Man Facing Charges After Sydney Crash

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

A 22-year-old man is facing charges after a two-vehicle accident on Kings Road in Sydney yesterday that sent two other men to hospital.

The man faces counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and driving without insurance.

His name was not been released.

He’s been released on conditions and is due in court on March 14 to enter pleas to the charges.

The accident between a minivan and a car happened shortly before 9:00, yesterday morning near the Animal Medical Centre on King’s Road.

Regional Police say the driver of the car fled the scene but was later arrested.

They add the two men in the van suffered non-life-threatening injuries after it flipped over.

Fire crews had to cut them from the vehicle.

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Environmental Group Opposes Donkin Mine Opening

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

The Margaree Environmental Association is speaking out against the opening of the Donkin Mine.

And, the group is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reserve the Donkin coal seam for emergency purposes only.

Association co-chair Neal Livingston says most Nova Scotians and Cape Bretoners don’t want a return to coal mining and would rather see greener energy options developed.

He adds Ottawa has the right, under national security interests, to keep Donkin coal in the ground, unless an emergency situation deems it necessary to be mined.

Livingston adds in recent meetings between his Association and Nova Scotia Power, the power utility suggested it wasn’t against leaving coal behind for other energy sources.

Livingston says the province could get twice as much power as it’s currently contracted for from the Muskrat Falls hydro-electric project and adds hydropower could also be brought in from Quebec.

Meanwhile, Donkin Mine operators Kameron Coal are taking applications for work at the Donkin mine, this week.

On Tuesday, they held a job fair in Grande Cache, Alberta and locals can drop of applications at the offices of Gardiner Mining and Resources in Glace Bay.

The company says it expects to hire up to 120 people and begin mining coal in the spring.

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Gas Predicted To Go Up

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

One analyst is predicting a slight increase in gas prices, this week.

A jump of about a cent a litre is being forecast.

Meanwhile, a litre of gas in New Brunswick went up by six-tenths of a cent, last night.

Diesel there jumped by 1.4 cents a litre.

The minimum price for a litre of regular gas in Cape Breton is now 98.3 cents.

Diesel now goes for a minimum of 93.3 cents a litre on the Island.

 

 

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Mayor Clarke Says Councillors Detheridge and Keagan Out With Health Issues

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

Mayor Cecil Clarke has confirmed a story first reported by the Coast last week that Councillor Claire Detheridge has been undergoing medical treatment in a Halifax hospital for the past couple of weeks.

After yesterday’s council meeting, Clarke told reporters that Detheridge is continuing to go through treatment but he hasn’t revealed the nature of her illness.

63 year-old Detheridge has been a councillor for 33 years and represents, District 4 that includes Sydney River, the Point Edward peninsula as well as parts of Coxheath and Prime Brook.

She’s also the president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.

Clarke says he hopes to know more on Detheridge’s timeline for recovery within a week.

Meanwhile, Clarke says North Sydney councillor Charlie Keagan has also been absent from council recently due to medical issues.

Clarke goes on to say Keagan was recently discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.

 

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Residential Rezoning for Former Glace Bay Heavy Water Plant Site

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

The rezoning of the former Glace Bay heavy water plant site for residential use came one step closer to reality at yesterday’s Council meeting.

Councillors approved a proposal to amend the planning strategy and land-use bylaw to designate the roughly 150-hectare property as a Rural Cape Breton zone.

The land is currently designated as a Donkin Highway Business and Manufacturing zone.

Planning Director Malcolm Gillis says the rezoning proposal came about after interest was expressed to the land’s current owners, the federal government to build homes on the site.

No one appeared at the initial public hearing into the proposed zoning change during council’s general committee meeting, yesterday.

Gillis says the zoning change has to come back to council for another public hearing before final approval.

However he adds the municipality is waiting for a map from federal officials that shows which parcels of the land have been remediated to residential standards.

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