Nwicker60
01-Oct-11, 10:12
John O' Groat Journal review: September 30, 2011
THE paper lead headline, “Cyber bully gang’s terror campaign” prefaces a story about a gang which has been terrorising youngsters in Thurso streets and making threats via a social-networking site. The claim was made at the latest meeting of the town’s community council on Tuesday night. According to member Don smith, the problem has been going on for at least two months. He has spoken to two people who have been affected and urged police to take action. The gang apparently comprises between 12 and 15 people, with the majority being girls of secondary school age. During the summer, it allegedly attacked high school pupils walking on their own.
WICK managed to sort out their gala committee support problem....the big question is, can Thurso? Another front page story catalogues their concern and the fear that unless the committee receives a new support blood transfusion, the gala will fold. That is the stark message from Thurso Town Improvements Association member, Sandy Macleod. He was speaking as the TTIA put out, one, last-ditch appeal for new members to join the group, which is responsible for some of the town’s biggest events, including the gala and the Christmas lights switch on and display. The TTIA has seen the number of members fall dramatically in the past few years to just 10, and, according to Mr Macleod, it can no longer operate on that basis.
ALSO on page one...a lower speed limit at Auckengill could be considered by the local authority. Highland Council has said that it is prepared to look into the issue, following the death of Leicester cyclist, Elaine Dunne (30) last week. Her husband, Chris, suffered severe injuries as a result and was transferred to hospital in Glasgow where his condition is said to be stable. It was reported in Wednesday’s Caithness Courier that residents in the village have called for speed limits to be implemented for a number of years. A spokesman for Highland Council said in a brief statement: “We are awaiting the police report on this latest tragic accident and will liaise closely with the police and take forward and investigate any recommendations that flow from their findings.
INSIDE...it is reported that plans were unveiled yesterday by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for the long-awaited National Nuclear Archive in Wick. A drop-in session at the Norseman Hotel let members of the public finally lay eyes on the proposed new repository, which should also house the Caithness Archive Centre at the heart of the facility. Dounreay Site Restoration Limited’s project manager, Stewart Henderson, explained that yesterday marked the start of the public consultation for Wick becoming the home of the UK nuclear industry’s records-if the scheme is given the final green light by the NDA later this year.
A NORTH-COAST crofter reckons a protracted dispute about two acres of bog land will have cost the public purse many hundreds of thousands of pounds. Heather Jardine said she was hugely relieved to have won a five-year battle to prove the land is part of her holding. But she described the expense, which has been incurred in having the dispute forensically examined in local and national courts, as “horrendous”. The dispute between neighbours in Strath-Halladale is thought to have been Scotland’s longest and most expensive case of its kind. It was brought to an end when the country’s highest civil court, the Court of Session, in Edinburgh, dismissed Ross Murray’s appeal.
THE red carpet is set to be rolled out in Canisbay as the village gets ready to host its first-ever movie premiere. Canisbay Church Youth Group will be welcoming an invited audience to be the first to view it production of The Prodigal Daughter. The movie, which is based on a bible story, tells the tale of a young woman who leaves her family in John O Groats to attend university in London. While there, she spends all her money on having a good time rather than concentrating on her studies. When, predictably, she is left penniless, she is too ashamed to go back home, after her family had such high hopes for her. But when she does pluck up the courage to return, she finds that she is welcomed back with open arms. The film was made by local director, Toby Watt, and produced by acting church minister, Lyall Rennie.
WICK ACADEMY boss, Davie Kirkwood is understandably up-beat about his team who have notched up seventeen goals, in only their last two matches, the latter that runaway Scottish Cup game against Borders side Coldstream. He has praised the squad and says that Wick deserved to be higher up the league table that they are. Kirkwood’s outfit have a chance to do something about that, when his players return to the bread and butter of the Highland League, with an away encounter against Huntly, today.
THE paper lead headline, “Cyber bully gang’s terror campaign” prefaces a story about a gang which has been terrorising youngsters in Thurso streets and making threats via a social-networking site. The claim was made at the latest meeting of the town’s community council on Tuesday night. According to member Don smith, the problem has been going on for at least two months. He has spoken to two people who have been affected and urged police to take action. The gang apparently comprises between 12 and 15 people, with the majority being girls of secondary school age. During the summer, it allegedly attacked high school pupils walking on their own.
WICK managed to sort out their gala committee support problem....the big question is, can Thurso? Another front page story catalogues their concern and the fear that unless the committee receives a new support blood transfusion, the gala will fold. That is the stark message from Thurso Town Improvements Association member, Sandy Macleod. He was speaking as the TTIA put out, one, last-ditch appeal for new members to join the group, which is responsible for some of the town’s biggest events, including the gala and the Christmas lights switch on and display. The TTIA has seen the number of members fall dramatically in the past few years to just 10, and, according to Mr Macleod, it can no longer operate on that basis.
ALSO on page one...a lower speed limit at Auckengill could be considered by the local authority. Highland Council has said that it is prepared to look into the issue, following the death of Leicester cyclist, Elaine Dunne (30) last week. Her husband, Chris, suffered severe injuries as a result and was transferred to hospital in Glasgow where his condition is said to be stable. It was reported in Wednesday’s Caithness Courier that residents in the village have called for speed limits to be implemented for a number of years. A spokesman for Highland Council said in a brief statement: “We are awaiting the police report on this latest tragic accident and will liaise closely with the police and take forward and investigate any recommendations that flow from their findings.
INSIDE...it is reported that plans were unveiled yesterday by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for the long-awaited National Nuclear Archive in Wick. A drop-in session at the Norseman Hotel let members of the public finally lay eyes on the proposed new repository, which should also house the Caithness Archive Centre at the heart of the facility. Dounreay Site Restoration Limited’s project manager, Stewart Henderson, explained that yesterday marked the start of the public consultation for Wick becoming the home of the UK nuclear industry’s records-if the scheme is given the final green light by the NDA later this year.
A NORTH-COAST crofter reckons a protracted dispute about two acres of bog land will have cost the public purse many hundreds of thousands of pounds. Heather Jardine said she was hugely relieved to have won a five-year battle to prove the land is part of her holding. But she described the expense, which has been incurred in having the dispute forensically examined in local and national courts, as “horrendous”. The dispute between neighbours in Strath-Halladale is thought to have been Scotland’s longest and most expensive case of its kind. It was brought to an end when the country’s highest civil court, the Court of Session, in Edinburgh, dismissed Ross Murray’s appeal.
THE red carpet is set to be rolled out in Canisbay as the village gets ready to host its first-ever movie premiere. Canisbay Church Youth Group will be welcoming an invited audience to be the first to view it production of The Prodigal Daughter. The movie, which is based on a bible story, tells the tale of a young woman who leaves her family in John O Groats to attend university in London. While there, she spends all her money on having a good time rather than concentrating on her studies. When, predictably, she is left penniless, she is too ashamed to go back home, after her family had such high hopes for her. But when she does pluck up the courage to return, she finds that she is welcomed back with open arms. The film was made by local director, Toby Watt, and produced by acting church minister, Lyall Rennie.
WICK ACADEMY boss, Davie Kirkwood is understandably up-beat about his team who have notched up seventeen goals, in only their last two matches, the latter that runaway Scottish Cup game against Borders side Coldstream. He has praised the squad and says that Wick deserved to be higher up the league table that they are. Kirkwood’s outfit have a chance to do something about that, when his players return to the bread and butter of the Highland League, with an away encounter against Huntly, today.