John O' Groat Journal headlines for May 10, 2017


COMMUNITY representives yesterday hit out at vandals who damaged and knocked over headstones at Wick cemetery. Police are appealing for informations following the incident involving a number of headstones at South Road between Friday and Monday.

LIPREADING classes for people with hearing difficulties culd be started in Caithness shortly, after an absence of around eight years. But a taster session is being arranged first, in Thurso to gauge demand for such an initiative.

EDUCATION care for the elderly and pot holes will be among the top priorities of the three-way alliance making up the new Highland Council administration. Independent group leader Margaret Davidson yesterday confirmed a coalition between her 26 councillors and the 10 Liberal Democrats has been agreed, propped up by the three Labour councillors.

THE Conservatives could cause "one of the biggest upsets the Highlands has ever seen" by winning the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross seat at next month's general election. The party's candidate Struan Mackie, who will be taking on Dr Paul Monaghan (SNP) Jamie Stone (Lib Dems) and Olivia Bell (Labour) is confident of prevailing, in the contest on June 8.

CAMPAIGNERS who saved a historic tower which has stood over Wick for more than a century, are set to push for it to receive a higher listing which would guarantee the monument more protection in the future.

KHARA Findlater has made history, after becoming the first rider from Caithness to compete at the world premier three-day event competition Badminton Horse Trials.

PLANS have been drawn up to transform Wick Harbour in a potential £100 million development which port chiefs say could "change the face of Caithness forever". Wick Harbour Authority has released images of its plans to create a new quay which would allow for offshore decommissioning work to be carried out at the port.