AN Alness lad found himself right at the centre of attention this week as he helped a celebrity super-chef launch a glittering fundraiser.

Four-year-old Nathan Henderson, who was born with hydrocephalus, was joined by members of his family at the iconic five star Glasgow Science Centre to help raise awareness of the Scottish Spina Bifida Association gala dinner which is being championed by Gordon Ramsay.

THE family of an Easter Ross teenager who died last year of cancer has decided to establish a big challenge fundraiser to match his big smile and personality.

THE sordid details of the sexual abuse committed by a Ross-shire uncle and nephew have been revealed for the first time this week - as Northern Constabulary confirmed it has launched an internal inquiry into its handling of the case.

A DESPERATE appeal has gone out to find a much-needed new home for a family of three older dogs who have been languishing in an animal rescue centre for three months after their elderly owner was forced to give them up.

RESIDENTS in a small Easter Ross community, angered by a Highland Council committee's handling of a controversial application to build a huge potato store the size of a football pitch on crofting land, will be making their feelings known to the local authority.

THE Easter Ross creator of a vase money can't buy is set to give it away to a Journal reader as the reality TV programme which has showcased his art to millions reaches a climax.

A WESTER Ross community is pulling out all the stops to safeguard its swimming pool with a series of ambitious fundraising events now being lined up.

A ROSS-shire business which supplies the likes of Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay is being hampered by red tape from becoming "bigger and better", it was claimed today.

AN Easter Ross town's store wars saga enters a fresh phase this week with members of the public being invited to have their say on a proposed new permanent traffic order associated with a new Tesco store.

A GOVERNMENT agency at the centre of a controversial Ross-shire revamp is paying a consultant £20,000 to advise it how to make the best use of space.

THE revival of the Seaboard Carnival last weekend lifted the spirits of its prince and princess who presided over the gala day which was resurrected to raise money to pay for Balintore's Christmas street lights.

A COMMUNITY leader insists plans to re-open a Ross-shire rail stop can get back on track - but only if poliitcal bickering hits the buffers.

A UNIQUE calendar has been produced from one of the biggest archive collections in the north due to public demand.

A NEW look Strathpeffer could be just £2,500 away according to a community group which is staging a fun day next Saturday to raise the final contribution towards a £90,000 upgrade for the unique Victorian village.

DEVELOPERS behind controversial plans for a five-turbine wind farm on the Fearn peninsula have lodged the additional information demanded by planners.

A WESTER Ross music festival is to be headlined by one of the UK's favourite "feelgood acts".

The Magic Numbers are the first headliners to be announced for the two-day Loopallu Festival in Ullapool, which takes place this year on September 17/18.

A MAJOR leak resulting in the loss of an estimated two litres of water per second has been discovered near a busy Ross-shire High Street.

ROSS-shire pupils returning to school this week are being given advice on mobile phone safety in a bid to ensure they stay on the right side of the law and don't compromise themselves.

A ROSS-shire estate described as "a jewel in the Highlands" is on the market with an asking price in excess of £2.5million.

MORE than £3,000 has been raised at the eye-catching RNLI Invergordon lifeboat raft race - much to the delight of the lifeline charity.

ROSS-shire residents are being asked to lend a hand to anyone potentially confused by the impending digital TV switchover.

Some of Ross County FC's best known faces were this week joined by Digit-Al, the eye-catching switchover mascot being used to help plug the changeover.

A FIRST-of-its-kind emergency summit has raised the spectre of Ross-shire residents being left in the lurch when seeking life-changing advice.

So concerned are staff with the Ross and Cromarty Citizens Advice Bureau over the potential impact of a massive public spending squeeze that they're set to launch a massive publicity campaign as they gear up to fight their corner.

A CANNY Ross-shire teenager was coming back down to earth on the farm this week after a spectacular agricultural success.

BLACK Isle councillor Billy Barclay has been assured that a council house in Avoch which has lain empty for most of this year will soon be re-let to a family on the waiting list.

A DINGWALL barmaid wants to call time on noisy fireworks displays near her home.

HIGHLAND Council's new kerbside recycling service in the Ullapool area has proved a big hit with residents.

A ROSS-shire sex offender who breached his probation by re-offending within a year was sentenced to a further three years' probation at Dingwall Sheriff Court last week.

THE hunt for the attacker of a traumatised Easter Ross woman was stepped up this week as cops took to the streets to try and force a breakthrough.

Officers tasked with distributing leaflets and posters in the Alness area on Tuesday released a description of a man they are seeking in connection with the attack on the woman, which took place in her own home on the town's High Street two weeks ago.

FOUR people were taken to hospital following a road smash on the Black Isle this week.

DISAPPOINTED Ross-shire festival fans caught out by Belladrum's sell-out success this week are being given a golden opportunity to stake their place at next year's bash.

Tickets for next year's Tartan Heart Festival go on sale online on Tuesday this week - as the clean-up operation from this year's hugely successful event continues.

DAMAGE to the roof of a community swimming pool has been found to be far worse than previously thought with the final repair bill potentially over three times the original estimate, it emerged today.

MEMBERS of a council committee which gave the go-ahead for an Asda store in a Ross-shire town will be accused in court of acting "in defiance of logic".

BROTHER and sister Erin and Ciaran Salisbury have been busy working on colourful creations over the holidays.

A WESTER Ross fundraising drive is now chasing twice its original target after the estimate for repair work to a swimming pool roof doubled.

PLANS for a back-to-basics holiday lodge and a time-share township of thatched huts in Wester Ross has divided opinion in the scattered community surrounding it.

TENS of thousands of people are descending on Ross-shire for the north's premier agricultural show.

The 173rd Black Isle Show hits full stride on Thursday with up to 35,000 people expected to attend the event at the Mannsfield show ground at Muir of Ord.

A REWARD of £1,000 has been offered to help trace an intruder who carried out a "cowardly" attack on an 94-year-old woman in her Alness home which has left the local community sickened.