What was making the headlines in The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald of Thursday, December 11, 1986.
A SCOTTISH OSPREY whose flight plan was governed entirely by his stomach has caused quite a stir in his winter quarters in sunny West Africa.
The amazing story of how a Highland osprey finds a ready caught food supply begins in the African village of Tankular and comes from Roy Dennis, Highland officer of the RSPB and the person who ringed the osprey as a nestling in July, 1984, in the Highlands.
Stephen Yip, a project consultant in the Gambia for CUSO, the equivalent of Voluntary Service Overseas, reported the osprey's adventure to the British Trust for Ornithology, who passed the information on to Mr Dennis, Nethy Bridge.
Mr Yip was on a visit to Tankular, on the banks of the River Gambia, when a local fisherman told him he had caught an osprey in his fishing net and that the bird was presently in his house.
On entering the fisherman's house Mr Yip saw a "magnificent" looking bird perched on a mound of fresh fish about two feet high. There was a short length of core attached to a leg and the other end to a stone.
Mr Yip thanked the fisherman for taking such good care of the osprey and suggested he let it go. He was then told there had been a ring on the bird's leg which he had removed and given to the village elder.
After a little local difficulty they managed to locate the village elder, who told them there were two rings - one a metal one with the number G7085 and a white colour ring.
After a small struggle, with half the village jammed into the room, they managed to get the rings back on the bird, and then to loud cheers Mr Yip launched the osprey to what he hoped was its well appreciated freedom.
It circled high overhead twice, dived down and accurately flew right back through the fisherman's window to re-perch on its mound of fish.
After 10 minutes of hilarious laughter they closed the house up tightly and released the bird for the second time. This time it flew to a nearby rooftop, stayed for a few minutes before finally taking off for the "wild blue yonder".
Battling for baby service
EVEN A midwives' veto hasn't daunted the determination of local health councillors to retain maternity facilities at Grantown's Ian Charles Hospital.
They refuse to accept the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland ruling against retaining one lying-in bed for new mothers at Grantown.
"We must tell the Highland Health Board our cottage hospital still has a vital role to play," said Badenoch and Strathspey Health councillor Mrs Barbara Liggat.
"It's all down to money and it is very expensive to maintain lying-in facilities, but what we are seeking is a quality of service."
Highland Health Board have agreed to provide emergency maternity facilities but seem likely to reject the case for one lying-in bed in view of the National Board's stance.
Mrs Liggat said many aspects of the new primary health care green paper pointed to even greater use of cottage hospitals.
"On the one hand they say cottage hospitals should take the burden of minor surgical work and urge more training in obstetrics for doctors.
"On the other hand if they never deliver babies they will never get practice, and what will happen when they are faced with an emergency?
"That is also a problem with midwives. If they can only practice in large hospitals many of them may not take the training and may be hard to find in the future."
Health council chairman Mr Angus Gordon agreed their request was expensive but not impossible if "the health board put their mind to it".
Wrangle over parking poses threat to jobs
LOCAL JOBS could be at risk unless a solution is found to Kingussie's summer parking problems.
"Jobs in the town could go if it is not sorted out soon," High Street trader Mr Fred Nield told Kingussie Community Council.
"Traders and staff are worried that more restrictions on High Street parking during the vital summer months could mean jobs will go."
Mr Nield said summer business carried staff through the winter, and it was vital that businesses maximised trade during those three to four peak months.
"We know we can't go on with the parking in the mess it is at present; what we need is a comprise," he said.
Council chairman Mr Alistair Clark said it was never their intention to introduce parking restrictions without consultation with traders, the public, local police and the local road authority.
"Traders seemed to think we were trying to steam-roller them into something they would have no control over," said Mr Clark.
"I can assure them nothing will be done without consultation. We will call a public meeting for all interested parties to state their views."
Mr Clark said there was great complacency at the time the council first drew up a parking plan, but now there was "almost panic" with traders fearing it would mean all-year-round restrictions.
"We have had a few years grace on the parking situation but now the police are insisting something is done," said Councillor Jock Dallas.
"We are quite willing to listen to any other ideas the public have. Our scheme would enable some 3,000 extra cars to park. We have to have the High Street available for summer visitors."
The community council has agreed to publish full details of its plan before a public meeting is called.
Tourist group slams council roadworks
A TOURIST organisation has rapped regional officials for sub-standard improvements on a local road.
Now Nethy Bridge Tourist Association is calling on the village community council to back its protests.
It says verges and surroundings had been left in a "less than desirable condition" following the Balnagowan Brae improvement scheme.
At the association's annual meeting at Nethy Bridge Hotel, members called on the roads department to "achieve a result more in keeping with an EEC-funded project".
The association is also calling for suggestions from the community on how it can help maintain the attractiveness of the village.
Parts of the proceeds used from its successful Scots Night will go towards the maintenance of the village tennis courts next year.
Safety drive at danger junction
NEWTONMORE COMMUNITY Council members are continuing their campaign to make the A9 Ralia junction safer for southbound motorists.
"More and more people will be using that junction as the Ralia visitor centre and the new whisky centre become more widely known," said member Mrs Jo Frazer.
"The junction is safe enough for those travelling north, but not for southbound traffic until there is a central reservation."
The Ralia junction was apparently never intended as an entrance to Newtonmore for southbound traffic.
Such traffic should be directed to the village from the A9 entrance north of Kingussie, according to regional councillor Sandy Russell.
Although the Kingussie junction is well signposted for Newtonmore, Mrs Frazer pointed out that there was no indication the same route would take motorists to Ralia.
Council chairman Mr Bob Saunders felt their case had received a sympathetic hearing from regional roads officials at a recent meeting, although the A9 is the province of the Scottish Development Department.
Councillor Russell believes the SDD will not countenance any alteration to the junction, but community council members intend to keep trying.
