First
Stroma Bus Tour 1950
COUNCIL COMMITTED TO
RETAINING SOCIAL WORKERS IN HIGHLAND
An information day is being held in Inverness on Friday 4th February,
which aims to attract people into, and further develop the careers of
those already in, Social Work employment in the Highlands. People
who are already working in social work are invited to attend and those
with relevant degrees in psychology or social services who may have taken
a career break to raise families or might consider re-training in social
work are welcome. Anyone interested can drop in at Hedgefield Management
Centre, Culduthel Road in Inverness, at any time between 11am to 2pm on
Friday 4th February.
Scots NHS dentistry about to 'collapse'
- Scotsman
Young Male Cat Needs New Home - Can You Give Him One
He
is a young cat who we have just neutered and he is so friendly and just
wants attention. Contact Cats Protection in Caithness if you can offer a
home for him.
30 January 2005
Fire
Action Group Questions Statements In The Review
Group Asks Public To Make Representation On the Consultation Very Soon
In the near future if the Highlands and Islands Fire Brigade get their way
there is the possibility of loss of properties and fatalities occurring in
a village in Caithness because of the ridiculous decision to downgrade the
local fire unit. Lybster Fire crew have been informed that their
services in attending house and property fires are no longer needed due to
an Integrated Risk Management Plan which is due to come into effect on the
31st March.
28 January 2005
Geese Visit Caithness.org
Oddly we note from an
earlier web page that geese visited us on 28 January 2003.
Have they got it in their diary to give us a call every two years.
It will be interesting to see if they call round next year at the same
time or leave it until 2007. Without the web page we would not have
noticed the almost two years to the day gap.
Calling Highland Craft Makers -
Exhibition Opportunity
Craft makers are wanted to participate in an exhibition, particularly in
jewellery, basket making, casting (metal, glass) and stone. Fees
will be paid for successful applicants to supply material for the
exhibition and for a handling exhibition but possibly the most significant
part will be the unwritten possibilities of at least a year of publicity
as the exhibition moves around, newspaper and web coverage etc.
Application deadline 14 February. Sponsored by Highland Council and
The Scottish Arts Council.
Caithness Cultural Trust - A Ceilidh Sponsored By "Old Pulteney"
A ceilidh in Mackays Hotel, Wick at 7.30pm - 11.30pm on Friday 4th
February. Local Bands, singers, dancing, poetry and more. Part
of the proceeds will go to eh Tsunami DEC Fund. Tickets �7
Contact K Spruce, Secretary, for tickets tel 01955 604068
GIBSON HITS OUT AT 'IRRESPONSIBLE LAND OWNERS'
Highlands and Islands MSP Rob Gibson has
welcomed the constructive and collaborative approach of the participants
in the Responsible Deer Management consultation where the aim is to
produce a framework on how to deal with Scotland's burgeoning deer
population. Following the passage of the Nature conservation Act last
summer Mr Gibson who has worked closely with Non-Governmental
Organizations, responsible estate owners and with colleagues in the
Environment and Rural Development Committee in this consultation
says that real and sustainable progress is being made..
COUNCIL TO PREPARE A RENEWABLE ENERGY
STRATEGY FOR THE HIGHLANDS
At the Planning, Development, Europe and Tourism Committee,
members selected a small group of Councillors who, working closely
with officers and outside organisations, will draft a comprehensive
renewable energy strategy which could see the Highlands becoming a
world class renewable centre of excellence. The draft will be
subject to full discussion and hopefully agreed at Committee in
August 2005.
COUNCIL
TO SEEK EXECUTIVE FUNDING FOR STORM REPAIRS
The Highland Council is to seek support from the Scottish Executive to
repair storm and flood damage to property, roads, bridges, car parks and
harbours caused by the severe weather experienced on 11/12 January.
The Council is required to meet the first �500,000 of the repair bill but,
once a full assessment is made of the damage, it will apply to the
Scottish Executive for 85% funding towards the cost of emergency repairs.
Members of the Transport Environmental and Community Services were told
that the storm damage was extensive, especially in the West Highlands,
most notably in Skye and Lochalsh, Wester Ross and Lochaber. Flooding
occurred at Caol, Inverness and Thurso, while there was damage to harbours
at Gairloch, Kinlochbervie and Uig.
Fudge - A Fluffy Ball That Likes To Sleep
Message
Board Suggestion Leads To Top Band Coming To Caithness - Blues N Trouble
The message board suggestion to have a great band come to Caithness seems
to have paid off and posters are enthusiastically awaiting the arrival at
Skinandis in Thurso of
Blues N Trouble on
19 March.
The band have many albums behind them
and Indie chart success. they have been in
Caithness before but not for many years. The return looks like being
a huge success as their reputation has built massively since they last
played the county.
Thrumster Pupils Send Help To Tsunami Victims
Thrumster
Primary School and Nursery have gathered toiletries and other items
which will be passed to Blythswood who will arrange for these items to
be forwarded to the victims of the Tsunami disaster. Pupils also
collected some money to help with the transport costs. Pupils would like
to thank everyone for their support.
E Caithness Cooncillors Agenda For 31 January In Thurso Town Hall
In addition to the regular monitoring and financial reports
councillors will look at the Highland 2007 Year Of Culture opportunities
for local groups to obtain additional funding for events. Other agenda
items include a possible new bylaw to prohibit drinking alcohol in public
places in Wick and Thurso, agreeing next years grants to certain voluntary
organisations, new funding arrrangements for the Longberry Centre that
supplies services for people with Alzheimers, Update on the Thurso Town
Hall - Caithness Horizons project.
Fire Action Group - Latheron
Lybster And Clyth - Fighting Another Rural Downgrading
This sub group of the community council has been looking at the problem of
the potential downgrading of the Lybster Fire Unit. Since December 2003
the Lybster fire Unit along with others in Highlands & Islands area has
been under review. An
Integrated Risk Management Strategy has been published. Responses from
the public are asked for by 13 February 2005. However the local community
feel that after two years this deadline is far too soon to give people
time to respond. Even
though after this lengthy period of time and much debate between the local
Lybster fire unit and Highlands and Islands Fire Master and the Fire
Brigade committee it has recommended that the Lybster unit should only be
allowed to attend heath fires and road accidents. Members of
the group feel that the areas householders will be put at risk waiting on
a fire tender from Wick or Dunbeath and property put at risk from small
fires they might have been able to deal with more quickly. The issue
surrounds the cost of Breathing Apparatus and annual training now required
for units and smaller units may not be allocated funding for this. A
new section on the web site will run for the Fire Action Group to
follow what happens. the group want to encourage the public to make
responses to the consultation and are requesting an extension saying it is
all too rushed after nearly two years of deliberations to expect the
public to do so by 13 February. They have contact MPs and MSP's over
the matter.
COUNCIL DECIDE NOT TO
BID FOR TRUNK ROAD CONTRACT
Highland Councillors have decided not to bid for the contract for the
management and maintenance of the North West Trunk Road Network, which is
being renewed by the Scottish Executive in April next year. Members
of the Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee concluded
that the Council ran too high a risk of making a significant annual loss
on the five-year contract and that they should instead seek
sub-contracting work from the successful consortium.
HIGHLAND MSP WRITES TO TRANSPORT
MINISTER OVER ROADS CONTRACT
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Maureen Macmillan has written to
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen over the contract for trunk road
maintenance and winter road clearance, which
is due to go out for tender in April, 2006.
Mrs Macmillan commented, "Since taking over
trunk road maintenance in 2001 the
operations of BEAR Scotland in the Highlands
has attracted repeated criticism, regarding
both the quality of winter road clearance
and summer maintenance of verges and
roundabouts.
Caithness Based Writers Publish New
Book For Tsunami Aid
Caithness
writers have combined to have published a wee book called "The Ballad of
Hercules Mackenzie and other Stories" which is selling for �3 will all
profits going to the Tsunami Disaster Fund. The group though small is very
successful and most of the contributors are either published and/or
competition winners. The content of the booklet is mostly
very light with a great deal of humour and we are getting very positive
feedback from purchasers so readers can have a delightful read and help a
very worthy cause. There is a foreword by John Thurso.
Highland Included In
Rural Priority Areas List
Twenty parts of Scotland have been designated Rural Services Priority
Areas (RSPA) after the identification of disadvantage in service
provision, access to services and subsequently opportunities. The
status will enable government, local authorities and other agencies to
focus improvements in services in the most disadvantaged rural
communities, aiming to find innovative solutions to providing, for
example, health care, training or childcare services.
New Procurator Fiscal And
Depute Start On Monday 31 January In Wick
Mr Alasdair MacDonald has been appointed by the Lord Advocate Colin Boyd
QC to the post of Procurator Fiscal for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter
Ross. Mr MacDonald will take up his post on the 31 January 2005. Mr
MacDonald will retain his commission for Tain and Dornoch where he is
currently District Procurator Fiscal and will be supported at Wick by a
newly appointed Depute Fiscal, Mrs Christine Ball, who will also take up
post on 31 January 2005.
'Ask Jack' Event In The Highlands
First Minister Jack McConnell will answer
questions from Highland school pupils on
Monday at a special session to be streamed
live on the Internet. A link to the
live broadcast between 2pm and 3.15pm will
appear on the Scottish Executive website on
the day. No Caithness schools this
time around.
27 January 2005
Helping Square A Debt - Charity Slave
Raises Amazing Amount In A Few Hours
The
2003 festive season is one UKAEA, Dounreay
employee, Ishbel Mcdonald, will not forget.
After a series of tests it was confirmed
that she was suffering from lung cancer.
�However I was told it was treatable
provided I had my left lung removed,� said
non-smoker Ishbel. �It was a big decision
to take, but because I had always kept
myself fit, I had to go for it.� In the
event the operation was a complete success,
Ishbel received the all-clear, and is now
back hale and hearty processing accounts in
UKAEA�s finance department in Naver House,
Thurso.
Faith groups launch new guide booklet
A new booklet has been launched with the aim of helping people become
involved in volunteering in the Scottish criminal justice system.
Many people in faith communities and wider society are very concerned
about how to best respond to crime today. They want to know how they can
contribute to preventing crime, reducing re-offending, supporting and
caring for victims, and promoting safer communities. Significant numbers
of people already offer help by giving their time and talent as volunteers
in helping people affected by crime, through Victim Support or the
Children's Hearing System, for example.
SPEED REDUCTION MEASURES IN PLACE AT MOUNT PLEASANT
A part-time 20mph speed limit around a Caithness school went into
operation this week (Monday 24th January) at Mount Pleasant Primary in
Thurso. With the help of �2.157M funding from the Scottish
Executive, The Highland Council aims to get the message across that slowing
down near schools saves lives and that reducing the speed limit to 20 mph
outside schools significantly improves the safety of children walking or
cycling to school. Mount Pleasant Primary School is one of five
schools in Highland that is benefiting from the introduction of part time
speed limit signs this January and February....
Mount Pleasant School Newsletter
The
latest Mount Pleasant School Newsletter is now available on this web site
and on the school web site at
www.mountpleasant.highland.sch.uk/ Packed with
information for parents and children the newsletter also tells everyone that
the school children are to take part in the
Highland Big Heart Day raising funds for the Tsunami disaster.
COMMUNITIES
SET TO BENEFIT FROM OWNING THEIR OWN WIND FARM
The
time is now ripe for local communities to seize the opportunity to
develop their own wind farms. That was the message given at a
conference yesterday organised by the Scottish Parliament's
Renewable Energy Group. The conference, called "Community Led
Renewable Energy Schemes", was
organised by the Scottish Parliament Renewable Energy Group (SPREG).
26 January 2005
Caithness.org Message Board Breaking Records Of Its Own
On Tuesday 25 January at one point there were 83 users online at the same
time. The recent surge on the Message Board is also reflected in the
leap in visitors to the web site in January and it looks like all previous
records are going to be consigned to history with visitor numbers already
past 118,000 and the hit rate over 8 million for the month to 25th January.
HILLHEAD PUPILS SIGN UP FOR TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
Pupils
at Hilhead Primary School, Wick have been signing up to help raise funds for
Tsunami survivors. A huge wall map of South Asia has been hung up in the
school hall. It has been drawn up in to more than 1000 squares and pupils
and staff pay 20p to write their name or something else in the square. As
well as their own names, nick names, the names of pets and football teams
have all been popular choices with the pupils. With a thousand squares,
there are plenty to go round. Anyone wishing to sponsor a few squares at 20p
per square can do so by contacting the school on 01955 603233.
25 January 2005
Berriedale Circa 1910
Karen
Grant sent in this picture from Canada and says "I believe that this was sent by
Barbara Campbell (nee Sutherland) Christie to her sister Jessie Sutherland
(later Ramsay) In Winnipeg. Barbara Sutherland was married in Canada to
Bert Christie in 1908, she returned to Clyne, SU and her husband died just
a month before her son was born."
Highlands and Islands Enterprise Strategy Review 2005 - Have Your Say
Highlands and Island Enterprise are inviting anyone who has views on the
direction for the Highland and Islands economy to have say. On the new
consultation section you will find documents and a form to complete.
Tony
Blair Meets Right To Swim Campaigner Promising To Look Closer
The
Caithness campaign to get access to swimming pools for parents and toddlers
and have the regulations changed back may have died down but in other places
the campaigns are still running. A recent edition of the
Kent
Messenger shows campaigning mum Carolyn Warner taking her case to Tony Blair
who has promised to look at the matter.
New rules on the ages and numbers of adults required for young children were
introduced into Caithness in 2000. The local campaign failed to get
the rules changed back. But perhaps it will be looked at again.
24 January 2005
Upgrading Wick - New Pipes At Francis Street
Not
exciting but a very necessary upgrade to the pipe system in Wick is
underway. Depending on you point of view the fact that the road is
not having to be dug up from end to end to achieve it is interesting.
the method is to push a plastic sleeve through existing pipes and then
pour boiling water through for three hours until the plastic solidifies.
Ingenious and fast!!!
More streets to come in coming months so look out for more temporary
traffic lights as the work proceeds. And they are on their way to
Thurso shortly for some upgrading there also.
Upgrading Wick - Bank Row Gets A New Flagstone Pavement
Meanwhile
at the other side of the harbour Bank Row is having its pavement relaid
with Caithness flagstone. the tar pavement has disappeared and will
soon have a pavement covered in the material that was removed many years
ago. Caithness flag is much more in keeping with the character of
the area and it will run right up to the Blackstairs and down to the
harbour.
Upgrading Wick - Shore Road Work To Begin Soon
Work
is due to start on Shore Road shortly to fix the problems along the waters
edge and the road. This area has been crumbling under the onslaught
of the sea over the past few years. Highland Council are to pay to
have the work done even though the ground does not belong to it.
Apart from the eyesore it has become it will make this road look much
better.
Upgrading Wick - Widening Shore Lane
Shore
Lane has always been a bit of nightmare in the days of the car. The
project underway now will widen the road by a few feet making it much
safer and easier to get up and down. The garden of a house was
shortened last year and the wall built round the old well discovered in
the process.
Karen Shirron -
SNP Candidate Selected
Caithness,
Sutherland and Easter Ross SNP Constituency Association have recently
selected their candidate to fight the forthcoming Westminster election will
be Karen Shirron. The announcement was made in Helmsdale.
Karen Shirron is currently a local councillor with Aberdeen City
Council where she is the SNP Deputy Group Leader and a Parliamentary
Assistant to Brian Adam, SNP MSP for Aberdeen North. First elected to the
Council in 1999 with a majority of 7, she was re-elected in 2003 with a
majority of 336.
2005 Westminster Election
Hillhead Primary School, Wick -
Newsletter Now Publishing On The Web Site
Hillhead
school newsletter begins publishing on
Caithness.org today joining Pulteneytown and
South Schools. If any other Caithness
schools would like to have a section for
their newsletter just get in touch and we
will set it all up.
Report claims neglect in rural healthcare
- Grampian TV
Thurso Lifeboat Bringing In Rafts From The
Ferry "Hamnavoe"
Thurso lifeboat crew
yesterday carried out an unusual mission in
the Pentland Firth. They were called out to
recover four liferafts which were washed off
the deck of the Northlink ferry Hamnavoe
during its early afternoon crossing from
Scrabster to Stromness. Ferry skipper Bob
Johnston reported the loss of the rescue
craft, which posed a potential shipping
hazard. The lifeboatmen found the four rafts
- fully inflated
and each capable of taking 100 people -
floating in the sea off Dunnet Head. They
towed them back to Scrabster, from where
they will be returned to the ferry company.
Thurso Lifeboat
23 January 2005
Thurso British Legion
Tsunami Bingo Night Was an Overwhelming
Success
Thurso British Legion would like to thank
everyone who attended, contributed and
helped the Prize Bingo evening on Friday
21st January at the club and helped raise
�1622 to add to our previous Hogmanay raffle
of �459 taking our fundraising up to �2081.
The amount of people attending and the money
raised surprised them and they are so
chuffed that the local community care so
much to come out on a cold winters night to
help others less fortunate.
Coming Tsunami Events At Thurso British
Legion
Still to come in the next couple of weeks to
continue our fundraising towards assisting
the victims of this disaster is our
afternoon of Live Family Entertainment next
Sunday the 30th January with Gary Weston
between 3pm and 6pm - All Welcome
AND
on Friday February the 4th our 60s,70s & 80s
School Disco Revival takes place at the club
8pm onwards, tickets �5 are still available
from the club All Welcome.
The ongoing raffle for 2 tickets to Bryan
Adams, Microwave Oven, Leather Jacket, Lunch
Voucher, DVD Player, NNCMC Tickets plus
various other prizes will be drawn at it
(Tickets still available) and it is hoped to
announce a final total for our fundraising
before the end of the evening.
For further information contact us on Tel:
01847 893377 or 893417 or call Graeme on
892520 or visit us at
www.rblsthurso.com or email
[email protected]
Pentland Canoe Club And Caithness Kayak Club
Coaches On Coaching Weekend
Coaches
from the Pentland Canoe Club and Caithness
Kayak Club joined others from across
Scotland to attend a Coaching Processes
Course in Speyside. The course was delivered
by Gordon Brown and Jas Hepburn, both highly
respected coaches in the sport. The weekend
was aimed at developing coaching styles and
a variety of skills. Top coaching tips were
also given along with an insight into the
psychology of coaching. Attendance at the
course was supported by the Caithness Sports
Council through the RWE NUKEM Coaching
Grant.
Pentland Canoe Club
Caithness Kayak Club
Wick Harbour Solar Roof Gets Mention On
Welsh National Web Site
SolarGen keeps harbour lights shining
A SOUTH WALES company has
taken its solar power technology to the
Highlands of Scotland. Cwmbran-based
SolarGen has completed a major solar power
scheme at Wick, near John o'Groats. As
part of the regeneration of Wick Harbour a
solar power generator has been installed on
the roof of the Fish Market building. The
�140,000 demonstration scheme is producing
enough power to light the entire harbour
area and half-a-dozen homes.
Opening Of Wick Harbour Solar Roof
22 January 2005
Caithness Walking Festival Ready To Go 14 -
22 May
The second Caithness Waling Festival have
their calendar of events on the web now.
21 January 2005
Is This The Biggest Digital Panoramic Photo
In The World?
Jus something sent to us to have look at and
we thought others might like look at it.
You can zoom a long way into this highly
detailed 2.5 billion pixel photo. The
photo is from TNO TPD and is part of the
Netherlands Organisation for Applied
Scientific Research TNO, the largest
independent research institute in the
Netherlands. If anyone feels like
donating a camera that can do this to us at
Caithness.org then get in touch - some hope
unless you have an extremely large chegue
book. Well
done to the people who produced the
technology for this type of photo.
Are You Planning Your Summer Holidays?
Then Come To Caithness
What
is there to see and do in Caithness?
Well where do you start looking. Here
are three sections on this web site that we
think might help you decide -
Caithness Biodiversity Photo Collection
covering the landscape and it flora and
fauna,
Caithness Castles showing just one
aspect of the hugely varied history all
around the landscape of the county including
literally hundreds of sites with standing
stones, brochs and ancient cairns and the
A - Z of Caithness an ever growing
section with thousands of pictures of every
part of Caithness. There are many
other sections with photos and information
but if you have never visited before we
think these three sections will give you
many hours of exploration before you reach
our county. Holidays in Caithness are
seldom about lying on the beach - they
are about visits, walking along the striking
coastline and checking out the history of
the of past two thousand years and earlier -
they are about meeting local people or
attending some events in the summer period.
Check out the local pub scene with music of
various types from rock and jazz to
traditional Celtic or visit the
Wick Pipe Band summer show for a
flavour of Scottish music with pipes, dance
bands, Highland dancing and singers.
Thurso is one of the top places with surfers
these days and increasingly used for
competitions. Lessons are available
locally if you are into sporting activites.
Pulteneytown Academy
School Newsletter
The latest newsletter from Pulteneytown
Academy including a special
class newsletter giving parents
details of exactly what each class will be
covering on the curriculum at school
this term and a good guide as to what
children in Highland schools are learning
this term. Also included this week are
details of the
new menu being introduced into
the school from 24 January. A reminder
is also included regarding the Caithness
Music Festival in case parents wish children
to enter the individual poetry events.
BIG HEART DAY HIGHLAND
The Highland Council is organising a
Highland-wide day of school fundraising for
the Tsunami Disaster Appeal - and is
inviting other Council employees and local
businesses to join them. Wednesday 9th
February has been designated as Big Heart
Day Highland when every class in every
school across the Highlands (220 schools)
will be given the challenge of raising an
average donation of �1 per pupil towards the
Appeal.
20 January 2005
council secures funding for caithness and sutherland women�s aid
A service to provide support and refuge for
women affected by domestic abuse received a vital assurance of funding
from The Highland Council�s Housing and Social Work Committee today. Caithness and Sutherland
Women�s Aid currently provides an Outreach service giving support to women
suffering from domestic abuse but it has also worked with the Highland
Council and Pentland Housing Association to set up a refuge which can
assist women with children and single women who become homeless as a
result of domestic abuse. Today the service received an assurance of
�127,000 funding from the Highland Council which will ensure that this
vital service to the community can be established and the purpose built
refuge opened for use.
Highland
Council Library Service Launches 24 Hour Online Services
At
The Highland Council�s Education, Culture and Sport Committee, today
(Thurs 20th January, 2005), members saw a demonstration of the
Highland Libraries on-line catalogue, which provides users with an
internet-based interactive service 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Through the Council�s website
www.highland.gov.uk , anyone can
now access the Highland Libraries Catalogue and other sources such as the
National Library of Scotland and the British Library. People with
current library cards can renew loans, request items and review their
borrower accounts, as well as accessing a range of electronic reference
materials, newspaper files and business information. A number of
schools including Wick and Thurso High schools have the online catalogue.
65 SCHOOLS DAMAGED BY STORMS
A total of 65 schools in the Highlands
were damaged by last week�s storms. The
Education Culture and Sport Committee was
told today (Thursday) that the cost of
repairs would be reported to the next
meeting once a full audit of the damage had
been completed. Director of Education
Culture and Sport, Bruce Robertson, showed
committee member the destruction of the
wooden pedestrian bridge and concrete
supports which had cut off the two-pupil
Canna Primary School from the main housing
settlement, resulting in temporary
relocation of the school to the island tea
room. Damage at Elgol Primary, Skye,
which had demolished a retaining sea wall
and eaten into the school garden was also
shown to committee members. Mallaig
High School, which reopened on Wednesday,
had suffered significant roof damage,
including the loss of 300 slates.
UKAEA SUBMITS EVIDENCE TO SCOTTISH AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE INQUIRY
The UK Atomic Energy Authority has given
evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee
of MPs to assist its inquiry into aspects of
decommissioning the former experimental fast
reactor establishment at Dounreay. The
committee is exploring the long-term
employment prospects for staff involved in
decommissioning the site and the long-term
strategy for managing the radioactive wastes
that arise from decommissioning. It is also
examining future energy sources in Scotland.
In its written submission, UKAEA underlines
its commitment to continued close working
with organisations such as Caithness and
Sutherland Enterprise, North Highland
College UHI and Highland Council to identify
opportunities for sustainable economic
development. In the short-term, this
involves working together to maximise the
economic benefits to the area from a
decommissioning programme which accounts for
one in five jobs locally and contributes an
estimated �80 million to the local economy
annually.
COUNCIL CLOSE FUNDING GAP ON WICK ALL
WEATHER PITCH PROJECT
The funding of a long-awaited floodlit
all weather pitch within the grounds of Wick
High School was secured today (Thursday)
following a plea by Caithness members
attending The Highland Council's Education
Culture and Sport Committee. Meeting in
Inverness today (Thursday 20 January 2005),
the Committee unanimously accepted the
Caithness arguments for an additional
allocation of �345,000 on top of the
previously agreed �525,000 towards the cost
of the project and allows
work to start in the new financial year. Caithness councillors were delighted at
the outcome and are hopeful that work can start in the autumn. Wick councillors Bill Fernie, Katrina
McNab and Graeme Smith were joined by Councillor Roger Saxon in
highlighting the importance of the project and the long and eager wait by
Wick people for the new facility.
19 January 2005
Skills Grants Available
- Up To �750
People in Caithness and Sutherland who aren't
working or who work part time and want to move into full time employment
are being encouraged by Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) to take
up an individual skills development grant. CASE offers help, advice and funding -
up to �750 a year depending on circumstances - to people who can't find
work or who are working part-time and want to improve their job prospects.
Funding support ranges from 25 per cent of costs for non certificated
courses to 75 per cent of costs for certificated courses. Donna Booth, a development manager with
CASE, said: "Re-establishing workplace skills and knowledge is key to
finding a job. At CASE, we recognise that if you have been out of the job
market for some time, you need a hand to get going again. Our funding
support for people preparing for work is flexible and takes account of
individual circumstances."
HIE Launches Its Biggest Public Consultation
A HUGE public consultation exercise is being
launched by Highlands and Islands Enterprise
(HIE). Responses to the widest exercise of
its kind in the 40-year history of the
economic and community development agency
and its predecessor, the Highlands and
Islands Development Board, will help
determine HIE's future activities. The
consultation is part of a detailed review by
HIE of how, in an area with challenges and
opportunities highly distinct from other
parts of Scotland, it can best help deliver
national economic priorities and pursue its
unique community development role.
Caithness Editor Wins Feature Writer Award
Editor of the John O'Groat Journal/Caithness Courier, Alan Hendry, is
Feature Writer of the Year. His reporter Ally McGilvray was highly
commended in the Young Journalist of the Year category.
13 TO 25 YEAR OLDS SHOULD GET
MUMPS JAGS
A Highland doctor is encouraging 13-25 year olds who have not been
immunised against Mumps to attend their GP to be immunised. This advice
comes as the numbers of cases of mumps are on the increase nationally,
although the increases in the Highlands are not as high an increase as in
Scotland as a whole. Dr Geoff Cramp, Locum Consultant in Public
Health, said: "In 2004 in the Highland Health Board area, there were 66
cases of Mumps notified to Public Health. 36 of these have been confirmed
by laboratory testing and 30 are unconfirmed cases. This is in contrast to
2003 when there were 9 notified cases of mumps in Highland, only 2 of
which were confirmed. There is therefore a 7.5-fold increase in the number
of notified cases and an 18-fold increase in the number of confirmed cases
in Highland. This is less than in Scotland as a whole where there has been
an 19-fold increase in notified cases and a 35-fold increase in the number
of confirmed cases."
Intrepid SSPCA Fund Raising Pair Go For
Abseiling On the Way To Costa Rica
Mandy Purves and Ann Cormack
raisng money for a trek in Trek
Costa Rica For SSPCA funds will are organising a
sponsored abseil. You can take part to
help them on their way. check their
page for details.
The Phone At Forss
Dawn
Alderson has sent in this photos of the
phone at Forss making a striking pictures in
the snow.
Snow Time In Caithness
A
couple of snow scenes to add to our Bishops
Drive, Scrabster gallery. Forecasts
were for snow overnight and Caithness did
not escape. Temperatures plummeted on
Tuesday and gritters were out all over the
county.
Weather Links
48 Hour Forecast For Caithness
New Flats At Castle Gardens - Thurso Have
Great Views
New Flats at Castle Gardens, Thurso are well
under way and on schedule to have the show
house ready in a few weeks. The upper
flats have terrific views of Thurso and even
across to John O'Groats. Even before
they are ready to go on show interest in the
homes which are spacious and built on split
levels with balconies to take in that view
has been very good. Lower levels have
less of a view and this will be reflected in
the prices of the various properties.
The property is being built by D M Geddes
Ltd
18 January 2005
NEW LOCUM RECRUITED FOR CAITHNESS
MATERNITY SERVICES
Dr M.M.A.F Keshta, MD, MRCOG, FRCS(Ed.),
Diploma Of Endoscopic Surgery (France) and
Diploma of Ultrasonography (UK) will take up
the post of Locum Consultant Obstetrician &
Gynaecologist at Caithness General Hospital
on Monday 31st January 2005. Dr Keshta, who
has lived and practised Obstetrics and
Gynaecology in the UK, Egypt and Saudi
Arabia for 24 years, has taken up the post
for a period of 8 months: "I have been
working as an obstetrician & gynaecologist
in different types of hospitals around the
UK, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. My special
interests include labour ward management,
subfertility, endoscopic surgery and general
gynaecology. Because of my experience,
I am looking forward to participate in
providing good quality obstetric &
gynaecological care in the Caithness area".
Caithness Ranger Issues Warning To Local
Walkers Regarding Storm Damage To Footpaths
A
warning has been issued from
The Highland Council's Senior Ranger for
Caithness Area, Mary Legg with the
Council's Planning and Development Service
to people accessing the coastal area of
Dunnet Bay for walking and
recreation. Following an inspection of
the area around Dunnet Bay, Mary Legg said:
"Storms have played havoc with coastal paths
and boardwalks in North Caithness. Dunnet
Bay took the full force of the recent gales
and high seas and three sections of
boardwalks have been washed away. "There is
still access to the beach from the right
hand pathway from the carpark at the north
end of the bay. The path east to
Robbieshaven from John O'Groats is badly
damaged as is a coastal section of the path
at the
Flagstone Heritage in Castletown.
The front of the Dunnet bay dune system has
been severely battered and undercut by high
tides and storm waves. This has made the
front edge very unstable and prone to
slumping. For reason of safety please avoid
crossing these areas."
UKAEA Chooses Johnson Controls For
Facilities Management Contract At Dounreay
UKAEA today announced it has selected
Johnson Controls as preferred bidder for its
facilities management contract at Dounreay
following a competitive tendering exercise.
The contract covers a wide range of site
services to support the decommissioning
programme, including building,
roads and ground maintenance, catering,
cleaning and laundry, transport and
industrial waste disposal. The
existing facilities management contract,
held by Johnson Controls, expires on March
31, 2005. The new contract is for five
years, with scope for additional works and
extensions.
Strong Air Passenger Growth to End of Third
Quarter In Highland
The December passenger figures from
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited show
that 73,000 passengers used the company�s 10
airports in the month, a 7% increase on
December 2003. Total passengers at the
end of the third quarter in the operating
year 2004/05 stood at 802,013, a 10.4%
increase on the first nine months of
2003/04.
Skills Grants
People in Caithness and Sutherland who
aren't working or who work part time and
want to move into full time employment are
being encouraged by Caithness and Sutherland
Enterprise (CASE) to take up an individual
skills development grant. CASE offers help,
advice and funding - up to �750 a year dep...
NEW AREA MANAGER FOR CAITHNESS
The Highland Council has appointed Ian Hargrave as its new Area Manager
for Caithness. Mr Hargrave was appointed following interviews in
Wick on Monday. He began his career in his native Glasgow and worked
in Falkirk as well as in Stranraer, where he was district housing officer
with Wigtown District Council before being appointed The Highland
Council's Housing Manager for Caithness in March 1996. He has been acting
Area Manager for Caithness since October 2002.
Academy Football Team 1954
Picture
sent in by Janette Webster (nee Coghill). Janette's husband George
Webster is in the photo. It was the first
year they had won the cup from the North School for many a year.
Latheron School 1952 - 53
Another
old school photo sent in by Adam Mc Donald.
17 January 2005
New Voices: James Ross - The
Scotsman
James
Ross from Wick has been making a name for himself in the Celtic music
world in the last couple of years and once again he is hitting the
headlines at the opening of Celtic Connections. James who started
his musical career playing the accordion is now making his name on the
piano where he has put his own special Celtic touch to the instrument that
often takes a back seat to the fiddle accordion or voice when Scottish
tunes are concerned. James has played in many places including the
United States and his career continues to expand.
16 January 2005
Sunday
Papers Links
A handy list of the Sunday papers online in case you cannot get out to buy
them. You can find the link on the left hand side of this page
North School Football Team 1973 - 74
The
latest pictures into our schooldays section is this North School football
team from 1973 sent in by Arthur Robertson.
North School Schooldays Index
Schooldays Main
Index
Some Mackay Family Photos
Three
photos from a Mackay collection. One of a young couple. Can you help the
sender confirm their identity. The other two photos have some
information but perhaps you know more about them and can help here also.
A new Mackay section has been set up to place Mackay information or photos
connected to Caithness that are sent in. Caithness.org is not a
family history web site but we are happy to add a few requests from time
to time if it helps.
Wick Harbour At High Tide - Friday
Take a stroll with us around Wick Harbour. In a few years much may
change. It might appear that little is changing but the new solar
roof on the fish market and the �3 million repair work on the north pier
to be followed by the widening over coming weeks of shore Lane and shortly
the repairs to Shore Road may be just the prelude of much more activity.
So here is look at Wick Harbour warts and all at the start of 2005.
Can you spot the development opportunities? In two or three years we
may be looking at a very different set of pictures as the Harbour Trust,
Councillors, Business people and economic advisers put ideas
forward. What might happen at the harbour and Wick generally?
There are groups in Wick looking at a new community centre (�2million),
Arts Centre, New Housing Developments, Blackstairs redevelopment underway,
Salt Cellars/stores to become show cases for Wick Heritage, Memorial
Garden in Bank Row, Dental Training unit, New shops project (seven shops
headed by Homebase and Argos. Caithness Councillors are pressing
hard for the All Weather Pitch to be funded fully by the council after
Sport Scotland refused funding. A new group - an offshoot of
the Pultenytown Peoples Project is looking at the redevelopment of the
Rosebank Park. The Wick Heat and Power scheme will invest
�3.5million in a wood chip scheme already proven elsewhere.
Hopefully the laying of the pipe network will be carried out to coincide
with other work by Scottish Water due to take place in upgrades to their
pipe system. More alternative energy schemes look set to come to
Wick possibly making it one of the foremost places in the UK for use of
non fossil fuels. The Harbour Trust is nearing the point of
modernisation after a long struggle. The existing trust body will
disappear and a new body will be appointed following a new order agreed
with the Scottish Executive. At the same time a business plan funded
by CASE will be available in the near future for the new trust to
consider. Everything does not go to Inverness it only seems
that way as it might with any big town compared to a smaller one. A
lot is going to happen in Wick in the next two or three years so take a
look at this set of pictures of Wick Harbour - in a couple of years
they might look very different. Watch this space for much more
happening in Wick.
Reminder About Useful
Functions In The Business Index
Just a reminder for those of you who do not use the business information
too often that there are some useful features in the index that you will
not generally find in paper guides. For example click on a post code
for a particular business and it opens up a map from Multimap that allows
you to click around to find the exact street where the business is
located. The fax numbers are highlighted in blue to remind you that you
can send a fax via email to that business. by clicking on the fax number.
And if you are struggling to find a business in the listings then try the
search facility remembering to try a few variations if you do not hit the
right one first time.
15 January 2005
More Scrabster High Tide Pictures
More Pictures Of The High Water In Wick River
Pictures
are still being sent in of the weather and high tide that hit Caithness
and the rest of Scotland a few days ago. These latest show
the Coghill Bridge completely surrounded by water and the main bridge with
amazingly high water under it.
Caithness.org
Launches Flower Patch Web Site
Well known
Wick flower shop The Flower Patch now has its own web site to make it
easier to contact staff get few ideas. Phone them or email them it
couldn't be easier to get flowers for any special occasion. Remember
you can always find
the Flower Patch web site via the link in our Business Index
Caithness.org via our business side Scorrie Internet Services makes it
easier to find local businesses on the web. Watch out for the
Flower Patch banner as that will soon join our list of advertisers.
South School Sale For Tsunami Appeal
On
Friday afternoon South School ran sale to raise money for the Tsunami
Disaster Appeal. Children brought in many unwanted books and toys
for the sale and purchased some to take home again.
Up To
Eight Minutes May Be Added To Wick/Thurso - Inverness Train Journey
According to an item in the Scotsman up to eight minutes may be added to
the train journey from Wick Thurso - Inverness. This will happen
from July due to new safety regulations.
14 January 2005
Henderson Street - Thurso - Part Of Thurso Industrial Estate
More Pictures From High Tide - At The Lifeboat Scrabster Harbour
Pictures of the bad weather are still coming in and we will post them
shortly. the lifeboat shed had water in to the building like
several others. Fortunately they have wet ground floor for
changing etc after trips. the floor is concrete and little damage
was caused. Still looks scary as it is lapping atthe window.
New
Restaurant To Open In John O'Groats
Caithness And Sutherland Enterprise has announced its grants awarded for
December 2004. Included in the list is one for �12,000 to
help establish a new restaurant at the Old Schoolhouse John O'Groats.
Other awards include one for a web site for the long established band
Manson Grant and the Dynamos. Richards Garage, Wick and Bervie
Stores, Kinlochbervie have both gained grants towards upgrading petrol
pumps
Moray Firth Radio In Wick On Monday For Tsunami Commercial Radio
Appeal
Moray Firth Radio will be in Wick and other places in Highland on Monday
as they join forces with 200 commercial radio stations across the
country to raise funds for the DEC Asian tsunami appeal. Part of
the appeal will be asking people to 'give an hour' with companies are
being asked to allow employees to donate an hour's salary. All other
fundraising activity is also welcome. Throughout the day they will
have local updates on local frequencies and at one point Moray Firth
will broadcast an 'insert' to the potential audience of 30million.
The plan is to have presenters in Wick, Inverness, Cairn Gorm and Elgin
with the radio car travelling throughout Ross-shire.
They also hope to talk to local people who were caught up in the
disaster and those who've been helping to raise funds and other aid.
Janetstown Industrial Estate
The
Janetstown Industrial estate has been there for many years but activity
has literally lifted off with the imposing new building nearing
completion at the site near Thurso. The new building owned by JGC
Engineering and Technical Services will be involved in testing equipment
for decommissioning at Dounreay.
13 January 2005
EMERGENCY HELP STILL AVAILABLE FOR HIGHLAND HOMES WITHOUT POWER OR
WATER
Anyone who is still without power of water supplied in their homes
today (Thursday 13th January) and is concerned about their own or their
family's welfare should contact The Highland Council emergency helpline
number on 0800 838 009 for further advice and assistance. Highland
Council's Emergency Planning Manager Brian Downie said: "We are aware
that there are still parts of our area that are without power and water.
We urge anyone who is worried or concerned about coping, especially the
elderly or families with very young children to contact the emergency
number on 0800 838 009" The helpline for Council Services is 0800
838 009. The public can use this number to check road closures and
report damage to council property.
Wick River Flood From Another Angle
And
still the pictures are coming in on the bad weather across Caithness.
These latest show the Wick River flooding from another angle.
Fortunately this was when the tide began to turn and the water did not
get much further.
Even The Tiny Reissgill Burn At Lybster Got In On the Storm Act
The
Reissgill Burn at Lybster Harbour also got in on the storm as the water
cascaded towards the harbour today following the stormy weather.
The normally picturesque scene turned itself into something like a
miniature Zambesi for a while.
The digital revolution in Caithness has been proven by this storm as
pictures continue to err... flood in from all over the county. We
will add more yet if anyone wants to add to this magnificent joint cross
county effort to record the storm affects. Thanks for all your
photos.
Fishermen At Lybster Had To Keep Boats Away From Piers At
High Tide
12 January 2005
Trees And Signs Hit By Wind
Trees
and signs al over the place have been blown over by the gales. The
sign in this photo is at the end of March Road coming into Wick and the
trees at the house show here are typical of shallow rooted trees in
severe wind conditions.
Wick River Overflows At Car Park
These
latest photographs in show the Wick river overflowing into the car park
at high tide today. Sandbags were being delivered by council staff
to businesses and premises in the area but it was thought that the water
level would subside before it reached them. Sandbags will be in
place tonight just in case there is another surge tonight.
Weather Links
48 Hour Forecast For Caithness
Met Office Flash Warning
Kessock Bridge Reopened for Traffic At 3.30pm Today
As weather conditions improved the Kessock Bridge was reopened today
at 3.30pm
January Newsletter From Pultenytown Academy Primary School
Adverse Weather, School Meals, Tsunami appeal, Diary Dates etc.
January Newsletter From South Primary School
Discipline, School Meals, Adverse Weather, Charity Collection, January
Sale for Tsunami Disaster and Kit.
Storms Lash Caithness And The Whole Of Highlands & Islands
Castletown Harbour Sees Very High Water
Scrabster Harbour Flooded As Gales Combine With Rising Tide
Scrabster
was another port hit with flooding as the rising tide combined with the
high winds to drive the water onto the piers and buildings around the
harbour area. High tide tonight will be watched closely by the
harbour staff and businesses in the harbour. No boats were damaged
due to the hard work of people at the harbour. No reports of
property damage as sandbags were out fast.
Transport Delays In The North
Travelling was taking longer today as a number of bridges such as
the Dornoch and Kessock were closed for a period early. No trains
were running north of Perth and with the Forth and Tay Bridges closed
anyone trying to get north faced serious delays. Fallen trees have
caused further delays on many roads. Most flights and ferries were
cancelled today.
Harrow Harbour Sees Waves Crashing Over Pier
A
boat at Harrow Harbour looks as if it was lucky to be on the inside of
the Harbour Pier and not outside it as waves crashed over the top of the
pier today.
A Closer Look At The Thurso River Flooding
More Views Of Stormy Weather From Thurso
More
pictures from Thurso of the stormy scenes and Thurso river in flood.
These latest in are from Allan Lannon recently retired as head of Miller
Academy primary school. Digital pictures are flowing round
everyone's email and we have received one set three times as folk pass
them round. Thanks to all who have sent items in and anyone is
welcome to add to the gallery by sending pictures to
[email protected]
Council Workmen Working Flat Out As Tide Turns
Highland council staff in Caithness have been working flat out
delivering sandbags to various places especially in Thurso.
Sandbags have been delivered to Graham Begg's electrical, Norseman Hotel
and the Riverside Care Home as water in the Wick river began to run into
the car park at Somerfields Supermarket. The tide is beginning to
recede. Council workmen are still delivering more sandbags along
the lower reaches of the Thurso river as another high tide is expected
tonight with further flooding possible.
Highland Council Sets Up Special Helpline For Information On Services
All schools in Highland are closed today Wednesday 12 January.
Many roads have been closed because of flooding and fallen trees. The
Council has set up a helpline 0800 838 009 for enquiries on
Council services.
Wick Christmas Tree Snaps As Gales Continue In The North
The
wind although lessening still has some force left in it as seen by the
snapped trunk of the Wick Christmas tree in Market Square . The
tree which was slightly listing from the battering overnight finally
succumbed this morning.
Thurso River Flooding As Seen From A Janet Street Window
Flooding
can clearly be seen in these pictures taken from Janet Street looking
over to Millbank Road in Thurso. The fire Station and squash
courts had water coming in and there could be damage to the courts if
water got into the flooring. Further down the river the British
Legion and business premises along the street were flooded into the
buildings.
Thurso Takes Full Force Of High Winds and High Tide
Thurso
was hit hard by the gales last night and early this morning with the
High tide being a particularly severe problem. The Thurso river
burst its banks with flooding problems being created.
Lidl's Supermarket At Wick Loses Roof Tiles With Dangerous Metal
Sheeting Flying Around
With
extremely high wind speeds over night inevitably some roofs have
suffered. Lidl's supermarket at Wick has been badly damaged and
police were advising people not to use the car park in case more
sheeting blew off this morning. Some pieces of sheet metal were
found down the main street heading into Wick.
11 January 2005
Highland Gets Ready For 100 Mile An Hour Gales
Highland council workers are packing more sand bags in case of
flooding problems as weather forecasts show that the next 24 hours will
see the area hit by storm force gales. Heavy rain and wind gusting
up to 100mph will cause problems. Ferries may be affected with
cancellations already in the Western Isles. At around 1.00pm today
the wind in Caithness was beginning to increase with much worse expected
over night. Trees and roof tiles may be subject to damage. Winds are expected
to ease by Thursday but more bad weather is expected to follow.
Weather Links
48 Hour Forecast For Caithness
Met Office Flash Warning
NEW CO-ORDINATOR FOR INITIATIVE AT THE EDGE
- Highlands and Islands
The former Initiative at the Edge (IatE) local development officer
for Ardnamurchan, Hugh Donaldson, has been appointed as the new IatE
co-ordinator for the whole of the Highlands and Islands. Hughie
took up his post on Monday 10th January, and will be based at his home
in Acharacle. Hughie is a crofter and is
also closely involved with a number of local and wider voluntary
organisations including the Highland Small Communities Housing Trust,
Lochaber Housing Association, Scottish Crofting Foundation, Acharacle
Community Company and Loch Shiel Jetties Trust.
Initiative At the
Edge In Caithness is being established in South East
Caithness covering the
Community Council areas of Lybster, Clyth & Latheronwheel and
Dunbeath & Berriedale.
Donate Blood Today At Assembly Rooms, Wick
2.00 - 4.00pm or 5.00 - 8.00pm
Want To Learn About Sea Angling?
Perhaps Get Close To Dolphins And Whales?
Well
now you can do all three with the
help of a new venture to be launched shortly
in Caithness "The Caithness Sea Angling
Experience". Graham and Pat
Finn who live near Freswick already run a
fishing tackle business Kingfisher
Activities manufacturing a wide range of
items for fishing shops are now
setting out to give the benefit of their
experience to others. The new
venture will bring anglers to the north to
learn about sea angling from start to
finish. With breaks of up to five days
a wide range of skills will be covered as
well as enjoyable trips out in the boat
to catch fish and experience the sea
life around the Caithness coast.
10 January 2005
Palace Court - Scrabster
Bishops Drive - Scrabster
Sodium Disposal World Record For Dounreay
The
sodium disposal plant at PFR, built at a
cost of �17 million and which became
operational in March, 2004, has broken the
world record for the safe destruction of
liquid metal. The total destroyed to date,
770 tonnes, far exceeds the previous record
of 633 tonnes, which was achieved in 2001 by
EBR2, a nuclear complex in Idaho, USA. It
also means that UKAEA has now safely
destroyed half of the hazardous metal left
over from the fast reactor programme.
The fast reactors developed at Dounreay were
unique in the UK for their use of liquid
metals to transfer the heat from the core to
steam generators to produce electricity. At
the time of its closure in 1994, PFR had an
inventory of 1500 tonnes of liquid metal.
9 January 2005
A Look Round Scrabster Harbour On Sunday
Thurso Lifeboat - The Taylors - Exercise and A Tow
Thurso lifeboat, The Taylors was out on a routine exercise and still
managed to help out a boat in trouble. Local boat Puffin had engine
failure and the lifeboat was able to give her a tow back to Scrabster.
E.ON - Another Wind Farm Application
For Caithness
The latest company
E.On UK to
apply for a windfarm in Caithness hopes to build a 50MW windfarm at
Camster. The outline cost of the project is �45million with
possibly up to �5million earmarked for local contractors in the
development phase. E.ON is the biggest provider of electricity
in Germany and has an established track record of windfarms in the
UK with 21 alternative energy schemes (including windfarms, biomass
and hydro) already in operation. The forestry commission own
part of the land and E.ON would donate any trees felled to the newly
created Wick heating scheme to be established under the recently
formed company Caithness Heat and Power - a community initiative
being led by Highland council.
Camster is a vast open area of Caithness and there will almost
certainly be objections to the wind farm application.
Ornithology Winners 2005
Thurso
Ornithological Club held another successful show in Thurso Town Hall and
here are the winners from the various classes
7 January 2005
Caithness
Scouting Area Climbing Wall Re-opened
A climbing wall had been installed in the Wick Scout Hall and was
occasionally used until 3 or 4 years ago. Not many other scouting groups
in the area knew about the facility and weren�t using it. It was decided
to get the climbing wall reinstated so that the young scouts could get
some experience of climbing in a safe warm environment.
60s 70s & 80s School Disco Revival
Fund Raiser For Tsunami Disaster - Message Board
In the Thurso Legion on Friday 4th
February
Calling Caithness Voluntary Groups - Looking For Funding?
Is your group looking for extra funding for a project then take
look at the latest items added to our Funding for charities page.
The latest additions cover wide range of funding possibilities.
We have also added anew page to store earlier notices rather than
deleting the older stories in case these are useful to jog your
memory at a later date. Obtaining funding may not be
easy and it requires form filling but if you do not apply you
certainly will not get the money for your project. Remember
if you are already raising money for project your efforts might
well be rewarded with with a grant to make it happen sooner.
Traditional Music Workshop - Saturday 5 February
Another chance for anyone interested in traditional music - fiddle
and accordion to get involved with some of the experts. The
February workshop takes place in Halkirk and the application form
must be received by the 22nd of January. Tutors are Charlie
McKerron on fiddle and Carol-Anne Mackay on accordion.
Thurso Branch Of
British Legion Fund Raiser For Tsunami Disaster
The Royal British
Legion in Thurso is undertaking various activities over the next
month to raise funds for the Asian Disaster Appeal
www.dec.org.uk On
Friday the 21st January at the Legion Club in Thurso we are
holding a prize bingo with all profits going towards the cause
admission �1. On Friday the 4th February at the Legion Club in
Thurso we are holding a 60s, 70s, & 80s School Disco Revival for
all adults 18 or over, tickets �5 available from the club. We are
also organising a raffle with a first prize of TWO TICKETS TO
BRYAN ADAMS at the SECC on Saturday 14th May plus various other
prizes which will be advertised. The draw will take place at the
School Disco Revival on the 4th February.
4 January 2005
Put Out Your Old Christmas Trees With Your Rubbish
Old Christmas Trees can be put out with your rubbish this week on
the day collection is due until 14 January. Heavy lift items
will not resume collections until 17 January.
Access In The Countryside
The latest newsletter from SNH and links to related and useful web
sites. The new legislation comes into affect in 2005 and there
are grants available for paths etc.
Council Refuse Collection Will Uplift Up To Ten Bags Of Rubbish
This Week
Highland Council Bin Lorries will collect up to ten extra bags
of household waste this week without the need to phone in to
advise them. Next week the system reverts to normal when you
will need to give them a call to have extra rubbish taken away.
2 January 2005
Caithness
Whispers Catches A Whiff Of Rabbie Burns
Listening in on the world sometimes turns up the odd item of
interest. This dialogue in Google Groups is one brought to
our attention by the word "Chiel" as correctly stated still in use
in Caithness. the item starts with a translation of Robert
Burns poem Tam O' Shanter appropriate ass we are heading towards
Burns Night later in the month. If you are looking for Burns
links then we have a few in place -
Here.
Also added to the section in case anyone is looking for the poems
or meanings is a copy of the text by the Gutenberg project of the
Complete Works of Burns and a glossary of words and meanings.
Charlie Chan's Restaurant Raffle Raises Cash For Local Spina
Bifida
Thurso's popular Charlie Chans Chinese Restaurant held a raffle
which was drawn on New's Years day. All the prizes, including
bottles of wine, a Dunlop sports watch, Chinese moving dolls and
various vouchers were donated by the proprietors. The raffle
raised a total of �171 with all the proceeds donated to the local
branch for Spina Bifida. All prizes can be collected from
the restaurant and the numbers for the winning raffle tickets are:
133, 156, 196, 162, 84, 227, 282, 148 and 69.
Visitor Record Broken In 2004 Even
With Lost Server Days
Thanks To All Our Contributors and visitors In 2004
1 Jan 04 - 31 Dec 04 - Hits : 78,408,888
Visitors : 1,345,310
December 2004 -
Hits : 6,332,592
Visitors : 108,639
2004 broke the records for visitors and hits again in 2004 even
although we had a few days of server problems in December where
the site was not available. Despite those few days of
problems in December the visitor rate is still up reaching
1,345,310 visitors with a hit rate in excess of 78million.
Photographs of all kinds continue to be very popular and the
castles section shows no sign of waning in the sections.
UKAEA - The First Fifty Years
This
short history of UKAEA provides an overview of the 50 years up to
2004 with links to names and places mentioned in the text
First Aid Course For Childminders
Caithness Childcare and Family Resource Partnership are organising
a first aid course at the North Highland College - Wick, on
Wednesday 19th January 2005 from 6pm to 9.30pm. The course is open
to Childminders and people working within the childcare sector,
places on the course are free and only a limited number are
available for this course, to book a place please contact Lindsay
Gunn on 01955 605040 or e-mail
[email protected]
1 January 2005
Wick Parties Into 2005
