Caithness Courier headlines for September 24, 2014

POLICE are investigating how a well-known far north lorry driver died in a crash on the A9 blackspot at Berriedale Braes. Bruce Cormack died late last Thursday night when a lorry owned by the family-run haulage business, came to grief at the foot of the south brae.

A PROBE is underway at Dounreay into why an emergency back-up system failed to kick in, after the ventilation stopped working in a lab in the site’s high-security fuel cycle area. A handful of workers were evacuated after the mid-morning incident on September 15, which comes less than a year after safety concerns led to a shutdown of work on parts of the former fast reactor complex.

LINKS between Caithness and the Faroe Islands may soon be restored as a Faroese town has expressed interest in rekindling its relationship with its twin town. Klaksvik wants to improve connections with Wick and develop its twin town association which has lacked interest since the end of a ferry service between the far north and the North Atlantic archipelago.

THE prospective developers of the world’s biggest tidal energy venture, say providing new jobs is their preferred version of community benefit rather than doling out cash. MeyGen’s Dan Pearson believes the best way his company can help Caithness, is by creating employment opportunities for an area which is having to come to terms with the rundown and eventual demise of its long-time anchor employer of Dounreay.

SCOTLAND has made the right choice by staying in the United Kingdom while increasing powers for the Scottish Government. That’s the view of Better Together spokesman John Erskine who said voting No will result in a brighter future for the country and allow its people to make their own decisions.

THURSO fire station reached a major milestone this week. It is now 60 years since it opened, and on Saturday the team of 20 retained fire officers and one full time officer gathered to celebrate the anniversary. They were joined by former members of the service and the public.

GRADUATES of North Highland College UHI have been congratulated for their efforts during a special award ceremony held in Dornoch. Almost 300 students gained qualifications ranging from SVQ level 3 to MSc this year and 141 of them attended the event at Dornoch Cathedral on Saturday – the highest number of graduates the event has ever seen.

AND finally...demand for mousetraps has gone through the roof in Caithness amid reports of a spike in the number of rodents being found in homes. Biron Ironmongers in Wick has report a surge in demand for mouse and rate traps and poisons at what is the most common time of the year for vermin turning up in living quarters. The increased sightings in farming areas like the far north is linked to the harvest season when rodents find their food supply becomes increased limited.