New Glasgow woman facing 9 Counts of Arson and 3 Counts of Mischief
Photo: One of the vacant residences where the 41-year-old female was charged in connection with. (submitted by New Glasgow Regional Police)
A 41-year-old woman from New Glasgow was arrested Saturday morning at her residence on Stewart Street, while police were conducting a Search Warrant in relation to the arson investigations. New Glasgow Regional Police say the woman is facing numerous charges including, 7 Counts of Arson, 2 Counts of Arson-Disregard for Human Life, and 3 Counts of Mischief. The charges are a result of investigations, involving, 5 vacant residences, 2 occupied residences, one involving a business and 3 cases involving property. A total of ten separate investigations. The investigation was conducted by the New Glasgow Regional Police Major Crime Unit with assistance by the members of the New Glasgow, Trenton, Stellarton Fire Departments and the Office of the Fire Marshall. The suspicious fires occurred between January 5, 2020 and July 7, 2021, in the Town of New Glasgow and the Town of Trenton. The suspect was remanded into custody and will be appearing in Provincial Court in Pictou on Monday July 12, 2021. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to these arsons investigations is asked to contact the New Glasgow Regional Police at 902-752-1941. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS, submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.
Elections Nova Scotia will encourage provincial voters to vote early, mail in ballots
Nova Scotia’s voters are going to be encouraged to vote early and to mail in their ballots in a provincial election that’s expected to be called soon. The governing Liberals haven’t set a date yet, but government sources say the call is coming within days for the province’s 41st general election. Elections Nova Scotia says in a release today it’s important during a pandemic for voters to be informed of their voting options. The independent agency says it will emphasize the options of voting early and for voters to apply to vote by mail, with the goal of decreasing the numbers of people at the polls. It says eligible voters can complete an online application for a write-in kit before the provincial general election is called, or call Elections Nova Scotia to have an application sent to them. The organization also says strict COVID-19 protocols will be in place at all voting locations during the general election. (The Canadian Press)
4 new Covid-19 cases reported on Sunday
Nova Scotia reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, as the active number of infections drops to 36. The cases were all identified in the Central Zone. One is travel related and three are under investigation. There were also seven recoveries. Of the 36 active cases, two people are in hospital, including one in ICU.
Nova Scotia is set to move into Phase 4 of its reopening plan on Wednesday, which will further loosen restrictions. Entering Phase 4 is contingent on 75 per cent of the population having received at least one dose of vaccine. Public health doesn’t update vaccination rates on the weekend, but as of Friday close to 74 per cent of the population had received one dose. Premier Iain Rankin and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, will provide a COVID-19 update Monday, July 12, at 3 p.m.
The federal government expects another 1.4 million doses of the shot from Pfizer-BioNTech to arrive in the next seven days. It also plans to distribute the 1.5 million doses from Moderna that came in last Friday. By the end of the week, Canadian officials expect to have received a total of more than 55 million doses including the latest shipments, though those figures may change. The federal government has promised that it would reach 68 million shots delivered by the end of July and says it’s still on track to hit that target. To date, around 42.7 per cent of eligible Canadian residents have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, giving them full protection against the virus. (The Canadian Press)
2 local Long-Term Care Homes to receive funding for upgrades from the province
The provincial government says it will create new nursing home beds and upgrade 17 seniors facilities, as the condition of the homes is shaping up to be an election issue. Premier Iain Rankin pledged a total of $96.5 million in new long-term care beds and facilities. Of the overall funding, $64.8 million is going to replace, repair or renovate 17 facilities, which locally includes Glen Haven Manor in New Glasgow and Valley View Villa in Stellarton. Rankin, who appears poised to call a summer election, made the announcement at the at a Nursing Home in Glace Bay on Friday, saying it will bring total spending in the sector to over $1 billion in the 2021-22 fiscal year. The Liberal government has faced years of criticism from opposition parties for neglecting the state of the province’s 133 long-term care facilities. (With files from the Canadian Press)
Meanwhile, the provincial government made another funding announcement over the weekend, this time focused on new renewable energy targets. The province will be issuing a request for proposals to find ways to supply another 10 per cent of the province’s electricity from renewable energy, including wind and solar. Officials say this will create 4,000 jobs, mostly in rural Nova Scotia, and generate more than $550 million in construction activity in wind-rich areas, such as Pictou, Guysborough, Antigonish, Hants, Cumberland, and Colchester counties. The province says the projects will help reduce the province’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than one million tonnes each year.
MOPC provides update on rural internet project
Ph0to: Municipality of Pictou County Warden Robert Parker stands with spools of fibre delivered to Pictou County for the MOPC’s rural internet project. (MOPC Facebook)
The Municipality of Pictou County’s rural internet project has made considerable progress in the last few months. In a report to council last week, staff said both the Phase One fibre/wireless portion as well as the Rapid Response wireless component are getting closer to construction. The County says the fibre shipment has been received for Phase One which will begin in the Lyons Brook and Abercrombie areas. Construction of Phase One of the project is expected to start by September. The County is also working on improving wireless communications with the help of federal government funding through the Universal Broadband Fund Rapid Response Fund. This wireless component is expected to be completed by late November.
The Stellarton and Area Minor Girls Softball Association still has openings for its Learn to Play Program. Please email Dan Richards: danrichards901@msn.com for further information.
