Latest News

7 March 2014

New Community Index Under Construction
Send your groups latest details and information for the new pages to bill@caithness.org
Do you have a news items about your organisation - youth, church, health etc you would like included in the new community pages now building....check your details and let us know of any changes....
Village Halls, Day Centres, Care Homes have all now been transferred to the new community section - Can committee members please check the details and let us know if any changes are required. Send in news items, photos and updates at any time. Old Community Index

Hairdresser Wanted for Thurso Shop
See all the vacancies HERE

Night Of The Northern Lights
Another great timelapse showing the Northern Lightsin Caithness by Maciej Winiarczyk

Mount Pleasant Nursery Open Day
Thursday 13th March 2014 fro 1pm to 2pm.

Schools Cross Country Event Cancelled For Saturday 8th March
Due to the adverse weather conditions and the very poor forecast for Saturday the event has been cancelled. The athletics club will be on as normal.

Managing Your Money At PPP
For anyone it can be a daunting task to work out what the best deals are online. Shortly at Pultneytown People's Project a couple of evenings might just save you money. Two sessions to help you beat the financial problems.
Money Spinners - Getting the Best Deals On-Line Monday 10th March 7.00pm
Want help with a preventative debt approach rather than dealing with actual debt.
Money Spinners - Getting the Best Deals On-Line Monday 17th March 7.00pm
Want help with switching energy providers or Better deals on Car/House/Life Insurances. Then this session is for you.

Fit's in 'e Groat - an' e' Coorier
No time to read the papers - a few of the items from the local papers from Noel Donaldson

Thurso welcomes launch of new online survey on delivery charges
Local MP John Thurso has welcomed the launch of a new online survey from Citizens Advice Scotland on unfair delivery charges. The survey is the first of its kind assessing the impact of high delivery charges on businesses in rural parts of Scotland - having previously targeted individual consumers only.

THE SEVEN WONDERS OF SCOTTISH CHILDHOOD

While adults might name the Great Wall of China, Christ the Redeemer and Machu Picchu as the Wonders of the World; new research* commissioned by Persil reveals exactly what makes the children of Scotland wide-eyed with amazement, as “LEGOLAND”, “Safari” and the “Harry Potter World” are named in the top Seven Wonders of the World by six to eleven year olds. Six short films havebeen produced using the EyeView camera created specifically for the Persil Kids Today Project to capture modern childhood through the eyes of a child. The films were also shot using a filming team with extensive experience of such projects.

New investment in Caithness battery power
HIE has supported the smooth change-over for new investors at AGM Batteries and ABSL Power Solutions, which were previously owned by US-based multinational Enersys Inc.

SEA – Arty fundraiser for Brough Bay Association and Castletown Heritage Society

Postcard fundraiser for Brough Bay Association

We’re off of a brilliant start, with all our 170 MDF blank postcard size pieces of wood handed out or collected by locals from Caithness Horizons, St Fergus Art Gallery and Castlehill Heritage Centre in the first couple of weeks! We’re delighted with everyone’s enthusiasm to join in. Now they are getting arty and inspired by the SEA, wonderful artwork has started to be returned and I’ve been adding images to the blog as it arrives. There is quite a variety of styles. There is still plenty of time to get involved, but the sooner artwork is made and returned, the longer it will be admired on the fundraiser blog.

Housing benefit will be sanctioned
Part-time workers judged to be doing too little to find full-time work face having their benefit for housing costs sanctioned by the government for the first time under universal credit.

5 March 2014

Highland employers help 16 to 19 year olds begin employment
HIGHLAND’S employers are among those backing a national work-based qualification to help young people secure employment. Companies across Scotland are offering work placements and assessing young people to help them achieve an SQA approved ‘Certificate of Work Readiness’. Employer demand for the qualification is high, as recent figures show that more than 1000 businesses across Scotland have shown their support by providing placements.

Speakers School Council Awards

Has your school council got a project it’s really proud of? Then don’t miss out on the Speaker’s School Council Awards 2014. Tell us about a school council project that has made a difference in your school or community for a chance to visit Parliament and meet the Rt. Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons. It doesn’t matter whether your project is big or small, as long as it’s made a positive change.

Free lecture to show how archaeology can support future sustainability

A free lecture in Inverness next month will explore how archaeology can play a part in supporting environmental sustainability. Professor Jane Downes will argue that looking at how people interacted with their environments in the past can give us valuable insights into how we can influence our environments in the future. Professor Downes is head of archaeology at the University of the Highlands and Islands and director of Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology. The lecture marks the fact she was made a Professor by the university last year and is part of the organisation’s public lecture series.

Divers to probe suspected explosives found in Wick Bay - BBC
Royal Navy divers have been brought in to deal with suspected unexploded ordnance in the sea on the north side of Wick Bay in Caithness.

4 March 2014

Next Steps for Postcode Campaign Confirmed
North MSP, Rhoda Grant has met with the Chair of Thurso Community Council, Bob Earnshaw at the Pentland Hotel last Friday (28th February) to discuss how best to support the campaign to establish a new postcode for Caithness and Sutherland. Chairman Bob Earnshaw, Cllr Roger Saxon and Rhoda Grant MSP agreed that the campaign should be carried forward and that Mr Earnshaw would raise the issue at the next meeting of the Association of Caithness Community Councils, which is due to take place on Tuesday 4th March.

Connect To Your Courage - Women Can Break The Barriers

This workshop is designed to identify and break through these barriers. Tutor - Diane Nicholson Lunch is provided free of charge.

Wick & District Pool League - Week 13

The top three teams in Wick & District Pool League's Division One all recorded victories on Monday night, and are all in with a chance of winning the title with only one match remaining.

Careers Event In Tain Offers Opportunities At Skibo Castle

Careers Opportunities at Skibo Castle Event In Duthac Centre, Tain

Skibo Careers Fair - Duthac Centre, Tain - 12th March
It is the opportunity to forge a career somewhere unique. Skills Development Scotland, the national skills body supporting the people and businesses of Scotland, is holding an exciting careers event in Duthac Centre, Tain. The Skibo Careers Fair is an opportunity to learn about the employment opportunities available at the Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle, one of the world’s finest private, residential clubs. The Careers Fair, which takes place on March 12th, is open for students and schools from 10am until 1.30pm. Others can visit from 2.30 until 6pm.
Carnegie Club Web Site

3 March 2014

Scientific spotlight shines on Flow Country
Scientists from across the UK will converge in Caithness this week to discuss the latest findings in peatland research. Organised by North Highland College UHI’s Environmental Research Institute (ERI), the ‘Research in the Flow Country’ conference has attracted over sixty attendees. The four-day event will highlight the latest research on the role of peatlands, including their part in regulating carbon and freshwater and their value to biodiversity. Covering about 4,000 Km2, the Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland is believed to be the largest area of blanket bog in the world. Its diverse habitats support a wide range of globally significant wetland and moorland species. The conference, which takes place from Tuesday 4 to Friday 7 March in Thurso, will include a field visit to the RSPB reserve at Forsinard so delegates can see peatland restoration in action.

Remote Delivery Costs - Small Business Survey
For the past three years the Scottish CAB Service has been campaigning against unfair delivery charges for online deliveries. Citizens Advice Scotland’s report ‘The Postcode Penalty’ analysed over 3,000 customer complaints and over 500 online companies, uncovering a ‘postcode penalty’ that sees some Scots having to pay an average of nearly £19 extra when buying goods online....... Citizens Advice Scotland is keen to hear the views and experiences of small businesses who have encountered surcharges for deliveries based on location. Go to the survey to give your business views.

Beware energy saving offers that demand upfront fees
but don’t be put off the Green Deal, says Trading Standards
Trading Standards officers with The Highland Council are warning consumers to be wary of paying upfront fees to companies claiming to be offering services connected with the Government’s “Green Deal” scheme. Problems with one particular company have highlighted the dangers of upfront fees. Sales representatives calling from Green Deal Rewards Ltd, based in Airdrie, carried out unsolicited marketing telephone calls to unsuspecting Highland householders. Sales staff from the company claimed that householders were entitled to funding for “free government home improvements” under the government’s ‘Green Deal’ scheme. A number of Highland consumers agreed to pay out a fee of £149.99 in advance, in order to obtain a survey on their home and an “Energy Performance Certificate” (or EPC). The North householders were then promised that an appointment would be made to carry out a ‘survey’. However, Trading Standards officers have since discovered that some consumers never received a visit from the company and other consumers, where a ‘survey’ had been carried on their home, are still waiting for their ‘EPC’.

Council consults on Social Enterprise Strategy for the Highlands
`Social Enterprise’ is an increasingly fundamental part of what makes the Highland tick and The Highland Council is looking for input to its strategy. A draft Social Enterprise Strategy for the Highlands covering the years 2014-2017 has been published for consultation by the Council and all interested parties are being asked to take part and help shape the future of this sector.

2 March 2014

World Day Of Prayer - 7th March - Call To Get Involved
A letter from St Joachim's church in Wick invited member of other churches to help organise the day of prayer in Caithness.

1 March 2014

After 50 years a church of their own
Church Of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Open A New Church In Thurso

New Church for Latter Day Saints In Caithness

Finally, the ‘faraway dream’ has come true, as membership has gradually grown from just a few people to over forty. Last Autumn, the president of the branch, Graham Winkle, signed a long-term lease for a building in the Thurso Business Park, just across from the BT building. To celebrate the official opening of the building, area church officials will be coming from Edinburgh in April, and the branch will host an open house on April 26 for community members to come and tour the new location. PHOTO GALLERY

New Children's Home In Wick Making Good Progress

See from the START

Yes Caithness Public Meeting

Yes Caithness Scottish Independence Campaign

The YES campaign in the independence referendum debate is coming to Caithness. A public meeting is to be held at the Weigh Inn, Thurso on Friday 7th March at 7.00pm. SNP Councillor Gail Ross said, "We welcome undecided voters to come for discussion as well." Speakers will include - Rob Gibson MSP Nancy Nicolson Christine Gunn Magnus Davidson

Residential Volunteering Internship - Forest to Bog Restoration Project (RSPB)
Minimum commitment: 5 days a week. 9am to 5.15pm Duration: 3 months Period: Between June and September.

28 February 2014

Short of Time This Week - Catch Up Fast With A Quick look At e' Groat an e' Courier in Brief

Police Scotland advise the public of email , telephone and letter scam

Older Property Ads Being Removed
We are currently refreshinig our properies for sale section and removing properties if the ad has been on for over one year and had no updates or changes. If a property is still on the market a new ad will be required. Its FREE and can be added HERE

Police to carry out test purchasing operations in Caithness and Sutherland in coming weeks

Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Independent Councillors Rally To Fight Service Point Closures In Highland

Celebration of music with Highland young musicians
Around 350 young musicians from across the Highlands are making final preparations for their annual showcase – a day long Concerts Festival in Inverness next Saturday (8 March 2014) which will feature eight different groups, a guest conductor from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and over 6 hours of live music.

Wick & District Pool League's Rockwater Shield Final

25 February 2014

Two New Job Ads In The Listings At 9.55pm

Atlantis Resources secures funding from European Commission & Private Sources

AIM listed Atlantis Resources Limited has today announced that it has successfully secured €7.7 million in grant funding from the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. The EC funding will support deployment of multi tidal-turbine arrays at the business’ MeyGen tidal energy site and will be supported by DHI, Royal HaskoningDHV and the University of Edinburgh. Scheduled to run from 2014, the programme will facilitate the design, installation and operation of the company’s 1.5MW AR1500 tidal energy turbines in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth, off the north coast of Scotland.

Scottish Ward Boundaries And Councillor Numbers Under Review

Thirsty For Theatre Coming To Pultneytown People's Project
Drama classes for P4 - P7 coming in April - Get booked in soon.

New Job Ads On At 5.05pm
Check the latest vacancies posted today.

Ceremony marks start of work at new Wick primary school

A turf cutting ceremony was held today (Tuesday 25th February 2014) to mark a start to work on a new £15 million primary school which will serve communities to the north of the River Wick, replacing North and Hillhead Primary Schools. Pupils from North Primary School and Hillhead Primary School were joined by their head teachers, local Highland councillors and parent council representatives at the site of the new school within the grounds of the current North Primary. Miller Construction is undertaking the enabling works as principal contractor and has engaged MM Miller (Wick) Limited as its sub-contractor for the works. The initial stage is to provide the pupils at North Primary with a new playground when construction begins on the new school building and to carry out drainage works. This will pave the way for the start of the main contract, which is scheduled to start at the end of April and be completed for the new school opening in August 2015. PHOTO GALLERY Progress photos will be added regularly to this gallery to follow the build.
Visual of New School Courtyard Site Layout Ground Floor Plan Elevations
Work will also start in coming weeks on the new Wick High joint campus to include a new primary for Pultneytown and Soouth schools with community facilties new swmming pool and library. The expected price tag for everything wil approach £56 million making it one of the biggest investments in a town by any council in Scotland. with state of the art schools and community facilties this is huge boost for Wick and Caithness with two years of work now started boosting the local economy. Wick High School Entrance
Courtyard Landscaping Plan First Floor Plan Ground Floor Plan

STAR Football Coaching In Thurso and Wick
STAR Coaching are holding a Sunday Skills Session on the 9th March in Wick and Thurso.

24 February 2014

Save around £470 by cutting your food waste

Oh crumbs! Did you know that we throw away the equivalent of 2.6 million slices of bread every day? That’s a lot of toast! In fact we waste a fifth of the food we buy in Scotland. But by making a few small changes you could save around £470 a year. And if you recycle the food you can’t use, you’ll help the environment and we’ll all be better off.

Review of Recycling Centres in Highland
The Highland Council’s recycling team is reviewing the operation of its network of 21 recycling centres to encourage the public to make a bigger effort to separate waste that can be recycled from waste that cannot. The Council wants to increase the amount of material recycled and at the same time reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill

Message for dog owners – Your Dog, Your Mess, Your £40 Fine!

Your Dog, Your Mess, Your £40 Fine is the clear and simple message on a new poster produced by The Highland Council aimed at irresponsible dog owners who allow their dogs to foul in public places. Dog wardens and enforcement officers have been identifying dog fouling ‘hotspots’ in areas across the Highlands which are to be patrolled and enforcement action taken if owners fail to pick up after their dogs. The latest initiative follows on from the national Dog Fouling Fortnight last autumn that aimed to raise awareness of the issue. During the fortnight the public were invited to take part in surveys and report problem areas. Dog owners face fix penalty fines of £40, rising to £60 if not paid within 28 days and possible conviction and a fine of up to £500 if this remains unpaid.

Farming and Feasting at the Iron Age site of Mine Howe, Orkney

The talk will take place this coming Thursday, the 27th February at 1730, at the Environmental Research Institute, Castle Street. Dr Ingrid Mainland, from Orkney College UHI will be talking to us about ‘Farming and Feasting at the Iron Age site of Mine Howe, Orkney’ Excavations at Minehowe, an enigmatic site on the Orkney Mainland, have recovered rich bioarchaeological assemblages including carbonised plant remains, land and marine molluscs and mammal, bird and fish bone, dating from the 3rd century BC to the fourth-fifth centuries AD. This talk will focus on mammalian fauna from Mine Howe and how such evidence can be used to explore farming practices and diet in Iron Age Orkney.

23 February 2014

Let's All Support Wick High Group Heading To Belarus Blurb and Another Video

Wick High School's trip to Belarus draws ever closer and this Saturday saw a team of enthusiastic young people back in the school to get busy with our fund-raising activities. The team of 15 young people will be heading to volunteer in Belarus for two weeks over the summer holidays with the charity Stand International. In order to finance this, a range of enterprises have been set up in conjunction with Wick High School and the local social enterprise, WickEd'.
New Wick High School, Primary Schools and Community Facilities Progress

Latest Commercial Vehicle - Flower Shop Wick

Business Vehicles In Caithness

Memories of Wick By Connie Dunnet Sutherland
A series of articles on memories of Wick are published today in the new community section. Connie originally from Wick now resides in Edinburgh. Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five

If anyone else would like to send articles or photos from their early days in Caithness email them to bill@caithness.org

SSE spikes Highland wind duo - reNEWS
SSE has pulled the plug on its 27-turbine Dalnessie and 12-turbine Fairburn 2 wind farms in the Scottish Highlands because they are “no longer financially viable”...............The utility is currently running the rule over its offshore wind portofolio with the outcome of that process to be unveiled in March.

21 February 2014

Police appeal following Vandalism to property at Thrumster
Wick Police are appealing for information regarding the damage caused to two signs at the entrance to a property near to the A99 at Thrumster, Wick between 20 February 2014 and 21 February 2014. Police are keen to speak to anyone who has any information about the incident and would encourage them to contact Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Those Wee Waves At Thurso Are Bigger Than You Think
Thhe man who made thiis has won a competition for another video that can be found HERE Well done to that man for such high quality films that really show what's in the Highlands.

More Job ads just in at 7.00pm today
Employers can add new jobs completely free of charge. Keep costs down and have the ads on as long as required. Update and amend anytime. if you add a closing date we remove shortly after and otherwise after about 3 weeks.

Evening Classes.. Have your say
The North Highland College UHI, want you to have your say onwhat evening classes we offer. What would you like to study as an evening class? Would it be leisurely or educational? Take the short survey to help them to help you! https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HX7TCLG Discussion in the Forum

'E Groat 'e Day an' 'e Courier an' more in Doanalsin's Dairy

Licensed trade in Highlands reminded of need for refresher training
Members of the licensed trade in the Highlands are being reminded of the need to undergo refresher training to ensure they retain their personal licences - and the authority to sell alcohol on their premises. Personal Licences are issued for a period of 10 years. However, in terms of Section 87 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, there is a legal requirement for personal licence holders to undertake refresher training within five years of the date of issue of their personal licence. They then need to produce evidence of this training to the Highland Licensing Board, not later than three months after the expiry of the period of five years from when the personal licence was issued.

20 February 2014

NOSCA’s New School Run Car Fleet

For families living, working or training in the Far North of Scotland, access to quality childcare can be a major barrier. NOSCA has spent many years building a strong service here in Caithness, operating a range of childcare solutions regulated by the Care Inspectorate including out-of-school care, daycare, pre-school education, breakfast clubs, toddler groups and crèches. This enables nearly 400 families to work, train or study here in Caithness, thereby contributing to the Caithness economy. With a staff team of 35, working from three NOSCA centres in the county, at The Ormlie Centre in Thurso, The Family Centre in Wick and the Primary School in Castletown, NOSCA has grown into a strong and dynamic organisation. The new school run car fleet, a first for NOSCA, will provide a reliable and efficient transport service to and from schools and nurseries around the county which will meet the growing need for childcare places in the Far North.

19 February 2014

Council approves steps to deliver 600 hours funded early learning and childcare
Highland parents and families are to benefit from the introduction of 600 hours funded early learning and childcare from August this year. The Highland Council’s Adult and Children’s Services Committee have approved a suite of measures to enable the Council’s delivery of 600 hours on early learning and childcare by August 2014.

16 February 2014

Business Vehicles In Caithness