helena de reus

Clinton farmer Steve Wilson is happy to help raise money for the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust, an emergency service he has experienced first-hand.

A rented house near Clydevale was gutted yesterday after a chimney fire spread.

Balclutha residents will have to wait to test the waters at the Balclutha Centennial Pool after the Clutha District Council announced its reopening continues to be delayed.

A wood-processing plant near Milton will not be mothballed, although just how many of the 31 jobs under threat have been saved remains unclear after news a Southland timber company has secured the mill's lease.

Balclutha driver Rhys Gardner charged to victory in the Catlins Coast Rally on Saturday after a sensational performance in the latter stages.

An 18-year-old Dunedin man faces four charges after police chased a car for 25 minutes from Owaka to near Balclutha yesterday afternoon, Sergeant Craig Dinnissen, of Balclutha, said.

Winning the top prize in the 2011 Gold Guitar Awards in Gore has led to a busy year for country singer-songwriter Vickie Evans. Balclutha reporter Helena de Reus catches up with the Kaitangata star.

Clutha will benefit from a new tourism collective, one of the group's instigators says.

Delays in the reopening of the Balclutha Centennial Pool are frustrating pool users.

For the past three years, taonga specialists and volunteers have been working at the Owaka Museum to catalogue almost half a tonne of material. Balclutha reporter Helena de Reus talks to Russell Beck, a pounamu specialist, author and stone tool researcher about the Lockerbie collection and his part in the project.

Clutha's freedom camping bylaw is set to stay, pending final approval next month.

Telforrd's new 54-bale rotary dairy shed, which was opened by Deputy Prime Minister and Clutha-Southland MP Bill English yesterday, marked a change for the specialist rural farm training organisation.