Headlines for May 2006

• New rain gauge will give more time in fight against flooding - Wednesday, May 31 2006
  In a new step to improve flood warning systems in the Borders, Scottish Borders Council is installing a tipping rain gauge near Selkirk in early July. The device improves upon existing river gauges by measuring the intensity of rainfall and giving a flood risk warning before river levels rise.
• New Ways seminar to examine biofuel opportunities - Tuesday, May 30 2006
  A New Ways seminar for land managers who are interested in diversifying into biofuels is being held at Tweed Horizons, Newtown St Boswells, on Thursday, 8 June.
• Paths consultations for Jedburgh and Hawick - Tuesday, May 30 2006
  Public consultations on Scottish Borders Council's Core Path Plan are being held in Jedburgh next week and Hawick the week after.
• Howdenburn moves ahead with School Travel Plan - Tuesday, May 30 2006
  Howdenburn Primary School in Jedburgh has started a School Travel Plan project.
• Highland Games for Hawick this Saturday - Tuesday, May 30 2006
  The third annual Hawick Highland Games and Pipe Band Championships will take place on Saturday, 3 June at the town's Volunteer Park.
• Council officer is rewarded after 20 years as examiner - Monday, May 29 2006
  Martyn Buckley, Scottish Borders Council's Accounting & Projects Manager, has been awarded the 2006 Ian Doig Prize by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Cipfa) in Scotland.
• Borders' largest children's play area to open on 3 June - Monday, May 29 2006
  After 13 years of hard work and preparation, the Tweedbank Play Park, Sports Multi Court and Picnic Area will be officially opened by this year's Tweedbank Lad and Lass, Lewis Armstrong and Gemma Knapper, on Fair Saturday, 3 June.
• Peebles student wins Pushkin Prize for creative writing - Monday, May 29 2006
  Sam Bruton, a second-year pupil at Peebles High School, has been awarded an International Pushkin Prize for creative writing.
• Wanted - Foster families for children across the Borders - Tuesday, May 23 2006
  Following the National Foster Care Fortnight campaign, Scottish Borders Council's Family Placement Team is looking to recruit foster families across the Borders who can offer full time, respite or short breaks care for young people.
• Time running out to apply for new bus pass - Monday, May 22 2006
  Transport bosses are urging older and disabled people in the Borders not to miss the bus on a free Scotland-wide travel scheme.
• Women's hockey 7-a-side to resume in June - Monday, May 22 2006
  The Borders 2006 seven-a-side women's hockey programme gets underway on 14 June at Galashiels, Duns and Hawick.
• National Walk to School Week 22 - 26 May - Thursday, May 18 2006
  Twenty-six primary schools in the Scottish Borders region have signed up to participate in next week's National Walk to School Week which is being promoted by Scottish Borders Council.
• New group to co-ordinate 125th anniversary of Eyemouth fishing disaster - Thursday, May 18 2006
  A new group "125 Memorial Association" has been established to co-ordinate events marking the 125th anniversary of the East Coast Fishing Disaster this year.
• Information pack to beat bogus callers - Tuesday, May 16 2006
  An information pack to help beat bogus callers is available from Scottish Borders Council.
• Council to offer Equal Pay compensation - Monday, May 15 2006
  Scottish Borders Council is taking positive action to settle potential Equal Pay claims. In doing so, SBC is acting to provide the best possible terms for its workforce, and to maintain good employee relations.
• A celebration of Newfoundland in the Scottish Borders - Monday, May 15 2006
  Two entertainers from the shores of Newfoundland, Jim Payne and Fergus O'Byrne, arrive in the Borders this month during an extensive tour of Northern England and Scotland. They bring Wave over Wave, a collection of songs, tunes and stories from the most easterly province in Canada to Smailholm Village Hall on Friday 19 May.
• Mini Clan Thistle Run returns to Eyemouth - Friday, May 12 2006
  The Mini Clan - the fan club which celebrates the Mini car in all its forms - is making a welcome return to Eyemouth on Sunday 28 May in its first Thistle Run to the town since 2002.
• Children learn composting skills to reduce garden waste - Tuesday, May 9 2006
  Pupils in the Borders are making the most of the waste from their gardens with new composters. Scottish Borders Council is delivering home composters to schools to mark Compost Awareness Week (7-14 May) and help pupils turn garden waste into energy for flowers and vegetables.
• Paths consultations for East Berwickshire area - Tuesday, May 9 2006
  Further times and venues for the first round of public consultations on Scottish Borders Council's Core Path Plan have now been confirmed. They are for the community council areas of Cockburnspath, Coldingham, St Abbs, Grantshouse, Reston and Auchencrow, Ayton, Burnmouth, Foulden, Mordington and Lamberton.
• SBC and Scottish Arts Council pledge £150,000 to save Eastgate Theatre - Tuesday, May 9 2006
  Scottish Borders Council put the final touches to a rescue package for the Eastgate Theatre, Peebles on Thursday 27 April when it agreed a single support payment of £75,000, plus £60,000 in revenue support for 2006/7.
• Hawick High School wins Safe T in the Park Challenge - Tuesday, May 9 2006
  A team of pupils from Hawick High School, winner of the Safe T in the Park Challenge 2005, was presented with its prizes on Friday, 28 April at Selkirk High School.
• Kelso Library celebrates 100 years of reading - Monday, May 8 2006
  A new outdoor reading area and a new lamp at the library entrance will mark the Centenary of the opening of the Kelso Library when Scottish Borders Council Convener and local Councillor, Alasdair Hutton presides over a day of events on 16 May.
• Excellent team creates very effective service - Thursday, May 4 2006
  Scottish Borders Autism Spectrum Support was inspected in January 2006 as part of a national sample of provision for pupils with additional support needs.
• Council has acted properly on planning, says QC - Thursday, May 4 2006
  Scottish Borders Council has "in no way" acted improperly or unreasonably in fulfilling its statutory planning duties, according to legal Opinion.
• SBC Officer wins top CIPFA Award - Wednesday, May 3 2006
  The Ian Doig Prize is awarded each year to an individual in recognition of their innovation, leadership and support to CIPFA in Scotland. This year the award has gone to Martyn Buckley SBC Accounting and Projects Manager.
• Community Plan receives Council approval - Wednesday, May 3 2006
  Scottish Borders Councillors have approved the final draft of the New Ways Community Plan, which sets down a 10-year vision for the Borders.
• HMIe Inspection - Coldstream Primary School - Wednesday, May 3 2006
  Coldstream Primary School praised in their latest January report by the inspection team.
• HMIe Inspection - Reston Primary School - Wednesday, May 3 2006
  Reston Primary Schoool praised by inspectors after January visit.
• More public consultations on paths - Wednesday, May 3 2006
  Further times and venues for the first round of public consultations on Scottish Borders Council's Core Path Plan have now been confirmed.