Royal appointment for Kirkwall minister

East Church minister Allan McCafferty had a royal appointment at the weekend - staying with the Queen at Balmoral.

Rev McCafferty was invited to give a sermon at Craithie Parish Church, where the Queen attends Sunday services.

Sandwick kirk opens for national event

St Peter's Kirk.

Sandwick's refurbished St Peter's Kirk was one of the many buildings opening to the public at the weekend as part of an national event.

The kirk, by Skaill Bay, was open on Sunday as part of the Doors Open Day scheme - an event that forms Scotland's contribution of European Heritage Days.

As well as display boards showing how the massive renovation project was carried out, architects Pentarq attended.

Executive cash to introduce speed limits around schools

Orkney Islands Council are to receive £160,000 from the Scottish Executive to introduce 20mph speed limits around school areas.

The grant will also be used for other related safety projects to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.

The cash, part of a nationwide £2.324 million funding package, will be paid to the OIC over three years.

Shopping week reins passed to Isabel Wishart

Isabel Wishart takes over from Jacqueline Wishart, who stood down this year after three years at the helm.

Jacqueline, who remains on the committee, said her time as chairman could not have gone better, but she felt it was now time to let someone else have a "spell in the hot seat".

Weekend of Blues as 2003 Festival gets under way

Friday's Umbrella Parade in Stromness. (Umbrella Parade (Pic MMcLeod/Style Studio)

Orkney was in the grip of the Blues this weekend - but it had nothing to do with the deteriorating weather or the lengthening nights.

The fourth annual Orkney Blues Festival kicked off on Friday afternoon with the children of Stromness participating in an umbrella parade through the streets of the town.

The parade marked the start of three days of music across the county. Among the visiting acts were Dr Feelgood and Steve Gibbons. Click here for full programme.

Caithness police seek missing man

Police in Thurso are appealing for information after a man was reported missing from a Caithness hostel last week.

Daniel Forrest Sirrell (49) (aka David Barnes) is understood to travel extensively throughout the county and police are now concerned for his safety.

It is possible he has made his way to Orkney, Sirrell is described as being 5ft 9", of strong build with red/auburn hair and a weather-beaten complexion.

Anyone with information should contact 01847 893222.

Pneumococcal vaccination clinics

Over 3,000 people will be offered a vaccination in October, which helps protect against pneumococcal infection - a cause of severe forms of pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and meningitis.

The vaccination - which for most will only be needed once - will be offered alongside the annual flu jab at special surgeries in the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall starting on October 7 and at other smaller GP surgeries.

Injured crewman hospitalised

The Wick-registered Boy Shane contacted Shetland coastguard about the accident and a doctor advised that the man be taken ashore as soon as possible.

The lifeboat reached the fishing boat 35 miles west of Stromness at 3.30pm and returned to Stromness at 5pm, where the man was transferred to Balfour Hospital.

Mainland GPs to cover Flotta

Flotta's doctor will be replaced by visiting GPs from Stromness under a one-year pilot project announced this week.

Under the scheme, community nursing would be provided from Hoy, with night cover from the occupational health team at Talisman's oil terminal.

NHS Orkney has been running the Flotta practice since the death of Dr George Drever in January.

Sound and lighting earns award for Fusion nightclub

Kirkwall's new nightclub and music venue, Fusion, has won a prestigious award for its sound and lighting system.

The club picked up the award at the Bar Entertainment and Dance Association (BEDA) awards.

Fusion will now got forward as the Scottish representative in next week's national finals.

Plans unveiled for new Kirkwall health centre

Artist's impression of the planned new Kirkwall health centre

Plans for a new primary care centre to house the two largest GP practices in Orkney were unveiled this week.

The proposed state-of-the art building will offer chiropody, social services, dentistry, community nursing teams and general medical services to around 11,000 patients.

Work on the 2,600 square metre centre on New Scapa Road is hoped to start early in 2004 with an expected completion date of spring 2005.

Counterfeit trial adjourned until October

Keith Francis Flett Dennison (28) of Craigie Crescent has pled guilty to making counterfeit £10 and £20 notes at his home in July and also tendering £100 worth of counterfeit money at a number of local shops.

The case continues at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on October 22.

Orkney to benefit from new whisky tourism plans

Orkney's Highland Park distillery is to play a key role in a new initiative to attract visitors to Scotland.

The Scotch Whisky and Tourism Initiative was launched today by Orkney MSP and Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace on Wednesday, and a Scotch Whisky Tourism Development Manager appointed.

Mr Wallace said: "The work between tourism and whisky is to be applauded two great Scottish industries joining forces for the benefit of Scotland and Orkney."

Community Safety Forum to launch strategy

The five year strategy will focus on the broad aspects of community safety fundamental to ensuring the safety and health of the community in Orkney.

Speaking ahead of the launch, OIC Convener Stephen Hagan said: "Community safety means different things to different people but the common thread is creating a healthy, caring community where people can live, work and travel in safety without the fear or risk of harm."

Heritage fund challenge Orcadians to get involved in their culture

"Heritage matters to the quality of all our lives. It not only gives us great pride but pays huge dividends in terms of education, tourism and community regeneration," explained HLF's Helen Macdonald. "But, ignored or treated with indifference, it will gradually fade away. We need to encourage new audiences to take an interest to prevent that from happening."

The fund's challenge will be issued at the Developing Heritage in the Highlands & Islands conference in Inverness today.

Heritage Lottery Fund website: www.hlf.org.uk

Don't touch the selkies warns SSPCA

Young seals found on the shoreline have not necessarily been abandoned although anyone in any doubt should contact the Orkney Seal Rescue Centre on 831463.

Anyone encountering a seal pup should stay back and never try to pick up or handle the animal - seals will bite and can transmit disease to humans.

Anger at proposal to put new Burray school back on hold

A new Burray school could be put on hold again - almost a year after councillors agreed to reinstate the project on the OIC spending programme.

Speaking at Tuesday's meeting of the OIC policy and resources committee, Councillor Mike Drever called for the amalgamation of the Burray and St Margaret's Hope schools.

"We are proposing to spend £1.2 million on a new school in Burray when there is a school half empty, three and a half miles away." he said.

Parents reacted in anger at the decision and plan to resume a series of protests.

Archive story:Relief in Burray as councillors
reinstate school construction plans

CCTV trial goes through to full council

A three month trial of CCTV cameras in Kirkwall's Town Centre got the go ahead by councillors on Tuesday.

Councillors at the meeting of the OIC's policy and resources committee supported the trial in Broad Street, Harbour Street and the junction of Burnmouth Road and Great Western Road.

The £9,000 cost will be met by Orkney Enterprise and the OIC, if ratified by the full council on October 9.

Overwhelming support for Picky Centre funding request

Orkney's Pickaquoy Centre.

Expressing overwhelming support for the leisure centre, members at Tuesday's OIC policy and resources committee meeting agreed to recommend an extra £100,000 be made available to the centre.

Members heard that the Pickaquoy Centre's projected income from April to June was 14 per cent down on the budgeted figure, while their expenditure was four per cent higher.

Council properties to enhance wireless broadband service

Councillors on today's policy and resources committee meeting agreed in principle to the proposals - which will allow equipment to be installed on OIC properties thus allowing the wireless networks to cover a greater area and reach more customers.

The Highlands and Islands Enterprise scheme aims to provide consumer broadband to all areas of Orkney by 2005.

See also: HIE launches wireless broadband company

Weather conditions delay Hamnavoe

The strong winds affected the MV Hamnavoe today, with delays in sailings across the Pentland Firth.

This morning's 9am scheduled sailing left at 10.30am. The 12.30pm sailing from Scrabster was to leave at 1.30pm arriving in Stromness at 3.30pm.

NorthLink said that all further sailings may be affected my weather conditions.

Orkney wastes £2 million in energy a year says Scottish Hydro Electric

Orkney householders are being urged to cut down on electricity as it is claimed the islands waste over £2 million worth of energy annually.

Released as part of Energy Efficiency Week, the figures come from Scottish Hydro Electric in the hope they can encourage a reduction in energy usage.

The company have also set up an advice line (0845 777 6633) to help customers save energy and money.

Orkney's food 'Oscar' winners

Orkney's food "Oscars" were announced on Saturday night, at a gala dinner celebrating the county's food and drink.

The event, organised by Orkney Quality Food and Drink, saw awards presented in five categories:

• Best Evening Meal: The Creel Restaurant, St Margaret's Hope.
• Best Lunch/High Tea: Julia's Cafe, Stromness
• Best Takeaway: The Original Orkney Hamper Company, Stromness.
• Best Retailer: Judith Glue, Kirkwall.
• Best Supplier: The Orkney Creamery, St Ola.

Airport passenger figures on the increase

Passengers through Kirkwall Airport continues to increase, with August's figures up on the same period last year.

The airport, operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, handled 11,055 passengers, an increase of 5.4 per cent on 2002.

2001