An NHS Orkney spokeswoman stressed that people visiting the hospital have as much responsibility as NHS staff to take care to prevent cross infection.

The advice is being given out states that if you, or someone you live with, has a cold or diarrhoea, or feel unwell, try and stay away from the hospital until you're better.

Other advice includes washing hands before visiting a ward and reporting any apparently dirty areas to the sister.

NorthLink Ferries' spring/summer season calls to Hatston come into force on today - one week earlier than originally planned.

As such, there will be a soutbound call at Hatston on the evening of Easter Monday, arriving at Hatston at 11pm and departing again at 11.45pm.

The northbound Tuesday evening call through Hatston will leave Aberdeen at 5pm, calling at Hatston at 11pm and sailing for Lerwick at 11.45pm.

At the OIC education committee meeting on Thursday, Councillor Ian Johnstone, highlighted that pupils would like to see better meals in schools.

Leslie Manson, director of education, said that he is committed to improving the quality of school meals with a focusing on healthy eating.

The Hungry for Success co-ordinator, Matthew Walker, will take the plan forward.

Norfish (Orkney) Ltd received £35,000 to supply and install an ice system fish weighing and grading system. Harcus Fishing Company Ltd was given £34,461 for slush ice making equipment.

Fisheries minister, Ross Finnie, announced the funding from the Scottish Executive and EU Financial Instrument for fisheries guidance programme, which is expected to trigger £16.2 million in private investment.

The first Orkney Dance Festival kicked off on Friday, and according to the organisers, has something for everyone.

The festival, which runs until March 28, promises to cover a range of styles from Old-time to Orcadian dances, and Shetland reels to step dance.

The welcome concert was formally opened by Orkney Islands Council's convener, Stephen Hagan, on Friday night..

For more information on the festival and its events see www.orkneydancefestival.co.uk

The Wrigley Sisters added "another string to their bow" on Friday, with the opening of their new music shop at their dedicated centre in Castle Street, Kirkwall.

The shop, which will sell a full range of musical items, opens at 3.30pm on the ground floor of the centre.

Twins, Jennifer and Hazel, opened the Centre of Music last year, with a view to providing "a major cultural resource for the islands."

Orkney looks set to benefit from £5.1 million to go towards affordable accommodation, as part of a £37 million national investment from Communities Scotland

This is the first year of a three-year programme announced by Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm, which will invest £1.2 billion into housing across Scotland.

Orkney's cash will go towards building 78 homes and will include the Wellington Street development in Kirkwall, and the Lighthouse Building project in Stromness.

The 2005 St Magnus Festival prospectus was officially launched in Kirkwall on Thursday.

The document outlines the performances, artists and events in the midsummer festival, which runs from June 17 to 22 this year.

Among this year's highlights is the UK premiere of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' quartet, A Sad Paven for these Distracted Times, and the launch of the book, The Collected Poems of George Mackay Brown.

General booking opens on Monday, May 2 (in person/postal) and Tuesday May 3 (telephone).

Click here for more details.

Councillor have agreed to recommend that Stromness Academy be upgraded at a cost of £1.3 million.

Members at Thursday's OIC education committee meeting went for the more expensive of two options presented - a proposal which will provide 629 squared metres of new floor area with minimal disruption to the school.

The project must now go before the council's policy and resources committee for approval.

St Sunniva passing the Old Man o' Hoy

The former P&O ferry, St Sunniva, which served the Stromness-Aberdeen route from 1987 until 2002, has been scrapped in India.

In 2002, after NorthLink took over the ferry service, the vessel was laid up in Leith before being sold to Al Thuraya Marine of Dubai.

However, it is believed that the recent high scrap prices meant that she has lasted little over a year longer than her former fleet mate, St Rognvald, which was also scrapped at Alang in India.

The proposed site of the new Kirkwall travel centre on Junction Road

A special meeting of the full council took place in private on Thursday afternoon to discuss the proposed travel centre in Kirkwall.

The Orcadian revealed recently that discussions were ongoing between the council and property owners within the near vicinity of the site on Junction Road.

The £1.25 million travel centre, which it is thought will incorporate other organisations, is to be built on the Jewson site.

It will mean the tour buses, which currently park on Palace Road, and those which use the bus station, opposite the Somerfield supermarket, will be on the move.

Charity breakfasts served on board the Hrossey, last Friday

The charity big breakfast event on NorthLink's three passenger ferries has raised £1,514 for Cancer Research - more than double last year's total.

The company pledged to donate all breakfast takings on their ships' sailings last Friday to the charity.

Restaurants on board the Hamnavoe, Hrossey and Hjaltland offered a special breakfast menu, the proceeds of which went to the cause.

NorthLink thanked all those staff and passengers involved, in particular the Craig Group for its generous assistance.

A lack of rain has held up a survey of water and sewerage facilities at the Hatston terminal.

Scottish Water is carrying out an assessment to find out what the needs of the area are, at the council's expense, but claimed that it couldn't be completed because of "insufficient water intake".

Councillors at Wednesday morning's OIC development committee meeting expressed disbelief at the reason for the delay.

"It's been raining for six months!" exclaimed Councillor Jim Foubister.

Fears were expressed on Wednesday that a tourism national call centre could leave Orkney out in the cold as a visitor destination.

The VisitScotland plans, revealed at the OIC development committee meeting, show that a private company will run a single national contact centre, diverting calls to local areas.

Head of economic development, Shona Croy, said: "Orkney could lose out if the service is of poor quality or signposting to area offices is not encouraged."

There was also unease about a new focus on marketing Scotland's cities and rural areas, but no mention of islands.

The Orkney Peer Education Project and Papdale Youth Shelter Project will benefit from grants of £22,998 and £4,250 respectively.

The SDCF is a Scottish Executive awards scheme.

The Health Board is urging Orkney residents to read the policy and give their views.

Chairman, Jenny Dewar, said: "Smoking is the biggest single contributor to Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke and the proposal to ban smoking on NHS Orkney premises recognises that.

"I would ask as many people as possible to comment on the proposals contained in the policy and answer the specific questions raised. This will help us produce a policy which has public support."

The document is available from the NHS Orkney website.

Orkney MP, Alistair Carmichael, is reminding pensioners that there is only one more week to claim their winter fuel payments.

The payment is worth £200 for people aged 60 to 79 and £300 for people over 80 but must be claimed by the end of this month.

Mr Carmichael said: "Anyone who has not received an automatic payment and thinks they may be eligible for this money should call 08459 15 15 15. Applications must be made by the end of this month or people will lose out."

Tormiston Mill, Stenness

Police have issued a stern warning to motorists to slow down at the roadworks near the Tormiston Mill in Stenness.

Speed limits of 30mph and 10mph have been introduced on the road, adjacent to the ongoing work. However, the limits are being ignored by drivers, raising fears that it is only a matter of time before an accident occurs.

Sergeant Jim Pryde said: "We have encountered problems with drivers speeding past the workmen, and not adhering to the limits at all. We will be out at the area regularly, checking the speed of vehicles."

The first was at the site of the old Phoenix Cinema, where an outbuilding was entered and a stone-cutter and various tools stolen. A second outbuilding was then entered at Glaitness School and more builder's equipment was taken.

Anyone offered tools for sale, or with information, should get in touch with Kirkwall Police on 872241.

Voluntary Action Orkney has received £7,000 from Talisman Energy and partners to allocate, as small grants, to voluntary groups in Orkney.

Eighteen groups were successful in applying for funding, each one receiving between £150 and £500.

Among the groups benefiting this year were the Cavern Youth Club, Flotta Over 50s Club and the Sanday Saddle Club.

The results of our latest online poll show that 71 per cent of the voters were against the idea of a tunnel linking Orkney to the Scottish mainland.

Fifty-two per cent of the voters were also against tunnels to Orkney's inner isles.

The poll closed at 3.30pm on Tuesday afternoon.

John Mowat - SNP prospective candidate

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has once again selected Kirkwall teacher John Mowat as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Orkney and Shetland for the forthcoming General Election.

Mr Mowat, who is principal teacher of chemistry at Kirkwall Grammar School, was the SNP candidate at the last Westminster election in 2001.

He has also twice contested the Orkney seat at Scottish Parliamentary elections.

Three Stromness Academy pupils were awarded the top awards in the 2005 Fereday Prize on Tuesday.

Second year pupils, Izzy Whitford and Callum Stevenson, took first and second place in the annual local studies competition. Izzy's project was The Role of Women in Lyness during World War II, while Callum documented The Creamery 1945-2005. Third prize went to Inga Nicolson for Harray: 1975-2005.

The awards were made at a ceremony at Stromness Academy and were presented by Dr Bill Hamilton, chairman of the Orkney Heritage Society.

Councillors at Tuesday's meeting of the OIC's transportation committee heard that 65 tankers visited Flotta in 2004, compared to 69 in 2003, and 86 in 2002.

Despite the drop, new oil from the Tweedsmuir and Tweedsmuir South fields, due to come on stream in 2006, could stabilise activity at the oil terminal.

A total of 2,660,841 tonnes of crude was handled in ship-to-ship transfers last year, involving 74 tankers. This is compared to 575,184 tonnes and 13 tankers in 2003.

External link: Orkney Harbours Website

The Scottish Executive has upheld an OIC decision to refuse planning permission for a tourist development near the Gloup, Deerness.

The ten-bedroomed guesthouse, proposed by Joseph and Karen Greaves of Braebuster House, Deerness, raised objections from neighbours, as well as Scottish Natural Heritage.

Deerness councillor, Jim Foubister, moved to refuse the application in September, 2004, which was backed my members. Mr and Mrs Greaves then lodged an appeal against the council's "unfair" decision.

The appeal refused, Mr and Mrs Greaves have six weeks to lodge an appeal at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

John Aberdein - SSP prospective candidate

The Orkney and Shetland branches of the Scottish Socialist Party have selected their prospective parliamentary candidate for the Westminster election.

John Aberdein, supply teacher and author, stood for the SSP in Orkney at the Scottish elections in 2003, gaining 11.4 per cent of the vote.

Mr Aberdein, who lives in Stromness, intends to travel and campaign throughout the isles.

Regarding the policies of the SSP, he said: "I will be putting the case for peace, public services and better pensions; for strengthening the primary industries; and for community and public ownership of renewables in a green, independent Scotland."

A Kirkwall man who pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman was released on bail from Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday.

Sean Simpson, 29, of Hordaland, Kirkwall, admitted to assaulting the woman on Sunday.

Honorary sheriff Eric Green described Simpson's behaviour as "totally unreasonable and unacceptable". Sentencing was deferred until April 21 for social enquiry reports.

The Yesnaby Castle, Sandwick, in one of the new SPAs.

Six areas of Orkney have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SPA) under European conservation law.

Faray and Holm of Faray, Hoy, the Isbister and Stenness lochs, Sanday and the Stromness heaths and coasts, are among 238 Scottish sites included in the new designation.

The sites are now legally protected to help conserve local flora and fauna.

Lewis Macdonald Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development said: "It is an accolade for Scotland that these sites are recognised as being of European importance."

The restoration of St Peter's Kirk in Sandwick has been shortlisted for another award.

The project is now up for a 2005 Civic Trust Award.

The project was selected by and considered by the award's national panel. The level of award will be announced on April 7.

Feature: The History of St Peter's Kirk

Orkney Rugby Club's First XV won their penultimate national league game of the season on Saturday, beating Strathendrick 32-3.

After a bright start, which saw Orkney score three tries within 20 minutes, the game became mired in penalty after penalty - a situation that continued well into the second half.

But Orkney went on to score another three tries, with one conversion, to take the match. This earned them valuable points, including a bonus point for scoring four tries.

The club now has to win its final game of the season to be in with a chance of making the playoffs to stay in National League Division Four next year.

The initiative allows primary school pupils to gather together artefacts and information from their own communities, and set up museums in their own schools.

Museum for a Day events were successful in Burray and North Walls last year, and Shapinsay Community School kicked off this year's programme on Monday. Papdale Primary School will hold the first of their events on Wednesday.

A short survey in Glasgow revealed that one in three households did not receive their mail at the same time each day. So now Postwatch wants to hear from people in Orkney if they are receiving inconsistent mail deliveries.

A spokesman said: "When people contact us about inconsistent delivery times we will compile a list of problems areas which we will present to Royal Mail for them to take action to improve local deliveries."

Postwatch Scotland can be contacted by email - scotland@postwatch.co.uk

The national and international press have leapt with great gusto on the story of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' brush with the law last weekend.

The Sanday-based composer, who was appointed Master of the Queen's Music last year, had his home searched by police after they spotted a dead swan outside.

Sir Peter, who planned to eat the bird, has stressed that the bird was dead when he found it. He had reported it to the RSPB, who asked him to dispose of it.