Thorfinn's opening goal in their Orkney Cheese 'A' League match against Dounby.

The Orkney Cheese 'A' League leaders Rovers were beaten by 4-1 on Saturday night by Hotspurs and in the other match, which was being played a the same time, Thorfinn beat Dounby by 4-0.

The result of this is that both Hotspurs and Thorfinn finish on 34 points, meaning that there will be a play-off to decide the winner of the league.

Rovers miss out as, after losing on Saturday night, they finished on 33 points.

James Linklater goes over to open Orkney's scoring in today's match against Ross High RFC.

Orkney Rugby Club's National Division Three campaign got of to the best possible start at Pickaquoy on Saturday afternoon.

In a match in which Orkney were always on top, they scored six tries, two conversions, one penalty and a drop goal, to Ross High RFC's two converted tries and a penalty, giving Orkney a winning margin of 40-17.

Orkney led by 22-3 at half-time.

John Kemp, Draper - one of Orkney’s longest surviving family run businesses - has been put up for sale.

The business, which celebrated its 100th anniversary two years ago, is being sold as a going concern, according to Stuart Kemp.

He said this week: “My wife Mona and I are thinking of retirement in the near future. We are not closing and will continue to run as normal until we, hopefully, find a buyer.”

The sale of the business, on 28 Albert Street, Kirkwall, is being handled by Drever & Heddle, and is advertised in this week’s The Orcadian.

Police in Orkney are reminding tractor drivers that it is against the law to carry non-farming related goods - unless they hold an operators licence.

They say they have received a number of reports and are warning people that they will be monitoring the situation.

Drivers may be reported to the procurator fiscal if found to be in breach of the regulations.

The appeal against a planning refusal to create a shooting ground in Orphir has been granted for the second time, after the case was brought back to islands councillors.

The Orkney Clay Pigeon Club’s original application, to create a clay pigeon shooting ground, construct a car park and erect a clubhouse and shooting equipment at Ramsdale, Orphir, was refused by planning officials in November, 2009.

Then, on February 19, an appeal was granted by the local review committee and the application was referred to the Scottish Government, who found that a regulation regarding interested parties had not been met by OIC.

Two mid-19th century Orkney chairs went under the hammer at a London auction house last Friday, both selling for prices over and above their estimates.

With predicted sale prices of between £1,200 and £1,800 each, the chairs, which were put to auction by Diana Mitchell from Nairn, sold for nearly £6,000 between them.

Listed in the online catalogue as "scarce mid-19th century pine framed hooded Orkney chairs or heided stools", one of the chairs sold for £3,120 and the other for £2,760, both inclusive of the buyer's premium.

The Blue Crusader which vanished without trace off Orkney in 1965.

An Aberdeen trawler which vanished in mountainous seas off Orkney 45 years ago - with the loss of 13 crew - is the latest discovery by a team of Orkney wreck researchers and divers.

Like so many other tragic maritime stories, it was deduced that the Aberdeen trawler, Blue Crusader, had been “suddenly overwhelmed by the sea” somewhere off Ronaldsay Firth on a stormy January night in 1965.

Nothing further was found, until a few weeks ago, when Stromness-based wreck researcher, Kevin Heath, passed on some information to dive boat operator, John Thornton, and experienced diver, Barry White.

They, along with several divers from Aberdeen, believe they have now located the wreck in Orkney waters, although they are not revealing the location.

Kevin Heath, who has been instrumental in the solving of a number of wreck site mysteries, said: “This is a really poignant one - it has been missing for 45 years, so it is really good to lay this one to rest.”

Orkney councillors have given their backing to a proposed “memorandum of understanding” (MOU) between the Crown Estate and the local authorities of the Highlands and Islands.

It is hoped this will assist the Crown Estate in negotiations with offshore energy developers in obtaining community benefit payments in the future - similar to the financial benefits gained when oil arrived in Orkney.

The MOU will be overseen by a supervisory group, made up of the conveners of the seven local authorities - Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, Highland, Moray, North Ayrshire and Argyll & Bute - the chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Crown Estate’s Scottish Commissioner.

Mephedrone is "the drug of choice" among young drug takers in Orkney, according to Chief Constable, Ian Latimer.

In a report to the Northern Joint Police Board, Mr Latimer said several people were thought to have become unwell after taking the drug, but had not sought help, and a man in his early 20s was hospitalised due to muscular and kidney problems associated with use of the drug.

This, Mr Latimer said, led to NHS Orkney issuing a warning about the dangers of mephedrone, which is also known as M-CAT, Bubbles and Meow Meow.

The Holland America liner Eurodam called into Orkney on Monday delivering the county’s 500,000th cruise ship passenger since official records began in the early 1980s.

With just under 2,100 passengers on board, the liner berthed at Hatston pier at 8am.

Almost 1,000 passengers went off on tour from Hatston while independent passengers were tendered in to the centre of Kirkwall to shop and savour local hospitality.

Orkney continues to be Scotland’s most popular cruise ship destination with on average 72 port calls annually carrying 30,000 passengers and 10,000 crew.

The cruise industry provides over £2.5 million annually to the Orkney economy.

It may be something of a first, but the world's largest and most powerful tidal turbine has been placed on its subsea berth over the course of just seven days.

Atlantis Resources Corporation has successfully deployed the AK1000 tidal turbine, in 35 metres of water at the European Marine Energy Centre.

The installation follows the turbine unveiling ceremony, in Invergordon on August 12.

After the event, Atlantis, in conjunction with Hallin Marine, mobilised the 22.5 metre tall, 1,300 tonne structure on to the vessel, the Skandi Skolten, to be taken to Orkney.

Once here, it took just seven days to install the gravity base structure, over 1,000 tonnes of ballast blocks and finally, the turbine nacelle, complete with its twin set of 18 metre diameter rotors.

An Audi car and a male pedestrian were involved in an accident on the A961 Kirkwall to St Margaret's Hope road at the Northfield Junction, Burray, at about 8.15pm on Monday.

The male was taken by ambulance to hospital.

His injuries are described as not life threatening.

The Waterside Restaurant in Finstown has been given the EatScotland award.

The EatScotland food grading scheme, operated by Visit Scotland, assesses the presentation, quality and service of food in eating establishments across Scotland.

During a "secret" visit the restaurant was specifically marked on the quality of food, service and cleanliness.

The Waterside Restaurant is owned by Northern Isles Restaurants who operate a number of businesses across Orkney and Shetland.

The Norwegian registered Second Alert with four crew on board made it safely into KIrkwall on Monday night after experiencing engine problems while en route to Peterhead.

A coastguard spokesman said the sailing boat had been driven away in the wind, and with a broken engine, the skipper had decided to head for Kirkwall.

Orkney Islands Council launched its first blog on Monday, giving people the chance to have their say on ways to achieve major savings over the next three years.

As it prepares for a big cut in funding from Government, the Council is asking the public to join the Tough Times - Tough Choices debate.

The blog, available on OIC’s website, marks the start of a wide ranging engagement process over potential budget cuts. Responses will be published on the website.

People can also e-mail their views to toughtimes@orkney.gov.uk, or write to Tough Times, Orkney Islands Council, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY.

Dr Tony Trickett, Lord-Lieutenant of Orkney, has appointed two new Deputy Lieutenants - Rosie Wallace from Tankerness and Sue McArthur from Sanday.

A car, parked in the Warrenfield Drive area of Kirkwall, was damaged on the afternoon of Sunday, August 22.

Coping stones from a wall in the Willows area of Kirkwall were knocked of a wall at around 2.05am on Sunday morning.

Anyone with any information on either of the incidents is asked to contact Kirkwall Police Station on 872241.