The next events in aid of St Barnabas Hospice are:

l A fundraising coffee morning has been organised by Woodhall Spa Group of St Barnabas Supporters at the Petwood Hotel between 10am and 12 noon on Friday, February 24.

l Wine and Wisdom – Waddington Village Hall, 7.30pm, Friday March 2. Teams of 5-8, £6 per head.

I’ve started so I’ll finish… Are you an egg head or a walking encyclopaedia? Put your knowledge to the test for a good cause.

Get your thinking caps on and join in the fun for a night of trivia, eight rounds plus a table top quiz. Can you be the next champion?

All are welcome to bring along your own food and drink.

To book online http://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/shop/wine-and-wisdom-46.html

Lincs FA Junior Cup Semi Final

Market Rasen Town 2-1 Pinchbeck Utd

JUBILANT scenes greeted the final whistle at Rase Park on Saturday, as a goal apiece from Nathan Smith and Andy Belt took Rasen through to the Lincs Junior Cup Final.

A fabulous all round performance from this industrious Rasen side sent the large vocal support home happy.

A much fancied Pinchbeck side came to Rase Park as favourites after overcoming Skegness United in the last round.

Included in their line up was the experienced ex Boston United and York City defender Matt Hocking, as well as a string of players no stranger to playing at higher levels of the non league circuit.

On a near perfect surface after last week’s big freeze both sides lacked any fluency in the early exchanges. Rasen struggled to get any prolonged spells of possession, while the visitors somewhat surprisingly played a much more direct pattern of play.

This style suited the Rasen central defensive partnership of skipper Greenbeck and Jake Wade who dealt brilliantly with the aerial bombardment from Pinchbeck. Dale Christie in the Rasen goal was the busier of the two keepers without really being tested.

Just after the half hour mark the game sprang into life. Supurb control from Andy Belt in the inside left position allowed him to feed leading scorer Nathan Smith.

Ushering Belt’s pass across his body and with his back to the goal he fired an unstoppable shot to the keeper’s left for a terrific opener.

Rasen Manager Andy Brumpton encouraged more of the same in the second period, which early on saw the introduction of Jason Hall to the left flank with Belt replacing the injured Ian Williams in the forward line.

Pinchbeck pressed for an equiliser and a great block by Joe Osbourne prevented a goalbound strike.

On numerous occasions Rasen failed to stop the crosses from wide areas and Dale Christie was forced to punch clear. Christie also saved bravely at the feet of Dunn as well as watching a couple of Pinchbeck headers clear his crossbar.

With 15 minutes remaining the dangerous Dunn was the stronger in the challenge with Wade and despite cry’s from the home fans for a foul rounded Christie and stabbed home the equiliser.

Both sides seemingly looked to settle for the penalty shootout as the clock ticked down.

That was until Kyle Paul dropped a perfect ball behind the Pinchbeck full back from his left back position in injury time, bringing a race to the ball between Andy Belt and the Pinchbeck keeper.

Belt somehow controlled the bouncing ball and then dummied the advancing keeper in one swivvel of his hips, steadied himself before slotting the ball between the retreating defenders and into the net from the edge of the box. This sparked utter pandemonium amongst the home fans.

A couple more minutes passed with no further response from the shattered Pinchbeck side, with the refs final blast on the whistle reigniting the celebrations.

Manager Andy Brumpton said after the match “All the lads, without exception, were fantastic and they thoroughly deserved their victory.

“A County Cup final will be a fitting way to end a season in which they have been outstanding at this higher level. They are a credit to Market Rasen Football club.”

The final, likely to be in April, will be put to the back of the team’s minds as they return to league action next Saturday when Louth Town visit Rase Park for a 2pm kick off.

]]> 1.3539658 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:39:11 +0000 http://www.marketrasenmail.co.uk/thieves_raid_tesco_kiosk_1_3548242

BURGLARS targeted the petrol station and ATM cashpoint at Tesco in Market Rasen last night, Tuesday Febraury 21.

Offenders broke in through the front door of the petrol station kiosk and forced stole cigarettes and tobacco having forced open the roller shutter.

Police were called to the store just after 10pm when the alarm was triggered at the kiosk.

The thieves also attempted to access the ATM. Officers believe that the offenders were disturbed and fled.

Police are appealing for information and would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and who saw any suspicious activity.

Contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 448 of February 21.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

A HORSE keeper has been sentenced for repeatedly failing to look after animals in her care.

Renee Walker, 31, of North Street, Middle Rasen, has been banned from keeping horses for 12 months and ordered to pay £500 costs to the RSPCA, Grimsby Magistrates’ Court heard.

Walker – previously of Grasby Road, North Kelsey Moor – pleaded guilty to six offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

An RSPCA spokesman said: “We hope the sentence will mean that further animals will be prevented from suffering.”

Walker failed to make sure a chestnut mare at The Orchards in Utterby, Louth, was protected from pain, injury and suffering between July 13, 2010 and August 3, 2010 after she did not get a vet to treat an injury to its nose.

During this time Walker failed to make sure the horse was given a suitable diet for its breed, age, sex and condition.

The court heard how Walker admitted failing to get veterinary care for a bay mare with an injured right front knee, between January 4, 2011 and January 6, 2011 at Pinneys Farm in Smithy Lane, Bigby. Walker did not make sure the horse was protected from suffering.

Walker admitted three allegations of failing to make sure the needs of a dun gelding were met, between January 1, 2011 and January 11, 2011 at Cress Cottage Livery in Marsh Lane, Healing.

She did not explore and address the causes of the horse’s weight loss, protect the horse from suffering by controlling internal parasites and failed to make sure it had a suitable diet.

Walker was also accused of six allegations of causing unnecessary suffering to animals, but these were dismissed by the court.

TAXPAYERS in Lincolnshire will again benefit from one of the lowest rates in the country after the county authority resolved to freeze council tax.

Lincolnshire County Council voted not to rise its precept on Friday.

The authority has confirmed that there will be no increase in its share of the council tax when bills are sent out in March, but has also taken steps to protect services that have an impact on public safety.

Councillor Kelly Smith, executive member for finance and HR, said: “This is a difficult time for everyone financially, and we feel it’s important to do all we can to make life easier for our residents.

“That’s why we’re freezing council tax for the second year running.”

Councillors took the decision to freeze council tax despite a further fall in one of the council’s main sources of income – the formula grant from the Government.

In the next financial year, Lincolnshire will receive 7.6 per cent, or £16.1m less to spend on services.

Councillor Smith added: “In the last year, the council has made savings of over £50m.

“And we’ve achieved this without severe cuts to frontline services or large-scale compulsory redundancies, relying instead on making the council ever more efficient.

“Despite our tough financial position, we have again protected services that have an impact on public safety, things like child protection, the fire service, and road maintenance.

“And we also continue to invest in major infrastructure projects, such as the Lincoln Eastern Bypass and next-generation broadband, which will pave the way for renewed prosperity in Lincolnshire.”

A CRUCIAL bus service is facing severe cuts – from one bus an hour to just two a day.

The number 3 bus could be drastically reduced because operator Stagecoach is facing a 20 per cent cut in its Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) for tax relief on fuel.

The bus travels between Grimsby and Lincoln and serves places like Market Rasen, Caistor, Nettleton, Holton le Moor, Middle Rasen, Linwood and Faldingworth.

Stagecoach’s commercial manager Jon Donnelly said the company was in the middle of talks with Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire councils and could not comment on the proposed cutbacks but said: “It’s not a strong service, the financial performance isn’t strong. It’s only just viable as it’s not a very busy service.”

But people who live in these areas are furious and fear a reduction in the bus service will cause all kinds of problems.

Nettleton grandmother Carol Barnes, 65, said: “I’m absolutely devastated. It would be an absolute disaster.

“My grandchildren use the bus to travel to school in Market Rasen and visit Lincoln and Grimsby at weekend – it would cause them serious problems.

“I know a lot of residents use the bus to travel to Caistor to go to places like the doctors, the bank and the shops.

“I don’t know know Stagecoach can say it’s not a very busy service.”

News of the proposed cuts comes one year after Stagecoach axed the number 3 bus on Sundays and bank holidays.

Middle Rasen resident Guy Grainger said: “I’m extremely annoyed. Just last year they got rid of services on Sundays and bank holidays.

“Two services a day would be no use whatsoever, the bus is usually pretty full. It would take us off the map, it would have a huge impact on the area.”

Market Rasen mayor Ken Bridger is worried about the proposed service cuts having an impact on employment.

He said: “We’re trying to improve transport so people can get to work. It would definitely have an impact on employment.

“We’re trying to encourage businesses to set up in the area but they’re not going to if we don’t have good public transport links.”

Wednesday, February 22

l Craft Club in The Hub, Union Street, Market Rasen, 2pm-4pm. Pottery painting – place must be booked, cost £10. Details and bookings 01673 844556.

l Market Rasen & District Dancing Club in the Festival Hall from 7.30pm. Dancing to CDs. New members welcome. For more information call Ann on 01522 827040, Steph 01673 849522 or Ann/Neil 01673 842188.

l Fashion show with Lincs Fashions at South Kelsey Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5. Proceeds to South Kelsey’s Jubilee celebrations.

Friday, February 24

l Country Market in the Salvation Army Hall, John Street, Market Rasen, from 9am-1pm.

l Friday Night Project for 14-19 year olds at the Arena Cafe, 6.30-9pm Details: 01673 843489.

l Limelight Theatre Group at Brookenby Theatre from 7.30pm. New members, aged 11 years upwards, welcome. Details Ann 01472 852952 or Martin 01673 849809.

l Talk on The Development of Willow Tree Fen with Marcus Craythorne (LWT officer) in Walesby Village Hall, 7.30pm. Organised by Market Rasen Branch, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.

l Call My Bluff wine night at Middle Rasen Primary School, 7.15pm. Tickets £8 from the school.

Saturday, February 25

l Caistor and District Male Voice Choir in concert at Market Rasen Methodist Church, 7.30pm. Admission £6 on door. Proceeds to Christian Aid.

Monday, February 27

l Market Rasen Division, St John Ambulance AGM in the Waterloo Street headquarters, 7.30pm.

Wednesday, February 29

l Charity coffee morning at Bishop Norton Church, 10.30am. In aid of Cleft Palette Surgery.

l Drop-in Craft Club in The Hub, Union Street, Market Rasen, 2pm-4pm, cost £2 per session. Creating items for the Linus Project. Details 01673 844556.

l Market Rasen & District Dancing Club in the Festival Hall from 7.30pm. Dancing to CDs. New members welcome. For more information call Ann on 01522 827040, Steph 01673 849522 or Ann/Neil 01673 842188.

Friday, March 2

l Country Market in the Salvation Army Hall, John Street, Market Rasen, from 9am-1pm.

l Friday Night Project for 14-19-year-olds at the Arena Cafe 6.30-9pm. Details: 01673 843489.

l Limelight Theatre Group at Brookenby Theatre from 7.30pm. New members, aged 11 years upwards, welcome. Details Ann 01472 852952 or Martin 01673 849809.

Saturday, March 3

l Coffee morning at West Rasen Heritage Centre, 10am-12 noon.

The Mail welcomes your diary dates. E-mail them to: dianne.tuckett@jpress.co.uk, call 01673 844644, or post them to Market Rasen Mail, The Hub, Union Street, Market Rasen LN8 3AA at least two weeks in advance of the event.

A LINCOLNSHIRE charity has benefited from financial penalties given to businesses by the Environmental Agency.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has benefited from more than £17,000 worth of donations in the first year since civil sanctions have been available to the Environment Agency.

Under the new civil sanctions regime, the Environment Agency can use non-criminal or civil enforcement, such as compliance notices, restoration notices, enforcement undertakings, fixed monetary penalties, variable monetary penalties and stop notices as alternative enforcement powers.

Charities across the region have benefited from thousands of pounds donated by offenders. A total of £184,626 pounds has been promised to environmental charities and £124,626 has already been paid.

Local, national and international charities have benefited from donations ranging between £1,119 and £60,000.

Paul Learoyd, chief executive of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We have benefited from two donations to date and are delighted to receive the support.

“As a local charity the money enabled us to do a number of special projects to protect and enhance the environment with benefits both for wildlife and people.

“From installing an otter holt to restoring flower rich meadows the positive effect of the donations is there for all to see - well, in the case of the otter, only if you are very lucky.”

THE SKEGNESS Musical Theatre Company will return to the stage this Friday with a brand new show.

The group will tread the boards of the Embassy Theatre with a medley of musical numbers they have never tackled before.

They will be gracing the boards with songs from hit shows such as Billy Elliot and Les Miserables, creating an evening of spectacular song and dance called For One Night Only.

Musical Director, Peter Wellsted, said the new arrangement will give the audience a taste of the musicals which, due to licensing restrictions, cannot be performed in full.

“This is an opportunity to sing songs we could not otherwise perform and a chance to showcase the talent of our gifted singers and dancers,” said Wellsted.

Profits from the show will be donated to MacMillan Cancer Support, as the society has decided to thank the community for its continuing support over the last 48 years of performing to the town.

Chairman of SMTC, Andrea Hall, said; “The last few shows have been so successful we wanted to thank Skegness for providing such great talent and loyal audiences.

“We wanted to give something back to the community and as unfortunately most people know someone who has been touched by cancer, we chose MacMillan who do such a brilliant job.”

The show will also give an opportunity for some of Skegness’s young performers to shine as pupils from the Lisa Jay Stage Institute will feature in the production.

SMTC and the stage institute have a close relationship, with Lisa Jay choreographing their show for the second year.

‘For One Night Only’ will begin at 7.30pm on Friday, February 24.

Tickets costs £13 for adults, £11 for concessions and £36 for families. Visit www.embassytheatre.co.uk or call 0845 674 0505 for more information or to buy tickets.

Primary schools in Lincolnshire are benefiting from new phonics products and training which is driving up their pupils’ standards of reading.

Lincolnshire County Council is one of only seven authorities which has promoted the best take up of the training on phonics package with more than one in three schools already signed up for products.

Phonics teaches children how to recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes. It identifies the sounds that different combinations of letters.

THE National Concert Orchestra of Great Britain will perform an exclusive evening of Andre Rieu’s The Vienna Proms in Skegness this Saturday evening.

A full evening concert recreating the wonderful summer night concerts given in Vienna, the concert will open with the ever popular ‘Die Fledermaus’, and throughout will feature a host of Strauss Waltzes and Polkas including ‘The Blue Danube’, ‘Vienna Blood’, ‘The Merry Widow’ and ‘Tritsch Tratsch Polka’.

“The full program is not to be missed and features Strauss and other great composers of the ‘romantic’ period,” said a spokesperson.

“Bernie Clifton will sing with The National Concert Orchestra of Great Britain during the event.

“He started his career in entertainment as a singer with the bands and orchestras in the North West.

“Although well known for his ‘Ostrich’ and other comedic elements in his stage and TV shows, Bernie has never lost touch with his roots as a vocalist.

“His long time friend, Musical Director Greg Francis, actually met Bernie almost 40 years ago on the set at Thames TV during his Opportunity Knocks appearance, they have remained close friends ever since.

“In 2007, Bernie was invited to become compere and vocalist for the National Concert Orchestra of Great Britain and has appeared on countless indoor and outdoor concerts, the public have been astonished to hear his fine renditions of all styles of music.

“With the ‘Vienna Proms’ concerts, Bernie performs the songs of the greatest and most famous singer of the era, the Austrian Tenor Richard Tauber, including such popular songs as ‘Girls Were Made to Love and Kiss’. ‘My Heart and I’ and ‘Vienna, City of My Dreams’,” they added.

The concert will begin at 7.30pm this February 25. Tickets for the evening cost £22.50 for adults, £20.50 for over 60s and £11 for children.

For more information, or to buy tickets, call 0845 674 0505 or visit www.embassytheatre.co.uk.

THE PRICE of farmland in Lincolnshire has soared dramatically in the past year.

That’s according to regional agricultural business consultants Brown & Co. The firm is reporting that the average price in 2011 was £7,500 an acre – 25 per cent higher than the £6,000 an acre average land was making a year earlier.

Specialists at the firm say the big demand is for commercial arable farms in Lincolnshire.

The firm said factors in play include demand outstripping supply, the current strength of agricultural returns and the lack of attractive alternative investment opportunities.

]]> 1.3544653 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:26:41 +0000