Latest News

12 December 2013

New Community Section Now 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....

It Might Be Almost Christmas But  Vacancies Are Still Coming In - Latest Job Ads
Senior Administrator - Dounreay - Closing Date 17 December 2013

Caithness Apprentice Scoops Top Civil Engineering Apprentice Award
Craig Harvey (21) from Wick in the Highlands, has been crowned Scotland’s top Civil Engineering Apprentice of 2013 at the annual SBATC Apprentice of the Year awards. The title was presented to Craig at a special ceremony held on Tuesday 10th December at the Scottish Parliament. In the Civil Engineering category, the runner-up was Kenna Warren from Moray Council and third place went to Derek Montgomery from Crummock (Scotland) Ltd. of Bonnyrigg, Midlothian. Winner Craig Harvey, who has an SVQ Level 3 in Construction Contracting Operations, is studying at Inverness College whilst working for John Gunn & Sons Ltd, a building and civil engineering firm based in Lybster, Caithness.

Twelve Days Of Debtmas
This play on the old Christmas song is warning not to get into too much debt over the Christmas period and especially not with pay day loans. Take a look at the 12 Days of Debtmas.  Read the web site and then think about joining your local credit union which in Highland and Islands is www.hi-scot.co.uk The Hi-scot credit union is run for the benefit of members and has no shareholders other than members.
If you are not in Highland & Islands find your nearest Credit Union HERE


UK Government urged to act quickly to end ‘culture of exploitation’.  Pay Day Loan Cap?
Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing today called on the UK Government to bring forward plans to introduce a cap on the cost of payday loans. Mr Ewing said the cap must be in place by April 2014 in order to end the misery that unconstrained interest charges are piling on many people across Scotland. Westminster has said that the cap will be introduced in January 2015 in measures being outlined as part of the Banking Reform Bill.

11 December 2013

Fit's in 'e Coorier 'e Day

Cash for Caithness Harbours

Twelve Days Of Christmas Recipes From Philadelphia

Twelve recipes for you to choose from.

Council backs heavier fines for littering and fly-tipping
The Highland Council is fully backing plans by the Scottish Government to increase fixed penalties for littering and fly-tipping but wants to see more robust action taken against contractors who try to avoid landfill costs by dumping materials indiscriminately. It agrees that the penalty for littering should rise to £80 and the penalty for fly-tipping should increase to £200, penalties which are due to take effect from 1 April, next year.

Freedom of John O’Groats conferred on John Green
The freedom of the most northerly community in Great Britain – John O’Groats – has been bestowed by The Highland Council on former Highland Councillor and local resident of John O’Groats - Mr John Houston Green. Tributes were paid to Mr Green at a ceremony held at John O’Groats Village Hall on Tuesday evening (10 December 2013). At the same time, Mr Green formally opened the refurbished hall. The decision to award the freedom came after a number of organisations and businesses in the John O’ Groats area wrote to The Highland Council requesting the council consider conferring the Freedom of John O’Groats on Mr Green. Mr Green served on the former Caithness District Council for many years before representing North Caithness on The Highland Council from 1995 – 2007. He remains active as the Chairman of Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council.

10 December 2013

MSP Brings Castletown Pharmacy Proposal issue to Parliament
Rhoda Grant MSP (Scottish Labour) has submitted a motion to the Scottish Parliament on the Castletown Pharmacy Proposal. Both Highlands and Islands (Scottish Labour) MSPs Rhoda Grant and David Stewart have opposed the pharmacy proposal since the suggestion was first raised and have called on the Scottish Government to introduced a moratorium on new pharmacy applications until new legislation is brought in and have also contacted Both MSPS have called for the application to be withdrawn with immediate effect. The Scottish Government have said the current regulations are not fit for purpose and that they will be changed.

9 December 2013

Going To Inverness Next Weekend Then Take Kids To Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland set to light up Whin Park, Inverness. Hundreds of families are expected to attend this weekend’s Winter Wonderland, the Inverness Winter Festival’s most popular event for toddlers which will be staged at Whin Park this weekend. (Friday 13, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December).

North road safety campaigner still pushing for Graduated Licence Scheme
Highlands & Islands (Labour) MSP and road safety campaigner, David Stewart who set up the Sensible Driving – Always Arriving campaign, back in 2010, after the death of two local Inverness teenagers, has not given up his hope to have a graduated licence scheme for young and new drivers introduced in Scotland as a pilot.

Santa Sesh
Raising funds for Thurso Christmas Lights.  

Music and events all day from 2.00pm until midnight

Hot food, Santa's Grotto.

8 December 2013

Thanks to The Guys Who Restored The Power Across Caithness and The Highlands
A word of thanks and applause to the guys who restored all the power across Caithness and the Highlands following the big storm early last week.  We all take it for granted until somthing happens and then these guys go out in all weathers to resotre our power.  These pictures were taken near to the Caithness.org office in Wick in between snow showers and sunshine breaks. Teams were to be found in may parts as the power companies had anticipated problems following the weather forecasts.  Great job and well done to you guys who restored it all for us once again...we really appreciate it.

Cinderella Panto Live From The Hippodrome Theatre At Thurso Cinema on 22nd December
Thurso Cinema using its great new digital technology to beam in live performances from around the UK brings Cinderella live from the Hippidrome Theatre on Sunday 22nd December.  Book your tickets early to be sure you can take the whole family.




Watch Films On The Big Screen and Get Great Meal Deals At Thurso Cinema
Lunchtime On Leith - Get a ticket and to see this great film and have lunch for £14.95 - 9th to 12th December
Check Sundays for Kids Eat Free
2 for 1 Pizza Tuesdays
And if you are an EE or Orange customer claim your two for one cinmea tickets on Wednesdays
Watch out for more deals at Thurso Cinema.

"It's A Wonderful Life" The Original Feel Good Christmas Movie At Thurso Cinema
20th - 24th December - George Bailey is a small-town man whose life seems so desperate he contemplates suicide. He had always wanted to leave Bedford Falls to see the world, but circumstances and his own good heart have led him to stay. He sacrificed his education for his brother's, kept the family-run savings and loan afloat, protected the town from the avarice of the greedy banker Mr. Potter, and married his childhood sweetheart. As he prepares to jump from a bridge, his guardian angel intercedes; showing him what life would have become for the residents of Bedford Falls is he had never lived.

Coming To Thurso Cinema From The Royal Opera House Live -
In The Bi-Ceneneray Year of Wagner - Parsival 16.45 - 22.00 Wednesday 18th December - Tickets £10


Seals Recently Decided The Wick River Was Good For Sunbathing
If you were lucky recently you might have caught a glimpse of seals sunbathing on the River Wick.  Often to be seen in th eharbour at wick it is less often they take up residence on the banks of the river.




Scotland’s place names revealed
Historical books with every place name that appeared on Victorian maps of Scotland now available online. Historical books with every place name that appeared on Victorian maps of Scotland have all been put online and are also featured in a display that opened on 6 December 2013. Almost 1,700 Ordnance Survey Name Books, held in the National Records of Scotland, have now all been added to the ScotlandsPlaces website, where they can be searched by the public. The books are also being linked to the relevant Ordnance Survey map to allow connected searching for the first time.

Council welcomes launch of new Highland Homecoming Fund
Senior Highland Councillors have warmly welcomed the launch of the Highland Homecoming Fund, which will give local groups the chance to bid for financial support of between £3,000 - £10,000 to organise a new or enhance an existing event linked to next year’s autumn celebrations.

Young Mothers Programme Family Nurse Partnerships Expanded

Online safety plan by Scottish Government

Farm payment transfer proposal

NHS Scotland is going digital

Young Mothers Programme Family Nurse Partnerships Expanded
Children born to young mothers are to be given a healthier start to life thanks to the extension of a support programme. The Family Nurse Partnership supports first time parents aged nineteen and under and already runs in seven health board areas. From next year, the programme will begin in NHS Forth Valley and NHS Grampian and places on the programme in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde) and NHS Fife will be increased.  Highland is already implementing the programme.

Council welcomes launch of new Highland Homecoming Fund
Senior Highland Councillors have warmly welcomed the launch of the Highland Homecoming Fund, which will give local groups the chance to bid for financial support of between £3,000 - £10,000 to organise a new or enhance an existing event linked to next year’s autumn celebrations. Highland Homecoming is a programme of events that will take place within The Highland Council area between 1 September - 31 October 2014.

7 December 2013

Christmas Fun Day In Thurso


Wick Academy Game Postponed Today Due to Weather Conditions

What's On At Thurso Cinema Next Few Days            


What's On At Thurso Cinema - 13th - 19th December


What's On In Caithness In December

6 December 2013

Whats On Saturday In Caithness - One of the Busiest Days Before Christmas

Morning Noon And Night Don't Drink Or Drug  Drive
Police in Highlands and Islands remind of drink and drug drive dangers as part of a national campaign. Police Scotland Highland and Islands Division are reminding road users in the area of the dangers and consequences of drink and drug driving at the start of the national Festive Drink Drive campaign. The month-long campaign, which starts to day and will run throughout the festive period, aims to reduce the number of those committing such offences and detecting those who do in order to reduce the number of casualties on the roads.

TOP-LEVEL TEAM FROM THE CROWN ESTATE VISITS GILLS HARBOUR
A high-powered team from the Crown Estate visited Gills Harbour this week where it met directors of its Canisbay community-owned port and its (partial) lessee Mr Andrew Banks, managing director of Pentland Ferries Ltd. 'Preliminary discussions' on several matters of mutual interest took place, including a brief introduction to and description of the present 'Coastal Community Fund'. Its money will come from 50% of the revenues generated by the Crown Estate's 'marine activities'.
 

Feeding Frenzy For The Gulls
Feeding frenzy as the gulls compete for winter morsels behind this roadside ploughman on the Wick-Wester route.





Fit's in 'e Groat 'e Day
A few items from today's local paper.  And In 'e Courier a couple of days ago

Christmas Shops



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