£134 Million Highland Schools Contract Is Biggest Ever In The North
The Highland Council today (Thursday 30 March 2006) signed an agreement confirming the biggest building programme to be undertaken by a local authority in the Highlands, including Scotland’s first purpose built Gaelic school. Alpha Schools (Highland) Ltd, a consortium of Morrison PLC and Noble Fund Managers, will begin work next month on the first three of 11 new rural and urban community schools to be built over the next three years under the second Highland Education Public Private Partnership as part of the Council's ambitious 21st Century School Improvement Programme. Turf cutting ceremonies will be held at the site of a new primary school to meet the rapidly growing population at Inshes, Inverness, Dingwall Academy and Portree High School over the next few weeks following the signing of the bond launch and financial close of the contract, which has a capital value of £134 million

Project Ability In Thurso
The Clyde and Pentland Firth have met in an arts project held in Ormlie Centre in Thurso. The event was organised by Jennifer Ironside of Key Housing and ran in conjunction with Project Ability who are a Glasgow based visual arts organisation. Three artists, accompanied by four artists who have learning disabilities travelled north to Thurso for three day workshop and to meet up with seven of the service users of Key Housing.
Photo Gallery From The Project

Balloon Race At Lybster School
Lybster Primary School finally got their 'Great Balloon Race' going today. It was postponed during the Easter Fayre on Saturday due to extremely wet weather! Today however the balloons took off into a clear blue sky and headed swiftly towards Camster and hopefully further afield. All the balloons carried a ticket which we would encourage anyone finding it to return, as the person who returns the ticket from the balloon that has travelled the furthest will win £20 in prize money!

Signs Of Spring 2006 On And Around St John's Pool
Latest bird sightings from this bird place in Caithness

Latest Update For Wick High 54-56 21 July 2006
Latest update from Janis Paterson - List growing for the reunion venue and band booked, see who is now confirmed and get your tickets ordered soon as date is start of gala week.
Reunions Main Index for all current and previous reunions.

29 March 2006

Salt Cellars At Wick Harbour  - Art Project Involves Wick School Kids and Metal Gates

School children from all the Wick schools have been involved in a unique art project to create gates for the old Salt Cellars that have lain derelict for years.  The Wick Society have taken over the salt cellars and the art work of the children portraying parts of Wick's history has been drawn and is now being made into metal gates by Ian Sinclair.  The gates will be back lit to show up the designs on the gates.  They will be ready in and in place in June.

Youth Club Volunteers Wanted
All Youth Clubs in Caithness are currently struggling to attract adult helpers for both direct work with young people and management committee members.  Can you spare a few hours a week?

Highland Council Look Set To Oppose Giant Pylons - The Herald
The story in today's Herald focuses on the vast opposition to the proposal to build a line of giant pylons from the north of Scotland to Stirling. John Rennilson, Highland council's director of planning and development, has recommended to  councillors that they reject the proposal due to the visual impact, potential health issues.  More than 17,000 people have written to the Scottish Executive to object to the proposals. Highland Council alone has received 8100 objections to the scheme, and just one letter of support.

Council Welcomes Benefit Fraud Inspections As More Cases Referred For Prosecution
The Highland Council has renewed its commitment to tackling benefit fraud in the wake of two inspections from the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate.  "New claim processing meets the target set by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Council has stepped up its anti-fraud activity with a number of individuals having been referred to the Procurator Fiscal. A high priority is given to prevention and detection of benefit fraud."

Pipework Arrives For Wick's New Heating System And Digging Has Begun
Caithness Heat And Power company swung into action with the arrival of all of the pipework for the job.  the pipes currently sitting in Huddart street will soon be going into the ground as work has begun already digging the trenches in Nicolson Street.  At the same time the site for the new building to house the main plant and equipment has begun at the rear of the distillery.  Over the next few months the Pulteneytown area will see the pipework spread round all of the streets and begin to join all of the houses signed up for the new system ready to have constant heat at a fixed price next winter. the new plant will also produce electricity to be fed into the national grid.  Caithness Heat and Power Index

Org Records Set To Break Again In March
Message Board Alone Heading For One Million Page Downloads This Month
The forums on the Message Board are taking Caithness.org into new territory.  The numbers for the forums alone are heading towards a million page downloads for March.  The whole web site is equally on yet another upward surge as the visitor numbers are already over 600,000 with three days to go.  The hit rate for the past 12 months is a staggering 162,350,131 with three days yet to be added. As always thanks to you all for looking in.

Wick High Under 15's Football Team Launch Their Own Web Site
Flushed with success of an 11- 1 victory last week this powerhouse on the footy field have launched their own web site.  Go for it boys.  Here at Caithness.org we are all watching for great things in the Scottish Shield.  And congratulations again on an amazing game.  Mind the next one will not be as easy so keep training.  Links now added to the Under 15's football web site in Wick High and the Football Links page
 

28 March 2006

New Face of Caithness Visual Arts
"FaceNorth" visual arts residency run by Northlands Glass and Lyth Arts Centre is now up and running and going from strength to strength. The residency, funded by the Scottish Arts Council and Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise agency, offers the opportunity for local community groups with little or no arts skills to engage with professional artists Kate Williams, Shelagh Swanson and Alistair Pender over the coming months. Fused glass, time based artwork and mixed media assemblage are the three main areas the artists are concentrating on.

Campaigners In North Skye Look At Caithness & Belford Hospital Campaigns As Guide To Gesto
West highland Free Press is currently highlighting the feelings of people in North Skye to plans by  NHS highland to sell off a hospital gifted to the people of Skye.  Campaigners aim to register interest in buying Gesto Campaigners fighting NHS Highland plans to close and sell off Gesto Hospital in north Skye intend to register their interest in buying the building and surrounding land, the Free Press has learned.  The campaigners are looking to the success in Caithness and the Belford in Fort William as models for a potential increase in action to prevent the sale.  Skye And Lochalsh Links

Free Stuff - The Caithness.org Equivalent of Freecycling Is Taking Off
A range of items have already been recycled via the Free Stuff section of the message board and items passed on to new owners who have use for the them.  the idea is one of the fastest recycling ideas spreading across the Internet.  One of the biggest is www.freecycle.org and although we have not set up rules for ours so far we would tend to emulate their ideas.  For example when giving away animals owners may want to be careful about who potential owners of pets or other animals might be.  Safety is also something to be aware of if inviting people to pick up items from your home and we would advise having another person around when pick ups are arranged involving strangers.  It looks to be going well and several items have been removed after successful give aways.  Don't dump it - Give it away.  Charity shops will usually not accept electrical goods but you can give them away - even if broken as another person may fix it or use the parts keeping it out of landfill.

North Highland Forest Trust
NHFT publishes a newsletter packed with information and until they begin publishing on an upgraded web site at a later date we will publish it via Caithness.org  The March Newsletter is now online and is 18 pages of information on funding schemes and anything connected to forestry in Caithness and Sutherland including forestry walks and much more.

Wick Set To Be Retail Capital Of the North As New Shops Near To Opening
Wick Retail Park  - Seven Shops Nearly Ready
Work is racing ahead now as signs begin to go up and Homebase, Argos, Superdrug and New Look begin to get ready for an Easter opening.  Work inside and outside is moving on fast.  The old drystane wall along the edge is being rebuilt and new lay-by steps and ramps going in.

Work Started In June 2005   Structure Starts Going Up November 2005

Tescos Prepare To Race For Pre Christmas Opening In Wick A Meeting In Nethercliff Hears
Representatives From Tesco held a meeting today in the Nethercliff Hotel, Wick and spoke to local people to hear their views about shopping in Wick and how Tescos might affect the area.  As one of our message board people has reported they gave out the following information -
The new store is planned to open here in December and will be looking to employ between 175 - 300 new staff. The minimum wage being nearly £6 per hour.  There will be a drive-thru car wash and cafe at the new store as well as everything else Tesco usually offer including clothes, electrical items, fresh food deli's etc.. The store itself will be slightly bigger than the one in Dingwall and will probably be open from 6am - 12 midnight. Petrol will cost the same or less as the lowest price within a 3 mile radius. And the petrol station may well be open 24 hours.
See what they are saying on the Message Board and add your comments

Pension Strikers Were Also Out In Thurso Today
Strikers were out on the picket line at North Highland College today joining with their co-workers up and down the UK.  With nearly 200,000 local authority employees in Scotland the strike will have had a substantial affect on may services..  Throughout the UK there are almost 2 million workers potentially affected by the proposed pension changes although  a much smaller number might actually be affected by the new rules.  Low paid workers and female workers in particular due to their higher numbers working for councils are perhaps more affected as they carry out many of the jobs in care homes, schools canteens, classroom assistants and many other categories.  Not all council workers have long years of service and may only be entitled to modest levels of pension often just a few hundreds or £3 - 4000 per annum.  Despite the problems facing the government most employees affected feel they are being unfairly treated compared to other public sector workers who are not facing the changes to reduce pension rights.

Caithness Orchestra and James Ross
The final concerts of our 25th anniversary season take place this week, on Wednesday 29 March in Wick Old Parish Church and on Thursday 30th March in Thurso High School Hall.  Both concerts start at 7.30 pm and should be finished by 9.15 pm. Prices are £5 for adults, £3 for concessions and £7 for a 'family' ticket, ie an adult plus children. The programme includes Beethoven's 5th Symphony and pieces by the Russian composers Tchaikowsky and Borodin. For many, however, the highlight is the first performance of a new piece by Wick born composer and performer James Ross, written to a commission by the Orchestra under the auspices of Highland 2007.

Determination To Win Fight To Keep Pension Rights On Wick Picket Line
Strikers on the picket line were who members of both Unison and the TGWU at the main Caithness council offices in Wick today expressed their disappointment that their pension rights were under attack from a Labour government.  They felt that many of their members were low paid or women who mostly would not build up many years of service with average pension in many cases of less than £4000.  The feeling was that the government was hiding behind a smokescreen of European regulations and that if necessary they were determined to repeat the action.  Future action is yet to be decided by may well be more selective attacking in particular services like finance that brings in revenue to local authorities.  Inconvenience to today could well have other affects as people turned up today to pay rent or arrears and in some cases fines from court appearances where today was the final day for payment which might lead to other charges being incurred.

Scottish Infantry Regiments Consigned To History
As Royal Regiment Of Scotland (RSS) Appears
The end of an era happens to day as the six remaining  Scottish infantry regiments of the British army are merged into one.  The government has ignored all the campaigns to save them.  The six existing regiments being amalgamated as battalions of the super regiment are the Black Watch, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the Royal Scots, the Royal Highland Fusiliers, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and the Highlanders.

Local Authority Strike Over Pensions Hits Caithness
The strike today by up to 200,000 local authority workers is hitting many services in Highland.  The strike is due to the decision to abolish Rule 85 whereby workers can retire early if their age and years of service are over 85  See Unison for a fuller explanation.  Other government workers such as civil servant and teachers are not affected as the government says the rules are different in their schemes.

What's Been Hit By the Strike? - There may be other services affected not on this listing.

Halkirk Young Farmers Won National 5-a-side title
A team from Halkirk YFC won the Scottish Association of Young Farmer's National 5-a-side football competition on Sunday 26th February at the National Competitions Weekend in Oban. A total of 15 teams took part. The format was two leagues of seven and eight with matches played for 7 minutes. Halkirk were joined in their group by Bell Baxter, Brechin, Inver Ross, Thornhill, Lanark, North Argyll and Bathgate. After finishing the group stages unbeaten with 24 goals scored and only 2 against, Halkirk played Dunlop in the semi-finals and won 4-1 to reach the final.

27 March 2006

Free and Simple Job Ads - 29 Job Ads Currently in the Jobs Section
No CV's needed to be entered. No need to sign up for anything.  Just plain and simple job ads.  Employers can advertise for FREE and people seeking jobs can reads the ads - SIMPLE.    Why make it complicated?

Coaching Success For Kayakers
Three kayakers from the Thurso based Pentland Canoe Club have successfully passed their Scottish Canoe Association Coach Level 2 Award. Simon Copsey, Andy Ford and Martyn Sutherland were assessed by one of Scotland's leading kayak coaches, Jas Hepburn from Speyside.

Dounreay Bulletin Online - Issue 24
Demolition of Former Reactor Workshop - Dounreay to Seek New Authorisation from SEPA - Shaft Isolation Work Gets Underway - Dounreay's Old Boiler House is Decommissioned - Surveyor Detects Contamination
Dounreay Features in Radio 4 Programme - Sharing Knowledge with Kazakhstan - Tory Party Conference Hears of New Modern Apprenticeships in Engineering - and Decommissioning - PFR Plant Receives Commendation Following OGC Review - Awards for Dounreay Employee - Dounreay Trainees Win Award for Voluntary Work

Press and Journal Sale
Commenting on today's announcement that The Aberdeen Journals business, which includes The Press and Journal and Evening Express newspapers, is to be bought by DC Thomson owners of the Sunday Post and The Courier.  MSP Mary Scanlon said, "I am delighted that the ownership issue of The Press & Journal and the Aberdeen Evening Express has been settled, because I know that change can sometimes be difficult for staff.

First Photos Of New Music Link Media Project In Wick
The exciting new music tuition programme Music Link Media is now up and running with a programme of tuition already taking place. Lots of young people are already signed up to take part in lessons on all aspects of the music industry from playing through to sound and filming. The tuition is free and instruments and equipment of all sorts is available. Even music that is often expensive is available through the project. Caithness looks likely to keep on producing musicians for some time yet
The Music Link Media Project

NORTHERN CONSTABULARY BACKS ANTI-VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN
Northern Constabulary’s Chief Constable gave a key note speech at a major conference today aimed at reducing violence in Scotland. Chief Constable Ian Latimer spoke of the devastating effect violence can have on communities across the country. The conference – ‘An Alliance for a Safer Future’ – was organised by the Violence Reduction Unit. Opened by Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson MSP, the aim of the conference was to put violence reduction on everyone’s agenda.   The person who is statistically most likely to become a victim of violence will be a young man aged between 16 and 20, and the perpetrator is also likely be a young man in the same age group.

HIGHLAND MSP'S RAISES CONCERN OVER ACCESS TO CIVIL LEGAL AID
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Maureen Macmillan has written to Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry over the difficulty in accessing civil legal aid being experienced by women in parts of the Highland, who have been the victims of domestic abuse or are undergoing a marital break-up. Mrs Macmillan said, "I have been approached by local Women's Aid groups and Scottish Women's Aid who have raised their concerns at the lack of access to civil legal aid in Skye & Lochalsh and to a certain extent in Caithness and Sutherland.

Casper Out Of School Club Launches New Newsletter
The Casper Club in Castletown have launched a new newsletter and we have the first edition online.  Casper provide out of school activities and run a Breakfast Club and take care of children on those inconvenient days when the school is closed for teacher training and so on.  Their services have recently increased and they now have a number of staff in place offering their services.  Check them out if you live in the Castletown area.
Other Nurseries, Play Groups Out Of School Clubs.
We are in the process of improving the pages for these groups and moving them to a new section with a clearer lay out and will notify updates for all the groups on the new nursery index page We will be moving all of the groups to this new section so if your group has changes to make in contact details, times or other items about the group get in touch with bill@caithness.org

Viewfirth Photos Gallery
With Viewfirth Club, Thurso closing soon we have been asked to set up a Viewfirth photo gallery and following the request this is the first photo sent i for the new gallery.  If you have photos of Viewfirth you would like to share send them to bill@caithness.org

Caithness Country Music Festival - Have You Got Your Tickets Yet?
14 - 16 April - Halkirk - One of the fastest growing festivals in the north is right here in Caithness.  The Caithness country Music Festival is set for its third extravaganza of country music.  The line up is the biggest yet starting on Friday evening on 14th April carrying on until Sunday Night.  Day Tickets are £25 or single shows £15 or the best deal is a weekend ticket for everything at £60 with special rates for bus parties and children.  This is one of the success stories of the far north and looks like they are going for another one this year.

Help Caithness General Staff Team Fund Raise For Cancer Research In Race For Life
Many of the staff at the Accident and Emergency and Outpatient departments in the Caithness General Hospital are taking part in this years Race for Life. All of us are involved in the fundraising for the event for Cancer Research.  It is a charity three mile run for cancer research. It takes place on May the 7th in Inverness. They are all training very hard as many of us have rarely broken walking pace before now!! We hope to raise money for this very worthwhile charity as most of us know someone who has been affected by this disease.  they have a number of fund raisers in the pipeline. Prize Bingo at the Francis St Club on 4th April at 8pm, all prizes generously donated by local proprietors. Baking and Bottle stall in the hospital canteen on 21st April at 10am Easter Raffle being drawn on Easter weekend. Tickets are available from the hospital reception...loads of great prizes. ways you can help - Sponsor them via www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/sheenamacleod Sponsor them via sponsor forms located at the hospital reception.  Fill their tins during the three legged pub crawl on April 22!!  Come along or donate to our fund raising events. All donations gratefully received...just hand in to the reception in Accident and Emergency or Outpatients...or to any of our staff.  The team send their thanks for joining them in funding research into cancer.

26 March 2006

Old Hall Watten And The Chapel Of Dunn - A Caithness Field Club Outing
An extremely interesting morning looking at the Chapel of Dunn and the crypt below.  The chapel is near the Old Hall, Watten.  Geoff Leet noticed what appeared to be an early Mill Lade and a closer examination of the area did indeed reveal a dam and a reedy area that usually denotes a pond.  Following the likely route of the Mill lade did not help to find a mill although it seems likely to have been close to the bottom of the slope at Old Hall.  the main group went to look at the Standing Stone.  Moving on to the near the main road the group saw a Telford Bridge that lies near the present bridge that takes traffic today over the stream pretty well unnoticed by most folk passing through Old Hall near the caravan site.
Caithness Field Club

25 March 2006

The Vault At Old Hall Church And Birds Of Watten
A Caithness Field Club outing in the morning of Sunday 26 March.  All Welcome.  Find out more about local history and nature on strolls through the Caithness countryside.  Meeting at Wick and Thurso stations at 9.40am and then at Brown Trout Watten at 10.00am.

Bingo Every Thursday Night In Thurso Starts On Thursday 13 April
Thurso Town Improvements Association are starting bingo in Skinandis nightclub every Thursday night at 7:30pm from Thursday 13th April.  There will be a 10 Card, 3 Card, LoFlyer and Hi Flyer Jackpot Rollover game every week plus a Free Flyer every week throughout April and May.  Admission will be open to anyone 18 years old or over. Beginners and experienced players are welcome.
 

Campbell throws down gauntlet to Labour by backing anti-nuclear stance - Scotsman
THE Liberal Democrats' uncompromising stance over the formation of another Holyrood coalition with Labour was bolstered last night when Sir Menzies Campbell wholeheartedly endorsed the Scottish leadership's tough anti-nuclear policy.

More Jobs Posted Today In The Jobs Section   Employers Cut Your Job Ad Costs
A wide range of posts from teaching, medical , office, stores, seasonal ranger, part-time, maternity cover and more.  Employers can place job ads completely FREE of charge. All that is required is to join the message board, reply to our automated email system and you can be up and running with your job ads any time 24 hours a day at no cost.  Nearly 3000 people a day now look into the Caithness.org Message Boards.  Quick- it takes about two minutes to post an ad once you are set up.  Good Response. Fix your own closing dates.  Change ads any time.  Repeat them if necessary.  Best of all you will receive no invoice to pay.  Its FREE as your job ads are worth more to us in building traffic to the web site - simple as that.

Radio Remedy's Quiz Answers
The Radio Remedy Music Quiz March 2006. – Winner of the Music Shop £15 Voucher: Fiona Campbell of Thurso.
Radio Remedy is a voluntary group that runs radio programmes in Caithness General Hospital for patients and staff.  If you are interested in trying out your DJ skills give them a call.

North Highland Will See New Winter Vehicles On Roads
New brightly coloured spreaders and ploughs will be appearing on our roads as Schmidt has won a major order for spreaders and ploughs to tackle Scottish winters.  Scotland TranServ, winners of the £27m a year highways maintenance contract for North-West Scotland, has chosen Schmidt to supply salt spreaders, snowploughs, snow blowers and road verge grass cutting equipment in one of the largest single orders for British highways products.  Whatever the weather, Scotland TranServ will be endeavouring to keep traffic moving throughout the North West Unit from Wick and John O'Groats through Skye, Fort William, Oban, Argyll, Perth and Loch Lomond. The area covers over 1300km of highways and 1300 structures, including the Skye bridge.

An Element Of Colour - Caithness Floral Art Club
Eileen Barraclough from Shipley braved the snow on her journey north to get Caithness Floral Art Club off to a flying start for 2006 with her demonstration entitled An Element of Colour. Using a wide variety of plant materials both in foliage and flowers she showed how colour can lift the spirits and enhance our lives. Eileen had plenty of useful tips about preparing plant materials for use, even showing how to plait a Kentia palm.

Wick Academy v Keith Match Is Postponed
"A 7am pitch inspection showed large areas of lying water on the lower half of the pitch. Attempts to fork the ground proved fruitless and the match was called off at 7.15am."

Spoilt For Choice In Great Egg Case Hunts In The Far North
Suddenly we have rash of egg case hunts and unfortunately for anyone interested the rangers have organised their own on the same dates as those already organised by another person and being advertised here.  You will just have to make your mind up which ones you prefer and which beach you would like to have day out on.  Great to have choice.  15th and 16th April are the dates

Some Notes On The History Of the Rabbit In the North
This item by George Watson was first published in the April 1979 edition of the Caithness Field Club Bulletin

Memories Of Lyth School
Written by Ann M P McLeod (Dunnet) in honour of the only Lyth School Reunion ever held. The reunion took place in the Lyth Community Hall on 23rd August 2003.

The Viewfirth Club Is Closing - Do You Have Photos Of The Club and Its Activities
One of the members of the Viewfirth Club has suggested we might set up a gallery of photos for the club as it gets ready to close its doors for the last time.  If you have some old photos of inside or outside the club house or events that took place there send them to bill@caithness.org   The Viewfirth Club in Thurso was set going by UKAEA when it first came to Caithness as a social club for the many new employees.  There is undoubtedly some bitterness that UKAEA is now selling off the ground with the building and the present club is not in a position to buy the land and building which is in need of serious renovations.  Although it may be unrelated it seems to many that the Viewfirth Club is being decommissioned well ahead of the NDA's push to decommission the actual Dounreay site.  It seems that the NDA has a socio-economic remit but not a social one.  Certainly membership had dropped over recent years but with all the new work involved in decommissioning perhaps a little investment might have saved it from its fate.  Thurso will shortly have one less place for recreation and all the activities that used to flow through its rooms - dances, children's Christmas parties, social evenings, meals and much more.  The building and its football ground look set to become another housing estate.  The local kids will have to wander further to kick that ball.

Dunbeath Castle  -The Sutherlands & Sinclairs of Dunbeath
An article by D B Miller first published in the Caithness Field Club Bulletin of April 1979

Bird Movements Through Caithness and North East Sutherland
This item by G Crittenden was first published in the Caithness Field Club Bulletin of April 1979

THE DISCQVERY OF HUMAN REMAINS AT CLARDON HAVEN, CAITHNESS
An item by the late Jack Saxon in the April 1979 Caithness Field Club Bulletin

24 March 2006

The Cello Is alive And Kicking In The Highlands
During a unique music day, over 70 young musicians from Highland primary and secondary schools gathered together to play en-mass in celebration of the Cello.  Beginners, intermediate and advanced players from Thurso, Wick, Skye, Fort William, Ullapool, Tain, Fortrose and The Black Isle, Dingwall, Dornoch, Drumnadrochit and Inverness met up form the first time at Ness Bank Church Hall in Inverness. The day culminated with an afternoon concert involving all participants and featuring an arrangement of the Wallace and Gromit theme tune.

Wick High V Braeview Dundee - Bank of Scotland Scottish Shield Competition - Quarter Finals

In the quarter finals of the under15s played today the score was Wick High 11 Braehead Dundee 1.

Work Set To Start On Wick High School Synthetic All Weather Pitch
Work begins next week Monday 27th March, 2006 on a £584,000 floodlit synthetic sport pitch for Wick High School. Funding for the development has been provided by The Highland Council's Education Culture and Sports Service. Construction of the pitch will be carried out by Malcolm Construction Services Ltd. and it will be due completion by late summer 2006. The pitch will be developed as a multi-sports use playing surface for use by the school and the community by arrangement through the school

Strike By Highland Council Staff Will Close Many Services On Tuesday 28 March
Services provided by The Highland Council will be disrupted on Tuesday 28 March as the result of industrial action taken in protest at Government plans to change pension rights. Whilst main offices may be open many services will be closed ranging from libraries, swimming pools, rubbish collections, Recycling Centres closed, no bulky uplifts, day care services, nurseries, public toilets, certain ferries operated by the council.  There will be no burials or cremations. All primary and secondary schools are expected to be open. However, the industrial action taken by ancillary staff, such as janitors, catering and cleaning staff, and classroom assistants and drivers will impact on the level of service provided at schools.  Not all services are affected in every area and you need to check with the listings or the Highland Council web site for more up to date information in a changing situation.  20 out of 37 service points will be closed in including Thurso and Wick.

County Snooker Singles 2006  - Last Chance For Entries Today
When? : Saturday 25th March 2006 – 10.00am Sharp  Where? : Starts at 10.30am sharp after draw- In the Viewfirth. Entry Fee -: £4  Contact Derek Johnston on -: 0774 568 9630 to enter. Names to be in by Friday 24th of March  As Viewfirth club is closing at the end of the month this will be the last chance to play in a major local competition at that venue.  So if you want to involved in a historic match contact the organiser today to compete tomorrow.

Photo Phenomenum On Caithness.org Message Board
For those of you who have not yet ventured into the depths of the Caithness.org Forums a thread on photo sharing is now reaching massive proportions.  Started by one of the posters as place to share Caithness photos via another web site Photobucket you can now view what is fast becoming one of the great collections of Caithness photos with a few others thrown in.  This thread  has many photos linked to it and at time of this item 766 responses now stretching to 39 pages packed with photos.  This thread alone looks set to become easily the largest ever on the Forum and one of the best examples yet of sharing.  Take look - its interesting, amusing and will take you on yet another journey around Caithness from our Orgers perspective.

Scamp In Pets Corner
Scamp is another Caithness cat who was taken in by Balmore animal centre out past Thurso and rescued to end up in a good home.  Scamp is a Turkish Van but due to the lack of confirmed pedigree cannot be entered in shows as such. 
Pets Corner Index  
Pets corner has number of sections Pets Gallery  Unusual Pets Gallery  Doggies Gallery
Moggies Gallery  Farm Pets  Missing Pets Section  Missing Pets Gallery
Send photos for inclusion to bill@caithness.org   Missing Pets can be posted  - all FREE

The Radioactive Fishes Of The North Of Scotland
This article by the late Jack Saxon examines the radioactive fishes from the Devonian period.  This is yet another example of the huge knowledge he had on his favourite subject - fossils of Caithness and his ability to theorise and draw information together from a variety of sources.  the article was first published in the Caithness Field club Bulletin of April 1979.

23 March 2006

Halkirk And Pennyland Kids Build Living Shelters
Halkirk and Pennyland primary schools have been busy building Willow bowers and domes as part of their school grounds projects.  The living willow structures use straight lengths of willows which act like cuttings and root to form trees thereby producing leafy shelters and play areas for the children.  The project was funded by Scottish Natural Heritage as part of their school grounds project. And Mike Ellis and the countryside rangers assisted the children in building the domes.

Gibson Presses Finnie Over HomeAid Short-term Funding Problem
Highlands & Islands SNP MSP Rob Gibson has written to the Environment Minister Ross Finnie, asking that he provide interim funding to keep a important Caithness and Sutherland scheme running. Mr Gibson has written to Mr Finne requesting that money be found for HomeAid based in Thurso.  HomeAid recycles essential goods such as electrical appliances and furniture and supplies them to low income and disadvantaged groups in the community.  However the service faces a cash short fall of around 8-6 weeks while it waits the outcome of it's bid for funding from the Highland Council.

Caithness Area Council Meeting To Cover Many Topics Next Monday In Wick
The agenda for next weeks meeting of the Caithness Area Committee shows a sample of the many topics that the local area committee is involved in.  Community Planning is at the hear of council work these days and if you are not familiar with the terminology a quick glance at three items on the agenda will give readers an idea of part of what it is all about - See items on  Community Regeneration Fund,  Initiative At The Edge - south East Caithness, Community Safety.  A report on the budget for Integrated Children's Services illustrates the activities being pursued to have more seemless services for children and young people.  A report on a new service Caithness Intensive Support & Vocational Training Unit based at the recently refurbished Airport House (Formerly the Pearl Assurance building) highlights how councillors and staff have developed a completely new service in the county to help address the needs of young people facing difficulties in the education system.  Rosebank Park, Wick will shortly have a major refurbishment with resurfacing of the tennis courts, major work on the bowling green and the crazy putting and other work.  This activity is being led by Pulteneytown People's Project in partnership with the council.

Live Music Now Brings James Ross Back To Caithness
Following three highly successful previous tours in Caithness community venues, Wick born accordionist, pianist and composer James Ross is back with more live music for Wick and Thurso audiences.  As part of the charitable scheme, founded by the late Yehudi Menuhin in 1977, James will present eleven performances between Monday 27 and Friday 31 March. The community performances also coincide with the premiere of James' new composition for The Caithness Orchestra, which takes place on Wednesday 29 March in Wick and Thursday 30 March in Thurso.  James had his first CD produced by Greentrax Records earlier this year.  Another is due out shortly.

More Snow Photos Prove Caithness Has Gone Digital With Cameras Everywhere

UPDATE 5.52pm - MISSING PERSONS - ULLAPOOL - Names Released - All Three Men Found
POLICE can confirm the details of the three men reported missing earlier today who have all been found safe and well.
David Radcliff, (66), Birchwood Drive, Paisley - retired
Robert Houston, (69), Broadwood Park, Alloway - retired
Campbell Pearson, (68), McInnes Gardens, St Andrews – retired
It is anticipated that after being seen by medical services to assess their general health that they will return to the Caledonian Hotel in Ullapool at some point this evening.

Young Caithness Footballers - A Chance Not To Be Missed
Young Footballers throughout the area are urged to lace up their boots in preparation for the SFA and Ross County FC’s Easter coaching programme that visits Wick and Thurso during the school holidays. Regardless of ability, both boys and girls have the opportunity to be coached by some of the most qualified and certified coaches in the North of Scotland who aim to develop the potential of all participants, whilst ensuring the emphasis is on fun and enjoyment.  Cost £20.  Head to the Sports Pages for more details or the What's On  An hour and half each day for three days in Wick and Thurso and open to boys and girls.

Farmers Unhappy With Chancellor  As "Chelsea Tractor" tax Attacked By Countryside Alliance
The Countryside Alliance has warned that higher taxes on high-emission cars and 4x4s will negatively impact rural Britain, and is likely to have a negligible effect in urban areas.  Under Gordon Brown's proposals, vehicles with high carbon emissions will be penalised with a higher tax. While many sports and estate cars will fall into this bracket, most four-wheel drive vehicles, which farmers and the rural population are dependent on in their daily lives, will also fall into this higher tax bracket.

Caithness Rocks Again As Crimson Tide Launch New Web Site
Caithness bands look as if they are taking the web by storm as another local band Crimson Tide ratchet up a gear with their own marketing via their new look web site Crimson Tide  Following hard on the heels of Estrella who launched a few days ago the local "Battle of the Bands" In Caithness is now heading ever upwards. The line up of talent in Caithness bands has always been strong and currently their is a huge range of musical ability and variety around.  Crimson Tide have also put four tracks online and these are to be found via their web site.  Following the CD release Crimson are definitely on the rise.

EXECUTIVE RESPONDS TO SCOTTISH LOCAL AUTHORITIES REMUNERATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Executive will reform the obscure and outdated system of allowances for councillors to reform local democracy, Tom McCabe said today. The Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform was speaking as he responded to the report by the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee. The Executive has accepted the vast majority of the the recommendations, including the new salary for basic councillors of £15,452 and a mandatory role description and personal development plan.  Political Info & News

There Will Be A Stamped For this Student Job -  Summer Ranger Post - 3 Months
Possibly one of the best student summer jobs in Caithness is working with the Rangers. So if you have a background with the environment or natural history as one of your subjects at college or university this could be the job for you.  You have until 31st March to get your CV in to Highland Council or contact Mary Legg one of the Rangers for more information.  Out and about in Caithness involved in all sorts of activities and getting paid for it - lucky for someone.  It could be YOU.  If you son or daughter is away at college or uni let them know about this job if they have the correct experience.  Ranger pages to see what they do.

BIO-WASTE to ENERGY SEMINAR - In Aberdeen
Scottish Agricultural College Aberdeen 29th March 2006, 10am-12.00
Places will be limited - please let them know ASAP if you wish to attend.  In summary, the UTC Purecell 200 produces 200kW electrical power and 270 kWthermal.  It takes sewage from 8,000-1000 people to fuel it This equates to of 5mWe for a city the size of Aberdeen, 125MW for Scotland.  Sorry it is far away from Caithness but we thought perhaps there might someone in Aberdeen with time to spare to check it out.   Caithness Heat And Power

Cheaper Flights Opening Up The Highlands - £99 Return Inverness - Leeds Bradford
Strong Demand for New Inverness - Leeds Bradford Air Link
With one month to go until a new air link takes off between the capital of the Highlands and Yorkshire passenger demand is proving to be strong.  The level of advance bookings is high for Eastern Airways' Inverness - Leeds Bradford Airport service which starts operating on Monday 24 April. The service is Eastern's third route from Inverness, joining their well established Birmingham and Manchester operations, and will operate six days a week, Monday to Friday and Sundays.

The Big Snow In Caithness Of 1955
All of the snow photos flowing in recently prompted Gordon Doull to dig out these photos of what he describes as "Real Snow" from the big freeze in Caithness in 1955.  The photos show Reisgill Bridge and Main Street, Lybster.  Just reminds us to keep taking the flask and blankets in winter just in case you ever get caught in another one of these storms. 
More Early Caithness Photos   Snow Gallery Feb Mar 2006  If you have more photos of the Big snow in 1955 and would like to add them to this gallery send them to bill@caithness.org

Another Day Another Gecko
There may be more Geckos around than you thought and living in the north.  Another photo of a pet gecko sent in this time by Heather Holden - entitled "Gecko - The Face of Evil"   Looks pretty cute to us.
send pet photos for the galleries in Pets Corner to bill@caithness.org

Caithness Field Bulletin -  April 1979
With only a few years left to go in this great collection of articles we now bring you April 1979 thanks once again to Janet Mackenzie of the field club for preparing the information for the web site.
Editorial with an item on the Early History of Wick Heritage Museum
The Vegetation Of the Isle Of Stroma - by Ken Butler - Interestingly we have been able to link to a few photographs of plants supplied by Ken Butler himself over 20 years later for Caithness.org so thanks to Ken twice.

22 March 2006

Budget Special - 22 March 2006
Chancellor Gordon Brown delivered his budget today.  although there was not anything dramatic there was as always lots of detail.  Here are all the points in the budget with tax and NI rates , details of a range of schemes with funding attached that might be of interest to the voluntary and youth sectors.  No change on the duty on spirits but beer and cigs get increases - 9 pence on 20 cigarettes.  Child Benefit rates marginally up.  Beer up 1p and wine 4p per bottle.  Petrol prices up but not until September.  Road Tax duties up if your car pumps out too much CO2 - larger vehicles will suffer worst.

Joseph and His Technicolour Dreamcoat
This photo sent in by Hugh Macdonald has many of the people in P7.  This is the first photo for the section set up for the Thurso High 1978 Reunion being held on 29 July this year. Send other photos for the reunion to bill@caithness.org for inclusion here. Many reunions have now used our FREE Reunion pages to let folk know about a reunion and to keep folk posted on developments - much faster than writing to everyone all the time and making it more likely folk far away will find out about the event. Reunions Sections

21 March 2006

Lunch Time for The Birds In Caithness
Another of the photos that almost got away in our big email crash this morning but quickly sent again by Brenda Herrick.  The photos are still coming in from the last snow early in the month.  It has been snowing again in Caithness and the north today but not as much as three weeks ago.  Snow Gallery Starts Here

Thurso Youth Club Football Section Visit To Inverness Caley
Thurso youth club football section under 11s and 13s were recently taken to Inverness Caley . The Inverness coaches did a training session with them before they headed to the game - Inverness v Kilmarnock with a score 3 - 3. A great time was had by all.

Hillhead Primary School, Wick - March Newsletter

CHALLENGING NUCLEAR CLEAN-UP JOB IS UNDERWAY AT DOUNREAY
One of the world’s most challenging nuclear clean-up jobs is underway with the hydraulic isolation of the Dounreay shaft. This follows the decision by Highland Council to grant planning permission to build a raised working platform, drill up to 400 boreholes and inject grout to rocks and effluent discharge tunnel all in the vicinity of the Dounreay shaft.  This major step in the project will allow the contents of the shaft to be isolated from the surrounding environment by physically restricting water movement to and from the shaft. Once complete, the grout curtain will provide reassurance against leakage, eliminate any lingering doubts about the shaft being a source of particles in the marine environment, and create a stable environment for waste retrieval in the future.  Dounreay News   UKAEA History

Photos Flooded In all Day After We Lost Our Emails For the last few Weeks Today
Wow   - What a response.  the photos have not stopped all day after we announced Bill had lost the last three months email. and asked for items to be resent.  Still flowing in but if an item not resent has not yet appeared please send it in again and we will try to catch up again.  The backlog is still building up but at least it is all in today's date.  It has been a revelation to the power of the web to see it all arrive back today after losing it this morning.  Thanks to you all for taking the time to resend.  You all make a superb team.

Stroma Church and Manse  Heatherbell Number 53
These two photos have been sent in by Sheila Moir to add to the growing Stroma collection.  Here is the Stroma church and Manse many years ago.  The house is Heatherbell number 53 on our map and the house where Andy Moir Sheila's husband was born.  More Stroma photos still coming in.

UPDATE - MISSING PERSONS - GOLSPIE - Traced To Switzerland
POLICE can confirm they have located missing father and son Colin and Douglas Payton. Officers received information that the 49-year-old father and his 11-year-old son may be in Switzerland and following inquiries they were traced to an address in the country earlier this afternoon. Liaison in currently taking place with Swiss authorities to ensure Douglas can be reunited with his mother as soon as possible.
 

Progress Report 21 March 2006
South East Caithness Development Group has made considerable progress since its inception in February 2005. The Development Group was set up following the area of South East Caithness, which encompasses the community councils of Berriedale and Dunbeath, Latheron, Lybster and Clyth being given Initiative at the Edge status in October 2004. Communities in South East Caithness are set to benefit from the initiative aimed at tackling the problems which face many rural areas in the Highlands. The South East Caithness Development Group is an Initiative At The Edge project and have progressed a number of ideas since it commenced including tennis courts at Dunbeath, Improvements to Lybster Hall, Footpath work, Investigating community ownership of forestry, a woodchip scheme, a wind turbine scheme, improved transport facilities and more.  They want more ideas from the local community.

PET DOG SHOW - SATURDAY 8TH APRIL 2006 AT ASSEMBLY ROOMS WICK
In aid of CROSSROADS Caithness. Providing respite for carers. All funds raised goes to help people in Caithness.  Entries on the day from 2.00pm.  More details in Pets Corner

NORTH MSP HAILS FORTHCOMING SMOKING BAN
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Maureen Macmillan is welcoming the ban on smoking in enclosed public places in Scotland, which comes into force on Sunday 26th March. Mrs Macmillan said," This is a highly significant piece of legislation which will make a tremendous difference to the health of Scotland. The facts make for stark reading - over 13,000 Scots die every year from smoking related diseases - the equivalent of 250 a week or 35 a day; non-smokers exposed to passive smoking in the home have a 25% increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer; more than 17,000 children under five are admitted to hospital in the UK every year because of the effects of passive smoking. The human toll of these premature and avoidable deaths and illnesses is considerable.

And the winner of the first ever Scottish Food Scholarship is Caithness Chef Kevin Sutherland
After a gruelling day in the kitchen competing under the watchful eyes of Scotland's Michelin star chefs, the winner of the first ever Scottish Food Scholarship was announced last night as Kevin Sutherland of The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh. Presenter, Viv Lumsden, started the evening's proceedings introducing all of the eight finalists before announcing Kevin Sutherland, from Latheronwheel, Caithness as the winner following the Awards Dinner held at the Corinthian in Glasgow last night.  Kevin was runner up in the Young Chef Young Waiter competition in London in October 2005.

Council Appoints First Two Officers To "Police" SMOKING BAN
Two officers have been appointed by The Highland Council to "police" the ban on smoking in enclosed areas, which takes effect in the early hours of Sunday morning. Ian Wilson, Fort Augustus, and David Mackay, Fort William, who are former police officers, will be seen throughout the Highlands to assess compliance of the new smoking regulations; offer guidance and advice and if necessary; and, if necessary carry out enforcement action, including the service of fixed penalty notices.  Their efforts will be supported by existing environmental health staff, who will include smoking enforcement during other visits, e.g. food safety or health and safety inspections. The Scottish Executive has awarded the Council funding for the posts to allow appropriate support to be put in to place to enforce the smoking ban in public premises. The Council currently enforces health and safety at approximately 4,500 premises. Of these, approximately 1,500 are pubs and restaurants. In addition to these, the Council is responsible for enforcing the smoking ban in premises such as factories, where health and safety enforcement is currently the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive.  The smoking ban comes into force on Sunday.

The Munros & Muirs At Staxigoe Braes

Lost Photos Now Piling In After Email Losses - Lets Get Back To the Snow Again
Thanks to those of you have already responded to the request to resend items lost in our email today.  the photos are piling in and we will get on to as many as we can before any further troubles.  If any items not sent again have not appeared and were sent in the past weeks back to 4 January please send again.  Lots have arrived in already but there are more still lost.  Thanks

Articles Items Text Etc For Web Site - Send Again As Emails Lost Lost
If you have sent items for Caithness.org that have not as yet appeared please send the item again as all emails between 4 January and 20 March have been erased by a virus.  And be warned not open anything you are not sure about in your own email or get that email saved somewhere else in case it all gets erased.

Photos Sent To Caithness.org Between 4 January and 20 March All Lost
If anyone sent photos for Caithness.org in the period 4 January  - 20 March can you send them again as the emails have all apparently been deleted before Bill could get to them

Leopard Gecko In Pets Corner Today
One of the more unusual pets in the Corner today.  This Leopard Gecko lives in Wick with a few mates at Hilary Wilson's house.  Send your pet photo to bill@caithness.org for inclusion in the Pets Galleries.
We will post items with photos if available for Missing Pets FREE of charge
Pets Corner

Housing Stock Transfer Roadshow In Caithness Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday This Week
The potential transfer of the Highland council stock to a housing agency is perhaps the biggest thing to affect council house tenants for many years.  The council has organised road show to deliver information and have people on hand to answer questions about how the transfer might affect them.  In Caithness the road show will visit Castletown, Lybster , Wick and Thurso.  in Caithness the road show will first arrive in Thurso on 21 March.  See the list for full details of times and places.

20 March 2006

It Was Exam Time Recently At Karen Cameron's Ballet School In Thurso

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING TO CONSIDER RENEWABLE STRATEGY
A special meeting of The Highland Council is being held on Wednesday to consider further its draft Highland Renewable Energy Strategy. Once Councillors consider the material already produced by a Working Group and hear from interested parties at the meeting, a report detailing proposed changes to the Strategy will be discussed at a special meeting of the Planning, Development, Europe and Tourism Committee on 19 April. The minutes of this meeting will then be presented for Council approval at its meeting on 4 May, after which time the approved Strategy and Planning Guidelines will come into force as a material planning consideration.  Mrs Angela Craig of Caithness Windfarms Information Forum a campaigning group against wind farms is to speak to the councillors along with several others from a variety of organisations.

New Affordable Homes For Thurso At Mansons Lane
Work is underway on a development to bring 24 new affordable homes to Thurso, with support from Communities Scotland, the Scottish Executive’s housing and regeneration agency.  The £1.4 million development in the town’s Mansons Lane by Pentland Housing Association will bring a much-needed boost to affordable homes in the area. Sixteen of the properties will be for both social rent and eight will be for sale through the Executive’s new shared-equity scheme, Homestake, which aims to get those on a low income onto the property ladder. It is hoped the development of the brownfield site close to the town centre will help address the demand for affordable places to live.

Father And Son Colin and Douglas Payton Missing