After a competition on the island to name the centre, retired headmaster Norman Cooper's suggestion was chosen as appropriate.

In 1136, St Magnus' nephew, Rognvald, sailed into Pierowall during his invasion to seize the Orkney earldom. Rognvald's name was originally Kali Kolsson, hence the suggestion for the name - Kalisgarth, Kali's Enclosure.

Morrisons, the current owner of the Safeway supermarket in Kirkwall, have issued a product recall on a range of cooked lamb after salmonella was discovered in a sample during routine testing.

The recall applies only to Safeway, or Morrisons, Deli Cooked Lamb (85p per 100g) bought on, or after, October 29.

Anyone who has bought the product should not eat it but return it to Safeway for a full refund.

NHS Orkney has amended its statement of intent regarding the provision of medical cover.

The health board will now try to recruit a doctor for Shapinsay, who will live and work on the island, but be expected to support a Mainland practice or the hospital.

Chief executive Steve Conway said: "I believe a doctor would have 50 per cent spare capacity during the working day on Shapinsay. We believe that doctor should come off Shapinsay and contribute to providing cover in one of our other practices, or supporting the hospital."

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (right) receives his honorary fellowship

Sanday-based composer, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, was awarded an honorary fellowship of the UHI Millennium Institute on Thursday night.

At a ceremony in the Orkney College, Sir Peter received the award from UHI principal, Bob Cormack, in recognition of the composer's contribution to the arts in Orkney.

Scottish Water had requested that the OIC, together with other developers, pays for a £20,000 report to investigate the effects developments at Hatston, Grainbank and Wellington Street would have on the drainage system.

In light of a £10,000 financial offer from Communities Scotland, councillors at Thursday's housing committee meeting agreed to fund the study, despite strong feeling that it was up to Scottish Water.

Islands Councillors at Thursday's OIC housing committee meeting have given the go-ahead to a new scheme for allocating council housing.

People seeking a council house will now "bid" on the available properties advertised in the local press and OIC website.

Each individual will have a priority rating, using a Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze pass system, with allocation going to the person with the highest rehousing priority.

Assistant housing director John Richards said: "Essentially we are persuaded that a choice-based letting system is a fairer way of giving off our council houses than the system we have been using."

Orkney MP, Alistair Carmichael, has described a meeting with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry as "productive".

Representatives of the three island local authorities put the case to Patricia Hewitt for a more flexible charging scheme to allow the laying of cables to export electricity generated by renewable sources.

Mr Carmichael said: "Patricia Hewitt expressed her support for the principle that transmission charging for island communities could not be expected to follow the same lines as the mainland.

She and her officials have undertaken to explore the different mechanisms by which this can be done. "

The number of sex offenders being supervised in Orkney has seen a "sharp rise" in the past year.

This includes some of the "new" category of Internet offenders - but the actual number of offenders remains a closely guarded secret.

A report to go before islands councillors at the social work committee meeting today, Thursday, also states that it is too early to tell whether the increase is a "long term trend or a short term blip".

The restored rose window (Picture Bryan Leslie)

The project saw the renewal of stonework and replacement of masonry on the cathedral's rose window.

Chief judge, architect John Burton, said: "This is an exemplar scheme where each stone that has been replaced has been with one of the same size. There is no piecing in and it is very difficult to tell which is new and which is original."

Kirkwall Fire Brigade have confirmed that they are treating Monday's fire in an outbuilding on Junction Road as suspicious.

Two units attended the blaze on Monday afternoon, which left the building extensively damaged.

Orkney is well represented in this year's BBC Scottish Traditional Music Awards, with two nominees up for an award.

Kirkwall City Pipe Band is up for Pipe Band of the Year, while duo Salffishforty are in the running for Up and Coming Band of the Year.

In addition, Orkney young musicians Hadhirgaan will be among those providing the entertainment at the award ceremony in Edinburgh on December 4.

Voting for all categories is via the awards website. Click here to access and place your votes.

A shortage of skilled workers in the UK, has meant that BT contractors, Fujitsu, having to look further afield for employees.

A BT spokesman said: “They will be fully occupied working on broadband and general maintenance work.”

The positioning of a small sewage treatment plant threw a spanner in the works as councillors at the development and planning meeting called for it to be resited away from residential properties.

Members at the meeting of the OIC planning committee considered the plans to convert the former premises of James M. Croy's ladies shop into two storey office accommodation.

But, being an application for outline permission, only the principle of the change of use and development was dealt with today.

A damaged information board, a small part of the damage caused by vandals on Hallowe'en

Police are appealing for information after a new bird hide in the RSPB reserve in Birsay was struck by vandals on Hallowe'en.

The RSPB hide at The Loons, which was only opened in July, was extensively damaged sometime overnight on October 31 and November 1.

Police added that sometime over the past few days, the public toilets by the fourth Churchill Barrier have been vandalised again.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kirkwall police on 872241.

Archive story: Special places for special birds,
orchids, toads and marigolds

Orkney police officers are continuing the good work, with another monthly rise in detection rates.

Detective Sergeant Bob Mackenzie said last month they reported a 76 per cent detection rate - two per cent higher than the previous month - and still the highest in the UK.

"We are obviously delighted the rate is up again with respect to crimes against a person, indecency, dishonesty, vandalism and drugs."

Islands councillors have referred a funding request, to allow the return of a mobile cinema to Orkney, to the OIC's policy and resources committee.

Members at Tuesday's meeting of the OIC's recreation and cultural services committee heard that a visit of the 102-seat cinema, managed by Highlands and Islands Arts (HI Arts), would require funding of £5,600 for 15 screenings in Westray, Stronsay, Sanday and Hoy for next year.

A new calendar, detailing environmental activities in Orkney this winter, has been produced by the Orkney Community Environment Awareness Network (OCEAN).

The free calendar provides information on a wide range of environmental based activities, including walks with local experts to help discover the hidden gems of an Orcadian winter, and talks on topics such as a 'green Christmas' and the peregrine falcon.

The OCEAN calendar is free and available from VisitOrkney, libraries and schools throughout the county.

An extensive search of the Kirkwall Basin took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning after a member of the public suspected there might be somebody in the water.

Police and coastguard attended the scene at 2.30am but after a thorough search, in good weather conditions, nothing was found.

Two units from Kirkwall Fire Brigade attended the fire behind NorthVet's Junction Road premises shortly after 2pm. The building was extensively damaged.

Around 6pm both units were called out again to attend an out-of-control bonfire at Casey Construction's Holm Road yard.

A man was due to appear in private at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday afternoon following an alleged incident in South Ronaldsay on Sunday.

No further information was released by Kirkwall police.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a young woman was "approached" by a man in Kirkwall in the early hours of Friday morning.

Around 1.30am in Victoria Street, near the Red Cross shop, a woman was approached by a man acting in "an inappropriate manner".

The man is described as being in his forties, of average build, approximately 5ft 9 inches tall and balding with short white hair around the sides of his head. He was wearing a dark jacket and jeans.

Anyone who saw anything in Victoria Street, or the Clay Loan, Laverock Road area to contact them on 872241.

Hallowe'en passed relatively quietly this year, with poor weather and extra police patrols, putting paid to a lot of Hallowe'en pranksters.

PC Neil Burgess explained that police received numerous calls, mostly regarding fireworks being set off and incidents involving flour and eggs. But he added that the night was not entirely vandalism free with a number of incidents reported.

Anyone with information should contact Kirkwall police on 872241.

Owners of photographs entered into The Orcadian's photography competition, and featured in the Pickaquoy Centre exhibition, can now collect their work.

Prints can be picked up from The Orcadian Bookshop in Albert Street, Kirkwall.

Instead, the pool will close in December to allow the installation of a new heating and lighting system.

Anyone unsure about opening times can contact reception on 850552 for further details.

Fiona Lillie and Becky Ford, who are attempting to raise £5,000 during a sponsored cycle in Malawi

A fundraising expedition to Africa began in earnest on Sunday, with soup and sandwiches in the Stromness kirk.

In May 2005, Becky Ford and minister, Fiona Lillie, will travel to Malawi to complete a 240 mile cycle ride from the capital Lilongwe to Ekwendi hospital, near Mzuzu. All the money raised will go to the church of Central Africa Presbyterian.

A website charting Becky and Fiona's progress and allowing the public to support the venture. The site address is http://www.cycle-malawi.co.uk