Nwicker60
23-Dec-11, 12:36
John O’ Groat Journal review December 23, 2011
THE paper leads on its front page with the heading ‘Urgent need’ for solution in face of Dunbar knock-back. Maintaining services at the Dunbar Hospital in their present form is not an option and a solution needs to be found for the sake of patients in the west of the county. That is the view of North Highland Community Health Partnership general manager, Sheena MacLeod, who said that it is a matter of urgency that an agreement be reached on the redesign of health services in the west. It comes after North Highland refused to support proposals for the redesign of Dunbar which included changes to palliative and end-of-life care, closing 12 inpatient beds and reducing the operating hours of the 24-hour primary care emergency centre.
THE much-publicised ‘good news’ story tells of the miracle operation performed at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to give Caithness fisherman, Donald Gunn a new thumb, by replacing a damaged one with one of his toes. He lost the thumb of his right hand while his boat, the Orkney registered Kellier was 20 miles of Sumburgh Head, last July. The thumb got caught in one of the nets and was ripped from his hand. He was airlifted to the Aberdeen hospital where the successful but complex operation was performed a fortnight ago. Now he is hoping to get back to sea.
ONE of nature’s most spectacular sights, happens right on their doorsteps but businesses in Caithness do not seem to acknowledge it. That is the view of local hotelier Liz Sutherland who argues more needs to be done to encourage tourist to witness the spectacular northern lights. Owner of the Pentland Lodge House, in Thurso, Mrs Sutherland has a number of guests who stay at her premises, specifically to witness the phenomenon. However she spoke out, after reading a feature in The Times newspaper, in which a Thurso hotelier was quoted as saying they couldn’t remember the last time they saw the northern lights in Caithness, advising tourists they would be better off in Aberdeen.
FESTIVE shopping in Caithness seems to have had a slow start but has picked up over the past week with some retailers expecting a final flurry this weekend. That is the picture which emerged after the Groat spoke to a number of local shops. Some businesses said trade was by affected by the economic downturn and uncertainty about jobs, while others claimed internet shopping and supermarket chains were having an effect on sales.
CHRISTMAS parties and concerts are featured in a two-page picture spread on P4 and 5 and there’s a don’t-drink-and-drive warning on 6, headed ‘Leave the keys and take a taxi’.
A NEW council policy which urges developers behind multi-million pound schemes, including wind farms, to pay money into a community pot, has been likened to a bribe by a Highland councillor. The local authority wants companies behind major renewable developments to voluntarily stump up cash into a fund to compensate local residents for the disruption and inconvenience caused. The cash, which could amount to thousands, would be divied up and awarded to the immediate and surrounding communities and also directed towards a pan-Highland fund. However, during a discussion of the new policy in Inverness, on Thursday, Councillor David Henderson, Inverness Ness-side, who is a long –term opponent of wind farms, claimed it could be viewed as a potential bribe from the developers to curry favour with local residents.
THE winter has taken its toll on the Highland League during the last two weeks with only three out of a possible 18 games being played. Luckily for Wick Academy, they have been able to play their last two scheduled games to take four out of six points as they aim to reach the top 10 by the new year. The heavy snow last season, which forced Academy to wait almost two months to play a game has not reappeared so far, and the Scorries have taken advantage with only one defeat in their last six games. The club’s poor start to the season is now a thing of the past, according to manager Davie Kirkwood. He said his team is playing with confidence against the best in the league, picking up 13 points from a possible 18 in the last six games.
AND finally...final preparations are in hand for a deserving fundraiser to boost a charity that helps kids with cancer. People from throughout the county are bracing themselves to brave the chilly water of the Pentland Firth in the second Boxing Day Dip with a Nip, at Thurso beach. Carried out in aid of CLIC Sargent, the event has already attracted a host of participants and those who haven’t yet registered, are welcome to go along on the day, meeting at the Salvation Army Hall at the seafront between 1pm and 1.45pm for a 2pm start.
THE paper leads on its front page with the heading ‘Urgent need’ for solution in face of Dunbar knock-back. Maintaining services at the Dunbar Hospital in their present form is not an option and a solution needs to be found for the sake of patients in the west of the county. That is the view of North Highland Community Health Partnership general manager, Sheena MacLeod, who said that it is a matter of urgency that an agreement be reached on the redesign of health services in the west. It comes after North Highland refused to support proposals for the redesign of Dunbar which included changes to palliative and end-of-life care, closing 12 inpatient beds and reducing the operating hours of the 24-hour primary care emergency centre.
THE much-publicised ‘good news’ story tells of the miracle operation performed at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to give Caithness fisherman, Donald Gunn a new thumb, by replacing a damaged one with one of his toes. He lost the thumb of his right hand while his boat, the Orkney registered Kellier was 20 miles of Sumburgh Head, last July. The thumb got caught in one of the nets and was ripped from his hand. He was airlifted to the Aberdeen hospital where the successful but complex operation was performed a fortnight ago. Now he is hoping to get back to sea.
ONE of nature’s most spectacular sights, happens right on their doorsteps but businesses in Caithness do not seem to acknowledge it. That is the view of local hotelier Liz Sutherland who argues more needs to be done to encourage tourist to witness the spectacular northern lights. Owner of the Pentland Lodge House, in Thurso, Mrs Sutherland has a number of guests who stay at her premises, specifically to witness the phenomenon. However she spoke out, after reading a feature in The Times newspaper, in which a Thurso hotelier was quoted as saying they couldn’t remember the last time they saw the northern lights in Caithness, advising tourists they would be better off in Aberdeen.
FESTIVE shopping in Caithness seems to have had a slow start but has picked up over the past week with some retailers expecting a final flurry this weekend. That is the picture which emerged after the Groat spoke to a number of local shops. Some businesses said trade was by affected by the economic downturn and uncertainty about jobs, while others claimed internet shopping and supermarket chains were having an effect on sales.
CHRISTMAS parties and concerts are featured in a two-page picture spread on P4 and 5 and there’s a don’t-drink-and-drive warning on 6, headed ‘Leave the keys and take a taxi’.
A NEW council policy which urges developers behind multi-million pound schemes, including wind farms, to pay money into a community pot, has been likened to a bribe by a Highland councillor. The local authority wants companies behind major renewable developments to voluntarily stump up cash into a fund to compensate local residents for the disruption and inconvenience caused. The cash, which could amount to thousands, would be divied up and awarded to the immediate and surrounding communities and also directed towards a pan-Highland fund. However, during a discussion of the new policy in Inverness, on Thursday, Councillor David Henderson, Inverness Ness-side, who is a long –term opponent of wind farms, claimed it could be viewed as a potential bribe from the developers to curry favour with local residents.
THE winter has taken its toll on the Highland League during the last two weeks with only three out of a possible 18 games being played. Luckily for Wick Academy, they have been able to play their last two scheduled games to take four out of six points as they aim to reach the top 10 by the new year. The heavy snow last season, which forced Academy to wait almost two months to play a game has not reappeared so far, and the Scorries have taken advantage with only one defeat in their last six games. The club’s poor start to the season is now a thing of the past, according to manager Davie Kirkwood. He said his team is playing with confidence against the best in the league, picking up 13 points from a possible 18 in the last six games.
AND finally...final preparations are in hand for a deserving fundraiser to boost a charity that helps kids with cancer. People from throughout the county are bracing themselves to brave the chilly water of the Pentland Firth in the second Boxing Day Dip with a Nip, at Thurso beach. Carried out in aid of CLIC Sargent, the event has already attracted a host of participants and those who haven’t yet registered, are welcome to go along on the day, meeting at the Salvation Army Hall at the seafront between 1pm and 1.45pm for a 2pm start.