Kath works her magic on old Christmas cards

Questions are raised over viability of Oban hospital

THE HEALTH of people in Oban and Lorn is more

MSP vows to fight on over house gaff

MSP Michael Russell has vowed to continue to fight an

Dog walkers given warning at airport

DOG walkers are being asked to make sure they are

Body on beach yet to be identified

A BODY has been found on the shore at Ardmucknish

Investors fear for town’s gin future

A PENSIONER fears his savings have been lost after he

Community groups can apply for funds

GROUPS across Argyll and Bute and Lochaber that aim to

Fishing quotas see new controls set

THE EU’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council met on December 13,

Children are urged to spot the birds

THOUSANDS of schoolchildren across Scotland will be swapping books for

Consultation launched for Crown Estate future

A CONSULTATION on the management of the Crown Estate in

Untitled

There was a fantastic start to the new year on

Avian influenza prevention zone is to be extended

THE avian influenza prevention zone announced on December 6, is

SSE staff respond to power problems

IT WAS an unlucky 13 for Scottish and Southern Electric

Explosive start

THE night skies above Lochindaal were a blaze of colour

Gathering line-up

LOCAL GP Dr Angus MacTaggart will be the guest chairman

Drug dealer has sentence cut

AN OBAN drug dealer had a new year bonus when

Waste collection system is ‘mostly back on track’

AFTER ongoing concerns from the community about the waste uplift

Council defends music fee

MUSIC tuition in Argyll and Bute should be free, claims

Anger as seafarers lose payments

HIGHLANDS and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has hit out

Driver was doing 99mph in 60 zone

AN OUT-OF-WORK volunteer driver lost his licence for three months

Get rid of Lords, not our MPs

THE New Year’s honours were announced last week and saw

Busy start to new year for Oban RNLI lifeboat crew

OBAN lifeboat was called into action four times in five

Untitled

Argyll and Bute MP Brendan O’Hara visited Oban fire station

Hygiene warning

NHS HIGHLAND wants people to wash their hands and wrap

CalMac timetable changes

CALMAC has announced that its summer 2017 timetable is now

Campaign aims to end stigma of mental health

NEARLY 30 per cent of Scots say they have experienced

Nursery tots give Hope at Christmas

PUPILS and friends of Lochnell Nursery School raised £242 for

POLICE FILES

AT 12.30AM on New Year’s Day, a 57-year-old man was

Council’s consultation concludes

ARGYLL and Bute Council’s annual budget consultation has come to

Row breaks out over disabled access at high school pitches

OBAN and District Disability Forum and Access Panel (the forum)

Police catch 20 drivers over the limit

A TOTAL of 20 people in Argyll and West Dunbartonshire

Drivers demand action on dangerous ‘ice rink’ roads

MOTORISTS in Fort William are demanding something is done to

Sleat dismay at news Coruisk will not return

THE MV Coruisk will not return to the Mallaig-Armadale crossing

Feis Lochabair needs volunteers

The group will be holding its annual general meeting next

Autism support group’s question

LOCHABER’S autism support group wants to hear from those who

Table-top sale at Arisaig school

ARISAIG Primary School’s parent council will be holding a table-top

Chainsaw victim on fraud charges

A WOMAN who was injured in a chainsaw attack last

No festive cheer for OAP as strike hits Post Office

A FORT William pensioner was left for two weeks without

James back as surveyor

A FORT William man has become a fully qualified rural

Family of walker who died in fall ‘heartbroken’

THE FAMILY of a man who died after falling from

Mallaig gym to be upgraded

MALLAIG pool and leisure’s new gym equipment will be fitted

Comedians take to Fort stage

THE NEVIS CENTRE has booked two big name comedians for

Kilmallie ceilidh boosts charities

KILMALLIE community centre’s Hogmanay ceilidh raised more than £1,200 for

Pontoons dismantled for winter break

FORT William’s new pontoons have been successfully dismantled for the

Sheriff hands out community and anti-harassment orders

‘THIS is a man who needs support to deal with

Man jailed for possessing pepper spray

A 23-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to six months in

Drivers demand action on dangerous ‘ice rink’ roads

MOTORISTS in Fort William are demanding something is done to

Sleat dismay at news Coruisk will not return

THE MV Coruisk will not return to the Mallaig-Armadale crossing

Feis Lochabair needs volunteers

The group will be holding its annual general meeting next

Autism support group’s question

LOCHABER’S autism support group wants to hear from those who

Table-top sale at Arisaig school

ARISAIG Primary School’s parent council will be holding a table-top

Climbers warned on winter weather

WINTER has arrived, according to an online service alerting climbers

Medical students focus on Highlands

MEDICAL students have travelled to the Highlands to complete a

Plockton mourns death of ‘Magard’

TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘well-known and wellliked’ man

Fears of vandalism to famous Staffin footprints unfounded

FEARS of vandalism to Staffin Bay’s famous dinosaur footprints have

MP outlines ‘win-win’ strategy for HIE future

SNP MP Ian Blackford is said to have proposed a

Police investigate sweet shop raid

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a Fort William shop

Plans to resurrect Kishorn Yard boosted by £500,000 investment

PLANS to resurrect one of the largest dry docks in

New gym equipment boosts islands

EXERCISE centres in the Western Isles are to benefit from

Chainsaw victim on fraud charges

A WOMAN who was injured in a chainsaw attack last

No festive cheer for OAP as strike hits Post Office

A FORT William pensioner was left for two weeks without

James back as surveyor

A FORT William man has become a fully qualified rural

Family of walker who died in fall ‘heartbroken’

THE FAMILY of a man who died after falling from

Mallaig gym to be upgraded

MALLAIG pool and leisure’s new gym equipment will be fitted

Comedians take to Fort stage

THE NEVIS CENTRE has booked two big name comedians for

Kilmallie ceilidh boosts charities

KILMALLIE community centre’s Hogmanay ceilidh raised more than £1,200 for

Pontoons dismantled for winter break

FORT William’s new pontoons have been successfully dismantled for the

Sheriff hands out community and anti-harassment orders

‘THIS is a man who needs support to deal with

Man jailed for possessing pepper spray

A 23-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to six months in

Riding club strides into action

EQUESTRIAN enthusiasts were out in force in Fort William last

Speak up on organ donation

HIGHLAND MSP Kate Forbes has urged constituents in Skye, Lochaber

‘Vital’ countryside rangers facing severe budget cuts

MORE than 1,000 school pupils from across Lochaber could lose

New shop targeted by vandals

A LOCAL business is reeling after its new High Street

WHAT’S ON

RYAN’S GIGS, Fort William, will be the second of two

View from the Chamber

THE Outdoor Capital of the UK is proud to support

Fundraiser smashes £35,000 barrier

A LOCHABER community fundraiser has broken the £35,000 mark for

Frustration over donor appointment delays

A BLOOD transfusion service has asked for patience after an

Glengarry Games crisis as emergency meeting called

AN EMERGENCY meeting to recruit new members onto the Glengarry

Man who assaulted fiancée walks free from court

A 42-YEAR-OLD man who assaulted his fiancée after a night

React Lochaber helps refugees

RE-ACT Lochaber has set out its January dates for sorting

New series of hit motoring show

A NEW series of BBC ALBA’s acclaimed motoring show Air

Frustration as replacement bus shelter still weeks away

A MEETING to finalise the replacement plans for a Fort

Sentence deferred after sheriff hears ‘bizarre’ case of man in wardrobe

A MAN from Caol who entered his former partner’s house

Questions are raised over viability of Oban hospital

THE HEALTH of people in Oban and Lorn is more

MSP vows to fight on over house gaff

MSP Michael Russell has vowed to continue to fight an

Dog walkers given warning at airport

DOG walkers are being asked to make sure they are

Body on beach yet to be identified

A BODY has been found on the shore at Ardmucknish

Drug dealer has sentence cut

AN OBAN drug dealer had a new year bonus when

Waste collection system is ‘mostly back on track’

AFTER ongoing concerns from the community about the waste uplift

Council defends music fee

MUSIC tuition in Argyll and Bute should be free, claims

Anger as seafarers lose payments

HIGHLANDS and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has hit out

Driver was doing 99mph in 60 zone

AN OUT-OF-WORK volunteer driver lost his licence for three months

Seil and Easdale

A TRAFFIC regulation order prohibiting waiting in certain areas of

Connel

A RECENT Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee (PPSL) meeting

Kilmelford

IN RESPONSE to BT wishing to remove the phone kiosk

Dalmally

ORGANISERS of the annual Skerryvore event said a huge thanks

Community awards open for applications

COMMUNITY projects in Argyll and Bute are invited to enter

Oban

Teacher Helen Daniels said the P4 and P3 pupils had

Gaelic choir seeks new members

TAYNUILT Gaelic Choir meet on Tuesday nights at 7.45pm in

Lorn

LORN Natural History Group is delighted to welcome Professor Nick

Festive season activities are supported by local benefactors

WE WERE fortunate in Argyll, or at least in Morvern

Plockton

PLOCKTON and District Community Council met recently for its final

Head teacher praises students

PLOCKTON High School’s Social Events Committee, which organised and ran

Kinlochleven

Head teacher Rebecca Machin, said: ‘Many thanks to S6, especially

Pupils boost rescue team funds

STUDENTS at the University of the Highland and Islands in

Invergarry

THREE bridges near Invergarry are to be upgraded by Transport

Strontian

BOARD members of Strontian Community School Building Ltd (SCSB) have

Village trust in bid for bag cash boost

KINLOCHLEVEN Community Trust is bidding to bag a cash boost

Festive season activities are supported by local benefactors

WE WERE fortunate in Argyll, or at least in Morvern

Viewpoint

There are genuine concerns being raised this week about the

Days gone by – Argyll Lib Dems

This week’s journey back through the years shows long-serving Lib

Macphail at large

WRITING a song is a very personal experience and the

Social media

THE failings in the waste collection system in Argyll and

Untitled

I write in response to John MacDonald’s letter (The Oban

Beachd Ailein

CHA DO CHUIR e cus iongnaidh orm a leughadh gum

Press policy

WE AT The Oban Times endeavour to ensure that all

Your letters

THE EDITOR welcomes letters of approximately 300 words in length

Viewpoint

The issue of ferries to our island communities is one

Days gone by – Argyll Lib Dems

This week’s journey back through the years shows long-serving Lib

Macphail at large

WRITING a song is a very personal experience and the

Social media

THE failings in the waste collection system in Argyll and

Viewpoint

I write in response to John MacDonald’s letter (The Oban

Beachd Ailein

CHA DO CHUIR e cus iongnaidh orm a leughadh gum

A lament for ordinariness

Looking back over the extensive archives held in The Oban

Double rosette restaurant relaunches in the Highlands

ONE OF Scotland’s most exciting up-and-coming chefs, John Mc-Nulty, has

Glasgow Letter

WHILE EVERYONE is worrying themselves about the new president-elect across

Scotland’s heritage gets a new year financial boost

THE Scottish Government has announced an extra £6.6 million to

Skipinnish defy superstition and launch new single, Alive

OUT-RANKING acts such as One Direction, Ellie Goulding and Kanye

Emma Cook releases A Midwife in My Pocket

New book written by experienced midwife reveals what pregnancy, birth

New year at the Rock field Centre

SINCE taking over the keys at the centre, one vital

SHEDS

National Sheds Grant Fund opens for applications

Stand and Stare

A MUSICAL, dramatic and literary event with connections throughout the

write turn...

I watched her staring out the window, a young woman

National Sheds Grant Fund opens for applications

Communities urged to apply for funding to support Shed spaces

Stand and Stare

A MUSICAL, dramatic and literary event with connections throughout the

write turn....

Amanda Holdaway’s second poem for The Oban Times is called

LEARN, ACHIEVE ADVANCE IN 2017

GET 2017 off to a flying start by learning something

New Year New YOU

WHAT IS your New Year’s resolution for 2017? Find a

PLAN A NEW START

START a course in January with your local university giving

Nominations open for Crofting Commission

CANDIDATES for the March Crofting Commission elections can now be

Why the commission is important: Donald Macdonald

Donald Macdonald’s 475-acre croft has been in his family for

Crofting needs help to thrive

DONALD MACDONALD, 44, is from North Uist in the Outer

CML welcomes government commitment to affordable housing

THE Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) welcomed the announcement on

The Subaru WRX STI - performance with style

The muscular proportions of the WRX STI convey a sense

SSANGYONG LAUNCHES THE TIVOLI 4x4

AS THE COLD WINTER WEATHER STARTS TO BITE, SSANGYONG IS INTRODUCING A 4X4 WINTER UPGRADE OFFER ON ITS 1.6-LITRE TURBO DIESEL TIVOLI SUV AND EXTENDED BODIED TIVOLI XLV MODELS

BEATON

- Isabella “Bella” from the Ross of Mull passed away

BROOKS

- Cromdale / Lochaber Peacefully at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness on

JOHNSTON

- Suddenly at home on January 10, 2017, Duncan, dearly

MACLELLAN JOHN

- Glenfernate Blairgowrie and formerly Kilellan Islay. Suddenly at Ninewells

MACLENNAN

(Inverness). Peacefully at Mealmore Lodge Care Home, Daviot on December

MACPHAIL

- Peacefully at Lynn of Lorne Nursing Home, Benderloch on

McGREGOR

- The family sadly announce the death of Kirsty Gemma

SCOTT

- Michael ( formerly of Barnacarry ), at home in

SCOTT

- William aged 85 passed away peacefully on January 9,

HILL

- James (Jimmy). Treasured memories of a much loved husband,

CAMPBELL

- Precious memories of Chrissie Campbell who passed away on

CRUICKSHANK

- In ever loving memory of Jimmy, a much loved

MACDONALD

- In loving memory of my dearest niece Eileen Susan,

MACLEOD

- In loving memory of our dearly loved son Douglas

MACMILLAN

- In fond and loving memory of our dear son,

MACMILLAN

- Special memories of my dear brother Mark. Those we

MACMILLAN

- In Loving Memory of Mark, died January 14, 1991

MACMILLAN

- Our cousin Mark, who died January 14, 1991 aged

MACMILLAN

MACPHAIL

- Precious memories of our son and brother Ryan, tragically

MACPHEE

- In loving memory of my long term partner and

McGILLIVRAY

- In loving memory of my dear mother May (née

ROBERTSON

- In loving memory of the late Mary Robertson (née

SIMPSON

- In loving memory of my beloved husband, John, who

STODDART

- Treasured memories of our dear brother Malcolm Livingston passed

Shared society will take more than words

ANTI-POVERTY campaigners are calling on Theresa May to turn her

Thought for the week

Jesus says, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me!’

Dismal, dreich and dreary – and that was the rugby as well as the weather

OBAN Lorne welcomed mid-table Annan RFC to Glencruitten on Saturday

So near yet so far for Argyll and Bute

ARGYLL and Bute RFC kicked off 2017 with an away

14-man Mull go down at Lanark

IN THEIR last away match of the season, the Isle

MARTIAL RTS WITH IAIN RODGER

FOR THE start of the new year, I thought we

Lovat win season’s first silverware

Clubs across the country are resuming training in preparation for

Red and blacks mark New Year

OBAN Camanachd marked the New Year with shinty action at

Oban High pupils invited to rugby camp in France

THREE Oban High School pupils have been invited to attend

Saints come from behind to march into last 32 of the Scottish Cup

OBAN Saints had to come from behind at Glencruitten last

Scott makes Scotland trial match

OBAN Saints fullback Scott Maitland has been included in Scotland

Scottish AFL results and fixtures

LAST Saturday’s results: Scottish Amateur Cup 5th round – Oban

Oban Saints youth results and fixtures

LAST weekend’s results: Giffnock SC Reds 0, Under 14s 1

Busy time for Phoenix boxers

LOCHABER Phoenix Boxing Club are gearing up for an incredibly

Club lottery numbers

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

Happy start to the new year for South Lochaber Thistle

SOUTH LOCHABER Thistle started 2017 with a 4-2 victory over

Finlay Wild wins Riverbank Splodge

THE FIFTH of Lochaber Athletic Club’s winter league races took

Fort William lose out at Wick

FORT William travelled north last Saturday to face an inform

Winter training

CRICKET’S winter training returns to Lochaber High School on Tuesday

League results

RESULTS Week 9 – Doghouse Thistle 5, Ballatasaray 2; Portowcy