Corange Merit Scholar announced

Bermuda College student Damion Matthews was named the Corange Merit Scholar for 2004 this week.

Mr. Matthews is enrolled in the Associates in Art and Science programme in the Division of Liberal Arts, and is interested in pursuing a career in engineering, the College said in a Press release. He is a high school graduate of Warwick Academy.

The Corange Merit Scholarship is awarded for an initial period of two semesters during the freshman year. In those two semesters, the recipient must successfully complete at least 24 credits towards their programme.

The scholarship will continue for the student?s sophomore year, third semester, at the discretion of the committee, provided the student maintain a grade point average of at least 3.00 and qualifies as a sophomore.

The scholarship covers tuition, fees and books for the academic year.

Tours open Island up to the disabled

Sightseeing tours for Bermuda?s disabled visitors are being set up by Access Bermuda organiser Keith Simmons.

The initiative has been backed by Transport and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown.

?I have asked the Department of Tourism to liaise with Mr. Simmons and his contacts in North America in the provision of this kind of service for the disabled traveller,? said Dr. Brown.

?We want people to feel welcome in Bermuda no matter what their infirmities may be.

?Our aim is to improve the Bermuda experience for all visitors.?

Disabled visitors make use of specially fitted taxis with side ramps, said Mr. Simmons.

He said there is also huge demand from local wheelchair bound people, while from April to Labour Day the services for tourists averaged two to three a day.

Man jailed for drugs near nursery

A Pembroke man has been jailed after being caught with a twist of cannabis in Court Street on February 15 this year.

Jahmal Cooper, 20, of Fenton?s Drive, pleaded guilty in Magistrates? Court yesterday to drug possession.

His fine was doubled to $2,000 because he was in an increased penalty zone at the time of the incident.

Cooper was within 300 metres of a nursery school.

But he told the court he was unable to pay the fine and Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner jailed him for three months.

Man fined $800 for drug possession

Elroy Darrell, 28, of Scott?s Hill Road, Sandys, has been fined $800 after being caught with 2.3 grams of cannabis on Somerset Road, Sandys.

Police saw him on his bike by Arnold?s Supermarket on July 9 and became suspicious when he kept looking back at them and then hid something under his footrest.

They stopped Darrell and found the cannabis.

Darrell pleaded guilty to the offence in plea court yesterday.