Orkney's third try

Orkney's First XV rugby team won their latest League Division Five (Caledonia 'A') match against bottom of the league team, Fife Southern, on Saturday afternoon.

After a very unconvincing first half, which saw Orkney 19-5 in the lead, Orkney were able to take control in the second half and ran out winners by 53-10.

Orkney tries were scored by Adam Towrie (2), Al Watson (2), John Dearness, Colin Risbridger, Kevin Pepper and Andy McGill.

From Tuesday, there will be new arrangements for contacting a doctor in South Ronaldsay out-of-hours.

From November 1, NHS Orkney will provide an out-of-hours GP service to patients of Daisy Villa practice, in St Margaret's Hope, between 6.30pm and 8am and throughout weekends and public holidays.

A new GP contract means they do not need to be available to their patients 24 hours a day. Now, an on-call GP will be based in Kirkwall, to cover patients from Scapa practice, and the Daisy Villa practice.

Transport minister, Tavish Scott MSP, met with members of Orkney's livestock working group to discus the future of the north isles shipping service on Friday.

NFUS Orkney branch and the working group have urged the Scottish Executive to purchase the containers, used to load livestock, and lease them to the ferry company that wins the north isles contract.

Mr Scott said the Executive could make no decision until the tender is awarded to either V Ships or Calmac.

He said: "We want to make sure the two companies bidding listen closely to the farming industry in the northern isles and reflect that in their bid."

Part of Kirkwall's Albert Hotel reopened on Friday after a fire devastated the property a few weeks ago.

Usually reserved for functions and meals, Matchmakers re-opened as a pub, in place of the Bothy bar, which was badly damaged in the blaze.

One of the containers lost from the deck of the Rosita, passing between Orkney and Shetland on Monday night, has been washed up on the Fair Isle.

A coastguard spokesman said on Friday morning that a second container, was still drifting past Fair Isle but that they were still trying to locate the remainder. Bad weather is hampering the operation.

A ship from Norway has gone to the scene today to attempt to recover the containers - two of which contain liquid nitrogen.

Police were called to assist Scottish Ambulance Service paramedics in a medical emergency on Thursday afternoon.

Kirkwall Sergeant Angus MacLeod said: "Following a request by the ambulance service about 3.20pm on Thursday, we attended an address in Finstown, where we assisted paramedics with a male patient."

He added that it was purely a medical matter and no further police action would be taken.

Kirkwall police have issued a warning about another e-mail scam circulating in the county.

Similar to a large number of 'phishing' scams, this one purports to be from Barclay's Bank and seeks to obtain personal data via the web address: https:// ibank.barclays.co.uk 

Community safety officer, Dave Dawson, said: "It is fairly evident that this is a less than professional communication and, given the grammar etc, could well be of foreign origin.

"E-mail users are strongly advised not to respond to this, or indeed any other communications claiming to be from banks, or other financial institutions. Police should be advised."

Maritime and Coastguard surveyors have completed their investigation into how a number of containers were lost from a ship travelling between Orkney and Shetland.

A spokesman confirmed on Thursday that the deck fittings on the Rosita failed in heavy seas, resulting in seven containers being swept from the ship.

The Rosita was impounded in Aberdeen after losing the cargo on Monday night.

The coastguard emergency tug, Anglian Earl, has been despatched to monitor a number of containers swept from a ship on Monday night.

Seven containers were lost from the vessel, Rosita, in heavy seas between Orkney and Shetland. Two are full of liquid nitrogen.

A Coastguard spokesman said on Thursday that the MCA counter-pollution plane would be returning to monitor the situation at the scene, 35 miles south east of Sumburgh, in Shetland, although weather conditions today hampered the operation.

Police would like to hear from anyone in relation to an incident at Mills Filling Station in Kirkwall.

A spokesman said the filling station was damaged, apparently by a vehicle, some time between 10pm on Tuesday and 8am on Wednesday morning.

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

The busy traffic in central Kirkwall, caused by a series of ongoing roadworks, was worsened on Thursday morning after a road accident at the Junction Road/Castle Street junction.

The collision, at 8.55am, involved a white Skoda taxi and a Renault Laguna.

There were no injuries.

Rabbits burrowing in a Sanday kirkyard exposed a child's skull, it was claimed this week.

Ian Muir, of Kettletoft, said he had complained about the damage being done in the Cross kirkyard two years ago and complained earlier this year, after finding what appeared to be a piece of skull.

An OIC spokesman said this week that someone would be sent to Sanday to assess the damage.

A young visitor to Happy Valley

Orkney Islands Council reiterated this week that it was committed to preserving Happy Valley as a public attraction.

Happy Valley's creator, Edwin Harrold, died last week, aged 98, and the future of the area has been in question for some time.

But an OIC spokesman said: "We are currently in negotiations with the landowner with a view to the council taking on the responsibility for preserving, conserving and improving Happy Valley and keeping it open to the public in the spirit in which it was created by Mr Harrold."

A Papdale Primary School teacher is one of 41 in Scotland to have achieved Chartered Teacher Status.

Christine Sinclair is one of 23 primary school teachers and 19 secondary school teacher to be granted the status, which brings the total number of chartered teachers in Scotland to 149.

The Orkney Brewery launched its first lager in Kirkwall on Tuesday night.

Entitled 59 Degrees North, the beer is described as "a super premium keg lager brewed at 4.5 per cent".

Managing director Neill Cotton said: "This is a product we want Orcadians to be as proud about as we are."

Highlands and Islands MSP, Jamie McGrigor, has expressed concern after new figures showed a 13 per cent increase in crime in Orkney since 2003.

He said: "The fact that 76 per cent of cases recorded were cleared up is testament to the hard work of Orkney's Northern Constabulary officers.

"However, with fireraising and vandalism up 43 per cent, and the total number of crimes up nearly 13 per cent, from 509 cases in 2003 to 574 in 2004/05, these are worrying figures."

Almost all aspects of Pierowall Junior High's Nursery provision are very good, according to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIe).

The inspection report, published on Wednesday, identified relationship between staff, parents and pupils and special educational support among the particularly positive features.

The only recommendation is in relation to the planning, assessing and recording of children's progress.

Two men, charged with drink-driving, were released on bail from Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

James Ronald Simison, 47, of Junction Road, Kirkwall, pleaded guilty to driving on Slater Street, Kirkwall, with 115 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, on October 24. He will be sentenced on November 16.

Meanwhile, Colin Malcolm Macaulay Strain, 33, of Stoneyhill Road, Harray, denied driving on the Kirkwall to Orphir Road with 122 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

He will stand trial on January 11.

Local renewable energy company, Fairwind-Statkraft (Orkney) Ltd (FSOL), has invited Orkney Islands Council to discuss the possibility of taking a significant stake in its proposed renewable energy scheme.

The scheme aims to develop 35 to 40 wind generators providing 126 megawatts of power.

The company says the option could see local interests, comprising the OIC and other local partners, take up to 50 per cent of the scheme - thus ensuring the community benefits.

FSOL chairman, Dennis Gowland, said that he felt it is time the council became part of this process", adding they: "could work through FSOL to secure the best long-term opportunities for renewables in Orkney, including future marine developments."

The Orphir school has many strengths, according to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIE).

After an inspection in June, the report identifies three areas as particularly positive features of the school:

• The quality of the accommodation, which was well used by staff;
• Partnership with parents, the School Board and wider community;
• Commitment of the head teacher and all staff to pupils’ care and welfare

In all aspects, the school was judged good or very good, although it was recommended that listening, talking and problem solving development be looked at. A pupil progress monitoring system should also be developed.

The Coastguard are warning mariners to be on the lookout for a number of containers washed from the deck of a cargo vessel off Fair Isle on Monday night.

Seven containers were lost from the passing vessel, Rosita, in heavy seas. Two are full of liquid nitrogen.

Anyone who comes across the containers, either at sea or washed ashore, should contact Shetland Coastguard on (01595) 692976 or Orkney police on 872241.

After ten road accidents in the space of five days, police are urging drivers to be more cautious on the roads.

Speaking on Monday, acting Sergeant Andy Hill said: "We always try to emphasise caution while driving, especially at this time of the year. Road conditions during the winter can deteriorate quite quickly so drivers must be much more aware of road conditions and adjust their driving accordingly."

Police inquiries are continuing into a three car accident outside Finstown on Saturday evening.

The accident happened on the Kirkwall to Finstown Road, around 6.50pm, and saw one person take to hospital with chest pains.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a car was struck and badly damaged on Saturday night.

The vehicle, parked on Hillside Road, Stromness, was extensively damaged after being struck by a red Volkswagen Golf or Passat.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kirkwall police station on 01856 872241.

A number of items have been stolen from a car parked on Crowness Road in the Hatston Industrial Estate.

The Renault Espace, which had been parked in the area from October 9 until October 22, was found to have been entered and items removed.

Anyone with information should contact Kirkwall police station on 872241.

Police are seeking information after a large section of fencing was damaged on the Holm Road on Friday.

A car, which failed to stop, struck a stretch of the fence at the Wilderness, Holm.

Orkney Islands Council's new-look web site is now on line.

Relaunched on Monday, the site contains easy to find information about the OIC as well as provide the facility to pay council bills and fines securely online.

The address is www.orkney.gov.uk.

Parts of Kirkwall and Stromness can expect disruption to traffic ovre the next few weeks, due to road work in both towns.

From Monday, the section of the Hatston Brae, from Crowness Crescent to the Grainshore roundabout is to be resurfaced, so motorists can expect diversions via Grainshore Road and the Saverock junction.

Ongoing lighting work will affect traffic on Wellington Street, High Street, Glaitness Road and New Scapa Road for approximately six week. Meanwhile, work on the Castle Street/Broad Street junction is expected to disrupt traffic for a fortnight.

Finally, work will start on Monday working around the Pierhead fountain in Stromness. This is expected to take three weeks.

Members of the OIC's marine development subcommittee agreed to renew a licence for a salmon farm off Bring Head, on Hoy.

Two objections to the application had been made. The Orkney Trout Fishing Association were concerned, not only about a possible sea-lice risk to wild seat trout, but also the developments proximity to trout spawning burns.

This was echoed in the RSPB's objection, which also highlighted the areas importance for wintering Great Northern Divers.

An application to renew a salmon farm licence at Toyness in Orphir was also granded by islands councillors on Monday.

Again, the Orkney Trout Fishing Association had lodged an objection, concerned about a possible sea-lice risk and the nearby trout spawning burns.