Caithness Courier headlines for April 23, 2014
PENSIONERS in Lybster have been “stabbed in the back” by NHS Highland” over a funding decision which could lead to the closure of the local daycare centre. That was the claim made by Peter Sutherland, a former district councillor, who has been involved in the running of the purpose –built centre since it opened almost 24 years ago. He hit out this week after discovering the facility will receive funding of £8420 to cover six months from April 1 to September 30. The centre was previously funded on an annual basis and received double that figure.

PUMPING up in an attempt to build one of the best bodies in the country, Kevin Stewart is preparing to make his debut in an national competition. In two weeks’ time, the bodybuilder from Newtonhill, Wick, will become the first man from Caithness to compete in the UKBFF Scottish Bodybuilding championships.

WIND farm developers in Caithness are submitting applications which have “washed out” photos or images that are too small to give the true scale of the proposals, according to prominent anti-wind farm campaigner Stuart Young. “Application after application is submitted where the visualisations are not correct and that is not being picked up by the planners at Highland Council” said Mr Young, the former chairman of Caithness Windfarm Information Forum.

THE county’s only five star hotel which was destroyed by a fire at new year, is set to reopen to the pubic following a £1 million refurbishment. Ackergill tower was forced to close after a blaze caused complete smoke damage throughout the 15th century in January.

THE Greens might have come up short in the final of rugby’s national BT Shield on Saturday but you would never have known it after the full-time whistle. Broadwood Stadium erupted into chants of “Caithness, Caithness” as a corner of the main stand became a sea of green as over 300 fans paid tribute to their heroes. Picture in front of the stand wearing their medals, while fans held aloft their scarfs in the background, the image highlighted what the day meant, not just to the club but to the whole county.

HALKIRK was dancing to a country and western tune as the village’s annual music festival attracted enthusiasts from all over the country to celebrate. Nearly 1000 people turned out to hear the top-class acts at the Northern Nashville Caithness Country Music Festival which kicked off on Friday.

VOLUNTEERS from a Caithness dog rehoming charity were called to rescue six puppies which had been living in poor conditions for a number of months. KWK9 Rescue received a tip-off from a concerned member of the public who was worried about the welfare of a litter of lurchers. Charity trustee, Sally Marshall, revealed the dogs had been left together for several months which she said was not good for their upbringing and, given the conditions they were living in, new homes were needed.

CAMPS BAR staff in Wick discovered a piece of local pub memorabilia when redecorating after unearthing the sign when the bar began staging karaoke in the 1980s The sign was installed in 1986 by the then owner, Sasa Harper, but has lainn hidden, beneath a different board since Des McLeod took over the running of the bar in 1996.