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Connecticut police officer saves girl's life, becomes part of her family: 'I'll be there for her graduation and wedding'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) – When Tooka gets home from school, she runs into the outstretched arms of her Uncle Mike."I missed you!" she tells Uncle Mike, aka Det. Michael Harton of Connecticut's North Haven Police Department.Harton been a constant in Tooka's life for the past several years, ever since saving her life."They call her Tooka but not for me — [it's] 'little angel,'" said Harton.Det. Mike Harton of the North Haven Police Department is pictured with Tooka, the girl whose live he saved four years ago. (WTNH)Their paths first crossed four years ago. Tooka, just a few months old at the time, was with mom Nikki Huckaby at a movie theater in North Haven when a scary situation unfolded. "I went to pick her up when the movie was over, and I realized she wasn't breathing," said Huckaby. "I was like, 'Oh my God!' I was hysterical.""I see Nicole running towards me with a little angel in her arms," remembered Harton, who just happened to be stationed at the theater that night. 7 Virg...

7 Virginia 4th-graders sickened by gummies eaten from fentanyl-laced bag

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

AMHERST COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) – Seven fourth-grade students in Amherst County, Virginia, are recovering after eating gummy candy from a bag that later tested positive for fentanyl residue."A student brought a sandwich bag containing gummies to school, and then shared those gummies with six classmates during lunch," said Dr. William Wells, the Amherst County Public Schools superintendent,. Not long after, it was clear something was wrong."Students who ingested the gummies exhibited symptoms of nausea, vomiting, headache, and some muscle spasm," said Dr. Wells. What to do if someone overdoses on an opioid, such as fentanyl The Amherst County Sheriff's Office was then called to investigate, testing the gummies for multiple substances."We tested further and found actually what it was," said Lt. Dallas Hill.The issue? Fentanyl residue, found on the plastic bag that the gummies were in.After that discovery, Dr. Wells says the school was cleaned to prevent further exposure to students.On W...

Austin approves more than $15M to kickstart I-35 'cap and stitch' design work

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council approved Thursday millions of dollars in funding agreements with the Texas Department of Transportation for the city's Our Future 35 "cap and stitch" program.TxDOT is working toward its eight-mile I-35 Capital Expression Central project in downtown Austin, which features added lanes along with the removal of the upper decks and lowering of the highway. The cap and stitch program calls for the installation of caps — or deck plazas that can host community and green spaces, pavilions, public art or cultural facilities — on top of those sunken highway lanes. City officials outlined Nov. 7 several sites where “caps” — or deck plazas that can support community and green spaces, pavilions, public art or cultural facilities — could exist over the lowered highway. (Courtesy: Our Future 35)During a Nov. 7 council work session, highlighted locations for caps included some running from Cesar Chavez to 4th streets, one from 4th to 7th streets, one over 11th an...

Thank you from Blanket for Canada Coaldale group

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

Dear Editor,This is our annual Thank-You message from Blanket for Canada Coaldale group.This year, nationally we celebrated 25 years of making blankets. We met October 26 at the Southminster United Church in Lethbridge. We had coffee and goodies, and also some speakers who congratulated us and special thanks to Nancy Panting who started this. It was a snowy day, so there were seniors who did not come. Coaldale group was there and I was able to report that we still meet every Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.We want to thank all those who have donated blankets, yarns and materials to make more than 200 blankets this year, and that we have in the 17 years in Coaldale made more than 3,000 blankets.We thank God for giving us helpers and supplies to make it all possible. Feel free to stop by on a Thursday or phone Nellie at 403-345-3205 for an appointment, not on a Sunday. We are at 2226 – 23 Ave., in Coaldale.Wishing you all Gods blessings for 2024.Nellie Slingerland, Blankets for Canada

The problem with Trudeau’s fiscal responsibility message

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

There’s only one problem with the federal government’s messaging about saving money: the feds aren’t actually saving money. “The foundation of our Fall Economic Statement is our responsible fiscal plan,” said Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.The mid-year budget update shows the government increasing spending by $15 billion this year. A far cry from Freeland’s March promise to find “savings of $15.4 billion over the next five years.”Next year, the government will increase spending by $30 billion. And that comes on top of an already ballooned baseline.The feds spent all-time highs before the pandemic. That means Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was spending more before the pandemic than the feds did during any single year during World War II, even after accounting for inflation and population growth.Freeland is trying to put Canadians’ minds at ease by claiming her deficits are “modest.” Canadians have heard this before.When running for prime minister in 2015, Trudeau promised to run a...

RCMP hosts Auto Theft Prevention Information Session

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterOn November 22, the RCMP Detachment in Coaldale, Alberta hosted an Auto Theft Prevention Information Session and steering wheel locking giveaway event at the Coaldale Sportsplex.“The Coaldale detachment area has seen an increase in auto theft in the previous months and this event was held to provide information and resources about preventing auto crime to compliment ongoing enforcement efforts,” said Staff Sergeant Mike Numan, Detachment Commander of the Coaldale RCMP. “In Alberta Auto theft is one of the main drivers of crime. Most stolen vehicles are used to commit further crimes and thus increase the harm in communities. There are many ways to reduce and prevent thefts and the RCMP wanted to take this opportunity to discuss this.”The event, Numan said, involved members of the Coaldale Detachment and the Alberta RCMP. Community Safety and Wellbeing Branch engaging with citizens of the Coaldale Detachm...

Town of Picture Butte council meeting briefs from November 27

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterThe following are select briefs from the Town of Picture Butte Council meeting that was held on November 27, 2023.Delegation from Southern AlbertaKanadier AssociationDan Doerksen from the Southern Alberta Kanadier Association gave a presentation to Council about what the Kanadier Association is and how it works. The Association, Doerksen says, is an umbrella organization, that is pretty much across Southern Alberta and is a group of community service providers that works to improve the health and wellness of the Low German Mennonite population in Southern Alberta. Doerksen says that as an organization, the Kanadier Association meets five times a year, plus the AGM, and has been meeting via Zoom since COVID. Doerksen also briefly recapped highlights from the year, stating that the big event that happened was on June 6, 2023 and that event was the SAKA Conference for Service Providers of the Low German Co...

Coalhurst Christmas decorating contest underway for 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsThe following are selected briefs from the regular Dec. 5 meeting of Coalhurst town council.Community Services ReportDirector of Corporate Service’s Mike Passey’s report included the following highlights:• There has been a focus has been the 2024 budget preparation. A preliminary budget document was provided to council during the Nov. 14 Committee of the Whole meeting, after which town staff has been putting the final touches on the Budget Consultation Survey and the Open House.• The Budget Survey went live on Nov. 22, and was opened until Dec. 4. Survey results will be presented to council at the Dec. 12 Committee of the Whole meeting.• The Nov. 28 Open House on November 28 had a Budget Consultation component where residents could come and learn about the budget and talk with Council. • The Government Finance Officers of Alberta (GFOA) organization held a webinar regarding reserves, which Passey participated in. • The town has been approved to host ...

Blankets for Canada needs 
Community assistance

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterNancy Wade Panting, founder of Blankets for Canada, says that Blankets for Canada is currently in need of batting for their blankets as well as a single floor building because where they are right now, there are a lot of steps and the ladies that are carrying bags up and down those steps are in their 80’s.“We make blankets for any organization that takes care of people in need of shelter and warmth and our street people, and everything comes in free and goes out free,” said Panting. Founded in 1998, Panting says that Blankets for Canada is now 25 years old and supported by the generosity of the community, whether it be through cash or yarn and material so they can pay rent, insurance and registration fees to keep their status as a charitable organization, and pay for their materials. The organization, Panting says, is a national one and there are two main chapters in Alberta, Edmonton and Lethbridge, wi...

Coalhurst passes 2024 borrowing bylaw

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsAn annual borrowing bylaw has been passed for Coalhurst.During their regular Dec. 5 meeting, Coalhurst town council discussed a borrowing bylaw for 2024.Bylaw 448-23 – or the 2024 Annual Borrowing Bylaw – would allow for the town to borrow funds, as needed, to meet their expenditures throughout 2024. Under the bylaw, the town would be able to borrow up to $350,000.Under the Municipal Government Act, a municipality is permitted to borrow funds to meet current operating expenditures, provided they pass a borrowing bylaw allowing them to do so. As such, bylaws similar to this one are passed every year.Coun. Jesse Potrie asked if they needed to list the name of the bank, ATB, in the bylaw. The town’s director of cooperate services, Mike Passey, said while it wasn’t a requirement, it was “fairly standard” to do so.“I was looking at other budget borrowing bylaws, and they have, kind of who their accounts are with, that’s listed there,” said Passey. “In you...