Young firefighters, art prizes and a rubbish crisis in Shumen

A newly formed team from IX Primary School 'Panayot Volov' claimed third place at the 12th edition of the 'Young Firefighter' tournament for the Svilengrad Municipality Cup. The competition drew more than 100 contestants from 10 regional directorates across Bulgaria.

Under coach Slavi Dimov, the team, made up of fourth- and fifth-graders competing for the first time together, scored 1,035.73 points in the combined standings and placed second in the relay race with obstacles. The first-place trophy went to SU 'Nikola Y. Vaptsarov' of Aytos with 1,047.49 points; Kyustendil's PMG 'Prof. Emanuil Ivanov' took second.

Dimov said: 'The children are going out together in competition for the first time, the team is made up of entirely new contestants. Despite that, they did very well. We have things to work on, we have work ahead of us to polish their techniques, time is on our side. I hope they'll get up to speed quickly and we'll regain our leadership position.'

Partial lane closures on Slavyanski Boulevard, between Karel Škorpil Street and Adam Mickiewicz Street, come into force from 8:00 to 13:00 on 15 May while contractors carry out short-term repairs. Traffic will flow in the free lane outside the works zone.

Shumen Municipality is staging the 22nd edition of the 'Happy Start' children's sports festival at Arena Shumen from 17:30 on 14 May, reviving the event after a long break. Six city kindergartens are taking part: Zvŭnche, Zlatnata ribka, Latinka, Proletna dŭga, Smehorani and Chuchuliga. The programme features games, sports contests and plenty of fun, part of the city's wider May programme.

More than 200 entries were submitted to the National 'Nature: My Inspiration' contest organised by Shumen Plateau Nature Park. Children competed in four categories: drawing, applied art, literature and digital art, with the largest contingents coming from Shumen's SU 'Panayot Volov' and 3rd OU 'Dimitŭr Blagoev', plus first-time entrants from the New Bulgarian University's Visual Arts School.

First prizes in drawing went to Radina Dimitrova (3rd OU 'Dimitŭr Blagoev'), Damyana Ivanova (Chifligarovi art school) and Desislava Hristova (SU 'Sava Dobroplodni'). Applied-art winners were Ema Momchilova Ivanova (SU 'Han Isperih', Novi Pazar) and Nilyay Dzhuneyt Ismet (PGPT 'Evlogiy Georgiev', Silistra). Amina Alieva (OU 'Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodiy', Byala reka) and Gergana Goristanova (SU 'P. Volov', Shumen) were recognised for literature. Digital-art first places went to Rada Papazova (SU 'P. Volov') and Liliya Kŭsteva ('Graphic Design' school, CPLR-ODK 'Anastas Stoyanov').

Winners received gifts from the Nature Park; all entrants received certificates. Teachers and school heads who supported young talent were also recognised. The exhibition remains on display at the park's administration building until next year's contest.

The team from SU 'Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodiy' in Smyadovo emerged victorious in the regional stage of the 'Young Rescuer' schools competition, which tested theory (a 30-question paper on disasters, chemical and radiological contamination, fires and first aid) and practical skills (competitive games watched by Red Cross volunteers).

Six teams from across Shumen oblast took part. Smyadovo placed first, OU 'Hristo Botev' from Drumevo village second, and OU 'Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodiy' from Veliki Preslav third. In the Shumen municipal round, Drumevo came first, SU 'Sava Dobroplodni' (Shumen) second, SU 'Trayko Simeonov' (Shumen) third, and VI OU 'Enyo Markovski' fourth.

All teams received certificates, medals, cups and prizes from Shumen Municipality and the Regional Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection. The winning team will represent Shumen oblast at the National Schools Competition in June.

The city council will convene an emergency session at 9:00 on 20 May (hall 363, municipal building) to address a mounting waste-collection crisis. The single-item agenda: 'Actions and measures regarding problems with domestic-waste collection and removal'.

A letter from BKS Shumen staff, dated 11 May and sent to the mayor, council, regional health inspectorate and regional governor, warns of a 'critical state' in the refuse fleet. The city needs a minimum of four working refuse trucks plus one reserve; at present only two are operational. Staff report the fleet is on the brink of collapse, with constant breakdowns, overworked crews and an inability to keep to the approved collection schedule.

The head of the collection and removal directorate, Marin Marinov, reportedly informed his superior Kyuhan Ilhan (head of the 'Cleanliness' directorate), who prepared a memo for BKS director Yulian Markov. Despite these warnings, the problem remains unresolved and the fleet's condition continues to deteriorate.