Flu epidemy

At the beginning of March a flu epidemy was spreading. During the last week in February the Health Department Office in Louny recorded over 50 more per cent of patients. In many basic schools there were over half of the pupils absent and it made headmasters announce a few days‘ flu holidays. Secondary schools did not take this arrangement.

Ice hockey – Slovan Louny

Even before the last match (Wednesday March 5) the ice hockey team Slovan Louny led the group of teams playing for participation in the second league. They won the last home match with Stadion Teplice by 2:0 and ensured a sufficient advantage and participation in the league. This year the team was coached by the legendary player of Kladno and former representative player František Pospíšil and a former player of Louny Miroslav Pihrt.

Ice hockey – success of pupils’ team

Four young players of Louny – Jakub Mužík, Jan Goldhammer, Tomáš Křivka and Jaroslav Hafenrichter – represented the Czech Republic at the unofficial world championship in Quebec, Canada. They played for the team of Chomutov in pupils’ category (the year of birth 1990 and later).On the 44^th year of the biggest and most prestigeous tournament in the world – Pee Wee - the team got into the final and beat the team California Waves by 4:3 in extended time. The team consisted of players from several clubs (Kladno, Plzeň, Vítkovice, Jihlava etc.) and, as one of the coaches Libor Mužík said, the performance of Louny players was a big contribution to the success in Canada. On Thursday March 6 Mayor Jan Kerner welcomed the world champions in.

Mateřinka 2003

The regional round of the competition of kindergartens called Mateřinka took place in Louny community centre on Tuesday March 4. Also this time the Private Kindergarten in Louny ltd. organized the competition with the support of the town. 12 kindergartens from Louny, Křesín, Domoušice and Žatec presented themselves. After finishing all rounds in the Czech Republic the best kindergartens will be chosen for the National Festival held in Nymburk. Also the Mayor Jan Kerner was among the spectators.

Hilbert House

The preserved house number 49 which is well-known as Hilbert House causes a lot of trouble to the Town Hall. About two years ago the rebuilding of the attic into flats was begun and a year later it was decided that the Domain Construction Office would move into other rooms in the house. But it was also necessary to reconstruct the rooms where used to be a dry cleaner’s shop, souvenir shop, editorial office of the district weekly Svobodný hlas (Free Voice) and the offices of the District Economical Chamber. But shortly after the repairs had begun the Town Hall ordered to stop the reconstruction – the statics of the house had probably been impaired. “We ordered the flats to be turned out so that lives were not in danger,” Renáta Čapková, the town hall executive officer, said about the problem. The Town Hall immediately asked for an expert opinion not only on the state of the house but also on the attic reconstruction which had already been done.

Visit to people celebrating their anniversaries

The Mayor Jan Kerner often visits seniors on their important anniversaries. E.g. on Monday March 17 he came to the Seniors’ House to congratulate even two honoured persons. Marie Strouhalová had really been looking forward to the Mayor‘s visit for a long time, it was her 99^th birthday. Also Zdeňka Jungbauerová, who celebrated the  95^th birthday , got a flower.

Hospital

The Council of the Ústí Region decided to recall the director of the hospital in Louny Zdeněk Stružka  because of increasing debt which had already reached over 180 million CZK! The Council temporarily appointed Jiří Švec whose task is to set up crisis staff and to prepare arrangements minimalizing the waste. One of the points of the crisis programme is also the evacuation of patients into neighbouring hospitals if supplies of heat are cut off! Citizens as well as employees are getting afraid of limitation of medical treatment and also of closing the

hospital. The future of the hospital depends on the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and officers of the Ústí Region.

Another war

On Friday March 21 at 3.35 CET the U.S.A. supported by Great Britain attacked Iraq. For the first time they struck one and a half hours after the end of the ultimatum given to Saddam Hussain. The reason of the attack was suspicion that Iraq supports terorism and produces or develops nuclear bombs and mass destruction armaments.The missile attack was just an opening of heavy air-raids which should support progress of army from Kuwait. From the very beginning live broadcast of the attack could be watched on American satellite channels NBC and CNN.

Puppet show 

On March 22 and 23 the Puppet Masters Club and the Club of Amateur Puppet Masters with support of the town Louny organized the 17^th Regional Puppet Show – Louny 2003. During the two days clubs from Louny, Žatec, Liberec, Cvikov, Prague and Děčín presented seven performances. Also Children’s Club from Louny performed a new play “Johny and Mary” (O Jeníčkovi a Mařence).

Museum exhibition

On March 31 the opening ceremony of the exhibition “Folk Decorated Furniture“ took place in the local museum. The exhibits were from museums in Louny, Slaný and Rakovník and they date back to the first half of the 19^th century.  Pupils from Louny studied a dramatic programme for the occasion. Due to the reform of state administration the name of the museum had been changed into the Area Museum in Louny, allowance organisation.

Hospital 

On the request of hospital employees an extra meeting of the Town Board was held on Monday April 7. The meeting room of the Town Hall was really overcrowded. Two points of view were presented – the opinion of the town which is ready to undertake the hospital, but without debts; and the opinion of  Ústí Region Council which had appointed the temporary director and had planned to abolish some of the departments – ARO (anaesthesiology-resuscitation ward), children’s ward, gynaecological and maternity ward – and to reduce surgery and internal wards. Of course the meeting was very excited, the culprit who had caused the situation was searched, many ways of solution were presented. Not only the state hospital in Louny is in debts and therefore it seems strange that in the work group which had been set up to recover the hospital there are only directors or deputies of neighbouring hospitals (Most, Teplice, Chomutov). All of them except Teplice have their big debts too. Opinions and plans of the officers from Ústí brought a big disagreement, moreover the member of Ústí Region Council who had been charged with Health Department did not come…  The tentative result: the town would ask for including all head-doctors into the set-up work group and the town would begin further negotiations with the “region” about an acceptable solution of the situation. 

Hilbert House

The town does not want the house where the architect Kamil Hilbert used to live. According to an expert opinion the historical building has the impaired statics and experts estimated the expenses of saving it on about 7.5 million CZK. But the town does not want to pay such an amount and therefore the town councilors decided to sell the house in auction. Starting price was assigned at 2.5 million CZK. “The despair had not been caused by current building work, the primordial cause is a bad state of truss. When building attic flats, builders preserved the original rafters although they had been damaged by dry rot and death-watch beetle, and lay a new roof with double covering on them. The impaired truss began to collapse because of the weight and the house began to crack.,” vice-mayoress Věra Mirvaldová said about the problem and the executive officer Renáta Čapková added that the town solicitor would explore the fault.

The end of the war

After approximately 26 days the war in Iraq finished on Monday April 14. Invasion armies occupied the last of the large cities in the country – Saddam’s birthplace Tikrit. The capital Baghdad had been occupied on April 9. But after celebrations of the fall of the Iraqi regime plundering and looting began. Also the search for the top brass of the former regime and for  the remnants of the Republican Guard started. The Czech Republic indirectly supported the war by providing chemical troops and field military hospital in case of use mass destruction armaments. The allied army consisted of troops of the U.S.A., Great Britain, Australia and Poland.

Benefit concert

On Tuesday April 15 a benefit performance for “Club of Parents and Supporters  of Handicapped Children in Louny” took place in the local community centre. It was the Union of Democratic Women which organized the event. “Rádobydivadlo Theatre Klapý” presented its latest performance “Fajdraricie”. Although it was a rather demanding drama, 160 tickets had been sold for 11,200 CZK. The rent of the hall was 1,500 CZK but the community centre disclaimed it and so 12,700 CZK were collected for the children. “We have got less and less money for our activities, the use of the gift will be discussed in our committee,” added Lubomír Hanzlík, the chairman of the committee.

Vladislav Mirvald died

On Monday 19 an educationalist, artist and photographer Vladislav Mirvald died at the age of 81. Except all these activities he also restored the altar paintings in St Nicholas Church in Louny in the years 1984 – 1989. In his art he merged from cubism and realistic landscape painting to constructivism and he belongs to the key figures of the Czech art. His name also belongs to the group of artists called Louny Landscape School.

Easter sticks

Also this year Mr Izidor Puček presented his skill of making Easter sticks in Mírové Square. And he was making them so well that the Prima TV staff came to see him and he presented himself in the TV programme “Receptář prima nápadů“ (Collection of Bright Ideas). The tradition of making Easter sticks has been preserved in the country but in towns more and more boys prefer buying the sticks.

House and Garden Exhibition

The popularity of the exhibition is increasing. It has become a tradition that this event opens the year’s season in the local Exhibition Grounds. The 7^th year of the exhibition was opened on Friday April 25.

Due to really big interest the organizers had to add mobile exhibition halls. It was a pleasure especially for gardeners. A wide range of bushes, trees and  plants was offered and especially flowers were in large demand. People were also much interested in the displayed furniture, bathrooms, kitchens and other furnishings. The exhibition was opened to Sunday April 27 and the organizers expected over 20,000 people to come. And the expectations came true, about 23,000 people came.

Hospital – petition

The Municipal Office got a petition from citizens which required keeping the hospital without limitations of its activity. Hana Volkmerová from the Mayor’s Secretariate said that 140 rolls (with 25 signatures on each of them) had been handed over – 3,500 signatures altogether. A copy of the petition was sent to Ústí Region Council which had run the state hospital since January.

May 1

“Agriculture workers, working intelligentsia, factory workers, nurses, army, Public Security Organisation and beautiful allegoric floats. It was this year’s May 1 in Louny. Of course, there were also exhilarated children in pioneers’ uniforms and also one of our Arabic friends, probably a student or a businessman, visited our town on the occassion. As it has become a tradition, the parade stopped in Mírové Square so that representatives of the branches could happily announce what they had already done and what else they will do…” This can be a shortened description of a first-May parade which used to take place in our towns. This time the square remained completely empty and only incidental passers-by and especially drivers were shocked by the parade. The club “Brloh Pub” (Brloh – a town part of Louny) organized the traditional celebration of May 1 for the fourth time. It is good that there are people who are able to make fun of  themselves and who try to amuse others as well. 

120 years’ anniversary of the Rowing Club Ohře

This year there will be even several festive and important events in Louny. The first of them was held on Thursday May 1 - the oldest sports club in the town, the Rowing Club Ohře Louny, began celebrating the 120^th anniversary of its foundation. From the early morning friends were coming to Louny because a jubilee race of coxed fours was to be held. The track was marked out from the start by the open air swimming pool and the finish by the club boathouse by the Rowers’ Bridge. The bridge also became a perfect viewpoint for watching the race. But also the other points of the programme were interesting. After a ceremonial meeting flowers were lain to the Memorial of  executed rowers in the area of the Club. The first heats were being prepared at the time. During the morning there was time for another pious event. At the cemetery of 14 Saints Church flowers were lain on the grave of the rowing club founder František Sedlmayer in presence of the club chairman Zdeněk Helšus, the record-keeper Jaroslav Rychtařík and a former member of the club Zdeněk Jaroš who lives in Munich, Germany. But probably the most important act attended by a lot of people took place shortly after the noon. A new flag of the Rowing Club, sewn by Mrs Černíková, was ceremonially baptized. The whole ceremonial occasion was closed by afternoon final heats. On the occasion of the ceremony an Almanac of the Club, two postcards and a memory stamp were published. They are sure to be interesting for collectors. Another part of the ceremony will be held on Saturday October 18. On that day the Rowers’ Tree will be planted, an opening ceremony of the exhibition “120 years of rowing in Louny” will take place, new boats will be baptized in the boathouse and the boathouse will be opened to the public. The last event will be organized on Saturday November 29 when the 9^th Public Hall Triathlon will take place in the Sportshall in Louny.

85 years of scouting

The Day of Open Clubrooms, it was Saturday May 3 for Louny scouts. The public could visit the Boathouse by the wooden bridge in the Exhibition Grounds as well as “Bašta Clubroom” (Fishermaster’s Lodge) by the baseball pitch. Scouts showed the public where and how they spend their leisure time and what they had learnt. Junák – the

Union of boy-scouts and girl-scouts of the Czech Republic, club Louny, has about 100 members at present. Except of visiting the clubrooms the public could take part in many races and competitions. Water scouts besides their main activity also organize the traditional “Country Ball”. But as the leader of water scouts Ludmila Nováková told me this year’s Ball seems to be the last one – despite big consideration of the headmaster of the basic school Nad tratí. There is less and less money …

 The leader of  Louny Scout Club Zdeněk Zeman was in Bašta clubroom as well as the Nestor of Louny scouts Stanislav Procházka (73 years old this year). He showed the visitors round enthusiastically and spoke about scouts’ life. Just by the way, it is 90 years’ anniversary of scouting in the Czech Republic and 85 years’ anniversary in Louny.

Počerady 15 km run

Saturday May 3 was very rich in events. The main event of the day was Karel Rais Trophy – the 14^th year of the road run and the 11^th year of wheel-chair users competition from Počerady to Louny. Traditionally, the main race was preceeded by 2 km folk run “We are running with the Czech Radio North”. A part of the folk run was also Children’s Day Action with Rainbow Energy of the ČEZ (the Czech Energetic Enterprises) where children could take part in about 20 disciplines with valuable prizes. Also this year a lot of outstanding sportsmen came to Louny. Victor Gatudu from Kenya became the winner of the main category again, Petra Kamínková from AK Olomouc won the women category, Theo Geeve from the Netherlands won the handbike category of wheel-chair users, the category of paraplegics was won by Tomasz  Hamerlak from Poland for the fourth time.

Railway Prague – Most

Rides of historical steam trains also attract attention of spectators and passengers. On Saturday May 3 it was not different. Icluded within the programme of celebrating the 130^th anniversary of the railway Prague – Louny – Most, there was an extraordinary ride from Most to Zlonice where an exhibition of historical engines took place. A train pulled by a beautiful blue engine “Papoušek” (Parrot) which was replaced by another engine came to Louny. The other engine called “Šlechtična“ (Noble-woman),beautiful as well, took the train to Zlonice. As I learned from railwaymen this engine is able to go as fast as 100 kmph. Thanks to many supporters also next generations can admire these historical steam engines.

Advance of handball players

The players of SHK Louny (Sports Handball Club) reached enormous success. On May 1 exactly they got the third place in the first league and they became the last team to advance to the next year’s competition of the best Czech and Slovak teams Interliga. After many matches the big dream of the players came true. We must note that  home matches were often sold out and many supporters accompanied the team during  out matches. The last home match was very dramatic: SHK Louny – KH Kopřivnice 23:22 (the final result of the series 3:2). As the manager of the team Jiří Brecko admitted the celebration was very boisterous!

Jan Kryl

Besides its regular jazz sessions the local agency Adart organizes sessions with interesting personalities of art. On Monday May 5 Jan Kryl, a brother of the dead singer Karel Kryl, came to Louny. In the lounge of the Union Hotel he recited his poems and sang not only his own but also his brother’s songs. Unfortunately, the number of visitors was probably influenced by the World Championship in ice hockey. The match of our team was in progress just at the time of the concert.

Zlobítko – Teaser - by Václav Jíra

On Wednesday May 7 a work of art by the local artist Václav Jíra was installed in one of the fountains in Suzdal Square. It is an iron construction some parts of which can move thanks to water power. As supposed the work of arts evoked expected reaction – positive or negative. The artist called it Oktíbolz – Resaet (reversed Zlobítko – Teaser). The discussion opened in the local newspaper was amazing. Somebody disliked the thing itself, somebody did not like the place of installation in front of the Žatec Gate, somebody disagreed with the expenses – about 100,000 CZK. But we have to say that many people expressed their understanding.

Appreciation for scout organisation

Louny scouts will like to remember the Saturday night by the camp fire. The Club of Holders of the Order of Silver Wolf and the Club of the Order of Silver Trefoil announced good news to Louny scouts – also Nestor of local scouts Stanislav Procházka became one of the holders of high scout orders on the occasion of 85 years’ anniversary of Louny scouts.

Exhibition – Emil Filla

On Monday May 13 the Gallery of Benedikt Rejt ceremonially opened the exhibition of Emil Filla paintings on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the artist’s death. The exhibition had 2 parts. Till October 13 pictures “Songs” and from July 16 to October 7 pictures “The countryside of the Czech Middle Mountains” will be on display. The pictures “Fights and Struggles” could be seen for the whole time of the exhibition.

 Louny Fair

From Friday May 30 to Sunday Louny Fair for children took place in the local Exhibition Grounds. The second year of the event was connected with Children’s Day and there were many games and competitions for children and youngsters. Of course there were traditional merry-go-rounds, stalls and shows of trades.

Weather

Already from the end of May the weather was extremely hot, from June 2 we can even speak about tropical temperatures about and over 30 degrees Centigrade in the shade. And by the way, on June 12 in Prague the temperature record from 1877 was beaten, this year they measured 32.6 degrees. Very hot and dry weather hit most of Europe and in Louny Region it lasted till June 21.

Jan Tregler’s grave

For a long time Louny puppet masters had been searchig the place where the founder of the local Puppet Club Jan Tregler had been buried. The Club was founded in 1903 and thanks to Jan Tregler also the Puppet Theatre was built. By the way, it is the oldest stone puppet theatre in the Czech Republic – built in 1920. By chance Mr Mareš from Mariánské Lázně came to the theatre. During a chat he surprised everybody by the information that he was Jan Tregler’s relative and the grave was in the village Chotěšov near Libochovice. Just before the prepared anniversary the puppet masters learned about the place where they can worship the memory of the founder.

Museum – exhibitions

At the beginning of June even two exhibitions were ceremonially opened in the local museum. On Monday June 2 it was the exhibition called “When students failed the arts” prepared by Květa Marešová. Drawings and designs from the 1^st half of the 20^th century were on display. A week later the exhibition “Cold Steel” by Bedřich Štauber was opened. This time the exhibits attracted especially men and boys because guns, swords, sabres etc. were on display.

The Luna source

The mineral source Luna has welled forth again! It happened after a repair which was necessary because the source had poured into the grounds. As the director of the Technical Service Company of Louny Josef Holub said they had been worried that the source had lost its power and had ceased. Fortunately after removing pipes  it was found that a metal part of the plastic pipe had been damaged and water had poured out. Minerals, especially carbonic acid contained in the water, damaged the metal part to the extent that also the other part of the source in the hospital had been weakened. After the repair the source is in full strength. 

Referendum about the European Union

On June 13 and 14 the very first referendum in the history of the Czech Republic was held. People voted on entering the European Union and unlike in other states turn-out of more than 50 % of registered voters was not necessary. After counting the votes in the whole republic out of  55% of registered voters 77% voted for entering. And by the way, we can give some other interesting numbers: the Ústí Region 75.65% for, 24.35% against, turn-out 50.0%. The Louny Region 74.4% for, 25.6% against, turn-out 50.56 %. Louny 75.5 % for, 24.5 % against, turn-out  47.9 % of registered voters.

Book about organs

On Tuesday June 17 in the District Archives there was a celebration of baptizing and introducing the book “Organs and Organ-players of Louny, Žatec and Podbořany Regions“. The author of the book is MUDr Tomáš Horák from Litoměřice, who had mapped out all organs in our region with the help of available sources. The book contains many photographs.

Hospital

Also on Monday June 23 our hospital was discussed at a regular meeting of the Town Board. Except other suggestions there was expressed the idea of recalling the current director Jiří Švec by the Regional Office of the Ústí Region. The same thing had been demanded also a year ago but at that time the director had been Zdeněk Stružka and the organizer of the hospital had been the former District Office. The cause of the demand were a few complaints of town deputies about decisions of the current director of the hospital

Complaint about youngsters

The Town Hall receives more and more complaints from inhabitants of Vladimirská Street where is a climbing wall for youngsters. The wall is close to flats and some of the children take bags with sand on its top and throw the bags to balconies of the opposite flats. Moreover they destroy TV aerials with bullets from children’s guns. According to the Chairman of the Environmental Council Tomáš Chaloupek the situation could be solved fast by rebuilding the top of the wall so that children could not sit there. One of the possibilities is also calling the Municipal Police but records say that the citizens do not use it.

New priest

On Saturday June 21 an important event took place in the local Czechoslovak Hussite Church. During a ceremonial mass a new priest of local parish Juraj Dovala was consecrated. Prague bishop Karel Bican celebrated the mass. Many people may be surprised that Brother Juraj is from Slovakia, a far town Prešov. As the Czechoslovak Church is concerned, it is not unusual. Church dignitaries from Prague, the public and guests took part in the mass too.

Milena Beranová died

On Monday June 23 the parish priest of  the Czechoslovak Hussite Church Milena Beranová died. She had been consecrated in 1956,she worked in Slaný, Most, Chomutov, Jirkov, Bílina and from 1962 in Louny and Cítoliby. The farewell ceremony took place in the Czechoslovak Hussite Church on Tuesday July 1. Mrs Beranová died at the age of  70.

The end of the school year

On Friday June 27 the school year 2002/2003 was finished. I am glad to say that there was no case of leaving home or other accidents because of a worse school report. And by the way, florists said that pupils and students had most often bought carnations for their teachers.

Other Japanese

Japanese investors take great interest in the local industrial zone. Nachi-Fujikoshi Company announced their intention to build a factory for production of highly specialized bearings there. After two factories of Aisan, the company Takada Industry and the company Fujikoki, the Nachi-Fijikoshi Company is the fourth investor from the country of the rising sun. The company bought an area of  5 hectares and they should produce as many as 5 million bearings a year. At the very beginning about 300 million CZK will be invested and they will offer jobs for 30 people.

Hospital

Hospitals in the Ústí Region face big financial problems and the most obvious problems are in our hospital. As the Region Administrator of the Ústí Region said the net of hospitals is too extended and there are 820,000 people for 13 hospitals. Of course, not all of them are state hospitals; he also gave an example from the South Netherlands where is one bigger hospital for about 250,000 people, i.e. 13 hospitals for 3.4 million people. It may be true but I would like to have as high living standard as in the Netherlands… As a possible solution he mentioned investments in chosen hospitals and buying fast ambulance cars!!! The Ministress of Health Department said about Louny Hospital that alternative treatment in neighbouring hospitals is not too far and gave examples of  Kadaň, Žatec and even Karlovy Vary!

Theatre

By the end of June about a half of the planned expenses (i.e. about 26 million CZK) had been spent on the reconstruction of the Vrchlický Theatre. The biggest problem was to drain redundant moisture from the basis and basement of the building. The auditorium will be supported by a slanting iron-concrete desk. There will be seats for 271 people, there are places for wheel-chair users and 9 seats on the balcony. The revolving stage will not be reconstructed yet but it will be conserved in the current state. The design of the cellar rooms for a would-be restaurant is still being discussed but the latest news says that the theatre will have to do without a restaurant.

Stomatological stand-by duty

From July 1 the Regional Office closed the stomatological stand-by surgery. The Office did not agree with deputies of the Stomatology Chamber – the Region Administrator of the Ústí Region Jiří Šulc expressed his opinion on cutting off the payments of the stand-by service – there is no law imposing the duty of paying stand-by doctors upon the Region Office. So people have to bear the pain and see their stomatologists in regular consultation hours. In case of real emergency patients may be treated in  Most Hospital. I have also heard advice that a wide range of painkillers is available.   

Wheelchair Users Competition

     On Saturday  June 5 one of the biggest sport events of a few recent years took place in our town.  On the route Louny-Černčice-Obora- Počedělice-Louny the fourth race of the European round of handbikes –the race of prevailingly handicapped but also healthy sportsmen- was held. It happened for the first time not just in Louny, but even in Bohemia and the whole Central and Eastern Europe!More than eighty sportsmen took their positions at the start and the race deserved the highest appreciation both of the participants and the accompaniment  .During the following days other repercussions and letters were arriving, highly estimating the perfect state of the route and organisation of the race as well as excellent care, which was provided to all participants of the race and their accompaniment. Tens of volunteers from the athletic club ASK Elna Počerady, the Association of disabled people from the Louny district ,various organizations, institutions and other sportsmen and voluntary firebrigades from broad surroundings contributed to the success. However, one name has to be pointed out. Radovan Šabata, the member of the Municipal Council and the head of the athletic club, is the creator of the whole project.

New Supermarket

     On Thursday  July 10 a new, the fourth in a row , food supermarket was opened in Louny. It belongs to the chain LIDL and it was built behind the roundabout (Postoloprtská Street)in the direction towards the enterprise Elektroporcelán.A long time before its opening a long queue of customers was being formed , some „introductory „prices were especially attractive, but according to the first impressions of the shoppers they were dissatisfied with the lack of space inside the shop.

Unemployment

       The Louny district (it applies to all the former Louny district) proved the rate of unemployment as high as 17.32%, which is a monthly growth by 0.36%.Transformed into numbers, 7,426 people were without job, which is by 153 more than at the end of May. In June the sewing workshop TIMO dismissed 90 people, till September the Screw factory in Žatec closed up and in the same month about 85 employees of Louny hospital lost their jobs. These numbers were published by the director of the Labour Office Pavel Záhořík, but he also added that there appeared a positive feature - the demand for workforce of foreign investors.

Municipal Police

     The Municipal Police fined drivers´offences as high as 436, 800 crowns by the end of the first half of this year.In total 1, 996 traffic offences were solved, out of which 136 offences were advanced to the proceedings at the townhall.  Breaking the public order was fined 114 times by the total sum of 41, 900 Czech crowns. The policemen discovered 28 cases of serving alcoholic drinks to adolescents, they caught 47 stray dogs and there were also property offences – 62. In 23 cases the policemen had to use coercive means and 1, 165 times citizens addressed the Municipal Police with some suggestion or asking for help.

Murder Trial

     On Tuesday  July 15 a trial with the psychiatrist Ivan Simroth (38 years) from Louny started at the Regional Court in Ústí nad Labem. The doctor was accused of a murder of his patient, who lived in his household , which was committed in August last year. According to the prosecution, the doctor, who was  the director of the Psychiatric clinic in Louny at the time, strangled the 15 year old Drahomíra Kučerová with a belt in his flat. The body was found by a passer-by in a ditch near Dobroměřice. At the trial Simroth denied his guilt and he proclaimed the girl had caused her death herself.

Aisan

     Aisan Bitron Louny – it is the official name of the second factory of this company in Louny, which was built in the industrial zone Louny – south-east. The official opening took place on Tuesday  July 15 with many guests participating. Until now 45 people found their jobs here, for this year the number has been planned up to 220 – 260 employees.

The first enterprise Aisan Bitron Czech, which was opened last year, now employs 170 people, till the end of the year the enterprise should have 440 employees. Both factories produce components for car industry.

Weather

     Also in June, hot, even tropical weather prevailed. A big drought brought problems especially to farmers, hop and crops were afflicted most. Louny inhabitants did not suffer from any bigger health troubles, however the condition of elderly people, cardiacs, asthmatics and people after a brain stroke got obviously worse. On Monday  June 21 a record temperature of 35.9 degrees in the shade was measured in the vicinity of Plzeň. On the next day there were even 37 degrees in South Moravia.

TOP

AUGUST 2003

Hospital Dismisses Staff

     Empty rooms were left in 3 wards of Louny hospital after  August 1. Due to economical measures the children´s and the anaesthetic-resuscitation wards were closed down and the gynaecology and maternity wards will follow on  August 31. At that time just a part of former personnel was carrying out the final clean-up. By now, the latest Louny´s newly-born baby is Václav Toman and he seems to be the last one – at least for a long time. ..“We should have done just the clean-up and leave everything as it was. Even the things we have done on our own initiative with the help of sponsors, for example bathrooms with a new confinement bath or a gym for mothers“, said the nurse Eva Čížková to the local press.

Dairy Factory Does Not Pay

     The Louny dairy has been fighting big problems for a longer time. According to its owner and head of the executive Čestmír Kořen the debts here are enormous. The District Agrarian Chamber claimed a meeting with the owner and there was said that the dairy factory had owed money to some milk suppliers for already five months. The major creditor of the Louny dairy is the business company Alimpex, which distributes products to the market. This company has been recommended to be dealt with in case of exaction of debts . It is because this company had purchased a part of the debts from big milk suppliers. It irritated smaller farmers for whom there is no money left. One of the solutions was to put out a tender.

In case of bankruptcy another 120 people would become unemployed.

Tropical Heats

     August was also marked by high temperatures and drought. In many places local authorities asked inhabitants to save water , there were stones out of water as far as  the middle of the river at the Puppet Theatre in Louny. The dam Fláje in the Most area was 7 metres below its long-term normal. Not even the oldest citizens could remember such high temperatures and a long drought. The temperature record was broken on Wednesday  August 13 when the temperature in Kopisty near Most was 38.9 degrees, in Louny on the same day I measured the temperature of 36 degrees in the shade – in the yard of the Area Archives. However, the whole Europe was tortured by deadly heats. The temperature in London was 37.5 degrees, in Bavaria, Germany, it reached between  37-39 degrees and in the north of Italy unbelievable temperature of 41.6 degrees was measured !

Thanks to this weather about 5, 000 people per day visited the newly-opened Louny swimming pool.

Problems with Heat

     Not just agrarians, but also poultry- farmers have got into trouble with the prolonged heats. Some farmers are afraid there will be no harvest but straight away ploughing this year. Poultry - farmers announce losses of tens of thousands chickens per day. One of the halls is owned by the company S-Bio in Blšany near Louny and the losses there are also extreme.

Devastating Storm

     On Thursday evening, August 14, was Louny stricken by a storm with the intensity of a hurricane. It did not show in the town so much, but the nearby villages suffered a damage  of houses and hopfields worth many millions of crowns .Regrettably, one person was killed by a falling tree which hit his car on the road between Postoloprty and Lišany. The driver suffered a major injury and his fellow-traveller, a member of the Municipal Police, died on the spot.

“Sportka” Record

     On Wednesday  August 20 another record in the Czech Republic  was broken. In the lottery Sportka a record jackpot was hit – the only winner got unbeliavable 112, 931, 592 crowns thanks to numbers 18,20, 29, 32, 45 and 46. This lottery has got two draws, it takes place twice a week , numbers from 1 to 49 are used.

Resignation of a Councilman

     To the date  August MUDr Bořek Zasadil resigned from his post of the member of the Municipal Council in Louny. As he stated, his main reason was the fact that the town board was not trying to solve the critical situation of Louny hospital.

House 2003

     From 22 to 24 August the tenth year of the exhibition called House 2003 took place at the local exhibition grounds. As traditionally there were displayed various exhibits concerning house and garden, different security systems and household devices. This year the event was visited by 21,615 people.The director of this exhibition Richard Spilka stated it was by 2,000 more people than last year, but by a few hundred fewer than at the spring exhibition House and garden.

Tragic Accident

     Another tragic accident happened at Louny by-pass on Monday August 25. Just after midday two cars frontly collided under yet unknown circumstances. Both drivers, one of whom was from Osek and the other one from Mělník, have died. None of them had a fellow – traveller. The first testimonies of witnesses suggest that the driver going from Chomutov to Prague immediately switched to the opposite direction and there he crashed into the other car.

Garden Town

     Current plans include the possible foundation of new streets Lipová, Růžová, Šeříková or Zahradní náměstí ( Garden Square) with a fountain on the grounds of former barracks. There are also planned 108 flats in 3 buildings, 35 houses of the Dutch type and almost 50 other houses. However, as it comes out of the first calculations, building a house or getting a flat in this area will be rather expensive. The new Louny quarter, sometimes called “good address” should be built in 7 years.

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SEPTEMBER 2003

Teachers´Strike

     On Monday September 1 almost a half of all schools were closed in the whole Czech Rebublic. Teachers were protesting against  the future reform of public finance and they were demanding  higher salaries. In Louny just the Primary School in Školní Street (former 8th Primary School Nad tratí) , the Grammar School of Václav Hlavatý and the Business Academy were on strike. Not to allow to spoil the first schoolday to the youngest pupils the mayor of the town Jan Kerner and his deputy Věra Mirvaldová welcomed them in the session room of Louny townhall. The strike was organized by the Trade Union of State Institutions and Organizations.

Support of the Strike

     To support teachers and to demand the 13th salaries other office workers were on one-hour sympathy strike from 8 to 9 a.m. Those were many financial offices and social benefit departments all around the country, including Louny.

Puppet Masters´Exhibition

     On Monday September 1 in the local museum there took place festive opening of the exhibition – 100 years of puppet masters in Louny. The principal of the theatre Milan Raška said that visitors could see historical puppets as well as those from the theatre´s own workshop. The exhibition was extended with the display of theatrical props, preserved posters and photos.A special postcard and an almanach were issued on this occasion.A festive session of the puppet masters will be held in the latter part of October on the premises of the puppet theatre. 

Sentence for Murder

     A 13-year-prison sentence was imposed on Louny psychiatrist Ivan Simroth by the Regional Court on Thursday September 4. He was accused of a murder of his former patient – a 15 year old Drahomíra Kučerová.According to the prosecution, Simroth ( formerly Zagajnov) had strangled the girl with a belt in his flat in Louny. It should have been after an argument. The girl was later found near village Dobroměřice by an incidental passer-by. The convicted was denying his guilt from the very beginning, proclaiming she had strangled herself. “With one hand she was strangling herself with the belt and with the other hand she was pushing me away and kicking me. Then, as he said, he fell down in the corridor and lost his consciousness. When he woke up, he wasn´t able to resuscitate the girl. He panicked and drove the corpse away from his flat. Simroth hasn´t appealed to the court and took time for consideration.

Summer Sportsground

     This facility underwent big changes during September. The old surface was removed and replaced by a new layer of tartan .Some time ago the old commander´s tower had been taken down and the whole area was drained. All the works will be financed by Louny townhall. The hockeyball playground and the U-ramp will stay in  their original places. The town has also concluded a contract with a new keeper of the ground, the sportsclub LTC Louny, which has promised to create here a children´s corner , a squash court in the summer sportshall and a minigolf course. The complete reconstruction should be completed in the year 2005.

Exhibitions

     Between 12-14 September was held the traditional exhibition Man in Nature at our exhibition grounds. Keepers of domestic and decorative animals, gardeners and other nature lovers could enjoy their hobby in several pavilions. The exhibition was enriched by a presentation of the Club of Czech Tourists – Louny , whose national organisation celebrates its 115th anniversary. A very big interest was risen by an exhibition of dogs.  In spite of quite bad weather this event was visited by 18 thousand people. Next weekend another traditionl exhibition – Motor Show – took place. Almost 40 exhibitors, including the best known car and motorcycle sellers, displayed their products there. Also the Police of the CR contributed to the event – they exhibited present, as well as historical uniforms and other equipment.

Days of European Heritage

     This cultural feast could be seen in Louny on Saturday September 13. Visitors had the possibility to look inside the Areat Archives, the Area Museum, the townhall and the church of St. Nicholas. Entrance was free. The archive was visited by 200 people, the church by about 400 people. It is just a pity that the museum didn not open until the afternoon. Many visitors wanted to see the sights together.

Mayor in Japan

     The Mayor of Louny Jan Kerner left for this distant country on Saturday September 13 having been invited by the Japanese government. His 10-day business trip was connected with the fact that there have already been 4 Japanese engineering companies in Louny. They found very good conditions for their production in our town.

Town Board

     On Monday September 22 our Town Board met at a regular session. First of all the agenda was reduced by excluding the issue of further steps of the townhall concerning Louny hospital.The member of the board Drahomír Faix asked for summoning an extra session just on this matter and also other members demanded the Mayor to explain some of his proclamations on this topic made at the Regional Office. There are also some speculations about the transfer of the hospital under the town administration or about a free sale.

The solution will be drawn out on Monday – at a special session of the town board. Also the sale of Hilbert´s house has remained unsolved. The members of the board didn´t agree on the planned auction –the starting price :2.5 million Czech crowns. Originally the house No 49 should have served as a seat of the Territorial Construction Office. However, after recent extension of  attic flats the statics of the building was affected to that extent, that the townhall proposed selling the house in an auction. According to specialists a repair would cost about 7 million crowns. The town board demands a  thorough investigation into the case and  finding culprits of the breakdown before the building is sold. Another member of the board Josef Klesal even suggested to take legal steps against an unknown trespasser. The next point of the agenda was electing a new member of the board. This post was offered to the Czech Social-Democratic Party (ČSSD), but they had one condition : the board should publish the voting of each concrete member. This suggestion wasn´t accepted. Other two candidates were Drahomír Faix (The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia – KSČM) and Josef Klesal (The Civic Democratic Party – ODS). Klesal refused and Faix did not receive a sufficient number of votes, so the election was postponed till the next session. Then many other sales, rents or purchases of allotments or buildings were discussed.

Weather

     Also September was extraordinarily hot and dry. It resulted into smaller production of hop and crops. On the other hand vintners from Chlumčany and Most promise big yields and high quality. Just for the sake of interest, also in September a temperature record was broken – on the 21st there were 30 degrees, compared with the maximum in 1989 : 26.6 degrees.

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OCTOBER 2003

Keeping Dogs

     The townhall reports that Louny inhabitants keep about 1, 200 dogs in their flats and houses. It is true that their dung has increased rapidly especially in the town centre, despite of the fact that there have been established 8 new areas for walking dogs in the town. The total of them now is 18 and new signs for these areas will be gradually added. If the dog pollutes an other public place , the owner is obliged to clear the dung away , which not all of them do.

Another Supermarket

     The town Louny is still expecting the official transfer of the grounds of local barracks. As I already mentioned, there is a study “ Garden Town” planning building houses and flats in this location. There should also be a supermarket of the Kaufland company.If this comes true it will be the fifth supermarket in the town.

Weather – Drought

     This year will not be remembered favourably by local farmers. The river at the Puppet Theatre got half-dry and sugar beet was the size of a bigger carrot by places. But the drought was a world-wide problem. According to global statistics the year 2003 was the third warmest year during the last 140 years.

Hospital Director

       The members of the Ústí Regional Board imposed the Chief of the Health Department Petr Severa putting forward a possible candidate for the post of the Director of Louny Hospital and Policlinic till the end of November . They also announced a selective procedure on this post. It is in accordance with the demands of Louny Town Board who want to choose the director on the base of a regular selective procedure. Currently this function is performed by Jiří Švec , who had been installed by the Ústí Regional Board.

Hotel Graf

        The athmosphere in the boarding house for homeless people is far from peaceful. It is situated in hotel Graf which belongs to the Secondary Technical School in Louny. The school rented a part of the hotel to an enterpreneur who moved in here many homeless people from the whole region. Citizens from neighbouring houses have written many complaints and now the inhabitants of the boarding house will probably be evicted although they regularly pay their rent. There is also a rumour about a several-hundred debt for electricity there. The reason for closing this house down is the unfitness for use of electrical mains, therefore the owner of the building had the electricity switched off. The people from the boarding house will have to take care about themeselves, probably with the help of their relatives etc., said the leaseholder Jiří Krupička.

Stationary for Pensioners

        At the beginning of October a daily stationary started its activity. During the first days there were four clients, who are brought here and home by a special car. It enables them to socialize, which these old ladies praise very much , but commuting used to be a barrier. For 65 crowns a day the clients have meals, a nurse and one room for resting.

Pine Planting

        On Friday October 10 on the western slope of Červený vrch near Dobroměřice planting of 100 small pines took place. The pines were added to young oaks, which had been planted some time ago. The area around this hill is a popular recreation zone and tourists from Louny have their cottage with an observation tower here . Louny´s magistrate would like to create here an urban recreation area.

Exhibitions

       There were 5 exhitions at local Exhibition grounds this year. The organizing company Diamant Expo says that more visitors than last year were attracted. The total is 78,736 visitors. Traditionally most people come to see the first April exhibition House and Garden (22,846), then Louny Fair ( the break May/June – 10, 000) , House 2003 ( August – 21, 615), Man in Nature ( September – 17,310 ) and Motor Show Louny ( September – 6,965 ).

The Vrchlický Theatre

         During October the reconstruction of the Vrchlický Theatre was being finished . This biggest town´s investment ( 60 million crowns ) was accompanied by many arguments , unflattering expressions and gossip. In the end a consortium of companies was chosen. In one and a half a year they reconstructed and almost passed over to the town a small, chamber theatre . The former balcony was taken down and the original 380 seats were reduced to 270. The layout of rooms , social facilities and theatre bar is also different from the original one. There should be a theatre restaurant in the cellar – it depends on investors and finance. The theatre is barrier-free and the ceremonial opening is planned for November 15.

Remembrance of Parachutists

            On Thursday October 18 there took place a small commemorative meeting in Mělce – at the edge of Louny. The town representatives put here flowers to commemorate 3 Russian parachutists . They were shot after having landed here by mistake , their original destination was the Moravian Highland. Most parachutists saved their lives but the three of them were shot down by German soldiers. It happened 59 years ago.

Rowing Club Celebration

             Saturday October 18 was marked by celebrations of 120 years of rowing in Louny. First there was a feast in the town park at 1 p. m. , where the Tree of Rowers was planted. Then everybody moved to the Area Museum, where an exhibition “ 120 Years of Rowing in Louny “ was opened . Many exhibits showed the history of the club including all prizes and titles. In the name of the town the Vice-Mayoress Věra Mirvaldová congratulated to the members of the club. The final part of Saturday celebrations was a visit to the boathouse and a ceremonial meeting at Stromovka.

100 Years of Puppet Masters

            The Louny Puppet Masters celebrated  their 100th anniversary this year. They met with their friends and guests and town representation on Saturday 25 in the Puppet Theatre . They discussed the past as well as their future plans . At present there are 25 members of this theatrical group and during the season they perform every Sunday. They sometimes give a touring performance, take part in festivals and in Louny there is regularly held a puppet show. The theatre was reconstructed a few years ago and thanks to the support of the local authorities this oldest stone puppet theatre in our republic can successfully continue its meritable activity.

Halloween

         A few hundred people, mostly children, filled up the square Na Rynečku on Friday 31 October. The local Kiwanis Club organized here the second year of Halloween celebration. First a mask parade went through the town accompanied by Jiří Lošan brass band. Then the competition for the best decorated pumpkin was announced. Unfortunatelly, just before proclaiming the best mask, the event was unexpectedly finished. Somebody announced a bomb in this location. Luckily it was a cry wolf, but anyway, this pleasant event was spoilt.

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NOVEMBER 2003

The End of 10-heller Coins

          Since Saturday November 1 the 10 an 20-heller coins have not been valid in the CR any more after many years of their use. These coins were withdrawn because their production is too expensive. Moreover many people anyway rounded up to the whole crowns when shopping, they didn´t want to have too many coins in their purse. People can exchange the coins in some banks for a few months now. Some students and schools came up with an interesting idea. They started to collect these coins then they exchanged them in banks and then they donated the sum to charity.

The Government Transferred the Barracks

         The government agrees on the transfer of the barracks to the town of Louny. It means that the town will obtain tens of millions of crowns. The evidentiary value of the army´s property is almost 180 million crowns. The barracks ground is accompanied by a formerly not planned, cost-free transfer of the tank training track. The purpose of this area will be discussed later. As the townhall executive officer Renata Čapková stated, the value of the barracks grounds is 132.766 million crowns, the building yard is for 2 million and the training track is worth 41. 294 million crowns. All of that is situated on an area of  32 hectares. It is already obvious that there will be a new town borough built in here – the Garden Town, where the training track could serve as a recreation zone.

The Repair of the Railway Station

          The repairs of the platform at Louny main station took about 2 weeks. The rails had needed a repair for a longer time and mainly older people complained of high, and thus difficult getting on trains. The works started on Monday November 10 and they included tearing off rails, reinforcement of the subsoil, installment of new rails and building a new concrete platform and a new lock pavement.

Jazz Club – V.Průchová

            On Thursday November 13 our town was visited by one of the best jazz singers Vlasta Průchová (77) . She visited the town for the second time – the second concert of this year´s Louny Jazz Club. Her energy was incredible. It just proved her top position among our jazz singers. She performed at the stage of Hotel Union and she was again accompanied by Vít Fiala – the basoon and Zdeněk Zdeněk – the piano .

Opening the Theatre

           After more than a ten years´ break inhabitants of Louny could visit their theatre. It was on Saturday November 15 when representatives of building companies and other guests met at a ceremonial opening. After speeches delivered by the director of the theatre Vladimír Drápal, the Mayor Jan Kerner, the Vice-Mayoress Věra Mirvaldová, the ex-Mayor Emil Volkmann and the Town Board member Milena Zikmundová a symbolic key was handed over to the director. After this official introduction a cultural programme started. “ For this opening we have invited artists who have a certain relationship to Louny “, said the director Vladimír Drápal about the programme. There were opera arias, jazz, artistic dance, choir singing or drama . The director of the Municipal Library performed a very successful part being “ transformed “ into Jaroslav Vrchlický and also an actor from the Liberec theatre Václav Helšus, who was born in Louny, greeted the audience. Many visitors were pleased by the re-established choir Kvítek. At the end of the evening delegations from partner towns – Lučenec ( Slovakia ), Zschopau ( Germany ) and  Barendrecht ( the Netherlands ) delivered their addresses to Louny´s inhabitants. After the programme followed a reception. There , except of eating and drinking, the participants were discussing the reconstruction. It is interesting, that there were present also the people who wanted to demolish the building or those who caused trouble during the reconstruction.

On Sunday November 16 there took place the first performance for the public. At 7 p.m. the play by R. Baer – Mixed Feelings with Jana Hlaváčová, Petr Kostka, Jaroslav Satoranský and Ladislav Hampl was staged. The director Vladimír Drápal opened the performance together with his guest – a film director, scriptwriter and actor Zdeněk Svěrák.

Also Monday 17 November was dedicated to the celebrations of the theatre opening. There was and Open day including 3 performances of amateur theatrical groups – the Drama sections of Louny School of Arts ( ZUŠ ) , Klouzák from Postoloprty and Scéna from Libochovice . Sold-out performances proved an immense interest of Louny public in the biggest investment of the Louny townhall. It is a pity, that the original chronicle of the theatre had been lost. I made an enourmous effort to find it, but in vain …

Louny Enticement

         Neither several negotiations of the town board , nor the first working commission brought the final form to the municipal celebrations . The townhall has been intending to hold a kind of a town feast for 4 years, but none of the previous suggestions was accepted. Finally the member of the Town Board and the chief of the Tourist Commision was addressed to find the title for this event. The words “ Louny Enticement “ were found and it should be synchronized with the exhibition House 2004 at the last but one August weekend. It should be a sporting and cultural event, the participants should be accommodated in a tent camp or some gym. Many other details are being prepared – boat renting, a cycling event- the Louny Pedal. As Josef Klesal pointed out, the main aim of this even should be a celebration of sport, culture, free time and mainly youth. This would bring an opportunity to the visitors of Louny to spend a very pleasant weekend .

New Bus Stop

         There was a bit of a fuss about the building of a new bus stop in Osvoboditelů Street . At the November meeting of the Town Board there was raised an objection that the bus stop was situated too near to the turn to Komenského Square. Just to remind the new bus stop for private transport contractors ( the near bus station ČSAD-BUS refused to allow other buses to its grounds ) was decided up on by the townhall to calm down the traffic in Fügnerova Street . The biggest transport contractor, the company KAVKA from Most, contributed to the building with a sum of 250 thousand and in the future the place could be used by other companies, too . The approval is planned for 6 December and the total cost of the 2 opposite bus stops on both sides of the road will be 360 thousand crowns.

The Graf Hotel

           After the contract of hire of the boarding house for homeless people had expired, the owner of the building, the Louny Secondary Technical School , carried out necessary repairs of the mains and at the end of November the interior decoration was in progress. The school management decided to return the hotel to its original purpose –accommodation for tourists. The company Krupka from Louny is interested in leasing of these premises. This firm already runs Hotel Oharka and provides hot meals for factories, villages and individuals from Louny and surroundings.

Christmas Tree

          On Saturday November 27 a Christmas tree was erected in Mírové Square. It is a gift from the married couple Polívkovi from Prof. Krátkého Street and the beautiful spruce measures 13 metres and weighs more than 2.5 tons. As a matter of interest, there already exists a waiting list of future donors of Christmas trees. Even a citizen from Česká Lípa wanted to sell his tree to our town. The ceremonial lighting the tree took place on Sunday 30 November in front of a big audience of Louny inhabitants, especially children. At 2 p.m. the programme “ Merry Christmas “, prepared by the agency ADAT, started, the lighting itself was carried out at 5 p.m. with the presence of Louny representatives.

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DECEMBER 2003

Dry-cleaning Shop

        Not everybody realised that we hadn´t had a dry-cleaner´s in our town for more than 10 years. Clothes were collected and sent for cleaning to other towns, the prices and terms were varied. Things have changed since the beginning of December. Not far from the Žatec Gate there was opened a new shop cleaning clothes and leather, owned by the Prague company FAMOS. This will noticably shorten the delivery terms. It can also happen that your order will be ready within one day.

New Landfill

       A part of the mining site of a former, non-existing brick-field may turn into a landfill. The allotment was acquired by the town and one of the possibilities how to use it is to turn it into a  storage of building rubble and other environmentally harmless materials. The environmental commission of the town decided it would be possible to put here the waste material from the rebuilding of Louny barracks.

Election of a Town Councillor

         On Monday December  8 a new town councillor was elected. After the summer resignation of MUDr. Bořek Zasadil no other member could be elected during the whole autumn. As late as now an unanimous support was given to ing. Emil Volkmann. The former Mayor enjoys big authority not just among the members of the town council but also in the whole town.

Hilbert´s House

        The December session of the Town Board discussed the problem of the Hilbert´s house again. The town lawyer Karel David carried out a judicial analysis and stated that the claim from the designer and firm which reconstructed the house could take several years to get. Morever it is not clear if  it is still possible to make a complaint about bad quality of the reconstruction. Therefore he suggested another voting about the house and selling it as fast as possible for 5 million crowns. Hovewer, many members of the board disapproved of this proposal and there were some other suggestions to repair the house on the town´s expenses or to sell it but a for bigger starting price . In the end it was agreed that the house would be sold in an auction for 5 million crowns.

Zdeněk Sýkora – the Knight

         The French Republic and The Ministry of Culture and Communication in the head with Jean-Jacques Aillagon awarded 4 Czech Artists, one of whom was also a Louny native and an honoured citizen of our town – a painter doc. Zdeněk Sýkora. He got the award for his long - life work. The title -The knight of the Order of Arts and Literature -  was given to him by the French ambassador in the CR Joel de Zorzi on Thursday 11 December in Prague . Other awarded artists were an illustrator Adolf Born, a graphic artist Karel Demel and a cemballist Zuzana Růžičková. Doc. Sýkora said to the press that he felt very bestowed.

Medieval Fair in the Museum

         Christmas medieval fair has become an unseparable part of the pre-Christmas rush in Louny. This time again the Area Museum changed into a medieval settlement on Saturday 13 December. There were to be seen medieval trades, to be heard music of that period and visitors could buy non-traditional wooden or metal necklaces, earrings or bracelets. Very attractive were also scented candles of various kinds, pictures etc. In spite of rainy weather many people came to this fair. Some of them were very drained and welcomed the offer of hot wine and others delicacies. The event was prepared by the Area Museum, The Company for the Castle Pravda and Louny townhall contributed by a significant sum.

Christmas Club E.F.

          The Vrchlický Theatre is  really going through a loading test these days. Except of theatrical and musical companies the opportunity should also be given to different associations, clubs and to a Christmas meeting organized by Louny Club E.F. with the seat in Poděbradova Street. Just to remind, this club runs many hobby groups especially for children, but some sections are aimed at adult participants. Their rich programme included drama, musical numbers and it was a theatrical  “ début “ for  many of the performes. Also artists, potters, fashion designers and photographers presented there works here.

Repair of the Railway Station

          On Thursday a new platform at the Louny Main Station was ceremonially brought into service. Although it is just one by now, the travel will become much more cofortable, especially for older people. The Mayor of Louny Jan Kerner and the Business Manager of ČD ( Czech Railway ) from  Ústí nad Labem took part in this festive event.The townhall contributed by the sum of a half a million ; it is the town´s concern to keep the main station in a good condition – it is the first thing to be seen by visitors coming to Louny . The Czech Railway also plans flower decorations to be installed here.

The Jewish Synagogue

        Based on the resolution of the Czech Government from June 2003 the Louny Synagogue in Hilbert Street was transferred from state to The Jewish Community Teplice. The Synagogue was built in 1871, after the WWII it was sold to a wood processing cooperative and since 1966 the depository of the State District Archives Louny has been installed there. The symbolic transfer of the building took place on Thursday 18 December and according to the signed contract the depository should stay there.

Golden Sunday – Christmas

          Sunday 21 December attracted many shoppers to our town. Recent years have given traditional atmosphere to Christmas in Louny. Retailers have got a bigger turn-over and it is said that this year will break a record in takings esp. in electronics, sports equipment, clothes and children´s toys. It is also given by the fact, that many people take a consumer credit and also by lower prices of electronics, which is caused by the presence of super-  and hypermarkets in the area and also by the exchange rate of the American dollar.

 Christmas being mainly a feast of consumption, it is very profitable for food sellers as well. However, there were some other events during Christmas holidays. Traditionally scouts distributed the light from Bethlehem, there were midnight masses in the church of St.Nicholas and the Hussite Church. In this church there also took place Christmas Evening with Kvítek. This choir, very famous ten years ago, is now undergoing its resurrection and its programme pleased all fans of this ensemble.

 Just for the sake of interest , Jana and Petr Poncar from Louny have been collecting nativity scenes for 7 years and they have gathered 150 of them by now. They are made of different materials and they are exhibited in Louny but also at other places.

Written by Ladislav Bába