Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Coal supplies run out in Wick
From the Groat of June 10, 1921
Negotiations between mine owners and the Executive of the miners held out hope for a settlement to the ongoing dispute, but in Wick, with the stoppage in its ninth week, supplies were running very low and the town was "feeling the pinch".
For the past three days no coal had been obtainable locally and the merchants' supplies had run out completely.
Peat and wood were being used out of necessity and several drifters had taken on board old wood for burning, although most were held up for lack of fuel with the result that there had been very little activity at Wick harbour.
The local gas works had announced that it would be cutting off the gas supply for several hours a day in order to conserve the small remaining stock of coal it had.
Efforts were being made to obtain supplies of continental coal in the south "to accommodate the urgent requirements of the town".
Elsewhere, all but four subscribers in Wick had signed up to new telephone contracts.
Merchants and ironmongers had decided to discontinue their subscriptions as the new contract would be uneconomical and in light of a decision not to allow a special reduction in rates.
Local subscribers had sought a special deal on the grounds that the service they received was less comprehensive than elsewhere.
New air terminal for the north
From the Groat of June 11, 1971
Provided at a cost of £20,000, the first of the new facilities at Wick Airport had been officially opened.
The passenger terminal was "an attractive building of strictly modern design", which housed the waiting lounge and its associated quarters and the offices for the use of airline personnel.
At the opening ceremony, county convener Alex Rugg pondered on the future and the need to adapt and change to accommodate larger aircraft.
He said that "whatever the new system for the future may be, we know that aircraft are here to remain and traffic will increase".
And arriving by plane into Wick were two Rangers stars.
Caithness Rangers Supporters' Club had chosen Willie Henderson as its player of the year and had given him and his team-mate Alfie Conn an enthusiastic welcome when the two players visited the north.
The guests had an enjoyable weekend visiting various places of interest in the county, the highlight of which was a buffet dance in the Station Hotel in Wick which saw the players presented with gifts of Caithness Glass.
Also arriving by plane was a group of tourists who were visiting the area under the "Brighter Holidays" scheme.
They were officially welcomed to Wick by Provost WG Mowat.
Gala organisers aghast at council bill
From the Groat of June 14, 1996
Thurso Town Improvements Association had been taken aback by a bill from the Highland Council for its help in staging the upcoming gala.
The association had been told to expect a bill of hundreds of pounds from the council for putting up the crowning ceremony platform in Sir John's Square along with lighting and decorations.
The previous district council had not charged for these services and TTIA members were unhappy that some of the "money we are collecting for the good of the town will be going to the council".
Chairwoman Helen Brown said that the association was trying its hardest to raise and distribute funds to benefit the town "and we feel Inverness just doesn't understand the rural areas".
The council's manager in Caithness, Brian Whitelaw, said the charge was the result of "a package of cuts implemented throughout all the services in order to take £20 million out of the revenue budget".
"We have tried to concentrate on minimising cuts as much as possible to frontline services," he said.
Elsewhere, Gill Airways had announced major improvements to its service between Wick and Aberdeen.
The changes involved a bigger aircraft and the start of a new Saturday service aimed at "achieving the best combination for both business and leisure passengers".
