Dumfries & Galloway Standard
Appeal for volunteer crafters to help expand poignant poppy drape
A Dumfriesshire-wide effort is under way to create another panel to add to the poignant poppy drape that was first displayed last November at The Garden of Remembrance, opposite St Michael’s Church in Brooms Road, Dumfries. Hundreds of volunteers...
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Plans for rifle range gets the green light from councillors
A rifle range near Eskdalemuir was given the green light on Wednesday – despite concerns it could disturb the peace of a popular monastery. Dumfries and Galloway councillors granted planning permission to Euart Glendinning to change the use of...
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COUNCILLOR WANTS SCHOOL BUSES TO BE UTILISED FOR WEEKEND AND EVENING ROUTES
The council’s new fleet of school buses should be used for evening and weekend routes in Nithsdale, a councillor has argued. Mid and Upper Nithsdale Councillor Jim Dempster, below, made the plea last week as he and fellow ward councillor Andrew Wood...
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‘OUR BUS SERVICE IS BROKEN’
Disabled residents and lowincome families across rural Dumfries and Galloway say they have been left “totally isolated” by cuts to bus services. The impact that the reconfiguration of the region’s bus network has had on communities has been made clear...
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World first as recycled glass is to be used to build eco homes
A “world first” recycled glass solution has been approved for a new housing scheme in Scotland. The Closeburn homes are designed to be available for residents, young and old, from the local area looking for attractive, thermally comfortable, safe,...
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£24M FACTORY TOBRING 250 JOBS
A groundbreaking ceremony has marked the start of a new multimillion pound beef facility that will see the creation of around 250 jobs in the region. £24million facility at Ecclefechan has been described as an “important milestone for Dumfries and...
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GOBSMACKED GRANWINS £4M HOME
A ‘gobsmacked’ gran who scooped a £4million mansion in an online lottery almost missed out on her lifechanging win. At an unveiling of her prize, the first thing Mary Dickson seen was a horse standing in a field. The 72-year-old said: “I said thanks...
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Grant is a Tour De Force
Emotional finish for cancer fighter after gruelling ride to raise cash
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ALL HEART
A legacy left by a Lochmaben grandmother will help to save the lives of young people across the region. The family of the late Elizabeth Bell have donated cash to the DH9 Foundation, set up in memory of David Hill. The 30-year-old died of an...
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BRAVING HEIGHTS FOR A CURE
A pair of Dumfries and Galloway women are taking on an ultimate aerial challenge for a cause close to their hearts after devastating losses. Jill Rennie and Dumfriesshire farmer Shirley Clarke, both aged 63, tragically lost husbands – who were both...
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APPEAL FOR INFORMATION ON RIVER NITH INCIDENT
SHARON LIPTROTT More than 350 messages of condolence and support have been posted in sympathy with the bereaved parents of a Dumfries teenager as officers work to determine the circumstances surrounding his death. Kenzie Carmichael, aged 16, was...
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ADAY WE’LL NEVER FORGET
Sunday was a day the Learmont family will never forget. Since Dumfries builder Grant was given the “unimaginable” news on Valentine’s Day that he has stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer, he and his wife Kirsten and children Tilly and Shaw, have been...
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CANNIBAL MURDERER LOCKEDUP
A cannibal killer who murdered a man then torched his flat has been jailed for at least 23 years. Gabriel Brown stabbed Joseph Johnston a total of 22 times during a “punishment” attack at the 58 year-old’s home in Annan, in November 2024. Sick Brown,...
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ANOTHER BLOW TO FARMING COMMUNITY
The farming community has suffered another devastating blow as a case of BSE - also known as Mad Cow Disease - has been confirmed in the region. It comes after the fifth case of the potentially fatal Bluetongue virus was discovered on another farm...
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MURRELL CANSPILL THEBEANS INPRISON
SNP swindler Peter Murrell has been offered barista lessons behind bars at HMP Dumfries. Nicola Sturgeon’s husband was jailed after he blew £400,000 of party funds on luxury goods including high-end coffee machines and a camper van. Now he could...
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DEVIL AT OUR DOORSTEP
A Dumfries farmer has said the “devil is now at our doorstep”after another two cases of the potentially deadly Bluetongue virus was detected in the region. Ben Best of Dalscone Farm warned the agricultural community could have “a mass disaster” on...
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FORE THE RECORD
Two Dumfries men swung into action and appear to have smashed a Guinness World Record by playing 201 holes of golf in 24 hours – and raised more than £10,000 for a charity close to their hearts into the bargain. David King and Jeff McKean were so...
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£20M PROJECTS ARE REVEALED
The first 17 projects in a 10-year vision for the future of Dumfries have been revealed. It marks a major milestone in the Dumfries Town Board’s £20m regeneration plans. And follows confirmation from UK Government in March that its “Dumfries Pride in...
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We’re here for the beer
Pupils at Annan’s Elmvale Primary have been exploring the great outdoors on their doorstep with SCAMP (Solway Coast and Marine Project). P5/6 enjoyed working with Jan, Stephen and Saskia through SCAMP Landscape Connections. Stephen, a nature writer,...
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THIS IS A HOLE LOT OF TROUBLE
A pothole-riddled road has become so dangerous that a car was recently written off after hitting it at speed. A driver careered into huge craters and had to be helped out of the hole by a farmer with a forklift. The accident happened on a stretch of...
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DUO ALL SET FOR WORLD RECORD BID
Two Dumfries men are ready to take their shot at a Guinness World Record — by playing 184 holes of golf in 24 hours straight. Jeff McKean and David King will play round after round, through daylight and darkness, in a bid to smash the current world...
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DRIVER WHO RAN OVER COP JAILED
A man who ran over a police inspector and threw him 15 feet into the air in a brutal hit and run at Heathhall has been jailed for more than four years. Martin McGroary, 27, ploughed into Jonathan Edgar on July 28 last year. Police officers dragged...
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BACK FROM THE BRINK
Families are being pulled back from the brink across Dumfries and Galloway — thanks to more than £1.1 million invested in tackling poverty and inequalities. One dad, who was provided with crisis support as he fought to overcome substance abuse and set...
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GETREADY FORWORLD CUPFEVER
Residents and businesses are being urged to go fitbaw crazy over the next few weeks to celebrate Scotland competing in their first World Cup finals for 28 years. Dumfries Guid Nychburris committee are calling on people to decorate their windows and...
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HOOSEFORTHE BAIRNSWHEN NEEDEDMOST
A pioneering centre designed to support children who have experienced abuse or violence is on the verge of opening in Dumfries and Galloway. The Bairns Hoose — a Scottish Government-led initiative being rolled out across the country — brings together...
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NEWFUELPOVERTY FEARSINTHEREGION
Another wave of fuel poverty could force more people to depend heavily on warm hubs in Dumfries and Galloway, a councillor warned this week. Council chiefs are on alert because of the current unpredictability of the oil and gas market – and further...
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‘BLUEWALL’ HOLDS FIRM
Conservative candidates enjoyed double election success in Dumfries and Galloway. Craig Hoy and Finlay Carson’s blue army of supporters helped them secure victory and deny the SNP a majority at Holyrood with the ‘Blue Wall’ in the south of Scotland...
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Turning the calendar again
Dumfries Musical Theatre Company’s new production – Calendar Girls: The Musical – is set to open at Dumfries Theatre Royal for a week-long run. The musical, written by Gary Barlow with Tim Firth, retells the heart-warming true story of a group of...
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‘SICK’THIEVES STEALDAD’S TRIBUTETO TEENAGESON
The devastated family of a teenager who died following an incident in the River Nith on Thursday night have condemned heartless thieves for stealing tributes left to him at the scene. Benjamin Glen drowned just days after celebrating his 18th...
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MANDROVEHIS CARINTO POLICEOFFICER
A man faces jail after admitting hitting a police officer with a car. Inspector Jonathan Edgar was thrown up to 15ft over the road after he was struck by the motor driven by Martin McGroary in Heathhall last July. The cop suffered a dislocated...
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FUNDRAISER SAVESJACKO FROMDEATH
A dog that was hours from death is on the road to recovery after big-hearted animal lovers raised thousands of pounds for a lifesaving operation. Beautiful black Lurcher Jacko had been taken in by a family who found him wandering alone, thin,...
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ST MICHAEL’S PS MARKS 160TH YEAR
Medical laboratories in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary have been giving young people an insight into their work. Thanks to the national initiative known as Harvey’s Lab Tours, eight-year-old Amelia-Jane Houston and Briana McKinnel from...
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SERIALDOMESTIC ABUSERISCAGED
A thug who controlled his girlfriend’s social media accounts and abused a dog has been unmasked as a serial domestic abuser. Christopher McMenamin, pictured, was jailed at the High Court in Glasgow after isolating the woman from friends and family,...
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RENTAL MARKET INCRISIS
Hundreds of private landlords in Dumfries and Galloway have been forced to pull their properties off the rental market because their tenants are being paid the lowest amount of housing allowance benefits in Scotland. The weekly Local Housing Allowance...
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BRAKESPUTON KEYBUSSERVICE
The wheels are coming off bus transport provision in Dumfries again – after another operator announced it will be pulling the plug on a key route. The 501 Dumfries to Kirkcudbright and Castle Douglas service is up in the air because the company that...
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Town Board receives nod to move into ‘delivery phase’
A 10-year vision for the future of Dumfries has reached a major milestone. The Dumfries Town Board has received confirmation from the UK Government that its £20 million regeneration plan has been formally endorsed. It means the Town Board can now...
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THE BIG EASTER EGG-STRAVAGANZA
31.03.2026 The weather failed to put a dampener on an Easter Eggstravaganza of fun in Lockerbie on Saturday. The RH Youth Organisation held the event for people of all ages and everyone had a great time. The volunteer-run charity was established in...
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WE’REOVERWHELMED BY YOUR SUPPORT
A Dumfries family are “completely overwhelmed” at the amazing support they’ve received following a devastating diagnosis. Builder Grant Learmont, aged just 40, was given the “unimaginable” news on Valentine’s Day that he has stage 4 metastatic...
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BERESFORD SLAMMED AS ‘UNFIT FOR PUBLIC OFFICE’
A Dumfries businesswoman standing as a Reform candidate for May’s Holyrood election has been described as being “totally unfit for public office”. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said “Nigel Farage must sack this poisonous candidate” after some of...
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700 NEW JOBSFOR DUMFRIES
More than 700 high-quality jobs are to be created in Dumfries at a pioneering new hi-tech domestic storage battery factory. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney visited the Kight Powerhub’s manufacturing facility on Wednesday to see for himself how...
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FURYOVERPLANFOR NURSERYCLOSURES
Dumfries parents have been left “deeply worried”over the council’s proposals to close some nurseries in the region. The local authority plans to shut several nurseries which currently have fewer than 10 children attending, and will move the kids to...
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EXHIBITION CELEBRATES GIRL GUIDES
The newly-launched free exhibition, Celebrating Girlguiding in Dumfries and Galloway, is evoking memories at Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura ... and aiming to inspire new members. Girlguiding came about when founder of the Scout Movement, Army...
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APPALLING
Queen of the South officials have condemned the “appalling” actions of young fans after a brick was launched through the window of a Stenhousemuir supporters bus on Saturday. In a video circulating on social media, Stenhousemuir fans could be heard...
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COUNCIL BLAST HOTEL PROTEST
The council has condemned protestors who gathered outside a Dumfries hotel that houses asylum seekers on Friday night. Before yesterday’s annual budget setting meeting took place – where it was agreed to hike up council tax by 8.5 per cent – depute...
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MOB PROTESTOVER ASYLUM SEEKERS AT DUMFRIESHOTEL
Protestors shouted “get them out” as they gathered outside a Dumfries hotel that houses asylum seekers on Friday night. Dozens of people turned up to a demonstration that was organised following claims that a phone belonging to one of the refugees...
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SAINSBURY’SSETTO COMETODUMFRIES
More than 100 jobs are in the pipeline for Dumfries as supermarket giants Sainsbury’s look set to move into the former Homebase store at Cuckoo Bridge Retail Park. Homebase went into administration in late 2024 and the site subsequently closed with...
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SUPPORT FOR UNDER-THREAT CITIZENS’ ADVICE SERVICE ‘GREATLY HEARTENING’
Thousands of people have shown their support for the region’s threatened Citizens’ Advice Service ahead of a crunch meeting on its future funding. A petition to protect crucial funding the service receives from the council each year has been signed by...
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ANEWCHAPTER FORTHEBARD’S POETICGROUND
Plans are underway to transform Robert Burns’s “sweet poetic ground” in Dumfriesshire. Campaigners fighting to restore Ellisland Farm near Dumfries, the only house the poet designed and built himself, are ready to submit restoration plans to Dumfries...
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SHOCK AS CARE WORKERIS STRUCKOFF FORSERIOUS MISCONDUCT
A support worker who was loaned cash by a vulnerable client and failed to pay it back, has been struck off from the profession. Helen Martin lost her registration with the Scottish Social Services Council after her fitness to practice was found to be...
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MAN WARNS OF PHISING SCAM THREAT
A Dumfries businessman has been left devastated after fraudsters stole thousands of pounds from his family firm in a “terrifying” phishing phone scam. Mike Dixon, pictured, who runs Handmade Craft House with his wife, daughter and son-in-law, was...
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SWINNEY’SPLEDGETO BURNSFARM
Scotland’s First Minister has pledged to visit Dumfriesshire’s Ellisland Farm and see for himself the work under way to raise £12m to save it for the future. John Swinney, pictured inset left, said he would be “delighted” to come and see first-hand...
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WENEEDTOUGHER ACTIONONSPIKING
The family of a spiking victim have called for better protection in pubs and clubs as suspects go undetected. Colin and Wendy Mackie (pictured right), who lost their son Greg in November 2017 aged just 18, said the police need greater resources to...
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