Orkney Rugby Club's game against Stirling University on Saturday afternoon ended in a draw.

The Division Four national league fixture finished 19-19, but saw Orkney come back from 19-5. Tries came from Rodney Spence, Stewart Spence and Steven Groat.

But although the Orkney squad had to be content with a draw, this was their first away game of the season where they were not defeated.

Over £133,000 in grants approved by Orkney Enterprise

A new smokery in Stromness is among the latest projects approved to receive grants from Orkney Enterprise.

Over £133,000 worth of grants were approved by Orkney Enterprise in the period from October 13 to November 10, 2003.

The Orkney Smokery will receive a development grant of £2,300 and a building grant of £12,700. The largest of the approved grants is £63,800 for Tods of Orkney Ltd, who are to upgrade their Stromness bakery.

Mary Scanlon MSP

Highlands and Islands MSP Mary Scanlon has expressed her concern about the lack of senior female managers at Orkney Islands Council.

Quoting the latest figures from Audit Scotland, Ms Scanlon says that although the percentage average of female senior managers in local authorities is 27 per cent, Orkney has no women in a senior workplace position.

Stating that no other area in Scotland "comes this close to this concerning figure", she said: "I hope that when the figures are released one year from now, we see a change in this and a move for women in the right direction in Orkney."

Edinburgh coach cites Orkney Rugby Club as an example of commitment

An Edinburgh University rugby coach has made plea not to change the structure of the national leagues, citing Orkney as an example of team commitment.

Dale Lyon was speaking out against a growing lobby wanting to regionalise competition - thus saving travel bills for clubs.

But in Friday's Edinburgh Evening News, Mr Lyon says: "It is better for Scottish rugby to be more global than insular and teams that don't want to travel tend to learn less."

"Orkney's schedule puts everyone else's into perspective but they are prepared to live with that in setting an example."

Stromness lifeboat aids Caithness fishing boat

The Stromness lifeboat was called out on Thursday night to assist a Caithness fishing boat in trouble off Orkney.

The Wick-registered Boy Shane had developed engine cooling problems about 15 miles to the west of Orkney. The Stromness lifeboat left port at 10.50pm and reached the stricken vessel at midnight.

The 18-metre boat, with her seven crew, was safely towed back into Stromness and reached port at 3.41am.

Sagas and storytelling weekend as part of Sagalands conference

As part of this weekend's international conference in Orkney looking to develop cultural tourism using the Icelandic Sagas, the general public can look forward to a weekend of events.

Friday and Saturday will see public lectures in the St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall, with a drama performance, King Fornjot and the Earls, taking place in St Magnus Cathedral on Monday. Click here for programme details.

The public events are part of a wider conference, part of a three year project called Destination Viking, involving partners from across Scandinavia, Orkney, Shetland and Canada.

Archive story: New life for Orkneyinga Saga

Over 40 per cent of Orkney schools have low occupation levels

The report shows that 42.9 per cent of the county's 21 primary schools, and half of the six secondary schools, have occupancy levels of less than 60 per cent.

The commission defines "occupancy level" as a measure of how many available school places are taken up. For example, if a school has 80 places and the pupils fill 48, the occupancy level is 60 per cent.

Cannabis decriminalisation is a myth says Deputy Justice minister

Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said on Thursday: "There is a perception that cannabis is safe and has been decriminalised for personal use. That perception is a myth."

An ongoing campaign to decriminalise cannabis for medicinal use has been waged by South Ronaldsay resident Biz Ivol, who was involved in a high profile prosecution in Kirkwall last year.

Anxious time as parents wait for Stromness baby's life saving transplant

Zoe Stanger in Yorkhill Hospital, Glasgow.

A Stromness baby has been placed near the top of the UK's waiting list for a life saving heart transplant operation.

The parents of seven-month-old twin Zoe Stanger have been told that their daughter has to have the operation or she will almost certainly die.

Karen and Allan Stanger of Stromness, now face a wait for a donated organ, and are currently with Zoe who is in intensive care and heavily sedated in Glasgow.

December figures down at Kirkwall airport but totals on the increase

December 2002 saw 8,638 passengers use the airport, compared to 8,379 in December 2003. But despite December's drop of 259, total figures for the past nine months show a 2.6 per cent increase, with 89,078 passengers using the facility.

Replacement ferry cannot do the job says Stromness Community Council

The substitute ferry for Northlink's vessel Hamnavoe is not suitable for the Pentland Firth.

That was the message given by members of the Stromness Community Council this week. The Caledonian MacBrayne vessel Hebridean Isles is due to cover for the Hamnavoe next month when the ship is in dry dock.

Citing the vessel's previous performance on the route - which included a spell when the ferry did not sail for four consecutive days due to weather conditions - members intend writing to NorthLink asking them to switch one of their other ferries to cover the route.

Archive story: Hebridean Isles returns

Westray Internet users prepare for life in the fast lane

BT engineers will connect the island to the broadband backbone network, now the target of 100 registrations has been reached. Ready for service dates will be announced shortly and the work will take several months to complete.

Westray is one of the first exchanges to reach targets set in November when BT launched a campaign to bring broadband to 100 per cent of Scotland by 2005.

Trigger levels can be checked at www.bt.com/broadband

Wallace welcomes Orkney's success in grant applications

Orkney MSP Jim Wallace has congratulated The Pier Arts Centre, Orkney Islands Council and Orkney College for their success in the latest round of Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme grants.

Commenting on the Pier Arts Centre's £701,281, which will go towards their extension project, Mr Wallace said: "They are to be congratulated in winning this grant. I hope that they will have similar success raising the rest of the funds, so that the project can proceed."

Orkney College received two grants, each of about £25 000, while the OIC received a £28,175 grant for the first phase of a pathway network.

NFU Scotland press for early CAP decisions

The Scottish Executive consultation closed on January 6 and an announcement on how the reform will be implemented is expected next month.

NFU Scotland President John Kinnaird said: "Forward planning and decision making on farms is currently in limbo and farmers, crofters and growers are anxious to know the detail of changes to the CAP and how these will be implemented in Scotland.

Archive story: 'Bleak' future for Orkney if agricultural reforms go ahead

Orkney Hotel up for sale

Kirkwall's Orkney Hotel looks set to be sold later this year.

Craig Spence has confirmed the Spence Family, Wideford Farm, St Ola, will be looking for a buyer.

The hotel, then known as the Royal Hotel, was bought by the Spence family in 1997, who carried out an extensive upgrade programme.

It is believed the hotel will be marketed at a price in excess of £1 million.

Sanday development plan meeting

About 40 islanders turned out for an initial meeting to forumlate a development plan for Sanday on Tuesday night.

Last night's public meeting in the school outlined initial plans for the plan, which is hoped will ensure the prosperous development of the island and its community.

Sanday is one of the four Orkney islands designated Initiative at the Edge in October 2003. IatE is a community-led Scottish Executive and multi agency partnership aimed at regenerating the most fragile areas of the Highlands and Islands.

The Orcadian readership continues to grow

The number of people reading The Orcadian is on the increase - with the average weekly circulation increasing by 169 in the second half of 2003.

Provisional figures calculate the weekly circulation of the newspaper to be 11,323. The figures have been independently audited and will now go forward to the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) to be officially approved.

All recognised newspapers are members of ABC, which generally certifies circulations on a six-monthly basis, though monthly figures can also be verified.

Click here for Audit Bureau of Circulations website

New antiquarian journal reaches third volume

The third olume of the New Orkney Antiquarian Journal went on sale on Tuesday.

This, the third volume, features articles by Brian Smith on the working relationship between Orcadian scholars Hugh Marwick, Storer Clouston and A.W. Johnston. Other articles cover the excavation of the Earl's Bu in Orphir and traditional Orkney farm building roofs.

New Orkney Antiquarian Journal Vol Three is available from local bookshops price £12.

Click here to buy online from The Orcadian Bookshop

Chief Medical Officer reminds pregnant women of lambing dangers

Scotland's Chief Medical Officer has reminded pregnant women they should avoid close contact with sheep during the lambing season.

In particular they should not help lamb or milk ewes; avoid contact with aborted or new-born lambs and avoid handling clothing which has been in contact with ewes or lambs.

Outlining the risks Dr Armstrong said: "Pregnant women who come into close contact with sheep during lambing may be risking their health and the health of their unborn child. This is because infections such as chlamydiosis, toxoplasmosis and listeriosis - all common causes of abortion in ewes - can be passed on to them."

Orkney journalist slams murder documentary

Former Cathedral minister Ron Ferguson has hit out at the Grampian TV programme on the Mumutaz murder broadcast last Thursday night.

Mr Ferguson, in his weekly column for The Press & Journal newspaper on Tuesday, called the programme "scandalous" and the naming of the prime suspect - who has never been charged - as appalling.

"This is trial by media, and it is vicious" he wrote.

Archive story: Murder motive revealed in television investigation

William Sichel in selection dispute with UK athletics governing body

William running to 4th place in last year’s Basel 24hr road race

Sanday-based ultra distance runner, William Sichel, has been in dispute with the UK's athletics governing body (UKA) over changes to selection criteria for ultra distance running.

Mr Sichel explained that the UKA were planning to increase the qualifying distance required to qualify for the Great Britain 24hr men's team for 2004 and 2005. But, he added, the proposed March deadline gave runners no chance to achieve the new standards.

As only one runner has the lower 'team' standard from last year this effectively wipes out the Great Britain men's team at a stroke, he said.

Two reported to fiscal after suspected drugs recovered

A man and a woman have been reported to the procurator fiscal after a substantial quantity of suspected cannabis was recovered from a house in Kirkwall.

Police Inspector David Miller said: "Following information police carried out an operation on an address in Hordaland last Wednesday. Two people were detained and subsequently released."

Papdale healthy eating scheme launched in Kirkwall

The project is aimed primarily at residents of the Papdale area, in particular children and school pupils, to give access to discounted fruit from their local shop, Papdale Stores.

The Papdale Residents Association were awarded a grant of nearly £3,000 for the project which is expected to initially run for three months.

All year passenger service for Pentland Ferries

Pentland Ferries are to operate an all-year passenger service following the granting of necessary certification for their vessel Claymore.

The company, which runs the short-sea route from St Margaret's Hope in South Ronaldsay, to Gill's Bay in Caithness will now be able to carry up to 71 passengers in the winter, with a summer capacity of 250.

Click here for Pentland Ferries website

Lifeboat honour for local GP

The Longhope Lifeboat station is celebrating another award with honorary secretary Dr Tony Trickett MBE given the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's Gold Badge.

The prestigious award was given to Dr Trickett in the RNLI's New Year "list" and complements the silver badge he won in 1994.

The badge will be presented at the RNLI AGM in London in May.