Orkney hosted the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) at the weekend.

More than 160 people, including members of the SYP and support staff, travelled to the county to hold one of their biggest quarterly meeting yet.

The theme of the weekend, at the Pickaquoy Centre, was “Sustainable Futures” and the parliament had the chance to learn more about renewable energy benefits and developments in Orkney first hand.

The OIC hosted a civic reception on Saturday night, followed by a debate on nuclear power, and took part in training programmes and had a question and answer session with Liam McArthur MSP, and others, on Sunday.

Throughout September, as part of Scottish Archaeology Month, there are opportunities to hear, direct from the experts, all about the fascinating history of some of Orkney’s unique sites. 

The Orkney programme kicked off on, Saturday, in Westray's Noltland Castle – a ruined Z-plan tower, built between 1560 and 1563.

On Sunday, the car park of the police station was transformed into an activity area.

The open day is traditionally held in Inverness, but was relocated to Orkney this year, to give locals their first taste of what is a hugely-popular family event.

Usually, the money raised is given in its entirety to the Police Dependents’ Trust. However, it has been decided that, on this occasion, any funds raised will be split equally between the Trust and local charities, yet to be selected.

An Orkney farmer scooped the steer and heifer championships at the Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ 2007 Spectacular on Wednesday.

The steer and overall champion was Balfour Baillie’s February-born Belgian Blue cross by Oxcroft Tom. It tipped the scales at 376kg and was bought for the second highest price of the sale — £1,900.

The overall heifer champion — also bred and exhibited by Balfour Baillie, of Sebay Cottage, Tankerness, was a December, 2006-born Limousin cross by Salomon, bought for £750.

Five people were transferred to hospital on Friday after a road accident in Burray in the early hours of the morning.

The incident, involving a Renault Clio, occurred around 1.45am on Friday, south of the third barrier. A section of the road was closed, but re-opened about 6am.

Police inquires are ongoing and any witnesses are asked to contact Kirkwall police station on 872241.

Police are looking for information after a thieves targeted an unoccupied house in St Margaret's Hope.

The property, in Sweyn Court, was entered sometime between August 19 and September 4, and a number of items removed.

Anyone with information is asked to call 872241.

NHS Orkney will be offering free blood pressure checks as part of the Blood Pressure Association’s Know Your Numbers! Week.

Checks will take place at the Health Promotion department, Victoria Street, Kirkwall, on Friday, September 14, from 10 am - 2 pm. Also at the Orkney Auction Mart, Kirkwall on Monday, September 17, from 10 am - 2 pm, where there will be a particular focus placed on farmers to get their blood pressure tested.

Joy Groundwater, a cardiac nurse for NHS Orkney, said: “We hope that by holding this event we will be able to find the people who have high blood pressure but don’t know it. Getting a blood pressure check is quick, easy and painless and can be controlled once it’s detected. Undetected high blood pressure puts you at an increased risk of stroke or heart attacks.”

Kirkwall lifeboat was launched on Wednesday evening, to take an injured crewman off the Norwegian training ship Statsraad Lehmkhul, which was 17 miles east-north-east of Kirkwall.

A 45-year-old man had sustained a serious leg fracture and a head wound.

Shetland Coastguard launched the lifeboat which arrived on the scene at about 8pm, and transferred the man, along with the ship's doctor, to a waiting ambulance at Kirkwall pier which took them to the Balfour Hospital.

A window in the front door of a house in Clay Loan, Kirkwall, was broken at about 7.10pm on Wednesday night.

Kirkwall police would like to hear from anyone with any information about the incident - telephone Kirkwall 872241.

An Orkney man was jailed for 100 days at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday after assaulting his sister, who reported him for drink-driving.

Laurence Pirie, 41, of 10 Strombery, Kirkwall, admitted driving a car at Bob’s Taxis forecourt on July 28, while nearly double the legal alcohol limit.

He also pled guilty to assaulting his sister, striking her on the face, at the time.

Sheriff Graeme Napier said: “This is disgraceful conduct on your part and for you effectively to take the approach that it is your sister's fault for telling the police about it is simply, in my mind, exacerbating matters.”

Pirie was banned from driving for five years.

Police are appealing for information after a flat in Kirkwall’s Main Street was badly vandalised on Tuesday night.

The property was entered some time between 6.45pm and 8.45pm and, according to police, a considerable amount of damage caused.

A man was arrested on Kirkwall’s Ayre Road in the early hours of Wednesday morning for alleged drink-driving and other related traffic offences.

NorthLink Ferries is now accepting applications for sponsorship from individuals, charities, sporting groups, musicians and athletes in the Northern Isles and beyond.

The company will allocate £50,000 of free travel and discounted fares between October this year and the end of March 2008.

The closing date for applications for sponsorship is Monday, September 24, 2007.

Industrial action by Orkney Ferries crews has been suspended.

A spokesman confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that from, Wednesday, all ferry services would return to the normal timetables.

For the North Isles this will mean a normal three ferry service.

Health Minister Shona Robison has insisted that concerns regarding the air ambulance provision in Orkney be raised with the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) or NHS Orkney.

This is despite Orkney MSP Liam McArthur informing her that the people of Orkney have no confidence in her suggestions.

Commenting on the day the Minister was in Orkney for NHS Orkney’s annual review, Mr McArthur said: “I am afraid that the Minister still seems determined not to listen to the concerns from Orkney.

“Hopefully, when she is in Orkney today, she will nevertheless hear them again directly from some of the clinicians and patient representatives she meets.  I will certainly continue to pursue this issue with her."

With two pots of money available for projects that would benefit the economy and community of Stromness, the community council is keen to hear from anyone with ideas.

The community council recently received £5,000 from the OIC to allocate to projects that would see a long-term economic benefit to the area.

In addition, a second available fund resulted from sales of the locally-produced book Sea Haven.

Minister for Public Health Shona Robison chaired NHS Orkney's annual review on Tuesday.

Held in public, the review determines how effectively the board is delivering local services.

The Stromness Community Council is back to full strength after two new members were voted in last night.

George Argo and Johnny Mowat were both elected, unopposed, to the community council at last night's meeting.

Police and the fire brigade were called to a vehicle fire in St Mary's, Holm, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The burning Ford Granada was reported on fire at 1.25am. The fire was extinguished and police say there is no suspicious circumstances.

The 2007 Sports Awards criteria and nomination forms are now available to the public.

They can be collected at the Pickaquoy Centre, the Orkney Library and the One Stop Shop at the council. Nomination forms must be back in to the Council by Monday 1st October before 3pm.

The awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 10 in the Stromness Academy.

Police and the Stromness fire brigade were called to an outbuilding on fire at Cuppin, Harray, about 11.30pm on Sunday night.

The fire, described as "intense", required two tenders to get it under control, and damage was caused to the outbuilding and its contents, including a tractor.

There were no suspicious circumstances.

A total of five males were arrested for disorder offences on Saturday night/Sunday morning, following several fights and skirmishes at the rear of Fusion nightclub, Kirkwall.

According to police, three of men are to be reported to the procurator fiscal for breach of the peace, and two have been dealt with by fixed penalty.

A Shineray 125cc scrambler motor cycle was removed from a shed in St Margaret's Hope between 9pm on Friday, August 31 and 9am on Saturday, September 1.

Anyone who has any information regarding the removal, or the current whereabouts of the blue and white motor cycle is asked to contact Kirkwall police station, on 872241.

The Twatt aerodrome was brought to life again at the weekend after 60 years.

The Birsay Heritage Trust joined forces with the renowned model aircraft expert, Ronald Bayne, to stage a flying display of large model Second World War aircraft on Sunday, on one of the old runways at the Twatt drome.

The models, including a Sopwith Pup, Supermarine Spitfire, Gloucester Gladiator, Miles Magister, Variant plus 5 and two American planes — a Fairchild PT19 Cornell and Piper L4H Grasshopper, plus the civilian Piper J3 Cub.

A new exhibition of photographs by Rebecca Marr has opened at the Corrigall Farm Museum in Harray.

Rebecca has been working in Orkney since January as artist-in-residence with the Pier Arts Centre and Orkney Auction Mart and this exhibition is the latest event in a series of projects designed to document and celebrate Orkney’s farming community.