News Highlights
Posted on March 9, 2010 at 2:19 pm by ken in News
The teams have arrived in Antigonish for the 2010 CIS Women’s Hockey Championship at St. F-X University. The teams were formally introduced at a news conference today at the Charles V. Keating Centre. There are lot of new faces in the X-Women line-up with 10 first year players. St. F-X Head Coach Dave Synishin says that youth brings a lot of energy to their game. Synishin says he likes the position the X-Women find themselves at this championship.
Tonight, all six teams will gather for the C-I-S awards banquet. Play starts tomorrow, with two time defending championship McGill facing Montreal and Wilfrid Laurier tangling with Alberta. The St. F-X plays its first game Friday night.
March 10, 2010 Signs Stolen in Arichat area
Richmond County R-C-M-P are looking for someone who has taken a number of signs in the area. Police say last weekend about 60 signs were stolen from the Isle Madame A-T-V Riders Trails in the Arichat and West Arichat areas. So far no arrests have been made. So far, no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Richmond County R-C-M-P or Crimestoppers.
March 10, 2010 Empire Company Earnings up in Q3
Profits are up for Stellarton-based Empire Company. Empire is reporting third quarter earnings of 68.3 million dollars in the third quarter. That’s up from 64.8 million during the same period last year. Total revenue was up one per cent at 3.84 billion dollars. Company President and C-E-O Paul Sobey says it was another solid quarter. He points out its improving financial condition is due to the strong earnings performance of the Sobeys grocery chain. Sobeys’ third quarter net earnings totalled 63.5 million dollars, up 18 per cent from a year ago
March 10, 2010 Sustainability Plan Approved
Inverness County Council has adopted an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan. Adoption of the plan is required for receiving federal excise tax revenue under an agreement between the the federal and provincial governments. Warden Duart MacAulay says the document includes long-range infrastructure plans for the future, but there’s more than that.
Duart MacAulay
MacAulay says report also deals with how the county can assist the volunteer sector.
March 10, 2010 Festival Antigonish fund-raiser Planned
Festival Antigonish is putting the finishing touches on preparations for its latest fund-raiser, a salute to the golden age of British Radio Comedies in the 1950’s and ‘60’s. The production, called “Is this thing On?”, features two transplanted Brits, actor Jeremy Webb and Festival Antigonish Artistic Producer Ed Thomason. Thomason says the production will re-create comedy skits from such British radio shows as “The Goon Show”, “Hancock’s Half Hour” and “Round the Horne”. Thomason says those radio shows were very special.
“Is This Thing On?” plays for two nights at the Bauer this week. Thursday night will be a special gala event. An Encore performance will be held the following night, on Friday. Show time on both nights is 8 o’clock.
March 9, 2010 Chittick case ajdourned
A 24-year-old Halifax man facing charges related to a New Year’s Eve party in Antigonish where a 25-year-old man died appeared briefly in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Antigonish Tuesday morning. Jullian Frederick Chittick was in court to set dates for his trial, but that’s been delayed. He returns to court March 25th. Chittick remains in custody. Chittick earlier elected to be tried by Supreme Court Justice alone. Chittick faces eight charges including weapons related offences, uttering threats, assault with a weapon and breach of a recognizance. None of the charges against Chittick relate to the man who died at the party, Jonathan Beaton of Southside Harbour.
March 9, 2010 Men Fined for Illegal Duck Hunting
Two Cape Breton Men have been fined for illegal duck hunting. Joseph Allan Sampson of Samson’s Cove and Travis John Forgeron of West Arichat have been fined 15-hundred dollars each for exceeding the daily bag limit and an additional 15-hundred-dollars each for using lead shot to hunt a migratory game bird. Both men pleaded guilty to the charges in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court.
March 9, 2010 Call Centre Laying Off Staff
The Aditya Birla Minacs call centre in Port Hawkesbury is laying off staff. The executive director of the company’s Eastern Canadian operations, Andrew Clarke says about 94 employees are being let go at the call centre, about half the staff who currently work at the centre. The layoffs become effective at the end of April. Clarke says the layoff is due to changes made by one of its clients.
Clarke says the company remains committed to its Port Hawkesbury operation. Clarke says Aditya Birla Minacs is working hard to get the call centre back to its optimal level.
March 9, 2010 Boudreau concerned about Biosphere Proposal
Inverness County Councillor Daniel Boudreau is speaking out about a proposal to designate the Bras D’or Lakes watershed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Boudreau read a 33 page letter at yesterday’s council meeting, outlining his opposition to the proposal. In his letter, Boudreau says he fears the creation of a biosphere will only bring hardships to the residents living within its boundaries. He also worries it will bring an end to the mining industry, an end to the forestry industry as we know it, the elimination of oil and gas exploration both inland and along coastal waters and the eventual phase-out of the commercial fishery in the Bras D’or Lakes. Speaking to reporters later, Boudreau says he’s concerned politicians are being asked to vote on these proposals without understanding the ramifications.
Inverness County Council turned down a request to support the Bras D’or Lake Biosphere proposal in September, 2008.
March 9, 2010 St. Mary’s Education Centre to Close
St. Mary’s Education Centre in Sherbrooke is closing. At a special meeting in Sherbrooke last night, the Strait Regional School Board voted 8-to-3 in favour of closing the primary to grade 7 school and creating a renovated primary-to-grade 12 school at nearby St. Mary’s Academy. A common complaint expressed by parents like Danny Kirk was that the board was voting to close one school without presenting a detailed plan of what the new institution would be able to offer to students.
Prior the vote, the school board and staff took questions for 3 hours from over 150 concerned parents, students, former board members, teachers, an RCMP constable and David Clark, the Warden of the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s. Guysborough-Sheet Harbour M-L-A Jim Boudreau also addressed the audience. The atmosphere was emotionally charged but largely respectful.
March 9, 2010 Inverness County Residents still concerned about Coyotes
Residents of Inverness County are still worried about the possible threat of being attacked by coyotes. Some are considering arming themselves before walking into the woods. Inverness County Councillor Gloria LeBlanc, who represents the Margaree area says she’s been asked by constituents whether its legal to use a B-B gun in the woods for protection, if they’ve taken a hunter safety course. LeBlanc says she can understand why people are concerned.
LeBlanc says the county has an old by-law which makes the use of pellet guns illegal. However, its unclear whether the by-law was ever enacted. Council has referred the issue to its policy committee for further study.
March 8, 2010 RCMP nab Impaired Drivers in Richmond County
Two Drivers in Richmond County are facing charges of impaired driving. The RCMP says a male was arrested in Louisdale on Sunday after refusing a breathalyzer test. The RCMP say the man faces charges of impaired driving, prohibited driving, and breach of probation. He was held in custody and overnight and released on conditions. Meanwhile, Richmond County RCMP say a female driver is facing charges of impaired driving by drugs and refusal to provide a breath sample to a Drug Recognition Expert. The RCMP say the woman was also wanted in connection with a separate investigation by the Cape Breton Regional Police. She was taken into custody and handed over to the Cape Breton Regional Police Monday morning. The RCMP in Richmond County says they also issued a number of tickets over the weekend for other Motor Vehicle Act violations, including two charges of Driving with suspended license.
March 8, 2010 RCMP Look For Leads in Mabou Break-in
Inverness R-C-M-P are still trying to solve a break-in that occurred in Mabou last month. Police say the incident was reported on February 18th at a secure building at 5189 Highway 252. Taken were Mastercraft drills, ratchets, Bridgestone tires with rims, an electric impact wrench, drive sockets and other drill bits. A black or blue Chevrolet industrial van was seen parked at the garage the night before the incident. Anyone with information on this break-in is asked to contact the Inverness R-C-M-P or CrimeStoppers.
March 8, 2010 RCMP Investigate Margaree Break-In
Inverness R-C-M-P are investigating a break-in at the Ingraham’s Irving in Margaree on Saturday morning. Police say sometime between midnight and 7 a.m, someone broke into the business and stole a large quantity of cigarettes and lottery tickets. The value of the haul is estimated at more than five thousand dollars. So far no arrests have been made.
March 8, 2010 Two Vehicle Crash Sunday near Addington Forks Intersection
Antigonish R-C-M-P say they’re investigating the cause of a two vehicle collision early Sunday afternoon on Highway 104. Police say the crash occurred just past exit 31-A, the Addington Forks intersection. Investigators say a west bound vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic. Emergency Medical Services and Fire Rescue personnel were called to the scene. The driver of the east bound car was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Highway 104 was closed for a short period while the damaged cars were removed. R-C-M-P says the weather was clear and road conditions were not a factor in the crash. However, officers believe alcohol was a factor.
March 8, 2010 RCMP investigate Antigonish Car Theft
Antigonish R-C-M-P are investigating the theft of a car early yesterday morning. Police say a 2003 Green Ford Focus was stolen, bearing Nova Scotia license plate E-P-R 369. An Acadian Flag license plate was mounted on the front of the car. Anyone if any information about the theft is asked to contact the Antigonish R-C-M-P or Crimestoppers.
March 8, 2010 Local Artists Win at ECMA’s
Artists with connections to Northeastern Nova Scotia picked up trophies at Sunday’s East Coast Music Awards in Sydney. They include Kim Wempe, who won the Rising Star Recording of the year award for “Where I need to Be”; and Andrea Beaton won the Instrumental Recording of the year for “Branches”. Other winners include Dawn and Margie Breton, who took the Roots/Traditional Recording of the year for “Taste of Gaelic” and Jamie Sparks for R & B/Soul single track Recording for the remix “All I need”. The Rankin Family was also presented with the Director’s Special Achievement Award.
March 5, 2010 Kenya Commissioner visits St.F.X
The High Commissioner of Kenya was on the campus of St. F. X today to extend an invitation to students who are preparing to travel to East African nation. His excellency Simon Nabukwesi will be on hand this evening to present a group of St. F. X. Education students with visa’s to travel to Kenya. The students will spend 6 weeks teaching at a public high school in Kenyan capital of Nairobi. Nabukwesi says the experience and culture will change their perceptions of the African nation.
Simon Nabukwesi
Nabukwesi says he was also taking the time to promote the relationship between Canada and Kenya, especially in the areas of education, noting that the Kenyan model is based on Canada’s Education system.
March 5, 2010 Antigonish County Appeals Ruling
The County of Antigonish is launching an appeal after the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia found in favour of Alva Construction in a case brought forward by the Municipality. The County of Antigonish claimed that in November of 2007 Alva Construction trucked demolition debris outside of the county rather than take it to the Municipality’s Beech Hill Facility and pay the required tipping fees. Alva Construction admitted in an agreed upon Statement of Facts that the material was taken out of the County.. However, in a decision handed down in early January, Supreme Court Justice Nick Scaravelli found the remedy for the County existed solely in charging the company under it’s own municipal by-laws, which it failed to do before a 6-month time limit expired. Scaravelli’s decision also required the County of Antigonish to pay 750-dollars to Alva Construction to cover the company’s legal fees in the case. The County’s appeal of the decision will be heard on June 9th.
March 5, 2010 Blandford Appeals Conviction
A former Strait Regional School Board teacher found guilty of sexual assault last year is appealing his conviction. David Paul Blandford of Antigonish was found guilty by a Provincial Court Judge in September. In November, Blandford received a conditional discharge. If Blandford satisfies all the conditions of his sentence he will be left without a criminal record. The charge is in connection with an incident alleged to have occurred on October 5, 2007 at Tamarac Education Centre in Port Hawkesbury. Blandford was a gym teacher at the school at the time. A female student at the school testified at the trial last year that Blandford slapped her on the buttocks as she walked by him at the conclusion of gym class. Blandford denied the event took place at his trial. The appeal is scheduled to be heard next Thursday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Sydney.
March 4, 2010 Judique Native Signs NHL Deal
Lost but not forgotten in the frenzy of the Olympic Games and the NHL’s trade deadline day, Cape Breton native Andrew MacDonald has signed a four-year-extension with the New York Islanders. The 23-year-old from Judique was recalled from the Islanders AHL affiliate in Bridgeport in early November . Since his promotion, MacDonald has played in 39 games with the NHL club, scoring 1 goal and adding 5 assists. MacDonald was a sixth round pick of the Islanders back in 2006 after a junior career that began with Truro Bearcats of the Maritime Junior Hockey League.
March 5, 2010 Thornton named CIS all Canadian
A member of the St. F-X Volleyball X-Women is a C-I-S all-Canadian. Second year Arts Student Catherine Thornton was named to the
Catherine Thornton
C-I-S First Team, during yesterday’s C-I-S women’s Volleyball Awards at the national championships in Edmonton. Thornton, the A-U-S most valuable player this season, led the X-Women to the A-U-S final this year. The X-Women lost to Saint Mary’s in the league final.
March 4, 2010 St. FX Students win Regional Competition
A group St. F-X University students has won a regional team business competition. The University’s Students in Free Enterprise team has
Members of the St. FX Students in Free Enterprise Team
been named the Atlantic Green Challenge Champion at a contest in Halifax organized by the non-profit organization Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship. At the event, the teams make a live presentation on their project to a judging panel of business professionals. The Project Manager of the St. F-X team, Maura Casey, says their winning entry involved educating fellow university students about the benefits of composting.
The St. F-X team beat out entries from four other Atlantic Universities to win the green competition. They now advance to the national competition, to be held May 11th in Calgary.
March 4, 2010 Loans for Child Care Centres
Forty-five child care centres are getting about 1.3 million dollars in funding from the province to help repair or renovate their facilities. The loans can be used for upgrades such as new windows, installing accessibility ramps and adding energy-efficient furnaces. Each day care is eligible for a 75 per cent forgivable loan and can either pay the remaining 25 per cent or apply for a low-interest repayable loan from the province. Commercial centres are eligible for a 25 per cent forgivable loan. They can pay the remaining 75 per cent, use third-party funding, or apply for a low-interest repayable loan from the department. In Northeastern Nova Scotia, there’s one centre that will receive support, the Lower South River Pre-School Society in St. Andrews, Antigonish County. The province is providing more than 12-thousand dollars in funding.
March 4, 2010 Hit and Run accident Investigation in Port Hawkesbury
Port Hawkesbury R-C-M-P are seeking the public’s help in solving a hit-and-run accident that occurred last Thursday. Police say a grey Chevrolet Silverado parked near Shoppers Drug Mart was struck by an unknown vehicle. The Silverado sustained significant damage. There are no known witnesses to the incident. If you have any information on the incident, your’re asked to contact the Port Hawkesbury R-C-M-P or Crimestoppers.
March 4, 2010 Review to Proceed on four Schools
The Strait Regional School Board is moving ahead with a review process for three schools facing possible closure. Over 50 concerned parents and members of the school communities packed the chamber room as the School Board voted 9-to-2 in favour of continuing the review process for Canso Academy; and voted 6-to-5 in favour of continuing the process for both H.M. MacDonald Elementary in Maryvale and the Rev. H.J. MacDonald Elementary in Heatherton. Superintendent Jack Beaton says the school board has to follow provincial legislation and make the best use of its resources.
Beaton says Impact Assessments on the potential closure of the three schools will be completed before the end of May. A final decision on the closure of a fourth school nearing the end of the review process, St. Mary’s Education Centre, will be made on Monday at a special meeting of the School Board in Sherbrooke.
March 4, 2010 CUPE contract signing on Monday
The Strait Regional School Board will officially endorse a new 5 year agreement with its unionized support staff on Monday. The deal with the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 955 covers 420 staff members within the School Board. Superintendent Jack Beaton says the agreement means continuing stability in the services those employees provide for students.
The official signing will take place at 2pm on Monday at the Mulgrave Professional Development Centre
March 4, 2010 New Glasgow Make Arrest in Theft
New Glasgow Police say an arrest has been made in connection with a theft at Sobeys in the east side of town early Wednesday night. Police say store security pursued a suspect from the building. Police say during an altercation, the suspect displayed a weapon then fled. Police officers and members of its Major Crime Section tracked down the suspect at his home on Egerton Street in New Glasgow a few moments later. The New Glasgow Police department’s major crime section and emergency response unit and the Pictou County Street Crime Unit searched the home early this morning and arrested a 39-year-old man from New Glasgow. The man will appear in New Glasgow Provincial Court Thursday morning and will be charged with Robbery, Breach of Probation and Breach of an undertaking.
March 4, 2010 Johnson traded to Oilers
Port Hawkesbury native Aaron Johnson is now a part of hockey history, involved in the first ever trade between Alberta’s two N-H-L teams. Johnson, a defenceman who logged 22 games with the the Calgary Flames this season, was shipped to the Edmonton Oilers for fellow defencemen Steve Staios. The Oilers also get a third round pick from Calgary in the deal. Johnson was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2001, and has also played for the Chicago Black Hawks and the New York Islanders.
March 3, 2010 Panthers Training Camp not Coming
The N-H-L’s Florida Panthers won’t be coming back to the town of Port Hawkesbury for their training camp this fall. Mayor Billy Joe MacLean says the town has been working for the past four to six months to raise the money needed to attract the Panthers back to the area in September. MacLean says it came up well short of the 100 to 150-thousand dollars to make the project work. MacLean says although it won’t happen this year, the town remains open to hosting a training camp again.
MacLean says Enterprise Cape Breton had agreed to put up its share to bring the Panthers to Port Hawkesbury, but it was difficult to secure funding from the province.
March 3, 2010 X-Men Knock off Varsity Reds
The St. F-X X-Men are getting a much needed rest after knocking off the reigning C-I-S Champions, the U-N-B Varsity Reds. The X-Men completed a series sweep of the Varsity Reds Tuesday night, with a 3-2 victory, winning the best of five A-U-S semi-final 3-0. Head Coach Brad Peddle says his players bought into the game plan the coaching staff developed to beat the Varsity Reds.
The X-Men will face rival Saint Mary’s Huskies, who advanced to the A-U-S final Wednesday night, after beating the Acadia Axemen 9-2, to win their best of 5 series 3-1. The A-U-S final will start next week, but no dates have been set yet.
March 3, 2010 Tentative Deal Ratified by St. F-X Faculty
There’s word St. F-X University’s faculty have ratified a tentative agreement with the post-secondary institution. While there’s been no official comment from either the union or the administration, news of the ratification is coming from other sources. The Canadian Association of University Business Officers, an organization representing administrators and financial officers at universities across the country, indicates on its web site the deal has been ratified by St. F-X University and its union. The web site says it’s a three year agreement for full-time faculty, contract faculty, laboratory instructors, and clinical associates. The deal, retroactive to last July expires at the end of June, 2012. The university and the faculty union, the St. Francis Xavier Association of University Teachers reached a tentative agreement last month. Union President David Lynes could not be reached for comment. University officials have referred any questions about employee ratification to the union.
March 3, 2010 R-C-M-P investigate Paint Ball Vandalism and ATV Theft
Richmond County R-C-M-P are looking for someone who is shooting paint balls at local buildings. Police say earlier this week, someone fired paint ball pellets on the front of Sharon’s store in Louisdale, leaving the front of the building covered in blue paint. Investigators say the incident happened sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning. Police say several other homes and a car in the area were also hit with paint balls around the same time. R-C-M-P are also investigating the theft of an all-terrain vehicle in the French Cove area, near St. Peter’s. It’s a yellow 2002 Honda 30 E-X Racer. No arrests have been made in either case. Anyone with information on either incident is asked to contact the Richmond County R-C-M-P or Crimestoppers.
March 2, 2010 Mulgrave looks to control Dog Complaints
There’s still no law and order for dogs in the Town of Mulgrave. There’s been an increase in canine related complaints in Mulgrave but the town no longer employs anyone to police the animals. Mayor Marnie Simmons says they have approached the animal control officer in Port Hawkesbury about the possibility of adding unruly dogs from the other side of the causeway to his duties.
The issue first came before council last month where Simmons said that in the past there wasn’t enough for an animal control officer to do in Mulgrave to justify retaining the position.
March 2, 2010 Mulgrave Looking for a New Garbage Truck
There may soon be a new multi-use garbage truck making curb side stops in Mulgrave. The Town of Mulgrave has been forced to rent a garbage truck from Port Hawkesbury since their own truck broke down three weeks ago. Town Council voted to go ahead with issuing a conditional tender for a new garbage truck at a meeting last night. Mayor Marnie Simmons says the tender will officially be issued once a second inspection confirms that their current truck is beyond repair.
Marnie Simmons-Garbage Truck
Simmons says the tender will require Mulgrave’s new garbage truck to also have the ability to serve as a snow plow and salting vehicle.
March 2, 2010 Eastern Counties Libraries looking for recent books
The Eastern Counties Regional Library is hoping to update its shelves with recent and popular books and D-V-D’s in the coming weeks. The library’s acting C-E-O, Lesley Carruthers says it’s embarking on a book and D-V-D drive, which starts Monday and runs until April 22nd, Earth Day. Carruthers says the idea of the drive came out of a recent visit to the Mulgrave Library by one of their patrons Joanne Schmidt of Port Hood in conversation with library assistant Joyce Oliver-Snair.
For this campaign, the library asks that donated books must be published no later than 2007. Books can be dropped off at local libraries and library link sites, and branches of the East Coast Credit Union, the Acadian Credit Union in Cheticamp and Galloping Cows Fine Foods in Port Hood.
March 2, 2010 Mulgrave to Remain a Town
The Town of Mulgrave will remain a Town for the foreseeable future. Town council voted Monday night to delay the creation of a Citizens Task Force on the future of the municipality. The Citizens Task Force was one of the key recommendations of a Governance Study conducted last year. The Town began advertising in February for three Mulgrave residents to join two town councillors in the formation of a Task Force to investigate the possibility of merging with the municipality of the district of Guysborough. Mayor Marnie Simmons says only one resident expressed an interest in joining the Task Force. Simmons says many residents were left disillusioned by a Governance Study that didn’t provide enough information.
Simmons says council will revisit the idea of creating a Citizens Task Force in June.
March 2, 2010 Mulgrave To Talk To Province About Rising Water Rates
The Town of Mulgrave is planning to make their voices heard in Halifax before the Town’s water rates skyrocket next month. The rates, which are set by the province’s Utility and Review Board, will rise to 800-dollars a year per household in April. The U-A-R-B is hiking the water rates to pay for government mandated upgrades to Mulgrave’s Water Treatment Facility. In some cases, residents will be paying more for water than they pay in municipal taxes. Deputy Mayor Ralph Hadley and Councillor Elaine Durling raised the issue at a Town Council meeting last night. Both councillors suggested it was time to take a more aggressive approach since the province has yet to address the issue. Durling says Mulgrave has to take the fight to provincial politicians until someone listens.
Mayor Marnie Simmons says she plans on contacting both premier Darryl Dexter and Guysborough-Sheet Harbour M-L-A Jim Boudreau in the coming days.
March 2, 2010 New Jail Not Coming to Mulgrave
The Mayor of Mulgrave is resigned to the fact that her town is not on the radar as a possible site for the province’s new correctional facility. Mayor Marnie Simmons says she tried to sell Mulgrave as a suitable site for the new jail to Justice Minister Ross Landry
The province is building a new 100-cell facility to replace two aging jails in Antigonish and Amherst. Justice Minister Ross Landry told a meeting with municipal leaders from the Town and County of Antigonish in mid-February that a decision on the location would be made within 2-to-3 weeks.
March 2, 2010 Mulgrave Looking at Programs for Local Youth
The Mayor of Mulgrave wants to give young people in her town something to do. One idea being floated is turning the former Visitor Information Centre on Mulgrave’s waterfront into a Youth Centre. Mayor Marnie Simmons says she’s met with local members of the RCMP who share her enthusiasm for the idea.
Simmons says another possibility is borrowing or renting rowing skiffs and holding rowing classes on the Strait of Canso during the summer months.
March 1, 2010 Fordham pleads not guilty
A 19-year-old man charged in connection with a New Year’s Eve party in Antigonish where a Southside Harbour man died made a brief court appearance Monday. Christopher David Fordham of Antigonish pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. He faces two counts each of attempted murder and assault causing bodily harm, and one count of aggravated assault. He’s elected to be tried by Supreme Court Judge and Jury. Fordham will be back in court in two weeks, on March 15th, to set a date for a preliminary inquiry. Fordham remains in custody until then. None of the charges against Fordham are in connection with man who died at the party, 25-year-old Jonathan Beaton
March 1, 2010 Northern Pulp gets funding
The province has anno unced it’s loaning Pictou County’s Northern Pulp 75-million dollars to help the mill purchase 475-thousand acres of land. The land purchase, from Neenah Paper, will give additional supply to the mill at Abercrombie Point. Northern Pulp supports about 17-hundred high paying rural jobs in northern and central Nova Scotia. The province will also invest 16.5 million dollars to purchase 55-thousand acres of the land Northern Pulp is buying, most of which is slated for protection in Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou, Halifax, Hants and Guysborough Counties. The province says its investment will also allow Northern Pulp to spend five million dollars to reduce odour in the community surrounding the mill. The announcement was made this morning by Economic and Rural Development Minister Percy Paris and Natural Resources Minister John McDonnell.
March 1, 2010 Charges laid from Rollover Accident
Antigonish R-C-M-P say charges have been laid following a single vehicle rollover accident Sunday afternoon on Highway Four near Monastery. Police say the driver and the lone occupant of the car was arrested at the scene, and charged with impaired driving. The 18-year-old man was held in custody overnight and released. He’ll appear in court on April 14th.
March 1, 2010 Drugs Seized in Antigonish
There’s been a drug bust in the Town of Antigonish. Members of the R-C-M-P’s Antigonish/Guysborough Street Crime Enforcement Unit searched a home on MacLellan Street, and seized a quantity of ecstacy and marijuana. Two men were arrested inside the home. One man is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance.
February 26, 2010 RDA releases Economic Impact Assessments
The Antigonish Regional Development Authority has released its economic assessment for three events that were held in the area during 2009. The R-D-A has analyzed the economic impact of the 2009 Allie MacDonald Hockey School, the 2009 Nova Scotia Golf Association’s Men’s Senior Open and the Kamatsu 300 race at the Riverside International Speedway last September. The Allie MacDonald Hockey School was found to have brought a net increase of nearly 300-thousand-dollars in economic activity to the local area; the Men’s Senior Open Golf tournament was found to have brought a net increase in local economic activity of over 40-thousand-dollars; while the Katmatsu 300 race in mid-September was found to have brought a net increase in economic activity of almost half-a-million-dollars to the local area. Shannon MacIntyre, a development officer with the R-D-A, says the purpose of these assessments is to gain a better understanding of the positive economic impact these events have in Antigonish. MacIntyre says it’s exciting that the community now has proof of what these events are doing for the community as a whole.
February 26, 2010 Delaney’s campaign surpasses initial goal
An Antigonish County woman has exceeded her initial target to raise 25-thousand dollars to battle childhood cancer. Suzanne Delaney will be part of a cycling team of more than 30 riders that’s crossing the country in September for the Coast to Coast Foundation Against Cancer. Her most recent fund-raising event was a dinner two weeks ago in St. Andrews. That event raised more than 10-thousand dollars. That brings the total raised so far at just under 34-thousand dollars. Delaney, a teacher at St. Andrews Consolidated school and a personal trainer at Nubody’s in Antigonish says she had a lot of help in organizing the dinner.
All the money she raises will go to the I-W-K Children’s Hospital in Halifax.
February 26, 2010 Theft in Mackdale
Port Hawkesbury R-C-M-P are asking for assistance of the public in solving a theft case. Police sometime between Tuesday and Thursday, someone stole seven spans of copper wire from a Nova Scotia Power station in Mackdale. Anyone with information on this theft can contact their local R-C-M-P detachment or crimestoppers.
February 25, 2010 Antigonish RCMP Busy
The RCMP’s Traffic Services handed out 26 tickets Wednesday in the County of Antigonish after conducting an initiative cracking down seatbelt compliance and cell phone use while driving. From 8am to 3pm along highway 104 on Wednesday the RCMP handed out 12 tickets for failure to wear a seatbelt and 14 tickets for operating a cell phone while driving. Police say a number of warning were also issued for various offenses. The tickets carry a fine of 167-dollars and a loss of 2 points on a drivers license for not wearing a seatbelt. The Antigonish RCMP say they will be conducting this type of enforcement periodically over the coming summer.
February 25, 2010 Tributes paid to former M-L-A and Inverness Warden Charlie MacArthur
Tributes are pouring in for former Inverness North Liberal M-L-A and Inverness County Warden Charlie MacArthur. MacArthur died Wednesday at the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital. MacArthur was the warden of Inverness before he was elected to the legislature in 1988. He remained in provincial politics for ten years. Manning MacDonald, the Liberal M-L-A for Cape Breton South who served with MacArthur in the Government of John Savage, says MacArthur was one of the truly great rural politicians of his time.
MacArthur’s funeral will be Saturday Morning at the Stella Maris Church in Inverness
February 25, 2010 Keltic Project Shelved
Keltic Petrochemicals’ proposed 4.5 billion dollar development in Goldboro, Guysborough County has been put on hold. The company has told the district of Guysborough it won’t renew an option on a parcel of municipally owned industrial land for the project. Warden Lloyd Hines says company officials informed the municipality last week of their decision.
Keltic has had an option on the property for about six years. The shelving of the Keltic project doesn’t affect the proposed 700-million dollar Maple L-N-G plant, that’s to be located nearby.
February 25, 2010 Chamber concerned about Jail’s Future
The president of the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce is concerned about the possible loss of the jail in the town. Phil Hughes says should the jail be built elsewhere, that would mean the loss of 22 jobs in the area. The province indicated it plans to build one jail in Northern Nova Scotia to replace two aging facilities in Amherst and Antigonish. Hughes, in his report to the chamber’s annual general meeting says having a new jail in Antigonish was a done deal until after last June’s election. Hughes says what he’s been hearing from the province concerns him.
Phil Hughes-Jail
Hughes says if Antigonish is not the site for the jail, it will be done for a political reason, not a cost-saving decision.
February 25, 2010 Antigonish Chamber President Pleased with First Year
The President of the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce feels a lot has been accomplished during his first year at the helm. Phil Hughes says one of his goals when he took over as president of the chamber was to establish better lines of communication with both the town and county of Antigonish. Hughes says that’s worked out very well.
Hughes says another goal of his was to find out how the chamber can best serve the business community. A questionnaire was sent out to members to get their input. Results of the questionnaire are being processed.
February 25, 2010 Antigonish Chamber executive chosen
The Antigonish Chamber of Commerce has chosen its executive for the coming year. Carolyn Grant who was the chamber’s secretary the past 12 months, becomes vice-president; while Robena Stewart, who was a director, takes over Grant’s old job as secretary. Ron Sangster, who also served this past year as a director on the chamber board, assumes the role as Treasurer, succeeding Neil Scribner. Joining the board as directors are Joe MacDonald, Madonna MacDonald, Rose Boudreau and Chris Smith. Marilyn Dugas has agreed to serve another term as a director on the chamber board. They’ll join President Phil Hughes and directors Rose O’Connor and David Tellum, who are entering the second year of their two year terms. The chamber board was elected at the group’s annual meeting last night.
February 24, 2010 Wempe’s Music Well Received in Vancouver
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks for East Coast Artists entertaining at the Vancouver Olympics. Among the Nova Scotia-based artists at the games is Kim Wempe, who was on a plane to Vancouver just hours after performing at a Valentine’s Day gig at St. F-X University. Wempe is a regular at Atlantic Canada House, one of the more popular pavilions at the games. Wempe says her music has been well received.
There won’t be much rest for Wempe after the Olympics, as her next destination will be the East Coast Music Awards, where she is nominated for two awards.
February 24, 2010 Preliminary Inquiry Date Set
A preliminary inquiry will be held in August for a former Antigonish businessman charged with fraud over five thousand dollars. The date of August 24th for the preliminary inquiry of Michael Thomas Keefe was set in Antigonish Provincial Court this morning. Keefe earlier elected to be tried by Supreme Court Judge and Jury. The 48-year-old Keefe was charged by police last August. The former Sears manager is accused of defrauding the company.
February 24, 2010 Chamber of Commerce AGM tonight
The Antigonish Chamber of Commerce will hold their Annual General Meeting tonight at St. Ninian Place. Pierre Battah of New Brunswick’s Evolution Consulting Group is the A-G-M’s Guest Speaker. Battah is a specialist in human resource management and is expected to address the challenges of employee recruitment and retention for small business in rural settings. Prior to the reception and dinner scheduled for 6-thirty and 7′o’clock, the Chamber’s official Annual General Meeting will takes place at 5-forty-five. Chamber members will be voting for the election of next years executive and board of directors. Phil Hughes of the Antigonish Golf and Country Club is expected to stay on as Chamber President while Carolyn Grant of Bergengren is nominated for Vice President; Robena Stewart of the Antigonish Career Resource Centre is up for Secretary; and Ron Sangster of Sangster and Associates Financial Service is nominated for Treasurer. Tickets for the reception and dinner are 60-dollars for Chamber members or 70-dollars for non-members.
February 24, 2010 New Phone System at St. Martha’s
St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish is upgrading its telephone system and switchboard. The current system, where most 
callers can dial directly to access staff and services in the hospital is being replaced by automation. The Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority’s Vice-President of Operations, David MacKenzie, says under the change, most calls to the hospital will go through either 867-4500 or 863-2830. Under the automated system, callers will be prompted to enter the extension of the person they want to reach or dial zero to speak to the switchboard for assistance. The current phone system is 20 years old and is essentially obsolete. The inability to add new phone lines and the lack of technical support prompted the hospital to install the computerized system.
February 24, 2010 Field Group Encouraged with Meetings
The head of a citizens group that’s lobbying for an upgrade of sports fields in the Antigonish Area says he remains optimistic about the project, following meetings with federal and provincial representatives. Last week, the steering committee of the Antigonish Town and County Recreation Association met with Central Nova M-P Peter MacKay and Provincial Health Minister Maureen MacDonald. Association Chair Danny Berry says both levels of government are impressed with the community commitment to the project. Berry says the association is now asking for 500-thousand dollars each from the federal and provincial government, down from their original proposal of 945-thousand apiece for a three phase project.
With both the federal and provincial governments planning to bring down budgets soon, Berry is hopeful they will get an answer on their requests by mid-April.
February 23, 2010 Major Bantam Hockey Franchise Granted
Major Bantam Hockey is coming to Port Hawkesbury and Antigonish next fall. The Nova Jr X-Men will be one of 12 franchises in the newly created Nova Scotia Major Bantam Hockey League. The winning bid was a collaboration between the ST. F. X X-Men Hockey Program and the towns of Antigonish and Port Hawkesbury. Nova Construction stepped forward to be the major sponsor of the new franchise. The Nova Jr X-Men will play out of the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre and the Keating Centre in Antigonish.
February 22, 2010 Recreation Funding announced
The federal government, through the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, is investing more than 1.8-million-dollars in recreation projects. The funding was announced by Central Nova M-P Peter MacKay on Friday. Through the federal government’s Economic Action Plan, the funding covers one-third of the cost of each project. Projects receiving funding include; over 41-thousand-dollars for upgrades to the baseball field and playground at the L’Ardoise Adult Recreation Centre; over 40-thousand-dollars for improvements to the soccer field, playground, and landscaping at the Felix Marchand Education Centre in Louisdale; 37-thousand-dollars for building and playground upgrades at Camp Rankin in St.Peter’s; nearly 55-thousand-dollars for upgrades to recreational infrastructure at SAREC, Dalbrea Academy, and the Tamarac Education Centre; 75-thousand-dollar for a new ice surface and building upgrades at the Strait Area Curling Club in Port Hawkesbury; 118-thousand-dollars toward Arena improvements at the Dr. Bernie MacLean Cultural and Recreational Centre in Inverness; 14-thousand-dollars for improvements to the playground and baseball field at the South West Margaree Recreation Centre; 20-thousand dollars to the Chapel Island Band Council for upgradesto a tennis court, installation of basketball nets, and upgrading of a walking trail and a running track; and 173-thousand-dollars for a new soccer pitch and upgrades of outdoor sports facilities at the St. Peter’s and Area Lions Club.
February 23, 2010 Arrest made in Wagmatcook Assault
A Baddeck man is due in court Tuesday after an assault in Wagmatcook over the weekend. The Baddeck RCMP say they responded to an assault on Humes Rear Road in Wagmatcook on Sunday. Police say the victim had allegedly been dragged out of the back seat of a car, kicked in the head multiple times and rendered unconscious. The RCMP say the victim sustained serious head injuries and was taken to Victoria County Memorial Hospital before being transferred to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney. After an investigation, the RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence on Old Margaree Road in Baddeck on Monday. An Adult male was arrested for Aggravated Assault and Assault Causing Bodily Harm.
February 22, 2010 Home Gutted by Fire in Havre Boucher
Two people have been left homeless after a fire destroyed their house in Havre Boucher Monday morning. The Red Cross says the fire at the home on Highway 4 in Havre Boucher was first reported around midnight. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Red Cross volunteers have assisted the couple with personal-care items, food, and clothing and couple are staying with relatives for now.
February 22, 2010 Canso to remain a town, for now
The town of Canso has put the brakes on a possible merger with the district of Guysborough. Council’s Committee of the Whole has now decided to defer an earlier motion recommending the town file an application to amalgamate with the Utility and Review Board. That recommendation was to have been voted on by town council tonight. Mayor Frank Fraser says councillors want to talk to Service Nova Scotia Minister Ramona Jennex and its solicitor in Antigonish first before proceeding further.
There’s no word on when the matter might come before council again. Discussion about Canso’s future as a town was raised by municipal leaders after it received projections the town will post a 136-thousand dollar deficit in the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
February 22, 2010 Whycocomagh Sailor in Haiti
A Whycocomagh man serving in Haiti says Canada’s mission to the earth quake ravaged country has been tough but rewarding. Petty Officer Glenn Fee is serving on the HMCS Athabaskan off the coast of the hard hit coastal town of Leogane. Fee says the Athabaskan can’t dock in the destroyed port so crew rotate going ashore once every four or five days. Fee says their focus has been on providing clean drinking water, medical care and shelter for orphans.
Fee says Canadians are providing children from the orphanages with basic medical care they’ve never had before. Fee and his wife from Inverness currently reside in Timberlea, Nova Scotia.
February 22, 2010 Pictou County RCMP Step Up Enforcement
Pictou County R-C-M-P were busy Sunday, issuing tickets to a number of motorists for driving related offences. Sunday’s stepped-up enforcement saw 14 people charged with failing to wear a seat belt, another three were charged with failing to obey a stop sign, one was cited with driving with an expired inspection sticker and four were ticketed for driving while talking on a cell phone. The stepped up enforcement was conducted using an unmarked police car, where a uniformed officer in plain sight would radio ahead to R-C-M-P members in marked cruisers
February 19, 2010 Richards and Dunkoh Convicted
A Provincial Court Judge has found a former and a current member of the St. F-X Men’s Basketball Team guilty on a single count each of assault causing bodily harm. Judge John Embree handed down his verdict this morning in the case of a 23-year-old Tyler Richards of Dartmouth, a former A-U-S all-star; and 20-year-old William Donkoh of Nepean, Ontario; a current member of the team. Embree found Richards not guilty on a second charge of threatening to use a knife while committing an assault. Richards and Donkoh were charged after a man was punched and kicked on James Street in Antigonish last February. The victim testified he required 15 to 18 stitches to close a cut above his eye. Richards and Donkoh will be sentenced on April 21st. A third man charged in the case, former X-Men Basketball player Eamon Morrissy of Halifax pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced in January to six months of house arrest and placed on probation for one year.
February 18, 2010 Antigonish Man Facing Child Pornography Charges
The RCMP say a 50-year-old Town of Antigonish resident is facing Child Pornography charges. The Antigonish RCMP say a four month investigation into possession and distribution of child Pornography resulted in the execution of a search warrant at a residence in Antigonish on Tuesday. Police say an extensive library of images and videos were seized from the residence. 50-year-old Antigonish resident Donald Douglas Fraser is facing charges of Possession of Child Pornography and Making Child Pornography Available on the Internet. Fraser will appear in Antigonish Provincial court on June 16th to answer to the charges
February 18, 2010 NewPage posts loss, but cautiously optimistic
It’s been a tough year financially for the parent company of NewPage Port Hawkesbury. Ohio-based NewPage Corporation is reporting it ended the 2009 fiscal year with a 308 million dollar loss. That includes a 133 million dollar charge for debt refinancing in the third quarter. In 2008, NewPage was 117 million dollars in the red. The company also reported net sales were down 29 per cent to 3.1 billion dollars. Company Chairman Mark Suwyn says the market was very challenging in 2009 with overall industry shipment of coated papers, used in catalogues and flyers, off 20 per cent. Suwyn says with an uncertain economic future, print advertisers were ordering less paper. Suwyn says however, it appears print advertising is in the early stages of recovery, with some rebound in orders in the past couple of months.
February 17, 2010 Police believe Lamb is out of Nova Scotia
Antigonish R-C-M-P believe the man wanted in the New Year’s Eve killing of an Antigonish County male is no longer in the province. Two
Robert Harrris Lamb
weeks ago, police charged 20-year-old Robert Harris Lamb of Dartmouth with second degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of 25-year-old Jonathan Beaton of Southside Harbour. A Canada-wide warrant has also been issued for Lamb’s arrest. Antigonish R-C-M-P Staff Sergeant Tony Perry says information it’s gathered suggests Lamb has left Nova Scotia. There are no leads on where Lamb might be. Anyone with information on Lamb’s whereabouts are asked to contact the Antigonish R-C-M-P or Crimestoppers. Meantime, another man charged in the case 19-year-old Christopher David Fordham of Antigonish, made a brief court appearance Tuesday, He was scheduled to enter a plea to the charges and elect his mode of trial, but that was adjourned until March 1st. Fordham is charged with two counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and two counts of assault causing bodily harm. None of the charges against Fordham are in connection with Beaton’s death.
February 17, 2010 No for an alternate Jail location-Warden Delorey
Antigonish County Warden Herb Delorey says there are no plans to present the province with an alternate location in Antigonish for a new correctional facility. In a registered letter addressed to Warden Delorey, local M-L-A Moe Smith suggested Ross Landry, the province’s Justice Minister, was open to hearing Antigonish present a more suitable location than the proposed site at Addington Forks. In the letter, Smith says another location in Antigonish Town or County that wouldn’t require road construction and had sewer and water systems readily available would make the community’s bid for the jail more competitive. Warden Herb Delorey says prior to the election last June, the province studied the issue and settled on Addington Forks as the ideal site.
Delorey says lower tax rates in Antigonish County would cost the province half of what the property tax bill would be in some of the other counties vying for the new jail. Delorey says the Justice Minister told a recent meeting with representatives of the Town and County of Antigonish and the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce that a decision on the location for the new jail would be made in the next two-to-three weeks.
February 17, 2010 County Wind Project Re-zoning approved
The McArras Brook and Brown’s Mountain Area of Antigonish County will soon be the site of 14 new wind turbines. After a public hearing held Tuesday night, Antigonish County Council passed a motion to re-zone portions of nine properties in the area as Wind Resource Zones. The zoning makes it possible for Shear Wind Incorporated to move ahead with a plan to construct a 30 turbine wind farm in the area with 14 turbines located in Antigonish County and 16 turbines in Pictou County. Shear Wind’s Chief Operating Officer, Ian Tillard, says the project will create over 70 jobs during the construction phase and between 17-and-25 full and part time jobs once the project is operational.
Tillard says work clearing sites for the turbines and constructing access roads is already underway. Tillard say the project should be completed and producing power by the end of year.
February 17, 2010 Library Boards asking Province to Reconsider Cuts
The County of Antigonish and the President of the Library Boards Association of Nova Scotia are asking the province to reconsider funding cuts to the province’s libraries. County Council passed a motion at a meeting last night to send a letter to Education Minister Marilyn More asking the province to continue paying for internet service in the province’s libraries. The County is also asking the province to reconsider a decision not to pay travel costs for library staff to attend meetings. County Councillor Mary MacLellan, who was appointed President of the Library Boards of Nova Scotia last October, says the measures would cut 78-hundred-dollars in funding for travel and 21-thousand-dollars in internet costs for the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library Board.
The Town of Antigonish passed a similar motion to send a letter in support of library funding to Service Nova Scotia Minister Romona Jennex on Monday.
February 16, 2010 Rural Leadership Development Program Graduates
St. F-X University’s Extension Department celebrated the graduation of 19 community leaders from a new pilot program over the weekend . The graduates, from Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough, Inverness and Richmond Counties, were enrolled in the department’s Rural Leadership Development Program. The department’s interim director, Phil Davison, says one of the purposes of the program was to identify and develop their leadership skills
Davison says the extension department received some funding from the province to offer the pilot program. Davison is hopeful to eventually offer the program permanently.
February 16, 2010 Emerging Talent Being Showcased
Eleven emerging young entertainers are getting a chance to showcase their talent in the lead up to the East Coast Music Awards in Sydney. Under the E-C-M-A’s Soundwaves program, these new artists will open for an established east coast artists at concerts being held across Cape Breton. The first show was held yesterday at Inverness County’s We’koqma’q Mi’kmaw School. 17-year-old Dylan Googoo, a student at the school, opened for Aaron MacDonald. Googoo says he was happy with his performance.
Dylan Googoo
A final competition will be held March 3rd. Three winners will be chosen, and will perform as the opening acts in an E-C-M-A show the following night at the Savoy Theatre. They will also record one original track for an upcoming compilation CD being produced by Cape Breton University.
February 16, 2010 New Jail/announcement expected soon
We should soon know the site of the province’s new correctional facility. Representatives of the town and county of Antigonish and the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce met with Justice Minister Ross Landry and local M-L-A Moe Smith last week. The municipal and business officials say in a joint release they were told that to expect an announcement on the new correctional facility’s location within several weeks. The new 100-cell jail will replace two aging correctional centres in Antigonish and Amherst. It’s expected to cost 31.3 million dollars and create up to 70 jobs. The joint release from the chamber and the two municipalities points out the previous Tory government had already investigated a number of sites in Antigonish that would be suitable for a jail and identified their preferred location on land the province already owns. County Warden Herb Delorey says based on the work that’s already been done, the province should proceed with building the jail in Antigonish.
February 16, 2010 Bulk Item Pick-Up Approved
The Town of Antigonish is carrying through with a plan to provide Bulk Item Waste Pick-Ups twice a year. A motion to hold the twice annual Bulky Item Pick-Up passed at a Town Council meeting last night. Chair of the Town’s Waste Management Committee, Jack MacPherson, says the large item pick ups will take place on the regular 3 days of waste collection during weeks in mid-April and mid-October.
The only items not permitted for the pick up are hazardous materials and items from construction and demolition projects.
February 16, 2010 Boucher named Volunteer of the Year
The Town of Antigonish has nominated Laurie Boucher for the provincial Volunteer of the Year Award. Councillor Donnie MacInnis presented a motion to nominate Boucher for the award at a town Council Meeting last night. MacInnis says the nomination means Boucher will go to the Annual Provincial Volunteer Awards Ceremony this spring.
The 36th Annual Volunteer Awards Ceremony takes place on April 12th in Halifax.
February 16, 2010 Break-In at Canteen
Inverness R-C-M-P have solved a case involving a hungry thief. On Friday, police received a report of a break-in at the Inverness Arena canteen. No money was stolen, but a significant quantity of snacks and concession items were taken. Yesterday, officers arrested and charged a young person with break and enter in connection with the case. R-C-M-P are continuing their investigation.
February 16, 2010 Tax increase coming in Antigonish
Residents in the Town of Antigonish can expect a slight tax increase next year. Town council has already begun it’s budget deliberations for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Mayor Carl Chisholm says he expects a small tax increase similar to last year’s hike where residential rates rose by 3-cents per 100-dollars of assessment.
Chisholm says even with a projected increase in rates, Antigonish will still boast one of the lowest municipal tax rates in the province.
February 16, 2010 Town to Assist with Flooding Issue
The Town of Antigonish says it’s ready to do its part to fix a flooding problem in an Antigonish neighborhood. The Town commissioned the Horner Group, an engineering firm, to conduct a study of the flooding problem that’s plagued parts of Whidden Street, Centennial Drive, and Archibald Court. Mayor Carl Chisholm says the Horner group presented their recommendations at joint meeting with the Whidden Street – Antigonish Flood Citizens Committee last Thursday.
At a council meeting in December the Citizens Committee reported that their neighborhood has suffered from 60 flood occurrences that have caused over a million-and-half-dollars in damage since 1999.
February 16, 2010 Town asks province to reconsider Library Funding Reduction
The Town of Antigonish is urging the province to reconsider a decision to reduce library funding. Town council passed a motion at a meeting last night to send a letter to Service Nova Scotia Minister, Romona Jennex, asking her department to reverse a decision to stop paying the cost of internet services in the province’s libraries. Mayor Carl Chisholm says the town also voiced their concerns to the minister in person last week.
Chisholm says the Town had an informative and constructive meeting with Jennex on a range of issues. The minister met separately with representatives of the Town and County of Antigonish, along with members of the Guysborough District Municipality and the District of St. Mary’s at the Antigonish County Municipal Building last Friday.
February 16, 2010 Canal Bridge Construction Coming
The construction of the new Canal Bridge at the east end of Main Street in Antigonish is expected to get underway this spring. The Tender to construct the bridge closes tomorrow after the bidding period was extended by a week. Mayor Carl Chisholm says four bids have been submitted for the project.
Chisholm says planning for the construction phase has made retaining access to the hospital a priority. However, Chisholm says residents can expect some traffic congestion in the area once construction is underway.
February 16, 2010 RCMP Sherbrooke Requests Assistance
The Sherbooke Office of the RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance after a break and enter at a residence in the Caledonia area of Guysborough County. Police say three separate building were broken into and a sofa, chair and a mattress were stolen. The RCMP say the theft took place sometime between January 26th and February 6th. The Sherbrooke RCMP are also asking for the public’s help after someone did considerable damage to a vehicle parked at the Sable Gas Plant in Goldboro on the night of January 15th. Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact Crimestoppers or the Guysborough detachment of the RCMP
February 15, 2010 Crime – Dead Dog Investigation
The Guysborough County RCMP are investigating the disappearance and death of a dog in Ecum Secum. The Sherbrooke office of the RCMP say a Wheaton Terrier/Chow Mix by the name of ‘dusty’ went missing from his home on highway 7 in Ecum Secum . Police say the owner later found the dog’s remains in the woods behind his house on Friday. The RCMP say the dog had been wrapped and buried in the ground. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers or the Sherbrooke office of the RCMP.
February 15, 2010 Impaired Driving charges laid
The Antigonish RCMP apprehended yet another impaired driver over the weekend. A 22-year-old Antigonish County man faces charges of impaired driving after being stopped by police early Sunday morning. The man will appear in Antigonish Provincial Court on February 22nd to answer to the charges. The Antigonish RCMP say this is the ninth person they’ve apprehended for impaired driving since the beginning of 2010.
February 15, 2010 Seaside Communications Nearing Completion on Rural Internet
A Seaside Communications official says it’s project to provide wireless internet to residents of Northeastern Nova Scotia is about 95 per cent complete. Spokesman Adam Conter says in the past 24 months it’s built more than 165 structures, and have about 20 to go. Both Seaside and Eastlink, the two companies the province retained to provide rural internet to Nova Scotians were supposed to have completed the job by the end of December. Conter says for Seaside, it’s run into some challenges, which prevented the company from finishing by the target date.
Conter says the company’s goal is to be 100 per cent complete sometime this summer.
February 15, 2010 PHAST Swim team excels at Provincial Juniors
Members of the Port Hawkesbury Antigonish Swim Team won double honours at the Junior Provincial Short Course Championships over
Members of the Port Hawkesbury Antigonish Swim Team, named best small team and best over team at the Nova Scotia Junior Provincial Short Course Championship in Shearwater. Members of the team are: Front Row: Anna Hart, Laura Burns, Camryn Doucet, Tasha Silver. Back Row: Jacqueline McDonald, Alanna Connors, Coach Rob Allen, Rebecca Kennedy, Shannon England
the weekend in Shearwater. The eight swimmers won top honours as best small team and best overall team at the event. The squads 12-hundred and 51 points was first among all teams. All eight swimmers medalled at the championship, including Cameron Doucet, who won gold in the 100 metre backstroke, while Shannon England won gold in the 100 and 200 metre backstroke. The team also won gold in the freestyle and medley relays. The next meets for the swim team will be February 28th, with a Novice event in Port Hawkesbury, while the seniors travel to the Atlantic East Coast Championship in P-E-I in early March.
February 15, 2010 Men’s University Hockey Playoffs set
The pairings have been set in the A-U-S playoffs in men’s hockey. The St. F-X X-Men will meet U-P-E-I in the best of 3 A-U-S quarter finals. Game one will be played Wednesday at U-P-E-I. Game Two will be played Friday at the Charles V. Keating Centre in Antigonish on at 7. If a third game is needed it will be played Sunday afternoon in Charlottetown. Playoff tickets go on sale this afternoon at one. The other quarter final sees Saint Mary’s playing Moncton. The opening game of the best of three will be played Wednesday in Halifax.
February 15, 2010 Volleyball Playoffs announced
The schedule’s set for the A-U-S Women’s Volleyball championships at Saint Mary’s next weekend. St. F-X enters the tournament as the top seed and have earned a bye into the semi-finals. They’ll play the lowest remaining seed from the quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon. Host Saint Mary’s also has a bye into the semi finals. Other teams at the A-U-S championship are Acadia, Dalhousie, U-N-B and Cape Breton.
Febraury 15, 2010 Dalbrae wins Cape Breton West Hockey League title
The Dalbrae Dragons have captured the Cape Breton West High school Hockey League Championship. Paddy MacDonald’s second goal of the game at 2:01 of the first overtime period lifted the Dragons to a 2-1 win over the Inverness Rebels. The three day tournament marked the end of the league season and the five teams now prepare for the N-S-S-A-F regional playdowns. In division three, the SAERC Saints plays the Cape Breton Highlands Academy Huskies in one best of three series, while Inverness squares off with the Richmond Hurricanes. The winners of those series advance to the provincials in Bridgewater, while the two losing teams will play off to determine the third team to advance. Dalbrae earns a bye to the division two provincials, as they are the hosting the tournament this year.
February 12, 2010 Subdivision Approval given in Guysborough
Guysborough District Municipality Council has given the green light for a subdivision near the community of Guysborough. At its regular meeting this week council agreed to re-zone a parcel of land intended for the subdivision from Commercial property to residential. The property is large enough accommodate about half a dozen building lots
February 12, 2010 Harbourview Fire Departments gets loan guarantee
Guysborough District Municipality Council has guaranteed a 150-thousand dollar loan by the Harbourview Fire Department. Warden Lloyd Hines says the move will help the fire department move ahead with building a sub station in Country Harbour. Hines says council is happy to support local fire departments with projects like this.
Lloyd Hines-Loan Guarantee
Council agreed to the loan guarantee at a meeting this week.
February 12, 2010 Recreation Funding announced
Three organizations in Northeastern Nova Scotia involved in community recreation activities will each receive a 12-thousand dollar grant under the province’s Lighthouses program. The program, from the Justice Department, helps community groups offer recreational, educational, cultural and life skills programs for youth. Justice Minister Ross Landry says it’s important to prevent crime before it happens and the grants will help youth get involved in after school recreational programs. Local groups receiving support include the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association; the Eastern Communities Youth Association in Canso and the Potlotek Youth Program at the Chapel Island First Nation. A total of 12 organizations across the province received funding.
February 12, 2010 MacLean given Honourable Title
The Mayor of Port Hawkesbury, Billy Joe MacLean, is now officially the Honourable Billy Joe MacLean. MacLean received a letter from Robert C. Fowler, Clerk of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. The letter states that Lieutenant Governor Mayann Francis, on the recommendation of Premier Darrell Dexter, has appointed MacLean an honourary member of the Executive Council for Nova Scotia. The appointment grants MacLean the use of “The Honourable” before his name or initials. MacLean is a former progressive conservative M-L-A for Inverness South and served as a provincial cabinet minister. MacLean was expelled from the legislature in 1986 for violating expense laws that were later deemed unconstitutional. In 1987, MacLean, running as an independent, won re-election in Inverness South, beating his Liberal opponent by 165 votes. MacLean was first elected as the Mayor of Port Hawkesbury back in 1993.
February 11, 2010 New CEO at NewPage
The parent company of NewPage Port Hawkesbury has named a new President and Chief Executive Officer. Ohio-based NewPage Corporation has announced the appointment of 54-year-old Tom Curley, who has served in a variety of leadership roles in four multinational companies. Prior to joining NewPage, Curley was president of the energy division of Rolls Royce. Curley replaces Rick Willett, who stepped down as President and C-E-O in January.
February 11, 2010 Deputy Mayor – New Glasgow
Town Councillor Ross Hamid has been appointed the Deputy Mayor of New Glasgow. Hamid was elected to sixth term in October of 2008 as the representative for Ward 3 in New Glasgow. This will be the fourth time Hamid has served as the town’s Deputy Mayor. Hamid was also elected to the Board of Directors of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities last November and is recipient of the UNSM’s 15-years of service award.
February 11, 2010 Warden on Canso’s future
The Warden of the Guysborough District Municipality says there’s not much he can offer as a response as the town of Canso ponders its future. Facing a potential 136-thousand dollar deficit during the next fiscal year, the town council will debate whether to accept a recommendation from its committee of the whole meeting to approach the Utility and Review Board on possible options for future governance. Guysborough Warden Lloyd Hines says its hasn’t received any information from either Canso or Mulgrave on what their future plans might be.
Lloyd Hines
Canso Town Council will discuss the Committee of the Whole resolution later this month.
February 11, 2010 Pool in Guysborough to go Solar
It looks the swimming pool in the community of Guysborough is going green. At its regular council meeting last night, Guysborough District Municipal Council has agreed to cover up to 20 per cent of the cost of installing solar panels that will be used to heat the pool up to maximum of 39-thousand 500 dollars. Warden Lloyd Hines says going solar will be a huge benefit for the pool.
Other partners expected to be involved are the school board and the province. Hines says the current costs of heating the pool will be recouped in three years after the units are installed
February 10, 2010 Trial dates to be set in March
A 24-year-old Halifax man facing charges related to a New Year’s Eve party in Antigonish where a 25-year-old man died appeared briefly in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Antigonish Wednesday. Jullian Frederick Chittick was in court to set dates for his trial, but that’s been delayed. Court was told disclosure of evidence between Crown and Defence lawyers has just been completed, and more time is needed to determine how many court days will be required for the trial. The matter has been adjourned until March 9th. Chittick remains in custody. Chittick earlier elected to be tried by Supreme Court Justice alone. Chittick faces eight charges including weapons related offences, uttering threats, assault with a weapon and breach of a recognizance. None of the charges against Chittick relate to the man who died at the party, Jonathan Beaton of Southside Harbour.
February 10, 2010 Guysborough Break-In
The RCMP in Guysborough County are investigating a break and enter at a seasonal home in Fox Island. Police say the break-in took place sometime in the past few months. The RCMP estimate over 25-hundred-dollars worth of property was stolen from the home. Taken from the residence were approximately 20 bottles of wine, 5 forty-ounce bottles of liquor, 20 small bottles of liquor, knives, an expensive pair of binoculars and a small amount of money. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Crime Stoppers or the Guysborough detachment of the RCMP.
February 9, 2010 Charges/Drug Bust
Two men are facing charges after police executed a search warrant in Westville on Monday night. The Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Unit says a large quantity of illegal tobacco and pre-packaged marijuana was found at a residence on Foley Street in Westville. A 46-year-old man and an 18-year-old man, both of Westville, were arrested at the scene. Police say the two men face a total of 11 charges including; possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of marijuana, and illegal tobacco charges relating to untaxed cigarettes. Both men will appear in New Glasgow Provincial Court in April to answer to the charges.
February, 9, 2010 Auditor General/Local and former MLA’s cited
Auditor General Jacques LaPointe’s detailed list of inappropriate and excessive expenditures by M-L-A’s has been released. The list, revealed by the Speaker’s office yesterday, includes some current and former M-L-A’s from Northeastern Nova Scotia. Among the inappropriate expenditures are Richmond M-L-A Michel Samson and former Guysborough-Sheet Harbour M-L-A Ron Chisholm for telephone or internet services claims above monthly allowances. Samson claimed 15-hundred and forty dollars from June, 2006 to July, 2009; while Chisholm sought reimbursements of 12-hundred and 74 dollars from February, 2007 to July, 2008. Chisholm also bought a G-P-S unit for 750 dollars. Others cited in the report included former Inverness M-L-A Rodney MacDonald, who claimed 32-hundred and 50 dollars for a projector screen and dress kit, and Pictou West M-L-A and Speaker Charlie Parker, who purchased a model boat office display for 790 dollars. Most M-L-A’s came forward prior to the release of the list yesterday, admitting the claims they had made.
February 8, 2010 Drug Charges/arrests
The Antigonish RCMP say a 19-year-old male was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking Sunday. Police say the suspect was arrested in his vehicle and a large quantity of marijuana and Canadian currency were seized. The suspect is due in Antigonish Provincial Court on April 21st to answer to the charges.
February 8, 2010 Wheelchair Ramp turned down
The Cape Breton Island Housing Authority has turned down the suggestion of building a wheelchair ramp at Green Acres, a seniors housing complex in the community of Inverness. In a letter to the Inverness County Municipality, director Joan McKeough says residents of the four apartments on the main floor must climb three stairs to reach the main entrance. McKeough says to build a ramp over the stairs would obstruct the doorways of three apartments. She adds the ramp would not meet building code standards. Council had approached the housing authority after a couple living at Green Acres asked for a ramp to make it easier for them to get into and out of the building. The housing authority has offered the couple another apartment.
February 5, 2010 Tree Nursery Response a concern: MacDonald
An Inverness County Councillor isn’t happy with a response the municipality received about Natural Resources Minister John McDonnell about funding for the Strathlorne Tree Nursery. Last April, the previous Conservative government pledged 1.14 million dollars over two years from its Community Development Trust Fund to explore long-term opportunities, invest in necessary upgrades and develop a program to employ seasonal workers. McDonnell replied in a letter to to the municipality130-thousand dollars was spent last year to maintain seasonal staff levels. McDonnell says the remainder of the funding is being re-assessed. Councillor Ned MacDonald says that’s a concern.
Ned MacDonald
Council hopes to arrange a meeting with the minister soon.
Coady History Portal
Posted on November 17, 2009 at 10:28 pm by devin in News
A portal into the history and archives of the Antigonish Movement and the Coady International Institute has been launched at St. F. X. The on-line journey chronicles the Coady Story in Antigonish, Canada, and around the World.
Visitors to the site can read the original founding documents, view hundreds of historic photographs, listen to digitized recordings of Dr. Moses Coady, and read Dr. Coady’s original manuscript of ‘Master’s of their Own Destiny’. Mary Coyle, the Director of the Coady International Institute, says their goal was to make the storied history of the Antigonish Movement and its founders accessible to all.
Anyone can access the over 14-hundred historical artifacts, recordings, and photographs by visiting the portal at coadyextension.stfx.ca. The official grand opening of the new Coady building and celebration of the Institute’s 50th anniversary was Saturday, September 26th.
