Well that is it for BathurstAM for Monday, August 18.

It is less than a month until the Edgell Jog, an annual 7.5 kilometre run around Bathurst.

Why not give your legs a bit of a test in the lead up and go for a jog this week? Or, if you prefer to take things at a more casual pace, why not start planning on a suitable costume that will make you stand out in the field?

This year's Edgell Jog is on September 7.

8.55AM

In police news:

There was a break and enter in Culnane Place, Kelso. Thieves entered through an unlocked window sometime between 8 and 9pm on Sunday and took a set of keys to a vehicle in the back yard.

However they were unable to start the vehicle and left empty handed.

A Yamaha motor bike has been stolen from a Freemantle Road property. The theft occurred between 3pm on August 8 and and August 15. The bike is described as a 100cc Yamaha, red in colour.

Two youths are being dealt with under the Young Offenders Act after stealing two vehicles from the Bathurst TAFE last week. Police attended an address in Currawong Street over the weekend on an unrelated matter and were given information about the thefts. Police spoke with the youths who made admissions to the thefts.

Several persons entered a bottle shop in William Street Bathurst about 8pm on August 16. While one distracted the staff member, a female loaded her "stroller" with over $500 worth of alcohol. Police are viewing CCTV footage in the hope of identifying the offenders. 

8.50AM

IT is a wet start to the day and Bathurst might have more rain before the week is out.

At the moment it appears that there will only be a few showers during the week, but that cloud cover should see us avoid any big frosts.

8.45AM

TODAY is Vietnam Veterans Day. Originally it was a day to commemorate the Battle of Long Tan in 1966, it has since been adopted by all veterans.

The battle of Long Tan was the largest single unit battle fought in Vietnam by Australian troops. It began on the afternoon of August 18th and went right through the night until the morning of the 19th.

The reason why is was looked on as decisive and significant was because the Australian had only been there a few months - it was the first major conflict involving Australian troops in Vietnam.

8.40AM

THE Western Advocate photographers were out and about on the weekend. See photos from the latest Bathurst events including the Evans Art Show, Charles Sturt University's Winter Feast and Barry Hunt's retirement. 

8.37AM

WONDERING where your Western Advocate newspaper is this morning?

A press breakdown meant the printing of the papers were delayed. But don't worry, your Western Advocates are expected to arrive in town at 9am.

And you know what they say - all good things come to those who wait.

8.35AM

POLICE are continuing their inquiries into the slaughter of chickens at Bathurst South Public School last weekend.

Police announced late last week they were following some lines of inquiry into the slaughter of the five chickens, which were being reared by the students.

School principal Greg Cross was horrified by the attack, saying the students at the school took it in turn to feed and water the chickens and collect the eggs.

The attack was one of a spate of recent incidents at educational institutions in Bathurst.

Police have urged anyone with information on any of the incidents to make contact with Bathurst Police on 6332 8699 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

8.32AM

IT seems power is restored. If you are still having dramas, give Essential Energy a buzz.

8.30AM

TOMORROW night at 8pm the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre will host Cirque Mother Africa.

Cirque Mother Africa The heartbeat of Africa pulsates throughout the jaw-dropping show as the musicians and artistes articulate their passion and love for their homeland including Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Benin, Zimbabwe, and Guinea. This entertainment extravaganza combines the talents from nine African countries to provide the wonder, suspense and joy of Mother Africa.

8.25AM

HOMER Simpson might talk up the value of donuts, but today the humble cupcake will be fighting animal cruelty.

The RSPCA is today running their annual Cupcake Day so people can chomp into some yummy treats while at the same time help the 56,000 animals that the RSPCA rescues, rehabilitates and re homes each year.

If you missed out today, you can still organise your work mates to contribute to the good cause this week.

8.20AM

ST Pat's look pretty happy after scoring this try against Orange CYMS in Sunday's Group 10 rugby league match at the Sportsground.

To check out more images from this game and the Central West Rugby Union local derby between Bathurst Bulldogs and CSU check out our Sports Out West gallery.

8.15AM

BOOKS and pigs - they might be a strange combination but they will help Bathurst residents celebrate Book Week.

The Bathurst Library will and host various children story time sessions with beloved character 'Olivia the Pig' during the week as well as the Booklink Reading Awards today from 5.15pm.

Bathurst Library's Booklink program, now in its 12th year, has attracted 103 participants this year who have read a total of 13,210 books, that's on average 128 books per participant!

The Booklink program is a children's reading initiative designed to encourage children and their families to enjoy and read books.

To catch Olivia, who author Ian Falconer describes as "a rambunctious and creative little pig', be at the Bathurst Library for one of these sessions: Wednesday at 3.45pm; Thursday at 11am and 3.45pm; or Friday at 11am and 3.45pm

8.10AM

IT was a big weekend for Bathurst sport as some teams embarked on finals campaigns and others completed the final round of their regular season. Here is a brief wrap.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Bathurst Panthers stormed into the Group 10 premier league finals series after a 36-8 thrashing of an insipid Orange Hawks on Saturday at Orange's Wade Park. After 12 rounds of this year's competition, Panthers 'boasted' a three-from-10 record and were three wins outside the top five, plus for-and-against. Thanks to their local rivals St Pat's, who took care of Orange CYMS, Panthers' win was enough to get them into the finals and they bring impressive form with them, having won five of their last six.

Meanwhile, Pat's found another gear in the second half of their match against Orange CYMS to race out to a 32-10 win and, with it, take the minor premiership.

RUGBY UNION: The Bathurst Bulldogs maintained bragging rights over CSU and gave themselves a good springboard into the Central West Rugby Union semi-finals with a 40-24 win over the students on Saturday.

The game was a lot closer than the 18-point margin indicates, with CSU having chances in the final 15 minutes to cut the margin to three points at University Oval.

HOCKEY: They have not had the chance to play much hockey together this season, but on Saturday twins Sarah and Jessica Watterson showed just how valuable they are for Souths when part of the same line up. Sarah scored a second half double and Jess found the mark from a tight angle to help Souths post a 4-2 win over Lithgow Zig Zag in the women's Premier League Hockey minor preliminary semi-final.

Bathurst City proved that they are a side who know how to get things done when it matters, winning a thrilling women's Premier League Hockey major preliminary semi-final over Parkes 1-0.

8.05AM

GOOD luck to all the students in Bathurst who will start their trial HSC examinations today.

Students will face tests in subjects such as English, chemistry and legal studies, music and modern history today.

8AM

THERE are a few road works going on in the Bathurst area this week to take note of.

There will be delays of up to five minutes between 7am and 5pm this week on the Great Western Highway between Bathurst and Lithgow while scheduled works are being carried out.

There may be similar delays between Gilmour Street and Stockland Drive between 7am-6pm and 7pm-5am.

Also expect delays of up to 10 minutes on Jenolan Caves Road between Jenolan Caves and Kanangra Road as routine maintenance is carried out between 7am-5pm.

7.55AM

SERIOUS and repeat drink drivers will be required to have alcohol interlocks fitted to their vehicles under new rules passed in the NSW Parliament this week.

Alcohol interlock devices are installed on car ignitions and require drivers to pass a breath test before the engine will start. If the device detects alcohol, the car simply won't turn on.

From early next year, high range drink drivers - those caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.150 or above - and repeat drink drive offenders - those who have committed two offences within five years - will be ordered to have an alcohol interlock for at least 12 months.

7.50AM

IF you see someone this morning with a jumper on backwards or wearing odd socks, ask them if they live in Kelso, The Lagoon or Raglan.

Earlier risers in Kelso, the Lagoon and Raglan were forced to dress in the dark due to a power outage at 5.40am.

There are reports more than 4,000 homes were left in darkness, but it appears power has now been restored.

7.45AM

POLICE are appealing for a man seen filming a hotel fire in Cobar on Sunday morning to contact them.

Emergency services were called to the Occidental Hotel at 7.50am on Sunday with reports the building was well alight.

Part-time firefighter Daniel Howard, 37, was killed during the blaze, and his fellow firefighter left injured with a broken arm after a wall collapsed on them.

Police believe the footage of the blaze could assist with their investigation.

Darling River Local Area Command police established a crime scene and detectives launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire.

It's unknown at this stage whether the incident is suspicious.

7.40AM

IN national headlines today:

FEDERAL government departments are poised to wage war on "dud" public servants in their ranks.

The Australian Taxation Office is leading the charge, pushing for changes to its "performance management" rules after taking action against just two alleged under-performers last year - from a workforce of 23,000.

SOME of the Cronulla players accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs in 2011 could escape with a ban of as little as four weeks during the off season.

Past and present players are expected to be called to a meeting with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and the NRL this week where they will be offered a range of sanctions, some receiving a ban of one month and others six months.

FRENCH police are investigating the death of a 35-year-old Australian BASEjumper following an accident in the High Alps on Sunday.

French authorities say the man fell to his death after jumping from the summit of the 2525-metre Brévent near Chamonix, a haven for the adventure sports community. Brévent neighbours Mont Blanc, Europe's highest peak

7.30AM

Making regional news today:

THE hoodoo is broken. Orange Emus ended a three-season losing streak against Orange City with a scintillating performance at Pride Park on Saturday, running out 33-21 winners.

The greens hadn't tasted victory against the Lions since, coincidentally, the final round of the 2011 Blowes Clothing Cup regular season.

In front a huge, vocal Pride Park crowd Emus outclassed their cross-town rivals, running in five tries to three in the victory.

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott flew into Mudgee on Friday night to lead the Pollie Pedal out of town on Saturday morning for the final stages of the annual charity ride.

Overseas commitments in the Netherlands, London and the United Arab Emirates kept the PM from participating in the full 1000km of the event which this year is raising money for Carers Australia.

"It is nice to swap the Royal Australian Air Force jet for the bike," he said on Saturday morning before setting off for Lithgow in the drizzling conditions.

"AN absolutely disastrous day for Cobar".

That is how Cobar mayor Lilliane Brady described Sunday's early-morning blaze that left a firefighter dead, another injured and destroyed an iconic local hotel.

A tearful Cr Brady paid tribute to 37-year-old Daniel Howard, an electrical contractor, part-time firefighter and family friend who lost his life after a wall collapsed at the Marshall Street site.

7.15AM

In local news today:

A MAN who severed two fingers in a wood-chopping accident on Friday believes quick action by his two young sons saved his life.

Henry Mahara, who is recovering in Westmead Hospital following emergency surgery on Friday, was splitting yellow box at his West Bathurst home when a moment's inattention with a hydraulic wood splitter resulted in him severing two of his fingers.

BATHURST councillor Michael Coote wants to see the historic part of Bathurst Cemetery fenced off in order to deter vandals.

He raised the issue at council's last policy meeting in the wake of a shocking attack on graves, some dating back to 1886.

On June 25, 100 gravestones in the Catholic and Church of England sections of the cemetery were damaged by vandals.

THREE Bathurst people who showed courage under fire - literally - will receive Australian Bravery Awards from Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

David Alan White will receive a bravery medal, while Kristie Clayton and Amos John Mills will receive group bravery citations at a special ceremony in Canberra later in the year.

Mr Mills and Ms Clayton were instrumental in saving the lives of two young girls trapped in a house fire.

7.05AM

People who are headed towards Kelso on the Greater Western Highway this morning please show caution.

Traffic signals are down in both directions.

7AM

Good morning, Bathurst! Welcome to a new week of BathurstAM. We can expect a cloudy day with scattered showers. 11 degrees.

If you have a community announcement, news tip or photo you would like to share today email it to anya.whitelaw@fairfaxmedia.com.au

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