SCOTTISH Education Secretary Michael Russell has made a public pledge to help access funding for a long awaited, £1m Dornoch Community Sports Facility.

MAUREEN Ross, of Lochside, Lairg, hosted a grand homecoming party for a family of five children born and brought up in Lairg who had left the village in 1978.

ROD Paterson is probably the finest Scottish folk singer of his generation, celebrated as a performer of traditional song, notably for his unequalled interpretations of the works of Robert Burns and the songs of Scotland generally.

THE best two weeks of golf over Sutherland's East Coast courses begins tomorrow (Saturday) at Golspie Golf Club with the two-day 36 hole Classic competition combined with the opening of the Brora Week on Sunday.

AS you read this, I'm barrelling north for a self-catering holiday in the little Shangri la that is Scourie.

HAVE you a blog you think deserves a wider audience? This is your opportunity to get it known. We don't mind what you write about as long as it keeps us interested or entertained and the subject or the author is from our area.

Sir – As a frequent visitor to Dornoch, I was shocked and amazed to see, first hand this week, the damage done to the setting of the Mercat Cross by the Highland Council.

CALLING all local musicians: the Northern Times wants you – and your music - on our website.