It’s called sea lettuce and it threatens to overwhelm shellfishing areas throughout PEI. The rapid growth and spread of this type of algae throughout productive Island waters has become an alarming trend for many who earn their living raising oysters, clams and quahogs, said John Powers of Alberton, president of the Prince County Shellfish Association (PCSA). Members will be discussing this issue at the association’s annual meeting Thursday, Mar 11, at 1 pm at the O’Leary Lions Club. ...

    There will be no changes in tax rates for Alberton residents in 2010 as the town looks at bringing in a balanced budget for the year. The town’s annual meeting was held Monday night along with council’s regular monthly meeting. Approval was given to the 2009 financial statement presented by Councillor David Cahill and the approval was given to the 2010 budget. ...

West Prince RCMP officers are seeking the public's help apprehending an individual who robbed a woman in the Lion's Club parking lot shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday in Alberton.  The 39-year-old Alberton woman was struck in the face during a struggle, suffering minor injuries. The suspect escaped with the woman's purse and other items including a significant amount of cash. The purse and other items were eventually recovered, but not the cash. According to the RCMP the suspect is described as tall and thin, wearing dark-coloured coveralls. The suspect's face was covered by a black mask. Police say they don't know if the suspect is ...

An Elmsdale man convicted of manslaughter in Ontario in 2002 and who has been on statutory release since May, 2009, was charged in connection with a robbery at an Alberton gas station shortly after 7:20 pm, Saturday, Jan 30. Correctional Service Canada issued a warrant of apprehension and suspended the man’s statutory release as a result of the incident. Michael Clarence Griffin, 47, was apprehended after a chase and charged with robbery following an incident in which a man entered Barbour’s Esso on Church Street demanding cash from an employee. Mr Griffin appeared before a Justice of the Peace on Sunday and was ...

       The town of Alberton  is once again without a recreation director.  John Corbin, had been in the position for less than six months  when he was let go. He said he was forced to resign from his position on January 12 or be let go.  “I was issued a post dated pay cheque for the week and told I could leave that day,” he said. ...

      The images flashing across television screens from Haiti after a powerful earthquake struck on January 12 were horrifying and heart-breaking. Westisle Composite student Debra Lynn-Lee was one of millions of Canadians who saw the disaster unfold on her television set. She saw the desperate efforts to free countless numbers of men, women and children buried under tonnes of rubble. The quake and its aftershocks killed more than 200,000 Haitians and left millions of others injured and without food and shelter. They also moved Debra to action. ...

Heavy snows, whipped by fierce winds, caused some anxious moments for RCMP officers in West Prince for much of Tuesday. But fortunately there were no serious calls, says Cpl. Kent MacKay of the West Prince RCMP. There were only three motorvehicle accidents on Tuesday, all single vehicle accidents with no injuries, he said. “We had three accidents in the past 24 hours, all due to road conditions.” Mr MacKay said RCMP answered two other calls on Tuesday evening - both false alarms likely related to weather conditions. Alarms went off at businesses in West Point and Bloomfield Corner, probably caused by drafts swirling inside which triggered motion ...

  Tignish was a buzz with the hopes that one lucky person would soon be $500 richer at the Second Annual Tignish Christmas Sales Event held Friday, Dec 4. The crowd was a bit smaller this year but the 600 envelopes that contained a variety of prizes, discounts at local area merchants and one grand prize of $500 in cash were soon grabbed up once the horn sounded to mark the start of the event. From left are Kendall Hackett, Tignish recreation director; Brian Chant, grand prize winner, and Wayne Brewer, assistant recreation director. “I didn’t expect to find the winning ...

   Remembrance Day services were well attended in all West Prince communities this year. Surviving veterans attended church services and marched to cenotaphs. Many also laid wreathes in honour of fallen comrades. Lieutenant Governor Barbara Hagerman laid a wreath at the cenotaph in Alberton. She also attended a reception for veterans at the Royal Canadian Legion, St Anthony’s Branch No 27 and dinner at the Royal Canadian Legion, O’Leary Branch No 2.This year a special service was held in Lennox island honouring the Mi’kmaq veterans from that area. In attendance was Brigadier General David Neasmith and other members of the military.  ...