A mobile home fire in Sylvester has left two local men homeless. Crews were called to the scene of that fire Monday afternoon. The men are getting help with emergency lodging, food and clothing from the Red Cross. There’s no word yet on what caused that fire.
Northern Pulp says it will collect the data that government began requesting last week, but that clearly means more time is required beyond the current legislated deadline to complete construction of a new waste management facility. The company says it has already completed 28 studies to register the effluent project, but with the government requiring a focus report on 19 major points, time is what’s necessary. Paper Excellence CEO Brian Baarda says – Quote -” We are confident in our plan and we will provide more information as per the government’s request, however as we’ve seen throughout this project – these requests take time.” He says a temporary closure is just not realistic and would still require the use of the Boat Harbour facility. So he says a permanent closure is still a possibility.
——————-
GREG BURROWS, WENDY BOURQUE AND KEN MACDONALD GETTING THEIR AWARDS
Congratulations to local businessman Greg Burrows on receiving the Town of New Glasgow Provincial Volunteer Award for 2019. Greg received the award yesterday (Monday) at the provincial ceremony in Halifax. Premier Stephen McNeil presented the award along with along with Lieutenant Governor Arthur LeBlanc.
Volunteer of the Year in the Town of Westville is Wendy Bourque. Congratulations to Wendy and Mayor Roger MacKay says thank you for time, leadership and volunteer spirit. Congratulations to Ken MacDonald for receiving the Town of Trenton Volunteer of the Year Award. Ken picked up that provincial recognition for volunteer time in community sports and for his work on the Executive Committee for Trenton FunFest.
Other local recipients include:
Town of Stellarton Tara Carruthers
Town of Pictou – Betty Richards
Municipality of Pictou County – Jim Crawford
ANTIGONISH WOMAN MISSING SINCE SUNDAY NIGHT
Antigonish RCMP are asking for help as they try to track down Susan Simpson. The 48-year-old was last seen leaving a home on Keltic Drive at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday and police say she hasn’t been in contact with her family since. She’s described as white, standing 5’5″ and 120 pounds with medium-length brown/red hair and grey eyes.
The RCMP say she was wearing a grey or purple jacket and brown sneakers. Simpson may be driving a brown 2014 Mazda 3 hatchback with Nova Scotia licence plate FHA 657 and a broken passenger side headlight. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.
A threatened union rally at province house this week will highlight concerns about health care, long-term care, education, and public services in general. The Labour Federation’s Danny Cavanagh says the message at the “Save Our Services” rally will be loud and clear: a strong, united labour movement will fight to protect public services, with a call to government for a seat at the table to help problem solve. Union leaders will speak on issues they and their members are facing. The rally run from noon until 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon.
A Truro urologist is facing accusations of professional misconduct and incompetence stemming from surgeries conducted on two different patients. The College of Physicians and Surgeons is holding a 5-day hearing beginning April 25th. It’s a probe into conduct by Dr. Jacob Puthen-parumpil. The college alleges that back in August of 2016, Puthenparumpil “failed to recognize the increased risk of bowel injuries as a result of the difficulties encountered during surgery” on Patient A, didn’t perform adequate post-op assessments, didn’t recognize a bowel injury and wrongly discharged the patient.
The hearing notice does not describe the surgeries or identify the patients, but there’s also a person known as Patient B in the allegations. The second allegation relates to a procedure in May of 2016. Puthen-parumpil is accused of not obtaining informed consent from the patient, performing the procedure without that consent and failing to take responsibility for performing a different procedure than what the patient expected. These are all allegations, and none of the statements have been proven.
A Chinese exhibition of works by South Shore folk artist Maud Lewis, abruptly postponed without an explanation last month, is now back on again. The provincial government says the exhibition, celebrating the works of Lewis and other contemporary female Nova Scotian artists, will be launched during a cultural trade mission this spring as originally planned. The province says Premier Stephen McNeil met with the Chinese Ambassador on March 19th.
BLOOD DONOR CLINIC TO HONOUR JESSICA SMITH
Canadian Blood Services will be on hand where a blood donor clinic will be held In honor of Jessica Smith, who has been a well-loved and respected Executive Director of the Pictou County United Way for almost 10 years. That clinic is April 10, 11, 12 (that’s next Wed, Thursday and Friday) at the Pictou County Wellness Centre. Volunteers will also be accepting well wishes, monetary donations, gift cards and a giant community card will be on hand for people to sign. Jessica is battling cancer an the tributes and best wishes for her fight against it have been pouring in. Margie Grant-Walsh is one of the organizers and says, “We want to send Jessica a message that while fighting this beast, Pictou County truly cares. Making a blood donation is a wonderful way to honour her and let her know she is not alone. There are 56 spots available so please call 1-888-236-6283. Jessica will also be faced with numerous unexpected expenses so any contribution will be helpful.
Yesterday was the opening of sport fishing season in Nova Scotia, and as the ice continues to melt in today’s sunshine, anglers are being encouraged to get out and enjoy the sport. Sportfishing generated 66.5 million dollars for the provincial economy last season. You can read the rules for the 2019 season in the Angler’s Handbook and Summary of Regulations, which accompanies your fishing licence and can also be found online.
SPORTS
