In this week's Westmeath Independent

This week's Westmeath Independent is out now and features the best local news, sport, features and photography.

Our stories include:

* New technological university for Midlands could open by next September

* Two local Gardai honoured for dog rescue in lake

* Out of this world! Athlone Community College students to speak to astronaut in space

* New Athlone base planned for Inland Waterways and Lough Ree RNLI

* Boost for local craftsman as his work is shown on Late Late Show

* We profile Moate's award-winning Irish Farmers' Journal reporter Lorcan Allen

* Westmeath councillors clash over 'vested interests' claim on one-off housing

* We visit the Irish Wheelchair Association in Athlone to discover how a new art initiative is helping people to deal with the lockdown

* Modern Pentathlete and former Bower student Sive Brassil tells us how the dream of competing in next summer's Olympics "drives me every day"

* Westmeath hurlers defeat the Royals in Joe McDonagh Cup

* It's a local derby with an All Ireland final place at stake, as Westmeath and Roscommon ladies face off on Sunday

* And, as Athlone Town prepare for their first FAI Cup semi-final appearance in 22 years this Sunday, we speak to head coach Adrian Carberry and local player David Brookes

All this and more can be found in this week's edition, which is out now. A digital edition of the paper can be purchased through the ePaper link at the top of this page.