Care Protests, Housing Plans and Fewer Preschools

Staff at the Åsbacka nursing home in Molkom are demanding a better working environment through a petition with 1 285 signatures. In Karlstad, residents are gathering names against a planned six-storey building in Viken, and in Filipstad, the preschool may get fewer departments.

Protests over the working environment at the Åsbacka care home

1 285 people have signed a petition against the working environment for care staff at the Åsbacka care home in Molkom. The protests state that staff are wearing themselves out, that the employer is providing care that is getting worse and that the municipality (the local authority responsible for services such as healthcare and schools) has a responsibility for the well-being of employees.

A person who has stopped working at the care home tells NWT: “They are not doing well.” The protests also say that efforts must actively be made to prevent staff from becoming ill due to stress and a heavy workload. NWT

The old schoolhouse in Kil is for sale

The old school building in Östra Glänne in Kil is for sale. The school was built in 1929 and was one of four village schools in the Frykerud area, together with Gunnarsbytorp, Nilsby and Nedre Bondestad. According to the estate agent, many people from the surrounding area have a connection to the school.

Värmlands Folkblad is at the same time writing about a property of 150 square metres outside Kil that has been listed for sale. The residential house is surrounded by meadowland and forest. NWT Värmlands Folkblad

The preschool in Filipstad may have fewer departments

During the year, the preschool in Filipstad Municipality has had high staffing costs. The organisation has been too large compared with the number of enrolled children. Politicians are now opening the door to reducing the number of departments in the coming years.

When the municipal executive board (the part of the municipal leadership that prepares political decisions) met on Wednesday, most focus was on the social services administration’s finances. The municipality’s overall forecast is a deficit of 7.1 million kr. NWT

Petition against six-storey building in Viken

Plans for a six-storey building to replace the blue wooden house in Viken in Karlstad have prompted a person in Karlstad to take action. The person is now behind a petition and argues that new buildings in Karlstad are too rarely adapted to the surrounding architecture: “You should make use of the environment that exists there.”

The blue wooden house was demolished in August. The old house, dating from 1875, suffered severe settlement damage in connection with the construction of Vikenpassagen, causing the building to sink a few centimetres. NWT

Harness-racing star Björn Goop donates his prize money

Värmland harness-racing star Björn Goop is competing this month in a bright pink sulky and is at the same time donating his prize money. Half of the prize money goes to Cancerfonden, and the other half to Olle Goops Minnesfond, whose aim is to help young people find a way into harness racing.

“It has been a fantastic year for us before, and then I felt that I could help with this during this month,” says Björn Goop. The response has been positive. SVT Nyheter Värmland

Model trains are running in Fageråshallen in Kil

During the All Saints’ Day weekend, railway enthusiasts gather in Fageråshallen in Kil to watch model trains. There are several parts to build to make the trains and landscape as realistic as possible.

“The programming part is quite impressive,” says the chair of Värmlandståg. SVT Nyheter Värmland

In brief

• Bik Karlskoga beat Östersunds IK 5-4 in Hockeyallsvenskan after overtime (1-0, 2-1, 1-3, 1-0). Värmlands Folkblad
• Lappnäs bed and breakfast has a new owner after 50 years in the same family; the property has previously been, among other things, a children's holiday camp, a children's home and a private residence. NWT
• A person from Karlstad spontaneously sought out arborist training in Skåne and now divides his working time between Jäveröfärjan and the trees. Värmlands Folkblad
• After 30 years and a record renovation, dancing has resumed in Sunnemo folkets hus between Munkfors and Hagfors. Värmlands Folkblad
• A house in Färjestad in Karlstad attracts both adults and children on Halloween with skeletons, monsters and bubbling cauldrons. SVT Nyheter Värmland
• At Selma Lagerlöf's Mårbacka in Östra Ämtervik, more than 80 exhibitors gathered over 4 days – Christmas came early at the end of October. NWT
• On Hammarö, the proportion of children and young people aged 0–17 who borrow books is among the lowest in Värmland. NWT
• Next year, some prices for swimming at Kristinehamn Arena will change, prompting reactions on social media. NWT
• A man aged 25 is on trial for selling drugs on at least 5 occasions in Arvika in August and September, and for riding an electric scooter while under the influence of drugs. Värmlands Folkblad