The severe lack of parking spaces in the harbour area of Stromness looks like being resolved.

Islands' councillors recommended on Friday an increase from 24 to 91 pay and display spaces - a rise of 379 per cent, generating a predicted additional income of £17,600.

Members heard that long-stay parkers are currently occupying a "significant" number of the spaces in the two car parks adjacent to the ferry terminal building, which will be more suited to pay and display.

Stromness Councillor Ian Johnstone said: "Parking is the single-biggest issue that Stromness has."

MV Hamnavoe will be out of service from Monday, January 24, until Thursday, February, 3, with MV Hebridean Isles, on charter from Caledonian MacBrayne, standing-in to operate the Stromness-Scrabster route.

MV Hrossey will depart for dry dock on Sunday, February 20, returning to service on or around Tuesday, March 1. MV Hjaltland will sail for Denmark on the Hrossey's return and is expected to be in dry dock for eight days, with normal service resuming on Thursday, March 10.

Shapinsay's new Healthy Living Centre opened on the island on Saturday.

The new centre, which includes a Health Centre with doctor's surgery and nursing consulting room, will be opened by Shapinsay Councillor Jim Sinclair..

The OIC hopes that islanders of all ages will make the most of the new centre, which is equipped with the latest fitness equipment, funded by the Scottish Executive Rural Challenge Fund.

Several Stromness councillors appealed for quick action in dealing with the problem, and it was agreed at the OIC roads and transportation sub-committee meeting to look at short-term measures in the Springfield Crescent and Pumpwell Park area.

Members also recommended that officials look at firming up the list of locations within the town for parking sites.

Councillor James Stockan said it was "high time" they looked again at establishing a "controversial" one-way system for the main street up to Church Road.

Work on a new roundabout at the Ayre Mills in Kirkwall is due to begin shortly.

Islands councillors heard on Friday that the new roundabout, which is hoped will reduce traffic congestion, will incorporate the existing junctions of the Pickaquoy Road and Hatston Brae and Ayre Road with Grainshore Road.

A 50-year-old man was apprehended in Kirkwall on Thursday morning following an incident at Woolworth's premises in Albert Street.

Police were called to the shop at 9.45am after a disturbance.

A report is being submitted to the procurator fiscal.

Copies of the new timetable are available from Orkney Ferries usual outlets, and will be available shortly from their website at www.orkneyferries.co.uk

Anyone who has any queries regarding this should contact Orkney Ferries on 872044.

OIC Chief Executive Alistair Buchan said: "The Council will be making a significant financial contribution towards the response to the tsunami disaster.

We will also do whatever we can to complement and support the tremendous fundraising efforts that have already been made by many Orkney community organisations and businesses. As this is clearly a situation requiring urgent action I am in discussion with the Convener and the Lord Lieutenant to determine the details of our response."

A steering group has been set up to create a new Orkney tourism organisation to replace Orkney Tourist Board.

Fifty-five local tourism representatives attended a private meeting in the Pickaquoy Centre on Thursday, where they voted John Hinckley chairman of the steering group.

Mr Hinckley said: "The membership believe it is essential to create a group for Orkney otherwise it could risk being marginalised."

The move follows the Scottish Executive's abolition of local area tourist boards, which means the Orkney Tourist Board and its directors will no longer be guiding the growth of Orkney's tourism industry and the local office becoming a branch of VisitScotland.

The devastation caused by the colossal Indian ocean earthquake and tsunami among island communities on the other side of the world has prompted a series of fundraising events by Orcadians.

Special events are being staged all over the county this week in an effort to add to more than £75 million raised throughout the UK, to date.

Click here for full story

Margaret Gardiner

The founder of the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, Margaret Gardiner, has died at the age of 100.

Early in her eighth decade she founded the Pier Arts Centre, after gifting a number of works of the St Ive group to Orkney in return for all the pleasure of her time spent in Rousay.

With great determination and energy she led the fundraising to buy and remodel the buildings as the Pier Arts Centre.

Mrs Gardiner lived in London, until her death on January 2.

Archive story: Arts Centre founder celebrates century

Sanday's ultra-distance runner William Sichel came first in the 22nd running of the "Across the Years" 24 hour race in Arizona, U.S.A. at the weekend.

The event, on December 31 and January 1, was William's debut run in America and saw him take first place after covering 136.391 miles in 24 hours - eight miles more than the second place runner.

Four drivers were arrested during the crackdown, compared to 13 last year, but Kirkwall Inspector David Miller, says that remains four too many.

He also emphasised drivers should be aware of the consequences of drink driving throughout the year, not just at Christmas and New Year.

A reward is being offered to anyone who has information about a valuable bronze propeller stolen from a boat on the Hatston slip between Christmas and January 4.

Anyone with information should contact Kirkwall Police station on 872241.

A Kirkwall man was released on bail from Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to assault and breach of the peace.

Laurence Stanley James Pirie, 38, of Strombery, Kirkwall, admitted assaulting a woman on January 3, committing a breach of the peace and damaging a car.

Sheriff William Spence granted bail and sentencing deferred until January 26.

Hogmanay revellers were well behaved this year, according to police.

Kirkwall police inspector David Miller said party goers, although lively, were in good humour and there were only three arrests for public disorder.

The Uppies notched up another victory in the New Year's Day Men's Ba'.

The ba' was thrown up at the stroke of 1pm and touched the Uppie goal at approximately 5.30pm. The ba' went to Kirkwall man, Gary Coltherd.

The ba' was donated by, and thrown up by, Ian Smith.

The New Year's Boys' Ba' went up after a five and a quarter hour battle through the streets of Kirkwall.

The ba' was thrown up at 10.30am by Betty Donaldson, the daughter of The Orkney Herald's ba' correspondent David Horne.

The trophy touched the Uppie goal at around 3.45pm, and was presented to Dean Campbell.

Anyone in Orkney wishing to contribute to the Red Cross Asia Earthquake and Flood Appeal can do so through the Red Cross shops in Kirkwall and Stromness.

Alternatively, people can donate by sending to Red Cross House, 4 Victoria Road, Kirkwall KW15 1DZ or by phone to 08705 125125 or online via the Red Cross Website - www.redcross.org.uk