Caithness Courier headlines for June 15, 2016

A WICK High School pupil who has dyslexia, yesterday hit out at plans to cut specialist support staff at the school by a fifth. Scott Bremner claims the local authority is targeting the vulnerable and said pupils with dyslexia, autism, learning difficulties and special needs will struggle without the help they have been receiving.

CASTLEHILL Heritage Centre maybe known for highlighting stories from the past but it made its own bit of history when it hosted its first wedding. And now, with humanist ceremonies becoming more popular in Caithness and with the number of celebrant growing in the area, the centre is looking at marketing itself as a location for wedding ceremonies.

WORK has begun to install an extended breakwater at Gills Harbour to improve the reliability of its year-round ferry service to and from Orkney. Pentland Ferries has transported a dry dock from St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay and aims to have it operational by the end of the year.

THE appeal to keep an eye out for a Tweed Valley osprey, which appears to have taken up residence in Caithness, has been successful with many sightings of it as well as other ospreys in the area. The two-year old satellite-tracked osprey has been venturing around the county and appears happy to stay here, having set her sights on the Thurso area.

WICK lifeboat crew have been blown away with the support seen for their open day, raising many thousands of pounds to help fund their lifesaving work. Lifeboat coxswain Ian Cormack said it had been "quite astonishing" the number of people who turned out on Saturday to enjoy the event, despite the chilly weather.

CELEBRATIONS have been the order of the day for the enginnering and construction departments at North Highland College. Both departments have recently enjoyed success with their students taking home gold in the Welding Institute Shield and the Scottish Association of Timber Trade Teachers' carpentry and joinery competition.