Nwicker60
09-Dec-11, 17:53
JOHN O'GROAT JOURNAL REVIEW: DECEMBER 9, 2011
THE future of a Caithness cheese firm looks uncertain after its premises were completely destroyed by fire. The blaze swept through Sandy and Sandra Sutherland’s business at The Moorings, Occumster, on Tuesday night, wiping out years of hard work at the couple’s busiest time of the year. Mr Sutherland (67) described the experience as “torture” and told the Groat he wasn’t sure if Caithness Cheese could survive.
CHRISTMAS came early for 115 county pensioners when they got a festive box of goodies-thanks to the efforts of two local women. One of the recipients, Betty Grant, who stays in Heathfield Road, in Thurso, was delighted with the gift and described it as “a lovely gesture”. “It came as a complete surprise” she told the Groat, this week. Mrs Grant got a number of items including a box of biscuits, tins of soup, macaroni cheese and tinned fruit, after the Caithness Shoebox Appeal was launched by Kitty Campbell and Yvonne Watt.
“He was always a star to me and now he is a star who is shining down on everyone”. Catherine McNeill said her son made her feel like the proudest mother in the world and was a young man who touched everyone who knew him. Michael McNeill (23) died suddenly at his home in Glamis Road, Wick, on Tuesday morning, after suffering lifelong illness which had worsened over the last five years.
ATTITUDES to dog fouling must be changed. That is the message being put out by a Wick community group which has launched a plan to tidy up its historic area. Argyle Square Area Association chairwoman, Claire Whyte, is encouraging residents to sign up to the Green Dog Walkers scheme in a bid to cut down on the amount of dog mess lying around. “When you walk across the Square, you can’t take any of it in, because you are too busy watching where you put your feet” she said. Claire added: “Many of the local residents have complained that their kids have come home with dog mess on their shoes.”
THE key issues concerning businesses in the North have been highlighted in a series of face-to-face meetings with one of the Scottish Government’s leading ministers. Alex Neil, cabinet secretary for infrastructure and capital investment, was in Caithness to officially open the new offices of the North Highland Initiative at Wick harbour, at the end of last month, and he took the opportunity to attend a series of meeting with local business leaders.
PALLIATIVE care looks set to be top of the agenda when the fate of health services in west Caithness is decided. A drop-in session held in the Pentland Hotel, on Tuesday, attracted around 50 people keen to find out more about and comment on, the North Highland Community Health Partnership resdesign options for Dunbar Hospital. The main issue that came to the fore from the day, was palliative care. That care for those in pain and suffering is such a high priority was no surprise to North Highland CHP general manager Sheena Macleod.
A THURSO bar owner is keeping a long-standing family connection alive with his latest business venture. Scott Youngson who runs the Comm, has bought the Central Bar and Hotel, top Joe’s and Caffe Cardosi from his cousin, Brian Cardosi. The purchase marks a huge step for Mr Youngson, but it is more than just business for the 43-year-old. It is about maintaining a long line of family tradition which dates back to the heydays of mass Italian migration into Scotland before the First World War when the Cardosi family set out from Tuscany to establish what would be a last legacy in the Far North.
Calls are being made to scrap funding for a proposed high-speed link from central Scotland to England in favour of improving existing rail infrastructure including the Far North line. Pressure group HS2 Action alliance, claims that despite Far North taxpayers money being used to build the proposed high-speed network, they will get nothing out of it. The group is calling the project unaffordable and is campaigning for the Scottish Government to instead finance improvement which will benefit passengers throughout the whole of Scotland.
PRIME minister David Cameron has praised workers at Dounreay for going beyond the call of duty to protect themselves and the environment from harm. He was speaking as the company responsible for demolishing the redundant nuclear site, emerged as one of only three in the UK to qualify for the country’s highest awards for workplace safety and environmental protection, the Sword of Honour and the Globe of Honour.
HEADING to Moray to take on the Highland League champions for the past two seasons, manager Davie Kirkwood wants his side to attack from the kick-off. Weather permitting, Wick Academy will travel to Victoria Park to face Buckie Thistle where the Scorries will be aiming to make if four wins out of their last five games.
THE future of a Caithness cheese firm looks uncertain after its premises were completely destroyed by fire. The blaze swept through Sandy and Sandra Sutherland’s business at The Moorings, Occumster, on Tuesday night, wiping out years of hard work at the couple’s busiest time of the year. Mr Sutherland (67) described the experience as “torture” and told the Groat he wasn’t sure if Caithness Cheese could survive.
CHRISTMAS came early for 115 county pensioners when they got a festive box of goodies-thanks to the efforts of two local women. One of the recipients, Betty Grant, who stays in Heathfield Road, in Thurso, was delighted with the gift and described it as “a lovely gesture”. “It came as a complete surprise” she told the Groat, this week. Mrs Grant got a number of items including a box of biscuits, tins of soup, macaroni cheese and tinned fruit, after the Caithness Shoebox Appeal was launched by Kitty Campbell and Yvonne Watt.
“He was always a star to me and now he is a star who is shining down on everyone”. Catherine McNeill said her son made her feel like the proudest mother in the world and was a young man who touched everyone who knew him. Michael McNeill (23) died suddenly at his home in Glamis Road, Wick, on Tuesday morning, after suffering lifelong illness which had worsened over the last five years.
ATTITUDES to dog fouling must be changed. That is the message being put out by a Wick community group which has launched a plan to tidy up its historic area. Argyle Square Area Association chairwoman, Claire Whyte, is encouraging residents to sign up to the Green Dog Walkers scheme in a bid to cut down on the amount of dog mess lying around. “When you walk across the Square, you can’t take any of it in, because you are too busy watching where you put your feet” she said. Claire added: “Many of the local residents have complained that their kids have come home with dog mess on their shoes.”
THE key issues concerning businesses in the North have been highlighted in a series of face-to-face meetings with one of the Scottish Government’s leading ministers. Alex Neil, cabinet secretary for infrastructure and capital investment, was in Caithness to officially open the new offices of the North Highland Initiative at Wick harbour, at the end of last month, and he took the opportunity to attend a series of meeting with local business leaders.
PALLIATIVE care looks set to be top of the agenda when the fate of health services in west Caithness is decided. A drop-in session held in the Pentland Hotel, on Tuesday, attracted around 50 people keen to find out more about and comment on, the North Highland Community Health Partnership resdesign options for Dunbar Hospital. The main issue that came to the fore from the day, was palliative care. That care for those in pain and suffering is such a high priority was no surprise to North Highland CHP general manager Sheena Macleod.
A THURSO bar owner is keeping a long-standing family connection alive with his latest business venture. Scott Youngson who runs the Comm, has bought the Central Bar and Hotel, top Joe’s and Caffe Cardosi from his cousin, Brian Cardosi. The purchase marks a huge step for Mr Youngson, but it is more than just business for the 43-year-old. It is about maintaining a long line of family tradition which dates back to the heydays of mass Italian migration into Scotland before the First World War when the Cardosi family set out from Tuscany to establish what would be a last legacy in the Far North.
Calls are being made to scrap funding for a proposed high-speed link from central Scotland to England in favour of improving existing rail infrastructure including the Far North line. Pressure group HS2 Action alliance, claims that despite Far North taxpayers money being used to build the proposed high-speed network, they will get nothing out of it. The group is calling the project unaffordable and is campaigning for the Scottish Government to instead finance improvement which will benefit passengers throughout the whole of Scotland.
PRIME minister David Cameron has praised workers at Dounreay for going beyond the call of duty to protect themselves and the environment from harm. He was speaking as the company responsible for demolishing the redundant nuclear site, emerged as one of only three in the UK to qualify for the country’s highest awards for workplace safety and environmental protection, the Sword of Honour and the Globe of Honour.
HEADING to Moray to take on the Highland League champions for the past two seasons, manager Davie Kirkwood wants his side to attack from the kick-off. Weather permitting, Wick Academy will travel to Victoria Park to face Buckie Thistle where the Scorries will be aiming to make if four wins out of their last five games.