Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has welcomed the vote at the Liberal Democrat conference in favour of helping island communities struggling with the high cost of fuel.

The Liberal Democrats passed a motion calling for a cut in car tax and the powers to permit variable rates of duty for remote rural areas to compensate people for the increased costs of motoring.

Captain William Tulloch has been named the new chairman of the Stromness Lifeboat Branch Committee, following the recent retirement of Captain Max Gunn.

Captain Tulloch took over the post at the meeting of the committee during the week.

A workshop in the Pickaquoy Centre on Friday marked the start of a project aiming to celebrate the diversity of Orkney sport.

The project, for the 2007 St Magnus Festival, will be led by choreographer Andy Howitt, who was in the county for the workshop.

Festival director Glenys Hughes explained: "The aim is to use the movements demonstrated in game and training situations and to put these to music - rather like the Nike adverts."

OIC convener, Councillor Stephen Hagan, represented Orkney at a meeting with European Commission Officers in Edinburgh on Thursday.

He met with Professor Danuta Hubner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, at the Scottish Parliament as part of COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities).

Representatives from East Dunbartonshire Council, Scottish Borders Council and Stirling Council were also be present to discuss the longstanding commitment of Scottish Local Government to delivering successful regional policy.

A man, who barricaded himself in a room after wielding a knife at supported accommodation staff, was remanded in custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Thursdsay afternoon.

Appearing from custody, Christopher John Kelly, 39, of Sacro, St Catherine's Place, was told he could have been sentenced to a custodial term there and then.

Calling for reports, Sheriff Graeme Napier added: “Nobody should have a knife pointed at them, especially someone who is there to provide assistance.”

Blindspot (pictured right) came out winners in The Orcadian’s Battle of the Bands 2006 – and now plan to use the prize money to help record an album.

Judges had a difficult time choosing the top three at the sell-out event in Fusion on Thursday night.

Second place went to Roll Machine with Superego in third. Blindspot

Orkney Ferries fares look set to rise by 2.5 per cent in 2007.

Councillors at Thursday morning's inter-isles transport sub-committee agreed to the increase, despite an indication that there would be no hike in tariffs next year, following a six per cent rise in 2006.

A 2.5 per cent increase is expected to generate just over £47,000 of additional revenue for the ferry company.

Strong winds have damaged a domestic wind turbine in Eday.

This week’s blustery weather stripped the turbine at Millbank of two of its blades, and left the remaining one hanging.

The 15-metre turbine was given the go-ahead in September, 2004, and it is understood it has only been in operation for a month or so.

More people in Orkney are needed to join the Children’s Panel.

As a recruitment drive draws to an end, more members are being sought to help children and young people who may have experienced abuse, neglect or have offended.

Panel members sit on children’s hearings, which decide whether compulsory measures of supervision are needed for the child and, if so, what they should be.

Police are warning that the rising number of hard-core drink-drivers in Orkney could be linked to a hike in serious road crashes.

Already this year more than 50 motorists in the county have been convicted of getting behind the wheel after downing booze – well ahead of the annual average of 40.

Sergeant Jim Pryde said there seems to be a hard-core element, including youngsters, who are drink-driving, while appealing for public help.

“We would urge members of the public with suspicions of people drink-driving to contact us on 872241 or the confidential line 870999.

The Broch of Gurness, Evie

Children visiting Historic Scotland’s sites in Orkney next month get in free.

Whether visiting Skara Brae, the Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces in Kirkwall, the Broch of Gurness, Maeshowe or the Hackness Martello Tower in Hoy, youngsters accompanied by an adult wont have to pay in October.

A spokesman for Historic Scotland said: “The October ‘Kids Go Free’ promotion was tremendously successful last year with children all over Scotland taking their families on journeys into the past.  It’s so important to get children involved with their country’s history, so not only can they keep it exciting and alive but appreciate the importance of it, and understand why it must be protected for the future.”

A bird ringed on Sanday in July has just been recaught by ringers on the west coast of Sweden.

The Storm Petrel made the 800km journey in just eight days - not bad going for a bird the size of a Greenfinch.

Scottish Water has told the Orkney Housing Association that there is no longer any need to delay housing projects in Kirkwall.

The ongoing problem of a lack of a sewerage infrastructure in the town saw work on 60 houses alone delayed in the past 12 months.

Welcoming the news at Tuesday night’s AGM, Orkney Housing Association Ltd’s executive director, Sally Inkster, said: “We are very optimistic that we can put these difficulties behind us and proceed with developments in Kirkwall.”

Archive story: Sewerage situation loses housing
association £1.8 million in grants

Waiting lists for housing association properties increased dramatically over the past 12 months.

Throughout Orkney, the numbers waiting to rent houses has risen by 18 per cent, from 481 last year, to 575 this year. The list of those interested in shared ownership properties has also increased – from 122 to 158.

OIC assistant chief executive, Elaine Grieve has been appointed the chairwoman of the new National Practice Forum, which meets for the first time next week.

The NPF, which will provide a framework for a range of Scottish Executive policies and initiatives, will meet every six weeks in Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Calls for a change in the law have been made after five seals were found shot dead in Evie.

Four pregnant seals and a juvenile were found on the shoreline at the Point of Vastray. They had gunshot wounds to the heads.

Under the Conservation of Seals Act, which came into force in 1970, seals can be shot under licence or if they are seen in the vicinity of fishing gear. There are, however, restrictions in place during their moulting and breeding periods.

The Stromness lifeboat was launched on Tuesday evening after a drifting yacht went aground near the first Barrier.

The seven-metre Coco had broken its mooring by the Holm Pier and drifted towards the shore by the Commodore.

When the lifeboat arrived on the scene, the owner had managed to board the seven-metre vessel but his attempt to recover the yacht had failed.

The construction of two new care homes, to alleviate the current elderly care crisis in Orkney, was given the go ahead by islands councillors on Tuesday - although the new facilities are entirely dependent on adequate funding being identified.

At the meeting of the OIC's policy and resources committee, it was also agreed that money from the council's oil reserve fund should be used to alleviate - albeit temporarily - the current shortage of bed spaces.

The £270,000 will be used to keep the Scarva Taing care home in Finstown open in 2006/07 and see the suspension of an OIC staffing moratorium to allow additional care workers to be employed at St Rognvald House in Kirkwall.

The OIC has dismissed rumours that work on Kirkwall's new Travel Centre on Junction Road has been delayed.

A spokesman for the council said on Tuesday that work was going well, and to schedule.

It had been claimed that work on the site would need to be halted because of problems with the building's foundations.

‘The Bookseller of Stromness’ is making an appearance in Kirkwall, but for a limited time only.

The Orkney Museum has purchased a painting of Stromness bookseller, Tam MacPhail, by local artist Calum Morrison. It shows Tam behind his counter at Stromness Books and Prints, as books fly from the shelves and through the open window.

The purchase was made possible by grant aid from the National Fund for Acquisitions - through the National Museum of Scotland - and The Arts Fund.

‘The Bookseller of Stromness’ is currently on show in the Orkney Museum and it is hoped the painting will ultimately hang in the proposed new Stromness Library.

Orkney's first Uniform Services Open Day on Sunday has raised £1,000 for local charities.

Representatives from the police, fire brigade, ambulance, coastguard, RNLI, Territorial Army and Flotta fire and rescue team took part in the event, which saw an estimated 500 people turn up.

Detective Sergeant Bob Mackenzie said that because of the success of the event, it is hoped to stage a larger one in two years time.

A 27-year-old man was released on bail after making no plea or declaration when he appeared at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday.

Paul Flynn, of Heathfield Cottage, St Ola, is charged with committing numerous road traffic offences and "attempting to defeat the ends of justice".

As part of his bail conditions, he has been placed on a curfew between 7.30pm and 7am and banned from driving.

A South Ronaldsay farmer, who stole seven cows from his brother, has been fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £3,850 compensation.

John William Taylor, 65, of Bellevue Hotel, St Margaret’s Hope, was found guilty last month of stealing the cows.

Three people ended up in hospital with serious injuries following a road accident on the Old Finstown Road on Sunday morning.

The crash, involving a black BMW with five occupants, happened around 6.40am.

Four people were initially taken to Kirkwall's Balfour Hospital, with two males later transferred to Aberdeen. One is described as being in a critical condition.

One female remains in Balfour Hospital in a serious condition, and it is understood another has been discharged.

A further two incidents occurred in the Old Finstown Road area shortly after the road accident detailed above, however police have not confirmed whether they are linked.

A Ford Ka car collided with a stone wall a short distance from Cursiter Quarry on Sunday morning. About the same time and close by, a Ford Galaxy was stolen from outside a house.

A police spokesman said: "While all three incidents occurred within a similar area and timescale, police are remaining open-minded and are appealing for witnesses who can offer any information."

North Ronaldsay’s Dennis Head Beacon came in third in Sunday night’s final of the BBC2 television programme Restoration Village.

A group of North Ronaldsay folk and supporters had made their way south for the final, which saw Chedham’s Yard, Warwickshire, take top prize.

Orkney's motorists are being urged to ensure they follow new child seat legislation that came into force on Monday.

Under the new legislation, children under the age of 12, or under 135cm (approx. 4’5”) in height, must use the correct child car seats or booster seats.

Drivers who are caught out could face a £30 fixed penalty notice or a fine of up to £500 if the matter reaches the courts.

Orkney's community safety officer PC Dave Dawson said: “A child is the most precious gift any person can have. We should all do our utmost to protect them at all times. Money spent on a new, approved, car child-seat must surely be money well spent.”