The provincial government is improving access to small claims court and simplifying the process.  That includes getting rid of the user fees for low-income Nova Scotians.  As of next Tuesday morning.
— the costs to file and counter a claim will be waived entirely for low-income Nova Scotians
— simpler and more user-friendly forms will be used…
— once a person files a notice of claim with the court, they will have 20 days (rather than the previous 10) to serve it on the defendant.
— the dollar amount of wages exempt from being garnished will rise.  That means a person’s first $450 in wages is protected when the person owing the money is supporting a family, it bumps up to $330 in wage protection for people who are not supporting a family.

How many unread emails do you have? And how does that make you feel? Whether you’re an email infinity person, or an inbox zero person, we all just want control over our email inboxes. But when you go on vacation, that control gets a little harder to attain. So what do you do? Do you quickly skim your inbox for the important ones and forward them to yourself for when you get back to work? Do you go through all of them in detail while you’re away? Or do you just delete them all without even looking? Whichever one you choose, the fact remains; your email is getting in the way of your vacation.   Psychologists say some employers are taking advantage of this, and it’s a chat you need to have with your boss before your vacation begins.

  FRASER REPLIES TO NDP RE NORTHERN PULP

Sean Fraser of the Liberals says Central Nova has given his reply to the challenge from local federal NDP Candidate Betsy MacDonald.  She asked all candidates to clearly state their position on Northern Pulp and Boat Harbour this week.  Fraser tells our newsroom the laws to protect ocean waters just got a brand new set of regulations yesterday, and he’s satisfied with the work he’s done so far, making him the most experienced candidate in this fall’s election when it comes to this issue.  This all comes just a week after red signs calling for the province to live up to its Northern Pulp deadline in January began being shared on front lawns in several key parts of the riding.  We’ve also been speaking to Conservative Candidate George Canyon.  Be listening to our airwaves on Tuesday, Sept 3rd and Wednesday, Sept 4th for his side of the issue, and more on the local campaign.

IF you watch CBC television TONIGHT at 10 o’clock, (Thursday) the new film called “The Mill”, from filmmaker David W. Craig and award-winning producer Ann Bernier, explores the history of the Northern Pulp mill in Abercbombie, and its deeply rooted effects on the economy, the indigenous community and the traditional lifestyles of Pictou County. Film-maker Craig has lived in Pictou County for the past 17 years.

Colchester RCMP are asking for the public’s help to locate a missing 35-year-old man who hasn’t been heard from since Friday afternoon. Peter Anthony (Tony) Walsh left a home in Crowes Mills around 11 a.m. driving a beige 1990 Chrysler Sebring and was last heard from around 1:20 p.m.
Police say the vehicle was located in a business parking lot in Truro.  Walsh is described as white and bald, standing 5’9″ and 180 pounds, with several tattoos including a distinctive diamond under his right eye.

Worried about rushing to Pictou County gas pumps to fill up today?  The experts say you don’t have to be.  Gas dropped by only half a penny in New Brunswick overnight. Nova Scotia’s new prices will be re-set at midnight.

  BIG NAMES HEADING TO TORONTO

If you’re heading to Toronto next month, keep your eyes peeled for Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, and Bruce Springsteen…they are among the stars expected to walk the red carpet at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
The three are on a newly released list of confirmed talent for the 11-day movie marathon, which runs Sept. 5th-15th.
Streep will appear for Netflix’s “The Laundromat,” about journalists probing the so-called Panama Papers money laundering scandal.
Hanks is in the lineup with “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” in which he plays children’s television entertainer Fred Rogers.
And Springsteen will attend the world premiere of his performance documentary “Western Stars.”
Other A-listers expected to attend include “Joker” star Joaquin Phoenix; Daniel Craig for the murder mystery “Knives Out”; Matt Damon and Christian Bale with the racing biopic “Ford v Ferrari”; Nicole Kidman for the art forgery drama “The Goldfinch”; and Natalie Portman with the space story “Lucy in the Sky.”
Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu will be at the Toronto fest with the stripper story “Hustlers,” and Renee Zellweger will be there representing “Judy,” in which she plays singer and actress Judy Garland. Co-stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver will walk the carpet for “Marriage Story.”
Canadian stars on the list include Christopher Plummer, Donald Sutherland, Ellen Page, Atom Egoyan, Nev Campbell, and musician David Foster.

The final beer garden of the season takes place Saturday night at the Trenton Rink starting at 9 p m, and lasting until 2 am.  Tickets are just $10 in advance to see the “The Pistol Packing Papas” and more.  If you wait to buy your tickets at the door, they increase to $15.   So to make buying them in advance a little easier, the locations to buy them are NEEDS and TRUE COLOURS HAIR SALON in Trenton, or at any Subway location in Pictou County.  The money raised will help out the Pictou County Junior B Scotians.

The ST-FX Sports Teams have forwarded along their weekend schedule of games.  Please take a look.

Joe Earle Washer Toss Tournament takes place this coming Sunday.    It runs from 10 to 6 at the North End Recreation Centre.  The details are on our Events page.  By the way, the winning team can take home $250 …and it’s a fundraiswers for the Joe Earle Memorial Road Races which have been offering people in Pictou County a free race day for the past 55 years.

MLB
Red Sox 7  Rockies 4
Braves 9   Blue Jays 4