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Beloved shoe shop closes after 100 years of operation

McKillens footwear is set to cease operations on Wednesday, marking the end of a century-long presence in the industry, having been in business for 100 years.

A shoe shop in Ballymena has decided to cease operations after a century in business, marking the end of an era for the local community.

Anne and Jo standing in the high street. Anne is wearing a hooded grey coat, has short brown hair and is wearing glasses. Jo is wearing a purple coat with white, yellow and red polka dots, she has short white hair and is wearing glasses. — Anne and Jo travelled to Ballymena for wedding guest shoes but McKillen's was closed ahead of their final sale

However, this development has caused inconvenience for two shoppers who were on a mission to find the perfect wedding shoes.

Jo Montgomery and Anne Allen had planned to visit the shop to purchase shoes for their upcoming family wedding, but they were met with closed shutters.

Anne, the mother of the groom, expressed her surprise and disappointment, stating, "We had intended to visit McKillens to find shoes for the wedding, but unfortunately, it's closed."

She further described the situation as "very disappointing" and "sad to see."

McKillens has been a staple in Ballymena since its establishment in 1926, serving the community for nearly a century.

The store was closed on Tuesday in preparation for a final clearance sale scheduled for the following day.

Jo, a resident of Ballyclare, recalled regularly visiting Ballymena's high street, which she believed "always had what you needed."

As a mother of the bride, Jo emphasized the importance of finding the perfect dress for the wedding, stating, "It's been a challenge searching for a dress, and it's crucial to try it on and ensure it's the right fit."

Jo highlighted the significance of being able to try on dresses before making a purchase.

The closure of McKillens follows the shutdown of another family-run business, Wyse Byse, which had been operating in the town center since 1972 and closed its doors earlier this month.

McKillen's store front with CLOSING DOWN SALE on all the windows in yellow and red. The shop front is grey with a brown/red sign and in gold writing McKillens of Ballymena. — McKillen's has been in Ballymena for 100 years

Long-time Ballymena residents Peter Kincaid and Anne Speers have witnessed the town's decline over the years.

Peter described the current state of the town as "dying," with shops closing down frequently.

Anne explained that the closure of shops is a result of families retiring and the lack of viable businesses to take their place, leading to a decline in foot traffic.

The pair expressed their fondness for visiting the town to get out, but noted that there are limited activities to engage in.

Anne and Peter on the high street. Anne holds an umbrella and is wearing a brown coat, a brown hat and has short blonde hair. Peter is wearing a blue jacket and is wearing glasses, he has short dark hair with grey strands. — Anne and Peter live in Ballymena and say the town is "dying"

Peter, a former construction worker, reminisced about repairing the roof of McKillens many years ago, recalling the town's bustling atmosphere.

He described the current state of the town as "a shame," with significantly fewer people and activities.

Pamela Jackson and her daughter Emily traveled from Portadown to Ballymena to take advantage of the clearance sale.

Pamela and Emily on the High Street, Pamela is wearing a purple coat, she has long brown hair. Emily is wearing a pink zip-up jumper and has tied up brown hair, she also has braces. — Pamela and Emily would come to Ballymena frequently because it's "affordable"

Pamela expressed her disappointment at seeing once-thriving businesses shut down.

She observed that many high streets now have limited shops, with charity stores and cafes being the primary occupants, and noted that people are opting to shop at larger centers or online.

Pamela revealed that she often visited Ballymena specifically to shop at Wyse Byse.

She praised the affordability and welcoming nature of these local businesses, emphasizing the importance of supporting them, but lamented their decline.

Tom Wiggens, the chief executive of Ballymena Chamber of Commerce, expressed his regret over the closure of McKillens.

Wyse Byse store front with blue shutters down. The sign WYSE BYSE is in white and the shops mascot is an Owl painted beside it. The white owl wears a black graduation cap and holds a blue book. — Wyse Byse also closed down after being on the high street since 1972

Wiggens maintained that the Ballymena area remains vibrant, with a thriving town center that continues to attract new businesses.

He acknowledged that businesses are facing increasing pressures, which contributed to McKillens' decision to close.

Wiggens stated that the chamber will continue to advocate for additional support for local businesses.

He emphasized the importance of this support, particularly during the upcoming period when councils and the executive will be setting business and domestic rates.

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Entertainment And Arts

Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.

A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

James Van Der Beek wearing a maroon dickie bow while smiling for the cameras on arrival at the 2019 Emmy Awards — James Van Der Beek's character Dawson was a famous fan of filmmaker Spielberg

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.

Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.

A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.

The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.

It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.

Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.

At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.

In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.

Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

Steven Spielberg arrives for the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA, 10 February 2026 — Spielberg made a surprise video appearance at last year's Dawson's Creek reunion

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.

The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.

The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.

News

Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance

Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.

In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.

The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.

Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.

Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.

The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.

A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.

After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.

With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.

The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.

Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.

Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.

In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.

A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.

Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.

However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.

A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.

Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.

There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.

For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.

A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.

News

FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008

As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.

This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.

Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.

However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.

Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?

For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.

We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.

Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?

Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?

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