Sanday-based ultra-distance runner William Sichel William came in 27th overall in the IAU World/European 24 hour Championships in the Czech Republic at the weekend.

William, along with a field of approximately 150 international runners, covered 133.4 miles through the streets of Brno, the Moravian capital, 120 miles east of Prague.

Orkney Rugby club played host Leith RFC on Saturday in their latest national league fixture.

The Orkney squad were beaten 10-3.

After its official unveiling at a reception in Glasgow on Thursday, the 2005 Orkney tourist brochure was launched in Kirkwall on Friday evening.

The brochure's Orkney launch took place in the tourist information centre in Kirkwall.

The brochure, produced by The Orcadian, was unveiled at Ortak jewellery's premises in Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries on Thursday evening.

Click here for VisitOrkney website

Age Concern Orkney has been successful in attracting funding from NHS Health Scotland to boost the health and happiness the county's older people.

Over £16,000 has been awarded over the next two years to take roadshows to the rural parishes and islands to engage older people in activities to benefit their health and well-being.

The funding comes from NHS Health Scotland Mental Health and Well-being in Later Life Small Projects award scheme.

Following Thursday's publication of Westminster MP's allowances and expenses for the first time, most of the national press is asking why the travel expenses for Orkney's MP Alistair Carmichael is less that some MPs based in England and mainland Scotland.

Anne Picking of East Lothian, who claimed £148,818, has been highlighted by the press, her travel expenses of £39,774 being over £14,000 more than Alistair Carmichael.

The annual expenses bill for the 659 Westminster Members of Parliament is approaching £80 million.

Police have named the two divers who perished in Scapa Flow on Wednesday afternoon.

Lynda Johnston, 32, and Neil Murphy, 34, from Edinburgh, were part of a group diving on the wreck of the German First World War cruiser Karlsruhe, off Cava.

The Earl of Orkney, Oliver Peter St John, arrived in the county on Thursday for a short visit.

The professor of international relations at the University of Manitoba, Canada, and his wife, Countess Barbara Huck, are hoping to further strengthen links between Manitoba and Orkney.

Speaking to The Orcadian earlier this week, the earl said he has an interesting message from the Manitoba government which he will share when he arrives.

The future of the former Safeway supermarket in Kirkwall - now owned by supermarket giants Morrisons - remains unclear..

A statement from the company has confirmed that a "great deal of interest" had been shown in the Safeway Compact stores and that offers were being considered.

However, chairman, Sir Ken Morrison, refused to comment on reports they were selling smaller stores to rivals Somerfield.

Morrisons has previously dismissed rumours that they were selling the Kirkwall supermarket.

Cuts to services in Kirkwall's Balfour Hospital are being considered, The Orcadian can reveal.

A "strictly confidential" internal document has been circulated detailing a number of options for the future of the hospital - all of which include reducing the number of beds in all areas.

The proposals being drawn up are short term measures, which are expected to be put in place until April next year, and result in savings to the cash-strapped health board of between £50,000 and £75,000.

Two visiting divers have died after getting into difficulty off the Calf of Cava in Scapa Flow.

The Coastguard were alerted by the dive boat Karin at 2.15pm on Wednesday, when the divers, a man and a woman, appeared to be in difficulty after surfacing.

The divers, who were "non responsive", were transferred to Houton by lifeboat where a doctor and ambulance waited. Attempts to resuscitate them en route were unsuccessful.

Charles Alexander Robert Lyon, 50, of Gutterquoy, Birsay, pleaded guilty to drink driving on August 16.

Lyon also admitted four other offences and was placed on 18 months probation, fined £150 and given 150 hours of voluntary work.

The airport saw a three per cent monthly increase for September and an increase of 1.7 per cent on the six monthly running total.

Although 69 nominations have been received over the ten categories, four categories have less nominations than others:

• Sportswoman of the Year
• Veteran Sportsman of the Year
• Veteran Sportswoman of the Year
• Junior Male Sportsperson of the Year

Before these awards can be presented a minimum of 3 eligible nominations are required for the short list.

Nomination forms can be obtained from the Sports Development Service website.

The Muirburning season started on October 1 and runs until April 2005. Officials are asking landowners to remember three important things prior to taking part in any Muirburning exercise:

• Always inform the Fire Brigade prior to burning
• Ensure there are enough people to control the fire
• Make sure fires are extinguished before leaving the scene

A spokesman stressed that out of control fires place enormous demands on Fire Brigade and police resources.

NHS Orkney have pledged to look again at the issue of medical cover on Shapinsay following Monday's protest outside Garden House.

But it was stressed that there were no guarantees that any changes would be made to their statement of intent, which could see the eventual disappearance of some island doctors.

Afterwards, the current Shapinsay locum GP, Dr Robbie Coull, said: "The entire statement of intent needs to be looked at again, otherwise GP services in Orkney face years of trouble with recruitment, retention and inadequate funding."

Shapinsay protesters outside Garden House on Monday afternoon

There was no doubt as to the feelings of the people of Shapinsay this week, when a disgruntled delegation travelled to Kirkwall on Monday to protest at NHS Orkney proposals for medical cover in the island.

Around 1pm on Monday, about 100 banner-carrying islanders made their way through Kirkwall to arrive at NHS Orkney's administration building, Garden House, in time for the meeting of the health board.

The protest is the result of an NHS Orkney proposal not to replace the island doctor when the practice becomes vacant, but to provide Shapinsay's medical cover from the Mainland.

The annual canvass of electors in Orkney is currently under way but so far, over 20 per cent of the registration forms sent out have not been returned. Reminders are due to go out this week.

The forms show the names of all eligible voters in the household and need to be corrected and returned to the electoral registration office as soon as possible.

Households that have not received form should contact the office on 876222 as soon as possible.

An man is expected to appear in Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday following an incident in Great Western Road in the early hours of Saturday morning.

He was arrested for an alleged breach of the peace, including three charges of assaulting police officers.

A report is being sent to the procurator fiscal.

A crackdown on underage drinking in Kirkwall saw a quantity of alcohol confiscated from youngsters in the town centre over the weekend.

The ongoing operation is part of the national Safer Scotland campaign, launched last week.

Work demolishing the old Phoenix Cinema, to make way for a new women's refuge, began on Monday afternoon.

The refuge, on Junction Road, will be run by Women's Aid Orkney and is expected to be ready by May 2005. A second phase of four family houses is also planned for a later date.

"It is regrettable that such a facility is required," said Orkney Housing Association chairman Andi Ross, "This accommodation will provide a safe and comfortable environment where Women's Aid Orkney will be able to give support to women and their children fleeing domestic abuse."