Loganair appoint new director of flight operations

Loganair, who operate flights between Orkney, Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as the inter-island air service, have appointed a new director of flight operations.

Until his retirement in December last year, Captain Doug Akhurst was chief flight operations inspector and head of the flight operations department at the Civil Aviation Authority.

After leaving the RAF in 1979, his first commercial airline post was with Loganair as a line captain flying Islanders, Twin Otters and Shorts 360s.

Captain Akhurst said: "I am delighted to be joining Loganair at this most exciting time in its history and look forward to working closely with chief executive Jim Cameron and the other members of the operating board."

Driver hospitalised after accident

A female driver was taken to Kirkwall's Balfour Hospital following a two-car road accident on Wednesday.

The accident, involving a Volkswagen Golf and a Peugeot 205, happened around 9.20am at the Brig O' Waithe, in Stenness.

The driver of the Peugeot was taken to hospital suffering from whiplash injuries and later discharged, according to police.

A report is being sent to the procurator fiscal.

Quick way to find the skills you need

Skills ranging from aromatherapy to website design are being made available to prospective employers at the touch of a button following the relaunch of a locally-based service.

SkillsConnect, formerly the Orkney Skills Database, has pooled together the resources of local people who can offer a particular service. If you are looking for someone to work on a project temporarily, which could for example be carried out from home, SkillsConnect may be able to help.

Further information on the project is available from Joyce Slater at Orkney Opportunities Centre in Kirkwall on 872460 or by browsing the website www.skillsconnect.net

Minehowe programme to be repeated

For those who missed it the first time around, Channel Four television's Time Team special featuring Minehowe is being repeated next Thursday, July 12 at 8pm.

The programme, called The Mystery of Minehowe, was first broadcast between Christmas and New Year, and was watched by a national audience of three million people.

The one-hour programme was filmed over the summer last year and features scenes of the excavations around the underground chamber in Tankerness.

MSP launches new police complaints body

Orkney's MSP Jim Wallace has helped mastermind setting up an independent body to look into complaints against the police in Scotland.

Launching a consultation, Mr Wallace said the move would create a more transparent system, increasing public confidence in the police and, as a result, helping the police do their job more effectively.

The consultation paper outlines two possible options - an Ombudsman-type body to oversee the conduct of dealing with complaints or an independent police complaints body handling all complaints in the first instance.

PC shocked at country dance excesses

A policeman has warned that the culture of country dances in Orkney could lead to the alcohol-related death of a youngster.

The scale of intoxication, in children as young as 14, shocked PC Andy Thomas, who transferred to Kirkwall from Shetland recently.

"They are drinking to excess - it is only a matter of time before there is the possibility of another fatality," he said.

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New harbours director appointed

Orkney Islands Council have appointed a new director of harbours.

Captain Nigel Mills (42) is currently marine operations manager with the Northern Lighthouse Board in Edinburgh, a post he has held since 1996.

He will take over his new role when the current director Captain Bob Moore retires in the autumn.

New chairman sought for NHS Orkney

NHS Orkney - formerly Orkney Health Board - are advertising for a new chairman - with a huge rise in salary for the three-day job.

The Scottish Executive are advertising in this week's The Orcadian and offering £24,000 for the job - more than three times the previous £7,500 salary.

Chairman for the past ten years, Mr Eoin Leslie, is retiring as soon as a new appointment is made.

They are also advertising for non-executive members to make up the board.

Ferry firm hope to see silt problem solved

Problems encountered by the fledgling short-sea ferry service across the Pentland Firth hope to be resolved within the next three weeks.

Pentland Ferries, who operate a ro-ro ferry from St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay in Caithness, have been unable to keep to their timetable because a build up of silt at the 'Hope pier has been preventing the ferry from berthing at low tides.

St Margaret's Hope Pier Trustees are currently inviting applications for someone to remove the silt and Pentland Ferries operator Mr Andrew Banks said the work would hopefully be completed within the next three weeks.

Man remanded on abduction and attempted murder charges

A Stromness man appeared in private at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Tuesday afternoon, charged with abduction and attempted murder.

Robert Hamish Stanger of 2 Sunnybank Drive, Stromness, was remanded in custody when he appeared in front of Honorary Sheriff Gary Gibson.

Man put woman in state of fear

A Kirkwall man was released on bail on Tuesday after admitting locking a woman in his flat placing her in a state of fear and alarm.

Calum Smith (28), Flat 1, 39 Victoria Street, Kirkwall, admitted locking Rhianna Hopkins in his flat and committing a breach of the peace on Sunday. He further admitted a breach of the peace and breaking two windows at Flat 6, 22 Bignold Park Road, Kirkwall on Monday.

Smith denied assaulting Hopkins and another woman Laura Davies at Bignold Park Road on Monday.

A trial date was fixed for August 28 and sentence was deferred on the other matters until then. Smith was released on bail on condition he does not approach 22 Bignold Park Road or Rhianna Hopkins.

New technical services director starts

The OIC's new director of technical services, Mr Brian Thomson, started work at the council offices this week.

Mr Thomson, who was born in Kirkcaldy and is a graduate of Heriot Watt University, was latterly roads DLO manager with Fife Council, and has held a number of other senior posts within that local authority, but also worked for a time with North Yorkshire County Council in England.

Mr Thomson will have a handover period with the current director, Mr Jim Panton, who has not yet left Orkney.

Both officials were wished well by the chairman of the OIC's transportation committee, Councillor Stephen Hagan, at the start of Monday's special meeting of the committee.

Award-winning Highland Park gets royal seal of approval

Orkney's range of Highland Park single malt whiskies scooped three awards at this year's International Spirits Challenge - and the 25-year-old has also been given royal approval after finding favour with Prince Charles.

Highland Park 25-year-old took the trophy for the best malt in the malt whisky category at the international competition, while 18-year-old took the gold. The 12-year-old also walked away with a medal, taking the bronze.

Nicole Walton, Highland Park global brand manager said: "Highland Park already has an outstanding tally of medals and awards and this latest recognition is further demonstration of the appeal of the entire range, especially for Highland Park 25-year-old.

Prince Charles also enjoyed a taste of 25-year-old Highland Park during a recent visit to the sample room of The Edrington Group, who own Highland Park. His verdict on the Orkney malt: "It is very good, I felt a real whoosh!"

Northern Isles should escape boundary changes

A review of electoral boundaries throughout Scotland has been launched this week - but it's not likely to effect Orkney and Shetland.

The Boundary Commission for Scotland say the review will see the number of Scottish seats at Westminster fall from the present 72 to around 57. The number of MSPs are also likely to be reduced because the seats at the Scottish Parliament are based on the same constituencies - except the Northern Isles.

Orkney and Shetland are linked together as one constituency for the Westminster seat, and separated into two seats for the Scottish Parliament.

Any radical changes to local boundaries are also unlikely because of a protective clause under the Scotland Act.

The commission say a new rule will ensure that Orkney and Shetland cannot form part of a constituency which includes any other islands or Mainland council areas.

Myre Bay fish farm approved

But a condition attached to the granting of the new works licence, is that Aquascot vacate and clean up their existing fish farm site in Longhope to the satisfaction of council officials, before the Myre Bay site comes into production.

A substantial number of objections had already been received about Aquascot's planned development at Myre Bay, but OIC solicitor, Mr Paul Maxton, told a special meeting of the transportation committee that on balance he would recommend approval of the new application, on condition that the licence for the Longhope site be revoked.

Stuart Cup heads north again

The win in the pool for Shetland by 60 points to 35 meant they retained the cup despite Orkney winning three out of the five Junior Inter-County events.

The netball on Saturday morning saw a 49-42 scoreline in Orkney's favour, with Shetland clawing things back later in the morning, winning the athletics by 101 points to Orkney's 93. The Orkney girls won the hockey 2-1 and then the boys left it late to snatch a 3-2 win in the final event of the day, the football.

Man in water after disturbance

Just after midnight on Saturday a disturbance involving two or three individuals began outside Matchmakers disco, according to Kirkwall police.

Inspector Paul Eddington said the disturbance continued around to Shore Street and one person ended up in the water near the breakwater on the Cromwell Road side of Kirkwall.

"Thereafter the individual came out of the water after some encouragement," Inspector Eddington added.

Outdoor activities on offer to isles children

Isles school children will be able to participate in a range of outdoor activities this summer thanks to lottery and council funding through the New Opportunities Fund.

Activities such as archery, kite flying, canoeing, snorkelling and historical or environmental walks, are aimed at children from P4 to S3, and the programme of events kicked off on Tuesday.

Schools from all over the islands are taking part including Shapinsay, North Ronaldsay, Papa Westray, Rousay, Eday and Flotta Primary schools; and Peirowall, Sanday, Stronsay and North Walls Junior High schools.

Stromness incidents investigated

Inspector Paul Eddington said that fortunately the window had not broken, but police were still keen to find those responsible.

Meanwhile, another overnight incident in Stromness saw damage caused to a number of pot plants, with other plants uprooted, in gardens in Back Road.

Anyone with information on either incident should contact the police in Stromness on 850222 or in Kirkwall on 872241.