Nwicker60
17-May-13, 14:02
John O’ Groat headlines for May 17, 2013
A FORMER soldier, who served his country for 13 years and was left disabled, has gone on hunger strike after his benefits were withdrawn due to mistakes he claims were made by Department of Work and Pensions staff in Wick. The man, who lives in Caithness but cannot be name for security reasons, said mistakes made at its Girnigoe Street office have left him and his partner struggling to survive.
A MAJORITY of Caithness people would accept another nuclear power station in the far north. That was the view expressed yesterday by local MP John Thurso, landward Caithness Highland councillor Willie Mackay and Thurso community councillor Don Smith. They were responding to a claim made by Caithness Wind Information forum chairman, Stuart Young, that nuclear power is the answer to the country’s future energy needs.
AN eight-year-old boy ran the Mey Mile on Sunday, in memory of his aunt and to raise cash for a charity trying to find a cure for a rare form of cancer. Sam Mackay from Thurso wanted to raise money for AMMF, The Alan Morement Memorial Fund which is the UK’s only bile duct cancer charity. Sam’s aunt, Nikki Petrie, died of the disease on March 17, aged 41, after being diagnosed only last October.
A SERIES of new Gaelic classes have taken off in Caithness with attendance much higher than expected. The new purpose-made course for beginners and intermediate learners of the language, started in the Pulteneytown Centre in Wick, at the end of March with 19 people turning up for the first session.
SERCO Northlink should compensate businesses in Scrabster and Thurso for the loss of passing trade due to it ferry Hamnavoe being out of action, a Highland councillor has said. Landward Caithness member, Alex MacLeod has written the firm’s managing director, Stuart Garrett, to ask what steps it is taking to help small businesses hit hard due to the absence of a passenger service.
THE conduct of the Reay Hall committee is”far from becoming for people in public office” according to former chairman Don Forbes. He said this week the time has come for a vote of confidence in the current office-bearers.
A HIGHLAND councillor is “so disappointed and disillusioned” by the agenda items for next week’s Caithness and Sutherland area committee meeting, he may not turn up for it.
Landward Caithness councillor Willie Mackay said Monday’s meeting in the Assembly rooms in Wick, looks like providing “another round of non decision-making items.”
A PLAN to include Gills harbour as a port for action is “a positive move” according to chairman Bill Mowat. He welcomed the inititative which was agreed at Highland Council’s meeting in Inverness last week. Councillors decided the north-east Caithness harbour should be considered as a base for marine renewable projects along with Scrabster and Wick.
A FORMER soldier, who served his country for 13 years and was left disabled, has gone on hunger strike after his benefits were withdrawn due to mistakes he claims were made by Department of Work and Pensions staff in Wick. The man, who lives in Caithness but cannot be name for security reasons, said mistakes made at its Girnigoe Street office have left him and his partner struggling to survive.
A MAJORITY of Caithness people would accept another nuclear power station in the far north. That was the view expressed yesterday by local MP John Thurso, landward Caithness Highland councillor Willie Mackay and Thurso community councillor Don Smith. They were responding to a claim made by Caithness Wind Information forum chairman, Stuart Young, that nuclear power is the answer to the country’s future energy needs.
AN eight-year-old boy ran the Mey Mile on Sunday, in memory of his aunt and to raise cash for a charity trying to find a cure for a rare form of cancer. Sam Mackay from Thurso wanted to raise money for AMMF, The Alan Morement Memorial Fund which is the UK’s only bile duct cancer charity. Sam’s aunt, Nikki Petrie, died of the disease on March 17, aged 41, after being diagnosed only last October.
A SERIES of new Gaelic classes have taken off in Caithness with attendance much higher than expected. The new purpose-made course for beginners and intermediate learners of the language, started in the Pulteneytown Centre in Wick, at the end of March with 19 people turning up for the first session.
SERCO Northlink should compensate businesses in Scrabster and Thurso for the loss of passing trade due to it ferry Hamnavoe being out of action, a Highland councillor has said. Landward Caithness member, Alex MacLeod has written the firm’s managing director, Stuart Garrett, to ask what steps it is taking to help small businesses hit hard due to the absence of a passenger service.
THE conduct of the Reay Hall committee is”far from becoming for people in public office” according to former chairman Don Forbes. He said this week the time has come for a vote of confidence in the current office-bearers.
A HIGHLAND councillor is “so disappointed and disillusioned” by the agenda items for next week’s Caithness and Sutherland area committee meeting, he may not turn up for it.
Landward Caithness councillor Willie Mackay said Monday’s meeting in the Assembly rooms in Wick, looks like providing “another round of non decision-making items.”
A PLAN to include Gills harbour as a port for action is “a positive move” according to chairman Bill Mowat. He welcomed the inititative which was agreed at Highland Council’s meeting in Inverness last week. Councillors decided the north-east Caithness harbour should be considered as a base for marine renewable projects along with Scrabster and Wick.