SA POBLA
A TYPE of coati, an animal originating from South America, was captured at a finca in Crestatx in Sa Pobla yesterday, a spokesperson from the Ministry for the Environment said. The animal was captured thanks to a collaboration between the owner of the property and the local police. The Ministry added that this capture “has great importance” as it is a species that adapts quickly and changes the natural habitat where it lives and its presence could affect the rest of the fauna. The number of exotic animals that have been captured so far this year totals 19 with this new animal.

Protection of schools

LLUCMAJOR
THE local Llucmajor council department for Civil Protection yesterday held a meeting at the town hall where they presented an admended project for the Municipal Emergency Plan and the self-protection plans for local schools and cultural centres. Furthermore the group of volunteers, 32 in total, from the Municipal Civil Protcetion department took part in the meeting, said a spokesperson from the town council. The local council department for Civil Protcetion is compsed of, amongst others, the Mayor, Lluc Tomás; the deputy Mayor, Joan Jaume; the town council secretary, Rafael Martínez; seven councillors nominated by the Mayor, three from the right wing political party (PP) (Sebastiá Artigues, Miquela Barceló and Antonio Ibáñez) and one representative from each of the other political parties (Antoni Garcias from the Socialist Party PSOE, Joaquín Rabasco from ASI, Joana Lluisa Mascaró from the Majorcan Socialist Party PSM and Tomás Cantallops from the Majoran Unionist party UM). The deputy Mayor, Joan Jaume, joined by the town council secretary, Rafael Martínez, and the councillor for Residents Participation, Antonio Ibáñez presided the meeting. The expert in civil protection, Eduard Vellibre, was in charge of presenting the plans and project and informed all present that the Civil Protection Department will meet every three months. The plan for protection of teaching centres is currently being adopted by the schools in Bahías, Son Verí, Sant Bonaventura, Jaume II and s'Algar, and the nursery schools in Llucmajor and s'Arenal.

Money raiser

CALVIÁ
THE Calviá town council has raised a total of 3'586 euros by holding a Solidary Festival at the weekend. The money will be donated to the victims of the southeast Asian tsunami disaster. Tickets to the event cost five euros and all this money was donated to the cause, as well as money raised by selling t-shirts that were especially designed for the event, and food and drink that was sold during the intervals, said a spokesperson from the town council yesterday. Many prizes were given away at the event, including two holidays, a digital camara, cinema tickets, perfume, watches etc.. In the next few days the organisers hope to sell more t-shirts which they can add to their tsunami collection. The Festival took place at the Pabellón de Galatzó and the following acts performed; Jaime Anglada, Tomeu Penya, Blue Menay, Ultrapop. Le Mystere, Madó Pereta and the top 40 hits. There was also an exhibition of photos that had been taken of the disaster.

Hunters' day

ALCUDIA
ALCUDIA will hold the fifth National Hunters Day on 27 February, which has been organised by the Council of Majorca and which this year will include for the first time a gastronomic exhibition for game. At this event visitors can see demonstrations on hunting amongst other things, according to head of the Council's environment department, Miguel Angel Borrás, and the Alcudia Mayor, Miquel Ferrer, who presented the day yesterday and who both added that the day will also be used to highlight the renovation of the old town. The events will start at 10am and finish at 6pm and will include a rare hunting dog show, archery demonstrations and traditional artcraft demonstrations. The event is being held in Alcudia due to the insistence by the Alcudia Hunting Society which has a long 60 history and which, together with the Council of Majorca, manages the natural area in the La Victoria mountain, said the Mayor. During the event many municipal buildings will be opened to the public free of charge so that the visitors can view the Roman city, the Museum and the library, said the Mayor.

New daytime centre

PORTO CRISTO
THE coastal town, Porto Cristo, will have a new daytime care centre for the eldery within one year. The Balearic Government has approved the grant of 320'323 euros to build the future daytime care centre. It has been reported that this will be constructed next to the retirement home, which is currently being refurbished. it. They will build the centre on 400 square metres of a 800 metre square plot of land, explained a spokesperson from the town council.