Fit's in e Groat 's week

John O' Groat Journal headlines for June 28, 2013

World War TWO explosives, uncovered bya herd of grazing cows, sparked a major alert on the outskirts of Castletown, yesterday. Emergency services rushed to Thurdistoft Farm when the phosphorus-based cache - intended to be used as grenades by Home Guard units - were discovered, partially buried in a field, by farmer George Campbell. Nearby residents were evacuated as special decontamination units from the Scottish fire brigade, together with units from Thurso and Inverness and police, cordoned off the side road to the field which lies near a former airfield.

GIVING the coastal road network around the north Highlands the Route 66 treatment would proved a major hit for tourist and provide a much-needed shot-in-the-arm for the far north holiday trade. The idea of branding a Northern Skyway journey which would become a must-do for holidaymakers, is being explored by North Highland Tourism.

AN unnanounced inspection has resulted in a block being placed on new admissions to Seaview House care home in Wick. Brian Robertson, NHS head of adult social care said: "Admissions by NHS Highland to Seaview are suspended pending completion of actions by the provider to meet the requirements of the Care Inspectorate. NHS Highland will review the position in light of an improvement in the grading subject to inspection by the CI."

TURNING down the opportunity to manage a professional football club was the hardest decision Barry Wilson said he has ever had to make. But he had no regrets ruling himself out of the running for the vacancy at Queen of the South, believing that staying at Harmsworth Park was the best decision for him in the short term.

THE gates of Old St Peter's Kirk will not be opened in the near future after it was announced that a public meeting would not be held until autumn. A special ward meeting will be staged in September when the public will be able to put their views to Highland Council. The St Peter's Action Group has collected over 2100 signatures to be handed to the authority which owns the 12-century building.

A CAITHNESS farm family added to their long roll of honours on the show circuit when they last weekend captured one of the breed championships for the first time in over a decade, at Scotland's biggest agricultural show. Kenneth Sutherland and his two sons Kenneth and Stephen of Sibmister and Stainland Farms, near Thurso were in celebratory mood when their two-crop ewe Texel-cross, half bred ewe, with two Texel cross lambs at foot won the commercial title at the Royal Highland Show.

A THURSO engineer with an excellent academic record and selfless attitude, has been named as the North Highland UHI student of the year. Emma Sutherland returned to college in 2010 to study BEng Electrical and Electornic Engineering on a part-time basis. The 32-year-old has achieved exceptional grades on the degree, run by the college as part of the university of the Highlands and Islands, while managing work demands - working long shifts, taking on unscheduled overtime and attending external courses.