2020 WILL BE THE LAST YEAR FOR THE MARATHON PORTION OF THE JOHNNY MILES RUNNING EVENT
Facebook Photo Johnny Miles Running Event
2020 marks the 45th anniversary for the Johnny Miles Marathon, but it will be your final chance to run in the full Marathon distance event. That’s in this morning from race director Terry Curley. Curley says it wasn’t a quick decision, but he says organizers feel it’s the right direction to end the Marathon portion of the event after 45 years. He tells our newsroom sign-ups for that portion of the Johnny Miles series of events has been on the decline. He says it’ll make better use of valuable volunteers to drop it after this year. Even with the Marathon cancelled, this means the other events will still be going ahead, so rest assured, the Johnny Miles weekend and all of its remaining events will continue to take place every June.
The province’s chief medical examiner says the Antigonish County soldier who shot himself and his family were victims of “systemic failures” that failed to detect escalating domestic violence. Dr. Matthew Bowes says barriers to accessing mental health care were also a major issues. The inquiry into the deaths of Lionel Desmond, his wife Shanna, 31, their 10-year-old daughter and his 52-year-old mother is expected to last for up to 5 weeks as it continues in Guysborough.
CITIZENS FOR A HEALTHY PICTOU COUNTY PARTNERS WITH YMCA TO OFFER NEW PROGRAMMING
Photo: contributed
Citizens for a Healthy Pictou County, which is the group responsible for initiating the $37 million Pictou County Wellness Centre is partnering with the local YMCA to offer programming outside of the Y facilities on Westville Road. Chairman Murray Hill says you should be able to access Y programs, no matter where they live in Pictou County. Under their Terms of Association, the Healthy Citizens’ group is allowed to steer leftover capital from the fundraising campaign to any like-minded organization. This latest deal sees half-a-million dollars transferred to an endowment to support extension activities of the Y.
WESTVILLE TOWN COUNCIL PAYS TRIBUTE TO FORMER MAYOR FOR HIS 25 YEARS OF SERVICE
Facebook Photo: Town of Westville
Westville Mayor Lennie White and Council paid tribute to Roger MacKay for his 25 years of service to the people of Westville as both Councillor and their Mayor at last night’s council meeting. New Glasgow Mayor Nancy Dicks also brought words of appreciation to Mayor MacKay and his wife Jesse. Meanwhile, Westville’s 70 kilometers of sewage pipe are the first area to get council’s attention in an ongoing series of reports on the state of the Town’s infrastructure. One of the findings is that too much rain and groundwater is seeping into Westville’s sewage system. Over the coming months, council be receiving reports on the town’s drinking water system, streets and sidewalks, and Westville’s other fixed assets, including town-owned buildings.
GLEN HAVEN CEO RETURNS FROM GLOBAL FORUM
Photo Credit: Kimberly Dickson
New Glasgow’s Glen Haven Manor CEO Lisa Smith is just back from being on a panel at the 12th Global Forum on Migration & Development, held in Ecuador last week. Other United Nations members were there to discuss how to improve migration policies and encourage partnerships. Smith took part in leading a panel called, “Pathways from Crisis to Safety.” She spoke on Glen Haven’s role in helping foster and develop flexible, rights based, labour mobility and the benefits of recruiting international talent to fill labour shortages. Glen Haven recently confirmed its purchase of a local house to rent out space to international workers coming in from other countries and provinces. The house will be used as a landing point for immigrant staff new to the area as well as having the potential to be used for locums who could be hired in the short term.
The survival of pre-term babies jumped by 25 per cent after new practices were introduced in neonatal units across Canada, according to a study of nearly 51,000 infants between 2004 to 2017. Changes introduced in 2003 included increased use of steroids for mothers 48 hours before delivery to help babies whose lungs would not be fully developed; raising infants’ body temperature upon birth and reducing the use of invasive ventilation to help them breathe. The study published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal says babies born at less than 33 weeks’ gestation had an increase in survival from 56.6 per cent to 70.9 per cent, without major health problems. It says the improved practices were initiated by the Canadian Neo-natal Network, which includes researchers, doctors, nurses and neo-natal respiratory therapists in every province.
A 14-year-old program that tries to entice people to give information for cash in a raft of “cold cases” across the province isn’t getting the number of callers its backers have expected. The money is awarded for “information that leads to the arrest and conviction in a major unsolved crime,” Only three tipsters have actually been awarded money in that time. Two were given $150,000 while a third person received $100,000. One of those rewards was given after a double murder suspect was arrested from a 2012 case in Sheet Harbour. In 2014, the program also paid $150,000 to a person who came forward about Melissa Peacock. Peacock’s body was found in Upper Stewiacke eight years ago. Another reward came in about a suspect in a Halifax murder in 2010, resulting in a woman being sentenced to life in prison.
SCREEN NS WANTS YOU TO ADD YOUR PROPERTY TO ITS DATABASE!
Screen Nova Scotia is giving you a chance to add your home, business or property to a database so it could possibly be used in an upcoming production. Apparently they get a lot of calls from producers wanting to know more about our province for commercial, TV and movie shoots. So Screen Nova Scotia is looking for a variety of different spots to add to its “Starring Your Property” database.
Post-secondary students now have easier access to mental health supports with the launch of the HealthyMindsNS website. The site provides access to a suite of online mental health supports and services that are free to students. They’re meant to complement the in-person counselling services available on campus. Advanced Education Labi Kousoulis says post-secondary students can be more susceptible to mental health problems, and he’s pleased the province is putting forward a better support system. Kousoulis says online counselling services can play an important role in making sure students can get confidential support.
SPORTS:
Shout out to 16 year old Canadian National 2019 Legend Car driver Austin MacDonald of Braeshore, Pictou County!
Austin will be switching focus from Legend Car Racing to Pro stock racing as he leaves on Friday to head to The World Series of Asphalt racing in New Smyrna Beach Florida. Austin will be driving his Pro and Super Late Cars for 9 nights of action packed racing
Athletes from Pictou County Gymnastics Club’s Saltos Team competed in St John NB this past weekend at the Fundy Invitational. The club had 23 girls and 5 boys competing. All members placed well in their events. The next competition for the girls team will be the Taiso Cup, in Sackville NS, February 7-9. The boys team will compete at the Chocolate River Classic, in Moncton NB, the following weekend, February 14-16.
NSJHL:
A decision yesterday came through by the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League that the Eskasoni Jr Eagles were using an ineligible player in their lineup in their 5-2 win against the Pictou County Scotians. Therefor, those 2 points were taken from Eskasoni and given to the Scotians.
SUBWAY SELECTS:
2 points for the Subway Selects PeeWee AA in a traveling double header on Saturday against the Cape Breton Blizzards. The first game resulted in a big 4-1 Win for the Selects. Goals were scored by Avery Henderson, Mya MacDonald (2), and Reese Murray, with assists added by Murray, Ella Fitt and Raylee Hendsbee. Alana Palmer had the win in nets. The Selects were not so lucky in the second game where the game ended with a 4-2 loss after the Blizzards scored an empty netter in the final minute of play. Murray scored both goals for the Selects with assists added by Hendsbee and Henderson.
NHL:
NHL is back in action.
The Capitals doubled the Habs 4-2.
The Devils defeated the Sens in a shootout 4-3.
Rasmus Sandin scored his first NHL goal as the Leafs hammered the Preds 5-2.
Jamie Benn was the hero in Dallas as they Stars took down the Lightning 3-2 in OT.
Vancouver defeated St. Louis 3-1.
The Sharks doubled the Ducks 4-2.
