An ongoing project to restore many of the 884 headstones at Fredericton's historic Old Burial Ground will take years.

The City of Saint John, the Saint John Board Of Police Commissioners and CUPE Local 486, the union representing the city’s inside workers, have all ratified a working agreement, immediately ending the strike, which has been ongoing since Sept. 12.

A new report suggests a $57-million police station under construction in Moncton will be too small within 20 years and need a multimillion-dollar expansion, even if the area stays with the RCMP.

A truck driver who was killed at a metal recycling plant in Saint John nearly two years ago was delivering one of his final loads when he was crushed, a coroner's inquest heard Tuesday.

Meet the men and women who keep your community safe and the equipment they use

Area families can spend a fun day meeting the men and women who help keep their communities safe on Saturday, Oct. 14, during the 2023 Public Safety Day at the NBCC Woodstock parking lot.

The event, hosted by the Woodstock Police staff, will feature the many agencies and personnel who respond to emergencies in their respective service areas.

In addition to the WPF, visitors can meet staff and see equipment used by Ambulance N.B., the Woodstock, Debec and Hartland Fire Departments, the RCMP, Carleton Ground Search and Rescue, the 89th Field Battery, the N.B. Conservation Office, MAKO Diving and Marine Services, the CBSA, local towing companies, N.B. Sheriffs, and the SPCA.

The event, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will include food vendor Ketchup and Bite Me and candy vendor Bud’s Sweets and Treats.

Attendees can fill the Fireman’s Boot and support Western Valley Special Olympics.

The post Woodstock Police Force to host Public Safety Day first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Fire Marshal’s Office investigating blaze that destroyed storage building

The New Brunswick Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating an early-morning fire which destroyed a structure on the Old Houlton Road along the Canada-U.S. border.

The Debec Fire Department responded to the 7 a.m. fire call on Oct. 10.

Chris Foster, the department’s officer in charge at the fire scene, said the first firefighters arrived at the scene to find the old garage or storage structure fully involved.

He explained the burning building was located at the site of W.K. Lumber Ltd.

Foster said the Debec firefighters, with mutual-aid support from the Woodstock Fire Department, battled for approximately five hours to extinguish the blaze, which destroyed the building.

He said crews from NB Power also attended the scene.

Foster said the department called in the Fire Marshal’s Office to investigate the cause of the fire, which remains to be determined.

The post Debec Fire Department responds to fire on Old Houlton Road first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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A visiting judge’s refusal to stay drug-trafficking charges against a Geary man after the original judge had engaged in misconduct in the case sent the wrong message, New Brunswick’s top judicial official said Tuesday.

A panel of three New Brunswick Court of Appeal judges, led by Chief Justice Marc Richard, granted an appeal brought by Scott Alexander Morrison, 41, of Geary, issuing a stay in a drug-trafficking prosecution against him last year.

Morrison had been charged with nine charges - including four counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking - stemming from Aug. 7, 2021, events, and he stood trial before Fredericton provincial court Judge Kenneth Oliver in 2022 on those allegations.

The defence had challenged the admissibility of evidence discovered in a search of a vehicle, and a hearing had been held last summer on that issue.

But it was discovered that ahead of Oliver’s decision on that evidentiary issue, he contacted the two police officers who’d testified before him previously but outside of court, to inquire about elements of the search.

The defence had filed an application for Oliver to be removed from the case and for a stay of the charges as a result of the misconduct. But on Oct. 3, 2022, Oliver refused to recuse himself and ordered a mistrial instead.

Judge Marco Cloutier, chief judge of the provincial court, suspended Oliver with pay that same day as a result of that improper witness contact, and he remains suspended pending a judicial council hearing into that misconduct.

Judge Jeff Lantz, chief judge over the P.E.I. provincial court, was brought in late last year to hear the new trial, which amounted to him reviewing the transcripts and evidence from Morrison’s first trial on the August 2021 charges.

Defence lawyer Ben Reentovich brought the motion for the stay of proceedings before Lantz, and prosecutor Brian Munn, then the senior Crown for the Fredericton district, agreed with the defence motion.

Both said Oliver’s misconduct was egregious and that a stay was necessary to maintain people’s confidence in the criminal justice system.

But Lantz declined to issue the stay, arguing that Oliver’s suspension was enough to restore people’s faith in the courts.

As a result of Lantz’s decision, the defence, with the consent of the prosecution, offered guilty pleas to lesser charges, including simple possession of cocaine, possession of stolen property and failure to stop for police.

Lantz sentenced Morriuson to three months of incarceration for those lesser crimes. The offender had been looking at a length prison term instead for drug trafficking.

Nevertheless, Morrison, through his legal counsel, filed a notice of appeal of Lantz’s decision, and the case was before the New Brunswick Court of Appeal on Tuesday afternoon.

Morrison, who’s serving a prison term for other crimes, wasn’t present in person or remotely for the proceedings Tuesday.

‘The public would be shocked to know this was going on’

It was clear early on that the province’s top court was on board with Morrison’s position, as Richard told Reentovich the court didn’t need to hear from him on it.

Furthermore, the Office of the Attorney General, as represented by Joanne Park, also agreed with Morrison’s position, noting a stay was in order.

“This needs to be denounced outright,” the chief justice said, referring to Oliver’s out-of-court contact with witnesses about the case.

“The public would be shocked to know this was going on … They thought that this would get loudly denounced, but then it wasn’t.”

Richard said the panel was allowing the appeal, setting aside the convictions for the August 2021 charges and entering a stay of proceedings instead.

Court of Appeal Justice Barbara Baird said there was another aspect of the case that had to be addressed.

Court heard previously that the police officers whom Oliver had contacted after they’d testified didn’t know the judge wasn’t allowed to do that, and they hadn’t reported it when it happened.

It was only during a conversation with another prosecutor when an officer mentioned offhand that Oliver had reached out in the Morrison case that the misconduct came to light.

“This has troubled me,” Baird said, noting she would have expected the police to realize it represented a serious breach of judicial integrity.

“The very fact that an accidental conversation allowed this to come to light is a concern,” she said.

“I share that concern,” Richard said.

Morrison is in federal prison, as he was sentenced to six years, less credit for remand time, late last year for a number of crimes he committed in June 2021, including counts of possession of hard drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

Morrison has filed an appeal in that case as well.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Progressive Conservative ministers and backbenchers were called to a meeting with Premier Blaine Higgs on Tuesday afternoon as New Brunswickers waited to see if the premier would call a snap election.

On Friday, Shahram Ghanbari finally got to see his fourth-floor apartment after a fire tore through it on Sept. 21. There wasn't much left.

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A Kintore man set to stand trial Tuesday on criminal charges stemming from his opposition to precautionary COVID-19 directives saw those allegations dropped instead.

Mitchell Noel Albert, 25, of Kintore, near Perth-Andover, was charged with obstructing a city police officer at a protest at Fredericton hall against pandemic mandates Jan. 22, 2022, and later with failing to attend court when he refused to don a mask for a scheduled appearance April 22, 2022.

The matter was to proceed to trial in Fredericton provincial court Tuesday after several adjournments, some stemming from the fact that documents provided to the defence as part of the disclosure process had been heavily redacted.

But when Judge Cameron Gunn called the case Tuesday, prosecutor Rebecca Butler said the Crown was moving to withdraw both charges.

But Albert seemed intent on having his day in court.

He said if the withdrawal was the result of the case going beyond the 18-month time limit for provincial court cases as set out in a key Supreme Court of Canada case, he said he was willing to waive that Charter right to a speedy trial.

Butler said the Crown wasn’t required to offer an explanation for its motion and let it stand on its own.

Gunn granted the motion and told the defendant he was free to go.

The courtroom was filled with supporters from the local anti-mandate and sovereign-citizens’ movements. 

“It doesn’t mean you can’t get them for malicious prosecution, Mitchell,” Ivan Finton Hall, one of the leaders of the group, called out from the gallery.

The group rose and applauded, declaring victory in an ongoing crusade against government mandates, which are no longer in place.

The no-show charge flowed from Albert’s refusal to co-operate with courthouse officials. Provincial court Judge Kenneth Oliver had insisted those attending court wear a facemask, and Albert had refused. Oliver was still insisting on masking in his court even after government mandates had been lifted in March 2022.

Albert and Sean Patrick Kenney, another protester against pandemic mandates, filed a small-claim lawsuit against Oliver last year over his treatment of them and others in the movement in his courtroom.

The small-claims adjudicator dismissed their case, finding it was barred by statute. The Provincial Court Act prohibits such lawsuits against judges for actions from the bench to ensure judicial impartiality.

A Court of King’s Bench judge dismissed an appeal of the adjudicator’s decision, and the New Brunswick Court of Appeal subsequently declined to grant leave to appeal it further.

Albert vowed to appeal that latter decision to the Supreme Court of Canada, but as of Tuesday, a search of the top court online case database doesn’t show anything has been filed there.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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A lawyer representing a mentally ill man accused of carrying rifles for a dangerous purpose asked a court to order a psychiatric exam to determine the defendant’s  state of mind at the time of his alleged crimes.

Marc LeBlanc, 40, of no fixed address, appeared in Fredericton provincial court in person and in custody Tuesday, scheduled to go through a bail hearing.

However, duty counsel Melinda Ponting-Moore said the defendant was seeking to postpone his bail hearing and instead asked the court to order a 30-day psychiatric assessment on the issue of criminal responsibility.

The purpose of such an examination would be to determine if Marc LeBlanc might have been suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the alleged offences that might exempt him from criminal responsibility.

Judge Natalie LeBlanc noted that the defendant faces 17 charges in all, and that they’re quite serious.

He’s accused of the following:

• carrying a concealed weapon, a sawed-off rifle, without authorization;

• two counts of possessing sawed-off rifles for a purpose dangerous to the public peace;

• possessing a loaded, prohibited firearm (a sawed-off rifle) without a licence or certificate;

• possessing two sawed-off-rifles while prohibited by a court order, as well as possessing ammunition while prohibited; 

• being the occupant of a motor vehicle in which he knew there was a prohibited firearm;

• possessing an unloaded prohibited firearm (a sawed-off rifle) with readily accessible ammo;

• possessing the rifles knowing he didn’t have a licence for them;

• storing firearms improperly;

• obstructing RCMP Const. Shawn Elhatton in the execution of his duty;

• causing more than $5,000 in property damage to a U-Haul moving cube truck;

• and four counts of possessing identity documents, namely driver’s licences belonging to Braden Robert Kent, Joseph Frank Levi Lirette and Alex Girouard, and the birth certificate of Joseph Paul Daniel Fougere.

The charges allege Sept. 30 offences in Oromocto.

Ponting-Moore said while it’s unusual for duty counsel to request a criminal-responsibility assessment at such an early juncture in a case, before defence counsel is appointed and before disclosure of the Crown file has been made, she felt such an exam might expedite the case.

“I did get some indicators,” she said.

Marc LeBlanc has had a history of mental illness, Ponting-Moore said, and he’s also been subjected to segregation during past stints behind bars.

That’s been shown to exacerbate mental illness, she argued, noting the defendant is a party to a class-action lawsuit over the practice.

“He’s had a history of assessments in the past,” the defence lawyer said, adding that they’ve all been for fitness to stand trial.

Based on her communication with LeBlanc, Ponting-Moore said, she’s confident fitness isn’t an issue. She’s received clear instructions from him, she said, and he understands what’s happening, what the court process is and who the participants are.

“He tells me he’s recently lost stability in his life,” the defence lawyer said.

“He’s having problems with gaps in his memory at the time.”

Crown prosecutor Jennifer Bueno said she’s concerned with the timing of the request.

“It’s very early in the process,” she said.

The judge said that may be the case, but there’s nothing in the law precluding the ordering of a psychiatric assessment at this point.

However, she said, the law requires that there be an evidentiary foundation before the court for such an exam to be ordered.

Judge LeBlanc said the information before the court at this point doesn’t meet that threshold, but that doesn’t mean the defendant and his counsel, to be named later, can’t bring forward additional grounds to reapply for the assessment order.

The judge set the matter over to Oct. 26, possibly for a bail hearing but also potentially for a renewed assessment application.

She remanded the defendant again until that time.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Gallery 78 opened three new exhibitions last week featuring work by Alexandrya Eaton, Jared Betts, and Colin Smith. A new month means new work on display at Gallery 78. From…

The post Three New Exhibitions on Display at Gallery 78 appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

New Brunswick plans to launch a rent bank in January 2024 — but even that timeline is not set in stone.

Saint John mother Kerri Harris said she had nowhere to turn when she discovered her 12-year-old had an eating disorder. With no specialized public care available in the province, she took her daughter to Nova Scotia.

• TikTok

On Oct. 7, the Knowlessville Art and Nature School was alive with music, demonstrations, food, games, and crafts. The annual Knowlesville Country Fair was held on their grounds and is one of the school’s largest fundraisers. Here are some of the sights from Saturday. To watch the video, click on the TikTok icon above.

A 33-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman have been arrested following a drug trafficking investigation in the Hartland area, N.B.

In September 2023, members of the RCMP Provincial Crime Reduction Unit (PCRU) began an investigation into the trafficking of illegal drugs in the Hartland area. Police later identified a person of interest in connection with the investigation.

On October 3, at approximately 1:25 p.m., PCRU members and members of the Western Valley Region RCMP detachment stopped a vehicle in Woodstock in connection with the investigation. The driver of the vehicle, a 33-year-old man, was arrested at the scene for breaching a release order. After the arrest, police conducted a search of the individual and seized quantities of crystal methamphetamine.

Police also arrested the passenger of the vehicle, a 19-year-old woman, who was found to be in possession of several types of pills, as well as crystal methamphetamine. She was later released and will appear in court at a later date.

Subsequent to the arrests, police executed a search warrant at a residence on Main Street in Hartland and seized quantities of what is believed to be cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, unknown pills, a loaded shotgun, shotgun shells, several weapons, and drug trafficking paraphernalia.

On October 4, Keith Reid appeared in Woodstock Provincial Court and was charged with:

• Two counts of failure to comply with a release order
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Unsafe storage of a firearm

He was remanded into custody and is scheduled to return to court on October 6.

This investigation resulted from an operation by the Provincial Crime Reduction Unit, which includes police officers from the New Brunswick RCMP. These efforts focus on disrupting and dismantling the trafficking of illegal drugs in our province, targeting those causing the most harm in our communities.

The public plays a vital role in helping to reduce, prevent and solve crime, including the trafficking of illegal drugs. Anyone with information about, or who suspects, illicit drug activity in their neighbourhood is asked to contact their local police. 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.

The investigation is continuing.

Western Valley Centre for Coaching hands out awards to dedicated coaches and volunteers

The success of amateur sports relies on the skills and dedication of coaches and volunteers. 

On Sept. 21, at the appropriate venue of the Florenceville Curling Club, the 25th annual Western Valley Centre for Coaching Awards banquet saluted a coach, a volunteer and a pair of young athletes whose dedication helps sports thrive in the Upper St. John River Valley. 

Florenceville Curling Club coach Jacob Elsinger of Woodstock was presented with the Tom Hanson Coach of the Year Memorial Award. 

The curling club’s long-time volunteer Brent Brown of Juniper earned the Volunteer Sport Administrator Award. 

Hartland’s Ellie Orser and Woodstock’s Kaden Graham accepted the Youth Achievement Awards during the banquet. 

Kent Kuhn, Carleton County resident and Consultant for the Sport and Recreation Branch, welcomed everyone to the event.

He introduced representatives of Coach NB, who joined the celebration of excellence, including Executive Director Manon Ouellette, Madeline Belding, Women in Coaching project manager, and Andrea Creer, project manager. 

They were joined by New Brunswick alpine ski coach Kay Mills, who served as the evening’s keynote speaker. 

Ouellette introduced Mills and noted the banquet fell on National Coaching Week. 

“It’s my favourite time of the year,” she said. 

Ouellette noted Mills became the New Brunswick Alpine Ski Team’s first female head coach. 

She and Kuhn cited the team’s tremendous success under Mill’s guidance, 

“It’s amazing to see what a 22-year-old can accomplish,” said Ouellette. 

As a mission representative for New Brunswick’s team at the Canada Winter Games, Kuhn said he fell in love with alpine skiing. 

He also praised the results Mill’s team produced. 

“They’re relaxed because she’s relaxed,” Kuhn said. 

He said officials from across the country commended New Brunswick’s alpine team members for their competitive performance and positive demeanour outside the competitions. 

Kuhn explained Mills, currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at the University of New Brunswick, is also a Learning Facilitator with Coach NB and the Coaching Association of Canada, delivering four NCCP training modules. 

“Through evidence-based coaching and an athlete-centered leadership style, Kay aims to build her athletes’ toolkits for success on and off the ski hill,” he said. 

Mills told those attending the banquet that coaching means focusing on the athletes and building on their strengths. 

“When we say it’s all about you, we mean it’s all about you,” she said. 

Mills handed out flashcards, asking them to place their names on one side and list their accomplishments on the other. She explained the exercise will help people remind themselves of their achievements. 

During the award presentations, Joy and Mary Harson, family members of the award namesake Tom Hanson, presented the Coach of the Year award to Elsinga. 

Kuhn outlined Elsinga’s active efforts at the Florenceville Curling Club, especially with their Little Rock and junior program.  

“Not only does he coach these programs, but Jacob can also be found helping the club with bonspiels, funspiels and many other events that the club puts on,” he said. “He is just more than a coach to his athletes, but a mentor, friend, and confidant.” 

Elsinga thanks the Western Valley Centre for Coaching for the honour, noting his enjoyment in the sport and helping spur young curlers’ skills and interest in curling. 

“We don’t help out in sports for the awards,” he said. 

Kelcy Kuhn introduced Brown as the volunteer award recipient, noting his years of dedication to the Florenceville Curling Club in many roles. 

While he currently serves as the club’s president, she said Brown volunteers his time and efforts wherever required, including cooking, cleaning and filling in as an ice-maker. 

“You have done a fantastic job for this club,” Kelcy said. 

Brown expressed humility in accepting the award, saying he’s part of a group.

“It’s not just me, it’s a group,” he said. “This award is for the entire board.” 

Hartland Community School teacher James Allison introduced Orser to accept the Youth Achievement Award, while Hartland recreation staff member Dana Stokoe presented it. 

Allison noted how he and other school members rely on Orser’s reliable volunteer efforts. 

“Ellie has set an example for four years,” he said. 

Orser’s contributions involve working as a minor official and helping with Hartland’s middle school athletics. She is a member and leader in the HCS soccer, basketball, volleyball and golf programs. 

In introducing the male Youth Achievement Award winner, Kent Kuhn described Graham’s contributions to sports and critical community programs. 

Starting at a young age, Graham volunteered with the Two Fools on a Roof fundraiser for cancer. The first-year NBCC student also volunteers for Relay for Life, Woodstock Ribfest, Kids Zone activities, Special Olympics, Western Valley Regional Games and more. 

A theatre in the soon-to-be-constructed performing arts centre in Fredericton will be named after the late Wilma Clark, following a $1 million donation by her widower, John Clark.

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When the New Brunswick SPCA rescued a litter of puppies last month, they were skinny, unvaccinated and infected with a potentially deadly canine gastrointestinal virus.

But the animal protection organization reports the surviving six pups are on the mend after weeks of care and medical treatment.

In a news release Sept. 21, the NB SPCA said someone in the greater Saint John area surrendered seven puppies to the organization Sept. 12.

Executive director Lesley Rogers said the 10-week-old puppies were quite thin and hadn’t seen a vet, and it was discovered they were infected with parvovirus. 

It’s a highly contagious virus that affects dogs’ gastrointestinal tracts, and it can be fatal within 48 to 72 hours of symptoms being shown.

One of the puppies died, but the other six were treated and then quarantined at the Oromocto and Area SPCA shelter.

The NB SPCA issued a call for financial donations, given the expense of treatment.

In a followup this month, the organization said New Brunswickers came through, donating $6,000. 

“The skinny and unvaccinated Ms. Marvel, Lennox and siblings are responding well to their medical treatment,” Rogers said.

“They are out of quarantine and will be spayed and neutered over the next week.”

She noted the six surviving puppies were given names inspired by super-heroes to reflect the strength they exhibited during their treatment.

The puppies’ recovery has gone so well thanks to the efforts of the Oromocto shelter team, Rogers said, officials are preparing them to transition to new forever homes. 

“It has been remarkable to see these tiny fighters live up to their superhero names, showing tremendous improvement,” she said. “The public has shown a lot of enthusiasm in adopting them.”

Those interested in adopting should fill out an online form, which can be found at this link.

Rogers said the $6,000 raised through an online campaign and other sources for the pups’ care, food and shelter has been encouraging, but the parvovirus treatment is expensive.

“We are still seeking donations as the total amount required is in the range of $15,000,” she said.

The NB SPCA director said the organization is hoping the community will continue to come through with financial support. People can contribute online at this link.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Morgan Doucet died Saturday from Morquio syndrome, a disorder that affected him since birth. He was 18. His story became public several years ago when his family lobbied the New Brunswick government to pay for a new drug to treat the disorder.

A copy of the very rare book Birds of America, by John James Audubon, sits in a glass case at the legislature in Fredericton.

Students at Mount Allison University might notice something different on campus this fall. On the glass entryway of Barclay Building, circular stickers are placed five centimetres apart in an attempt to reduce bird collisions.

Wolastoqey chiefs have written an open letter criticizing Premier Blaine Higgs's government for how it's handled its duty to consult with First Nations and signaling their readiness to work with a new government.

New Brunswick had no competitors at a wheelchair tennis event in Fredericton this weekend, but Tennis N.B. hopes to change that.

A snapshot of what's open and what's closed on Monday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

For the first time in 15 years, Saint Mary’s Academy in Edmundston has a soccer team. And not only is it the first team in well over a decade, but it is also made up of kids from a wide age range, all skill levels and a variety of nationalities.

The Rockport, Slacks Cove area, about 23 kilometres southwest of Sackville, is now known mostly for its picturesque beauty and UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserves. But centuries ago, the area thrived in other ways. 

Meeting Charity and Cameron West, a couple walking across Canada to raise awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP), was supposed to be a one-time thing for Ann Paul, who was covering their time in New Brunswick as an assignment for CBC News.

Brandon Howard Roy (PEI), Kylie Fox (NB) and Burry (NS) will be touring the Maritimes beginning November 9 at The Cap.  Matt Carter  Three Maritime artists are joining forces for…

The post The Fun Dip Tour Teams Brings Together Artists from All Three Maritime Provinces appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

The 2023 Silver Wave Film Festival takes place November 2-9. The Silver Wave Film Festival is just around the corner. A staple of Fredericton’s fall event calendar, this year’s week-long…

The post Everything We Know About the 2023 Silver Wave Film Festival (so far) appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

The City of Saint John and the union representing the city’s inside workers have reached a tentative agreement, according to both sides in the dispute.

Post-tropical storm Philippe will bring high winds and heavy rain to parts of the Maritimes this Thanksgiving weekend. CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland said the strongest winds will be from the east to southeast late Saturday into early Sunday. 

It started with a couple of photo “likes” on Instagram. Now an Italian model and a northern New Brunswick filmmaker and playwright have created an art project together about self-harm and mental illness awareness that they’d like to take on the road and turn into a stage production.

At a time when it seems everyone has a clock on their phone or a phone on their wrist, traditional watchmaker Paul Blackmore is busier than ever.

A group of young soccer players from the Northwest Territories soccer players had the chance to dip their toes in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time after travelling to New Brunswick for a tournament.

A Picasso painting from 1945 has returned to Moncton for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Moncton Museum. The painting was part of the museum's first exhibit in 1973.

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A Fredericton man denied allegations Thursday that he broke into an iconic downtown watering hole this summer, and a trial date will be set later this fall.

Sean William Ryan, 36, of no fixed address, appeared by telephone in Fredericton provincial court Thursday to answer to three indictable charges.

He elected to be tried in provincial court and pleaded not guilty to breaking into the Lighthouse by 540 with intent to commit an offence, masking his face with a bandana with intent to commit an offence and possessing a stolen credit belonging to Tyler Duguay, all alleged to have occurred July 31.

Judge Cameron Gunn set the matter over to Oct. 27 for a case-management conference, and a trial date will be scheduled at that time.

The judge remanded Ryan again until that time.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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A senior provincial cabinet minister who has remained loyal to Premier Blaine Higgs is saying there’s no need for the premier to call an early election this fall.

Five months in jail for dangerous driving, stolen property

Marshall Turner, 23, of Beaconsfield, was sentenced to five months in jail, minus time served, when he appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Oct. 5.

Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean also placed Turner on probation for 12 months and ordered him to seek counselling for meth addiction.

RCMP charged Turner with committing mischief, dangerous driving and breach of probation concerning an incident on Aug. 24 at Beaconsfield. The court heard the incident involved a hit and run. Turner was driving an ATV when he struck another vehicle, causing significant damage.

He was arrested and held in custody for a bail hearing but then pleaded guilty to two charges on Sept. 1. The crown withdrew the mischief charge.

Turner also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen snowmobile, flight from police, and breach of probation for another incident on March 6 at Carlingford when police spotted him at a local gas station. Turner had a prior criminal record.

In custody on drug trafficking charges

Keith Reid, 33, of Fredericton, will appear in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on Oct. 6 at 10:30 a.m. He appeared in court in custody on Oct. 4 on drug trafficking charges and was remanded.

Reid was charged by RCMP with possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a firearm (a shotgun) without a licence, and improper storage of a firearm in connection with an incident on Oct. 3 in Hartland. He also faces two counts of breaching a release order for other matters in Fredericton.

Rowan released with conditions

Aaron William Rowan, 47, of Bulls Creek, was released from custody with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle, when he appeared in provincial court on Oct. 5 for a decision on his bail.

Rowan will reside at a Woodstock residence under strict conditions until his next court appearance on Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m. He is expected to enter a plea at that time.

Rowan was charged with possession of a firearm (a handgun) while prohibited, uttering threats, intimidation to obstruct the course of justice, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possession of stolen property, and committing mischief, concerning an incident involving a female victim on Sept. 23 at Bulls Creek.

He appeared in court in custody on Sept. 26 and was remanded for a bail hearing. On Oct. 3, Rowan also faced a separate charge of assaulting another female victim on July 11 at Woodstock First Nation.

Rowan appeared in provincial court in custody in February for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle, but was recently taken back into custody.

Woodstock Police charged him with assault causing bodily harm to another man, assault with a weapon (a metal pipe), and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace. Following an incident on Jan. 10 at Capital Square in downtown Woodstock, he was arrested when a man suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for Oct. 18 at 1:30 p.m.

Rowan has a lengthy prior criminal record. He was also charged by Woodstock Police with possession of stolen property over $5,000 (a tractor owned by Green Diamond Equipment), stemming from an incident on Dec. 17, 2021, in Woodstock.

Jacksontown man released from custody

Brian Thomas Ketch, 42, of Jacksontown, appeared in provincial court in custody on Oct. 4 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including a curfew.

Ketch was arrested and charged by Woodstock Police with two counts of breach of a release order concerning incidents on June 23 and Sept. 25 in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty, and the court set a trial date for Feb. 28, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.

Ketch is also scheduled to appear for trial in provincial court on Feb. 28 on two other charges laid by RCMP. He entered his not-guilty plea in May.

Ketch appeared in provincial court in custody on March 31 and was released with conditions. RCMP charged him with assault involving a female victim and breach of an undertaking by failing to abide by a no-contact order following incidents on March 11 and 28 in Jacksontown.

Agrees to peace bond, charge withdrawn

Leanne Stone, 37, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 4 for a hearing about her upcoming trial on an assault charge. She agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and the crown consented to withdraw the charge.

RCMP charged Stone with assault in relation to an incident on Aug. 25, 2022, at Florenceville-Bristol. She entered her not-guilty plea at a court appearance on March 22. As part of the peace bond, Stone was ordered not to have any contact with the complainants.

Sentencing set for Woodstock man

James Morgan DeMerchant, 20, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Oct. 5 for his trial on charges laid by Woodstock Police. He changed his plea to guilty on all counts, and a sentencing date was set for Nov. 16 at 930 a.m.

DeMerchant was charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, resisting arrest, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and breach of probation in connection with incidents during the early morning hours of March 7 in Woodstock. He was arrested after police received reports of an individual attempting to steal from vehicles. He was denied bail and remanded.

Peel man sentenced

Alan Hovey, 61, of Peel, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 5 for sentencing on charges laid by RCMP. He received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation. Hovey also agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond.

Hovey was charged with assault, uttering threats, and unlawful entry at a dwelling house stemming from an incident on Aug. 2, 2022, in Hartland. He pleaded guilty to two of the charges.

Released with conditions

Mitchell LaFrance of Perth appeared in provincial court in custody on Oct. 5 for his bail hearing and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on Oct. 24 at 9:30 a.m.

RCMP charged LaFrance with breaching an undertaking by failing to comply with a no-contact order in connection with an incident involving a female victim on Oct. 2 at East Brighton. He was also charged with uttering threats and criminal harassment for incidents involving the same complainant between Aug. 28 and Sept. 25.

Fined $500 for breach of intervention order

Daniel Jonathan DeMerchant, 32, of Woodstock, was fined $500 when he appeared in provincial court for sentencing on one charge laid by Woodstock Police.

DeMerchant changed his plea to guilty of breaching an emergency intervention order for an incident in Woodstock on Sept. 27, 2022. The crown withdrew a second charge for a similar incident on Nov. 25, 2022. DeMerchant had a prior criminal record. The charges are related to a no-contact order.

Arrested on a warrant

Jerod Nowlan, 40, of Woodstock First Nation, turned himself into sheriffs at the courthouse on Oct. 4 after failing to appear in provincial court to monitor his upcoming trial. The court issued a warrant for his arrest on Oct. 3.

Nowlan was escorted to jail and then released with conditions later that day. He returns to court on Oct. 24 at 9:30 a.m. for monitoring.

Nowlan is scheduled to appear for trial in provincial court on Dec. 14 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an assault charge. RCMP charged him with assault on a minor in connection with an incident between April 1 and April 30 in Coldstream. He pleaded not guilty on Sept. 12.

Warrant issued for Neqotkuk man

The court issued another arrest warrant for Tyler Randall Moulton, 31, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), after he failed to appear in provincial court for his trial on Oct. 4.

Moulton appeared in provincial court in custody by video in May and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was later released with conditions. He also missed a court appearance on Sept. 5 when an arrest warrant was issued.

On May 2, Moulton was arrested on a warrant on a mischief charge in Edmunston. He was one of six former inmates charged in connection with an October 2021 riot at the Madawaska jail that caused over $100,000 in damage to the institution.

RCMP also charged Moulton with unlawful confinement, assault, and uttering threats involving a female victim in relation to an incident on July 9, 2021, and with breach of probation on Jan. 30, 2020. Both incidents occurred at Neqotkuk. He also faces two counts of breach of an undertaking on Feb. 21, 2022, and May 20, 2022. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In custody awaiting plea

Curtis Brent Hatheway, 43, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Oct. 5 for his bail hearing. He waived his bail until later and was remanded. He returns to court in custody for plea on Oct. 24 at 11 a.m.

Woodstock Police charged Hatheway with assaulting a female victim, assault by choking, uttering threats and breach of a release order for an incident on Sept. 25 in Woodstock. The court heard he is also facing other separate charges in Moncton.

Hatheway is also awaiting plea on additional charges laid by Woodstock Police. Those matters were adjourned until Oct. 24 at the request of his defence counsel.

Hatheway appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 6 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions, including house arrest and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.

Hatheway was also ordered to have no contact with the complainant and to attend court as required. Woodstock Police charged him with assault involving a female victim, breach of probation, and breach of a release order stemming from an incident on June 22 in Woodstock.

On June 6, Hatheway was arrested on a warrant and released with conditions. He was charged by Woodstock Police with assault with a weapon (a shovel), assault involving a female victim, breach of a release order, and breach of probation following another incident on May 9 in Woodstock.

Youth charged in Ribfest incident to enter plea

A 17-year-old male youth from Woodstock will appear in provincial court on Nov. 1 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on charges related to an incident during Ribfest at Connell Park.

He appeared in court on Oct. 4 when the matter was adjourned to the new date. Defence Counsel Brent Dickinson told the court more time was needed to review disclosure on the file.

The youth appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 29 for a fitness hearing following his 30-day mental health assessment. He was found fit to stand trial and was released with conditions.

He was charged with assault, uttering threats, possession of weapons dangerous to the public peace (knives, swords and a firearm) and possession of break-in tools following an incident at Ribfest on July 21 at Connell Park.

He was also charged with assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace and concealing a weapon (a knife) concerning an earlier incident at Woodstock High School on March 28.

Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean ordered the youth to seek counselling for mental health and addiction during his release. A publication ban protects the identity of the accused because he is under 18.

Sentencing set on drug charge

Stanley Holt, 57, of Bluebell, Victoria County, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 5 for his trial on a drug trafficking charge.

RCMP charged Holt with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of stolen property concerning an incident on Sept. 8, 2021, near Plaster Rock.

He pleaded guilty to the lesser included offence of indictable possession of methamphetamine, and a sentencing date was set for Jan. 11, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.

Neqotkuk man arrested on multiple charges

Nicholas Paul of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Oct. 4 for a bail hearing on multiple charges laid by RCMP. He was released with conditions, including house arrest and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. Paul returns to court for plea on Oct. 24 at 9:30 a.m.

Paul was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, breach of probation and possession of a stolen credit card for an incident on Sept. 12 in Hartland; theft from a store in Carlingford on Aug. 30; two counts of dangerous driving, two counts of suspended driving, and two counts of flight from police for incidents on Aug. 8 and Aug. 11 in Perth Andover.

Nicholas Paul and Jennifer Paul were each charged by RCMP with theft of a motor vehicle (a 2013 Volkswagon Jetta), possession of stolen property, obstructing police, possession of a firearm without a license, careless use of a firearm, and breach of an undertaking following incidents on Dec. 3, 2021, in Grand Falls and Neqotkuk.

Their not-guilty pleas were entered at a court appearance on March 21, and a trial date was set for Jan. 11, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.

Nicholas Paul also faced charges of flight from police and break, enter and theft at a storage shed following an incident on Sept. 4, 2022, at Perth-Andover. He pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

In custody on raft of charges

Philip Sapper-Solomon, 30, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Oct. 4 for a bail hearing on 14 charges laid by RCMP. He waived his bail until later and returns to court in custody for plea on Oct. 10 at 11:15 a.m.

Sappier-Solomon was arrested in connection with an incident on Sept. 17 near Beechwood. He was charged with possession of a restricted weapon (a handgun) while prohibited; possession of ammunition while prohibited; possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence; two counts of possession of a restricted weapon without a licence; being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm; possession of a loaded, restricted firearm (a handgun); assault and assault by choking involving a female victim; assault with a weapon (a cell phone); two counts of uttering threats; committing mischief causing property damage to a phone and tires, and mischief causing damage to a police vehicle.

Arrested on multiple charges

Ryan James Smith of Woodstock, formerly of Perth, will appear in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Oct. 6 at 9:30 a.m. He appeared in court in custody by video on Oct. 3 when the hearing was adjourned to the new date.

Smith was charged by RCMP with possession of a firearm while prohibited, possession of a stolen vehicle, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, obstructing police, transporting a firearm in a careless manner, and possession of a firearm without a licence, stemming from an incident on Sept. 30 in Hartland. He was also charged with possession of a stolen car, committing mischief and driving while suspended for another incident in Meductic.

Awaiting plea on two charges

Tristan Mathias Kelleter, 25, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges by Woodstock Police.

Kelleter was charged with two counts of uttering threats, concerning an incident on May 27 near Jacksonville. He appeared in provincial court on Oct. 4 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.

Trial scheduled on sex charge

James Robert Moore, 44, of Fredericton, will appear for trial in provincial court on Oct. 6 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to a sex charge laid by Woodstock Police.

Moore appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on July 4 and was released with conditions. He was arrested on a warrant after he failed to appear for his trial in March. Woodstock Police charged him with sexual assault concerning an incident in Woodstock on June 5, 2021.

A former Moncton-area teacher faces dozens of new charges, most alleging voyeurism in a pool locker room last year.

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A Fredericton man who’d been in custody for two months for skipping a court date for a volatile firearms incident is longer behind bars after getting a community-based sentence Thursday.

Brian Joseph MacKinnon, 70, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by telephone from jail Thursday to answer to charges dating back to last year.

He pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing non-restricted firearms - a shotgun and two rifles - without a licence in Lincoln on May 2, 2022.

MacKinnon also admitted to breaching a police undertaking requiring him to attend court Aug. 17, 2022.

Crown prosecutor Matthew Paik said police were dispatched to the Airport Inn in Lincoln on May 2, 2022, after receiving a report that MacKinnon, who’d been living there at the time, was highly intoxicated and brandishing a firearm, threatening his neighbours.

When officers arrived, Paik said, MacKinnon was inside his room.

“They located the shotgun on his bed in plain sight,” the prosecutor said, adding there were also two rifles there - one intact and the other disassembled. 

He said MacKinnon had a licence for the guns, but it had expired in January 2020.

Paik said the offender was released on an undertaking with an Aug. 17, 2022, court date, but he didn’t attend as required.

An arrest warrant was issued, court heard, and he was picked up and remanded two months ago.

MacKinnon admitted he committed the crimes, but noted he doesn’t remember doing it.

Regarding the failure to attend court, duty counsel Melinda Ponting-Moore said the defendant had been in a car accident around that time and sustained an injury to his ankle.

That made travelling into Fredericton a challenge, she said, but he acknowledges he should have made arrangements or contacted the court to report the obstacle.

Paik filed MacKinnon’s criminal history with the court, noting there was a previous conviction for a firearms offence, though it was in 1971. He noted the last conviction on the record was in 1980.

“I was in junior high,” said Judge Cameron Gunn.

The parties agreed the dated record wasn’t a major factor for consideration in sentence.

Paik and Ponting-Moore offered a joint recommendation on sentence: a conditional sentence of eight months, to be served in the community under curfew, and followed by a year of probation.

Court heard MacKinnon has a number of health issues, but he’ll reside at the Oak Centre in Fredericton upon his release, and staff there will be looking into a long-term care facility for him.

Gunn accepted the joint recommendation, imposed the eight-month conditional sentence.

During that time, MacKinnon is to reside at the Oak Centre and follow a curfew of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

He must also abstain from alcohol and non-prescribed drugs, possess no weapons, attend counselling as directed and stay away from the Airport Inn.

Gunn also ordered 12 months of probation to follow, and the same conditions apply during that term, save for the curfew.

The judge noted that should a long-term care placement be found for MacKinnon during his conditional sentence, he’ll have to come to court to apply for a change of address.

Gunn also ordered MacKinnon to submit a DNA sample for inclusion in a criminal database, and to refrain from possessing firearms and other weapons for life.

Furthermore, he ordered the weapons seized by police last year forfeited to the Crown.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Liberal Leader Susan Holt and Green Leader David Coon are both highlighting access to health care as a top campaign issue on the eve of an expected early election call.

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An Oromocto resident was reported as missing to police this week, and the RCMP is turning to the public for help in finding the individual.

Brandon Burley McLean, 25, last had contact with people who know them Thursday, the RCMP said in a news release Friday morning, adding it’s believed they’re in the Oromocto area. 

“He was reported missing to police later the same day. Police have followed up on several leads to try and locate him, but have so far been unsuccessful,” the release said.

“Police and his family are concerned for his well-being.”

McLean is described as being about 5’5” (165 centimetres) tall, weighing about 130 pounds (59 kilograms), with blue eyes, brown hair and a tattoo on his neck. 

“He was last seen wearing a camo ball cap, brown hooded sweatshirt, and carrying a red and white backpack,” the RCMP reported.

Though the news release doesn’t mention it, McLean identifies as non-binary on a social-media account, and they also go by the name Quinn McLean.

Furthermore, there’s a warrant out for McLean’s arrest.

They were scheduled to stand trial in Fredericton provincial court Sept. 26 on a charge alleging they breached a sex-offender information registration order, but they didn’t appear as required.

The RCMP is urging anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact the Oromocto detachment at 506-357-4300.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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More than 150 people dressed in red and marched in Esgenoôpetitj First Nation on Wednesday, gathering to unveil a monument for a young woman murdered in the community 14 years ago.

A pair of investors from Coquitlam, B.C., who bought a Saint John apartment building in 2022 and financed the purchase with a large variable-rate mortgage, are having some success challenging a provincial government rent control policy.

After two years of the Petitcodiac River bridge going unnamed, the government has finally unveiled the bridge’s new moniker.

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A Fredericton man accused of taking a shot at another man in Geary this week is being held in custody pending a bail hearing.

Darrell Richard Barnes, 50, of Boyne Court, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by telephone from RCMP custody Thursday morning.

He was charged with discharging a firearm at Dustin Madden with intent to wound, maim or disfigure him, or to endanger his life.

The indictable RCMP charge alleges an incident in Geary on Tuesday.

Crown prosecutor Karen Lee objected to Barnes’ release, and Judge Cameron Gunn remanded him pending a bail hearing, which he scheduled for Tuesday.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The City of Fredericton is set to miss a self-imposed target to make land available for affordable housing after council delayed a decision on whether to pay for the creation of a new street.

A veteran educator, who witnessed the decision-making style of Premier Blaine Higgs up close, has decided to run for the Liberals in the next provincial election.

Woodstock Police Force gratefully accepts Afghan blanket donation from MacLeod Riverside Court’s Knitting Group

The Woodstock Police Force is delighted with the generous donation of Afghan blankets from the MacLeod Riverside Court’s Knitting Group.

Deputy Chief Mark Bennett said these beautifully crafted blankets will play a crucial role in assisting victims of crime and individuals dealing with traumatic events in our community.

“The donation of these beautifully crafted Afghan blankets is particularly meaningful as it will provide comfort and warmth to those in our community who are going through difficult times,” he said. “These blankets will serve as a symbol of compassion and support, and we are confident that they will bring solace to those who need it most.”

In a social media post, the Woodstock Police Force said it remains committed to the safety and well-being of their community members, and partnerships like these reinforce the bonds that make the community strong.