TEN YEARS AGO
Friday, March 15, 2013
Anger over hospital cut plans
Reducing beds at Campbeltown Hospital will provide better services to the local community, according to NHS Highland.
The statement comes as the health department has announced that it will not only reduce the number of hospital beds, but also a review of out-of-hours X-ray services such as X-ray services. B. X-rays, is taking place.
NHS Highland said the reason for the review was due to the frequency of on-call times for x-ray staff, as well as recent changes to on-call pay arrangements and the difficulty of attracting new staff due to long hours. to work
The prospect of further hospital cuts following last month's decision to cut 11 beds has angered Campbeltown Parish Council members.
Ann Gallacher, a member of the parish council, said at a recent meeting, "They better close the hospital."
Many members also felt that the substitute prescription clinic was enforced at the expense of hospital facilities.
However, NHS Highland was quick to deny any link between the two, with a spokesperson saying: "The reduction in the number of beds has nothing to do with saving money or replacing prescriptions, as the funds freed up for these beds will be used to finance the expansion of services to the local community”.
Argyll and Bute MP Alan Reid spoke out against the hospital cuts. He said: "I am very concerned about these cats and have written to Elaine Mead, Executive Director of the Department of Health, expressing my concerns and asking her to reconsider."
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Friday, March 20, 1998
Local groups "win" the lottery
Two Kintyre-based organizations got lucky last week, receiving just over £180,000 in donations from the National Lottery.
The two prizes, for Campbeltown Waste Watchers and Canine Concern Scotland Trust, were part of a total of £404,695 awarded to five groups in Argyll and Bute.
Donations are welcomed by both organizations and allow each to develop and strengthen its current activities.
"We're very excited about the money," said Sandra Spence of Campbeltown Waste Watchers. "We know how difficult it is to get lottery funds and it really is a dream come true."
Marjorie Henley Price, founder and manager of the Canine Concern Scotland Trust, described herself as "absolutely delighted" with the news, especially as the fund turns 10 in a month.
Both organizations intend to use the money to expand their work by hiring full-time staff.
Campbeltown Waste Watchers is a community-run company that recycles cans, fabrics and paper, specializing in shredding pet waste.
Canine Concern Scotland Trust is working to educate people, particularly school children, about more responsible dog ownership through walks and expertly produced materials such as videos.
All work is done free of charge, the best known being the Therapet program, which takes pets to hospitals, nursing homes, special schools and hospitals to cheer up patients and long-term residents.
In the remainder of Argyll and Bute, the other three beneficiaries were Argyll Council of Voluntary Organisations; Beach Watch Bute and Bute Nursery.
Campbelltown Commissioner visits brownies and guides
Nearly 100 Mid Argyll Brownies, Guides and Young Leaders gathered at Ormsary Hall on Saturday 21st February for a 'Get Ready' project.
Divided into groups of 10, the girls set off and watched the different challenges organized by their guides and friends.
Educational and fun, these challenges ranged from learning to revive someone to making multicolored sunglasses.
In the afternoon, the girls were visited by Mrs. Catherine McGougan, of Campbeltown, the newly appointed County Commissioner, and Mrs. Phyllis Angus, of Lochgilphead, the newly appointed Deputy County Commissioner.
The evening ended with a Thinking Day service and a bonfire where all members in attendance renewed their vows.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
Thursday, March 15, 1973
Editor's Note: Fifty years ago, the Courier faced a classic dilemma for local newspapers: reporting a big story within a week of publication.
It happened in your patch as soon as it went to print, and you have to wait a week to get it out to your readers.
Paul and Linda McCartney's appearance at the City Sheriff's Court was covered in the national and international press and on television. All that could be said and written was, so how do you present this week's old news to your readers? Giving the best possible local touch.
So the sheriff's take on hippies is on page one, and Paul McCartney's post-trial interview is on page five, next to the agriculture column, which talks about inorganic fertilizers; stuffed animals, thugs, pottery, wood crafts, horn and sheepskin items, and weaving and handlooms at the Masonic Craft Show and results from the Ladies' Machrihanish Golf Club, where Ms. Carty won medals in February and March.
Shame on the poor 18-year-old whose own potted plant brought him up alongside the former Beatle.
drugs twice!
Last week, Sheriff DJ McDiarmid tried two drug cases at the Campbeltown Sheriff's Court in two days.
And after court on Friday, the bailiff warned Islay landlords to be careful who they rent their homes to.
Case #1: Former Beatles millionaire Paul McCartney was fined £100 for growing marijuana on his farm in High Park in the hills above Campbeltown.
McCartney, through his attorney, Mr. John H. McCluskey QC, pleaded guilty to the charges. Two other drug possession charges were found not guilty by prosecutor AIB Stewart.
McCartney, who was described in court as a musician and more specifically a songwriter, claimed he received the seeds in the mail from a fan and didn't know it was marijuana.
"My client has been very interested in horticulture for many years," said the QC.
McCartney had 14 days to pay the fine.
Case #2 involved an 18-year-old Cambridge Islay resident in Lagganmore, Portnahaven Islay, who pleaded guilty to growing three cannabis plants on the island. He was fined £30.
"I've used weed before, but I haven't used it in a year, I'm just experimenting to see if I can grow the drug," he said.
Following the court hearing on Friday, Constable McDiarmid issued the following statement to the press: “It has been brought to the attention of this court that there have been a number of drug cases in Islay recently. We are concerned about the post.
“We understand that people on the island who rent houses often do so over the phone, without any information about the character or background of the person making the request.
“That's why we're having this hippie invasion that's bringing drug use to the island. In the future, islanders renting houses should ask more questions, as this is not the type of tourist we want."
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Saturday, March 17, 1923
Electrical light
At the March meeting of the Campbeltown City Council, with Provost Campbell in the chair, the Hon. Treasurer Smith, pursuant to a notice of motion he had earlier filed, moved that the Gas Committee be instructed to study and report on the feasibility of supplying electricity for lighting. and other purposes within the Burgh.
He said he has no data on the likely cost of such a plan. I was just advocating the general principle that if we were to move forward as a city, it was the city council's duty to thoroughly investigate all the businesses that keep the city informed.
Some taxpayers had already committed to installing small private systems in their businesses and homes. It was not foreseeable to what extent this could extend into the near future.
So he felt it behooved the board to carry out the investigation it was now proposing.
The Gas Committee could contact local authorities who already have electric lighting installations and ask them about their experiences with this company.
Such information would be very valuable and useful for the City Council.
In the town of Elgin, for example, the local authority saw fit to allow a private company to set up a filling station in the town; Oban, on the other hand, had a municipal institution.
He also believed that it was common experience that installing electric light did not reduce the demand for gas.
These considerations have certainly been the subject of an investigation, which is why he made his request.
There was no request to confirm the one presented by the Honorable Treasurer.
Fisher said that if the motion was amended to assign the task to a special committee instead of the gas committee, he would support it. He saw fit to establish a special commission for this purpose.
Mr. Rome agreed that the Gas Committee was not the appropriate body to write the desired report. The Gas Committee as such would be biased.