The Town of Witless Bay expects to receive a formal request next month from the regional fire department to arrange the purchase of a new tanker truck.
Firing back: Luby and Tucker explain their side of BBBAA dispute
Bay Bulls councillors Evelyn Tucker and Joan Luby are firing back at the head of the BBBAA for statements they feel questioned their ability to understand financial statements and their support for the regional recreation group.
Status of mysterious land bid in doubt
A mysterious application to purchase crown land near the Old Witless Bay Line has some residents feeling left in the dark as they become increasingly frustrated with the lack of a formal public process to air their concerns.
Stella Maris graduating class makes a little history in Portugal Cove South
The 2018 graduating class at Stella Maris Academy in Trepassey made a little history in the Town of Portugal Cove South last month as it was the very first time a Stella Maris graduation event was ever held in the Town.
No, no, and again no, Witless Bay man told by Appeal Board
It was three strikes you’re out for a man from Witless Bay who appeared before the Eastern Newfoundland Regional Appeal Board last month. Well-known council critic and former council candidate Edward Vickers appeared three times before the board in one day last month, losing one appeal he had launched himself against the Town and two others in which he represented other residents in unrelated cases.
BBBAA's dispute with councillors nears the boiling point
A showdown was nearing this evening between the Bay Bulls to Bauline Athletic Association and two councillors with the Town of Bay Bulls just as the volunteer recreation group is on the verge of extending its operating agreements with Bay Bulls and Witless Bay.
Holyrood Council Wants Answers On Muskrat Falls Mitigation
Holyrood council has batted around the idea for some time as to what to do about the looming rate increases to power bills facing its residents once Muskrat Falls comes onstream. On Tuesday, council voted to send a letter to Harbour Main MHA Betty Parsons asking how the province intends to mitigate the financial burden on residents, particularly senior citizens and low income earners.
The motion was tendered by councillor Roger Moyette.
“A lot of people are starting to complain and starting to wonder how they’re going to adjust their budget based on the hikes,” said Moyette. “What I would like to see is someone from the government actually have a plan in place to help people who are on fixed incomes because right now, as far as I can see, they’ve talked about a plan, but they haven’t shown a plan yet. This motion asks Betty Parsley how the provincial government plans on helping the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador with these hikes, because some people just really can’t afford it. So, it would be nice to see the government step in and actually present a plan rather than talk about a plan.”
Mayor Gary Goobie, who earlier this fall presented council with a proposal on at least one idea the province might use to soften the blow of Muskrat Falls - by nationalizing Newfoundland Power and rolling it into Nalcor, said he supported Moyette’s motion.
Obviously this has been ongoing now for quite a while,” said Goobie of the concern in the community about electricity costs. “The latest figures I think is that the province, through rate mitigation, is going to have to come up with around $400 million a year. That’s a significant amount of money. There are many people out there who are pretty concerned. I’ve spoken to many seniors, as I’m sure many of you have, who are living on fixed incomes and a lot of them are actually scared. They’re scared of what could happen if their light bills go up. You’re talking medications and general living expenses and if their light bills are impacted in a negative way it will have an adverse impact on them, not only seniors but single mothers trying to raise children, families with mortgages. It’s going to have an impact on the province as a whole.”
Deputy Mayor Curtis Buckle, who participated in the meeting by teleconference, agreed with much of what Goobie had to say. “At the end of the day, people just can’t afford it,” Buckle said. “People are hurting and this is going to make them hurt even harder.”
Lots Of Hunting Pressure Concentrated On Zone 33
By Darrin McGrath | Cabin Country | The Irish Loop Post
I want to extend birthday greetings to my oldest brother Pat who turned 68 on the 21st of October.
Remember that I wrote about a bull moose Jim and I had seen out on the pole line? Well Randy Butt came across the head and hocks of a moose on the pole line and it was a bull because you could see where the antlers had been cut out. So somebody had some good luck in getting a moose. Was it the same bull we had seen? I’d guess it was.
The cottage areas of Deer Park, Brigus Junction, Middle Gull Pond, Mahers and Goose Pond, are all in moose management area (MMA) 33. In addition, the moose reduction zone (MRZ) along the TCH also overlaps this area. So there is a tremendous amount of hunting pressure on moose on the south side of the highway from Salmonier Line to Markland Road.
I recently saw some statistics that showed the hunter success rates last year in both MMA 33 and the Avalon MRZ were less than 50 percent. It seems that the moose numbers are down.
Last week I spent the afternoon moose hunting with a neighbour. He has an either sex license for the MRZ. We parked on one of the Nalcor Roads overlooking a valley with a couple of small ponds, some marshes and stands of timber. It was a beautiful scene, the blue ponds surrounded by marshes, and bathed in splashes of red, yellow and gold.
It was a cool, clear afternoon with very light winds. It reminded me of a similar evening thirty years ago when Pat and I, along with our brother-in-law John, knocked down a big bull that weighed 125 pounds a quarter.
On this recent outing, we did some calling, hoping to draw in a rutting bull. However, as dusk began to close we never saw a moose.
An aspect of moose hunting that is sometimes overlooked is the cost to the hunter. We all know how expensive gasoline is. If somebody is hunting the MRZ and doing any amount of driving the gas bill soon adds up. Even if you are hunting from an ATV, you still need gas. The longer you hunt, the more gas you need and the more expensive the moose meat becomes.
Years ago my brothers and I hunted places such as Millertown and the Upper Salmon hydro project and gas wasn’t a factor. We’d each put in ten bucks and drive a long time on it.
Today, if the hunter success rates are an indicator that the moose herd is very low in MMA 33, then before you even start hunting your chances of closing your tags is diminished. If driving a vehicle of any sort is part of your hunt, then get your gas card ready.
One way some people deal with the costs of moose hunting is to apply for a “party license” and buddy up. Other people may form a group of four hunters who share the hunting costs including gasoline and butchering. And, with four hunters in the group, some-one usually gets one license per year. In this way the group always has some moose each winter, that’s if the license is filled. But with moose numbers down there’s no guarantee of getting a moose.
Byrne Names Advisory Council For Mistaken Point
Members of a new advisory council to provide local input into the management of the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve have been announced.
The reserve is the only provincially-managed and funded UNESCO World Heritage Site in the province. The three other sites, at Red Bay, Lanse aux Meadows and Gros Morne, are federally-run.
Provincial Fisheries and Land Resources Minister Gerry Byrne said the Mistaken Point World Heritage Advisory Council will comprise 13 members who primarily represent the communities of Portugal Cove South, Trepassey, St. Shott’s and Biscay Bay.
Four representatives from the loal communities as well as one youth representative were appointed through a merit-based appointment process, he said. The remaining eight council members represent local development groups, municipalities and applicable federal and provincial agencies and were nominated directly by each organization.
Byrne said the advisory council will advise the provincial government on site conservation and presentation of the site to the public. “It will help ensure the lines of communication remain open between the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources and local organizations and stakeholders,” he added.
The first meeting of the new council is expected to take place this month at which time the chairperson and vice-chairperson will be elected by the members of the council. Appointments are for a term of three years. Appointees are eligible for reappointment and can continue to serve after the expiry of their term until reappointed or replaced.
The 13 members include:
• Jennifer Reddy, Town Council of Portugal Cove South
• Rita Pennell, Town Council of Trepassey
• Madonna Hewitt, Town Council of St. Shott’s
• Gertie Molloy, Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc.
• Kathi Stacey, Legendary Coasts of Eastern Newfoundland
• John Boutilier, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Dave Delaney, Department of Fisheries and Land Resources, Land Management Division, or designate
• John Angelopoulos, Department of Tourism or a designate.
• Catherine Ward, Portugal Cove South
• Viola Coombs, Portugal Cove South
• Margaret (Peg) Ryan, Trepassey
• Anita Molloy, St. Shott’s
• Rachel Coombs, youth representative, Portugal Cove South.
No representative was available from Biscay Bay. Three public interest positions are vacant and open to nominations from Portugal Cove South, Trepassey and Biscay Bay.
A second advisory group, the Mistaken Point Scientific Advisory Committee, established in 2017, comprises experts in Ediacaran paleontology, geology and earth sciences. This group provides technical and academic advice for the conservation and preservation of the Mistaken Point fossils. Byrne said establishment of both the advisory council and the scientific committee is a commitment under the Mistaken Point World Heritage Site Management Plan which was part of the nomination package to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
“Local input and involvement in the long-term management of the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve is essential to sustainably manage the UNESCO World Heritage Site,” said the minister. “Establishment of the advisory council will promote effective communication among members of the local communities, the regulatory authority, and other organizations partnering to conserve the site. I congratulate the members of the new advisory council and I look forward to meeting with them and Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc. as we continue to oversee the only provincially-managed World Heritage Site in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Byrne said the provincial government is committed to working with the community development organization, Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc., to provide visitor services at Mistaken Point. Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc. owns and operates the Edge of Avalon Interpretation Centre, which is the starting point for guided tours of the site and contains exhibits featuring Mistaken Point. Total annual funding provided by the provincial government in 2018 to operate the Mistaken Point site was $600,000.
Well over 2,000 visitors toured the site this past year.
Senior Breakers Opt For Kennedy Up Front In ECSHL Draft
The East Coast Senior Hockey League held its first league entry draft last week for players not affiliated with teams via their minor or Junior Hockey associations. In total, seven players were selected. Those not selected become free agents and are eligible to sign with any ECSHL team.
The first pick was made by the Conception Bay Blues who selected Cody Batten, a forward from Carbonear. Former Southern Shore Breakers and CeeBee Stars goalie Doug Pippy was taken in the second pick by the Northeast Eagles. Pippy will fill the hole left from an earlier trade that saw the Eagles move their starting goaltender Mark Yetman to the Breakers.
The Breakers took forward Keenan Kennedy, who is from Barrie, Ontario and last played for the Espanola Express in the NOJHL.
The last pick round was completed by the Clarenville Caribous who made their first ever ECSHL draft choice by selecting Austin Meehan, a forward who last played for the Mercer Chiefs in 2015.
Meanwhile, in Junior Hockey action, a game played at the Southern Shore Arena Friday night saw the Breakers edged the Eagles 4-3. The Breakers goals were scored by Tyler Planetta, Seamus Sloane, Brandon Arbour and Noah Dinn.
