Young Hawick team hand Orkney their fourth league defeat of the season

Orkney Rugby Club's First XV were beaten 22-7 on Saturday - their fourth consecutive defeat in the division four north national league.

Orkney faced a young Hawick YM team at Pickaquoy with only the relative inexperience of the visitors preventing a more devastating defeat. Orkney's only try came from Al Watson a few minutes after kick-off.

Most of the points were scored in the first half, the very poor second being described as 'monotonous and boring'.

New councillor calls for a cut in numbers

Councillor Alistair Gordon

OIC councillor for Firth and Sunnybrae, Alistair Gordon, wants to see a reduction from 21 councillors to between eight and ten, with a salary of £25,000-£30,000 per annum.

Responding to the draft Local Governance Bill, Councillor Gordon suggested that these measures would enable more people to stand for election without adding burden on the tax payer.

Holm hosts Wedding Fayre

A Wedding Fayre was held in Holm at the weekend to promote the local community centre as a venue for romantic couples.

The centre's Graeme Room is an approved area for civil marriages and was specially decorated as such when the centre was being refurbished.

The fayre ran on Saturday and Sunday and featured displays from local retail outlets that include wedding dresses, menswear, jewellery, flowers, stationery, cogs, gifts, cakes, travel arrangements and car hire.

Shetland Declaration marks end of North Atlantic conference

The Shetland Declaration promises co-operation between the signatories and undertakes to look at joint action to strengthen conservation efforts and cultural links in the area.

The declaration was signed by Ministers and representatives from Orkney, Shetland, Norway, Iceland, the Faroes, Greenland, Scotland and the Nordic Council.

Orkney was represented at the conference by Vice Convener Jim Sinclair and Councillor Ann Sutherland.

OIC tackle asbestos risk

Councillors on the land and property sub-committee heard on Friday that the OIC has a duty to assess all industrial, commercial and public buildings, including schools, libraries, leisure centres and council offices, by May 21, 2004.

Importing radioactive waste to Dounreay would set a dangerous precedent say Orkney's parliamentary representatives.

Orkney MSP Jim Wallace and Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, have come out against plans to store the waste from decommissioned nuclear submarines at Dounreay.

Click here for full story

Orkney Today launched but weather delays arrival in shops

Orkney's new newspaper, Orkney Today, was launched in Kirkwall on Thursday evening. But weather conditions in the Pentland Firth on Friday delayed its arrival in the shops.

The newspaper, which is printed in Dingwall, finally went on sale around 10.30am on Friday.

With an editorial staff of three, the newspaper is The Orcadian's first competition since The Orkney Herald closed down in 1961.

Bus fight prompts OIC to issue warning about transport provision

A report is to be submitted to the children's panel after a fight broke out on a school bus on Tuesday.

As a direct result Orkney Islands Council, who provide school transport, have warned parents and pupils that persistent bad behaviour could result in the permanent withdrawal of the service to the youngsters concerned.

The police were called by the bus driver after two pupils began fighting about 4pm on Tuesday as the bus was travelling through St Mary's in Holm.

Orkney Islands Council have bought the Northern Lighthouse Pier and premises in Stromness, fuelling speculation over the future use of the property.

Options for the future use of the pier and premises will now be looked at including a floating hotel and work relating to the Marine Energy Test Centre in Stromness.

The NLB closed the Stromness depot in December 2002 with the loss of six jobs.

Groattie Hoose is on the move

Kirkwall's Groattie Hoose looks set to be relocated, thanks to cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund..

The Groattie Hoose was built in 1730 using some of the ballast from Pirate Gow's ship, the Revenge.

But although it once stood in a townhouse garden, it is now difficult to access and in a "sorry state".

Work transferring the structure to a new spot in Tankerness House gardens is expected to begin early in 2004.

Desert Island Chefs focuses on The Creel

The Creel's owner and chef Alan Craigie's was "rescued" and was given the chance to thank presenter Andrea Brymer with a sumptuous three-course meal.

Picky to re-open on Saturday evenings

The Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall is set to reopen its doors to the public on Saturday evenings, from November 8.

A decision was made earlier this year to cut the weekend opening hours to save cash. In July the complex closed its doors at 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays - saving in the region of £15,000 for the remainder of the financial year.

But thanks to public interest and demand, the centre is to return to its original 8pm closing time on Saturdays.

Cooke sentencing deferred due to computer delay

The case against a Finstown resident, arrested following child pornography investigations last year, was deferred on Wednesday.

Andrew Cooke (55) had pled guilty to "taking or permitting to be taken or making 200 indecent photographs or pseudo-photos of children."

The case, at Inverness Sheriff Court, had been deferred for background reports and for the installation of computer equipment to allow the sheriff to view the images if necessary.

But because the equipment had not been installed in time, sentence was further deferred until October 22.

Burray folk plan school protest

For the third time in as many years the people of Burray are planning to stage a peaceful demonstration outside the OIC offices in Kirkwall protest at plans to shelve the rebuilding of their school.

The meet is planned for next Thursday ­ coinciding with the full council meeting, when the school's fate will be decided, yet again.

The Orcadian Online activity continues to grow

A grand total of 147,509 page views were logged over the month, with a daily average of 4,916. There were 59,326 visits logged over the same period.

The latest figures show a 66 per cent increase in activity since December 2002.

Funding boost for Pier Arts Centre extension plans

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded £1.16 million towards the project, which is designed to ensure the centre continues to develop and flourish as an arts centre of international standing for Orkney, Scotland and the UK as a whole.

The award represents a major step towards total costs of £4.5 million and follows an earlier announcement of a £2 million grant from the Scottish Arts Council.

Archive story: Ambitious £4.2 plans revealed for Pier Arts Centre

The Creel named Scottish Restaurant of the Year

The Creel Restaurant in St Margaret’s Hope has been awarded the title of ‘Scottish Restaurant of the Year’ by the ‘Which’ Good Food Guide.

The restaurant has achieved the highest marks awarded by the guide in Scotland for the second year running.

The accolade comes hot on the heels of The Creel's Taste of Orkney Award for Best Evening Meal last week.

Young Orcadians urged to 'walk tall and chill'

Orkney's Fusion Nightclub will host an event next week to allow Orkney's S3 pupils to discuss issues affecting young people today.

'Walk Tall and Chill' takes place next Monday and Tuesday, as part of Mental Health Week, and aims to raise the profile and awareness of mental health and well-being issues affecting young people.

Big Brother winner Cameron Stout is opening the event on both days.

Pickaquoy Centre hosts Career Convention

An event for anyone interested in learning, training and employment took place in Kirkwall on Tuesday.

The Orkney Careers Convention 2003 featured 36 exhibitors - including a wide range of colleges, universities and training organisations, the armed forces, merchant navy and other organisations promoting career opportunities.

Papdale pioneers healthy eating plan

The Papdale Residents Association in Kirkwall has received a grant of nearly £3,000 from the Scottish Community Diet Project (SCDP) to provide subsidised fruit to local people, school children and the elderly through the local community shop - Papdale Stores.

The project is hoped to be up and running before the end of the year.

Laura Grimond Award winners announced

Russland Mill, Harray, one of the four recipients of this year's Laura Grimond Awards

The four winners of the 2003 Laura Grimond awards were announced on Monday afternoon.

Run by Orkney Heritage Society, the awards aim to encourage, promote and recognise outstanding building and renovation work that retains and enhances the character of old Orkney buildings.

Click here for full details of this year's award winners.

Fault knocks out power to 1,200 homes

Around 1200 homes were left without power on Monday after a technical fault hit supplies to Evie, Rousay, Egilsay and Westray.

The power went down around noon but was restored to all areas within 75 minutes.

A Hydro-Electric spokesman blamed the power cut on a broken jumper on the main power line near the Heddle Quarry in Firth.

Police seek witnesses to Bridge Street assault

A report is to be sent to the procurator fiscal following an assault in Kirkwall's Bridge Street on Saturday night.

A 19-year-old man was taken to the Balfour Hospital with head injuries, and later discharged after treatment. An 18-year-man was apprehended by police and has been charged with assault.

Kirkwall Inspector David Miller said they were appealing for witnesses to come forward, or anyone with information to get in touch on 872241.

Stromness powers up for Renewable Realities conference

The first Renewable Realities conference attracted over 200 delegates from 12 countries. The 2003 conference promises to be even bigger with a week-long programme including a special Community Day as well as workshops and presentations focusing on larger commercial scale developments and broader strategic issues.

For more information about the Renewable Realities conference, click here.

HIE appoint new director of strengthening communities

As director of strengthening communities, Mr Watt has responsibility for managing a 27-strong group focusing on community regeneration, social inclusion, the voluntary sector, arts and culture, transport, community land and community energy.

Radio Orkney's winter season of evening broadcasts begins today - and this year there is good news for web surfers across the planet.

This year, the local radio station's evening programmes will be available via the Internet, just as the Around Orkney morning news programme has been for some time. Click here for link.

Today also sees the start of a second daily news bulletin from Radio Orkney, broadcast on 93.7FM at 12.54pm.

Inexperienced Orkney side fall to Earlston

Orkney Rugby Club's run of bad luck continued on Saturday with the First XV beaten in their latest Division Four North league game.

Earlston beat Orkney 47-22 - the defeat accredited to player inexperience and a run of mistakes.

Next week the Firsts play Hawick YM in Kirkwall.

2001