Mixed picture in December but first-time buyer lending healthy, says CML

Councillors plea for end to criticisms on social media

‘SCATHING’ comments, ‘false’ statements and ‘personal attacks’ on councillors in

Success at 126th sale of cattle

Topping the Highland cattle sale in Oban this week was

Council tax to rise three per cent

RESIDENTS of Argyll and Bute face a three per cent

32 months in prison for assault

A 27-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for 32 months for

Valentine’s love in an Indian prison

YVONNE MACHUGH, partner of imprisoned Billy Irving of Connel, said

Islands leader meets mandarin to discuss funding after Brexit

A MEETING between the Scottish Islands Federation (SIF) chairwoman and

CalMac boss will remain in charge of ferry company

CALMAC managing director Martin Dorchester has announced that he will

MSP gives backing to Fergus the Fox

LEGISLATION to protect wild mammals from being chased and hunted

Argyll projects hit the jackpot

NEW figures show that more than £2.4 million of National

MSP organises jobs fair at Corran Halls

A JOBS fair is being held in the Corran Halls

Budget sees rise in council tax

COMHAIRLE nan Eilean Siar has set its budget for 2017/18

Dog owners warned as part of spring campaign

DOG OWNERS are being warned their animal could be killed

Campaigner urges councils to scan microchips in dead cats

A PETITION has been lodged in parliament to introduce a

Oban features in TV film thanks to former Loose Women presenter Jane

A NEW television programme that saw Loose Women presenter and

Civic furniture given away free for community groups

SEATS, tables and other pieces of furniture are to be

Syllabus for Mòd on web

THE syllabus for the Oban Provincial Mòd has now been

LEADER grants top £1 million

THE OUTER Hebrides LEADER Local Action Group has approved grants

A-boards to vanish from Oban streets

STREET boards offering information to pedestrians on Oban’s George Street

Argyll shows it is the business

ARGYLL and Bute towns are among the most entrepreneurial in

High school progressing

OBAN High School is taking shape with some parts of

Green Shoots initiative lands Rotary cheque for £400

OBAN Rotary Club agreed to support a very green initiative

Golf club tees up new funding source

In recognition of the support given by Glencruitten Golf Club

Soroba bins cannot meet demand, says council boss

A COUNCIL executive admitted that, per head of population, Soroba

SEPA did not advise council

WHETHER Argyll and Bute Council made appropriate representations to the

At Random

WE HAVE a letter on page 10 today praising the

Argyll and Bute needs 3,000 new affordable homes in three years

A TOTAL of 3,000 new homes are needed in the

Yvonne flies out to India to visit jailed fiancé Billy

YVONNE MACHUGH began a six-day trip to India on Friday

Support pledge for local firms

ARGYLL and Bute Council awarded one-third of its contracts to

Education event is a big success

EDUCATION staff from across Argyll and Bute and East Dunbartonshire

674 operations cancelled at NHS Highland

A TOTAL of 674 operations were cancelled at NHS Highland

HIE petition lodged at Scottish Parliament

A PETITION has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament’s Public

New website explains how to transfer assets

COMMUNITY groups and social enterprises who would like to own

CROFTING SPECIAL: Meet the candidates standing for election

It is time for change. South West Highlands needs a

Commission is slammed in new report into governance practices

THE Crofting Commission has been given a damning indictment of

Jake is awarded top farmers’ union accolade

WELL-KNOWN Skye NFU Scotland group secretary and NFU Mutual local

Warning businesses could ‘go to wall’ over proposed rates hike

THERE has been outcry from Lochaber businesses as the ‘devastating’

Caol pupils shop around and cash in on fun week of learning

CAOL Primary School pupils have been enjoying a week of

School budgets to be protected

THE HIGHLAND Council has announced there will be will be

Union wins battle with rail company

TRANSPORT union TSSA claims to have won a battle with

Argyll and Isles tourism sector enjoys boom years

HOT ON the heels of the successful launch of Wild

Glenfinnan rubbish concern grows again

A GLENFINNAN resident is again highlighting growing amounts of rubbish

Glencoe massacre remembered 325 years on

THREE hundred and twenty five years after the massacre of

New owners share plans for smelter with public

THE NEW owners of Lochaber’s smelter were in Fort William

Brexit challenges in focus around Lochaber

A JUNIOR government minister from the Department for Exiting the

POLICE FILES

Home owners are encouraged to remain vigilant at all times

Mountain rescue team find body

POLICE in Lochaber have confirmed a body found on Meall

Trust sponsors festival films

THE JOHN MUIR TRUST is delighted to be among the

Job cuts loom as council plugs £20m funding gap

AROUND 122 jobs could be lost as the Highland Council

Warning businesses could ‘go to wall’ over proposed rates hike

THERE has been outcry from Lochaber businesses as the ‘devastating’

Caol pupils shop around and cash in on fun week of learning

CAOL Primary School pupils have been enjoying a week of

School budgets to be protected

THE HIGHLAND Council has announced there will be will be

Union wins battle with rail company

TRANSPORT union TSSA claims to have won a battle with

Taxi driver brands fares increase ‘a disgrace’

A FORT WILLIAM taxi driver has branded a proposed 28

Review of ferry tendering welcomed

MARITIME professionals’ union Nautilus International has welcomed a decision by

Budget see rises in council tax

COMHAIRLE nan Eilean Siar has set its budget for 2017/18

Lifeboat crew helps stranded fishing boat

KYLE of Lochalsh RNLI's volunteer crew rescued a 16-foot fishing

Skye jobs boost as hub doors open

A NEW community hub in south Skye will generate up

Actor explores Outer Hebrides

ACCLAIMED Scottish actor Alan Cumming has embarked on a lifelong

School focus on internet safety

SCHOOLS across the Western Isles took part in Worldwide Safer

Lewis firm wins national award

A LEWIS pharmaceutical company has won a national award for

Mallaig harbour to get £90 million upgrade

A £90 MILLION master-plan to make Mallaig a more attractive

Community wind farm support plea

A FORMER MP for the Western Isles is calling on

Network Rail refuses to accept liability after train kills cow

NETWORK Rail has been urged to conduct an urgent review

Glenfinnan rubbish concern grows again

A GLENFINNAN resident is again highlighting growing amounts of rubbish

Glencoe massacre remembered 325 years on

THREE hundred and twenty five years after the massacre of

New owners share plans for smelter with public

THE NEW owners of Lochaber’s smelter were in Fort William

Brexit challenges in focus around Lochaber

A JUNIOR government minister from the Department for Exiting the

POLICE FILES

Home owners are encouraged to remain vigilant at all times

Mountain rescue team find body

POLICE in Lochaber have confirmed a body found on Meall

Trust sponsors festival films

THE JOHN MUIR TRUST is delighted to be among the

Job cuts loom as council plugs £20m funding gap

AROUND 122 jobs could be lost as the Highland Council

Sculptures highlight mountain festival

ANYONE driving on Fort William’s bypass recently will have noticed

Staff branch out to replace widow’s sentimental gift

STAFF at Fort William’s M&Co fashion shop have helped an

Inverlochy does the shinty double

INVERLOCHY Primary School did the double at the Lochaber Area

Kirsty’s on target to reach gala goal

A LOCHABER women is well on her way to reaching

WHAT’S ON

LOCHABER GeoPark director Noel Williams will be signing copies of

Turning the tide on knotweed in Fort William

KNOTWEED along the Fort William Loch shore is finally being

View from the Chamber

PART of the work of Lochaber Chamber of Commerce focuses

Cash boost for Nevis Centre welcomed

STAFF at Fort William’s Nevis Centre are feeling ‘very fortunate’

Father and sons guilty of assault

A FATHER and his two sons have been found guilty

Cadets ship shape at awards night

LOCHABER sea cadets held their annual award ceremony earlier this

Speed limit between villages ‘unlikely’ to change

THE CHAIRMAN of Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry community

Talks continue on Mallaig schools

PARENTS and Councillor Ben Thomson have met with Highland Council

Woman killed in South Uist fire

A WOMAN has been killed in a house fire in

CalMac ferry chief decides to stay

CALEDONIAN MACBRAYNE’S managing director and chief executive officer Martin Dorchester

Car crashes near Spean Bridge

A CAR went off the road outside Spean Bridge at

Wheelie bin finds its way onto Fort William shop roof

A CROWD gathered at Cameron Square in Fort William on

Pupils boost food bank with 200 meals

CHILDREN from St Columba’s School, Fort William, have collected enough

Councillors plea for end to criticisms on social media

‘SCATHING’ comments, ‘false’ statements and ‘personal attacks’ on councillors in

Success at 126th sale of cattle

Topping the Highland cattle sale in Oban this week was

32 months in prison for assault

A 27-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for 32 months for

Valentine’s love in an Indian prison

YVONNE MACHUGH, partner of imprisoned Billy Irving of Connel, said

Argyll and Isles tourism sector enjoys boom years

HOT ON the heels of the successful launch of Wild

Campaigner urges councils to scan microchips in dead cats

A PETITION has been lodged in parliament to introduce a

Oban features in TV film thanks to former Loose Women presenter Jane

A NEW television programme that saw Loose Women presenter and

Civic furniture given away free for community groups

SEATS, tables and other pieces of furniture are to be

Syllabus for Mòd on web

THE syllabus for the Oban Provincial Mòd has now been

A-boards to vanish from Oban streets

STREET boards offering information to pedestrians on Oban’s George Street

LEADER grants top £1 million

THE OUTER Hebrides LEADER Local Action Group has approved grants

Argyll shows it is the business

ARGYLL and Bute towns are among the most entrepreneurial in

High school progressing

OBAN High School is taking shape with some parts of

Benderloch and North Connel

THE SAND quarry beside Oban Airport in North Connel is

Ardfern

ARDFERN artist Hannah Tofts has launched a crowd-funding campaign to

Lochnell primary pupils enjoy building site visit

Lochnell Primary School pupils visited a TSL construction site in

New Killin power plant nears completion

A POWER plant near Killin which will use virgin timber

Western Isles

NA H-EILEANAN an Iar (Western Isles) MSP Alasdair Allan has

Tiree

EARLY learning school reminders: Children are encouraged to attend school

Lochawe

LADIES of Lochawe SWI welcomed members from Glenorchy Institute to

Mull

THE AWARD-WINNING Mull Eagle Watch project is looking forward to

Stornoway

A RADIO station has launched a fundraising appeal as it

Loch Lomond

NFU Scotland and NFU Mutual’s prestigious Ambassador Award has been

A lack of rats on Morvern

I WAS interested to read in last week’s Oban Times

Ballachulish

LOCHABER veterinary surgeon Kenny Lang was guest speaker at the

Mallaig

MALLAIG fundraisers donated £33,900 to the RNLI last year –

Kinlochleven

KINLOCHLEVEN school pupils enjoyed a visit to Inverness Mosque last

Plockton

PLOCKTON and District Community Council met in Plockton Hall on

Spean Bridge

SPEAN BRIDGE, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council met last

Strontian

STRONTIAN Primary School pupils enjoyed their first skiing trip last

Glencoe and Glenuig

SCOTTISH folk singer Kaela Rowan will be returning to her

Lochaber

LOCHABER charities are being invited to apply for a cash

A lack of rats on Morvern

I WAS interested to read in last week’s Oban Times

The Obain Times & WEST HIGHLAND TIMES

Communicating with friends, family and other people in our community

Days gone by – country dancers

This wonderful picture was sent to us with a note

Macphail

GOOD food is one of life’s great pleasures and I

Social media

Martin Laing’s defence in his At Random column of the

Councillor to stand down in Lochaber

There’s an end point for everyone in politics. Everyone, irrespective

Beachd Ailein

SEANN DUAN AGUS SEANN trioblaid is staid nan rathaidean, agus

The Oban Times & WEST HIGHLAND TIMES

It is tempting sometimes to become a little depressed by

Days gone by – country dancers

This wonderful picture was sent to us with a note

Macphail

GOOD food is one of life’s great pleasures and I

Social media

Martin Laing’s defence in his At Random column of the

Councillor to stand down in Lochaber

There’s an end point for everyone in politics. Everyone, irrespective

Oban town centre looks fabulous

There is a popular saying that complaints are always heard

People who drop litter should be fined

Aside from the ongoing issues around the change to three-weekly

Scottish Canals is a failing organisation

Scottish Canals must be congratulated on joining the ranks of

Beachd Ailein

SEANN DUAN AGUS SEANN trioblaid is staid nan rathaidean, agus

Taynuilt turns out for Bookends pop-up event

A crisp and clear sunny Saturday in Taynuilt was the

Spring in the step at the Rock field Centre

This is an important time for the Rockfield Centre, with

Longships on the Sand – an exploration of Norse history on the island of Tiree

A new book, about Tiree, Longships on the Sand, has

Ballet West launches Swan Lake tour

A BALLET performance showing off all the outstanding and amazing

Oban concern for Palestine

A special presentation of a heart rendering film on the

Glasgow Letter

The Mull and Iona annual gathering will be held in

Gary Innes, an appreciation, by Robert Robertson

On Thursday February 2, Celtic Connections hosted the launch of

THE BRIDE Wedding trends for 2017

Hosting an incredible wedding while also reducing the carbon footprint

Questions about marriage in the Church of Scotland

Q. Can anyone be married in a Church of Scotland

Call for PVG checks to cover sports coaches

A NATIONAL children’s charity has called on the Scottish Government

Record dolphin numbers viewed on West Coast

RECORD numbers of three dolphin species off Scotland’s West Coast

Celtic rainforest full of magic and mystery

TWO conservation charities have joined forces to share the secrets

Enjoy beautiful scenery on weekly walks around Lorn and Lochaber

MEETING point for walks is the car park at the

Snow far so good as skiing season opens

THIS WEEK’S heavy snowfall across the Highlands signals the true

Rod levy ruled out for Scotland

THE REQUIREMENT for rod licences for wild fishing or a

New course set to rock at Lochaber

LOCHABER Geopark director Noel Williams will be running a course

Climate change

SCOTLAND’S Marine Protected Areas network is helping to combat climate

Five trends to watch when selling business to business

THIS YEAR will see the ongoing evolution of many B2B

Fort William business wins top prize for diver safety

A LEADING sub-sea training and trials facility in Lochaber has

Tax year end deadline looms

THE self-assessment annual tax return deadline has now passed and,

Spend in Oban and win £100

AN INNOVATIVE loyalty card scheme is being rolled out across

Lidl crowned supermarket of the year at awards

LIDL UK triumphed at last week’s Drinks Retailing Awards 2017,

Around the Markets

DINGWALL: Dingwall and Highland Marts, February 8, sold 786 sheep

Farming profits increase after two years of decline

TOTAL income from farming is estimated to have increased by

Green farming rules reviewed

PLANS to introduce changes to greening rules, which improve the

Avian flu prevention zone to be extended

AN AVIAN influenza prevention zone for all poultry and captive

Union welcomes new directors

THERE is a new look to NFU Scotland board of

Quality shines at 126th spring sale

IT WAS the first time a father and daughter pairing

Subaru Eyesight – your third eye on the road

Pedestrians are particularly at risk on the road; a collision

The drive of your life on the A83 and A816

ROUTE 66 has a Scottish rival, the road from Oban

MACEACHEN

At his home surrounded by his family on Sunday, February

MELMOTH

Peacefully at the Lorn and Islands Hospital, Oban on February

WHITE

At the Lorn and Islands Hospital, Oban on Thursday February

CAMPBELL

The family of the late Mairi EKB (née Paterson) would

McIVER

Stewart and family would like to thank family, friends and

CAMPBELL

Remembering our devoted dad John, who passed away February 20,

CURR

Cherished memories of Lily who died February 15, 1989 and

FERGUSON

Loving memories of a much loved wife, mum, granny, sister

LAMONT

In loving memory of my dear sister Joanne who passed

LOCKH

In loving memory of my mum Violet Lockhart, who sadly

MACARTHUR

In loving memory of my dear husband John, died February

MACFARLANE

In loving memory of a dear sister and aunt, Cathy,

MACGREGOR

In loving memory of Rhoda, dearest mum, gran and great-gran,

MACGREGOR

In loving memory of Rhoda, who died February 15, 2013

MACGREGOR

MACNICOL

Campbell. In loving memory of our dear brother, who died

POULTON

In loving memory of our baby son and brother, Danny,

ROBERTSON

In memory of my husband Tom, who passed away February

SUTHERLA

Precious memories of our dearly loved son Innes, taken from

SUTHERLAND

Happy memories of our dear nephew and cousin Innie, died

Obituary – Evelyn MacDonald

‘IF I must choose one word, one word more accurate

Saints struggle but still win the points

AN EARLY morning pitch inspection last Saturday found Glencruitten to

Exciting new shinty project

THE Camanachd Association and Highland Print Studio have announced that

Pre-season fixtures come thick and fast

WITH the new shinty season just over a fortnight away,

Tarbert shooters have a blast

IT WAS a full house of shooters for the February

Midweek indoor athletics in Oban

SPORTS Hall Athletics comes to Oban on Wednesday March 1

Entertaining table tennis at the Fort

SOME very ‘entertaining games’ have been played in the latest

Final round of primary school indoor shinty

ON SUNDAY February 5 Atlantis Leisure hosted the final round

Rugby Robbie on the telly

A YOUNG Tarbert rugby player had a prominent role at

Dolphins hold time trials

IT WAS all about new records and personal bests at

Narrow defeat for Oban Lorne as visitors claim league title

OBAN Lorne welcomed title-chasing Newton Stewart as Saturday’s opposition in

Youth rugby round-up

Saturday’s planned S1/2 festival at Glencruitten was called off due

Saints drawn away in Scottish Cup

OBAN Saints have been drawn away to face top Perthshire

Scottish AFL results and fixtures

LAST Saturday’s results: Premier Division – Oban Saints 2, Drumchapel

Oban Saints youth results and fixtures

LAST weekend’s results: Under-13s, no game; Under-14s 1, Drumchapel United

Friendly win for Lochaber

LOCHABER hosted Mull in a friendly fixture on Saturday after

South Lochaber Thistle reach first cup final

SOUTH Lochaber Thistle are through to final of the Thomson

Recent results

RESULTS Week 14: Mallaig 3, HW Energy 3; Fiorentina Turner

Championship success for Lochaber Phoenix boxers

TWO Lochaber Phoenix boxers have featured in the finals of

Busy time for Lochaber swimmers

JANUARY and February have been busy months for the members

British Legion lead handicap division

AFTER week 12 of the Lochaber Building Supplies 10-pin bowling

Fort William sign new striker

FORT William Football Club have announced the signing of Jordan

Club lottery numbers

KILMALLIE Shinty Club lottery numbers drawn on Sunday February 12