Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Water supply boost at Ormlie
From the Groat of July 7, 1922
An "encouraging report" had been received by Thurso Town Council with reference to the supply of water available from springs found at Ormlie.
It was hoped the discovery would prove "an excellent auxiliary to the present town supply".
It was reported that the "ground was traversed on Wednesday last week by a water diviner, who located a succession of springs, one of which showed an abundance of water".
The shortage of the main supply of water had for many years been a question that had exercised the minds of the "city fathers" and it was hoped that a solution had now been found.
In Wick, a start had been made at "macadamising the principal streets in the town". The operations had been interrupted by inclement conditions but it was hoped the work would be completed quickly once the good weather returned.
The burgh surveyor was supervising the work, which used the "water-bound system" with tar-sprayed surface and chips.
In Dornoch, the town council was concerned about the desecration of the Sabbath.
Bailie Murray had brought forward a motion asking the council to take action after it emerged that visitors at the Station Hotel were playing tennis and other games on a Sunday.
Road safety at Wick school
From the Groat of July 7, 1972
A proposal to use a flashing light or lights at Wick's North Primary School in order to slow down traffic when pupils were arriving or leaving was not likely to materialise unless school crossing patrol sites were instituted.
The matter had been under consideration for several months but a report to the education committee from county engineer and surveyor Mr D M McKiddie made it clear that such a system could not be implemented at unattended crossing sites.
The plan had been to erect the lights on the roadway outside the school to be operated by the janitor at the appropriate times.
One-way traffic in that area had also proved unworkable, with both the police and the accident prevention officer agreeing that it would have an adverse effect on traffic elsewhere. Their view was that a crossing patrol at the Ackergill Street entrance "would offer the greatest degree of safety".
Councillors agreed to further investigate the manned crossing patrol option.
Meanwhile, a new commander had been appointed for the Clan Gunn by the Lord Lyon, King of Arms. The clan had been without a chief since the early 19th century.
The new commander was Iain Gunn of Banniskirk, who had been born in Caithness and educated in Edinburgh and who lived in London.
Airport road to remain closed
From the Groat of July 11, 1997
Scottish secretary Donald Dewar had ruled that the "Road Closed" sign would remain in place on the route across Wick Airport.
Following prompt consideration of a plea from the Wick Society to reverse the decision taken by his predecessor Ian Lang three years previously, Mr Dewar declared the ruling "irrevocable".
However, Mr Dewar appeared to give the society a measure of hope when he supported what could be an alternative way around the problem – re-routing the road.
The road across a runway at the airport had been closed in 1994 as Mr Lang had considered it a danger to the public. But the Wick Society contended that the decision had seriously affected tourists and local folk alike wishing to visit the ruins of Sinclair and Girnigoe castles.
The re-routing of the airport road was the responsibility of Highland Council and society chairman Ian Sutherland confirmed that the group intended to pursue the matter with local authority transport director Phil Shimmin.
Meanwhile, the Rockwater fabrication yard at Wester had become a tourist attraction. A group of 17 visitors on a rail and coach tour of the north of Scotland had stopped off there, while another party of 35 were due in September.
