A COMMUNITY safety boss dismissed calls for Monmouthshire's CCTV system to be monitored in local police stations. The much-criticised scheme was launched five years ago, with six cameras positioned in each of the county's town centres: Chepstow, Caldicot
A WARRANT was issued for the arrest of two dog owners after they were convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to their pet dog. Rhian Clayton, 26, and Nick Clements, 42, both of Ribble Walk, Bettws, had been due to appear before Abergavenny magistrates
I'M off to New Zealand tomorrow. It's a tough job but someone has to do it. Blah, blahAnd, no, I'm not escaping merely to avoid the hysteria surrounding Wales' now inevitable Grand Slam. I'm actually off to cover England's cricketing Test series. And
RESIDENTS in the small village of Argoed are in shock after thieves stole part of their school. The thieves dismantled and made off with an 8ft tall, 2ft wide dry-stone pillar from the gates of Argoed Primary. The school closed in December, and
AFTER the likes of Dan Carter, Schalk Burger and Luke McAlister cut their teeth playing international age group rugby, the World Cup stars of 2011 and beyond are sure to be heading to Gwent this summer. Yesterday marked the 100-day countdown to the IRB
TEN MONTHS ago, mum-of-five Marcia Clement was unhappy, unhealthy and weighed just under 25st. But today she is enjoying "a new lease of life" with her young family after shedding half her body weight. The Rogerstone mum now weighs 12st 12lbs and
NEWPORT Mayor Allan Morris urged students at Newport's university to opt for Fairtrade products after Newport was officially declared a Fairtrade city. The event included a talk by Patrick Jones, the director of Lisbon Estates in Mpumalanga, South
A MAN found dead in a house in Blackwood died as a result of blunt head and neck injuries and stab wounds to the chest, an inquest heard. The inquest into the death of John Stokes, 33, was opened in Newport yesterday. Gwent coroner's officer Howard
MO Nasir's bid for Beijing got off to a cracking start this weekend as he said Arrivederci to his nightmare 2007 with a stunning win in Italy, writes Michael Pearlman. Nasir, 22, the Yemen-born Commonwealth Games medallist, seems to be back to his best
A FIRE officer is gearing up for a gruelling two-week challenge in aid of the families of fallen heroes. Luke Phillips, 19, hopes to complete a 1,100-mile bike ride from John O'Groats to Land's End in just 14 days in September. The 19-year-old is
A WOMAN caused her pet to suffer unnecessarily because she claimed she loved him too much to take him to the vets in fear he would be put down. Alison James, 39, of Bryn Pica, Tredegar, pleaded guilty to failing to provide veterinary care for her male
HOW well do you sing Land of my Fathers? What better way to prove Wales really is the land of song than by singing the national anthem? We want to hear just how good the people of Gwent are at belting out Wales' national song. For St David's
ST Joseph's boxer Gary Buckland will step up his bid for a British or Commonwealth title shot by fighting live on Sky Sports next week, the Argus can reveal. Lightweight Buckland, 21, unbeaten in 12 bouts as a professional and already a Celtic champion
TWO teenage girls told a court yesterday they were sexually abused by a Gwent man. Glyndwr Jones, 71, of Castle Court, Pontywaun, Crosskeys is accused of thirty charges involving acts of gross indecency, indecent assault and committing serious sex
NEWPORT Gwent Dragons pair Michael Owen and Kevin Morgan, two of the Grand Slam heroes of 2005, are backing Wales to do it again next month. They are the only team which can bring off the Slam after winning all three Six Nations games this season. They
IF YOU wander lonely as a cloud in Abergavenny, be prepared to see a host of golden daffodils adorning one of the town's houses. Householder John Jenkins, 66, has chosen to celebrate St David's Day on Saturday and raise money for charity by covering
THE HUNT is on for a Gwent woman who could hold key evidence in the appeal of two men jailed for a brutal double murder 13 years ago. In 1995 Michael Attwooll, now 62, and John Roden, now 42, were jailed for life for the 1994 Risca taxi murders of
GRAHAM Reynolds, a sporting all-rounder who had a huge impact on Gwent sport, has died aged 70. Mr Reynolds served local football for nearly 50 years, latterly as the President of the Gwent FA, an organisation he joined in 1977. Mr Reynolds played football
NEWPORT Gwent Dragons coach Paul Turner is searching for a quality new outside half and a key forward in time for the start of next season. They would replace Ceri Sweeney and Michael Owen who are both quitting the Dragons when their contracts are up
THE lack of Scout leaders in Gwent is indeed a cause for concern. One assistant commissioner tells us today that there are at least 30 youngsters on a waiting list to join the Scouts in Monmouth and areas of Newport like the Gaer, Maesglas and Lliswerry
IT IS absolutely right that the outcome of the Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation into the conduct of four Gwent police officers was made public. In most other organisations the findings of such a hearing would remain confidential
TWO Gwent PCs are to resign after they used police cars to drive to Barry Island while on duty. The Independent Police Complaints Commission announced yesterday that two of the five police constables initially implicated in the force scandal were required
Welling 1 County 2 THERE is nothing like a win to change the mood at a football club. County fans, who were writing off their side's chances after the thrashing administered by leaders Lewes on Sunday, were once again full of the joys of an early spring
EPILEPSY support groups in England are casting envious eyes toward Wales following publication of plans to improve care for people living with the condition here, says a Gwent campaigner. But Jackie Bate, who chairs Gwent Epilepsy Group (GEG) and has
PUPILS from Deri View Primary School demonstrated their knowledge of science, and their understanding of IT when they put on an impressive PowerPoint presentation for parents. The nine children have been working with member of staff Kim Craik in a special
HAVING FUN: The half-term craft class for young people at Pandy Hall. From left: Andrew Lewis of Monmouthshire Youth Service; Helen Parry, Dan Cox, Angharad Price, Alex Howes, Jake Roberts, Lauren Rogers and PCSO Craig Gadd.
PUPILS at the three high schools of Monmouth are joining forces in looking for a project to undertake to raise funds for others who are less fortunate than themselves. At a recent meeting of the Joint Schools' Council, the young people of Monmouth Comprehensive
GIBRALTAR House nursing home in Monmouth really got into the spirit of Valentine's Day this year by arranging for a number of elderly couples to get together at the home and then surprising them with flowers. The home currently provides nursing and residential
MONMOUTH School Brass can be seen, and heard, at the Mayor's Charity Showcase Spectacular Concert which takes place on Thursday February 28. This fine young Brass Band will open the second half of the Concert, part of a full evening of entertainment.
FORMER Monmouth Comprehensive School pupil Chris Davies has successfully auditioned for the Welsh National Opera. Chris, pictured below, will be performing in their specially commissioned opera, The Calling of Maisy Day, written by award-winning composer
MONMOUTH County Council's plan for a new flagship Welcome Centre for visitors looks to set to move full steam ahead. The cabinet has agreed to meet a shortfall of £16,852 to ensure the project goes ahead in a bid to improve tourism ahead of the Ryder
Coming across a poetry competition and deciding to give it a go, Minetta Morris has discovered a talent for writing poetry, which has resulted in her publishing a book of her poems, entitled Country Thoughts which is based on local scenes and activities
The village of Skenfrith has a collection of cardboard and newspapers in white plastic sacks and a collection of garden waste in green bags (Green bags are available at £1 each from Handyman House in Monmouth). The collection is on a Monday usually around
The next Supper Club to be held in Skenfrith Hall will be on Saturday, March 1 and this will be the St. David's Day Supper. There will be Welsh Lamb Hotpot - for Vegetarians there will be a vegetarian option - followed by dessert and tea/coffee. Please
SIMON Haslett is better known in Usk as a popular folk singer and member of Usk Town Band, but he is equally passionate about the research he has carried out on the Severn estuary over the past decade. A professor and Head of Geography in Bath Spa's School
The next meeting is on Wednesday March 4 at 7.30 in Cwmyoy Hall. The speaker will be Chrys Blanchard who will talk about Singing for Fun'. All welcome. £2 for non-members which includes refreshments. More details from Glenda Buck on 01873/890850.
The Club's March meeting is on Monday, March 3, at 8pm in Cwmyoy Hall. Cath Barton will give a talk on" The Gardens of Sinai". These are desert gardens which are relevant for some of us who have dry gardens in a period of climatic change. Her talks
At the January meeting Mrs Anne Collier of Govilon took a humorous and, at times, moving look at the Welsh Mam' through poetry and prose readings. She captured her character further by donning hats, shawls and the cross-over pinny. We were reminded of
A new kitchen has been installed in the Hall thanks to a grant obtained by the Hall Management Committee from Rural Community Action. This means that the full refurbishment of the Hall is approaching completion. If you wish to hire the Hall for meetings
Gourmet Coffee that tickles your tastebuds - and your conscience! A coffee evening with a difference is being held at The British Legion Club, Newmarket Street on Monday March 3, at 7.30pm. It is part of the Fairtrade Fortnight in Usk, and focuses on
Chepstow Choral Society is now in the final weeks of preparation for another important major concert. The Society has always presented a choral programme in the pre-Easter period, with this year's taking place on Saturday March 8, the Society will perform
Crafts seem to have been a popular activity for Chepstow's youngsters this half-term. Such large numbers attended the sessions at Chepstow's Drill Hall that extra tables had to be set up in another room to accommodate everybody. The children had the
Chepstow has been recognised as a Fair Trade town for a year now. The award was presented to the Mayor on behalf of the town in the Rainbow Café on February 20, 2007. In the town you can now buy Fairtrade refreshments, coffee, bananas, wine and clothing
Chepstow Library became an exotic jungle in the imaginations of the children attending this half-term's story and craft-time. Librarians Sue and Sallyanne read No More Kissing by Emma Chichester Clark, The Lion poem from Roald Dahl's Dirty Beasts, The
A NEWPORT DJ is having his losing his famous hair to raise money for charity. Jon Hodson, known affectionately as 'Jon the Quiff', runs a night called drop your pants at the Bassment in Stow Hill. After 21 years of sporting his haircut, Mr Hodson
A WASTE site operator from Caldicot was ordered to pay over £30,000 for offences including keeping waste in a manner likely to cause harm to the environment and human health. The case against Gwilym Eirwyn Williams and his company, Woodstock Waste
HE had a gun put to his chest in Pakistan and was shot at by militants in Afghanistan. But now freelance documentary photographer Laurence Squire is helping to give underprivileged children from the Ukraine a chance to visit Gwent. Mr Squire, 37
Wales coach Warren Gatland has released nine of his 29-man RBS Six Nations squad to play for their regions and clubs this weekend, including scrum half Dwayne Peel at the player's own request. Peel underwent a final examination under consultant neurosurgeon
