Nwicker60
28-Oct-11, 15:28
John O’ Groat Journal review: October 28, 2011
THE main story on the front page warns that all heath services in the far North will have to be reviewed as staff try to deal with an overspend which is expected to exceed £1 million by the end of the financial year. “Absolutely everything” has to be looked at, according to Sheena Macleod, the general manger of the North Highland Community Health Partnership. She also stressed that the financial situation is likely to get worse, as the health authority faces budget cutbacks in the next few years. A similar message was delivered at the partnership meeting in Wick, on Tuesday, by committee chairman Colin Punler, who claimed some “potentially unpopular choices” will have to be made in the future and courage will be required to make them.
HARBOURFEST has set a return course to Wick next year. Plans for another maritime celebration were this week announced by the organising committee. The event will reflect the Queen’s diamond jubilee pageant being staged in London, on Sunday June 3, when Her Majesty will lead over 1000 ships of all types, in the largest flotilla ever seen on the Thames. The Wick Diamond Jubilee HarbourFest will be held over three days, from Friday, June 15, until Sunday the 17th. The queen and royal court will be chosen from local schoolchildren and the port will be filled with local and visiting vessels specially decorated for the occasion.
A MAJOR shake-up of parliamentary constituencies could mean Far North voters face travelling huge distances to speak to their local MP. Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representative, John Thurso, has warned that the expansion of the voting district being put forward in plans by the Boundary Commission, would make the area almost impossible to cover properly.
SMALL communities in Caithness are benefitting from a massive windfall from renewable energy. Tannach and District Community Council has handed out around £3000 over the past 12 months to worthy causes in the area-with all the money coming from local windfarm developer RWE npower renewables. And, with more schemes in the pipeline, the group could end up administering a fund worth at least £85,000 a year.
REPORTS that a person had fallen off a coastal path at Thurso, were a false alarm, according to police. Northern Constabulary confirmed it had received no reports of missing persons after receiving a call that someone had fallen off the Victoria Walk coastal path in the early hours of the morning. A land and sea search drew a blank.
MEMBERS of staff at a Thurso supermarket, who face losing their jobs, claim that the company has forgotten what it stands for. Eleven workers at The Co-operative store at Meadow Lane, could lose out, as part of a nationwide review into staffing levels. The company says the review is being carried out to introduce fairer and consistent standards across the stores. But staff say that the move is seen as an attempt to increase profits at their expense. They say that the Co-op, which was first set up to benefit its members. has forgotten its principles. A member of staff who wished to remain anonymous, contacted the Groat to voice their anger at the review. Staff who have worked for the group for years, say the mentality of the organisation has changed.
FIREFIGHTERS will be hoping to put on a fright night this weekend to raise money for good causes in Caithness. Thurso fire station personnel are once again getting ready for Halloween by opening their annual haunted house. For the past years, the event has become a fixture, raising thousands of pounds for charities in the Far North. This year is no exception, and, again, the station’s fundraising committee will be hoping to show visitors some spooky fun. Watch manager, Kevin Tait said it is an event everyone at the station looks forward to and gets into the spirit of.
TURNING around the fortunes of Wick Academy is “not a three-month project” according to manager Davie Kirkwood. The Scorries boss has issued a plea for patience following a strong of three league losses as well as dropping out of the Scottish Cup second round through a penalty. To top it off, forward Gary Weir is away, defender Michael Steven is suspended and goalkeeper James More has a broken wrist, as the team prepares to take on Formartine United tomorrow. Kirkwood is not fazed by any negative thinking ahead of the fixture.
THE main story on the front page warns that all heath services in the far North will have to be reviewed as staff try to deal with an overspend which is expected to exceed £1 million by the end of the financial year. “Absolutely everything” has to be looked at, according to Sheena Macleod, the general manger of the North Highland Community Health Partnership. She also stressed that the financial situation is likely to get worse, as the health authority faces budget cutbacks in the next few years. A similar message was delivered at the partnership meeting in Wick, on Tuesday, by committee chairman Colin Punler, who claimed some “potentially unpopular choices” will have to be made in the future and courage will be required to make them.
HARBOURFEST has set a return course to Wick next year. Plans for another maritime celebration were this week announced by the organising committee. The event will reflect the Queen’s diamond jubilee pageant being staged in London, on Sunday June 3, when Her Majesty will lead over 1000 ships of all types, in the largest flotilla ever seen on the Thames. The Wick Diamond Jubilee HarbourFest will be held over three days, from Friday, June 15, until Sunday the 17th. The queen and royal court will be chosen from local schoolchildren and the port will be filled with local and visiting vessels specially decorated for the occasion.
A MAJOR shake-up of parliamentary constituencies could mean Far North voters face travelling huge distances to speak to their local MP. Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representative, John Thurso, has warned that the expansion of the voting district being put forward in plans by the Boundary Commission, would make the area almost impossible to cover properly.
SMALL communities in Caithness are benefitting from a massive windfall from renewable energy. Tannach and District Community Council has handed out around £3000 over the past 12 months to worthy causes in the area-with all the money coming from local windfarm developer RWE npower renewables. And, with more schemes in the pipeline, the group could end up administering a fund worth at least £85,000 a year.
REPORTS that a person had fallen off a coastal path at Thurso, were a false alarm, according to police. Northern Constabulary confirmed it had received no reports of missing persons after receiving a call that someone had fallen off the Victoria Walk coastal path in the early hours of the morning. A land and sea search drew a blank.
MEMBERS of staff at a Thurso supermarket, who face losing their jobs, claim that the company has forgotten what it stands for. Eleven workers at The Co-operative store at Meadow Lane, could lose out, as part of a nationwide review into staffing levels. The company says the review is being carried out to introduce fairer and consistent standards across the stores. But staff say that the move is seen as an attempt to increase profits at their expense. They say that the Co-op, which was first set up to benefit its members. has forgotten its principles. A member of staff who wished to remain anonymous, contacted the Groat to voice their anger at the review. Staff who have worked for the group for years, say the mentality of the organisation has changed.
FIREFIGHTERS will be hoping to put on a fright night this weekend to raise money for good causes in Caithness. Thurso fire station personnel are once again getting ready for Halloween by opening their annual haunted house. For the past years, the event has become a fixture, raising thousands of pounds for charities in the Far North. This year is no exception, and, again, the station’s fundraising committee will be hoping to show visitors some spooky fun. Watch manager, Kevin Tait said it is an event everyone at the station looks forward to and gets into the spirit of.
TURNING around the fortunes of Wick Academy is “not a three-month project” according to manager Davie Kirkwood. The Scorries boss has issued a plea for patience following a strong of three league losses as well as dropping out of the Scottish Cup second round through a penalty. To top it off, forward Gary Weir is away, defender Michael Steven is suspended and goalkeeper James More has a broken wrist, as the team prepares to take on Formartine United tomorrow. Kirkwood is not fazed by any negative thinking ahead of the fixture.