Nwicker60
12-Dec-12, 13:08
Caithness Courier headlines: December 12
A CAITHNESS mother yesterday spoke about her “absolutely terrifying” ordeal when her young son collapsed on the street and seemed to stop breathing. Morag McLean, who is 24 and lives with her partner Kris Smith in Sweyn Road, Thurso, described what happened to three-year-old Calvin as “a mother’s worst nightmare”. She told the Courier: “I could have lost my little boy that day”. Morag was taking Calvin home from nursery last Thursday when the incident occurred. At first, she thought her son had fallen over and went to pick him up but then discovered he had stopped breathing and his face was purlply-blue. Calvin was treated initially at Dunbar Hospital and then transferred to Caithness General where he was diagnosed with tonsillitis and made a full recovery.
A JURY trial got underway yesterday in which a French holidaymaker was accused of causing the death of Caithness science teacher Kevin Costello, in a road accident near Thurso, last year. Marc Albert Louis Combe (61) whose address was given as c/o PDSO Inverness, appeared on indictment at the High Court in the capital. It is alleged that, on August 16, 2011 on the A9 at Weydale near Thurso, he caused the death of the 47-year-old teacher, by driving a camper van dangerously and on the wrong side of the road. The camper van collided with an oncoming car driven by Elizabeth Wheeler. Both vehicles were damage and Ms Wheeler’s car overturned. She was severely injured in the accident and Mr Costello a passenger in the car, was so badly injured that he died.
PLANS to renovate the Boys’ Brigade Hall, in Thurso, have a taken a step forward, with over £7000 being raised towards the work which is expected to cost between £50,000 and £60,000. The premises in Couper Square, require a new roof and a central heating system, a new floor and improved kitchen and toilet facilities, according to officer-in-charge, Johanna Geddes. She said everyone involved in the project is determined to reach their goal and pointed out that applications for grant assistance are being made to the National Lottery and other bodies.
THE Scottish National Party in Caithness has been hit with another alleged expenses scandal – the second in a year affecting high-profile representatives. Following a lengthy police probe, the youngest-ever Highland councillor, landward Caithness member Alex MacLeod, has been reported by Northern Constabulary over alleged discrepancies in his campaign expenditure leading up to the local authority elections in May. An anonymous complaint had been made to the Force, earlier this year, that a councillor had spend more than the limit allowed, before polling day on May 3.
CAITHNESS must have alternative health services in place which work, before any changes are made to what is done in hospitals. That was the suggestion made by Liz Smith, an experienced lay member on NHS groups, at the start of county-wide review about the future shape of local services.
A PLAN by MeyGen Ltd to use a purpose-built catamaran to install marine turbines off the Caithness coast, has been welcomed by the chairman of Gills Harbour Ltd. Bill Mowat is delighted the company has had a re-think on the type of vessel it intends to use on the project at the Inner Sound, which lies between Gills and the uninhabited Pentland Firth island of Stroma. MeyGen had considered using a 15,000 tonne support ship, but now plans using a purpose-built 40-metre catamaran with a lifting capacity of 250 tons.
SIGNICANT changes in the banking culture are under way, according to Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP John Thurso, who has been spearheading a major inquiry. The Lib Dem backbencher made the claim, after presiding over the first parliamentary commission outside of London when top banking chiefs were grilled about their industry culture and practices.
A YOUNG man from Wick is six months into a modern apprenticeship, thanks to help from a national scheme. Gary Paterson, a former pupil of Wick High was due to leave school and had no idea how to get into the type of work he wanted to do. He got in touch with Maureen Callan from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, which, working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland, Lagta and McConechy’s Tyre and Exhaust Centre, introduced him to the Get ready for Work programme, which Gary (16) described as “brilliant”.
WICK ACADEMY showed razor-sharp teeth on Saturday as they reclaimed top spot in the Highland League with a scintillating seven-goal demolition of Buckie Thistle. The rampant Scorries created a club-scoring record for an away league fixture, with their hammering of the former champions at Victoria Park with Richard Macadie becoming the first Academy player to score five goals in an HFL match. His haul takes him past the century mark with his 103 total only two short of top scorer Gary Weir.
A CAITHNESS mother yesterday spoke about her “absolutely terrifying” ordeal when her young son collapsed on the street and seemed to stop breathing. Morag McLean, who is 24 and lives with her partner Kris Smith in Sweyn Road, Thurso, described what happened to three-year-old Calvin as “a mother’s worst nightmare”. She told the Courier: “I could have lost my little boy that day”. Morag was taking Calvin home from nursery last Thursday when the incident occurred. At first, she thought her son had fallen over and went to pick him up but then discovered he had stopped breathing and his face was purlply-blue. Calvin was treated initially at Dunbar Hospital and then transferred to Caithness General where he was diagnosed with tonsillitis and made a full recovery.
A JURY trial got underway yesterday in which a French holidaymaker was accused of causing the death of Caithness science teacher Kevin Costello, in a road accident near Thurso, last year. Marc Albert Louis Combe (61) whose address was given as c/o PDSO Inverness, appeared on indictment at the High Court in the capital. It is alleged that, on August 16, 2011 on the A9 at Weydale near Thurso, he caused the death of the 47-year-old teacher, by driving a camper van dangerously and on the wrong side of the road. The camper van collided with an oncoming car driven by Elizabeth Wheeler. Both vehicles were damage and Ms Wheeler’s car overturned. She was severely injured in the accident and Mr Costello a passenger in the car, was so badly injured that he died.
PLANS to renovate the Boys’ Brigade Hall, in Thurso, have a taken a step forward, with over £7000 being raised towards the work which is expected to cost between £50,000 and £60,000. The premises in Couper Square, require a new roof and a central heating system, a new floor and improved kitchen and toilet facilities, according to officer-in-charge, Johanna Geddes. She said everyone involved in the project is determined to reach their goal and pointed out that applications for grant assistance are being made to the National Lottery and other bodies.
THE Scottish National Party in Caithness has been hit with another alleged expenses scandal – the second in a year affecting high-profile representatives. Following a lengthy police probe, the youngest-ever Highland councillor, landward Caithness member Alex MacLeod, has been reported by Northern Constabulary over alleged discrepancies in his campaign expenditure leading up to the local authority elections in May. An anonymous complaint had been made to the Force, earlier this year, that a councillor had spend more than the limit allowed, before polling day on May 3.
CAITHNESS must have alternative health services in place which work, before any changes are made to what is done in hospitals. That was the suggestion made by Liz Smith, an experienced lay member on NHS groups, at the start of county-wide review about the future shape of local services.
A PLAN by MeyGen Ltd to use a purpose-built catamaran to install marine turbines off the Caithness coast, has been welcomed by the chairman of Gills Harbour Ltd. Bill Mowat is delighted the company has had a re-think on the type of vessel it intends to use on the project at the Inner Sound, which lies between Gills and the uninhabited Pentland Firth island of Stroma. MeyGen had considered using a 15,000 tonne support ship, but now plans using a purpose-built 40-metre catamaran with a lifting capacity of 250 tons.
SIGNICANT changes in the banking culture are under way, according to Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP John Thurso, who has been spearheading a major inquiry. The Lib Dem backbencher made the claim, after presiding over the first parliamentary commission outside of London when top banking chiefs were grilled about their industry culture and practices.
A YOUNG man from Wick is six months into a modern apprenticeship, thanks to help from a national scheme. Gary Paterson, a former pupil of Wick High was due to leave school and had no idea how to get into the type of work he wanted to do. He got in touch with Maureen Callan from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, which, working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland, Lagta and McConechy’s Tyre and Exhaust Centre, introduced him to the Get ready for Work programme, which Gary (16) described as “brilliant”.
WICK ACADEMY showed razor-sharp teeth on Saturday as they reclaimed top spot in the Highland League with a scintillating seven-goal demolition of Buckie Thistle. The rampant Scorries created a club-scoring record for an away league fixture, with their hammering of the former champions at Victoria Park with Richard Macadie becoming the first Academy player to score five goals in an HFL match. His haul takes him past the century mark with his 103 total only two short of top scorer Gary Weir.