The Castle of Snusgar, Sandwick

An open day at the archaeological excavations around the Castle of Snusgar, in Sandwick, was held on, Sunday.

A team of archaeologists from Oxford University is trying to clarify what lies within the mound, and how it fits into the long history of human settlement around the bay. A number of Viking age finds have turned up over the past week.

Champion of the yard at Friday's Sanday Agricultural Show was a Limousin cross cow shown by Colin Leslie of Lopness.

Reserve went to a Suffolk ewe lamb shown by J. & M. Dearness, Oyce.

Catriona Price, at home in Harray

A young Harray musician performed at the BBC Proms on Saturday night.

Violinist, Catriona Price, 18, is currently studying at St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh. She performed at the prestigious musical event as part of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

Catriona said: "I did it before in 2003, with the NYOS. This time it will be much more special. The NYO Proms performance is such a popular one, because it¹s such a renowned orchestra. The Prom atmosphere is just amazing."

Representatives from Orkney jewellery makers, Aurora, were in Caithness on Saturday, to present a quaich to HRH The Prince of Wales and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall.

The jewellery firm was commissioned by the Canisbay Royal British Legion to make the quaich, which was presented by Aurora's Steven Cooper at the Mey games.

Reflections on Orkney, a selection of oil paintings by Mr Tinch, went on show in the St Magnus Centre, and runs until August 13.

A prolific painter, Mr Tinch's work featured recently in his book, The Shore and Roond Aboot.

Following successful repairs to the MV Varagen, Orkney Ferries will be returning to the normal timetable next week.

Stewart Gunn, Orkney Ferries' deputy marine superintendent, confirmed on Friday that the Varagen had been out on sea trials and that normal service will resume on Sunday morning.

The ferry has been out of action this week due to engine problems.

Thursday's record-breaking price for an Orkney title at Orkney Auction Mart's book sale was broken on Friday, the second day of the auction.

A copy of Four Poets for St Magnus went for £1,300, breaking the price of £750 paid for a signed copy of the same title on Thursday.

Four booklets, one of which was signed by George Mackay Brown, was sold for £700 to an Edinburgh bookseller who collects George Mackay Brown memorabilia.

From social services to education, the plan sets out the OIC's strategies and objectives for providing services in the county, replacing the document, A Vision for Orkney, published in 2000.

The final plan will detail how the council will contribute to Orkney 2020 - the multi-agency community plan.

The OIC therefore want to hear the views of the public before the plan is finalised, and copies are available for download from their website (in the publications section).

Comments can be phoned to 873535 or e-mailed to customerservices@orkney.gov.uk before September 9.

Just over £18,000 in local grants were approved by Orkney Enterprise in July 2005.

Among the grants making up the £18,150 total were £3,950 to Orkney College for the development of a taxi SVQ qualification and £8,000 to Orkney the Brand for a press-cutting service.

A Kirkwall road had to be closed for a short time on Friday after a suspected fire on a digger.

It turned out that oil had leaked onto the vehicle's engine, causing smoke to billow from the machine.

A spokesman from Kirkwall police station said: "Ayre Road had to be closed for about ten minutes because of the excessive smoke. The vehicle was towed away."

The carbon filter which is hoped will solve the problem with water quality in the West Mainland was due to be installed on Friday.

Bad tasting water has been flowing from West Mainland taps for almost a fortnight. The "earthy taste", as it is described, is due to an algal bloom in the Boardhouse Loch.

The water company stress that the water remains safe to drink.

In June, Ross Finnie, Environment and Rural Development minister, announced the intention to create a park. SNH has been asked to consider the statutory and policy framework and to identify potential areas for designation.

SNH will report to ministers by the end of March 2006, and have launched a programme of research, policy development and stakeholder involvement to fulfil this request.

The public is encouraged to take part through an interactive message board on a new section of the SNH website.

Orkney Young Scot (Dialogue Youth) is behind the project, which will enable Peer Education workers and professionals to work with groups of young people to address and discuss some of the issues.

The DVD project is part of the Peer Education project that Orkney Young Scot is currently undertaking, where four peer educators have been employed to educate other young people on issues such as drugs, alcohol and sexual health.

Inside Maeshowe

A blocked drain has been identified as one of the reasons water is seeping into Maeshowe, the 5,000-year-old chambered cairn in Stenness.

Historic Scotland was concerned that the tomb could be damaged after monitoring indicated high levels of moisture inside.

But an examination last month revealed that a drainage channel on the top of the cairn had become blocked, and moisture was seeping in under the edge of a concrete cap added in 1910.

The asphalt used to waterproof the concrete has also begun to deteriorate.

Repairs will be carried out as soon as possible.

Orkney is playing host to a footballing feast this weekend, with the second Orkney Youth Football Festival.

Teams from Shetland and the Scottish mainland will join a series of home sides at the Pickaquoy Centre, where competitions will be held at under-12, under-14 and under-16 level.

The festival, run by the Orkney Youth Development Group (OYDG), was last staged in 2001, and following its success, organisers were keen to hold another.

The festival was officially opened on Thursday morning.

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The 500 books, and more than 250 booklets, range from modern works such as Max - The Life and Music of Peter Maxwell Davies, to booklets including two on the sites and monuments of Cava, Rysa Little, Switha and Fara, and Our Scandinavian Forefathers, written by William Miller, in 1862.

The book sale is taking place on Thursday and Friday, at 10am. A full catalogue is available on the mart's website.

Scottish Water were giving bottled water to households in the West Mainland affected by the algal bloom in the Boardhouse Loch.

On Thursday, water was being collected from seven distribution points:

• The Birsay Community Centre
• The Smithfield Hotel car park, Dounby
• The Harray Hall
• The Sandwick Community Centre
• Stromness Academy, Garson, Stromness
• Old Stromness Academy, Back Road, Stromness
• Ness Campsite, Stromness

Because algae levels in the loch have not dropped as expected, Scottish Water intend adding a carbon filtration process to the water treatment works this weekend.

Historic Scotland has confirmed that a young child came in contact with a cleaning agent on the Brough of Birsay causeway on Tuesday.

A Historic Scotland spokesman said that maintenance work on the causeway has been suspended while an investigation into the "health and safety issue" takes place.

The causeway, which is accessible only at low tide, has to be cleaned regularly to prevent the build-up of seaweed and algae, which could pose a hazard to visitors to the tidal isle.

The incident, which occurred at 7.50am, was just outside Finstown and involved a white van and a silver Renault Scenic. There were no injuries.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact 872241.

Scottish Health Minister, Andy Kerr, was in Orkney on Wednesday for NHS Orkney's annual review - the day after two members of Orkney's health board resigned.

The minister is visiting all Scotland's health boards as part of his annual review of each board's performance. The review took place at the Grainayre Room in the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall.

Orkney Islands Council, and Orkney MSP Jim Wallace, have also called for a meeting with the minister over concerns regarding the new helicopter air ambulance service.

The annual fair, to raise money for the upkeep of the twelfth century cathedral, was opened this year by Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Gibson at 2.15pm.

Among the other events taking place today is showjumping at 4pm at the Market Stance, and the annual Wideford Hill race at 7pm.

Two members of NHS Orkney's health board ­ including the vice-chairman ­ have resigned.

Dr Douglas Deans, who has been vice-chair for the past three years, and Richard Jenkins, a non-executive member since December, 2001, revealed their decisions on Tuesday, with Orkney's health service budget underfunding a major factor.

Mr Jenkins said: "In the absence of clear strategic planning and leadership, the burden of making these savings inevitably falls on the shoulders of our staff.

"I do not believe it is fair or safe to continue to impose on their goodwill, or to count on being able to recruit to the posts they have occupied, on the basis of chronic underfunding and disruptive, directionless change."

After a storm of protests last year, NHS Orkney has confirmed that three GPs will share the practice based on Shapinsay.

They are Dr Ceri LeMar, Dr Mick Summerhayes and new appointment, Dr Jonathan Clowes, a GP currently working in Yorkshire.

The population of the island protested strongly last yar at NHS Orkney's proposal not to replace the island doctor when the practice becomes vacant, but to provide Shapinsay's medical cover from the Mainland.

The naturally occurring algal bloom has meant water supplies in the West Mainland have been affected by a bad taste for over a week.

The water company say that algal levels in the loch hae not dropped as expected, so they intend adding a carbon filtration process to the water treatment works.

A spokesman added that if the carbon-based treatment process doesn't work, bottled water would be made available to customers.

Highlands and Islands MSP, Mary Scanlon, has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking that Orkney farmers and landowners are exempted from the Aggregates Tax, when taking materials from the foreshore.

Ms Scanlon highlighted the fact that under Udal Law, an ancient system of law brought to the Northern Isles by the Norsemen, landowners own the foreshore, down to the water mark.

As a result, she claims that the tax should not apply to landowners who own the land under this system.

A 44-year-old man appeared in Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday in relation to a domestic incident on Eday on Saturday afternoon.

Kevin John Bass, Backaland, Eday, had his sentence deferred for six-months to be of good behaviour.

The three gold fragments. (Pic: National Museums of Scotland)

Historic Scotland has confirmed the discovery of three gold fragments during the recent archaeological excavations at the Knowes of Trotty in Harray.

The tiny fragments are presumed to be parts of the gold discs discovered at the Bronze Age barrow cemetery in 1858.

News of the discovery was only released this weekend, as a safeguard against modern treasure hunters.

Following information received, the police seized what is believed to be a quantity of cannabis resin. The suspected drug is currently being analysed.

It is anticipated that a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.

The men had been diving of the wrecks of the German vessel Dresden, in Scapa Flow, when they undertook a fast ascent from 19 metres.

The dive boat Adlergrund landed them at Houton at about 2.15pm, and was met by an ambulance, which transferred the divers to the medical facility.

Tony Marsh will replace Val Cameron, who is taking up a post in Edinburgh. Mr Marsh moved to Orkney in 1997, to become an environmental health officer with the OIC, later being promoted to environmental health manager, his present post.

Tony will officially take up his new post on August 15.

Ongoing engine problems means that the Orkney Ferries vessel Varagen has been taken out of service for repairs.

The ferry is expected to out of action for a week, with an amended timetable put into operation to cover the north isles.

Details of the new sailing times are available from Orkney Ferries and passengers are asked to contact the Kirkwall office, on 872044, with any queries.

During the annual 12-day operation, divers from Briggs Marine, used a new technique called "cold cutting", enabling them to enter the inside area.

It is now expected that much of the oil still in the vessel will migrate to the already emptied tanks in the upturned hull where it can then be drawn off, through valves already fitted to them, by hot tapping.

Although no-one can be sure, Capt Mills estimated, worst case scenario, that there could be about 500 tonnes of oil left.