The tolls were an ideal way of ensuring that those who used the bridges paid for them. When the Tay Bridge tolls were introduced, the half crown cost was equivilant to the price of getting in the boys gate at Dens Park. Now, the cost of crossing would purchase half a programme. Can you imagine the furore, if free rail travel were introduced for all, with the cost to be borne by the taxpayer? It is a cheap stunt, which in the grand scheme of things means little - and something free from politicians? Don't make me laugh! .

Alligators seized from home

Belisle's problem last year was one bad inning, one big inning, that sank so many of his starts, something he plans to rectify to solidify his spot as a starter for the Cincinnati Reds.

"A lot of times that's a phobia you can get over," he said. "It's like a pitcher who says, 'I know I'm going to give up a homer pretty soon,' then he gives up a homer.

Cathy Hall to reign as 2007 Hanover Christmas Mother

It is official. Cathy Hall of Mechanicsville will reign as the Hanover Christmas Mother for 2007.Hall was nominated by the Mechanicsville Ruritan Club to serve as this year's ambassador.The announcement was made Oct. 31 at a gathering of beautiful, dedicated ladies who had served as Christmas Mother during Christmases past.Frank and Deborah Flippo, of Pebble Hill in Doswell hosted this much-anticipated annual tea.The Christmas mother program began in 1950 by the Doswell Women's Club, whose members graciously provided the refreshments for this year's tea. After the program grew by leaps and bounds, this wonderful group of ladies decided that they needed help, so the Doswell Ruritan Club took over the reins and have been the steering committee for the past 18 years.As the county began to grow and more and more Ruritan Clubs wanted to be involved, the Doswell Ruritans decided to involve all the clubs in Hanover.Now, each Ruritan Club has an opportunity to nominate a woman who they feel can best fill the big shoes of serving as Christmas Mother.

Myth of BBC's 'made in Scotland'

We haven't got strong drama-producing companies in Scotland who are pitching strong ideas, so even if we said we'd love to have a returning drama series in Scotland, there's just not the company there to do that."Hamish Barbour, creative director of IWC Media, pointed to tax credit systems in Canada and Ireland as a way of boosting local broadcasting industries. He said such a system "would have a huge impact".Slimmed-down Gaelic service to cost £20mMORE than £20 million a year is to be spent on a new dedicated Gaelic broadcasting service that will be accessible to just 1.2 per cent of Scotland.The service, which was approved by the BBC Trust yesterday, will be launched in the summer to cater for the nation's Gaelic-speaking population of around 60,000.But the service, which will cost licence fee payers an additional £3.5 million a year, will be a slimmed-down version from what was envisaged.

Skatepark will have to go

Councillor Chris Mote, leader of Harrow Council, told the Byron Skatepark Users Association the current facility at Byron Park, off Christchurch Avenue, will definitely be demolished.