From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of March 10, 2000
For the first time in its history, peace protesters descended last week on the Cape Wrath and Garvie Island bombing range.On the final day of a three-day exercise by ships of the US Navy’s Dwight D Eisenhower battle group, five activists arrived at Durness from Glasgow. They entered the range control building at Faraid Head without challenge and removed the red warning flag. They then attempted to raise the Scottish Saltire, before being stopped by military personnel.
Hopes are high in Lairg that a buyer has at last been found for the village’s Sutherland Arms Hotel which closed down over two years ago. Community council chairman and hotel keyholder David Walker has confirmed that delicate negotiations are ongoing between the Bank of Scotland and a potential purchaser.
Steve Nixon from Kent landed the biggest springer to come off the River Helmsdale for over 20 years on February 16. It tipped the scales at 27lbs.
Principal roads engineer Ron Munro, Brora, has described flooding on East Sutherland roads this week as the worst he’s ever seen. At one point on Tuesday over 30 spots on the A9 were signposted to warn drivers of flooding ahead.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of March 7, 1975.
When the Dornoch burgh community council is formed after the reorganisation of local government in May it is hoped, locally, that the chairman will be designated as provost and that he will wear the existing chain of office. Meanwhile, the chain and robes of office are to be handed over to a trust comprising the Church of Scotland and Free Church ministers in Dornoch, the head master of Dornoch Academy and the local legal firm of Arthur and Carmichael, “until such time as the local community council has been elected”.
The urgent need to bridge the Dornoch Firth, to bring East Sutherland and Caithness into closer and quicker communication with the industrial developments in Easter Ross was emphasised at a meeting of Sutherland County Council in Dornoch last week. The council have been deeply concerned at the number of men travelling to work at the oil industry in Nigg. The fear is these men and their families will be lost to Sutherland when housing is available in Easter Ross. The bridge would make daily commuting much easier, they say.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of March 12, 1925
The streets in Embo are in a deplorable state, there being many holes and ruts owing to the recent bad weather. Street lamps are also required. Cannot a few entertainments be organised for the purpose of repairing the roads and getting a few street lamps erected.
Although the influenza has somewhat abated in Helmsdale, there are now several cases of whooping cough in the district.
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A meeting of the local committee of the Highlands and Islands Distress Fund was held in the Lairg Parish Council office last week. It was agreed to distribute a sum of £10 among necessitous cases in the parish.
The Misses Cairnie, who for several years carried on a successful chemist’s business in Brora, left the district last week for Thurso, their native town, where they own a similar business. Regret is expressed at the departure of the Misses Cairnie who, by their courteous and obliging manner were very popular with the public during their stay in Brora.