January launch for hen harrier scheme?

A scheme to encourage Orkney landowners to reverse the decline of hen harriers may be launched by Scottish Natural Heritage in the New Year.

If the Scottish Executive approve the scheme, 90 Orkney farmers will be paid to recreate 1,500 acres of grassland around nesting sites.

A study published yesterday showed that in Orkney hen harriers have declined by over 70 per cent in the past 25 years. This, it claims, is due to intensive farming and the loss of hunting habitats.

Homeless cash is half the expected amount

The cash Orkney is to receive to deal with homelessness in the county is only £187,000 - half of the figure anticipated by the OIC.

Assistant director of housing John Richards has admitted that he had misread the Scottish Executive press release announcing the cash windfall.

He said in this week's The Orcadian that the housing department were expecting around £400,000 over the next two years - but it has now been confirmed that the total for both years is £187,000.

Police festive crackdown continues

Three people have so far been reported to the procurator fiscal since the start of the police's annual festive drink driving campaign.

Three drivers have also been caught speeding in the crackdown, according to Inspector David Miller.

Man in court on child pornography charges

A man appeared at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday on charges relating to child pornography.

Andrew Graydon Cooke (54) was released on bail.

Cooke's appearance comes shortly after a series of police raids on properties in Orkney.

Archive story: Four properties targeted in child porn raids

Witnesses sought to Kirkwall car vandalism

Police are seeking witnesses after five cars were damaged in Kirkwall on Thursday night.

The vehicles were parked near the Orkney Hotel in Victoria Street. Police are keen to talk to three youths seen nearby.

Tagged offender sent to prison

One of the first offenders in Orkney to be electronically tagged has been sent to prison.

A curfew was placed on Carl James Howley (18) in November, after he admitted a series of break-ins at the Anchor Buildings in Kirkwall. His compliance was to be monitored by an electronic tagging system.

Appearing at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday afternoon after breaking the terms of the restriction order, Howley was jailed for 15 months.

Archive story: Break-in pair avoid custody but are first to be tagged

OIC "common sense" approach to school photography

Orkney Islands Council have taken what it describes as a "common sense" approach to parents photographing schoolchildren.

In the wake of the national media furore after an Edinburgh council banned cameras at a school nativity play, the OIC have issued guidelines on the issue.

A spokesman said: "The Council does not feel it necessary to ban the use of videos or cameras but has given authority to individual head teachers or managers to consider the appropriateness of each individual circumstance."

Strike should not cause disruption

Travellers flying to Orkney for the festive season should face no disruption at Aberdeen Airport, despite the threat of a baggage handlers’ strike.

Around 60 staff at the airport are involved in a pay dispute with management and are set to strike from Friday until Boxing Day.

A spokesman for British Airports Authority said they were confident, as they were on the previous strike days, that flights would not be disrupted by the action of the baggage handlers.

OIC "common sense" approach to school photography

Orkney Islands Council have taken what it describes as a "common sense" approach to parents photographing schoolchildren.

In the wake of the national media furore after an Edinburgh council banned cameras at a school nativity play, the OIC have issued guidelines on the issue.

A spokesman said: "The Council does not feel it necessary to ban the use of videos or cameras but has given authority to individual head teachers or managers to consider the appropriateness of each individual circumstance."

Jewson in talks to buy Orkney firm

Orkney firm DAG Kynoch look set to be bought by national builder's merchant Jewson.

Jewson stated this week that it is their intention for the transaction to go through in early 2003. They also anticipate that Brian Kynoch would stay on to manage the new company.

The Kynoch family will retain ownership of Orkney Glass Fibre, which will trade independently from January 1 as Orkney Glass Fibre Ltd.

Lack of male teachers highlights Orkney's recruiting problems

Orkney was one of three authorities in Scotland to recruit no male teachers last year, according to the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

All three island councils – Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles - were highlighted in a report which showed a serious decline in the numbers of men entering the teaching profession.

Director of Education, Mr Leslie Manson, explained that Orkney was having great difficulty recruiting teachers at all.

Success sees the return of Westray's Winter Warmers

Following its success last year, a special deal to encourage out-of-season visits to Westray has been launched in the run-up to Christmas.

Islanders who helped design the Westray Winter Warmers initiative hope it will be seen as an ideal way to provide an unusual present for family and friends.

Patients in the St Ninian Ward of Kirkwall's Balfour Hospital have been given an early Christmas present with the completion of a ward refurbishment partly funded by Flotta terminal operators Talisman.

The company gave £50,000 earlier this year, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the terminal. £30,000 from NHS Orkney's endowment funds was added to complete the makeover.

An official handover ceremony will take place at the ward, which is home to 30 patients, on Thursday afternoon.

Lottery cash for garden association

Burray and South Ronaldsay Garden Association have received £956 in lottery money to go towards a plant propagation pilot for members.

The group, who maintain a community garden at Marengo, St Margaret's Hope, will also use the National Lottery, Awards for All money to purchase large items of gardening equipment.

Kirkwall woman dies in harbour accident

A Kirkwall woman died in an accident at Kirkwall Pier during the early hours of Saturday morning.

The woman's body was recovered from the water near the ferry linkspan after police had received a report at 2.30am that she had fallen into the sea.

The dead woman was named as Mary Ann Griffiths, aged 34, of Craigie Crescent, Kirkwall.

Orkney Rugby Club in action against Linlithgow.

Orkney Rugby Club lost their match against Division Three side Linlithgow in the BT Shield on Saturday afternoon.

Orkney looked to be in a strong position at 17-17 three-quarters of the way through the match, but three converted tries by Linlithgow in the final stages of the match meant Orkney lost by a substantial margin. Final score: 17-38.

In the mini rugby tournament in Dounby, the P4/5 winners were St Andrews and the P6/7 winners were Dounby. Both teams won without losing a match.