It was a full house when Hazel Conroy from Portlaoise and Butch Horan from Mountmellick were crowned ‘Strictly Dancing’ winners in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel, last Friday, May 17.

A young Portlaoise man was treated in hospital for face and shoulder injuries following a violent assault on the Mountmellick road and later in his home.

The linking of the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise with some of the major Dublin Hospital, has cemented the future of the hospital, according to one staff member.

Polish people make up the largest group of non-Irish nationals in County Laois, according to Census 2011 Area Profiles which where published by the Central Stastics Office, last week.

The family of an eight-year-old boy who died just hours after been sent home from Portlaoise Hospital’s A&E have been kept in the dark regarding a ‘review’ following hospital concerns after his death.

A Laois TD has called on the IDA to include Portlaoise has one of the priority towns for investment along with the Midlands towns of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar.

A massive 95 per cent of fines levied on the owners of derelict properties have not been paid, a Laois County Councillor has claimed.

The new Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin will be officially invested in his new position on the first Sunday of August, this year.

Almost One third of the working population in Portlaoise faced a commuting time in excess of 30 minutes.

Non-Irish nationals accounted for 8.7 per cent of the population of Rathdowney compared with a national average figure of 12.0 per cent. UK nationals (38) were the largest group, followed by Polish (34).

MINISTER Phil Hogan must provide legislation to provide new powers to allow for the eviction of “unruly and unsociable tenants” from their private rented accomadation,

THE HSE are denying claims that changes to the roster of the Ambulance Service will leave only one ambulance on duty in Portlaoise two days every week.

Entrepreneurs in Laois with an innovative business idea can now apply for New Frontiers 2013 commencing in July.

MOUNTRATH CS student Jean Kennedy has received a bursary from the dragons on Junior Dragons Den for her product which is a timetable pen.

jill@jillkerby.ie

Laois Community Forum are hosting an Information and Networking Evening for all Portlaoise Residents groups on Tuesday, May 21 at 7.30pm .

A CARLOW woman has been given a suspended sentence for committing two thefts from the Kyle Shopping Centre in Portlaoise.

A PORTLAOISE man convicted of public order offences has been given a suspended sentence and warned by Judge Catherine Staines to stop drinking.

REMOVE the bollards at Portlaoise cemetery to allow workmen access and ensure the gates are open on time.

THE “bully-boy” tactics of Minister Phil Hogan in hitting old age pensioners with the Household Charge have been roundly criticised by Portlaoise Town Council.