News / In brief for 7 October 2010
Dead mother named
Police have named the 42 year old woman whose body was recovered from the beneath the cliffs at Sumburgh Head as Susan Beattie, from Virkie, a married mother with two children
Birdwatchers raised the alarm on Sunday afternoon and a full search and rescue operation was activated involving the coastguard and Lerwick lifeboat.
Consultation ends
SHETLAND Islands Council has local people that the consultation on the closure of the secondary departments of Skerries and Scalloway schools and the relocation of Lerwick’s Anderson High School end on 10 October.
The education authority has held five public meetings and received 222 written responses to their consultation, 51 about the AHS, 47 about Skerries and 124 about Scalloway.
SIC head of schools Helen Budge said: “With the consultation period due to close, I would encourage anyone who wants to make their views known, to use this opportunity.”
Response forms can be found at www.shetland.gov.uk. Alternatively people can email blueprintforeducation@shetland.gov.uk, or newandersonhighschoolconsultation@shetland.gov.uk or send a letter to Hayfield House, Hayfield Lane, Lerwick
Stormy Weather
A CHILDREN’S book described as “my love letter to Shetland” by author Debi Gliori has been shortlisted for the Royal Mail Prize for Scottish Children’s Books.
Stormy Weather was written for children under seven after Gliori’s 2007 writer’s residency in Shetland, run by Shetland Arts.
The author said: “Stormy Weather is my love letter to Shetland. It is my lullaby for the children I met, a love song to the sea-wrapped landscape I walked and a heartfelt thank you to the people of Shetland for making me so welcome and so very much at home.”
The deadline for voting is the 28th January 2011, and people can vote at http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/royalmailawards
Climate action
SHETLANDERS are being invited to take part in an international day of action on climate change on Sunday 10/10/10.
More than 7,000 events are taking place in 183 countries that day, and in Shetland there will be a family walk around Black Gaet with local naturalist Jonathan Swale highlighting the importance of peat bogs as carbon sinks and wildlife habitats, starting at 2.30pm at the clay pigeon range car park and lasting two hours.
Shetland Community Bike Project will hold free bike maintenance courses on Tuesday 12 October from 7-9pm at their Commercial Road premises.
Pupils from Bressay and Sound primary schools will plant seeds which will eventually grow into trees at the Clickimin Loch community woodland this week as part of a carbon capture project.
Carbon reduction officer Harriet Bolt said: “Around the world everything from tree planting, solar panel installations and even low carbon weddings are being planned. We hope that Shetlanders will be inspired to get involved and join us on one of our activities.”
More information is available from Harriet Bolt on 01595 694688 and booking is required for the walk and the bike courses.
Flu jabs
NHS Shetland is urging elderly people aged over 65 and anyone else considered at high risk of catching flu to take up the offer of a free seasonal flu jab.
Many GP Practices are running special flu vaccination clinics, including ‘flu fairs’ at Clickimin Leisure Complex on 12 October and 2 November.
Drop in flu clinics are also being held in Brae on 2 and 4 November for people whose surname is A to L, and on 9 and 11 November for M to Z.
In Scalloway there will be clinics on 20,23, 27 and 30 October and 3 November.
People should contact their own health centre with any questions about the vaccination campaign, appointments and clinics.
This year’s jab will include protection against swine flu (H1N1), which is expected to be one of the main viruses this winter. All pregnant women are being advised to have this jab.
Lollipop contest
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott is urging Shetland primary schools to nominate someone for the Kwik Fit Insurance Lollipop Person of the Year campaign, which raises the importance of school crossing patrols.
Last year’s competition attracted more than 19,000 entries, but it also pointed out the danger of children running across the road without looking.
Mr Scott said: “This campaign highlights the important role our lollipop people play in our community and I’d encourage the Shetland schools that have a lollipop lady or gentleman to take this opportunity to shout about that.
”Roads are becoming increasingly busy and as long as children walk to school we absolutely have to recognise the vital job carried out by lollipop people in helping pupils safely across the road.”
Nominations close on November 19 and more information and entry details can be found at www.bestlollipop.co.uk
New Total contract
FRENCH oil giant Total have signed another contract to extend their exploration work west of Shetland on the back of their plans to pipe gas from the Laggan/Tormore fields to Sullom Voe.
On Wednesday Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA announced they had signed a deal worth almost £1 million to provided 3D electromagnetic data in the north Atlantic frontier region.
The company said they would be employed to “de-risk” a hydrocarbon prospect using the Siem Mollie vessel they have chartered until 21 October.
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