Wick man lands £30k People’s Postcode Lottery windfall

John O’Groat Journal – A DOUNREAY worker is celebrating a £30,000 win with the People’s Postcode Lottery – just weeks after signing up to play. Andrew Malcolm, of Macrae Street, Wick, struck it lucky when his postcode, KW1 5QN, was drawn as the weekly street prize winner. The 46-year-old couldn’t believe it when TV presenter [...]

Caithness fire crews rescue children and puppy

BBC – Neighbouring fire crews in Caithness have dealt with unusual call-outs within hours of each other. Wick firefighters released two children trapped in a bathroom at a house in the town at about 1330 BST on Wednesday. Thurso were then called out just before 1600 BST to free a small puppy stuck under a [...]

More radioactive iodine detected at sites across Scotland

STV – Very low levels of radioactive iodine believed to be from the crisis-hit Japanese nuclear plant have been detected at more locations around Scotland, an environment watchdog has said. The chemical was detected in the air in Lerwick in the Shetland Islands and in grass samples near Dounreay in Caithness, the Scottish Environment Protection [...]

Controversial wind farm gets the green light

John O’Groat Journal – A CONTROVERSIAL wind-farm development was yesterday given the go-ahead despite concerns that it would blight one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the country. The application from RWE npower renewables was granted by members of the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross planning committee at a meeting in the Assembly Rooms in [...]

Couple jumped for joy after scooping £500,000 lottery win

STV – A couple spoke of their joy after scooping £500,000 on the lottery. Alastair Cameron said he thought his wife Isobel was joking when she said they had won the Thunderball jackpot after they watched the draw. The couple, who live in Wick in the Highlands, matched all five numbers and the Thunderball to [...]

Samurai sword attacker detained for Caithness stabbing

BBC – A teenager who stabbed a young father with a samurai sword has been locked up for four and a half years. Anthony Robertson chased Danny Ryder with the weapon then plunged the blade into his thigh, with the point of the sword exiting at the victim’s groin. Robertson, 18, from Wick, pleaded guilty [...]

Highland chiefs under fire over Caithness heat project

BBC – Highland Council’s director of finance and its former chief executive have been criticised for their handling of an “innovative” energy project. The Accounts Commission said they should have done more to “ensure effective governance” of the Caithness Heat and Power (Chap) project. The council set up the not-for-profit company in 2004 to provide [...]

Police sled-ucate youngsters to belt up!

Police and local councillor launch new road safety tool which is set to benefit whole community
Police in North Division have been given a road safety tool which will help educate the public across the region about the dangers associated with not wearing seatbelts.
The Seatbelt Convincer (or Seatbelt Sled) was gifted to officers in North Division [...]

Teenager stabbed with samurai sword during row

STV – A teenager is behind bars after attacking a 19-year-old man with a samurai sword in Wick. Anthony Robertson attacked Danny Ryder during a row near to his home last October. The 19-year-old victim was left scarred for life after the weapon pierced through his buttock and into his groin. Robertson, 18, admitted [...]

Police op reveals five breaches of licensing laws in Far North

POLICE are disappointed at the failure of five premises to comply with licensing laws during a test purchase operation in the North.
Following the commencement of Northern Constabulary’s Test Purchasing operation, which involved youths entering licensed premises under controlled conditions to purchase alcohol, 18 off-sales premises were tested in Wick and Thurso on Saturday the 29th [...]

North of Scotland hospitals hit by winter vomiting bug

STV – The north of Scotland’s three hospitals have been hit with a sudden rise in the number of people who have contracted the winter vomiting virus. At its peak, 19 patients and 17 staff were struck down by the infection which has led to Dunbar Hospital closing its doors to new admissions. Of five [...]

Review proposed of North schools

BBC – A process which could see schools closed or amalgamated is about to move to Caithness. Highland Council’s education committee will be asked this week to approve a strategic review of the school estate in the far north. It would examine the future of 18 primary schools which act as feeders for Wick and [...]

Man had grown cannabis plants worth thousands

Press and Journal – A man who grew thousands of pounds worth of cannabis to service his daily drug habit avoided jail when he appeared for sentence yesterday. Timothy Soanes, 41, who lived a monk-like existence, turned two bedrooms and the attic of a cottage into marijuana nurseries, Wick Sheriff Court heard. Police acting on [...]

Airports closed as fresh snow hits

BBC – Flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have been severely disrupted as snow caused the closure of runways. Edinburgh Airport will remain closed until 1800 GMT and Glasgow airport said it would not reopen before 1230 GMT. Inverness, Dundee, Campeltown, Islay and Wick airports are also closed. On the roads, driving conditions are very [...]

Screwdriver stabber jailed for love triangle attack

STV – A Thurso man in a love triangle who repeatedly stabbed his rival in the back has been jailed for 12 months. Jamie Lee Lewis was holding a screwdriver when he lashed out at Royal Navy engineer Stephen Mackay in an overnight, outdoor confrontation. Wick Sheriff Court previously heard how Mr Mackay went to [...]

Concern for future of autism services

Press and Journal – MSPs in the Highlands are being urged to ensure that moves to improve services for people with autism are not watered down because of looming public-sector cutbacks. Supporters of people in the far north affected by the condition fear opposition to a bill tabled at Holyrood is based on concern about [...]

Dounreay: Investigation uncovers worst radiation hotspot ever

STV – An investigation into the seabed off the Dounreay nuclear plant has uncovered the most dangerous radioactive hotspot yet found. A remote-control vehicle deployed by diving contractors picked up a reactor fragment which measured 100 million Becquerels (Bq). Independent experts say any particle over one million Bqs would have significant health effects.

Wick man assaulted pregnant partner with axe

STV – A Wick man faces a jail sentence after admitting attacking his pregnant partner with an axe. Sid Mackay repeatedly struck Kayleigh Howden on the legs with the weapon after returning home from a heavy drinking session. The 25-year-old had lost his temper after being told to turn down the music he was listening [...]

Police recover £5000 worth of drugs in Wick

POLICE in Wick have recovered 5000 suspected Valium tablets from a house in Wick, with a street value estimated to be in the region of £5000.
A 29 year old man was been arrested and a report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal Wick in connection with this incident.
Detective Inspector Michael Sutherland said: [...]

Person dies after Wick accident

BBC – One person has died from injuries sustained in a crash in Wick on Thursday night. Emergency services received reports of a one-vehicle road collision on Broadhaven Road, at about 2155 BST. The driver was taken to Caithness General Hospital but died there as a result of his injuries.

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