West Lindsey District Council is delighted to bring back its Community Awards scheme

The awards gives special recognition to the unsung heroes who do an amazing job working in the community.

If you know of someone who you think deserves recognition for their hard work in the district please nominate them and enter them into to the awards.

The deadline for suggestions is Tuesday, March 1.

Chairman of the council, Coun Angela Lawrence said: “I am thrilled to be able to welcome back the community awards.

“As district councillors we come across so many people in the community who volunteer their time, support local town and parish councils and have a real passion for the places they live and work.

“A lot of the time the work goes un-noticed but the contribution is valued and this is an opportunity for us to celebrate their achievements.”

The categories are District Champions Citizen of the Year 2016, Parish/Town Council of the Year 2016, Parish/Town Councillor of the Year 2016, Volunteer of the Year 2016, Community Group of the Year 2016 and Chairman of the Council’s Special Award which is chosen by the Chairman of the Council. It could be a nominee for another award or someone the Chairman has met while on civic business.

Winners will be presented with their awards on Thursday, April 28.

YMCA Lincolnshire’s world class conference centre, The Showroom, has been awarded a five-star food hygiene rating from an unplanned EHO inspection.

The Showroom Conference Centre provides professional events spaces and facilities for corporate meetings, conferences and seminars.

The catering team’s Joe Boardman has been nominated for Catering Apprentice of the year twice previously, winning the award once, with staff member and former Apprentice Rebecca May winning the award in 2015.

Having retained ‘very good’ food hygiene rating swith the highest possible scores for each individual criteria.

The team were also congratulated on operating a ‘well run kitchen’ by the assessor.

Online dating criminals have scammed victims out of a heart-breaking £27 million in the last year, new figures have revealed.

Get Safe Online and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) have found there were almost 130 reports of online dating related crimes reported to police in the in the Midlands in the past 12 months.

This means victims from the region have lost an average of £7,000 each to the fraudsters.

The report also showed how people aged between 50-59 were the most likely victims, accounting for a quarter of all frauds and losing just over £6 million.

VIDEO: Online romance fraud victim left heartbroken

The figures highlighted how almost of two thirds of all romance scams originated on dating sites, followed by social media where 25 per cent of scams originated.

Tony Neate, CEO of Get Safe Online, said: “Online dating can be a great way to meet that special someone. However, it doesn’t hurt to place a little more caution when using these sites to start talking to someone, just as you would if you met a stranger in a bar or at a party.

“What’s frustrating is that there are a minority of people who use online dating as a forum to target vulnerable people, knowing if they invest a lot of time into building a relationship with someone, they could potentially steal a lot of money.

“This is demonstrated by the huge amount lost to online fating related crimes last year, with the average loss standing at a worrying £10,000.

VIDEO: Online romance fraud victim left heartbroken

But as well as the financial loss, Tony said the emotional impact is the most severe part of this crime.

“When someone places a lot of trust and faith in a person who they think they know, they often don’t separate their emotional feelings from rationale. Often when victims do start to suspect something isn’t quite right, they’re already in deep, so it’s extremely easy to ignore those little niggles of doubt and choose to trust someone – it’s this factor which online criminals exploit.

“It’s important to remember that it’s highly unlikely anyone legitimate would ask for any kind of financial assistance for whatever reason. Plus, if there are any immediate doubts, speak to a family member of friend to get a second, more objective opinion. If someone is keen to take contact off the dating site very quickly, this could be a sign that they have something to hide.

If you think that you have been a victim of fraud, contact the non-emergency police number on 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Click here to see a video of a victim of this crime talking about her experience.

And what better way to mark the season of love than by taking a look at some of the cheesiest chat-up lines you’re ever likely to find.

Here’s a few but why don’t you get in touch and give us some of your own.

• If I could rearrange the alphabet I would put U and I together.

• You must be Jamaican, because Jamaican me crazy.

• Did you invent the airplane because you seem Wright for me.

• Do you like raisins? What about a date then?

• I’ve lost my teddy. Could you cuddle me instead.

• Do you work in a coffee shop because I like you a latte.

• There’s something wrong with my mobile. It doesn’t have your number in it.

• If I said you smelled of bins, would you let me take you out?

• Do you have something in your eye? Nope, it’s just a sparkle.

• If I had to rate you from 1-10. I would give you a 9. Because I am the 1 you are missing.

There’s our top ten. Now what’s yours. Let us know in the comment section below or find us on Facebook.

Johnston Press, which owns this title, has today confirmed its intention to buy award-winning national newspaper i.

The deal - with Independent Print Limited - will position Johnston Press as the UK’s fourth largest print publisher, selling more than 600,000 copies of its titles a day.

Johnston Press - which owns more than 200 local and regional newspapers and websites - plans to launch a website and app for i once the deal, worth £24m, is finalised in around eight weeks.

“i is a highly regarded, award-winning national title which has established a unique market position by combining high-quality journalism with a concise, popular format,” said Johnston Press Chief Executive Office Ashley Highfield.

“Having i – the industry’s Newspaper of the Year 2015 - in our family of titles will enable us to offer advertisers national advertising opportunities across the whole country.”

The proposed acquisition was announced to the London Stock Exchange this morning and welcomed by i Editor Oliver Duff, who will stay on in his role following completion of the deal.

“Since launching five years ago, i has been an insurgent force in the national quality newspaper market, defying sceptics and overtaking established rivals through innovation and bold, independent journalism.

“Ownership by Johnston Press will propel i into the next exciting chapter in its short history. JP’s heritage, national network of journalists, retail clout and commitment to digital development mean the group is ideally placed to continue i’s circulation and revenue growth.

“i is already a punchy, trusted digest that cuts through the noise of daily life. Our readers around the UK subscribe to its ethos of brevity, quality and impartiality. Yet many more people are short on time and hungry for knowledge. With JP’s help, we can reach this untapped audience – and build on a British media success story.”

Neither retailers nor subscribers will be affected by the proposed acquisition.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a group of Nottingham Forest football fans allegedly acted in a drunk, rowdy and disorderly manner on a train.

Three fans were arrested by British Transport Police (BTP) officers on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly on the 7.05pm train between Leeds and Nottingham on Saturday, February 6. They were two men from Ilkeston, aged 22 and 29, and a 27-year-old man from Ripley.

A fourth man, aged 36 and from Alfreton, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. He has been charged and bailed to attend Chesterfield magistrates' court on Saturday, February 27.

PC Wayne Mitchell, from BTP, said: "We are committed to stamping out football-related anti-social behaviour on the rail network and are doing all we can to identify the individuals concerned and bring them to justice. If you were on the train and witnessed the incident, please come forward and contact us as you may have information with could help us to do this."

Anyone with information should call 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016. In all calls, quote incident reference 227 of 12/2/2016.

They will also get the usual daredevil bikers soaring 40ft in the air over death-defying ramps as they race around the specially created dirt track on conventional motorbikes.

But 10 leading Junior 65cc pilots will line up for the first of a two-round four-lap race on Saturday evening, February 13, all riding identical 14kW Kuberg Cross battery-powered mini-crossers.

The bikes are noise-free and require no oil or fuel.

A heavy-duty design and with a custom-made suspension, the Cross is super clean.

The young riders, aged between seven and 10 years, have impressed at every round of the 2016 Arenacross series with their gutsy race performances and endless determination as they’ve tackled the same technically-challenging circuits as the professional riders.

Kuberg CEO, Michal Kubanek is thrilled to be involved with Arenacross. “I think the audience will be shocked at just how amazing this 14kW Cross bike is – and what better way to showcase it in front of packed out audiences at both Sheffield and London – we are excited at this new partnership with Arenacross and who knows, FMX could be next”.

The unique series is set to raise the roof with the rest of the traditional evening, full of noise, grease, full-on indoor Supercross-style racing, lights, music, pyrotechnics and unbelievable high air Freestyle motocross antics.

Showboating Arenacros superstar Edgar Torronteras, the self-proclaimed godfather of FMX, is amongst the big names taking part in the tour, powered by Ford Ranger,

'ET’ has no fear. He has one of the biggest and craziest personalities in the game.

FMX riders are very much a part of the Arenacross family and all cite the trust and confidence they have in each other as a major factor towards pushing the boundaries of each performance, as they whip and flip their way over the AX ramps, flying through the air, each trying to outdo one another with the latest trick.

Local youngsters hoping to follow in the tracks of Torronteras and contesting the youngest class in the series at the Arena include nine-year-old Kian Knowles from Doncaster .

Schoolboy Kurt Griffiths, 13, from Worksop, won the Small Wheel class of the 85cc championship last year.

He moved up to the Big Wheel class this year but at 5ft 9ins had outgrown the machine size, so he is competing against the ProLites, the next class up - some of then 10-years older than him.

After contesting five of the 11 round ProLites championship he is placed a creditable 10, with two rounds remaining. Whilst daunting to ride with a group of semi-pros he has looked up to, he is coping well with the technical tracks on the bigger bike.

He took delivery of his 125cc last August but then broke his arm and didn’t get back on the machine until late November.

Mum Lisa said: “We think he’s had enough upheaval this year and so to see him smile and finish the races without breaking a bone is enough for us. He on the other hand wants to be back winning and especially this weekend with all his family and friends in the audience.”

Other regional riders include10-year-old Bailey Johnson from Swillington and Kacey Hird, 12, from Bradford,who is currently second in the SuperMini 85cc championship.

Doors open at 6pm and the evening performance kicks off at 7pm.

Tickets are available in person from the venue’s box office, call 01142 565656 or visit www.sheffieldarena.co.uk

Tickets are adults £19.95 to £40.95, children £10.50 to £30.45. Buy in person at the Sheffield Arena, call the box office on 0114 256 5656 or visit www.sheffieldarena.co.uk.

Tengi, the new Sheffield made chat app with weekly cash prizes, has announced it's next winner will get a whopping £10,000 in a free super draw and it could be YOU!

Simply download the free app at tengi.com/star and use its free services - send texts, emoticons, photos, videos and audio messages.

You get free draw tickets every time you use it and for every contact in your phone who also signs up. So the more you use it the more chances you have to win.

Tengi, which gives away half of its advertising income in a free draw every Friday night at 7pm, usual has a £1,000 top prize and hundreds of £25 and £5 winners. It's given away over £100,000 already, in its first few weeks.

But now, in a unique super draw which will take place from now until Friday, February 26, the first prize is £10,000.

Which means Tengi is really living up to its name, pronounced Ten 'G', or 10 Grand.

Neil Laycock, CEO of Tengi, based at the University of Sheffield Bio-incubator, a new business start-ups building, in Leavygreave Road, said: "It's big news here at Tengi. We’ve just announced our first super draw, with the lucky winner taking home £10,000!

"This draw is different and replaces the usual weekly £1,000 draw. It will be over a two week period finishing on Friday, February 26. And we're giving users a huge 16 tickets for every friend that joins, which is up from 10 in the last draw.

"The objective is a push for growth, to get as many people to join Tengi as possible.

"Our marketing/PR and awareness campaign is also up and running - details can be found on our blog - so there has never been a better time to invite friends onto Tengi and make it your chat app of choice!

DOWNLOAD: Get the Tengi chat app now for your Apple or Android mobile - links here tengi.com/star
TECH TALK REVIEW: Tengi is already my 'chat app of the year', writes Graham Walker.

Why would you use Whatsapp when you can use the free made in Sheffield chat app Tengi and be in with the chance of winning up to £1,000 every week? During the super draw one winner gets an incredible £10,000, details above.

Tengi, which also gives away hundreds of weekly £25 and £5 prizes, is the ONLY chat app that does that. It’s unique.

Yes you can send texts, emoticons, photos, videos and audio messages. It tells users when their message has been delivered and read.

It’s easy to set up group chats with friends, family, work, clubs or organisations..

Tengi is free to download and free to use, by anyone with a mobile phone and a SIM card, with messages sent via the internet, including WiFi.

It also promises not to sell your data, give it to advertisers or use message content to help target adverts. There are no in-app purchases. No catches.

But here's the best bit. Pronounced ‘Ten-G’, with aims of raising the prize to £10,000 every week, or 10 ‘G’, has already given away over £100,000 in its first few weeks.

Lucky South Yorkshire folk Olesia Tartakovski, of Sheffield and Rotherham’s Mark Carew, of Herringthorpe, already know what it’s like to win - they’ve each scooped the £1,000 weekly prize.

Here at Tech Talk we always feature an app of the week but after trying out Tengi myself for the past few weeks well, I’ve already got this in the running as app of the year. And it’s only February.

Whether you are an Apple or Android mobile user, give it a try and let me know if you’re a winner. Download from the Apple Store or Google Play at tengi.com/star
* Tengi is currently only available to UK residents over 16 years. As with other chat apps, sending messages and media when not on WiFi will use your data allowance.

Find out more at www.tengi.com/star - for updates, news, support and more also follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tengiapp and Twitter @tengiapp

READ MORE:

VIDEO: Sheffield chat app Tengi takes on WhatsApp with big cash prizes

Sheffield woman wins £1,000 prize for using messenger app - and gives half away to charity

Two volunteers at HOPE have raised £160 from a 24-hour sponsored fishing event.

The two men, Wayne and Ash, undertook the challenge to help raise awareness and funds in aid of HOPE’s 20th anniversary.

The money will be used to help those who are homeless and in crisis.

Jo Blemmmings, retail manager at HOPE, said “I am really proud of Ash and Wayne, for doing such a challenge, to help raise awareness and funds for us.

“This year is a big year for HOPE, as it marks 20 years since we first opened.

“I am looking forward to more activities throughout the year”.

Following their February AGM at members of the Gainsborough & District Fine Arts Society enjoyed an outstanding lecture from historian, Tracy Borman.

Brought up in Lincolnshire,

Tracy is now a joint curator along with Lucy Worsley, of the four Historic Royal Palaces which includes Hampton Court and has recently reached number four on the Times Bestseller list with her biography on Henry VIII’s most faithful servant, Thomas Cromwell.

A consummate story teller, she examined the life, loves and legacy of the man who was one of the most powerful figures in Tudor history who changed the shape of England forever.

Cromwell, as architect of England’s break with the Roman Catholic Church and the ensuing Dissolution of the Monasteries, oversaw seismic changes in our country’s history.

Influential in securing Henry’s controversial divorce from Catherine of Aragon, many believe he was also the ruthless force behind Anne Boleyn’s downfall and subsequent execution.

This capable man was also to fall from grace and to lose his life under his tyrannical and egotistical king.

Multiple vehicles were involved in a “serious” collision on the A60, Mansfield Road last night (Saturday, February 13).

The crash happened on the stretch of road between Ravenshead and the Seven Mile Inn at around 10.05pm.

Two people were taken to hospital by ambulance after being cut from their cars by firefighters from Mansfield and Arnold.

Anyone who witnessed the inicdent is asked to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 905 of 13 February, 2016.

A community centre in Worksop is hoping to paint a brighter future after reaching the final of a UK-wide competition.

The OASIS Centre is one of four charities or community groups to make it into the final of the Johnstone’s Trade Community Spirit competition.

Based on the Kilton estate, OASIS has brought back to life a derelict youth club and abandoned recreation field to create a hub for a disadvantaged community.

Well over 100 charities and community projects from across the UK submitted applications to the competition, run by the leading paint manufacturer Johnstone’s Trade.

A judging panel selected the final shortlist of four based on criteria such as the impact the project has on the community and the urgency for redecoration.

Steve Williams, manager of OASIS Centre said: “We started the project around five years ago and it has become more and more popular with the community ever since.

“It’s a real focal point for the community now and there are people using it for various courses, groups or simply to meet up with their friends seven days a week. Winning this competition would give us the chance to create a warm and vibrant environment and help build the atmosphere still further.”

The OASIS Centre’s quest to win the Johnstone’s Trade Community Spirit is being supported by Nottinghamsire County Football Club.

Defender Haydn Hollis, who visited the centre, said: “It’s fantastic to see acommunity really come together under one roof and forge a really tight spirit. It would be fantastic if OASIS could win the prize and build on the excellent work that has already happened at the Centre.”

Richard Mazurkiewicz, marketing manager for Johnstone’s Trade, said: “We had a high number of entries and there were so many worthwhile projects that it made the shortlisting process difficult.

“However, the OASIS Centre and the three other projects in the final all do fantastic work and would all be very worthwhile winners. To win a redecoration makeover will make a huge difference and we are proud to be making a real impact.”

To vote for OASIS Centre, please visit www.johnstonestrade.com/communityspirit before February 29.

Staff and volunteers for the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance have raised more than £8,000 from collections at the LAMMA show.

LAMMA is the UK’s largest farm machinery, equipment and agricultural services show and this year it was in Peterborough.

For 10 hours each day charity staff and volunteers stood with their collection buckets receiving generous donations from the event’s organisers, general public and exhibitors.

The figure raised came to £8244.82

Jim Vickrage, from the Air Ambulance, said: “We’re continually grateful and surprised by the enormous generosity of the LAMMA show’s directors, Stuart Favill, the event’s operations director, the event exhibitors and attendees.

“The sum raised this year is amazing and was partly due to the additional support by six volunteers from the Nottingham branch of EE, the mobile network operator.

“They opted to take a very chilly day out of the office to help their local air ambulance and made a huge difference in doing so.

“LAMMA is always a great event, organised by some incredible people and the amount raised more than makes up for our numb toes.”

Mobile speed cameras will be out and about on Nottinghamshire roads.

Mobile speed cameras will be at the following locations from Monday, February 22:

* A17 Sleaford Road, Coddington;

* A609 Ilkeston Road/Wollaton Road/Russell Drive/Trowell Road, Nottingham;

* A617, Kirklington;

* A6002, Bilborough Road, Nottingham;

* A6005 Castle Boulevard/Abbey Bridge/University Boulevard, Nottingham;

* A6117 Old Milll Lane, Mansfield;

* A6191 Southwell Road West, Mansfield;

* B682 Sherwood Rise through to Hucknall Lane, Nottingham;

* B686 Carlton Hill, Carlton;

* B6004 Strelley Road/Broxtowe Lane/ Stockhill Lane;

* B6023 Mansfield Road, Sutton;

* B6030 Sherwood Hall Road/Clipstone Road, Mansfield;

* B6041 Kilton Hill, Worksop;

* Beechdale Road/Hollington Road/Wigman Road, Nottingham;

* Clifton Road, Ruddington;

* Coppice Road, Arnold;

* Main Street, Balderton;

* Nottingham Road/Portland Road/Annesley Road, Hucknall;

* Raymoth Lane, Thievesdale Lane and Farmers Branch, Worksop;

* Shelford Road, Radcliffe.

For further information, visit www.nottspeed.com

A woman’s Christmas night out in Retford town centre was ruined by her jealous former partner harassing her and attacking her new boyfriend, a court heard.

Ryan Raw, 28, head-butted Royal Navy sailor Matthew Wheewall in the beer garden of a pub. And when the woman, Chloe Taylor, returned home at 3 am, she found Raw in the house where he assaulted Mr Wheewall again.

Raw, of Thomas Street, Retford, was jailed for 18 weeks after pleading guilty at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court to two charges of assault and one of harassing and pestering Miss Taylor on the night of Friday and Saturday December 18 and 19 last year.

District Judge Leo Pyle also imposed a restraining order on Raw, banning him from making any contact with the victims for one year. or going to her home.

Donna Fawcett, prosecuting, explained that Miss Taylor and Mr Wheewall were out enjoying drinks with a group of friends.

“But Raw hassled them all night, followed them to the same pubs and bars and tried to provoke Mr Wheewall into having a fight,” said Miss Fawcett.

“In the beer garden of one pub, they were sat down when Raw bent down between them and said sarcastically: You two make a lovely couple. He then head-butted Mr Wheewall without any provocation at all.”

The court heard that Raw was kicked out of one pub, Yates’s, but when Miss Taylor and her boyfriend went back to her house on Thrumpton Lane in Retford, they were shocked to see Raw run downstairs as they opened the door.

“She had no idea how he’d got in,” said Miss Fawcett. “He said he wanted to tell her how much he loved her. But while Mr Wheewall was standing in the doorway, he punched him in the forehead.

“Raw ran out and was then seen on the roof of the house. The police were called and he was arrested after he jumped down.”

When interviewed by officers, Raw said he didn’t know Mr Wheewall, but “he was jealous of his relationship with Miss Taylor and was confused because he believed she still loved him”, the court heard.

Andrew Osborne, mitigating, said Raw had been receiving “mixed messages” from Miss Taylor, who had visited him while he was in prison for another matter and with whom he had a child.

“He became angry and upset when he thought she was breaching an agreement they had about not seeing anybody else,” said Mr Osborne. “But he now accepts she can do what she likes.

“A lot of drink was involved on this evening, and it was only a low-powered head-butt. Miss Taylor told him to go to her address to talk about matters. He accepts he aimed a punch on his way out. Both assaults were medium to minor.”

District Judge Pyle said the offences were aggravated by the criminal record of Raw, who was told he must be supervised by the probation service for 12 months after his release from jail.

Notts Hospice and Experian have joined forces to bring the frothiest, foamiest and most exciting family focused 5k to Nottingham – and it’s all for a good cause.

May 8 will see the Forest Recreation Ground transform into a sea of bubbles as 2,000 people of all ages come together to walk, jog, run and dance through four bubble stations all with different colours and fragrances in a one-off bubble extravaganza.

The course is suitable for prams, pushchairs and wheelchairs and the bubbles are safe for eyes and non-toxic.

Rowena Naylor-Morrell, Notts Hospice’s chief executive, said “I am proud to be able to work with Experian to bring the first ever bubble rush to the people of Nottinghamshire.

“It is wonderful to see two local organisations come together and raise funds which will directly make an important difference to local people.”

Jan Barrett, from Experian, added: “We’re delighted to be able to support Bubble Rush, a fantastic event designed to bring the community together and raise vital funds, both for Notts Hospice and our very own Heart of Experian Charity Fund.

“We are passionate about supporting the local community and changing people’s lives.

“The money raised through this event will help provide essential support to a large number of local good causes.”

Early bird entry prices of £15 for adults (£5 14 and under) are available until March 11.

Go to www.nottshospice.org/bubble-rush for more information and to book.

Drivers are being warned about heavy traffic on the main roads leading to the M1 this morning (February 15).

Congestion is building, particularly on the A38 in Alfreton, near to J28 of the M1.

There is also heavy congestion on the motorway.

Expect delays.

Police are looking to speak with this man in connection with a theft from a shop in Worksop.

The incident took palce in the co-op on Plantation Hill on January 22.

If you recognise him or think you can help, please call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Work to improve a village war memorial has been completed - thanks to a generous donation and help from nearby businesses.

Last year the Royal British Legion branch at Bilsthorpe successfully applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund, who stumped up £6,300 for their project on Eakring Road.

The money was used to make the area clean and tidy, but part of it was also used for education purposes.

It helped fund a trip for local scouts to visit the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Keeley Ward, branch chairman, said the money was stretched even further, thanks to the help of three businesses who offered services.

She said: “It looks good. There are a few other things that still need doing, but it looks so much better.

“These companies have done a lot of hard work and have been very generous.”

As part of the clean-up, Mr G’s Cleaning Services cleared moss from the memorial and cleaned the stone, Manor Exteriors paved and gravelled the area up to the memorial, while Midland Tree Care trimmed the surrounding trees.

Keeley said: “We wanted to make it more accessible to the community and make it an area where people can go to sit, rather than just use it for Remembrance Day.

“We’re now looking for anyone who can help us put in a bench.”

Meanwhile, the branch is also looking to recruit more members to help carry on the good work.

Anyone interested should call Keeley on 07814 389062.

Owners of Apple products have been warned against manually setting the date on their device to 1 January 1970 - or being tricked by friends into doing it.

A bug within the products will cause them to get permanently stuck while trying to boot back up if the device is switched off.

It causes such an issue that users are reporting that not even the fail-safe restore techniques using iTunes can repair the problem.

The date bug affects iPhones, iPads and iPod touches with 64-bit processors running iOS 8 or iOS 9, including the iPhone 5S onwards, the iPad Air, iPad mini 2 or the 2015 sixth-generation iPod touch or newer.

The precise cause of the problem is not known - although the way iOS stores date and time formats means that 1 January 1970 is stored as a value of 0 or less, causing every other process that requires the time stamp to fail.

Users curious about the bug have reportedly ‘bricked’ their devices trying to disprove the reports, ending up having to have them replaced by Apple.