Around 150 people turned out, in Kirkwall on Sunday, to a special memorial event to remember the soldiers who have died in Iraq.

Karen Marwick, whose 20-year-old son, Steven, is serving in Iraq, organised for 101 white balloons to be released on the Kirk Green, in memory of the 101 men and women who have died while serving in the war-torn country.

Preparations for the Orkney Homecoming 2007, an event to celebrate the county’s historical and cultural links with Canada, are now well under way.

Orkney’s long-standing links with North America will be further cemented with next year’s celebration, a follow-on from the first homecoming in 1999.

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Orphir's new pub opened its doors on Friday night.

After receiving a full licence, the Noust Bar, run by David and Ann Hewison, is now open to the public.

It was revealed at a meeting of Orkney's licensing board last year that nearly 60 people in the parish signed a petition in favour of the new pub in the parish.

A part of a new campaign, Scottish Water is urging customers to contact them if they see any suspected incidents of fly-tipping.

Peter Farrer, Scottish Water's Operational General Manager, said: "Fly tipping is the illegal disposal of waste into an unauthorised place. 

"We have problems with the dumping of rubbish and solid material at our sites, but our major concern is the growing problem of the unauthorised disposal of liquid waste which can find its way into sewers, drains and watercourses.

The OIC's social work department celebrated the success of their staff at their annual awards ceremony on Friday.

Councillor Keith Johnson, the chairman of the social services and housing committee, together with social services director, Harry Garland, were distributing the 74 awards at the ceremony in the Pickaquoy Centre.

The number of call-outs to fires in Orkney decreased slightly in 2003-2004, according to Scottish Executive figures released on Thursday.

There were 206 incidents, including one fatality and three casualties, in 2003-2004, compared with 210 the previous year. There were no fatalities or casualties as a result of fires in 2002-2003.

The number of property fires in the county actually increased from 26 to 31 during the same period.

With prevention the key and emphasis on home fire safety, it is anticipated that the figures will further drop in years to come.

A set of three books, aimed at bringing the Orkneyinga Saga to life, were launched in Kirkwall on Thursday night.

Orkney in the Sagas, The Shorter Orkneyinga Saga and The World of the Orkneyinga Saga, from the OIC's heritage service in conjunction with the EU funded Destination Viking: Sagalands project, were launched at a private function in Kirkwall's St Magnus Centre.

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Two Orkney organisations are to benefit from almost £10,000 funding from the Lloyds TSB Foundation.

Women’s Aid Orkney is to get £7,200 to go towards the cost of renting more accessible premises in Kirkwall.

A man appeared from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday afternoon charged with breaching bail conditions.

Paul Anthony Howley, 20, c/o Sacro, St Catherine’s Place, Kirkwall, is accused of a breach of the peace at a property in Lynn Crescent on Tuesday, Kirkwall, and three counts of resisting police officers while being transferred to Kirkwall Police Station.

NorthLink's ferry Hjaltland was back in operation on Thursday after emergency repairs to her bow in Shetland yesterday.

The vessel's bow struck the Lerwick linkspan while berthing at approximately 7.30am on Wednesday morning. A NorthLink spokesman confirmed there was “some damage to the vessel”.

Officials from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) were informed immediately and NorthLink consulted with them as the necessary repairs were carried out. Once the repair work was complete, the vessel was tested and approved by the MCA before she sailed for Aberdeen via Kirkwall at around 7.30pm.

Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace, is to continue pushing Scottish Ministers to provide the £300,000 needed to install fire-fighting sprinkler systems on the North Isles ferries.

In a letter to Mr Wallace, Transport Minister, Tavish Scott, said that he is still considering the request for cash, but that pressure on the transport budget would make it difficult to provide.

Mr Wallace commented: “The Minister may not have said ‘yes’ to the request, but nether has he said ‘no’, so the door is still open.  I will continue to push against it, along with the council, as I still believe that the council’s case is strong."

The funding of Kirkwall's Pickaquoy Centre was likened to a "runaway horse" by an islands councillor.

Councillor Janice Annal said she was concerned about agreeing to delegate powers to officials to "maintain the financial viability" of the leisure centre until a full council meeting at the end of April.

At Tuesday's OIC policy and resources committee meeting, it was revealed that a special meeting of the recreation and cultural services committee will be held next week to discuss the centre's future funding arrangements.

The chief executive of the Scottish Air Ambulance, Adrian Lucas, has agreed to visit Orkney to take part in a public meeting to discuss concerns regarding changes to the services.

Gama is due to take over from Loganair in April, replacing the Kirkwall-based Islander aircraft with helicopter cover from south.

OIC convener, Councillor Stephen Hagan, said: "This will give Mr Lucas an opportunity to set out his case as to why he thinks the proposed service will be better than before. "

"It will also allow the Orkney public to explain why they believe the trial has shown that the helicopter is providing an inferior service to the Islander."

Patients flying south for medical treatment will be asked to continue booking their trips through NHS Orkney.

While health board officials have welcomed the discount air fare proposals for Orkney residents, they say there will be no change to their current system.

A health spokesman said: “NHS Orkney have been in touch with the Scottish Executive and understand the scheme is to be aimed at individuals. NHS funded trips will not be eligible, freeing up the allocated funds to reach the travelling public.

“There will be no change in booking arrangements for patients flying south from Orkney, and they are asked to book their trips through the health board as usual.”

Tourism businesses in Orkney had the opportunity to help shape the future of their industry in the islands on Wednesday.

Orkney Tourism Group, which represents almost 200 local tourism businesses, hosted its first industry workshop in the Pickaquoy Centre, Kirkwall.

The workshop discussions will be fed into the Orkney Area Tourism Partnership, where Orkney Tourism Group, VisitOrkney, Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Enterprise and other partners aim to develop a new strategy that will shape tourism in Orkney for the next 15 years.

The volunteer crew of the Kirkwall lifeboat have received commendations after the rescue of a fishing boat in adverse conditions off Papa Westray.

The crew and second coxswain, Stewart Ryrie, were all presented with a Letter of Thanks from Andrew Freemantle, chief executive of the RNLI.

It was during the rescue of the 20-metre, Banff-registered, fishing boat Aquarius in December 2005 that the crew had, according to Mr Freemantle, "demonstrated fine seamanship and teamwork."

Archive story: Lifeboat launch to aid fishing boat

Following police inquiries, two 16-year-old youths have been charged with over 40 vandalisms in Kirkwall.

The charges relate to damage caused to vehicles in the Buttquoy area from Christmas Day 2005 onwards said Kirkwall Sergeant Angus MacLeod.

Police are reminding motorists this week of the introduction of a 20mph speed limit around four schools on the Orkney Mainland.

The part-time mandatory limits will be installed at Kirkwall Grammar School, Stromness Academy, Glaitness Primary and Stromness Primary, with a view to introducing similar restrictions throughout the county over the next two years.

The third in a series of courses for Orkney farmers took place In Kirkwall on Tuesday.

Farming for the Future, a joint project between NFU Scotland and the Scottish Agricultural College, aims to help develop Orkney's farm businesses for the future.

Seventy-five people attended the course, which concentrated on the finishing of cattle for the market place.

Following Monday’s announcement of reduced air fares for island residents, Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie McGrigor is seeking clarification over how the Executive plans to ensure that only those eligible for discounted flights will receive them.

Mr McGrigor said:  ”I want to know how the Executive plan to ensure that only those with a main residence in one of these eligible areas will benefit from the reductions and how much the Executive expect these checks to cost annually. It is important to know whether responsibility for ensuring eligibility will fall on those selling the tickets or on the Executive.”

Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace, has added his voice to those welcoming Monday’s announcement that air fares for island residents are to be reduced by 40 per cent.

Mr Wallace said: ““After all the campaigns, Tavish Scott’s announcement of a 40 per cent reduction in fare levels for journeys to the main Scottish airports is very welcome.

"This will make a noticeable difference to fares local island residents will have to pay, whether they are setting off with their family on holiday or flying south on business.”

MP Alistair Carmichael

Northern Isles MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed Monday's announcement that air fares for island residents are to be reduced by 40 per cent.

He said: "This is tremendous news. It is tremendous news for residents who travel on business or on holiday. It's also tremendous news for the local economy."

Mr Carmichael added that the high cost of flights has been one of the major issues raised by constituents since his election in 2001.

Kirkwall police are appealing for information following an assault on a male inside the Torvhaug Inn, Kirkwall, on Saturday, February 4.

Sergeant Angus MacLeod said police were particularly keen to talk to two female patrons who were seated next to the victim, and went to his assistance.

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

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) and aircraft operator Loganair have backed Monday's announcement of a discounted air travel scheme.

Inglis Lyon, HIAL's managing director, said: "This scheme will make air travel more accessible to residents in Scotland's remotest communities and should increase passenger numbers on qualifying routes from our airports."

Orkney residents are to receive an estimated 40 per cent discount on flights to the Scottish mainland.

Transport Minister Tavish Scott announced the scheme, which will also benefit Shetland, the Western Isles, Jura, Islay and parts of Caithness, this morning.

An annual budget of £11.2 million has been allocated to the scheme over the next two years.

Highlighting the “unacceptably high” cost of air fares to the islands, Mr Scott said: "We hope to have the scheme in place before the summer to help deliver affordable air fares to Scotland's most peripheral communities. We will be able to confirm the start date once the European Commission has agreed our proposal.”

Kirkwall's new GP practice opened its doors on Monday.

The Heilendi Family Medical Practice, which is based in the former premises of the Scapa Dental Clinic in Scapa Crescent, is staffed by GPs Charlie Siderfin, Janne Bills and Elaine Toms.

Contact telephone numbers for the practice are 872388 ( general enquiries) and 872152 ( appointments).

Sergeant Jim Pryde alongside the new speed limit signs.

Safe zones with a speed limit of 20 mph will be introduced at roads around schools in Orkney from Tuesday.

The part-time mandatory limits will be installed at Kirkwall Grammar School, Stromness Academy, Glaitness Primary and Stromness Primary, with a view to introducing similar restrictions throughout the county over the next two years.

The speed limits will only be in force when children are going to and from school. To reinforce the limits, warning signs will be lit with flashing bulbs to warn drivers before they enter the restricted speed zone.