From the Northern Times 25, 50 and 100 years ago
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25 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of February 16, 1996
Brora folk will have the chance to see the plans for the massive £9 million redevelopment proposed by local textile firm Hunter's at a public meeting in the village next week, organised by Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise. Hunter's of Brora is the biggest private employer in south east Sutherland and the project is regarded as crucial to the company's future. The development is expected to create 30 new jobs and secure the livelihood of the firm's current workforce.
Legal action to evict a Helmsdale garage firm from two plots of land in the village is being considered by Highland regional councillors. The council claims that EM and T Rapson's Shore garage is using the ground to store vehicles and equipment without permission. The company, says it has used one of the plots as an access to the garage for the past 50 years and claims it is a right of way. It denies using the second plot, except for occasional parking. The region wants to lease both plots at Shore Street to Helmsdale Heritage Society.
50 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of February 12, 1971
Mr George Younger, Scottish Under-Secretary, confirmed in the House of Commons last week what he had told the Northern Counties' Steering Committee recently about the prospects for a bridge being built over the Dornoch Firth at Meikle ferry. Priority was going to the reconstruction of the A9 trunk road south of Inverness and between Inverness and Invergordon, in Easter Ross, the Minister told Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness and Sutherland).
Major A. L. McCall, of Kildonan Farm, Kinbrace, last Friday took over Culmaily Farm, Golspie, from the outgoing tenant, county councillor Iain Weir. Mr Weir had been running Culmaily since the death of his father, Major J. H. Weir, who was also a member of Sutherland County Council. Culmaily, which belongs to Sutherland Estate, and which comprises about 450 acres arable and 700 acres hill, will no longer be run as a dairy farm, said Major McCall. He intends to extend his Luing herd – cross-Highland shorthorns – taking the cattle right through to the fat stage.
100 YEARS AGO
From the newspaper of February 10, 1921
The election under the Temperance Act takes place in Dornoch today for the second time within three months, owing to the first election being declared illegal by Court of Session. Many meetings have been held in Dornoch in the past few days. Speakers have dealt with both sides of the question to the advantage of the electors and with a view to changing or stiffening the waverers. The Trade have made up for the neglect and are putting up a great fight. Whichever way the decision goes, the electors at least have a full knowledge of facts and of the momentous question they are deciding. This cannot be said of last election when the "drys" won a "snap" victory.
A VERY pleasant and interesting wedding took place on Tuesday, 1st inst., when Mr James Reid, Craggiebeg and Miss Jemima Mackay, Tannachy, were united in the bonds of matrimony. Immediately after the ceremony, the wedding party adjourned for a sumptuous marriage dinner.
