New Glasgow Regional Police have charged a Pictou County man following a report of a possible impaired driver in Pictou County.  On Saturday afternoon, Police responded to report of a possible impaired driver near Exit 23.  New Glasgow Regional Police located the suspect vehicle on Westville Road and conducted a traffic stop.  The driver was arrested for Impaired, and in a search of the vehicle, police located and seized two firearms.  A 39-year-old man has been charged with Impaired Driving and Unsafe Storage of a Firearm

 

 

Funding from all three levels of government will mean enhanced access to clean water for Pictou County residents, and allow for municipalities to better manage wastewater.   Premier Tim Houston announced five community projects on Monday.

A new water distribution system will serve Greenwood and Coalburn, communities that have been experiencing poor drinking water quality caused by geological conditions.

Two projects in New Glasgow involve separating combined sewers into a two-pipe network for sanitary sewer and stormwater; and constructing a new water line on Abercrombie Road to replace a cast iron pipe installed in 1904. In Trenton, a new storm sewer system will result in an increased capacity to treat and manage wastewater and stormwater.

In Stellarton, replacement infrastructure for water distribution and wastewater collection will improve access to drinking water and capacity to treat and manage wastewater.

The projects represent a total investment of more than $17.7 million, including $5.2 million from the Province and $7.8 million from the federal government, as well as municipal investments.

 

 

Nova Scotia’s information commissioner says citizens requesting access to government documents will be waiting for years after the province rejected her appeal for more staff.  Tricia Ralph says the decision not to include more money for her office in last week’s budget will increase delays in citizen requests to access government documents.  She says she’s “disheartened and disappointed” by the rejection, pointing out the backlog to review cases is four years.  A joint comment from the departments of finance and justice says the province has to balance many competing priorities when it considers budget requests.

 

 

Nova Scotia’s corrections officers are scheduled to hold a protest tomorrow outside the legislature.  The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union says the officers continue to be concerned about staff shortages at the jails. The union says there haven’t been substantive changes since a ruling by the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia that too many inmates were being forced to remain in their cells due to the staffing problems.  The province has said it hired 14 new officers recently, and several dozen more are in training.

 

 

The Coldest Night of the Year event was held on Saturday at the Pictou County Wellness Centre. This year, the community raised over $22,000 in support of the Pictou County Roots for Youth Society.