A local RCMP officer has been charged with sexual assault.

The Director of Nova Scotia’s Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) announced in a July 22 press release that they had “reasonable and probable grounds” to believe an Inverness County District RCMP officer committed a criminal offence.

According to SiRT, the case stems from a referral received from the RCMP on May 17, following an allegation from an adult woman who reported being sexually assaulted by the officer on May 16. The parties are known to each other.

Following an investigation, SiRT confirmed that on July 22, Constable Manas Parray was officially charged with sexual assault. He is scheduled to appear in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court on August 19.

As the matter is now before the courts, SiRT stated it would not provide further comment.

Chief Superintendent Dan Morrow, Criminal Operations Officer for Nova Scotia RCMP, emphasized that the RCMP “takes all allegations of misconduct very seriously.” Morrow confirmed that Parray is currently suspended with pay, and all disciplinary avenues are being pursued under the force’s internal conduct process. His duty status will be reviewed as the case progresses.

For the second time in three years, a worker has died at the Martin Marietta quarry in Auld’s Cove.

Sarah McNeil, spokesperson for the Department of Labour and Advanced Education, said an officer from the Safety Branch responded to a workplace incident on June 17 at the Porcupine Mountain Quarry. The injured worker was airlifted to the hospital, where they later died from their injuries.

Due to the ongoing investigation, the department said further details cannot be released at this time.

In 2022, a fire at the same quarry claimed the life of Kevin Laing. That case also underwent a thorough investigation, but no charges were laid.

Richmond Municipal Council held a special meeting on July 22 in Arichat, where several funding requests were approved.

After the meeting, Civic Journalist Jake Boudrot spoke with Warden Lois Landry and Deputy Warden Brent Sampson.

Highlights from the meeting included:

• $7,500 approved for the Acadiaville Community Centre Society to install a wheelchair lift in West Arichat.

• $1,000 from the deputy warden’s district fund to support a heat pump installation at the L’Ardoise Jolly Club.

• $7,000 allocated to repair the roof of the Grand River Presbyterian Church.

• $20,000 from the Waterfront Development Grant Fund for a new splash pad at the Village on the Canal Association.

• $500 in sponsorship for the St. Peter’s Pirate Association.

• A letter of support for the Dundee Hills Vacation Village development project.

Council also reviewed a report on the Richmond Arena, with plans to revisit the findings in September.

After the meeting, Landry addressed local concerns, including odour issues at the Arichat sewage treatment plant, feedback on the new Dog Control Bylaw, and the province’s antlerless deer draw.

Inverness County District RCMP say a man has been charged with seven offences following a violent incident in Whycocomagh.

Police say the incident happened around 4 a.m. on July 7 on Dianne’s Lane, when an altercation between two men escalated, and one man attacked the other with a knife.

The 30-year-old victim, who is known to the suspect, sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital by EHS.

On July 8, police arrested Hobie Dwayne Dennis, 29, of Waycobah, and charged him with:

• Aggravated assault

• Two counts of assault

• Assault with a weapon

• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

• Break and enter with intent

• Uttering threats

• Mischief

Dennis was remanded into custody and appeared in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court on July 9.

The province has approved infrastructure funding for local municipalities.

Under the Provincial Capital Assistance Program, the Municipality of the County of Richmond will receive $100,003 to upgrade the Arichat Water Treatment Plant.

Under the Municipal Innovation Program, Port Hawkesbury will receive $244,921 for a Municipal Services Study with Port Hastings.

The Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) will be centralizing its food services under a single, province-wide provider.

Lynn Hartwell, NSCC’s Vice-President of Campuses and Communities, said the move was necessary due to the unsustainable costs of the current hybrid model, which includes both third-party vendors and college-run cafeterias. Some locations were operating at a loss that the college could no longer absorb.

Beginning this fall, Aramark Canada Ltd., headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, will take over food services at all campuses. Aramark currently serves several other post-secondary institutions in the province.

Hartwell noted that affected NSCC employees and third-party staff were given severance, job search support, and the opportunity to apply for roles with the new provider.

"While it’s not easy saying goodbye to long-time colleagues,” she wrote, “the College must focus its resources on providing exceptional learning opportunities.”

The province confirmed that its Housing for Health Care initiative is moving forward in Port Hawkesbury.

According to Chrissy Matheson, Director of Communications with the Department of Growth and Development, the Port Hawkesbury units are now fully occupied.

This announcement follows the official opening of a similar housing project in Guysborough County, where the province invested $2.3 million in an eight-unit complex near Guysborough Memorial Hospital. All units are currently occupied by health care professionals.

“This is an exciting day for our community and our health care facilities,” said Guysborough-Tracadie MLA Grey Morrow. “We’ve been able to recruit workers who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to come.”

In Boylston, the province also acquired a six-unit affordable housing project in partnership with the Community First: Guysborough County Housing Association. The site includes five two-bedroom units and one one-bedroom unit, with rents ranging from $750 to $850/month.

“We couldn’t be more pleased,” said Nancy O’Regan, Board Chair of the housing association. “This partnership gave us the foundation to build future projects.”