Orkney surgeon Mr Maeir Al-Mukhtar, originally from Iraq, is to return home, for an year, to help rebuild hospitals in Bagdhad.

He says he is to take a sabatical to help in the rebuilding of the Iraq health service, and although unsure of the exact role he will play, he says he will be working between the health ministry and the main hospital complex in Baghdad.

The post of his interim replacement is currently being advertised by NHS Orkney.

A9 service station ban to remain

Highland Council members have ignored the recommendation of their planning committee and upheld the 20-year ban on roadside development on the A9 Inverness to Perth road.

Fears over jobs in the villages near the road was one of the reasons put forward for the ban to remain.

The road safety argument put forward for having service stations alongside the road was said to be not strong.

School information available on new website

A new website which gives parents in the Orkney instant and easy access to information on every Scottish school was launched this week by Education Minister Peter Peacock.

Scottish Schools Online, part of the Parentzone site, offers local information and provides parents with a clear picture of schools' achievements.

The website includes:

• School exam results
• Attendance and absence rates
• School leaver destinations
• Information on the number of pupils taking free school meals
• Links to school inspection reports and school websites

The site can be accessed at: www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk

OIC take over memorial maintenance

Responsibility for the maintenance of Kirkwall’s war memorial was moved to Orkney Islands Council at the St Magnus Cathedral sub-committee meeting on Wednesday.

It was recommended by Kirkwall Community Council that OIC should take responsibility for the maintenance of the memorial.

Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Jim Sinclair, said: “This is clearly well beyond the means of the community council.”

Scapa Flow king scallop ban lifted

King scallops may be taken from most of Scapa Flow with the lifting of the ban by the Food Standards Agency.

However, the agency pointed out that each batch of the scallops collected from the area must be taken to an approved plant for shucking and must be accompanied during transport by a movement document.

The ban on the area known as Box 018 had been put in place because high levels of the toxin causing amnesic shellfish poisoning had been found.

Disappointment over grant level

The Councils grant figures announced on Wednesday by the Scottish Executive for the financial years 2004/05 and 2005/06 are merely confirmation of the figures which Orkney Islands Council were notified of last year.

Commenting on the announcement the Convener, Stephen Hagan, said: "The grant figures were disappointing then and they remain disappointing now. In essence we will be getting an additional grant next year of £3.1M and an extra £1.8M the year after. Out of the £3.1M it will cost the Council at least that sum just to continue with the present level of service.

Poll indicates lack of support for 'Flotel'

Plans to berth a floating hotel in Stromness have been given the thumbs down, according to the results of the latest online poll conducted on The Orcadian’s website.

More than 400 votes were cast in the poll.

Those who took part in the survey voted two to one against the proposals, to berth the so-called flotel alongside the Northern Lighthouse Board pier in Stromness, which the OIC took over in October.

The Earl Sigurd's damaged engine, which was removed on Wednesday. (Picture: Alasdair Henderson) More pictures

The Earl Sigurd is unlikely to be back in service before the end of March, unless Orkney Ferries can find a way to speed up repair work.

Ferry manager Alasdair Henderson said representatives from Mirrlees Blackstone had inspected the damaged engine and given their estimate of how long the work would take.

Mr Henderson said if the ferry was not back in service earlier, the company would have to look at other options such as chartering another vessel.

Orkney Ferries has announced details of an extra north isles service for Saturdays December 20 and 27.

The confirmed timetable for December 20 is: Depart Kirkwall 16.00; arrive Eday 17.15, depart 17.30; arrive Sanday 17.50, depart 18.00; arrive Stronsay 18.35, depart 18.45; arrive Kirkwall 20.20.

The same extra service could run on December 27, but will not be confirmed until wind and tide conditions for the service to North Ronaldsay on the same day are known.

North Ronaldsay warning

North Ronaldsay residents are being warned to make sure any non-perishable freight goes from Kirkwall on this Saturday’s sailing.

Alasdair Henderson, of Orkney Ferries, said there was a sailing scheduled for Christmas Eve, but if bad weather disrupted the schedule, freight could be stranded until after Christmas.

“Perishables can usually be taken by Loganair if necessary,“ he said. “We are just reminding people not to leave things too late.’’

Orkney farmers could lose out

Some Orkney farmers will lose out under changes to the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme.

Cliff Bichan, of Orphir, who chairs the NFU Scotland committee on less favoured areas, said 190 Scottish farmers would lose out because the maximum stocking rate has been reduced from two livestock units per hectare to 1.4.

“Orkney will be one of the areas which is hardest hit, because it’s one of the most intensively farmed,’’ he said. I’m disappointed Seerad had to do this to get LFASS through another year.’’

Fatal accident inquiry decision delayed

The outcome of a fatal accident inquiry investigating a fatal helicopter crash in Orkney has been delayed.

Sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie was set to give his findings today on the horrific crash when Captain Anthony Taylor of Insch, Aberdeenshire, died when his Bolkow 105 helicopter plummeted 400 feet into sea off Birsay in May last year.

However, he is still deliberating on his findings and will give a written decision in the New Year.

No white Christmas?

Even though we are experiencing cold, wintry weather, the prospects of a white Christmas do not seem to be high.

Our weather forecaster, Dave Wheeler of Fair Isles Weather Services, says that although next week will possibly start cool and frosty with wintry showers dying out as N'ly winds ease, Christmas Day, with the likelihood of strong SW'ly winds is - at the moment - likely to be snow-free.

The End of the Cave by Ian Macinnes. From George Mackay Brown's "Pictures in the Cave"

The renowned Orkney artist Ian Macinnes died on Friday.

Born and brought up in Stromness, he taught at Stromness Academy for many years, firstly as an art teacher and latterly as headmaster.

As well as his paintings, Mr Macinnes was well known for his book illustrations, including a number of George Mackay Brown titles and Liv Schei's The Orkney Story.

The ferry engine which failed on Saturday self-destructed, said Orkney Ferries’ Alasdair Henderson.

An engine part blew out through the side of the engine as the Earl Sigurd headed for Westray.

The ferry was able to continue its journey and return to Kirkwall on one engine, but will be out of service for several weeks, said Mr Henderson.

The ferries are operating to the refit timetable which had been due to start on January 5, but passengers are advised to contact Orkney Ferries before planning their travel in case of late changes.

Orkney Rugby Club's First XV lost 22-8 to Cumnock in their latest national league Division Four fixture on Saturday.

The Orkney squad lost three quick tries at the start of the game, resulting in a half-time score of 22-5. But pulling together for the rest of the game, Orkney held off the home side, preventing them from increasing their lead.

Trust unveil Shapinsay development plan

Shapinsay has launched its plans for the future.

The development plan was being unveiled by the Shapinsay Development Trust at two sessions on Saturday.

This is the culmination of over 18 months work by the group, during which time they have not only produced the plan, but formed a trust and been granted charitable status.

NHS Orkney provide access to hypnotherapy

Orkney people now have access to a hypnotherapist through the NHS.

Stromness-based David Melbourne has been added to the NHS directory of complementary and alternative practitioners.

The General Hypnotherapy Standards Council has awarded Mr Melbourne the Senior Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice.

With the increased demand for complementary treatments, the NHS directory provides a list of qualified practitioners to work within the NHS or on a referral basis.