Fit's in 'e Groat 'is week?

[Nwicker60]

John O' Groat headlines for December 28, 2012

A WICK student yesterday spoke of his devastation after learning of the unexplained death of his flatmate as he returned from a dance in Easter Ross. The tragedy involving David Mackay has cast a major cloud over the festive season for Kris Gove who paid tribute to the 21-year-old fellow under-graduate of Napier University. A full-scale search was mounted, after David failed to return to his family home in Alness from a dance in Tain, on Saturday evening.

TRIBUTE has been paid to a “fun-loving genuine and caring” Caithness countryside ranger, who died four days before Christmas leaving behind a partner and young family. Belgian national Dieter Tuerlinckx was a well-known face as one of two countryside rangers in the east of Caithness. He passed away last Thursday night/Friday morning with a suspected heart problem, at the home he made for his family in Broubster.

IF you are reading this, then we are still alive and the prophency about the world ending last week turned out to be a load of rubbish. As a result of life going on and over 3000 other Doomsday predictions turning out to be greatly exaggerated, a Caithness historian is co-writing a book and TV documentary designed to prevent any more hysteria being caused about the end of the world.

FAR North MP John Thurso is backing a call to axe unfair delivery charges in the Highlands. The Liberal Democrat recently sponsored a motion at Westminster highlighting the persistence of unfair delivery charges and calling on online retailers to make sure consumers get a fair deal in the future. The motion is in support of a report from Citizens Advice Scotland, the Postcode Penalty which showed that people in the Highlands are charged on average £15 extra per delivery, a mark-up of 195 per cent.

FOR five hours every night, it is literally the voice of Caithness, broadcasting to listeners across the far north with a wide range of music, features and local news and views. Caithness FM will celebrate the 20^th anniversary of its first broadcast next year, but it was in December 1992 that the idea of the county having a radio station to call its own, was officially given public support.

HIGHLAND Council is to set up a working group to guide a plan of development activity in the renewable sector in the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters. Being set up in conjunction with Marine Scotland and Orkney Islands Council, the established working group will aim to encourage stakeholders to get involved with the plan’s development.

DISCUSSIONS are being held to bring an ex-SPL striker to Wick Academy to cover the striker crisis at the club, though no deal will be done in time for tomorrow’s north derby match with Brora Rangers. Manager Barry Wilson has confirmed that talks have taken place with a former professional player to join the club for up to five matches while Gary Weir is absent on honeymoon in Australia.

AND finally...Wick and Thurso are set to launch their respective street parties on Hogmanay, which are certain to be a big draw for revellers.