Review of the year
July
A grieving Cambuslang man helped save a mother and two teenagers from a fire in Whitlawburn, just hours after learning his best friend had passed away. Ross Livingston had only just learned pal Scott Hayes had been found dead in his flat when he spotted a block of flats on fire, and managed to catch residents escaping through the windows.
Castlemilk girl Robin Ashcroft was the winner of the Reformer’s first Brian Logue Memorial Trophy, taking the prize for a snap of her and her friends making a star shape with their fingers.
Sick vandals trashed a trampoline designed for disabled people at Cambuslang Park, sparking widespread anger.
The Reformer revealed that the number of sex offenders living in the area had risen by 27 percent over a 10 month period.
Tributes were paid to Rutherglen schoolboy Arran Cooper, who had tragically passed away. The 10-year-old Bankhead pupil had been on holiday when he fell into the River Orchy and was unable to be revived.
August
King’s Park boxer Stephen Lavelle was a big hitter at the Commonwealth Games, landing a bronze medal at the Glasgow sporting event.
Heartless thugs went on a rampage at Westburn Cemetery, overturning many gravestones.
The new Routes To Work South facility, based in Cambuslang’s CTEC building, opened their doors, aiming to get Rutherglen and Cambuslang’s young people into the world of work.
Two pals from Burnside and Castlemilk were hoping they’d soon be on top of the world, after overcoming drug and drink addiction to earn places on a trip Everest’s base came in Nepal in 2016.
Kind-hearted St Brigid’s pupil Adam Flynn completed 22 lengths in the Gorbals swimming pool as part of a charity swima-thon, raising £1000 for Mary’s Meals as a result.
September
The Reformer revealed that over 1000 drivers in Rutherglen and Cambuslang had been fined for parking in disabled spaces since the start of 2011, with Cambuslang the worst area in South Lanarkshire for motorists not showing a Blue Badge.
A wannabe terrorist from Cambuslang who had claimed on Twitter that he wanted to join ISIS was behind bars after being found guilty of intending to stir up hatred on religious grounds.
There was anger from Cathkin residents after street lighting on the bypass road was turned off.
Rutherglen and Cambuslang was on the frontline of the independence referendum vote on September 18, as both sides made
a final push for votes, with tempers boiling over as former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott visited Rutherglen Main Street. In the end, South Lanarkshire, as a whole, voted No.
October
An anti-fraud group warned that their investigations had found that 27,000 pieces of data belonging to people throughout Rutherglen and Cambuslang was “easily available” to criminals on the internet.
Tributes were paid to brave Spittal youngster Ryan McLean, who had passed away from a brain tumour aged six.
There were fears over the future of Clydebridge steelworks after it was set to be sold to new owners.
Police opened an investigation, which is still ongoing, into St Bride’s parish priest Father Paul Morton over claims of historic sex abuse.
Fast food giants McDonald’s announced plans for a Rutherglen restaurant that could bring 65 jobs to the area.
November
Cambuslang Golf Club agreed to enter negotiations over a £9million bid by a housing developer to buy their home.
South Lanarkshire Council were set to carry out savage cuts in a bid to balance next year’s budget, scrapping 288 jobs in the process.
Two Cambuslang lovebirds made history when they were the first couple to be married in the town’s public park.
The regeneration of Burnhill was given a boost after being given a near £19,000 cheque from Clyde Gateway.
Reformer staff shows their Motivational side by taking part in the Movember challenge to raise cash for charity, earning over £800.
December
Hundreds of residents in High Burnside and Fernhill reacted angrily at plans to build a road on green space between the two areas, asking for the plans to be scrapped.
Generous Cathkin Primary pupil David Stevenson kindly donated £40 worth of advent calenders to a foodbank.
A proposal to create a new cycling route between Rutherglen and Cambuslang was discussed.
Bungling workers attempted to carry out test boring work on Dukes Road, unaware it was a chromium waste hot spot.