Meta, which owns the social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, is removing third-party fact checkers in the United States. The company will keep them in Canada — for now.

Village of Grand Manan Regular Meeting of Council for January 2025 on CHCO Television.

A 49-year-old man has died after being struck by a vehicle in east Saint John Wednesday night, say police.

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A judge ordered Wednesday that a car the Crown claims was used in the trafficking of cocaine can’t be sold or disposed of until the case against the defendant concludes.

Mohammad Karam Abualhawa, 24, of McInnis Court in Fredericton, is scheduled to stand trial in provincial court next January on Sept. 6 counts of possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possessing $300 alleged to be the proceeds of crime.

But the accused and his defence counsel, Fredericton lawyer Ron Morris, were in the Court of King’s Bench on Wednesday to answer to an application brought by the provincial Office of the Attorney General.

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Municipality of Eastern Charlotte Regular Council Meeting for January 2025 on CHCO Television.

Fire chiefs in southern New Brunswick are warning residents to be careful around ice after two people who had gone out on their ATV were found dead at a reservoir near Musquash this week.

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Trina MacDonald, general manager of Business Fredericton North, says a lot of the work the non-profit does is behind the scenes, so it was a point of pride when it funded a new holiday display at the Nashwaaksis Commons this winter.

And when someone tore one of the tall toy soldiers from its metal mount, cracked the figure and destroyed decorative buttons on it, it was particularly disheartening, she said.

The business-improvement area (BIA) organization that represents the interests of northside businesses posted on social media Wednesday about the destruction of some holiday decor for which it paid for display at a community-oriented area.

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As Canadian premiers work on a plan to deal with the tariffs threatened by incoming U.S. president Donald Trump, snow crab producers in New Brunswick worry about how tariffs would affect them.

Silent Blaze is a two-part investigation by The Courier and CHCO-TV. This is Part I. 

New documents reveal the Department of Justice and Public Safety believed door-to-door notification and a Sentinel system alert were enough during a raging forest fire that forced several hundred people from their homes in May 2023, which is why it didn’t issue an Alert Ready emergency message. 

The forest fire started on May 28, 2023, when an ATV caught fire in the woods off South Glenelg Road in Chamcook, just outside Saint Andrews. Firefighters and emergency officials went door-to-door and issued a notice through the town’s subscription-based Sentinel system.

At the time, the town was in the process of moving away from the Sentinel system, which was designed for Saint Andrews proper, not surrounding areas like Bocabec and Chamcook, where the fire was quickly spreading due to high winds, dry conditions and hot temperatures. 

The wildfire in Bocabec burned more than 500 hectares, threatening homes and lives. (CHCO-TV)

The Alert Ready system – designed to broadcast emergency messages through televisions, radios and cell phones – was never used. 

In response to questions by reporters, the public safety minister at the time said the fire did not meet the criteria. 

“It has to meet the criteria of the national Alert Ready system and unfortunately this one didn’t,” Kris Austin said, according to a transcript of his response. 

Austin said at the time he asked about why one wasn’t issued, adding “I am going to follow back with the department to dig in a little deeper on that eligibility and ensure it is being utilized the way it’s supposed to be utilized.” 

On the Alert Ready website, however, examples are provided for the use of the system. Under the table Alert Types, there is a section for fire. 

It categorizes them into four categories: industrial fire, urban fire, wildfire and forest fire. Each has a small blurb for what the alert could be used for. In the case of Bocabec and Chamcook, a relatively rural area, it would have fallen under either wildfire or forest fire, but most likely forest fire. 

“A forest fire is a wildfire or prescribed fire that is burning in a forested areas, grass or alpine/tundra vegetation and poses a threat to human safety,.” said the Alert Ready website. 

The forced evacuation in the Saint Andrews area lasted several days, threatening both homes and people. There were roughly 200 people evacuated, according to the Saint Andrews Fire Department. 

There was a significant response from the Department of Natural Resources, NB RCMP, the Department of Justice and Public Safety and NB Emergency Measures, as well as several fire departments from Charlotte County, including Saint Andrews.

Kyle Leavitt, the director of the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (EMO), said in the early hours of the forest fire that the agency was ready to help coordinate the situation. 

“We base everything off what we describe as the four pillars of emergency management:, mitigation, prevention, preparation, response and then recovery,” he said, speaking with The Courier. “So, really, when we get into that response cycle, we’re going through set steps within our crew and everything moves along.”

He confirmed that the decision to evacuate residents was made locally.

‘We didn’t have enough information’ 

Email exchanges obtained through a Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act request showed the province felt it didn’t have enough information to issue an Alert Ready notification. 

An early email from Matt Steeves to several employees in the Department of Justice and Public Safety, in response to a media request from Global News, said the website shows what the system could be used for, but isn’t criteria. 

“As an aside, the Alert Ready website describes the type of alerts that should be considered for broadcasting but it does not state any criteria to do so,” it reads. “The criteria is situation dependent and the decision made by the local government with either the RCMP and NB Emergency Measures Organization in support by sending in the Alert.” 

An Alert Ready was never issued and then-Public Safety Minister Kris Austin said the fire didn’t meet the criteria. (CHCO-TV)

No criteria was ever released from the department and none was included in the documents. 

An email from Andrew Easton, with the Department of Justice and Public Safety, in a response to a request from Global News, said that the department “needed to provide a factual basis of what happened to ensure we explain what did happen,” on whether Austin mis-spoke about the criteria. 

“I was asked this by the Premier as well, and explained that an alert has to tell the public what to do about the risk and we didn’t have enough detail from the scene to explain that (i.e., it’s a bad idea to tell people to evacuate to the west if you are east of the fire). 

There was also confusion about the town’s use of Sentinel, an alert-based system that people have to subscribe to. At the time, officials from the town said it was transitioning away from that software. 

“Also: I need to understand details of what was done by the town re: alerting using sentinel,” said another email from Andrew Easton to EMO’s Kyle Leavitt, Geoffrey Downey, Cathy Mallet and Judy Desalliers. “This ‘had to remove one of the broadcast messages right before the fire limiting it’s reach’ seems to suggest it was not used.” 

“I understood it was and that it was determined by our REMC (regional emergency measures coordinator) and Ops (operations) staff at the time that the combination of local alerting and door-to-door resulted in a determination an Alert Ready wasn’t needed,” the email said. 

The fire approached several homes, destroying one. More than 200 people were evacuated. (CHCO-TV)

It also suggested the town never asked for the Alert Ready system to be used, but Bocabec – and the area where the fire was located – was still under the jurisdiction of the Department of Local Government. 

Saint Andrews Mayor Brad Henderson said he was never contacted by the province to issue an Alert Ready message.

“There was no official that ever called me that evening to say, ‘What do you think?’” he said in an interview with The Courier. “I will say that when it was time to tell people to return home, I was consulted then, but the night of, there was no consultation whatsoever, as far as I know.” 

Henderson said he couldn’t speak to whether Fire Chief Kevin Theriault was consulted on an alert, but was told the chief did notify the province before even leaving the fire station. 

He explained it was at least 24 hours after the fire started before anyone from the province communicated with the town about the situation. 

“The decision to evacuate all those homes was (made) by the people that were out in the field,” Henderson said. “There was no office in Fredericton that reviewed it. There was nothing like that because there was a little bit of a concern at the time.” 

He said there was no explanation to the town of how the Alert Ready system worked. 

Saint Andrews Mayor Brad Henderson said there were no calls to him about issuing an Alert Ready. (CHCO-TV)

“As far as I know, there was no call like, ‘Hey, do you need an emergency alert? Do you need anything like that?’” he said. “There was no process in place where anyone ever reached out to offer us any assistance. So, we had to take it in our own hands and figure it out the way that we could.”

He explained the town used every platform it had available to it for messaging, including social media, adding he felt like the direction to go to the W.C. O’Neill Arena was clear enough to be included in an Alert Ready message – even if the fire was moving rapidly and unpredictably. 

“That’s why we had hundreds and hundreds of people come to the arena to offer rooms,” he said.  “Everybody in the area certainly knew what we were doing, but I think the key lesson here is do we have to call the province and tell them when they’re supposed to use their own emergency alert system? I don’t have access to the emergency alert system. If I did, would I have used it? Yes, I would have.” 

Leavitt said the department felt that the town’s dissemination of information was enough, reiterating the fire would have had to have met the national criteria. 

“Because of the intrusive nature of it, it really has to meet the criteria that there is an immediate danger – an imminent threat to life and limb,” Leavitt said. in an interview. “So, it has to meet that criteria. That’s why the local officials and authorities on the ground are best positioned to make that call. Once they determine (if) this meets that criteria, then we need to know where the zone is and we need to know what needs to be told to the listeners of the alert or the warning.” 

Henderson is adamant that communication with the province never happened. 

Kevin Quigley is a professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax who specializes in risk governance and critical infrastructure protection, focusing in particular on public sector responses to rare and high impact events.

Firefighers continue to put out hot spots for weeks after the blaze was considered under patrol.

Quigley said these situations in the moment are often complex – but there can be fears of overreacting and underreacting. 

He said minutes, even seconds, count in emergency situations. 

“These things have to be done and there is a human dimension to it,” he said in an interview with The Courier. “Someone actually has to make a decision to do it, and they need to have the confidence and the authority to do it and to do it quickly. There has to be some level of decentralized decision making in terms of doing things, you know, quickly and rapidly and whatnot.” 

He recounted another notable incident without the use of Alert Ready in British Columbia. 

“There was an off-shore earthquake off the coast of British Columbia,” he said. “There was concern that it would create some sort of tsunami effect and it took 45 minutes for the British Columbia Emergency Measures Organization to issue a warning.” 

The earthquake happened off Vancouver Island in January 2018. Emergency Management B.C., according to reporting from CBC, used text messages, first responders, sirens and door-knocking to warn people to go to higher ground. 

“There was no tsunami, though, but what was particularly revealing about it was that Washington state had issued a release in six minutes, so they didn’t really have a get-out-jail-free card, because the obvious question was, why could Washington state do it in six minutes?”

Another example 

There is one other significantly notable instance of the Alert Ready system not being used in an active shooter situation, leading to ultimately fatal consequences.  

In April 2020, a gunman killed 22 people in several Nova Scotia communities before being shot and killed by police in Enfield. He was driving a mock RCMP cruiser and dressed as an RCMP officer. 

The families of several victims said in media interviews and a class-action lawsuit that the Alert Ready system could have saved lives. 

Kyle Leavitt, the director of the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (EMO), said in the early hours of the forest fire that the agency was ready to help coordinate the situation. (CHCO-TV)

In Nova Scotia, the RCMP do not have authority or jurisdiction to issue emergency alerts. All requests must go through the province’s Emergency Management Office. 

Testimony during a public inquiry into the massacre revealed issuing one “didn’t cross their minds.” The RCMP also relied on X (formerly Twitter) as its main form of communication. 

Back in the Saint Andrews area, a significant amount of personnel fought the forest fire for roughly eight days. The fire was considered under control on June 5 but was still being patrolled about a month later. 

“We didn’t know how bad this fire was going to get,” Henderson said. “There was a point in the evening where it was so dark that they had to back off and almost just be responsive in case someone called that it was close to their house.” 

Crews from the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development also battled the blaze, working to save homes and people. Video footage shows fire personnel working on hot spots, washing down the black earth that was left behind. 

Henderson said he has thought a lot about the “what ifs” in the months following the fire.

He said one couple told him after they thought they heard “something” at the door but weren’t sure and slept in their house that night – unaware of the risk surrounding their home. 

“So, an emergency alert probably would have been good if they had a way to get that through to them,” Henderson said.

A proposal to completely transform the face of a prominent downtown Fredericton building was rejected Wednesday night by the planning advisory committee.

The Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission (SNBSC) is hoping to help connect residents in Charlotte County with a family doctor through an event at the Garcelon Civic Center this month.

Charlene Hatt, Regional Director of the SNBSC, said the organization sensed a need in the community.

“We just had a sense there was a large need in the community for primary health care and that they didn’t know or weren’t aware of NB Health Link,” she said in an interview with The Courier.

NB Health Link was created to help link people in New Brunswick without a family doctor, to primary health care.

The SNBSC said they received data from the province showing there were a lower number of people registered than the organization was expecting, given how much they’d heard from residents that they didn’t have a primary health care provider.

Hatt said many of the people they’d heard from weren’t on the list to get primary care providers or were aware of NB Health Link.

“We’re trying to bridge that gap,” she said.

The event will be held at the Garcelon Civic Centre on Jan. 23 in the Halstead Room from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers will be set up with a laptop to assist people with the process of registering for NB Health Link.

“They’ll also explain what to expect after the fact and give them some information on what NB Health Link provides for health care, as well as, what the province has in place for other options if you don’t have a primary physician or nurse practitioner,” Hatt said.

Dial-A-Ride will also provide rides to the event, but you must give 48 hours’ notice. Residents should bring a valid Medicare card.

“If we think there is a need beyond this, we’ll host further events here and around the region,” she said.

Irving Oil put nearly two years of speculation about its future to rest on Tuesday.

The company announced in a statement that it will remain privately held and will not be sold.

“Irving Oil remains a strong and secure company, supported by great employees and valued customers,” the company said in a news release.

“It remains anchored in the values it has forged over the last 100 years beginning with our founder, K.C. Irving, and Arthur Irving.”

Irving Oil quietly announced in June 2023 that it was undertaking a strategic review of the business to explore all future options.

RELATED: Irving Oil considers ownership restructure, sale as part of strategic review

Some of the options being considered included a new ownership structure, a “full or partial sale,” and changing its portfolio and assets.

Months after the review began, Arthur Irving stepped down as chairman and his daughter, Sarah Irving, resigned from her leadership roles as executive vice-president and chief brand officer.

Arthur Irving, whose father K.C. founded Irving Oil, died of cancer last May at the age of 93.

RELATED: Arthur Irving steps down as chairman of Irving Oil

The company also announced Tuesday that Jeff Matthews had been appointed president and CEO of Irving Oil.

Matthews has spent 30 years at the company in roles including chief business development officer, chief financial officer and chair of the executive management committee.

Unified Sports is an international program aimed at students with special needs and exceptionalities. As a branch of the Special Olympics, it organizes tournaments for athletes of all skill levels and aims to deconstruct harmful stereotypes about those with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Students play without any scorekeeping, which frees them from the pressure of winning or losing. The program has engaged more than a million people across the world and continues to branch out, expanding its mission of inclusion to reach even more students. One such branch has found its way to St. Stephen High School.

In the fall of 2023, Jake Estabrooks joined the staff at SSHS. Between teaching English and Tech classes, he wanted to make a difference within the school. Estabrooks had a history with the Unified program, having initially co-founded a branch at Simonds High School as an extension of the Best Buddies program. “When I got the job here, I decided to bring it down and introduce it to Mr. Higgins,” he says. “We worked together to make it happen.” The past year has seen St. Stephen’s Unified mentor numbers triple, and the school has received sponsorship for baseball equipment from the Jays Care Foundation. Above all, it has spread an important message of community and inclusion.

The Unified program strengthens its students’ ties to the school in more than one way. Awareness and conversations about disabilities have increased within the school culture, and a very positive shift in attitudes can be observed. Aside from regular practices, the Unified team partners with the Sports and Recreation Leadership class here at SSHS. Once a week, the class oversees activities, strengthening their mentor abilities and forming relationships. Jacob and Matthew are two Unified students who have been having a blast at practices. Both nodded very enthusiastically when asked if they enjoyed the program and said it was “very good.” Jacob added that all his best friends are in Unified, and then sneakily tricked the interviewer into thinking her shoe was untied.

Many students in Unified who may have felt isolated from their peers are now being welcomed by the student body, with post-game high fives and congratulations regularly exchanged in the hallways. Nothing better exemplifies this than what Estabrooks states as his favourite memory of the program: the entire student body attending a Unified basketball tournament last March. “It was the first tournament that we had at St. Stephen: Every player when they made a basket and the entire crowd cheered and the look on their face and how excited they were to have an entire community rallying behind them”.

Fostering this connection does more than just improve school spirit. Although dropout rates have been falling, roughly 800 New Brunswick students finished school without graduating in 2022. The majority cited their reason for dropping out as ‘personal problems’: a category that includes lack of interest in school. Studies by Statistics Canada and other organizations also find that students involved in athletics and extracurriculars are less likely to drop out than their peers. This is especially relevant for special needs students, who may not be able to participate in conventional athletic programs. Extracurricular programs like Unified are a means of opening this closed door. By engaging students with disabilities, it can boost their enthusiasm about school and increase their chances of academic success.

With so much community support, what are the next steps? As for the future of Unified here in St. Croix, it is filled with nothing but promise. Estabrooks hopes to establish branches at other local schools and has been meeting with educators to make it happen. Plans to bring Unified to Fundy Middle and High School, in St. George, are well underway. We may also see additions to the list of offered sports, such as soccer, or programs available to younger students in the coming years. Whatever happens, Unified will continue to brighten the days of students and staff at SSHS.

Lana Harrell is a student journalist who runs St. Stephen High School’s yearbook and founded its monthly newsletter. She has also written for the St. Croix Courier! She will be attending the University of King’s College next fall to begin a Bachelor of Arts. In her spare time, Lana enjoys reading, crochet, and jewelry-making.

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Two men are scheduled to return to court later this month to answer to charges stemming from an alleged gunshot incident in Nortondale, near Nackawic, early in the new year.

Logan Cullins, 35, of Route 104 in Millville, and Lucas Cullins, 32, of Dunns Crossing Road in Fredericton, both face charges after a Jan. 3 incident in Nortondale, about 15 kilometres north of Nackawic and 65 kilometres west of Fredericton, the RCMP reports.

Court records show the pair face the following counts, all alleged to have occurred Jan. 3:

• discharging a firearm at Bryden Briand with intent to wound, maim, disfigure or endanger his life of Bryden Briand;

• pointing a rifle at Briand;

• pointing a rifle at Chantale Harper;

• using a rifle in a careless manner;

• and possessing that non-restricted firearm without a licence.

Furthermore, Lucas Cullins faces related charges of uttering a threat to Harper to cause death or bodily harm to her and Bryden Briand; and uttering a threat to Harper to kill an animal belonging to her.

“On Jan. 3, 2025, at approximately 6:45 p.m., members of the Nackawic and Keswick RCMP detachments responded to a report of a firearm-related incident on Nackawic Siding Road, in Nortondale,” the Keswick RCMP detachment said in a news release Wednesday.

“When police arrived at the scene, it was confirmed that a firearm was discharged towards an individual following an altercation between three people. Two individuals had since fled the scene.”

After the two suspects were quickly identified, the release said, officers arrested them Jan. 4 without incident.

They appeared in custody in Fredericton provincial court Jan. 6, the RCMP said, and both were released on conditions and directed to return to court Jan. 27 to elect mode of trial and enter pleas.

The release noted the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Goat Island is a 1.5-hectare piece of land tucked between Cox Point and Wuhrs Beach in the northern part of the lake. 

Drug coverage for four drugs used to treat some rare diseases was announced in Fredericton on Wednesday under a $32-million deal signed by the federal and provincial governments.

The steady push of ice has led crews to take precautions with some of the supports they’re using while completing repairs on Hartland’s famous covered bridge.

Debec, Western Valley mourns community leader and businessman Jim Kennedy

To many, Jim Kennedy will be remembered as the “Mayor of Debec,” although the rural hamlet never had an official mayor. 

Others will remember him as the owner of the Debec General Store, which served as the community centre. 

Still, others will remember Kennedy as the hardworking and diligent community leader who dedicated wisdom, time and effort to benefit the entire Western Valley region. 

Many in Carleton North knew Kennedy as the affable general manager of the Carleton Co-op in Florenceville-Bristol. 

Kennedy, born in Woodstock in 1957, died on Jan. 7, leaving a legacy as a devoted family man, community leader, and businessman. 

His impact on the communities he served can be felt by those who enjoy the ever-expanding Debec Community Park or Woodstock’s expanded AYR Motor Centre. 

Debec residents John and Donna Carson worked beside Kennedy on community projects, which will forever be part of his legacy. 

John served with Kennedy, who chaired the Debec Local Service District Advisory Council before the 2023 amalgamation in which Debec became part of the Lakeland Ridges Rural Community. 

“Jim organized people and got them going,” John said. 

He said Kennedy spent much of his life lobbying for the community and supporting its needs. 

“Jim was a driving force,” John said. “He got things done without fanfare. He was a great organizer.” 

Donna, who joined the Debec Rec Council after Kennedy officially left it, said his influence remained with council members. 

“He had his finger on the pulse of what was going on,” she said. “He had a wealth of information which helped a lot. He was inspirational.” 

Former Woodstock Mayor Art Slipp worked beside Kennedy on several levels, including as a board member of the Western Valley Regional Service Commission, where Kennedy sat as chair for two years. 

“I’ll remember him being a strong supporter of the community, especially the kids,” said Slipp. 

He said Kennedy played a pivotal role as part of the advisory committee and the “Something for Everyone Campaign” spearheading the expansion of the AYR Motor Centre. 

Slipp said that as Woodstock mayor, he worked on numerous files with Kennedy, who chaired the Debec LSD Advisory Committee. 

“We really worked well together,” said Slipp. “Jim was always there to defend his community.”

Kennedy always called Debec home. John Carson said those feelings remained even after he sold the Debec General Store and moved from the community. 

John said that when he and Donna spent time at their cottage in the Beechwood area, they would go grocery shopping at the Co-op. He said they made a point of visiting with Kennedy. 

“We would always ask about Debec,” John said. 

The Carsons recalled Kennedy and the Debec General Store’s important role in the community. Donna recalled the Christmas tree Kennedy would erect in the store, including notes that detailed articles of clothing and sizes. She explained a visitor would pick a note and purchase a gift to match the information. 

John said he and other locals often had morning coffee at the store. Many volunteered to help maintain the community park, especially flooding the ice at the outdoor rink. 

“He even got us ball caps that said “Icemakers,” John recalled. 

Kennedy’s Carleton Funeral Home obituary reflects his devotion to family and community. 

“He was known locally as the mayor of Debec because of his long involvement in planning, sourcing, resolving and participating in community development,” it read. “Jim loved the community of Debec and those who called Debec home.” 

Kennedy enjoyed his most recent role with the Carleton Co-Op, where his obituary explained, “he also developed a strong respect and admiration for the community.”

It noted he never lost his commitment to staff, customers and community.

“He was always extremely proud of his commitment to his work and his time at Co-Op was no exception,” it said. “He greatly appreciated working with the employees of these stores as well as meeting and getting to know the people of Northern Carleton County.” 

Kennedy was predeceased by his mother, Charlene Doucette. 

He is survived by his spouse, Michelle Griffin; three sons, Ryan Kennedy (Claire), Trevor Kennedy (Yoshimi), and Brendan Kennedy (Winter); stepson Connor Griffin; granddaughters Hana and Mei; and siblings Colleen Laskey, Richard Doucette (Heather), and Cherie Doucette Linder (Paul).

Mass was held on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, at 11 a.m. at St Gertrude’s Roman Catholic Church in Woodstock. Interment will take place in the spring at Calvary Cemetery.

Donations in Jim’s memory can be made to the Debec Animal Shelter if desired.

The post ‘He was a driving force in the community’ first appeared on River Valley Sun.

The first-degree murder trial of Zakkary Reed heard from a forensic identification officer about the evidence collected at the crime scene and from Reed.

The Provincial Women’s Curling Championship has kicked off in St. Andrews.

An invitation was sent to the Heather Curling Club (HCC) in March and volunteers have been preparing for months.

The tournament is the format of TKO and teams will play two shifts a day. (Nathalie Sturgeon/The Courier)

HCC president Roger McNabb said the 100-plus years the curling club has been in business has prepared them well for success in a large and significant tournament.

“It is certainly exciting to have a provincial tournament like this coming to St. Andrews this time of year when things are pretty slow,” he said in a previous interview with The Courier. “We hope that the town will appreciate having this event.”

For Mayor Brad Henderson, these types of events present an opportunity to bolster sports tourism during the town’s shoulder season.

“Those yield so much potential to bring people to our community in the shoulder seasons in the winter, and we’ve seen it,” Henderson said from the opening ceremonies of the tournament.  “When our community is the busiest is when there’s a hockey tournament going on up here or a big curling, and this weekend should be no different.”

Melissa Adams and her team are looking to defend the title. (Nathalie Sturgeon/The Courier)

He said St. Andrews has been recognized as a place where tournaments like these can be held and done well, which is no doubt why it was chosen this year.

“It is a small facility with only three sheets, but if you know, Verne Lister and his team, anyone that’s ever been on this ice will say that it’s improved every year to the point where it could be across the province, considered a high-level Playing surface.”

St. Croix MLA Kathy Bockus was also on hand to welcome the curling tournament.

“It is amazing to have a provincial championship in this little corner of the province,” she said.

Bockus said it was also amazing to see the ages of the women playing, all of whom have competed in this tournament in the past.

“I’m sure that the next three or four days are going to be so exciting here for the residents to watch, and hopefully, visitors to come and watch. It’s amazing,” she said.

The tournament lasts for five days and will wrap up on Jan. 19. (Nathalie Sturgeon/The Courier)

The tournament is in the TKO format, and each team will play two shifts a day until Saturday, McNabb explained.

Seven teams are competing for the championship title including the defending champions, captained by Melissa Adams, two teams from the Capital Winter Club, three teams from Curl Moncton, and one from the Gage Curling Club.

Games will begin on Jan. 16 and run until Jan. 19.

After a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers in Ottawa, Premier Susan Holt says they are united on a Canada-first approach to fighting any potential hefty tariffs from the incoming Trump administration, even though Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she’s reluctant to jeopardise the province’s oil industry in a trade war.

Three youths are charged in connection with the death of 41-year-old André Bourgeois in September. Tyler Totten, 19, is also charged with manslaughter and has also selected a jury trial.

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A Fredericton man who failed to appear for a court date last week, only to appear the next day, was a no-show once again Wednesday, marking the fourth time he hasn’t attended as required.

Darrell Richard Barnes, 52, of Brunswick Street, was supposed to appear in Fredericton provincial court Jan. 6 to answer to indictable charges alleging he discharged a rifle at Dustin Madden with intent to wound him or endanger his life, pointed a rifle at Madden, possessed the rifle without a licence, and possessed stolen social insurance and Visa cards, all on Oct. 3, 2023, in Geary.

However, he didn’t appear as directed on that date, marking the third time he’d done so, and a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

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There's relief in Saint John and across New Brunswick that the province's biggest exporter is staying put. There's also no clear answer why Irving Oil made the decision not to sell. 

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The Fredericton Police Force is working to identify a suspect in a significant drug bust that came about because someone called 911 about a possible impaired driver New Year’s Eve.

The force issued a news release Wednesday about a Dec. 31 response that led to the discovery of a drug stash.

“On the evening of Dec. 31, 2024, the Fredericton Police Force (FPF) patrol division initiated a traffic stop in response to a call about a suspected impaired driver,” the release said.

“The vehicle fled from police and was later located, abandoned, during patrols.”

The driver fled on foot, police reported, and the RCMP’s police-dog services unit was called in to aid in the search for the suspect.

That individual wasn’t found, the release said, but the police dog led officers to an abandoned bookbag, found to contain illicit items.

Among them were 425 grams of methamphetamine, 21.6 grams of fentanyl, 203 Ice (speed) pills, 57 hydromorphone (Dilaudid) pills and $730 in Canadian cash.

“The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately $23,000,” the release said.

The police force credited community vigilance for the drug seizure.

“The initial call about a suspected impaired driver led to the discovery of a large quantity of drugs, preventing them from reaching our streets,” the release said, urging residents to be alert and to report suspicious activity. “If you see something, say something.”

In addition to emergency calls to 911, people can crimes by calling the Fredericton Police Force non-emergency line at 506-460-2300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.

Reports can also be made online on the City of Fredericton website at https://www.fredericton.ca/.../police-force/report-crime

The Dec. 31 incident remains under investigation, the release said, as officers work to identify the driver.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached at [email protected].

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Since Jan. 9, customers must have cash in hand to buy anything at N.B. Liquor and Cannabis N.B. stores, after a cyber security incident caused them to stop accepting debit, credit and gift cards.

The New Brunswick government is prepared to send 23 firefighters to California to fight the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County if they are needed.

In a release, the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development said those firefighters had completed their mandatory fitness test and were ready to deploy.

“We were asked, our team responded, and they are poised to go as soon as we receive the call,” said John Herron, the Natural Resources Minister. “When neighbours are in trouble, you help. I am impressed with everyone’s willingness to step up and how quickly this all came together over the weekend.”

There has also been support from New Brunswick businesses offering assistance to transport the firefighters.

J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI), a major forestry company based in Saint John, is one of them.

“Being ready to respond to wildfires is an important part of what we do,” said Jim Irving, co-CEO of J.D. Irving, Limited, which is prepared to contribute two planes to the effort. “And being a good neighbour is top of the list. We’re always happy to do what we can to help in times of crisis.”

Alongside JDI, Cooke Aquaculture, which has significant ties to Charlotte County, and Ocean Capital have also offered help in getting firefighters to the United States.

John Irving, the president of Ocean Capital said in the release, that when New Brunswick was called upon to help, they agreed to help.

“It is our duty to support our neighbours during this challenging time and our thoughts are with everyone affected.”

Cooke Aquaculture CEO Glenn Cooke said those who serve as first responders are truly heroes.

“As a New Brunswick family company, we’re honoured to support their commitment to safety and willingness to jump into action to help Californians,” he said in the statement.

The department’s wildfire management branch often works with its Atlantic region partners to “determine the response when the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre calls.”

“New Brunswick has highly trained and experienced wildland firefighters and overhead personnel, and we are ready to deploy quickly as part of an Atlantic contingent,” said branch director Troy Adams.

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre is a not-for-profit corporation owned and operated by the federal, provincial, and territorial wildland fire management agencies to co-ordinate mutual aid, according to the release.

New Brunswick deployed 144 members of its wildfire team across Canada last year to assist in fighting wildfires.

A long-time radio broadcaster is among five new inductees to the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame.

Mark Downey has been an announcer at 98.1 FM in St. Stephen since its launch back in May 2001.

The station initially started as The Tide but has been known as Charlotte FM for a number of years.

Downey, who is the morning show host and program director, also hosts the Weekend Jamboree on sister station Country 94 in Saint John.

“To this day, I still love music and love to help promote local talent,” said Downey.

Charlotte FM and Country 94 are both owned by Acadia Broadcasting Corporation, which also owns 97.3 The Wave in Saint John and 91.9 The Bend in Moncton.

Also being inducted are singer-songwriter Chris Cummings of Norton, musician Andre “Coco” McGraw of Moncton, singer Anna Thibodeau of Chipman and singer Oland Monteith of Fredericton.

The New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to country music in New Brunswick.

This year’s induction ceremony will take place in Saint John in October. More details will be released at a later date.

The team from Atlantic Canada has withdrawn from this year's National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in Kamloops, B.C., to the disappointment of players and their families.

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A jury will decide the case of three teenagers accused of causing a man’s death by attacking him in Fredericton’s downtown bar district last fall.

The Fredericton Police Force charged three teenage boys last fall with a joint count of manslaughter, alleging they caused the death of André Bourgeois, 41, of Grande-Digue, on Sept. 22, by assaulting him in the Tannery, a courtyard space in the capital’s downtown bar district.

Though the incident in the Tannery occurred in the early-morning hours of Sept. 22, Bourgeois died a few days later.

The three defendants’ identities are protected as per the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The case was back in Fredericton youth court Wednesday for election of mode of trial.

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Thefts of copper wire continue to be a problem in the capital region, and the Fredericton Police Force is hoping members of the public can help with an investigation from last month.

The city police force released photos through social media Wednesday of individuals and a car suspected of involvement in a theft of copper wire on Wilsey Road, on the outskirts of Fredericton’s south side, the evening of Dec. 12.

The force acknowledged the photos - which appear to be stills from a security camera or some other distant source - were of lesser quality, but it was nevertheless hoping someone might be able to identify the suspects or the vehicle.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Fredericton Police Force by calling 506-460-2300 or emailing Det. Taylor Foreman at [email protected].

Those wishing to provide tips anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App or submitting information online through Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

Tipsters can cite police file no. 2024-28474.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached at [email protected].

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Restaurants and bars with tap beer and cider can only buy from 13 select producers while problems continue at N.B. Liquor.

Do you want to reduce how much money you’re spending on food drastically? I know I do and I bet you do too. Who wants to spend thousands of dollars every year on groceries? But do you know what’s truly shocking?

The average family of four spent approximately $16,297 on food in 2024. According to the 2025 Canadian Food Price Report, overall food prices are expected to increase by 3% to 5%.

This means the same family of four will spend around $16,833.67 on food this year—an increase of up to $801.56 compared to last year.

Even more shocking is that most of us throw away 35% to 40% of the food we buy. For that same family of four, this translates to wasting between $5,891 and $6,733 annually on food they’re not eating.

I don’t know about you, but that’s money I can’t afford to throw away. So why are we doing this? The reasons include poor planning, overbuying, improper food storage, and discarding still-edible food. For instance, food labels like “best by” dates don’t mean the food is unsafe to eat—they’re simply an indication of when the food is at its freshest.

I’ll admit, that I’ve thrown away perfectly edible food because I wasn’t sure if it was still safe to consume. Even now, I follow the “when in doubt, throw it out” rule. However, by following safe food handling guidelines, you can better understand how long certain foods can be kept before they need to be cooked or eaten.

For example:
• Raw ground meats can be stored in the refrigerator for two days, while whole meats like roasts can last up to five days.
• Cooked meats should be eaten within two to three days.
• Fruits and vegetables can last several weeks in the refrigerator—provided they’re properly stored.

It’s important to wash and dry produce before storing it. Unwashed fruits and vegetables can lead to foodborne illnesses or the consumption of chemical residues. Once washed and dried, store produce in airtight containers, such as mason jars, to prolong freshness significantly.

Going to the grocery store without a plan is a guaranteed way to waste money. First, take inventory of your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Know what’s already there, and plan your meals for the week based on those items, supplemented by grocery store sale items.

Once you’ve created a menu and “shopped your kitchen,” head to the store with a list—and stick to it. Avoid being tempted by items outside your plan.

When you get home, it’s important to manage your purchases to prevent spoilage. For example, if you buy a multipack of chicken but only need half for a meal, repackage the rest and freeze it for later. Washing, chopping, and portioning fruits and vegetables for snacking or meal prep ensures they’re used while still fresh.

Posting your weekly menu in the kitchen serves as a reminder to use these foods before they spoil. It can also signal to your family that certain ingredients are designated for meals—not random snacking. Have you ever bought an ingredient for dinner, only to find someone ate it before you could use it? Frustrating and costly.

Avoid this by designating a specific shelf in your fridge or pantry for snacks. Your family will know these items are fair game, while everything else is reserved for meals.

Next week, join me as I share how you can build an emergency food storage with just $5 a week—and the results of a zero-spend challenge where I relied entirely on what I had at home for every meal for an entire week.

Police ask the public for help in the search for a 20-year-old wanted in connection to ongoing investigation

The McAdam RCMP released information and a photo as they asked the public for help in its efforts to find a man wanted by police.  

The RCMP are searching for 20-year-old Connor Riley MacIntosh of McAdam in connection with an ongoing investigation in the community. 

The RCMP release describes MacIntosh as 5 feet 11 inches (180 centimetres) tall and weighing approximately 194 pounds (88 kilograms), with green eyes and brown hair. 

Police said he was seen in the Fredericton area on Jan. 12. 

The RCMP recommends that the public not approach him but call their local police force immediately if they see him. 

“At this time, police do not believe there is a risk to the general public,” the RCMP added in its statement. 

The RCMP ask anyone with information on MacIntosh’s whereabouts to contact the McAdam RCMP at 506-784-1204. 

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

The post McAdam RCMP seeking wanted man first appeared on River Valley Sun.

The sister of a man killed at the construction site of a wind farm in southern New Brunswick last summer is shocked by the "slap on the wrist" penalty imposed against one of the companies involved.

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Almost a year after he denied a drug-trafficking charge, a New Brunswick man admitted to the indictable charge on the day he was scheduled to stand trial.

Nicholas MacDonald, 30, of no fixed address, elected in February 2024 to be tried in provincial court and pleading not guilty to a count of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The RCMP charge alleged an offence in French Village, located just a few kilometres west of Fredericton, on Aug. 2, 2023.

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The construction project on the bridge leading to the Mactaquac Dam has blown by its 2024 deadline, meaning continued delays for the thousands of commuters who use the crossing every day.

Assault charges for couple caught at the U.S. border

Takoda Louis Lee Christian, 19, of Woodstock, formerly of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 to answer three charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m.

Woodstock Police charged Christian with aggravated assault, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and failing to remain at the scene of an accident following an incident outside the Royal Canadian Legion in Woodstock on Nov. 14, 2024, around 8:55 p.m. Police were called to the scene, and a man was transported to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Christian and a co-accused, Hannah McGuire, 18, were arrested on a warrant on Dec. 20, 2024, while attempting to cross the Woodstock-Houlton border. They were held in custody for a bail hearing on Dec. 23, 2024, and released with conditions. McGuire returns to court for plea on Jan. 28 at 9:30 a.m.

Lakeville man held for bail hearing

Brycen Trae Stewart, 28, of Lakeville, was arrested on warrants and appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14. He was remanded into custody to await a bail hearing on Jan. 16 at 1:30 p.m.

Woodstock Police charged Stewart with dangerous driving, fleeing police, and breaching his curfew on Dec. 16, 2024, in Woodstock. He was also charged with breaching a no-contact order on Jan. 13.

A warrant was issued for Stewart’s arrest after he failed to appear in court to answer charges on Dec. 10, 2024. He also failed to appear in court on Oct. 30, 2024, and an arrest warrant was issued at that time.

He was charged with two counts of breaching his release order (curfew) concerning incidents on Sept. 24 and Oct. 8, 2024, in Woodstock. He appeared in court in custody via teleconference on Oct. 22, 2024, and was released with conditions.

He was also charged with breaking into a dwelling house on May 25, 2024, in Killoween and possessing a stolen vehicle on Aug. 4, 2023, in Lakeville. He is still awaiting plea on those charges as well.

In custody awaiting trial

Hilton Romeo Fredericks, 26, of Kirkland, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on Jan. 13 and told the court he intended to change his plea to guilty on charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned until Jan. 16 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him to consult legal counsel.

Fredericks has been in jail in Saint John for the past several months following remand for aggravated assault on a minor in Fredericton. His trial is set for March.

Woodstock Police charged Fredericks with breaching a release order stemming from an incident between Feb. 16 and March 16, 2024, in Woodstock. The crown withdrew that charge on Jan. 13.

He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 7, 2024, and was released with conditions, including house arrest and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was later arrested in Fredericton.

He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 15, 2024, to answer another charge of breaching his release order. On April 13, 2024, Woodstock Police charged him with being at large on a release order. He was wearing an ankle bracelet at the time. He waived his bail on April 18, 2024, and was remanded.

He appeared in provincial court in custody on April 11, 2024, for a bail hearing on a charge of breaching his release order. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.

Woodstock Police charged him with breaching his release order by being at large at a Woodstock residence and by violating a no-contact order on April 6, 2024.

Fredericks appeared in court in custody on April 4, 2024, and was charged with assaulting another man concerning an incident on April 2, 2024, in Woodstock. He was released with conditions but returned to custody.

He also appeared in provincial court in custody on March 18, 2024, on a charge of breaching his release order laid by Woodstock Police. He was released with conditions at that time but was re-arrested.

Fredericks appeared in provincial court on March 12, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to two other charges laid by Woodstock Police. Woodstock Police charged him with assault involving a female victim and breach of an undertaking in connection with an incident on Jan. 23, 2024, in Woodstock. He was brought into custody on Jan. 26, 2024, and spent the weekend in jail.

Decision pending in sexual assault

Maurice Joseph Rossignol, 68, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 15 at 1:30 p.m. for a verdict following his trial for sexual assault.

Rossignol appeared for trial in provincial court on Oct. 23, 2024, after pleading not guilty to sexual assault. Woodstock Police charged him in connection with an incident on Aug. 30, 2023, in Woodstock.

During the trial, the court heard Rossignol allegedly grabbed a woman by the breast and genitals when he came to her apartment to request repayment of a $45 loan. Rossignol denied the allegations and testified he left immediately after she refused to pay him. The woman told the court she screamed when he grabbed her and then kicked him out.

Sentencing set on two charges

Edward Hayes Jr., 29, of Benton, appeared for sentencing in provincial court in custody on Jan. 13 for sentencing after pleading guilty to two charges. The matter was adjourned until Jan. 17 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of the crown.

Hayes pleaded guilty to flight from police and breach of probation, shoplifting at the Superstore in Grand Falls on May 24, 2023, and breach of probation on March 14, 2023, in Grand Falls.

He also appeared in custody by video on Oct. 3, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by the RCMP. His trial dates were set for Jan. 17, Jan. 30, and Feb. 6, all at 9:30 a.m.

Hayes was denied bail. He was charged with refusing a breathalyzer demand, resisting arrest, assaulting two police officers, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, assault on a female victim, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, and driving while prohibited in connection with an incident on Aug. 27, 2024, at Centreville.

Sentenced to 12.5 months in jail

John Long, 35, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 13 for sentencing on several charges. He was handed 12.5 months in jail, minus time served and 12 months of probation.

Long was also ordered to undergo mental health counselling and register with the federal DNA database. The court also imposed a firearms prohibition.

Long appeared in court on Jan. 12, 2024, for a bail hearing and was remanded to jail. He was charged with two counts of breaching a release order and breach of probation concerning a Jan. 5, 2024, incident in Woodstock.

He changed his plea to guilty to one charge of breaching his release order by violating electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet), and the crown withdrew the other two charges.

On Jan. 13, Long also pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest and uttering threats at the Madawaska jail on Jan. 6, 2024, and guilty to mischief causing property damage to the jail sprinkler system on Dec. 10, 2023.

The court heard he finished serving another sentence on other separate charges in October 2024 and, therefore, had three months of remand time to be applied to his new sentence. Long has a lengthy prior criminal record.

Released with conditions

Joshua Desroches, 20, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 13 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on April 15 at 9:30 a.m.

Woodstock Police charged Desroches with assault in connection with an incident on July 10, 2024, in Woodstock.

He also appeared in provincial court on April 16, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to two other charges. His trial date was set for April 2, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

RCMP charged Desroches with breach of an undertaking by violating a no-contact order stemming from an incident on Sept. 25, 2023, near Woodstock. He was arrested and later released from custody with conditions with an order to attend court and have no contact with the complainant. The court heard he also has other charges in Fredericton.

Desroches appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on March 21, 2024, and was released with conditions. He was arrested on a warrant and charged with failing to appear in court on Feb. 13, 2024.

Pair jointly charged with offence

Avory Saige Vatali, 22, and Alexander Timothy Gordon Jansen, 22, both of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 to answer a charge laid by Woodstock Police.

Vatali and Jansen were jointly charged with failing to provide the necessities of life to another person in connection with a recent incident in Woodstock. The matter was adjourned for plea until Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m. Before their next court appearance, Vatali was ordered to undergo a mental health assessment.

Guilty plea for privacy invasion

Dale Boyle, 70, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 and pleaded guilty to one charge laid by RCMP.  His sentencing date was set for April 22 at 1:30 p.m.

Boyle pleaded guilty to making a visual recording of another person without their consent when there was a reasonable expectation for privacy for an incident between Feb. 1 and Aug. 10, 2024, at Plaster Rock. The court heard the charges involved two victims. The crown ordered a pre-sentence report and victim impact statements.

Woodstock woman to stand trial

Lisa Barrett, 49, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 and pleaded not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP. Her trial date was set for Dec. 4 at 9:30 a.m.

Barrett was charged with uttering threats and obstructing the course of justice for an incident on Aug. 24, 2024, at Wicklow. She was released on an undertaking until her next court appearance.

Limestone woman gets trial date

Brandi Cowper, 46, of Limestone, will appear for trial in provincial court on Dec. 15 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to one charge laid by RCMP.

Cowper was charged with obstructing the course of justice concerning an incident on Aug. 10, 2024, in Jackson Falls. She was scheduled to attend court on Jan. 14 for plea and did not appear but was represented by defence counsel via teleconference.

Released on an undertaking

Derek Oliver, 34, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 and pleaded not guilty to one charge laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for Nov. 3 at 1:30 p.m.

Oliver was charged with breaking and entering into a garage in Hartland on Aug. 9, 2024. He was released on an undertaking and ordered to have no contact with the complainant.

Glassville man has two charges

Adam Luc Joseph Thibodeau of Glassville appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 for monitoring about his trial after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial date was set for July 28 at 1:30 p.m.

Thibodeau was charged with possessing a stolen vehicle and possession of a stolen licence plate in connection with an incident on April 9, 2024, in Woodstock. He was released on an undertaking until his trial.

Plaster Rock man charged with assault

Philip Campbell, 34, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 and pleaded not guilty to two charges. His trial date was set for Dec. 1 at 1:30 p.m.

Campbell was charged by RCMP with breach of an undertaking and assault involving a female victim in connection with an incident on Oct. 6, 2024, at Perth-Andover. A monitoring date for his trial was set for March 11 at 9:30 a.m.

Not-guilty plea for Neqotkuk man

Thomas Perley of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 for monitoring about his trial after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for May 26 at 1:30 p.m.

Perley was charged with refusing a breathalyzer and leaving the scene of an accident stemming from an incident on March 29, 2024, at Neqotkuk. He confirmed he has legal counsel to proceed to trial.

Plea adjourned to new date

Brittany Priscilla King, 27, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 to answer one charge laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m.

King appeared in provincial court in custody on Dec. 10. She was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing and was released with conditions on Dec. 20.

Woodstock Police charged King with breach of a release order by violating electronic monitoring between Dec. 7 and Dec. 9, 2024, in Woodstock. She is also awaiting trial on other separate matters.

King was charged by Woodstock Police with assault with a weapon (a knife), assault causing bodily harm to a male victim, theft, and unlawful entry at a dwelling house, concerning an incident on Nov. 5, 2023, in Woodstock. She pleaded not guilty, and her trial dates were rescheduled for April 14 and April 24 at 9:30 a.m.

She was also charged with possessing a stolen vehicle, dangerous driving, committing mischief causing property damage and assault using a vehicle following an incident on Sept. 17, 2023, in Woodstock. She pleaded not guilty, and her trial was adjourned until May 8.

King was also charged with possessing a stolen vehicle on Nov. 22, 2022, and failing to attend court on Feb. 21, 2023. She pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for April 14 at 9:30 a.m.

Awaiting plea on several charges

Logan Estey, 20, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 to answer multiple charges. The matter was adjourned for plea until Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.

Estey was charged by RCMP with assault, assault with a weapon (a car), and dangerous driving following an incident on July 24, 2024, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation).

Woodstock Police charged him with two counts of breaching a no-contact order concerning an incident on Aug. 3, 2024, in Woodstock. He was ordered to have no further contact with the complainant. He appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 8, 2024, and was released with conditions.

He was also charged with mischief causing property damage to a window and possession of a firearm to commit an offence in connection with an incident on Jan. 1, 2024, in Upper Woodstock. The court heard Estey is also facing more charges in Fredericton.

Charged with drug trafficking

Charles Giberson, 46, of Rothesay, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 to answer a charge of drug trafficking laid by Woodstock Police.

Giberson was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, stemming from an incident on July 24, 2024, in Woodstock. He was released on an undertaking and returns to court for plea on Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m.

Arrest warrant issued

An arrest warrant was issued for Christopher Thomas O’Keefe, 27, of Fredericton, formerly of Fielding, after he failed to appear in court on Jan. 14 to answer a sex charge.

O’Keefe was charged by RCMP with sexual assault in connection with an incident on Feb. 26, 2023, at Upper Brighton.

Trial date set

Gary Ross, 45, of Richmond Settlement, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 to set a date for his trial on an assault charge.

RCMP charged Ross with assaulting another man following an incident on Feb. 22, 2024, at Perth-Andover. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial was set for Dec. 11 at 9:30 a.m.

He told the court the charge was bogus, and the alleged complainant was no longer in the area. A monitoring date was set for March 18 at 9:30 a.m.

Facing weapons charges

London Murchison, 19, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 for plea on two charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.

Murchison was charged with assault with a weapon (a knife) and possession of a prohibited weapon (a butterfly knife) concerning an incident on Sept. 2, 2024, at Plaster Rock. He was released on an undertaking until his next court date.

Neqotkuk man awaiting trial

Shawn Carmichael, 63, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 and pleaded not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for Dec. 5 at 9:30 a.m.

Carmichael was charged with assault involving a female victim and assault with a weapon in relation to an incident on Oct. 4, 2024, at Neqotkuk. He was released on an undertaking until his next court date.

Awaiting plea on assault charge

Tristan Alexander Calhoun, 38, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 for plea on an assault charge. The matter was adjourned until Feb. 25 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.

Woodstock Police charged Calhoun with assaulting a woman, stemming from an incident between March 31 and Oct. 30, 2024, in Woodstock. He was released on an undertaking until his next court appearance.

Charged with breaching curfew

Ronald Terry Bowmaster, 37, of Bairdsville, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 to answer a charge of breaching his curfew. The matter was adjourned for plea until Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.

Bowmaster was charged by RCMP with breaching his release order (curfew) for an incident on March 17, 2024, at Bairdsville.

Returning for plea

Joshua Sisson, 37, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 for plea on two charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.

Sisson was charged with attempted break and enter and mischief causing property damage to a shed on Sept. 24, 2024, at Neqotkuk.

Beechwood man waives bail

Clay Hargrove, 30, of Beechwood, will appear in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 16 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on charges laid by RCMP.

He appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on Dec. 17, 2024, and waived his bail.

Hargrove was charged by RCMP with possession of stolen vehicle, flight from police, driving while prohibited and driving while suspended following an incident on Dec. 8, 2024, at Tobique Narrows.

He was also charged with breaking into a cabin, theft, and mischief causing property damage to a door in relation to a separate incident. 

More charges of aggravated assault involving a male victim, and possession of a stolen motorcycle were also laid for an incident on Aug. 27, 2024, at Upper Kent.

Plea delayed on several charges

Mitchell LaFrance, 26, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 to answer charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until Jan. 21 at 1:30 p.m.

LaFrance appeared in court in custody by video on Dec. 16, 2024, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. RCMP charged him in connection with an alleged breach of his house arrest on Dec. 7, 2024.

RCMP also charged LaFrance with breaching a no-contact order for an incident on Sept. 21, 2024, at Florenceville-Bristol. He also faces a charge of assault causing bodily harm involving a female victim stemming from an incident on July 19, 2024, at Carlingford.

LaFrance also appeared for trial in provincial court on Oct. 10, 2024, and changed his plea to guilty on two other charges laid by RCMP. He returns to court for sentencing on Jan. 21 at 1:30 p.m.

LaFrance pleaded guilty to breaching an undertaking by failing to comply with a no-contact order on Oct. 2, 2023, at East Brighton.

He also pleaded guilty to criminal harassment for incidents between Aug. 28 and Sept. 25, 2023, in Lower Brighton, involving the same female complainant. The court heard he tried to contact the same female victim hundreds of times by phone, text message, and on Facebook. The crown withdrew a threat charge.

Awaiting plea in knife incident

Chelsea Sacobie, 31, of no fixed address, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an assault charge.

Sacobie was charged by RCMP with assault with a weapon (a knife) involving a male victim following an incident on Oct. 10, 2024, at Perth-Andover. She appeared in court on Jan. 14 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.

Senior facing two charges

Ursel Wagner Estabrooks, 71, of Wilmot, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 14 and pleaded not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP. Her trial date was set for Nov. 10 at 1:30 p.m.

Estabrooks was charged with impaired driving and dangerous driving stemming from an incident on Aug. 18, 2024, at St. Thomas.

Awaiting new trial date

Trevor Lee Crain, 49, of Killoween, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 11 at 9:30 a.m. to set new dates for his trial after pleading not guilty to multiple charges laid by RCMP.

Crain was scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 14. Defence Counsel Tim Dube appeared on his behalf and requested the matters be adjourned to Feb. 11.

The RCMP charged Crain with possessing a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles), resisting arrest, and breach of a release order in connection with an incident on July 1, 2024, at Killoween. He appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing in August and was released with conditions.

He was also charged with breaking into a residence and committing sexual assault for another incident between May 1 and May 23, 2023, at Moose Mountain. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was set for July 25. Dube agreed with that date.

He also faces a charge of possessing stolen property for a separate incident on May 5, 2024. He pleaded not guilty and a trial date will be set at his next court appearance.

RCMP charged Crain with breaking and entering at a dwelling house and breaching an undertaking on June 15, 2023, at Moose Mountain, and committing an assault involving a female victim on June 11, 2023, at Killoween.

He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 14, 2023, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was ordered to follow a curfew and report to the police weekly as part of his release order but was brought back into custody.

Warrant on file

Kyle Laurie Williams, 35, of Clearview, was scheduled to appear in provincial court on Jan. 14 for monitoring about his trial. He did not appear, and a warrant was held on file.

The court heard the trial will proceed with court-appointed counsel for cross-examination. Williams’ trial was rescheduled Feb. 26 at 9:30 a.m.

RCMP charged him with transmitting intimate images without consent concerning an incident on June 4, 2023, at Centreville. Williams entered his not-guilty plea during a court appearance on Jan. 9, 2024.

Released on an undertaking

Paul Allingham, 48, of Enterprise in Victoria County, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m. to answer an assault charge.

Allingham was charged with assaulting another man in connection with an incident on Sept. 17, 2024, near Plaster Rock. He appeared in court on Jan. 14 when the matter was adjourned for plea to the new date at the request of his defence counsel. He was released on an undertaking until that time.

In custody awaiting sentence

Brandon Jay Smith, 26, of Centreville, will appear in provincial court in custody by video for sentencing on Jan. 15 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading guilty to charges laid by RCMP.

Smith appeared in court on April 4, 2024, for a bail hearing and was remanded to jail. The RCMP charged him with breaking into a dwelling and stealing firearms on July 3, 2023, in Summerfield.

He was also charged with break, enter and theft at a dwelling house, breaking into a garage, and theft of a trailer related to an incident on March 18, 2024, on the Back Greenfield Road. One of the charges was withdrawn by the crown.

Sentencing adjourned

Gavin Schloemer, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court for sentencing on Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m. on several charges laid by RCMP.

Schloemer was scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on Jan. 14, but his defence counsel requested that the matter be adjourned to a new date. The court heard that Schloemer was in the hospital and could not attend.

Schloemer appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Sept. 27, 2024, and was released with conditions. He was charged with breaching a release order (house arrest) in connection with an incident on Sept. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2024.

He also appeared in provincial court on June 17, 2024, and pleaded guilty to three other charges laid by RCMP. 

Schloemer pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and assaulting police on June 21, 2024, at Neqotkuk, and assaulting police on June 21, 2024, at Williamstown. The crown withdrew another charge of failing to appear in court.

Decision pending on two charges

Gabriel John Tomah, 21, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court on Jan. 15 at 9:30 a.m. for a decision following his trial on two charges laid by RCMP.

Tomah was charged with assault involving a female victim and uttering threats in connection with an incident on Oct. 1, 2023, at Neqotkuk. He pleaded not guilty. Testimony at the trial continued throughout the day on Dec. 18, 2024.

Plea scheduled for Ontario man

Ryan James Dunford, 43, of London, Ontario, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 28 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on one charge laid by Woodstock Police.

Dunford was charged with mischief causing property damage to a vehicle on June 21, 2024, in Woodstock.  He was released on an undertaking and entered a rehab facility in Ontario.

Glassville man to stand trial

Christopher Demerchant, 44, of Glassville, will appear for trial in provincial court on May 28 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to three charges laid by RCMP.

Demerchant was charged with uttering threats involving a female victim and forcible entry concerning an incident on March 10, 2024, at Mount Pleasant. He was also charged with prowling at night at a dwelling house in Mount Pleasant on March 5, 2024.

He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on June 11, 2024. Defence Counsel James Crocco appeared in court on Jan. 14 and confirmed Demerchant will be ready to proceed to trial.

Neqotkuk woman pleads not guilty

Maurene Anne Nicholas, 48, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear for trial in provincial court on May 7 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to an assault charge.

RCMP charged Nicholas with assaulting another woman near Perth-Andover on Oct. 28, 2022. On Jan. 14, the court heard Nicholas was still awaiting legal counsel to proceed to trial.

11 months in jail or time served

Jordan Perley, 36, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody on Dec. 24 for sentencing on charges laid by RCMP.

He was sentenced to 11 months in jail or time served and released. Perley was also placed on two years of probation. The court also imposed a lifetime prohibition on firearms.

Perley was denied bail in June. He pleaded guilty to breaking into a dwelling house with intent to commit an assault with a weapon (a stick), mischief causing property damage, and uttering threats concerning an incident on May 17, 2024, at Neqotkuk. The crown withdrew five other charges.

Perley also pleaded guilty to mischief causing property damage to a door and window on Jan. 1, 2024, at Neqotkuk, and guilty to mischief and possession of a prohibited weapon (a butterfly knife), on March 18, 2024, at Neqotkuk.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court on April 9, 2024. The crown withdrew four other charges. Perley has a prior criminal record.

During the sentencing hearing, the court heard Perley went on a drug-fuelled rampage that involved a cluster of incidents over a period of months.

Crown Prosecutor Charles Couturier explained Perley was causing trouble for his neighbours, and his actions eventually ended in a home invasion and violent assault on a woman at an apartment building on May 17, 2024.

The crown also suggested Perley seek counselling for mental health and substance abuse. The butterfly knife seized by police is to be forfeited to the crown.

Defence Counsel Lindsay Paul said Perley was remorseful for his crimes, noting he did not intend to hurt anyone during his rampage through the community. She contended Perley was on drugs and out of control when the incidents occurred. He was sober for the last several months while in custody.

Couple facing trafficking charges

A Neqotkuk couple appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 14 for plea on multiple charges laid by RCMP.

Nicholas Paul, 47, and his wife, Jennifer Louise Paul, 45, were arrested at Tobique First Nation.  They return to court in custody on Jan. 28 at 9:30 a.m. for monitoring and plea on trafficking charges.

Jennifer Paul was denied bail in December. She was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property (cash), possession of a prohibited firearm (a sawed-off shotgun) without a licence, and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried it a firearm for an incident on Sept. 25, 2024, at Neqotkuk.

Nicholas Paul was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of stolen property (cash) for an incident on Oct. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk. He will appear in court in custody by video on Jan. 23 at 9:30 a.m. for a bail hearing.

At the time of their arrest, they were each charged by RCMP with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking for an incident on Oct. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk. 

Jennifer Paul was also charged with breach of a release order (no weapons), possession of a stolen licence plate, and possession of a prohibited weapon (a collapsible baton) without a licence on Oct. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk. She pleaded not guilty and has trial dates in April.

Nicholas Paul was also charged with breach of a release order and driving while prohibited on Sept. 22-24, 2024, at Neqotkuk, and breach of a release order (no drugs), possession of ammunition while prohibited, and possession of a stolen licence plate on Oct. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk.

Charges transferred to Ontario

Two Polish immigrants were scheduled to appear in provincial court in Woodstock by video on Jan. 14 for monitoring after pleading guilty to charges laid by RCMP. They were represented in court by legal counsel via teleconference.

Jan Kaminski, 53, and Monika Kwiatkowska, 44, of Etobicoke, Ontario, were jointly charged by RCMP with four counts of theft. They were released from custody on July 25, 2024, on a $1,000 bail bond and ordered to immediately return to their Ontario residence under house arrest.

On Nov. 26, 2024, their legal counsel requested the charges be transferred to Ontario. The court heard the transfer was still being processed so another monitoring date was set for March 25 at 9:30 a.m. to ensure the transfer occurs.

The theft charges were laid following a series of shoplifting incidents at Best Home Hardware stores in Florenceville-Bristol and Hartland on March 5, at Best Home Hardware in Florenceville-Bristol on July 3, 2024, and at Brennan Home Hardware in Florenceville-Bristol on July 20, 2024.

During their court appearance on Sept. 19, 2024, a new charge of breaching a release order was laid against each of them for failing to report to the police.

Kaminski and Kwiatkowska were arrested in connection with numerous thefts in New Brunswick and across Canada including Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia.

They allegedly advertised items for sale online via Facebook Marketplace and on Amazon. Once an interested buyer was identified, the two accused made a list of items and proceeded to steal them from different businesses. They would then immediately ship the items to the buyer. Police were actively working to determine if there were other victims.

The post Woodstock Provincial Court: Two facing charges after assault near Woodstock Legion first appeared on River Valley Sun.

New Mayor Leonard Foster begins the new year still down one council member and facing community concerns

“It’s going good,” said Lakeland Ridges Mayor Leonard Foster as he described the state of affairs within the long-troubled council overseeing the sprawling rural community. 

Foster said the biggest problem he and the council face in the new year is “getting four years of work done in a single year.”

He said the council “has to get on the same page.”

Unfortunately, since taking office on Jan. 1, 2023, the Lakeland Ridges council has failed to work together or gain residents’ confidence. 

The community elected Foster in May 2024 as mayor following the resignation of Lakeland Ridges’ first mayor, Tanya Cloutier, in January 2024, a year after taking office. 

Cloutier and Ward 4 councillors Mike Furrow and Mark Grant—all from Canterbury, one of four wards forming Lakeland Ridges—resigned. The council is suspended, and the municipal government is under the control of a provincially appointed superintendent. 

Foster and Dusty Buckingham, who was acclaimed to one of the empty Ward 4 seats, took office just as the province lifted the council’s suspension. Gary Grant filled the final vacant Ward 4 seat in November.  

The full council lasted only one month, as Buckingham resigned at the end of 2024, citing continuing dysfunction within the Lakeland Ridges council. 

Buckingham said a group of council members, often referred to as “the quorum,” continue to ignore the superintendents’ recommendations and training requirements. 

Foster expressed disappointment with Buckingham’s decision, noting that Elections N.B. will set a date in 2025 to fill the vacant seat. 

In the meantime, Foster wants council members to focus on Lakeland Ridges’ “basic” needs and away from the divisions. 

He said the community’s parks, infrastructure, and equipment require upgrades. He noted that the divergent rural communities that form Lakeland Ridges face challenges that differ substantially from those of more populated New Brunswick municipalities. 

Foster acknowledged Lakeland Ridges still must pass its 2025 budget, but it needs a complete audit to provide the numbers to form the budget’s foundation. 

“We tried to get it (the audit) done, but the province was late in responding,” he said. 

Foster said many smaller communities across the province face similar audit concerns. 

While the council’s goal is to keep the taxes the same or hold them to a minimal increase, he can’t ensure any tax increases until they have the full figures. 

Foster said tax rates vary significantly across the five wards, even within wards, as Lakeland Ridges’ taxes are broken down into eight subunits. 

He said he only learned after taking office that Lakeland Ridges, not the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, is responsible for maintaining some of its roads. 

Foster cited several infrastructure projects on the horizon for Lakeland Ridges in 2025, including moving the municipal offices from Canterbury to Meductic. 

He expects the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure to construct a new government garage in Canterbury this spring. They said they will also push the province to keep the garage open all year round. 

Foster said Canterbury has lost a lot over the recent decades and needs a boost. 

“Canterbury used to be a bustling little centre,” he said. “We would love to have (the garage) open year round.”

Foster said the Canterbury Fire Department also requires an upgrade as soon as possible. 

“We need to demonstrate to the people of Canterbury that we’re doing things,” he said. 

He added that all areas of Lakeland Ridges require attention, noting the council must focus on common goals, not division. 

As a small rural community, Lakeland Ridges’ staffing levels are limited to a CAO and a clerk. Foster said it remains the same heading into 2025 but added that the council must establish human resource policies for its staff. 

Foster added that the council wants to add a part-time public works person, preferably a handyman contracted by the job rather than a staff member. 

One issue hanging over Lakeland Ridges’ pending budget is the expected hefty bill to cover the 
The cost of the superintendents who managed the community during the council’s suspension. 

“We will more than likely have to pay for that,” Foster said, “but we’re hoping they will reduce the cost.”

The post Lakeland Ridges mayor and council still facing challenges first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Dustin Buckingham said dysfunction will continue until council is forced to change

As frustration mounted and dysfunction continued, Lakeland Ridges Ward 4 Councillor Dustin Buckingham tendered his resignation after less than a year in office. 

When he was elected to office in May 2024, Buckingham said he expected to join a council that had learned from its mistakes and would attempt to serve the interests of residents. After all, he was joining a suspended council that was set for reinstatement after months of supposed training. 

He said he soon discovered the dysfunction remained, and most councillors ignored the government stipulations and “never finished the training.”

Buckingham said he and newly elected Mayor Leonard Foster joined where five council members, known as the quorum, overstepped their authority and controlled the council agenda. 

“They stick together in just about everything,” Buckingham said. 

He said Ward 3 (Meductic) Councillors Randy Stairs and Chris Yerxa, Ward 2 (Debec) Councillors Linda Porter and Patrician Budd, and Ward 1 (North Lake) Councillor Perry Bull have most decisions made even before it’s brought up at the council table. 

Buckingham said Ward 1 Councillor Ross Stairs and Ward 4 (Canterbury) Greg Grant want to work as an effective council, but they are shut out. 

The dysfunction within the initial council, which took office on Jan. 1, 2023, upon the formation of Lakeland Ridges, caught the attention of the Department of Local Government. On July 28, 2023, the province suspended the council and appointed a superintendent. 

In January 2024, Lakeland Ridges’ first mayor, Tanya Cloutier, former Canterbury mayor, and the two Ward 4 councillors resigned, citing the deep divisions and personal agendas that remained despite the suspension. 

Buckingham and Foster filled one of the vacant council seats and the mayor’s office in May 2024. Gary Grant filled the second Canterbury seat in November. 

Buckingham said there is a reason all the resignations involve Ward 4 representatives.

“They’re hellbent to exclude Canterbury,” he said. 

Buckingham said council dysfunction means most essential issues get ignored while the council focuses on pet projects and personal interests. 

He cited the 2025 budget as an example, noting that the council called a special meeting on Friday, Jan. 10, to finally approve it.

“That should have been done in October,” Buckingham said.

He said councillors regularly overstep their authority and undermine the duties of the CAO and clerk. When rules and bylaws prohibit their efforts, he said the quorum uses its majority to amend the bylaws. 

Buckingham said only the provincial government can correct the problem. 

“I don’t think we can get rid of the council,” he said.

He said the council ignored many recommendations in the transition plan developed after a provincial investigation, leading to the continuing dysfunction. 

“And people around here are paying for it,” Buckingham said.

The post Lakeland Ridges councillor resigns in frustration first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Irving Oil has announced that the company will not in fact be up for sale, a possibility the company has raised nearly two years ago.

After initially denying he knew Alexander Bishop and was anywhere near 170 King St. East at the time of Bishop's fatal shooting, Zakkary Reed's story began to change during a videotaped interview with police that was played at Reed's trial.

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A Quispamsis man who admitted to driving with an elevated blood-alcohol level told a court Monday police officers bullied him and wouldn’t listen when he said he suffered from multiple sclerosis.

Steven Edward Anderson, 56, of Vincent Road, previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of having an elevated blood-alcohol level within two hours of driving, but he was back in Fredericton provincial court Monday to change his plea to guilty.

Crown prosecutor Daniel Standing said the offence occurred the afternoon of April 9.

Anderson came to the attention of police that afternoon when an RCMP officer noted a grey Nissan Rogue passing his cruiser at a speed of 161 kilometres per hour in a 110 km/hour zone on Highway 2 in Lincoln.

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The new Fredericton performing arts centre, under construction on the corner of King and Regent streets downtown, finally has a name.

Man sustained a foot injury in last July’s head-on crash 

The Director of the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) says investigators found no reasonable grounds that an RCMP member committed an offence concerning an injury sustained by an adult male in a collision with an RCMP police vehicle.

In a media release issued on Jan. 14, SiRT explained it received a referral on July 3, 2024, from the RCMP regarding a head-on collision earlier that day between a marked police vehicle and an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The incident occurred on Highway 105 outside of Perth-Andover.

SiRT said witnesses saw the male ATV driver running a stop sign, driving on the highway at high speed, and passing cars on a solid line. An attempt by the RCMP officer to pull the driver over resulted in a low-speed head-on collision. The man driving the ATV suffered a fractured foot, and the officer was not injured.  

The full summary report is available at 24-048-summary-of-investigation.pdf .

SiRT is responsible for investigating all matters that involve death, serious injury, sexual assault, intimate partner violence or other matters of public interest that may have arisen from the actions of any police officer in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Investigations are under the direction and control of an independent civilian director, who has the sole authority to determine if charges should be laid after an investigation.

The post SiRT closes investigation of RCMP-ATV collision in Perth-Andover first appeared on River Valley Sun.

New Brunswick blueberry farmers are facing a lot of business uncertainty in the face of market pressures, climate change and the threat of import tariffs by the United States.

Need a family doctor? St. Stephen event connects residents to primary care + St. Andrews welcomes top teams for 2025 Provincial Women’s Curling Championship

Original Broadcast Date: January 14, 2025

CHCO-TV NewsBreak26 is an original CHCO Television production produced at the CHCO-TV studio in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada.

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The McAdam detachment of the RCMP is hoping members of the public can help police track down a man from the community wanted in connection with an active investigation.

The RCMP issued a news release Tuesday seeking tips on the whereabouts of Connor Riley MacIntosh, 20, of McAdam, noting he “is currently wanted by police in connection with an ongoing investigation.”

MacIntosh is described as being about 5’11” (180 centimetres) tall, weighing about 194 pounds (88 kilograms), with green eyes and brown hair.

“He was seen in the Fredericton area on Jan. 12, 2025,” the release said.

“Connor Riley MacIntosh should not be approached by members of the public. If you see him, call your local police force immediately. At this time, police do not believe there is a risk to the general public.”

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call the McAdam RCMP at 506-784-1204.

Those wishing to provide information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the secure P3 Mobile App or visiting Secure Web Tips online at www.crimenb.ca.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached at [email protected].

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A Marysville man was in for a scary few hours when his normally excitable 10-month-old puppy became wobbly, shaky and lethargic after ingesting cannabis.

TV and film director Cayman Grant and her family were evacuated from their home in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood on Saturday. They’ve been allowed to return to see how their home is faring and gather a few belongings.