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News
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Great
Wilderness Challenge helps Medical Practice
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A Medical Practice here in Wester Ross covering
a widely scattered community has received a major boost
from some of the proceeds of last year's Great Wilderness
Challenge.
The three-doctor practice, which has surgeries at Gairloch,
Poolewe and Aultbea, just south of Ullapool, has received
an electrocardiograph machine, two heart start defibrillators
for emergency treatment of heart-attack victims, and
two spirometers, used to test breathing ability, between
them worth £10,200.
This was one of several large donations resulting from
the 2001 Challenge, which is run locally, from Dundonnell
to Poolewe, which raised a record £114,000 for
a variety of Highland charities this year. The equipment
was handed over by Challenge representatives Frances
Nimmo and Bruce Alexander to Drs. Alan Marshall, Graham
Mitchell and Gerard Baptist, at a ceremony in Gairloch.
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Extra Cash for Highland Roads
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The Highland Council has welcomed an extra £1.8
million pounds from the Scottish Executive for roads and
bridges, but said the money should be built into existing
budgets.
The Council estimates that it will cost £82 million
pounds to bring the road network up to standard and
a further £55 million pounds to strengthen bridges.
It has been agreed to spend £1.3 million pounds
on patching, drainage and bridge repairs. The remaining
cash will be spent on a risk assessment of roads and
bridges, which cross railway lines, a follow on from
the Selby rail crash.
It has been claimed that around 8,600 jobs would be
created in Inverness and the Highlands if the area were
to gain European Capital of Culture status. A £300,000
bid has been put forward to become the new centre of
cultural celebration.
It is thought an extra 4 million bed nights with visitors
spending an extra £200 million pounds would follow
if the Highlands secured a cultural status.
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Local
Mountain Rescue Team in Action
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A party of German Hillwalkers who got lost in Sutherland,
north of Ullapool, have been found by Mountain Rescuers.
The walkers went missing on a walk overland from the
Assynt Field Centre to the Waterfall at Kylesku.
The Assynt Mountain Rescue Team was alerted and found
the walkers just after midnight near Glencassley, the
party had taken a wrong turning.
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Ullapool
Guides remember their Founder
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Guides in Ullapool explored different cultures from
around the world by finding out about various countries,
dressing up in national costumes and cooking dishes
from their chosen areas.
The girls planned the celebration to recognise guiding
nationally and internationally.
The theme for the day was Global Connections as there
was many events taking place across the UK celebrating
guiding in different cultures and the new experiences
that this offered.
Thinking Day is the birthday of the founder of the
Guide Association, Lord Baden-Powell and the World Chief
Guide - his wife Olave, Lady Baden-Powell.
Heidi MacAulay, leader of Ullapool Guides said: "World
Thinking Day provides an opportunity for the girls in
Ullapool to be aware of just how important and diverse
our association is. It gives Ross-shire members the
chance to realise the individual role they play in what
is the biggest voluntary organisation for girls and
young women in the world.
"I think it is great how guides from around the
UK will connect through this event."
The Ullapool Guides are becoming so successful; more
Leaders are required to help with the growing number
of youngsters joining the ranks. If anyone has a couple
of hours a week to spare contact Heidi MacAulay for
details.
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Enlarged
Board at Local Radio Station
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Lochbroom FM Limited, the radio station here in Ullapool;
have appointed six new Directors who were warmly welcomed
onto the Board of Directors to share the management
workload and the running of the station.
The newly appointed Directors are - Ullapool Primary
School Headmaster, Mr Keith Borthwick; English Teacher
Mr Phil Ellis; Mr Richard Smith, mine host of the Ferry
Boat Inn. Mrs Heidi MacAulay from the Royal Bank of
Scotland; Stephen Murphy from the Safeway Supermarket
and local Skipper and Professional DJ Malcolm (Nomad)
MacDonald.
They join the current five members of the Board of
Directors to give a broad and balanced platform to take
the radio station forward on the next stage of its development.
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Cash
Boost for Ferry Travellers
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Improvements costing £450,000 are being carried
out to enhance facilities for travel on Caledonian MacBrayne
ferries.
Work has already begun on upgrading facilities at a
host of ferry terminals throughout the network. It is
scheduled for completion by the end of March.
Ports and officers included in the initial phase of
the improvement programme include Ullapool, Stornoway,
Tarbert (Harris), Mallaig, Uig, Inverness and quite
a few more.
The stated aim of the work is to make travelling by
CalMac ferries more comfortable and efficient.
The facilities should benefit both vehicular traffic
and foot passengers and will include improved services
such as waiting and car-parking facilities.
More than half of the investment will involve renewal
of hardware and software in terminal offices, which
should lead to speedier and more efficient ticketing
arrangements.
A total of 115 computers are being installed at the
ferry terminals, in what is one of CalMac's biggest
single investments in customer-related technical equipment.
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