The results are in and new members have been elected for eight Community Council areas.

Some familiar names have been elected to their Community Councils, including former Councillors Bryan Taylor in Kirkwall, Cyril Annal in South Ronaldsay and Burray, Jim Sinclair in Shapinsay and Sinclair Scott in North Ronaldsay - who all chose to stand down at the local government elections in May.

Results are expected from the remaining three Community Council areas - Eday, Flotta and Papay Westray - soon.

The Scottish Executive will spend £10 million to attract new entrants into farming over the next seven years.

The funding package was announced by the new secretary for rural affairs, Richard Lochhead, on Thursday morning. It is part of the £1.59 billion Scottish Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 which has just been approved.

Money for the programme will come from the Scottish government, the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development and a levy on the single farm payments due to farmers.

Fog in Orkney has hit a charity record-breaking attempt to fly solo to all of the UK’s 206 airfields.

Oxfordshire pilot, Polly Vacher arrived in the county on Wednesday and was due to visit the island airfields on Thursday.

But delays due to fog and low cloud has meant the 62-year-old pilot has decided postpone the Orkney leg of her challenge, returning to complete it in the future.

External link: www.worldwings.org

Following Thursday’s voluntary modulation rates announcement, Orkney MSP, Liam McArthur, has urged that the extra money raised is regionally ring-fenced so Orkney doesn’t lose out.

It is vital, he said, that this extra cash is made available to Orkney farmers and crofters through agri-environment schemes tailored to meet the islands’ needs.

Orkney Islands Council and NHS Orkney have spent nearly £1 million relocating staff to the county in the past five years.

According to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, 187 employees who took up jobs with the public organisations since 2002 have been paid a total of £826,189 to move to the islands.

However, it would appear that NHS Orkney has received better value for money than the council, with 112 staff costing £290,176 to relocate. That compares to £536,013 for 75 people taking up jobs within the council.

A total of £1.59 billion will be invested in rural Scotland, the new rural affairs secretary, Richard Lochhead, announced on Thursday.

Voluntary modulation, which diverts some of the farmers' single farm payment funds to rural development, will be set at five per cent for this year, rising gradually to nine per cent in 2010-2012. There had been predictions it would rise to ten per cent.

The Scottish rural development programme for the next seven years has been approved in full and the government has approved another £70 million funding, making it the largest investment programme in history for rural Scotland.

Orkney MSP, Liam McArthur, was selected to ask one of the questions at the first First Minister’s Question Time of the new session on Thursday.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr McArthur said: “I will take the opportunity to seek the First Minister’s support for the provision of an interconnector cable linking Orkney to the centres of demand in the far south.

“Scotland’s marine renewable power resources are mostly to be found concentrated in the Northern and Western Isles and interconnector cables are needed if they are to be harnessed.”

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) marine survey vessel Sir John Murray docked in Kirkwall for the first time on Wednesday.

It sailed into Orkney waters with skipper Davie Johnston, an Orcadian at the helm.

In the afternoon, SEPA scientists were collecting samples of sediment and water from around Orkney for biological and chemical analysis. The results will assist in classifying the waters in terms of the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

Police are appealing for witnesses to an alleged incident in Stromness involving a teenage female and two older males between 10pm and 11pm on Sunday evening.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 872241 or via the confidential line 870999.

Police would also like to speak to a male who approached an ambulance crew in Springfield Crescent, Stromness, and spoke to police in connection with the incident.

Teenage pop-star Lil Chris made a flying visit to the Pickaquoy Centre on Tuesday to entertain P7 pupils from Caithness, Sutherland and Orkney.

The youngsters were attending the Choices for Life programme – a two-hour information and entertainment event organised by the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency.

NHS Orkney has confirmed arrangements to provide short-term cover for two island doctors.

As the Eday doctor is on sick-leave, and the usual locum doctors are not available, cover will be provided by two nurses who have undertaken advanced training in emergency care. This will be supplemented by back-up from the Stronsay and Sanday doctors.

Meanwhile, the Papay nurse will cover North Ronaldsay next weekend, while the doctor is on leave. Back-up will be provided from Sanday, Stronsay and the Mainland.

Patients should continue to contact practices in the usual way during these temporary arrangements.  

Voting for the 2007 Community Council elections closed at 4pm on Tuesday afternoon.

Elections were taking place in the seven community council areas where the seats are contested, while five community councils are still looking for additional members.

The new Community Councils take effect from May 29 and those elected can expect confirmation in writing after the completion of the counts on Friday.

An 18-year-old man who denies committing a breach of the peace in the car park at Lidl on Saturday has been remanded in custody, and will face trial.

Orkney naturalist Elaine R. Bullard was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science at a ceremony in Kirkwall on Monday afternoon.

Ms Bullard, who contributed her weekly Planticru column in The Orcadian for many years, is a recognised expert in her field and is now being honoured by Heriot Watt University.

The degree was conferred at a ceremony in the Orkney Islands Council chambers.

The OIC is reminding househoulders that refuse should only be put outside on the normal day of collection.

Refuse should be placed at the regular collection point by 8am on the appropriate day. Bags placed outside the night before are regularly attacked by birds and cats, who rip the bags apart and leave the contents strewn across the area.

The OIC has issued a warning about eating shellfish from Scapa Flow after routine monitoring detected high levels of phytoplankton in the area. 

Associated with Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) and Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP), the two species noted lead to increased levels of bio-toxins in certain shellfish, which can cause serious illness if consumed

A complaint to the Ombudsman against the Orkney Islands Council has been upheld.

The complainer, identified only as Mr C, raised the handling of his request to reimburse his, and his wife’s, travelling and accommodation expenses after he travelled to Orkney for a job interview – a post which he turned down.

Two males were arrested by police in the early hours of Sunday morning following an alleged breach of the peace and vandalism on Great Western Road, Kirkwall.

During the alleged incident a police vehicle was damaged.

A report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

The new Orkney Community Plan was officially launched on Wednesday.

‘Orkney 2020 – Our Vision - Orkney’s Community Plan 2007-2020’ covers issues affecting the county - from housing, transport and the environment to the economy, learning culture and safety.

Copies of the plan can be downloaded from the Community Planning website at www.orkneycommunityplanning.org.uk and Orkney Islands Council’s website at www.orkney.gov.uk from Thursday, May 31.

NHS Orkney is to carry out a three-month community consultation on proposed service changes  - at a cost of £64,000.

The health board is seeking Scottish Executive Health Department funding to carry out the work, although, if unsuccessful, it will have to be found within current funding - increasing NHS Orkney’s predicted deficit.

From Monday, May 28, the phone number for the Kirkwall, East Mainland and North Isles Home Care Section will be 01856 888390.

There is no change to the West Mainland number. For Home Support and Rapid Response Services the telephone number is still 01856 850770.

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