CAITHNESS.ORG HEADLINES ARCHIVE ::  January 2011
Scorries in Full Flight Against The Broch - Wick Academy  2 Fraserburgh  0  
(half-time: 0-0)     Reporter Noel Donaldson
Wick V Fraserburgh  2 - 0 Wick V Fraserburgh 2- 0 Wick V Fraserburgh 2 - 0

IF ANYONE
had been deluded into thinking that Wick Academy might be a trifle stale following a series of weather postponements, then their bet would have been misplaced.  The Scorries delivered an emphatic, two-goal win against a club that has frequently had the upper hand in the past.
Even leaving three points aside, it was an excellent, entertaining match and good value for the Harmsworth Park faithful, who saw a first half full of pacey, end-to-end football, with both keepers denying their teams the opener, and the eagerly-awaited second period deciders.  It took the home side to the 50th minute to break the deadlock, Richard Macadie lobbing Fraserburgh’s sticksman, Paul Leask.
McAdie went on to double his take with a nonchalant side-foot tap into the visitor’s goal after splitting their defence and netting the Man of the Match award, into the bargain.  The Broch defence  seemed to have no answer to Academy’s speed and creativity in the final third and they could easily have had a hat-trick.  Fair play to Fraserburgh who didn’t throw in the towel and continued to press the home defence right to the final whistle.
Halkirk United Piled Up The Goals Against Bonar Bridge - 5 - 0
Photos on James Gunn Photography web site

Rugby
On the rugby on Saturday Caithness RFC drew with Annan RFC 13 - 13

Sun Rays Over Halkirk
A fantastic sunset over Halkirk by Stewart Watt

If you have any recent sunset photos why not share them in the photo section in our forum
Time To Enrol Children For School
Parents and guardians of children are being informed by The Highland Council that its time for enrolment into pre-school and primary school in the Highlands.   The next school session starts on 16 August 2011.  All children who will be five on or before that date should be enrolled during primary enrolment week commencing 31 January 2011.   Children who will be five between 17 August 2011 and 29 February 2012 may also enrol at this time although it may be decided, after discussion, to delay entry.

Lybster Police Station To Close As Part Of Savings Measures By Northern Constabulary
Government's Austerity Measures Bite Deeper

Police Stations were the focus of a meeting ot the Joint Northern Police Board today when it was agreed to close 15 police stations in the latest round of cuts and savings measures being announced by public bodies right across the UK.  Lybster police station will now be covered by Wick police station.  Fifteen police stations across Northern Constabulary's force area will be closed following a decision by the Northern Joint Police Board.  The stations include Scalloway and Dunrossness on Shetland and Stromness on Orkney. Barvas, Carloway, Ness and Tarbert on the Western Isles and Broadford on Skye will also close.  Bettyhill, Lybster, Evanton, Cromarty, Spean Bridge, Drumnadrochit and Ardersier will also be shut.  Beauly was also in the firing line but a decision on its future will be taken at a later date.  Northern Constabulary and the board said the move would not impact policing in the areas involved.  Members were briefed in relation to the savings required to balance budgets for 2010/11 and beyond. Potential savings were highlighted in respect of revised call handling and reception services, station closures, the removal of police officer allowances and efficiency measures within Divisional Commands and Service Units, which amounted to approximately �2,926,751 in 2011/12.  The full agenda for today's meeting that took place at 9.30am today can be found HERE
Council Focuses On Trees And Woodlands
Planning consultations seek views on sustainable design and impact of development on trees and woodland.
An eight-week public consultation gets under way today Monday (24 January 2011) on two new planning documents produced by The Highland Council's Planning Environment and Development Service, which provide guidance on the design of buildings as well the impact of developments on trees and woodland.

New Extended Way Of Paying Council Bills
Highland householders are being advised by The Highland Council of new and extended ways of paying their Council Tax, rent and other Council bills. The new payment system takes effect from 1 April - the start of the new financial year.  From then, the public will be able to pay by cash or cheque at any Post Office and more than 300 PayPoints and Payzones throughout the Highlands.  From 1 April, the public will NOT be able to pay by cash or cheque at a Council Service Point, although they will continue to be able to pay by debit or credit card.................................... "The additional Council business will help post offices that are important to so many communities and help sustain small businesses, such as local convenience stores and garages."........more Halkirk Utd beat Balintore 4-0
Kalkirk United beat Balintore FC 4 - 0 on 22 January 2011

On Saturday 22 January 2011 Halkirk United beat Balintorego clear at the top of the league as Thurso beat co-leaders Dingwall Thistle 4-0. Halkirk scorers were Grant McNab, Michael Bremner, Colin Sinclair and Liam Bremner.  See the photos from the game over on James Gunn's Photography
The Wick Academy  V Huntly game  on Saturday was postponed due to a frozen pitch.  Wick Academy play Fraserburgh on Saturday 29th January at home - kick off 3.00pm

365 Photos From 2010 - Slide Show
We have often linked to Jamie Buchanan's Flickr photos an he completed another full year at the end of
JOHN GUNN, BORN HARPSDALE, CAITHNESS, 1927; DIED INVERNESS, 2011
By Bill Mowat

GREAT GRANDFATHER - AN ACTIVIST, FUND-RAISER AND CAMPAIGNER FOR DISABLED RIGHTS.
John Gunn, a native of Harpsdale, near Halkirk, who died in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness aged 84 on 15.01.11, was a tireless and successful campaigner on behalf of the blind and for associated charities focusing on persons with sight impairment and other disabilities throughout his adult life.

Clean Sweep Paved Way For Towheads
Noel Donaldson
Towheads for The North Sea At Wick Towhead moving through wick destined for Wester fabrication site

 
A HIGH-POWERED sea and land transport operation, involving bringing massive towheads ashore on the north side of Wick harbour and loading them onto articulated vehicles to negotiate the streets on the way to Wester, got a helping hand from a more modest piece of Highland Council technology...a road sweeper.
It was drafted in, Thursday, when it was realised that grit and salt on the steep Scalesburn brae, might present a problem for the articulated convoy getting up the steep brae.  The council men did several sweeps to ensure that the multi-wheel artics carrying the two massive towheads, would not slip on the road surface.
The normally-smooth operation hit an unexpected snag, this time round.  Car owners had not been alerted, in advance, to oblige by moving their vehicles, as was usually the case, and police had to rush around to make last-minute contact owners-in some cases-at work- and ensure that the route, along, Willowbank, Girnigoe Street, Henrietta Street and George Street, were clear.
First to get underway was the larger towhead, weighing 190 tonnes.  It was followed, close behind, by a smaller one, tipping the scales at 110 tonnes.  These are the first in a series of towheads scheduled to come through Wick harbour for the Wester yard, this year.  The towheads attracted some attention from townspeople some of whom took advantage of the fine, sunny, weather, to snap the convoy as it made its way through the Wick side of the town.
The towheads are for the first of two, multi-million pipeline orders for BP and American-based oil firm Apache North Sea Ltd which has boosted the workforce at Wester, to 150.  The 6.8 kilometre pipeline for Apache Bacchus Field, began in September and is due to be launched next month.
Towhead In 2006
Towhead In 2005
Artists Rooms At Swanson Gallery, Thurso
Swanson Gallery, Thurso exhibits work of acclaimed American artist
Ed Ruscha - Major works from Four Decades
ARTIST ROOMS on Tour with the Art Fund supported by The Scottish Government
Major drawings by Ed Ruscha, one of the most influential and pioneering American artists of the past half-century, will be opening at the Swanson Gallery, Thurso Library on Saturday 15th January until 26th February as part of ARTIST ROOMS, the important new public collection of international post-war and contemporary art that independent charity the Art Fund is helping to tour across the UK.

Latest addition to NorthLink fleet named in Orkney - Shetland Times
NorthLink’s new freight vessel MV Helliar – the latest addition to the fleet.
Doanalsin's Diary
Noel donaldson Wrties Doanalsin's Diary

Noel Donaldson
has his own column now in the Forum where he will adding more items from time to time.  In addition a new photo gallery to compliment the new column is also in place HERE
A few items are already in the diary
See the report on Saturdays footy-  Wick Academy V Formartine United
Wick Academy V Formartine United



Win A Day Back In Time For Primary Schools

The year may well say 2011 on your new calendar, but  pupils from Caithness Primary Schools  are being invited to enter a competition which will transport them back in time.  The competition is being organised by The Caithness Heritage Trust volunteers who run Mary-Ann's Cottage in Dunnet.  Every primary school in Caithness has been sent a copy of  the DVD 'A Window into the Crofting Past' which gives an insight into what  life was like at Mary-Ann's Cottage when horses were used for ploughing and harvesting was a community activity.
Design Challenge! - For Gansey Project
Gansey - An old form of fisherman's jersey

The Moray Firth Gansey Project is issuing a challenge to all budding designers in their exciting international competition to design a new gansey pattern for the Moray Firth. Men and women down the ages have created clever, but simple, decorative knitting patterns that turned fishermens working jumpers, or ganseys, into unique works of art. Patterns represented familiar everyday objects, such as ropes, nets, flags, stars, and waves. To keep the tradition of gansey knitting alive, the Project hopes to inspire people to create a new gansey design for the Moray Firth in the 21 century. The main aims of the Gansey Project are to record and conserve the patterns used in the area to decorate traditional fishermens ganseys, and to ensure that the traditional skills are not lost. This competition is an exciting opportunity to create a pattern in the tradition of the Gansey knitters of old, and to connect with the rich heritage of Scotland! said Beth Brown-Reinsel, author of the international selling book: Knitting Ganseys. The competition is split into two sections, so that even those who cannot knit, as well as budding designers, can enjoy the thrill and challenge of creating a new pattern. What the judges will be looking for is originality of design that reflects aspects of maritime or fishing life around this beautiful and productive Scottish coastline.
[a] Design a gansey patterned bag
[b] Design a new adult gansey pattern
Ganseys In Caithess
Taking Dounreay waste south will save many millions - Press & Journal
Caithness Astronomy Group Was Out To See The Partial Eclipse Of The Sun
Partial Eclipse Of The Sun Partial Eclipse Of the sun Partial Eclipse Of The Sun

Caithness Astronomy Group was out at Duncansby Head to see a rare event - a partial eclipse of the sun.  the group were lucky and the sky cleared to a spectacular sky showing the eclipse to good effect.  The Caithness Astronomy Group has information about the group on the Caithness Science Web Site
Partial solar eclipses occur when the Sun and Moon do not quite align in the sky as viewed from Earth, and the deep shadow cast by the smaller body passing across the bigger one just misses the planet.   There are three more partial solar eclipses this year.  You will not get another chance to see so much of the Sun being covered up by the Moon until 20 March 2015.  Meantime go along to some of the astronomy events organised in Caithness to learn more about the sky above your head.   A Report Of The Event

New Modern Jive Classes In Caithness
Get fit and Learn To Dance - Jive in Caithness
Learn a new skill that's fun and helps to keep you fit.  Learning Modern Jive is a great way of meeting new people and you don't need to bring a partner.  The biggest draw back of some dances, if your new to dancing, is that you spend time and money learning the moves but then find there is nowhere to put what you have learnt into practice. This is where Modern Jive comes into it's own, because it can be danced to a huge variety of music from Rock & Roll to Salsa, R & B to Country, Swing to Jazz and even to Reggae......... new beginners classes from 7:00 to 8:30PM in Thurso at the Girl Guides Hall on Tuesday 25th January and in Wick at the Boys' Brigade Hall on Wednesday 26th January.  Classes cost �5/person or �8/couple. Check the What's On section for more details...............more
More Photos From Wick's New Year Street Party
New Year At Market Square Wick 2011


Icetech returns to profit as Russell rescue pays dividend - The Herald
The former Norfrost freezer manufacturing operation that was saved from collapse by haulage entrepreneur John Russell in 2005 has been returned to profitability.
Go Star Gazing Tonight At Castlehill
Astronomy Event At Castlehill 3 January 2010


Happy New Year 2011

Market Square, Wick Saw Big Crowd Greet 2011
Market Square Wick New Year 2011 New Year Wick 2011 New Year Wick 2011 New Year wick 2011

Wick’s Hogmanay party-the reel thing! -
Noel Donaldson
W
ICK gave 2011 a tumultuous welcome at its biggest attraction of the year.  About 2000 people, mainly young folk, crowded into the Market Square for the annual Hogmanay bash.
Earlier in the day, it looked as if the celebrations would be at risk, because of “smoorie” rain and a stiff wind.  However, the adverse conditions abated in the early evening, to provide revellers with near-perfect weather for the event.
As always, it was around 11pm before the party really got into its swing and the guests began to warm to the excellent music supplied by the band, Chicken Pickers and the piping duo, the Harvey Brothers, who soon had the younger generation bopping.  Soup, pies and sausage rolls, provided by J.D.Weatherspoon, helped keep the cold out, along with revellers’ personal alcohol supplies with which to toast 2011.
Noel Donaldson, press secretary, for the organising committee, H.A.P.P.Y (Hogmanay and People’s Party Yearly) said: “It was a fantastic night. The fact that the crowds keep on turning out, year after year, speaks volumes about the event’s popularity.  The band, and pipers Andrew and Craig Harvey  again did us proud, keeping things moving and combining to create that traditional Hogmanay atmosphere.  I thought the Chicken Pickers’ unaccompanied version of Molly Malone, was quite something.”
The organisers had to contend with a couple of hiccups...the web cam, again organised by Paul Broad width through local website, caithness.org, experienced a last minute, technical, hitch, denying exiles around the world, the chance to sample the Hogmanay fare, back home.  For the same reason, the chimes , heralding the New Year, couldn’t be broadcast.
Mr Donaldson said: “These considerations, while regrettable, didn’t detract from the overall success of the party and I’m sure can be overcome for next year”
He added: “One thing that did concern us, was, that, despite pre-party pleas to revellers not to bring along their drams in glass containers, several appeared to ignore the appeals.  Broken glass was again in evidence posing an obvious risk to adults and children alike.  All we can really do is to keep plugging the danger and hope that it doesn’t take an accident to bring it home.  Greater use of the wheelie bins for rubbish would also make life easier for committee members and volunteers, who, after all, are entitled to expect to be able to catch up on their celebrations, as soon as possible, after tidying up the post-party aftermath.”
Short Video From Market Square Wick As Crowds Bring In 2011

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