will lose his job and he is the main breadwinner.”
Magistrates ordered Carroll to pay compensation of £100 to Mr Barratt, to pay a fine of £300 with court costs of £60 and a victim surcharge of £15.
Magistrates chairman Pat Thomas said: “You make sure nobody else sticks anything in your drink.”
No word from retail giant as Broughton store stalls
MARKS and Spencer is staying tight-lipped over claims that long-held plans for a new store at Broughton Shopping Park have been put on the back burner.
Planning permission for a huge expansion of the retail park, including a flagship Marks and Spencer store, was granted in 2006 but three years on there is no sign of the proposals becoming a reality.
At a recent public meeting in Broughton, councillors claimed that the high-street giant was focusing on getting the final go-ahead for a vast new store proposed at the Cheshire Oaks outlet village in Ellesmere Port.
At 195,000 sq ft, the Cheshire Oaks site would be the second largest Marks and Spencer store in the country and would represent the largest investment by the company in a UK store during the last decade.
The Ellesmere Port scheme was given the go-ahead by councillors but was called in by the Government and has been the subject of a public inquiry.
Asked about the plans for Broughton, a Marks and Spencer spokesman would only say: “We remain committed to expanding in the area and we will review our strategy later in the year.”
Former Broughton county councillor Derek Butler told the Evening Leader: “Marks and Spencer seem distracted by the state of the retail market at the public inquiry at Cheshire Oaks.
“In the meantime, people in Broughton are the last to know as usual.”
He added: “What people in Broughton really want is the interchange on the A55 that would divert traffic around the back of village, because the people here are sick of the gridlock.
“But that is unlikely to happen without the Marks and Spencer scheme because the developers would fund the road improvements.“The money has to come from somewhere.”
Planning permission for a huge expansion of the retail park, including a flagship Marks and Spencer store, was granted in 2006 but three years on there is no sign of the proposals becoming a reality.
At a recent public meeting in Broughton, councillors claimed that the high-street giant was focusing on getting the final go-ahead for a vast new store proposed at the Cheshire Oaks outlet village in Ellesmere Port.
At 195,000 sq ft, the Cheshire Oaks site would be the second largest Marks and Spencer store in the country and would represent the largest investment by the company in a UK store during the last decade.
The Ellesmere Port scheme was given the go-ahead by councillors but was called in by the Government and has been the subject of a public inquiry.
Asked about the plans for Broughton, a Marks and Spencer spokesman would only say: “We remain committed to expanding in the area and we will review our strategy later in the year.”
Former Broughton county councillor Derek Butler told the Evening Leader: “Marks and Spencer seem distracted by the state of the retail market at the public inquiry at Cheshire Oaks.
“In the meantime, people in Broughton are the last to know as usual.”
He added: “What people in Broughton really want is the interchange on the A55 that would divert traffic around the back of village, because the people here are sick of the gridlock.
“But that is unlikely to happen without the Marks and Spencer scheme because the developers would fund the road improvements.“The money has to come from somewhere.”
Flintshire bar staff step up security after samurai raid
By Michael Youds
BAR staff working at pubs in the Flint area have spoken of their fears following a terrifying armed robbery which left two people hospitalised.
Police are hunting a trio of armed raiders who burst into the Coach and Horses in Flint Mountain in the early hours of Monday, carrying baseball bats and a samurai sword.
A customer was tied up and threatened with the samurai sword, and the pub manager was beaten badly.
Stuart Bickerton-Starkey, director of Lovely Day Inns which owns the pub, called it a “severe and shocking crime” and said staff have been left devastated.
The company is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the raiders.
The attack has left landlords in the area fearing they could be next.Linda Leigh, landlady at the George and Dragon on Church Street, Flint, said she would be stepping up security measures.
She said: “What happened is disgusting and it does make you think.
“I guess they’ve gone in there thinking they’ll get a lot of money but most pubs now, including us, bank daily and we never have much money on the premises.
“All pubs are struggling at the minute and something like this is just not on.”
One member of staff from a Flint pub, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s pretty worrying.
“It’s not the sort of trouble you expect around here, and the terrifying part is that there isn’t really anything you can do to prepare for it. I just hope it’s a one-off and not part of a new trend.”
Detectives want to hear from a group of customers who left the Coach and Horses just before the raid.
The three robbers were all wearing dark clothes and had most of their faces covered with clothing.
Anyone with information should call Mold CID on 0845 607 1002, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
BAR staff working at pubs in the Flint area have spoken of their fears following a terrifying armed robbery which left two people hospitalised.
Police are hunting a trio of armed raiders who burst into the Coach and Horses in Flint Mountain in the early hours of Monday, carrying baseball bats and a samurai sword.
A customer was tied up and threatened with the samurai sword, and the pub manager was beaten badly.
Stuart Bickerton-Starkey, director of Lovely Day Inns which owns the pub, called it a “severe and shocking crime” and said staff have been left devastated.
The company is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the raiders.
The attack has left landlords in the area fearing they could be next.Linda Leigh, landlady at the George and Dragon on Church Street, Flint, said she would be stepping up security measures.
She said: “What happened is disgusting and it does make you think.
“I guess they’ve gone in there thinking they’ll get a lot of money but most pubs now, including us, bank daily and we never have much money on the premises.
“All pubs are struggling at the minute and something like this is just not on.”
One member of staff from a Flint pub, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s pretty worrying.
“It’s not the sort of trouble you expect around here, and the terrifying part is that there isn’t really anything you can do to prepare for it. I just hope it’s a one-off and not part of a new trend.”
Detectives want to hear from a group of customers who left the Coach and Horses just before the raid.
The three robbers were all wearing dark clothes and had most of their faces covered with clothing.
Anyone with information should call Mold CID on 0845 607 1002, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Saltney boxing club looking to expand after first birthday
A COMMUNITY facility in Saltney is looking to expand as it approaches its first anniversary.
Deva Academy – a registered charity and member of the Young People’s Clubs of Great Britain was set up last September.
Based on the Central Trading Estate, Marley Way, Deva is run by Mark Shepherd, 44, from Connah’s Quay and Dave Evans, 42, of Saltney.
Both are fully qualified coaches.
“We’re a non-profit organisation,” said Dave, a former Manchester United apprentice and Chester City footballer.
“I’m giving something back.
"It’s a community facility. All the money we make goes into a community account via a group of trustees. "
“We started out as a boxing club with a couple of kids, but its snowballed from there.
We’re now trying to get as many organisations as possible to use the facilities.
Any affiliated group or sport that comes under the Olympic banner can come in, but we don’t do mixed martial arts"
In addition to spending £6,000 on new flooring, the academy houses three boxing rings, a dance room, spectators balcony, gym mats, full cardio section and infra red sauna.
Disabled group the Mulberry Centre from Sealand Road and the Chester Goddesses cheerleading squad are among those who have used the facilities.
For more information call 01244 671 288 or visit http://www.devaacademy.co.uk/.
Deva Academy – a registered charity and member of the Young People’s Clubs of Great Britain was set up last September.
Based on the Central Trading Estate, Marley Way, Deva is run by Mark Shepherd, 44, from Connah’s Quay and Dave Evans, 42, of Saltney.
Both are fully qualified coaches.
“We’re a non-profit organisation,” said Dave, a former Manchester United apprentice and Chester City footballer.
“I’m giving something back.
"It’s a community facility. All the money we make goes into a community account via a group of trustees. "
“We started out as a boxing club with a couple of kids, but its snowballed from there.
We’re now trying to get as many organisations as possible to use the facilities.
Any affiliated group or sport that comes under the Olympic banner can come in, but we don’t do mixed martial arts"
In addition to spending £6,000 on new flooring, the academy houses three boxing rings, a dance room, spectators balcony, gym mats, full cardio section and infra red sauna.
Disabled group the Mulberry Centre from Sealand Road and the Chester Goddesses cheerleading squad are among those who have used the facilities.
For more information call 01244 671 288 or visit http://www.devaacademy.co.uk/.
Flintshire community leaders slam 'unrealistic' targets
A MAJOR waste reduction strategy has been heavily criticised by senior community leaders in Flintshire.
Flintshire Council’s executive members say some of the targets in the Welsh Assembly Government’s ‘Wise About Waste’ plans are ‘unrealistic’ and could put too much pressure on local authorities.
The strategy includes specific recycling and waste reduction targets, which the council must meet within a certain time limit if it is to avoid being hit by heavy landfill taxes.
Cllr Nancy Matthews, executive member for waste management, said the food waste recycling target in particular was too high for Flintshire to meet.
She added: “It is completely unrealistic and could have a detrimental effect on the whole process of reducing waste.
“The report does not even take into account or mention the residents of Flintshire and how they are expected to help take the strategy forward.”
The Welsh Assembly Government is currently gathering feedback and comments about the strategy from local authorities, but Carl Longland, the council’s director of environment, said Flintshire’s views did not appear to have been acknowledged.
Flintshire Council’s chief executive, Colin Everett, said lots of people had ‘very strong views’ on the subject and that the council would submit its formal response to the assembly in the near future.
Flintshire Council’s executive members say some of the targets in the Welsh Assembly Government’s ‘Wise About Waste’ plans are ‘unrealistic’ and could put too much pressure on local authorities.
The strategy includes specific recycling and waste reduction targets, which the council must meet within a certain time limit if it is to avoid being hit by heavy landfill taxes.
Cllr Nancy Matthews, executive member for waste management, said the food waste recycling target in particular was too high for Flintshire to meet.
She added: “It is completely unrealistic and could have a detrimental effect on the whole process of reducing waste.
“The report does not even take into account or mention the residents of Flintshire and how they are expected to help take the strategy forward.”
The Welsh Assembly Government is currently gathering feedback and comments about the strategy from local authorities, but Carl Longland, the council’s director of environment, said Flintshire’s views did not appear to have been acknowledged.
Flintshire Council’s chief executive, Colin Everett, said lots of people had ‘very strong views’ on the subject and that the council would submit its formal response to the assembly in the near future.
Chester City postpone match against Liverpool
CHESTER CITY have postponed tonight’s scheduled pre-season friendly against Liverpool at the Deva Stadium.
The club’s preparations for the start of next month’s Blue Square League Premier Division campaign have been disrupted following a directive issued by the Football Association.
The FA’s governance department has been in touch with the club to advise that they are not currently an affiliated club, which means Chester have been unable to fulfil their arranged friendlies.
Last weekend’s scheduled friendly match at Marine was cancelled, and now the Blues have been forced to postpone tonight’s match against Liverpool and this Saturday’s friendly at AFC Telford.
Meanwhile, Chester director, Bob Gray, says that everything is being done to remedy the situation in a bid to salvage the club’s remaining pre-season arrangements and put things in order before the start of the league season which is scheduled to kick-off at Grays Athletic on August 8.
He said: “We would like to reassure fans that we’re working hard to rectify the administrative issue with the Football Association and will rearrange our pre-season friendlies as soon as possible.
“I worked late last night to ensure the FA received everything they had requested and the club has solicitors and the administrators working hard to try and resolve the situation.
“Postponing tonight’s scheduled home friendly with Liverpool has hit us in our pockets because that game would have helped provide funds for the club ahead of the start of the season.“If we can save next week’s home friendly match against Burnley we will do, but the most important thing is to ensure everything is sorted out before we start our league season.
“I’ve been in constant contact with the FA and I’m confident we can clear up the situation before our game at Grays next month.
“The transfer of ownership from old company to new company is still in the hands of our solicitors and the administrators, and we are still hopeful of finding a solution acceptable to the FA.
“All the relevant paperwork that was requested has been forwarded to the FA. Technically, we could play friendly matches and I am still hopeful that we will receive our affiliation very soon.”
FA spokesman Mark Hooper said: “When clubs go into administration and transfer to a new owner, there are certain regulations every club has to meet to safeguard the financial integrity of the game.
“These regulations are outlined to the club and, to date, they (Chester City) haven’t met our rules. Some of the information we need has been supplied but not all of it.
It is not us that’s the issue.”The situation has frustrated Blues boss, Mick Wadsworth, who was hoping to watch striker Glynn Hurst, and goalkeeper Andrew Murphy in pre-season action.He said:
“We’ve put a very good team together and our training has been going very well.“We’ve all been enthused about the start of the season, but the fact that we’ve been unable to play any of our pre-season friendlies has cast a cloud on our preparations.
“We’re just sticking with it at the moment and continuing to train in the hope that the situation can be resolved ahead of our first league game of the season.”
Wadsworth confirmed that trialist and centre back Mark Bower had yesterday agreed to join League Two club Darlington.
He said: “Mark had been training with us but he gave me a courtesy call yesterday to say that he had been offered a two-year deal at Darlington.
“I sensed he felt guilty about leaving us but I told him that he had to think about himself and his family and he has n
The club’s preparations for the start of next month’s Blue Square League Premier Division campaign have been disrupted following a directive issued by the Football Association.
The FA’s governance department has been in touch with the club to advise that they are not currently an affiliated club, which means Chester have been unable to fulfil their arranged friendlies.
Last weekend’s scheduled friendly match at Marine was cancelled, and now the Blues have been forced to postpone tonight’s match against Liverpool and this Saturday’s friendly at AFC Telford.
Meanwhile, Chester director, Bob Gray, says that everything is being done to remedy the situation in a bid to salvage the club’s remaining pre-season arrangements and put things in order before the start of the league season which is scheduled to kick-off at Grays Athletic on August 8.
He said: “We would like to reassure fans that we’re working hard to rectify the administrative issue with the Football Association and will rearrange our pre-season friendlies as soon as possible.
“I worked late last night to ensure the FA received everything they had requested and the club has solicitors and the administrators working hard to try and resolve the situation.
“Postponing tonight’s scheduled home friendly with Liverpool has hit us in our pockets because that game would have helped provide funds for the club ahead of the start of the season.“If we can save next week’s home friendly match against Burnley we will do, but the most important thing is to ensure everything is sorted out before we start our league season.
“I’ve been in constant contact with the FA and I’m confident we can clear up the situation before our game at Grays next month.
“The transfer of ownership from old company to new company is still in the hands of our solicitors and the administrators, and we are still hopeful of finding a solution acceptable to the FA.
“All the relevant paperwork that was requested has been forwarded to the FA. Technically, we could play friendly matches and I am still hopeful that we will receive our affiliation very soon.”
FA spokesman Mark Hooper said: “When clubs go into administration and transfer to a new owner, there are certain regulations every club has to meet to safeguard the financial integrity of the game.
“These regulations are outlined to the club and, to date, they (Chester City) haven’t met our rules. Some of the information we need has been supplied but not all of it.
It is not us that’s the issue.”The situation has frustrated Blues boss, Mick Wadsworth, who was hoping to watch striker Glynn Hurst, and goalkeeper Andrew Murphy in pre-season action.He said:
“We’ve put a very good team together and our training has been going very well.“We’ve all been enthused about the start of the season, but the fact that we’ve been unable to play any of our pre-season friendlies has cast a cloud on our preparations.
“We’re just sticking with it at the moment and continuing to train in the hope that the situation can be resolved ahead of our first league game of the season.”
Wadsworth confirmed that trialist and centre back Mark Bower had yesterday agreed to join League Two club Darlington.
He said: “Mark had been training with us but he gave me a courtesy call yesterday to say that he had been offered a two-year deal at Darlington.
“I sensed he felt guilty about leaving us but I told him that he had to think about himself and his family and he has n
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