Ourtoonjohnstone.co.uk News, photos and chat from Johnstone Town and Renfrewshire

THE grief of 80 years ago came flooding back as the tragic victims of Paisley’s Black Hogmanay were remembered with sorrow. Survivors of the Glen Cinema Disaster, in which 71 youngsters died on December 31, 1929, gathered with family and friends at the War Memorial in Paisley for an act of remembrance that honoured all [...]

POLITICIAN Hugh Henry wants Buddies to recycle their Christmas cards now that they’re ready for dumping.

A pair of young missionaries have been sent to Paisley to spread God’s word for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Cade Lubeck of Morgan and Elder Andy Harper of Salt Lake City in Utah have been assigned to serve in the town, and also Barrhead, for the next two years. More [...]

Pupils are set to start their studies in style this new year after builders finished their multi-million pound revamp of a high school. The £8.5 million renovation and refurbishment of Johnstone High School is now finished – on time and on budget. Builders will hand back the keys to staff who will prepare for the [...]

A kilt, a cake and a bottle of whisky have helped raise over £500 for Paisley’s popular Sma’ Shot Cottages to get a new roof. An SOS – Save Our Sarking – appeal for £25,000 was sent out to Buddies earlier this year to replace the crumbling roof.

A campaingning politician has slammed penny-pinching plans by the Scottish Government to ban councils from taking out public notices in local papers like the Paisley Daily Express. Wendy Alexander MSP last night insisted that moves to stop local authorities like Renfrewshire Council publishing their adverts in the local Press will put the industry at serious risk. [...]

The heartbroken mum of a Paisley man who was stabbed to death outside a pub has vowed she will never give up on her fight to have his suspected killer brought to justice. New Year’s Day marked the third anniversary of Paul Kelly’s death, which happened just hours after he had ‘seen-in’ the Bells to [...]

Eight dedicated local heroes have been celebrating the perfect start to 2010 after they were named in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.

A brave shopkeeper was hailed as a hero yesterday after he took on robbers who were armed with a knife and a lethal crossbow – and sent them packing. Javid Ali was horrified when the masked men burst into his Paisley store and demanded cash.