In Tuesday’s local morning news:
Rising costs and rising revenues in 2022 Sackville budget
Sackville town council met last night to discuss the priorities for its 2022 budget. Treasurer Michael Beal presented the financial picture for the town, which depends on a few factors. An expected 10-15% rise in insurance rates, and a 20% rise in RCMP salaries slated to kick in this year will drive up costs for the town. And its still not clear how an average 7.7% increase in property assessments across the province will affect the town’s revenue from property taxes, but Beal said he is expecting a 3-4% increase.
COVID update
Two more people have died in Zone 1 due to COVID-19. Public Health reported yesterday that someone in their 80’s and another person over 90 years of age passed away. Since September 1, nine people in Zone 1 have died due to COVID-19.
Two Tantramar region schools remain closed today due to COVID-19. Tantramar Regional High School and Port Elgin Regional School are among seven schools in the Anglophone East School District on distance learning today due to the pandemic. TRHS had multiple cases over the weekend, and PERS continues to have too many students and staff in isolation to return to in person classes. Neither the Anglophone East School District nor Public Health will release the actual number of cases in each school.
There are 767 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 240 of those are in Zone 1.
Trial for murder of Jamie Leard set for April 2023
The two men charged with killing Jamie Leard will skip a preliminary enquiry and instead go straight to trial, but not for another 18 months. Henry Pottie and Sean Patterson were in a Moncton courtroom on Monday to set a date for their trial, which is scheduled to start on April 17th, 2022, and last up to eight weeks. More here.
Mountie cross country teams takes it to the beach and wins
Mount Allison’s cross country team travelled to Nova Scotia this past weekend to race on the beach. The Université de Saint Anne hosted a meet at Mavillette Provincial Park, just down the shore from Cape St. Mary’s.
The women’s team took first place with Kiona Osterlin placing first overall, and Lauren Doyle and Catherine Priemer placing third and fourth, respectively.
The men’s team also won in team competition, with a third and fifth place overall finish for Isaac McCardle and Jack MacMillan.
Heart & Pocket Revue call for artists/crafters
The Owens and Struts galleries are looking for artists, crafters, and other makers interested in showing and selling their work at the Heart & Pocket Revue crafters market on Saturday, November 20. The annual market is presented in partnership between the Owens and Struts and takes place at the Sackville Legion on Lorne Street, just down the road from Struts. Artists and crafters can apply by contacting heartandpocket@gmail.com. The deadline to apply is October 18.
