[Theme: Coraline] Adding static text to post page

Hi,
I need some help to add static text to a post page. The blog in question is nessancleary.co.uk, which uses the Coraline theme, though I think the problem and solution will apply to any theme.
The front page is configured to show the latest posts and I’d like to add a line above the first post to say ‘Latest news stories’.
I believe that this is best done by editing the Index php. However, I have two issues. Firstly, I’m not familiar with HTML and I don’t know what code to actually type in, or exactly where to put it, though I’m quite happy to have a go.
Secondly, there is a Sticky post that keeps the main story at the top of the posts page. But I’d like to add this static text below the Sticky so that it applies to the standard posts and not the Sticky. (The purpose of the text is to draw attention to the standard posts, which are mostly updated everyday, while the Sticky is generally only changed every week to ten days.)
I’d really appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks,
Nessan