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Following a fantastic response to the Orkney Matters – Your Place, Your Future consultation, it’s time to move on to the next stage of virtual community meetings.

Eleven sessions are planned covering all areas of Orkney, kicking off at 7pm on Monday 10 January with Flotta, Graemsay, Hoy and Walls. Community Councils, Development Trusts and other community groups will be invited to participate, and members of the public can attend too. To book a place email communitycouncils@orkney.gov.uk with which meeting you would like to attend and your email contact to be used.

Stromness flagstone works will restart on Tuesday 11 January 2022.

Roads staff will be starting on Victoria Street at Argo’s Bakery, working towards Victoria Street/Church Road junction which will mean Victoria Street will be closed from The Pier Bistro to Church Road. The works here are expected to take around one week, weather dependant.

Despite a continuous spread in COVID-19 across Orkney throughout the festive period and into the new year, nurseries, schools and the college were able to reopen in full on the first day of term, Wednesday 5 January.

A number of staff and pupils were absent in relation to the virus across a handful of schools, however, there were no closures as a result.

As a young boy, Graham Campbell would stand and watch the boats of varying shapes and sizes come and go from Kirkwall pier; wet, salty air filling his lungs, giving him a lifelong love and respect for the sea.

He watched in awe when the lifeboat was launched, listening in as his elders spoke of those in distress. Despite his youth, Graham knew then that he would like to be one of those brave volunteers heading out to sea to try and help those in peril.

A road worker who helped maintain the highways in almost all areas of Orkney at some point during his 42-year career with the Council has retired.

Stevie Inkster, from Rousay – where he has worked for most of the four plus decades – received an OIC plaque and gifts from colleagues, Roy Foubister, Jim Leask and Billy Allan recently to mark the occasion.

An online ceremony is set to recognise and celebrate sporting excellence in 2022 — after organisers decided to postpone the Orkney Sports Awards.

Heather Taylor began as a relief Home Carer around 15 years ago, becoming contracted two years later and she loves her job.

As you can see here, she put in a bit of extra effort over the festivities when visiting her service users.

Motorists in Kirkwall have been asked to remove their cars from the Ayre Road car park and Kirkwall harbour area as soon as possible this afternoon (3 January) as the Council puts in place flood barriers to protect against poor weather conditions late tonight and into tomorrow.

Moving into your first home is a rite of passage for us all as we reach adulthood – but it’s one that is not without its challenges and overwhelming moments.

Orkney Islands Council is reminding local users of sports and leisure services that some changes will be coming into place at facilities across Orkney (including The Pickaquoy Centre) from December 27th due to recent Government announcements around Covid restrictions.