Marcia Riddington owner of Smoking Monkey
- Credit: Smoking Monkey
Almost 30 businesses that would not usually be eligible for the benefits of Business Improvement District (BID) membership in Bury St Edmunds have voluntarily signed up to join the organisation.
It has been 10 years since the first member approached Our Bury St Edmunds chief executive Mark Cordell asking how they could join the newly formed BID and after one of the most difficult trading years in memory due to the pandemic, dozens of others are also opting to reap the benefits of the support on offer.
More than 400 businesses over a rateable value threshold are automatically members of the BID, but smaller businesses who pay less in business rates do not qualify.
SEABROOK – A local businessman who pleaded guilty to being a part of a nationwide conspiracy to distribute illegal synthetic cannabinoids, known on the street as fake weed or spice, will not be getting home detention as requested.
U.S. District Court of Eastern Virginia Judge Rossie Alston, Jr. denied William Walsh’s request for release and home detention due to rising cases of COVID-19 at the Alexandria Adult Detention Center.
Walsh pleaded guilty Jan. 28 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in a plea agreement with prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Eastern Virginia, which handled the case. He awaits sentencing for the conviction, a period of time expected to be from eight to 10 years, but less than the maximum of 20 years.