Calling Orkney entrepreneurs

Four Orkney companies have travelled far in the scheme over the years – Orkney Shellfish, Gorn’s Menswear, Gorn Sport and Klaize, Hume Sweet Hume and Orkney Seafayre.

Anyone interested should visit www.shell-livewire.org.

Options listed for handling Dounreay radio-active particles

Amid local fears that radio-active particles from the Dounreay nuclear power station in Caithness are spreading to Orkney, the plant operators have launched a consultation exercise to decide what to do about them.

The listed options range from leaving the particles on the sea-bed, but collecting them from local beaches, to complete dredging and monitored disposal.

New area opens at Orkney Museum

A new area of the Orkney Museum opens to the public today as part of a new display dealing with the history of the building.

As part of Tankerness House's role as a residence and the history of the Baikie family who owned it, the top 'landing' of the museum will now be accessible to visitors.

Admission to the Orkney Museum is free.

Orkney trawler in Norwegian fishing row

An Orkney skipper is back home, a week after his ship was arrested and he was interrogated by Norwegian police for 24 hours.

After the Norwegian Navy boarded his trawler off Norway, Iain Harcus, skipper of the whitefish boat Aalskere and chairman of the Orkney Fisheries Association, faces an £8,000 fine for a logbook offence.

A court date has been set in Norway for February 21, but Mr Harcus says he will fight in a bid to reduce the fine.

Local vets protest as new abattoir inspectors visit

Representatives of the English company taking over abattoir inspections were due in Orkney this week amid concerns about their impact on local vets' jobs.

Leeds company Evelyn Jones start work at Orkney Meat on January 27, replacing local vets Northvet who have provided the service since 1980.

Although Evelyn Jones' successful tenders elsewhere have seen practices reducing vet numbers, Northvet have said their are no short-term plans to cut staff, although the loss of the contract will see a long-term reduction.

Summer demolition for old Phoenix?

The former Phoenix Cinema on Kirkwall's Junction Road looks set to be demolished this summer to make way for a development of flats.

Discussions between Orkney Housing Association, who are partners with Orkney Women’s Aid in the project, and Orkney Islands Council are continuing.

Jobcentre relocates to allow refurbishment work

Work transforming the Kirkwall Jobcentre into a new 'Pathfinder' office, amalgamating it with the Benefits Agency, is due to begin next week.

While work in the Tankerness Lane premises takes place, a temporary office will be set up in the Kirkwall Community Centre.

The disruption is only expected to last a week, with the refurbished office open again by January 20.

Icy conditions blamed for three-car road accident

The freezing temperatures took their toll on the roads on Wednesday morning with a three-car road accident blamed on the conditions.

The accident took place around 8.45am on the main Kirkwall-Stromness road at Binscarth.

There were no injuries.

Mounthoolie Lane fight witnesses required

Police are seeking Independent witnesses to a fight involving two groups of youths in Kirkwall on Tuesday.

The incident occurred in Mounthoolie Lane at 4.40pm yesterday afternoon and involved a group of six or seven boys.

Anyone with information should contact Kirkwall police on 872241.

Deerness eagle sightings confirmed

The "hunt" for an eagle began on Tuesday after a number of suspected sightings in the East Mainland.

The rare bird, thought to have made its home in the uninhabited island of Copinsay, has been spotted on a number of occasions over the past few days in Deerness.

An RSPB officer, who travelled out to Copinsay on Tuesday, confirmed that the bird is a juvenile sea eagle - a bird that can have a wingspan of up to 2.4 metres.

New Kirkwall dental clinic on cards?

The former Kirkwall showroom of Andrew Tait & Son could become the site of a new dental surgery.

A planning application has been lodged with the OIC for the change of use of the Great Western Road premises.

The building is owned by Mr Alistair Macleod of Easthill, Kirkwall, who confirmed on Tuesday that he was in negotiations with NHS Orkney about the possible use of the building.

World champion boxer's visit cancelled due to lack of interest

The visit to Orkney by former world champion boxer Ken Buchanan has been cancelled.

Ken Buchanan, the first living Scottish boxer to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame - was due to appear at a sports evening in the British Legion, Kirkwall, on Friday.

However, the event has been cancelled because of low ticket sales.

Tenth anniversary for Macmillan ward

Monday marked the tenth anniversary of the opening of Orkney's Macmillan ward for cancer patients.

The current Macmillan House in Kirkwall's Balfour Hospital was opened in March 2000, its predecessor at the Eastbank Hospital having opened on January 6, 1993.

Since the original campaign was launched in 1991, more than £300,000 has been raised in Orkney for the Macmillan Cancer Fund.

Information sought on New Year's Day assault

In what police say appeared to be an unprovoked attack, the boy was struck on the head with a piece of wood in Mill Street. He was taken to Balfour Hospital but did not require treatment.

Police are particularly anxious to talk to a group of youths seen in the area at the time.

Sanday boat burial named one of Scotland's top ten ancient treasures

The Scar boat burial dragon plaque - now in the Orkney Museum

The Scar Viking boat burial in Sanday has been named as one of Scotland's top ten ancient treasures - the only entry from Orkney.

Found in 1991, the burial is No 3 on a list compiled by Glasgow University's Dr Tony Pollard and archaeologist Neil Oliver. Its discovery prompted a race against time as archaeologists fought to excavate the site before it was destroyed by winter storms.

The excavation produced one of Orkney's most distinctive archaeological discoveries - the Scar whalebone plaque.

For more on the Scar Boat Burial, click here

Picky initiative to improve lifestyle of Orkney's workforce

As many return to the stresses and strains of work - perhaps a few festive pounds heavier - local companies are being invited to help employees fulfil some New Year resolutions.

The Pickaquoy Centre have launched a new health initiative open to companies with two or more employees.

The scheme will allow participants access to a range of facilities, with the intention of promoting a healthier, less stressful lifestyle for the county's workers.

Bronze medal to Sanday teenagers

Three young people in Sanday have been presented with Duke of Edinburgh bronze awards at a ceremony over the festive period.

Louisa Drever, Katrina Skea and Richard Thomson received their certificates at the island's entertainment evening held on December 28.

The teenagers are now setting the sights on the silver award.