Doucet Applauds Grand Manan Residents For Fighting To Keep Park

Now that one of our Provincial Parks is off the chopping block, one local MLA hopes the government will still help out.

The announcement coming this week the Boys & Girls Club of Grand Manan is finalizing a one-year agreement with the province to take over operations of the Anchorage Provincial Park for 2013. The park was set to close this year in an effort to find efficiencies and cut costs.

Charlotte-The Isles MLA Rick Doucet tells Tide News the club came up with their proposal only weeks ago. "They've had little time to prepare and the camping season is already upon us, so there's got to be a lot of work from the Department of Tourism and from government to help them out to get them through the season because this is a big undertaking for a volunteer group."

Doucet says when the closure was first announced, the entire island took part in signing petitions and letters to keep the park open. He says, "It took every Islander who could print or write their name to sign a petition. There were countless letters that went into government. Bad press and bad social media, the Mayor was demanding a meeting with the Premier, and we also had a debatable motion in the legislature on the park."

He adds he applauds the people of Grand Manan for keeping the issue alive.

Dig Deeper At The Pumps

Dig deeper at the pump today.

The price of gas up by 2.2 cents per litre bringing the price for regular self-serve gas to a $1.29 a litre.

Diesel is up 1.7 cents a litre and furnace oil is up 1.6 cents a litre.

Regular self-serve gas was selling for 126.5 a litre around town while diesel was going for 128.7 a litre.

Inquest Hears From Pathologist

The inquest into the death of 17 year old Yifan Wang has been told by pathologist Dr. Marek Godlewski the cause of death was drowning even though Wang did not die until a couple of days after being pulled from the swimming pool at the Aquatic Centre.

The inquest also heard there was no indication Wang was sick before he drowned.

There was evidence of bronchial pnuemonia but that is consistent with taking in water and being on a ventilator.

He also had bruising and abrasions which the doctor concluded was caused when Wang was pulled from the pool and given what was described as aggressive CPR.

Adam Lee Steven Prest Facing 2nd Degree Murder Charge

A 39 year old man facing 2nd degree murder charges in the death of his common law partner 33 year old Tanya Shand.
 
Rothesay Regional Police have not released how she died in a violent domestic incident early Wednesday morning on the Dolan road.
 
Detective Sergeant Craig MacDougall tells Tide News he isn't surprised by the community's reaction.

He says anytime there is a homicide it's shocking especially in small community like Rothesay.

Adam Lee Steven Prest has been remanded to the Saint John Regional Correctional Center.
Police would not say if there was a history of violence at the couple's apartment. 

MacDougall tells us he doesn't expect any further updates now that the matter is before the courts. 

Prest is due back in court on June 10th.

Guilty Pleas In NS Confinement Case

A Nova Scotia man accused of confining and sexually assaulting a teenage boy at a home in Upper Chelsea has pleaded guilty to five charges in the case.
 
David James LeBlanc appeared in Nova Scotia Supreme Court today in Bridgewater, where he pleaded guilty to kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats and breach of conditions.

The victim's mother, who can't be identified, says it was difficult to see Leblanc in court today.  She says it was hard and she wants him to suffer adding she isn't normally like that but the whole thing is overwhelming.
   
Leblanc was charged after a woman reported that a barefoot teenager arrived at her home in Upper Chelsea chained at his wrists and ankles.
 
At the time, the RCMP said they believe the 16-year-old was held captive about ten days before he was able to escape.

LeBlanc also pleaded guilty today to making and distributing child pornography as well as sexual interference in a separate case. 

The Crown and Defence are working on a joint recommendation for a prison term in the range of 11 years.