Tree lighting, snow falling, and carol singing kicks off the holiday season

Like a scene from a Thomas Kincade Christmas portrait, Christmas spirit was alive and well in the Village of Centreville on Wednesday, Nov. 22.
People gathered in the District of Carleton North to celebrate the Christmas tree lighting.

With a fresh 15 cm of snow on the ground and more still falling, residents gathered to enjoy the ceremony.

District of Carleton North Mayor Andrew Harvey welcomed guests, wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season. Andrea Weston and Hannah Hatheway then led the group in singing Christmas carols before the official tree lighting took place, with the help of Sheila and Gladwyn Piper.

Centreville Child Care was also present throughout the evening, selling sweets that BWS Trailers donated. The funds raised were going towards the cost of building their new facility. The highlight of the evening was a visit from Santa Claus, who the Centreville Fire Department escorted in amidst cheers from the children. Taking time from his busy schedule, Santa greeted the children and handed out candy canes before heading home to continue his season’s preparations.

The post Centreville shows off Christmas Spirit first appeared on River Valley Sun.

In the Magaguadavic watershed in southwestern New Brunswick, there’s one lake that is home to a unique pair of rainbow smelt populations.

Three new books will help students learn Wolastoqey.

One person has died following a collision between a car and tractor-trailer on Friday, according to New Brunswick RCMP.

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Retailers and consumers across Canada - including those in New Brunswick - are being warned about selling or eating cantaloupes under two brand names sold over the past month.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) issued an alert Friday about Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes linked to Salmonella infections in five provinces: British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

One death has been linked to the outbreak thus far, the agency reported.

While New Brunswick wasn’t on the list of locations where illness was reported, PHAC noted the cantaloupes were sold throughout the country, including this province, since Oct. 10.

“Based on the investigation findings to date, consumption of Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes have been identified as the likely source of the outbreak,” the advisory stated.

“Many of the individuals who became sick reported having eaten cantaloupe before their illnesses occurred.”

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued food-recall warnings for the cantaloupes sold under the two brand names.

The recalled products were distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and possibly elsewhere. 

The PHAC news release also said additional secondary recalls were issued for products that were made using recalled cantaloupes and for produce that was processed alongside the suspect cantaloupes. Among those other produce items are fruit such as honeydew, pineapple, watermelon and various fruit trays.

“To prevent illness, do not eat, serve, use, sell, or distribute,” the PHAC advisory stated.

“If you are unable to verify the brand of cantaloupe, or if your produce is part of the CFIA recalls, it is recommended to throw it out. This advice applies to individuals, as well as retailers, distributors, manufacturers, food service establishments such as hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, and facilities such as hospitals, long-term care homes and daycares, across Canada.”

The PHAC alert said there there have been 63 laboratory-confirmed cases of illness linked to the outbreak, breaking down as follows: 12 in British Columbia, 12 in Ontario , 35 in Quebec, two in Prince Edward Island and two in Newfoundland and Labrador, with additional Salmonella infections under investigation so more linked cases could be confirmed. “Individuals became sick between mid-October and mid-November 2023,” the advisory stated. “Seventeen individuals have been hospitalized. One death has been reported.”

U.S. agencies are also investigating the outbreak, it said.

PHAC stated symptoms usually arise six to 72 hours after exposure to Salmonella bacteria, and typically last for four to seven days. Symptoms include: fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and abdominal cramps.

“People who are infected with Salmonella bacteria can spread Salmonella to other people several days to several weeks after they have become infected, even if they don't have symptoms,” the advisory said.

“Salmonella can spread by person-to-person contact and contaminated surfaces. Most people who become ill from a Salmonella infection will recover fully after a few days without treatment, but it can also cause severe illness and hospitalization.”

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

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Men from Meductic and Grand Falls charged in Fredericton court following arrest in Fredericton Airport

Two men, one from Meductic and the other from Grand Falls faced charges in Fredericton provincial court on Friday, Nov. 24, in connection to a drug trafficking investigation in the Woodstock area.

Woodstock Police Force said 45-year-old Matthew William Harris of Meductic and Robert ‘Rob’ Louis Michand, formerly of Grand Falls, were charged with trafficking crystal methamphetamine. Harris also faces charges for possession of cocaine.

In a media release on Nov. 24, Chief Gary Forward of the Woodstock Police Force said the investigation dates back to April. He explained the Woodstock Integrated Enforcement Unit (IEU) began an investigation into drug trafficking in the area.

The IEU includes members of the Woodstock Police Force members, N.B. Justice and Public Safety officers and the RCMP.

The investigation resulted in the arrest of Harris, Michaud and an unidentified woman at the Fredericton Airport in Lincoln on Thursday, Nov. 23.

The release said the arrests and subsequent search led Woodstock Police Force IEU officers to the seizure of approximately four kilos of what officers believe is crystal meth. Police also seized a sum of Canadian currency.

The WPF release said the court remanded Harris and Michaud into custody until a bail hearing in Fredericton court soon. 

Forward said several police agencies and teams assisted in the investigation initiated by the Woodstock IEU. Those include members of the Woodstock Police Force Street Crime Unit and WPF Primary Response officers.

Other participating teams included the Fredericton Police Department IEU and Street Crime Unit, the Moncton IEU, the RCMP Provincial Crime Reduction Units in Woodstock and Moncton, Woodstock RCMP detachment officers, the RCMP Community Crime Reduction Unit in Oromocto and Oromocto RCMP detachment officers. 

Forward explained the IEU teams in New Brunswick comprise members of municipal police departments, members of the NB Department of Justice and Public Safety, and RCMP.

He said the teams work collaboratively and in partnership, focusing their efforts to coordinate and improve response in our communities to growing concerns about drugs, firearms, and organized crime.

The release stressed that the distribution and sale of illegal drugs is a serious criminal offence posing health and safety risks to everyone in New Brunswick. 

It said the public plays an essential role in helping to reduce, prevent and solve crime.

The Woodstock Police Force asks anyone with information about the illegal possession or trafficking of drugs to contact it at 1-506-325-4601.

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

Forward said the investigation is ongoing.

The post Two men charged in connection with drug-trafficking investigation in Woodstock area first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Neqotkuk man released after three months in jail

Dylan Thibodeau, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 23 and changed his plea to guilty on three charges laid by RCMP. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail or time served and was released from custody.

Thibodeau appeared in court in custody on July 31 and was denied bail. On Nov. 23, he pleaded guilty to breach of a release order, violation of a no-contact order, and failing to comply with an order to abstain from drugs or alcohol following two separate incidents on June 21 and July 26 at Neqotkuk.

RCMP also charged Thibodeau with assaulting a female victim, assault by choking, and breach of an undertaking concerning the incident on June 21. He pleaded not guilty. On Nov. 23, he agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and his trial did not proceed. 

Thibodeau had a limited prior criminal record. He appeared in provincial court in custody on June 26 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was ordered to report to the police weekly and to stay away from Neqotkuk. He resided in Beechwood but breached his conditions and was taken back into custody. 

Trial pending on drug charge

Bronwyn Barbara Thomas, 23, of Bloomfield, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 16, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. for further monitoring about her trial on a drug charge.

RCMP charged Thomas with attempting to possess methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with an incident on March 2 near Centreville. She appeared in court on Nov. 21 to confirm she has legal counsel to proceed. A pre-trial conference will be held on Jan. 16 in preparation for her trial next May.

In custody awaiting plea

Wyatt DeLong, 28, of Cloverdale, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 23 for plea on four charges. His matter was adjourned until Dec. 7 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of his defence counsel.

DeLong was charged with discharging a firearm with intent, flight from police, dangerous driving and breach of probation in connection with an incident on July 14 at Florenceville-Bristol when shots were allegedly fired at a police officer. 

Janis Buchanan, 28, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 26 and pleaded guilty to robbery with violence for an incident on May 29 at Florenceville-Bristol. She was sentenced to two years in federal prison on Oct. 24.

DeLong and Buchanan were arrested after a manhunt in Victoria County in connection with a series of incidents in the upper River Valley.

Jacksonville woman awaiting trial verdict

Linda Lunn, 55, of Jacksonville, appeared in provincial court for the conclusion of her trial on Nov. 23 after pleading not guilty to two assault charges laid by RCMP. Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean reserved his decision until Dec. 22 at 1:30 p.m.

Lunn was charged with assault and assault causing bodily harm, stemming from incidents involving a minor on Oct. 18, 2022, at Jacksonville. 

Conditional discharge and $200 restitution

Casey McCarty, 33, of Carlingford, appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 22 and changed her plea to guilty on two charges laid by RCMP. She received a conditional discharge on both counts and was ordered to pay $200 in restitution for property damage.

McCarty was released from custody with conditions following her bail hearing by video on June 23. She was arrested on a warrant after she failed to appear in provincial court on June 7 for monitoring about her trial. She was on a release order at the time. 

On Nov. 22, she pleaded guilty to committing mischief causing damage to car tires in relation to an incident on July 30, 2021, at Hillandale, Victoria County, and guilty to breaching an undertaking. 

Woodstock man to stand trial

Logan Chase Campbell, 29, of Woodstock, will appear for trial in provincial court on July 8, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police.

Campbell was charged with breach of an undertaking by violating a no-contact order on Nov. 6 in Woodstock and assault by choking involving a female victim on Nov. 5 in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty at a court appearance on Nov. 21. Campbell was released with conditions until his trial.

Alleged assault with dog feces 

George E. Legacy, 49, of Plaster Rock, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 19 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an unusual assault charge.

RCMP charged Legacy with assaulting a female victim using dog feces following an incident on Sept. 21 in Plaster Rock. He made his first court appearance on Nov. 21 when the matter was adjourned for plea.

Trial adjourned after lengthy legal argument

Tina Noella Albert, 53, of Craig’s Flats, Victoria County, appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 20 on three charges laid by RCMP. 

After lengthy legal arguments about how she should proceed without a lawyer, Judge Scott A. Brittain adjourned her trial until May 1, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. A pre-trial conference will also be held on Feb. 28, 2024, at 1:30 p.m.

Albert was charged with resisting arrest, uttering threats, and assaulting a police officer concerning an incident on Oct. 4, 2022, near Perth-Andover. 

Albert told the judge she had filed an official complaint against the police officer involved in the incident, which resulted in the officer being transferred out of Perth-Andover. Judge Brittain explained he could not hear any details about the case before the trial.

Trial set for Piercemont man

Caleb Crain, 40, of Piercemont, will appear for trial in provincial court on March 27, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to three charges laid by RCMP.

Crain was charged with assault causing bodily harm to a female victim, unlawful confinement, and uttering threats following an incident on Dec. 10, 2022, near Florenceville-Bristol. He appeared in provincial court on Nov. 21 to confirm he has legal counsel to proceed with the trial. 

Remanded to jail 

Braxton Denny, 23, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 22 for a bail hearing. He waived his bail until later and was remanded to jail. Denny returns to court in custody for plea on Dec. 13 at 2:30 p.m. He was arrested on a warrant and charged with breach of a release order.

Denny appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 11 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions and then failed to return to court for a plea. He was charged with breaking into a dwelling house and committing mischief concerning an incident on Feb. 18 in Woodstock. 

Denny is also scheduled to appear for trial in provincial court on March 4, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to other charges laid by RCMP. 

Denny was charged with committing mischief causing property damage and breach of an undertaking on Dec. 9, 2022, at Upper Woodstock, and two counts of assault and committing mischief causing property damage on Dec. 8, 2022, at Upper Woodstock. He was arrested on a warrant for failing to attend court and was released with conditions. Denny entered his not-guilty pleas at a court appearance on April 25.

Trial rescheduled on assault, weapons charges

Brandon Schriver, 22, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 23 to set a new date for his trial after pleading not guilty to assault and firearm charges laid by RCMP. His trial was rescheduled for Dec. 1 at 9:30 a.m.

Schriver appeared in provincial court in custody on Sept. 1 for a bail hearing and was remanded to jail. RCMP charged him with assaulting another man, assault with a weapon, possession of a firearm without a licence (a pump action shotgun), possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, impaired driving, possession of a gun while prohibited, possession of ammunition while prohibited, and breach of probation following an incident on Aug. 30 at Craig’s Flat in Victoria County.

The court heard Schriver was a parolee from federal prison. He was sentenced to two years in prison in January 2022 for a series of thefts across Victoria County.

Neqotkuk man awaiting trial

Todd Allison Sappier, 63, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear for trial in provincial court on March 1, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP.

Sappier was charged with dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident in connection with an incident on Jan. 8 at Neqotkuk. He pleaded not guilty, and a monitoring date for his trial was set for Dec. 19 at 9:30 a.m. 

Arrest warrant issued

The court issued an arrest warrant for Cheng Dela Cruz, 29, of no fixed address, after the accused failed to appear for trial in provincial court on Nov. 22.

Dela Cruz was charged by Woodstock Police with assault and uttering threats against a female victim on Oct. 17, 2021, in Woodstock. Not-guilty pleas were entered by Dela Cruz at an earlier court appearance.

The post Woodstock Provincial Court: Neqotkuk man released; Cloverdale man in custody awaiting plea first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Staff at Fredericton's Crowne Plaza gathered to give a warm welcome back to Nancy Pederson after she won a national tourism employee of the year award in Ottawa.

A towering new piece of public art, a stylized star inspired by the Acadian flag, is ready to welcome visitors at the new U.S. land port of entry across the St. John River from Edmundston.

Small news outlets and media and internet experts say the Online News Act, also known as Bill C-18, has had a serious impact so far, and it may be about to get much worse.

Alex Hayward of Quispamsis, N.B., wins gold in the men's 3,000-metre C1-3 individual pursuit for his third medal at the Parapan American Games in Santiago. Hayward topped the podium in the men's C1-5 time trial on Sunday then won bronze in the C1-5 1,000m individual time trial on Thursday.

Did you see the snowy sky over Fredericton light up blue and green — and wonder what it was?

Dramatic aerial images of large-scale blueberry farming on the Acadian Peninsula has sparked a renewed political debate about the Higgs government’s agricultural policy.

Jumbo's loss can be felt throughout the entire Elsipogtog First Nation community, where he was a councillor and minor hockey league coach.

Theatre UNB will produce a new adaptation of The Amorous Adventures of Anatol by Morris Panych, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at Memorial Hall. Theatre UNB is set to stage a new…

The post Theatre UNB presents a Morris Panych adaptation appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

New Brunswick has a new independent police watchdog office in Fredericton, which is expected to be fully staffed within weeks.

Young woman sees a need and works to fill it; makes grandfather proud

Submitted by Dwayne Hatfield

Several times after travelling the Knowlesville Road, near Glassville, our little granddaughter Hannah-Jo asked if we had any family laid to rest in a quaint little cemetery on this sparsely travelled road, which had no sign hanging at the entrance. Still, we told her we weren’t sure.

We walked through the grounds one day, reading the names on those old headstones, and found that there might be a family connection. Then, on another of our trips, a lady with family in her car from out of province stopped us and asked if we knew where the old Armond Cemetery was located.

Since there was no sign, we were unsure, but we asked her to follow us to the little cemetery on the hill, and fortunately, she found her family’s plots.
As we drove away, our granddaughter said, “I need Papa to help me. This special place needs a sign.”

Her grandparents, Pam and Dwayne Hatfield, made a few phone calls and connected with Mr. Wayne Long, who helps care for the cemetery and has family members buried there.

Mr. Long provided the cemetery’s name and the approximate beginning date from so long ago. He permitted us to create and place a sign for all to know where this quiet place of rest is named and located for the remains of those many Irish Immigrants who settled in this country almost one and a half centuries ago.

With this knowledge, Hannah-Jo Hatfield chose the style, design and wording. On Nov. 4, 2023, she, with a bit of help from “Papa,” proudly placed the sign on the entry to the cemetery to honour those early settlers whose final resting place is Armond, N.B.

The post No sign, no problem first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Fredericton-based guitar phenom Connor Fox makes his debut with Music Room. Matt Carter Can a debut album also be a career retrospective? That seems like an impossibility for a 23…

The post Connor Fox shares debut album appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

Talk about a return of harness racing events at the Fredericton raceway is stoking concerns among some members of the New Brunswick Exhibition about the plan to redevelop the site.

Edward English, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for abusing boys at the Mount Cashel Orphanage in St. John's, has been arrested once again.

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A Renous man who had been set to stand trial next summer for illegal driving conduct that  led to a fatal accident has opted instead to admit an offence, but he won’t be facing criminal sanctions.

Roderick Gerard Hallihan, 53, of Route 108 in Renous, faced an indictable criminal charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Mackenize “Mack” Green, stemming from a motor-vehicle collision in Youngs Cove on Sept. 17, 2022.

He was also charged with a related offence under the provincial Motor Vehicle Act of driving without due care and attention.

He previously elected to be tried in provincial court and pleaded not guilty to both charges, and earlier this month, his trial on those counts was scheduled for Aug. 9.

However, Hallihan was back in Fredericton provincial court Friday with defence lawyer Sabrina Winters, who noted the case had been resolved and that a trial wasn’t going to be needed.

Hallihan pleaded guilty to the Motor Vehicle Act charge Friday. 

Crown prosecutor Rodney Jordan said the trial on the criminal charge wouldn’t be necessary, as the two counts were alternative charges.

“They’re the exact same facts,” he said, noting the Crown will withdraw the criminal count at the time of sentencing. 

Winters requested that a pre-sentence report be prepared on her client for consideration during the sentencing hearing, and Jordan asked for the preparation of victim-impact statements.

Judge Scott Brittain scheduled sentencing for Feb. 16.

Green, 24, of Mill Cove, died as a result of a collision between the car he was driving and Hallihan’s pickup truck the afternoon of Sept. 17, 2022.

An RCMP news release reported that members of the Sussex detachment responded to the scene at around 3 p.m. that day at the intersection of Route 10 and Bagdad Road in the Youngs Cove area.

Green was rushed to hospital but died the next day.

Hallihan was the sole occupant of his pickup and was uninjured, the RCMP reported, and there was a passenger in the car with Green who sustained minor injuries.

The RCMP originally indicated it didn’t believe there was any criminality associated with the fatal accident and that the accident was thought to have occurred when Green made a sudden stop, causing the pickup to rear-end him.

However, the force appeared to change its position on causation and fault when it ultimately laid the charges against Hallihan this summer.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Mary MacDonald is angry that her son wasn’t able to find a place to sleep the night of Nov. 21, 2022. Despite many calls for action, she believes little has changed for people like Luke Landry who are struggling on the streets of Moncton.

News that India was restoring electronic visa services for Canadian nationals this week was a huge relief for Anishkumar Narayanan of Dieppe and his family.

The New Brunswick bird records committee recently added the black-browed albatross, bell's vireo, and western flycatcher to the official list, bringing the total number to 441, said Jim Wilson, a member of the committee. 

Horizon Health Network has admitted to workplace safety charges related to the possible exposure of some Fredericton hospital employees to asbestos over a nearly five-year period.

Support for NBYO surpasses 20 years

The McCain Foundation is a 2023 recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s NBYO Award, presented at the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra’s gala concert in Woodstock on Sunday, Nov. 19.

On hand to present the award, from left, McCain Foundation member Micheal Campbell, New Brunswick Lieutenant Governor Brenda Murphy and Don Matheson, Director of Community Engagement for the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra.

The McCain Foundation, established by the McCain family, has supported the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and Sistema NB for over 20 years.

The post McCain Foundation honoured for dedication to youth orchestra first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Codiac Regional RCMP have leased a new community policing office in downtown Moncton after searching for more workspace.

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The Horizon Health Network admitted Thursday to two workplace safety violations involving failures to protect workers from exposure to asbestos at Fredericton’s hospital.

Regional Health Authority B, better known as Horizon, pleaded not guilty last month to four charges laid by WorkSafeNB under the Occupational Health and Safety Act over asbestos exposure risk at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital.

The case was set over to Thursday for a case-management conference and to schedule trial dates.

However, court heard instead the matter had been resolved.

Jeff Carter, Horizon’s vice-president of capital assets, operations and infrastructure, pleaded guilty to two of the four charges on behalf of the anglophone health authority Thursday.

Those counts were that Horizon failed to adopt the code of practice entitled A Code of Practice for Working with Materials Containing Asbestos in New Brunswick and that it failed to acquaint an employee with any hazard with regard to the handling of asbestos, both between Nov. 7, 2017 and Oct. 6, 2022.

Crown prosecutor Rachel Anstey and defence lawyer Jessica Bungay both said they weren’t prepared to proceed to sentencing Thursday, so Judge Natalie LeBlanc set sentencing over to Jan. 29.

It’s expected the Crown will withdraw two other related WorkSafeNB charges - that the health authority failed to inform workers of the presence of asbestos and that it failed to take reasonable precautions to protect workers from exposure - at the time of sentencing.

Asbestos was detected in restricted areas of the Chalmers hospital issue, the provincial workplace-safety watchdog previously reported, and that the public at large weren’t potentially exposed.

The area where asbestos was found was described as an “interstitial space” between floors in the hospital, only a limited number of employees faced risk of exposure during the course of their work.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Annual Christmas fundraising effort helps deliver acts of kindness all year

The familiar red kettles returned to four of Woodstock’s most prominent retailers on Thursday, Nov. 23, as Salvation Army Majors Angel and Marlene Sandoval, with help from Woodstock’s Mayor Trina Jones, kicked off the 2023 Christmas Kettle Campaign.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday between Nov. 23 and Dec. 23, area residents and visitors can help fill the kettles with cash at Sobey’s, Atlantic Superstore, Canadian Tire and Walmart. This year, Woodstock’s AYR Motor Centre will host a kettle.

Marlene Sandoval said funds collected during the Salvation Army Woodstock Community Church’s largest annual campaign help it deliver “acts of kindness” where needed throughout the year.

“It is with grateful thanks that we humbly acknowledge the generous community support to our annual Christmas appeal,” she said. “We are preparing for what will be another Christmas season throughout our Kettle Campaign filled with wonderful opportunities to help assist those who need practical support during Christmas and beyond.”

Mayor Jones joined the Sandovals in the Sobey’s lobby on Thursday morning, Nov. 23, to officially launch the 2023 campaign.

The mayor not only represented Woodstock council, staff and residents, but she, as Best Western Plus Woodstock executive director, joined the hotel’s general manager, Christi Kennedy, and other staff members to oversee the Sobey’s kettle all day on Nov. 23.

Jones said Best Western would match all funds stuffed into the kettle during the day.

The mayor and the Sandovals stressed the continuous need for volunteers to man the kettles at the five Woodstock locations.

“There’s a huge need for volunteers,” said Jones. “I encourage everyone to contact the Salvation Army and volunteer a few hours.”

Anyone with time and interest in taking a shift at one of the kettles can call Major Angel Sandoval at 506-328-8276.

The Sandovals also encourage businesses to allow staff time to take a shift with the kettles or donate to the campaign.

“A huge thank you to all the businesses and staff who have matched funds and manned the Salvation Army kettles in the past, and all businesses are invited to participate in any way in this important annual fundraiser,” said Marlene Sandoval.

As it has for several years, Woodstock’s Scotiabank staff will oversee the kettles on Sunday, Dec. 9, and the bank will match donations on the day.

Marlene Sandoval explained that the Salvation Army uses the funds raised during the annual Christmas campaign to help individuals or families with necessities, including food, clothing, medicine, heating, and shelter throughout the year. She said they cover an area from Nackawic to Grand Falls.

“Your donations allow us to offer, not a handout, but a hand up to hundreds of families who have met with hard times for the cost of living,” she said. “We want to ensure hope in the midst of hardship and services towards a better future.”

The Sandovals explained residents can donate to the Salvation Army beyond the kettles. They explained anyone can mail a contribution to the Salvation Army Woodstock Community Church, 100 Eastwood Driver, Woodstock N.B., E7M 1P4.

They can also drop off donations at the same address anytime between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Marlene Sandoval said the Salvation Army will once again host a community dinner on Dec. 3 at the church. She said everyone is welcome, but they ask anyone planning to attend to call 06-328-8276 to confirm.

She said that will ensure they have the required food to feed those attending.

“We don’t want to be short or see food go to waste,” she said.

Marlene Sandoval said the dinner provides a delicious meal and an excellent social opportunity.

The Sandovals said the annual Christmas campaign is an extension of the church’s mandate.

“The Salvation Army means fighting for good. We help. We stand and make a difference because we love God, and we love people.” Marlene said.

She quoted Jesus’s words from Mathew 25: 35-40

“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.

“I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.

“I was a stranger and you invited me in.

“I needed clothes and you clothed me.

“I was sick and you looked after me.

“I was in prison and you came to visit me.

“Whatever you did for one of the least of those, my brothers, you did it for me.”

The post Salvation Army kicks off Kettle Campaign in Woodstock first appeared on River Valley Sun.

A man from Esgenoôpetitj First Nation has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of Joshua Ian Robichaud.

The New Brunswick man who shot and killed three Mounties in Moncton in 2014 faces new charges alleging a prison assault last year.

The Moncton teen who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of Joedin Leger last year will not have to return to jail.

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Four suspects were arrested at the scene of a copper-wire theft in Jemseg on Tuesday, the RCMP reports, and its police-dog unit located three of the suspects who fled the scene on foot.

“On Nov. 21, 2023, at approximately 3 a.m., members of the Oromocto RCMP detachment responded to a report of a copper-wire theft in progress on Jemseg Ferry Road,” the RCMP stated in a news release issued Thursday.

“When police arrived, they located a vehicle with two men and a woman inside. The two men fled on foot into a wooded area, and the driver, a 35-year-old woman, was arrested at the scene.”

Officers called in the detachment’s police-dog services unit, the release said.

“Sgt. Michel Litalien and police dog Klue tracked a scent into the woods, and were able to locate and arrest one of the men shortly after,” the release said. 

“A second and third male suspect were arrested a short time later with the help of [police dog services].”

Three of the suspects arrested at the scene - the 35-year-old woman, a 50-year-old man, and a 41-year-old man - were released on conditions, it said, and they’re scheduled to appear in Fredericton provincial court at a later date.

A fourth suspect - a 22-year-old man - was remanded on outstanding warrants, the release said, and he’s set to appear in provincial court at a later date as well as the investigation continues.

The RCMP has issued several news releases in recent weeks spotlighting the work of its police-dog services unit.

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

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Black Flame is Steel’s second single recorded at Keith Hallett’s Never Nuthin’ Studios to feature contributions from both Hallett and Motherhood drummer Adam Sipkema. Matt Carter Every Owen Steel song…

The post Owen Steel enlists Sipkema and Hallett for latest single appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

Fredericton’s only artist-run-centre is looking to fill a number of vital positions on its board of directors. This past summer, Connexion ARC welcomed artist Emily Blair as its latest Artistic…

The post Connexion ARC Seeking Board Members appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

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A Fredericton man accused of murder along with three others who’s back in federal prison for a parole violation was lost in a correctional limbo and has been unreachable, says his lawyer.

Devon Mark Hill Hood, 26, was scheduled to appear in Fredericton provincial court Thursday to schedule a preliminary inquiry on a first-degree murder charge.

Hood is jointly charged with Matthew David LeBlanc, 29, also of Fredericton, in the Jan. 28, 2022, death of Brandon Patrick Donelan, 27, of Minto.

LeBlanc appeared in person in custody for Thursday’s proceedings with lawyer Pierrette Allain, an agent for defence counsel Gilles Lemieux, but lawyer Brian Munro, who’s representing Hood, said while he’d requested that his client be present as well, he was informed he hadn’t been transported to court.

Munro asked for an additional adjournment, noting he’s had no contact with Hood.

He said he’s learned Hood - who was detained this summer on a parole violation for a sentence on an unrelated matter - is incarcerated and had been transferred to a Quebec institution.

Munro said he needs Hood to be brought to court in person because he’s been unable to connect with him, as efforts to arrange a telephone conversation through the federal institution in Quebec have proven futile.

“I haven’t even had a chance to properly communicate with him,” he said of his client.

During Thursday’s proceeding on the murder charge, the court had trouble connecting with the prison as well.

Judge Natalie LeBlanc granted Munro’s adjournment request, setting the matter over to Dec. 1, and she ordered that Hood be brought to court in person at that time.

Also charged with first-degree murder in a separate prosecution are Erica Lea Ann Blyth, 40, of Wasson Road in Newcastle Creek, and Joshua John McIsaac, 33, formerly of Penniac.

The Crown filed a preferred indictment in that case, meaning the prosecution skipped the preliminary inquiry phase. 

Blyth and McIsaac’s jury trial on the Donelan murder is scheduled to begin April 23, 2025, and is set to run for six weeks.

‘We’re trying to find him’

Hood was also set to answer to other charges in Fredericton provincial court Thursday.

He and Blyth are jointly charged with possessing crystal meth, cocaine and hydromorphone (Dilaudid) for the purpose of trafficking on June 21.

The pair also faces related joint charges of possessing a loaded, prohibited firearm (a sawed-off shotgun) without a licence or authorization; possessing unloaded prohibited firearms (two other sawed-off shotguns) with readily accessible ammunition; possessing the sawed-off shotguns, another shotgun and three rifles for a purpose dangerous to the public peace; possessing non-restricted firearms without a licence; and storing those seven firearms improperly.

Furthermore, Hood is accused of violating a court-ordered prohibition against possessing firearms June 21 as well.

Munro noted he hasn’t been retained on those charges, but he remained in court Thursday for that case as a friend of the court. It’s expected he will likely be granted a legal-aid certificate to represent Hood on that file as well.

Blyth appeared in court by telephone from the provincial women’s jail in Miramichi, but still the court had trouble arranging for Hood to appear.

Jillian Jordan, the federal prosecutor on the drug charges, said her office had arranged for a video-conference appearance for Hood.

When the court connected with the Quebec prison by video Thursday morning, a female official with Correctional Service Canada appeared but Hood wasn’t present.

“We’re trying to find him,” the unidentified woman said.

Officials were aware of the scheduled video appearance, she said, but around the same time, the inmate had been called to another department.

“We just had a security incident as well,” she said.

After a few minutes, Hood was brought to the video-conference room.

Judge Natalie LeBlanc noted Hood remains unrepresented on the drug and firearms charges.

“I sent in legal aid paperwork,” Hood said.

“We’re going to sort all that out,” Munro said.

Blyth has counsel on all charges - Fredericton defence lawyer T.J. Burke. Emily Cochrane, a lawyer with his firm, appeared as an agent for Burke on Thursday.

She said as was the case during the previous court appearance on the drug and firearms charges, Blyth was ready to elect mode of trial.

Because Blyth and Hood are charged jointly, his lack of representation was causing delays in the case.

Cochrane pointed out her client was ready to proceed in case excessive delays become an issue later in the case.

The judge set the June 21 charges over to Dec. 1 as well, and she ordered that Hood and Matthew LeBlanc were to be brought to court in person.

Cochrane said having her client appear by phone would be acceptable.

The various charges before the court arose in the wake of RCMP officers executing a search warrant at Blyth’s home in Newcastle Creek on June 21. Blyth and Hood were arrested at that location. She was charged shortly thereafter with the Donelan murder, while Hood was returned to Dorchester Penitentiary in New Brunswick on a parole violation.

The additional murder, drug and firearms charges were laid in court later on.

Donelan was reported as missing to the RCMP Jan. 30, 2022, and that led to an extensive ground search in the Chipman area. Police also arranged for a search effort from the air as well, but those searches didn’t yield any results.

The body was found a couple of months later when a passerby happened upon it along a snowmobile trail in the Grand Lake area March 31, 2022.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Valcon Ltd. accepts Beyond the Gold Award

In late October, the Perth-Andover Recreation Commission presented Valcon Ltd. with the Beyond the Gold award. The award was created to recognize a sponsor who exceeded the gold sponsorship to ensure our Winter Freeze Fest succeeded. Steve Pickard and Becky Goodine of Valcon Ltd accepted the award.

“This festival is not just about celebrating winter,” said Winter Freeze Fest committee member Linda Ayotte, “it’s a celebration of our community’s strength and togetherness. Valcon Ltd’s unwavering support has made this event a success that goes beyond mere financial investment. The Winter Freeze Fest brings us closer, supports local businesses, and offers our children magical memories. Thank you, Valcon Ltd., and your dedicated employees, for going the extra mile to make this event a reality. Your commitment to our community is truly invaluable, and we look forward to many more joyful Winter Freeze Fests together.”

The post Beyond the Gold: Local company honoured by Perth-Andover for dedication to event first appeared on River Valley Sun.

The Elm City String Quartet’s season continues with shows in Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton next week. Matt Carter  The Elm City String Quartet’s season continues with upcoming performances featuring…

The post Elm City String Quartet touring the province next week appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

After more than seven years in operation, The Ville Cooperative will cease to operate at the end of 2023. Matt Carter In late October, the board and staff of the…

The post The Ville Cooperative is Closing appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

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A Fredericton man accused of firing a gun at another man in Geary last month was a no-show for a required court appearance Thursday, and a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

Darrell Richard Barnes, 50, of Boyne Court, was released on conditions after a bail hearing Nov. 9 and had been ordered to return to court Thursday to elect mode of trial and enter a plea on a serious charge alleging a firearm incident.

He’s accused of discharging a firearm at Dustin Madden with intent to wound, maim or disfigure him, or to endanger his life, in Geary on Oct. 3.

When Judge Natalie LeBlanc called his case Thursday, he wasn’t present.

However, Legal Aid New Brunswick staff lawyer Doug Smith, who’d been assigned the case as defence counsel, was on hand, but he told court he’s had no contact with his client.

“I don’t have an address or a phone number,” he said.

Crown prosecutor Christopher Lavigne asked that a warrant be issued for Barnes’ arrest, and LeBlanc granted the motion.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The Higgs government has reversed itself on a decision to exclude former cabinet ministers from a large number of legislative committees.

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The RCMP’s Minto detachment says a woman from the nearby community of Ripples has been reported as missing, and it’s turning to the public for help in locating her.

The Mounties issued a news release and alert on social media at about midnight Thursday morning about Erika Betts, 33, of Ripples, noting she’s been missing for a week.

“Erika Betts was last seen in Ripples on Nov. 16, 2023, at approximately 5:30 p.m.,” the release said.

“Police have followed up on several leads to try and locate her, but have so far been unsuccessful. Police and her family are concerned for her well-being.”

Betts is described as being about 5’7” (170 centimetres) tall, weighing about 130 pounds (59 kilograms), with brown eyes and brown hair. 

“Erika has many tattoos on her arms and legs,” the release said.

“She was last seen wearing a gray and black plaid jacket, black pants, a black T-shirt and high black boots. She may also be travelling in a white 2015 Dodge Caravan with New Brunswick licence plate KCL 429.”

Anyone with information on her whereabouts or that could aid in the effort to locate her is urged to call the Minto detachment of the RCMP at 506-327-1820.

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

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Oval snowmobile racing set for Woodstock on Family Day weekend 2024

By Ross Antworth, General Manager, New Brunswick Snowmobile Federation

Snowmobile ice oval racing will return to the Connell Park Raceway in Woodstock on Family Day weekend, Feb. 17 and 18, 2024, thanks to an energetic and focused group of volunteers with multiple backgrounds in business, snowmobiling, and racing. Their goal is to revive Maritime Snowmobile Championship Racing (MSCR).

Plans include two days of ice oval snowmobile racing at Connell Park Raceway. Snowmobile racers will get to ‘test’ themselves and their sleds on the half-mile flat, oval horse racing track.

The organizing group’s focus is to attract entries, spectators, and sponsors from the Maritimes, Ontario, Quebec, and the New England states. 

The last time snowmobile racing took place at the Connell Park Raceway was in the winter of 1981. Then organized by the Woodstock Y’s Men’s Club with Connell Park Raceway, the event had a 15-year run. 

“The Woodstock Y’s Men’s were looking for a fundraiser for the club. Snowmobiling was becoming so popular, so we began the races to raise money for our causes,” said Y’s Men Merlin Gibson. “The money raised from the Maritime Snowmobile Championships; we used it all those years to help the youth in our community.”

In the 1970s, some of the major sponsors included cigarette companies. These events often drew record crowds, with spectators numbering as high as 5,000 in its heyday. With the event growing in popularity, factory snowmobile teams often took part. The Van Dolder’s race team from Ontario was often racing with their Flying Dutchmen, and famous Quebec Formula One racer Gilles Villeneuve even took his turn on the Woodstock oval.

The plans to resurrect snowmobile racing began in the fall of 2022 with a small group of volunteers. Since their initial meeting, the group has received support from the Woodstock municipal council, the Old Home Week committee, and the Woodstock Driving Club. 

The group feels it’s fitting that the event will be resurrected the year the Woodstock Trailmaker’s Snowmobile Club celebrates their 50th Anniversary. 

The organizing group believes this event has the potential to be an annual event that brings in essential tourism dollars during the winter. 

If you want to provide volunteer or financial support to this event, please email [email protected] or call Kendall Leech at (506) 325-8279 or Twyla Rogers at (506) 324-3145.

The post Group to resurrect snowmobile races in western New Brunswick first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Several schools in the Anglophone West School District are closed Thursday after a day of heavy snow and power outages for some.

Saint John has unveiled a new slogan, but why is it such a slogan-centric city?

A coroner's inquest into the death of a man who was shot by Hampton RCMP while responding to a domestic violence call at his home has ended with six recommendations to prevent a similar death.

A northeast New Brunswick woman who admits her driving led to the death of her six-year-old daughter three years ago will be sentenced in January. 

The Anglophone East district education council has unanimously voted to start a legal charter challenge against New Brunswick's school pronoun policy.

Horizon Health Network has opened an urgent treatment centre at the Brookside Mall on Fredericton's north side to take pressure off the emergency room at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital.

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Warning: This report contains graphic details of sexual crimes against a minor. 

A judge ruled Wednesday that a Burton man forced his teenage daughter to touch his penis on two occasions between 2017 and 2018, and that the offender described her as “sexy.” 

The 63-year-old Burton man, formerly of Cambridge-Narrows, stood trial in September on charges of sexual assault and sexual interference, alleging he sexually abused his underage daughter between Jan. 1, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2018.

There’s a court-ordered publication ban on the complainant’s identity, so given the relationship to the accused, the Fredericton Independent isn’t naming him either.

Court of King’s Bench Justice Thomas Christie rendered his decision on the trial Wednesday at the Burton Courthouse, and he found the accused guilty as charged.

The judge noted the evidence at trial came from only two Crown witnesses, the victim and the investigating officer, RCMP Sgt. Dwayne Cross, but the most important testimony was that of the complainant.

He said the young woman reported that her father had sexually abused her on four occasions: once in the family car on the way to a church service, twice at the family home and once in a camper where the family was living temporarily when another home was under construction. 

Recounting four assaults

The victim told court the incident in the car was the first, but she couldn’t recall specifically when it occurred.

Her testimony was that her father was angry that day, and he was smashing his fists on the steering wheel, telling his daughter he wished he could have been punching her.

He calmed down and apologized, the girl said, and that’s when he slid his hand up her dress and touched her vagina.

“In response, [the girl] hit him and climbed into the back seat,” Christie said in recounting her evidence.

The second reported incident occurred in her bedroom, the judge said, and the offender entered the room while the victim was watching TV on her bed.

He climbed onto the bed and removed his pants, the woman testified.

“He pulled her hand and placed it on his penis,” Christie said, noting the victim reported her father then forced her to stroke his penis until he ejaculated.

“[She said] there was stuff coming out of his penis.”

She cried during the entire incident, the witness said, and her father told her not to tell anyone.

Nevertheless, the victim said, she ran to another room where her mother was sleeping to tell her what had happened, but her mother dismissed what she was saying.

She testified that happened about a month before the third incident, which occurred in the family’s living room in April 2017. She said her mother was out at the time, visiting her older sister in the hospital as she’d just given birth.

The victim testified she was playing a video game when her father entered the living room and said, “It was not his fault he had a sexy daughter,” Christie recalled. 

That’s when the defendant pulled his underwear down and again forced her to stroke his penis with her hand.

“[She] could not get away,” Christie said, noting the witness reported her father had an iron grip on her hand that hurt.

Afterward, the defendant drove the girl to the hospital to visit her sister as well, the judge said, and on the way, he told his daughter not to tell anyone what had happened.

The judge said the fourth described incident was reported to have occurred in a camper where the family was living while a new home was under construction. Again, father and daughter were alone, the witness said, and again, the defendant approached her in his underwear.

“She testified that he pulled down his underwear and grabbed her hand and forced her to touch his penis,” Christie noted.

However, the victim said on this occasion, her father forced her head down and pushed his penis into her mouth, and he held her head there until he ejaculated into her mouth.

It was during the next day when she was at school that the girl reported that incident to her guidance counsellor, court heard.

It was after that that she was removed from the family home and placed with a family member, the judge said.

However, there was some confusion about the girl’s history with child-protection workers with the Department of Social Development, as it appears there were multiple interventions and different placements.

At one point, court heard, the girl was placed in the care of her older sister, but she later returned to live with her father after her sister encouraged her to do so.

When that happened in the overall sequence of events wasn’t clear, the judge said.

Uncertainty and confirmation in timeline

The first reported incident in the car posed some challenges for the Crown’s case because there was no evidence as to when it occurred, Christie said.

He noted the prosecution conceded the court couldn’t consider that part of the evidence since the Crown couldn’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it fell within the timeframe mentioned in the charges.

The judge said the same argument held true for the camper incident. While the witness testified it was the last in the series of events, he said, the evidence didn’t establish conclusively, even in general terms, when it was purported to have happened.

As such, he said, he couldn’t consider that part of the victim’s testimony either.

However, Christie said, the second and third incidents alleged to have occurred at the family home were different matters.

He noted the victim linked those events in time to the birth of her niece, and that clearly did fall within the chronological range set out in the charges.

The defence had challenged that assertion during the trial, as the victim didn’t connect those events in time to the niece’s birth, and she only relayed that information to the prosecution shortly before the trial.

The witness told the court she hadn’t mentioned that time element in her initial interviews with social workers and police because she only made the connection later.

The victim noted she had memory problems and had been hospitalized for mental-health issues, but as the trial approached, she remembered how the third incident had happened the same day her father took her to see her sister in the hospital.

“I have no reason to doubt that explanation,” Christie said.

The victim also noted the second incident occurred about a month before the third one, he said.

“Even if it was two or three months earlier, there is sufficient connection,” the judge said.

Defendant didn’t testify

Christie noted the defence called no witnesses, not even the accused - and he didn’t have to do so. It’s incumbent on the Crown to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, the judge said, and the defendant has to prove nothing.

When Cross was on the witness stand, though, the defence got to him say under cross-examination that the suspect denied the allegations against him to police.

The judge said the prosecution objected to that evidence being put before the court, as the defendant isn’t allowed to introduce exculpatory statements he might have made through another witness.

But Christie said he allowed it but didn’t hear any of the details of the defendant’s denial. The police officer’s statement offered no more information than the defendant’s own pleas of not guilty at the outset of the trial. As such, he said, it wasn’t something for the court to consider as an exculpatory statement.

“The substantive evidence was from [the complainant,]” the judge said.

The defence tried to challenge her credibility by suggesting she had a motive to lie because she was upset that her father hadn’t bought her things when she asked.

“I find there is no evidence to support that assertion,” Christie said.

The judge said the young woman offered detailed descriptions of what happened, including what she was wearing at the various times, where and how she was seated, what her father said and did, and more.

The defence said her inability to specify times for many of the events she alleged and gaps in her memory about such elements amounted to inconsistencies that called her credibility and reliability as a witness into question.

Defence lawyer Emily Cochrane had also argued the witness’s 11th-hour reporting of the third incident happening around the same time as her niece’s birth was circumspect and rendered her credibility questionable.

But Christie said he accepted the young woman’s explanation for that later reporting of events that cemented the timeline of events.

He said he found her to be credible and reliable.

“I can find no reason to doubt her evidence,” the judge said.

As such, he found the defendant guilty as charged on both counts.

The accused tried to protest and apparently offer information to the court in light of the judge’s decision.

“Can I speak for a minute, your honour?” he asked.

Cochrane firmly told him to stop and silenced him. “No, sit. Sit,” she told him.

Subject to conditions pending sentence

In light of the guilty finding, prosecutor Rebecca Butler asked the court to remand the offender pending his sentencing hearing.

Cochrane objected, asking the court to allow her client to remain free until sentencing, but subject to strict conditions.

“I know the presumption of innocence is gone,” she said, but she noted the accused had attended court as required throughout the process - even before the charge was laid, which came later than originally expected.

The defence lawyer noted that the one time her client didn’t attend a pre-trial conference in the case, it was because she’d told him to go to the wrong building, so that wasn’t his mistake but rather hers.

“There’s no flight risk concerns,” Cochrane said.

Furthermore, she argued, he runs a business and lives alone, so he needs time to tend to his employees, arrange for layoffs and to get his house in order, literally.

The offender also has ongoing health issues, she said, and as the sentence will undoubtedly involve incarceration, it’s reasonable to give him time to prepare for that.

Christie agreed. He issued a release order that requires the offender to remain under house arrest save for limited exceptions, to have no contact with the victim and other family members, to report by phone to the RCMP every Monday, to surrender his passport to police, to have no unsupervised contact with minors, to refrain from attending events geared toward kids, to abstain from alcohol and non-prescribed drugs, to stay out of establishments where alcohol is sold, and to attend court as required.

As per Crown and defence requests, Christie ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report and victim-impact statements for consideration at the sentencing hearing, which he scheduled for Jan. 31.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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