Heavy rainfall caused flooding in Grantham and the surrounding villages, bringing a wet start to the month of May.
Roads were closed, including the A1 and A52, while in Bottesford a family-of-three had to be rescued form their vehicle as it became submerged. Firefighters paddled out to the car, which had been caught out when the River Devon burst its banks.
The family were taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution.
Anti-social behaviour became a hot topic following reports of yobs acting out in various areas of the town. One family living in Sharpe Road, a part of the Harrowby ward, reported heavily in the Journal in previous weeks due to ASB issues, said they were desperate to move.
Meanwhile, neighbours in Park Road said vandalism and criminal damage was becoming intolerable, blaming pupils of King’s School and the Priory Ruskin Academy.
One family were living in constant fear of verbal abuse, which escalated one evening into a physical attack which left a man with a gash on his head.
An inquest into the death of multi-millionaire Nottingham Forest owner Nigel Doughty, of Skillington, was held. The father-of-four, 54, was found dead in the gym at his home.
The cause was found to be sudden adult death syndrome. The coroner recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.
One district councilor came under fire after sending a “disrespectful” Tweet about a fellow councillor.
Councillor Mark Ashberry wrote: “Council AGM agenda has a ‘vote of thanks to the retiring Chairman’, might propose an amendment for a ‘vote of no thanks & good riddance’ lol.”
When challenged at a full council meeting, Coun Ashberry said he was joking and is entitled to freedom of speech. Coun Mike Cook was said chairman.
Two long-standing Grantham businesses were given their marching orders to make way for the new Station Approach development.
Builders merchant Jewson and tyre and service centre Tanvic were issued with a compulsory purchase order (CPO) which allows Lincolnshire County Council to legally obtain the land on which they sit in Wharf Road.
This CPO was issued as part of the Grantham Growth Point Project led by the county council and South Kesteven District Council.
Malcolm Williamson, property manager for Jewson’s parent company Saint-Gobain Building Distribution, said a complaint would be lodged, adding: “We’re not rolling over.”
TV’s Time Team did a bit of digging around in Belton parkland, going on to find an intact First World War training camp.
In fact, Time Team favourite Francis Pryor told the Journal the camp was the only First World War site uncovered by the team of archaeologists in the last 20 years. The experts dug seven trenches across the parkland off Five Gates Lane, and also came across a fully conserved shooting range.
Casey Cant was crowned Carnival Princess 2012. The pupil of West Grantham Academy St Hugh’s wowed the judges, beating all 19 Princess contenders to take the crown.