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Nwicker60
09-Apr-11, 17:31
John O’ Journal review, April 8, 2011


PRIDE of place on page one, is the news that Highland Council has clashed head-on with the owners of a Wick taxi firm. The row is over an increase in the licence fee. Millers’ Cabs claimed that the authority failed to give them advance notice of the rise, which takes a taxi operator’s licence up to £366 and a driver’s licence now costs £235. Fiona and James Miller say they were not informed of the forthcoming increases until five days after they were introduced. A spokeswoman for Highland Council said that taxi operators were not personally informed of the increase which relates to any new or renawal applications, received after that date. The information which the council sends out, and on the council’s website, were updated on April 1. She added that the increases were necessary as part of budget savings, but added that firms do not need to renew their licences until the existing ones have expired.
IT was a poignant day for Halkirk woman Helen Nicholls when she was presented with the Elizabeth Cross in memory of her 18-year-old son, Paul, who was killed while serving in Northern Ireland in November 1971. A member of the Scots Guards, the teenager was shot from behind by a sniper, while manning a road block in Belfast. The medal provides recognition to families of armed forces personnel who have died on operations or as a result of terrorism. Mrs Nicholls (85) of Sinclair Lane, is the first Caithness recipient of the award, which was handed over at a ceremony in the village’s Ross Institute.
THE anchor story on the front page tells of a jibe directed at the trains on the Far North line which have been described as “Dinky Toys on rails”. The criticism came from a journalist (I would never have believed it) when he addressed the RailFuture Scotland AGM in Bathgate, in West Lothian, on Saturday. He expressed the hope that what he called “our national transport inadequacy “could be addressed by the new Scottish Government after next month’s elections. He claimed the rolling stock operated by First ScotRai, on routes as the Far North line, is “the poorest quality in Europe”.
INSIDE, we’re told that gangs of youths are causing trouble on the streets of Wick, the royal burgh’s community council was told. Citizens are have to step off the pavements onto the road because they cannot get past them, Councillor Wendy Campbell complained. It’s an intimidating situation, members were told and displays a lack of respect. Acting police sergeant James Mcconnachie said that one of the difficulties was that the youths were not committing an offence and that all the police could really do was to move them on.
FLY-TIPPING is back in the news again and a Castletown man has revealed how he collected 1,488 discarded cans which had been dumped around the village. John Calder of Murrayfield, gathered the rubbish on the road around the harbour and cemetery, in February, and disposed of them in the local recycling unit. The retired joiner was so annoyed by the number of empty cans he saw while he was out walking that he decided to do something about it. It took him between 12 and 15 hours, in total, to gather his incredible haul over an area which stretched from the garden centre to the harbour, back into the village and round by the cemetery and local school.
PLANS to trans all teaching course from Wick are being mooted as part of budget cuts by North Highland College UHI. The option of moving teachers and classes from Wick College to the main campus in Thurso, is being considered in a bid to make savings of £1.2 million by June. North Highand plans to keep its Wick campus open, by relocating NHC Online department which is its commercial arm. It specialises in developing teaching materials for the college and for commercial partners to teach online.
CANDIDATES bidding for the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross seat at the Scottish Parliament have their say as to why they think they are all the best choice for the job in a full page of profiles. The paper advises readers that the deadline for registering to vote is fast approaching. The closing date is Friday April 15. Those seeking a postal vote, should apply by 5pm on Thursday, April 14. Already, 25,000 people have applied for a postal vote across the three new Highland constituencies, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, and Inverness and Nairn.
THE paper records the sad news that nineteen-year-old Liam Munro of Springfield, Glengolly, passed away on Tuesday, finally succumbing to an untreatable brain tumour. Relatives and friends had marvelled at how he recovered from the initial onset of the condition in November 2006. He was then discovered to have a large brain tumour. After multiple operations during lengthy stays in hospitals in Inverness and Glasgow, he was fit enough to return home in a wheelchair in October 2007. Liam was a staunch Hibs support and was also a regular at Halkirk United games in the North Caledonian League. United secretary, Billy Manson said: “He was part of our squad and was really popular with the players. He had a lovely sense of humour and his crack and wit brightened up many a journey.”
AFTER a gap of a number of years, Caithness is once again to have a resident full-time farrier following the establishment of a new business in the country. Qualified Robbie Streight ,23,of Thorny Cottage, Milton, set up Caithness Farriery Services. Robbie was presented with his diploma from the Worshipful Company of Farriers in London, at the end of February following the completion of his apprenticeship and successfully passing the final examination. He is now a registered farrier.
A FIVE-figure sum of cash has helped transform an area of Thurso, as part of a project to commemorate a century of Girlguiding. Girlguiding Caithness received £10,000 from the People’s Postcode Trust to create a centenary garden outside the town’s Girlguiding hall. The garden was officially opened at a recent ceremony, by Margaret, Viscountess, Thurso attended by Guides and their families.
A LOCAL teenage golfer will be swinging into action when he takes on the nation’s best, in East Lothian, next week. Peter Sangster (16) of Halkirk will be competing at the Scottish Boys Championship at Dunbar Golf Club on Monday. The former Scottish Golf Union youth academy pupil ,will take part in the matchplay event for the second time in his career as one of the top 256 young players in the country, and thinks he is better prepared for it this time.


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