John O' Journal headlines for July 22, 2016


FRESH fears over a possible downgrading of Dunbar Hospital have been sparked after it emerged six of its 12-bed inpatient ward have been taken out of service. NHS Highland claims the move has been enforced by staffing problems but accepts that it is re-assessing future bed numbers at the Thurso hospital

A STORM is brewing between a Wick homeowner and her insurance company after the former was asked to find evidence of weather statistics to justify a payout to have her roof fixed. Christina Paul claims to have experienced roof damage due to heavy rain and strong winds which hit the area on Sunday, causing water to drip through her roof and into her home at Seaforth Avenue.

SEVEN residents from Forse House care home, which is to close in September, are to be relocated to a former women's refuge in Wick. The Green Road facility owned by Pentland Housing Association has been converted into four flats and will house seven people.

A NUMBER of improvements to the far north line have been included in a Network Rail document but it could take until 2043 to get them done. The timescale was this week described as alarming by Mike Lunan, convener of press group Friends of the Far North Line.

HIGHLAND MSP David Stewart is keen to explore ways of addressing road safety concerns which have arisen about the North Coast 500 route. Touted as the north Highlands' counterpart to the legendary Route 66, the 520-mile circuit of the area's three coasts has become a major hit with people completing it on foot, by bicycle, motor bike, camper vans, classic and high-performances sports cars and even tractors.

TOO many cooks would not spoil a new event in Wick planned to raise money for good causes. Wick Youth club chairman Cameron Reid believes Wick Soup has all the right ingredients to prove a winner with the public.

A FAR north MP is calling for the voices of farmer and fishermen to be heard, as policies relating to them are negotiated following Britain's vote to leave the EU. Paul Managhan said there is a lot of concern about what it going to happen to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) which he feels have both not been particularly kind to people in the far north of Scotland.

THE Wick Society is celebrating the end of the digitalisation of almost 50,000 plates and negatives of the Johnston collection.

ARTISTS from across the far north will be showcasing their work in a new festival in Wick this weekend. The Caithness Creative Festival will feature pieces from around 30 artists sculptors and jewellery makers at the Pulteney Centre, tomorrow and Sunday.