Residents and councillors will meet in Jedburgh tonight to talk about improving the town’s flood defences.

Around fifty homes and businesses were damaged, some of them badly, when the Skiprunning Burn overflowed at the beginning of the month.

The town’s community council wants to tackle the issue and reduce the risk of a repeat of the flooding.

Scottish Borders Council has commissioned engineering consultants to assess what happened. Their report is expected at the beginning of September.

The council has applied for emergency financial assistance from the Scottish Government to help them cope with the clean up.

Ettrick and Yarrow valley residents get a sight of how they and their neighbours think the area should develop early next month

The Southern Upland Partnership (SUP), targeted 378 homes in Ettrick, Ettrickbridge, Yarrow, Bowhill and Philiphaugh, with the community development plan it had drawn.

Questionnaires were completed by 178 housholds and the results will be open to view in the Yarrowford Hall on September 3, between 3pm-7pm, and at www.sup.org.uk

Respondents’ ages ranged from pre-school to retired over-75s. Of these, 13 per cent said they disliked nothing about living in the valleys, 11 per cent lamented a lack of bus service, 10 per cent a lack of shops, 10 per cent dangerous roads, and eight per cent the lack of broadband coverage.

What people liked most about living in the valleys were the peace and quiet (38 per cent), the scenery and outdoors (35 per cent), and the sense of community and friendly neighbours (18 per cent).

The research revealed a strong demand for homes in the area – 28 per cent of respondents know people who would like to live there – but of the 38 Selkirk High School pupils who responded, just under half said they would not stay after school or university, fewer than a third per cent said they would.

Incentives they said might keep them there incfluded: jobs, cheaper travel, affordable homes, faster technology and shops, and 87 per cent would like a Saturday bus.

Thirty-eight per cent of respondents work in the valleys, with local businesses employing 41 people.

Identified business weaknesses include: a lack of young people and entrepreneurs’ and a lack of local jobs. Thirty-one per cent of those surveyed would like to start a business or be part of a co-operative, and 39 per cent would be interested in sharing their skills and knowledge.

“The sheer range of skills and talent in the valleys is amazing,” reported the SUP’s Pip Tabor. “There’s great potential for the community, if only we could tap into it.”

Twenty-one land owners would be willing to make land available for the community.

Community threats identified by respondents include: an aging and declining population, afforestation, rising fuel costs, loss of local businesses and jobs, houses being used as holiday and second homes, not having the same access as others to services such as transport, communications (broadband and mobiles), loss of community assets (shop, pub, school), and road conditions.

Respondents’ ideas for development included: using local resources to create renewable energy; nature-based tourism and adventure sports on St Mary’s Loch and the rivers; and the marketing the area on the basis of its richness of culture and history.

There are 668 bed spaces available to tourists through camping, caravan, cottage, B&B, hotel and youth hostel accommodation.

“There was an assumption before that there wasn’t enough accommodation in the area to host a big event,” said Mr Tabor. “Now we know that’s not true.”

More opportunities suggested include: encouraging forestry companies to employ local labour, better use of village halls and other buildings and a skills audit to see what knowledge and skills are in the local area.

“It’s now up to local people to carry on the community development plan if they wish,” said Mr Tabor.

“The project runs out of Leader funding in March next year, so we need people to keep things moving, or else everything will just go back to sleep.”

Gala Academy and Selkirk High are the first schools in the Borders to get a computer upgrade.

Testing of new general software and specialist softwarde to support the curriculum will continue.

By summer 2014 the £3.1million upgrade programme, which was approved in 2011, will extend to all 72 schools run by Scottish Borders Council.

Schools have been allow3ed to chose how their budget is spent on equipment they need for the Curriculum for Excellence, including desktop computers, laptops and netbooks,.

The scheme will mean that schools’ IT equipment is administered centrally from the SBC headquarters in Newtown St Boswells, cutting the costs of sending specialist staff to schools when help is needed.

The replacement programme has been designed so that the oldest equipment is replaced first. Equipment that can not be used on the new system will have all data removed and be refurbished or recycled to current environmental standards.

The hunt is on for and unsung health hero and Borderers are invited to nominate an NHS workers who has particularly impressed with their skill and dedication.

The Scottish Health Awards, which include the unsung hero award, recognise workers in all aspects of healthcare, from doctors and nurses to care workers to professionals who encourage a healthier lifestyle to volunteers.

To see the full list of awards or nominate a health hero, go to www.scottishhealthawards.com. The deadline is September 10

For family reasons I recently spent a short time in California’s Salinas Valley. It was a great experience.

I’m a fan of John Steinbeck, author of The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, Of Mice And Men and Cannery Row among many others. The Salinas Valley is where he grew up and the background to many of his books, notably The Grapes of Wrath.

That dealt with the impoverished, small-farm families displaced and dispossessed by the 1930s Dust Bowl depression that devastated the American Mid-West. With little more than the clothes they wore and dilapidated trucks liable to frequent punctures and breakdowns and barely enough money to buy petrol, families from the Mid-West headed over the mountains for a California that seemed like the promised land.

There, they found they were looked on and treated as virtual slave labour by the fruit and vegetable growers of the lush west coast, such as those in the Salinas Valley.

Knowing that what had become a captive labour force – no money, little food, nowhere to live, nowhere to go – desperate for any income, the growers forced wages down and down for casual jobs such as picking peaches.

It’s one of life’s recurring mysteries, at least to me, that employers making profits try to make even more by squeezing their labour force, instead of giving them a fair deal and establishing a reasonable relationship rather than accumulating bitterness and grievances.

Usually and eventually, labour gets the chance to squeeze the bosses, for instance in the anarchic British car industry of 30 years or so ago or London tube drivers before the Olympics.

But organised and/or successful revolt by farm workers, especially seasonal and casual, has seldom happened. Steinbeck detailed why in several of his books and short stories, making himself so unpopular with fruit and vegetable growers by pinning the blame squarely on them that he left California to live in New York.

That was a long time ago and the workers being squeezed were white, dirt-poor Americans.

Today the Salinas Valley is described as America’s salad bowl and anyone who has visited the US knows what that means in a country where food is an obsession of two extremes.

One is the burger, hot dog, waffles and maple syrup and crispy bacon culture that produces the huge, waddling Americans seen on many a TV screen. The counter to that is the fitness freaks jogging, and huge fresh food supermarkets such as Wholefoods, much of it fair trade and organic, where the choice of home-grown fruit and vegetables is astonishing.

Many, stacked in pyramids three feet high, come from the tens of thousands of valley-bottom acres in the Salinas Valley, mile after mile of green salad crops grown in a climate that can produce crop after crop all year round.

Not far away there is Gilroy, “garlic capital of the world”, according to its residents, and that isn’t far from Castroville, “artichoke capital of the world”. Right along much of the Californian coast strawberries, peaches, cherries, vines, apples, tomatoes and much more are grown. Many, even there, are now under plastic to produce even bigger crops with fewer problems.

It’s a magnificent example of top quality farm management, marketing and distribution. And the labour force it is based on? Not too far removed from Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath – mainly Mexican and Hispanic migrants, many illegal, living in poor accommodation and paid low wages on the same “squeeze them hard, plenty more willing to do the job if they won’t” mentality faced by Steinbeck’s Joad family 80 years ago.

Apart from the homeless and destitute found in most American cities, as in London and Edinburgh, migrant workers in America’s most fertile and productive fields are probably the lowest rung of the capitalist economy. An underclass certainly helps profits.

It’s ironic that the Salinas Valley was looking so green, with many irrigation systems at full bore, while vast areas of the US suffer the worst drought for more than half a century with temperatures in the high 90s for much of July and August. The average, night and day, was 77.6F, eclipsing the record set in the Dust Bowl states in 1936.

The effect that has had on US crop estimates and prices has been reflected on world markets and on British crop prices where a late-ish harvest is now under way. Earlier this year the US department of agriculture was forecasting a bumper grain and soya harvest after farmers had sown their biggest acreage in 75 years.

Drought and heat mean that even with that big acreage, total yield will be well below the average of the past two decades.

The slump in yield has caused consternation about the ethanol industry – the US government requiremes oil companies to blend more than 13 billions gallons of ethanol, extracted from corn, into fuel for vehicles.

Senators from the farming states say that ethanol extraction in a year of low yields has forced up prices for feed for livestock and poultry. It all sounded familiar.

Meantime a touch of US high temperatures and consistent dry weather would help our own harvest. But not too high.

INNERLEITHEN Music Festival went clueless last weekend, as it held its first busking competition to mark its 10th anniversary.

Clueless was, in fact, the name of a guitar and fiddle trio of teenagers who picked up Innerleithen’s first busking title.

But, as ever, there was plenty performers not just on the High Street, but in venues across the Tweeddale town.

Pam Fraser, chair of the festival’s organising committee, told TheSouthern: “It has been a wonderful weekend, not just with the top-class acts playing to large crowds at the Memorial Hall, but with all the other events round the town.

“The Vale Club was packed all weekend, with music fans enjoying a series of great local musicians, whilst the High Street was buzzing in the sunshine with both locals and visitors on Saturday, entertained by participants in our first ever busking competition.”

Proceedings were kicked off on Friday night by Orkney siblings The Wrigley Sisters, who supported the ever popular Battlefield Band.

The opening appearance of the four-piece in the festival’s 10th year was apt, seeing as the Battlefield Band were the first to play at the event back in 2003.

Saturday saw Innerleithen favourites St Ronan’s Silver Band start the day’s entertainment, followed by the Galashiels-based String Jam Club taking a series of talented Borders musicians up the A72 to perform in front of a festival audience.

Innerleithen’s own Tommy Ashby was on the bill, along with a host of other performers for Live and Local Fringe in the Vale Club on Saturday afternoon, before the festival’s headline concert of Dougie MacLean and Manran in the Memorial Hall.

Made famous by Caledonia, MacLean’s songwriting talents extend well beyond his much-covered track about being homesick, highlighted by his Saturday night set.

While not nearly so well known, Manran have built up a strong reputation, having won two Scots Trad Music Awards last year, and festival committee member Robin Dempsey described the band’s performance as “terrific”, making them a name to watch out for in the future.

Sunday included a celebration of Sir Walter Scott and the Traditional Singers concert finale headlined by the Barbara Dymock Band.

Pam added: “A big thank you to all our sponsors and local businesses that enabled this festival to take place – still viable after 10 years – no mean feat in this financial climate, and because money is tight it is even more appreciated.

“With workshops in fiddle, guitar, percussion, song and Irish dance, a community market and a historical walk, all tastes were catered for.

“They were rocking in the Vale Club, crooning in the Masons, and the best possible noise was coming out of the Union Club.”

Gala Opera is back in action for another season.

Preparations for its 2013 production got under way last week at the opening rehearsal.

This year’s musical is Guys and Dolls – a return to a Broadway classic which the society has performed on two previous occasions in its 106-year history.

This is a well-loved show, familiar to most and full of popular songs for audiences to enjoy – including Sit down, You’re Rockin the Boat, If I were a Bell, Luck be a Lady, Take Back Your Mink and Guys and Dolls.

Production and musical direction will once again be in the capable hands of Jeff Thomson, who continues to combine his day job as principal teacher of expressive arts at Earlston High School – where his school productions have become famous throughout the Borders – with his role at Gala Opera.

Jeff celebrated his 20th year with the society last year and he has been instrumental in the huge success of recent shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers which were so well received by Galashiels audiences.

Anyone interested in joining the company for the 2013 season should come to the Burgh School, Galashiels, at 7pm on Monday when they will learn more about what is involved, either on stage or behind the scenes.

The show will be performed in the town’s Volunteer Hall from March 4-9.

THE public this week had their first glimpse of the purpose-built visitor centre that forms part of the near £15million transformation of Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford home.

The £4million architect-designed centre – which opened on Monday, is a short distance from the main house and free to enter – is part of a master plan developed by the Abbotsford Trust to create a world-class visitor attraction and centre of learning about Scott and his works. The centrepiece of the building is an exhibition about the world’s first best-selling author from his birth in Edinburgh in 1771, his family life, education and his successful literary career to his ruin during the financial crash of 1825-6 and his cultural legacy to Scotland and the world.

Books of ballads, poems, myths and legends from Scott’s library are displayed with paintings, engravings, letters, manuscripts and information panels telling about the man and the influences that led him to dominate world fiction and fuel a worldwide vogue for all things Scottish.

Many objects are on display for the first time and include the design books and accounts for the construction of Scott’s beloved Abbotsford home and visitors’ books containing the signatures of notable figures including Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte and Oscar Wilde who came to Abbotsford after Scott’s death.

Other items on show include the egg-timer Scott used to set the pace of his writing and increase production as he attempted to write himself out of a £126,000 debt – the equivalent of £10million today – after his publisher and printmaker collapsed in 1826. The visitor centre also includes an installation by Scottish artist Claire Barclay commissioned by the trust as part of its efforts to illustrate Scott’s story in a relevant and engaging way.

There is a shop and a dining space, named Ochiltree’s after a character in Scott’s novel, The Antiquary. It overlooks the main house, which is being refurbished and will reopen next year.

Trust chief executive Jason Dyer said that while Scott may have been the world’s first literary superstar in the 19th century, by the 20th century his reputation had waned and his books were rarely read.

“The new visitor centre is the first step in an effort to change that and remind people that Sir Walter Scott is a towering figure in literary and cultural terms at home and abroad,” said Mr Dyer.

Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “This is a major milestone in the transformation of Abbotsford into a significant tourist destination bringing visitors and income to the Scottish economy, while celebrating the life of a great national hero.”

More than £12million has been raised as part of the trust’s campaign to save Abbotsford. Major funders include the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Scottish Government and Historic Scotland, Scottish Borders Council and Scottish Enterprise, as well as private individuals and charitable trusts.

Fundraising continues, with £2.5million still needed to guarantee Abbotsford’s future.

The new building is conceived as a modern version of a gate lodge to Abbotsford, welcoming visitors and guarding the entrance to Sir Walter Scott’s intimate world.

The two-storey building’s lightweight glazed and timber construction contrasts with the highly decorated style of the main house and is in harmony with its woodland setting.

The building’s simple rectangular shape was designed to let in as much natural light as possible to reduce the need for artificial lighting; it also allows large parts of the premises to be naturally ventilated. The building is super-insulated and provides a high level of air-tightness. Other environmental features include; mechanical ventilation heat recovery, rainwater-harvesting, under-floor heating and a ground source heat pump that fulfils a significant proportion of the building’s heating and hot water needs.

The car park and the landscape were designed to retain as many trees as possible and to enhance the site’s biodiversity through the re-planting of native species and the use of a sedum roof.

Kenny Paterson asked opinions on the centre’s second day

Jill O’Brien, of Darnick, with children Mollie and Brodie, said: “I came to Abbotsford years ago, but we saw the visitor centre was opening this week so thought we would pop in and have a look.

“We are quite impressed and the building looks great. I think it will get busier once the house opens. I don’t think many tourists will travel far distances without the house being open.”

Elizabeth Fraser, from Galashiels, said: “I think it is lovely. I have been in both Monday and Tuesday. They have done very well, but I just hope they get enough visitors throughout the year to make it viable.

“It is a big improvement. The old car park on the other side of the road was lethal and I used to really hestiate coming out of there with the old people crossing the road.

“It is also on the Borders Abbey Way which means it will be lovely for walkers to pop in for a coffee.”

Catherine Hamilton, from Galashiels, said: “It will be a lovely place to bring friends to visit for a meal. I am sure it will draw people into the surrounding towns and villages.

“Abbotsford House’s opening will be a big attraction, but there are already a lot of people here today, which is very encouraging.”

Godfrey and Rosamund Crofts, from Derbyshire, were on holiday in Kelso.

Godfrey said: “We saw an article in a national newspaper about the opening and decided to come round. The visitor centre is lovely, really good. I am not a big Walter Scott fan, but have heard of him.

“It is a shame the house is not open, but hopefully we can come and see that next time. We lived in Scotland a few years ago and still are very interested in all things Scottish.”

Rosamund told us: “This is the best facility we have been to in the Borders. Although I am not a Scott fan, the centre is very interesting.”

Whereas Dawson International PLC has dominated the headlines in TheSouthern in recent weeks as the future of Barrie Knitwear in Hawick is threatened, it was all so different in 1983.

This photograph, taken from our archive, shows the top table guests at the Scottish College of Textiles centenary dinner in November of that year.

One of the speakers was Sir Alan Smith, president of Dawson International. Proposing the toast to the college – past, present and future, he spoke of the problems facing the industry, but added that life was never meant to be easy.

He said marketing his brands was made all the easier as the goods were made in Scotland, and that all over the world, the “made in Scotland” brand stood for quality and craftsmanship.

Looking to the future for the textile trade, he said: “There are going to be difficulties and challenges, but we can knock spots off the opposition, providing we work hard and get on with it.”

Of course, the industry, even then, was taking a terrible battering as customers elected to head east for cheaper deals.

But there were plaudits for the college from another local textile giant, Sir Russell Sanderson, who replied to Sir Alan’s toast.

He said: “The excellence of an education learned at an institution such as this concerns one thing only, and that is the ability of some to teach and others to learn, and in this connection I believe that the textile industry has been well served by the college over the past century.”

He also revealed that Scottish Secretary of State George Younger had given the green light for a Scottish Textiles Technical Centre to be set up in Galashiels.

The picture shows, back row from left: Ian McKenzie Gray; Sir Russell Fairgrieve; Sir Russell Sanderson; Sir Alan Smith; college principal Cyril Furniss; and James Walker. Front row from left: Mrs Helen Gray; Lady Fairgrieve; Lady Sanderson; Lady Smith; Jennifer Furniss and Anna Walker.

A father was almost twice the alcohol limit when he crashed his car driving back from a party with his five-year-old daughter.

The vehicle was badly damaged after it crashed through a fence and rolled into a field, before coming to rest on the carriageway.

Asked if he had been drinking, Andrew Murray claimed to have had “a nip of whisky” in the back of the ambulance while being taken to Borders General Hospital for treatment.

The 42-year-old, who is addressing an alcohol problem, sustained broken ribs, while his daughter had bruising to her pelvis, chest and shoulder.

Murray, of Kings Park, Choppington, Northumberland, was fined £510 and banned from the road for two years after he admitted driving on the A697 near Lauder on March 13 last year with a blood/alcohol reading of 159mgms – the legal limit being 80.

Depute procurator fiscal Tessa Bradley told how Murray had driven to his wife’s address, where he had lunch with his family, before leaving around 1pm to take his daughter to a party in Duns.

“At 4.45pm, as he drove north on the A697, his vehicle left the road and went over a grass verge and through a fence, rolling into a field and coming back to rest on the main carriageway,” explained Ms Bradley. “The car had significant damage and all the windows were smashed.”

Two ambulances attended, while passers-by stopped to assist. “Those who had stopped had concerns that he had been drinking, and passed those concerns to the paramedics and police,” continued Ms Bradley.

“It wasn’t possible to get a roadside breath test, as there was a fault with the machine,” she added.

Murray and his daughter were both taken to hospital for treatment, and when he arrived at the accident and emergency department, the accused was examined by a doctor, who also expressed concern over alcohol.

“He told police he was an alcoholic and he had a nip of whisky in the back of the ambulance, and had put the bottle in a bin outside A&E,” continued the prosecutor, adding: “He then changed his mind about where he had put the bottle, which wasn’t found.”

Ms Bradley said a sample was taken and a back-calculation led to the reading in the charge.

Murray’s solicitor said his client was a staff nurse for the prison service in the north of England, having pursued a nursing career for some 13 years. “He has made his best efforts to address difficulties with alcohol and has been sober now for 12 months,” he added.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond told Murray: “The dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol are well known for the dangers they represent to the public at large. The distressing fact in this case is that you were prepared to put your daughter at risk, and it is more by good luck that the consequences were not tragic.”

In imposing sentence, Sheriff Drummond said he took account of Murray’s unblemished driving record and the fact he had taken steps to address a pre-existing alcohol problem.

PLANS to close a road linking Hawick with the Ettrick Valley in order to accommodate a wind farm are to be discussed next week.

Two information days will be held in Roberton detailing the 10-turbine Langhope Rig scheme, which will sit between Ettrickbridge and Ashkirk.

Staff from developers SSE Renewables and Scottish Borders Council’s roads department will be on hand to answer questions, with the main issue likely be the lengthy closure of the B711 road to strengthen Martin’s Bridge near Hawick, which will be used to carry the huge turbines to the Langhope Rig site.

The closure was due to start on August 7 and last for 18 weeks, but it is believed local anger from Roberton residents - as well as timber and farm transporters who faced a detour of at least 12 miles during the works - led to its postponement.

Construction of the wind farm is due to start in spring 2013, but an SBC spokesman said: “No decisions will be taken about when the road is to close until after the information days.”

SSE’s Kirstanne McDowall, community liaison manager for Langhope Rig, said: “We are looking forward to informing local residents and businesses of our plans for the Langhope Rig wind farm before the construction phase, in particular to provide insight into our traffic management plan.

“We will also provide details of our community investment package, which we expect to be worth at least £2million over the 25 year lifetime of the windfarm.

“We hope local businesses will also attend the events to tell us about themselves and find out about any opportunities that may arise during the construction phase of the wind farm.”

SSE Renewables saw its Langhope Rig application turned down by SBC’s planning committee in 2007 after 370 objections were lodged but Scottish ministers overturned the decision in 2008 following an appeal.

The information days take place on Wednesday and Thursday from 2pm til 8pm in Roberton’s Forman Hall.

A trainee soldier who tendered counterfeit £20 notes in a Galashiels nightclub, and the man who produced them on a computer, were both sentenced to unpaid work in the community.

Twenty-year-old Satinder Sing Malhi, of Loch View, Tweedbank, admitted passing the counterfeit cash to staff at Move nightclub on April 30 last year. Earlier the same day, he had also tendered a similar counterfeit note at The Fleece pub in Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk.

Co-accused Glenn Douglas, also 20, of Tower Street, Selkirk, pleaded guilty to producing counterfeit £20 notes and passing them on at his home on April 29 last year.

Douglas was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, while Malhi was sentenced to 72 hours, fined £360 and ordered to pay £240 compensation.

“Douglas produced a quantity of counterfeit notes and passed them to Malhi who attempted to pass them as genuine,” explained depute procurator fiscal Tessa Bradley at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday.

“On April 30, they met up and Douglas handed Malhi a bundle of counterfeit notes,” she continued.

Malhi went into The Fleece around 10.30pm, bought a drink at the bar and handed over one of the notes.

“It was only when the bar money was totalled at the end of the night that the counterfeit note was noticed,” said Ms Bradley, and suspicion fell on the accused as the rest of the customers had been “regulars”.

Afterwards, Malhi handed over some 12 counterfeit notes during his time in Move.

When he was confronted by the licensee, Malhi offered to repay the money rather than involving the police.

Malhi’s solicitor, Robert More, described the offences as “an utterly harebrained scheme”.

He added: “It was very foolish and something he profoundly regrets. It may have grave consequences for his army career, and custody would lead to his discharge.”

The lawyer for Douglas said his client had produced the counterfeit notes on a PC and printer, scanning them on to A4 paper and cutting them out. “The notes were poor quality and easily recognisable, and there was no financial gain to him,” he explained.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond told both accused: “It is said that you did not appreciate the seriousness of the course on which you embarked at the time. If you didn’t know then, you certainly should now.

“This is a serious offence against the currency and against people at large, and such matters require to be dealt with seriously.”

Driving a car when over the alcohol limit cost Michael Allan a £235 fine.

The 24-year-old, of Valley View, Clovenfords, was also banned from driving for 12 months. Allan admitted driving at Wilderhaugh, Galashiels, on July 21 with a breath/alcohol reading of 66 mcgs – the legal limit being 35.

Police stopped Allan to ask why he was driving without his car lights on.

Defending, Greig McDonell said the loss of his client’s licence would have a big impact on his employment as an electrician.

A drug user who appeared at court with heroin hidden in his body was jailed.

Alan Finn had come prepared for prison when he turned up at Selkirk Sheriff Court in May, internally concealing heroin to take with him if locked up.

At the same court on Monday, the 32-year-old, of Tweed Court, Kelso, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. He admitted intentionally obstructing two police officers at Selkirk Sheriff Court on May 30, struggling with them, and throwing away a wrap of brown powder believed to be heroin. Finn also pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and attempting to take it into prison by internally concealing it.

“He was terrified of going to prison, as it’s been some four years since he was last sent there,” explained his lawyer, Rhona McLeod. “His life has revolved around trying to abstain from illicit drugs, and at this time he had another lapse into heroin abuse. He thought he would suffer withdrawal symptoms, so he took the drugs to self-medicate if he was taken to prison.”

Sheriff Kevin Drummond imposed a six-month prison term, to run consecutively with a further jail sentence imposed for earlier offences.

He explained: “This case deals with your possession of heroin during court proceedings, and the six-month sentence will run consecutively to reflect the gravity of your conduct.”

He had earlier imposed a 12-month jail term after finding Finn guilty following his denial of having heroin at Thornbank Street, Galashiels, on September 30 last year, with intent to supply.

“You were carrying 10 deals and also had £240 cash,” commented the sheriff.

The total 18-month jail term was backdated to May 30.

Suspicious of a vehicle travelling ahead during the early hours of the morning, police stopped the car and the driver was found to be more than twice the alcohol limit.

Rupeni Ragia, 37, of Gladstone Street, Hawick, admitted driving a car on the A7 between Middleton and Galashiels on July 22 with a breath/alcohol reading of 74 mcgs – the legal limit being 35.

“Police noted the vehicle travelling ahead of them at 3.50am on a Sunday morning was being driven in an unsteady manner and was frequently veering over the carriageway,” explained depute procurator fiscal Tessa Bradley, adding: “It was pulled into a layby and they found the driver unsteady on his feet and smelling strongly of alcohol.”

Defence solicitor Ed Hulme said his client, who has an analogous conviction, recognised he had an alcohol problem which he was keen to address.

Ragia was placed on a 12-month community payback order, with a condition he completes 80 hours of unpaid work and attends an alcohol programme. He was also banned from driving for four years.

After being ejected from a New Year’s Day party, a drunken woman was found in the common close with a knife hidden under her jacket.

Charly Brown, 17, of Parkhead Lodge, Edinburgh Road, Penicuik, admitted having a knife at Church Square, Galashiels, on January 1.

Tessa Bradley, prosecuting, told how police attended after receiving a call about a disturbance and found the accused in the common close. “She was under the influence of alcohol and had been ejected from a party,” explained Ms Bradley.

Brown was taken to a relative’s house and left there, but police received a further call at 1am and found her back in the common close.

“She was trying to get back into the party, where she was still not welcome,” explained Ms Bradley.

Police discovered she had a knife concealed between her jacket and top.

Asked about it, Brown replied: “Well, of course I was going to take something when I was going to his house.”

In reply to caution she said she had no intention of using the kitchen knife which had a 21cm blade.

Brown also pleaded guilty to breaching a bail condition at Muthag Street, Selkirk, on June 29 which banned her from the Borders, except for court or to meet her solicitor, and struggling with police officers at Galashiels police station.

Sentence was deferred until September 17 for reports.

ONE of the Borders’ most knowledgeable sporting authorities says all athletes, whether their chosen discipline is among the host of Olympic sports or not, should be given the chance to compete at the highest level if they are good enough.

David Laing, chair of the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils and Roxburgh Sports Council, was responding to last week’s front page article in TheSouthern, which reported calls for increased funding from the Scottish Government to ensure the region’s youngsters get the chance to emulate local Olympic medal-winning heroes, such as Peebles showjumper Scott Brash.

Mr Laing says that more investment is always welcome in sport from any source and the Borders’ four local sports councils are grateful for the current financial and administrative assistance and support that is provided by Borders Sport and Leisure Trust (BSLT), which allows them to concentrate on provision of grant aid to athletes who show improvement at local, regional, national and international level, whatever their sport.

“Not all sport is associated with the Games, and I feel that we must ensure that any elite athlete should be given the chance to progress towards the international and world stage in their chosen sport,” Mr Laing told TheSouthern this week.

“I appreciate that some concentration has to be given to the Games sports, particularly leading up to 2014 and 2016, but we must continue this legacy thereafter also.”

While congratulating Brash, as well as bronze medal Olympic horsewoman Caroline Powell, from Kelso; local Paralympians Kate Murray and Libby Clegg, and Special Olympians Anne Peacock and Lucy Porteous, Mr Laing said a good example of excellence in a non-Olympic sport is Kelso’s Alistair White, who recently became Scottish singles bowling champion.

He said: “Throughout the Borders there are a number of budding athletes who have almost reached Olympic qualifying standard or are performing to a very high standard at international level.

“We have ambassadors like young sailor Callum Airlie, who was selected to light the Olympic Flame, and who will hopefully become the Ben Ainslie of the future. We have many other young athletes including Alice Haining, Stacey Downie, Lucy Hope, Stacey McPherson, Lucy Younger…

“Therefore look out for a larger Borders contingent and a higher success rate for its athletes in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, but remember if records are broken or personal bests achieved in what is most definitely a much more competitive world today, this must also be considered a success.”

Mr Laing said investment in Borders sports and sports facilities has been reasonably high in the past three years and is not quite as statistically low as has been implied in some quarters.

“We have a 3G pitch and a Borders tennis facility at Gala, a hockey training facility at Tweedbank, the PPP-funded schools with state-of-the-art facilities and artificial playing pitches in various towns.

“We also have a disability sports development officer back in post and a community sports hub co-ordinator in place to deliver sport in a more organised way at a local level.

“I would agree that more is needed and would still like to see more support for our budding performers, artificial playing pitches in all Borders towns, improved and better maintained grass pitches and an indoor multi-sport training facility in the region.

“However, we are in the hard times of financial constraint and realistically at present have to be patient and make better use of what is out there already. Local sports councils will continue to strive to support our budding athletes and provide for pathways towards excellence.”

ST BOSWELLS

ST BOSWELLS

AT St Boswells Mart on Monday John Swan Ltd sold 62 clean cattle, 59 OTM cattle, 1,955 spring lambs and 746 ewes.

Bullocks (30) averaged 211p per kg (+30p on the week). Heifers (31) averaged 215.1p per kg +5.1 p on the week). One young bull averaged 230p per kg (n/c on the week) and 59 beef type OTM cattle averaged 139.7p per kg, n/c on the 
week)

The 1,955 spring lambs averaged 187.3 per kg (+1.6p on the week) and 746 ewes averaged £69.04 (+£2.70 on the week).

Principal prices per kg: Bee Edge 2.38, 2.32, 2.30 J.Penny and Son; Pathhead 2.38 J.Penny and Son, 2.28 Wm.J Hutton; Wester Ulston 2.37 J.Penny and Son; Humebyres 2.30 T.A Shaw; Longnewton 2.29 Michael Malone of Edinburgh, 2.24 J.Gilmour and Co Ltd; Ramrig 2.29 R.Pringle; 2.23 J.Gilmour and Co Ltd; Caverton Mill 2.28 W.T.S Forsyth and Sons; Corsbie 2.27 T.A Shaw, 2.27 W.T.S Forsyth and Sons; Traprain 2.26 J.Penny and Son; Thirlestane 2.25 W.T.S Forsyth and Sons.

Principal prices per head: Longnewton £1511.10, £1460; Butchercote £1443.

Cows per head: Larriston £1650; Humebyres £1456; Hermiston £1421.20; Oakwood £1221.20; Carfrae £1132.40, £1067.60; Huntington £1128.90, 1123.40; Northhouse £1128.90; Broomiebank £1128.80; Hownam Grange £1105.50; Butchercote £1086.40; Haltree £1065; Easter Middleton £1050.45; Whitlaw £1044; Muircleugh £1037.40

Cows per kg: Butchercote 1.94; Humebyres 1.82; Greenhead 1.66; Hownam Grange 1.65; Huntington 1.64, 1.59; Cockburn 1.61; Northhouse 1.59; Nether Howden 1.58; Carfrae Farming 1.57; Muircleugh 1.56, 1.54; Corsbie 1.52; Todshawhaugh 1.50; Standhill 1.50; Easter 
Middleton 1.50

First annual show and sale of Beltex lambs with the champion pen selling at £103 from M/S J and G Sinclair, Crookston and Reserve pen selling at £89 from M/S W.Murray, Redden (228.2p). The show lambs averaged 214.7p per kg selling to 242.9p for the champion pen.

Spring lambs per head: Bel £103, £102, £99.50 Crookston, £90 Berrymoss; Tex.x £97.50 Harehead Cranshaws, £97 Muircleuch, £96.50 Huntshaw House; Suf.x £95.50 Blackburn, £95, £94 Huntington; Cha £93 Borthwickshiels; HB £85 Stobshiel Mains; Chv £79.50, £77.50 Satchells; GF £78 Inchkeith; BF £76 Bedrule

Principal prices per kg: Bel 242.9, 231.4, 228.9 Crookston, 228.2 Redden, 218.4 Westerdeans (Purves); Tex.x 208.8 Lower Ashtrees, 208.1 Redden, 204.7 Sydenham, Suf.x 202.2 Saughland, 197.4 Berrymoss, 196.5 Huntington; Cha 187.2 Borthwickshiels

Cast ewes: Tex £113 Birkenside, £105, £99 Drinkstone; Suf.x £103 Torwoodlee Mains, £95, £93 Headshaw L; Suff £97 Drinkstone, £89 Falside; Chv £89 Blackburn and Headshaw, £87 Torwoodlee Mains; CHM £85 Brothershiels; Lei £85 Burnhouse Mains; HB £87 Wester Middleton, £81 Brothershiels and Wester Middleton; GF £77 Primside, £73 Bedrule, Inchkeith and Drinkstone

Rams: Chv £89 Mowhaugh; Lley £87 Falside Castle.

WOOLER

AT their weekly Primestock Sale held at Wooler last Wednesday John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 1,892 lambs and 597 young sheep and ewes.

A larger show forward, trade dearer on the week, in spec lambs selling at a major premium, more numbers needed for a good, full ring of buyers.

Leading prices per head:- Tex.x:- £101 Lilburn Estates, £98 Wandon, £97 Fenham Hill, £96.50 Linhope Farming (Roddam), £95 Black Heddon, £92.50 East Fleetham, £92 Holy Island, Linhope Farming (Roddam), £91 Fowberry Moor. Suff.x:- £92 West Moneylaws, £83 Pawston, £82 Brockley Hall, £81.50 Great Ryle, £80.50 Reavley. Ven:- £92 North Lyham, £83, £82, £80.50 South Lyham. HB:- £81 Branton Eastside. Chev:- £82.50 Branton Eastside. Cha:- £82.50 Branton Eastside, £82.50 Wandon. Ham:- £82.50 Kettleburn. MB:- £85 Fenham Hill.

Leading prices per kilo:- Tex.x:- 213.8p Ladykirk, 212.8p Black Heddon, 209p Yetlington Lane, 207.1p Wandon, 206.3p Ladykirk, 205.3p Fowberry Moor, 205p Wandon, 203.6p Fowberry Moor, 202.5p Shorewood Hall, 201.2p Mindrum Farming and Springhill, Seahouses, 200p Marshall Meadows, Lorbottle and Village Farm. Bel:- 205.4p Fowberry Moor, 204p High Learchild, 202.9p, 200p Chillingham Home Farm. Suff.x:- 194.7p, 193p Pawston, 187.8p West Moneylaws, 185.7p Shipley Lane, 184.9p Linhope Farming (Roddam), 183.3p Craighouse. Cha:- 196.4p Wandon. Ven:- 191.7p, 191.3p North Lyham, 186.4p, 183p South Lyham. MB:- 188.9p Fenham Hill.

Ewes forward in larger numbers with trade similar to previous weeks.

Leading prices:- Suff.x:- £101 Fowberry Moor, £99 Marigold Farming Co, £91 Lilburn Estates and Chillingham Home Farm, £89 Greenhead, Reston and Fowberry Moor, £87 Lilburn Estates, £83 Chillingham Home Farm, £81 Ladykirk. BFL:- £93 Alwinton Farm and Lamberton. Tex.x:- £91 Fowberry Moor. CM:- £83 Reavley. Mule:- £67 Brockley Hall, £65, £63 Alwinton Farm, £63 Greenhead, Reston and Marigold Farming Co. HB:- £85 Marigold Farming Co. Chev:- £85 Humbleheugh.

LONGTOWN

THE Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart PLC had forward 75 prime cattle, 31 young bulls, 21 over 30 month cattle, 3,855 prime lambs and 7,630 cast ewes and rams at their weekly sale at Longtown last Thursday.

A larger show of 75 prime cattle met a fast trade throughout and more numbers could have been sold. Top price of 225.5p for a Limousin bullock shown by A. and W.J. Taylor and Son, Dashwellgreen, purchased by Border Meat Wholesale Butchers, Lockerbie, others to 224.5p, 223.5p (x2), 222.5p, 221.5p all shown by Messrs Taylor. Charolais heifers sold to 223.5p from J.W. Vevers, High Stenries, with Limousins selling to 222.5p and 221.5p from J. and N. Blaylock and Son, Hallburn.

An increased number of prime bulls forward were a very good to sell and still short of buyer’s requirements. Take advantage of the good trade. Top price bull sold to 221.5p for a British Blue from Mr J. Jardine, Yett Farm and Limousins sold to 218.5p shown by J. Retson and Son, Gardrum.

Principal prices per kilo: British Blue – 221.5p Yett Farm, 217.5p Gardrum, 198.5p Shaw of Dryfe. Limousin – 218.5p Gardrum, 209.5p, 208.5p Netherton, 205.5p Gardrum, 204.5p Yett Farm, 203.5p Shaw Cottage South, 196.5p Gardrum and Becton Hall. Simmental – 197.5p, 192.5p Shaw of Dryfe. Friesian – 167.5p Whiteclose and Jerriestown.

The 21 OTM cattle were a small show due to the weather, selling to 178.5p and 177.5p for Galloways from J. Robertson and Son, Becks Farm.

The 3,855 prime lambs were a similar entry and better than expected to average 191p overall, a fall of 9p on the week, with all the usual buyers operating.

A bigger show of 999 lightweight lambs were again good to sell with a top price of £71.80 for Texels from Newington. A very large entry of cast ewes and rams attracted extra buyers, as a result trade remained unchanged on the week.

BORDER LIVESTOCK

LAST week Border Livestock Exchange Ltd sold 104 prime cattle including 39 cows, 3,948 prime lambs including 611 ewes, 2,045 store lambs and 47 cows and calves.

Aberdeen Angus cross steer from Bonjedward Mill, Jedburgh, sold to 370p per kg to Well Hung and Tender, Berwick. Continental cross heifers from Cairndinnis, Haddington, sold to 360p per kg. Belgian Blue young bulls from Sharplaw Farm, Hownam, sold to 352p per kg and £1,396 per head. Limousin cross young bulls from Tenterhouse, Hexham, reached 335p per kg and £1,547.

Lambs were firmer on the week with organic Texel crosses from Over Langshaw, Galashiels, selling to 425p per kg and £87.15 per head. Export weights from Cliftoncote, Yetholm, sold to £88.20 for Meatlinc crosses. Other Continental crosses to 420p per kg from Eastfield of Lempitlaw, Kelso; Hedgeley Farms, Wooler; Lilburn Estate, Wooler; Prendwick Farm, Alnwick and Codlawhill, Hexham. Top price per head for exports to £89.25 from Syminton Mains, Stow.

Stores, breeding cattle and sheep all started with a bang with store lambs keenly bid for at £2 to £3 less than last year. Autumn calving Limousin cross cows with Charolais cross calves to £2,220 per outfit.

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) is backing a matchmaking scheme to cut the number of long-term empty houses in the region.

The idea is to introduce buyers looking for an investment or renovation opportunity – or a place to live – to those wanting to sell empty properties who cannot sell in the present market or have been reluctant to do so, perhaps for sentimental reasons or because they cannot afford the investment needed.

Kristen Hubert, Shelter Scotland’s empty homes co-ordinator, said: “The service allows owners to dip their toe in the water, reassuring them that there are developers and other interested buyers, before taking the next step to sell their property”

The scheme, which involves the housing charity Shelter Scotland, is being introduced all over the country. SBC is one of the first local authorities to join – there are an estimated 1,200 empty homes in the region. The council is involved only in the introductions, not in any negotiations or legal processes.

Potential sellers and buyers should contact the council on 01835 824000 and ask for the empty houses officer