A number of new faces have been settling into the two Local Policing Teams based at Ross-on-Wye in recent weeks. The Ross-on-Wye Town and Ross-on-Wye Rural areas now have new members of the their teams to ensure that each area has a Local Police Officer and two Community Support Officers.

PC Mark Robinson has taken over as Local Police Officer for the town following Jerry Coyd’s promotion to Sergeant at Hereford. He is joined in the team at the Old Maid’s Walk police station by CSOs Lisa Austin and Paul Cowmeadow. They can be contacted directly on 01432 346758 or by email at rossonwyetown.lpt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk.

Meanwhile, PC Wendy Powell continues as the Local Police Officer for the Ross-on-Wye Rural area, working alongside CSOs Paul Leighton and new recruit CSO Colin Davies. Sergeant Garry Telford continues to work with both of the Ross Local Policing Teams. The team can be contacted directly on 01432 346754 or by email at rossonwyerural.lpt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk.

Ross Councillor, the Reverend Derek Bedford raised money for his chosen charity during his year as Mayor of Ross-on-Wye by preaching ten sermons at Ross Market on Friday. Each sermon was sponsored to raise money for the charity, The Ross Educational Foundation.

When I went along on Friday, early in the day to take a photograph, I asked the Mayor how things were going. 'I aimed to raise £1,000 and already we have managed over £800, most of which was raised before the event,' he replied.

Councillor Bedford decided on a sponsored preach as this was more in his line. The past two mayors have held a 'Golf Day' but Councillor Bedford does not play golf.

Councillor Bedford is aiming to raise £4,000 for his chosen charity by the end of the year. Ross Education Foundation aims to give grants to anybody in education, from trainee plumbers to those going off to university.

Police in Herefordshire have issued a warning to motorists to be ‘switched on’ and remember to use their lights in poor lighting conditions - including fog. Foggy mornings in the past few days have highlighted the issue for the county’s Road Policing Team and officers from the unit say they have had to give warnings to countless motorists driving through fog with either just sidelights - or worse still - no lights on at all.

Using your headlights when visibility is poor is not just an issue about seeing where you are going. It is just as important for other motorists and pedestrians to be able to see you as well.

PC Bob Conway explained, 'A large number of motorists on the roads in Herefordshire are driving with no lights illuminated or just sidelights when visibility is poor, which can be extremely dangerous. While dealing with an incident on Saturday morning, when the fog was particularly bad, I had to stop and warn probably every third vehicle, as they could not be seen until they were nearly upon us. This is obviously a huge safety issue, both for the motorists themselves and for other road users and pedestrians.'

'People not using their lights during times of seriously reduced visibility are likely to receive a £30 Fixed Penalty fine and may even find themselves spending a day at court. It should be common sense to switch on your headlights when the visibility is poor, but sadly not everyone seems to be getting the message,' added PC Conway.

Perversely, there are also motorists who are driving with their fog lights on - but when there is no thick fog around, which is also an offence and a potential danger. Fog lights should only be used in times of seriously reduced visibility as their use at other times can dazzle oncoming motorists. Rear fog lights, meanwhile, can also obscure brake lights - so remember to turn them off when the fog lifts. Other forms of front spotlights (if fitted to the vehicle) should only be used when main beam headlights are in use. They should not be capable of being illuminated when driving with dipped headlights.

The message for motorists is a simple one - be ‘switched on’ and make sure your have the correct lighting for the conditions.

Tina Walton of the 'Green Eyed Monster Company' visited Ross Heritage Centre on Tuesday, during the half term break to give local children the opportunity to draw and make their own jewellery and some really funky body ornaments.

Pictured below with Tina and mums, Jules King and Rosina Hardwick are Luke, Amy, Liam, Henry and Poppy.

An excited Amy King, who has moved on from Bridstow Primary School is now enjoying her days at Barrs Court, had arrived before the others, as usual, and was looking forward to making her bling. 'Finally!' She exclaimed as Mary of the Heritage Centre opened the doors at 10 o'clock on the dot. Amy can be seen proudly wearing the crown that she made before most of the other kids had even arrived.

I am not very good at eating things which are good for me but a month or so ago, I decided that I would at least try to eat a little more healthily and started drinking strawberry and banana smoothies, from Asda in Hereford. Late last week however, my supply ran out so I went to Morrisons in Ross. They did not have strawberry and banana, so I bought two large bottles of the Orange and Mango variety.

Two days ago, I opened the first one in the Wyenot News office. I shook it, as it said on the bottle and as I took the lid off, it literally exploded, soaking the whole office in orange and mango gunk. There was a small amount left in the bottle, which I tried after having used a whole roll of kitchen towel to clean up the mess. It is only a matter of personal taste but I thought it taste disgusting - I had never tasted mango before and I never want to try another.

I had bought two, so thinking perhaps I had just shaken the first too much, as I did not care for the taste, I offered the second to Tina's son, Mike, warning him not to shake it. He was grateful and took it to the kitchen, where his girlfriend, Kirsty happened to be standing. You can guess what happened.. Yes - he opened it and it exploded - like a bomb. The walls, ceiling, floor and windows were plastered in sticky, yellow orange and mango gunk. What was worse, so was poor Kirsty - from head to foot!

Beware! If you have purchased an orange and mango smoothie from Morrisons recently and have not yet opened it, call the bomb disposal unit and get them to carry out a controlled explosion - or give it to somebody you don't like very much!

(I would like to stres at this point that I do like Mike and Kirsty - I was just not expecting the second one to explode.)

Parents and children were invited to a special story time at Ross Library on Tuesday to discover how to bring books alive by creating a 3D collage. The collage will be displayed in the library and is based on 'Pumpkin Soup', the award-winning picture book by Helen Cooper.

As can be seen, the event proved to be very popular and children had the chance to decorate a Pumpkin Patch recipe book to take home. There were seed packets to colour, with free pumpkin seeds to grow their own Pumpkin Soup.

The absolute deadline for Wyenot News stories and other items is 12:00, midday on Tuesday, for inclusion in the following day's edition.

PLEASE NOTE HOWEVER: This is an absolute deadline and not the time I am asking for articles to be sent in. Mondays and Tuesdays here at 'Wyenot News' are Hell with by far, the most events I cover occurring at the weekend. The photography that the public sees happening is only one tiny part of the whole picture (please excuse the pun) of running this weekly news publication and the bits of prep that people do not see, are actually the most time consuming part of getting the story out.

If at all possible, please send your story in as early as you can, rather than wait until the very last minute, so that I can have at least a fighting chance of getting to bed before 3:00 am every Tuesday and Wednesday morning after what has lately become two 18 hour working days on the trot.

Thank you very much for your understanding and help.

Alan

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