Burnside heifer is East Mainland Champion

The overall beef champion and also Champion of Champions at Saturday's East Mainland Show was a two-year-old heifer in calf, owned by John W. Hepburn of Burnside, Tankerness.

The animal was last year's Aberdeen Angus champion at the County Show.

July shatters website records

July has shattered visitor records to The Orcadian Online with 60,000 visits and 125,108 page impressions in the month.

This is an increase of 16,945 pages and 4,345 visits over our previous record-breaking month, May 2003.

July's figures work out at an average of 4,035 pages viewed daily and 1,936 visits.

Thieves Holm navigation light work begins

Work to construct a navigational light on Thieves Holm in Kirkwall Bay began on Friday.

A chartered helicopter transported construction materials out to the uninhabited islet to allow the construction of the three metre high light.

The move follows a request from a number of mariners to place a light to aid passage into Kirkwall Bay.

Chicago, New York, Africa...No sign of Big Brother winner coming home yet

Big Brother winner Cameron Stout has flown out to the USA for a short visit to friends in Chicago.

Although Cameron, who won the national TV show last Friday night, is hoping to return to Orkney soon, he is also tipped to be flying out to Africa for the final of their Big Brother programme.

Airport travellers on the increase

The number of travellers using Kirkwall Airport is increasing, according to figures released by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

June 2003 saw 10,460 people travel through the airport, compared to 10,188 for the same period in 2002. The 2003/2004 running total has increased by 3.5 per cent.

Thank you for everything - BB winner's message home

Big Brother Cameron Stout has sent a message home to the people of Orkney - a short letter he sent to The Orcadian earlier this week.

It reads: "Dear all, A huge 'thank-you' to everyone at home who picked up the phone to voted for me during this year's Big Brother.

"I am completely overwhelmed by the support from home and of course delighted by the result. Hope to see you as soon as possible. Once again, thank you. Cameron."

No interest in Flotta GP position

Flotta is still without a resident doctor and there is little prospect of any change in the near future.

NHS Orkney's medical director, Alex Clark, told board members that despite repeated adverts to attract a GP to the island, there had been "absolutely no interest".

NHS Orkney are looking at alternate arrangements for the island which will be presented to the board in September.

Cash prize remains unclaimed by Orkney Premium Bond owner

Despite stories in the local and national media, the owner of Bond number 79EZ070359 - who has won a £5,000 prize - has failed to come forward and is among the top ten missing prize winners in Scotland.

Anyone who thinks they might have won a prize can log on to www.nsandi.com and enter their premium bond number to check or call 0845 964 5000.

Woman in court in connection with serious assault

A 21-year-old woman appeared in private at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Tuesday in connection with a serious assault in Kirkwall on Sunday.

Theresa Weatherhill made no plea or declaration and was released on bail.

Extended route for OIC airport bus

In an effort to boost the numbers using the service, the new OIC airport bus is to start a new extended route from Monday, August 4.

Following suggestions from passengers, the Airport Bus will now go past or close to:· Highland Park Distillery, Lynnfield Hotel, Royal Oak Guest House, The Orkney Hotel, Albert Hotel, Orkney Ferries' office, Queen's Hotel, Kirkwall Hotel St Ola Hotel and the Ayre Hotel.

An OIC spokesman said: ""It makes sense to help boost [passenger] numbers further by sending the bus past more of the accommodation providers. The bus will continue to pick up and drop off passengers at Broad Street as previously."

Spring 2004 target for HITRANS air network proposals

Having secured political support for the introduction of improved air services in the Highlands and Islands, HITRANS, have confirmed their Spring 2004 target for taking their proposals to the European Commission.

In the meantime the organisation will continue to work with the Scottish Executive to finalise the case for improved and cheaper flights around the Highlands and Islands area.

Archive stories:Action urged on Air Service
Report could see new air age for Orkney

Skald 2003 festival website goes live

A website for the second 'Orkney Skald' writing festival next month has now been launched containing full details of the event and booking information.

The event, billed as "an international celebration of writing" takes placed between August 20 and 24.

Click here to the the Skald 2003 website.

NHS Orkney invite dental registrations

Over 3,500 people in Orkney will be receiving forms next week inviting them to register with a NHS dentist.

These are the patients deregistered from the Scapa Dental Centre last year.

This is the first step in re-registering some of the 7,000 people who lost their NHS dentist when the Scapa Clinic decided to operate a mainly private practice.

Witnesses sought to Mounthoolie assault

Kirkwall police are appealing for information after a man was assaulted outside the Bothy Bar in Kirkwall’s Mounthoolie Place between 1am and 1.30am on Saturday.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 872241.

Woman charged after alleged Kirkwall stabbing

A woman was taken into custody at the weekend after an alleged stabbing in Kirkwall. She was released on Monday morning..

The alleged incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in the Papdale housing estate. A man was taken to Balfour Hospital where his condition was said to be not serious.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kirkwall police on 872241.

August launch for Sea Change book

Sea Change: Orkney and Northern Europe in the later Iron Age is being published by the Orkney Heritage Society and will be officially launched at a reception in Orkney College on Thursday, August 14.

Although the book launch is invitation only, Sea Change will be available from local bookshops thereafter, priced £18.50.

Awaiting the outcome - Stromness last night

Stromness was celebrating on Friday night as hundreds turned out to see Cameron Stout win the Big Brother reality TV programme.

The tension in the Stromness could be felt in the minutes leading up to the announcement, as the crowds gathered in Cameron's home town to watch the final on a screen erected outside the Town House.

When the winner's name was announced the town erupted with champagne and cheers. And as the hours wore on, there was no sign of the party abating.

Click here for full story

2001