HEALTH BENEFIT RISE
The Balearic Health Minister, Vicenc Thomas, has promised sweeping changes to health legislation involving those patients receiving treatment away from the island. The minister announced that travel, accommodation and dietary expenses would be increased by around 30 per cent, with the Balearic Government now paying the hotel bill for those forced to receive treatment either in Mallorca or on the mainland, but who do not require a stay in hospital.
The main change to the legislation, which will hopefully be in place by October, is that it no longer differentiates between those requiring a hospital stay and those who do not. In particular the new regulation will be of great benefit to those patients receiving radiotherapy treatment off the island. This requires a lengthy stay away from home, but does not demand hospitalization. Under current rules patients received just €14 per day to cover their food bill.
Thomas said agreements would be made with hotel chains in Barcelona and Palma, where most patients were treated, and patients would be given vouchers to cover their hotel stay, which would be on a half-board basis. In other cities the sick would be given the money directly to cover their hotel bill, although the rate would be based on the Palma/Barcelona tariff.
The measures will also cover transport costs with increases from the €5.79 currently being paid, to between €14 and €16. However, this will not include flights which are already paid for by the Govern. All of the new measures will also cover a patient’s companion, who until now has had to foot most of his or her own expenses.
Currently the most common causes which require treatment away from the island include radiotherapy, transplants, burns and premature births.
Thomas revealed these costs would increase the annual budget by around €600,000 per annum for the Health Service. Last year a total of 20,000 people received hospital care off the island.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Balearic Government, Joan Boned, announced it was looking at alternatives to try and ensure work on the building of the new hospital could start this year. The plans are currently being drawn up but work will not be able to begin until the municipal’s new Land Use Plan is approved. Mayor Lurdes Costa has reiterated, on numerous occasions, that the project is a matter of weeks away from being given the green light. However, Boned claimed he did not want to take the chance and would be looking at alternatives to ensure work would begin on schedule at the end of the year.

AROUND THE ISLAND
UK Promotion
Balearics was the buzzword around Manchester over the Bank Holiday weekend as over 500,000 people enjoyed a spectacular four-day promotional display in the town centre. Most are hoping the event, coming as it does during such a crucial time of the year, will result in a significant increase in bookings for this summer. The Balearic Minister for Tourism, Miquel Nadal, remained confident the British would take a holiday this year, despite the economic crisis, claiming the islands would remain a popular choice.
The extravaganza came on the official opening weekend of the season which saw 35 per cent of the island’s hotels opening their doors. In total 185 hotels and apartment complexes are now open, still some way off the total of 550 establishments on the island, with the majority claiming they would not be open until June. However, what has become clear is that hotel occupancy will be down during May in comparison to 2008, where it reached 51%.
Balearic President, Francesc Antich, claimed that what was needed at this time was unity right across the board. He said it was vital his administration stuck together and received the support of the opposition party. He also pleaded for hoteliers to be patient, claiming the Balearics was a strong destination which would remain popular.

Labour Fears
As the May Day celebrations took place across the Balearics one leading unionist claimed the situation may become so bad this year, there were fears it could lead to a general strike. As the rain came down in Ibiza on Friday 500 unionists and supporters walked the streets of the capital in the traditional Labour Day rally. This year the march focused on people’s right to work, as unemployment across the country reached record levels. In Spain there are now more than 4 million people out of work, around 17.5 per cent of the working population, with most predicting levels would reach 20 per cent by the end of the year, and rising faster than in any other developed country. Not surprisingly, after years of boom, the construction industry has been the most high profile victim, with the latest figures showing 75 per cent of jobs within the sector have been eradicated in the last year.
However, it has not been the only sector to take heavy losses. For the 16th consecutive month retail sales fell in March by 8.2 per cent, the second largest drop on record and only beaten by the 9.1 per cent decrease the previous month. Rising unemployment and plummeting house prices were to blame, as consumer confidence remained low.
It seems the economic crisis is also affecting the amount of rubbish islanders are throwing away. During the first three months of the year the amount sent to the tip fell by 11.2 per cent, and this despite an increase in population. This is on the back of a 20 per cent fall over the course of 2008 compared to the previous year, with a total of 141,230 tonnes.

Precautionary Measures
As swine fever gripped the world Vicenc Thomas, Balearic Minister for Health, revealed a committee had been set up to monitor the disease. He said the moves were made following the World Health Organisation’s decision to upgrade the level of alert to Level Five. However, he repeated that despite several false alarms there were no reported cases of the virus in the Balearics.
In Mallorca two people who had both recently come back from holiday in Mexico were taken to Son Dureta after showing some symptoms of the flu. However, after two days under observation they were released, with doctors claiming it had been a false alarm. Meanwhile several students in Barcelona who had recently returned from a trip to Mexico were being treated in hospital for the virus. It was later revealed one of those affected was an Ibicencan student who was currently studying in the city. Both were released after several days of treatment, with the patient claiming he had suffered worst fevers.
However, the Health Minister at national level, Trinidad Jimenez, was not taking any chances and summoned all of the autonomous health ministers from across the country to go over the procedures which needed to be followed in suspected cases.

Marketing Alternatives
As the tourist season kicks off on the island, hotels are looking for innovative ways of luring clients to their establishments. Instead of reducing prices many have decided to offer packages which include complimentary services. These start from the classic “three for two” being offered by many complexes on the island, to the luxury package offered by Mirador de Dalt Vila which includes a three-night stay, transfers, and an exclusive day out on a private yacht.
The president of the Hotel Federation, Juanjo Riera, has advised his members against slashing prices, admitting they would only be cutting their own throats. He has instead asked people to offer “extras” which give additional value to the product.
Among the packages currently on offer Fiesta hotels have their Opening Party pack which includes accommodation, half-board and free entrance to the opening nights of Privilege and Space. Alternatively, the Sirenis group is also offering free stays for those under twelve years of age throughout May and October, as a way of boosting reservations during the quieter months.
However, quite possibly the most novel remains the “Roulette Special” currently offered by Grupo Playa Sol, (GPS). This consists of discounts of up to 40 per cent, with the client picking the area where he wants to stay and star rating of the hotel. The client can then be sent to any of the group’s hotels in that area, enabling them to maximise occupancy in those properties already open.

Jelly Joy
The presence of jellyfish in the Mediterranean will remain at similar levels to previous years, according to an expert at the oceanographic centre of Murcia. The comments were made by Ignacio Franco, who claimed the more dangerous species found close to Denia and the Costa del Sol in recent months would not make an appearance off the Balearics.
The most dominant variety circling the coast this summer will be Pelagia noctiluca. This species, commonly known as the mauve stinger, is typically an offshore species, although sometimes it is washed near coastlines and may be stranded in great numbers on beaches. Its colour varies worldwide, and in addition to pink or mauve, it can sometimes have shades of golden yellow or tan. Although their stings can be painful, they are not dangerous to anyone except those who suffer sting allergies.
In recent weeks strong westerly winds have blown the feared Portuguese man-of-war into the Mediterranean via the Straits of Gibraltar. This species, which has a much more potent sting, has been spotted along the Malaga coast and recently in Murcia, although prevailing winds have kept them away from Ibiza.
Franco revealed the Mar Menor, a salty lagoon in the south-east of Murcia and separated from the Mediterranean by a 22km sandbar, would be practically jellyfish free this year following the continued success of the local Government’s project which consisted of removing between eight and ten per cent of the species just before they laid their eggs.
Closer to home an expert at the Consell, Jaume Estarellas, claimed it was very difficult to predict whether there would be more or less jellyfish than the previous year, because it depended on so many interchanging factors. However, he did reveal that lots of rain in winter usually meant far less jellyfish during the summer as it created a sweet water barrier which prevented the jellyfish from coming inland, which is good news for bathers across the island.

Court Case
The controversial man behind the hotel chain, Grupo Playa Sol, (GPS), is set to be in court yet again in the near future after he was accused of defrauding the Inland Revenue. The accusations were made by the Public Prosecutor and focus on the employment of hundreds of Czechs working in many of the group’s hotels last summer.
Ferré claimed the majority of the workers had been contracted via an employment agency in the Czech Republic which he owned. Their social security was therefore paid in their country of origin, which was said to have saved the Catalan up to €120,000. However, the Public Prosecution team claims most of the contracts were made months after they had first come to the island, making the process illegal.
The businessman already faces the prospect of a lengthy jail sentence following a raid on two of his hotels in Cala de Bou in 2006 which led to the discovery of hundreds of illegal workers.
According to reports in the Ultima Hora newspaper Ferré already owes the Consell around €300,000 in unpaid fines, and has closure orders on a total of five hotels.

Highway Defence
Island President Xico Tarres has accused the opposition PP-party (Popular Party) of trying to deceive the general public, and in particular the residents of San Miguel, in comments relating to the San Miguel road. The PP has heavily criticised the inclusion of a cycle lane which has taken the width of the road to well over 13 metres. He said that the Consell would be willing to meet with those affected to come to a solution which everyone would be happy with. He reminded leading PP officials that they had originally voted in favour of a project which they were now criticising. He said it was a clear attempt to “jump on the bandwagon”, and hoodwink a misinformed public.
The new road planned for San Miguel will mean a total of 150 plots of land being expropriated at a cost of €1.9 million. The new road will be significantly widened, and see 148,000 square metres of land compulsorily repossessed, although the Island Councillor for Planning, Albert Prats, promised no buildings would be affected.
The 11.3 kilometre road will remain one-lane in each direction, but both lanes will be widened. This, added to pavements on each side and a bicycle lane, will ensure the total width is increased from six to 13 metres, and will cost a total of €17.7 million.
Tarres revealed Prats had offered to meet with the mayors of the two municipal’s through which the road passes, both of whom head PP-run Town Halls. However both have repeatedly avoided a meeting, whilst Prats has met with worried neighbours on two occasions to explain the affects of the new road.
The mayors of both San Juan and Santa Eulalia denied they had been given the chance to put forward their ideas about the road, and at the monthly mayor’s meeting with President Tarres, called for a study to be carried out into the benefit of the bicycle lane.
Meanwhile, in a meeting the following day close to 100 of those affected met in Santa Gertrudis to discuss the matter. After a vote over 90 per cent agreed the layout needed to be changed. A spokesman claimed that whilst they want the cycle lane to be included, they believe it should be built as part of the road. They think this will make it safer, as the current plans have the separate lane crossing over 74 different caminos. They believe the cyclist will not be given priority by drivers, thus resulting in more accidents, whereas if the cycle lane is included as part of the road the cyclist would naturally be given the right of way, and allowed to pass before the vehicle took the turning into the lane.
Finally though, it seems their protests will be ignored after the Consell voted not to modify the road, and rejected the PP-proposition of leaving the plans on public display for a further month. Prats claimed they did not want to delay the project any longer and that changes to the cycle lane would have meant a minimum delay of a year. He also said Consell technicians would be studying the modifications suggested by the neighbours, but that it would be difficult to change at this stage.

All Party Agreement
The mayors of the five municipalities on the island have agreed to unify the closing times of bars and clubs. As a result of the agreement bars will now have to close their doors by 3:30 a.m., whilst discos will be able to carry on until 6:30 a.m. In both cases there will be a 30-minute scope for the public to leave the building.
This is an increase of half an hour for clubs, although the various municipals have had differing legislation for bars until now. In Ibiza Town and San Jose all bars were allowed to stay open until 4:00 a.m., with establishments in other municipals forced to close at 3:00 a.m. Opening times will not vary.
President Tarres said the moves had been agreed to ensure unity and fairness across the island, but especially on municipal borders. However, it is still unsure if the new legislation can be in place by this summer. It appears Ibiza Town will move the quickest with Councillor Vicent Ferrer hoping to have the legislation approved by the end of May.
The changes may not be introduced so quickly in San Antonio, with deputy mayor Joan Pantaleoni admitting the new legislation would probably not be in place until August.
The meeting also witnessed an agreement which will see a new day-centre built close to GESA headquarters. The facility, which will be run by the charity, Caritas, will be used to provide for the neediest on the island and include a soup kitchen.

I Do
It seems there is no rush to get married in the Balearics, as a new study showed residents were the eldest to walk down the aisle. Whilst the average marrying age across Spain for men is 33 and for women 31, the average in the Balearics for the two is 34.5, the highest in Spain. The study went on to predict that by 2015 the average age would climb to over 35 for men and 32 for women. Longer working hours and lower wages were the main reasons given.

SAN ANTONIO
Port Changes
The owners of 37 boats used to transport tourists across the bay have written a letter to the director of the Balearic Port Authority to urge him not to modify their position. The Authority made it clear last week that they intended to move the water taxis to another part of the port, in the second row, as part of their re-organization of the area.
This decision will affect a total of 15 businesses, some of which have been operating since 1950 from the same place. In total they own 37 boats which together employ 116 people.
They claim moving them away from the passing public will have serious consequences on trade, as well as a knock-on effect for businesses within San Antonio which feed off the tourists they transport. They have pleaded for an audience with the Balearic Government to discuss the matter further, but as yet have had no answer.
The Town Councillor for Planning, Josefa Costa, claimed there had been some “nearing of view points” between the Town Hall and the Govern, but denied they had received any concrete plans about what was to happen. She continued that she understood the view point of the businessmen, and claimed it unlikely the Balearic Government would take such drastic action without consulting them first.
In response the director of the Port of San Antonio, Gabriel Sanchez, claimed the measures would affect between twelve and 14 boats, most of which were the larger ones that worked just three months of the year due to their size, and normally carried out just one trip a day. He said he thought it unfair that for this number of boats they had to revoke the installation of a jetty which would allow 200 recreational boats, many of which would be owned by people who lived in San Antonio, to harbour in the port. He continued that all would still be allowed to drop off clients in the same area, but would not be permitted to remain there permanently.

SANTA EULALIA
River Museum
The Town Hall of Santa Eulalia announced on Monday that work had begun on the first part of the plan to restore the municipal’s river and surrounding area. For the moment work will revolve around the restoration of Can Planetes, a disused finca close to Puig de Missa, which will be turned into a museum.
Studies have shown the house dates back to the 14th Century, and until just a few decades ago had one of only six working watermills on the island. However, the building is currently in complete disrepair, which has meant the Town Hall having to contract a company which specialises in the renovation of historical buildings. The finca will retain its original dimensions, and will house a museum and information centre enlightening visitors about the only river in the Balearics.
The work will take around twelve months and cost a total of €600,000, all of which will be paid by the Central Government.

FORMENTERA
Parking Restrictions
On Tuesday the Island Councillor for the Environment, Silvia Tur, announced a reduction in the number of parking spaces available this summer in ses Illetes. As part of the Consell’s efforts to control traffic in the natural park spaces for cars have been reduced by 28 per cent from 483 to 343, whilst places for motorbikes and mopeds has been slashed from 1,460 to 1,060. These changes will be enforced from 15th May, and are all part of Tur’s attempts to try and better protect the natural park.
The two electric buses in operation across ses Illetes will be maintained, with the number of services increased, hopefully encouraging more people to “park and ride”.
The entrance fee for cars and quad bikes will remain €4 per day, whilst mopeds will be charged €2. However, residents and those using electric cars or bicycles will not have to pay.
In addition Tur revealed the Consell would be spending a total of €200,000 this summer on ensuring the island’s beaches were patrolled by lifeguards. Their coverage will also be increased by one hour a day, ensuring that from 15th June-15th September their will be 18 lifeguards in place from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
A few days later the Balearic Government urged swimmers to use their common sense this summer. The comments come as the rise in swimming related accidents continues. During 2008 there were a total of 466 serious bathing accidents - 340 on Mallorca, 65 on Ibiza and Formentera and 61 on Menorca.

CRIME & INCIDENTS
Drug Bust
Police arrested a total of nine people across the country on Wednesday, all accused of drug trafficking and the illegal possession of firearms. In total 27 kilos of cocaine, 208 marijuana plants, five luxury cars and cash were found at various locations in Madrid, Barcelona and Cadiz. Officers believe the final destination of the cocaine was to be Ibiza, coinciding with the start of the tourist season.
The drugs came via Brazil, where elderly traffickers carried the stash to Europe as passengers on board a luxury cruise. Although the final destination of the trip was to be Malaga, the drugs were handed over during a stopover in Cadiz. Police, however, who had been investigating the gang for months, decided to swoop - arresting the two elderly passengers and seven other suspects across the country, most of Brazilian nationality.
The arrests came as a boat was located floating close to Cala Salada which officers believed had been used to transport drugs to the island. The 20 metre motorboat, which had a total of five engines, is presumed to have come from North Africa. An aerial search was immediately launched but with no results.

By modern day standards Ibiza is an extremely safe place to be. This is a weeks’ worth of news, thus magnifying its effect. Please do not worry whilst you are here – you are quite safe!!

If you have any stories for our incidents section then call or fax 971-348-271 or e-mail on: editor@theibizasun.com

NEWS FROM THE MAINLAND
Franco-Spanish Summit
This week saw a two-day State visit by the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, to Spain. The main topics touched upon with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero included terrorism and the continued financial crisis, with the French leader promising to continue his country’s crackdown on the terrorist group, ETA. The Spanish Prime Minister, meanwhile, revealed that the two countries had signed a bilateral agreement to help in the fight against terrorism and organised crime.
They also agreed that joint international action was needed to help climb out of the economic crisis currently gripping the world. The two men promised both countries would stand together, with Sarkozy claiming Spain was one of the leading economies of the world, and deserved its place as part of the G-20, something which has been called into question during recent months.
The two countries have both recently acknowledged their close ties, with Zapatero telling Le Monde newspaper he had a very good relationship with the French leader. He continued by claiming that Sarkozy has proved to be Spain’s "best friend" and "a loyal one too", and he is working together with Spain for a stronger European Union and in order to enhance Spain’s role in the world.
However, the trip came on the back of controversial comments played down by the French President. He had come under attack several weeks ago after he was claimed to have said US President Barack Obama was not "up to standard", and that Spain's Prime Minister was not very bright, although the comments do not seem to have affected their relationship.
Despite the meeting of the two world leaders, it was, as predicted, the president’s wife, Carla Bruni, who stole the show. Both were greeted at Madrid's airport by Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, before being taken to the Pardo palace on Madrid's outskirts where visiting dignitaries traditionally stay. There they met with King Juan Carlos and were honoured with a military parade. Throughout the two-day visit the former Italian model’s every move was followed by an expectant press pack, although she did receive mixed reviews. El Pais said Bruni-Sarkozy appeared to be on a "permanent catwalk" aimed at "conquering the world with her elegance which sometimes lacks any naturalness."
La Razon, however, described her as "a marvel of nature who cannot be compared to anyone" and "the only interest of this visit."

HEADLINE UK
A week’s worth of headlines from home and away, as reported in the UK
Swine Flu - The Facts And Forecasts
The number of confirmed cases of swine flu across the British Isles on Sunday stood at 18 including a six-year-old girl and the husband of a woman already diagnosed with the bug. Both had recently returned from Mexico. Irish health officials also revealed an individual who had recently been to Mexico had the human form of swine flu. More than 630 other people in the UK and three in Ireland were undergoing tests for the disease at the time of this report. The extra cases come as world health officials appeared to play down the virulence of the flu strain, advising that there was no evidence the swine flu virus was spreading in a sustained way outside North America. People affected have been in Newcastle, Merseyside, Devon, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, London and central Scotland but those in the UK who have contracted the disease appear to be suffering mild symptoms. Spain is the hardest-hit nation in Europe with 40 people being reported as suffering with swine flu by last weekend. Both Germany and Italy had also confirmed cases of the disease. Meanwhile, after drastic control measures which brought major cities to a standstill Mexico claimed its epidemic was in a "declining phase". The comments came at the end of last week after the World Health Organisation said the number of people infected around the globe had reached 787 and the death toll 19.

British Lawyer In Dash To Save Pregnant Prisoner
A British lawyer arrived in Laos last Sunday in a frantic attempt to delay the trial and possible execution of a pregnant Briton. Reprieve's Anna Morris was given permission to see Samantha Orobator on Tuesday 5th May but there were fears that a hastily arranged trial could go ahead before the meeting and that she could face death by firing squad if convicted of drug smuggling. Up to now the 20-year-old from south London has had no legal representation. She was arrested at Wattay Airport in August last year after she was allegedly caught with 680g of heroin. In Laos, smuggling more than 500g carries a mandatory death sentence. Reprieve claim that the Laotian authorities brought the trial forward in an apparent attempt to stop lawyers from intervening. Reprieve legal director Clive Stafford Smith said: “We're dealing with a woman who has clearly become pregnant in prison. Nothing that happens in that prison is voluntary.” Ms Morris said she understood the system in Laos was that defendants were only able to see lawyers a week before their trials or, in some cases, on the same day trials began. She told reporters: "That has been our concern from the outset, that she has had no access to legal counsel before this week. We don't know that she is going to have any before any trial takes place and we are deeply concerned about the implications of that for her given her vulnerability, given her age and given her lack of familiarity with the system." She said British officials had only been able to visit Orobator for a period of 20 minutes once a month. The British only learned of Miss Orobator’s arrest when she had already spent many months in the notorious Phonthong prison. The FCO found out "by coincidence" when the Australians passed on information from another inmate in Phonthong prison. Laos broke international agreements on consular relations by not informing the British, apparently using the excuse that they did not have access to a fax machine. There is no British embassy in Laos and the nearest is in Thailand.

Have A go Hazel Goads Gordon
There were more worries for Gordon Brown last weekend when Communities Secretary Hazel Blears told The Observer, that Labour's reputation had suffered a "titanic battering" in recent weeks and warned that the party faced "dire consequences" if it did not re-connect with the public. Ms Blears stressed in her interview that ministers bore "collective responsibility" for the problems besetting the Government. The media took her comments to be a slur on Gordon Brown’s leadership skills. She also criticised Mr Brown's recent decision to issue a statement on YouTube, saying: "It's no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre." In her article Ms Blears complained at the stream of Government policy announcements that were received by the public "with incredulity at best and, at worst, with hostility". She was particularly critical of the handling of last week's vote on settlement rights for Gurkha veterans which resulted in Mr Brown's first Commons defeat since becoming Prime Minister. However Justice Secretary Jack Straw, attempted to play down Hazel Blears’ comments on Sky News on Sunday saying:"Hazel issued a statement last night clarifying her remarks and made it absolutely clear her active support for Gordon Brown". He went on to say "there was no vacancy" for the leadership and insisted Mr Brown was "exactly the right person for the job".

Police Progress In Prison-Gate Shooting
Police were, last weekend, investigating a fatal shooting outside a London prison. Darcy Austin Bruce, 20, from Fulham, was gunned down outside Wandsworth Prison, south-west London, last Friday afternoon. Three men, aged 19, 22 and 26, were later arrested on suspicion of being involved in the murder but released on bail. A 27-year-old man was then arrested on Sunday in south London. It is believed Mr Bruce was visiting the prison when he was shot dead. Two men wearing crash helmets were seen running away from the scene of the attack in Heathfield Road after a series of gunshots were heard. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of his death as multiple gunshot wounds to the torso. Officers from Operation Trident, which investigates gun crime in the black communities, are investigating and police said they were keeping an open mind as to the motive.

Queen’s Day Killer Dies
Karst Tates, the 38-year-old who killed five people and injured 13 in an attempt to kill members of the Dutch royal family, died at the weekend. Tates, had been in critical condition since the attack during the Netherlands Queen's Day holiday on Thursday 30th April. Tates rammed his car into the foot of a monument after mowing down people gathered for the annual royal procession in the central city of Apeldoorn. Before his death he reportedly confessed to police that his actions were aimed at the royal family after he had apparently been forced to give up his house in the Gelderland village of Huissen because he could no longer afford the rent. Twelve people remain in hospital after the incident in which Tates drove through police barricades towards the bus carrying members of the royal family. At the time of his death it was still unclear how he was able to breach security and charge through barriers, police lines and the crowds and almost reach the royal parade itself. It is believed his vehicle had been stopped and turned back earlier in the day by police. Queen Beatrix, who witnessed the event, told the nation in an unscheduled televised address that she was "speechless that something so terrible could have happened". Official celebrations were cancelled in many areas, and the national flag was flown at half mast at the royal palace at Apeldoorn.

Chemical Deaths In London Hotel
Two people were found dead in the Costello Palace Hotel in London on Sunday following a chemical incident. Police and fire services were called to the Seven Sisters Road in Finsbury Park, north London just before midday and the hotel was evacuated as a precaution. A spokeswoman for London Fire Brigade confirmed that they were treating the matter as a confirmed chemical incident but added that the substance involved could not yet be identified. It was later revealed that the two victims were women and that police officers were investigating the deaths as possible suicides.

Dallas Cowboys Injured In Storm
A freak storm ripped apart the roof of the Dallas Cowboys' practice area last Sunday, leaving a coach with a broken back and 12 others injured. The facility was a large tent-like structure supported by scaffolding, with the canopy held up by an air and metal framework designed to keep the rain off of the field. There were about 70 people in the facility altogether, including coaches, other team staff and media when the storm hit. Ten of those hurt were taken by ambulance to hospital while two others went to hospital on their own. Coach Joe DeCamillis was stretchered out of the main building wearing a neck brace, and former coach Dan Reeves told how the first-year Dallas coach had two broken vertebrae in his lower back. "They say he's lucky not to be paralysed," said Mr Reeves, who is also DeCamillis' father-in-law. He added that the coach is likely to have to have surgery.

At Almost Six–New Madeleine Poster
A new poster was released on May 1st by the McCann family showing an age progression image of what their daughter Madeleine might look like now. Sunday May 3rd marked the second anniversary of Madeleines disappearance from the resort town of Praia da Luz in southern Portugal. The McCanns, from Rothley in Leicestershire, still believe there is "a very real likelihood" Madeleine is alive and well. The new photo will be used on posters in a fresh drive to find the missing youngster.

That’s No Deputy Thats My Ma-In-Law
A sheriff's deputy in America had to quit his job after serving for over two decades because his wife and mother-in-law took his patrol car out for a joyride. The 44-year-old deputy, who had been on the force for 21 years, resigned after his wife and mother-in-law were arrested, along with a third passenger, following reports of the patrol car driving erratically. The deputy reportedly did not know the car had been taken. The two women now face charges of vehicle theft, theft of a firearm and impersonating a law-enforcement officer. The incident occurred in Lakeland, Florida.

FINANCIAL NEWS
Price Falls
Average house prices in the Balearics fell by 1.7 per cent over the course of the last two months, according to the website, www.fotocasa.es, in a joint study with IESE Business School. The fall puts the islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera at the top of the list alongside the Canaries, and leaves the average house price at €2,409 per metre2. This also makes the Balearics the 7th most expensive place to buy property in Spain.
The study continued by showing the price over the last year - from April 2008 to April 2009 - had fallen by 7.5 per cent, putting the islands in 9th place in the table.

LEISURE & SPORT
Going Down
A 3-0 home loss last Sunday extinguished any slim hopes la Peña Santa Eulalia had of staying in Division 2b of the Spanish league. Just a week after Evissa SD was relegated from the same league, la Peña’s fate was sealed following a lack-lustre display against Villareal B. The relegation caps off a dismal year for the island’s two highest ranking sides both of which, for varying reasons, have failed to find enough consistency to stay up.

Mallorca Retain the Cup
1/05/09 Ist match - Ibiza C.C. vs Mallorca C.C. 40 overs per side
Ibiza won the toss and put Mallorca in to bat first on a cloudy, blustery day. Mallorca, despite being 40 for 3 at one stage early on, then created a 200 run partnership thanks to superb batting (and several dropped catches by Ibiza!) from Steve “Belly” Bell (92) and Wes “Goldenballs” Walker (132), which set the platform for Mallorca to post a formidable score of 347 all out from their 40 overs. Ibiza’s bowlers worked hard, notably Sam “Reggae” Feasey (3 for 60), Jim “Leftie” Harvey (2 for 80), Jordan “Saffer 2” (2 for 41), and George “Kiwi” Burdon (2 for 41), but the combination of explosive batting and a few errors in the field made their task more difficult.
And so it was to prove when Ibiza started their reply, needing to score at around 8.5 runs per over, which even on a small ground such as San José is an imposing target.
Thanks to good batting from Bob “The Vicar” Short (34), and the “Saffer” brothers, Brad (50), and Jordan (78) Van Byleveld, Ibiza were doing well at 177 for 3, but when the Mallorca bowlers dismissed them, the target was always going to be daunting, and Ibiza lost too many quick wickets, finishing on 215 all out from 34 overs. Mallorca’s standout bowlers were H.Yaseem with 3 for 3, and J.Barratt with 2 for 20, and they finally won by a substantial 132 runs.

2/05/09 2nd match – Ibiza C.C. vs. Menorca C.C. 40 overs
Menorca won the toss and decided to bat first, no doubt planning to follow Mallorca’s example of the previous day. The Ibiza players could have been understandably flat from the defeat to Mallorca, but this served instead to tighten their discipline and learn from the errors committed the day before. As a result, Menorca’s run rate was restricted by tight bowling and lively fielding to just over 3 runs per over throughout their innings, so that their final score ended on 132 all out, with Jeff Barker (31) and I. Sahoo (27 not out) being the main contributors. All of Ibiza’s bowlers bowled well, and kept the extras total to a historic minimum (10), with the main wicket takers being Sam “Reggae” Feasey with 3 for 17, and George “Kiwi” Burdon with 3 for 42.
Ibiza’s run chase was obviously less intimidating than against Mallorca, but cricket is a game that can change on a run out or a superb catch, so the opening batsmen Bob “The Vicar” Short (65 not out) and Sam Feasey (56) were not going to take anything for granted and batted steadily until the target was achieved in 23 overs. Ibiza scored 136 for 1, winning the match by a comfortable 9 wickets, which was a morale boosting turnaround from the previous day’s result.

3/05/09 3rd match – Mallorca C.C. vs Menorca C.C. 40 overs
Menorca batted first and greatly improved their score from the previous day, totalling 207 all out, with their main contributors being Ted Williams with 43 , and Adam Cockcroft with 100. The latter fell just after completing his maiden century with Menorca, otherwise their total might have been even more challenging for Mallorca. The latter’s main wicket taking bowlers were B. Vickers with 3 for 23, and J. Barratt with 3 for 41.
In reply, Mallorca appeared to be cruising to victory at 135 for 2 with overs in hand, but they then lost several quick wickets, and the result could have gone either way. Menorca bowled in a disciplined way and kept the pressure on the batsmen, their main bowlers Rob Day taking 2 for 27, and Hussain 2 for 45, but at the end Mallorca had enough wickets and overs left to complete the victory by 4 wickets in 38 overs, thereby retaining the Balearic Cup until 2010. Several Mallorca batsmen scored runs, including B.Vickers (33), B.Shahzad (32), J. Barratt (36), Steve Bell (52) and S.Khan (30).
All in all, this was a great weekend of cricket played in the right sporting spirit, especially after the controversy of the mathematically calculated result in 2008, and there is no doubt that , at the end, the best team won. So now it is on to the rest of the (short) season for Ibiza, with a couple of matches in June, and then a busy schedule in September, October and November.
Congratulations to all who participated and special thanks go to the umpires, scorers, and the people organising everything behind the scenes, notably Lyn Carpenter, the club treasurer, who set up the catering each day for the players, and also the greatly appreciated dinner held on Saturday 2nd May at Villa Mercedes restaurant in San Antonio. Last but not least, we should not forget the sledging capabilities and speech making repartee of Martin “Shaggy” Makepeace, the Ibiza club captain, who was by no means overawed by the presence of so many players and wives at Villa Mercedes, and completed the evening’s speeches by entertaining all present with his cutting wit.
That’s all for now,
Yours RPHood.

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