Caithness Courier headlines for February 4, 2015

FEARS surfaced yesterday that health services in Caithness will be affected by the budget woes afflicting NHS Highland. Wick Highland councillor, Bill Fernie, believes the proposed changes in surgical cover at Caithness General Hospit could be driven by the board's financial troubles.

A SUPERVISOR at Dounreay has been demoted following an internal probe into a sodium fire at the site's prototype fast reactor complex. The overnight outbreak, on October 7, led to site licence company DSRL being rapped by industry regulators, the Office of Nuclear Regulation, and being served with an improvement notice.

A BAN is being sought on long-distance refuse trucks using the B876 in Caithness over concerns that heavy traffic is worsening an already failing section of the road. Community representatives are concerned abou the toll being taken on the long straight at Killimster Moss which is showing clear signs of breaking up and is in need of major remedial work.

A FORMER far north police chief believes people in Caithness are overwhelmingly against officers carrying guns during routine patrols. Landward Highland councillor Maatthew Reiss said the opinion in the far north is at odds with the findings of a national survey which found a small majority in favour of the practice.

OUT of hours GP health services in the Highlands are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain due to doctor shortages and unaffordable costs, officials have admitted. Efforts are now being made to find alternative ways to deal with patients requiring help in the evenings and weekends.

A PLAN to stop overnight gritting on some Caithness roads has been criticised as "crazy" by a Castletown community councillor. Chairwoman Brenda Herrick hit out at the proposal by Highland Council to stop gritters treating roads on which fewer than 20 vehicles travel, between 9pm and 6am.

A CAITHNESS artist has embarked on an Arctic adventure to take up the opportunity to be an artist in residence in the region. Shelagh Swanson, a painter and glassmaker, has been invited to take part in a 10-day residency alongside nine other international artists including makers from the USA and Australia.

GARY Mackay-Steven has joined Celtic in a £250,000 deal which took him from Dundee United in the final hours of the transfer window, on Monday night. The 24-year-old was originally set to join the Hoops at the end of the season on a free transfer after signing a pre-contract agreement with the reigning Scottish Premier League champions.