Nwicker60
04-May-12, 09:45
John O' Groat Journal review: May 4, 2012
HOLYROOD has ruled that local MSP Rob Gibson broke parliamentary rules by attempting to use public funds to promote two Caithness council candidates, it has been alleged. The Scottish Liberal Democrats claim that it was decided on Wednesday, at a meeting of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, that receipts Mr Gibson had filed for adverts featuring his staff – two of them were up for election yesterday – were not to be paid for by the public and the MSP should pick up the tab, personally. MSP for Shetland, Tavish Scott, brought the allegations of the misuse of taxpayers’ money to light earlier this week. And yesterday, as voters went to the polls, the one-time Scottish Lib Dem leader slammed what he claimed was an attempt to abuse the public purse to promote SNP candidates in the local government elections, calling it a “damning indictment” of the SNP”.
THE British submariner, who sank the Belgrano in the Falklands War, is proud of the job he and his crew-mates did. Speaking yesterday on the 30th anniversary of the episode, Bill Budding also remains four-square behind the decision to defend the islands against Argentine forces and he is sure the Royal Navy would be ready to mobolise, were the Buenos Aires regime to launch another invasion. A total of 323 people went down with the 185 metre-long Belgrano – accounting for over half of Argentine deaths in the war.
A BACK-SEAT passenger, who was seriously injured in a two-car collision near Murkle, has taken his first steps in over three months. Kevin Morrice (37) from Wick, was in a coma for four weeks following the crash in January in which he broke all his ribs on the right side of his body and suffered bleeding to the brain. After being treated at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for over two months, he was transferred to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, last month to continue his rehabilitation. This week saw major progress in his fight to return to fitness when, with the help of nursing staff, he was able to walk for the first time since the accident.
A LETTER has been sent to a sheriff about an embezzler who stole £22,000 from Wick Gala funds. Sheriff David Sutherland revealed he received the correspondence from a member of the public when reviewing the progress Karen Spruce has made, in repaying the cash she took. At Stornoway Sheriff Court last week, he passed the letter to lawyer Kevin Macpherson, who had earlier told the sheriff that a probation officer’s report indicated Spruce was obeying her probation conditions and was making good progress in paying back the money. The contents of the letter were not publicly revealed though Mr Macpherson remarked it seemed to “run contrary to the social work report”. Sheriff Sutherland ordered another review of the situation in three months, when an updated probation officer’s report will be provided.
MORE than 15 inquiries have been made about a Caithness abattoir and meat processing company which has gone into administration. That was revealed yesterday by the administrators of Caithness Beef and Lamb, which owns the £4 million state-of-the-art facility at Keiss. Administrators RSM Tenon said there has been “strong interest” in the business from the farming, meat and food processing sectors across the UK and Europe since it went into administration on Monday. RSM Tenon is now circulating sales and information packs and has already begun arranging site visits. Join administrator Iain Fraser said: “We are very encouraged with the level of interest in a facility that could be brought into production relatively quickly and easily.”
A WICK man, who was caught up in an American college shooting, has spoken about the dramatic incident which left a student injured. Ian Scott, an internationally-respected artist, who lectures part-time at Hostos Community College in the Bronx area of New York, had just entered the building when he heard shots outside the front door. He said: “I must admit, I did not take it all seriously until a police chief came storming out of his office in a bullet-proof vest with his gun drawn. His reactions were astonishingly quick and immediately reinforced the severity of the situation. One of the students, a 17-year-old was hit in the calf, in the incident, but his injury was not serious.
A FORMER squaddie has pushed himself to the limit in a bid to raise vital funds for his fellow veterans. Mark Hendry, of Lybster, who served as an infantry signaller with the Queen’s Own Highlanders for four years, wanted to boost the work and funds of the veterans’ charity, Erskine, by running the Inverness Half Marathon and Lochaber Marathon. He has supported the charity since 2006 when he became secretary and treasurer of the Latheron RBLS branch. Mark has already raised funds for Erskine through various cycling and running challenges but, once again, wanted to put his best foot forward and help veterans across Scotland. The 44-year-old completed the Inverness Half Marathon in March with a personal best time of 1 hr 56 minutes.
WICK manager Davie Kirkwood is out for revenge as the Scorries gear up for their last three games of the season. Early campaign defeats to Huntly, Lossiemouth and Rothes have haunted Academy as the results were among the side’s most disappointing. Despite dominating the games at Christie Park, Grant Park and Mackessack Park, Wick lost by only one goal each time. However, this poor early form gave way to a run of eight wins in 12 games during the winter, the side taking some notable scalps including Nairn County, Forres Mechanics and Fraserburgh. Now Kirkwood wants his players to show why they have become unrecognisable from the team the sides faced last year, and pick up maximum points, starting with Lossie tomorrow and continuing with Huntly on Monday.
HOLYROOD has ruled that local MSP Rob Gibson broke parliamentary rules by attempting to use public funds to promote two Caithness council candidates, it has been alleged. The Scottish Liberal Democrats claim that it was decided on Wednesday, at a meeting of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, that receipts Mr Gibson had filed for adverts featuring his staff – two of them were up for election yesterday – were not to be paid for by the public and the MSP should pick up the tab, personally. MSP for Shetland, Tavish Scott, brought the allegations of the misuse of taxpayers’ money to light earlier this week. And yesterday, as voters went to the polls, the one-time Scottish Lib Dem leader slammed what he claimed was an attempt to abuse the public purse to promote SNP candidates in the local government elections, calling it a “damning indictment” of the SNP”.
THE British submariner, who sank the Belgrano in the Falklands War, is proud of the job he and his crew-mates did. Speaking yesterday on the 30th anniversary of the episode, Bill Budding also remains four-square behind the decision to defend the islands against Argentine forces and he is sure the Royal Navy would be ready to mobolise, were the Buenos Aires regime to launch another invasion. A total of 323 people went down with the 185 metre-long Belgrano – accounting for over half of Argentine deaths in the war.
A BACK-SEAT passenger, who was seriously injured in a two-car collision near Murkle, has taken his first steps in over three months. Kevin Morrice (37) from Wick, was in a coma for four weeks following the crash in January in which he broke all his ribs on the right side of his body and suffered bleeding to the brain. After being treated at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for over two months, he was transferred to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, last month to continue his rehabilitation. This week saw major progress in his fight to return to fitness when, with the help of nursing staff, he was able to walk for the first time since the accident.
A LETTER has been sent to a sheriff about an embezzler who stole £22,000 from Wick Gala funds. Sheriff David Sutherland revealed he received the correspondence from a member of the public when reviewing the progress Karen Spruce has made, in repaying the cash she took. At Stornoway Sheriff Court last week, he passed the letter to lawyer Kevin Macpherson, who had earlier told the sheriff that a probation officer’s report indicated Spruce was obeying her probation conditions and was making good progress in paying back the money. The contents of the letter were not publicly revealed though Mr Macpherson remarked it seemed to “run contrary to the social work report”. Sheriff Sutherland ordered another review of the situation in three months, when an updated probation officer’s report will be provided.
MORE than 15 inquiries have been made about a Caithness abattoir and meat processing company which has gone into administration. That was revealed yesterday by the administrators of Caithness Beef and Lamb, which owns the £4 million state-of-the-art facility at Keiss. Administrators RSM Tenon said there has been “strong interest” in the business from the farming, meat and food processing sectors across the UK and Europe since it went into administration on Monday. RSM Tenon is now circulating sales and information packs and has already begun arranging site visits. Join administrator Iain Fraser said: “We are very encouraged with the level of interest in a facility that could be brought into production relatively quickly and easily.”
A WICK man, who was caught up in an American college shooting, has spoken about the dramatic incident which left a student injured. Ian Scott, an internationally-respected artist, who lectures part-time at Hostos Community College in the Bronx area of New York, had just entered the building when he heard shots outside the front door. He said: “I must admit, I did not take it all seriously until a police chief came storming out of his office in a bullet-proof vest with his gun drawn. His reactions were astonishingly quick and immediately reinforced the severity of the situation. One of the students, a 17-year-old was hit in the calf, in the incident, but his injury was not serious.
A FORMER squaddie has pushed himself to the limit in a bid to raise vital funds for his fellow veterans. Mark Hendry, of Lybster, who served as an infantry signaller with the Queen’s Own Highlanders for four years, wanted to boost the work and funds of the veterans’ charity, Erskine, by running the Inverness Half Marathon and Lochaber Marathon. He has supported the charity since 2006 when he became secretary and treasurer of the Latheron RBLS branch. Mark has already raised funds for Erskine through various cycling and running challenges but, once again, wanted to put his best foot forward and help veterans across Scotland. The 44-year-old completed the Inverness Half Marathon in March with a personal best time of 1 hr 56 minutes.
WICK manager Davie Kirkwood is out for revenge as the Scorries gear up for their last three games of the season. Early campaign defeats to Huntly, Lossiemouth and Rothes have haunted Academy as the results were among the side’s most disappointing. Despite dominating the games at Christie Park, Grant Park and Mackessack Park, Wick lost by only one goal each time. However, this poor early form gave way to a run of eight wins in 12 games during the winter, the side taking some notable scalps including Nairn County, Forres Mechanics and Fraserburgh. Now Kirkwood wants his players to show why they have become unrecognisable from the team the sides faced last year, and pick up maximum points, starting with Lossie tomorrow and continuing with Huntly on Monday.