Webstar update
The future of Webstar, Masterton’s largest print facility and its 40 employees, will be announced today at 1pm. Blue Star Group, who owns Webstar, announced last week that it was consulting on the print facility’s closure. The decision on the plant’s future was expected on Tuesday, but delayed for two days.
Attempted flee
A man is in custody after road spikes brought an attempted getaway to a grinding halt. Police arrested a 31-year-old man after the incident in South Wairarapa shortly after 11am yesterday. “Police went to serve a public safety order. The offender left the address in a vehicle, which was spiked and stopped on the East West Access Road.” Police said a 31-year-old man was now in custody, and inquiries were ongoing.
Heavy rain
Metservice has issued a 24-hour heavy rain warning for the Tararua Range, including Remutaka Hill Rd, active from 9pm last night until 9pm today. With 100-130mm of rain forecast, streams and rivers may rise rapidly, at peak rates of 15-25mm per hour. Surface flooding and slips are also possible, and driving conditions may be hazardous, it said.
Tree fit for a king
Carterton District Council is celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III with a tree planting event this Saturday at 9am at Sparks Park on Belvedere Rd. Former deputy mayor Bill Knowles will plant the tree, and a plaque will be unveiled to mark the occasion. A light morning tea will be served after the ceremony.
Feral goat cull
Motorists should plan for two daytime one-hour Remutaka Hill Rd closures from May 29 to June 1 for previously scheduled feral goat control aerial operations that had to be postponed earlier this year due to bad weather.
Crash cuts power
A car crash at the intersection of Perry and Villa streets at 6.30am yesterday resulted in a powercut to more than 100 properties. A police spokesperson said the driver, who hit a power pole, didn’t “appear too badly injured but was checked out by ambulance”. Powerco attended the scene shortly after 8am and cut power to 103 properties until the early afternoon, while the pole was repaired.