Charming worms in Lairg
The inaugural Lairg Worm Charming Championship at the Ferrycroft Centre in Lairg attracted 50 contestants and the Champion Worm Charmer of 2007 was May Armstrong (4) of Knockdhu, Lairg who charmed 19.5 worms.
Council Appointments
David Goldie, Head of Housing, The Highland Council, has been appointed Interim Director of Housing and Property.
The Cutting Edge
The work of thirty of Scotland’s leading craftsmen and women will go on show from Saturday (28 July) at IMAG (Inverness Museum and Art Gallery) as part of a major exhibition tour including Edinburgh, Kilmarnock, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
European Pipe Band Championships are a closing highlight of InvernessFest
The final weekend of InvernessFest sees more first class entertainment scheduled for visitors and locals alike with the European Pipe Band Championships on Saturday (28 July) sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Story Teller Enchants Families
On Saturday 28 July local story teller and artist Lizzie MacDougall will be telling traditional Highland stories and legends and Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.
Wildlife Box Building Event In Nairn.
On Wednesday (1 August) there will be a house building event with a difference when participants get the chance to try their hand at making bat, bird and red squirrel boxes at Tradespark Woods in Nairn.
Drivers Warned To Slow Down Near Highland Schools
Motorists are being warned that a 30mph speed limit and a part-time 20mph restriction will be introduced to ensure children’s safety at a Highland High School and at an Island Primary School.
Funding Boost Gives Black Isle Youngsters An Active Summer Time
Young people living on the Black Isle are enjoying a very active summer break thanks to a funding boost from Youth Link Scotland.
New Top Team At Council Visits Dounreay
Highland Council's new leadership team visited Dounreay on July 20 to see how Scotland's biggest nuclear clean-up project is changing the face of the north Highlands.
Cawdor Primary School completes on schedule
After more than 150 years of history the bell finally tolled on Cawdor Primary School with news today that the new multimillion pound replacement school and community facility passed an independent building inspection.
Viking Ventures
The Highland Council North Sutherland and Caithness countryside rangers, with help from volunteers held a joint Viking event - Viking Ventures - at Melvich, on Saturday 21 July.
Scottish Heavyweight Takes Title
Scot Gregor Edmunds powered his way through the second day of competition to become the World Highland Games Heavy Champion for the first time!
Seadrift centre officially opened
Seadrift, the visitor centre that focuses on the natural heritage of the north coast of Caithness was officially opened to the public today (Monday 23rd July, 2007) by Councillor Drew Hendry, Highland Council’s Chairman of Planning Environment and Development Committee.
Cromarty Firth Residents to Find Out About Fish
Easter Ross residents are being encouraged to find out about the freshwater fish that live on their doorstep by joining staff from the Cromarty Firth Fisheries Trust at an electro-fishing afternoon at Dunglass Island on the River Conon on Wednesday (25 July).
Butterflies at Ardersier
Ardersier Common is the perfect place to see butterflies so The Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers will be running a guided walk on Wednesday 25 July to look for these fascinating and colourful insects.
Strange Fruit at Tulloch Inverness Highland Games
This weekend (Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July) sees the latest highlight of the InvernessFest programme, the Tulloch Inverness Highland Games featuring the World Heavy Events Championships and Strange Fruit!
Council Leaders Confirm Council’s Support For Investment in Eden Court, Inverness
The new Administration of The Highland Council has stressed its wholehearted support for the major refurbishment and expansion of Eden Court, Inverness, believing the complex will provide major social, educational and economic benefits for the Highlands.
New Speed Limit and One Way System At City School
In a move to improve the safety of school children, The Highland Council is introducing a new one way system and a part-time 20mph speed limit for drivers at Central Primary school in Inverness.
Update About Legionnaires’ Disease
Mackay’s Hotel in Strathpeffer plans to reopen its accommodation buildings on Friday 20 July subject to final discussions with The Highland Council’s Environmental Health Officers
Residents Return After Refurbishment
Strathburn House, the resource centre for older people in Gairloch, was officially reopened on Friday 13th July following a £316,000 refurbishment.
Gael Force at The International Eisteddfod, Wales
Fionnar, the Gaelic vocal harmony group for young people, led by the Màiri Mhòr Gaelic Song Fellowship for The Highland Council has just returned with an armful of prizes from the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales.
Starry Story Twinkles Bright
Josie Tolliday, aged 9 from Ardross is the only Highland finalist in a national bedtime-story writing competition which attracted thousands of entries.
Summer Programme Keeps Primary Pupils From Ardross and Evanton Active
The recent Active Schools Summer Programme of events held for primary pupils in Ardross and Evanton proved a great success with 100 young participants taking part in the four exciting activities on offer - archery, cheerleading, a cycle challenge and ultimate Frizbee.
Industrial Action involving Mental Health Officers
The Council employs 41 Social Workers with a mental health qualification, who provide a Mental Health Officer service, including to the Mental Health Tribunal.
Public urged to have their say on Draft Gaelic Plan for Highland
Six public meetings are being staged in the Highlands next month to provide the public with the change to have their say on a draft Gaelic Language Plan, which sets out the commitment of The Highland Council to Gaelic over the next four years. (Gaelic version of press release is available.)
Renewable Heating Systems Piloted In Highland Council Properties
The Highland Council has installed eight ground source heat pumps in eight of its properties as part of pilot project to evaluate the suitability of renewable energy technologies in tackling fuel poverty.
Temporary Road Closures During City Events
Temporary road closures will be in operation in the Bught Park area of Inverness over the next two weekends as the city plays host to two of Scotland’s most important cultural events of the summer as part of the Highland 2007 celebrations.
Course Gives Overview Of Whole Seafood Industry
A unique training course that educates participants in all aspects of the seafood industry is to be piloted in Inverness in August.
First Ward Forum for Badenoch and Strathspey
The first Ward Forum for The Highland Council electoral ward of Badenoch and Strathspey will take place at Cairngorm Hotel, Grampian Road, Aviemore at 7.30pm on Tuesday 24th July 2007
The Rocket Man launches InvernessFest with a bang!
Sir Elton John’s first ever appearance in the Highlands wowed a crowd of over
Grand opening ceilidh for Caledonian Canal ceilidh trail
One of Scotland’s top ten visitor attractions will host the grand opening ceilidh of the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail.
Great Walks for July
The Highland Council’s Countryside Rangers have organised two guided walks for adults in July to explore the fantastic landscapes and habitats of Badenoch.
Long distance route accepts donations
The first voluntary contribution programme of its kind on a Scottish Long Distance route, that reinvests funds received back into the route, was introduced this week (Monday 9th July 2007) on the Great Glen Way.
£10,000 Funding For Summer Fun
Young people in the Dingwall area are all set to have a fun-packed summer thanks to a funding boost of £10,000 for a programme of activities and events.
Latest Highland Games News
The Highland Council has announced details of the latest additions to the packed programme for next weekend’s Tulloch Inverness Highland Games (Saturday 21st – Sunday 22nd 2007) which will feature the World Highland Games Heavy Championships in Bught Park Arena.
Alness Youngsters Enjoy Summer Camp
24 youngsters from The Place in Alness recently braced the weather and spent 5 action-packed days at Badaguish near Aviemore on a team building trip organised by The Highland Council’s Youth Development team in Alness
Highland Council Ward Managers appointed
The Highland Council has appointed two more Ward Managers for Ward 1 North West and Central Sutherland and Wards 18 Culloden and Ardersier and 20 Inverness South.
Barmy for Badgers
Are you barmy for Badgers? Would you like the chance to watch them up close in their natural environment?
Exhibition shows Inverness through the eyes of young people
An exhibition currently on show in Inverness Museum and Art Gallery explores Inverness through the eyes of young photographers.
Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak Team Meets
The Outbreak Control Team investigating four Legionnaires’ Disease cases has met for the fourth time.
Successful Tenders Announced
The Highland Council has awarded contracts for the supply of foodstuffs and provisions to all its establishments including schools, care homes and offices.
Temporary Road Closure During Elton John Concert
The Highland Council is advising drivers that a temporary road closure will be in place before, during and after the Elton John concert which will be held at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in Inverness on Sunday 15 July
Band line-up for Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail announced
Organisers of the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail today (Monday 9th July, 2007) announced the line-up of the official Ceilidh Trail Band at British Waterways (Scotland) Seaport Marina in the Inverness Muirtown Basin.
Council encourages locals with Cromarty dialect to come forward
Researchers with The Highland Council’s award-winning history and culture website, Am Baile, are urging people to come forward who may have a smattering of the extremely rare Cromarty dialect.
Update On Legionnaires’ Disease
NHS Highland and Highland Council’s Environmental Health Service are investigating a fourth case of Legionnaires’ Disease.
Council Gaelic Plan Unveiled
The Highland Council's new Gaelic Committee is holding a special meeting next week to agree a Gaelic Language Plan, which sets out the Council's commitment to Gaelic over the next four years.
Third Case of Legionnaires’ Disease Confirmed
A meeting of the Outbreak Control Team has heard that a third person has tested positive for Legionnaires’ Disease.
Street Athletics comes to Inverness
Young people in the Highlands are being encouraged to get their trainers on and get out on the street to take part in a national “Street Athletics” project.
Honour for Highland Librarian
A senior Highland librarian with The Highland Council has been honoured by her Scottish colleagues in recognition of her work in support of school library resource centres and the profession over the years.
Legionnaires' Disease Investigated
NHS Highland and Highland Council’s Environmental Health Service are working together to investigate two cases of Legionnaire’s Disease which appear to be linked to Mackay’s Hotel in Strathpeffer.
Former Council flats used for fire and rescue training
A joint initiative, between Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service and The Highland Council, that could help save Highland lives, has resulted in a block of condemned flats in Invergordon being used for fire and rescue training exercises prior to their demolition.
First Ward Forum for Cromarty Firth
The first Ward Forum for The Highland Council electoral ward of Cromarty Firth will take place at the Averon Leisure Centre, Alness on Thursday 30th August at 7.30pm.
New Chairman for Highland Opportunity Limited
Councillor Bill Fernie, Highland Councillor for Wick, was recently elected as Chair of the Board of Directors of Highland Opportunity Limited and Councillor Helen Carmichael who represents the Aird and Loch Ness Ward was elected as Vice-Chair.
Legionnaires’ Disease Update
NHS Highland and Highland Council’s Environmental Health Service are investigating a fourth case of Legionnaires’ Disease.