Caithness Courier headlines for March 15, 2017

A LOCAL businessman is to help fund a study into the cost of providing paediatric and obstetric cover at the maternity unit in Wick. John Sutherland, who runs Caithness Stone Industries Ltd, yesterday confirmed he is willing to help pay for the study which is expected to cost between £10,000 and £20,000.

A HALKIRK man has described the honour and experience of being asked to judge at Crufts. Gun dog trainer and gamekeeper Richard MacNicol was nominated to take on the role and he thoroughly enjoyed his time there at the weekend.

AN elderly Caithness woman, who had a suspected broken hip, had to wait for nearly two hours for an ambulance to take her to hospital. The woman, who has received an apology from the Scottish Ambulance Service, fell in her home early on Monday March 6.

SCOTLAND deserves the choice on staying in the European Union, say the far North's MP and MSP who both backed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's call for a second vote on independence.

A RAINLY day did not damped the spirits of women who travelled from the north Highlands, determined to fight for their pension during a march to London last week.

FEWER senior managers could be on the cards for Highland Council, after a commitment to look at the issue was made last week. Inverness councillor, Richard Laird, called for a reduction in top posts during a discussion on redesign plans for the local authority.

THURSO-BASED Environmental Research Institute will host two major scientific meetings next week. Around 60 researchers from across the UK and Ireland are to gather, to discuss the latest peatland research at the fourth research in the Flow Country Conference.