Holder Says Boys & Girls Club Will Have A Chance To Renew Next Year

The Boys & Girls Club of Grand Manan saved the season this time -- but what about the next one?

A one-year agreement being finalized with the Club to operate the Anchorage Provincial Park, after the province decided it would not open it's doors as a way to save money.

Tourism Minister Trevor Holder tells Tide News the Boys & Girls Club will have the opportunity to renew after this year. "After that, we often look at multi-year agreements, but that will be finalized come the next fiscal year. The Boys & Girls Club will have the usage of this park from now until the end of this fiscal year at the end of March."

With the camping season already upon us, Holder says they are hoping to have the park open for campers by early June. "That will welcome visitors to Grand Manan Island and give them a place to put their trailer and enjoy everything that Grand Manan and the Bay of Fundy has to offer."

Some Students Drink, Smoke, And Take Pills

The province releasing the results of the 2012 Student Drug Use Survey Report.

It's been in use since 1996 to gather info on the use  of alcohol, tobacco, gambling and more to understand student behavior and respond the right way.

More than 3500 randomly selected students in grade 7, 9, 10 and 12 completed the survey.

The results found 48 per cent of students consumed alcohol, 22 per cent smoked cigarettes and 28 smoked pot.

11 per cent report taking oxycontin or codeine without a prescription and 57 per cent drink energy drinks.

The numbers are consistent with the 2007 survey and down significantly from the 2002 edition.

Jury Delivers Reccommendations At Drowning Inquiry

The four person coroner's jury determined 17 year old Yifan Wang died of accidental drowning.

The jury made nine recommendations including additional lighting at the deep end of the swimming pool, province wide standards for aquatic centres and swimming pools along with an additional lifeguard at the shallow end of the pool.

They would also like to see portable phones for the lifeguards, the use of spineboards for swimmers who get into trouble and are pulled from the the water and provincial paramedics should be required to have a minimum of Advanced Paramedic training as they do in Nova Scotia.

The inquest began on Tuesday.

Owner Of Dog Offering $3000 Reward

A man who claims his family pet was stolen by misguided animal rights vigilantes is campaigning to get his family dog back. 

Elad Shalom says after his Alaskan Malmute, Tara, went missing he posted about it on Kijiji to see if anyone had spotted the distinctive white purebred. In response he received anonymous messages back from someone saying they had taken the dog because they thought Shalom was keeping her in a sub-standard crate. 

Shalom tells Tide News Tara is a show dog who has won numerous awards including Best Pet and Best in Breed. He describes Tara as a family member and says his children miss her desperately. The family moved from Israel to New Brunswick less than two months ago. 

Starting Saturday morning, Shalom is offering a $3000 reward to whoever finds both the dog at the thief.

Visit the Facebook group campaigning for the dog's return here

If you have any information about Tara's whereabouts you can contact the owner directly at 506-654 6664 or by email at e@devaffair.com