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



Nwicker60
16-Jan-15, 10:59
John O' Groat Journal headlines for January 16, 2015

IF out-of-hours surgery at Caithness General Hospital is removed at any time in the future, it could "lead to unnecesssary deaths and a huge cost to the public purse". That is the personal view of local community first responder, Willie Marshall, who is "strongly opposed" to any move to cut the round-the-clock surgical cover at Wick. He is worried about the impact such a scenario could have on local people.

COUNTER-TERRORISM officers are working in the Highlands monitoring people who are suspected to be at risk of Islamic radicalisation. The individuals know they are under surveillance and the police and other agencies are trying to steer them off the militant path.

A PLAN to undertake more operations at Caithness general Hospital will not be undermined by having fewer beds in the Bignold surgical ward, according to NHS Highland. The health authority said it needs to reduce its 24 in-patient beds at the Wick ward to comply with infection control and health and safety standards. Under the plan, some of the six-bed units would have to be reduced to four beds.

A DETERMINED group of volunteers are campaigning to save the jobs of Highland Council gardeners. Last month, as part of budget cuts which are needed to save £64 million over the next five years, the local authority agreed to hand over responsibility of floral displays and plant nurseries across the region, a move which will save it £367,000 a year. However, if community groups cannot be found to take over responsibility of the displays, flowerbeds will be resurfaced with grass to enable the council to meet these maintenance savings.

AN 83-year-old woman has described her "shocking and terrible" experience at the hands of ScotRail as she and 20 passengers were left stranded for nearly two hours at Thurso railway station. Iona Calder from Castletown had been due to take the 8.34 am train from Thurso to Inverness on Wednesday January 7, but the train did not turn up and they were left waiting in the cold until 10.10am when a bus finally appeared to get them on their way.

DAMAGE in the region of £500,000 is believed to have been done to farms and crofts in the most recent storm to hit the county. The winds which peaked last week in Wick at 93mph, caused severe disruption and have proved devastating for the farming community leaving the local branch of insurance company NFU Mutual, overwhelmed with claims.

GARY Mackay-Steven could be on the verge of a move to Celtic after the Scottish champions confirmed they have approached Dundee United to hold pre-contract talks. The Thurso-born winger looks set to be on his way out of Tannadice. He has only six months left on his current contract and is now free to talk to other clubs about a potential move in the summer.