Heritage Society Eynhallow trip cancelled

Foot-and-mouth restrictions lifted

The foot-and-mouth restrictions in Orkney - which have been in force since March - have been lifted.

Disinfectant points at all of Orkney's ports of entry are to be removed, and all local tourist attractions are opening, unless they can be proved to be at risk.

Val Cameron, OIC principal environment officer explained that following Friday's government announcement, proprietors wishing to remain closed have to prove that a risk to livestock still existed. Anyone who felt that the changes posed a risk to their animals could request a risk assessment, she added.

Opinions sought on non-smoking areas in licensed premises

Chairman of the Orkney licensing board, Mr Roderick McLeod, has voiced strongly, that he feels all areas should be non-smoking if children are allowed.

Although in agreement, board members felt there should be consultation with licensees over the issues of smoking in licensed premises.

Orcadian Online update news

For the next three Saturdays - June 30, July 7 and July 14, the Orcadian Online will only be updated once, going online around 2pm.

The normal Saturday update schedule will resume on Saturday, July 21. All other daily updates are unaffected.

Howley appeals jail sentence

His defence agents, Lows Orkney, have lodged an appeal for the sentence to be reduced or removed, with the Court of Appeal in Edinburgh. While they await the outcome 17-year-old Howley will remain in jail.

At the time he was jailed, he was described by Sheriff J. Craig C. McSherry as a "one-man walking crimewave" after being re-sentenced on numerous charges after breaching a probation order.

Fifty per cent increase in Orkney salmon production

5,445 tonnes of salmon were produced last year in comparison to the 3,457 tonnes in 1998.

Licensing sub-committee agree transfers

The licence for Sanday's Kettletoft Hotel was transferred to its new owner on Thursday, North Yorkshire man Timothy Featherstone.

The Kirkwall Hotel licence was also transferred to the firm of the Kirkwall Hotel and Mrs Debra Low at the Orkney licensing sub-commitee meeting.

Members also agreed to the permanent transfer of the off-sales licence at Papdale Stores in Kirkwall to the firm of D. & F. Flett and Fiona Flett.

Kirkwall taxi firm changes hands

The Orkney Licensing sub-committee agreed on Thursday to grant him the taxi licences for six of the trademark white Mondeo cars.

Tales of enchantment at storytelling evening

Visiting storyteller Audrey Park from Edinburgh joined local storytellers Tom Muir and Marita Luck for an evening of traditional tales and legends. Joining the storytellers are local band Hullion.

25th St Magnus Festival ends with a bang

The 25th St Magnus Festival ended in Kirkwall on Wednesday night with a spectacular firework show in Kirkwall harbour.

Heralded as a success by the organisers and patrons alike, this year's six-day festival of the arts contained a selection of events ranging from world-class music to flying trapeze.

Contract changes could see 40 Flotta jobs go

Flotta's oil terminal is due to be hit by another cutback in the workforce with staff claiming 40 jobs to go in October.

However, joint Flotta terminal manager Mr Tom McMillan said this week that operators, Talisman, were not making anyone redundant, because they did not directly employ the Motherwell Bridge contractors concerned.

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Resting place of warship lost with all hands is finally found

The wreck of a World War Two destroyer - lost with all hands while trying to reach the safety of Scapa Flow - has been discovered by Orkney divers in deep water off Wick - the second find by local divers in a week.

Two men from the Extreme Dive Team, based in Burray, have identified the wreck of the HMS Exmouth - the same ship John Thornton of Kirkwall and his dive crew were looking for when they discovered the wreck of the fishing boat, Trident, on Sunday last week.

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Royal Oak Admiral's last words revealed

Rear Admiral "Evie" Blagrove

On the night of October 12, 1939, a man who had risen to the rank of Rear Admiral wrote to his wife from his cabin on board the ill-fated World War Two warship HMS Royal Oak.

Just over 24 hours later, he lost his life with 832 of the crew after the battleship - thought to be in safe waters - was sunk by a German U-boat.

The touching final thoughts of the Rear Admiral were revealed for the first time this week - 62 year after the event - and shared exclusively with The Orcadian.

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House fire blamed on lightning strike

Kirkwall Fire Brigade were called to a house in Rendall on Wednesday to attend a fire caused by a suspected lightning strike.

The house in Puldrite was struck during the storm around noon and is believed to have caused a power surge in the boiler room which then started the fire.

The husband and wife occupants of the house contacted the Fire Brigade, who extinguished the fire shortly afterwards. There were no injuries.

Fog causes chaos at airport

Fog caused chaos at Kirkwall Airport this week, with flights in and out of the county being cancelled.

The trouble began on Monday and was continuing on Wednesday, with staff at the airport trying to cope with a backlog of passengers waiting to travel.

Problems were heightened by the number of visitors to the county being particularly high as a result of St Magnus Festival.

Lightning storms hits football fixtures

Speaking at the time, an OFA spokesman said: "Because of the thunder and lightning earlier today, we have cancelled the matches for tonight for safety reasons. We feel it is not worth taking a risk."

Fire Brigade attend boat fire

Kirkwall Fire Brigade were called to a small boat fire in Kirkwall harbour on Wednesday morning.

The one man on board used a dry powder extinguisher in an attempt to put out the fire in the galley of the MV Arran at the Corn Slip.

Two firemen with breathing apparatus went on board and the fire was extinguished shortly after 9am.

Another radioactive particle found at Sandside

Another radioactive particle was removed from Sandside Beach in Caithness on Tuesday night during a routine survey by environmental protection staff.

The particle was examined at Dounreay, with initial findings indicating that it could be be traced back to early operations at the nuclear power station in the 1960s.

Wallace welcomes Dounreay reprocessing rejection

Orkney MSP Jim Wallace has welcomed reports that plans to restart fuel processing at Dounreay have been rejected.

Instead of reprocessing at the Caithness plant, the Westminster Government are expected to announce that they will instruct the UK Atomic Energy Commission to store the fuel on the site in its present form.

Jim Wallace said: "While I want to hear the actual Government announcement before I celebrate the end of nuclear developments at Dounreay, the report have not been denied by Westminster and sound genuine."

Councillors agree to relax church funding rules

Orkney Islands Council look set to relax their policy of offering grants to local churches.

Councillors recommended this week that they should relax their attitude when it comes to such funding, with each proposal considered on its merits.

This follows last week's attack on the OIC by the Orkney Presbytery, who were concerned that local church projects had been automatically excluded from millennium fund assistance.

"Escape to the Edge" launched in Edinburgh

Orkney MSP Jim Wallace was among MSPs at Edinburgh's Waverley Station on Wednesday promoting tourism in their constituencies.

The politicians are promoting a new initiative - "Escape to the Edge" - which highlights remote parts of the Highlands and Islands.

The two-year campaign is being co-ordinated by The Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board and aims to increase visitors, and consequently revenue, to communities across the Highlands and Islands.

Councillors agree additional £77,400 for Scapa Flow hub

Plans to establish a container trans-shipment hub in Orkney took another step forward on Tuesday with councillors agreeing to spend a further £77,400 on the project.

Councillors at the finance and general purposes committee meeting recommended that 65 per cent of the cost of employing consultants should be borne by the council as well as the entire £12,400 cost of a study to identify suitable sites.

NorthLink respond to public feedback

The roadshow attracted around 300 people who aired their views and comments on the previews of the three vessels and the services they will offer. As a result the company are reviewing the possibility of a Monday livestock sailing from Orkney.

During the roadshow NorthLink spoke with P & O Scottish Ferries employees regarding the transfer of staff next year.

The company have said that all seafaring staff will be taken on by NorthLink with the transfer details being an issue for P & O and the existing staff to decide upon.

College extension funding back before councillors

The proposed extension to Orkney College was back before councillors on Tuesday, when a council contribution towards the cost was approved in principle by the finance and general purposes committee.

Members of the education committee had previously given their support to the proposal, which requires £240,000 of council cash towards the total £1.3 million cost. This funding would come from the council's reserve fund.

The F&GP committee agreement will allow an application for external funding to be submitted in time.

Agricultural strategy points way forward for a viable future for farming

Scotland's first serious examination of the future direction of farming was launched this week by Minister for Environment and Rural Development Ross Finnie.

Entitled "A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture", it aims to map out a way ahead for all sectors of the agricultural industry as well as outlining new initiatives to help ensure farming has a sustainable long term future.

Speaking on the strategy, Mr Finnie said: "It is ambitious, reflecting the fact that Scotland's farming industry differs from one part of the country to another. It challenges every farm business to examine its cost structures and production patterns to improve performance."

Cantick lighthouse buildings up for sale

Former lighthouse properties at Cantick Head in Longhope are up for sale with a price tag of over £100,000.

The Cantick Head Lighthouse and helipad, which stands adjacent to the surrounding houses, is still owned by the Northern Lighthouse Board and not up for grabs.

The houses would have at one time been filled with men who worked at the lighthouse and their families.

For more information contact Lows Orkney on 873151.

Exclusive Cathedral gargoyles unveiled

OIC heritage officer Steve Callaghan with the specially commissioned gargoyle bookends. (Picture: Orkney Photographic)

The latest additions to an exclusive range of goods specially produced to accompany the Orkney Museum's The Unknown Cathedral exhibition have been unveiled in Kirkwall.

The two gruesome gargoyle bookends are based on the watchful pair who overlook the St Magnus Cathedral west door, gazing out over Broad Street.

The bookends were sculpted by the Rousay designer and artist Sheila Scott and are available from the museum.

Fishing industry reps to meet in Kirkwall

Between 20 and 25 delegates from as far apart as Shetland to Eyemouth, representing different aspects of the fishing industry, will come together for a two-day meeting in Kirkwall on July 19/20.

Local skippers will be invited to sit in on various sessions of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation meeting and a formal dinner will be held on the first evening of the event.

Fursbreck's "Pound of Clay" winners

The winners of Fursbreck Pottery's fund-raising "pound of clay" competition were announced on Monday.

Entrants paid £1 to receive a pound of clay from which they could create anything. Their creations were then judged and prizes awarded for each age group. The money raised goes to Orkney Archaeological Trust,

The competition winners are as follows: Under 5 - 1 Alfie Page, 2 Hamish Auskerry, 3 Tommy Sinclair; 6-8 years - 1 Beth Rendall, 2 Sally Laughton, 3 P. Archibald; 9-12 years - 1 Emma Currie, 2 Neil Lyon, 3 Joannah Fergusson; 13-16 --1 Lynda Johnson, 2 Cally Amos, 3 Kallie Firth; 17+ - 1 Bill Taylor, 2 Sara Seyd, 3 Anne Forbes.

Boyack announces major harbour grant

Plan of the Hatston pier development.

Transport minister Sarah Boyack has announced an £11.8 million grant for harbour improvements in Orkney.

The money will enable Orkney Islands Council to build a £14.5 million pier at Hatston as well as upgrade the berthing facilities at Stromness, at an estimated cost of £2.5 million. The developments will allow the new, larger NorthLink ferries to berth when the company takes over the Northern Isles ferry contract in October 2002.

Ms Boyack said: "This is great news for Orkney and builds on the new investment in Scrabster and Lerwick. This is the last piece of development for the new ferry services which will mean faster ferries, cheaper fares and more frequent services on the Northern Isles routes."

One win each as Orkney and Caithness meet in inter-county competition

A hectic few weeks for Orkney's senior and junior inter-county football squads began on Saturday with the annual inter-county encounters against Caithness.

In the junior game, Caithness took the Corinthian Cup, beating the Orkney side 3-0.

In the senior game, however, Orkney took revenge for their 1-0 defeat last year, and beat Caithness 3-0 for the Archer Shield.

Goals from Malcolm Scott, Douglas Omand and Steven Poke secured the win for Orkney

Shapinsay pupils win national crofting competition

Shapinsay School has won the top prize in a national competition organised by the Crofters Commission.

Pupils at the school carried out a project on the subject of "Crofting in the 21st Century" earlier this year and submitted their work to the competition.

As well as winning a cash prize, Shapinsay won a commendation and a £25 prize in the English section for Primary 6/7 pupils.

The pupils who were involved in the crofting project were Annabel and Kieran Bews, Jamie Farquharson, Fiona Horton, Frazer Leslie, Michelle and Suzie Miller, Gina Ramsay and Martin Swannie.

The annual North Isles sports took place on Friday with competitors from the four neighbouring islands making their way to Westray for this year's event.

After a day of competition, the Millennium Cup - awarded to the island with the best combined schools and adults score - went to Westray, who beat Sanday by a mere half point.

The School's Cup winners were also Westray, while the Isles Cup went to Sanday.

Other results:

• Boy's Champion - Raymond Rendall (Westray)
• Girl's Champion - Vanessa Skea (Sanday)
• Men's Champion - Damian Stout (Stronsay)
• Ladies Champion - Fiona Wilson (Sanday)
• Tug of War - Westray

More protection for Orkney shellfish grounds

A number of Orkney's shellfish grounds should benefit from greater protection following a Scottish Executive announcement that they are amongst 81 Scottish areas to be designated as shellfish waters.

Seven areas of water around Orkney have been included - Cribba Sound, Deer Sound, Flotta, Inganess Bay, Lamb Holm, Sandside Bay, and St Catherine's Bay, Stronsay.

Designation should ensure that water quality is protected, and where, necessary improved, contributing to the high quality of local shellfish such as mussels, scallops and oysters.

Major award to Orkney Ice Cream

The Orkney Creamery's Orkney Ice Cream has won a major award for quality.

The Food From Scotland Excellence Award in the dairy and egg product category was handed over to managing director, Mr Dennis Bichan, by Rural Development Minister, Mr Ross Finnie, at a Gala Dinner in Edinburgh on Thursday night.

Mr Bichan said he was 'over the moon' at receiving the award, which would certainly help in marketing their ice cream range.