John O’ Groat Journal headlines for August 30

DOUNREAY’S owners have kept plans to ship a consignment of bomb-grade nuclear fuel from the site, to America, under the radar, according to an anti-nuclear group. Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment question why the proposal was not mentioned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in a recent consultation on how to deal with the stockpile of so-called “exotic” fuels at the Caithness site. CORE say there was not even an “oblique reference” to the material which arrived at Dounreay in 1999, from the former USSR state of Georgia.
A SURVEY carried out to ascertain how money from windfarm projects in the far north should be spent, has found support for the creation of an area-wide fund. RWEnpower renewables commissioned Foundation Scotland to carry out a ‘Caithness Conversation’ from February to April, to canvass the views of communities businesses and individuals. A key finding was the need for some of the community rake-offs from turbine ventures to feed into a Caithness-wide kitty which could bankroll initiatives to create jobs and economic activity.
AN electronic arrival and departure area for end-to-enders, is to be created at John O’ Groats at a cost of £100,000. Similar equipment is to be installed at Land’s End and should be operational by around next spring. The project will enable people, who undertake marathon trips between John O’Groats and Land’s End, to get accurate start and finish times as well as a printed certificate.
THE future for Dounreay workers after the decommissioning process is complete, could be in the nuclear new builds, currently being planned in England and Wales. That is the view of Eann Sinclair, programme manager of Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership, who thinks the expertise of the workers is going to be their best sell when they are looking for new jobs.
TIME will seem like standing still in the centre of Wick in the coming months as a major refurbishment gets underway at the town hall in Bridge Street. The town clock has been taken out of commission to be overhauled as part of a £1 million upgrade of the hall which includes the installation of a lift.
AN inspection by Education Scotland has given Bower school high praise for its links with the community, viewed as a template which could be used elsewhere. The school had an inspector with them for a week, from June 10, and the report has just been released, revealing the school got a grade of “very good” in the five core areas it was inspected on.
NFU Scotland has repeated its call for Scotland’s beef sector to secure a meaningful deal from the CAP reform after figures showed another alarming decline in the Scottish beef herd. Beef production accounts for almost a quarter of Scotland’s agricultural output and NFUS has been working at a UK and Scottish level to ensure implementation of the recently- agreed deal can arrest failing cow numbers and stabilise the cornerstone of the Scottish farming industry.
A WICK woman is aiming to drum up support for a charity venture to raise awareness of a rare medical condition which her nephew bravely battled for years. Margaret Macleod (43) is organising a dance in the town’s Francis Street Club to feel close to Michael McNeill, who passed away at the age of just 22 in December, 2011, after suffering with Arnold-Chiari malformation and syringomyelia. The disease affects the nervous system, resulting in fluid-filled cavities developing inside the spinal cord.
TABLE-TOPPING Wick Academy face another tricky, away match against Turriff United this weekend, in what has the makings of a close contest. The Scorries will be keen to maintain their 100 per cent record having not conceded a goal in their opening four games and sit at the top of the Highland League table. Turriff – in sixth spot on seven points – will also want to try and get a victory to keep in touch with the leaders.