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View Full Version : Caithness Courier review: February 23, 2011



Nwicker60
23-Feb-11, 12:19
THE paper leads with Northern Constabulary’s seat-belt initiative launched at their northern division’s base at Wick. Wick High School pupils test-drove the seat-belt convincer which simulates a driver colliding at seven mph allowing the tester to experience a force of up to five times their body weight. The exercise is aimed at highlighting the danger of not adopting the clunk- click- every- trip code.

The second lead story features an account of a Wick man who escaped the earthquake which wreaked havoc in New Zealand, killing 68 people and injuring hundreds more. David Armstrong went to live the NZ with his girlfriend Kirstie Munro who belongs there. Whisky shop employee David was at work in a store in Christchurch when the quake struck. He managed to survive by getting under a table. It was a close call, though, as a building across the road collapsed.

Anchoring the front page is a piece about a play park at Pennyland, Thurso, which has received a welcome cash injection of £50,000. The boost was the result of a campaign mounted by brother and sister Dylan 13, and nine-year-old Amy Cameron who were “fed up” with the state of the play facility. The pair were delighted with the outcome of their drive to get it upgraded by Highland Council.
Inside...Wick Baptist Church has a new minister. The Rev. Bill Ferguson was formally inducted at the weekend and says he wants to “shine for Christ, in Wick and Caithness”. Mr Ferguson has been leading the Dempster Street church since the beginning of the year following a 16-year stint in the English coastal town of St Anne’s and said it was great to be in a new parish with his wife Isabel.

Construction work is underway on a new multi-million pound community centre, in Wick. The £3.4 million facility has been set up by Pulteneytown People’s Project and is due to open in February 2012. It is hoped the initiative will rejuvenate the east side of Caithness by catering for community services, training and small businesses. A turf-cutting ceremony was held at the Huddart Street site, last Wednesday, when representatives of the organisations involved, braved wind and rain.

Far North MSP has condemned the planned £1.2 million budget cut at the North Highland College, as “completely unacceptable”. He has written to education and lifelong learning secretary, Mike Russell, in a bid to try to get the Government to give more funding to the college.

A Wick serviceman is to take part in a cycle ride from John O’ Groats to Land’s End, later this year. Marc Steven, an avionics and electrical technician, who is base in Oxfordshire, will be accompanied on the marathon by up to 19 other colleagues with the aim of raising £20,000 for the Help for Heroes charity. The group will set out on July 12 and aim to complete the 1000-mile ‘spin’ in 11 days.

Wick Academy lost their away game to Turriff United at the weekend, the score being 3-1. It prompted a warning from co-manager Ian Munro that the team must stop giving away cheap goals. The defeat sees the Scorries dropping a place to an unenviable 15th in the league table. Academy face Keith in what promises to be a tough encounter, at Harmsworth Park, on Saturday.

Finally...how would you like to foster a young chap. He’s a friendly, 10-year old crossbreed, currently being cared for at the Scottish SPCA’s Caithness and Sutherland centre, following the death of his previous owner. Badger has been resident there for nine months and would love to become part of a family. Despite his age, he is still very active and loves going for walks. He would need to be the only pet in his new home as he doesn’t get on well with other dogs, and due to his breed instincts, he couldn’t be rehomed with small animals. If you think you can give this shaggy dog story a happy ending, call the Scottish SPCA animal helpline on 03000 999 999 and ask to be connected to the Caithness and Sutherland centre.