Caithness Courier headlines: December 19, 2012

THE worse storm in living memory, caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage to Wick Harbour on Saturday as east Caithness was battered by a potent combination of high tides, easterly blasts and low pressure. The total cost to businesses at the port will not be known for weeks but has already been estimated at a sizeable six-figure sum.

THE
north nightclubs will be able to stay open until 4am over the festive period despite last week’s Highland Council blunder which put local extended licences in doubt. Three premises in Wick and Thurso have been granted permission from Highland Licensing Board to open for an extra hour over the Christmas/New Year festive period.

A FORMER
chairman of Caithness Against Nuclear dumping yesterday expressed concern about the “high risk” of transporting spent reactor fuel from Dounreay to Sellafield. Steven Pottinger, who farms at Barrock Mains, Lyth, spoke out after the first shipment of nuclear material left the far north by rail on Sunday night. It is understood there were armed guards on the train operated by Direct Rail Services, which is owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

CHURCHES i
n the Highlands will be invited to debate the controversial prospect of same sex weddings with the region’s gay community, as a new law looms on the horizon. A faith seminar will be hosted by the Highland Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and Transgender forum and the imminent prospect of weddings is expected to be high on the agenda.

A FRENCH
holidaymaker accused of killing a Wick High School teacher by dangerous driving, has walked free after a jury returned a not proven verdict. Amid emotional scenes at the High Court in Inverness court on Monday, both Marc Combe and widow Michelle Costello burst into tears at the jury delivered its verdict on the 61-year-old. Kevin Costello was killed when he was travelling in a red Peugeot that collided with Combe’s camper van on the A9 at Weydale on August 2011.

FERRY
services, which were set to be affected during the festive season, will run as normally after proposed strike action by Serco Northlink staff was suspended. Shipping union RMT confirmed that it has suspended a programmed of strike action on northern isles, ferry routes after progress in the discussions with the firm. No ferries sailed on the Pentland Firth route between Scrabster and Stromness, on Friday, during a 24-hour strike over proposed job losses
AND finally... A Caithness couple were overjoyed when their twin girls were born on the twelfth day of the twelfth month of the twelfth year of the century. Proud parents Vicki and Raymond Ross who stay at Brims Road, in Thurso, were said to be “absolutely delighted” with their new arrivals, Chloe and Maddie.