THE Union Flag will be flying high outside Sandwell Council House in Oldbury next week to mark the official Armed Forces Day on Saturday June 26.
The borough’s mayor Councillor Pauline Hinton will raise the flag at 11am on Monday June 21 accompanied by her consort and husband Councillor David Hinton and other civic dignitaries.
Royal British Legions from throughout Sandwell will parade, flying their own standards, along with school children, the Guides and Scouts and Territorial Army centres.
Cllr Hinton said: “I am personally very proud to honour our heroic forces in …

 
Langley Band were successful at the Midlands Area Championships held at Bedworth Civic Hall on Saturday 13 March.
As well as a handsome trophy, they have earned the right to compete in the National Championships to be held  in Harrogate in September.
Langley Band is the Midlands oldest Brass Band.
The band is self-supporting relying on the members weekly donations, and the profit made from concert fees and recordings. The band membership is made up from a diverse section of people including school pupils and teachers, engineers, police officers, a museum curator, accountants, …

 
Councillor Pauline Hinton, a leading Labour cabinet member, will become the borough’s first citizen in May – and will have Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Joyce Underhill as her Deputy Mayor.
Councillor Hinton, who is a Deputy Leader of the Labour-controlled Council, was selected as Mayor-elect by the general purposes committee.
Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper said he welcomed the decision to appoint Councillor Hinton as Mayor and Councillor Underhill as her deputy.
“Councillor Hinton is a very experienced member of the council and has undertaken some sterling work on important issues during her …

POLICE in Sandwell have netted extra Home Office funding to tackle specific crime and anti-social behaviour issues across the borough.
The month’s Operation Smokesignals has been launched with each of the six towns receiving about £5,000 to support extra patrols and policing activity responding to specific priorities raise by local people.
A further £4,000 has been given to Sandwell Wardens who will work closely with police teams to co-ordinate additional patrols and enforcement.
Oldbury officers are using the funding to increase patrols across all four local neighbourhoods. The teams will be patrolling at …

 
Oldbury College of Sport is hosting the national schools Olympic weightlifting championships on Saturday March 13.
The event is expected to attract top young weightlifting stars from across the country and will include competitors from Sandwell and Halesowen.
College spokesman Sam Hayer said: “One of the highlights of the day will be the appearance of Zoe Smith, who is the reigning Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallist.
“Zoe is tipped to be a gold medal winner in this year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in India. She is also the reigning British Olympic Athletics junior …

Sandwell Council staff in Oldbury have helped to raise vital cash for research into heart disease.
Staff wore something red and donated £1 each to the British Heart Foundation to raise cash.
Ushma Patel, one of the organisers, said: “We had lots of fun raising money for this very worthwhile cause. Staff were very generous and we collected about £105.
“I was really pleased at the number of people that took part and we raised more than we expected.
And Pam Cross added: “Heart disease has affected many people’s lives and it’s something that …

 
Flamboyant fashion expert Gok Wan will be in West Bromwich to find the town’s worst dressed person this month – before giving them the makeover of their dreams.
Sandwell Council can today reveal that the style maestro is holding an open day for his show, Gok’s Fashion Fix, at West Bromwich Town Hall on Saturday, March 20.
Anyone over the age of eighteen can go along for figure fixing, mini makeovers and a wardrobe clearout!
Gok will pick the worst dressed person to receive a brand new wardrobe and superb makeover to be shown on …

Sandwell people can get practical advice on how to tackle anti-social behaviour at a free event on Monday 8 March.
The event is aimed at anyone who has ever “felt powerless to do anything about graffiti, vandalism or noisy neighbours”.
It will be held at the Bethel Convention Centre, Kelvin Way, West Bromwich, from 9.15am-2.15pm, with lunch provided.
The Department of Communities & Local Government is organising the event, which is open to anyone who lives or works in Sandwell.
Places must be booked in advance. To book a place:
* Call 0845 680 9754
* …

 
OFFENDERS on a community payback scheme in Sandwell have been given a new graffiti removal machine.
Walls, buildings and fences across Blackheath, Rowley Regis, Oldbury and Cradley Heath are set to get cleaned with the new machine.
Sandwell Council has provided the Sandwell Community Payback Unit with the graffiti removal machine.
Councillor Simon Hackett, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for safer communities, said: “Community Payback is a very visible way for offenders to put something back into the community where they committed their crime.
“We are working with the police, Probation and other organisations to …

 
Battery recycling is getting even
easier—used batteries for
recycling can now be taken
back to most shops where you
bought them from.
Larger retailers who sell
household batteries are now
obliged to provide recycling
collection points for used
batteries.
Batteries for recycling can still be
taken to the Household Recycling Centre at Shidas
Lane, OLDBURY.