There have only been three corncrakes recorded in Orkney so far this summer - in Sanday, Westray and Papay - which has left the corncrake initiative officer, Jude Hamilton, a little worried.

Last year, 16 corncrakes were recorded in Orkney and in 2003 there were 31.

Anyone who hears a corncrake is asked to call the corncrake hotline on 01856 871068.

The decline in immunisation rates in Orkney has led to the first cases of mumps and measles in years, according to a Kirkwall GP.

Dr Douglas Deans expressed concern at Thursday's health board meeting that the percentage of parents agreeing to vaccinations has fallen to 86 per cent.

He said: "Because the level of people getting immunised has dropped, we have got a population more vulnerable than it has been for some time to measles, mumps and rubella outbreaks.

"I have seen the first cases of measles and mumps than I have seen in years. It is starting to have an impact."

It is alleged the man urinated against a door, and through a letterbox, in a house in Bridge Street, Kirkwall.

He will be reported to the procurator fiscal.

After a week in Malawi, a group of Sanday pupils and teachers are heading back home.

Arlene Walls, Cassie Enticknap, Kirsten Masson, Michelle Dearness and Thomas Newton won their trip in the Scottish Schools Africa Challenge. As a result they have spent the past week with Malawian students, setting up formal links with their own school.

In autumn, five students and two teachers from Minga Secondary School in the Malawian capital, Lilongwe, will travel to Sanday on a reciprocal visit.

Orkney's MSP and Deputy First minister, Jim Wallace, is to assume the role as First Minister one more time, before he steps down as Jack McConnell's number two.

Mr Wallace, who announced after the General Election he was to quit as Deputy First Minister, is expected to fill in again for Mr McConnell so he can attend his son's university graduation.

Mr Wallace, who will also step down as Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and enterprise minister, intends to stay on as MSP for Orkney until the next Scottish elections in 2007.

The 23rd annual Orkney Folk Festival kicked off in Stromness on Thursday night - with a weekend of folk music from 20 visiting bands and27 local acts.

Over 230 performers will take part in this year's festival, which runs until Sunday evening.

Click here for official Orkney Folk Festival website

The organisation has announced a major review of the way it registers and inspects care services, and assesses the quality of care.

The review will be supported by a consultation, launched this week, to get the views of everyone involved with care services in Scotland - whether as a user, a provider, or as a friend or relative of someone receiving care.

For details of the review, and how to take part in the public consultation, visit www.carecommission.com.

Orkney's Employers of the Year were named at a ceremony in Kirkwall.

The award, to reward local employers for their contribution to learners throughout the year, was presented to seven local companies - Robert Hall, Victoria Hair Salon, Orkney Aggregates, Highland Industrial Supplies, the Kirkwall Co-op, Papdale School's Out Club and Orkney Line.

Karen William of Support Training said: "Those [employers] who go beyond the call of duty, who spend time with trainees ensuring they integrate with the workforce, who assess the progress of the trainees in a positive and encouraging manner were all factors in determining the seven winners."

NHS Orkney has welcomed a framework for the future of the NHS in Scotland, published on Wednesday.

Building a Health Service for the Future is a detailed set of recommendations on how the health service could be shaped over the coming decades.

Commenting on the proposed shift towards long-term conditions with increased emphasis on care being managed in primary or community settings, NHS Orkney chairwoman Jenny Dewar said: "This sits very well with the way in which we aim to deliver healthcare in Orkney. The emphasis in Orkney is on team based, continuous and integrated care, embedded in the community - precisely the model of care proposed by Professor Kerr."

Sister Ruth - the globetrotting nun

A globe-trotting missionary nun stopped off in Orkney this week as part of a world tour.

Sister Ruth of the Franciscan Order of UK, from London, has travelled to more than 200 countries throughout the world. She left the county on Wednesday.

Sister Ruth said she was delighted to be in Orkney for her brief visit.

She said: “I have had an excellent time here and I have really enjoyed speaking to the people of Orkney. I went to St Magnus Cathedral and it is a really impressive sight.”

Two men denied causing a disturbance in the Stromness cafe on Tuesday night when they appeared at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

John Montgomery of Hamnavoe and Colin Wishart of Grieveship Brae denied the charges against them.

John Montgomery, also denies refusing to leave the Ferry Inn on March 2, and brandishing a baton at employees.

Both men pleaded not guilty and were released on bail. John Montgomery has been told to stay away from the Ferry Inn.

An intermediate diet was set for May 29 and a trial diet on July 13.

British Telecom have also confirmed that broadband for customers of the Holm and St Margaret's Hope exchanges will also be delayed.

They join Westray and Sandwick, and have a new activation date of July 22.

The delay is because British Telecom is upgrading the microwave links between the Northern Islands and the Scottish mainland - tripling the capacity of one, doubling the other.

The accident involved a Nissan Patrol four by four and a green Fiat coupe at the Hatston Industrial Estate link road around 11am.

Anyone who has information about the accident is asked to call Kirkwall Police on 872241.

One of the two rocks that instigated the emergency exercise in Scapa Flow

Two rocks near a Flotta terminal oil pipeline saw a full-scale emergency in Scapa Flow over the past few days.

The OIC's Harbours Department had the chance to test their emergency procedures, when the routine inspection of the undersea pipeline revealed what appeared to be two ordinance shells nearby.

Orkney Harbours contacted the Ministry of Defence and bomb disposal divers were dispatched. But it became clear, on closer inspection, that the objects were in fact large rocks - shaped like the ordnance shells commonly found across Orkney..

OIC director of harbours, Nigel Mills, said: "The situation was handled comfortably between ourselves, the MOD and Talisman and we're pleased that the outcome was less serious that first anticipated."

Harray, Sandwick and Westray were due to be enabled next month, but the date has now been put back. Harray will now be enabled on July 22.

Orkney Islands Council has released details of islands councillors' Register of Payments for 2004/2005.

The total figure of £418, 520.95 shows an increase of eight per cent on last year's total of £386,831.02.

According to the OIC, this can be attributed to the fact the Scottish Executive increased the basic allowance for every councillor in Scotland from £5,808 to £6,102 per annum in May 2004.

At the top of the list is convener Stephen Hagan with £48,389.96, followed by vice-convenor Sinclair Scott. Claiming the least amount was Councillor Alistair Gordon with £6,883.93.

It is understood that there could be several redundancies at the Orkney jewellery firm, Ola Gorie.

The company¹s managing director, Duncan McLean, has so far declined to disclose any specific details.

However, in a prepared statement, he said: "As part of normal ongoing business, we are always attempting to make our operations more efficient.

"Now is no exception, and we are currently considering a restructuring to meet the requirements of our customers.

"Because this is an internal company matter, no further detail will be given at this time."

Police inquiries are continuing after a vehicle collided with a number of parked cars at Scapa Garage, St Ola, at 7.30pm on Monday night.

Two vehicle collided on the main road close to the garage forecourts, causing one to veer off and damage three other vehicles parked at the garage.

The driver and passenger in one vehicle were taken to Kirkwall¹s Balfour Hospital suffering from seatbelt injuries.

A report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal following a road accident on Kirkwall¹s Bignold Park Road on Monday night.

A Volkswagen Corsa and a Ford Fiesta collided at the junction with Holm Road. The female driver of the Fiesta was taken to Balfour Hospital suffering from shock.

Both vehicles were damaged.

Deputy First Minister, and Orkney's MSP, Jim Wallace has confirmed that all funding to extend the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Stromness is now in place.

The new tidal project, at the Fall of Warness, off Eday, will see four test berths. The facility will be connected to the electricity grid via Cauldale, with a information link carrying information on device performance back to Stromness.

Work will begin in June and is expected to be complete by December.

The £6 million project has been funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Scottish Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Orkney Enterprise, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Scottish Enterprise and Orkney Islands Council (OIC).

Renowned Blues guitarist, Peter Green is coming to Orkney for the Orkney Blues Festival, which will run from September 16-18, it has been revealed.

A founder member of Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green is now one of an ever changing line up in the British Blues All Stars – a touring collaboration of the best musicians from the British Blues scene, who will headline this year’s festival.

Others coming this year will include Scottish blues legend Tam White, and Miller Anderson - a former member of T-Rex, and the Keef Hartley Band who performed at Woodstock. He is now a member of the Spencer Davis group.

The already narrow Victoria Street in Stromness has become even more difficult for traffic and pedestrians with the scaffolding which has been put up while work continues on extending the Pier Arts Centre.

The picture, taken on Monday, shows just how congested the street will be while the work is ongoing.

Holm FC, one of last year’s Parish Cup finalists, have crashed out at the first hurdle in this year’s competition.

Having been defeated 2-0 in the first leg against Firth, Holm managed a 2-1 victory last night, but go out of the competition 3-2 on aggregate.

Firth now go through to face the defending champions, St Ola, in the second round.

The first leg takes place at Firth this weekend.

A 17-year-old woman was released on bail from Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday.

Andrea Wilson, of Kirkwall, appeared in private in relation to an assault which took place in Kirkwall on Sunday.

She made no plea or declaration.

Vandals have targeted the Groatie Hoose, only weeks after the final pieces were slotted back into place in its new home in Tankerness House gardens in Kirkwall.

The inside of the B-listed property has been damaged, according to Kirkwall police.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 872241.

A 30-year-old man was rescued from Kirkwall harbour, after falling from the side on Saturday.

It would appear that he misjudged his seating and fell backwards, according to Kirkwall Sergeant Jim Pryde.

“A passer-by saw it happening and rescued him from the water. He landed in the water, missing the pontoon at Kirkwall pier.”

Kirkwall police are keen to trace a Polish family, thought to be still in Orkney, following the alleged theft of items from a house in Stromness.

They were driving a Volkswagen caravanette, possibly grey, with the registration number WS11 672, according to police.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 872241.

NHS Orkney's new smoking policy will come into effect on September 1, ahead of anticipated national legislation to ban smoking in enclosed public places from next Spring.

In line with current policy and a commitment by the Health Board last July, three months' notice is being given to staff and patients that the smoking facility on the hospital site will be closed down and removed at the end of August this year.

The effect of the policy will be to ban smoking on all NHS Orkney premises, although special arrangements will be made for some patients in the Macmillan Unit and St Ninian Ward.

The 'Walk to School' week, which begins today, will see pupils, teachers and parents at Glaitness Primary and Papdale Primary walking to and from school.

Orkney Islands Council invited schools across Orkney to take part in the challenge and were delighted to get responses from the two schools, which have just under 40 per cent of Orkney's primary school children on their roles.