X-Factor invite for starry-eyed trio

John O’Groat Journal – THREE lucky Wick youngsters have stars in their eyes after getting invited backstage to meet the stars of this year’s X-Factor Live Tour in Aberdeen. Coran Sutherland (10), from Harbour Quay, and his friends eight-year-old Eve MacDonald (8), of South Road, and Fiona Steven (10), of Thurso Road, were asked backstage [...]

Norovirus confirmed at Wick hospital

John O’Groat Journal – A SMALL number of norovirus cases have been confirmed at Caithness General Hospital, it has emerged. A spokesperson for NHS Highland yesterday told the Caithness Courier that “staff are managing the situation and infection control measures are in place” to tackle the virus which is also known as the winter vomiting [...]

Policeman admits lying in court

BBC – A police officer has admitted lying in court in the case of a man convicted of vandalising a car. Jeff McDermid had denied he carried out an informal identification of the suspect and threatening him.

Trident trawler inquiry due to resume

BBC – The public inquiry into the sinking of a Peterhead trawler more than 30 years ago is due to resume in Aberdeen. Seven men were lost when the Trident went down in stormy seas off Wick, Caithness, in 1974.

Woman stole £22,000 out of Wick gala day coffers

Press and Journal – A former treasurer faces having to repay £22,000 she stole from a far north gala committee. Karen Spruce yesterday pleaded guilty at Wick Sheriff Court to embezzling the money from Wick Town Improvements Association between April 26, 2005, and June 11, 2008.

3D Natural Magic show, Wick

3D Natural Magic show
An exhibition of stereoscopic images by artist Calum Colvin entitled ‘Natural Magic’ is currently on show at Inverness Museum & Art Gallery before going on display in Thurso, Wick and Kingussie.
The exhibition is inspired by Scotsman David Brewster (1781 – 1868) who pioneered 3-D in Victorian Britain and is an open-ended exploration [...]

Highland headteacher posts are ‘too unattractive’

A TEACHING union claims potential candidates are being put off applying for headteacher posts due to workload pressures. While the Scottish Government says the number of jobs going unfilled is falling, some schools in remote or rural areas are finding it difficult to attract heads due to their location. Highland Council, for example, is looking [...]

Contest begins for Dounreay takeover

NUCLEAR industry representatives from around the globe visited Caithness on Friday for the first part of a major event focusing on the future of Dounreay. Over 150 people attended the session, which was held at the Assembly Rooms in Wick and centred on the competition to become the first private sector owner and operator of [...]

Staffing shortage almost closed Caithness maternity unit

Staffing problems came close to temporarily suspending Wick’s maternity unit at the start of last month. NHS Highland yesterday acknowledged that it almost had to transfer all far north mothers-to-be to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, reports the Press and Journal

3D Natural Magic show, Thurso

3D Natural Magic show
An exhibition of stereoscopic images by artist Calum Colvin entitled ‘Natural Magic’ is currently on show at Inverness Museum & Art Gallery before going on display in Thurso, Wick and Kingussie.
The exhibition is inspired by Scotsman David Brewster (1781 – 1868) who pioneered 3-D in Victorian Britain and is an open-ended exploration [...]

Gamekeeper assaulted former partner after drunken day out, court hears

A LOVE-RAT gamekeeper attacked his estranged partner after a drunken day out clay pigeon shooting, a court heard yesterday, reports the Daily Record

Baton offender found wife in bed with man

A Caithness man was yesterday placed on probation for a year for a disturbance he caused after finding his estranged wife in bed with another man, reports the Press and Journal

Dead man’s family calls for new agency to probe police

Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill is being urged to set up an independent agency to probe complaints of corruption involving police officers. The call has been made by the family of a young Wick man who believe that his sudden death in the town in February 1997 remains unexplained, reports the Press and Journal

Comic book treatment for RAF air traffic controller

The actions of a RAF officer who saved a civilian pilot’s life has been turned into a comic book strip as part of an air force recruitment campaign, reports the BBC

Wick man Donald gets his name on the Antarctica map

A CAITHNESS man has had a place named after him in Antarctica in recognition of his work as a builder with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), reports the John O’Groat Journal

Police hunt wedding ring thieves

A couple who pretended to be shopping for a wedding ring made off with around £5,000 worth of gold wedding rings from a Highland jeweller, reports STV

Man facing jail over £50,000 college cash theft

A top financial controller who embezzled almost £50,000 from Inverness College is facing a spell behind bars, reports STV

Supermarket chain acquires north stores

A new supermarket store launched last month has bought another four new stores in the north and north-east, reports STV

Wick may be most northerly club in Britain but they are ready to put themselves on map

It is little surprise that Wick is twinned with Klaksvik in the Faeroe Isles. Who else would understand all that beautiful isolation? Yet tomorrow, the Caithness town will be brimming with noise as its local team endeavours to put it on the football map, reports the Times Online

Man threatened former lover over phone sex images

A VENGEFUL lover threatened to show images of his former girlfriend having sex to her family, reports the Daily Record here

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