Unitarian meeting in Kirkwall

Monthly meetings for a faith 'helping people to find their own truth' have started in Orkney, as one woman tries to fulfil her dreams of setting up a Unitarian faith in the county.

Lesley McKeown from Shapinsay has made it her mission to share the faith with willing Orcadians.

The third monthly meeting took place in the Pickaquoy Centre on Sunday.

MP takes part in Make a Difference Day

Orkney MP Alistair Carmichael was armed with a trowel on Saturday afternoon as he took part in a national volunteering campaign.

As part of Make a Difference Day, Mr Carmichael joined members of the Stromness Flower Club and Stromness Garden Club planting spring bulbs around the roundabout in the north of the town.

Make a Difference Day asks people to donate their time to worthwhile local causes or projects.

Stromness bids farewell to Northern Lighthouse Board

The Northern Lighthouse Board ended its 100 year association with Stromness on Friday afternoon with the transfer of the ownership of the 'Pole Star Pier' to Orkney Islands Council.

Piper Archie Johnstone played as the NLB flag was lowered and the OIC flag raised in its place.

Then the MV Pharos, under Captain Eric Smith, cast off sailing away from the pier for the last time, with the piper playing on deck.

King Scallop ban imposed

The ban is because of high levels of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) toxins detected in the area.

Two more members of Orkney’s Territorial Army detachment have been called up for service in the Gulf.

Platoon commander Lieutenant Roy Keldie and Highlander Christopher Muir are due to leave for a training posting in Chilwell next month before heading to Iraq.

The pair are due to leave Orkney shortly after the three TA servicemen who are currently on duty in the Gulf return to Orkney after completing their tour.

Two month's jail for counterfeiter

A counterfeiter was sentenced to two month in prison at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Keith Francis Flett Dennison, of Craigie Crescent, Kirkwall, pleaded guilty to making counterfeit notes at his home address between July 12 and July 15, 2003.

He also admitted tendering £80 worth of money he knew to be counterfeit £20 notes at premises in Kirkwall and Stromness.

Probation for downloading indecent photographs

A Finstown resident has been sentenced to two years probation at Inverness Sheriff Court on Wednesday for downloading indecent photographs of children from the Internet.

Andrew Cooke (56) was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years, ordered to attend a sex offenders' rehabilitation course and given 100 hours community service.

Cooke was arrested in December 2002 following the worldwide Operation Ore child pornography investigations.

Killer driver's sentence is increased

The Aberdeen man found guilty of killing Orcadian teenager Robert Banks in a road race last year has had his sentence increased by the Court of Appeal in Edinburgh.

Christopher Stalker (22) was originally sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after hitting pedestrian Robert Banks in Aberdeen in April last year.

The sentence, previously described as an insult by Robert Banks' mother, went to the Court of Appeal where it was today increased to four years.

Sun spot activity could herald further Aurora displays

Solar image - full disc, 1352 GMT. 100mm photovisual refractor.

A large sun spot is clearly visible on the sun at present - the largest spot of the current cycle according to Rousay astronomer John Vetterlein.

"The sun spot is readily visible to the naked eye," said Mr Vetterlein, "but people must take the necessary precautions before viewing the sun."

There was a display of 'Merry Dancers' (Aurora Borealis) last night and with the current levels of sun activity, John suggests watching out for further displays.

Kirkwall man remanded in custody

Simon Rendall (25) of Holm Road, Kirkwall, appeared in private at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

He was fully committed and remanded in custody after being charged with assault to severe injury following an alleged serious assault in a house in Kirkwall on September 7.

Government must protect islands' fishermen says Carmichael

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has called on the UK Government to make a 'robust case' for Orkney and Shetland fishermen following EU scientist's recommendations for a total ban on fishing cod in the North Sea.

Mr Carmichael said: "If these recommendations are implemented - without modification or compensation - there is a very real risk that entire communities in the Northern Isles will be lost. Then there will be no industry left once cod stocks recover fully."

Tankerness House hosts launch of new Baikie book

A new book documenting the story of the Baikie family of Tankerness was launched on Tuesday evening in the Orkney Museum, Kirkwall.

The book Profit not Loss - The Story of the Baikies of Tankerness is by former museums officer Bryce Wilson. The launch venue is particularly significant as Tankerness House was originally the Baikies' town house.

The book is available from local bookshops.

End of an era for 'Pole Star pier'

The pier, known locally as "the Pole Star Pier", will become part of the OIC Harbour's Department, providing additional berthing, storage for the Marine Energy Test Centre and possibly housing the proposed floating "hotel" development.

The NLB has been part of Stromness life for over a century so the final departure of the MV Pharos after the official ceremony on Friday will undoubtedly be a poignant moment for the townsfolk.

St Rognvald crewmen hospitalised after lifeboat accident

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) are sending officers north to investigate an incident on board the St Rognvald at the weekend.

Five crewmen were rescued from Lerwick harbour shortly before noon on Saturday after a suspected lifeboat recovery ring/hook failure threw the men 30 feet down the side of the cargo vessel into the water. The incident had followed an exercise and the recovery of the lifeboat.

The five crewmen were taken to hospital, where three were later discharged.

Airport passenger numbers continue to increase

The number of passengers using Kirkwall airport is continuing to increase.

Figures for the second quarter of 2003/04, issued by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), a total of 61,746 passengers - a 4.4 per cent increase. September alone had an increase of 9.8 per cent over the same period last year.

The increase is in line with figures for the rest of the Highlands and Islands, which showed an increase of more than 40,000 passengers.

Bus station fire believed deliberate

Kirkwall Fire Brigade were called to attend a fire at the Great Western Road bus station in Kirkwall on Friday afternoon.

A single unit of firefighters attended the incident, which although not a major fire, is understood to have been started deliberately.

Man escapes injury in Firth road accident

A 43-year-old man escaped serious injury on Friday after his vehicle and trailer left the road at Davie's Brig outside Finstown.

According to a police spokesman, the driver lost control of the vehicle after his tar-laden trailer began fishtailing.

The vehicle ended up on its roof in the middle of the road while the load of tar ended up in a field.

2001