The federal Conservative party is looking for a new candidate in Central Nova.  Our newsroom interviewed Roger MacKay exclusively this morning on why he’s walking away from trying to un-seat Sean Fraser of the Liberals this fall.  MacKay tells us he is NOT quitting because of any type of medical reason.  He says it was a personal decision, but his health is definitely not in danger.  We asked if he got along with National Leader Andrew Scheer when the two met in Cape Breton recently.  MacKay tells us it was only a short meeting, so it would be hard for him and his national leader to have any serious disagreements in such a short face-to-face meeting, as Tories gathered in Glace Bay.  MacKay says he’ll continue his leave of absence as Mayor of Westville and may not return to that job when his leave for that high-profile position ends on October 31st.   He says the decision on how the Tories will replace him as the Central Nova Candidate this fall is now up to the Constituency Association.

The Town of Pictou says all homes and businesses served by the Town Water system should now have their water back on.  If you have any ongoing issues, the number to call to reach Pictou Town Hall is 902-485-4372.

One of the ferries is still out of service between Caribou and PEI.  For the latest schedule on reduced departures, visit Ferries.ca

The Town of New Glasgow is advising people in the area that there will be several upcoming road closures to accommodate preparations and events associated with Pictou County Ribfest.
The Glasgow Square Theatre parking lot will be closed as of 6:00am on Thursday, August 22 until 6:00am Monday, August 26.
The Goodman parking lot will be closed as of 6:00am Thursday, August 22 and will remain closed until early morning Monday, August 26.
Riverside Parkway and Dalhousie Street, from the corner of Provost Street and George Street to Riverside Parkway, will be closed from 6:00am Thursday, August 22 until 10:00pm Sunday, August 25. Access to MacLean Street from Glasgow Street will be available during all four days.
TD Bank customers will have access to the TD Bank parking lot via Dalhousie Street and exiting out onto Riverside Parkway all four days.
Traffic will also be reduced to two lanes on the George Street Bridge, starting Friday, August 23 at 6:00am until Sunday, August 25 at 10:00pm.
Local access will be permitted to the Riverfront Marina until 11:00am Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
NO overnight RV parking is permitted in the free parking lot located in front of the New Glasgow Farmers Market.
The Town of New Glasgow and the Pictou County Ribfest Committee thank members of the community for their understanding and support of this signature Nova Scotia event.

    MICHELIN HELPS NS EXPORT BOOST

Michelin Tire plants in Pictou County, Waterville and Bridgewater helped contribute to a 7 per cent increase in Nova Scotia exports during the first half of this year.  Total exports hit $3.2 Billion from January until June.  That figures was $300 million lower last year, when it was $2.9 Billion.  Besides Michelin tires and vulcanized rubber, the other big exports that helped boost those numbers are frozen blueberries and lobster.

NEW GLASGOW’S HIGDON FAMILY’S SELFIE WITH DILDO SIGN (AT SAFE DISTANCE)

Days after a Hollywood-style sign went up over Dildo, N.L., officials have had to post warnings to deter people from clambering through private yards and scaling a steep hill to take photos with it. The community of about 1,200 has been bustling with visitors after late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel televised his tongue-in-cheek campaign for mayor of the “magical place” that shares its name with a sex toy. The sign, a gift from Kimmel, was unveiled on a hill above the picturesque community during a segment of Jimmy Kimmel Live last Thursday. The Higdon family from New Glasgow shared their photo with us to show people how to take a safe photo of the town’s new sign.  Andrew Pretty, committee member for the Dildo service district, says “no trespassing” signs were hastily assembled and put on properties after about 20 people tried to climb up the hill for photos. Pretty says the sign spelling out Dildo’s name in large capital letters is located behind private residences, and having tourists trek through the properties is an invasion of homeowners’ privacy. The warnings went up on the weekend, but Pretty says some people are disregarding them to make the dangerous climb of about 45 metres.Pretty says the town is encouraging people enjoy the Dildo sign from the road, but if the trespassing doesn’t stop, the new landmark will have to come down.

The 2019 Best Sommelier in the World competition seems to be leaning toward Nova Scotia as an emerging wine region.  To enter that competition in Belgium this year, wine experts vying to become top sommelier on the planet have told All Nova Scotia.com they had to answer a question about Tidal Bay wines, which, of course, originate here in the province, with several varietals grown in the Annapolis Valley, Malagash Cumberland County and other parts of the mainland.  Nova Scotia white wines produced using the Tidal Bay monicker need to have it judged by a panel, in order to use the Tidal Bay trademark.  Tidal Bay wine sales are up by more than 10% over the past year.

The combined cost to renovate the Liquor Store in the Aberdeen Business Centre along with stores in Truro, New Minas, Antigonish and Amherst will come in at just under $100,000 per store.  Those numbers are being confirmed by the NSLC, which says the winning bidder to get the work done on the non-Metro NSLC locations has come in with a winning bid of just under $485,000 for 5 stores.  The renovations are going ahead so the stores, along with others in Halifax and Cape Breton can start selling cannibis edibles.

 374 F/L Chisholm Air Cadets in Westville is accepting new members at the Westville Municipal Building gym Wednesdays  between 6:45 and 9:15pm for youth ages 12-18. As an Air Cadet, you can Be part of a team in  Marksmanship, Drill, Sports, Biathlon, Pipes & Drums; Learn and experience aviation & aerospace, wilderness survival, Air Rifle shooting, leadership and instructional techniques;  Go flying, visit military bases, attend summer camps and international exchanges; Earn qualifications like Glider Pilot, Private pilot license, First Aid, Duke of Edinburgh awards, Medals and High School credits.  There is no cost to join and participate.  Visit http://www.facebook.com/374air for more information.

Gloomy predictions about the U-S economy last week have not come true, and the Canadian economy continues to produce jobs and healthy amounts of inflation.  The latest numbers show employers in Canada are desperately trying to fill 400-thousand job openings.  And wages in this country increased by 4.5 per cent last month, the highest wage increases in close to 10 years. There’s also optimism that as interest rates continue to fall overseas, Canadian exports will rise over the next 3 months.

A Hammonds Plains man found guilty of groping a woman by touching her breast and genitals at  a Bedford department store has been handed a four-month jail sentence.
27-year-old Brian James MacDonald was convicted of sexual assault in January and is appealing the decision.  He has now been sentenced Halifax provincial court judge Amy Saka-Lauskas.  The judge has given MacDonald 48 days of remand credit, for a net sentence of 72 days in custody. Sakalauskas made the jail time consecutive to a 28-month prison sentence MacDonald is already serving after pleading guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing death and one of dangerous driving causing bodily harm from a fatal crash in Lower Sackville.  That crash took place in October 2017.   After he does his jail time, MacDonald will be on probation for two years. The judge also ordered him to provide a DNA sample and register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Pictou County’s one and only roller derby team, the Kickin’ Vixens will be hosting their only home game this year this Saturday afternoon at the Trenton Rink.  Doors open at 1:30, with the games starting at 2 pm.   The triple header event will see the vixens take on the Dockyard Brawlers from Halifax and Rebel Riot from Windsor, NS. The Vixens have faced off against the brawlers a number of times this year and are looking to take home a win on their home track after a close loss last time they played each other. Rebel Riot was the first game the Vixens played last year and the Riot’s first game ever in which the Vixens took the lead and are hoping to hold on to the winning status this year.  Donations of menstrual products are being collected at the door for the “Just Ask” program.

LOCAL SPORTS
Congratulations to the U18 A boys who defeated CC Riders 3-1 on the soccer field to win the Highland Cup!

The second annual Ride the River is set for this Saturday in New Glasgow.
The event, which saw over 80 paddling participants in its first year, will launch from Rotary Park, with the ride starting at  3 o’clock Saturday afternoon. The ride includes a group paddle on the East River down to Blueberry Island and back, for a total of approximately 7 kilometers round trip. All abilities and experience of paddlers are welcome, and participants must bring their own watercraft, and wear appropriate safety equipment.  Registration is $15 per person, and includes a 6” sub from Subway, a dipped cone from Goji’s, and a chance to win prizes. Registration can be done online at raceroster.ca. The event will have supervision on the water from the New Glasgow Fire Department. Ride the River coincides with Pictou County’s first Ribfest, taking place August 23rd-25th at Glasgow Square Theatre.