Lt. Col. Lamb completes gruelling staff course

The Bermuda Regiment commander Lt. Col. Edward Lamb will receive a special award from the Caribbean Command and Staff College in Jamaica on December 9.

In 1998 he participated in a gruelling 16-week Caribbean Command and Staff Course at the Canadian Staff College in Newcastle, Jamaica. The course is aimed at preparing students in the Caribbean region for senior positions in the military and to date, Lt. Col. Lamb is the only Bermudian to have successfully completed the programme.

The Canadian Staff College has recently implemented a distinguished graduates programme to honour its graduates who have reached the pinnacle of their respective units.

Lt. Col. Lamb has served as commanding officer of the Bermuda Regiment since July 2002 and he will be honoured at the Graduation Ceremony as a Distinguished Graduate.

MarketPlace milk back on market

Four months after it was taken off the shelves for having too much bacteria, MarketPlace milk is back in the shops.

In July, the Department of Health turned sour when bacteria levels in the milk were higher than acceptable and Chief Environmental Officer Estlyn Harvey said once the milk met the required standard it would be put out for sale.

Rodney Ferguson Managing Director of the Bermuda Creamery who produces the milk, said last night the milk had a clean bill of health.

?We?ve installed new equipment and our own bacteria testing facility with the Department of Health,? Mr. Ferguson said. ?With the new equipment we are able to get results in hours not days so we will be able to have the results before it goes anywhere. If it is not satisfactory it will not go.?

However, the milk is not made by Bermuda cows, he said, but comes from US powdered milk which is reconstituted and bottled locally. He said the milk has been available since November 23 and hoped the competitive price would lower grocery bills.

Fifth anniversary of World Heritage site

Five years to the day that St. George?s and its related fortifications were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the man who played a key role in bringing the prestigious status to the Island says more should be done to promote it as a tourism attraction.

Chairman of The St George?s Foundation, Henry Hayward said: ?That five years has gone fast. It was a significant accomplishment to get the designation by UNESCO but I?m kind of disappointed that it not been taken off in the tourism field to attract people to Bermuda and St. George?s.?

Sharon Jacobs, executive director of The St George?s Foundation said it was appropriate the fifth anniversary of the World Heritage Site designation coincides with this evening?s National Trust Walkabout when residents and visitors will be able to enjoy the town lit up ?in all its glory?.

Christmas tree contest tonight

The Chamber of Commerce will hold a Christmas tree decorating contest for charity at the entrance of Par-la-Ville park from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today to celebrate the second week of late night shopping until 9 p.m. To vote for the tree of your choice, one must place a dollar in a drop box next to it.

This contest will be in aid of charities chosen by each Corporate team. Food and craft vendors, children?s activities and entertainment will also be available. ?The winners will be announced next Friday night and the trees and money raised will be donated to the respective charities and the winning company will be required to match the funds raised for their charity.?

Prison for threatening, cursing at cops

A 23 year-old found out the hard way that raising an arm at an officer and cursing at him can land you in jail.

Victor Noel Parris plead guilty to using offensive language and assaulting an officer.

Parris, of Roberts Avenue, Pembroke, also plead guilty to reckless driving and riding while disqualified.

Parris was riding his bike on Court Street when he ?popped a wheelie? and ran a red light. Police officers observed this and pulled him over in front of Island Fried Chicken.

Parris angrily asked why he was being stopped, when Police told him he cursed at them. They then said he could be arrested for using offensive language to which he replied: ?Get the f**k off me you p***y a** n**er! I?ll break you, you short p***y a** n**er.?

Parris also raised his arm as if he was going to strike the officer. He received a total of $2,800 fines for his traffic offences and poor choice in words.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner also sentenced him to three months in prison for assaulting an officer.

Argus gets permission for office tower

Argus Property Limited has been granted approval to construct a new seven-storey office building on Wesley Street near the City Hall car park.

This building will join a host of other seven-storey high-rises in Hamilton including the new A. S. Coopers building now under construction on Front Street and the recently completed Maxwell Roberts building on Par-la-Ville Road.

While the general limit is six storeys, the Development Applications Board (DAB) has the discretion to approve greater heights. For Argus, the DAB granted Planning approval pending that all window glazing be nonreflective.

It also said a public art feature should be visible from the street and preferably be outside of the building, as stated in the City of Hamilton Plan 2001.