A DRIVE to recruit more police officers will be stepped up next week when would-be constables will be able to drop in to the Dingwall station to chat to an inspector about a career in the force.

THE headteacher and parents of a tiny school on an isolated Wester Ross peninsula will take the plunge tomorrow (Saturday) and swim a mile across a sea loch to raise money to finance the pupils' 70-mile round trip to swimming lessons in Ullapool.

WORK starts this week on a project to install new decorative lighting on Dingwall High Street.

AN award-winning employment company, with strong roots in Ross-shire, has won a year-long extension worth £1.8m to a current two-year contract from Highland Council.

IT'S a case of all hands to the pumps after an over-stretched Easter Ross fire station lost four retained firefighters with 70 years experience between them.

FORTROSE Academy is celebrating a string of academic success.

THE Conon Bridge Post Office will re-open next month.

A LEADING Ross-shire businessman has voiced grave fears over the potential loss to the local economy of millions of pounds worth of Council contracts under a controversial procurement shake-up.

DINGWALL librarians are preparing for the opening of a new chapter in the life of the local facility ahead of a flit to brand new premises.

AN Easter Ross woman who survived a near-fatal accident over a decade ago has made an impassioned plea for aid to supply clean drinking water to third world countries.

AN Easter Ross brownie pack is in good trim for the mini-Olympics next week.

PEDALLERS powered their way to a massive £13,500-plus at the Black Isle Cycle Ride in aid of Highland Hospice on Saturday.

DINGWALL has no shortage of "model" citizens, according to organisers of a charity fashion show delighted with the response to their catwalk challenge.

A VINTAGE tractor rally held to honour a Ross-shire enthusiast – and raise much-needed cash for charity — is to be repeated following its tremendous success last year.

THE old naval port of Invergordon was buzzing on Sunday with the arrival of the first liner of the season carrying around 2,000 passengers.

BRITISH Telecom wants to remove 194 payphones from its network in the region, Highland Council has revealed.

THE Muir of Ord Skate Board Group has received a boost to its funds from one of its neighbours - SGL Carbon Fibers.

INVESTIGATIONS into the cause of a fire yesterday in which a Cromarty woman died continue today.

CAMPAIGNERS spearheading the drive for a Black Isle swimming pool are aiming to hit the lottery jackpot to break a funding deadlock and breathe new life into the scheme.

EVERYTHING is coming up roses for Tain — quite literally.

DOUGHTY donors from Ross-shire have it in them to help improve the lives of up to 1,000 people — simply by turning out in force in Dingwall next week.

STAFF and pupils at an Easter Ross primary school have received praise from inspectors for their efforts in improving the teaching and learning of English and maths.

EXCITED primary pupils gave The Earl of Wessex a warm welcome when he arrived in Easter Ross on Tuesday for a day-long visit.

A ROSS-shire institution will celebrate its 75th anniversary in style by dancing to the music of the X-Factor's resident band.

MUSICIAN, music enthusiast and shop owner Keith Witham of Ullapool has died of cancer. He leaves a wife and young daughter.

GAIRLOCH residents are being canvassed this week for their views on the possible relocation of the Gairloch War Memorial.

A CROMARTY Firth-based logistic support service firm has launched a new company, creating at least 50 jobs for locals who will travel the world to carry out oil-rig upgrades.

CONON teenager Julia Edgar (14) has been traced safe and well, police have confirmed.

IF you have ever dreamt of strutting your stuff on the catwalk but never been able to fulfil it — now's your chance.

New Look, the ladies fashion retailer, is seeking 15 models, of all shapes and sizes, for a charity fashion show next month at its Dingwall store.

A ROSS-shire village best known for the lure of its restorative waters in Victorian times has been transformed overnight into a rock and roll mecca.

A BLACK Isle councillor's controversial call for parents of underage drinkers to pay fixed penalty fines has struck a chord with respondents to an exclusive Ross-shire Journal online poll with 85 per cent of respondents agreeing.

AN eight-year-old Easter Ross lad whose mum lost a brave fight against cancer earlier this year is set to lead newly crowned league champions Ross County on to the pitch for the club's last home game of the season tomorrow.

A ROW has broken out over suggestions by a High Court judge "that there were problems" with the level crossing at which two Easter Ross men died after a car being driven by their friend smashed into a train.

A DINGWALL girl's chance discovery of a message in a bottle has created ripples of interest around the world after being reported in last week's Ross-shire Journal.

MARY'S Croft had not just one little lamb, but four when a seven-year-old ewe gave birth to quads last week.

ROSS-shire will gets its share of a £126,000 fund designed to tackle the problem of overweight children.

TRIBUTES have been paid to the last convener of the former Highland Regional Council, Duncan McPherson, who has died at the age of 77.

A BLACK Isle mail woman who delivered with a smile is hanging up her postbag.

POLICE are appealing for information regarding the whereabouts of a 14-year-old girl from the Conon Bridge area.

BELLADRUM Tartan Heart Festival has announced that The Waterboys will headline the event on Saturday, 9th August.

WORK to remove around 50 tree stumps in Castle Avenue, Invergordon, will cause disruption, Highland Council has warned.

A PROJECT which will improve the environmental management of Fortrose Bay and attract more visitors to the area has received a boost from The Crown Estate’s programme of marine stewardship.

A DESPERATE shortage of fresh volunteers and an ailing community spirit has resulted in two Easter Ross residents groups folding — and efforts are now being stepped up to save two others on the verge of disbanding.

PARENTS of unruly teenagers caught underage drinking or damaging property should be forced to pay fixed penalties in a bid to curb yobbish behaviour on Ross-shire streets.

IT's not every day you stumble across a message in a bottle.

So Dingwall girl Natalie Morrison was understandably thrilled when the collie dog, Dan, she was out walking dropped one at her feet while she was out on a beach at a north beauty spot this week.

THE world's first Fossil Code will be launched in Cromarty today (Friday) as part of a pioneering approach to safeguard the ancient rock impressions.

ALNESS service centre staff handling upwards of a thousand calls a day from members of the public are amongst council workers honoured for their efforts this week.

AN INVERGORDON group aiming to make the most of the town's burgeoning cruise liner business has been buoyed by a scheme backing tourism ventures.

ROSS-shire's top cop has spoken out on drink-driving as a campaign to have the level at which drivers can be prosecuted reduced gains momentum.