A 29-year old Stellarton man is facing multiple charges after a home invasion in West New Annan on Sunday. Police were called to a home on Hwy. 246 after a resident woke up to a noise and was confronted by a man with a weapon. A few hours later, RCMP located the suspect walking on Hwy. 4 near Wentworth, but he ran into the nearby woods. He returned minutes later and took the police car, dragging the officer about 10 feet before the officer was thrown onto the road. The officer was given another vehicle by a motorist and went after the suspect who then crashed into another vehicle about 5 kilometers away near Wentworth Valley. He was arrested and taken into custody. The police officer received minor injuries and was released from hospital. The suspect is facing charges that include Aggravated Assault, ResistObstruct Peace Officer, Vehicle Theft, Dangerous Operation of Motor Vehicle Causing Bodily Harm, breaking and entering, and Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose.
Frustration over funding is becoming a flash point in some local Fire Halls with discussion on how to best fix what is seen as a dangerous imbalance in the funding model currently in place for Pictou County’s 17 Rural Fire Departments (18 including Pictou Island FD). In discussions within a committee of fire service members, County Councillors and the Warden, it was determined that five of the rural departments are underfunded to the point where it could impact the delivery of service or the safety of the members. The issue is seen as an imbalance in the way Departments with smaller geographical areas or Districts with smaller populations are funded.
The Fire Service is calling on Municipal Council to return to the discussion table to develop an equitable solution.
Nova Scotia’s Liberal’s N-D-P and Progressive Conservatives are promising to strengthen the powers of the province’s information commissioner by giving her “order-making power.”
But the Liberals are at this point sticking to earlier statements that they’ll conduct a “review” of the legislation. Advocates for freedom of information say the decisions of the commissioner should be binding, unless a public agency can prove in court they should be overturned. The N-D-P and the Progressive Conservatives say that if they are elected, they will make information commissioner Tricia Ralph an independent officer of the legislature with order-making powers.
After the long weekend, the province will release updated COVID-19 data today. On Friday, Nova Scotia had reported one new case of COVID-19 and two recoveries. As of Friday, Nova Scotia had nine active cases of COVID-19. Of those, one person was in a hospital COVID-19 unit in ICU.
Nova Scotia Health Public Health is advising of potential exposure to COVID-19 at locations in the Northern Zone. Anyone who worked at or visited the following locations on the specified dates and times should visit covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/ to book a COVID-19 test, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. You can also call 811 if you don’t have online access, or if you have other symptoms that concern you. For the following locations, if you do not have any symptoms of COVID-19 you do not need to self-isolate while you wait for your test result. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 you are required to self-isolate while you wait for your test result.
- Sobeys (38 George Street, New Glasgow) on July 28 between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named date may develop symptoms up to, and including, August 11.
- Kent Building Supplies (60 Lawrence Blvd, Stellarton) on July 28 between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named date may develop symptoms up to, and including, August 11.
- Walmart (713 Westville Road, New Glasgow) on July 30 between 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named date may develop symptoms up to, and including, August 13.
