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NewPage Port Hawkesbury workers file claim in US bankruptcy court

ken — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:25:07 +0000

The union representing workers at NewPage Port Hawkesbury has filed a claim in bankruptcy court in Delaware seeking $168.2 million from the mill’s parent company. The claim from the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, Local 972 is for benefits, including severance and pensions. The claim was filed Tuesday. It’s part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the United States where all claimants had to until Friday to post a formal notice of what they calculate they are owned. Union spokesman Archie MacLachlan says the union isn’t optimistic about receiving a large sum of money at the end of the proceedings, because there are other secured creditors ahead of the workers. However, he adds it’s worth trying. The same process will be conducted in Canadian courts under Canadian bankruptcy law.

Another rally to protest limiting O-R hours at Inverness Hospital set for Feb. 12

ken — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:23:34 +0000

Another rally is being planned to protest reductions in operating room hours at the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital. Last month, the Cape Breton District Health Authority as part of an effort to cut costs, announced it would be limiting the O-R’s hours at the hospital to daytime hours on weekdays. That prompted a rally at the hospital on January 22nd. One of the organizers of the first protest, John MacDonald, says plans are being made for another rally on Sunday, February 12th at 2 p.m. MacDonald says the protest will begin with a march starting at the Service Canada Office.

Antigonish native takes over as Road Builders Association President

ken — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:24:07 +0000

The Nova Scotia Road Builders Association held its Annual General Meeting recently and installed a local representative in the position of President. Donald Chisholm of Nova Construction of Antigonish, replaced Ron Dunn of S W Weeks Construction, New Glasgow. Executive positons on the Nova Scotia Road Builders Association are a one year term and Chisholm will act as president of the organization until January, 2013.

Children’s advocate Craig Kielburger urges students to find a cause to support

ken — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:46:38 +0000

Well-known children’s advocate Craig Kielburger delivered an inspiring message during a keynote address at St. FX University Thursday night. Kielburger co-founded the international youth charity “Free the Children” in 1995 when he was just 12 years old, and co-founded the social enterprise “Me to We”. His speech is part of a two day Service Learning Workshop at St.FX. Kielburger, using his own personal experiences, shared some of the lessons he learned over the past 16 years. He urged urged the primarily student audience to find a cause to volunteer with.

Craig Kielbuger

Kielburger says more young people are needed to enact change.

Craig Kielburger–Change

Chris Stothart, a service learning student leader last year, says Kielburger’s presence will raise awareness about service learning.

Chris Stodhart

St. FX Students Union President Olwyn Foley says she’s excited about the potential impact of Kielburger’s message on campus.

Olwyn Foley

The workshop, “Creating Tomorrow’ s Leaders Today” , continues Friday at the St. FX University’s Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership with panel presentations.

Two Rivers Tunnel joins Shubenacadie Sam in predicting an early spring

ken — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:21:16 +0000

Another Nova Scotia Rodent has also chimed in with a prediction of an early spring. Two Rivers Tunnel emerged from his burrow at the Two Rivers Wildlife Park in Marion Bridge, Cape Breton at 11:22 this morning and did not see his shadow. The Park, operated by the Two Rivers Development Association, a not for profit group, will have activities throughout this Groundhog day. The Two Rivers Wildlife Park is operated by the community and is open year round.

Children’s advocate Craig Kielburger comes to St. FX today

ken — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:19:55 +0000

Well-known children’s advocate Craig Kielburger visits St. FX University today. Kielburger, who co-founded the international youth charity “Free the Children” in 1995 when he was just 12 years old, and co-founded the social enterprise “Me to We” will deliver a keynote address at 7 p.m. at the Gerald Schwartz School of Business auditorium. His talk, entitled “Me to We: How Students Can Create Positive Social Changes”is open to the public. His address is part of a two day Service Learning Workshop at St.FX. The workshop, “Creating Tomorrow’s Leaders Today”, continues tomorrow at the McKenna Centre with panel presentations.

BurMac Cup well attended; fairly quiet affair for police

ken — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:18:37 +0000

Statistically, the RCMP in Antigonish say that the Annual Burmac Cup, staged at the Antigonish Arena, was a success last evening. With more that 1500 spectators in attendance there were 14 liquor control act arrests for public intoxication. Sergeant Brian Rehill, of the Antigonish Detachment, reports the event was well managed with extra security staff and the arrests account for less than 1% of the overall attendance. By the way, the final score;

MacIsaac 5 – Burke 3

Court case of man charged in Tracadie fatal crash adjourned to March

ken — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:17:15 +0000

There’s been another adjournment in the court case of a 30-year-old Antigonish man charged in connection a fatal motor vehicle collision in Tracadie, Antigonish County last fall. William Edmund Byron Forgarty appeared in court yesterday. He was initially scheduled to appear in court Thursday to elect his mode of trial. During Wednesday’s appearance the matter was set over until March 8th, where again he is scheduled to decide on how he’ll be tried. Earlier this week, RCMP laid more charges against Fogarty; two counts of Impaired Driving by Drugs Causing Death. That’s in addition to the initial charges laid against him; two counts of Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Death. Fogarty was the lone survivor of the two vehicle crash in late November. Two Antigonish County youths who in the other car died in the collision; 16-year-old Kory Mattie and 17-year-old Nicholas Landry.

Strait Regional School Board likely to face 3 % cut in provincial funding

ken — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:19:49 +0000

The Strait Regional School Board is getting a clearer picture of the provincial funding they’ll receive for the next fiscal year. The news is not good as the board prepares its budget. In his report to the board last night, Superintendent Jack Beaton indicated the school district was given an overview of the likely financial situation from the province last week. Beaton says although the board has yet to receive final notification of funding for next year, it’s anticipated the reduction will be in the range of three per cent. Beaton says there will be an additional expectation that inflationary costs, at about two per cent will also have to be covered by the board. Beaton says the decisions that will be made to address the serious funding shortfall will have a deep impact on the delivery of programs and services at its schools. He says as the case last year, every effort will be made to minimize the effects on students. However, it’s expecting it will result in a significant decrease in programs, supports, services and interventions for students. Beaton expects the board will receive formal notification of funding levels early this month.

Canada Post recognizes Viola Desmond in new stamp

ken — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:38:27 +0000

Canada Post is marking Black History Month by issuing two new stamps. One of the new stamps

Viola Desmond Stamp

recognizes Viola Desmond, who was arrested in November, 1946 for sitting in the “whites only” section of the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow. Desmond was dragged from theatre and spent the night in the local jail. She was tried without a lawyer and convicted of defrauding the province of the additional one cent tax for seats in the “whites-only” section. She was fined twenty dollars, which she paid, but went on to fight the charge. Her public court battle led the province to dismantle its segregation laws. In 2010, the province formally apologized and granted Desmond a posthumous pardon, the first to be granted in Canada. The second stamp issued by Canada Post profiles John Ware, who helped establish the ranching industry in the 1880′s in what would become Alberta.

Snowplow Crashes into house in Trenton…..

Glasgow Police Service is investigating the cause of snowplow that crashed into a house in Trenton at approximately 10:00 this morning. The snowplow, from Trenton Public Works, was travelling on Egerton Street, turning on to Chestnut Street, and crashed into the residence. The house and the snowplow suffered extensive damage. New Glasgow Police were assisted on the scene by the Trenton Fire Department and NS Power. An adult woman was in the home at the time of the crash, but luckily was in the rear of the building at the time and did not suffer injuries. The snowplow driver also walked away unscathed. The vehicle was seized as part of an ongoing investigation.