MSP leaves China after week-long visit

Orkney's MSP Jim Wallace was due to fly from China to Hong Kong on Friday afternoon as part of his week-long visit to the Far East in his role as Scottish Justice Minister.

Mr Wallace was in China from Tuesday last week.

Biz gets busy as demand grows for cannabis chocs

Orkney Multiple Sclerosis sufferers Bill Reeves and Biz Ivol are increasing cannabis supplies to fellow users to include chocolate laced with the drug.

More and more sufferers are taking cannabis chocolate to avoid the cancer risks of smoking the drug, they say.

Bill and Biz claim they are being inundated with inquiries about how to make the chocolate.

"It is getting silly - like a breakaway Thornton's factory here," Biz (53), from South Ronaldsay, said.

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Rethink on animal movement restrictions

The Scottish Executive may have to look at other ways of reducing the risk of spreading diseases such as foot-and-mouth, instead of imposing movement restrictions on animals.

Replying to a parliamentary question from Shetland MSP, Tavish Scott, Scots Rural Development Ross Finnie said that more than 95 per cent of responses received to a consultation paper suggesting a 20-day movement restriction were either critical of, or rejected the proposals altogether.

Mr Scott argued that such a lengthy movement restriction would prove unworkable in Shetland and for livestock producers throughout the Highlands and Islands in general. He welcomed the Minister's offer to look at a more acceptable method of disease control.

Award for island jewellery firm

Northern Isles jewellers, Fair Isle Silver, have been awarded Most Promising Newcomer for 2001 at a top Highlands and Islands business award ceremony.

The company, which is administered by joint director Tony Merriman from Stromness, beat off stiff competition - including St Ola-based jewellers, Aurora - to lift the prestigious prize at a gathering of over 300 of the region's businesses at Eden Court in Inverness.

Stromness man faces assault charges

Stanger appeared in private in Kirkwall last week, when he faced charges of attempted murder and abduction.

False 999 calls cause concern

The number of false emergency 999 calls being made accidentally by mobile telephones to Kirkwall Police Station is rising - with some from as far afield as Dorset.

Police say they are becoming increasingly concerned as each call has to be followed up, either by trying to trace the caller by phone or attending the home address.

Last year, Kirkwall police recorded 300 false calls, to date this year there have been 250 calls received.

Inspector Paul Eddington said: "Police time and resources are being used up in carrying out these inquiries when it could be put to far more better use. Such calls also clog up the emergency line and may be responsible for blocking a valid, and potentially life threatening call from getting through."

Man charged with cutting wrist

A man appeared from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday afternoon, charged with cutting his left wrist and further threatening to harm himself, and committing a breach of the peace on Friday night, while on bail.

The court heard that this was the third incident in a week involving Calum Smith (28), Flat 1, Victoria Street, Kirkwall.

Honorary Sheriff Eric Green remanded Smith in custody for seven days and continued the case without plea until after the outcome of a requested psychiatric report.

Nature reserve commission for local artist

Orkney artist Frances Pelly has been commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage to produce a sculpture for a new visitor attraction within a national nature reserve.

The artist, based in Rendall, has designed an arched structure for the top of Knockan Crag in Wester Ross, which forms part of Inverpolly Nature Reserve.

Based on a geological mapping symbol, Scottish Natural Heritage say the structure will present a "striking appearance" to visitors walking the crag top trail.

High hopes of early livestock sale at Orkney Auction Mart

Rural Development Minister, Ross Finnie said on Thursday that livestock auctions would not restart before the end of August, but that island areas which have always been free of the disease, could be used as a testing ground for the reintroduction of "live" auctions at marts.

Orkney Auction Mart manager John Copland, told The Orcadian on Monday that arrangements were in place to restart sales as soon as SERAD (Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department) give the go-ahead. He estimated that the first sale could take place as early as mid-August, if there is no reoccurrence of foot-and-mouth in Scotland.

Garden patrols to increase after vandalism

Police will be carrying out additional patrols around Tankerness House Gardens in Kirkwall after a number of incidents of vandalism over the weekend.

Benches were thrown into the flower beds, stones were removed from the rockery and bottles and cans discarded within the scenic garden.

Meanwhile in the early hours of Saturday, three vehicles received minor damage when pot plants and soil were flung over them while parked in Quoybanks Place.

Police want to hear from anyone who may have information on either incident to get in touch in 872241.

Wallace set for week-long visit to China

Orkney MSP Jim Wallace left for China on Monday afternoon for a week-long visit in his role as Scotland's Minister of Justice.

Mr Wallace was in North Ronaldsay on Sunday before leaving Orkney for Beijing via London. He is due to meet the Chinese Minister of Justice during the visit and the Supreme People's Procuratorate to discuss victim support issues - China has long been accused of violating human rights.

Mr Wallace is also due to attend a Scottish Trade International reception on Thursday, before spending a day in Hong Kong.