Caithness Courier headlines for May 14, 2014
THE man behind the creation of a memorial to an air crew lost in a World War Two crash in Caithness, has hit out at the "insensibility" towards the suggestion it should be moved to an accommodate a new wind farm. Michael Diprose organised the installation of a cairn, just off the A9 on the Causewaymire, to commemorate six servicemen from 519 Squadron who were killed when their B17 Flying fortress crashed into a peat bog at Blar Nam Faoileag near Halsary during a snowstorm in 1945.


REPAIRS to a fishing boat, which crashed and sunk at Scrabster Harbour, will need to be completed at the port before it can be towed away. The Shalimar BCK 598 was successfully raised from the seabed during a gruelling 12-hour operation on Sunday. Stromness-based energy support service company Green Marine conducted a three-day operation which began on Friday, to position a gantry barge above the sunken 72 ft vessel. Lifting operations got underway on Sunday morning when divers were involved in securing the boat with slings and ropes.


A CALL has been made for urgent action to be taken to repair a crash barrier and wall damaged in an accident at Berriedale Braes, six weeks ago. The plea was made by local Highland councillors Matthew Reiss and William Mackay. Mr Mackay said it was a "disgrace" how long it was taking to do the work and his concerns were echoed by Mr Reiss, a retired senior police officer.


TWO disused fuel stations in the far north are to be given a new lease of life while one of the longest established outlets in the area are getting ready to pull the plug. Simpsons Oil has agreed a contract to take over the former Richard's Garage forecourts at Ormlie Road in Thurso and Francis Street in Wick. The Wick-based fuel and lubricants supplier, which has depots across the north of Scotland, expects to create a number of new jobs when it opens up at both sites in two weeks time.


HAVING run her own bed and breakfast establishment for 28 years, Elspeth Bremner knows what it takes to make her guest from across the world feel right a home. Now, The Clachan, in Wick, is acknowledged as one of the top B & Bs in the country after being short-listed for one of the industry's top accolades.


THE WICK SOCIETY is hoping a wonderful discovery could lead to the deeper story of 12 young men who lived the nearly 100 years ago. While going through the Johnston Collection of Photographs, members came across one, showing a gathering of smiling sailors with the title "The Pulteney Boys of HMS Rodney".


A BRASS plaque marking the only Victoria Cross awarded to an military pilot flying from RAF Wick in World War Two will be unveiled during a special ceremony at Wick John O' Groats Airport on Friday. The Inverness-based aviation charity the Fresson Trust is organising the event.


SCOTTISH Energy Enterprise and Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing has been invited to see how the landscape of large
parts of Caithness and north Sutherland has changed, due to wind farms. Anti-wind farm campaigner Stuart Young wants Mr Ewing to tour the area and view existing sites and those where new developments have been approved.


"THIS team is good enough to win silverware and I'll do everything in my power to make sure Wick Academy wins its first trophy". That was the pledge from Scorries boss, Gordon Connelly, to the fans at fulltime on Saturday's game marking the end of the season. He said he has every faith in his players that they can make a comeback from a disappointing season.