John O' Groat headlines for March 20, 2015


AN ex-fireman has warned lives could be lost as a result of policy changes introduced by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Neil Buchanan, who served with the Dunbeath unit for 17 years, is worried changes to the training requirements and the use of breathing apparatus could trigger recruitment problems and the closure of rural stations.

A FAR north rail passenger is complaining that mixed messages from ScotRail staff, left her standing for more than an hour on a cold morning waiting for a train that was not coming. Tammy Conner and her daughter were at the platform at Altnabreac, last Saturday, awaiting the 8.02am Wick to Inverness train but it did not show up.

AN appeal has been launched to find people prepared to share their time and experience with young carers in Caithness. Caithness KLICS (Kids Living in Caring Situations) is a charity which aims to give people under 18, who have a caring role at home, a helping hand to become more confident and build their self-esteem.

THE Caithness International Science Festival got off to an electrifying start as children and parents gathered on Tuesday evening to see snippets of what is in store this time around. Youngsters enjoyed the taser sessions from a variety of performers at the launch night in Pulteneytown Academy, in Wick, where Professor Ian Baikie, chair of the science festival committee, implored everyone to have lots of fun.

THE budget offered "good news in general for businesses in Caithness" but "missed an opportunity" to support some key sectors such as tourism. That was the assessment of Trudy Morris, chief executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, following the measures announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne on Wednesday.

TOMORROW'S Highland League Cup semi-final could be the biggest in Wick Academy's history according to manager Gordon Connelly. If the Scorries can beat Nairn County at Harmsworth Park, it will be the first time they will have reached the final of the tournament.