Talisman Energy, the operators of the Flotta Oil terminal, have confirmed that the Foinaven crude oil contract ended on Friday.

A spokesman stressed that there will be no impact on routine terminal operations or manning, as a result of the contract ending.

She added: "Talisman is currently reviewing potential new business opportunities."

During the ten years the contract has been in place, over 250 million barrels of crude from the Foinaven oil field have been transferred to Flotta.

One of the world's largest tidal energy projects off Orkney scooped the Best Renewable Innovation Award at the prestigious Scottish Renewables Green Energy Awards.

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) was one of eight winners at the sixth annual awards, which took place at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has hailed Thursday’s meeting with the new chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, Kevin Doran, as “worthwhile” – with Mr Doran agreeing to come to Orkney to discuss the air ambulance concerns in detail.

The meeting was also attended by OIC convener, Councillor Stephen Hagan.

Historic Scotland, which cares for Maeshowe, is celebrating the winter solstice with a special ticket offer from December 11, to January 11, 2008.

The chambered cairn’s Neolithic builders went to great lengths to ensure that, on either side of the winter solstice, the rays of the setting midwinter sun reach in and along the entrance passage and illuminate the main chamber.

This year’s Scout, Boy’s Brigade and Brownie Christmas post has begun.

The 2nd Orkney Scout Group’s Christmas Scout Post operates until December 20, with post boxes in Papdale Stores, Rendall’s Bakery, Stevenson’s and Spence’s Newsagents, Bruce’s Stores and Woolworths.

This service is open for delivery to those within Kirkwall's 30mph speed limit only. Those posting cards should also drop in 15p per card into the post box. Deliveries begin on December 20.

In addition to the town post service, the Finstown Brownie and BB Christmas post has boxes available in Baikie's, Pottinger's, the hairdressers and the Finstown School.

Full planning permission was given on Wednesday for a new public house on Kirkwall’s Harbour Street.

The new establishment at 14 Harbour Street, proposed by local businessman Neil Stevenson, attracted only one objection, from owner of the neighbouring St Ola Hotel, Raymond Hutchison.

Mr Hutchison said his concerns were about a possible increase in public disturbance in the area – because the new business, will not have a facility to keep smokers off the street.

Concluding that there is nothing in any legislation to make a stipulation for such a facility, councillors backed the proposal, which Mr Stevenson explained will cater for “a slightly older section of the market.”

A proposed wind turbine at Holodyke, Dounby was given the go ahead by Orkney Islands Councillors on Wednesday, despite objections from eight concerned parties.

The 80-metre structure, proposed by D. C. & M. C. Wallace Partners, is set to go ahead, on the recommendation of OIC planners, with no objections from any of the statutory consultees.

Meanwhile, planning permission for a single wind turbine development at Redland, Firth, was refused at Wednesday’s meeting of the environment, planning and protective services.

Full planning permission for the 90-metre turbine was refused on the grounds that it would cause detriment to the appearance and amenity of the area.

Petitions expressing “grave concern” at the performance of the air ambulance service, was presented to the new chief executive of the service on Thursday.

Orkney Islands Council convener, Councillor Stephen Hagan, and Orkney MSP, Liam McArthur, handed over the petitions  - which have been signed by most inner and outer isles households  - at a meeting with Kevin Doran in Edinburgh.

A fully-laden oil tanker which experienced engine trouble about 30-35 miles north west of Orkney is currently waiting in Scapa Flow for spare parts to arrive.

The Indian tanker, Jag Pushpa, was spotted by Shetland Coastguard at 7pm on Monday night on their Automatic Identification System, which tracks a vessel.

When a watchman noticed that the 183-metre tanker, carrying 37,000 tonnes of gas, was travelling very slowly he contacted the captain.

The emergency towing vessel, Anglian Sovereign, was sent to the tanker’s aid and escorted her into Scapa Flow.

The spare parts are due to arrive on Friday.

An agreement has been reached on the pay award for Orkney Ferries sea staff for 2007-2009.

Chairman of Orkney Ferries, Councillor John Eccles, said the present industrial action will cease with immediate effect.

The company will now engage in a review of pay and conditions including full consultation with the unions and sea staff through a joint working group which will be set up.

Councillor Eccles said: "It is intended that the resultant report will consider all the issues which have arisen during the recent dispute.

A last ditch attempt to save seven Mainland and linked South Isles registrar posts failed at Tuesday’s full council meeting.

Seven councillors — Eoin Scott, John Eccles, Russ Madge, Graham Sinclair, Rob Crichton, Jim Moar and Jack Moodie — had called for the matter to be referred back to committee for further consideration.

Affected areas include home-based registration services in Stenness, Orphir, Sandwick, Harray, Birsay, Holm and South Ronaldsay and Burray.

However, a final decision means they will close by December 31, 2007, in a bid by Orkney Islands Council to cut costs.

Peedie or Peerie? That would appear to be the 60 million dollar question.

Councillors at Tuesday’s full council meeting have agreed to refer the renaming of the Peerie Sea Loan to Peedie Sea Loan back to the council’s transportation committee for further consideration.

Kirkwall Community Council had made the request, but Councillor Janice Annal argued that the costs involved did not warrant changing one letter in a sign.

Chairman of the transportation committee, Councillor Jim Foubister, said he was happy to take the matter back to committee.

Parents in Orkney, at the centre of the HM Revenue and Customs lost data scandal, have received “personal apology” letters.

The letter, from Revenue and Customs acting chairman, Dave Hartnett, states that the information is likely to still be on government property.

The lost data includes parents and children’s names and dates of birth, address, National Insurance numbers, and bank or building society account details into which child benefit is paid.

“As in usual circumstances, if you are the innocent victim of banking fraud, you will not have to pay.”

People are advised to change passwords, however, banks say there is no need to open new accounts.

Between 9.15pm on Saturday and 11.30am on Sunday, the rear windscreen wiper of a Peugeot 206 car was damaged while parked on Victoria Street, Stromness.

Kirkwall police are reminding householders never to divulge personal details over the phone.

The warning comes after a spate of suspected scam phone calls in the county.

The new chairman of NHS Orkney has been named as John Ross Scott.

Born in Hawick, Mr Scott moved to Orkney in 2003 when appointed first editor of Orkney Today. He has resigned from this post to take on the new NHS Orkney responsibilities.

This appointment will be for a period of two years from 3 December 2007 to 30 November 2009.

A two-year-old Springer Spaniel from Kirkwall is to receive the prestigious PDSA Gold Medal – the animal equivalent to the George Cross.

In December 2005, Ghillie was out walking with his owner’s elderly mother, Mary Wilson, when she collapsed on the bridle path on the Holm Road.

The dog’s constant barking attracted nearby Hydro workers and his insistence that they follow him back, to where Mary lay unconscious, saved her life.

Ghillie will be presented with his medal at a ceremony in the Orkney Hotel on December 20.

New figures from the Royal Mail show that just over 85 per cent of first class mail posted in the KW postcode area is being delivered the next day.

In the first six months of the year, 85.4 per cent of first class mail posted in Orkney reached its destination the following day. This compares to 79.3 per cent in the Hebrides and 42.3 per cent in Shetland.

The Royal Mail’s minimum target is 93 per cent, but Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles are exempt.

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have issued a strong reminder to the Orkney public not to touch or pick up baby seals over the coming months.

They say that the majority of the baby seals found are not abandoned and should be left alone. The pups' mothers often go hunting for hours at a time during the day, leaving their offspring where they know they are safe.

Anyone encountering a seal pup should stay back and never try to pick up or handle the animal - seals will bite and can transmit disease to humans.

Orkney MP, Alistair Carmichael, has been honoured for his work with the Stronsay Development Trust in a ceremony at the House of Commons.

The award, from the Development Trust Association, recognises the support he has given to the Stronsay Trust in their plans and ongoing work with renewable energy projects.