John O' Groat Journal headlines for March 11, 2016


PARENTS have been issued guidelines after it was revealed that a seven-year-old child took a penknife into school at Lybster. Police were called to the village primary to deal with the situation. They offered advice about carrying inappropriate items into classrooms. It had been made clear, that no youngster was put in any danger ats the knife was only being shown to friends by the pupil.

A NATURE charity is at a loss to account for the dwindling sightings of a sea duck which counts the far north as one of its main breeding areas. RSPB Scotland is concerned by the falling numbers of the common scoter which is proving something of a misnomer given its inclusion to the conservation Red List.

HIGHLAND COUNCIL is to rethink a proposal to spend £175,000 in creating three new temporary posts to spearhead the intended revamp of the local authority. The move was due to be discussed at yesterday's full council meeting in Inverness as part of its preparations to adapt its workings in the wake of its newly-approved austerity package.

SEVERAL public buildings in Wick are being put up for sale by the council as new multi-million-pound developments being built in the town, near completion. Wick High, South Primary, Wick library - including the St Fergus Gallery - and the former children's home in Northcote Street, are all available to buy.

THE location and look of a wind turbine which was proposed to be built on land near Thrumster has led to its refusal. Peter Stewart had been appealing a decision made at the end of last year to refuse planning consent to erect the turbine on rough land east of Burnthill.

A SERIES of films showcasing Caithness and Sutherland, is the focus of a new marketing campaign spearheaded by a tourism co-operative. Venture North's Discovery initiative seeks to capture the public's imagination and lure them into visiting the far north to enjoy a host of attractions.

ALAN Farquhar has played through the pain of a knee injury for most of this season but has no intention of sitting out the remainder of Wick Academy's Highland League campaign. The Scorries' captain is set to go for a private consultation next week, to get to the root of the troubling condition in the hope of being fully fit for the start of the 2016/17 season.