Missing Woman – Scarlet Ibis is BACK! – Environmental Open Day – Devon Sproule concert – Portobello Community Council
Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for information to trace a woman who has been missing from her home in West Lothian since last Friday 24 August 2012.
51-year-old Heather McKay was last seen at her friend’s home in Dechmont, Broxburn at around 7.30am by her friend who was leaving for work.
Another friend called at the address at around 8.30am, however Ms McKay was not there, and hasn’t been seen since.
Police are now growing increasingly concerned for Ms McKay’s welfare, and are appealing for members of the public to come forward with any information.
She is described as around 5ft 7ins tall, medium build with hazel/ green eyes and brown hair. She speaks with a Scottish accent and has a small burn mark on her forearm and a small tattoo on her right shoulder.
She may be wearing a light blue Berghaus rain jacket, jeans and a pair of brown hi-tec walking boots.
A police spokesperson said: “Ms McKay is an independent and outgoing person with a wide circle of friends and a close family, and it is completely out of character for her to go missing.
“We have conducted a number of enquiries over the weekend to trace her whereabouts however none of these have brought us any closer to finding her.
“We’re now appealing for members of the public who recognise her description or who may have seen her over the weekend to come forward and let us know immediately.
“Over the weekend members of the local community have been instrumental in helping us raise awareness of Heather’s disappearance, and we are grateful for their assistance.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Lothian and Borders Police immediately on 0131 311 3131.
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The Scarlet Ibis which escaped from Edinburgh Zoo last week is taking up some column inches. The Broughton Spurtle has some coverage here. The BBC has its coverage here. The Reporter spotted it yesterday morning down on the waterfront between Cramond and Silverknowes, although just after we took the photograph a fire appliance raced along with siren and lights flashing, so possibly the bird moved on. Anyway today’s big news is that the bird is back at the Zoo.
After making her great escape from Edinburgh Zoo last Tuesday, the two year old female Scarlet ibis, is now back at the Zoo after her big adventure.
Arriving at the Zoo in 2010 and sharing her enclosure with the six other members of her flock, and 36 resident flamingos, this colourful youngster definitely has a personality to match.
With a little help from a squirrel, who keepers think chewed its way through netting at the top of the Scarlet ibis enclosure, the young feathered female found an adventurous streak and winged her way to the city centre in Edinburgh.
After various sightings in the city centre, she made her way towards Seafield and later the Cramond area, staving off any recapture missions from keepers until Sunday afternoon. The Zoo’s patient and persistent bird team were able to tempt the young female down into a trap constructed by Zoo staff with a mixture of her favourite mussels, mealworms and prawns after her six day vacation.
Colin Oulton, Team Leader of the bird section at Edinburgh Zoo, said:
“It’s really quite surprising how far the Scarlet ibis flew, eventually ending up at the shore at Cramond. Being flock birds, you would expect them to stay quite close to the rest of the flock.
“During her time away from the Zoo, the escapee bird took to perching in places that made it a tad more difficult to recapture her, so we had to wait for the best time to make our move. We always knew that it wouldn’t be a straightforward or easy task to recapture her, and that it would take a little time and patience…and luckily it paid off, as we were able to do just that after a few attempts to encourage her towards a carry box with some mussels and prawns.
“The bird has been quite relaxed about the whole thing, choosing to stay in the Cramond area probably as it is quite close to the seashore. The ibis will have been able to go down onto the mudflats and most likely catch food for herself.
“I would definitely say that she has a curious nature and I’m sure she has a great story to tell the rest of the Scarlet ibis flock when she returns to them later this week. Although she seems to be in perfect health, we’re just carrying out some routine tests, and after four to five days in quarantine, she’ll be reunited with the other birds after her mini adventure across Edinburgh.”
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Devon Sproule is appearing at the House @42 tonight. Here is what you will be missing if you don’t manage to get yourself booked in! All details on the House website.
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Councillor Maureen Child has written to us reminding us that Portobello Community Council meets tonight at 7.30p.m. in the Portobello Baptist Church Hall at 185 Portobello High Street, and also advising of the latest development in relation to the Central Bar in Portobello. She writes:-“There was an application to the Licensing Board to shift the hours of operation of the Central Bar, as it is scheduled to re-open soon under new management. The opening hours were fixed before at 9am to 1am. The change would have it open at 7am and close at 11pm. I put in a written objection, asking for a restriction of opening hours from 9am to 11pm.
A fair number of local Brighton and Rosefield residents have also objected. Parents are particularly upset about the prospect of school and nursery children walking to school past an open public house, especially where there has been trouble in the past. The nearby Portobello Bar is open from 7am, so – I have to ask – why would we need another one?”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
