20 Nov 09 | FORMER Ballarat teacher Michelle Lynn Dennis, who had sex with two students, will spend more time behind bars than other female teachers who have committed a similar crime. The 33-year-old was yesterday convicted and sentenced to four years and three months' jail, with a minimum of two years and 10 months to serve.

20 Nov 09 | FIREWORKS held as part of the Ballarat Golf Club's opening celebrations on Thursday night were strictly monitored, according to the CFA. The Courier Yesterday received several complaints from Alfredton residents, concerned that fireworks were allowed on a day of total fire ban.

20 Nov 09 | MORE than 20 people have been temporarily excluded from Ballarat's nightlife precinct for 24 hours since the first banning notice was issued in December last year. And at least four people have received 12-month court imposed bans from the city's pubs and clubs.

20 Nov 09 | St Patrick's College band Unsafe Thort perform Oxygen off their self-titled album. The band won the Kool Skools competition.

20 Nov 09 | NATIONAL Basketball League experienced guard Daniel Joyce is the Ballarat Miners' first signing for the 2010 SEABL season. Joyce moves to Ballarat with five years in the National Basketball League behind him, having played under the guidance of his father, Brendan, at Wollongong and the Gold Coast.

20 Nov 09 | BALLARAT Miners recruit Daniel Joyce is jumping out of his skin to play basketball again. Other than a couple of Australian Basketball Association games in Sydney mid-year, Joyce has not played since the being cut by National Basketball League team Gold Coast Blaze after the 2008-09 season.