Archives
Below are our archives for May 2013. If you are looking for a different month, please use the date search box feature below. To browse please choose from last month or try the News, Sport or Opinion archives for this month.
Johnstone woman 'cleared of dishonesty'
A JOHNSTONE woman accused of wasting police time by lying about being assaulted has walked free from court.
MSP inspired by community gardening
A GREEN-FINGERED MSP is digging in to back a number of projects which inspire community gardening and farming in Renfrewshire.
READERS can look forward to sampling a wide variety of food and drink, thanks to a Taste of Braehead.
CHILDREN in Renfrewshire are enjoying a week of book-based adventures as they celebrate national Bookbug Week with their parents.
THERE is just one week left to allow your beloved tot the chance to be crowned the Gazette and Barrhead News Bonnie Babies 2013 champion.
READ all about it! Find out what's making the headlines in this week's Gazette, out tomorrow (Wednesday) for just 75p.
A RENFREW man battled it out with a man who is now dead in a knife fight in the town, a court will hear.
SINGER songwriter Colum Sands will be performing at the Houston Folk Club this Thursday (May 23).
HELPFUL Howwood locals got their hands dirty by embarking on an annual spring clean throughout the village.
YOUNG people from throughout Renfrewshire are being encouraged to attend a special event designed to showcase the benefits of a modern apprenticeship.
VIDEO: Supermarket insists Linwood Tesco "will" go forward
MSP Hugh Henry says it is "good news" that supermarket bosses have promised commitment to opening a Tesco in Linwood.
GROWING legions of 'silver surfers' in Renfrewshire are being warned to be vigilant as cyber criminals look to prey on unsuspecting victims with increasingly cunning online scams.
THESE fun-loving locals had a trolley-good time at a wacky event aimed at collecting food for the town's hungry.
Schoolboy's appeal after guitar stolen
A DEVASTATED busker is appealing for readers to help him trace back his stolen guitar.
A RENFREW man battled it out with a man who is now dead in a knife fight in the town, a court will hear.
There is nowhere quite like 'Our Toon'
A NOSTALGIC Facebook page used by the Johnstone community to share their memories and tales online has become a social media sensation.
War of words erupt over funding 'rip-off'
The people of Renfrewshire are being ripped off to the tune of £7.5 million by the Scottish Government each year, according to a local politician.
Tough charity bid is worth it for our dad
TWO dedicated brothers are gearing up to take part in a gruelling triathlon in memory of their father.
Tributes paid to tragic mum and daughter
A JOHNSTONE council candidate and her daughter have died after they were found with horror knife injuries at a budget hotel.
A NUN accused of battering teenage girls resigned as headmistress of the school where the alleged abuse took place and left the country, a court has heard.
Accused 'admitted stabbing someone'
THE girlfriend of a man accused of murdering Linwood piper Craig Hepburn told a court: "He told me he had stabbed someone".
Charity relief after funding reinstated
THE country's leading sight loss charity has welcomed a decision by Renfrewshire Council to provide 'talking' audio books for people who are blind or partially sighted.
Celebrating 50 years of car built in Linwood
IT was fifty years since the iconic Hillman Imp first rolled off the production line.
A RENFREW man battled it out with a man who is now dead in a knife fight in the town, a court will hear.
LAWYERS acting for a Johnstone hairdresser accused of drug dealing are struggling to prepare his case - because prosecutors have not handed over key evidence in the case against him.
Awar-winning author pays budding writers a visit
BOOKSMART youngsters dove headfirst into some reading last week after being paid a special visit by an award-winning author.
Trolley-good time in Johnstone
THESE fun-loving locals had a trolley-good time at a wacky event aimed at collecting food for the town's hungry.
A JOHNSTONE man who caused families to flee for their lives after threatening to blow up a block of flats has been jailed.
Win VIP wristbands to meet the TOWIE boys!
CALLING all TOWIE fans, The Gazette and Barrhead News are offering three readers a pair of VIP wristbands to get up close and personal with ITV stars Joey Essex, Tom Pearce and James "Diags" Bennewith at Silverburn.
READ all about it! Find out what's making the headlines in this week's Gazette, out today (Wednesday) for just 75p.
Schoolboy's appeal after guitar stolen
A DEVASTATED busker is appealing for readers to help him trace back his stolen guitar.
Delighted councillors hail council decision
DELIGHTED Labour duo Jackie Henry and Stuart Clark have welcomed Renfrewshire Council's backing for Labour's plans to build a brand new £18m school for young people with Additional Support Needs.
Jailed after bootleg goods found in home
A MAN caught with a haul of bootleg cigarettes and tobacco that was stashed at a house in Renfrew has been jailed for eight months.
Renfrewshire's aspiring astronauts
THE sky is the limit for these two aspiring astronauts who are hoping to earn their place in space this year.
A JOHNSTONE off licence is at the centre of a probe after cops found a haul of potentially deadly fake booze for sale on its shelves, The Gazette can reveal.
A MAN has been fined after admitting that he had unlawful possession of cannabis in Johnstone last year.
DELIGHTED Labour duo Jackie Henry and Stuart Clark have welcomed Renfrewshire Council's backing for Labour's plans to build a brand new £18m school for young people with Additional Support Needs.
Man accused of stealing handbag
A SHERIFF has issued a warrant for the arrest of a man charged with stealing a handbag and purse during an incident in Elm Drive, Johnstone.
150 workers have lost their jobs following the imminent closure of an Inchinnan repair plant.
Man 'choked' woman in Elderslie
A MAN has appeared on petition at Paisley Sheriff Court charged with choking a woman with his hands and causing her to fall unconscious during an incident at a house in Elderslie.
CARING pupils from Renfrew High have been taking part in the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).
Erskine girl bags beauty pageant crown
WITH her enviable golden curls and infectious smile, it is no surprise that little Emily Toal has just won a beauty pageant contest.
Elderslie Scout Group plant sale
ELDERSLIE Scout Group will be holding their spring plant sale this Saturday (May 11) between 10am and 1pm.
Thug behind bars for 'blow up flats' threat
A JOHNSTONE man who caused families to flee for their lives after threatening to blow up a block of flats has been jailed.
A MOTORIST will stand trial at Paisley Sheriff Court charged with driving dangerously on the M8 motorway at Hillington during rush-hour traffic.
Council staff hit Google 7 million times
SHOPPING chains, video-sharing sites and Facebook are among the most visited websites by Renfrewshire Council workers, The Gazette can reveal.
Paramedics battled to save Craig
PARAMEDICS who attended to a bagpipe player after he was stabbed to death said there was "blood running down the road" when they arrived, a jury heard.
Pupils over the moon at space school final
THE sky is the limit for these two aspiring astronauts who are hoping to earn their place in space this year.
Ordeal after being stabbed by syringe
A DRUG addict whose reckless disregard placed a police officer at risk of serious harm has been jailed.
Swimmers injured at £24m leisure centre
A NEW £24 million sports facility in Linwood has been forced to close one of its pools after just six weeks of being open, when several swimmers reported foot injuries.
Go kart arena for Renfrewshire
SCOTLAND'S first indoor electric go-kart arena could soon be open in Renfrewshire.
A JOHNSTONE man has spoken of the moment he was attacked and robbed just seconds from his girlfriend's front door.
BOOKSMART youngsters dived their noses into some reading last week after being paid a special visit by an award-winning author.
A PIONEERING project which has successfully reduced youth disorder in Renfrewshire has been honoured at Scotland's local authority Oscars.
GROWING legions of 'silver surfers' in Renfrewshire are being warned to be vigilant as cyber criminals look to prey on unsuspecting victims with cunning online scams.
A RENFREWSHIRE council leader has been forced to issue an apology after an internet troll hacked his Twitter account.
Boy George fan of Johnstone singer
A TALENTED Johnstone singer-songwriter has been left starstruck after his idols Boy George and Sophie Ellis-Bextor praised his music album on Twitter.
Houston man's life transformed by new project
A HOUSTON man with Asperger syndrome believes his life has been transformed by a groundbreaking new project for people with autism.
FIND out what's making the headlines in this week's Gazette, out tomorrow (Wednesday) for just 75p.
BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner killed in road crash
A PENSIONER has died following a fatal road crash in Renfrewshire this morning (Tuesday).
VIDEO: Erskine Comic on her Britain's Got Talent audition
ERSKINE comedian Anna Devitt and her alter-ego "Truffle" talk about their experience auditioning for this year's Britain's Got Talent.
Runners needed for Fun Run challenge
FLEET-FOOTED folk in Renfrewshire are being urged to get their entries in for this year's Scottish West 10k Championship and Fun Run challenge.
Johnstone man faces assault rap
A MAN is being prosecuted for allegedly assaulting his wife during an incident at his home in Johnstone.
Museum earning its own place in history
A MUCH-LOVED museum run entirely by a group of volunteers is marking its fifth anniversary.
Top marks for Kilbarchan Nursery
STAFF and children at Kilbarchan Community Nursery are celebrating after being given top notch marks in a care report.
Piper 'stabbed to death in street'
A TALENTED young piper was killed by a stranger after being stabbed 11 times on a village street, a jury has been told.
Families will suffer as benefits are cut
BRUTAL cuts made to Child Benefits will hit over 20,000 local families, Renfrewshire Council has warned.
RENFREWSHIRE has been ranked as one of most violent area's in the UK, The Gazette can reveal.
Ladies can get pampered and raise money
A LADIES pampering and late-night shopping event is being held to raise funds for Renfrewshire's newest historical festival.
Spring clean for Kilbarchan Scout Group
ECO-MINDED youngsters were joined by local Councillors Derek Bibby and Chris Gilmour to embark on a spring litterpick in Kilbarchan last week.
Families will suffer as benefits are cut
BRUTAL cuts made to Child Benefits will hit over 20,000 local families, Renfrewshire Council has warned.
Warning after OAP is targeted by conman
A FRAIL pensioner has been left distraught after a callous crook conned her out of £500.
Hardworking group celebrate 20 years
A DEVOTED committee who have worked tirelessly to transform their community are delighted after celebrating their 20th AGM.
Museum earning its own place in history
A MUCH-LOVED museum run entirely by a group of volunteers is marking its fifth anniversary.
Cleared after bullets evidence misplaced
A RENFREW man has walked free from court after being cleared of drugs and firearms charges.
Houston man's life transformed by new project
A HOUSTON man with Asperger syndrome believes his life has been transformed by a groundbreaking new project for people with autism.
Tobacco factory operator jailed
A MAN has been jailed for tax fraud after the discovery of a tobacco counterfeiting "factory" in his Renfrew flat.
Factory is chosen for Royal Yacht
A BRIDGE of Weir factory which supplies leather to some of the world's leading car makers has been selected to supply its famous low carbon leather to The Royal Yacht Britannia.
Video tribute to 'amazing' teen
A MUM has been left heartbroken after finding her 14-year-old daughter dead in the family home.
EXCLUSIVE: Britain's Got Talent Nightmare before audition
A RENFREWSHIRE comic almost missed out on the biggest gig of her career - the audition for Britain's Got Talent.
Johnstone man faces assault rap
A MAN is being prosecuted for allegedly assaulting his wife during an incident at his home in Johnstone.
School run by nuns was 'worse than jail'
A GRANDMOTHER who was sent to Dalbeth Approved School in Bishopton aged 13 has told a jury "it was a hellhole worse than prison".
FANS of WWE will be able to see all their favourite wrestling superstars and divas live in action at a spectacular show at Braehead Arena.
BREAKING NEWS: Major headache for 'dud' drugs bust
A PAIR of schoolgirls caused a major headache for police - after a substance suspected to be cocaine turned out to be painkillers.
Filmmaker honoured for arts award
A TALENTED filmmaker who has worked with the likes of DJ Paul Oakenfold is delighted after being honoured for a prestigious arts award.
Maniac motorist in Erskine police smash
A SECURITY system installer who nearly smashed into a police car just outside Erskine has lost three jobs since being convicted of dangerous driving, a court has heard.
Barsail Primary's banner success
HARDWORKING pupils have delivered a hard-hitting message of safety after designing a range of banners at Barsail Primary.
BREAKING NEWS: Johnstone High schoolgirls 'snorted cocaine in toilets'
TWO schoolgirls are alleged to have 'snorted cocaine' in the toilets of Johnstone High.
DEREK Mackay has welcomed proposals for tackling the scourge of metal theft which has been plaguing Renfrewshire.
