NEWSLETTER 1998 WEEK 21 Tuesday 19 through Monday 25 May LAST WEEK 1 YEAR AGO NEXT WEEK OTHER MANCHESTER WEBSITES www.manchesternet.com
www.madforit.com
www.manchestercivic.org.uk
Chorlton Web
Rebuilding Manchester
EWM EXTRAS AIDAN O'ROURKE
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The news items featured on this page are abstracted from local and national media reports. While I make every effort to ensure the information is as accurate as possible, I assume no responsibility for errors, whether on my part or on the part of the media sources. Please notify me of any inaccuracies, and I will correct them immediately. Starting Tuesday 14th of April, reports and are added to the page through the week, appearing in reverse chronological order. Reader messages will also be added. On Monday night the completed page is put in the archive, and a fresh page is started for the next seven days. Please visit at any time during the week for the latest updates. On weeks when I'm not in Manchester, previously written articles and pictures on current topics will appear on the page.
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EWM UPDATE 2pm Saturday 23 May 1998MO MOWLEM VISITS WARRINGTON The Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlem visited Warrington yesterday. She unveiled a plaque on the site of a new peace centre, which, when it opens, will be visited by children from Ireland. Tim Parry and Jonathan Ball were killed by an IRA bomb in 1983. The death of the two chldren as a result of terrorism is considered by many to be a turning point in the process which led to the Peace Agreement and yesterday's referendum. It's less than a month to go before the second anniversary of the Manchester bomb. I understand there's widespread support in the Irish community here for the peace deal. SCHOOLS TO CLOSE Manchester City Council has announced the closing of 17 schools. Falling numbers have led the Council to the decision to rationalise schools in order to make better use of resources. Councillor Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, interviewed on Albert Square yesterday morning by BBC local tv, said "we think educational standards will improve." But both mums and youngsters interviewed at a primary school in east Manchester said in no uncertain terms they'd prefer things to stay the way they are. £78,000 LOTTERY FUNDING FOR THE INTERNET Trafford arts official have secured £78,000 in funding to introduce young people to the Internet, ITV Teletext reports. They will be able to use the Internet as an introduction to graphic arts and writing. TROUBLE MAKERS SENT TO JAIL At the Party in the Park Festival last June in Heaton Park Manchester, a group of drunken men caused a disturbance by attacking people in the crowd - their behaviour was so serious, the festival had to be cancelled. Well today they start jail sentences after being found guilty at Manchester Crown Court. BBC Teletext reports the gang of nine received a combined total of 10 years and 10 months in prison. Yes, loutish behaviour is quite commonplace here, especially on the rear on the top of double decker buses, as I witnessed yesterday on the 143 into Manchester. To reduce damage and graffiti, many bus companies have reversed the next last pair of seats, so the seats face each other at the back. This is often a good place for groups of youths, often "wagging it" from school, to sprawl around smoking cigarettes and exchanging loud street talk peppered with trendy swear words. But who has the guts to confront them? Not me, and there's no conductor - Bring back two man buses, and throw the yobs off, that's what I say! APOLOGY The Eyewitness in Manchester page has been quiet over recent days due to other pressing commitments - My apologies for this. But an exciting new development should mean that I'll be able to put more time and resources into the feature, with more pictures and more frequent updates. More details in the next few days. Eyewitness in Manchester weather: Cloudy! Temperature 58/14 degrees.
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