Caithness Courier headlines for March 16, 2016
A REMARK by a health official which seemed to compare opponents of any downgrading of the Wick maternity unit to "a toothache", has disgusted local campaigners. NHS Highland yesterday insisted the comment has been misinterpreted and referred to the frustration felt in getting a response to a separate inquiry.

FAR north school pupils were among those to take part in a celebration of engineering and science at Eden court Theatre in Inverness. Halkirk Primary and Farr High schools were represented at Friday's event organised by Young Engineers and Science Clubs.

PLANS to reduce the speed limits on streets near Wick's new Noss primary school to 20mph, will be discussed at a public meeting tonight. A Highland Council ward forum will hear details of the new traffic order which is due to come into force when the school opens after the Easter holiday.

A CAITHNESS councillor has taken issue with the cost of several hundred signs which are going up on a main road in the county. The high death and accident rate on the A99 between Wick and Latheron has led to it being peppered with new warning signs and markers.

A WHEELCHAIR user is furious about the state of Wick's pavements because they are making it difficult for him to get around town. David Stark claims the crushed and uneven pavements slabs he comes across, are dangerous and creating a challenge for fellow wheelchair users as well as people with pushchairs and prams.

A FORMER police officer and mum-of three is to run the length of the UK and back, in a bid to set a new world record. Yvie Johnson from Denbigh, in Wales, aims to run 40 miles a day and clock up 1680 miles in just six weeks.

A PLEDGE by a rail boss to have better trains and shorter journey times on the Scottish network has been welcomed by a Caithness campaigner. But Mark Norton, convener of the North Line Action Group would like to see the pledge become a reality.

A CAITHNESS Highland councillor was astounded when Eden Court announced it is to cancel a drama course it runs for north youngsters. Bill Fernie, the local authority's budget leader, was surprised by the move - blamed by the theatre company on council cuts to its budget - and hopes the course can be reinstated.

MANDY the Naughty Elf has rounded off a fundraising initiative which saw her complete a list of punishments and tasks to raise more than £1000 for the Caithness General Hospital League of Friends. The character, created by Seaview House Nursing Homes activities co-ordinator Mandy Wilson, got up to all sorts of mischief around the county in the run-up to Christmas.