The Kandahar Club races each year in Switzerland at the world famous Murren Inferno downhill ski race - the longest downhill race in the world.  This year the North Highland's Mey Selections Barrogill has sponsored the Hulse-Palmer Cup which is awarded to the three Kandahar teams with the best improved times in the Inferno race, and to the member of the Club with the best individual performance.   ... [more]

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 27th) sold 101 prime cattle and 1154 prime sheep.  Prime bullocks (51) averaged 166.6p (-1.0p) and sold to 180p per kg and £1,292.85 gross.   ... [more]

Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in partnership with the Highland Employers Coalition are organising a series of short workshops throughout the region.  The workshops are designed to focus around diversity in the workplace and are particularly relevant to small businesses and organisations who may be concerned about: · Retaining their best people ? · Recruiting the right staff ? · The legal risks arising from employment ? · Staff absences increasing? · Staff stress? · Not being seen as an employer of choice ? · Opportunities to open up new markets ? Developing a diverse workforce can help with all of these situations! Whether you have started to develop equality policies or just don't know where to start - this event is for you.   ... [more]

Businesses in the Highlands and Islands have been making good use of a new telephone adviceline set up to provide tailored expertise during the current economic downturn.   Launched on January 5 the advice line is one of seven initiatives set up by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) aimed at helping businesses in the region through the current trading period.   ... [more]

Plans for a £1 million upgrade of Wick High School have been unveiled to staff and parent representatives.   It is hoped that work can start during the summer following a competitive tendering process on a 25-week contract to extend the dining facilities and upgrade and extend the gymnasium changing facilities.   ... [more]

LOCHMADDY, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 22nd) sold 116 store cattle, 2 breeding cattle, 1 OTM cattle.  Bullocks (61) averaged 177.7p and sold to 211.7p per kg for a 300kg Limousin from 22 Balemore, Lochmaddy and £735 gross for a 390kg Limousin from 1 Knockline, Bayhead.   ... [more]

LEADER funding workshops are being arranged by Caithness Voluntary Group for venues in Wick and Thurso at the end of this month.   The sessions, which are free of charge, are being presented by Highland LEADER development officer Fiona Cameron.   ... [more]

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 21st) sold 528 store cattle and 127 OTM cattle.  Bullocks (320) averaged 177.7p and sold to 218.1p per kg for a pen of 298kg Limousin crosses from Brenachie, Kildary, and £1,150 gross for a 715kg Charolais cross from Druid Temple Farm, Inverness.   ... [more]

A north-east farmer was fined £2000 for allowing diesel to enter surface water drains and into a tributary of the River Ythan causing pollution of the river.   Mr Roger Glennie from the Hillhead of Ardo Farm, Methlick, Ellon pled guilty today (21 January 2009) to a contravention of legislation designed to protect the water environment.   ... [more]

Scotland's environment watchdog has found that 57% of Scotland's water is in good condition, or better.  This provides an excellent basis for our future livelihoods, economy and recreation.   ... [more]

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 20th) sold 98 prime cattle.  Prime bullocks (48) averaged 167.6p (-1.8p) and sold to 177p per kg and £1,284.40 gross.   ... [more]

A major expansion of NHS dental services will allow an additional 35,000 people access to NHS dental treatment in the Highlands.   It follows the announcement of a £5.64million cash injection from Scottish Government.   ... [more]

The completed Centre for Health Science (Ionad Eòlas Slàinte) in Inverness was officially opened today (Monday, January 19) by Jim Mather MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, at a ceremony attended by project partners as well as business leaders and academics.  A public open day is also being held tomorrow (Tuesday, January 20).   ... [more]

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is launching an extended programme of international trade development events for 2009.   One of the aims of the programme will be to maximise the benefits to local businesses of the new direct flights between Inverness and Dusseldorf in Germany.   ... [more]

A £2 million scheme to boost the use of wood fuel used for heating is open for business.   Applications are being invited for the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme, which will give grants of up to £100,000 to small and medium sized businesses to install renewable heating systems.   ... [more]

The Highland Council has identified the need to spend around £88 million over the next six years to bring its stock of Council houses up to Scottish Housing Quality standards by carrying out upgrading work including new kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors and energy efficient measures.   The Housing and Social Work Committee agreed today (Wednesday) to increase the total it will spend on upgrading houses to £13.212 million in 2009/10.   ... [more]

The Highland Council has written to Scottish Hydro Electric to express its concerns that they are ceasing selling tokens for electricity meters before completing the switchover to new key meters in some parts of the Highlands.   The Council has been notified by a concerned subpostmaster that he has been instructed to cease selling tokens for Scottish Hydro Electric meters as of tomorrow (Saturday 17th January).   ... [more]

The two new leaders of Highland Youth Voice, the young people's parliament for the Highlands, were introduced at the meeting of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee held on Thursday 15th January 2009.   Robin Falconer from Wick is the new Chair of Highland Youth Voice and Lewis Munro from Plockton is the new Vice Chair.   ... [more]

Holders of National Entitlement Cards in Caithness as well as Lochaber and Skye, who are eligible for free travel, will need to alter the way in which they confirm their entitlement as the result of the introduction of new electronic ticket machines in these areas.   Transport Scotland has provided Stagecoach Bluebird and Stagecoach Highland with new machines as part of the concessionary fares scheme.   ... [more]

Holders of abstraction licences who know in advance that they will not be abstracting in any one year are being reminded by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) that it will not charge annual subsistence for that year.   David Harley of SEPA said, "This is good news for abstraction licence holders and particularly for farmers who have decided not to grow certain crops that may require irrigation in a particular year." The reminder is issued days after SEPA published its 10 point action plan to support economic activity during the current difficulties.   ... [more]