Caithness Courier headlines for August 12, 2015


THURSO Cinema is facing closure unless its operator can come up with urgently needed new investment. Boss Rob Arthurs yesterday revealed he is looking to secure an injection of several hunred thousand pounds into the Ormlie Roadoad complex and the three other cinemas he runs.

THE cost of getting an "eyesore" building in the centre of Thurso converted into three one-bedroom flats, will be almost £700,000. Highland Council took over the former townhouse in Princes Street and shop at Sir John's Square - both list buildings - after they had lain derelict for many years. The former property is currently under scaffolding, with contractors due to be on site until early next year.

BUSINESS representatives have hit back at two high-profile entrepreneurs who claimed the north of Scotland is a "diabolical" place to do big business. Dragons Den panellist Nick Jenkins used the word to describe the area, when Durness chocolate company Cocoa Mountain appeared on the BBC2 show on Sunday night.

A PETITION opposed to the culling of seagulls, has already attracted more than 100 signatures. Save the Scorries has been launched in response to another campaign which is calling for licences to be introduced to control the population of seagulls in towns, after a number of attacks on people in the Highlands.

LYBSTER farmer Ian Sinclair was on cloud nine after completing a rare clean sweep of cattle titles on the far north show circuit. Mr Sinclair went into the Black Isle show having won an array of silverware for his 17-month-old continental heifer called Pentland Lady. The impressive black, three quarter Limousin, took the cattle title at Latheron Show and the Caithness Show at Wick, before picking up the Champion of Champion's crown at the Sutherland show in Dornoch.

COMPLAINTS from overburdened head teachers have sparked calls for a major rethink on the role of council officials. The local authority's deputy leader, Alasdair Rhind, believes council officers would be better spending more time dealing with the "bureaucratic nonsense being heaped on head teachers" instead of slaving over background reports for committees.

WICK ACADEMY go into tonight's North of Scotland tie versus Clach, determined to capitalise on getting their season off to a flier with their first defeat of Brora Rangers. After putting the odds-on-favourite out of the competition, Scorries manager, Gordon Connelly, is keen to book a place in the last four, with a victory in Inverness.