Caithness Courier review: March 21, 2012

SEVEN massive Neolithic cairns and 300 new Bronze and Iron Age sites have been found in Caithness following the first large-scale survey of its kind to be undertaken Scotland. The discovery – described as “an invaluable contribution to the archaeological record of Caithness – was made using an advanced technology which can map ancient sites in fine detail and reveal three dimensional visual images of their shapes, size and content. The £100,000 archaeological project was funded by the developers of the Baillie Wind Farm and used a system known as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). The seven “horned” cairns date back 5000 years and were discovered in a well-preserved state at the Hill of Shebster, near the wind-farm development. But the survey also covered an area stretching from Dounreay to Loch Calder and found a further 300 new archaeological sites.

AN Olympic flame exchange will take place a John O’ Groats in June, as part of the lead-up to the London 2012 Games – but it is understood the flame will only be in the area for around 15 minutes. John Green, chairman of Dunnet and Canisbay community C,ouncil, is pleased the Olympic flame is coming to the Caithness landmark in the early evening of Sunday June 10, but would have preferred it was there for longer. It is understood the flame will be at Groats for a photo opportunity and it is hoped some kind of event will be held to mark the occasion.

THE 10th annual Caithness International Science Festival has been hailed a success by organising body, Science 03. The week-long event, which came to an end of Friday, featured 133 primary school-based workshops. Pupils from 20 primaries attended workshops which spanned topics from bees to astronomy. Science 03 chairman, Professor Iain Baikie, said this year’s event – the biggest to date – went “very well”. He added: “ Everyone enjoyed it, from pupils parents, teachers to members of the public”.

A NEW fire station at John O’ Groats will be completed – despite fresh fears over firefighter training and the sustainability of the service in the Highlands. The Highlands and Islands Joint Fire Board voted to continue work as planned, on the replacement fire station, at a meeting on Monday. Doubts on the future of the station emerged last month when a plan to suspend work was mooted in a report by the Highlands and Islands fire and Rescue Service’s chief fire officer, Trevor Johnson. Fire board member and local highland councillor, Gail Ross, Wick said it was decided the cost of the new station to the board and the cost to the community would be “too much to defer”, so it will be completed.

A THREE-DAY celebration of folk, icon Hamish Henderson, now in its second year, has widened its programme. The Gillie Mor festival which is being staged at Caithness Horizons in Thurso, from March 29, is designed to take forward the grass-roots ambitions of the man who did so much to discover, record and promote Scottish songs and stories that might otherwise have disappeared.

CASH used to fund groups designed to keep council tenants up-to-date with housing issues, should be used elsewhere. That is the view of Halkirk’s Nigel Slater who said he is not aware of what work is being done by Registered Tenants Organisations in the region to help improve services. Mr Slater, a council tenant at Braal Terrace, claimed over £190,000 a year is spend on running RTO’s across Scotland. Registered Tenants’ Organisations are groups that are funded through housing revenue and give council tenants the opportunity to discuss housing issues such as management and maintenance.

THURSO could become the new home of wrestling in the Highlands, if plans to establish a group are successful. David Hobbs is hoping to garner support for his new venture – Thurso Championship Wrestling. The 24year-old has competed at several wrestling shows across the United Kingdom under his stage name of Eric Arkham and now wants to establish a club in his home town. Plans are currently at an early stage but David said he is hopeful of gaining enough interest to make it work.

THE number of unwanted and injured animals that have been handed into a local rescue centre has increased, according to new figures. The Scottish SPCA’s Caithness and Sutherland Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre, at Balmore cared for 247 animals in 2011, rising from 224 in the previous year. The results were in line with the rest of Scotland when it was announced that the number of animals in care rose from 12,600 to 13,437. Balmore assistant maanger, Christine Mackay, said that in the majority of cases, locally, animals are handed to the centre because most people underestimate the commitment required to look after a pet.

AND finally... a local musician recently walked away from a national competition with a top prize – adding to his already well stocked trophy cabinet. Accordion player Brandon McPhee, of Castletown, came first in the button box open solo section at the National Association of Accordion and fiddle Club’s 38th annual championships in Polmont. The 15 – year – old narrowly missed out on full marks when adjudicator Jimmy Lindsay awarded 99 points out of 100.