150 years ago FIVE men appeared at court following a ‘Devonside spree’. The men, all from Alva, were charged with committing a breach of the peace on Boxing Day at or near the inn occupied by Thomas Hogg at Devonside and having at the same time assaulted police Constable John Ross.

AN Alloa woman was sent to prison for stealing a shirt. Mary M’Gin or Hardy, residing in Alloa, was charged with the theft of a cotton shirt, the property of the trustees of the Alloa Industrial School from the house of John Bird McEwan. She was found guilty and sentenced to one month imprisonment.

100 years ago AN outbreak of fire occurred at an old farmhouse at Longcarse near the banks of the River Forth. It was discovered by two railway signal men who gave the alarm. The fire had a strong hold and there was a difficulty in getting a supply of water, as a result the engine was not sent down and the old building was soon gutted.

SEVERAL individuals who had apparently found it impossible to survive the new year festivities without getting uproariously drunk appeared before Bailie Moir at the borough police court to explain their conduct.

50 years ago WHEN an Alloa general merchant returned to his store in Ward Street after an absence of about half an hour, he discovered that the hasp and padlock on the door had been forced.

This matter was reported to the police which led to the appearance of George Smith of 43a Kelliebank street Alloa in court the following morning. Smith pled guilty to breaking into the store and stealing approximately £2 from an unlocked cupboard.

WHEN Kenneth Ross of Glasgow was driving his firms lorry on the Alloa-Cambus road near the railway on Friday afternoon, a fire broke out in the cabin. Mr Ross attempted to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher but was unsuccessful and the Alloa fire brigade were summoned.

SWIPING at a spider which was dangling between him and the windscreen of his car, an 18-year-old Tullibody driver swerved to the wrong side of the Alloa to Dunfermline road and collided with a telegraph pole with a terrific crash. As a result of the accident, the front of the car was badly damaged but the driver escaped with severe shaking and facial injuries and was fined £10 for careless driving.

25 years ago DESPITE Scottish office declarations that unemployment has fallen again, male unemployment in Alloa shows an increase on last month’s figures. The local figures issued by Alloa Job Centre quote male unemployment at 1909 – which represents an increase of 29 on last month.

A NEW Year drinking spree ended with £400 worth of damage after a man broke into his estranged wife’s house and wrecked furniture and ornaments. A 34-year-old appeared in court accused of causing wilful or reckless damage to property, breaching the peace and breaking the conditions of bail. He pled guilty to all three charges with his sentence deferred until the end of the month.

CENTRAL Scotland police have sent teams of up to 28 officers a day to help in the aftermath of the Lockerbie disaster. The teams, including six divers, are assisting in the search for still missing bodies and wreckage.

10 years ago A CLACKMANNAN pensioner who has been involved in almost every community project in the town for the past 25 years has been awarded an MBE. Self-confessed football fanatic Mary May Graham received the prestigious accolade in the Queen’s New Year’s Honour List for her services to the community. COMMITMENT ceremonies are now available to Clackmannanshire couples wishing to acknowledge the seriousness of their relationships. The move by Alloa registrar anticipates national legislation to recognise same sex couples.

SAUCHIE’S New Year celebrations were severely dampened as yet more water misery hit the town.

Just five months after thousands of locals were left high and dry after a 15-inch water main exploded near Lornshill Academy in August, burst pipes and blocked drains meant the people of Sauchie had to endure another week of water hell.