News / In brief for 6 May 2010
Election shock
PRIMARY pupils in Shetland have upset the local political landscape by voting in the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) in their own election day special.
On Wednesday the pupils researched the five parties’ policies and appointed a leader for each one, who gave one minute speeches to their peers followed by a vote.
UKIP polled 14 votes, followed by Labour with 10 votes, the SNP with nine votes, the Liberal Democrats with five votes and the Conservatives with two votes.
Teachers said the children had very much enjoyed the activity which had spurred on their interest in the real election. “They are very interested to find out whether the actual votes cast on Thursday will match the class’s results,” one said.
Elections results
RESULTS from the general election in Orkney and Shetland will be available
almost immediately following the official announcement, through a one-off Facebook page being created by Orkney Islands Council’s election team.
To visit the page, which goes live on Thursday, people can go the council’s homepage at www.orkney.gov.uk and click on the Facebook icon, though viewers will require a Facebook account to view the results.
For those without a Facebook account, the election results will also be available shortly after the official announcement on Orkney Islands Council’s website.
New head up north
A NEW head teacher to jointly manage Mossbank and Olnafirth primary schools is about to start work in Shetland.
Patricia Brown, currently working in Fife, has experience as a depute head and has been acting head teacher in Edinburgh. She has also experience of working on the island of Arran.
Mrs Brown considers that she is “fulfilling an ambition” to work in Shetland, having wanted to come and work here for a number of years. The two schools have a combined roll of 69 pupils, along with a nursery and day care service.
Business network
A NEW business network to allow new firms to exchange experiences and common opportunities is being launched by Shetland Islands Council this month.
A first of its kind for the isles, the Shetland New Business Network will seek to connect anyone wanting to or has recently started a business to get together on an informal basis to help each other.
SIC business adviser Jeff Gaskell said: “This is an opportunity to hear about and learn from the experiences of local entrepreneurs, find out about support available for new and recent start business and hopefully be inspired to take the plunge themselves.”
The first evening is at 7pm on 27 may at Islesburgh Community Centre, where two local entrepreneurs and Inverness based business mentor Andy Maxtone will give presentations.
Anyone wishing to attend the evening is asked to visit www.new-business-shetland.co.uk to register their email address.
Large print
SHETLAND library launched its large print telephone directory for islanders with sight problems on Wednesday.
Library manager Silvija Crook said that many people had been asking when the new large print directory would be available.
It can now be obtained through local health centres, the library and library vans and the housebound service. Directories can also be posted to Foula, Fetlar, Fair Isle, Papa Stour and Skerries.
Stolen buckets
SHETLAND police are looking for two digger buckets which were stolen from Lerwick’s North Road between 30 April and 4 May.
One of the buckets is 12 inches wide and weighs 25kgs, while the other bucket is 48 inches and weighs 50kgs.
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