Hub interest deadline passes but OIC are revealing nothing

Friday was the deadline for parties interested in the Scapa Flow container hub project, but Orkney Islands Council are remaining tight-lipped about the level of interest.

The OIC had advertised for parties interested on developing and constructing a trans-shipment container hub in Scapa Flow.

Because of "commercial sensitivities" an official statement will only be released late next week.

Report to fiscal after sudden death in 'Hope

Police say that the body of Leslie William Pirie (50) was found dead outside The Inn, St Margaret's Hope, shortly before 8am on Thursday morning.

There are no suspicious circumstances.

Kinnaird is new leader of NFU

John Kinnaird has been elected as the new president of NFU Scotland at Friday's NFU meeting in St Andrews.

The National Farmer's Union also elected vice presidents Bob Howat and David Mitchell.

Princess Royal becomes patron of Lifeboat Museum Trust

She assumes the role from March 1, taking over from the original patron, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who accepted the honour just months before her death last year.

The Princess Royal officially opened the new Longhope Lifeboat Museum last May.

Picky hosts County's first 'work fair'

The range of employment opportunities available in Orkney was highlighted at an event in Kirkwall this week.

WorkOrkney, the first event of its kind to be staged in the islands, aims to tackle recruitment problems flagged up by employers across the county.

Over 50 employers had stands at the two-day event, run by Orkney Enterprise and Jobcentre Plus, in the Pickaquoy Centre.

TV documentary claims to have solved mystery of Brodgar's stone circle

In a television documentary on Thursday night, Francis Pryor suggested the stone circle was a tribute to the ancestors of the Neolithic builders - ancestors they believed had a direct influence on the weather and their harvest.

Commenting on this relationship with the dead, Dr Pryor said: "Their bond with the land was deep-rooted and long. They believed that their soul would nourish it long after their bodies were gone."

Carmichael votes against military action on Iraq

Orkney MP Alistair Carmichael was one of the 199 Members of Parliament who opposed the Government's plans for military action in the Gulf in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

The MPs voted for an amendment stating there was no evidence that warranted attacking Iraq.

Commenting on the recent public demonstration in Orkney and Shetland, Mr Carmichael said: "The Government cannot be allowed to ignore the fact that they have not persuaded the public of the case for war."

'Scandal' minister dies - awaiting an official apology

The former minister who was caught up in the spotlight of the South Ronaldsay child care case 12 years ago has died in retirement.

Reverend Morris McKenzie was named in connection with child abuse allegations which led to nine children from four families being taken into care at dawn on February 27, 1991.

Mr McKenzie was officially cleared of the allegations but never received an official apology from the OIC. He left Orkney in 1993.

Surgeon sticks the knife in NHS Orkney

A Balfour Hospital surgeon has slammed NHS Orkney's "management in crisis" and called for the number of chiefs to be slashed in an effort to curb the present cash crisis.

Dr Helen Martini and her husband Dr Dick Broadhurst have spoken out against the management style of NHS Orkney, who are currently looking for ways to save money amid a predicted overspend of £800,000.

The doctors claim that health bosses can find cash for a porch on their headquarters but not for doctors, nurses and basic clinical services.

Consultation on Dounby care home

The plans for Dounby's new elderly care home were unveiled at a public meeting on Thursday night,

Orkney Islands Council is paying £3 million towards the development of the care home, which will provide accommodation, personal care and support for a minimum of 26 elderly residents.

Almost £215,000 transport cash awarded to Orkney groups

The Graemsay Community Association were also awarded £8,775 towards a late night ferry service linking the island and the Mainland, while Rousay Youth Club got £4,420 for transport for teenagers to attend activities on the Mainland.

The Papay Development Trust receive £4,050 to continue their ferry service while the Graemsay, Hoy and Walls community council receive £3,690 for transport provision.

Stromness crane sinks after toppling off barge

A crane working on the Stromness pier expansion ended up in the sea on Wednesday after the floating barge supporting it listed to one side.

After investigating the incident, the Health and Safety Executive have given the owners, Currie Brothers Ltd, the go ahead to recover their crane.

An OIC spokesman said on Wednesday morning that it is too early to say how this will delay the work at the Stromness pier, but the crane will have to be repaired after it is salvaged.

Twelve teams contest drama festival

Orkney's annual drama festival began on Tuesday night, commencing four nights of amateur dramatics.

With 12 teams taking part, this year's festival has attracted one of the highest number of plays for some years.

It is also the first time that one club has entered four plays - Stromness Drama Club have three standard entries and a youth team.

Click here for order of appearance and play details

Minister welcomes moves to enhance Orkney's natural environment

Mr Wilson was speaking following the publication of the first ever all-encompassing Biodiversity Strategy for Scotland.

Orkney has already played an important role in improving biodiversity, being chosen as one of four pilot areas in Scotland to produce a Local Biodiversity Plan. Following this, work is now progressing with area-based action plans for each parish and island.

Click here to view the newly published biodiversity strategy

OIC appoints sports development officer

Vicki Copland (23), from Holm, will take up her post in April after completing her honours degree at university. Her current course is Sports Studies, her dissertation concentrating specifically on sports development.

Speaking after her appointment Vicki said: "I am delighted to be appointed to this newly created post which will be very challenging but satisfying. It's great to get a job in a field that I have studied over the last five years."

Tagged teenager drops sentence appeal

Carl Howley has dropped his appeal against a 15-month sentence handed down at Kirkwall Sheriff Court for breaching the conditions of an electronic tagging order.

Howley (18), was one of the first offenders to be tagged in Orkney following a string of robberies in Kirkwall last year.

He was supposed to remain at his parents’ home on Sanday when under restriction but was jailed for 15 months after breaching the order.

Community wardens on patrol

Orkney's new community wardens alongside OIC's Val Cameron (far right), Jim Mollison and Ivan Taylor.

Orkney's new community wardens began their training in Kirkwall on Monday afternoon.

The four wardens, who will patrol Kirkwall and Stromness, are being employed by the OIC to look for examples of dog fouling, littering or abandoned vehicles.

They will also report vandalism and other 'anti-social' behaviour to the police.

Muirburn warning after weekend of fires

Police are urging landowners to take care when burning heather on their land.

The warning comes after a weekend that saw 80 muirburning fires in the Highlands and Islands area, including one near the Bog of Surtan in the Harray hills.

The Bog of Surtan fire started around 9.30pm on Friday and was only extinguished at 8.30am on Saturday.

Click here for the Scottish Executive's Muirburn Code

Rendall tops Orkney surname chart

In a random sample of 1,150 Orkney people, Smith was not common enough to make it into the top ten list.

The most common Orkney surname in the 2001 Census was Rendall, with Drever second. In third place were Sinclair and Flett. The other names in the Orkney top ten are Scott, Tait, Craigie, Muir, Harcus and Spence.

Executive cash for more trees in Orkney

The Scottish Executive have announced cash support for local tree-planting projects.

The £75,000 cash will go creating more areas of native woodland in Orkney, where woodland cover is less than one per cent of the islands' area.

Grant rates vary from £2,000 per hectare in the Mainland, to £2,500 per hectare in the north isles.

Landowners sought so 4,000-year-old site can be opened to public

The main mound at the Knowes of Trotty (Picture: Orkney Archaeological Trust)

A search is underway for the owners of an area of Harray heathland, so that a 4,000 year old archaeological site can be opened to the public for the first time ever.

Orkney Islands Council assistant planning officer, Christine Skene, is trying to contact local landowners, so that a pathway to the bronze age burial site, the Knowes of Trotty, can be created.

Click here for full story

HIAL need extra cash if air expansion goes ahead

Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, the operators of the ten airfields in the north, have warned that they would require "significant" extra funding if the planned expansion of air travel is brought in.

HIAL say that they would require additional staffing to cover the extended opening hours.