AND HERE IS THE NEWS…

….a quick glance at the latest local news with Caroline Manson

Seventy-nine year old man missing from home

It is now over a week since 79 year old Daniel Piatex left his home, on foot, in the Les Cluses area.  Around 20 soldiers with a tracker dog are still searching the area but the Le Boulou gendarmes are increasingly concerned and have put out a call for any witnesses who may have any information.  Daniel was wearing tracksuit bottoms, a jacket, a blue cap and glasses.

Butcher from Thuir crowned world champion

Thibault Gonzales is the manager of the deli/butcher’s shop l’Espace Gourmand in the centre of Thuir and last Monday was crowned world champion in paté-croute at the competition held in Lyon.  He takes the title from Japanese chefs who have fiercely defended it for several years.  He won this 16th edition with his “Paté-Crouté style Vannier, Kintoa pork, farm duck” (literal translation) made from Basque pork belly, duck foie gras breast from Les Landes, and sweetbreads.

Thirty vehicles vandalised in Rivesaltes

Residents trying to take their cars to work on Monday morning were dismayed to find that their cars had been vandalised during the night.  30 cars in the Danton Street car park near La Poste in Rivesaltes were found to have flat tyres – just one per car but with an obvious hole deliberately made with a knife or sharp tool.  Many complaints have been filed with the gendarmerie and an investigation has been opened but the lack of video surveillance is a problem – cameras were due to be installed very shortly.

Explosive discovery for roofers in Puigcerda

While renovating a property in Puigcerda, in Cerdanya close to the Spanish border, workers made a shocking discovery when they removed a false ceiling.  They found a cache with 8 explosive devices, hand grenades dating from the civil war.  The bomb squad were quickly called to the scene, confirmed that the grenades were live, sealed off the area and took the grenades away for safe destruction.

Lake Raho fenced off

At the end of November visitors to the lake will have noticed that the small lake now has a wooden fence running all the way around, prohibiting direct access to the ‘beach’ areas.  Apparently this structure will remain in place all year round but several adapted openings will be installed near the swimming area and beach restaurants.  Benches and rubbish bins will be repositioned to ‘improve its accessibilty’ and signage will be updated to offer clearer information to users.  The main information is that horses and dogs (even on leads) will not be allowed on the beach areas as the problem of excrement just a stone’s throw away from the water is getting out of hand.

Skiers rescued from avalanche

While the ski slopes are looking beautiful already the high mountain gendarmerie platoon (PGHM) are issuing warnings to hikers and skiers.  Just last week, near Porta, a group of four skiers were surprised by a sudden avalanche and were carried for 400 metres.  Luckily only one of them was injured and suffered a dislocated shoulder.

Massive haul for motorway scammers

We are all aware of the flat tyre scam on the AP7 motorway over in Spain.  Sadly it appears that a Hungarian driver was not quite as well informed as the rest of us.  At around 2pm while travelling near exit 5 (L’Escala-Empuries) he was forced to stop his vehicle as he had a flat tyre.  He felt very lucky that some ‘good samaritans’ stopped to help him (obviously completely unaware that they were the people who had punctured his tyre in the first place).  Unfortunately while the ‘kind’ people were with him at the back of the vehicle, another person reached into the car and stole a bag – which just happened to contain 250,000 euros in cash.  The suspects fled and have not been traced, and the origin of the money has not been revealed.

And finally…….

Police are warning of a new technique currently being used by pickpockets in the region.  They are calling it ‘Hug Theft’ – which apparently has nothing to do with stealing kisses.  A stranger will ask for your help, ie information or help finding a lost dog, and then give you a hug by way of thanking you – and at the same time will manage to steal your necklace, watch etc.