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View Full Version : Fit's in 'e Coorier 'e day



Nwicker60
09-Jul-14, 09:06
Caithness Courier headlines for July 9, 2014
THE Scottish Government has promised to pour every penny of net seabed leasing revenues straight into the coffers of Caithness and Sutherland if Scotland says 'Yes' to independence. Alex Salmond previously pledged that at least half of the Crown Estate cash would remain in coastal communities. But the SNP yesterday sprung a last-minute surprise with its 100 per cent offer, the same deal which was made to the islands a month ago.


THURSO has this week been the scene of daily skirmishes and battles between hordes of blood-thirsty Vikings displaying an impressive range of weaponry. Not to worry though - the make-believe shows have been delighting adults and children alike, with hundreds turning up last weekend to see the start of the takeover of the town's Caithness Horizons museum and visitor centre, by the Glasgow Vikings.


POLICE have praised the courage of victims of a predatory former Caithness man, who was on Monday convicted of raping two women while living in Wick, during the early 1990s. Duncan Begg also known as Duncan Dreghorn denied 43 offences against women and children including three rapes and carrying out lewd acts on three children during a 26-year period. Begg, of Cruchan Place, Portree, claimed that all sexual contact he had with the women, was with their consent.


THE streets of Thurso are to be packed with hundreds of fans who will cheer the Queen's baton coming to town to celebrate the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. In 14 days' time, the baton, which contains a message from the Queen will be read out at Celtic Park to over 60000 fans at the opening ceremony. The baton is on the final leg of its journey which has seen it being carried the length and breadth of Scotland and it will arrive at Millbank this afternoon.


LEADERS of a campaign, battling to block the A9 average speed cameras scheme, will meet in Inverness later this week. Tourism and business representatives and north politicians, spearheading the fight against the plans to install the cameras between Inverness and Perth, will consider their next move at Friday's meeting in the city's Palace Hotel.


SCHOOLCHILDREN have potentially been put at risk, due to delayed inspections of gym equipment. Urgent safety checks are under way after a spot check found a former contractor failed to keep proper inspections records. The private company lost documents and failed to properly record which machines were unfit for use.


THE far north is "punching above its weight" when it comes to maintaining "a healthy skills base". That was the positive message delivered by the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership. Members agreed confidence in the area's economy is underpinned by investment in its future workforce.


THURSO Heritage Society is inviting people to take a walk down memory lane with the launch of its charity calendar for 2015. The fourth annual fundraiser features an eye-catching array of images from in and around Thurso from the late 1800s to the 1940s.


CASTLETOWN Gala celebrated the launch of its 50th anniversary with a 50 per cent increase in takings on Saturday's opening night. The occasion was made particularly special by the attendance of 24 former gala queens. The first village gala was held in 1965 with Jane Donn the inaugural queen.


THURSO's Stepping Stones centre is £3000 better off, thanks to a group of Thurso High School pupils who chose it as their focus in the school's participation in the nationwide Youth Philanthropy Initiative competition. They were one of the fourth year groups who researched local charities and gave presentations on how their chosen organisations could benefit from the grant up for grabs in the competition, co-ordinated by the Wood Family Trust.


THE Dodo and Clair MacLean Memorial day at Sir George's Park, Thurso on Saturday again provided the season's pipe-opener for both Thurso and Wick Academy. Following a seven-a-side tourney, held in glorious sunshine, the heavens opened as the inter-town friendly kicked off, though the 15 minutes downpour gave way to the return of sultry, if stamina-sapping conditions.