The recent search of a home in Pictou by the Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit has resulted in 56 charges against four people and the seizure of firearms.
The search was conducted on April 24, as part of an ongoing drug trafficking and firearms investigation. During the search, police seized a quantity of heroin, prescription pills, and trace amounts of other drugs, as well as a handgun, sawed-off shotgun, and ammunition.
Four of those arrested are each facing charges of Possession of Heroin for Purpose of Trafficking and Possession of Codeine for the Purpose of Trafficking, several firearms offences, and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime. The fifth person arrested was released without charges.
A Nova Scotia pulp mill that shut down four years ago is seeking a second extension to a stay of proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. Northern Pulp will be in court on Friday and is seeking an extension until July 18th. The company says it needs the time to further advance preparations for a potential sale of its assets if a new mill near Liverpool proves to be unfeasible. Northern Pulp has been under creditor protection since June 2020 after it closed its kraft pulp mill in Pictou County, eliminating 300 jobs.
The Nova Scotia Government has announced that as of today, patients, healthcare workers and other visitors to Nova Scotia hospitals and healthcare facilities no longer have to pay for on-site parking. A ticket validation system will be implemented at some sites to ensure parking is used by patients, visitors, healthcare workers and staff. The total cost of free parking at healthcare facilities is approximately $19 million annually, which was included in the provincial Budget for 2025-26. Hospital foundations and other organizations that depend on parking fees for revenue will have any resulting shortfall covered by the provincial government.
As part of National Volunteer Week, the Town of New Glasgow held its annual Volunteer Awards Ceremony. The awards recognize the incredible volunteers who selflessly give back to the community of New Glasgow and beyond. This year’s recipients include Nyla Borden, Ben Rizzotti, Josephine Leadbetter, Lily MacDonald, Summer Borden, Arthur Tate & Pat MacLean, Rachel MacKenzie, Andrew and Janice Alcorn, Lynn MacLean, Jim Shaw, Sheila Horgan, Beverley Bonvie, Sandra Andersen, and Cherry Paris (posthumously).
River John resident Ed Kennedy is the 2025 Municipality of Pictou County Volunteer of the Year.
Kennedy, along with other nominees and community groups, was honoured during a Volunteer Appreciation Event at the Pictou County Wellness Centre on Tuesday. Kennedy has been a dedicated volunteer with the Municipality of Pictou County’s Climate Change Awareness Committee since it was first formed five years ago and is now Vice Chair.
He leads the Climate Action Subcommittee and is helping set goals for the Municipality to reduce its carbon footprint.
Ed has also served as chair of the Steering Committee for Habitat for Humanity, Pictou County and is on the board of directors for the River John Pickleball Club.
