Huge wasp nest, transgender camp

The paper reports that a pensioner is breathing a sigh of relief after having the gigantic structure removed from her home.

Hazel Wilson said she was “terrified” because the only way in and out of her home in Antrim was past the nest.

“I have never seen a wasp nest as big as this,” she told the paper.

She claimed she got in touch with Antrim and Newtownabbey Council who initially told her that it did not employ pest control services.

After contacting the Antrim Guardian and the Housing Executive (HE) it was agreed that the HE would remove the nest last Friday.

But Ms Wilson said she waited all day and no one arrived.

A HE spokesperson said: “Unfortunately our pest control sub-contractor has been very busy and was unable to attend to the property as agreed last Friday, however the nest is due to be removed on Monday.”

A council spokesperson said: “Neither of the two legacy councils had a pest control service.

“Most common pests can be controlled or treated using products that are widely available through retail outlets.”

However, the paper reports that the council’s website states that it is “not advisable” to try to treat large nests or infestations yourself.

Masked men burst into Spar Drummaul and raided the tills, the paper reports.

No one was hurt but those involved were left badly shaken. Police have appealed for witnesses.

The paper reports that the council has “accumulated more debt than any other local authority in Northern Ireland”. The figures come from the Local Government and Auditor’s report, issued last week.

The borrowings amount to £482 per person compared to a Northern Ireland average of £264 per person

However the council responded that it had inherited the debt from the old borough councils of Coleraine, Ballymoney, Limavady and Moyle, after they merged.

“(We) inherited the debt of four legacy councils, whereas all other councils inherited two or three portfolios,” a council spokesperson said.

A grass verge on the Drumcroon Road near Garvagh, which was part of a project to encourage wildlife, was mowed down by the rogue tractor driver.

Letting grasses and wildflowers grow on sites “provides nesting sites and feeding for important pollinators such as bees and butterflies”.

The project managers are appealing to the driver to come forward so the benefits of the project can be explained to them, and to ensure same thing won’t happen again.

The past few years have seen transgender issues thrust into the spotlight, perhaps due in part to the well-publicised transition of Caitlyn Jenner.

If you think about the subject, perhaps County Fermanagh may not immediately spring to mind.

The camp was organised by Gender Jam NI and took place in the Tir Navar Centre holiday village for one week.

About 60 people attended from Ireland, Slovenia, Norway, Iceland, Russia and Germany.

Liam Jones, who runs Tir Navar, said: “The group were very emotional and sad to leave on Sunday – they really enjoyed their time with the community here where they were accepted.”

The paper reports that local people were “delighted” with their visitors.

Meanwhile, the paper reports that a crisis has been averted in Bundoran.

Players and coaches with the team were enjoying a paddle after their session when they said a “freak current” pulled some of them out to sea at Tullan Strand.

The players, aged 16 and 17, got into trouble but a group of “quick thinking surfers” including lifeboat crew member Owen Murphy, entered the water on a surf board and helped the footballers to safety.

More council spending, and The Ulster Herald reports that Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has been criticised because of a “big pay off for council staff”.

The paper claims 21 employees were given “golden handshakes” totalling £1.6m during its first year of operation.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance aren’t happy and said there is a lesson here to make sure councils “negotiate the best possible contracts in the future”.

However the council has robustly defended the pay-outs saying the costs were “exceptional”.

“These payments were in line with the regionally agreed severance scheme that supported local government reforms and the contractual entitlements of the staff,” it added.

Elsewhere in County Tyrone, the future’s bright for young people, several with schools celebrating the success of a shared education project.

Castlederg High School, Killen PS, St Cairealls PS, Fermanagh PS, St Josephs PS and Ardshaw Jubilee PS all took part in the Shared Education Signature project.

It brings together young people from different communities to learn.

Co-ordinator Diane Moore said the project, which involved the children learning about diversity, technology, had got off to a “great start”.

There’s a happy-looking fellow on the front of the Down Recorder and a startling headline to go with it: “European journey with a mankini”.

Mr Crothers is cycling 6,000 km around Europe in just two months, in the hope of raising £5,000 for charity.

The mysterious mention of a mankini refers to a challenge his sister has set him. She says she’ll sponsor him £500 if he cycles around Paris in a mankini.

Mr Crothers tells the paper that the item of clothing, popularised by the character Borat, is in his bag: “I think people underestimate the lack of respect I have for myself.

“It will be all in the name of fun though”.

Brian Carberry, from Downpatrick, has been at the centre of a campaign for justice after imported supplies of a blood clotting agent are thought to have killed at least 2,400 people.

Thousands of people were infected with Hepatitis C and HIV through NHS blood products in the 1970s and 80s.

This week’s announcement of a public inquiry from Theresa May came after six party leaders signed a joint letter calling for an inquiry.

He says he wants justice and “proof there’s been a cover up for the last 30 years”.

A Syrian family who escaped “hell” to start a new life in Armagh, has thanked the people of the city for the warm welcome they received when they came one year ago.

Lena, a former teacher said, “When we arrived and saw the welcoming nature of people with their smiling faces we felt more at ease and relaxed.”

There are now over 500 refugees living in Northern Ireland, with the latest group of ten families arriving last month.

Meanwhiel, officials in Armagh have thought of a new way to tackle everyone’s favourite bugbear – dog dirt.

The council has started to spray paint, “Clean-up or pay up,” on entrances to the Mall, in an ongoing campaign to reduce dog fouling.

The council hopes reminding people in a less than subtle way that they should clean up after their dogs or risk receiving an £80 fine will do the trick.

One park user told the paper that last autumn the level of dog mess was so bad he was forced to “walk with his head down” just to enjoy a stroll around the park.