Local News

A 49-year-old Waycobah man charged after an attempted robbery in the community has been sent for an assessment.

Inverness District and Baddeck RCMP officers received a report of an armed robbery in progress at Rod's One Stop last Friday night.

Police say a suspect was taken into custody after a brief struggle; they say he had a toy replica gun.

Charles Joseph Junior Bernard faces two weapons charges, one count of assault and a theft charge.

Bernard made an appearance in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court Friday.

He was remanded and sent to the East Coast Forensic Hospital for assessment

He will return to court February 27.

Union officials representing NewPage Port Hawkesbury workers are attempting to get $168-million from the company.

Communications, Energy and Paper workers Local 972 representatives filed a proof of claim in US Bankruptcy Court in Delaware this week.

The claim indicates they're looking for $155-million for pension shortfalls, more than $7-million for severance and $5-million for long-term disability owed to workers.

It's contingent on the company winding up and being unable to pay debts owed to the union, its members and pension plans.

The move doesn't include the union among secure creditors, but it does put it in line for any money that may be available at the end of the creditor protection process.

None of the claims have been proven in court.

A local businessman has been named president of the Nova Scotia Road Builders Association.

Donald Chisholm of Nova Construction received the appointment at the association's annual general meeting last month.

Nova Construction is based in Antigonish.

Chisholm takes over the position from Ron Dunn.

Charges against a Port Hastings woman and her fiancé in relation to fatal injuries suffered by an eight-week-old baby have been withdrawn.

Police originally charged Candace Chetwynd, 21, and Shawn MacIsaac, 26, of Waterville with aggravated assault and failing to provide the necessities of life; Chetwynd was the baby's mother.

RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Brigdit Leger tells The Hawk the Crown withdrew those charges this week.

"At the time that the aggravated assault charge as well as the failure to provide the necessities of life charge was laid the infant was still in hospital and alive, however since that time the infant has passed away," she says. "As a result the focus of the investigation has now changed."

Leger says other charges are still possible.

"This investigation is very much still ongoing," she says. "Once all the evidence is gathered it will be reviewed and the most appropriate charge, if any, will be laid at that time."

Eight-week-old Ethan Chetwynd was rushed to hospital suffering from cardiac arrest early last month; he died two weeks later.