A WOMAN who has lived in the Ilminster area all her life celebrated her 100th birthday two weeks ago. Ivy Hallett was born to Ben and Emma Sweet on December 3 1907, one of sixteen children. She grew up in Lower Street, Merriott, and moved to Whitelackington
NEW equipment has been commissioned at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton to enable more keyhole surgery to be carried out. Consultant gynaecologist David Wrede said "Laparoscopic or keyhole surgery is the way forward. It is far better for patients,
RECEPTION and year one pupils from Redstart School, Chard, perform their nativity in front of a packed audience. *For more pictures of Christmas plays happening in the area this week pick up a copy of the News - out on Wednesday!
VOLUNTEERS at Chard Museum are getting frustrated with mischievous squirrels and birds who are destroying its thatched roof. Thatchers have been called to the council-owned property on numerous occasions to replace armfuls of straw which have been torn
BETTER care for the chronically ill, significantly shorter hospital waiting times and the replacement of four of the county's oldest hospitals - these are just some of the positive benefits people living in Somerset can expect over the next five years
POLICE in Chard are appealing for the public's help to identify thieves who attempted to steal lead from the roof of a shop in the town. Some time overnight on Wednesday, December 5, going into the following morning, Thursday, unknown offenders got onto
RESIDENTS are once again being urged to write to district planners to object to development plans for the historic Manor Farm site in Tatworth. Country Village Homes, of Ashill, has submitted a planning application to South Somerset District Council
GROUPS in the Chard area who are looking for funding to help with projects are being urged to find out how they can win some cash from South Somerset District Council. The Opportunity Chard event follows a series of similar successful initiatives held
THREE Wadeford brothers have ridden their way to success in moto cross. Will, Edward and Charles Turner, grandsons of photographer Dave Wheadon, are all members of the Poole and Parkstone Moto Cross Club, returned from the annual awards evening at Ringwood
THE ORGANISERS of an emergency management group in Tatworth and Forton are growing angry at being held up by red tape. A Community Parish Emergency Manage-ment Group is being formed between the residents' action group, parish council, villagers and other
THE Tatworth and Forton area could suffer devastating flooding similar to Boscastle in 2004 unless prevention schemes are put in place now, it has been claimed. Flash floods three years ago saw havoc in the Cornish seaside village when a torrent ten
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 47-year-old woman was headbutted in an assault in Fore Street, Chard. Police have just revealed that the incident happened at about 11.50pm on Sunday, December 9, at the Phoenix pub. The woman, who is from
THE Perry Street League was decimated on Saturday, with all but one of the fixtures postponed following last week's persistent rain. In the only match to survive, Chard Rangers Res beat Misterton Res 2-0 away in Division Four. The blankout elsewhere
A CHARD politician is unhappy after being expelled from the Liberal Democrat group at Somer-set County Council. Cllr Paul Buchanan, who represents Chard North at County Hall, was notified on December 5 that his membership of the LibDem group had been
WORK on Chardstock's new £3-million primary school is set to start soon. Children and staff could move into the new Church of England school at Easter 2009 if everything goes according to plan. A planning application has now been approved for the new
TEACHERS at Holyrood Community School in Chard are going digital in a bid to cut down on the school's paper consumption by 15 per cent. The school is digitising its student and administration records to allow teachers access to call them up on computer
ANOTHER day of action aimed at reducing children truanting from schools in Chard and the surrounding area has been hailed a success. Officers from Somerset County Council took part last Wednesday in truancy sweeps in the town and local villages along
NEW plans have been put forward to South Somerset District Council for a housing development to be built at the rear of the Shrubbery Hotel in Ilminster. Applicant Stuart Shepherd has applied for permission to build five homes along with associated car
PERFORMANCE information for tests sat by ten-year-olds have shown some fine achievements among schools in the Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne area. The Key Stage 2 performance tables released last week by the Government show the percentage of Year 6 pupils
A LOCAL councillor has this week spoken of her of upset and anger' at resigning from her voluntary role at the tourist information centre in Chard. The on-going problems with the alleged conflict of interest in her work as a town councillor and at the
REISDENTS are concerned about planned proposals to build a new car park and eight affordable homes in Tatworth. Dorchester-based Hastoe Housing Association, in conjunction with the Community Council for Somerset, are preparing to bid for Government money
