A potential £3.5 billion programme of marine renewable development in Orkney has moved a step closer with a recommendation from Orkney Islands Council's Development Committee to invest an initial £100,000 to attract marine energy developers to the County.

Twenty marine energy companies have submitted a total of 42 bids to develop an area of the seabed around Orkney and the Pentland Firth, offered by the Crown Estate, owners of the seabed.

The prize for Orkney of realising the potential of the renewable energy resources around the islands would be enormous in terms of boosting the local economy and on a scale similar to the arrival of the oil industry in the 1970's.

Children who have started their first year of secondary school will have the chance to learn more about personal safety at workshops being run on September 16 and 17.

The event is being run by eight different agencies in Orkney and is the first of its kind in the county.

Safe Islander will run over two days and will take children through a series of fun activities put on by a range of organisations.

The event is sponsored and supported by Talisman Energy, Stagecoach, Northern Constabulary, OIC and Orkney College and will be held in the Territorial Army base.

Flags at RNLI lifeboat stations around Scotland were lowered on Thursday as HRH The Duke of Kent unveiled a national memorial, dedicated to those lost while saving lives at sea, at the RNLI HQ in Dorset.

Of the 778 people commemorated on the memorial, ten came from Orkney.

Relatives, friends and RNLI staff attended a Ceremony of Dedication, held in memory of those connected with the charity who made the ultimate sacrifice while saving lives at sea.

Captain Bill Duncan, lifeboat operations manager for the Stromness lifeboat said: “None of these people were forced to go out to help others. It was purely in a voluntary capacity. They made the ultimate sacrifice and it is important we remember them.”

From the Antarctic to archaeoastronomy, from bees and berries to brochs and bere-meal - the week-long 19th Orkney International Science Festival kicked off on Thursday.

The 2009 festival ranges widely in topics. Renewable energy is to the fore, with the latest news on wave power devices, and an examination of the question: onshore or offshore wind?

There are also talks on biofuels - from wood-chip willows to the possible use of seaweeds for fuel. Food also featured strongly, with a look at the potential of sea buckthorn berries for farms and market gardens.

The John D. Mackay Lecture will ask: “How can we make science work for the poor?” and the Grimond Lecture will look at science education in various countries.

For more information, see www.oisf.org.

The Eday Partnership has been awarded nearly £347,000 from the Scottish Government’s climate change fund.

The money will aid its sustainability as a community as well as reducing carbon emissions by a further 34 tonnes per year by the end of 2016, he said.

The appointment of a full time carbon reduction co-ordinator will assist the community to achieve its goals.

Highlands and Islands MSP, Rob Gibson said: “Eday is an example of how a community can work with renewable energy to help bring about cohesion. This money will help them continue to develop their skills and enhance the community.”

Kirkwall police are seeking witnesses to an accident which occurred in the Ingale, Papdale East, car park at 3.15pm on Wednesday, when a silver car struck a black Vauxhall Astra. The vehicle did not stop.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Kirkwall police, on 872241.

The first phase of a project which will bring new houses to Finstown could be underway by the end of November this year.

The OIC environment, planning and protective services committee granted planning permission in principle for the council-run scheme in the village, which will eventually see 22 houses and eight serviced sites created in Finstown.

OIC director of finance and housing, Albert Tait, said that the first phase would see the creation of 12 units - two one-bedroomed houses, six two-bedroomed and four houses with three bedrooms, and the second phase of the project would bring about ten low cost houses.

Orkney Islands Councillors have refused an application to open a new Chinese takeaway in Kirkwall.

The application before Wednesday's OIC environment, planning and protective services committee was for change of use, from retail to Chinese takeaway, at 14 Palace Road.

Councillors Jim Foubister and David Tullock expressed concern over operating such a service in a residential area.

OIC officials had recommended the application for approval, but councillors refused on grounds of inadequate parking facilities and that "there would be an unacceptable problem with litter".

Council house tenants are to be consulted on an 18 per cent increase in rent, staggered over three years, on top of inflationary rises, to assist with funding the proposed 125 new council houses in the county.

The proposed increases being put forward are eight per cent from April, 2010; a further six per cent in 2011 and four per cent in 2012.

Councillors at the Orkney Islands Council social services and housing committee meeting on Tuesday further recommended that rents for all new council houses attract a new-build premium of 25 per cent.

A decision on whether to close Scarva Taing as a care home has been deferred by councillors.

The facility in Finstown remains closed following a small fire in June.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Orkney Islands Council social services and housing committee, officials had recommended shutting down the facility as a care home.

Director of community social services, Duncan MacAulay, said the building was not going to be fit-for-purpose, based on national standards.

Councillor Mike Drever said he had concerns over the lack of comprehensive financial information available and called for the matter to be deferred, which was agreed by members.

Concerned Stromness residents have set up a petition in an attempt to counter plans to move the lorry park to the centre of the town.

It follows Orkney Islands Council’s proposals to relocate the weighbridge and lorry marshalling area to make way for a new primary school.

Stromness businessmen behind a heated public meeting on Tuesday evening described the proposals as “inherently flawed” and slammed the lack of public consultation.

The petition is currently in shops and businesses in Stromness, and is due to be presented to members of the OIC transportation and infrastructure committee meeting on Tuesday, September 8.

A series of archaeological surprises has led Historic Scotland to extend this year’s excavation at a Neolithic site in Westray.

The Links of Noltland site has attracted international attention with the discovery of Scotland’s earliest human figurine - dating back around 5,000 years.

The area chosen for this year’s dig was thought to contain one building - a fine farmhouse - but up to three more have now been found, with one containing around ten cow’s skulls arranged in what appears to be a ritualistic way, deliberately deposited within its walls with their horns embedded in the ground.

Richard Strachan, senior archaeologist with the Historic Scotland cultural resources team, said: “The site has turned out to be far larger than we thought, so we have decided to extend this year’s excavation for an extra three weeks, taking it to the end of September.”

The new OIC hostel in Stromness is operating smoothly, the town's community council heard this week.

The facility, based at the former youth hostel at Hellihole Road, opened its doors recently.

Police constable Torquil MacLeod told Monday evening's Stromness Community Council meeting: "There's been no reported incidents with it. It seems to be running fairly well."

Councillor James Stockan praised the 24-hour support provided by the unit. He said: "It's not so much offenders, it's more for the homeless."

As part the Kirkwall Independent Sustainable Travel initiative, to help people in Kirkwall make the most of public transport, an Open Bus Event is being held on September 9.

To be held at St Combs Centre, Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall, the day aims to allow people who are unfamiliar with buses to go along and be shown how they are operated.

The event ties in with the fact that Kirkwall is one of the Scottish Government’s seven sustainable travel demonstration towns, a title which requires the provision of independent travel training for those with additional support needs.

A man who committed a breach of the peace at Hatston pier on Monday night has been fined £100.

Mark Phillip Davison, 39, of Peterhead, appeared from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Tuesday afternoon.

The trawlerman was returning to Aberdeen from Shetland - but disembarked at Kirkwall by mistake, the court heard.

He pleaded guilty to conducting himself in a disorderly manner at Hatston pier and also admitted uttering threats of violence to police, shouting, swearing and committing a breach of the peace.

Orkney’s crime rate has increased in the past year. However, it remains one of the lowest in the country, according to the police Public Performance Report for 2008/09.

In the report, chief inspector David Miller said: “The area command continues to enjoy the lowest recorded crime rate in the UK, with class one to five reported crimes being just 561 for the year.

“While this is a very low number when compared with other areas, we will continue in our efforts to reduce this further.”

Overall, in the past year 1,665 crimes were dealt with by Orkney police.

Chief Inspector Mhairi Grant.

Chief Inspector Mhairi Grant takes over as Orkney's new Area Commander and Northern Constabulary's first female Chief Inspector and Area Commander, from today.

Prior to this, she was a Detective Inspector working in the Public Protection Unit within Crime Services, serving the whole Force area.

She initially joined Northern Constabulary in 1978 as a Cadet, before applying to the regular Force as a Police Constable the following year. After three years service she took a career break to have a family, before rejoining Northern Constabulary in 1991.

Sheis married to a retired police officer and has two grown-up daughters.

A 28-year-old man has admitted making threatening phone calls to a pregnant woman.

Robert John Davidson-Burns, of Palace Road, Kirkwall, appeared from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday.

He admitted that, on August 29, at 5 Palace Road, Kirkwall, he committed a breach of the peace by repeatedly making threatening phone calls to the woman, 22 weeks pregnant, and also shouting, swearing and placing the woman in a state of fear and alarm.

Davidson-Burns was granted bail by Honorary Sheriff John Flett, with the special condition that he doesn't approach, or contact, the complainer.

Thorfinn Football club lifted the 'A' League trophy for the 26th time on Saturday evening.

The Kirkwall club recorded a comprehensive 4-0 win over Holm at the Bignold Park to finish three points ahead of Rendall at the top of the table.

David Delday struck twice before half-time and Steven Gray made the game safe with a goal on the hour mark, before Graham Shearer added a fourth with five minutes to go.

Thorfinn add the Orkney Island Gold 'A' League title to their Highland Amateur Cup win, while their reserve side can claim the Streamline Reserve League title if they beat Rovers in an upcoming play-off match.

During the early hours of Sunday morning, a man was assaulted by another man as he walked along Junction Road, Kirkwall.

Also, during the early hours of Sunday morning, there was an incident in Tankerness House Gardens, Kirkwall, involving a group of men.

Anyone with any information on these incidents is asked to contact Kirkwall police, on 872241.

Kirkwall police have received a number of telephone calls in relation to a collection agency registered as SHC Collections Ltd, collecting in the Stromness area.

Police are advising the public who wish to make donations, that some of the criteria for registering as a charity includes making a minimum donation to good causes, in addition, collectors can be salaried.

SHC are a registered company and do not display a registered charity number on their literature, but list a company number. Such companies are run on a profit-making basis.

Police advise is to research any organisation, so that they can make an informed decision as to whether or not to donate.

Angus Konstam

Orkney man Angus Konstam has been elected as the new Chair of the Society of Authors in Scotland.

The Scottish branch of the society has almost 600 members, including such well-known writers as J. K. Rowling, Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall Smith, as well as five members who live in Orkney.

Angus has served on the committee of the Society of Authors in Scotland for the past three years. He says: “While the post is purely honorary, it is a great honour. In this time of recession and political upheaval I’ll do my utmost to make sure that the interests of Scotland’s writers are well looked after.”

The Northern Constabulary, together with Highland and Western Isles Councils, the Scottish Court Service and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, are to conduct a community consultation survey.

The agencies are keen to hear people’s views in a bid to develop an understanding of perceptions of crime and public safety, as well as how public services can better address the needs of communities they serve.

The survey will consist of 9,000 postal questionnaires, which will be sent out to a random sample of addresses throughout the Highlands and Islands.