Dwelmmisbruik is groter in Ermelo as wat ons ooit sal besef en in ons skole, ja sowaar ons eie Afrikaanse kinders, en die Laerskool kinders, word ook genader! Die hoof dwelmverkopers is alom bekend as “Kenny” of “Freddie” of “Action” en vele meer. Hulle is nie net Nigiërs of Ugandese nie. Nee hulle is gewone Afrikaanse manne en selfs kinders in ons skole is “drugdealers”. Hulle lewer die dwelms voor ons skole af soos ‘n Pizza delivery man by jou voordeur, terwyl jou kind en sy/haar maatjies na jou wete binne sit en ‘onskuldig’ DVD’s kyk, maar die teendeel is in baie gevalle waar dat hulle eerder kokaïne snuif en dit vra net ‘n telefoon oproep. Hierdie mense wag ons kinders in as hulle van Jeugbyeenkomste af kom, buite die skool se hekke of op die straathoek by ons huise. Hulle is arrogant, want hulle word nie gevang nie en almal is te bang om hulle uit te wys. Ons kan nie langer hieroor stilbly nie, want ons kinders word vernietig deur ‘n vyand wat vir ons ouers onsigbaar is. Onthou daar is nie iemand wat meer lieg as die kind wat sy ‘pynstiller’ of dwelmgewoonte wil beskerm of wegsteek nie. Ek moedig elke ouer aan, as jy enigsins twyfel - toets jou kind. Natuurlik gaan hy/sy woedend wees, maar dalk red jy so sy/haar lewe. Kokaïne bly tot drie weke in die liggaam. Die twee hoof dwelms in Ermelo is kokaïne teen R300 per gram en dagga wat afhangende van die kwaliteit, wissel in prys. Die apteke het ‘n Dwelmtoets wat baie akkuraat is teen ‘n koste van ongeveer R140. ‘n Urine monster word geneem, maak net seker dis haar/sy eie, want hulle vat soms iemand wat skoon is, se urine. Ouers moenie dink dit sal nie met jou kind gebeur nie. Dis gewoonlik die onskuldige kind uit die stabiele huis wat gevang word bloot omdat hulle nie ‘streetwise’ is nie. Ons sal baie ernstig moet bid en dink en saamstaan oor hierdie saak. Bid asseblief saam met my oor hierdie saak, ons kan nie langer toekyk hoe die vyand ons kinders vernietig nie. Iemand wat omgee

Our articles will be written in English as the majority of our disabled community is English. We would firstly like to ask you as the public a question, “why do you park on our disabled parking spaces?” What are you trying to achieve, honestly my answer is that you are to lazy to use those God given legs to run a few metres. We try to bring inspiration and look for solutions to make our co-disabled friends’s lives better, but unfortunatly we need the BUSINESSES to get involved. We do counselling, we go into settlements, we use our private cars, but for the love of mankind, we don’t let anything stand in our way, please get involved. Thank you to Hennie Botes of Botes Scrap Metals and Mr Uys for sponsoring our trip to Kosi Bay last weekend. Thank also to the Ermelo Aeronautical Society for a spectacular Air Show, you guys did our town proud. We only want to live life to the fullest with what we have left, please assist us. Come on guys we challenge you, don’t see it as money wasted, but rather as seed sown into good ground. We run websites and we do motivational speaking. Contact Martin or Anton at 071 326 2819. Anton Franken (Chairman, Ampies op die Pad) Martin Dinkelmann (Chairman, Ampies op Pad and DREAM)

It is insanely expensive to organise an airshow.  The cost involved for the aeroplanes that took part, the fuel that was used and the preparations of the terrain, amounts to many thousands of rands.  For an airshow to be successful, all three these factors are necessary.  Firstly, a good sponsor is necessary and Ermelo Aeronautical Society (EAS) had an excellent sponsor in UD Trucks and we thank them for their amazing support.  To Corrie Barnard of UD Trucks Ermelo, thank you for the VIP transport and your involvement with organising of the show.   The second component is a group of people who is willing and able to work hard.  I thank each and every member of the EAS for their hard work as the airshow would not have been possible without your positive attitude and hard work.   The third factor is spectators.  On behalf of the EAS, I thank the almost 7 000 spectators who attended the show.  We would also like to thank other sponsors, viz. Nu-Scotland Sawmill, Busby Sawmill, Panbult Denne Sawmill, Sonae Witrivier and Panbult, Ermelo Glass and Aluminium, Piet Retief Body Builders, as well as all the smaller sponsors that contributed to the spectator bays and the tower.  Many thanks to SA Breweries and the men of the Ermelo Round Table for the successful manning of the beer tent.  Thank you to the Ermelo Inn that offered accommodation at a good price, as well as to Ka Mara who offered free accommodation.  Also thanks to Panarottis for the VIP food sponsor.  Thank you to Engen for the free oil.  We also have to express our thanks to Msukaligwa Municipality for the preparations of the terrain and to the Gert Sibande District Municipality that made the school project possible.   It was a honour to have all the vehicle exhibits, other exhibitors and the stalls at the terrain.  The Harley Davidsons has become part of the show and their presence is greatly appreciated.  Tienie Hattingh you did a great job in organising all the Harleys.   We thank the South African Air Force, the show would have been mediocre at best, if it was not for their massive contribution.  Thank you to Colonel Andrea Ehmke and her team, as well as every pilot and flying team that participated.   The Ermelo Police, Fire Department and the Traffic Department did a wonderful job.   Thank you to Mariaan for all the e-mails sent and received and for al the administration that was handled by her.  The non-members of the EAS who also contributed: Ralph Griffiths and his wife, Dennis Sinclair, Neil, Kobus van Zyl and Willem Schoombee.  Also a word of thank to the wives of members who helped at the show.  We as Ermelo Aeronautical Society are proud of the Tribune Newspaper for supporting us throughout the whole of the advertising campaign.  In conclusion, we thank our Heavenly Father for the beautiful weather we experienced on the day and that we enjoyed an accident free airshow.André van Rooyen, UD Truck Ermelo Airshow Chairperson

Is it also obvious to you that many coal trucks are parked in residential areas?  Just go and have a look in Nederland Park and De Bruin Park.  At some houses there are sometimes four or five trucks parked there.  Trucks aren’t even allowed within Ermelo.  Why doesn’t the traffic department do something about these trucks?  I have reported it to the municipal call centre a number of times, but not once did any traffic official attend to the problem.  Each morning at 05:00 the trucks start up and get revved until the engines are hot and this happens right next to my bedroom.  Obviously my family and I have difficulty getting back to sleep after the rude awakening.   Please traffic officials, do something?  One of these days you’ll see a couple of trucks go up in flames - maybe then the traffic department will show up.Agnes