The statue of King Leonidas - the finishing point of the Spartathlon

Sanday ultra-distance runner William Sichel successfully completed the 153-mile Spartathlon race from Athens to Sparta at the weekend.

William Sichel finished in 33hrs 14mins 20secs. He was positioned 37th from 230 starters and was the second British finisher.

William was among the 280 starters setting out from the Acropolis in Athens, intent on touching the feet of King Leonidas in the main square in Sparta, within the 36 hour time limit.

The event commemorates the epic run by Pheidippides, the Greek runner and messenger, who, in 490BC, ran from Athens to Sparta to request reinforcements against the invading Persians.

Click here for William Sichel's latest article, which previews the Spartathlon

Mr Scott accepted Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace's, invitation to come to Orkney after Mr Wallace questioned the Minister about how the Scottish Executive planned to secure a quality livestock shipping service within the ferry contract.

Mr Scott said "We are ensuring that livestock carriage will be covered in the tender, which was not the case in the past. We consider that to be an important step."

A long-term recruitment drive to bring dental training posts to Orkney has started bearing fruit.

An application has been received by a student dentist who wants to join NHS Orkney's dental list.

Suzanne Perry came into the postgraduate training post as a fellowship in remote and rural dentistry. As part of her three-year fellowship, she will spend six months in Orkney.

It seems that staff morale at NHS Orkney is at an all time low.

The results of an NHS Orkney "listening exercise" with staff were made public on Thursday afternoon. The report is a concerning read which pulls no punches.

Harshly criticised were leadership roles, a lack of communication, too many managerial staff, and a "them and us" culture. But particularly worrying was employees who felt patient care had suffered due to staff shortages.

Chief executive Steve Conway said: "NHS Orkney has produced an eight-point action plan to help set the direction for the year ahead."

There was a stark warning at Thursday's meeting of the health board, when financial director Iain Crozier said that unless further savings can be found they will not break even this year.

Concern was also expressed that staff could not implement further cutbacks without reducing the level of service to patients..

NHS Orkney board members have agreed to an investigation into redeveloping Kirkwall's Balfour Hospital.

As well as redeveloping the existing site, another suggestion on the table is the construction of a new hospital.

Despite a planned investment of £250,000 on the hospital's acute wards in the coming weeks, members heard that a number of "suspect structural cracks" have developed in the building.

In his report, Sanjay Shah, NHS Orkney's business manager, said: "The need to modernise the present facilities is certain. Approval of this paper does not commit to redevelopment of the of the hospital and health centre, merely authorise and provide a drive and impetus towards researching such developments."

The number of births in Orkney rose from 103 to 120 in 2004/05, while the number of Orkney mothers transferred to Aberdeen fell from 54 to 49.

In a report before the health board on Thursday morning, members were told that the number of beds in the hospital's maternity unit dropped from eight to six in July this year.

Kirkwall's sewerage system - which has been previously described as "crumbling" - will cost Orkney Housing Association (OHA) £1.8 million in lost grants this financial year.

This was the message from OHA chairwoman, Andi Ross, at the association's AGM on Wednesday night.

She said: "We continue to face a moratorium in Kirkwall because of the sewerage situation. This means we lost £1.8 million in grant in the current financial year and 89 much needed homes for rent and low cost home ownership are delayed."

In Kirkwall all developments involving an increase in sewerage capacity are on hold because the current infrastructure can't cope.

Kirkwall's sewerage system - which has been previously described as "crumbling" - will cost Orkney Housing Association (OHA) £1.8 million in lost grants this financial year.

This was the message from OHA chairwoman, Andi Ross, at the association's AGM on Wednesday night.

She said: "We continue to face a moratorium in Kirkwall because of the sewerage situation. This means we lost £1.8 million in grant in the current financial year and 89 much needed homes for rent and low cost home ownership are delayed."

In Kirkwall all developments involving an increase in sewerage capacity are on hold because the current infrastructure can't cope.

Almost 100 people turned out to a meeting in St Margaret's Hope on Wednesday night. The message was clear - leave the barriers alone.

The meeting was called in response to an OIC proposal to enforce closure of the Churchill Barriers in adverse weather conditions.

If it goes ahead, the closure of the causeways could be enforced by a system such as storm gates at either end.

At present it is up to the individual whether they want to risk a crossing in poor conditions.

Mr Aly Bruce, one of the candidates interested in running for parliament

A senior partner in a Kirkwall law firm, and a Stronsay-born woman now living in Banffshire, have confirmed they want Orkney MSP Jim Wallace's job.

Mr Aly Bruce, of Lows Orkney, and Mrs Linda Gorn, a councillor on Moray council since 1999, have put their names forward for selection as the Liberal Democrat candidate to replace Mr Wallace and take Orkney's Holyrood seat in 2007.

A Sanday man, Jim Wallace's former advisor at the Scottish Executive, Liam McArthur, could be another contender.

Mr Wallace intimated earlier this year that he would be vacating the Holyrood seat to make way for "fresh blood".

Robert David Sinclair, 44, of Skaill Road, Kirkwall, admitted punching and kicking a man on Lynn Crescent on September 26.

The court called for background reports and deferred sentence until October 20.

The accident, involving a Land Rover and a tractor, occurred half a mile from the north-end of the Harray road at 9am on Wednesday morning.

Police are taking no further action.

A diver was taken to the hyperbaric chamber in Stromness on Tuesday suffering suspected decompression sickness.

The dive boat Jean Elaine contacted Shetland Coastguard at 3.15pm concerned about a 31-year-old sports diver who had made an ascent in Scapa Flow.

He was taken to Stromness pier where a waiting ambulance transferred him to the hyperbaric chamber. The diver was discharged from the chamber at 9pm.

With new sheep being introduced to farms following the Autumn sales, farmers are being urged to be extra vigilant in the fight against sheep scab.

NFU Scotland (NFUS) is urging farmers to immediately isolate any new animals brought onto the farm and to treat for scab accordingly, either by injecting or dipping.

NFUS is also reminding its members that if they plan to dip sheep and haven't previously received authorisation from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), they should apply now. SEPA is proposing to treble the cost of authorisation from April 2006, a rise from £172 to £542.

Fifth year pupils in Orkney recorded the fourth highest pass rate in Scotland this year, according to Scottish Executive figures.

Twenty-nine per cent of fifth year students passed three highers in 2005, which was equal with Aberdeenshire, and behind Stirling, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire.

Overall in Scotland, 22 per cent of pupils passed five highers.

The pass rate could rise further when the results of appeals are known.

Managing Director Lawrie Sinclair said that the consultation meetings, over 20 in Orkney and Shetland so far, had enabled CalMac to identify solutions to the key service issues.

He said: "We are now fine-tuning some of these suggestions before coming to final conclusions which will be presented to the CalMac Board in a fortnight's time prior to the finalisation of what we believe will be the successful bid to operate the Northern isles service."

CalMac will submit its bid to the Scottish Executive by the closing date of November 1.

NFUS Orkney chairman, Stewart Wood, has met with Orkney's MSP, Jim Wallace, to discuss issues concerning union members in the county.

The poor state of the beef market and the ongoing ferry service tender were high on the agenda.

Mr Wallace agreed to support a campaign to establish an independent supermarket regulator, as well as raise ferry tender concerns with the Scottish Transport Minister.

In addition, he agreed to work with Westminster MP, Alistair Carmichael, to find a solution to mitigate the worst effects of the current high fuel prices.

The people of Westray celebrated the official opening of the island's new care centre, Kalisgarth, on Wednesday.

Westray councillor, and OIC convener, Stephen Hagan, unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion and children from the island released over 100 balloons.

The joint project between the OIC and Orkney Islands Property Development Limited (OIPDL) has been a long-term aim of the Westray community.

The facility offers a range of community care services, including supported accommodation, short breaks and day care.

Highlands and Islands MSP, Jamie McGrigor, has queried the Scottish Executive's handling of the new Northern Isles ferry service tendering process.

In a series of Parliamentary questions, the Conservative MSP asked what considerations had been made for a dedicated livestock/freight vessel to provide year-round transport of livestock from Orkney. Mr McGrigor also asked who was consulted before the latest tender document was drafted.

Mr McGrigor said "It appears that Nicol Stephen, when Minister for Transport, asked local stakeholders to advise him of the livestock transport needs of Orkney, only for the Executive to announce the tender document without allowing that group to report their findings."

Careers Convention 2005 in the Pickaquoy Centre on Tuesday

Careers Scotland, the career planning service, held a career convention in Kirkwall on Tuesday.

The Pickaquoy Centre event, aimed at the entire community, featured a wide range of colleges, universities, training organisations and employers.

The organisers said that the convention was aimed at all - including senior school pupils, their parents and anyone interested in training and employment information.

Eoin Stevenson	Lorraine Bichan

A Stronsay farmer and a business-woman, turned college lecturer, have joined Orkney Enterprise's board of directors.

The appointment of Eoin Stevenson, from Stronsay, and Lorraine Bichan, from Finstown, has been welcomed by Orkney Enterprise chairman Brian Kynoch.

He said: "Both new directors have a wealth of experience in their respective business sectors and I'm sure they will make a very valuable contribution to the work of the board."

The statue of King Leonidas - the finishing point of the Spartathlon

Sanday-based ultra distance runner William Sichel will be celebrating his 52nd birthday in Greece this week - attempting to be the first Scottish runner to complete the 153-mile Spartathlon race from Athens to Sparta.

William will be among the 280 starters setting out from the Acropolis in Athens on Friday morning, intent on touching the feet of King Leonidas in the main square in Sparta, within the 36 hour time limit.

The event commemorates the epic run by Pheidippides, the Greek runner/messenger, who, in 490BC, ran from Athens to Sparta to request reinforcements against the invading Persians.

A man, who plead guilty to vandalism and assaulting a police officer, was released on bail from Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday.

Joseph Shaun Thomas Michael Mahady, 21, of St Catherine's Place, Kirkwall, smashed a window in the Ferry Inn, Stromness, before assaulting a police officer in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Describing the incident as "truly intolerable behaviour", Honorary sheriff, Mr Eric Green, called for background reports and deferred sentence until October 6.

A man sustained facial cuts which required stitches. Police inquiries are continuing, although they are asking any witnesses to contact them on 872241.

The £5 million deal is the third turbine CESS has sold in the past two years, bringing the total number of plants sold to 37 gas turbines, 23 steam turbines and 36 diesel/gas engines.

Managing director Mike Craigie said: "When we first started out, many owners of surplus equipment had no idea what their equipment was worth, our main aim is to free up such equipment by setting realistic targets for sale and circulating information on plant availability."

A series of public meetings on the OIC's draft Renewable Energy Planning Framework begin next week in South Ronaldsay.

The document, which identifies preferred areas for development, as well as areas that could be considered for development, will be available from the OIC website for the public to comment on until October 7.

The meetings are in St Margaret's Hope school tonight, Monday; Evie Links Centre on Thursday; Stronsay on October 4 and Rousay Primary School on October 6. All meetings begin at 7.30pm.

Visitors to the exhibition in the Old Ferry Terminal

An exhibition in Stromness to give the public an opportunity to comment on the future development of the pier head and the old mart site, has attracted so many visitors that it has been extended by a week.

Laurie Sparrow, OIC strategic architect, said that questionnaires, which had run out on Friday, were available again and anyone who had missed the opportunity to fill one in would be able to access them during the extended run of the exhibition or by contacting the OIC in Kirkwall.

The exhibition is in the Old Ferry Terminal, Stromness.