Fit's in 'e Groat 'is week?

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John O’ Groat Journal headlines for October 25, 2013
ANSWERS are being demanded by a far north Highland councillor as to why Caithness and Sutherland are not among the first locations to be part of the superfast broadband upgrade. Area leader, Deirdre Mackay, wants Highland and Islands Enterprise to explain why the two counties were not named among the first locations to benefit from the multi-million pound scheme which will begin in March.

A MAJOR overhaul of Highland Council’s departments has been rubber-stamped in a move which will see two highly-lucrative jobs axed in a bid to say £350,000. The authority’s recently-appointed chief executive, Steve Barron, won councillors’ backing to merge seven services, including housing, education and roads, into five departments. It could see two council directors’ posts, which carry salaries of £100,000 plus, scrapped, in the move but Mr Barron believes it could be achieved without the need for compulsory redundancies.

A PLAN to install controversial artwork at Dunnet beach may be resolved “once and for all” at a meeting next month. That emerged yesterday, after it was confirmed local schoolchildren could become involved in the project. If the proposal is backed, it is intended to get the pupils to work along with the artist in a workshop to take the project forward.

GIN could be produced in Caithness next year, after a local couple were given the go-ahead to open a micro distillery in Dunnet. Martin Murray was “thrilled” Highland councillors backed the plan, despite claims the venture would lead to the industrialisation of the village and cause unpleasant odours. It was also suggested nearby buildings would be discoloured with a fungal growth caused by the drink-making process.

COMPETITION is hotting up in the election to fill the vacant Caithness landward seat on Highland Council. Three Independents have now publicity revealed their intention to stand, Winifred Sutherland and Tina Irving join retired police officer Matthew Reiss, from Hill of Forss, in seeking to fill the seat vacated by Alex MacLeod who stood down after being charged with election expense irregularities.

AN appeal has been launched by a local charity as the national Befriending Week kicks off to celebrate the idea’s success. Befriending Caithness aims to reduce social isolation and improve the emotional and social well-being of older adults in the community by offering them the chance to develop a trusting relationship with a volunteer. The charity is running out of volunteers at a time of a rise in referrals of over-60s in need of help.

WICK Scout Group has been contacting counterparts from across the world over the airwaves in what for them is a first tie-up of its kind. The Jamboree on the Air is a 48-hour international event which takes place during the third weekend in October every year when children from different continents communicate with each other.

HEAVY rain and strong winds in the run up to, and on the day of Saturday’s annual match staged by North and West Ploughing Association, at Lynegar farm, by Watten made for testing conditions for competitors. Entries from Orkney and Easter Ross, along with John Tait from East Lothian, augmented by a healthy turnout from Caithness, boosted no doubt by this weekend’s staging of the Scottish National championships at Standstill Farm Bower. Organisers were hit by a half-a-dozen late, unavoidable call-offs, from the 24^th match which went ahead by kind permission of Messrs Barnetson.

A GRAINY black and white picture from an article titled Land of the Midnight Surfer inspired one of the godfathers of Caithness surfing to help the county become known as one of the top destinations in the world. Pat Kieran was one of a handful of surfers employed at Dounreay in the mid 1970s who would regularly hit the beaches on the north coast and ride the waves. Four decades on, the county has attracted some of the best competitors on the planet from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and North America, to compete for some of the sport’s biggest prizes.

ENDURANCE RUNNER Kenny Paterson has just completed a gruelling 169-mile race to south-west America and raised almost £2,000 for charity. Kenny, a 46-year-old Orcadian who lives in Thurso, was one of 114 competitors who took part in the Grand to Grant Ultra race which started at the Grand Canyon in Arizona and finished at the Grant Staircase in Utah.

JIM BEWS in Thurso looks set to re-open next week with a young man well experienced in newsagents at the helm. Usman Mohammed, 24, is based in Edinburgh but was told about the opportunity available in him in the town and grabbed at the chance to expand his business. He is currently running Conochies, a well-known newsagent and stationer in Lerwick and now feels ready to take on another shop, although he is not yet in the position to take over DR Simpsons in Wick, which had been the sister shop to the Thurso store.

FORT WILLIAM are invariably lumbered with the unwanted tag as the whipping boys of the Highland League, but Wick Academy manager is all too aware of the dangers of writing off the Saturday’s visitors. After scoring goals for fun against Huntly, Keith and Turriff United at Harmsworth Park last season, they almost saw their incredible 100 per cent home record disappear as they struggled to a 1-0 win against a spirited Fort side. Academy has also only won twice at Claggan Park in the past six seasons as Fort William’s rear-guard heroics have proved to be a major stumbling block for the attack-mind Scorries.