Planning Director Recommends Expansion of District 3

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

The Cape Breton Regional Councillor for District 3 says she’s comfortable with a recommendation to expand it. Planning Director Malcolm Gillis says District 3 has 31% fewer voters than the average throughout the municipality which puts it well above the 25% threshold for voter parity. Gillis is recommending that the communities of North West Arm and Point Edward be added to Mae Rowe’s district. The boundary change will eat into District 4 which is represented by Claire Dethridge. Municipal planners are recommending a public consultation on the change and people will have until next month to air their views on the matter. If the changes are approved by council, they’ll be sent to regulators for approval in December.

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Overnight Break-in at Sydney Home

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

Cape Breton Regional Police say two masked men broke into a Sydney home with three people inside in the early hours of this morning.

They add they got the call to Sidella Drive off Reeves Street at around 1:15.

Police say the men smashed their way through a locked patio door with a hammer.

According to police, a 13 year old girl, 37 year old woman and a 19 year old man inside the home were shaken up but not injured.

They add a quantity of cash, pills and items were stolen and the incident remains under investigation.

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Vince Hall Considers Run for Vacant Council Seat

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

Former Regional Councillor Vince Hall says he’s thinking about running for the seat vacated by Darren Bruckschwaiger.

Hall served on Regional Council from 1997-2008 and says he’s had a lot of calls from people asking him to run for the District 10 seat.

During his tenure on Council, Hall was criticized for being away to teach part-time in Halifax and for using $8,000 in municipal professional development money to cover the cost of university courses.

Hall also has two impaired driving convictions.

Hall admits he’s made mistakes in the past but says he’s matured.

He now works as a consultant in Halifax but adds he thinks he’d qualify to run for Cape Breton Regional Council because he has two addresses on the Island where he has family and still travels back and forth from Halifax.

Municipal election rules state that candidates must have lived in the area as their primary residence for a minimum of six months before running for office.

Two former candidates in District 10 say they’re also considering a run for the seat.

Lee McNeil and Dave MacKeigan ran in the 2012 municipal election.

 

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North Sydney Beating Accused Back in Court

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

Three people charged in the beating of a homeless man in North Sydney are due back in court today.

 

22-year-old Cory Patrick Richard Blinkhorn from North Sydney faces counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, wearing a disguise in committing an offence and impersonating a police officer.

 

He’s due back on court today for a bail hearing.

 

22-year-old Jennifer Lynn MacLeod from Boularderie is also due in court today for a bail hearing.

 

She’s facing charges of aggravated assault, wearing a disguise in committing an offence and two counts of breaching court orders.

 

 And, 25 year-old Kyle William Nichol is scheduled in court to enter pleas on a host of charges in the case, including attempted murder.

 

Regional Police have charged six people after 48 year-old Shawn Curtis Jack was found seriously injured in a North Sydney parking in July.

 

He suffered serious injuries and was sent to hospital in Halifax.

 

 

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Back to Work at Billdidit

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

Sydney drum hardware designer Billdidit is resuming operations with a reduced workforce of five, today.

The company laid off about 16 workers on August 28^th due to cash flow problems.

Its board of directors says Billdidit still has some serious challenges ahead but adds it’s confident in its go-forward strategy.

It says the strategy includes a significantly lower cost structure and a more strategically focused sales effort.

Last month’s layoffs came after Billdidit announced a 1.5 million dollar expansion plan in June.

The board says it hopes to get the entire project back on track with ongoing support from the company’s lending partners.

ACOA and Nova Scotia Business Inc. have each loaned Billdidit half a million dollars along with its parent company Sabian.

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