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Thread: Fit's in 'e' Groat 'is week?

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    Default Fit's in 'e' Groat 'is week?

    John O’Groat Journal review:July 22,2011

    THE
    Groat leads on its front page with the good news that the closure-threatened Wick tax office has had a temporary reprieve. It was to have closed next March but will now stay open until 2014. The change of heart by HM Revenue and Customs, was described as “unprecedented” by local Public and Commercial Union spokesman, Allan Tait but he was quick to stress that their campaign to ensure that the office would remain open permanently, goes on.

    ALSO
    on the front page...a Thurso businessman has described the “longest five or 10 minutes” of his life as he watched his business go up in flames earlier this week. The Riverside Fish Bar, owned by brothers Gary and Graeme Reid, suffered extensive smoke and fire damage after a fryer caught fire during lunch service on Wednesday. Gary Reid and his staff battled the blaze with a powder fire extinguisher before being forced to leave the premises. Firemen attended and fought the outbreak with foam branches and breathing apparatus. The loss of the chip shop came just days after the Reid brothers were celebrating a proposed expansion of their bakery business to bigger premises in the town.

    REDUCED broadband costs in the Far North are a step in the right direction, according to the chairman of Caithness Chamber of Commerce. Neil Robertson welcomed news that Ofcom has ordered BT to lower the wholesale price of broadband provision to internet service providers in rural areas. From the middle of next month, BT will have to lower its rates by 12 per cent below the rate of inflation each year. The changes will be fixed until at least March 2014. Mr Robertson said the reduction would benefit businesses and residential customers in Caithness.

    THE
    gala season is getting into its stride and Thurso gala queen Hannah Paterson is pictured with her entourage on the front page. The gala begins on August 6.

    INSIDE
    news of a Caithness couple who are planning to “get their motor running” and “head out on the highway” next week, to raise money for two local causes. Local trucking enthusiasts, Dan and Dolina Mackenzie are taking their American Peterbilt truck on a long haul from Dunnet Head to John O’ Groats before setting their sights on Land’s End. Dolina explained that this will be the longest trip so far, to raise money for the Thurso lifeboat and the local branch of Macmillan Cancer Support.

    A LOCAL
    pensioner has warned people not to fall for the high-pressure sales tactics deployed by individuals purporting to offer emergency anti-virus software. Barbara Mackay did not sign up for anything, but felt harassed and bullied during a phone call on Tuesday evening. She decided to speak out, after reading in the Caithness Courier of someone else in the Far North who had a similar unsolicited scam call.

    A PAGE 4
    feature will bring back a lot of memories for local folk. It centred on Elijah Wallis who has been providing all the fun of the fair in Wick since 1947. Due to celebrate his 90th birthday on Tuesday, the showman said he feels at home in Wick.

    THIRTY-SIX-YEAR OLD
    Jacqueline King, a graduate of the BA Business Management course at North Highland College UHI, has been awarded the title of Student of the Year. It recognises her exceptional personal achievement and academic prowess. Throughout her studies, Jacqueline has demonstrated admirable determination to succeed and has remained focused on completing her studies, while juggling family life.

    A PROPOSED
    new low-cost upgrade at Berriedale Braes is “achievable” after a study showed early indications it would cost around £1 million to £2m less than expected. At a meeting of Caithness Transport Forum, a draft conclusion from the Transport Scotland-commissioned geophysical study hinted that a proposed realignment option would only cost £2.3m-not the estimated £3m to £4m.

    A SPECIAL Wick edition of the final book in a trilogy by local writer, James Fleming, is to be launched next week. One hundred copies of Rising Blood will be available to buy at Mackays Hotel, Wick, next Saturday. The book, which follows White Blood and Cold Blood, tells the story of Charlie Doig and is set during the time of the Russian revolution in the early part of the 20th century.

    WICK
    is forging full steam ahead with its bid to attract visiting yachts. The move to target the leisure traffic is a key part of a major change of tack by the port authority to revitalise the fortunes of the harbour. The summer has again witnessed a regular coming and going of yachts and other pleasure craft. Three-quarters of the permanent berths available at its new marine, have been snapped up, while by the end of last month, 150 visiting yachts had come in entered the port.

    THE Gaelic plan needs greater flexibility so that it can give a true representation of the Highlands, according to a local councillor. Landward Caithness member David Flear believes the authority needs to consult more, with the public to find out people’s opinion on Gaelic in the Far North. Mr Flear said he backed Councillor Robert Coghill’s views that funding of road signage could be used elsewhere and that a re-evaulated Gaelic plan needs to consider it.

    The
    Lab Impex Festival of Cycling, promoted by Caithness Cycling Club, proved to be one of the most successful ever held in the county, with strong fields in each of the three events, a bumper prize list and some top-quality racing. Even the weather was kind and confounded the wet forecast. Event one on Saturday afternoon was the Mac Mowat Memorial “25”, held in memory of the much-loved first life president of the club. Conditions for the race were warm and dry but a strong southerly wind made for tough going to the turn, and slower times. Nevertheless, World Masters track champion from Forres, Peter Ettles put in a superb time for the conditions to win in 54 minutes 49 seconds, remarkably on a 100-inch fixed gear-but 55 seconds outside the course record set by Thurso’s Alexander Ross in 2002.
    Last edited by Nwicker60; 23-Jul-11 at 13:46.

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