ONE BODY FOUND FROM DIGBY COUNTY SCALLOP BOAT, FIVE STILL MISSING
The six people missing in a scallop boat off Digby County created an all-day search yesterday. One body was found last night, and five are still missing this morning. But with each passing hour, hope is fading. Maritime Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre identified the missing boat as the Chief William Saulis. The vessel’s emergency signal came in at 5:51 yesterday morning near Delaps Cove, on the Fundy coastline west of Annapolis Royal. A Cormorant helicopter and a Hercules aircraft from Greenwood and three Canadian Coast Guard ships were dispatched to help with the search, which has been hampered by seriously high winds and frigid wind chills. (Google Maps image)
CRIMINAL CASE WITH PICTOU COUNTY CONNECTION CLEARED BY SIRT
The provincial police watchdog has cleared the RCMP of any wrongdoing in a chase in June that left an escaped inmate with a broken wrist. 34-year-old Kevin Edward Clarke-McNeil escaped from the Northeast Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Priestville and managed to evade police for a number of hours. That was until Guysborough RCMP got a report of a suspicious fire in a remote location. That was followed by a report of someone driving an ATV erratically on a road near the fire. There was then a chase and a roll-over, when McNeil broke his wrist. He is one of several inmates facing charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder for an attack on an inmate at the Dartmouth jail in Burnside.
LATEST ON CORONAVIRUS AND VACCINE FOR NOVA SCOTIANS
Nova Scotia is reporting six new cases of COVID-19 in the latest update, and they’re all close contacts of previously reported cases. Two cases are in the Northern Zone, one is in the Western Zone and three are in the Central Health Zone. There are now 57 active cases across this province, with no one currently being treated in hospital. Premier Stephen McNeil says “The arrival of the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Nova Scotia is a landmark development in the fight against the virus.” He says the province will follow the national guidelines to decide how the inoculations are doled out to specific age groups and types of frontline workers. The Pfizer vaccine will be given to 350 frontline healthcare workers in Halifax today. The vaccine is given in two doses with the second dose administered 21 days after the first. Follow up from clinical trials shows that full protection is in place 28 days after the first shot. There are plans in place to set up freezers capable of the extreme low temperatures needed for the vaccine in all of the health regions across the province.
ANY Nova Scotian who doesn’t have COVID-19 symptoms still has a few days to get tested. The deadline to book an appointment has been extended to Friday, Dec. 18th: https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/
WINTER OUTDOOR DINING APPROVED IN HALIFAX DURING COVID
As an extra means of COVID protection, patios at close to 50 restaurants and bars in the Halifax Region can now stay open for the winter months. City Council approved the plan for sidewalk patios yesterday. Whether that idea will spread out to the rest of Nova Scotia during this pandemic will depend on how forward-thinking people become at local municipal council tables.
SMALL RE-OPENING SOUGHT TO DEAL WITH POULTRY BACKLOG IN BERWICK
The chicken plant in Berwick is sending a plan to public health this week that might allow it to re-open with a skeleton staff, in order to process poultry grown at several dozen local farms. Without that plan being approved, Eden Valley officials say a large number of birds might have to be euthanized, if they can’t be processed in New Brunswick. As for the staff situation at the plant in Berwick, the first round of COVID testing earlier this week is to be followed by a 2nd round of tests starting tomorrow. (Thursday)
UNITED WAY – Y-REACH TOY DRIVE WITH NORTH NOVA JEEP CLUB A MAJOR SUCCESS
The Nova Scotia Jeep Club, North Nova Chapter in partnership with the United Way of Pictou County has just wrapped up a VERY successful toy drive. Lilly Selvaraj from Y-REACH Immigrant Services in Pictou County says they were one of the local agencies to receive toys this holiday season. She says “our newcomer families and children were very happy to receive the gifts! My co-worker Carol and I thought that this is a great gesture from our generous donors and our newcomer families to learn about giving and receiving- a Canadian tradition during this time of year. (Submitted Photo)
