Samuel White

Lawrence has been announced as a finalist as one of the top communities in New Zealand.

Residents on rural water schemes in the Clutha District are being reminded to make sure they have enough reserves in their tank after flash-floods meant restrictions were put in place in West Otago.

Residents who "ploughed through signs and cones" into flooded roads in West Otago earlier in the week have been labelled "criminal" and "clowns" by the local community board.

A recent car crash in West Otago  at which  police, fire and ambulance services had no cellphone reception has highlighted how vulnerable rural residents can be in emergency situations.

A series of blunders leading up to the installation of a new map in Lawrence has left residents and tourists scratching their heads as the arrows look like they point in the wrong direction.

Floodwaters have receded from Waikaia and the Clutha District but a group of hunters remain stuck in the hills behind Piano Flat after two bridges were washed out.

A classic milk product is being given fresh life in Clutha.

Balclutha police are trying to identify a man who allegedly assaulted a teenage boy at the weekend.

The Purakaunui Falls have returned to their former glory after a drought  reduced the Catlins attraction to a trickle.

Construction of the new Mataura Valley Milk factory near Gore is progressing well, with work now visible from the nearby road.

Two Balclutha St John ambulance members  received  milestone awards for their service to the organisation this week.

The first week running Tapanui's new butchery has been ''absolute mayhem'', the business owner says.

Some of the biggest names in rodeo are stampeding down to Lawrence next week for the district's annual summer rodeo.

Police are investigating an incident in which a man allegedly pulled a gun and threatened to kill the occupant of a house in Clinton.

Helicopters were called in to battle a large blaze that threatened a block of forestry land in the back hills of Kaitangata near Wangaloa yesterday.

Balclutha's first weekly market day went off with a "hiss and a roar", according to one stallholder.

Animal enthusiast Stephen Brassett takes a break in Balclutha with his two dogs, Jake and Piccolo, after walking from Invercargill.