Three people displaced by fire in Pictou County
Three adults have been forced from their homes by an early morning fire on Sunday that heavily damaged a house with two apartments in the Hillside area. Canadian Red Cross volunteers from New Glasgow assisted a man with a place to stay and financial support for meals, clothing and other basics. Two women from the other apartment have decided to stay with relatives or friends. There were no injuries from the fire along Pictou Landing Road.
N.S. Election roundup
Liberal Leader Iain Rankin says his party has a plan to transform health care in Nova Scotia. Rankin says his party’s four-billion-dollar health-care infrastructure plan will see new hospitals, emergency care centres and community health clinics built across the province. Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservatives are promising a 500 dollar tax credit for people who adopt a dog from a recognized shelter if the party is elected to govern later this month. P-C Leader Tim Houston says dogs provide mental and physical health benefits and the tax incentive will encourage people to develop healthy routines after a difficult COVID-19 pandemic. NDP Leader Gary Burrill says an NDP government would move the province towards protecting 25 per cent of Nova Scotia’s land and water by 2025, and 30 per cent by 2030, in line with international commitments.
Man charged for violating Municipal Elections Act in Trenton last year
After a lengthy investigation, the New Glasgow Regional Police Major Crime Unit has charged a 67-year-old man from Pictou County with 24 offences. It was last October when Police received a complaint about a possible breach of the Municipal Elections Act during the Town of Trenton Municipal Election. Voting Day in Trenton was on October 17, 2020. The accused will be appearing in Provincial Court in Pictou on September 27th.
Public Health Mobile Units add drop-in COVID-19 testing clinics in all zones this week, including Pictou County
In an effort to keep COVID-19 under control in Nova Scotia, Public Health Mobile Units provide easier access to testing. Testing people who show no symptoms of COVID-19 (asymptomatic testing) is one of the main tools that has helped limit COVID-19 spread in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotians and visitors to our Province are reminded that even if you have mild symptoms like a sore throat, a runny/congested nose or headache, you should get tested for COVID-19. Testing is free and available to all ages and all visitors.
The Public Health Mobile Units will be available for drop-in testing locally at:
Scotsburn Fire Hall (4179 Scotsburn Road, Hwy 256, Scotsburn)
• Thursday, August 12 from noon to 5 p.m.
*Public Health Mobile Units offering testing outside are weather dependent.
To see all the upcoming Public Health Mobile Unit locations visit: https://www.nshealth.ca/visit-covid-19-testing-site
Nova Scotia Health Public Health is advising of potential exposure to COVID-19 at several locations in Western and Central Zone and on two flights. All potential exposure notifications are listed here: http://www.nshealth.ca/covid-exposures
Nova Scotia Health is advising the public of a telephone scam related to the in-home COVID-19 vaccination program. The caller fraudulently claimed to be from Nova Scotia Health’s continuing care program and asked for financial information. Nova Scotia Health does not ask for banking, financial or other sensitive information such as social insurance numbers when calling to book an in-home vaccination appointment. If you have registered for the in-home vaccination program and have received, or receive a telephone call that claims to be from Nova Scotia Health’s Continuing Care program requesting that you provide this type of information, please hang up and contact 1-800-225-7225.
Man wanted in Wolfville Ridge home invasion is believed to possibly be in the Amherst or Pictou areas
RCMP Photo (submitted)
Kings District RCMP say a suspect identified in a home invasion in Wolfville Ridge on August 1st, is believed to possibly be in the Amherst or Pictou areas. 51-year old Timothy David Raymond Black of Wolfville is facing charges that include Break and Enter and Commit; Theft of a vehicle; and charges for several firearms related offenses. Black is described as being white, about 6-feet-tall, has white hair and a long goatee type beard, and wearing a black and orange jacket at the time of the incident. Black was last seen at a business in Truro. Anyone who sees Black is asked to refrain from approaching him and to call police.
Canada welcoming vaccinated American citizens back across border as U.S. demurs
The United States will remain on the sidelines for now as Canada gamely welcomes back fully vaccinated American citizens and permanent residents. As of midnight Sunday night, non-essential U.S. travellers who have had a full course of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine will again be allowed on Canadian soil. To be eligible, travellers must live in the U.S., have allowed at least 14 days to pass since their last dose and show proof of a negative molecular test for COVID-19 that’s no more than 72 hours old. They are also required to use the ArriveCAN app or online web portal to upload their vaccination details. Denis Vinette, vice-president of the travellers branch of the Canada Border Services Agency, says the agency learned a lot when fully vaccinated Canadian citizens were allowed to return last month. Vinette says about half had to be turned away during the first week because they hadn’t received one of the four vaccines approved by Health Canada, or had not waited the full 14 days after their last shot. (The Canadian Press)
Summer Olympics come to an official end
The Olympic flame was extinguished Sunday, ending the 2020 Olympics. Naomi Baker/Getty Images
The Olympic torch has been extinguished in Tokyo. Sunday’s closing ceremonies brought an end to a Games that was troubled by COVID-19 issues and severe heat and humidity, but still managed to produce some amazing moments of athleticism. One of the highlights was host country Japan’s best-ever haul of 58 medals. Canadian athletes overcame the obstacles at the Tokyo Olympics to bring in the country’s highest medal count at a non-boycotted Games. Track cyclist Kelsey Mitchell’s gold medal on the final day of competition gave Canada 24 overall, including seven gold. Canada placed and impressive 11th in both the official standings and the total medal tally, while the United States ended up as the big winner in the medal standings. The U-S led all nations with 39 gold, one more than China. The Canadian Olympic Committee says that no one in its delegation of 840 athletes and staff contracted COVID-19 during the Olympics. The C-O-C is calling it a triumph of the protocols in place for the Games, as well as the extra safety measures taken by the Canadian contingent. Although the embers of the flame have barely died in Tokyo, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are fast upon us. Those Games are set to open in less than six months on February 4th. The rare short turnaround is due to the Tokyo Olympics being postponed for a year due to COVID-19. (The Canadian Press)
