Police seek information on Kirkwall break-ins

Kirkwall police have reported a spate of break-ins in the town over the past few days.

A quantity of money and two charity boxes were stolen from Clark Optometrist in Kirkwall between 5.30pm on Tuesday of last week and 7.45am on Wednesday. The Noddy box for Arthritis Care and Action Aid boxes were later found empty.

The Dental Clinic on King Street was also broken into, and a quantity of money stolen, overnight on Wednesday.

Anyone with information on any of these incidents is asked to call the police on 872241.

Livestock movement restrictions lifted

Livestock movement restrictions in Orkney were lifted from midnight Friday.

This will allow farmers to shift animals from rented grazing land to pasture nearer home to supervise lambing or calving or turn out animals onto summer pasture from overcrowded steadings.

The Scottish Executive say that providing there are no difficulties in the interim period, from April 16, animal imports will be allowed to restart to island areas through a licensing system.

Orkney NFU have warned producers to still be careful about taking disinfection precautions when moving animals, despite the government's relaxation.

Bomb disposal experts examine cylinder

Bomb disposal experts were expected in the county on Friday after an unidentified object was found at Waulkmill Beach in Orphir on Thursday.

A police spokesman said that they were satisfied that the eight feet long cylindrical object is not ordnance but appears to be a gas container.

However, because it came from Scapa Flow, for safety's sake a bomb disposal team travelled north to inspect and dispose of the object.

Change of ownership for Ferry Inn

The Ferry Inn in Stromness is set to change hands on June 1.

Kirkwall businessman, Kenny Sinclair, his wife, Margaret, and son, Kenneth, will take over the hotel from that date, along with Adrian Harray, also a partner in the new firm.

The Sinclairs currently own and run Bruce's Stores and Papdale Stores in Kirkwall and Deerness Stores in the East Mainland. They will continue their retail businesses as well as running the Ferry Inn.

Confirming the purchase on Thursday afternoon, Kenny Sinclair said: "Going into the hotel trade is something we've thought about for while. The opportunity presented itself, and we grabbed it with both hands."

Orkney offers to host European conference

It could cost about £45,000 to host the event, most of the money going on the hire of specialist equipment and professional interpreters to allow simultaneous translations of speeches to be delivered.

The offer to host the annual meeting will be made in June by OIC convener, Councillor Hugh Halcro-Johnston, who is UK vice-president of the Commission.

NoSWA boss goes as post is scrapped

The North of Scotland Water Authority's Orkney manager Peter Middleton was out of a job this week after his post was scrapped by the organisation.

The islands managers in Shetland and the Western Isles have also been ditched as part of a restructure by NoSWA, who have been told to find massive savings.

A NoSWA spokesman said the entire management structure of NoSWA had been changed with no island managers left. Orkney no longer has a manager and now has a network controller based in Wick.

March 2001 breaks sunshine records

Although last month was a very dry and cold month, it broke the records when it came to sunshine.

The sunshine total for the month was 155.2 hours - a record for March, beating the previous highest of 145.9 hours in 1948.

NorthLink announce major partnership with tourist boards

The new NorthLink ferry livery, unveiled in Glasgow this week

The company, who will take over the ferry services to Orkney and Shetland in October, 2002, say the Scottish tourist industry is set for a major boost.

Click here for full story

Emergency council cash offered to Invergordon service

OIC vice-convener, Councillor Jim Sinclair, who chaired the finance and general purposes committee meeting, told The Orcadian: "It is an emergency measure because of the foot-and-mouth situation. It shouldn't be seen as a rescue package for the Kirkwall-Invergordon service. We know that the Scottish Executive regards this as urgent, because if this option fails, we would have to slaughter a good number of perfectly healthy cattle on the island, if they are not shipped south, and the only licensed route out of Orkney is on the Contender direct to Invergordon."

Councillors call for involvement in Ba' game to cease

This includes the inspection of individual barricades and making ex gratia payments to property owners who claim for damage done during the annual event.

Members of the finance and general purposes committee were told by director of finance and housing, David Robertson, that the OIC's insurers would not entertain the idea of allowing claims arising out of the Ba' being covered by the authority's indemnity insurance.

This recommendation goes for ratification by the full council on April 24.

£13,000 fund to reopen attractions recommended

Members of the finance and general purposes committee agreed this week that as little red tape as possible should be put in the way of helping owners of private sites or tourist operators to access these funds to help them win business back.

Orkney agricultural shows go ahead as Caithness cancel

Planning for this year's major agricultural shows in Orkney is going ahead as normal, despite the decision by the Caithness Agricultural Society to cancel their County Show in July because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

But secretary of the Orkney Agricultural Society, Mrs Marny Mowatt, said that this year's County Show will go ahead on August 11.

"We're going on, as is," she said. "It'll be a while yet before we would have take a decision to cancel."

Planning permission for Picky extension granted

Orkney Islands Council have been given planning permission for the extension of the Pickaquoy Centre to provide bowling facilities and a fitness suite.

The plans were approved under delegated powers on February 16.

Reprieve for Thurso Vet Lab

The decision was announced on Tuesday afternoon following an SAC board meeting in Edinburgh.

A statement issued by the SAC said that the lab is being kept open because of the half million pound contract to test Orkney's cattle for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD).

But the SAC add that although the Vet Lab is being retained they still have to identify funds to upgrade the post-mortem facilities at the Thurso centre. Discussions are continuing with the Scottish Executive and the Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE).

Orcadians have Viking blood - it's official.

The latest study into the genetic heritage of Orcadians has confirmed a distinctly Scandinavian influence, with the make-up of their Y-chromosomes very similar to that of modern Norwegians.

The results of DNA analysis of Orcadian men were published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and show that the Vikings not only settled on Orkney but also bred so successfully with the local women that their Y-chromosomes supplanted those of the indigenous population.

For the study, genetic samples were taken from 71 Orcadian men with Orkney ancestry going back at least three generations, and with surnames found on the islands before 1700.

Candidates welcome election postponement

"This is a very measured response to a very grave crisis," said Labour prospective parliamentary candidate Dr Robbie Mochrie. "It shows the Government acting in the interests of the whole country. It should give people renewed confidence in the determination of the Labour Party to work for the common good after the election."

SNP prospective parliamentary candidate Mr John Mowat added: "The Government should be devoting all its energies into solving and getting on top of the present foot and mouth crisis, not being sidetracked by fighting a General Election. Hopefully things should have improved by June 7, but this remains to be seen."

Pentalina B test run successful

A successful test run of the new short sea ro-ro ferry service on Monday, means the new service is on schedule to a May 1 start.

Operating from St Margaret's Hope to Gill's Bay in Caithness, the journey is expected to last an hour - roughly half the time taken by the St Ola which operates between Stromness and Scrabster.

Archive Story: May start for short sea ferry

Abuse victims receive police linked phones

Victims of domestic abuse in Orkney are to have direct links with the police through mobile phones.

The phones will have "hot" keys, linking the person instantly with the police if they fear they are in danger.

The joint police and Women's Aid Orkney initiative comes in light of new figures of abuse in Orkney, which show that one in three respondents asked, had experienced domestic abuse - against a national figure of one in four.

Alleged housebreaker charged with killing cat

A man has been charged with killing a cat after allegedly breaking into a house in Stromness.

Jason Power (30), of no fixed abode, made no plea at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday and was bailed on condition that he does not enter Stromness.

Power appeared from custody, charged with killing the cat and leaving the premises at Ruahine, Hillside Road, blood stained, causing fear and alarm to the owners on April 1.

He is further charged with breaking into the house stealing a mobile phone and a bottle of whisky, damaging property and stealing a radio/CD/cassette player from 2B Church Road, Stromness.

Burgh Road site for new Police Station?

The likely site for the new Kirkwall Police Station is the former Burgh Yard on Burgh Road in the town - currently used as a long stay car park.

A report on progress with funding the new facility was presented to the OIC on Wednesday.

The site is owned by the council and it is being recommended that it be leased to the Northern Constabulary, to enable the new Police Station to be built.

A bid to the Modernising Government Fund last year for the establishment of an integrated emergency management centre in Kirkwall was unsuccessful.

Man hospitalised after motorbike crash

An Orkney man ended up in Balfour Hospital at the weekend after crashing his motorbike.

Charles MacKie (33), Taihoa, Tankerness, was thrown from the Suzuki machine at around 3.30pm on Sunday on the Hundland Road in Birsay. No other vehicle was involved.

Mr MacKie was discharged from hospital on Monday.

Management strategy enables key attractions to open

A special strategy has been drawn up to allow Easter visitors to enjoy some of Orkney's key attractions while ensuring the islands remain free of foot-and-mouth disease.

After discussions with various local organisations the strategy was drawn up to strike a balance between the need to protect Orkney while ensuring visitors get the most from their stay.

Ian Watt, head of protective services at OIC, said: "All the agencies involved in the foot-and-mouth issue in Orkney will be monitoring the opening of key visitor attractions very closely indeed. It is imperative that holidaymakers respect the advice and guidance offered locally and pay heed to any on-site restrictions which may be in place."

The Orkney Museum's summer exhibition opened this week and looks set to put local folk's knowledge of St Magnus Cathedral to the test.

Through a series of photographs, paintings, artefacts and models, "The Unknown Cathedral" will focus on lesser-known aspects of the building. Click here for more details.

The exhibition runs until the end of September.

Lifeboat goes to aid of stricken yacht

Kirkwall Lifeboat was launched on Saturday to go to the assistance of a yacht in trouble off the coast of Tankerness.

The yacht, the Corpelleen, was spotted in difficulty around 1.30pm on Saturday. When the Coastguard could not contact the vessel by radio the Kirkwall Lifeboat was launched.

The yacht was found sheltering from the severe weather with tangled sails and towed back into Kirkwall.

Eight Orkney teams in Highland Amateur Cup

The Macleod IFA Highland Amateur Cup draw was made in Dingwall on Saturday.

With eight Orkney teams entering the competition, and 81 in total, the Orkney Amateur Football Association have been granted an third extra qualifying place in the third round.

The Draw: First round - Saturday, April 28.
Stromness v St Andrews; Hotspurs v Accies;

Second round - Saturday, May 19: Dounby v Hotspurs/Accies; Thorfinn v Rovers; Stromness/St Andrews v South Ronaldsay.

The winners of these three ties will go into the draw for the third round.

Orkney win over RAF Kinloss secures second place in league

Orkney Rugby Club's victory against RAF Kinloss on Saturday, their final home league game of the season has assured Orkney of second place in the BT National Division 5 (North) league.

The final score was 56-12 to Orkney.

Battling Orkney fall to Inverness Caledonian

Orkney's senior inter-county football squad lost their game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle 11-2 on Friday night.

The Orkney team fought well against the home side's reserve team, containing several players who were on the bench against Ross County on Saturday.

A spokesman for the Orkney team said that Inverness Caledonian were impressed by the Orkney players and are considering a trip to the islands in the summer.

Ring of Brodgar re-opens for visitors

The Ring of Brodgar - open from April 1

Orkney's Ring of Brodgar is one of seven Scottish Historic Scotland sites being opened to the public following the completion of foot-and-mouth risk assessments.

As well as the Ring, the Unstan chambered cairn in Stenness is the only other site to be reopened.

Historic Scotland director Graeme Munro said that they were hopeful more would follow.

The site re-opened from April 1.

See Also: Comeback Code launched but risk assessments will decide when Orkney's renowned attractions reopen

Two-vehicle road accident closes Harray Road

Two motorists were injured on Friday after a two-vehicle road accident on the Netherbrough road in Harray.

Lynda Kirkness of Briarlea, Harray was thrown from her vehicle in the collision and was hospitalised after suffering serious injuries. The second motorist - Gemma McGowan of 44 Quoybanks Crescent, Kirkwall - is believe to have walked away from the scene with injuries described as "less serious".

As a result of the accident the road was closed until 1pm.

Man remanded in custody

A man was remanded in custody on Friday for a breach of the peace and failing to comply with bail conditions.

Peter Raymond Walls (36), 28 Stromberry, Kirkwall, appeared in Kirkwall Sheriff Court from police custody where he admitted going into 32 and 59 Meadowbank on March 29 against recently imposed bail conditions.

He further admitted shouting, swearing and committing a breach of the peace at the time. Remanding Walls until April 10, Honorary Sheriff Bill Wright ordered social enquiry and community service reports be carried out.

Archive Story: Man faces death threat charge

One month for Contender unless aid package is secured

Unless some form of aid package for the troubled Kirkwall-Invergordon ferry service can be secured, Streamline will stop sailing on April 26.

Talks aimed at saving the threatened ferry service in Edinburgh on Thursday were hailed as constructive by Orkney Islands Council.

A council spokesman said that although Scottish Executive officials did not table any financial aid they did agree to make an urgent report to Ministers on the problem facing the route.

All's well that ends well for Palace Players

Palace Players production of George Mackay Brown's The Well took the honours on Thursday night in the Orkney leg of the Northern Divisional Finals of the Scottish Community Drama Association's drama festival.

The Palace Players entry beat the the Stromness group's production of Albertine in Five Times, which earned Stromness the Challenge Cup and first place in the first round.

The adjudicator returned to Abroath on Friday to judge the remaining finalists but victory went to a team from Aberdeen.