An ongoing problem with head lice in Orkney schools has prompted NHS Orkney to issue guidelines for the detection and eradication of the bugs.

A spokesman stressed that the responsibility for identification, treatment and prevention of head lice lies with parents and families. Regular checking of the whole family’s heads by detection combing is the only effective way to carry out an inspection.

Education staff, the school nurse, health visitors, GP’s and other health professionals are all available to give parents/pupils advice and support. 

A “Head Lice” parents information leaflet can be downloaded here.                                                                

A special celebration took place on Saturday in recognition of the success of Orkney College, and its ever-growing number of students.

Unemployment in Orkney grew by 8.3 per cent for the month of March,  according to the new Highlands and Islands monthly economic report.

The figures, published this week, show that 136 men, and 57 women, were out of work. This is the exact same figure as in March 2005.

Time is running out for Orkney tourism businesses to enter this year's 'tourism Oscars', the Thistle Awards.

The deadline of Thursday, June 8, fast approaching.

A 30-year-old man was stopped by police for alleged drink driving in Stromness during the early hours of Friday morning.

The male, in a BMW vehicle, was pulled over by police officers on the Howe Road at 1.30am.

A report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal in Kirkwall.

A man was arrested in the Gunn's Close area of Kirkwall at 6pm on Thursday for alleged disorderly conduct. A report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

NHS Orkney has successfully recruited three consultant anaesthetists – ending the need to employ expensive locums.

Health board chairwoman, Jenny Dewar, made the announcement at yesterday’s board meeting, when she revealed that last year the organisation had to fork out half a million pounds on locum anaesthetists.

While two are a husband and wife team, the third will be a locum who has already been working in the county.

NHS Orkney will no longer be employing locum GPs on Rousay when the resident doctor is off the island.

This means that at times, the community nurse will be providing emergency cover.

Open stages, a host of rising stars, top visiting acts – the stage is set for the 24th Orkney Folk Festival, which kicks off in Stromness tonight.

Running until Sunday, organisers promise “good music, good craic, and fearsome community spirit,” spread throughout the county.

With 20 visiting acts and 25 local acts performing, the committee have tried to cater for everyone. From the wild trad improvisation of Kris Drever’s new band, Lau, to the gutsy male singing of Haggerdash, they feel they have achieved this quite easily.

Click here for folk festival website

Health staff were praised on Thursday morning for helping to make savings of £2 million.

NHS Orkney finance director Iain Crozier told members of the health board that the work of budget holders had ensured they would break even this year. However, he added, that this figure will be subject to a final audit.

It was agreed to the board to write to employees thanking them for the contribution they have made.

This year’s Orkney Folk Festival featured a very special added attraction, as a tall ship sailed into the county for the weekend.

Courtesy of the Orkney and Shetland Touring Company, the Dutch tall ship, Thalassa, was in Stromness, where members of the public were invited on board to explore, or to join special lunch and dinner cruises between Stromness and Scapa Flow.

NFU Scotland has expressed its “utter dismay” that the Scottish Executive’s assurance that outstanding support payments for all farmers with cleared applications would be issued by the 31 May, is not going to be honoured.

Computer problems are being blamed for the delay, which has left thousands of Scottish farmers still waiting for their payments.

NFU Scotland President, John Kinnaird, said: “I understand that the system has presented a number of challenges to the Executive but they have had enough chances to get it right. There cannot be any further delays.”

The Scottish Executive’s announcement of a £20 million pound investment in ‘green’ energy, will offer “fantastic opportunities” for Orkney, according to Lib Dem Prospective Scottish Parliamentary Candidate for Orkney, Liam McArthur.

In Orkney, he said, marine and microrenewables technology are of key interest.

“The additional £3 million earmarked for Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) is excellent news.  It can help build on the success to date of the initiative in Orkney, not least in building on the expertise of the many Orkney-based companies involved in the microrenewables industry.”

Graemsay residents are "cautiously reassured" following an exercise by fire­fighters on Tuesday night, which set out to prove they could react to a blaze on the island.

With no firefighting capability on the island, concern had been expressed for the safety of the 30 or so residents. The community was, therefore, keen for an exercise to test the response times of the Stromness fire units.

Station officer Paul Hounslow said he felt islanders had been reassured, with a total response time, from Stromness, of 35 minutes which saw the building “on fire” searched and cleared.

Orkney MSP Jim Wallace has accused the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) of “using patients as guinea pigs”. 

This follows an incident last month in which a Kirkwall patient with a serious neck injury was left exposed to the elements for 45 minutes while ambulance staff attempted to transfer him to an aircraft.

Health Minister, Andy Kerr, said the delay was because the SAS crew were, at the time, unfamiliar with the equipment.

A shortage of incubators for premature babies – highlighted by two air ambulance missions in Orkney on the same day in April – has been resolved, according to health minister Andy Kerr.

Responding to a letter from Orkney MSP Jim Wallace, the minister confirmed that six new incubators had been ordered.

A number of Orkney organisations were among a wide range of renewable energy technologies and businesses from the Highlands and Islands on show at All Energy in Aberdeen - the UK's biggest energy exhibition on Thursday and Friday.

Representing the marine energy sector were the Stromness-based European Marine Energy Centre. Environmental consultants Aquatera and Aurora also attended.

The Orkney renewable energy forum, ICIT and the OIC were promoting the many opportunities that exist for new renewable energy developments in the county.

The Royal Bank of Scotland has announced refurbishment plans for its Kirkwall branch which will incorporate enhanced access to its customers with disabilities.

The branch, which has been criticised in the past for its lack of disabled access, will undergo a major £300,000 refurbishment, including the complete reconstruction of the rear part of the building.

Preparatory work began on May 15 with completion expected mid-July.

With a bladed-weapon amnesty, which began on Wednesday, members of the public are being urged to discard any offensive weapons.

A specially-made bin is in the Kirkwall police station to receive any blades, which, say police, should be wrapped in a manner that allows safe handling.

The amnesty, part of the national Safer Scotland campaign, will run until 30 June and, at its conclusion, the Scottish Executive will announce figures on the number of bladed weapons handed in across Scotland.

Kirkwall firefighters were called out around 10.20am on Tuesday to attend a fire at a farm in Deerness.

Two units from Kirkwall initially attended the fire at Westersands, but called for back-up from Stromness and St Margaret's Hope after seeing the volume of smoke coming from a burning outbuilding.

The cause of the fire, which badly damaged the structure, is not suspicious although investigations are under way to ascertain the cause.

Mrs Linda Lennie was the unopposed choice as chairperson when Stromness Community Council elected its office-bearers on Monday.

This will be her fourth year in the chair. She is also the council’s planning representative.

American professor Tuck Langland, who is keen to make a bronze statue of George Mackay Brown to feature in a memorial garden dedicated to the poet and writer, has made new proposals to Stromness Community Council.

These involve "a more realistic price.”

The matter  was adjourned at Monday’s council meeting, to enable more members to be present to discuss it.

Archive story: Sculptor's proposal for GMB memorial

Two appliances from the Stromness Fire Brigade, and one from Kirkwall, were despatched on Tuesday morning after a report of a fire in the town's Back Road.

Stromness station officer Paul Hounslow said that the incident was a false alarm “with good intent” after a tourist in the Stromness Hotel reported what he thought was a house fire.

Sanday was the venue on Tuesday for the fourth Farming for the Future seminar, organised by the Scottish Agricultural College and the Orkney branch of NFU Scotland.

The event focused on producing store cattle for the market, with the bulk of the sessions based at Hermisgarth, courtesy of the Muir family.

Speakers, including an Aberdeenshire cattle finisher, an auctioneer, a grassland specialist and an SAC beef specialist, will examine various aspects of store cattle production.

Two taxi drivers were taken to the Balfour Hospital on Sunday morning after a road accident outside Kirkwall.

The two Skoda taxis collided on the main Kirkwall/Stromness road at the Sunnybank junction at 3am. Both vehicles sustained “considerable damage” and the drivers were transferred to hospital for treatment to minor injuries.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a vehicle accident near Scapa Garage, St Ola, on Saturday morning.

A Honda car was extensively damaged in the incident around 1.30am. There were no injuries and police inquiries are continuing.

Anyone with information can contact Kirkwall police on 872241.

Police inquiries are continuing into a three vehicle collision near the Hatston junction at Saverock at noon on Monday.

Kirkwall Sergeant Jim Pryde said that he understood the incident involved two cars and a tractor, although nobody was injured.

The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain has organised a tour of Orkney for 24 veteran cars and 48 people between May 30 and June 3.

Here, the vintage enthusiasts will visit Skara Brae, Skaill House and Stromness before heading to the East Mainland, Hoy, Burray and South Ronaldsay.

On June 3, members to the public will be able to get a close look at the cars, which will line up on the Kirk Green in front of St Magnus Cathedral from 4.30 until 6.00pm. 

Plans to preserve Happy Valley, in Stenness, are progressing, with a pubic meeting expected within the next month.

The OIC is now the legal owner of the beauty spot after being given it by the landowner, Professor William Isbister.

There are now plans to tidy up, maintain and enhance the area by planting more trees and converting the house into an interpretation centre. All the plans will be put forward at a public meeting in Stenness to gauge feedback and ideas from the community.

Edwin Harrold, who lived at and created Happy Valley, died last year aged 97 after living at the house, Bankburn, for 53 years.

Archive story: Everything's not so happy in overgrown Stenness valley

Adult Learners’ Week, the UK’s largest festival and celebration of adult learning began on Saturday.

Organisations throughout Orkney will be opening their doors to the local community and hosting events such as open days and taster sessions to encourage adults to branch out and expand their learning experiences.

Among those preparing for one of their busiest weeks of the year are staff in the three registered learndirect scotland centres in Orkney - Grainshore Training Centre, Orkney College and Support Training.