Lynda van Kempen

The Cromwell community is reeling in shock at the sudden death of a 17-year-old who was recognised as a young leader with huge potential.

Lakeshore litter left at Lowburn by freedom campers has riled residents.

A two-vehicle crash at a Cromwell intersection yesterday happened after a driver turning right from State Highway 8B to State Highway 6 failed to give way to a vehicle travelling straight through, Senior Sergeant Craig Brown, of the Southern District Command Centre, said.

New Zealand players (from left) Waverley Taylor and Eloise Pointon sweep a stone thrown by Jessica Smith during their team's match against Australia at the 2015 Pacific-Asia Junior Curling Championships in Naseby yesterday.

Imperfect cherries became a sought-after commodity this year in the Teviot Valley, and for once they were in short supply.

Boy racers were out in force at the Cromwell Classic Car Show, but none as young as Preston and Roman Wheeler.

Central Otago District Council planning and environment manager Louise van der Voort is in a stable condition in Dunedin Hospital after receiving serious injuries in a mountain-biking accident near Clyde at the weekend.

Ray guns made from junk are the "weapon of choice" these days for former policeman Sean Boyd. Central Otago reporter Lynda van Kempen visited the Clyde man, who is making his living as a junk artist. 

It was meant to be - that's how Stephen and Helen Packer sum up their purchase of a corrugated iron-clad house in Bannockburn.

A series of ''misconduct'' events has eroded the community's respect for Central Otago police, Mayor Tony Lepper said yesterday.

A fire which gutted a Ranfurly flat on Monday night is believed to have started in the kitchen.

A large cherry crop combined with new plantings coming into production has growers worried they won't have enough workers to harvest fruit and grapes in the wider Central Otago area this season.

There were many hugs shared, along with tears, as Cromwell College opened yesterday for pupils gathering to mourn the loss of the school's head girl.

It proved too hard for some of their number, but a small group of Alexandra teenagers managed to last 24 hours ''technology-free''.