Orkney Islands Council has released details of islands councillors Register of Payments for 2003/2004.

The total figure of £386,831.02 shows a reduction of £25,367.14, or 6.15 per cent, on last years total of £412,198.16.

According to the OIC, this represents a reduction of 8.75 per cent in real terms, taking into account inflation of 2.6 per cent.

A man and a woman are to be reported to the procurator fiscal after a quantity of drugs was found in a Kirkwall house.

Police officers carried out a search of the house in Junction Road on Wednesday morning last week with a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The public are reminded that they can contact the police on 872241, or the confidential line 870999, about anyone suspected of handling drugs.

A controversial film detailing the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life on earth began showing in Orkney on Friday night.

The Passion of the Christ is due to be shown at the Pickaquoy Centre's New Phoenix Cinema and runs until Thursday, May 27. The movie is directed by Hollywood star Mel Gibson and is told in Aramaic and Latin with English subtitles.

It was slated by a number of church organisations in America, many branding it "blasphemous" because of its graphic depiction of the crucifixion.

NorthLink have confirmed that the Hamnavoe will be returning to Stromness a day later than expected next week.

The ferry is now expected to resume service on the Stromness-Scrabster route next Tuesday morning.

Gareth Crichton, NorthLink's commercial director, said: "Remedial work on the hairline fissure supporting Hamnavoe's propeller shafts is progressing very well indeed."

Tony Ward of Hawkshead in Cumbria, said he was bitterly disappointed but had no choice other than to withdraw from the fundraising climb after breaking his ribs.

The climb to the top of the 450ft sea stack was to raise money and awareness of the plight facing patients with kidney problems. It is hoped the climb will now take place in September.

Cathy Lyner

Orkney Islands Council has appointed a new Principal Educational Psychologist.

Cathy Lyner has worked in the education service in Orkney as a psychologist since 1983. During that time she has become a familiar face to school staff, pupils, parents and staff across a range of agencies.

She has worked extensively to provide support, advice and guidance to those working with children and young people with special educational needs.

Lesley Riddoch in Stromness on Thursday afternoon.

Radio Scotland's Lesley Riddoch Show was in Orkney on Thursday taking a look at the northern isles ferry crisis.

The show, broadcast live from Stromness, featured NorthLink's commercial director Gareth Crichton and debated what went wrong and whether retendering will make any difference to the service.

A new ticketing system for Maeshowe is to be introduced next week to limit the number of visitors in the 5,000-year-old cairn at any one time.

The timed ticketing will ensure there is a maximum of 25 people in the cairn at any one time, with visitors shown around the site in parties led by guides.

The new measures will involve up to eleven 45 minute tours a day and according to Historic Scotland will help protect the monument for future generations.

The first meeting of the Friends of the Orkney Boat Museum took place in Kirkwall on Wednesday night, with the group appealing for widespread support when the cameras return next month to show what Orkney is doing to get behind the Clestrain project.

BBC TV will be in the county on June 1 to film a fund-raising event at the Hall of Clestrain.

Project committee chairman Hugh Halcro-Johnston said: "We need a really good turnout so they [the BBC] get a feeling the community is behind the project." Click here for more details.

A Stronsay resident, fed up of manually planning ferry journeys, has digitised the Orkney Ferries north isles timetable and made it available online.

Neil Maskell's site allows users to enter a departure and destination as well as travelling days and then presents ferry details.

Although not affiliated by Orkney Ferries, Mr Maskell says he might consider doing the same for other Orkney routes if enough interest is generated.

Click here to view site.

Colin Stevens tried to make a booking this week but was informed that his partner Dorothy, who uses a wheelchair, could not be carried as the Hascosay does not have a lift.

He was also told that it was not be possible to take them on the temporary bus to Burwick as the bus was not equipped for disabled passengers.

Internet users in Kirkwall will be able to access high speed ADSL connections from the end of this month.

The Kirkwall exchange is to be enabled on May 26, followed by Finstown on June 23.

However, the remainder of the county's eligible exchanges will have to wait until July 2005 before activation.

Westray's new marina was officially opened on Tuesday afternoon by former Westray yachting club commodore Norman Cooper.

The official opening of the new facility at Gill Pier was followed by an inaugural race for local skiffs.

Kirkwall police are appealing for information after a 19-year-old man was assaulted in Stromness at the weekend.

The man was assaulted at 9pm on Saturday night in Victoria Street, Stromness, and it is believed that more than one person was involved in the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call 872241.

Ten companies have expressed an interest in operating the lifeline ferry services to Orkney and Shetland.

But although the Scottish Executive have confirmed the figure, they have refused to identify any of the companies unless they are eventually invited to tender.

The unknown companies join NorthLink, P&O Ferries , the Smyril Line, Orkney Ferries, Streamline and Pentland Ferries, who have also expressed interest.

The Food Standards Agency has imposed a ban on harvesting king scallops in an area of Scapa Flow to the south of the Mainland and west of the south isles.

The ban follows the detection of high levels of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) toxins in shellfish in the area.

The ban came into effect at 4pm on Monday afternoon.

Police are reminding drivers to take care on the stretches of recently resurfaced roads in the county.

The reminder comes following a number of complaints from other motorists about drivers disregarding the 20mph speed limit on the loose chips.

This says Inspector David Miller is not only dangerous for the speeding drivers, but the loose chips thrown up can also damage other vehicles.

Passenger numbers at Kirkwall airport increase by four per cent in last month - the first month of the 2004/05 operating year.

The airport saw a total of 9,381 passengers in April 2004, compared to 9,019 in April 2003.

The Tog in Kirkwall on Monday afternoon.

The annual Norway Independence Day "tog" through the streets of Kirkwall took place on Monday with visitors and locals parading from the pierhead to the steps of the St Magnus Cathedral.

As the procession filed into Broad Street and the crowd gathered at the foot of the Cathedral steps, where the crowd was addressed by Vibeke Liloe of the Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs.

Earlier flowers were placed on Norwegian war graves at St Olaf’s Cemetery and also in graveyards in Lyness and Westray.