| Police confirm identity of missing driver |
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Police have confirmed the identity of the driver of the car which went over the cliffs at Yesnaby on Wednesday.
Twenty-year-old Darren Kirkness remains missing as a result of the incident.
A specialist police diving team began a search of the sea at the foot of the cliffs on Friday.
The incident occurred around 1pm on Wednesday, when police were contacted by tourists who had witnessed a car going over the Yesnaby cliffs.
After a major search, involving police, the Stromness lifeboat, coastguard staff and the coastguard helicopter, the vehicle was located at the foot of the cliffs just before 2pm on Wednesday. |
| CLAN representatives visit the county |
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Staff from CLAN (Cancer Link Aberdeen and North) are visiting Orkney next week to help raise awareness of its Haven facility and new fundraising campaign.
The Haven offers bed and breakfast accommodation to those affected by cancer, either personally or as a relative or carer, who travel to the Aberdeen to visit, or attend, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
On Thursday, Debbie Thomson, CLAN chief executive, and Susan Crighton, fundraising manager, will attend a talk at the Orkney Rotary lunch at the Lynnfield Hotel. CLAN representatives will also hold an open meeting in the St Magnus Centre, between 7.30pm and 9.30pm.
Anyone who would like to talk to the CLAN team during their visit can contact CLAN House by telephoning 01224 647000 or 0796 944 1903. |
| The sound of jazz returns to Stromness |
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The 12th Orkney Jazz Festival was held in Stromness at the weekend.
The three-day event featured performances by returning Scottish groups Bill Salmond and his Louisiana Ragtime Band featuring Alan Quinn on vocals, and Diplomats of Jazz as well as the Orkney School Swing Band.
Centred around the Stromness Hotel, on Sunday, there was a praise service in the St Magnus Kirk in Birsay. |
| Pink Weekend in Stromness |
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The Ferry Inn's annual Pink Weekend kicked off in Stromness on Friday.
From football to pie eating and live music, the event, which runs until Sunday, aims to raise money for a number of cancer related charities.
It is held in memory of Stromness woman Ingrid Rosie, who was only 25 when she died in November 2003, after a 12-month battle against breast cancer. |
| HIE Orkney March approvals |
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Just over £23,000 worth of grants were approved by HIE Orkney in March.
Among the £23,353 worth of grants was £7,500 to the Orkney Fishermen’s Society for the creation of a testing lab. Stromness-based Debra Jones received a total of £5,175 for the establishment of a pottery business.
£4,180, along with a grant of £6,820 from the OIC, was approved for Orkney Quality Food and Drink for their 2008 activities, while £2,163 went to Xodus Aurora, in Stromness, for an Environmental management course.
Finally, Bruce Robertson, from Kirkwall, received £1,035 for an offshore survival course and Brian Hughes, from Stenness, received £600 for an offshore induction and emergency course. |
| New Pentalina takes to the water |
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 Pentland Ferries' new catamaran, Pentalina, was launched in the Philippines on Friday morning.
The vessel entered the water at the Balamban shipyard at 1pm local time – 6am UK time.
The Pentalina will now undergo sea trials before heading to Orkney where she will run the Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope route. |
| Free weekend hailed a success |
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 Historic Scotland’s annual free weekend has been hailed a great success, with significant increases in visitor numbers to a number of Orkney sites.
Skara Brae welcomed 1,718 visitors over the two days, compared to 661 at the previous free weekend.
The Bishop ’s and Earl’s Palaces in Kirkwall saw 371 people visiting, a 25 per cent increase on the previous year. |
| Confirmation that the Treasury will investigate spiralling fuel costs |
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Orkney MP Alistair Carmichael has received confirmation that the Treasury will investigate spiralling fuel prices in the Highlands and Islands.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Carmichael highlighted current prices for a litre of fuel in Orkney - £1.23 for unleaded and £1.31 for diesel – and compared them to the prices causing public concern south.
The people of Orkney and Shetland, he said, would love to pay 112 pence per litre for unleaded.
Commenting afterwards, Mr Carmichael said: “I am pleased that Alistair Darling will meet with a delegation to discuss the crippling effect of fuel prices on local businesses. I shall be working in the next few days to make the necessary arrangements and to make sure the widest range of opinion from Orkney, Shetland and other parts of the Highlands and Islands have their voices heard.” |
| NFU Scotland urge sheep farmers to 'stand up and be counted' over tagging proposal |
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NFU Scotland is urging sheep farmers to stand up and be counted over the proposal to double tag sheep and individually identify and record movements.
An electronic petition has been launched, calling on the European Commission to change the current double tagging rules and not introduce electronic identification (EID) until it is proven to be cost effective and based on batch movements only.
The NFUS is stressing that it needs the support of all Scotland’s sheep farmers if it is to have an impact.
To sign the petition, click here. |
| Drop in crime says report |
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Between January and March this year, reported crime in Orkney dropped by almost 16 per cent over the same period last year.
According to a report before the Northern Joint Police Board on Wednesday, the decrease is due to a drop in crimes of dishonesty - 178 compared to 236.
Detection rate for this class remains “very good” at 70.2 per cent, while Orkney’s overall detection rate stands at 64.4 per cent. |
| New Pentalina named in Philippines |
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 Pentland Ferries’ new catamaran was officially named in the Philippines on Tuesday.
Owner Andrew Banks, and his wife, Susan, travelled out to Cebu for the ceremony, which saw the vessel named Pentalina.
The Pentalina is due to be launched on Thursday, and be sea trialled and completed, ready for the voyage back to the UK.
She is expected to come into service later this summer. |
| Kirbuster stalwart retires after 20 years |
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 The custodian of Orkney’s Kirbuster Farm Museum officially retired on Tuesday.
In more than 20 years with the museum, Katrina Mainland has seen a host of changes at the historic farmhouse.
Orkney Islands Council’s acting museums officer, Clare Gee, said the whole department was sad to see Katrina go.
She said: “Her tireless dedication to Kirbuster has ensured that the visitor experience has improved year on year and we are going to miss her motivation, dedication and sheer hard work very much indeed. We all wish Katrina the very best for the future.” |
| Road safety campaign nets more offenders |
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According to Kirkwall police, in the 24-hour hour period ending on Tuesday morning, 12 people had been charged with traffic offences in the previous 24 hours.
These include speeding, failure to wear seat belts and using mobile phones while driving. |
| Go ahead given to Faring performance |
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Members of the OIC’s St Magnus Cathedral sub-committee have given their blessing to a performance outside the 12th century cathedral this summer – part of the Rognvald 850 celebrations.
The St Magnus Festival “Faring” performance proposes several outdoor performances on the evenings of June 27 and 28. This aims to recreate the flavour of a medieval fair, with the intention of recreating the feel of Stanley Cursiter’s painting “Lammas Fair”.
Members granted permission, subject to the building being used sensitively and respectfully and all statutory permissions being granted. |
| Last batch of cathedral chairs to go on sale |
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A final batch of old chairs from St Magnus Cathedral are to be put up for sale.
Following the success of the three previous sales, which saw 653 chairs sold to 203 bidders and raising £16,495.17 (exclusing VAT), members of the St Magnus Cathedral sub-committee agreed to a final sale on Monday.
This relates to 46 “damaged but repairable” chairs, which should be offered to the highest bidders. |
| Campaign targets speeding motorists |
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Twelve people have been cautioned and charged with speeding since the start of a national campaign last Thursday.
Speed checks are being carried out at a number of locations so police are advising motorists to be aware of speed limits and other road safety issues – namely use of seatbelts, mobile phones and vehicle conditions. |
| Reports submitted to procurator fiscal |
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A report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal following an alleged assault in Stromness on Friday night. The alleged incident occurred in the Ferry Inn.
Meanwhile, a 23-year-old woman has been charged and is to be reported to the procurator fiscal in relation to drink driving.
She was stopped by officers on Zion’s Loan, Firth, in the early hours of Saturday morning. |
| Two charged over vehicle incident |
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A 21-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman are the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal.
The man was charged with driving with no licence on the A965 on Saturday, while the woman was charged with causing and permitting the offence to take place. |
| Annual Bag the Bruck beach cleanup |
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 More than 80 sites across Orkney were targeted in this year's Bag The Bruck event, which took place at the weekend.
The secretary of Environmental Concern Orkney, Susan Ferguson, said that about 600 volunteers to turn out to rid the beaches and environs of rubbish which has accumulated during the winter. |
| Lottery grant to help commemorate the death of Saint Rognvald |
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The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a £48,600 grant to the OIC to go towards the commemoration of the 850th anniversary of the death of St Rognvald.
The programme, taking place this summer, includes performances, visits by Norwegian ships, lectures, Viking re-enactment, schools projects, exhibitions, storytelling, music and civic events.
A leaflet outlining the programme will be available soon and many of the events are free of charge.
For further information about the programme, contact Tanya McGill, cultural Co-ordinator manager at the OIC, on 873535 or email tanya.mcgill@orkney.gov.uk |
| Calling all prospective football coaches |
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The OIC’s sports development service would like to hear from anyone interested in coaching the county’s up-and-coming footballers.
The service is running a children’s football coaching course at the end of the month. The Level 1 - Early Touches Certificate course takes place on April 28 and 29.
The course costs £20 per candidate and will run from 6pm - 9pm at the Kirkwall Swimming Pool and Sports Centre. For further information please contact Janette Bews on 873535 ext. 2415 or janette.bews@orkney.gov.uk.
The Youth Level 2 – Coaching Youth Footballers Certificate will be run in July and the Children’s Level 2 – Coaching Young Footballers Certificate will be run in August. |
