NHS Orkney staff are to benefit from the creation of a single body covering education, training and lifelong learning.

This new “Special Health Board” will replace the current three separate bodies, covering doctors, dentists and clinical psychologists; nurses, midwives and health visitors and pharmacists.

From April 1 next year, the bodies will be combined and will eventually cater for all NHS staff.

Grammar School Pupils raised over £3,000 for Children in Need

Kirkwall Grammar School pupils have made a massive effort towards the local Children in Need fundraising total, taking in £3,202 from their events.

Senior pupil Jenna Smith said on Friday afternoon that they had reached their total through their headshaving exploits, choosing a King and Queen for each year, holding a slave auction and selling sweeties made in the home economics department – added to the proceeds of their Hallowe’en dance on October 30.

The loss of Pentland Ferries’ short sea winter service next week will compound a seven week backlog of cull cows on Orkney farms, according to a mart spokesman.

Over 700 cattle are waiting to be processed on the over-thirty months scheme, a figure set to increase drastically if no alternative carrier can be found to take surplus carcasses to the Scottish mainland for incineration.

Currently around 140 cattle are culled each week, some of which are incinerated locally, the remainder shipped to mainland Scotland.

Office manager at Orkney Auction Mart, Mr Rob Crichton said yesterday that the Mart were actively pursuing other options.

Dounreay nuclear shipment sees increased security at Scrabster

A shipment of nuclear fuel from Dounreay on Friday saw an increased police presence at Scrabster, but sailings to Orkney were unaffected.

The fuel-carrying vessel Arneb has been sheltering in Orkney waters this week, but was in Scrabster on Friday to pick up nuclear fuel rods from the Dounreay nuclear power station to be shipped to Bremen.

Orkney MSP Jim Wallace took First Minister’s Question Time in his stride on Thursday, brushing aside SNP and Tory attacks to cheers from Labour and Lib-Dem MSPs in the Scottish parliament.

According to national reports, in his first question time since stepping in as Acting First Minister following the Henry McLeish's resignation last week, Mr Wallace seemed very much at home handling claims of cronyism and secrecy in public life in Scotland from SNP leader John Swinney, and dismissing Scots Tory leader David McLetchie as a “no-no man leading a no-no party.”

Mr Wallace is likely to continue as Acting First Minister until the end of next week, when Jack McConnell - due to be annointed leader of Labour in Scotland this weekend - is expected be sworn in as Scotland’s new First Minister.

Lowest drug abuse rate in Scotland but Orkney's problem still need tackling

Orkney has the lowest prevalence rate of drug abuse in Scotland, according to a Scottish Executive research report published on Thursday.

The report says that there are an estimated 29 "problematic drug misusers" in Orkney - 0.3 per cent of the population aged between 15 and 54.

Deputy Justice Minister Iain Gray said: "This report gives us a much clearer picture of the drug problem in the Orkney Isles - and what we have to do to improve things. The report shows that although the Orkney Isles has the lowest prevalence rate in Scotland, it still has a drug problem that needs to be tackled."

Warning issued over unregulated food traders

Orkney Islands Council are warning consumers not to buy perishable foods from unregulated traders.

The warning comes after reports of anonymous individuals selling meat and game from vehicles across the county.

Environment health officer Tony Marsh said: "With so many excellent local businesses selling quality produce, there is really no need for people to risk their health buying goods from the back of a van, from someone anonymous."

"Our information suggests that these unlicensed vendors are not local. If anyone is approached by such individuals, we would appreciate hearing from them."

School quality reports published

Standards and quality reports on Orkney's schools were published on Friday, giving an insight into how the schools are performing.

Published by the schools, the reports can be seen at the schools themselves, or on school websites.

Director of education Mr Leslie Manson said: “The reports record how the school has met its priorities for the year, and identifies any areas for improvement, just as a normal school inspection would do. It also highlights any notable achievements. It therefore represents a very valuable snapshot of the year for teachers and parents and a foundation on which to build.”

Members of the North of Scotland Water Authority board heard on Wednesday night that Kirkwall's sewage treatment plant at the Head of Work has been tested and should be completed by the end of this year.

The board’s director of development Tony Smith said that sewage from Kirkwall has been going through the plant for the past six weeks during the commissioning stage.

The board were also told that a meeting had taken place on Wednesday with OIC officials to review the planning application for a new sewage treatment works for Stromness, following concerns expressed by councillors.

Finnie probes creamery job cuts

The Scottish Executive has launched a probe into the public funding of Orkney Cheese following last week’s announcements of job cuts at the local cheese factory.

Following representations from factory workers, Orkney’s MSP Jim Wallace has contacted Minister for Environment and Rural Development Ross Finnie, asking him to investigate whether any assurances were made as regards employment at the factory, when applications were made for European and Scottish Executive funding.

Shop steward Mr John Foulis contacted Mr Wallace last week to discuss the proposed redundancies and to find out if there were any strings attached to the £1 million handed over to the Orkney Cheese Company in August, 1999 by the then First Minister Donald Dewar.

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Rare whale washed up in Sandwick

The whale carcase at Skaill. (Picture: Orkney Photographic)

The remains of a bottlenose whale have washed up at the Bay of Skaill, Sandwick, below Skara Brae.

The whale is six metres long, male, and is thought to have been dead for several weeks.

Bottlenose whales are relatively rare in Scotland, so zoologists from the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh arrived in Orkney on Wednesday to dissect the mammal and remove various bones for research.

Staff from the OIC’s environmental health department were due to dispose of the carcase on Thursday - burying it in a pit dug further along the beach.

Eday residents face fraud trial

A couple arrested on Eday last year have been charged with being involved in a multi-million pound debt recovery fraud.

A trial date was set for ten people, including David McHugh (41), whose address was given as South Park, Eday, and Maureen Hennessey (53), also of South Park, Eday, at Liverpool Crown Court this week.

The court heard that the £3.6 million fraud involved two companies based in Wirral and the Midlands.

Archive story: English police travel to Eday to arrest recent arrivals

Cannabis campaigner charged

Orkney MS sufferer Biz Ivol has been charged with supplying cannabis chocolates under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The 54-year-old campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis was visited at her home in South Ronaldsay by police on Tuesday afternoon.

Kirkwall Police confirmed on Wednesday that they had charged Mrs Ivol under the Misuse of Drugs Act and that a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal in Kirkwall in due course.

But despite the charge, Mrs Ivol has vowed to continue her fight over use of the drug to alleviate the symptoms of her condition.

The case against a Kirkwall resident accused of serious sexual offences against two Alloa sisters has been temporarily abandoned by the Crown.

Brian Hill (42), whose address was given as Ingale, Papdale East, appeared on indictment at Alloa Sheriff Court and denied the charges which date as far back as 1978. Hill had also lodged a special defence alleging that two other men were responsible.

He had been due to stand trial before a jury later this month, but the court heard that there had been problems relating to documentation needed for the defence's case. In light of the difficulties, fiscal depute Ann Orr temporarily abandoned the case.

Archive story: Man in court in Alloa on sex charges

MP asks Office of Fair Trading to investigate Esso's Agency withdrawal

Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has tabled a Commons motion, calling on the Office of Fair Trading to investigate Esso's withdrawal of the Agency Card service to many users in Orkney and Shetland.

In his motion he condemned the decision, stressing that the high cost of fuel in the area "threatens the social and economic viability of some of our most vulnerable communities".

He said: "Jim Wallace, Tavish Scott and I have all raised this matter with Esso, and we are extremely disappointed with their stance. The purpose of the motion which I have introduced is to name and shame Esso."

Archive story: MSP calls for rethink on Esso's new Agency policy

Early refits will allow P&O to extend contract

P&O Scottish Ferries are putting their three Northern Isles ferries into dry dock earlier than normal this winter so they are ready to run an extended service next year.

P&O's contract runs out in March, but they have agreed in principal to extend their service until NorthLink take over in October.

A P&O spokesman said that bringing forward the dry dock services would enable the company to operate the extra six months next year.

He said the St Ola was already away and would shortly be followed by the St Sunniva and the St Clair. Normal services would resume a week before Christmas, he added.

Councillor calls for undersea cable to extend to Northern Isles

An Orkney councillor has called for a possible new offshore transmission grid along the west coast of Britain to be extended to Orkney and Shetland.

Stromness councillor John Brown, a geologist with extensive experience in the oil industry, said he would be “very disappointed” if the Government laid a submarine cable along the western seaboard of the UK and only put it as far as the Western Isles.

He argued that being able to exploit the reserves of hydrocarbon gas in Atlantic Frontier, combined with the growing potential for renewable power generation in Orkney and Shetland, would justify the expense of laying such a cable.

Councillor Brown was commenting on an announcement by Energy Minister, Brian Wilson, that a feasibility study was being carried out into the West Coast electricity grid project.

College Principal Peter Scott cuts the first turf.

Work on the new £1.3 million extension to Orkney College began on Monday with the first turf cut on site.

The extension is scheduled for completion by September 2002 with funding assistance coming from Orkney Islands Council, UHI Millennium Commission and European Regional Development Fund.

The extension will house the Cultural Studies degree course, a studio for art and design, a new post graduate degree course for archaeology and will also be the Institute of Archaeology for the Highlands and Islands.

Joint Northern Isles tourism venture unveiled in London

Plans for a new joint venture to promote tourism in the Northern Isles was unveiled on Monday at the World Travel Market in London.

Viking Island Holidays - a joint venture between Orkney Tourist Board, Shetland Islands Tourism and NorthLink Ferries - will be launched next year, offering a range of inclusive holiday packages.

Orkney Tourist Board’s 2002 Explore Orkney brochure is also being launched at the World Travel Market.

Nuclear cargo ship sheltering in Flow

A ship carrying controversial atomic fuel shipments from the Dounreay nuclear power station to Germany has been sheltering in Scapa Flow over the past week.

The fuel-carrying vessel Arneb arrived in Orkney last Wednesday after unloading a nuclear transport lorry at Scrabster.

It is understood she is returning to Scrabster on Friday to pick up the lorry loaded with Dounreay nuclear fuel rods - before sailing for Bremen.

Increased police presence sees improvement in weekend behaviour

The increased police presence on the streets of Kirkwall at the weekend seems to be curbing the escalating violence and vandalism.

Inspector Eddington confirmed this week that the past two weekends have been relatively quiet, adding that most of the problems had been caused by a minority “who cannot go out on a Friday and Saturday night without causing that additional bother.”

Archive Story: More police on the streets of Kirkwall
following rise in weekend crime

Orkney set to escape increased water bills

Orkney looks set to escape huge increases in water bills over the next four years, increases implemented to pay for investment in the industry throughout the country.

Large increases are predicted in the East and West of Scotland Water Authority areas, but no significant changes in the North. Residents within the North of Scotland Water Authority area have already faced large rises in their bills to pay for a massive investment in the region.

Red MacGregor a hit in south England

The Orkney Brewery have received another award, with Red MacGregor voted the favourite at the Bedford Beer Festival in England.

The brewery’s darker ale, Dark Island, failed to hold onto the title of Champion Beer of Scotland though, losing the crown to Ossian Ale, brewed by Inveralmond.

Survey confirms crofters dependence on additional income

A Scottish Agricultural College survey into crofting has shown that holdings are only able to continue with income from sources other than agriculture.

Information for the survey, entitled Crofting in the 21st Century, was gathered from a total of 42 crofts, including six in Orkney.

Reduced livestock prices and cuts in subsidies are blamed for a threat to the whole crofting way of life because of growing losses, or negative income, as it is described in the report.

But those surveyed indicated that they would still be reluctant to stop their involvement in crofting, with most saying that they could not envisage circumstances in which they would actually give up their croft.

The production of Orkney’s own wine has taken a step closer with members of the Orkney Area Licensing Board granting a provisional off-sale licence for the new business.

There were problems issuing the licence as building work was still ongoing at the business premises on Holm Road, but members heard that they could grant a provisional licence despite this. When the work is complete proprietor, Mr Emile van Schayk, can then apply for a “finalisation” through delegated power.

The wine-maker hopes to produce around 60 different varieties of organic wine. Members agreed to grant the provisional off-sale licence.

Dr Heddle, a native of Orkney, took up the post last month and will be drawing on his online working and consultancy experience to further e-business in Orkney.

For further information on e-commerce, contact Orkney Enterprise on 874638 or e-mail steven.heddle@hient.co.uk

The Pomona Restaurant in Finstown was officially shut down on Friday - the first time Orkney Area Licensing Board have ordered such an action in 25 years.

It means that owner Mrs Wilma Hutchison will not be allowed to open the premises for the duration of the existing public house licence - January 2004 - without first reapplying to the board.

The restaurant itself has not been trading since 2000, with Mrs Hutchison claiming a dispute over who held the title deeds to the property.