The Oban Times

POLICE have released an e-fit image of a man they are searching for following the assault of an Argyll teenager last month.

Police say the man may able to assist with their investigation into the assault of a 14-year-old girl, which took place at 1am on January 14 2012 in Croabh Brae area of Tighnabruaich.

The seniors of Oban Express Primary Football roared back into action on Sunday morning, January 29 2012, at Oban Community Pitch after last weeek’s cancellations, playing 18 games on three pitches in only three hours.

For the full report see The Oban Times, February 2 2012 or on line at www.obantimes.co.uk/digital

SOROBA residents, both homeowners and tenants, have united to reject Argyll Community Housing Association’s (ACHA) existing proposals to repair the scheme’s crumbling roughcasting.

ACHA want private homeowners in the area to contribute between £18,200 and £18,800 on average to its £1.1million roughcasting repair scheme, with many of the walls in the scheme deteriorating on . . . → Read More: Soroba’s roughcast bill ‘unrealistic’

The Oban Times has asked fuel stations across the West Highlands what prices they are charging for petrol and diesel and has found large differences across the area, even between stations on the mainland – significantly between Fort William and Oban where there is between five pence and seven pence of a difference.

But . . . → Read More: Future fuel prices? No, this is today

Jill Bowis, Councillor Louise Glen-Lee, Katrina Morrison and Councillor Elaine Robertson

Ardchattan Community Council is calling for people to lobby Argyll and Bute Council after learning that a number of bus services to Bonawe and Benderloch are under threat of being cut.

A petition has been set up and a vociferous social network and . . . → Read More: Campaign launched to save Bonawe buses

STOPPING the spread of Japanese knotweed in Fort William will be the focus of discussions at Lochaber councillors’ business meeting on February 13.

Stands of the alien invader have taken root along the Achintore shore, behind the primary school and in areas of Lundavra, leading Fort William Community Council (FWCC) to expess concern to Highland . . . → Read More: Fort councillors’ focus on Japanese knotweed

DESPITE only taking the game up two years ago, Taynuilt lad Harry Mobey is showing he has a future in badminton after clinching three county medals.

The 11-year-old Taynuilt Primary School pupil was the sole representative from Oban and Lorn to travel to Campbeltown for the Argyll and Bute Schools Badminton Championships, which attracted more . . . → Read More: Taynuilt’s Harry takes three badminton medals

THE DISPUTE over the future of out-of-hours nursing care in a remote Lochaber community is expected to be a topic of discussion on Radio Scotland’s phone-in show ‘Call Kaye’ on Monday morning.

Residents of West Ardnamurchan have been fighting to keep hold of their 24-hour district nursing cover for the last year. One of the . . . → Read More: Talk show to discuss Lochaber out-of-hours nurse situation

SCOTTISH Water has been criticised for not acting quickly enough after receiving a call that an elderly Oban woman’s home was being flooded.

Anne Lennox, who turned 79 this week, was in tears after discovering a burst water pipe in her kitchen at 2pm, causing gallons of water to pump into her kitchen every minute.

THE normally calm and tranquil Singing Sands at Kentra had an explosive start to the week after three World War II mortar rounds were found on the famous beach.

Salen coastguard team member Tom Jackson came across three of the unexploded shells while walking on the Singing Sands, Kentra Bay, Acharacle, late on Sunday afternoon.

In April 2012 household Scottish Water charges will remain frozen which means water charges have remained at the same level for four years.

A Scottish Water spokesperson said: “Water charges help pay for the investment which is needed to ensure we continue to deliver clearer, fresher drinking water at its highest quality, protect the environment . . . → Read More: Scottish Water household charges frozen for 2012/13

Alan Reid, MP for Argyll and Bute, has welcomed the announcement in the House of Commons on January 24 2012 by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander that almost every petrol retailer on the islands has signed up to the fuel duty discount scheme.

At Treasury Question Time in the House of Commons, Mr . . . → Read More: Almost all island fuel retailers sign up for discount scheme

A 19-year-old man who was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, yesterday after a fall near Gairloch has died in hospital.

Craig Cathie, 19, from Moodiesburn, near Glasgow was walking in a group of 16 in the Flowerdale Estate when he fell between 20 and 30 feet and injured his head.

Next of kin have been . . . → Read More: Teenager dies after fall near Gairloch

THE BOSS of a national oil distribution company will return to Stornoway next week to explain why his company is not to blame for the high cost of fuel in the Western Isles.

Sam Chambers, managing director of Warrington-based GB Oils Ltd, the parent company of island main distributors Scottish Fuels, will address a public . . . → Read More: High cost of fuel explained on Western Isles

SALMON farmers Marine Harvest have announced its first two sites under a £40m expansion plan of its operations off the west coast.

The sites at Stulaigh, near Loch Eynort on South Uist and Helisay in the Sound of Barra will employ 12 staff and produce up to 8,000 tonnes of salmon over a 22-month farming . . . → Read More: Marine Harvest to expand in Western Isles

A NEW service helping to deliver palliative care to people in their own homes has been officially launched .

Run jointly by Oban Hospice and the North Argyll Carers’ Centre (NACC), Oban Hospice at Home – supported by local NHS and social services management – is as a result of detailed discussions and planning over . . . → Read More: Oban carers and hospice bring new service

OBAN Classic Vehicle Club has handed over a cheque for £700 to Mary’s Meals – just before the girl receiving it, on behalf of the charity, was about to head off to Kenya for six months.

Bonawe’s Eilidh Campbell volunteered to go to Malawi with Mary’s Meals some 18 months ago, but has continued to . . . → Read More: From model cars to Mary’s Meals

It’ll be a stoney day out at the beach this summer for those heading to Ganavan Sands beach in Oban after storms stripped it of  sand.

After three major storms in as many weeks at the end of 2011 and the first week in January 2012, the beach has been changed from a . . . → Read More: Ganavan sand’s no more

The Scottish Caravan & Outdoor Leisure Show returns to the SECC for 2012 and will run from Thursday, February 2 to Sunday, February 5. The event will be open from 10am-6pm each day and will offer visitors the chance to see the latest trends and developments in the sector. To book tickets visit www.caravanshowscotland.com or . . . → Read More: Win tickets to the Scottish Caravan and Outdoor Leisure Show

Every parent thinks their child is the bonniest, cutest and cuddliest baby of them all – but why don’t you prove it to the world?

The Oban Times Bonny Babies Competition 2012 is now open to entries and we are asking you to send us . . . → Read More: Who’s the Bonniest Baby of them all?