In this week's WNTV programme we follow the flooding of the River Wye over the whole weekend whilst taking in the view of the red planet, Mars - Santa stops by at a couple of places in Ross - Macmillan Ross hold their annual Christmas Quiz - Cards for Good Causes do well this year - A young singer sends us his CD/DVD - Dad Rock perform at the Barrel Inn.

Tina is a much better interviewer than I but she was working during one of the events covered, so I made an attempt at covering it alone. Sorry - I'm not so good at the business end of the camera. I'll try to improve though, if I have to do it again.

If you like Charlie's DVD/CD in this edition, which is in aid of Muscular Dystrophy, you can download the single from www.audiolunchbox.com.

Continued . . .

So far the WNTV television programmes have proved to be extremely popular and I can see WNTV being a big part of the future for 'Wyenot News'. Of all comments received so far, only one person has said that they prefer the photos and text - this was because the sound does not work on his computer'.

I have no immediate plans to do this but personally I would actually prefer to just run video and forget the photos. There are a few reasons for this but the main one is that believe it or not, it is far less time consuming to make the television programme than it is to produce the usual format of 'Wyenot News'. With only Tina and I working on it, 'Wyenot News' is growing and is becoming increasingly more difficult to compile in the time we have available. Final prep takes a full two days - and I mean 'full days' - 9:00 am until 2:00 am. Preparing the TV production can be achieved in an afternoon.

I also really quite enjoy filming and capturing life as it really happens rather than lining up a group of smiley people to pose for a still photograph.

We will, of course continue with the usual magazine format for the time being as this has a proven track record, but I am gradually going to move more in the direction of a weekly television programme at the expense of just some of the photos - for example, in cases where there would normally be dozens of photos covering the same topic, such as the carnivals, New Year's Eve and the all day musical events.

Although 'Wyenot News' of course needs paying advertisers to support it's existence (and a lot more of them). With both TV and photos, we are not limited for space as the printed media are and, covering events 24/7 plus running television means that we will be covering as much local news as possible without turning the publication into a glorified advertising publication.

Christmas Day falls on a Tuesday this year, which is our main news prep day and I have been given strict orders from 'er on the business end of the television camera, 'You will not be spending Christmas Day prepping the weekly news!' I quite agree. We have not had a holiday, or even a weekend away this year need to spend at least some time drinking mulled wine/cider together, stuffing our faces and blowing smoke rings with exotic pipe weed (cherry flavoured 'Borkum Riff' from the Butter Market, Hereford).

This year, we shall be taking the unprecedented step of not publishing an issue of 'Wyenot News' between Christmas and the New Year. I shall still cover events photographically, including those which take place on on Christmas day but shall not run them until the 2nd January 2008 edition.

Wyenot News will be published as usual next week, on 19th December but the following issue will not be published until Wednesday, January 2nd 2008.

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Please call 01989 564173 or email jo@wyetots.co.uk for vacancies

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With the heavy rainfall last week, river levels rose again over the weekend. Some minor roads were closed as a result of flooding and some were 'passable with care'.

With the water level reaching 15' 7'' in Hereford on Friday, which I believe was higher than during the July flood, I expected Ross to be hit quite badly. The water levels made for scenic views rather than troublesome floods in the end though. The rise and fall is covered more fully in this week's WNTV programme.

Verna Stephens sadly passed away on Thursday, 6th December following complications after surgery at the Wye Valley Nuffield Hospital in Hereford.

Verna was born in Nottingham on 31st January 1922. A single child, she went to the local grammar school and then art college. When the war came she joined the RAF and spent the war as a plotter in the operations rooms. This could be a hazardous occupation, having one night swapped her shift with a colleague who was then killed when the ops room was bombed. On another occasion, although she didn't realise at the time, she plotted the fateful last flight of Glenn Miller.

Towards the end of the war she was introduced to the aircrew of a mosquito night fighter. She thought the navigator who had just been awarded the DFC was much too old for her but relented when his paybook showed that he was actually nearly a year younger than her! Derek Stephens or 'Steve' proposed on VE night and they were married three months later. They had three children Greg, Judy and Nick and spent their early married life in London.

Verna and Steve moved to Ross in 1971 having bought Alton Court to serve as both home and offices and workshops for the family business. Verna immediately made friends in the town. Steve was President of the Rotary Club and the next year Verna was President of Inner Wheel. She was a great party organiser and loved to meet new people. She could start a conversation and become penpals with complete strangers on a bus!

Verna really enjoyed travelling and she and Steve went all over the world . She always said her favourite place that she had visited was Tonga where all the amply proportioned ladies made her feel really slim!

After Steve retired they bought an apartment in Cocoa Beach Florida. Even after Steve's death in 1993 Verna continued to overwinter there until her 80th birthday. She hated the winters and loved the summer lifestyle in Florida where she could usually be found chatting to friends by the side of the pool.

Verna loved her independence and was frustrated when she was unable to drive for a time when she developed heart problems. She wasn't keen on old age or anything that prevented her from enjoying her Scrabble, Creative Writing, Inner Wheel or Poetry Classes. Although during this last year she had suffered ill- health her zest for life was unquenchable.

Verna will be greatly missed by all her family and large circle of friends but she will be fondly remembered for her smile.

A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, 18th December at 12.45pm at Christ Church, Edde Cross Street to celebrate her life. Donations to 'Westlea Animal Rescue' in lieu of flowers please to William Bevan, 16 Old Gloucester Road.

Members of Ross Rotary Club held their annual Christmas party for the elderly of Ross on Saturday. This is an extremely popular event among the elderly of Ross, where those who went along enjoyed bagpipe music, played by Alan Harrison, to which they sang along and a concert given by Ross Town Band.

The event is covered more fully in this week's WNTV programme and I have to admit that I deliberately selected the extract taken from Ross Town Band's performance. The whole piece was actually a medley of Christmas carols but it finished with a verse of the Coventry Carol, which is in fact my personal favourite of all the Christmas music.

It was announced at the final meeting of 2007 of Ross Town Council that Herefordshire Council plan to increase parking charges in Ross-on-Wye in 2008. If the plan goes ahead, the minimum charge will rise from 30 pence to 40 pence, with the maximum charge for over four hours parking rising from £2.50 to £2.80. This will apply to all Herefordshire Council car parks with the exception of Wilton Road car park, where parking is free.

Although this is the first increase in charges since 2003, Ross Town Council as a whole feel that Ross is unfairly treated where parking issues are concerned and whilst the consultation period is still open, they intend to make their feelings known to Herefordshire Council.

Mayor Councillor Derek Bedford told the meeting that most market towns in Herefordshire have at least two car parks where parking is free and there is also free parking on Sundays and Bank Holidays in these towns. 'If they can have it, why can't Ross ?'

'Wyenot News' wholeheartedly agrees with you, Mr. Mayor!

Before the meeting began, two representatives from Welsh Water addressed the council on the matter of necessary work that they need to carry out in and around Ross-on-Wye. They informed the council that although some disruption may be caused by their work on the drinking water supply, they will be doing their best to keep this to a minimum and will be working on one street at a time.

The most disruption during the work which is due to begin mid February 2008, will occur around the Morrison's roundabout. There will be traffic lights in place and the work in that area is not expected to last for more than two weeks. When asked what state the roads would be in after the work was completed, the representatives answered that generally, they put the roads back in a better state than before they started. Having seen their examples of their work in Llangarron and Llangrove, Councillor Jenny Hyde said that she had been impressed and had every faith in them.

Santa will be very pleased to know that Ross Town Council agreed without hesitation to donate £250 towards his annual visit to Ross-on-Wye, when he gives each child a Christmas present.

We would like to congratulate the Mayor, the Reverend Derek Bedford on the results of his recent sponsored preach. To date over £2,500 has been raised for his chosen charity, the Ross Education Trust and there is still more money coming in.

Ross Town council care deeply about how the town looks to its visitors and on Monday it was brought to the council's attention Shop Fronts Grants are still available, but there is a limited time left to apply. So, if your town premises needs a bit of a tidy up or some work doing which would enhance the look of the town, contact the Town Clerk, Mrs. Denise Mason as soon as possible. She will tell you how and where to apply for a grant.

A new Deputy Town Clerk has been appointed by Ross Town Council. Rachel Lewis will take up her new post on 14th January 2008. Congratulations Rachel.

GET YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS FOUND!

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(Payable in advance. Page placement dependent on amount of news during any one week.)

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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