Caithness Courier headlines for July 16, 2014
FORTY jobs are due to be created in Wick by an Aberdeen-based company. Process Safety Solutions, an engineering company which services oil and gas industry, has moved into Wick Business Park. The team of five is to be joined by five more in the next six months with the payroll expected to rise to between 30 and 40 within two years. The PSS office was officially opened yesterday morning, by Scottish finance secretary John Swinney who was in the north for a meeting of the Cabinet and other engagements.

THE takeover of one of the partners involved in building the new Wick High School campus will not impact on the project. The assurance came yesterday after it was confirmed the Miller Group – one of the bodies involved in the Hub North Scotland partnership – sold its construction division to Galliford Try. The firm which owns Edinburgh-based builder, Morrison Construction, has paid almost £17 million for the business.

PRIMARY school teachers in Caithness have been trained to ensure pupils receive at least two hours of gym a week. Highland Council says that while it does employ specialist PE teachers to work at primaries across the region, primary teachers are equipped with the skills to deliver this basic provision.

THE Scottish government says it has learned lessons from the major cost and time over-runs in the new method adopted to design and build the replacement Wick High. The project on the grounds of the existing school, has been delayed by three years and costs £10 million more than originally budgeted for. Education minister Mike Russell said it is regrettable the construction work is only just about to begin, when staff and pupils should have moved in last year.

CONTRACTORS are being invited to tender for the latest work to reinstate a tract of the Flow Country which has been damaged by commercial tree planting. The five-year scheme, centres on 307 hectares at the Dyke and Forsinain plantations within the RSPB nature reserve based at Forsinard and involves felling and raising the water table.

FOR years, Murray and Jessie Allan have entered horses at the Latheron Show but for the first time on Saturday the couple walked away with the champion of champions title. Durran Jazz Dancer, a two-year-old gelding – owned and bred by the couple at Durran Mains, Castletown, but looked after and turned out by Sarah Rogers, of Cogle Farm, Quoybrae – was named as the top exhibit at West Clyth Farm.

EILIDH HARPER could have been called the raining Thurso Gala Queen on Saturday night. While the wet weather deterred some people from turning up for the opening ceremony, it failed to dampen the crowd’s spirits. The organisers were disappointed the conditions were so unfavourable but were pleased with the turnout and the response from the public.

DOES Caithness care about the Commonwealth Games? The people who packed John O Groats and Wick, on Friday answered that question by waving saltires and cheering on the 10 people who carried the Queen’s baton on its final day in the far north. Chosen to carry the baton into the royal burgh was 20-year-old James Mackay from Wick who was nominated due to his work to promote sport among young people.