Latest news with #Courier
The Courier
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Courier
10 pictures from a very wet Stirling Agricultural Show
Waterproofs and wellies were the order of the day at Stirling Agricultural Show. The elements were certainly unkind, but that didn't keep the event from going ahead at Gogar Mains Farm, Blairlogie. Those hardy souls who ventured out in the rain still had plenty to see and do. Cows, sheep, horses, vintage tractors, trade stands, a craft and lifestyle tent, kids' play corner and amusements defied the bad weather. Trade exhibitors included Gordon Construction,with one member of is 'hard core team' posted on Facebook they were 'here till the end'. The Courier photographer Kenny Smith was there with his camera.
The Courier
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Courier
TV show Homes Under the Hammer films at former Callander hotel
A former Callander hotel could be set to feature on a popular TV property show. A production crew was spotted filming at the former Eagle Hotel on Tuesday. The Courier understands filming was taking place at the Main Street building in Callander for Homes Under the Hammer. The BBC series follows properties that are sold at auction and then renovated by their new owners. The former Eagle Hotel went up for auction last year with a guide price of £99,500. The C-listed building was previously used as a retail unit, including a golf shop, but has lain vacant for years. It has also been used as a private home. In 2019, planning permission was granted to change its use to an office and flats. Listed building consent was also previously approved. Details of when the Callander property is likely to feature on Homes Under the Hammer have yet to be revealed. It comes after Martel Maxwell, a Courier columnist and one of the show's presenters, filmed in Dundee earlier this year. The Courier was later given an exclusive look at the home in the city's Charleston area following its renovation. A Stirling flat featured on Homes Under the Hammer in 2024, one of five times properties in the area have featured on TV shows in recent years.
The Courier
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Courier
SPAR Scotland's big deals of summer help customers save all season long
Summer in Scotland can be unpredictable – whether it's glorious sunshine or sudden showers, one thing's for sure: SPAR Scotland is here to help shoppers make the most of it. Some Courier online content is funded by outside parties. The revenue from this helps to sustain our independent news gathering. You will always know if you are reading paid-for material as it will be clearly labelled as 'Partnership' on the site and on social media channels, This can take two different forms. This means the content has been paid for and produced by the named advertiser. This means the content has been paid for and approved by the named advertiser but written and edited by our own commercial content team. With its Big Deals of Summer campaign now in full swing, customers across the country can enjoy fantastic savings on everything they need for summer fun – without breaking the bank. SPAR Scotland's Big Deals of Summer runs across over 300 stores in Scotland, bringing a wave of offers and discounts to local communities. Each promotional category runs for three weeks, with some deals sticking around all summer long – so there's always a reason to pop in and check out what's new. Whether shoppers are planning a BBQ, prepping for holiday clubs, or looking for snacks to keep the kids happy, SPAR Scotland is helping families save time and money. In a world where the cost of living is a constant concern, SPAR Scotland is proud to offer great value deals across all categories. From household names to trusted local Scottish suppliers, the Big Deals of Summer campaign showcases SPAR's commitment to delivering market-leading prices on everyday essentials. As Paula Middleton, head of marketing at CJ Lang & Son Ltd, explained: 'The campaign is all about giving our shoppers outstanding value during the summer holiday season and supports one of SPAR Scotland's key strategic pillars – delivering value on your doorstep.' With deals available while stocks last and in selected stores, customers are encouraged to make the most of these savings while they can. Summer can be a juggling act – schools are out, and kids are in the house more often and they are eating constantly, parents managing holiday clubs, packed lunches, and trying to make the most of family time. SPAR Scotland understands these pressures and has tailored the Big Deals of Summer to help families manage their budgets while still enjoying the season. From snacks and drinks to meal solutions and treats, SPAR Scotland has the essentials to keep everyone happy. And when the grown-ups finally get a chance to relax – whether it's in the garden with a glass of something cold or in front of the TV after a busy day – SPAR is there with everything they need to make those moments special too. SPAR Scotland's commitment to local communities goes beyond just great deals. With a mix of company-owned and independent stores, each location plays a role in its neighbourhood – whether it's supporting local suppliers, raising money for charity, or hosting fun in-store events as part of the campaign. And with a comprehensive marketing plan behind the scenes – including social media, Spotify ads, influencer partnerships, and even in-store parties – SPAR Scotland is making sure customers feel the summer buzz, no matter the weather. From BBQ essentials to packed lunch must-haves, the Big Deals of Summer is here to help shoppers across Scotland save money and make the most of the summer season.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Obituary: Milwaukee Courier founder Jerrel Jones, pioneer in local journalism, dies at 85
Milwaukee journalism pioneer and visionary, Jerrel Jones, 85, founder of the weekly newspaper, the Milwaukee Courier and owner of WNOV radio station, has died according to a statement from the family. 'He was a mentor, a pioneer, and a beacon of strength,' Mary Ellen Jones, daughter and general manager of WNOV, said in a statement. Jones led Courier Communications Corp., which included the newspaper for 61 years. The Courier was founded in 1964 during the Civil Rights movement and desegregation in Milwaukee's schools. In 1972, Courier Communications bought WNOV, with Jones as the majority stakeholder, making it the first Black owned radio station in Wisconsin and one of 30 in the United States, according to the station's website. In 2013, Courier Communications bought the Madison Times, a Black newspaper in Madison. In a statement Mayor Cavalier Johnson said: "Milwaukee has lost a titan of local media with the passing of Jerrel W. Jones. His leadership of both the Milwaukee Courier newspaper and WNOV radio provided important outlets for news, entertainment and information. Jerrel was an engaged owner and community leader. His family, friends and colleagues have my condolences." A special tribute edition of the Milwaukee Courier is planned for the end of July and community members are invited to share a reflection of Jones. The Courier is the oldest continuously publishing Black newspaper in Wisconsin and has been a force in politics, culture and community since its first edition. Jones gave it the slogan "the newspaper you can trust" and it was a key source of information and commentary for Milwaukee's Black community. And Jones held politicians to account, even those whose campaigns he helped support financially. One of those was Democratic state Sen. Gary George, who represented part of the northside of Milwaukee at the time. In 2003, Jones supported then-Gov. Jim Doyle's efforts to expand casino gambling in the state that would have benefited Potawatomi Casino, and one of the major advertisers for the Courier and major employer in the Black community. However George voted against it. Jones was furious after the vote and the Courier wrote an editorial lambasting George saying he "has had the opportunity to represent his loyal supporters for a long time. It is time that he must go. His actions, votes and leadership are clearly in question." Jones went even further, launching a recall against George in March that year. "I backed Gary for 20 years. I've taken a lot of crap from Gary over those 20 years," Jones said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2003. "I've never even heard of a recall effort where we recall our own. this is the first time and, hopefully, the last time." Jones led the recall effort gathering 15,000 signatures, nearly more than double what was needed to launch a recall and a month before the deadline, according to a Journal Sentinel story. Roughly seven months later George lost his recall election to Spencer Coggs. This story will be updated. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Obituary: Jerrel Jones founded Milwaukee Courier founder, owned WNOV
The Courier
09-06-2025
- The Courier
Engineer tells court he was treated as Perth fire tragedy hotel murder suspect
A security engineer who clambered into a fire tragedy Perth hotel to reclaim his CCTV cameras told a court how he was treated by police as a murder suspect. Jamie Grierson entered the New County Hotel through an upstairs window just weeks after the horrific blaze in January 2023 that claimed the lives of three people. The 37-year-old said he went into the building to take back 15 camera units after a row with the hotel owner who, he claimed, was refusing to pay for them. Mr Grierson was accused of breaking into the hotel and stealing the cameras. He wept as he told Perth Sheriff Court how he was taken in for questioning after police raided his girlfriend's home. 'They pretty much charged me with three counts of murder,' he said. The Courier understands Mr Grierson was never charged with murder but he was questioned as a suspect before he gave police his explanation for being inside the building. After a trial that has rumbled on for nearly a year, Mr Grierson was found not guilty of breaking into the New County Hotel and stealing the cameras. The trial has exposed the squalid and dangerous condition of the County Hotel in the weeks leading up to the tragedy. Fire swept through the building in the early hours of January 2 2023, claiming the lives of sisters Donna Janse Van Rensburg, 44, and Sharon McLean, 47, from Aberdeen, and Edinburgh man Keith Russell, 38. Donna's dog Joey also died. The court heard Mr Grierson had repeatedly warned the hotel's owner about the state of the 23-bedroom venue. On the sixth and final day of his trial, Mr Grierson said he had agreed to install cameras for the hotel's owner, who he knew only as Omar. But he said he halted work after getting an unusual request. 'He (Omar) had requested Ring doorbell cameras on some of the rooms. 'I'm not prepared to do something that is clearly not right. 'It was the most bizarre thing I had ever heard.' Mr Grierson said he was involved in a 'heated' discussion with Omar about payment for the 15 cameras. The owner told him 'do what you want', which Mr Grierson believed was permission to retrieve the devices. He also said he later received a text from Omar or someone else connected to the hotel, telling him: 'Go ahead and get your stuff.' Mr Grierson went to the hotel on the day after the fire and explained his predicament to police standing guard outside. 'They told me it was a civil matter, they basically shrugged it off.' Mr Grierson got a ladder to remove one external CCTV unit, which he said was witnessed by officers. He came back in the small hours of February 15 and used a longer ladder to climb through a back window on an upper floor. Inside he uninstalled the remaining cameras, some he said were fire damaged. He told his solicitor Linda Clark he did not touch any other valuables inside, including laptops, computers and a stocked bar. 'The police raided my girlfriend's home,' he said. 'They came through the door and pretty much charged me with three counts of murder.' Sheriff Clair McLachlan told Mr Grierson: 'You accepted that your actions were ill-advised. 'But that does not mean to say they crossed the line into criminality. 'I believe you thought you had the genuine consent of the hotel owner. 'And I note these cameras were the only items that you recovered.' She found him not guilty, saying it was difficult to pinpoint any 'nefarious purposes' he may have had. 'Sorry for wasting anyone's time,' he said as he left the court. Witness Lia Payne, 48, who had been in a relationship with Grierson at the time, earlier told the trial: 'He was telling me about all the problems there. 'He showed me photos of rats. It was a hell hole.' She spoke of piles of black bags in the kitchen, as well as drug addicts and sex workers coming in through a back door. When interviewed by police about the alleged thefts, Mr Grierson said he was forced to halt work at the building due to its hazardous state. 'We were in rooms downstairs and it became apparent they weren't the most hygienic. 'There were rooms full of rubbish bags, there was junk everywhere. 'You couldn't walk anywhere without breathing in flies.' There had been 'electrical cables hanging loose everywhere,' Grierson said. 'I explained to the owner that due to the state of the hotel, we couldn't do any more work until it was cleaned and rectified.' He downed tools after fitting eight cameras. Grierson said he spoke to a member of staff about tidying up the building. 'I genuinely think the guy was drunk, I could smell alcohol on him.' He described a female employee as a 'user or a junkie, if you like.' 'She had people coming back and forth at night,' he said. Hotel owner Rashid Hussain died just months after the fire, in August 2023. His company Perth Hospitality Ltd went into liquidation over an unpaid energy bill. Emergency services say a joint probe into the blaze is still ongoing.
