Bomb disposal team detonate WW2 mortar bomb

A bomb disposal team were in the county this morning to examine a suspected piece of World War II ordnance recovered by a diver off Shapinsay yesterday.

The object was found around 6.30pm last night and moved to the Hatston slip where it was placed under guard overnight.

A Royal Navy bomb disposal team arrived this morning and confirmed the object was a live mortar bomb. The device was then detonated at Dingieshowe in Deerness.

Director pledges to look at providing South Ronaldsay and Burray care home

Richmond Villa, the privately-run care home due to close next week.

Speaking at an emotional public meeting in St Margaret's Hope - prompted by the imminent closure of the village's privately-run Richmond Villa Care Home - Mr Garland promised to look at the issue of a home in the area. Reports are due to come before the next social work committee.

Seven elderly residents will be taken away from Richmond Villa, which is closing next week due to financial difficulties.

Feelings ran high last night as some local people claimed that moving the residents could kill them - but the council say they had no other option.

Speaking afterwards, community council chairman Mrs Susan Sinclair said the local community were "wholeheartedly saddened" by the imminent closure of the home and wanted the council to move forward fast in providing a new facility.

Youth detained after admitting thefts

Appearing from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Thursday, Carl James Howley admitted to stealing money from a man on Albert Street, stealing a blank prescription form from Scapa Medical Group, breaking into the premises of Robert Hall where he stole a charity box and money, and attempting to obtain drugs using the stolen prescription form.

Howley was remanded in custody and will appear for sentencing on Tuesday.

Orkney architects recognised in Civic Trust Awards

An Orkney firm of architects have been recognised twice in the 2001 Civic Trust Awards, announced in London on Thursday.

PENTARQ received recognition for their designs for the Hofn Youth Centre and workshop units at Pierowall in Westray and for an extension to the Papdale School in Kirkwall.

East Kirk one-stop-shop debate continues

Orkney's social work director, Mr Harry Garland, maintained that the concept in the report had been born out of consultation with the Orkney public and explained that funding and timescale available were both factors in choosing a building.

He added that the preferred option at the East Kirk would mean a reduction of nine reception areas to just one, saving travel time for the public and confusion on where to go.

"The East Kirk again and again came to the top of the preferred list," Mr Garland said.

Members heard that the project was progressing well with all deadlines having been met and agreed to recommend the East Kirk as the preferred option.

May start for short sea ferry

South Ronaldsay businessman Andrew Banks is advertising this week for experienced officers and seamen to work for his company Pentland Ferries.

He hopes to take on 15 staff and eventually operate three round trips a day from St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay in Caithness.

Full story >

Struggling to keep afloat - Invergordon to Orkney service in trouble

Orkney's livestock service between Kirkwall and Invergordon is likely to fold within weeks having fallen victim to the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Emergency talks went ahead in Orkney this week to try and avert what could be the end of the line for the Contender service. The Orkney Islands Council and Streamline Shipping Group Ltd are now seeking an urgent meeting with the Scottish Executive to demand cash to keep the service afloat.

The current foot-and-mouth crisis may be the final nail in the coffin for the trouble-hit service - and could see the loss of up to 18 crew off the ship itself, and possibly more in the offices in Kirkwall and Invergordon.

Full story>

Flotta terminal manager leaves

Mr Trevor Newton

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Talisman thanked Mr Newton for his contribution and wished him well for the future.

Trevor Newton spearheaded the negotiation of a new deal between the OIC and the former operators of the Flotta Terminal, Elf. He also oversaw Talisman Energy's takeover of the Flotta Terminal.

Talisman say that with immediate effect, the position of Flotta Terminal Manager will be filled jointly by Canadians Mr Tom McMillan and Mr Terry Buchy. This, they say, will ensure a full time presence at the terminal and indicates their commitment to continuing what the company describe as "the best of class operational and safety standards at Flotta."

First consignment of Orkney cattle shipped this week

The shipment of 105 cattle to a Scotbeef abattoir was licensed for Thursday following a meeting on Wednesday between SERAD Livestock and Animal Health and Welfare representative, Mr Martin Morgan, and local officials, farming and shipping representatives,

In all it is expected that approximately 440 head of cattle are to be shipped for slaughter over the next week.

Government grant could improve Orkney's bus services

New bus services could be operating in Orkney in the near future funded by a £634,000 Government grant.

The cash is part of an £18 million funding package for rural transport, announced by Scottish Transport Minister Sarah Boyack on Tuesday.

Orkney Islands Council say they will channel their share into a range of transport initiatives over the next three years.

Bus services will be the main focus for support with the cash being used to develop routes throughout the islands.

Orkney's first Cyber Cafe could be in Stromness

Stromness could be the first place in Orkney to have its own Cyber Cafe, if plans put forward by Mrs Julia Taylor of Julia's Coffee Shop, Ferry Road, come to fruition.

Members on the local licensing board heard that the Cyber Cafe, which will offer a dedicated computer terminal allowing customers to access the Internet, is part of plans to extend the Stromness business.

A provisional refreshment licence for the extended business was granted.

Let common sense prevail - Cormack attacks Ba' committee

The Ba' Plaque - the siting of which has become a contentious issue

At Tuesday's planning committee meeting, Councillor Robert Cormack said: "I find it quite extraordinary that some faceless men who negotiate through an agent, have let us know, rather grudgingly, that they are not willing to consider any other location for the plaque."

Likening the committee to the Taliban in Afghanistan - a leaderless group who dictated policy yet maintained their anonymity - Councillor Cormack added: "Let common sense prevail, and through the agent, we should tell the Mullahs of the Ba' game that the choice is theirs. Either they accept some alternative site for the Ba' Plaque, possibly on Kirkwall Town Hall, or the status quo would prevail - that it remains hidden at the back of the steps to the Mercat Cross."

The committee agreed by five votes to four not to grant permission for siting the plaque on the kirkyard wall.

New museum store looks likely

Military vehicles, boats, cars, paintings and a vast collection of archaeological artefacts could be brought together in a new home in Orkney within the next two years.

The need for a museum store for the Orkney Heritage collections - which are currently scattered about the county in various locations - is vital according to the council's heritage officer Steve Callaghan.

Reporting to Monday's recreation and cultural services committee, Mr Callaghan said the current facilities were inadequate and posed a risk to the security and conditions of the collections.

The committee agreed to press ahead with several options, including the conversion of an existing building at Hatston, or building a new store at Hatston, Garson or at Orkney College. The maximum cost of providing a new store is estimated at £1.82 million.

A man appeared from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday charged with threatening to kill a woman, his brother and police officers.

The case against Peter Raymond Walls (36), c/o SACRO, Kirkwall, who is also charged with brandishing a knife and broom handle committing a breach of the peace at 32 Meadowbank on Sunday has been continued without plea until April 10.

Honorary Sheriff Gary Gibson granted Walls bail on condition he does not enter Meadowbank and does not attempt to contact the woman, Linda Scott.

Grammar School break-in attempt

An attempt was made to break in to Kirkwall Grammar School in the early hours of Monday morning.

Kirkwall Police believe the alarm, which was activated when a double-glazed panel door was smashed at the swimming pool entrance, scared the vandals off.

Anyone who may have seen or heard anything around 2.20am on Monday are asked to call the police on 872241 or the confidential line on 870999.

Plea from Richmond Villa residents

A 93-year-old woman made a heartfelt plea to the council his week to save a private care home in St Margaret's Hope which faces closure at the next week.

Miss Peggy Guthrie is one of the seven residents of Richmond Villa Care Home who spoke out this week, pleading with the council to keep the facility going. They say Richmond Villa is their home and they don't want to be moved anywhere else.

The home is due to close after running into financial problems and the carers have now offered to take over the home themselves, if the council helps out. A petition has also been raised by St Margaret's Hope residents.

KGS drama team come second in Dundee

Kirkwall Grammar School's drama team came second in the Scottish Community Drama Association Northern Division Youth Festival held in Dundee on Saturday.

Their performance of Death (A Comedy in One Act) by Woody Allen was produced by Vivia Leslie and had a cast of seventeen children plus Tom Pickles on the saxophone.

The festival was won by Carnoustie Drama Club.

The Stromness and Longhope lifeboats were launched on Friday evening after the coastguard received a number of reports of red flares seen towards Burray.

After a search found nothing untoward, the lifeboats returned to base. A coastguard spokesman said they had been unable to find the origin of the flares but as no vessel was found to be in trouble it would appear that they had been set off deliberately by someone "playing".

Orkney cinema history goes up for auction

People are being invited to bid for a piece of Orkney's film history with the sale of items from the redundant Phoenix Cinema in Kirkwall due to go ahead this week.

Up for grabs are 144 balcony seats; large area of staging; stage curtain rail and black drape; lighting battens; cinema screen and frame; cinema projectors and dressing room items.

Viewing for the sale lots took place on Tuesday at the cinema with a closing date for offers on Friday, March 23.

A full list of items and conditions of sale are available from Community and Recreation Section, Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall.

Double victory for Orkney netballers in senior inter-county

Orkney's senior netballers had two reasons to celebrate on Friday, beating Shetland in their annual inter-county fixture.

In the 'B' game, the first to be played and described as a close game that could have gone either way, the score was 37-33 to Orkney.

The 'A' game, however, was a different story with Orkney in control from the start. The final score was 52-32 to Orkney.