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Police are treating a fire which burnt down two farm sheds and a small barn near Clydevale yesterday morning as suspicious.

One hundred and fifty years of the Presbyterian church in Tapanui will be celebrated next month.

Oil giant Shell will cover the cost of a necropsy (animal autopsy) on the long-fin pilot whale which died after beaching itself at Kaka Point on Thursday night.

A familiar face will return to the role of Clutha's top police officer next month.

Rugged coastline and other stunning scenery enthralled participants in Saturday's Catlins Great Escape Coastal Walk through the south Catlins.

The threatened rain held off and the golf clubs and wallets came out at the West Otago Health Centre's ''roof shout'' in Tapanui on Friday.

Rotorua woman Chelsea Marriner's life has gone to the dogs, and she would have it no other way.

The search is on for individuals and community groups to offer suitable work to keep the police adult diversion scheme in South Otago.

Vendors were smiling as farmers appeared to have got the gorse out of their pockets and spent up large at the three-day agricultural Southern Field Days, which ended near Gore yesterday.

Contractors have started the second stage of repairs on the Clydevale bridge.

Five people escaped major injury when an empty stock truck and trailer struck a railway bridge and hit two vehicles near Balclutha yesterday (above and right).

Fun and fundraising will come together in Tapanui on Friday.

A brand for the Gore district was unveiled last night, with hopes it will become a powerful tool for promoting the area and building pride in the community.

People with overseas licences drove well on Clutha district roads during the last three years, New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) figures show.

The hunt is on for the rightful owners of property recovered by police from a Taieri Mouth property.

A family fishing trip near Owaka on Wednesday ended in tragedy for a ''lovely kid'', who was actively involved in her school.