News / In brief for 7 September 2011
Lerwick pair bailed on assault charges
TWO people from Lerwick were released on bail after appearing in private at the town’s Sheriff Court on charges of assault.
Neither 31 year old Wayne Uren or 24 year old Amy Groat made any plea or declaration before being committed for further examination by honorary sheriff Eric Peterson.
Efforts to reduce suicide rate
FIVE people lost their lives to suicide last year, according to NHS Shetland’s Choose Life co-ordinator Karen Smith.
This week is Suicide Prevention Week and Choose Life is making resources to help prevent people from feeling the need to take their own lives widely available in the islands, including through health centres, Lerwick’s Market House, Gilbert Bain Hospital, Shetland Youth Information Service and elsewhere.
Ms Smith said: “It’s important that if you have the slightest inclination that someone you know might be having thoughts of suicide, you ask them about it.
“Mentioning suicide isn’t going to put the thought in their head if it wasn’t there before; and if it was, they’ll probably be relieved that you’ve mentioned it. Suicide can affect anyone and it’s not a subject that should be hidden.”
Anyone feeling suicidal or who suspects that someone they know is considering suicide can contact Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (24 hours) or Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 (Mon-Thurs 6pm-2am; weekends Fri 6pm-Mon 6am).
Lerwick man fined for assault
A LERWICK man was fined £60 and ordered to pay £50 compensation to his victim after he pled guilty to assaulting a man on the town’s Commercial Street last month.
Neil John Davidson, aged 43, of 85 Sandveien, admitted butting his victim on the head on 13 August, when he appeared before honorary sheriff Eric Peterson at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Broch lights damaged
LERWICK police are looking for any information to help them track down vandals who smashed the floodlights at the Clickimin broch some time between Monday and Wednesday last week (29 to 31 August).
Lerwick police station can be contacted on 01595 692110.
No takers for boiler scheme
NO ONE in Shetland has applied for the £400 the Scottish government is offering towards the cost of a new boiler, according to the Energy Saving Trust
The EST is now renewing calls for people to take advantage of the scheme, which helps towards the cost of scrapping an old inefficient boiler and reducing household heating bills by around one quarter.
Shetland Islands Council social services committee chairman Cecil Smith said the Shetland weather made local households more vulnerable to rising energy costs and fuel poverty.
“Installing an efficient heating system is an effective way of reducing your CO2 emissions, not to mention your household energy bills. I would encourage folk to see if they can benefit from this scheme,” he said.
More information is available from the Home Energy Scotland Helpline on 0800 512 012 or through the Energy Saving Trust website at
SIC community grant bids go online
MORE than £41,000 has been handed out to community groups between June and August by Shetland Islands Council’s grants unit.
The grants included £1,000 each to play schemes in Unst and Yell who used the cash to help pay for a range of ‘away day activities’ over the summer break for primary pupils, including a performance of the popular Bell and Bullock Cabin Fever Show.
Delting Football Club received £2,000 to help with the cost of running the club’s junior teams
Community groups can now apply online for grant aid assistance through the Council’s website: http://www.shetland.gov.uk/community/grantaid/
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