Caithness Courier headlines for July 15, 2015

THE planned closure of Police Scotland call centres in Inverness and Aberdeen should be delayed until an investigation is carried out into the deaths of a couple left in their car for days following a motorway smash according to a former police chief. One-time NOrther Constabulary area commander Matthew Reiss said the reason for JOhn Yuill and Lamara Bell not being found for more than three days after they crashed their Renault clio on the M9 at Stirling on July must be established.

AN intrepid bunch of women have volunteered to be marooned on a deserted island for two days to raise money for Wick's lifeboat service stranded on Stroma will feature two teams of eight dropped off on the Pentland Firth isle where they will brave the elements and isolation and undergo a series of challenges.

A CALL has been made for the Ministry of Defence to discuss the future options for the nuclear submarine test plant at Vulcan with the local community . Dounreay Stakeholder Group chairman David Flear made the plea as preparations continue for the permanent closure of the site's pressurised water reactor which the UK government has annoucned will happen by the end of this year.

RAIL passengers in Caithness are being reassured the number of carriages in the far north will not be reduced to support services elsewhere in the country. Ther were fears Abellio ScotRail could transfer carriages, currently operational in the Highlands, to the new Border railway system which is due to open in Septermber.

A WARM evening helped attracted a bumper crowd to Wick Royal British Legion Scotland Pipe Band annual fancy dress parade to the town centre on Saturday. As usual, a variety of constumes were on display as the band marched along High Street on what is the traditional climax to pipe band week.

LATHERON SHOW is almost certain to return to a showfield location in 2016 despite the positive feedback for the event being relocated to Lybster this year. The second biggest agricultural show in Caithness was faced with cancellation seven days before it was due to take place, after heavy flooded its usual venue at West of Clyth farm Occumster.

WICK ACADEMY have added to their squad after signing young forward, Marc MacGregor, who was in action in Saturday's friendly in Kirkwall. However, doubt has been cast on the future of two players from last year's squad who were missing from the 6-0 defeat of an Orkney select. Lokasz Geruzel and Alan Hughes both opted to play for their summer league clubs in the Eain Mackintosh Cup final in Halkirk. Scorries manager Gordon Connelly was tight-lipped over the pair's future though he made clear he thought both players had failed to honour a protocol he established this time last year, to deal with the overlap of the county league season and Academy's build-up to the new campaign.