A LOCAL distillery has scotched worldwide competition to win the title of best Highland malt whisky.

THE family of Black Isle author Jane Duncan will be joining the local community in a series of events to mark the centenary of her birth in 1910.

POLICE and roads bosses have come under fire for keeping the main east-west route in Ross-shire shut for two days during last week's snow.

Road users said the closure of the snow gates on the A835 Dingwall to Ullapool road for so long was "taking the mickey" and that Scotland Transerv should have been able to keep the vital route clear.

A LEADING conservation architect will tell Dingwall residents what makes their town unique at a meeting next week.

AFTER going on a boozy bender drinking a mixture of whisky, beer, cider and Bailey's Irish cream liqueur, a young Easter Ross man became so drunk he started shouting and screaming for God to help him.

A NOVELIST from Conon Bridge could see her career taking off in a new direction after scooping a television writing award.

ROSS-shire gamekeepers have hit out at Britain's biggest landowner for culling starving deer which are trying desperately to get food.

And they say the Forestry Commission is flooding the market with low quality venison.

Hundreds of deer are starving to death on the hills because the coldest winter in decades has robbed them of their food supply.

WORK started on removing rotting fishmeal from Invergordon harbour this week - almost a month after it was taken from a fire-hit warehouse.

A MUIR of Ord man who attacked his girlfriend and seized her by the throat and hair was described by a sheriff as "a vicious thug".

HOUSEHOLDERS in Ross-shire, particularly the elderly, are being warned about telephone sales people who are offering "free" alarm systems which can end up costing thousands of pounds.

A MAN who has six previous convictions for drug-related offences appeared at Dingwall Sheriff Court for possessing a Class B drug.

A LOCAL politician has vowed to put pressure on the Scottish Government to look at the issue of asbestos in schools after a damning report highlighted failings of education chiefs to protect pupils and staff from the deadly substance.

DINGWALL'S commercial centre was dealt a blow this week when one of its biggest stores sank into administration with the threatened loss of 20 jobs - and it emerged two other shops are in difficulty and may relocate.

National homeware retailer Au Naturale in the High Street has begun a closing down sale and the company said it would shut as soon as the stock was sold.

A HIGHLAND councillor says he will continue to press for improvements at the Tomich junction on the A9 in Easter Ross following another car smash there this week.

A NEW community action plan has been launched for Alness to bring together local groups and organisations.

A ROSS-shire pharmacist has issued a stark warning to older women about the dangers of unprotected sex - hot on the heels of a major national campaign to raise awareness of unplanned pregnancies among women over 35.