Livestock handling, the management of overnight passenger accommodation and timetabling are three key areas of potential change in the Northern Isles service identified by ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne.

Speaking at the end of three days of consultation with Orkney and Shetland local authorities and other groups, managing director Lawrie Sinclair, said: "Nothing we have discovered this week in terms of feedback is insurmountable."

He added: "There are, however, important issues relating to the means of carrying livestock which are compliant with the regulations and best meet the needs of the industry. We have proposals, which we will wish to discuss further with all concerned."

Orkney Islands Council's re-vamped website is now expected to go online in October.

Members of the council's information services subcommittee heard on Friday that the £24,000 project will see the website "look and feel" updated and the navigation improved.

Reported crime in Orkney rose just over eight per cent in 2004/05.

Orkney's Chief Inspector, Mike Cowdrie, said the disappointing figure was largely due to a 18.9 per cent increase in vandalism.

"However, on a much more positive note, out detection rate for all crimes increased from 61.3 per cent to 75.2 per cent, with an overall detection rate of 89 per cent for all crimes and offences," he said.

Meeting in the upper room of the Stromness Library, from 7 pm till 9 pm, fortnightly on Mondays, the group will be an informal friendly setting for anybody who writes to come and share their work.

Stromness Library assistant Becky Ford is the co-ordinator of the group, but participants will lead meetings, with occasional experienced guest .

The next meeting is set for Monday, September 12.

St Peter's Kirk, Sandwick

A representative from the Civic Trust was in Orkney on Friday, to present an award for the conservation of St Peter's Kirk in Sandwick.

The renovated kirk, on the north side of the Bay of Skaill, was commended in the annual Civic Trust awards earlier this year.

The 1838 kirk, owned by the Scottish Redundant Churches Trust, was restored in a £250,000 project, finished in 2003.

Project architect was Leslie Burgher, of Pentarq, and the building work was carried out by Orkney Builders (Contractors) Ltd.

Feature: The History of St Peter's Kirk

A paging system for firefighters on North Ronaldsay has gone live.

Instead of having to individually alert members of the mobile unit, now it¹s as simple as pressing a button, according to Highlands and Islands Fire Brigade district officer, David Clark.

"As of last Thursday, North Ronaldsay went live with their paging system. They are the last operational unit in Orkney to be supplied with paging equipment," Mr Clark said.

"Basically, you press the button and everyone is alerted immediately. The speed of response, turning out and immediacy is greatly increased. From our point of view it is a huge boost."

The skeleton uncovered in 2004

With only days to go in this year's archaeological excavations at Minehowe, a second Iron Age burial has been found at the Tankerness site.

The find follows last year's discovery of a woman buried under the floor of a metalworking structure that has been the focus for the past few years.

The body was found buried into rubble outside this building, and at the moment is still largely covered.

It is hoped that additional local funding will see the excavation extended next week to allow the remains to be extracted.

Northern Constabulary's chief constable, Ian Latimer, has praised the "phenomenal achievements" of Orkney's police force crime detection rate.

Last year, the force was once again at the top of the UK table with a detection rate of 75.2 per cent, only pipped by the Western Isles at 75.3 per cent.

Speaking at Thursday's meeting of the Northern Joint Police Board in Kirkwall, chief constable Latimer said: "These are phenomenal achievements that elsewhere in the UK are unheard of. It is important that we acknowledge the successes we have."

The committee heard, in private, from a broad range of individuals and organisations connected with the production of energy in the county.

Click here to view Inquiries / Issues
for Scotland's Energy Supply website

CalMac chairman, Dr Harold Mills said: "Most of our focus on the first day has understandably been on the shipment of livestock from the islands. We were already aware of some of the issues which have been faced in the last few years and we are now very clear in our understanding of the aspirations of the farming community in particular."

The company is launching a special section on its website for interested parties to make their views known about the contract proposals.

Police confirmed this morning that they have made telephone contact with a missing South Ronaldsay woman and her daughter.

Juliet Annesley Gamester, 37, and her two-year-old daughter, Oceiah Annesley Suter, were last seen at 7.30am on Tuesday morning, and subsequently reported missing.

Sergeant Gordon Deans said: "She made contact by telephone with the police on Wednesday morning. We are as sure as we can be it is her. We will still be making proactive inquiries as to tracing her whereabouts."

Sergeant Deans added that the pair are not in Orkney.

Orkney businesses are cashing in to the tune of £400,000 owing to a increase in the number in the number of yachts visiting Orkney.

Orkney Marina officials have said the number of yachts visiting the county's facilities in Stromness, Kirkwall and Westray was up 25 per cent to July 31.

Overall numbers have risen from 293 to 367 so far this year, which represents a 400 per cent increase since the marinas project began.

The case against Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who was investigated by police after a dead swan was spotted in his garden, has been dropped by the procurator fiscal in Kirkwall.

The Sanday-based composer admitted on Wednesday that he didn't expect the case to reach court.

Sir Peter said: "I am very pleased. It was a great diversion while it happened, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!"

The 70-year-old, who was appointed Master of the Queen¹s Music last year, said he did not want to comment further.

A spokesman from the Crown Office confirmed: "The fiscal, after having considered the available evidence, has decided not to take proceedings in this case."

Archive story: National interest in the story of
Sanday composer and dead swan

CalMac, who is part of the current NorthLink consortium, will, if successful in their bid, take over whole ownership of NorthLink, after the Royal Bank of Scotland pulled out its involvement.

Company representatives will hold over 20 consultation meetings over the next three days in Orkney and Shetland, meeting key customers and agencies such as the local authorities, the National Farmers Union, the haulage industry and tourism representatives.

The national Beachwatch campaign takes place over the weekend of September 17 and 18.

Calum Duncan, MCS Scottish Officer, said: "No beaches in Orkney participated in Beachwatch last year. It would be great if we could get an Orkney beach or two to register for the project this year."

For further information, or to register for Beachwatch, email beachwatch@mcsuk.org or register online at www.adoptabeach.org.uk.

The case of a Kirkwall man, accused of driving under the influence of drink or drugs, assaulting a man and committing a breach of the peace on Sunday night, was continued without plea at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday.

Erik Donaldson, 44, of Ayre Houses, Kirkwall, is accused of driving in Kirkwall's Victoria Street while unfit to do so, colliding with a motorcyclist, before repeatedly punching and kicking him, and also failing to provide police with a breath specimen.

Donaldson was granted bail and the case was continued until September 7.

Rickla, in Harray, run by Jacky and Stewart Anderson, is up for the Customer Care:Guest House/B&B award.

Over 40 tourism businesses across Scotland have made the shortlist for the awards, which recognise quality and excellence across the country's tourism industry.

A reception will be held in Edinburgh next month to recognise the shortlisted businesses, with the awards ceremony taking place on Friday, October 28.

Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Strathclyde Universities are to help the UHI Millennium Institute (UHI) achieve the title of University of the Highlands and Islands in 2007.

The universities would oversee the continued development of a university culture and research, co-operating in, and steering, preparation and implementation of a UHI research development plan.

Orkney College is one of the 13 institutions forming the UHI Millennium Institute.

Orkney college principal, Dr Bill Ross, said: "Achievement of university title is important to us in Orkney in order to further raise the profile of our higher education provision. Additionally, the strong research profiles of the three collaborative partners will help us further develop research work in Orkney, particularly in the fields of archaeology, agronomy, cultural studies and sustainable development/renewable energy."

Opinion remains divided on the future location of the county show, with those wanting to see the event remain in the Bignold Park topping our online poll by a mere four votes.

Of the 716 votes cast, 360 were in favour of keeping the show in the Bignold, narrowly ahead of the 356 who want a new venue.

Parking difficulties due to a proposed housing development at the Meadows, close to the Bignold Park, prompted the suggestion that the annual agricultural show be relocated.

A spokesman said what they planned to offer from April, 2006, would reflect what islanders need and want.

Bid-director, David Rodger, said: "We are currently looking closely at the existing operation and simultaneously working with a dedicated, specialist team to take the bid forward.

"Our visits to Orkney and Shetland over the next fortnight are an important and integral part of that process. I and my bid team colleagues are looking forward to hearing islanders' concerns and aspirations for their vital ferry services."

In a letter to Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace, the minister wrote: "I share your desire to realise the benefits of lower fares and improved services to the communities in the Highlands and Islands and to get on and deliver our Partnership Agreement."

He added that a prioritisation exercise would precede the tendering of PSO services, to allow the spending of funding to be targeted where it is needed, should the costs turn out to be higher than estimated.

Mr Wallace said that he would argue the case that it is most needed on air routes to the islands, where there are no road or rail alternatives, and where air fares are very high.

Click here for HITRANS website

Water supplies in the West Mainland have been restored after a fault at the Boardhouse water treatment works on Sunday.

Up to 2,000 people are thought to have been affected when the fault first occurred. However the majority of those now have supplies restored, with customers in the higher areas likely to experience lower pressure in their supplies.

With the supplies restored, it is likely the water will be discoloured and aerated. Customers are advised that Scottish Water is dealing with this, and to bear with us until the full water pressure is restored.

New legislation means landlords will be required to provide basic details to their local authority.

The council is awaiting final confirmation from the Scottish Executive on the procedure for managing the register. When this is finalised, information will be made available to all private landlords.

Registration will cover the majority of landlords, regardless of how many properties they rent out. Once registration has been introduced it will be an offence to rent out a property without registering.

For advice on who will be required to register, contact Barbara Leask on 873535 Ext 2175 or email barbara.leask@orkney.gov.uk.