Orkney is to receive almost £78,000 from the Scottish Executive to boost childcare services in the county.

The £12 million scheme was announced on Wednesday by Education Minister Peter Peacock, and aims to help more people obtain formal childcare qualifications meeting standards for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council.

Mr Peacock said: "It is vital that all Orkney child carers are equipped to meet children's physical, educational, social and emotional needs."

The money will be split over 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.

Speeders beware. Orkney police are now armed with a new weapon against speeders.

The handheld ProLaser III device will enable them to detect speeding motorists at a greater distance. Similar to the now dated radar "gun", the £3,500 device is more accurate and has a greater range.

The device was bought with funds from Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Road Safety Promotion Group and Orkney Community Safety Forum.

The Stromness Swimming Pool closed its doors on Saturday, for a month, for maintenance work.

The pool will be closed for December to allow the installation of a new heating and lighting system.

Work was originally due to take place in November but a delay in the arrival of materials meant the work had to be put back a month.

Plans are afoot to mark the legacy of Stromness writer George Mackay Brown with a memorial stone in Edinburgh.

If the proposal goes ahead, the memorial will be placed in Edinburgh's Makars Court, in the grounds of the city's writers' museum.

Kirsty Murray

A new project has begun in Orkney to tackle employment for individuals with barriers to accessing work.

The joint project between Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Enterprise, Jobcentre Plus and Orkney Disability Forum, aims to improve and create employment opportunities for a variety of people who need extra support to break into the labour market.

Kirsty Murray has been appointed as employability project manager, who will develop sheltered and supported employment services in Orkney.

The cost of damage caused by vandals across the Highlands and Islands has dropped for the second week in a row.

As the national Safer Scotland "Safer Streets" campaign concludes its sixth week the cost of damage is the lowest since the opening week.

In Orkney, six crimes of vandalism were reported, with one crime detected and one person reported. The cost of the damage was £200.

Flautists in Orkney were invited to join a former member of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) on Saturday for a day of flute workshops and masterclasses in Kirkwall.

The workshops, with David Nicholson, the former principal flautist with the SCO, took place in Kirkwall Grammar School.

On Sunday, Mr Nicholson joined local musicians for a candlelit concert in St Olaf's Kirk.

Carl Howley, 20, admitted driving without a licence or insurance in Inverness January 1. Sentence was deferred for reports to December 23.

He denied a separate charge of being in 13 Ord Terrace without lawful authority on July 13, intending to commit theft. He also pleaded not guilty to the charge of failing to appear on September 21. In both cases, trial was set for March 2.

Samantha Dickson, who lives with Howley, pleaded not guilty to a theft charge today. Her trial was also set for March 2.

The voting for the 2004 BBC Scottish Traditional Music Awards closed on Friday.

There are two Orkney nominees in this year's awards. 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.

The awards presentation is on December 4 in Edinburgh.

Martin Besant, of Rousay Shellfish, explained in a statement to the OIC's marine development subcommittee on Thursday that he wants to add to the mussel farm already site in the Bay of Whelkmulli in Wyre.

Councillor Ian MacDonald praised Mr Besant for "abiding by the rules" with the application. Chairman, councillor Jim Sinclair added: "I wish them luck with these developments and I do hope it succeeds."

A new co-ordinator has been appointed to Orkney's Drug Alcohol and Smoking Action Team (DASAT).

Gaynor Jones previously worked in residential services in Scotland for the voluntary sector and managed substance misuse services for young people and adults in Wales.

Based at NHS Orkney's Health Pomotion office in Victoria Street, Kirkwall, one of her first tasks will be to review and revise the DASAT strategy - a plan of services for the next three years.

Deputy First Minister and Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace, has unveiled plans for a major analysis of Scotland's entire coastline to help make the country a world leader in marine energy.

The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will link in with work at the European Marine Energy Centre in Stromness, which is testing wave and tidal power from four berths two kilometres off the Mainland.

The assessment is expected to be completed within 18 months.

A 90-year-old woman could be forced to leave her home of more than half a century - because raw sewage threatens to flood the ground floor.

Mrs Ann Swanney of Junction Road, Kirkwall, fears she may be left with no option but move, because of repeated flooding.

But although she is used to being flooded with surface water, she will not be allowed to stay if it contains sewage.

Police are seeking information following a spate of vandalism in Kirkwall over the past two days.

Kirkwall Grammar School was hit overnight with five windows smashed, while on Tuesday night a phonebox at the Willow Burn was damaged. The window of the Toymaster shop was also smashed.

Police inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information can call 872241.

Councillor Jim Foubister was straight to the point this week at the council's policy and resources meeting: "This is totally alien to us. We should consider joined up working with Shetland to fight against this."

Councillors were unanimous that a proposed Scottish Bill on Gaelic is of little relevance to Orkney and that if the OIC is made to introduce a Gaelic plan, costs should be met by the Scottish Executive.

External link: Norn - The Language of Orkney

The annual Internet broadcasts from Maeshowe began on Wednesday, as preparations began to allow web surfers across the planet to view the winter solstice sunset from inside the cairn.

As the light from the last dying rays of the setting sun strikes the back wall of the 5,000-year-old tomb’s main chamber, three cameras will be capturing the images and broadcasting them live over the World Wide Web.

At the helm again are local man Dr Charles Tait and Dutch archaeoastronomer Victor Reijs.

The broadcasts at www.maeshowe.co.uk are scheduled to run from November 27 until February 5, 2004.

Among the concerns raised about the proposed new contract, which begins in April 2006, were response times compared to the existing Kirkwall based Islander aircraft, and the ability of the helicopter to fly to Orkney in poor weather, both in high winds and freezing conditions, and at night.

The OIC's full reponse to the current SAS consultation will be submitted by November 30.

The Orkney and Shetland Labour parties have selected Richard Meade as their prospective candidate for the next UK General Election, expected next year.

Mr Meade, 26, lives in Edinburgh and stood as the Labour Party Candidate for Orkney in the Scottish Parliament elections in 2003.

Charlene Wylie and Scott Paterson

Two Orkney Sea Cadets have received promotion to the highest rank available within the organisation.

Charlene Wylie and Scott Paterson have attained the rank of Petty Officer Cadet.

The pair were the highest scorers on their advancement course on HMS Caledonia in Rosyth, Scotland.

The course was attended by cadets from across the UK.

Coxwain Kevin Kirkpatrick is to receive the "Thanks of the Institution on Vellum" for his action during a rescue on August 27, while RNLI mechanic, John Budge, will received a framed letter of thanks. The lifeboat crew will also receive RNLI "Vellum Service Certificates" for their part in the rescue.

The lifeboat launched in storm force10-12 winds to help a stricken yacht, the Dasher, which was adrift with three people on board.

Archive story: Hurricane force winds hamper rescue

Councillors recommended reducing the amount of council tax discount given to second home owners from 50 per cent to ten per cent on second homes and empty properties, from next year.

There are about 700 second homes in Orkney, which are only liable for half the level of council tax - a discount reduction to 10 per cent would raise up to £172,000 additional revenue.

Orkney's first commercial radio station went off air on Tuesday evening, following the expiry of its three month trial licence.

The Superstation's ceased broadcasting from the radio ship in St Margaret's Hope at 7pm.

But the station may be back full time next year. Managing director David Miller said an application has been made to Ofcom for a full-time licence.

The advice, which excludes developments already approved to connect to the public sewerage system, follows recent discussions with Scottish Water about restrictions on development in some parts of Kirkwall.

The OIC was advised by Scottish Water in September of restrictions on development in Kirkwall and the potential for further constraint in Finstown.

The Kirkwall study is expected to start before Christmas and be completed in around three months.

It is thought the boy had a lucky escape, suffering severe bruising, despite being caught in the drive shaft of a tractor on a farm in Deerness.

The teenager has been detained in hospital.

43-year-old David McHugh, formerly of South Park, Eday, was due to appear in Liverpool Sheriff Court on Monday, but had his appearance postponed due to "administrative reasons".

The offences involve him allegedly dishonestly obtaining about £40,000 worth of services by deception. The case is now scheduled for December 6 and McHugh remains in custody.

The results of the survey show that customers felt the variety of sessions on offer, value for money, standards of supervision and the overall quality of service was extremely high, achieving a 95 per cent level of satisfaction.

Other strong points included the booking procedure, telephone response and staff helpfulness and presentation.

Orkney's Special Needs Toy Library has secured a National Lottery grant worth £8,000.

The cash will allow the organisation to expand by increasing its stock of toys and provide a better variety of equipment for more profoundly disabled children and their siblings.

Work resumes in Scapa Distillery on Monday morning.

Whisky production at the refurbished Scapa Distillery in St Ola resumed on Monday.

It is hoped the distillery, which is undergoing a £2.1 million refurbishment, will reopen full-time in January 2005.

The move will secure the future of the distillery, which has been operating on a part-time basis since 1997.

Secondary school pupils in the OIC council chamber on Monday morning.

Pupils from Orkney's six secondary schools sampled life as OIC councillors on Monday, deciding how to distribute over £1,500 to improve opportunities in the community.

The OIC Director of Finance provided a few pointers, but the ultimate decision rested with the pupils themselves.

The pupils also debated topics on bullying and transport and young people, after listening to reports from council officials.

Councillor Roderick McLeod led the event in the Council Chamber, while OIC Convener Stephen Hagan chaired the debate.