Nwicker60
02-Nov-11, 15:08
Caithness Courier review: November 2, 2011
A HALLWAY explosion sparked by a power surge in Wick, was so strong, one local man believed fireworks had been set off in his home. Alice Chalmers and her husband, Robert, were among 200 householders who suffered as a result of the incident which happened last Thursday. Tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to electronic appliances plugged in at the time, and engineers have spend the week carrying out repairs. Scottish Hydro staff had been working on an underground cable fault shortly before the incident. When they switched the power back on, a transformer failed and caused the surge.
A DECISION to centralise all planning committee meetings to Inverness, has been blasted by a Caithness councillor as a “cold efficiency”. Wick member Graeme Smith argued the plan-agreed at a meeting of the full Highland Council last week- replaces governance with “diktat and Draconian adherence to policy”. Councillors voted to reduce the number of planning application committees in the area, from three to two-one to cover the north and one for the south. This means, as of January, the north’s committee will cover wards in Caithness. Sutherland, East Ross, the Black Isle and Skye, while its south counterpart will take in those in Inverness, Lochaber Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey.
YOUNGSTERS attending Halloween events in Thurso at the weekend were involved in a rash of violent incidents, it has emerged. According to police, the trouble flared when around 100 people-mainly teenagers-arrived on the Wick bus to enjoy the annual celebrations, on Saturday night. Officers received reports of six violent incidents, which apparently involved as many as a dozen people fighting with each other at the same time. The most serious of these incidents took place at the co-op car park in Meadow Lane when a youth was assaulted by a group of people at 9.30pm.
COST-CUTTING measures are to be introduced at an established local social club to prevent it from closure. That was confirmed this week after members of the Thurso Club agreed to a range of proposals to allow the Janet Street premises to remain open. At an extraordinary general meeting held on Friday night, it was decided to reduce the hours worked by the eight part-time staff and cut the club’s opening hours.
TWO scrap metal dealers in Caithness have been reported to the procurator fiscal for allegedly failing to maintain proper records. That emerged this week, as police revealed the results of a national day of action staged on Friday to target metal thieves and unscrupulous dealers. Northern Constabulary took part in the clampdown on metal theft which is becoming one of the fastest-growing crimes in the country.
A NEW cafe at a Caithness beauty spot is proving so popular, parking has become a problem for nearby residents, it has been claimed. Community councillor Jim Oag raised the issue at the latest meeting of Tannach and District Community Council. He brought along a letter detailing the problems at Whaligoe Steps where the eatery has opened, just off the A99. Mr Oag was told the sudden increase in traffic has led to a nearby car park-used by local residents, visitors to the steps and now to the cafe, becoming close to full several times. One of the residents had used cones to mark off a space for his own vehicle but they had subsequently been dumped in an adjoining field.
THE Caithness Big band and friends are hosting another Night to Remember on Friday, the sixth grand charity fundraiser to be staged in memory of the group’s founder, Jim Marshall. It will be held form 8pm until late at the Weigh Inn Hotel in Thurso. Among those to perform on the night, will be the Caithness Big Band, North Coast Jazz Band and They Drove by Night-a new group which features the talents of Pam and Eann Sinclair, Stuart Maitland, Donald MacNeill, Mark Wright and a crisp horn section.
AFTER losing four on the bounce, Wick Academy got their league campaign back on track with an impressive 2-0 victory in Pitmedden. Big-spending Formartine, who were the pundits’ favourites to take their first-ever Highland League title this season, had several former Aberdeen FC players in their line-up, Derek Soutar, Andy Bagshaw and Neil McVitie all started at North Lodge Park along with former Peterhead favourite, Bobby Mann. But it doesn’t matter how much money you spend, good individuals don’t necessarily make a good team. Wick boss, Davie Kirkwood highlighted Sam Mackay who, he said, had his best game under his stewardship and commented: “How he is not playing at a higher level, leaves me in bewilderment. He controlled the game from start to finish and was a major influence throughout the 90 minutes.
AND finally..Castletown butcher, Derek Mackay is serving up a product that has earned the sizzling title of “the best of the wurst”. He has combined Irn Bru with sweet-chilli sausages and the bangers are proving popular with customers new and old, in National Sausage Week. He said: “I didn’t like the idea of it myself, when I heard about it. But the sweetness of the Irn Bru combined with the hot sweet chilli, compliment each other very well and it definitely works.”
A HALLWAY explosion sparked by a power surge in Wick, was so strong, one local man believed fireworks had been set off in his home. Alice Chalmers and her husband, Robert, were among 200 householders who suffered as a result of the incident which happened last Thursday. Tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to electronic appliances plugged in at the time, and engineers have spend the week carrying out repairs. Scottish Hydro staff had been working on an underground cable fault shortly before the incident. When they switched the power back on, a transformer failed and caused the surge.
A DECISION to centralise all planning committee meetings to Inverness, has been blasted by a Caithness councillor as a “cold efficiency”. Wick member Graeme Smith argued the plan-agreed at a meeting of the full Highland Council last week- replaces governance with “diktat and Draconian adherence to policy”. Councillors voted to reduce the number of planning application committees in the area, from three to two-one to cover the north and one for the south. This means, as of January, the north’s committee will cover wards in Caithness. Sutherland, East Ross, the Black Isle and Skye, while its south counterpart will take in those in Inverness, Lochaber Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey.
YOUNGSTERS attending Halloween events in Thurso at the weekend were involved in a rash of violent incidents, it has emerged. According to police, the trouble flared when around 100 people-mainly teenagers-arrived on the Wick bus to enjoy the annual celebrations, on Saturday night. Officers received reports of six violent incidents, which apparently involved as many as a dozen people fighting with each other at the same time. The most serious of these incidents took place at the co-op car park in Meadow Lane when a youth was assaulted by a group of people at 9.30pm.
COST-CUTTING measures are to be introduced at an established local social club to prevent it from closure. That was confirmed this week after members of the Thurso Club agreed to a range of proposals to allow the Janet Street premises to remain open. At an extraordinary general meeting held on Friday night, it was decided to reduce the hours worked by the eight part-time staff and cut the club’s opening hours.
TWO scrap metal dealers in Caithness have been reported to the procurator fiscal for allegedly failing to maintain proper records. That emerged this week, as police revealed the results of a national day of action staged on Friday to target metal thieves and unscrupulous dealers. Northern Constabulary took part in the clampdown on metal theft which is becoming one of the fastest-growing crimes in the country.
A NEW cafe at a Caithness beauty spot is proving so popular, parking has become a problem for nearby residents, it has been claimed. Community councillor Jim Oag raised the issue at the latest meeting of Tannach and District Community Council. He brought along a letter detailing the problems at Whaligoe Steps where the eatery has opened, just off the A99. Mr Oag was told the sudden increase in traffic has led to a nearby car park-used by local residents, visitors to the steps and now to the cafe, becoming close to full several times. One of the residents had used cones to mark off a space for his own vehicle but they had subsequently been dumped in an adjoining field.
THE Caithness Big band and friends are hosting another Night to Remember on Friday, the sixth grand charity fundraiser to be staged in memory of the group’s founder, Jim Marshall. It will be held form 8pm until late at the Weigh Inn Hotel in Thurso. Among those to perform on the night, will be the Caithness Big Band, North Coast Jazz Band and They Drove by Night-a new group which features the talents of Pam and Eann Sinclair, Stuart Maitland, Donald MacNeill, Mark Wright and a crisp horn section.
AFTER losing four on the bounce, Wick Academy got their league campaign back on track with an impressive 2-0 victory in Pitmedden. Big-spending Formartine, who were the pundits’ favourites to take their first-ever Highland League title this season, had several former Aberdeen FC players in their line-up, Derek Soutar, Andy Bagshaw and Neil McVitie all started at North Lodge Park along with former Peterhead favourite, Bobby Mann. But it doesn’t matter how much money you spend, good individuals don’t necessarily make a good team. Wick boss, Davie Kirkwood highlighted Sam Mackay who, he said, had his best game under his stewardship and commented: “How he is not playing at a higher level, leaves me in bewilderment. He controlled the game from start to finish and was a major influence throughout the 90 minutes.
AND finally..Castletown butcher, Derek Mackay is serving up a product that has earned the sizzling title of “the best of the wurst”. He has combined Irn Bru with sweet-chilli sausages and the bangers are proving popular with customers new and old, in National Sausage Week. He said: “I didn’t like the idea of it myself, when I heard about it. But the sweetness of the Irn Bru combined with the hot sweet chilli, compliment each other very well and it definitely works.”