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View Full Version : Fit's in 'e Groat 'e day?



Nwicker60
08-Jul-11, 15:17
John o' Groat review: July 8, 2011


PAGE one reveals that jobs at a Caithness joinery firm have been saved as a take-over deal was completed this week. The future of Halkirk-based Geddes Windows System Ltd, was secured on Monday after Deloitte administrators sold the company to a new consortium called Esquires 2011 Ltd, comprising a group of four businessmen. The survival of Geddes was thrown into doubt after it was placed into administration in March, following a slump in the construction industry. Deloitte took over the running of the company, leaving 18 employees uncertain about their future. As the Groat went to press, Esquires 2011 Ltd’s managing director, Raymond Bremner confirmed Geddes Windows systems is back in business.

ALSO on the front page, is a plea from Thurso Highland councillor, Donnie Mackay who claimed that some tenants have to put up with antisocial behaviour, week after week. He said that the situation is so bad, that some people are unable to sit in their own living rooms because of neighbours’ loud music and parties and yet, the police seem unable to do anything about it. Mr Mackay, speaking at Tuesday night’s meeting of Thurso Community Council, said one house was visited three times by the police, following complaints about noise.

A DREAM came true for Thurso siblings Sylan and Amy Cameron when their vision of a new play park became a reality. The pair, who campaigned tirelessly for the revamp of the Pennyland facility, officially opened it to the public, yesterday. The new £54,000 play park has had a complete makeover, thanks to their fundraising efforts, together with grants from Highland Council. Dylan and Amy (10) started the campaign to get the facility upgraded after they became fed up with its poor condition, the majority of equipment was either broken or unsafe to use.

A CAITHNESS crafter has become the new face of a German multi-million pound, international art and design company with her debut TV appearance coming up shortly. Charmain Barrett (39) owner of BB & C Crafts in Wick has been enjoying a jet-set lifestyle since becoming the UK demonstrator for Viva Decor after impressing bosses with her “anything-is-possible” attitude to their range. The married mother-of-two has been enjoying promoting different art products around the country over the past few months as well as getting expenses-paid trips to Germany to meet the owners. The icing on the cake came last month when she was asked to promote the products on three one-hour live shows on the Creative-Craft TV channel later this month

A NINE-WEEK operation has recovered more than 350 particles of irradiated nuclear fuel from the seabed near Dounreay. It takes the total number of particles now recovered from the marine environment around the former atomic research site, to more than 2300. The latest phase of underwater work yielded a total of 351 from an area equivalent in size to 36 international football pitches. They were detected and retrieved using a remotely-operated vehicle working at depths of up to 30 metres. The ROV was operated from a 60m-long barge LM Contractor, where a team of 22 worked around the clock.

A THURSO woman, who claims she was almost conned out of £5000 through a fake auction website, is warning other about the scam. Sheila Finlayson (44) of Rockwell Terrace, was interested in purchasing a Volkswagen camper van which she found on Gumtree. She was then invited to a private sale through a site which she believed was eBay motors, where she agreed to pay £5,300 for the vehicle. However, she later found out the website was a fake version of eBay. Mrs Finlayson said the female seller of the van was supposedly located in Dundee. But when she received the invoice, the seller had asked for the money to be transferred under a different name to a bank account in Spain.

CONSULTANTS may be reluctant to hold clinics at the dunbar Hospital in Thurso, if X-ray facilities are moved to Wick. That is the fear of Thurso community councillors who expressed their concern about the controversial plan at their meeting in Caithness Horizons, on Tuesday night. They agreed to contact health bosses on the matter. Chairman Bob Earnshaw said: “This is not on. I think we should write and complain about it. We can’t leave it this way and must do something. If X-rays cannot be done at the Dunbar, will consultants still want to come there?”. Mr Earnshaw spoke out after the North Highland Community Health Partnership revealed it is considering making the change to accommodate a new physiotherapy gym which would be located in the current X-ray department at the Dunbar.

WIND turbines installed at some Caithness schools are dangerous and should be kept away from children. That was the claim made by Brenda Herrick at the latest meeting of the Castletown and District Community Council. However, the local authority has stressed a number of assessments and investigations are undertaken prior to turbines being installed. It was also pointed out pupils’ safety and welfare is of “the utmost importance”.

FOREWARD David Allan and midfielder Martin Gunn have become the latest players to commit their future to Wick Academy. The duo, whose contracts ended in May, put pen to paer at Harmsworth Park earlier this week. Allan has signed a two-year contract with the Scorries, while Academy stalwart Gunn will stay with the club until 2012. Secretary Alan Farquhar said the news is welcome by everyone at the club. He added: “For us to achieve success next season, it is important for us to keep the nucleus of last year’s squad.”