The Saint John Fire Department's after-incident report said if AIM is allowed to continue to operate, the company should have to ensure a sufficient water supply to fight fires similar to the one that started on Sept. 14.

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A Fredericton man will remain in custody pending the conclusion of a federal drug prosecution alleging he had cocaine, meth and fentanyl for trafficking purposes.

A bail hearing was held Monday and Tuesday for Jason Mollins, 39, of Emmerson Court, and Judge Mary Jane Richards had reserved her decision on his release until Wednesday.

Mollins stands charged with possession of methamphetamines, cocaine and fentanyl, all for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of a 9-mm handgun in violation of a court-ordered firearms prohibition.

The charges allege offences in Fredericton on Nov. 28.

In a ruling late Wednesday afternoon, the judge found Mollins hadn’t shown cause why he should be released pending the resolution of the case and ordered he be remanded until it concludes.

In most bail hearings, the Crown has to show cause why defendants should be remanded, but the nature of the charges against Mollins make for what’s called a reverse onus, meaning the defendant is the one who has to demonstrate why he should be released.

The reasons for Richards’ decision on bail and the evidence presented at the hearing are subject to a ban on publication until the case concludes.

When Mollins appeared by video in court for the hearing Tuesday, he appeared to be injured, with cuts and bruises on his face.

Richards set the case over to Dec. 20 for election of mode of trial and pleas.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of a violent crime.

“I just don’t want to spend the rest of my life in prison for something I didn’t do.”

The woman who said that before a New Brunswick Court of Appeal judge Wednesday was also the one who admitted earlier this year to repeatedly stabbing a Fredericton man in the face and chest in 2020 and who signed an agreed statement of facts filed as evidence before a judge.

Angela April Walsh, 25, AKA Ali Morningstar, formerly of Kings College Road in Fredericton, is serving a life sentence in federal prison for second-degree murder.

She pleaded guilty earlier this year to the crime, stemming from the April 2020 stabbing death of Clarke Ernest Hunter Greene, 31.

Murder convictions carry automatic life sentences, although at sentencing, Court of King’s Bench Justice Kathryn Gregory ruled Walsh would be eligible to first apply for parole after serving 13 years.

Despite her guilty plea, though, Walsh filed a handwritten, intended notice of appeal with the Court of Appeal in September, arguing she should have been convicted of manslaughter rather than second-degree murder.

However, she filed that notice of appeal after the 30-day deadline, so before she can seek an appeal, she needs the province’s top court to grant her an extension of time to file.

However, the provincial Office of the Attorney General opposed that extension, and a hearing was held Wednesday before Court of Appeal Justice Raymond French to see if he’d grant it.

Walsh - appearing in court by video-conference from the Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, Ont. - didn’t appear to understand the purpose of the hearing, thinking that filing the paperwork was all that was needed.

French explained to her that before he can grant the extension, she has to meet a four-pronged legal test: that Walsh intended to file an appeal within 30 days, that she should offer a reasonable explanation for the delay, that the delay wouldn’t present an undue prejudice against the attorney general and that there is merit to the appeal.

The judge said the Crown, in a letter filed with the court, concedes the first three points, but opposes the extension because it says there’s absolutely no merit to Walsh’s intended appeal.

As she’d noted in her notice of appeal, Walsh reiterated Wednesday she never had the intent to kill Greene, only to rob him.

“What I did resulted in his death, so I’m at fault,” she said. 

“I just don’t want to spend the rest of my life in prison for something I didn’t do.”

She said she never stabbed Greene, claiming that happened after the robbery.

“I robbed him and took off,” Walsh said.

It was her ex-spouse -  Zachery David Murphy, 25 - who did that, she said.

Dramatic twist at trial

Walsh stood trial in January before a Court of King’s Bench judge and jury on a charge of first-degree murder in Greene’s death. 

A star Crown witness early in the trial was Murphy, who’d previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and provided a police statement and preliminary-inquiry testimony indicating it was Walsh’s plan to rob Greene.

Murphy had previously given sworn evidence Walsh lured Greene to the gazebo in Wilmot Park and that he’d approached unseen and struck the victim in the head with a pipe.

His original evidence was that’s when Walsh grabbed a knife out of Greene’s pocket that she knew he carried, jumped on top of him and stabbed him 12 times in the chest and seven times in the face, including blows that gouged out the victim’s eyes.

But when the time came for Murphy to testify at the trial, he said he’d been the one to stab Greene and that Walsh had nothing to do with it.

That halted the trial, and after discussions between the Crown and defence, Walsh pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and admitted in an agreed statement of facts filed with the court as an exhibit that she planned the robbery and stabbed Greene repeatedly.

Murphy is serving a life sentence as well. He’ll be eligible to apply for parole after serving 11 years.

Walsh argued Wednesday that Murphy’s admission in her scuttled jury trial was grounds that she wasn’t the one who killed Greene and as such, merits a lesser conviction for manslaughter.

Intended appeal devoid of merit

Government lawyer Joanne Park, representing the attorney general, opened her arguments by suggesting Walsh’s notice of appeal was flawed because it focused on the sentence imposed, not formally seeking an appeal of the conviction for murder.

But French countered that while Walsh’s phrasing might have suggested that initially in her notice of appeal, she specifically mentioned reducing the crime for which she was serving time to manslaughter to second-degree murder.

“That doesn’t read to me like an appeal of sentence,” the judge said.

What really renders Walsh’s intended appeal moot, Park argued, was the fact she admitted on the court record and in a signed statement of facts that she committed second-degree murder and that she was the one who killed Greene.

The offender’s argument that she never planned to kill Greene is consistent with a second-degree murder conviction, the government lawyer said, as second-degree needn’t include premeditation.

In her notice of appeal, Walsh cited a number of elements she claimed was in the evidence that also ran contrary to the second-degree murder conviction. She noted her hair colour was reported incorrectly, that there was information about her having a driver’s licence when she didn’t have one.

She’s also asserted she’s right-handed, so she couldn’t have alternated hands when stabbing Greene over and over again.

Park said those were all “irrelevant factors” that didn’t form part of the agreed statement of facts. It’s not even clear, she said, if any of that information was before the court during the derailed trial or just things she recalled from the contents of the full Crown file that would have been disclosed to the defence earlier in the case ahead of trial.

Walsh’s notice of appeal is devoid of merit, Park argued, and for that reason, the appeal court should deny her requested extension.

French reserved his decision on Walsh’s application to an unspecified date.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The Higgs government is moving to limit debate on its legislation to force five public sector employee groups into a shared-risk pension system.

Hartland Helpers carolling during food drive

Hartland area residents seeking to boost their holiday spirits and help struggling families enjoy a better-fed Christmas can join Hartland Helpers for a unique food drive on Saturday, Dec. 10.

A release from Hartland town hall explained Hartland Helpers, a volunteer group with a mandate to address food insecurity and other community needs, will lead the Fa La La La For Food event.

“They will be collecting funds and food to fill their pantry on Dec. 10 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.,” the town release explained.

The release encourages anyone wanting to join the carolling to meet at the parking lot across from Central Carleton Nursing Home at 4 p.m.

“Hope to see lots of festive faces to help those in need have a Merry Holiday Season,” the spokesperson said.

The post Join Hartland’s Fa La La La for Food event first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Increase alarms SPCA, organization offers solutions for pet owners

The New Brunswick SPCA is alarmed at the increase in abandoned pets left behind after pet owners vacate their residences. In 2023, the NBSPCA received 312 reports of abandoned pets at New Brunswick homes and apartments, compared to 141 in 2022.

“Pet owners are responsible for the well-being of their animals. Your pet needs you and looks to you for support, protection, and care,” said Lesley Rogers, executive director of the New Brunswick SPCA. “Please don’t leave your pets behind; they deserve better from you.”

Tony Porter, Chief Animal Protection officer for the NBPSCA, said an animal’s physical condition can quickly deteriorate without food, water, or shelter. Dogs and cats can start showing dehydration after only 24 hours.
In some of our recent calls for abandoned animals, the NBSPCA rescued animals in deplorable physical condition and tragically also found deceased animals.

NBSPCA animal protection officers are seeing more abandoned pets because of financial and housing issues. Since many apartment buildings do not allow pets in rental agreements, owners sometimes leave them behind when moving. Other owners become overwhelmed with the cost of food and veterinarian care.

“There are other solutions besides abandoning your pets. Owners can reach out for help from friends or family members to help rehome their pets. Rehoming a pet with people you associate with makes for an easier transition for the animal,” Rogers said. “Another option would be to reach out to your local SPCA Animal Shelter, local Cat/Dog Rescue group or the NBSPCA. These professionals can help by taking in the animal or giving you options to keep your pet safe while looking for a new home.

“Owners of abandoned pets can face charges under the SPCA Act, resulting in fines, a criminal record, and Pro­hi­bi­tion Orders preventing them from owning pets. Pet own­ers who do not pro­vide shel­ter and fail to pro­vide med­ical care to their ani­mals can face serious consequences,” Porter said.

In other cases, Porter said owners are dropping their dogs or cats off along remote areas of the province, letting them loose to fend for themselves. The abandoned animal faces hunger, dehydration, or severe injury from wild animals or cars.

“These abandoned pets are scared when left on their own to survive. They no longer have the protection and support from their owners, which causes fear and stress on the animal,” Porter said.

If you have concerns that an animal has been abandoned, neglected, or abused, please call our 24/7 number at 1-877-722-1522.

The post New Brunswick SPCA says 2023 record year for abandoned pets first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Holiday fundraiser provides needed support for no-kill shelter in Debec

Close to 40 dogs and a few feline friends posed happily — or on occasion reluctantly — in front of the Christmas fireplace backdrop for a 2023 Festive Pet Photo on Saturday, Dec. 2, as the Carleton County Animal Shelter fundraiser returned to Woodstock’s holiday schedule.

“This is the first time since 2019,” said CCAS board member Joanne Reid as she took down the names of owners and pets participating in the event at Shur-Gain Feeds’ n Needs in Woodstock.

Reid said all donations raised at the event would support the animal shelter in Debec.

She said the no-kill shelter needs the support as it remains filled close to maximum levels as rescued and abandoned pets await adoption.

Reid said more than 50 cats, including 18 kittens, and several dogs currently call the shelter home.

She said the shelter depends on continuing community support, noting the recent annual Furball Dinner and Auction raised more than $11,000 in shelter support.

The Carleton County Animal Shelter, as a non-profit charitable organization with no ongoing government support, depends almost entirely on donations and fundraising events to cover its more than $100,000 in operating expenses.

Reid said area residents, organizations and businesses can support the shelter in several ways, including donations, purchase of tickets for its weekly 50-50 draw, or volunteering.

“We always need people to volunteer at the shelter,” she said.

The Shur-Gain Feeds’ n Needs store came alive Saturday morning with the sound of excited dogs as they waited to pose for photos taken by Leighla Jane Photography.

While the few cats who came to model for the camera were quieter, they proved a little more independent when asked to take a pose.

Reid thanked Feeds’ n Needs for hosting the event again and the many pet owners who supported the photo shoot and the shelter.

The post Carleton County Animal Shelter hosts Christmas event for first time since 2019 first appeared on River Valley Sun.

The mayor of a municipality slammed by two New Brunswick cabinet ministers for the way it sought the province's attention for its homeless population isn't backing down on his plea for help.

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A Woodstock man stands accused of online sex crimes involving a minor in Fredericton earlier this year, and he’s due to elect mode of trial and enter pleas next month.

Jason Kuhndel, 19, of Broadway Street of Woodstock, was scheduled to make his first appearance in Fredericton provincial court Wednesday on charges of making sexually explicit material available to a minor to facilitate a child-pornography offence and luring a minor online, also in an effort to commit a child-pornography crime.

The charges allege events at Fredericton between Jan. 1 and March 30.

He wasn’t present for Wednesday’s proceedings, but Fredericton defence lawyer Patrick Hurley appeared on his behalf.

He said the defence has yet to receive disclosure of the Crown file and asked for an adjournment.

Judge Cameron Gunn set the case over to Dec. 27 for election of mode of trial and pleas.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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A group of Richibucto residents have lost their latest move to try and stop what they say is an unbearable smell coming from a shell processing plant.

The Progressive Conservative MLA for Hampton says he doesn't think he can vote for the Christian conservative activist who is set to replace him as the party candidate in the next election.

A scathing report on the fire at American Iron and Metal's Saint John location has prompted fresh concerns about its Moncton scrapyard. 

The New Brunswick government will exclude a financially troubled pension plan for provincial court judges from changes being forced on five other government pension plans.

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The RCMP reports a Geary woman hasn’t been seen for weeks, and it’s turning to the public for tips that could lead to her being found.

The Oromocto detachment of the national police force issued a news release Tuesday about Leslie Dawn Boyd, 26, noting she was reported as missing to the Mounties on Nov. 16.

“Leslie Boyd was last seen at an establishment in downtown Fredericton on Oct. 22, 2023, and was last spoken to on Nov. 7 at approximately 3:30 p.m.,” the release said.

It said officers have investigated several leads in an effort to locate her, but they’re been unsuccessful thus far. 

“Police and her family are concerned for her well-being,” the release stated.

The Geary woman is described as being about 5’7” (170 centimetres) tall, weighing about 170 pounds (77 kilograms), with green eyes and long brown hair. 

However, family members - who have been raising the alarm on social media since mid-November about Boy going missing - have circulated one photo of her with purple hair.

“She has a tattoo of a heart behind her ear, a tattoo of a cat on her back, and a nose piercing,” the RCMP news release said.

While Boyd is now listed as a missing person with police, there’s also a warrant out for her arrest.

She and her partner, Brady Geoffrey Storey, 30, both of Broad Road in Geary, were no-shows in Fredericton provincial court Nov. 8 to answer to serious firearms charges.

As a result, a judge issued warrants of arrest for both of them.

The Fredericton Independent contacted the RCMP by phone and email Tuesday to inquire about whether investigators believe Boyd’s disappearance could be connected to the court case and if there’s any sense that foul play could be involved.

The Mounties didn’t respond to those inquiries Tuesday.

Boyd and Storey are accused of manufacturing 3D-printed handguns and handgun frames without authorization; possessing those 3D-printed items with intent to transfer them; possessing prohibited 3D-printed firearms with readily accessible ammunition; possessing a revolver and two 3D-printed handguns without a licence; possessing those firearms without a licence or registration certificate; possessing five sets of brass knuckles, which are prohibited weapons; and possessing prohibited devices - namely, an auto-conversion kit and six overcapacity ammo magazines.

The charges stem from the execution of an RCMP search warrant at a home on Broad Road in Geary on June 20, during which officers seized numerous firearms, 3D-printed firearms and components, several thousands rounds of ammunition, body-armour plates and other related items.

Anyone with information on Boyd’s whereabouts or that could help lead to her being found is urged to contact the Oromocto RCMP at 506-357-4300. Tipsters can cite file number 20231697144.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The jury in a coroner's inquest has issued recommendations aimed at preventing another workplace death similar to that suffered by William (Bill) Russell, who died in February 2021, days after being crushed by a large plastic tote at work in Tracyville, N.B.

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Paul Wentzell's friends recount he used to say, "There’s no such thing as a bad time for chocolate cake!”

In honour of the former sales manager at the local private radio stations now known as the Bounce and KHJ, his former co-workers in radio started off their day Tuesday with slices of chocolate cake.

"He would have loved it!” said close friend and longtime co-worker Mark Roberts.

Wentzell died Monday at the age of 60 after a brief illness.

He’s survived by his wife Anne; children Nicole, Mark and Alex; and three grandchildren.

Roberts, best known these days as half of the morning team on Bounce Radio 105.3’s Freddy Mac Show, said he and Wentzel became fast friends when they met on the job in private radio decades ago.

“It’s a terrible loss of a great family man and great friend,” he told the Fredericton Independent on Tuesday.

“I met him on my first day at the radio stations in June of 1985. We were great friends ever since.”

Wentzell was well-known in the greater Fredericton area thanks to his work at the Bell Media radio stations and then with his more recent shift to Stingray, Roberts said, and for his community involvement.

But when thinking of his friend so soon after his death, Roberts’ first comments turned to him as a family man.

“He and his wife Anne and his children Nicole, Mark and Alex were extremely close,” he said. “And he was extremely proud to be grandfather to Nicole’s two children.”

Jean Lyons-McKim, another close friend, said Wentzell was surrounded by those closest to him before he passed Monday evening.

“I visited him at the hospital last evening shortly before he passed,” she said Tuesday.

”His kids and sibling were there, so his wife invited his close friends in as well.”

After his family, his passions in life were golf and football, Lyons-McKim said, and his dedication to volunteer work.

She described him as “a loveable goof.”

Roberts noted Wentzell’s sense of humour served him well, personally and professionally.

“His self-deprecating manner won admiration from his colleagues and clients alike,” he said.

The morning radio show host said he and Wentzell shared a love of sports as well and enjoyed them together.

“I played ball and curled with Paul for many years. We also went on numerous sports trips together,” Roberts said, though he joked that his friend’s enthusiasm for the games more than compensated for any shortfall in terms of skill.

“If not an all-star, Paul was an integral part of all of those teams, helping to foster camaraderie on all of them.”

Giving back to community

Wentzell’s love for Fredericton was something everyone in the community would have seen and felt - whether they knew it or not.

“He was also a driving force behind the Fredericton Civic Pride Committee, which put on the city’s Canada Day activities every year,” Roberts said.

Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers said Tuesday he was a vital part of the capital community, be it through his work in radio or volunteer work.

“Paul Wentzell was a pillar in our community. He became an advocate for small businesses through his work with the radio stations and he always knew how to throw a good party as demonstrated through his organizing of the annual Canada Day celebrations,” she wrote in an email Tuesday.

“Paul contributed so much to Fredericton and he will be sadly missed. My deepest condolences to Paul’s family, friends and colleagues.”

Wentzell was also the longtime president of UCT Fredericton, a local service club that was active in charitable efforts.

In recent years, UCT Fredericton became perhaps best known for its charity poker tournaments.

New Maryland resident Tina Brasseur, who helped out with the poker tournaments with expertise and promotion, said Tuesday said the UCT charity events are very much a part of Wentzell’s legacy.

“Paul was instrumental in creating one of the largest fundraising poker tournaments in the Maritimes, UCT’s annual January poker tournament, raising ten of thousands of dollars for various organizations in our community,” she said.

“With the event around the corner this year’s tournament will be a little more special for us.”

Through those charity tournaments, Wentzell became a cornerstone of the New Brunswick poker community, attracting players from other cities to come and play in the Fredericton charity events, and promoting others around the province.

UCT Fredericton secretary/treasurer Terry MacDonald said Tuesday that the club’s poker events did more than just raise money for worthy causes.

The organization’s push to hold those events helped pave the way for them to be done so legally through provincial legislation, he said, and Wentzell was an integral part of the movement to make it happen.

“We helped write the rules for charity poker tournaments,” MacDonald said.

Wentzell served as president of UCT Fredericton five times and was serving in that role when he died this week, he said.

Paul joined the service club in 1992 and received its highest honour - the Orwell Ford Memorial Award - twice over his three decades with the organization, MacDonald said.

UCT Fredericton representative Peter Arseneault announced Wentzell’s passing in the Fredericton Poker Games group on Facebook on Tuesday, with a recent photo of him presenting one of the many donation cheques the service club gave to numerous community organizations over the years.

“Paul was the driving force behind the UCT Fredericton poker tournaments. He will be sorely missed,” Arseneault wrote.

When contacted by the Fredericton Independent on Tuesday afternoon, Arseneault confirmed the decision had just been made to rebrand the annual January charity poker tournament as “The Paul Wentzell UCT Poker Tournament.”

It will be named as such as of the next instalment, set for Jan. 27, he said.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported Wentzell had two grandchildren when in fact there are three. We regret the error.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Most members of Miramichi City Council are 'disappointed' and 'frustrated' by a business group's application for an injunction against an out-of-the-cold shelter in the Newcastle area, says Mayor Adam Lordon.

Town studying best option to collect data along Landegger Drive and Route 105

Nackawic-Millville council passed a motion at its Nov. 23 meeting to purchase radar equipment to collect traffic data along Landegger Drive, Route 105 and potentially other streets and roads to improve safety.

Coun. Katie Nozzolillo, who chairs the ad hoc committee studying speeding and road safety, shared a quote from North Line Canada for two radar options for council to consider.

Nackawic-Millville formed the ad-hoc committee to consider options to slow traffic on Landegger Drive and Route 105, where the two streets intersect.

During the summer, the committee reported to council, suggesting several options for slowing traffic on Landegger, including potential traffic-calming options such as speed bumps, additional stop signs, a raised median or narrowing the street with on-street parking.

The committee decided any traffic-calming option that council recommended would require accurate data. It also suggested buying its own data-collection equipment would serve the rural community over the long term.

North Line Canada provided quotes for two radar options — The Black Cat at $7,043 or the Fox at $4,122.

Nozzolillo explained that both systems collect date- and time-stamped data identifying traffic levels, speeding, dangerous driving, and other information that it downloads to a computer system or mobile app.

She explained the more expensive Black Cat system provides data on the types of vehicles.

Nozzolillo explained the systems don’t have cameras nor electronic boards posting speed rates to passing motorists.

During the discussion, some council members questioned whether the Black Cat would identify an ATV or Quad, thus providing data on the illegal use of Landegger and other streets by off-road riders.

Coun. Robert Simpson, who, along with Coun. Colin Trail, sits on the ad-hoc committee, moved a motion to recommend purchasing the system that staff recommends provides the best value after it studies the options.

Simpson explained the systems are not designed to identify drivers operating illegally on the street to present to the RCMP. However, he noted that it would provide valuable data the RCMP could use to plan its coverage of the streets.

The post Nackawic-Millville council weighing radar equipment for traffic control first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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A New Brunswick man faces serious charges alleging he was drunk at the wheel when he was involved in an accident that injured three others seriously - and then took off without rendering aid.

Brandon Paul, 32, of no fixed address, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Tuesday by telephone from a remand facility, where he’s being held on unrelated charges.

He was making his first appearance Tuesday on counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm to Clovis Daigle, Rebecca Myshrall and Skylar Dutcher and leaving the scene of an accident in which he knew or ought to have known people sustained bodily harm without stopping to provide assistance, alleged to have occurred in Lincoln on Dec. 4, 2022.

Duty counsel Melinda Ponting-Moore said Paul was seeking an adjournment to obtain his disclosure and to apply for legal aid before entering pleas to the charges.

Judge Lucie Mathurin set the case over to Jan. 4.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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COVID-19 has killed four more New Brunswickers, while flu activity has spiked again, sending eight people to hospital, three of whom required intensive care, including one aged 20 to 44.

Student reports strange encounter in Kirkpatrick Street and Connell Park Road area

he Woodstock Police Force issued a press release on Tuesday, Dec. 5, regarding its ongoing investigation of an unusual interaction between a student and a passing vehicle.

The statement said that the town police are actively investigating an incident that occurred between 8:20 and 8:25 a.m. Tuesday on Kirkpatrick Street and Connell Park Road in Woodstock.

“Police were advised that a high school student while walking towards the high school, was approached by a vehicle,” the statement explained. “A very brief interaction occurred, with the occupants asking to use the student’s phone. The student declined; however, as the vehicle left, they thought they may have heard someone in the back passenger seat asking for assistance. The student then witnessed the vehicle driving around the area for a short period of time.”

The statement noted the matter remains under investigation but confirmed it received no reports of any missing persons and has not received any further calls of this nature.

Police described the vehicle in question as possibly a black Rav 4 or CRV, with the two front occupants as a white male driving and a white female passenger in their 40s.

Police ask anyone with information to contact the Woodstock Police Force attention Sgt. Seth Cahill (506) 325-4601 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by using the secure P3 Mobile App, or through Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

The post Woodstock Police Force investigating unusual incident first appeared on River Valley Sun.

The municipal district of St. Stephen has declared a state of local emergency over community homelessness, just days after a death in a public space, which came to light in an emergency council meeting Monday night.

Queens of the Stone Age will play shows in Moncton and Halifax with special guests The Struts in April 2024.  Queens of the Stone Age have announced a string of…

The post Queens of the Stone Age Announce Maritime Shows appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

The task force examining September’s fire at American Iron and Metal will release its final report in a live-streamed event this morning. 

The New Brunswick Nurses Union is calling on the provincial government to commit to ending the use of travel nurses by the end of 2025, describing the nearly $57 million spent on the private agency nurses in five months as "astounding."

Scenes from hours of family fun in Woodstock

Games, crafts and a personal visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus highlighted the family fun in the NBCC Woodstock gymnasium on Saturday, Dec. 2. 

In what has become an annual tradition to ignite the holiday celebration, the NBCC Woodstock student union presented Wake Up Santa from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. 

Santa and Mrs. Claus, comfortably sitting in front of the Christmas tree on stage, shared laughs with children, posed for photos and carefully made a list of the young one’s Christmas wishes. 

NBCC students offered several game and craft tables throughout the gymnasium and served hot chocolate. 

The event included stations to compose a letter to Santa, draw and paint Christmas scenes, create a variety of crafts and play games. 

College students Muideen Raheem and Jay Ar Fuentes oversaw a ring-toss game, admittedly allowing the younger children to find the easiest way to get the ring over the reindeer’s antlers. 

Fuentes said watching happy and excited children play games and meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus is an excellent way for him and his fellow students to spend a Saturday morning. 

The post NBCC helps Wake Up Santa first appeared on River Valley Sun.

A week after their votes were cast in secret, Moncton councillors publicly reversed course on displaying religious symbols outside city hall and offered hints at how it unfolded.

New Brunswick’s auditor general is facing a lawsuit by his former deputy, who alleges in a court filing that her firing earlier this year was “retaliatory.”

With the handover to the province approaching, is the park ready for the change?

Jurors in a coroner's inquest heard testimony about how a plastic tote weighing 2 tonnes fell on William Russell, while he was on the job in Tracyville, N.B.

Mayor announces Ray Haines’ resignation at Nov. 14 meeting

By Sandra Hanson and Jim Dumville, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The comings and goings are continuing for the District of Carleton North.

At the November 14, 2023, council meeting, Mayor Andrew Harvey announced that Coun. Ray Haines had submitted his resignation, effective November 9, 2023.

River Valley Sun spoke to Mayor Harvey regarding the resignation. Harvey spoke well of Haines.

“Ray was a good councillor, and he always had the community’s best interest at heart,” said Harvey.

While making it clear that he could not speak for Haines, when asked if he knew why the resignation had been submitted, Harvey said, “I think he was frustrated at the direction the council was going.”

Haines did not respond to River Valley Sun’s requests for comment.

The councillor’s resignation follows numerous staffing changes, including an almost complete reshuffling of the top administrative staff, since the new council took over the newly formed District of Carleton North on Jan. 1.

In June, council terminated Haines’ wife, Bobbie O’Connell, as Director of Tourism and Recreation and Sarah Pacey as CAO. Shortly after, Michelle Derrah resigned as clerk.

Sean Lockhart, who replaced Pacey as CAO, resigned after only six weeks. He said the mayor and some councillors micromanaged the district’s operation and interfered with the CAO.

Mayor Harvey doesn’t believe the staff changes are unusual.

“Yes, there’s been change, but that’s not abnormal,” he said. “When you go through a change like this [amalgamation], there’s always going to be staffing changes. I’m not worried about it. We have a great staff, and they work well together.”

Harvey said Haines’ fellow council members regretted but respected his decision to resign.

“I wish him all the best,” said Harvey.

The mayor said the district notified the electoral office of the vacancy in Carleton North.

He said Elections NB will hold a by-election next year to fill all vacant seats throughout the Province.

The post Councillor resigns from District of Carleton North Council first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Nackawic-Millville setting an example with thriving drop-in centre

One year after opening its doors, Nackawic-Millville’s “The Gathering Place” has lived up to its name and vision.

Friday, Dec. 1, marked the first anniversary of the opening of the drop-in centre located in the Nackawic Mall. Like most days in the past, visitors filled it with friendship, kindness, smiles and conversation.

For Julie Stone, co-chair of Nackawic’s Age-Friendly Committee, The Gathering Place’s success is gratifying but not shocking.

Stone explained she shared her vision with fellow committee members while they spent five years ensuring the greater Nackawic community met the stringent criteria required by the province, Canada, the United Nations and the World Health Organization to earn the official age-friendly designation.

“It feels really good,” Stone said, noting the excellent community effort involved in making The Gathering Place a reality.

She still marvels at the widespread support the idea received.

“Everybody helped once we got going,” Stone said. “It was amazing.”

Those volunteer efforts continue a year later.

“There’s nothing we talk about that needs doing when somebody doesn’t jump up as says ‘I can do it,'” Stone said.

Nackawic resident Joyce Barr, who just moved to the Big Axe Community the day the centre opened, understands its importance.

“It was a great place to meet people,” she said.

Barr said she drops by almost daily when not busy or travelling somewhere.

While the idea of The Gathering Place came together relatively quickly, it wasn’t easy.

Stone said the first challenge was finding the right place, noting the focus on seniors dictated getting an accessible spot without stairs. As happened from the beginning, she said, local business owners stepped forward to help.

She said J-Lynn Jensen and John Almeda, the new owners of Your Independent Grocer supermarket in the Nackawic Mall, heard about the planned drop-in centre. Knowing there was a vacant storefront near them in the mall, they told Stone they would approach the mall owners to arrange a good deal on its rental.

Stone said the spot, in the centre of Nackawic, proved ideal. She added that the supermarket owners continue to support The Gathering Place, arranging for an employee to open the door each morning and turn on the coffee makers and other devices for the day.

Stone said the entire community and beyond stepped forward to help prepare the centre.

She noted outreach nurses from UNB played a huge role.

“They scrubbed, scoured and painted with volunteers,” she said.

Stone noted that part of The Gathering Place’s success is its informal operation.

While it operates under the auspices of the Nackawic and Area Wellness Committee, the drop-in centre is exactly what the name suggests: a place to gather and socialize with friends and neighbours.

Users don’t need to be members or pay registration fees. Stone said the centre asks only that guests sign in so they can keep a record of how many use it.

Using the sign-in book, Stone calculated that 100 residents, 70 women and 30 men, visit The Gathering Spot regularly.

She said visitors come from all Nackawic-Millville wards.

Even before the amalgamation of Nackawic and surrounding local service districts in January of 2023, all the communities worked together to secure the Age-Friendly designation. In addition to Nackawic, the committee included representatives from Millville, Southampton, Temperance Vale, Pokiok and Dumfries.

She explained that donations from users, residents, and businesses cover the rental and utilities, while the wellness committee helps secure grants to purchase appliances, furniture, and other equipment. She added that some equipment came courtesy of business donations.

While the centre offers a few semi-regular activities, Stone explained that visitors primarily use The Gathering Space to socialize. Guests are welcome to sit at the piano to play a tune, play cards, play board games, or complete jigsaw puzzles.

They have a fully equipped kitchen for tea, coffee or snacks.

Nackawic-Millville Mayor Tim Fox dropped by the centre on Friday to help celebrate its first anniversary and help cut the cake.

“This is a critical piece of infrastructure for our community,” Fox told the River Valley Sun. “It’s a model for other communities.”

He said that representatives from numerous communities across New Brunswick to study The Gathering Place’s success.

Fox said the foundation of The Gathering Place’s success is people working together for a common cause.

“We’re so lucky in this community to have so many people willing to volunteer.

Tobique-Mactaquac MP Richard Bragdon, whose constituency office neighbours the Nackawic Mall, dropped in to help celebrate the anniversary.

He echoed the mayor’s comments about Nackawic-Millville’s residents’ sense of community.

Bragdon, who grew up and went to school in Nackawic, had a special hug for Stone, his first-grade teacher.

“This is such a great place,” said the MP, referring to both The Gathering Place and the community.

The post The Gathering Place proves a great place to gather first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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A teenage Bilijk (Kingsclear) First Nation boy who was in the wind for two weeks after skipping a court date in an attempted-robbery case has been released on conditions again.

The 14-year-old youth - whose can’t be identified as per the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act - was arrested at the Irving/Circle K Convenience store at 181 King St. the morning of Oct. 19 with a 15-year-old co-accused after a car smashed into the front of the business in what police reported as an attempted robbery.

Bail hearings were held for both teens Oct. 23, and while the 15-year-old was remanded, Judge Cameron Gunn ruled the 14-year-old’s continued detention wasn’t necessary.

He was released on conditions and ordered to return to court Nov. 14 to enter pleas, but the teen didn’t show up. A warrant was issued for his arrest at that time.

Police picked him up last week after two weeks, and he was remanded Friday pending a bail hearing, which was held Monday.

After the 14-year-old’s second bail hearing Monday, though, Judge Lucie Mathurin ruled the boy could again be released on the same conditions as last time.

She ordered him to return to court Jan. 3 to enter pleas.

The 14-year-old is charged jointly with the 15-year-old Bilijk boy with attempting to rob the gas station, possessing a stolen 2018 Mercedes C300 and masking their faces during the Oct. 19 incident, during which the stolen car smashed into the doors of the business.

The younger defendant is also charged with indictable assault, uttering threats to cause death and/or bodily harm and breach of a police undertaking in connection with the same incident.

He now also faces additional charges of breaching a release order by failing to reside at a Bilijk First Nation home Nov. 10 and failing to attend court Nov. 14.

The 15-year-old youth, who remains in custody, is due back in Fredericton youth court Dec. 20 to enter pleas.

In addition to the joint charges, he’s also accused of assault with a weapon (the Mercedes), dangerous driving, mischief causing damage to the gas station and breach of a youth probation order, all stemming from the same Oct. 19 incident at the gas station.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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An unexpected seasonal gift from Fredericton-based clothing brand Down With The Ship blends obscure New Brunswick holiday nostalgia with an equally diverse mix of not-so-classic classics.  Matt Carter Just a…

The post Down With The Ship drops holiday mixtape appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

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The Fredericton Police Force is turning to the public for help in tracking down an offender who was a no-show in court last month for sentencing on fraud crimes.

The city police issued an advisory Monday afternoon about Joshua Lee Best, 37, who the force described as “arrestable on several police files.”

It’s hoping members of the public can provide information on his whereabouts or that could lead to him being found, the alert said.

Best is described as Caucasian, about six feet (183 centimetres) tall, weighing about 240 pounds (109 kilograms), with brown and grey hair and hazel eyes.

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

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

The Fredericton Independent reported last month that Best failed to attend court for a sentencing hearing Nov. 14 for impersonating a disabled man and defrauding the federal government.

Best pleaded guilty in August to counts of personating Kelly Lee Moses fraudulently for monetary gain and defrauding the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) of more than $5,000 between Dec. 3, 2020, and July 22, 2021, in Fredericton.

When he was a no-show for sentencing, the court noted he hadn’t attended probation services for his requested pre-sentence report, and a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

Court heard previously Best had taken advantage of Moses’ intellectual disability so as to impersonate him and to fleece the federal government of thousands of dollars.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Evening event lights up the night

Under a clear, crisp night sky, residents gathered together in Florenceville-Bristol on Sunday, Nov. 26, for the first annual District of Carleton North Santa Claus Parade.

Hundreds of people and vehicles lined the street, three and four deep in places. Parade Marshall Glenn Canam led the procession from the Florenceville Middle School to the Town Hall on Station Street.

Florenceville-Bristol Chamber of Commerce representative Barbara Meed said there were nearly 40 parade entries, making this one of the largest parades in recent years. One of those entries included the Canada Post walkers, who collected letters from 37 children to deliver to Santa.

“I am so touched and delighted that this effort worked so well,” Meed said.

The post Florenceville-Bristol hosts first annual District of Carleton North Santa Claus parade first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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A Minto woman accused of second-degree murder in the death of the man she was living with a year ago will stand trial before a jury in a year’s time.

Jodie Carrie Clark, 31, appeared Monday for the Court of King’s Bench motions day at the Burton Courthouse by telephone from the New Brunswick Women’s Centre in Miramichi, where she’s being held in custody.

She faces an Oct. 9, 2022, count of second-degree murder for Alexander “Andy” Ladds’s death.

The case was previously scheduled to go through a preliminary inquiry in provincial court in January. Such hearings are held in the lower level of court to test the Crown’s evidence and to determine if there’s sufficient cause to set cases over for trial at the Court of King’s Bench.

However, that preliminary inquiry didn’t happen, as the Crown filed a preferred indictment in the case, which allows the prosecution to skip that preliminary phase and proceed directly to trial.

That’s why Clark’s case was before King’s Bench Justice Thomas Christie on Monday, to schedule and confirm the dates for her jury trial.

The court set the trial for two weeks late next year: Nov. 26 to 29, and continuing Dec. 2 to 6.

Clark will remain in custody until that time.

The RCMP reported last year that police and paramedics were dispatched to a home on Highway 105 in Maugerville at about 7 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2022.

Ladds, who was seriously injured, was found inside his home and was rushed to hospital, a police news release said, and Ladds died as a result of his injuries the following day.

Clark was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and made her first appearance in court Oct. 11, 2022.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The federal government is expected to announce an agreement with New Brunswick today to help combat gender-based violence. 

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A Bilijk (Kingsclear) First Nation man facing serious firearms allegations entered not-guilty pleas Friday without having secured legal counsel yet despite previous adjournments to allow him to do so.

Callum James McGraw, 36, of Geegan Street, appeared in Fredericton provincial court Friday to face six indictable charges, most stemming from illegal possession of firearms.

He elected to be tried in provincial court on the indictable charges and pleaded not guilty to possessing a .22-calibre Cooey rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun knowing they were stolen, possessing them while he was prohibited by a court order from having weapons, possessing them without a licence and possessing them knowing he didn’t have a licence to do so.

He also denied related charges of possessing other stolen property - a pellet gun, chainsaw and tool set belonging to Chris and Hollie Spillman, and being at large before the expiration of a sentence.

All charges allege events in Taymouth on May 10.

The at-large count indicates he was subject to a federal prison term at the time as well.

The case had been adjourned several times to give McGraw time to retain defence counsel, but at his last court appearance, a judge told him there’d be no further delays without plea.

McGraw, who isn’t in custody pending the outcome of the case, said he doesn’t have counsel yet but that he’d been in touch with the firm of Fredericton criminal defence lawyer T.J. Burke.

He said he’d call the office, but after being told Burke could take his case, he was informed he’d have to pay a retainer.

“I wasn’t expecting to have to do a retainer,” McGraw said, noting he thought he’d be able to hire Burke under a certificate from Legal Aid New Brunswick.

He said he’s on social assistance and is eligible for legal aid.

But duty counsel Melinda Ponting-Moore said there’s a noteworthy obstacle with regard to legal aid.

“He hasn’t completed his application for legal aid yet,” she said.

Until he does so, Ponting-Moore said, it’s not known if the legal-aid services commission will approve a certificate for outside counsel or if his file will be assigned to a legal-aid staff lawyer.

Judge Natalie LeBlanc set the matter over to Dec. 22 for a case-management conference and to see if McGraw has managed to get representation on the serious charges.

Those weapons offences would draw a likely federal-prison sentence in the event of convictions.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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With one psychiatrist deeming a Pomeroy Ridge man being unfit and another finding him fit, a judge had to decide between the conflicting opinions. 

And on Friday, she came down on the side of the latter.

Jarett Wayne Fraser Heuff, 25, of Clark Point Road in Pomeroy Ridge, about 50 kilometres south of McAdam, is accused by the RCMP of sexually assaulting and sexually touching an underage girl in McAdam between Oct. 30-31, 2021.

Defence lawyer Edward Derrah has put his client’s mental state at issue in the case, and a full hearing was held last month in Fredericton provincial court to determine if he’s fit to stand trial.

During that hearing, court heard from two psychiatrists - Dr. Tunde Apantaku and Dr. Christopher Bryniak - and while both made similar findings about Heuff’s limited capacity for communication and challenges in understanding concepts, they differed on the defendant’s fitness.

Tunde said while Heuff was able to explain the charges against him and understood the roles the various parties play in the court process, his undeniable cognitive delays make it difficult for him to participate fully in his defence.

However, Bryniak - whose opinion the Crown sought after Tunde’s report was filed with the court earlier this year - agreed Heuff suffers from a pronounced intellectual disability that does amount to a mental disorder.

However, the doctor testified, the defendant does understand what’s happening and can communicate information and instructions on his defence, given the proper supports.

Judge Natalie LeBlanc, in rendering her decision on fitness Friday, noted that Tunde is mainly a child psychiatrist, but that aligns to a certain degree with examining Heuff, as he’s been assessed as having the mental capacity of a 12-year-old.

She noted that this marked the first time Tunde conducted a forensic psychiatric assessment for consideration by a court, while Bryniak is one of only two psychiatrists in the province who specializes in that field and has done hundreds of such examinations.

The judge also pointed out that unlike Tunde, Bryniak met with Heuff in the absence of his adoptive mother, who had a tendency to influence the defendant and to provide answers he would adopt.

LeBlanc said the test for a finding of fitness is that a defendant is so on a balance of probabilities, and she found that Heuff met that test.

After the decision, Derrah asked the court to order a new psychiatric assessment, this time to determine if his client might be exempt from criminal responsibility at the time of the alleged offences due to his mental disorder.

He noted Bryniak, in his report and testimony on fitness, said criminal responsibility might be an issue in Heuff’s case.

Crown prosecutor Brett Stanford took no issue with the defence request, and the judge ordered the new assessment, to be conducted in the community.

LeBlanc set the case over to Feb. 26 to give the Horizon Health Network time to find and assign a psychiatrist to conduct the examination.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The organic soil underneath the surface of bogs is a big business in northeast New Brunswick, processed and shipped around the world as a starter for everything from roses to tomatoes.

For the first time ever, the Christmas toy drive at What Kids Need Moncton has had to start a waitlist for families in need.

Nova Scotia is offering drive-thru COVID-19 and flu vaccines at Dartmouth General Hospital, but it's unclear whether New Brunswick has any plans to provide a similar service.

Greater Woodstock Chamber of Commerce delights young and old with Santa Claus parade

People turned out to welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus during the annual Santa Claus parade in Woodstock, New Brunswick, on Sunday, Dec. 3. The event, which helps kick off the Christmas season, was a success with mild temperatures and great weather. The parade is organized by the Greater Woodstock Chamber of Commerce, and saw many local businesses display their Christmas spirit through floats and decorated vehicles.

The post VIDEO: Santa and Mrs. Claus make stop in Woodstock first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Kick-off to Christmas begins with mild weather, hot chocolate, and carols

By Michelle Derrah, special to the River Valley Sun

People of all ages came out to enjoy Hartland’s kick-off to Christmas with their annual tree lighting on Friday, Dec. 1. A large crowd gathered at Charles Allen Park, located next to the Dr. Walter Chestnut Library.

Although the weather was mild for December, people could enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate to keep the chill away.

A group of students from Hartland Community School started the evening with several carols, and some on-lookers could be heard singing along with their favourites.

When the moment came for the big finale, everyone counted down in anticipation of Mayor Tracey DeMerchant lighting the tree.

Several more holiday events are planned in Hartland on December 9, including the Gingerbread Building Competition sponsored by Hartland Freshmart, Kids Craft Day, Pictures with Santa at Hartland Valufoods, and Skate with Santa on December 10.

Please get in touch with the Town’s Recreation Office for more details on how to participate in these events.

The post Bright lights and brighter smiles in Hartland for annual tree-lighting ceremony first appeared on River Valley Sun.

The Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre hosted its annual Wabanaki language conference in November.

When the Beaverbrook Art Gallery sold an original painting donated to the gallery by Lord Beaverbrook, questions surfaced about why these decade-old paintings would be auctioned.

Investigation dismisses reports of shots fired in Chapel Street area

The Woodstock Police Force released a statement on Saturday, Dec. 2, updating its previous day’s release of suspected gunshots in Woodstock’s downtown area. 

Saturday’s release said investigation officers determined the reported sounds were fireworks, not gunshots. 

On Friday, Dec. 1, the Woodstock Police Force released a statement addressing an incident where officers responded to reports of shots fired from an SUV on Chapel Street.

“After a comprehensive investigation, the Woodstock Police have conclusively established that the sounds reported by witnesses were, in fact, the result of fireworks rather than gunshots,” Deputy Chief Mark Bennett said in a release late Saturday afternoon. 

The statement thanked the public for reporting the incident and working with police to resolve it.  

“The Woodstock Police Force extend their gratitude to the public for promptly reporting the incident, contributing significantly to the resolution of the matter,” Saturday’s statement said. “The safety of our residents remains our top priority, and through collaborative efforts with our community members and police partners, we strive to create a secure environment for everyone in the Town of Woodstock.”

Saturday’s statement updated Friday’s report that Woodstock police were investigating reports of possible gunshots. 

Following the reports from several witnesses, the WPF statement on Friday reported that patrol officers and members of the WPF’s Street Crime and Integrated Enforcement Units responded to a firearm-related complaint near Chapel Street in Woodstock.

“Numerous witnesses described hearing two loud bangs, which they believed were gunshots and stated they appeared to come from a beige SUV,” the statement explained. “The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed and was last seen heading north on Chapel Street.”

The original statement included a computerized photo of an SUV but offered no details. 

The post UPDATE: Fireworks, not gunshots, in downtown Woodstock first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Suri Pafford, 14, is an elite boxer from Saint John. But she’s having to go abroad in order to face the top competition she needs to fulfil her dreams.

Police officials to share information on theft protection, neighbourhood watch programs, and safety

Woodstock Police Force Chief Gary Forward and Western District RCMP Dan Sharpe will share the stage on Dec. 11 in a public forum aimed at helping Woodstock residents better protect their and neighbour’s properties.

During her opening remarks at the Nov. 28 Woodstock council meeting, Mayor Trina Jones announced plans for the public forum from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, at the McCain Community Theatre in the Woodstock High School.

She urged the public to take in what she described as the “unique” event, noting it highlights the ongoing collaborations between the town force, which provides policing for Ward 4, the former town boundaries, and the RCMP, which polices the four outlying rural wards.

“This is the first collaboration with a meeting like this with our RCMP and our town reps both represented,” said Jones.

The mayor, who will moderate the forum, said all council members plan to attend.

Jones said Chief Forward and Sgt. Sharpe will offer theft-prevention tips, advice on community safety and field questions from the audience.

Sgt. Sharpe, a Woodstock native, recently took over command of the Western Valley RCMP operations.

In a recent interview with the River Valley Sun, he acknowledged that petty crime is rampant in the region.

“We are putting every effort and all our resources into solving crime and putting those responsible in jail,” Sharpe said.

Forward echoed Sharpe’s viewpoint in a recent report to council, noting the town force’s strong relationship with the RCMP.

Jones said the Woodstock Police Force and RCMP reps at the meeting would share best practices and field questions from residents about starting neighbourhood watch programs and ways to help each other out.

She encouraged council members to spread the word about the forum to constituents and recommended that residents attend the forum.

The post Woodstock Police Force, RCMP to host public forum first appeared on River Valley Sun.