Faith Howe spent nine days at the Fredericton Public Library trying to set the world record for the largest Lego playing card. Using 50,000 Lego bricks, Howe’s Queen of Hearts is about eight feet wide and at least 12 feet long.

A new three-year nursing degree will begin next year at UNB Saint John. The pilot program will offer what the government is calling a "condensed degree," alongside the usual four-year bachelor of nursing program.

Police stress the public’s role in the intelligence-led investigation leading to the arrest

The Western Valley RCMP say intelligence-led investigations led to the arrest of a 30-year-old Hartland man and the recovery of a stolen property.

In a release issued on Aug. 31, the RCMP explained the force responded to public information received on Aug. 22 regarding a potentially stolen trailer. The information led to the recovery of stolen property in Greenfield.

The release explained that police located the trailer in Greenfield and confirmed that it had been stolen from Belleville earlier that day.

The RCMP said officers visited the trailer’s location, arresting the 30-year-old man at the scene.

The release said the RCMP discovered the man was wanted on four outstanding warrants for breach of conditions, possession of stolen property and breach of an emergency intervention order.

On Aug. 23, Kristopher McConnell attended Woodstock provincial court to face charges of possession of stolen property over $5,000. The court remanded McConnell into custody until his scheduled return to court on Sept. 12.

The release stressed the New Brunswick RCMP’s commitment to intelligence-led policing, describing the Greenfield investigation and arrest as the latest in a series of police actions aimed at reducing property crimes in the province.

The RCMP noted the public’s critical role in helping police achieve positive outcomes in its investigations.

“The Western Valley RCMP would like to thank the public for their assistance in recovering this stolen property,” the police said in its release.

The RCMP reminded anyone with information about, or who suspects, illegal activity in their neighbourhood to contact their local police.

They explained the public can also provide information 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 RCMP said the investigation is ongoing.

The post RCMP arrest 30-year-old man, recover stolen property first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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An Oromocto man was arrested at an Onondaga street bank branch Wednesday after an alleged attempt to rob the financial institution, the RCMP reports.

The Mounties issued a news release Friday indicating that officers were dispatched to a bank location Wednesday afternoon after receiving a report of a robbery in progress.

“On Aug. 30, 2023, at approximately 2:15 p.m., a man entered a bank on Onondaga Street, in Oromocto, and demanded money while stating that he had a firearm in his backpack,” the release said.

“Police arrived promptly to the scene, and the man was arrested without incident. He did not obtain any money, and the backpack and a pellet gun were seized.”

The time and location match with social-media reports of an armed police response at the TD Canada Trust branch on Onondaga Street in Oromocto, in the same strip mall as the Atlantic Superstore in that community.

Arrested at the scene was Chad Atkinson, 30, of Oromocto, and he appeared in Fredericton provincial court Thursday.

He now faces charges of attempting to rob the bank, possessing a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, carrying a concealed weapon and breaching a probation order.

The Crown objected to Atkinson’s release, and he was remanded pending a bail hearing, scheduled for Tuesday.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The lives of some newcomer children in New Brunswick are a little bit easier thanks to help from school support workers.

Those who pick and sell dulse on Grand Manan say this year has been the worst season anyone can remember. While there may be decent quantity, the quality has never been worse.

The Progressive Conservative government is taking another step to extend operating room hours in Nova Scotia, but it's not clear if it will help cut into a stubborn backlog of surgical cases.

Paul Keller first thought he was hearing water splashing upon a rock. Turns out it was a great white shark splashing about as it tore into a whale carcass. 

Dozens of people gathered outside Ensemble Moncton on Thursday to mark International Overdose Awareness Day with a barbecue, naloxone training and music, and by handing out information about treatment options.

A 57-year old man has been killed in a collision in rainy weather near Salisbury, police say.

Julia Walker reviews the new EP from Saint John grunge punks Butcher. Julia Walker If I’m measuring how excited I am about an EP based on how much I feel…

The post Butcher Share New EP appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

A 25-year-old man is dead following an accident on the Trans-Canada Highway near Kinnear Settlement, just west of Petitcodiac.

Volunteers launch Riverside Elite Volleyball — REV in the District of Carleton North

While volleyball is popular in Carleton County, youth have long needed more opportunities to play competitively outside the short school-based season.

Three volunteers with a passion for sport and their community hope to provide a new option and a greater opportunity to pursue volleyball in the District of Carleton North.

Sandra Castaneda, Sandey St-Amand and Marisol Ortega founded Riverside Elite Volleyball (REV), a registered not-for-profit sports club. As of Sept. 1, REV is registered with Volleyball New Brunswick.

“There was no local program for kids to learn the fundamental principles of volleyball, and the school season for this sport was too short,” explained St-Amand as she explained the incentive to create REV. 

She added they also wanted to offer a desirable sports option that was missing from our area.

“Currently,” St-Amand explained, “parents have to travel their child to Nackawic or Fredericton to play in a club or even attend a summer camp.”

She explained REV’s club program allows youth players with common interests from neighbouring communities all along the upper valley from Woodstock to Perth-Andover to play and develop their skills together.

“Plus, St-Amand added, “you get to meet new friends in a team environment.”

She said REV will start with two teams this September. One will be for U12 boys and one for U14 girls.

St-Amand said the U12 Boys team is a beginner’s program, with no prior volleyball experience required.

“They will be playing tripleball, which is a modified game that allows better skill development through more rallies, which is far more enjoyable for learners,” she said.

St-Amand said REV still needs a few more boys to register.

Anyone interested in finding out more can email [email protected] or check Riverside Elite Volleyball — REV on Facebook at (20+) Facebook

The post New program set to REV up volleyball access in the Upper River Valley first appeared on River Valley Sun.

1. Prison sentence for Perth-Andover woman totals over 11 years

A Perth-Andover woman has been sentenced to 11 and a half years in federal prison for her role in a drug trafficking operation in Victoria County.

Janet Elizabeth Holmes, 32, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 31 for her second trial on drug trafficking charges. She changed her plea to guilty to possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with the execution of a search warrant at her home in Perth-Andover on Jan. 27, 2022.

Judge Claude Haché handed her three and a half years in prison for the offence. The crown withdrew several other drug and firearm charges.

Holmes is already serving an eight-year federal prison sentence due to her conviction for drug trafficking last year. The RCMP charged her following another police raid at her home on April 29, 2022, and she was found guilty after trial.

On Thursday, Holmes showed no emotion upon hearing she was facing a total sentence of over 11 years in jail.

Judge Haché also ordered Holmes to register with the federal DNA database, and she was prohibited from using firearms for life. All narcotics, cash, drug paraphernalia, firearms and ammunition seized by police during the investigation were forfeited to the crown.

Federal Crown Prosecutor Jillian Jordon told the court police found a large quantity of hard drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, hydromorphone and fentanyl, inside her residence and in a trailer on her property. A backpack containing money, drugs and drug paraphernalia also carried her personal identification.

Defence Counsel Alex Carleton said Holmes was an addict for most of her adult life and eventually became an intravenous drug user.

“She was an addict trafficker,” Carleton explained.

Since her incarceration, Holmes has been involved in drug rehabilitation programs and hopes to recover from her addiction during her lengthy prison term.

A co-accused, Justin Joseph Curran, 32, of Grand Falls, was sentenced in July to seven years and 11 months in prison, minus time served. He pleaded guilty to more than 20 charges laid by RCMP.

During his arrest, Curran was found in possession of large quantities of multiple illegal drugs. He lived with Holmes at her residence in Perth-Andover. He also committed several thefts in communities across Victoria County. Curran had a prior criminal record.

2. Michaud pleads guilty to remaining charges

Walter Patrick (Ricky) Michaud, 43, of Debec, appeared in provincial court in custody for trial on Aug. 30 and changed his plea to guilty on all remaining charges laid against him by RCMP. A sentencing date was set for Sept. 26 at 1:30 p.m.

Michaud was denied bail and remanded to jail in October on nine charges stemming from the day of his arrest on Sept. 27, 2022, at Bull’s Creek, including possession of a firearm without a licence (a Ruger 10/22 rifle), being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a loaded gun, improper transport of a firearm, possession of a firearm dangerous to the public peace, flight from police, dangerous driving, assaulting a police officer while threatening to use a weapon (a vehicle), possession of stolen property (a Dodge Ram truck), and resisting arrest.

Police also charged him with assaulting a police officer with a weapon (a vehicle), flight from police, and dangerous driving on Sept. 18, 2022, in Meductic.

Michaud also appeared in provincial court in custody on July 21 for a verdict following two other trials. He was found guilty on all counts and returns to court for sentencing on more charges on Sept. 26 at 1:30 p.m.

The RCMP charged Michaud with flight from police, dangerous driving, and possession of stolen property (a Ford 150 half-ton) for an incident on Sept. 16, 2022, in Woodstock. The charges related to a police chase in Woodstock. 

More charges included assaulting a police officer while threatening to use a weapon (a bush saw) and resisting arrest on Sept. 6, 2022, in Debec. Michaud was found guilty on both counts.

Michaud also appeared in provincial court in custody on June 12 for his trial about a stolen vehicle and his alleged involvement in drug trafficking. After a full day of testimony from police officers and a police drug expert, Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean reserved his decision until Sept. 26 at 1:30 p.m.

Michaud was charged by RCMP with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking following an incident around midnight on March 11, 2022, in Teeds Mills. He was also charged with possession of stolen property (a 2013 Hyundai Elantra) as a result of the same incident. He pleaded not guilty, and the matter went to trial.

Michaud also faced charges of assaulting a woman in Debec on Aug. 27, 2022. He was found not guilty of the assault on June 29 after the alleged victim failed to appear to testify at the trial.

3. Released with conditions

Andrew Joseph St. Peter, 31, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Aug. 30 and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m.

St. Peter was arrested on a warrant after he failed to appear in court for plea. He appeared in provincial court in custody on July 26 to answer a weapons charge related to an incident in the village on July 22.

The RCMP charged St. Peter with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (a firearm). He was arrested after police received reports of a suspect carrying a weapon in the village.

St. Peter was also slated for plea on charges under the SPCA Act. He was charged by SPCA officers with willful neglect of an animal and failing to provide medical attention to a dog concerning incidents on Jan. 1-2 in Plaster Rock. In June, the court heard St. Peter had been admitted to the Restigouche hospital and could not attend court.

4. Arrest warrant issued

The court issued an arrest warrant for Sara Elizabeth (Skaarup) Campbell, 40, of Perth-Andover, after she failed to appear in provincial court to answer a charge on Aug. 29. RCMP charged Campbell with impaired driving concerning an incident on May 26 near Aroostook.

Thomas awaiting trial, McLean to enter plea

Connell Ross McLean, 27, and Issak Tedford Thomas, 27, of Centreville, remain in custody on charges related to a series of incidents, including a police chase and shots fired.

Thomas appeared in court in custody by video and waived his bail until later. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and returned to court on Aug. 30, where the court set his trial date for Jan. 18-19, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. It also set a monitoring date for Dec. 19.

McLean also appeared in court in custody by video on Aug. 23 for his bail hearing. The hearing was adjourned until Sept. 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of his defence counsel. McLean did not enter any plea at his court appearance.

The RCMP charged each man with discharge of a firearm (a rifle) with intent, improper storage of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, obstructing police, and possession of stolen property (a side-by-side).

The RCMP also charged Thomas with possession of a firearm while prohibited and breach of probation. McLean faces additional charges of flight from police, driving while suspended, and assaulting a police officer.

Police arrested the two men following a collision between an off-road vehicle and a police cruiser on Route 105 in Lower Brighton, south of Harland, on July 17. The arrests were related to a Monday morning incident in Speerville, south of Woodstock, which included shots fired at a Speerville resident.

The suspects fled Speerville, leading to an hours-long police search and investigation in several communities, including Lakeville, between Centreville and Woodstock, and Lower Brighton.

5. In custody awaiting plea

Brandon Jeffrey Cote, 28, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 30 and waived his bail. He returns to court for plea on Sept. 7 at 1:30 p.m.

The Woodstock Police Force charged Cote with assault involving a female victim, assault with a weapon, and breach of probation for a recent incident in Woodstock.

The RCMP also charged Cote with uttering threats on Aug. 18 in Woodstock and breach of an undertaking by failing to report to police between Oct. 3, 2022, and Aug. 28, 2023, in Woodstock.

6. Held for bail hearing

Brandon Schriver, 21, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 31 via teleconference and was remanded to jail. He returns to court in custody for a bail hearing on Sept. 1 at 11 a.m.

The RCMP charged Schriver with breach of probation following an incident on Aug. 30 at Craig’s Flat. Crown Prosecutor Geoff Hutchin told the court more charges are pending against the accused.

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

7. Neqotkuk man facing four charges

Collin Francis Bear, 35, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), was in custody awaiting a bail hearing on Aug. 31 on four charges laid by RCMP.

Police charged Bear with assault, two counts of assault with a weapon (an axe and a mirror) involving a female victim, and possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence (an axe) in connection with an incident on Aug. 26 at Neqotkuk.

8. Arrested and released with conditions

Myles Andrew Dymond, 49, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 28 and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on Sept. 19 at 9:30 a.m.

The Woodstock Police Force charged Dymond with breach of an undertaking by failing to abide by a no-contact order following an incident on Aug. 26 in Woodstock. The no-contact order involves a female complainant.

9. Charged with leaving an accident scene

Deidra Fowler, 50, of Woodstock First Nation, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on one charge laid by RCMP.

Police charged Fowler with failing to stop at the scene of an accident concerning an incident on May 27 at Woodstock First Nation. She made her first court appearance on Aug. 29 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.

10. Released on an undertaking

Christopher James Kitchen, 44, of Beardsley Road, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 13 at 1:30 p.m. to answer a charge of criminal harassment.

The Woodstock Police Force charged Kitchen following an incident on March 13 in Woodstock. The charge involves allegations of repeated communication with a female complainant. Kitchen made his first court appearance on Aug. 29 and was released on an undertaking.

11. Awaiting plea for impaired driving

Adam Gordon Harris, 39, of Florenceville-Bristol, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.

Police charged Harris with refusing a breathalyzer and impaired driving in connection with an incident on May 24 near Florenceville-Bristol. He made his first court appearance on Aug. 29 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.

12. Charged with stealing gas

Emily Anne Crandlemire, 30, of Windsor, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.

Police charged Crandlemire with driving while suspended and theft of gas from the Irving Station in Florenceville-Bristol on May 12. She made her first court appearance on Aug. 29 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.

13. Warrant being held on file

An arrest warrant is being held on file for Kayla Dawn Tibbits, 32, of Woodstock, after she failed to appear in provincial court on Aug. 29 to answer a charge laid by Woodstock Police. Tibbits was charged with shoplifting at the Atlantic Superstore in Woodstock on Jan. 10.

14. Bail hearing scheduled

Jesse Adam Shaw, 32, of Woodstock, was scheduled to appear in provincial court in custody on Aug. 31 for a bail hearing. He was remanded to jail on June 26 and waived his bail until later.

Woodstock Police charged Shaw with breach of a release order by violating an order to have no contact with a female victim.

He appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on June 19 and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was scheduled to return to court for plea on July 11 but was brought back into custody.

At his previous court appearance, he was charged by Woodstock Police with several offences, including assault, uttering threats, and committing mischief concerning a series of incidents between April 20 and May 8, between May 1 and May 8, and between June 11 and June 14 in Woodstock.

The post Woodstock provincial court news first appeared on River Valley Sun.

Motherhood continue a busy year of touring with another jaunt through the United States following a hometown performance at Harvest Music Festival.  Busy supporting their 2022 album Winded and their May…

The post Motherhood Announce Tour With NYC’s Zenizen appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

Sackville’s Jon McKiel plays the UK’s End of the Road Festival this week with addition shows in Italy coming up in September.  A recent addition to the Forward Music group…

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Members of the Codiac Regional Citizens on Patrol serve as an extra set of eyes and ears for the RCMP. They walk, drive and bike parts of Greater Moncton, sharing photos and notes on suspicious activity through an app.

Nearly 150 people crowded a hall in Minto anxious to ask questions and learn more about the new jail that will soon occupy close to 22 acres in their community, but some residents were disappointed by the format of the meeting.

New Brunswick is taking steps to protect more Crown forest, consult First Nations on forestry management, and allow for uses other than timber harvesting, Natural Resources Minister Mike Holland said Wednesday.

A second person is now charged with the first-degree murder of a 60-year-old man in the Edmundston area.

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A Napadogan man alleged to have brandished an axe at two others in Fredericton last month has been found fit to stand trial, but will undergo another psychiatric examination.

Richard Andrew Hunter, 47, of Third Street in Napadogan, about 70 kilometres north of Fredericton, faces counts of assault on Elias Eliakis and Matthew Hunter with an axe, uttering a threat to those men to cause them death and/or bodily harm, and possession of the axe for a purpose dangerous to the public peace.

The charges allege events in Fredericton on July 23.

Hunter, who’s been in custody since his arrest, was back in Fredericton provincial court Monday for a fitness hearing.

Court heard last month Hunter hears voices and suffers from delusions of grandeur, so Judge Lucie Mathurin ordered a psychiatric assessment to determine if Hunter is fit to stand trial.

A report from the Restigouche Hospital Centre - a secure psychiatric facility in Campbellton where such assessments are typically conducted - indicated Hunter is fit to stand trial, court heard Monday.

However, Judge Lucie Mathurin ordered another assessment, this time to determine if Hunter was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the alleged offences that would exempt him from criminal responsibility.

The judge remanded him to Restigouche again and scheduled a new hearing on the criminal-responsibility issue for Sept. 25.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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The Bathurst Regional Airport is once again experiencing financial difficulties and has upped its efforts to save the service from closing, starting with a new committee made up of community leaders.

Lebreton Fisheries is now barred from hiring any more foreign workers until it pays a $30,000 fine for failing to provide a workplace free of abuse and reprisal.

Tommy Stinson co-founded The Replacements, had stints in Guns N’ Roses and Soul Asylum, and will soon join the long list of rock icons to play The Cap. Matt Carter…

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The Fredericton Police Force is looking to return some lost or stolen keys found near a downtown church.

The force released a photo Wednesday of an array of keys on plastic keychains in the hope that their owner might recognize them.

“These were found near the Brunswick Street Baptist Church on York Street and turned into police,” the force wrote in a post on social media.

The owner(s) is asked to contact the Fredericton Police Force by calling 506-460-2300 or emailing [email protected]. proof of ownership will be required. Anyone calling should cite file no. 23-21301.

The Fredericton Independent can be reached by email here.

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Saint John songwriter Jamie Comeau takes a break from his band to release his first solo single. Matt Carter Over the past five years or so, Saint John musician Jamie…

The post Jamie Comeau Makes Solo Debut with “I Was A Boy” appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

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A trial for a McAdam man on a charge of sexual assault with a weapon was averted when he opted to admit to a lesser, included offence Monday.

Blake Edward Scott, 37, of Lake Avenue, was scheduled to stand trial Monday in Fredericton provincial court on two indictable charges: sexually assaulting a woman while threatening her with a weapon (a flare gun) and assaulting the same complainant by choking.

The charges stemmed from May 3 events.

The victim’s name is protected by a court-ordered publication ban.

Defence lawyer Edward Derrah told court Monday his client was offering a guilty plea to a lesser charge: a summary count of sexual assault. Prosecutor Matthew Paik said that was acceptable to the Crown.

Judge Natalie LeBlanc accepted the plea to the lesser offence, and she scheduled Scott’s sentencing hearing for Sept. 11.

Scott has been in custody since his arrest, and the judge remanded him again pending sentencing.

The second charge is expected to be withdraw following the sentencing hearing for the sexual assault.

If convicted of the indictable count of sex assault with a weapon, Scott would have been facing a mandatory minimum prison sentence of four years, since the weapon referred to in the original charge is a firearm.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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A former city councillor and a business owner say excessively loud motorcycles and cars remain a problem in Fredericton, two years after police were given new tools to crack down on the issue.

Journalist and human rights activist Sally Armstrong visited Chipman Public Library to discuss her novel, The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor, a story about her ancestor — one of the first English settlers in New Brunswick.

Elders in Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick say they need a nursing home in their community to better suit their cultural and language needs.

A proposal to rezone a residential area in Shediac to accommodate 600 new apartment units in a four-building complex has been shot down by council after public pushback.

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Evidence seized under a flawed search warrant will still be admitted at a Fredericton man’s robbery trial because he didn’t have standing to challenge it, a judge ruled Monday.

Jesse Michael Joe, 41, of Angelview Court in Fredericton, faces Dec. 2 charges of assaulting Daniel Gallant with a weapon (a two-by-four), pointing a firearm at Gallant, threatening to harm him, robbing him of jewelry while armed with weapons, and robbing him of those items while armed with a prohibited firearm, namely a 22-calibre rifle.

The charges all arise from a violent incident at two mobile homes in the Hanwell Trailer Park: 42 Elmdale Cres. and 27 Leafwood Cres.

However, at the outset of Joe’s trial earlier this month, the defence sought to exclude evidence seized at the former address. The reason: it was listed on the search warrant as 42 Elmwood Cres.

Court heard RCMP officers executed the search at 42 Elmdale, the correct address, but that it had been listed on the warrant in error as Elmwood.

But before Joe could challenge the search as being invalid due to that typo on the warrant, he first had to demonstrate he qualified as a resident, even if was part-time. 

Court heard the information-to-obtain (ITO) document - which listed the address correctly - used to secure the search warrant referred to Joe as a suspect and noted he had an association with the Elmdale address, in that one of the residents was a sometime girlfriend of his.

RCMP Const. Andrey Bouchard Kirouac testified Aug. 4 that Joe told a Mountie who questioned him after his arrest that he’d just moved out of the Elmdale Crescent mobile home before the events of Dec. 2 and had moved in with another girlfriend at an Angelview Court apartment.

Furthermore, court heard that girlfriend testified at his bail hearing in December that Joe lived with her at that Angelview Court address, and it was listed as his place of residence on his release order.

The case was back before Fredericton provincial court Judge Lucie Mathurin for a decision on the defence’s application.

The judge had noted previously the first step in the Charter challenge was for the defence to show Joe had standing to raise the challenge in the first place.

But Mathurin ruled Monday that Joe wasn’t a resident of the Elmdale Crescent residence and therefore didn’t have standing to challenge a search executed at that location.

That made the erroneous address on the face of the warrant a moot point, she said.

The judge set the case over to Dec. 6 for trial continuation, and she remanded Joe again until that time.

Also charged as a result of the same Dec. 2 events is Blake R. Holt, 23 of Forest Hill Road in Fredericton.

His charges include discharging a firearm at Gallant and at Vaillancourt with intent to wound, maim, disfigure or endanger the complainants’ lives, robbing Gallant of jewelry and keys, and masking his face during an offence.

Holt’s additional charges include fleeing from police in Harvey in a vehicle, stealing gas from Sun’s Convenience in Beaver Dam, driving dangerously, possessing a stolen 2012 Honda Civic, possessing of a prohibited weapon (a 22-calibre rifle) without a licence, possessing the gun with readily accessible ammo capable of being discharged, occupying a car in which he knew there was a prohibited firearm and breaching a release order barring him from driving.

He opted earlier this year to be tried before a judge and jury in the Court of King’s Bench.

The events at the Hanwell Trailer Park on the morning of Dec. 2 prompted police to issue an Alert Ready message, advising the public that two suspects had fled the scene of a shooting in the mobile-home community in a blue 2012 Honda Civic.

It noted they were believed to be armed and dangerous.

A news release also indicated two victims at a Hanwell sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Projections for the 2023-24 fiscal year show a surplus of almost $200 million in provincial coffers — here’s what some people think should be done with it.

New Brunswick has seen an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, but a decrease in deaths over the month of August, according to new numbers from Public Health.

More events are planned in the future

The sound of ukulele and the sweet scent of barbecue filled the air as the inaugural Family Fun Day occurred at the Woodstock Farmers Market.

People were raising funds for various causes, such as Big Brothers and Sisters and the people of Ukraine.

Big Brothers and Sisters raised money via a pay-by-donation barbecue, whereas the people raising funds for Ukraine sold iced coffee, lemonade, and cotton candy.

Alongside the charity food, barbecue was from Chris Messick’s food truck Down East BBQ, and a free corn boil with butter, salt and pepper was provided.

The 318 Royal Canadian Army Cadets were present conducting recruiting efforts for the coming year with Capt. Alicea Richards striking up conversations with potential cadets and their parents.

The festivities included games for children, such as ring toss, cornhole, and a scavenger hunt.

Alongside the food and games, the Woodstock Ukulele Group performed, delivering its version of pop and country hits.

The festival coincides with the Woodstock Farm Market’s 50th anniversary.

“The Farmer’s Market used to be just tables underneath a grandstand by where the AYR Motor Centre is now,” recalls Woodstock Farm and Craft Market president Renee Sullivan.

It’s grown substantially in the last half-century. It now sits as a focal point in downtown Woodstock.

Since becoming president two years ago, Sullivan has been trying to present the market as not just a store but as a community space to bring people to the downtown core and waterfront.

She said the market’s next planned event is a community yard sale.

People are encouraged to register a table for the event by phoning the farmers market at 506-325-1816.

The post Woodstock Farm Market Family Fun Day delights families first appeared on River Valley Sun.

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A British Columbia woman’s list of sights to see while visiting Fredericton likely didn’t include the inside of a city police holding cell, but an outstanding warrant put it on her itinerary expectedly.

Christine Blaire Hunter, 44, appeared in Fredericton provincial court in custody Friday to answer to criminal charges that were almost two decades old.

She pleaded guilty Friday to charges of refusing a breathalyzer demand and failing to attend court.

Crown prosecutor Geoffrey Hutchin said a city police officer spotted Jeep Grand Cherokee travelling the wrong way down Queen Street at 4:44 a.m. Christmas Eve in 2005.

The officer went to check out the situation and came upon the vehicle, which was stopped but still running, he said, and Hunter was in the driver’s seat.

The prosecutor said when the officer asked Hunter why she’d been driving the wrong way down a one-way street, she asked, “Where am I?”

She was surprised to learn she was in Fredericton, court heard, and her speech was slurred and eyes bloodshot.

“Hunter was confused,” Hutchin said. “At this point, Hunter was very argumentative.”

The officer ended up walking her to the police station, also on Queen Street, he said, and Hunter, then 26 years old, told the police officer the force should be concerning itself with more serious matters.

“She stated… ‘They should be dealing with crackheads,’” the prosecutor said.

Hunter, while continuing to be unco-operative with police, refused to provide a breath sample for a breathalyzer test, he said, and she was released on a promise to appear in early 2006.

She didn’t show up for that court date, court heard, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

That warrant remained outstanding until last week, when Hunter was encountered while visiting Fredericton.

Hutchin said at the time, the standard fine for refusing a breath demand was $600, but because her behaviour toward police on the night in question was aggravating, he asked the court to elevate it to $850. He also asked the court to impose an additional fine of $125 for failing to attend court.

Defence lawyer Emily Cochrane said Hunter has been living in rural British Columbia since the incident and now has a 17-month-old child.

She said her client can pay fines immediately.

Judge Anne Dugas-Horsman said Hunter’s decision to turn her back on the outstanding charges was a poor one and was “a very bad way to impact a holiday here.”

She imposed the requested fines totalling $975, plus additional victim-fine surcharges that came to $146.25.

The judge also prohibited Hunter from driving anywhere in Canada for a year.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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A committee has been formed to finalize plans for how 31 acres of prime real estate in downtown Fredericton will be redeveloped to offer more housing, but it's unclear when the plan will be ready.

Lorena Rico still feels the sting of having her mother and mother-in-law expelled from New Brunswick in a manner that felt cruel and confusing.

A 44-year-old Quebec man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 60-year-old Rivière-Verte man.

The latest storms brewing in the Atlantic aren’t forecast to have much of an impact on the province, but that doesn’t mean New Brunswickers shouldn’t be preparing for this year’s hurricane season.

Your Own Imagination is a psychedelic commute and a framework to guide each new day going forward. Matt Carter Owen Steel’s latest single – also his first new post-pandemic release…

The post New Music from Owen Steel appeared first on Grid City Magazine.

In March, Finance and Treasury Board Minister Ernie Steeves estimated the budget surplus at about $40 million. On Monday, he said the projection for this fiscal year show a surplus of $199.6 million. 

The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick says members who want to review the premier's leadership have not met the threshold.

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A court was faced with conflicting psychiatric reports - one indicating a Pomeroy Ridge man was unfit to stand trial on sex-related charges, and another indicating he’s “very probably fit.”

Jarett Wayne Fraser Heuff, 25, of Clark Point Road in Pomeroy Ridge, about 50 kilometres south of McAdam, is awaiting trial on charges of sexual assault and sexual touching, having previously denied them.

The RCMP charges allege offences against a minor in McAdam between Oct. 30-31, 2021.

Heuff had previously undergone a psychiatric assessment to determine if he was fit to stand trial, and that initial exam found him unfit.

However, earlier this summer, the prosecution didn’t accept that finding and asked for a new assessment to be conducted by staff at the Restigouche Hospital Centre.

The parties were back in Fredericton provincial court Thursday, and defence lawyer Edward Derrah said in the new report, a Restigouche doctor indicated his client was “very probably fit.”

With two conflicting reports, Derrah said, the court needed to hold a full fitness hearing.

Crown prosecutor Karen Lee agreed, noting the psychiatrists will need to be cross-examined by counsel on their contradictory findings.

Judge Anne Dugas-Horsman scheduled the hearing for Dec. 6, though the lawyers said they’ll contact the court if the psychiatrists aren’t available on that date.

Heuff’s trial had been scheduled for Nov. 16, so the later date for the fitness hearing essentially scuttles that plan.

The judge expressed concern the case was beginning to get too drawn out.

“This matter should be moving forward,” she said.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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A Fredericton man was slurring his words and stumbling when he got out of his car to put four empty liquor bottles in a recycling donation depot, a court heard Friday.

Kimberly Thomas Washburn, 65, of Woodbridge Street, pleaded guilty in Fredericton provincial court Friday to a charge of impaired driving.

Crown prosecutor Geoffrey Hutchin said Fredericton police were dispatched to St. Margaret’s Anglican Church on Forest Hill Drive on May 24 after receiving a report of a possibly drunk driver at the scene.

A woman who was retrieving recyclables from a Scouts dropoff donation box in the church parking told an officer a motorist later identified as Washburn pulled up to that location, the prosecutor said, and when he got out of his vehicle, he was unsteady on his feet and slurring his words.

“He appeared to be confused with regard to what she was saying,” Hutchin said, adding the witness also noted Washburn pulled four empty vodka pint bottles out of his pockets to put in the recycling receptacle. 

“She didn’t think he was safe to drive.”

Washburn had left the scene before police arrived, the prosecutor said, but the witness got his plate number.

Court heard an officer went to the address associated with that licence plate, and Washburn answered the door.

He was showing clear signs of intoxication, Hutchin said, and he failed a roadside breath test. As a result, he said, Washburn was arrested and brought to the city police station, where a breathalyzer test revealed his blood-alcohol level to be 110 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.

Any reading of 80 mg or higher is illegal.

Defence lawyer Emily Cochrane said her client’s lack of a criminal record and guilty plea were mitigating factors for the court to consider.

Hutchin asked the court to impose the mandatory minimum fine of $1,000 with a one-year driving prohibition, and Cochrane agreed that was appropriate.

Judge Anne Dugas-Horsman said those mitigating factors merited that minimum sentence but noted the facts of the case revealed Washburn was seriously impaired on that day in question.

She imposed the $1,000 fine plus a customary $300 victim-fine surcharge, and the year-long ban against driving anywhere in Canada.

Don MacPherson can be contacted at [email protected].

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Warren Maddox remembers it clearly. It was a sunny September day in 2015. The leaves had just started changing colour. The executive director of the Fredericton Homeless Shelters knew that in just a few months, there would be snow on the ground — and people living rough would need shelter.

The New Brunswick chief coroner, who oversees the child death review committee, hasn't filed a public report on the committee's work in more than two years.

A program run by AbleSail on New Brunswick's Shediac Bay is helping people living with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and other mental health challenges put their minds at ease.

A new link between Maine and New Brunswick has opened for foot passengers.

Creator Aaron Bouma says building made possible by community support

“Military history has always been my number one thing,” said amateur Carleton County military historian Aaron Bouma.

In collaboration with support from the local community, the Jacksontown man has been putting this enthusiasm to work in recent years with the construction of the Carleton County Military Museum.

Planning began in 2015 when Bouma acquired a decommissioned 1942 M2 anti-aircraft gun from the Town of Woodstock. Bouma broke ground for the museum in the spring of 2021.

Since then, significant progress has been made in constructing the museum, with most of the work done by Bouma himself.

Bouma has received help on multiple occasions. Justin Scott and his carpentry crew and Mike and Mark Gallant of Heritage Construction Services made significant contributions to the roof. He said his brother has also helped him tremendously.

What remains to be done is the installation of proper shelving and insulation, along with a few other smaller jobs.

Bouma has been soliciting donations and help from the community throughout the process. Every $100 donation gets the donor’s name brurned into a wooden yet-to-be-constructed plaque that will be displayed in the museum.

“The community response has been amazing,” said Bouma, who has received physical donations for the museum, such as uniforms, cap badges, and bayonets.

Bouma has also received tremendous support from the Gagetown New Brunswick Military History Museum in constructing these exhibits.

There are plans for permanent exhibits for the First and Second World Wars and the Cold War, with other displays on specific events, such as the Canadian liberation of Holland, with plans to rotate displays every six months.

Bouma said exhibits will focus on Carleton, York, and Victoria counties and the regiments formed in the region, including the Carleton Light Regiment, the Carleton-York Regiment, the 26th Battalion and the New Brunswick Rangers.

The museum is expected to have a soft opening this fall, with a grand opening later.

The post Carleton County Military Museum to open soon first appeared on River Valley Sun.