Listen to Tantramar Report for the following stories:
Announcing a new member of the CHMA News team: David Gordon Koch
CHMA News is growing. Thanks to the support of our monthly local journalism sustainers, the Rotary Club of Sackville, and the Community Radio Fund of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative, 2022 will bring a new voice to Tantramar Report.
Journalist David Gordon Koch is joining the CHMA news team on a part time basis starting in January. Listen to Tantramar Report for an introductory interview with David, and stay tuned to the show in January to hear a new voice contributing to coverage of Sackville and the surrounding area.
No adjustments for ‘Entity 40’ plan, says province
The town of Sackville has been shut out of changes to the province’s plan for municipal reform. Just 5 days after the deadline for municipalities to send in feedback and alternative suggestions for new municipal boundaries, the province released its list of adjustments on Tuesday, and Sackville’s proposed adjustment is not included. The province plans to amalgamate the town of Sackville, the village of Dorchester, and surrounding local service districts to form a new municipality currently dubbed Entity 40. Sackville and Dorchester both opposed the forced amalgamation. Check out the web story here.
Suspicious fires under investigation
The RCMP are investigating two suspicious fires that took place over the weekend in Sackville. Two tractor-trailers parked at Fortec Forestry on Crescent Street in Sackville burned sometime overnight from Saturday to Sunday December , and an excavator belonging to the company at a work site in Rockport also burned. RCMP have not issued a news release about the incident, and have not responded to information requests by phone and email. Check out the web story here.
COVID Update: new measures, Omicron cases grow
The province announced 40 additional cases of the Omicron variant in New Brunswick yesterday, for a total of 71 cases. Omicron has been found in zones 1, 2, 3, and 7. Chief Medical Officer Jennifer Russell said cases of the variant can be expected to double every two days. New Brunswick reported 156 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, and modelling shows that even without accounting for Omicron, that number will reach 250 cases per day by early January.
Premier Blaine Higgs also announced Tuesday that the province would head into slightly altered Level 2 restrictions as of Monday, December 27. Instead of a two-household bubble, New Brunswickers will be moving to a Steady 10 system, being asked to maintain no more than 10 close contacts per household. All businesses and retail will move to 50% capacity, as will faith venues. Listen to Tantramar Report for more details on Tuesday’s COVID-19 conference, or check the web story here:
Rapid test pick-up causes traffic jam
Sackville experienced a rare traffic jam on Tuesday as people lined up in their vehicles to drive through a rapid test kit pickup site at the Tantramar Civic Centre. During the morning, cars were seen lined up in both directions along Main Street, from McDonald’s to the swan pond. People could drive or walk in to pick up test kits of 5 or 25 until about 2:30pm. Though rumours circulated of low supply, people reported picking up tests in the afternoon, after the traffic had cleared. Last week, 680 packs were handed out at the mobile pick up site.
Rapid test kits are available for pick up in Port Elgin today from 10am to 2:30pm. They are available throughout the week in Moncton, from 1pm to 6pm on weekdays, at 548 Mountain Road. The Moncton site will close early on Christmas Eve and remain closed until next Wednesday, December 29.
Mayor’s Levee cancelled, along with public skates
The town of Sackville has cancelled the Mayor’s New Year’s levee which was slated to happen at Bill Johnstone Park on January 1st. The town says the cancellation is due to provincial gathering restrictions. Earlier this month, the town also cancelled public skating events at the civic centre.
Call for applications to Mt A Students’ Union Green Investment Fund
The Mount Allison Student Union’s Green Investment Fund is looking for applications for environmental initiatives in the Sackville region. Any community member can apply, and the MASU Sustainability Committee will accept applications until January 10th.
Past projects have included funding towards a Salem Elementary Outdoor Classroom, an electric vehicle charger for the town of Sackville, the installation of solar panels at the Wetlands Centre, and initiatives to help people increase the energy efficiency of their homes.
More information and application forms are available at masu.ca.
