Rustico restaurant damaged by blaze
A 30-year-old man who was at large for almost two years between arrests for disturbances he caused was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
Adam Gregory MacDonald recently appeared before Chief Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court in Georgetown where he pleaded guilty to several charges including resisting arrest and interfering with the lawful enjoyment of property.
MacDonald previously pleaded guilty to assault, failing to attend court, damaging property and breaching an undertaking.
The court heard the RCMP were called to a residence in July 2016 to remove MacDonald, who was causing a disturbance and
A fire Saturday caused extensive damage to a restaurant in Rustico.
New Glasgow Fire Chief Jason Peters said the small building is still standing with four walls and a roof, but the interior suffered major fire, smoke and water damage.
The Olde Forge Country wouldn’t leave.
Crown attorney Nathan Beck said when the police tried to put MacDonald in a cruiser he braced himself against the vehicle and struggled so they couldn’t get him inside.
He later failed to attend court on that matter.
Almost two years later, the police were called to a disturbance on Panmure Island on June 30 after getting a report MacDonald was in a residence smashing things.
MacDonald slapped one of the residents and was uncooperative with the police.
Beck said when the police were taking MacDonald to Montague he started coughing and told them he had swallowed a bag of cocaine. Paramedics later cleared MacDonald who had not swallowed drugs, Beck said. Kitchen has been operating since 2016 from the building that was once a forge.
“It’s not a very big said Peters.
“It operates as a summertime café or restaurant.’’
Peters said the fire appears to have been caused by an electrical issue with the dishwasher. building,’’
On July 4, MacDonald breached an undertaking by going back to the residence where police found him hiding behind a door.
Defence lawyer Brendan Hubley told the court MacDonald had a previous diagnosis of bipolar disorder and all of the incidents could be attributed to his mental health issues.
Before hearing his sentence, MacDonald read a statement in which he apologized to the court, the assault victim and the officers who dealt with him.
MacDonald has been in custody since his arrest and Orr gave him credit of 54 days for time served.
He will be on probation for two years after his release.
Firefighters were called to the scene around 6 a.m. Saturday.
“When we got there, smoke and fire was visible in the back area where the kitchen was,’’ he said.
The North Rustico and New London fire departments provided water assistance.
No one was injured.
Stratford Mayor David Dunphy said before renovations or additions are made to existing aging schools in the greater Charlottetown area, both a junior and senior high school should be constructed in Stratford.
Dunphy said not only would this ease the overcrowding issues that existing junior and senior high schools will experience, it would also ease some morning and afternoon congestion on the Hillsborough Bridge with fewer buses and parents commuting over it.
He added that it would also allow Stratford students and future residents to receive their schooling from kindergarten to Grade 12 in their own community.
Representatives with the town recently held meetings with the Public Schools Branch and the provincial cabinet on priorities.
Dunphy said the town continues to be concerned about the projection numbers being used by the Public Schools Branch
The town commissioned Atlantic Evaluation Group to review and update population growth projections with a focus on the school-age population. Its analysis of the 2011 and 2016 Statistics Canada data showed student enrolment at Glen Stewart Primary and Stratford Elementary grew by double the population growth in Stratford during that same period of time.
“Based on those numbers presented and anyone who has driven through our community in the past couple of years you can see that Stratford is continuing to grow with new subdivisions, condo units and apartment buildings being constructed all across our community,’’ Dunphy said.
“We are concerned with the calculations the Public Schools
Branch have been using which, in fact, would see our student growth projection remain stagnant through 2026. We simply see no trend in which this scenario is probable.’’
Public Schools Branch projections shows Glen Stewart Primary and Stratford elementary total student enrolment numbers of 1,111 in 2017 and 1,110 in 2026. Atlantic Evaluation Group projection shows student population at Glen Stewart and Stratford Elementary to be 1,416 students in 2026, a three per cent increase per year.
Dunphy said presently almost 1,000 junior and senior high students cross the bridge daily for school, numbers that justify the town having its own junior and senior high schools.
The public is invited to an open house on Wednesday, Aug. 22 from 7-8 p.m. in the Southport Room of Stratford Town Centre. A presentation will be made at 7:15 p.m. and include a summary of the projection numbers as well as allow for an opportunity to view the proposed community campus vision.
Following the presentation, residents are invited to remain and provide comment to council and staff.