Mum’s pride for ‘wonderful son’

Banffshire Journal – A MUM who lost her 17-year-old son in a road accident last year has spoken of her deep mixed emotions at attending Banff Academy’s prizegiving. For the first time, the school was awarding an annual shield to a pupil in tribute to Jay Cameron who lost his life only a few months [...]

Up to 180 jobs to go at Dounreay

John O’Groat Journal – DOUNREAY’S operators are looking to axe up to 180 posts from its in-house workforce over the next three years. Staff and unions were on Friday briefed on the cutbacks which will also mean jobs going for outside contractors who support the site’s £2.6 billion clean-up.

Drunk boy, aged 14, could have died, warn police

John O’Groat Journal – A 14-YEAR-old has been among the first to go through a scheme being trialled in the Far North to combat underage drinking. Police fear he could have perished had they not found him when they did in Thurso on Saturday evening.

A9 and A95 closed after ‘number of incidents’

The A9 and A95 have both been temporarily closed due to a number of incidents being dealt with by police.
A crash at Ralia involving a car and a heavy goods vehicle is the most serious of a number of incidents on the A9.
The road has been closed southbound at the Raigmore Interchange to alleviate traffic [...]

Attack destroys years of work

Forres Gazette – A FORRES pensioner was left upset and angry after a gang broke into an aviary outside his home and disturbed nesting birds some of which died during the sickening attack. The man, 80-year-old John Bowie, who lives at Strathcona Road, has been breeding budgies for most of his life.

Commons backing for green payouts in the north

Press and Journal – An influential Commons committee backed calls last night for substantial economic benefits for Highlands and Islands communities from of offshore renewable energy developments. The all-party Treasury committee said funding could come from developers, with the help of the Crown Estate Commission, which controls development on the sea bed.

Black grouse safaris re-launched

BBC – Birdwatchers are being offered close-up views of male black grouse mating rituals, known as leks, at a Highlands reserve. RSPB Scotland ran its early morning Black Grouse Safaris at Corrimony in Glenurquhart last year.

Highland Council in personal data mix up

BBC – A council mistakenly sent personal data on the health of one family to a second unrelated family, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said. The ICO said the mix up followed requests from the two different families for copies of their personal details held by Highland Council.

Study highlights Deeside tourism gap

Press and Journal – Deeside and Strathdon is in need of more tourist accommodation, according to new research. The findings, published by Scottish Enterprise, say that “improved tourism accommodation is key to the future economic success” of the area. They say that a variety of niche resorts, boutique hotels, self-catering lodges, spas and quality fully [...]

Artworks follow Inverness industry through the ages

Press and Journal – A FASCINATING art exhibition showing Inverness industrial development through the ages has opened at the city Museum and Art Gallery. The centrepiece of the Art of Progress display is a rarely seen 1833 painting by J.M.W. Turner of the old stone bridge across the River Ness, a striking landmark of its [...]

Purple potato could be a mash hit

Press and Journal – A SCOTTISH potato processor is hoping to inject a bit of colour into meal times with the launch of a purple spud that is made for mashing and could boost health. The naturally bred Purple Majesty, which will produce a beetroot-coloured mash, is being grown commercially for the first time on [...]

Funeral date set for teenage crash victim

Press and Journal – THE funeral of a teenager who was killed in a crash in the centre of Inverness is set to take place next week. Callum Matheson, 17, died instantly when the car he was travelling in crashed through a wall and hit a tree at the junction of Island Bank Road and [...]

Two face mileage clocking charge

Press and Journal – Two Inverness men are due to face trial later this year for altering the mileage on cars they sold. James MacDonald is charged with 17 offences breaching the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, with John Williamson accused alongside MacDonald in seven of the charges.

Police road report: Highland (31 March)

Northern Constabulary has reported the following roads are closed today:
A939 Grantown to Dava road closed due to snow.
B9007 Ferness to Carrbridge road closed due to snow.
A833 at Culnakirk – road conditions poor due to heavy snow. Road currently affected by a road traffic collision at Culnakirk between a lorry and a car.
A835 at Loch Glascarnoch [...]

Inverness CT 3 – 0 Ross County

Scotsman – A DERBY drubbing greatly boosted Caley Thistle’s bid to achieve the rare feat of regaining SPL status within a single season. But the match in front of more than 5,000 fans was spiked with high controversy after a 12th-minute sending-off and resultant goal that sparked fury in the Ross County camp.

Digger, the horse who grew up joins the Army

Times Online – Digger, a six-year-old Clydesdale from a Scottish equine rescue centre, has been offered a top job as a drum horse in the Queen’s Household Cavalry. The gelding, who stands 19 hands high at the withers (76 inches), is one of the tallest horses in Britain. As a youngster, Digger’s joints struggled to [...]

New wave of business for Buckie Shipyard

Press and Journal – A MORAY shipyard which made its name building fishing boats is enjoying a new dawn in the 21st century constructing vessels for offshore windfarms. Buckie Shipyard has delivered its first windfarm service catamaran, named the Penmon Point, to Turbine Transfers.

Gordonstoun girl scoops international student award

Press and Journal – A MORAY school pupil has been named Scotland’s International Student of the Year in a competition run by the British Council. Tasha Keswani, who is studying at Gordonstoun School, won the title for her inspiring account of life as a pupil in the UK.

Forres farm recalls cheeses in listeria alert

Press and Journal – Cheeses produced at a Moray farm have been recalled after they were found to be contaminated with bacteria which causes food poisoning. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued the alert on the Wester Lawrenceton Farm cheeses after tests showed some batches were contaminated. The farm, near Forres, has now destroyed stocks [...]

Moray bus services set to be cut

Press and Journal – Bus services took a hit yesterday when Moray Council agreed to halve its subsidies to a major bus operator. Members of Moray’s policy and resources committee agreed a 50% funding cut to Stagecoach Bluebird to save almost £163,000 for 2010-11. The move is part of the council’s £20million budget saving plan, [...]

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