Lynda van Kempen

Roxburgh residents are still reeling after what is believed to be the town's first homicide since the gold-rush days more than a century ago.

Soldiering on took on a new meaning as the war-time theme adopted for this year's Ranfurly Art Deco Festival, held at the weekend, included special fundraising events to assist those affected by the Christchurch earthquake.

The books have been balanced, the debts paid and the 2010 Alexandra Blossom Festival even made a $30,000 profit, chairwoman Clair Higginson announced at the festival's annual meeting last night.

Friends and colleagues of the Roxburgh woman who died in a shooting incident at her home on Friday paid tribute yesterday to a lively, bubbly lady, with a personality that "lit up the room" when she walked in.

A comprehensive scene search began today in and around the Roxburgh home where a woman was killed yesterday afternoon.

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a Roxburgh woman died following a shooting incident in the town yesterday afternoon.

Information gathered at a Central Otago research station is a vital cog in global climate research, top international climate scientists emphasised yesterday.

The fate of four sections in the centre of St Bathans which the Central Otago District Council planned to have declared "abandoned land" will be determined next week.

A record field of 240 athletes took part in the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association triathlon at Cromwell last week.

The star of country music singer Craig Adams is on the rise.

The completion of a keenly sought pedestrian crossing on Alexandra's main street should vastly improve safety for pedestrians and mobility scooter drivers, says road safety adviser Jo Robinson.

Four generations of descendants of early Cromwell mayor Edward Murrell, including one of the few who still carry his name, recently gathered at his original Cromwell home.

Thomas Piebenga (3), of Cromwell admires one of the hundreds of model vehicles on display in Cromw

A 45-minute walking track at the 45th parallel, up the side of the Sugarloaf near Lowburn, is another step closer to completion.

Building inspectors checking earthquake-damaged homes are supposed to be focusing on bricks and mortar but they are just as concerned about the people they are dealing with, who are under an enormous amount of stress.