FREDERICTON MULTIPLE MURDER JURY RENDERS A VERDICT
The jury in the trial of Matthew Raymond has made its ruling. Jury members have found Raymond not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder for the 2018 killings of four people in Fredericton. The verdict came as jurors began their fourth day of deliberations this morning. (Friday) The defence admitted Raymond shot the victims, but it argued a mental disorder rendered him incapable of understanding the nature of his actions. Crown prosecutors acknowledged Raymond had a mental illness but said the delusions he experienced did not prevent him from knowing the killings were wrong.
PUMP PRICES STAGNANT THIS WEEK
Gas prices are unchanged from last week across the local area. Diesel prices are up by only six tenths of a penny after last night’s weekly price review.
COVID CLOSES DARTMOUTH AREA SCHOOLS, LIST OF METRO EXPOSURE SITES GROWS
Nova Scotians are now dealing with 23 active cases of COVID-19, and the latest one announced in the Central Health Zone so far appears to be connected to Auburn Drive High School in Cole Harbour, which has been closed down for today and through the weekend along with other schools in that zone. Health officials, including the Premier, are expected to make some announcements on the situation today.
The full list of COVID school closures looks like this for Friday, Nov 20th.
— Astral Drive Elementary
— Astral Drive Junior High
— Bell Park Academic Centre
— Caldwell Road Elementary
— Colby Village Elementary
— Graham Creighton Junior High
— Humber Park Elementary
— Joseph Giles Elementary.
Nova Scotia Health Public Health is advising of potential exposure to COVID-19 at a series of locations if you’ve paid a recent visit to the Halifax area. You can find those at
http://www.nshealth.ca/news/potential-exposure-covid-19-various-hrm-locations-0
Anyone present at these locations during the dates and times named is asked to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19.
TONEY RIVER DREDGING PROMPTS LETTER FROM PICTOU COUNTY
Pictou County is supporting a motion to send a letter opposing the location for a dredge management site in Toney River to government officials. District 4 Councillor Mary Elliott put a motion forward this week to send a letter to the Department of Fisheries, Local MP Sean Fraser and Pictou West MLA Karla MacFarlane asking that the site be moved to another location. There are environmental concerns about odours and the mess that could be left behind near homes and cottages, since the site is located at the heart of Toney River.
PICTOU COUNTY FUEL FUND GETS ACTIVE
The Pictou County Fuel Fund is now accepting applications from families that are in urgent need of heating assistance.
The Fuel Fund provides oil, wood, wood pellets or propane to families in urgent need during the colder months of the year. Intended for those who are dangerously close to running out of fuel to heat their home and who have no financial means to pay for fuel, eligible families may use this support once per heating season. For more, visit WWW.PICTOUCOUNTYFUELFUND.CA
SALVATION ARMY KETTLE CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY
The Salvation Army kettle campaign is underway for 2020 – their largest public fundraising drive of the year. From now until Christmas Eve, the kettles will be set up at numerous locations all over the Maritimes. The Christmas Kettle Campaign allows The Salvation Army to provide practical assistance to thousands of families and single people who have met with hard times. Beyond donating to the Salvation Army’s Christmas kettles, you can also visit their online system to give…it’s www.FilltheKettle.com
STELLARTON MOVES TO GO VIRTUAL WITH TREE LIGHTING
Hot on the heels of New Glasgow and Westville postponing their Santa Clause parades until next year, while keeping their Santa visits going this coming Christmas Eve, the Town of Stellarton has news on its tree lighting ceremony next week. It will be an online event, with pandemic restrictions still a major concern. Organizers say while they would love to celebrate Stellarton’s tree-lighting in its normal way, health and safety are their top priorities. So they’ll be livestreaming the tree-lighting next Friday, November 27th, 2020, at approximately 5:00 pm. Please be advised that Santa will still be visiting the town Stellarton on Christmas Eve with the help of the Stellarton Fire Department, travelling through residential areas, so people can watch from inside, or from a safe distance outside. As we told you yesterday, the same will be true for Santa and his helpers in the Towns of Westville and New Glasgow this year.
HEALTH CARE CAREERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT GLASGOW SQUARE TODAY
As part the Mentoring Plus Strategy, Career Advice organizers are holding a Health Consultation Day today at Glasgow Square. The Towns of New Glasgow, Truro and Kentville will be taking part (on zoom and in person). The Health Sector will gain the benefits of the retired health professionals in knowledge-sharing and group mentoring for people aged 16 and older. It’s specifically set up if you or somebody you know is interested in choosing the health sector as a career path and learning more about it. Retirees (from the three municipalities of New Glasgow, Kentville and Truro) who are taking part starting this morning at 10 o’clock include:a pharmacist, five physicians, a dental surgeon, two nurses, a physiotherapist, a health administrator, a dental hygienist and an occupational therapist. If you’re interested, you’re invited to drop into Glasgow Square and see first hand how our aging retired population is an important resource to our future work force within the New Horizons for Seniors Program. Things start at Glasgow Square this morning at 10 o’clock. (Friday)
ONTARIO POLICE OFFICER KILLED ON THE JOB
A 28-year veteran police officer in Ontario is dead and another police officer has been injured in the line of duty. The tragedy took place on Lake Huron’s Manitoulin Island, about 6-and-a-half hours north of Toronto yesterday. The investigation is expected to be a lengthy one.
SECOND OFFICIAL PREDICTION OF A MILD NS WINTER AHEAD
We now have a second source confirming what the Weather Network has already told us. It’s going to be a warmer than normal winter until about March, when cooler air will return for the Southern Maritimes. Anthony Farnell is Chief Meteorologist for Global News, and says the entire eastern half of the country should be mild for the bulk of the winter, with more rain than snow for all of Nova Scotia and PEI. The only exception to the mild winter in the Maritimes is Northern New Brunswick, where the storm track for eastern Canada will bring more snow than it will for the rest of us.
