Falkirk's second try of the match. (Picture: Bryan Leslie)

Orkney's First XV rugby team lost in their BT National League Division Four match at Pickaquoy on Saturday afternoon, against a very useful Falkirk side.

The final score was Orkney 0, Falkirk 48, but the score did not reflect the match, as Orkney played exceptionally well, and should have come away with more against the league leaders.

Orkney did appear to suffer, as a lot of the crucial refereeing decisions appeared to go the other way, but the Orkney performance was especially marked by the number of excellent tackles which they were able to put in time-and-again.

The fifth Orkney Writing Fellowship is now underway with the arrival in post of the Angus-based writer and playwright, Jan Natanson.

Her seven-month residency, the fifth in the islands since 1997, will once again enable school pupils and members of the public to meet and work intensively with a professional writer.

There was an opportunity to meet Jan and hear more about plans for the fellowship at a Meet the Writer evening in the Stromness Hotel, on Saturday night.

The number of airline passengers passing through Kirkwall Airport continues to rise.

In the seven months to the end of October, 72,364 had used the airport, compared to 72,022 during the same period last year ‚ a rise of 5 per cent, according to figures released by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL).

In all, more than 94,000 passed through the ten airports operated by HIAL, including an additional 10,000 at Inverness due to a combination of increased scheduled flights, holiday charters and the school holidays.

Scottish Rugby’s discipline panel has banned Orkney player, Roger Hall, for eight weeks after the scrum half was sent off for kneeing an opponent in the National League Division Four match against Leith last month.

The ban means he will be unavailable for selection until Orkney visit Earlston on January 8.

A man was stopped by police at Kirkwall Airport on Thursday afternoon and questioned following allegations of the theft of artefacts from wrecks in Scapa Flow.

Kirkwall Sergeant Jim Pryde said: “We were informed on Thursday afternoon that a man was leaving the island at the airport and was in possession of items that could have been from Scapa Flow.

“Police attended and interviewed the man and the items were seized.” Inquiries are continuing to establish whether any offence has been committed, he added.

Kirkwall Grammar School's state-of-the-art gym was officially opened on Thursday by Councillor Janice Annal.

The new facility, which received a £31,000 New Opportunities for PE and sport grant, is furnished with the latest in fitness equipment and is already being well used by staff and pupils.

The ‘Teen Gym’ has provided additional teaching space and has been praised for promoting healthy living under the healthy school policy.

Unemployment in Orkney decreased slightly last month, according to Mackay Consultants’ annual report for October.

After a rise in September, figures for last month show the number decreased confirming Orkney as the area with the lowest unemployment in the Highlands and Islands.

There are 121 men and 46 women out of work in Orkney, which is a 7.7 per cent decrease compared to October 2003. The figure represents only 1.4 per cent of the working population.

A new navigation buoy is to be put in Clestrain Sound, to mark a sandbank half-a-mile off Graemsay, after fears that it poses an unacceptable threat to shipping.

The OIC transportation and infrastructure committee gave the go-ahead for £10,000 of funding when members heard that a risk assessment highlighted the need for a buoy to reduce the risk of vessels running aground.

Northern Lighthouse Board will fund a further £17,500, and will maintain the navigational mark.

Andy Nicol, former Scotland rugby captain, was in Orkney last night to show off the Heineken Cup to members of Orkney Rugby Club and to take a training session with local players.

He was a member of the Bath rugby team which won the cup in 1998.

He is pictured with Orkney Rugby Club president, Andy McGinn, left, and chairman, Mike Girvan, right.

One giant organisation - with a single budget - running almost all Orkney's key public services could be the way forward for the islands.

It would mean 2,400 employees - about a quarter of Orkney's total workforce - being paid by a single body - incorporating Orkney Islands Council, NHS Orkney and, possibly, Orkney Enterprise.

The radical suggestion by OIC convener, Stephen Hagan, could safeguard the "survivability" of Orkney, currently uncertain in light of Scottish Executive efficiency proposals.

An Orcadian was among Black Watch soldiers injured in a suicide bomb attack last week in Iraq.

Michael Ross had been moved to Camp Dogwood, just south of Baghdad, which has been under constant attack since the regiment took up position two weeks ago.

During an attack last Thursday, at a vehicle checkpoint east of the river Euphrates, near Fallujah, three of the regiment were killed and the 25-year-old was one of eight other injured. He was lucky as he received only superficial injuries to his hands.

Plans for Kirkwall Travel Centre have stalled because of problems with water and sewerage facilities.

The OIC transportation and infrastructure committee heard that although the site at Jewson Ltd in Junction Road has been earmarked for the new £1.25 million facility, Scottish Water is unhappy about the capacity of the sewerage system.

Councillor Stephen Hagan, convener, said: “I would have thought this is a like for like situation. This is why we have put money into a drainage study to hopefully show the capability of the system. However, I don’t see why we can’t get a one for one replacement.”

Orkney Marinas has been given £3,000 to showcase its facilities at the UK’s largest boat event.

A request was put to OIC transportation and infrastructure committee for the cash for travelling to the event in January, as it is “seen as vital in promoting marina facilities in Orkney,” according to the report by Captain Nigel Mills, director of harbours.

A representative from OIC harbours department would also be on the stand at the show to promote harbour facilities.

The unfortunate vandalism trend is continuing in the county into the fourth week of the Safer Scotland campaign.

An act of vandalism has been committed every day in Orkney, on average, since the crackdown began.

A total of 22 crimes of vandalism have been reported to the police in the past three weeks.

The NHS24 service will come on stream for people in Orkney from Tuesday night.

Patients registered with the Scapa practice in Kirkwall will be able to use the service Monday to Friday, from 6pm to 8am, and at weekends. Anyone who is ill and in need of care during these hours should call NHS24 on 08454 24 24 24.

Although the NHS24 service is available to the entire community, 24 hours a day, providing health information and advice, anyone who is registered with a practice that is not using NHS24 to provide out-of-hours services should continue to call their existing number.

Councillors at Tuesday's OIC transportation and infrastructure committee have thrown their support behind plans for pontoons being placed in Shapinsay, Rousay, Stronsay, Graemsay, Longhope and Burray.

It is expected that putting the pontoons in place would cost £240,000 over three years. They would be operated by Orkney Islands Council

The meeting was told that there has been 53 per cent rise in visiting boats since the present marinas were installed.

A half a million pound livestock pen, in Kirkwall, was given the go-ahead on Tuesday.

The OIC transportation and infrastructure committee meeting decided to give the lairage, which will be situated to the right of the causeway, between the marshalling area and the piled pier at Hatston, approval. The facility will be council owned and leased out to operators

Grant funding of £375,000 has been earmarked, so OIC will provide £125,000 as its share of the cost.

There is a £68,000 shortfall in the budget for children who need specialist treatment outwith Orkney.

The out of Orkney budget has spiralled because of increased demands to the service, according to Adrian Williams, assistant director of community social services.

In his report to the social services and housing committee last week he explained that the services are "inevitably high cost placements, but the council must meet the needs of children, in specialist resources where appropriate."

The committee noted the overspend.

A plot of vacant land next to the new Dounby care centre could be developed as a bowling green.

The social services and housing committee, heard that the village bowling club has approached OIC about transforming the plot into a bowling green.

Councillors agreed that a report should be submitted to a future meeting about the development of the land.

Officials from NorthLink Ferries are in London this week as part of Scotland’s delegation to a major travel event.

The company is one of 14 Scottish organisations taking part in the World Travel Market (WTM), which offers the opportunity to promote their service to a global audience.

Other organisations taking part in the event, at London’s Docklands, include accommodation providers, visitor attractions, transport operators and local tourism authorities.

The event continues until Thursday.

A firework is being blamed for sparking off a land and sea search in Orkney on Guy Fawkes night.

Kirkwall lifeboat and the coastguard auxiliary team were scrambled after a red flare was spotted in the Rendall/Firth area, over the Bay of Isbister, at about 6.10pm.

A spokesman from Shetland Coastguard said: "It was believed to have been a firework, but we still had to search just in case it wasn't. People are often tempted to use out-of-date flares on bonfire night."

The search was called off two hours later.

Despite concerns earlier in the year, a massive bonfire and firework display lit up the night sky in Kirkwall on Saturday.

The annual Rotary Club of Orkney bonfire night and fireworks display took place at Pickaquoy on Saturday evening, months after it was thought the event would have to be cancelled because of the insurance costs.

Orkney Rugby Club's First XV lost their latest BT League Division Four away match against Aberdeenshire on Saturday.

The half-time score of 12-0 to Aberdeenshire, proved to be too much as Orkney fought back in the second half, losing by 15-12.

The OYIP allows young people to check e-mail as well as the Young Scot website, access advice, support and information on numerous issues that affect them.

Initially, the facility will be open for use between noon and 5pm, Monday to Friday. From noon until 4pm most Saturdays and between 7pm and 9pm on Wednesdays.

Mr Carmichael said: “One of the most important parts of my job is keeping in touch with local people.

"This website provides details of the work I am doing in Parliament and of campaigns I am running, as well as information for people interested in visiting Westminster.”