Enterprising elves and panto stars

No guarantees on long-term future of hospital

A PACKED public meeting on Friday night seemed to appease

Skipinnish song races to number one

Chart-toppers Skipinnish were praised by tourism organisations and fellow musicians

Fish firm attacks campaign group

DAWNFRESH has lost its appeal to use a stretch of

Cost of Oban’s new marina confirmed

THE COST of Oban’s planned marina and North Pier visitor

Islanders worried by thefts of fuel

ISLANDERS on Islay are reporting an increased number of fuel

600 houses planned for Dunbeg

A MASTERPLAN envisioning 600 new houses between Dunbeg and Ganavan

New destination group is set up to promote Mull and Iona

AN EXCITING organisation is taking shape on Mull and Iona

Islander bids to win freedom for elephant Lasah

A PHOTOGRAPHER from the Isle of Mull has set out

Camping site plan rejected

AN APPLICATION for a ‘rural’ campervan site on the Isle

New post for island’s GP

MULL Community Council congratulated a GP who recently retired from

Dentist retires but wants no fanfare

AFTER 30 years of looking after the teeth and gum

Pre-RET books are not just the ticket

AFTER a rush to rid themselves of book of tickets

High schools still seeks head teacher

TOBERMORY High is still without a head teacher after a

Get involved in Crown Estate consultation

OWNERSHIP of Crown Estate land and seabed on the Isle

Mull residents to be quizzed on new ferry service

ISLANDERS will be quizzed on the impact of the Scottish

Charity push inspired by brave Laura raises whopping £20,000

A CHARITY auction and ceilidh at North Connel Hall raised

Are Argyll’s roads the worst in Scotland? Why we are driven to distraction

‘If you look around the traffic lights around Tesco, they

Roads need £11 million in investment

WHILE the roads around Argyll and Bute are officially the

Planning department ‘not fit for purpose’

CONFIDENCE has been lost in Argyll and Bute Council’s planning

Budget process a ‘sham’

AN OBAN councillor has condemned the local authority’s annual budget

Ferry service is suspended

FERRY passengers intending to travel between Lochboisdale and Mallaig next

Disabled access is not good enough

OBAN town centre’s disabled access continues to fall short of

Curriculum to be streamlined

A CURRICULUM consultation has found in favour of changing the

International brigade are Masters of Dunstaffnage

AN INTERNATIONAL group of students on a prestigious Masters degree

Lack of help at train stations is highlighted

HELP points at the West Highland Line’s rural and remote

Dancers ready to perform

THE Corran Halls will host this year’s Oban High School

Groups missing funding

COMMUNITY groups are missing out on free cash because they

At Random

SO, THE waste collection system is ‘mostly back on track’,

Economy is making ‘positive progress’ in Argyll and Bute

POSITIVE progress is continuing to boost the economy of Argyll

Bins: council says refuse difficulties are improving thanks to recycling

ANGER about the lack of pick-ups for domestic waste are

POLICE FILES

A 23-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested for alleged possession of

Musical treat at cinema

TWO avid musical theatre fans were delighted to learn Oban

Concern grows over lack of new hospital progress

NHS claims it remains committed to developing services in Lochaber

Caring Samara’s long lock chop for charity

A PUPIL from St Columba’s Primary School, Fort William, has

Health board just misses target

MORE than 3,000 NHS Highland patients experienced longer accident and

Workers need more protection

HIGHLANDS and Islands MSP Douglas Ross says emergency services personnel

Fish farm operator attacks opposition campaign group

LOCH ETIVE fish farm operator Dawnfresh has hit out at

Caol school pupils fly eco flag again

FOUR is the magic number at a Fort William school

Corpach couple celebrate diamond wedding

A FAMILY-ORIENTATED couple from Corpach were joined by their nearest

Pair’s journey halted by swing bridge fault

A MAN has hit out at BEAR Scotland after his

Photo project boosts school funds

BALLACHULISH Primary School raised more than £100 by choosing to

Third attempt at forming Fort community council

THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL has announced it will make a third

Police files

A FORD Fiesta was damaged in the Imperial Hotel car

Three vehicles in Laggan collision

THIS year’s first covering of snow caused a few hiccups

Call made for RET ferry fares for islands of Jura and Luing

AN ARGYLL and Bute councillor has called for a RET

Lifeboat rescues patient from Mull

OBAN lifeboat was called into action again on Thursday January

Council launches strategy for education

A DOCUMENT outlining the educational vision of Argyll and Bute

Passenger numbers soar at Scots airports

HIGHLANDS and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) enjoyed another year of

Concern grows over lack of new hospital progress

NHS claims it remains committed to developing services in Lochaber

Caring Samara’s long lock chop for charity

A PUPIL from St Columba’s Primary School, Fort William, has

Health board just misses target

MORE than 3,000 NHS Highland patients experienced longer accident and

Workers need more protection

HIGHLANDS and Islands MSP Douglas Ross says emergency services personnel

Urgent appeal for football team cash

FORT William Football Club (FWFC) directors are calling for cash

Scottish Canals to pay Living Wage

SCOTTISH Canals has become the 700th Scottish-based Living Wage accredited

NHS Highland to recruit public

NHS HIGHLAND wants to recruit public members to two of

MSP vows to reverse ‘control-freak’ plan

HIGHLANDS and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has said she

Countryside rangers’ appeal to get out winter walking

A GROUP of Highland rangers is encouraging more people to

Portree Lifeboat crew say bon voyage to retiring chairman after 18 years

CREW of the Portree RNLI said farewell to retiring chairman

New card helps vulnerable people use public transport

A NEW assistance card to help people in the Highlands

MSP keeps up campaign for travelling domestic violence court

MSP KATE FORBES is campaiging to get a travelling domestic

Route changed to protect mountain

LAST year, one of the country’s best-known race routes was

Hospital ward closed to new admissions

WARD 2C at Raigmore Hospital has been closed to new

Caol school pupils fly eco flag again

FOUR is the magic number at a Fort William school

Corpach couple celebrate diamond wedding

A FAMILY-ORIENTATED couple from Corpach were joined by their nearest

Pair’s journey halted by swing bridge fault

A MAN has hit out at BEAR Scotland after his

Police files

A FORD Fiesta was damaged in the Imperial Hotel car

Three vehicles in Laggan collision

THIS year’s first covering of snow caused a few hiccups

Photo project boosts school funds

BALLACHULISH Primary School raised more than £100 by choosing to

Third attempt at forming Fort community council

THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL has announced it will make a third

Parking scheme raises £11,000

MORE than £11,000 has been raised from the new parking

Car, home and personal security

FOLLOWING a number of incidents over the weekend, police in

Community spirit ‘off the scale’ at fundraising gigs

COMMUNITY spirit was ‘off the scale’ at two music events

‘Both my roles provide me with daily challenges’

THE OBAN TIMES, in partnership with NHS Highland, is running

WHAT’S ON

PARENTS and guardians are invited to Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar's

Company in running for business award

FORT WILLIAM Marina and Shoreline Company (FWMSC) has been shortlisted

Hazard signs welcomed by drivers

THE INSTALLATION of hazard signs near a ‘notorious’ roundabout in

View from the Chamber

EACH new year brings a new dynamic to Lochaber Chamber

Spean Bridge housing concern

CONCERNS about another potential housing development in Spean Bridge have

Playpark dismantled amid safety fears

A FORT WILLIAM play park has been dismantled amid safety

Pupil support assistant Doreen retires after 31 years

FAMILY and friends came together recently to surprise a dedicated

Review of polling places continues

FOLLOWING the first stage of the public consultation on the

Views sought on estate proposals

COMHAIRLE nan Eilean Siar is encouraging the public to respond

No guarantees on long-term future of hospital services

A PACKED public meeting on Friday night seemed to appease

Skipinnish song races to number one

Chart-toppers Skipinnish were praised by tourism organisations and fellow musicians

Cost of Oban’s new marina confirmed

THE COST of Oban’s planned marina and North Pier visitor

Islanders worried by thefts of fuel

ISLANDERS on Islay are reporting an increased number of fuel

Fish farm operator attacks opposition campaign group

LOCH ETIVE fish farm operator Dawnfresh has hit out at

Charity push inspired by brave Laura raises whopping £20,000

A CHARITY auction and ceilidh at North Connel Hall raised

Are Argyll’s roads the worst in Scotland? Why we are driven to distraction

Calum Fox, taxi driver from Oban: ‘If you look around

Budget process a ‘sham’

AN OBAN councillor has condemned the local authority’s annual budget

Ferry service is suspended

FERRY passengers intending to travel between Lochboisdale and Mallaig next

Roads need £11 million in investment

WHILE the roads around Argyll and Bute are officially the

Planning department ‘not fit for purpose’

CONFIDENCE has been lost in Argyll and Bute Council’s planning

Benderloch and North Connel

THE PEOPLE of Connel celebrated the New Year in traditional

Islay and Jura

A £4.3 MILLION lottery fund has given £63,178 to Islay

Dounie

AN APPLICATION for a licence for a new fish farm

Lewis

URRAS Oighreachd Ghabhsainn celebrated 10 years of community ownership of

Western Isles

THE WESTERN Isles Development Trust (WIDT) has agreed to work

Dalriada

A NEW community-owned hydro scheme on the River Avich launched

Views sought on new Gaelic language plan for Loch Lomond

VIEWS are being sought on a plan setting out how

Fascinating insight into St Kilda

JUDGING by the media coverage, the recent rediscovery of a

Fort William

THE FORT William branch of the Scottish Women’s Institute (SWI)

Plockton

CONGRATULATIONS to 34-year-old Neil Macrae of 36 Harbour Street, Plockton,

Skye

THE JANUARY meeting of Skye Accordion and Fiddle Club, above,

School volunteers’ effort recognised

A SCHOOL has received an ‘inspirational’ award in recognition of

Floral committee sets its sights on £5,000 for Spean Bridge upgrade

GLEN Spean and Great Glen Area marketing group is bidding

Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry

SPEAN Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council met for

Caol

LOCHABER band FRAS will play Caol Community Centre on Saturday

Ballachulish

FOLLOWING a board meeting of Ballachulish Community Company (BCC), it

Fascinating insight into St Kilda

JUDGING by the media coverage, the recent rediscovery of a

The Oban Times & WEST HIGHLAND TIMES

There has been concern voiced about the proposals for a

Days gone by – fishing in 1890

Macphail at large

JANUARY is the month for music in Glasgow and with

Social media

The pledge given by MSP Michael Russell to continue to

People and wildlife are not in conflict

I was really sad to read that local MSP Kate

Beachd Ailein

THA MI AIR SGRÌOBHADH uair neo dhà roimhe mu ar

The Oban Times & WEST HIGHLAND TIMES

It is difficult not to feel some sympathy for Richard

Days gone by – fishing in 1890

This week’s trip down memory lane takes us all the

Macphail at large

JANUARY is the month for music in Glasgow and with

Social media

The pledge given by MSP Michael Russell to continue to

People and wildlife are not in conflict

I was really sad to read that local MSP Kate

Beachd Ailein

THA MI AIR SGRÌOBHADH uair neo dhà roimhe mu ar

Last chance for youngsters to pipe up for championships

TIME is running out for schools across Scotland to get

Pocket picnic garden comp

THE environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful is searching for green-fingered,

Burns night

In this series, The Oban Times’ resident Bodach (Gaelic: old

A’ Phàirc Nàiseanta a’ cur co-chomhairle air bhog air a Plana Gàidhlig

THATHAR a’ sireadh bheachdan air plana a tha a’ cur

Gaelic language plan launched for Loch Lomond

VIEWS are being sought on a plan setting out how

Write turn

It was late. We were about to turn in after

The Closer We Get – a family story of living with stroke

AWARD-WINNING film The Closer We Get about the effects of

John Muir Way recognised as one of Scotland’s great trails

THE JOHN MUIR WAY has officially been recognised as one

Eagle-eyed schoolchildren set to count the nation’s birds

THOUSANDS of schoolchildren across Scotland will be swapping books for

Oban singer Kim is finalist in BBC's music awards

OBAN Gaelic singer and law student Kim Carnie has been

Glasgow Letter

The Park Bar album was well and truly launched on

Country singer to perform in Oban

COUNTRY singer Lisa McHugh will be playing Oban as part

BBC Alba appoints award- winner as editor

MG ALBA has appointed a highly respected and multi-award-winning television

Tweet prize for writers

XpoNorth Writing and Publishing network’s second Scotland-wide Tweet Pitch took

Workshops will aid Argyll enterprises

BUSINESS Gateway Argyll and Bute is encouraging business owners to

Paul realises his soaring ambition

WITH support from Business Gateway Argyll and Bute, a former

Tourism surge boosts employment in Argyll

THE number of people working in tourism in Argyll and

Schools tempted with prizes money cannot buy

BT IS offering schools the chance to win prizes which

£3m funding for 10 wave energy projects

TEN WAVE energy development projects have been awarded a total

House purchase lending up five per cent in November

• Home-owners borrowed £11bn for house purchases, up five per

PREPARING YOUR FARM FOR THE WINTER WEATHER

FOR FARMERS, winter can be the absolute worst time of

Tariff-free access is vital for agriculture

WITH prices for virtually every farm commodity on the floor

MSP welcomes survey of women

THE MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Kate Forbes, has

Crofters urged to complete census

Crofters are legally obliged to inform the commission, on an

Around the markets

CALEDONIAN MARTS LTD sold 210 Cattle comprising of 107 Prime

CAMPBELL

- On Christmas Day 2016 to David and Charlotte, a

MACLEOD

- To Joseph and Rona, a son, Hamish Alexander, born

BROWN –

- Mary (Morag). Mary, formerly of 11 Lochaber Place, Fort

CAMPBELL

Peacefully in the loving care of Cluny Lodge on January

DUNLOP

- Agnes Mary (Nancy) passed away peacefully, in her 90th

GRAHAM

- Peacefully at Perth Royal Infirmary on Thursday January 12,

HYSLOP

- Valerie Graham, formerly of HM Diplomatic Service, dear daughter

MACDONALD

- Morag, formerly of 36 Lundavra Road, Fort William passed

MACGILLIVRAY

- Peacefully, on Wednesday January 11, 2017, at Glenisla Care

MACMILLAN

Alexander (Leek), age 78, formerly of North Connel, peacefully at

STRAKER

- Tragically on January 2, 2017 in Rothesay, Gordon, a

McGREGOR HOWAR

- Peacefully on January 13, 2017 at the Mull and

BRIGHTMORE

- In loving memory of my dear father, Eric who

CAMPBELL

- Treasured memories of Marion, a loving mother and grandmother,

CLARK

- Treasured memories of our parents, Angus Ross Clark, who

CRAWFORD

- In memory of Jessie, died January 20, 1995, a

GALBRAITH

- In loving memory of George of Drumfingal, Dervaig, Mull,

HAY

- Treasured memories of Jimmy, a much loved and loving

KIRKPATRICK

- In loving memory of our dear father John, who

LYNN

- In loving memory of my dear wife, Winnifred, who

LYNN

- In loving memory of a dear sister and aunt

LYNN

- In everlasting memory of Winnie, loving wife to Colin

LYNN

- In remembrance of Winnie, who died January 23, 2016

MACBETH

Unforgettable mother, granny and great granny, died January 24, 2010

MACDOUGALL

- Precious memories of my darling son and brother David,

MACGILL

- In loving memory of Nancy, who passed away January

MACIVER

- Precious memories of dear Duncan a wonderful father, brother

MACLACHLAN

- Ann. Loving memory of our wonderful mum and granny

MACLACHLAN

- In loving memory of my dear sister Ann, who

MACLACHLAN

- In loving memory of my sister-in-law and our dear

MACMILLAN

- David (Herc). Treasured memories of a loving partner, beloved

MACNEIL

- Remembering with love Patricia Buchanan, died January 21, 2014

MACRAE

- Treasured memories of Len, much loved husband, dad and

PEARSON

Treasured memories of our precious son Jamie, tragically taken from

POTTER

- Precious memories of our youngest daughter and sister Jennifer

POTTER

- Treasured memories of my dear granddaughter Jennifer Jane, who

POTTER

- Special memories of our dear niece and cousin Jennifer,

POTTER

TV show tell of Scottish Holocaust victim

FASCINATING new details about a long lost ring that belonged

Thought for the week

Jesus says, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me!’ John 7:37

New managers take over team hot seats

CLUBS continue their preparations for the 2017 shinty season, including

Douglas MacKintosh, Newtonmore

THERE was great sadness across the shinty world at the

Oban Lorne get back to winning ways

OBAN Lorne welcomed Argyll rivals and fellow league strugglers Helensburgh

Convincing win for Oban Ladies

THE OPENING match for the Green Army in 2017 brought

Saints teach Pupils scoring lesson in a feisty Argyll derby encounter

LAST Saturday’s Argyll derby defied the winter weather, and was

Scottish AFL results and fixtures

LAST Saturday’s results: Premier Division – Campbeltown Pupils 0, Oban

Oban Saints youth results and fixtures

LAST weekend’s results: Under 13s 10, Singer Community 1. Saints

Saints’ defender clocks up the miles

OBAN Saints’ fullback Scott Maitland travelled nearly 400 miles last

Top quality sparring for young Phoenix boxers

‘This trip will have enhanced the chances at the championships of all the boys who were in attendance and we’re really looking forward to the rest of the season’

Club lottery numbers

THE winning numbers for the Caol Community Centre’s bingo lotto

Fort William game is frozen off

FORT William’s away match against Nairn County was called off

Successful time for swimmers

THE LAST six months as an affiliated club has brought

Alleycats whitewash British Legion

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

Shinty players back in the swing

KILMALLIE Shinty Club have begun pre-season training for 2017. The

Wet and muddy course for the Wheelers

THE FOURTH round of the West Highlands Wheelers winter league