Police in Orkney are continuing background inquiries into the disappearance of Kirkwall resident Catherine Mackie.

The last formal search for the 50-year-old dental therapist was carried out by two Northern Constabulary handlers and dogs last Thursday, January 14.

Community safety officer, PC Dave Dawson, said: “That was stood down at dusk after searching an area up to one kilometre inland between the Bay of Skaill and Stromness.”

The coastguard, lifeboat and police were involved in extensive searches for Ms Mackie in the Yesnaby area where her vehicle was found.

The replacement vessel taking over from NorthLink’s mv Hascosay ferry is to be called mv Hildasay.

The name for the new freight and livestock ship was chosen by 12-year-old schoolgirl Sophie Wishart, of Cunningsburgh, Shetland.

Sophie won the competition to select a name for the vessel and will now take centre stage at a naming ceremony, to be held on February 10, in Lerwick.

The new vessel is called Hildasay after the uninhabited island lying to the West of Scalloway in Shetland.

A website has been launched against Scottish Government proposals to allow local authorities to advertise public notices online, rather than using local newspapers.

Highlands and Islands MSP, David Stewart, has spoken of his concern for the local newspaper industry following the announcement, and he is calling on readers of The Orcadian to register their objection to the plans by accessing the website www.saveourlocalpapers.org.uk.

He said: “I am deeply concerned about this announcement and the impact it could have on our local newspaper industry and publications such as The Orcadian."

People can also write to David Stewart MSP, P.O. Box 5717, Inverness IV1 1YT.

MV Graemsay back in Orkney. (Picture: Sian Thomas)

With her refit complete, the mv Graemsay sailed in to Orkney on Monday evening from Macduff with her newly extended deck in place.

The extension of 4.5 metres will double her deck and cattle pen space, will provide space for 25 tonnes of cargo and will be able to accommodate a 15 tonne lorry.

Her length overall is now 20.67 metres.

The Graemsay carries on average 20,000 passengers a year on the Graemsay and North Hoy service.

Orkney Islands Council remains the top performing council in Scotland in 2008-2009 for the collection of council tax - a position it has held for the last ten years.

The latest figures from Audit Scotland also confirm that the OIC is joint second for the collection of council house rents.

The OIC vice-convener, Councillor James Stockan, said: "We are very proud to be performing with the best in Scotland on these fronts. The achievement is down to the hard work of the teams involved, as well as the commitment of the council tax payers and council tenants to paying their bills."

A 25-year-old man was remanded in custody following an appearance at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday.

Stuart Alan Rosie admitted that, on Sunday, he struggled violently with a police constable, kicking out with his legs while in a police vehicle travelling from Garden Street, Kirkwall, to Kirkwall Police Station.

Rosie, of 5 Queen Sonja Kloss, Kirkwall, also pleaded not guilty to assaulting a woman at 5 Laing Street, Kirkwall, by seizing hold of her throat with both hands and compressing it.

Rosie was remanded in custody until he next appears in court, on February 2.

Shetland Coastguard are asking people in Orkney to keep an eye out for a liferaft which may have been washed up in South Ronaldsay, after it broke free from a trawler in rough seas on Saturday.

The trawler, Farnella, was north east of Muckle Skerry when the 16-foot liferaft fell into the sea and inflated.

A spokesman for Shetland Coastguard said the raft should have come ashore south of South Ronaldsay the same day, but so far they have received no reports.

Although the lost raft poses no hazard, Kirkwall Police have been notified. Anyone who spots the raft is asked to telephone Shetland Coastguard on 01595 692976.

Stromness and Kirkwall lifeboats and the Shetland Coastguard helicopter were all involved in a search on Sunday afternoon after a kayaker went into the water about a mile off Costa Head.

The kayaker was eventually located by the Shetland Coastguard helicopter who winched the person onboard. Stromness Lifeboat remained on station and carried out a search of the area for the kayak, but to no avail.

The Coastguard helicopter took the man to Kirkwall Airport where he was transferred to an ambulance and taken to Balfour Hospital for observation.

Members of the Rotary Club of Orkney collecting for the Haiti Earthquake Disaster Appeal in Kirkwall on Saturday.

Members of the Rotary Club of Orkney were overwhelmed by the response to their fundraising appeal in Kirkwall on Saturday.

The club set up collection points in Kirkwall and although he weather was atrocious, over £4,100 was raised.

To get the funds to have the most affect, the money will be sent to the charity Shelterbox who are already on site with a fast response team and have 3,000 shelterboxes on their way.

The club will make up the total to £4,900 from their charity account so that ten shelterboxes can be funded. This provides a high quality tent for up to ten people which should last up to an year.

If anyone would still like to contribute, they should contact Keith Foubister on 874752 (evenings), or Peter Scott on 872635.

Kirkwall police have received a report of a man walking through gardens in the Bosquoy area of Kirkwall at about 11.50pm on Saturday.

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

Police are appealing for information after a piece of fencing at the Shapinsay slip car park, in Kirkwall, was damaged between 4.30pm and 9pm on Monday, January 11.

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

Orkney's two branches of the British Red Cross are accepting donations towards the relief effort of those devastated by the Haiti earthquake.

The Stromness branch, at 2 Graham Place, and the Kirkwall branch, at 68 Victoria Street, will be collecting donations for the foreseeable future.

On January 12, disaster struck when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti.

Officials fear more than 100,000 are dead with a further three million affected.

Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti has left thousands of people in need of humanitarian assistance including food, clean water, emergency shelter, medical care and other support.