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March 4, 1999 – the day began just like any other.

Laura Torrance was a happy, bubbly 16-year-old with the world at her feet as she set off for school in East Kilbride that Thursday morning.

Little did Laura know that later that evening she would make a life-changing decision by getting into a car with a newly passed driver.

John McKenna was a young trainee fire fighter when he witnessed his first fatal road traffic incident – made all the more difficult as the victim was someone he knew.

John is Station Commander with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service here in Orkney and has attended numerous serious incidents during his 32 years’ service, sadly many of these have involved the loss of life.

He said: “One incident stands out more than the others for me, not only was it the first fatal road traffic incident I attended but the victim was someone who I knew. I was a trainee retained firefighter at the time in a small village community in central Scotland and I was part of a crew who attended a collision between a car and a motorcycle only a few hundred metres from the fire station.

Despite the passage of time, Paramedic Team Leader Ewan Hoggan isn’t ashamed to admit being overcome with emotion when recalling one life-changing call out.

Thinking of that day – and the young life lost through the actions of another – can still reduce Ewan to near tears.

With 20 years’ service, Ewan is currently on secondment in Orkney from his usual Falkirk base.

Orkney Islands Council is reminding local artists of a unique opportunity to create a COVID memorial in close collaboration with the Orkney community, as part of the national ‘Remembering Together’ programme.

Orkney Islands Council has launched a consultation on its proposed licensing scheme for short term lets.

Community councils across Orkney could all receive a community benefit payment from Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project if the project does ahead - after Councillors agreed the basics of a location-specific community benefit scheme at last week’s Policy and Resources Committee meeting.

For the period from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

Notice is hereby given under Regulation 9 (1) of the Local Authority Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2014 that:

Accounts for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

Notice is hereby given under Regulation 9 (1) of the Local Authority Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2014 that:

Stagecoach is the latest company to warmly welcome refugees into the county with the offer of free bus passes.

David Beaton, Managing Director for Stagecoach Highlands, said: “It’s hard to imagine the terrible experiences these people have been through. We're really proud to be playing our part in providing free bus passes to help these Ukrainian families settle into their new homes in Orkney."

The first to receive the passes are Olena Katsy and Natalia Simonova, pictured here with Stagecoach xxxxx and Keith Bendall Project Manager (Resettlement Schemes) on Thursday.

Orkney Islands Council’s Scapa Flow Museum has been shortlisted for a national industry award.