THE main story on the front page, records another Caithness tragedy on the roads, the second within a month. The accident, near Thurso, claimed the life of Thurso man Michael Cameron. The other occupant of the Vauxhall Astra, which left the road and collided with a farm steading and a flagstone garden fence, early on Saturday morning, was Stuart McCulloch. His condition at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, was said to be “stable”, today.
A SUPPORTING story on Page 1. warns people in the Far North to be “ready and waiting” to fight any proposed closure of the vet lab at Thurso. The alert comes from MSP Jamie Stone, after he received confirmation from rural affairs secretary, Richard Lochhead, that the future of the lab is under review. A year-long review of animal disease surveillance in Scotland has been carried out and it expected to recommend a reduction in the number of Scottish Agricultural College labs as well as changes in how the service is carried out. Mr Lochhead said it would be premature to speculate on the future of any facility or service and he gave an assurance that no decisions had been taken or conclusions reached “at this stage”. Officials are due to report their conclusions and recommendations, later this month.
THE third front page story record the multi-million pound boost Caithness received when it played host to the national Mod, in October.
INSIDE, the paper reports, that according to a government report on the sinking of the Peterhead fishing boat Trident, off the Caithness coast, 37 years ago, no-one was to blamed. The report followed a fresh inquiry into the tragedy, presided over by Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young. He agreed with the findings of experts who said the most likely cause of the sinking was a sudden and catastrophic capsize.
STAFF and students of North Highland College UHI have showed planned educations cuts the red card. They staged a protest outside the Thurso campus, which impressed organiser, Fiona MacIntosh, the local convener of the teaching and lecturers’ union, EIS-FELA. She has started the campaign against funding cuts set for June, which she claimed could threaten the college’s future and has urged people in the county to back it.
A REPORT by the Accounts Commission, criticises a corporate failure by Highland Council in the way the local authority’s handling of the controversial heating scheme in Wick. The report said the scheme, which could cost the council more than £13 million, had a number of weaknesses and criticises the lack of effective management of the project. It also highlighted aspects of the performance of two senior officers.
A GLOBAL firm providing IT solutions and services is working to expand its Caithness workforce over the next two years. CSC’s local operation previously worked exclusively within the fence at Dounreay. While retaining some staff on the site, it moved its base to the Forss business park, over a year ago, which signalled start of a plan to grow the operation and diversify the business. Highlands and Islands Enterprise has been working closely to support the company in its plans to target new contracts across a range of sectors. The agency is now providing £37,500 funding to support the CSC Forss growth plan which aims to create 15 new jobs in the area.
RESIDENTS in Ormlie are being invited to an open day to help shape the latest phase of improvements in the Thurso housing estate. Sheena Christie has just been appointed to spearhead the new, five-year plan to further transform the one-time council ghetto. The open day takes place on Saturday at the Ormlie Community Centre, between 1pm and 5pm.
HOUSEHOLDERS are gearing up for a change to the refuse regime which will see the weekly general lift being replaced by a recycling collection, once a fortnight. Caithness and Lochaber are at the forefront of the changes following a trial in Skye and Lochalsh, and preparations for the new-look service have stepped up over the past week as the Highland council began the distribution of new calendars and information booklets.
LOCAL fishermen are to take part in a pilot study to assess industry activity in the Pentland Firth and the waters around Orkney. The survey comes in the wake of proposals to establish tidal energy development off the coast of Caithness. Although Thurso creel fisherman, James Bremner, has not been contacted about the study, yet, he said he felt it would be a good thing, particularly if the findings from local crews are taken on board.
RETIRED Lybster GP is gearing up for a test of endurance at this year’s London marathon. Peter Joiner will take to the streets of the capital along with thousands of others, for the gruelling 26 mile run, hoping to raise a substantial sum for the RNLI. It will also be something of a personal challenge for the 64-year-old who had three stents fitted into his heart, two years ago.
THERE was no lack of drama in Thurso, on Saturday night when Thurso Players came out on top at the district round of the Scottish Community Drama Association festivals of one-act plays. Their entry, Chinamen, directed by Audrey O’ Brien, received the Adam Swanson Memorial Trophy for the winning play. The play now goes forward to compete in the Highland divisional festival later in the month.
WICK ACADEMY blotted their home matches progress, when they crashed 5-3 to Keith in a game at Harmsworth Park which saw the home team scorn a 2-0 advantage, in the first half.
FINALLY...Happy Birthday to you, Joan Meyrick of Granville Street, Thurso, who is pictured on Page 9 cutting her cake at her 90th party, with friends, at the town’s Pentland Hotel.