District News

Kinross

Continued. Open Meeting A meeting to discuss the possibility of creating a community hub for Kinross-shire will take place on Thursday, January 18 at 7pm to 9pm in Loch Leven Community Campus, the Muirs, Kinross. The event is being organised by Broke not Broken, supported by community learning and development at Perth and Kinross Council. The aim will be to work in partnership with all members of the community and local organisations. For further information, contact Clare Slight on clare. slight@brokenotbroken.org. Kinross and Ochil Walking Group The group’s next trek will leave on Sunday, January 21 to Dunkeld, Bishop’s, Fiddler’s and Inver paths. This will be a gentle walk of over six miles past the cathedral and along Bishop’s path with its spectacular trees. Fiddler’s path takes walkers along the banks of the Tay, joining up with the Inver path. Before travelling back to Dunkeld via the Beatrix Potter garden. For further details and where to meet, contact group secretary, Ann Eve on 01577 863887. Citizens Advice Bureau The next Outreach Advice Surgery will take place on Tuesday, January 23, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm in St Paul’s Church hall, The Muirs, Kinross. No appointment is necessary as the surgery is a drop-in service. For complex issues a further appointment may be necessary. Perth CAB can help; advice is free, confidential, impartial and independent. Contact their advice line on 01738 450580; appointment line on 01738 450581. Perth CAB Benefits Advice in Libraries service will take place on Wednesday, January 24 and Thursday, January 25. Benefits specialist Sarah MacLean will be available in Loch Leven community library to provide advice on all benefit related issues. Sarah is available by appointment only. Appointments are usually offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays. To make an appointment, call 01738 450599 or email Andrew Scobie (benefits and debt administration) at Andrew.Scobie@ Perthcab.casonline.org.uk. Common Grounds A Taste of Burns will be held on Wednesday, January 24 at common grounds in the Guide Hall on Church Street, Milnathort. Traditional Scottish treats and entertainment will also be available. Locals and visitors are encouraged to drop in at any time on the day between 10am and 12.30pm.

Kirkmichael

Session House Ian Kirkwood will deliver a talk titled ‘Adam Smith’s Way To Prosper Scotland’ from 7.30pm on Wednesday, January 31, at Kirkmichael Session House. Entry is by way of a £2 donation at the door in aid of Session House funds. Teas, coffees and biscuits will be provided. All welcome.

Luncarty

Church The service this Sunday, January 14, will be held in Stanley village hall at 10am. Bowling Club Numbers in the lottery this week were: 2, 14, 18 and 19. There was no winning line, and prize money next week will now be £2000.

Methven

Bowling Club Lottery numbers were 2, 9, 16 and 19. There was no winner and next week’s prize money will now be £2000.

Newburgh

Bonus Ball There was no winner on last week’s TICC Bonus Ball. The previous two weeks bonus ball competitions were won by Helen Williamson

on no 41 and Jan Gardener on no 34. Thursday Club Next week’s entertainer at the club will be Ian McCallum. All are welcome to join in the fun at 2pm in the TICC. TICC Cafe The cafe will now be open serving soups, toasties, tea, coffee and biscuits on the following days: Mondays 10am to 4pm, Tuesdays 11am to 4pm, Wednesdays 10am to 4pm, closed on Thursdays and Friday 10am to 3pm. The Cafe Club will operate as usual on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9am to 11am. Coffee Morning The local Samaritans group will hold their annual coffee morning tomorrow (Saturday, January 13) in the TICC at 10am. All welcome. Whinnybank Cat Sanctuary There were no cat calls for the sanctuary on Christmas Day. The sanctuary’s proprietor Sue did receive a call on New Year’s Day from a sad family whose daughter had passed away leaving her cat, who could not stay with them due to their dogs. Sue was the only cat rescue who answered the phone that day. She took the cat in and the grateful kitty has already gone to a new home. The trapping has had to be put on hold recently due to the freezing weather, but it will not be long before she gets back to it. Amazingly there is only one domestic cat for homing at the Whinnybank Sanctuary. Thanks go to Hazel and Ken for their kind donation of a ton of logs. However, the sanctuary’s staff were saddened to hear of the passing of local woman Mary Blacklock of

Pitlochry

A9 Dualling Meetings have been arranged to allow the public to view the Draft Orders and Environmental Statements in Pitlochry Town Hall on Wednesday, January 17, from 1pm to 7pm and on Thursday, January 18, at 10am until 3pm. Transport Scotland officials and design consultants Jacobs will be in attendance at this meeting to answer questions. Arthritis Awareness in Atholl Iain McEwan, past headmaster of Pitlochry High School, was the speaker at the first meeting of 2018 of Arthritis Awareness in Atholl. Iain had been on a trip to Costa Rica to see the rich wildlife of the country. His photos showed the great diversity of birds and animals, in their various habitats. Costa Rica which means ‘rich coast’ it is not a rich country, and exports coffee and fruit. It is governed democratically and peacefully and has no army. Iain found the people to be friendly and welcoming to visitors as they contribute towards the country’s economy. The meeting was chaired by Hugh Mackintosh who asked Dr David Cruikshank to give the vote of thanks. Their next meeting will be on

February 5 in Moulin Hall at 2.30pm, when Jim Walker will tell the story of the Brahan Seer. Everyone welcome. SWRI The group’s next meeting in Aldour Hall, Pitlochry on Thursday, January 18, at 7.17pm, will see Jane King demonstrating some of her favourite recipes to the ladies of the club. Inner Wheel of Pitlochry A quiz night will take place in the Church of Scotland Tryst on Saturday, January 20 at 7pm. There will be prizes awarded for each round of the quiz and for the winning team at the end of the night. Proceeds from the event will go to overseas children’s charities. Tickets will be available from any member of the club and members are encouraged to bring their own bottles. Further information will be available by contacting Betty Stark on 07834589664. Football Vale of Atholl’s league fixture against Ballinluig scheduled for last Saturday was called off due to a frozen pitch. The game is due to go ahead tomorrow (Saturday, January 13) at the Recreation Park in Pitlochry with a 2pm start. It is sponsored by R W Bell Building Services. Pitlochry Flower Club Jim Davidson will demonstrate for the club at their next meeting in Pitlochry Hydro Hotel on Wednesday, January 17 at 2pm. The title of his demonstration will be ‘My Year in Flowers’. Guests are welcome to attend with a charge of £5. Contact Linzee Lindsay on 01738710777 for further information. Family History Group The North

St Madoes

St Madoes and Kinfauns Parish Church The morning worship this Sunday will start at 10.30am in the Madoch Centre. Bible study Wednesdays Bible study group meets at 11am in the old church. All are welcome. Further details on any of the above can be found by visiting the church website www.stmadoeskinfauns.com, on Facebook at stmadoesandkinfaunsparishchurch or by contacting them on stmadoeskinfauns@hotmail.com.

Scone

Scone and St Martins Parish Church Rev Alan Livingstone will lead the worship service this Sunday, at 10.45am in Scone New Church. Teas and coffees will be served after this service. The Guild will next meet on Tuesday, January 16, at 2.30pm at Balformo Road Hall. Bridge Results for Thursday, January 4 were: 1 - L Collin/K Lyneborg 68.3%, 2 - J Rough/J Crichton 56.1%, 3 - M Watson/D Halsey 54%.

Stanley

Village Hall There will be a village hall dance tomorrow (Saturday, January 13) from 8pm until 11pm with music for the evening provided by Joyce Ramsay. All welcome. Church The service this Sunday, January 14 will be held at 10am in Stanley village hall, and will be led by the Rev Bill McGregor. Bowling Club The lottery numbers this week were 6, 15, 19 and 20. There were no winners and prize money next week will now be £3483.