Ambulance flight delays election count

After the delay, the Shetland ballot boxes arrived in Orkney at 5.15am on Friday morning. (Picture: Orkney Photographic)

Orkney and Shetland had to wait for the results of the election after the plane chartered to bring Shetland ballot boxes to Orkney for counting was diverted for an ambulance flight.

All seemed to be on schedule at the Pickaquoy Centre on Thursday night when it became apparent that the plane carrying the ballot boxes had been recalled for an air ambulance flight - carrying a pregnant mother to hospital in Aberdeen.

At 1.30am on Friday morning returning officer Alistair Buchan announced that the count was to be suspended until 9am.

"There's nothing we can do about the matter," he said. "It's an Air Ambulance issue."

Airport ILS system threatened by land dispute

Councillors will hear next week that the whole project - which enables planes to land in poor visibility - is in danger of collapse. Any delays could jeopardise a £600,000 Scottish Executive grant towards the project.

The report before Monday's transportation committee reveals that negotiations with four landowners - two at either end of the runway - have reached an impasse because of disagreements over the valuation.

Around 17 acres of land is required to extend special runway lighting 800 to 1,000 metres at either end of the runway together with access for emergency and maintenance vehicles.

Suspected meningitis boy shows signs of improvement

The eight-year-old Orkney boy flown to Aberdeen at the weekend with suspected meningitis is continuing to improve, according to a Health Board spokesman.

Police trying to contact touring couple

Police are trying to trace two holidaymakers believed to be heading for Orkney.

Anthony and Joy Abrahams are touring Scotland in a black Rover 600 car (registration: L566 MUD). The couple are thought to be staying in bed and breakfast accommodation and are expected to arrive in the county on Saturday.

If traced they should contact the duty sergeant at the Inverness control room on 01463 715555 who has an urgent message for them.

A bid to access £1 million in grant aid for a new Orkney library is being held up because of lack of staff working on the project, councillors heard this week.

Concerns were raised at Monday's recreation and cultural services committee after assistant education and recreation services director Mr Alan Clouston said he was having problems progressing the grant application - because of lack of manpower.

More details>

OIC propose £7,000 grant to Shopping Week

Stromness Shopping Week looks set to receive a £7,000 one-off grant from the council this year aimed at getting the gala event back on its feet.

For the first time in its 50 year history, the Shopping Week organisers had to apply to the council for cash aid after reaching a crisis point this year.

Following concerns that council support might lead to a long-term commitment, officials had recommended refusal of the application, but Stromness councillor John Brown said he believed the economic benefits of the event equalled that of the St Magnus Festival, which the council supported financially.

The proposed £7,000 grant was supported by nine votes to two.

Completion of Westray play area adds to sense of regeneration

Following its completion yesterday, Westray's new £60,000 play area looks set to be officially "opened" on Friday.

As well as grants from official bodies such as BBC Children in Need, the Robertson Trust, Orkney Enterprise, Orkney Islands Council and the Westray Community Council, local fund-raising events also helped raise the cash needed to create the area within a playing field at the Pierowall School.

Iain MacDonald, vice-chairman of the Westray Development Trust, said: "The children of Westray have had to wait a long time for their new play area. The Development Trust are now satisfied that they have a facility which the whole community can be proud of and one which will add to the sense of regeneration and development within our community."

Ola Gorie chosen for international gold promotional campaign

Orkney's Ola Gorie is one of only seven jewellery design companies in Britain chosen to represent their country in a major international promotional project.

The World Gold Council's "Evocative Gold - A New Renaissance" - designed to promote the resurgence of yellow gold - is being launched in Italy this week, and participation is by invitation only.

Ola Gorie is one of 95 companies world wide from Europe, the Far East and USA to be invited to submit designs, which had to be brand new and created specifically for the project.

Kirkwall Hotel owner jailed over Torvhaug incident

The owner of the Kirkwall Hotel was jailed for nine months this week for his part in a serious disturbance in the Torvhaug Inn in November last year.

Flanked by two men, Colin Low (centre) arrives at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Tuesday. (Picture: Orkney Photographic)

Colin James Low (36), Adelaide, Holm, admitted last month to invading the Torvhaug Inn on Bridge Street, while acting along with others, armed with a broken pool cue and assaulting Alan Besant.

He further admitted assaulting Catherine Stewart, conducting himself in a disorderly manner, overturning furniture, breaking glasses, fighting and breaching the peace on Sunday, November 26, last year.

Sentence had been deferred for social inquiry and community service reports on Low.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie said: "Your behaviour was disgraceful and quite barbarous. I do not think there is any alternative but to impose a period of imprisonment on you."

Suspected meningitis child transferred to Aberdeen

Orkney's director of public health, Dr John Curnow, has been in discussion with colleagues in Aberdeen and confirmed that the child was undergoing further tests.

It is thought, however, that illness is of a viral origin and not the bacterial strain of the disease, which is more serious. The bacterial strain of the disease means that close contacts have to be traced and that antibiotics may have to be used. This is not necessary with the viral infection.

Cat killer sentenced to 12 months in prison

A man who killed his landlady's cat by repeatedly cutting its throat was jailed for 12 months this week at Kirkwall Sheriff Court.

Jason Power (30) appeared from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Tuesday for sentencing.

The court had heard previously that Power had claimed the cat had jumped on him after he had broken into his landlady's house. In his statement to police he told how he had cut the animal's throat, repeating the act because it "was not dying quickly enough".

The court heard how he had left blood splattered on the kitchen walls, floor and utensils.

Power was also sentenced for two separate matters - breaking bail conditions by refusing to leave the Albert Hotel and threatening licensee Dawn Flett and also stealing a charity box and its contents from the Ayre Hotel.

Archive Story: Cat killer remanded in custody

NorthLink roadshow to unveil islander fares

Orcadians will have the chance to find out more about Northlink Orkney and Shetland Ferries next week with a travelling roadshow expected in the county next Thursday.

The roadshow, in Orkney on June 14, not only gives the public the chance to ask any questions they have regarding NorthLink, the company taking over the Northern Isles ferry services in October 2002, but will also reveal the company's new revised fare for islanders, which they say are significantly cheaper that standard fares.

Based at the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall from 10am until 5.30pm, a variety of items will be on show - including artist's impressions of the ship's interiors and fly-around models of the three new vessels - and NorthLink representatives will be available for question.

Orkney Food Festival programme launched

The 2001 Orkney Food Festival programme has been launched, detailing the items incorporated into this year's annual culinary event.

The Taste of Orkney week is a celebration of Orkney food and drink, organised by members and associate members of Orkney Quality Food and Drink, with Orkney Tourist Board, bringing together producers, processors, cooks and customers to explore the best of Orkney fare.

The Festival kicks off on Friday 14 September and runs until Saturday, September 22.

Council appoint principal admin officer

Orkney Islands Council have announced the appointment of a new principal administrative officer.

Mr Ronald Tulloch (59) was formally appointed to the post on Monday and will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the council's administrative section. He has been acting principal officer since the recent restructuring of the chief executive's department.

Originally from Sanday, Mr Tulloch has worked for the OIC for 14 years, serving until recently as the authority's community council liaison officer.

Vintage Club cancel annual rally

Following the cancellation of this year's agricultural shows, Orkney Vintage Club have announced that they have decided to cancel their annual rally as a further precaution against foot-and-mouth disease.

This year's rally was to have taken place on August 12 but in light of the foot-and-mouth crisis it has been cancelled along with all club events due to take place over the summer.

Club secretary Sandy Bremner said: "The club is very much aware of the support it has received over the years from the farming community and feels that it should not incur unnecessary risk at this time."

"We are sad to have to take this decision and hope that club members and the public understand the situation. We look forward to returning to a full program of events next year."

Information sought after joyrider steals and crashes Kirkwall car

A police photographer records the scene where the stolen car was abandoned on Saturday night. (Picture: Orkney Photographic)

Police are appealing for information after a joyrider stole a car in Kirkwall at the weekend, later crashing it and abandoning it on its roof on the outskirts of the town.

Sometime between 9.30pm and 11.30pm on Saturday evening, the red Rover 214 car was taken from Cromwell Drive in Kirkwall. The vehicle was later found on its roof by the old repeater station on the corner of Inganess Road and Berstane Loan.

Police would like to hear from anyone with any information on the theft of the vehicle or the subsequent crash. Kirkwall police can be contacted on 872241.

Orkney's councillors cost the taxpayer more that £370,000 in allowances and expenses last year - a 20 per cent increase in the bill from the previous year.

The figures published by the council this week reveal that a total of £373,149.95 was paid out to the 21 councillors in 2000/2001.

The council say that the increase reflects the fact that the last financial year was the first in which new levels of allowances were paid in full.

The council's convener, Councillor Hugh Halcro-Johnston received the highest amount last year - £35,449.80 - which inclused more that £26,000 in allowances.

Police seek car driver following Harray accident

Police are seeking the driver of a white car seen in the vicinity of a road accident in Harray last Thursday night.

Around 5.40pm on Thursday evening, a Nissan Micra and a Ford Escort collided near the entrance to Harray Stores.

Police say that a white car was seen towing a trailer in the area at the time and that they would like to speak to the driver.

Anyone with information can call Kirkwall police on 872241.

Inspector Paul Eddington said on Friday that the bulk of the door-to-door enquiries had been completed and that all the officers drafted in earlier in the week have left the county.

"There are still a number of inquiries being carried out by our local CID. We have had a number of people coming forward with information and some useful information was obtained during house to house inquiries." he said.

Inspector Eddington repeated the police appeal for anyone with information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, to contact them on 872241.

Kirkwall woman is LiveWire winner

LiveWire winner Vicky Gorn in Klaize

Twenty-six-year-old Vicky Gorn is the winner of the Shell LiveWire Business Growth Challenge. Vicky walks away with a £400 cash prize after competing at an event in Argyll last weekend.

Vicky's career in the retail trade began seven years ago when she joined her husband, Ian, running the successful Gorn's Menswear shop in Albert Street. Their women's wear shop Klaize opened in 1995 and Gorn Sport in 1997. The Gorn family employ 15 staff in their three thriving businesses and are looking at expanding Klaize over the next 12 months.

Vicky now goes forward to the Champion of Champions competition held in November this year.