The seabird population in Orkney could be set to receive greater protection.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead announced on Friday that 31 Special Protection Areas (SPAs) across Scotland are being considered for extension up to four kilometres out to sea, beyond the land-based habitat currently covered.

Of the 31, seven of the SPAs are in Orkney.

A total of 12 projects have received funding from the OIC's conservation grant town award scheme. Two other projects received funding support from the heritage grants scheme. 

The town scheme is open to any property in the four urban conservation areas of Kirkwall, Stromness, Balfour village and St Margaret’s Hope and aims to assist with window and door repairs and replacements using traditional materials.

The heritage grants scheme applies to any listed building in Orkney and is available for many different types of works using traditional materials including roofs, windows, lime harling and piers.

Rhoda Walker

Orcadian, Rhoda Walker, has been appointed director of allied health professionals and nursing by NHS Orkney.

Stronsay-born, Mrs Walker, began her nursing career in Aberdeen in 1982, returning to live in Orkney in 1989.

She became nurse development manager (hospital) with NHS Orkney in 1997 and since then has held a variety of posts, including hospital manager and assistant director of the post she now fills.

She said: "I am absolutely delighted to be appointed to the role. It gives me the opportunity to lead NHS Orkney¹s excellent team of staff during a very exciting time."

The OIC’s trading standards department is warning householders to be aware of door-to-door salesmen operating in the county.

Their advice is that shopping around may get the equivalent item cheaper than an unplanned purchase, no matter how good a deal it may seem at the time. You should also bear in mind that if goods develop a fault, it may be difficult to contact the trader. This also applies to services, such as home-improvements.

If goods are bought for private use, the seller must supply a cancellation notice giving the buyer the right to change his/her mind for up to seven days. If you don't want to buy, a reputable trader will not force a sale.

The winners of the 2008 Fereday Prize were named at an award ceremony in Stromness on Friday.

Stromness Academy pupil Katrina Bevan (pictured centre) took the honours with her project The History of Sclaters Shops.  Her finished project documented her grandfather’s business, John Sclater, Draper, in Albert Street along with the Man’s Shop, the China Shop in Laing Street and the tweed mill in Mill Street, which produced Norsaga Orkney Tweed.

Second place went to Annabella Penny (left) for The Gale of 1952, while third place went to Leanne Smith (right) for I'm a Fairy from Pharayland.

The Fereday Prize, which was launched by the Orkney Heritage Society in honour of former Kirkwall Grammar School history teacher Dr Ray Fereday, allows pupils to research local studies topics of their own choice.

The police have warned Orkney drivers they will be cracking down on untaxed vehicles.

The Northern Constabulary has joined forces with the DVLA and untaxed vehicles will be identified from DVLA records and issued with a penalty.

Inspector John Smith, head of the force's road policing section, said anyone who tried to avoid this by failing to register their details with the DVLA could find their vehicles being clamped, impounded and crushed.

The police say 80 per cent of untaxed cars also have no insurance, and up to 70 per cent of occupants of untaxed vehicles are also involved in other criminal activity.

The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness is in the running for yet another accolade.

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland has announced the Scottish shortlist of ten buildings for the 2008 RIBA Awards.

Reiach and Hall Architects, who designed the building, have been named for their work at the centre, and for the new arts faculty building for the University of St Andrews.

The company which runs NorthLink Ferries has welcomed the European Commission inquiry into the legality of subsidies paid by the Scottish Government to its ferry companies.

David MacBrayne Group chairman, Peter Timms, said: “We will be happy to co-operate fully with this investigation and will help the Scottish Government to provide the Commission with all the information required to meet the aims of the investigation.”

A Kirkwall teenager was sentenced to three months in custody after appearing at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Sixteen-year-old Frank Doull, Cormorant, Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall, committed ten breaches of a restriction of liberty order imposed in January.

Doull was sentenced to three months in a youth detention centre.

The community of Deerness moved a step closer to purchasing their local church - St Ninian’s at Skaill.

There was considerable disappointment in the parish at the end of last year when the building was sold to the highest bidder. However, the new owner of St Ninian’s, who is an artist from south, heard of the Deerness folks’ plans to save the church and is now considering selling the building back to the community.

A meeting was held on Monday to formally constitute the “Friends of St Ninian’s” and to elect a steering group who will handle the negotiations over the acquisition of the property.

The steering group are keen to hear from anyone who would like to offer their support in any way, contact secretary of the Friends of St Ninian’s, Isobel Gardner, on 01856 741307 or chairman, Ernie Skea, on 01856 741203.

Miss Scotland hopeful, Natasha Groundwater (right), has made it through to the final 25.

The 24-year-old dental nurse, from Kirkwall, is heading to Glasgow on Friday, for a photo-shoot with The Sun newspaper, organiser of the event, after beating off stiff competition from 2,000 other women.

Out of 25, only 20 make it through to the public vote, which will be revealed in The Sun on Tuesday, April 22. Sixteen will make it to the next stage, and on to a training weekend and from there, a top ten will be chosen and it is up to the judges to decide on a winner.

“It would be brilliant if I got to the voting stage; every vote is going to count and it would be nice to have everybody here rooting for me," Natasha said.

The board of Weyland Farms Limited has taken the decision to cease active farming at Weyland Farm, St Ola.

The farm has previously been used for the training of Orkney College agricultural students.

As of Friday, April 11, staff members have been informed of this decision and it is likely this may result in two job losses.

It is expected that all breeding stock will be sold during the latter part of May at Orkney Auction Mart, with a sale of surplus machinery to follow.

Members of the council’s policy and resources committee were asked to redress an oversight on Tuesday afternoon and approve the names for three roads in Burray.

Councillors were asked to endorse the road names suggested by the South Ronaldsay and Burray Community Council as a matter of urgency.

Members approved the names Upper Waston Road, Laird's Road and Upper Sunfield Road.

Councillors are to look at targeting the Christmas grant scheme to those pensioners already receiving some form of benefit.

It means that some older folk, widows and widowers may still lose out, although it is intended the payment of £45 will get to those most in need.

An attempt by Councillor Alistair Gordon at Tuesday's OIC policy and resources committee meeting to retain the status quo was defeated by nine votes to two in favour of Councillor Steven Heddle's amendment for a seminar to look further at targeting the grant money.

Orkney is to receive £32,000 from the Scottish Government to tackle childhood obesity in the county.

The cash is part of a national £6 million package, announced by health secretary Nicola Sturgeon on Monday.

The money will go to NHS Orkney to introduce new family-focused treatment programmes for overweight and obese children, aged between 5 and 15.

NorthLink is relaunching its Islander Family and Friends scheme – offering travel discounts to nominated households outwith the Northern Isles.

Registered islanders are invited to nominate up to six “family and friend” households outside Orkney and Shetland. All members of the nominated households will then qualify for the 30 per cent discount currently enjoyed by island residents.

The promotion will initially be addressed to those who have already provided NorthLink with their email address.

However, those for whom NorthLink doesn’t have e-mail details, can use an online form to submit an up-to-date address.

Police are urging householders to keep a close eye on their domestic fuel tanks.

A report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal following an alleged breach of the peace in Burnmouth Road, Kirkwall, in the early hours of Saturday.

According to police three vehicles were damaged on Saturday.

Two of the vehicles were in Kirkwall – a green Isuzu Trooper parked in Burnmouth Road and a Ford Ka in Quoybanks Crescent. The damage to the Ka was caused by a teenage male approximately 5ft 8in tall wearing a white hoodie top, jeans and white shoes.

The third incident was in Stromness, where damage was caused to a grey Vokswagen Golf estate parked at the Pierhead at the rear of Wishart’s shop.

The extension to the Westray Heritage Centre was officially opened on Saturday – with the Westray Stone in pride of place back on the island.

The centre was then opened to the public on Sunday.

The extension provides a new exhibition/gallery area and increased archives research facility in an annexe of 131 square metres, adjacent but linked to the existing building.

New houses in Burray are ready to move into - but the council has forgotten to name the road.

Members of the Orkney Islands Council's policy and resources committee meeting, on Tuesday, will be asked to endorse the road names suggested by the South Ronaldsay and Burray Community Council as a matter of urgency.

"Due to administrative oversight, the recommendations from the community council were not reported to the transportation and infrastructure committee. Part of the development has commenced and houses are ready for occupation"" says the report to be discussed.

The suggested road names are Upper Waston Road, Laird's Road and Upper Sunfield Road.