Nearly fifty people are being treated for Tuberculosis in Nain, NL.

Labrador-Grenfell Health and the Nunatsiavut Government’s Department of Health and Social Development (DHSD) held a community meeting last Thursday June 7, 2018 at 3 pm in the afternoon in the Jeremias Sillett Community Centre to brief Nain residents on the latest news about the current Tuberculosis (TB) crisis.

The key principles in attendance were Dr. Gabe Woollam and Dr. Delphine Grynszpan of Labrador-Grenfell Health, Sylvia Doody, Director of Health Services for DHSD, and Gerald Asivak and Michelle Kenny, the NG Minister and Deputy Minister of DHSD.

According to Dr. Woolam, 22 people are being treated for active TB in Nain.

Meanwhile, 27 people are being treated for latent, or sleeping, TB.

Since March, over 800 people from Nain have been assessed by health professionals.

Over 300 people have been invited in for an x-ray, and 254 of those have undergone the procedure.

Dr. Woolam says the presence of the x-ray machine in Nain has been really positive.

He added that they are planning on holding another community meeting on TB in the fall.

To hear Part Two of last Thursday afternoon’s TB meeting in Nain, click HERE.

The Department of Health and Social Development is working on their summer programs in Nain.

Edna Winters is the Team Leader.

She says the employees are involved in quite a few ongoing programs.

Winters says the ongoing programs include mental health, addictions, and weekly bingo for seniors, unless something else occurs that they have to deal with.

She says there will be summer students hired again.

With the National Indigenous Day coming up on Thursday, June 21st, the office is making plans for the day’s events.

To hear Winters give you more information on the ongoing and upcoming events planned, click HERE.

The Nunatsiavut Executive Council (NEC) had their Open House last Monday evening at the Nunatsiavut Government building boardroom at 7 pm.

President Johannes Lampe started off the evening by welcoming everyone.

Then, each minister reported on their departments.

Some residents of Nain were in attendance as well.

To hear part 3 of the NEC Open House, click HERE.

Five students from Academy Canada in Nain, NL will be graduating at the end of this month.

Gerry Hapgood is the instructor.

He says if anyone is interested in joining the Academy Canada in the fall, there are twelve seats available in September, Hapgood says anyone interested can call the toll free number at 1-800-561-8000.

He adds they will be finishing off for the summer on June 29th, 2018.

It’s that time of year again, where black bears are roaming in and around town.

Not only did a black bear get shot this weekend, there was a polar bear shot as well.

Simon Kohlmeister is the Conversation Officer with the Nunatsiavut Government.

Kohlmeister says he had a call that there was a polar bear roaming around Angel Street at 12:45 am early Sunday morning.

When he got to the 6 foot 5 inch polar bear, it was by Annie Lidd’s residence, where it was then shot.

The polar bear’s body was then transported down to the RCMP shed for the night.

Kohlmiester and two other individuals skinned the polar bear and gave the meat to the community freezer.

Kohlmeister added that later in the day, he had a call that there was a black bear roaming around town.

When he arrived and shot the black bear, it was on Middle Path Road, near the six-plex.

Kohlmeister would like to advise the public that black bears can smell from a long ways away, so if you have any fish hanging outside, please bring it in at night.

And if you do encounter a bear, make a lot of loud noises, look big, and don’t run.

Kohlmeister added the bears are as scared of you just as much as you are scared of them.

Meanwhile, the Nain Inuit Community Government (NICG) has issued an advisory to the public regarding black bears.

You are asked to phone the RCMP during the daytime.

The RCMP will then contact one of the volunteer black bear monitors.

For more information, you can contact the NICG at 709-922-2842.

Torngat Regional Housing Association held their annual general meeting in Makkovik last week.

William Lucy is the co-ordinator.

He says there have been no selections made on who will be getting a new house on the north coast, except in Hopedale.

Lucy says monies for housing construction and repairs were allocated.

He says the Nunatsiavut Government allocated $500,000 when the board met in February.

From that $500,000, Nain will get one four bedroom house, and Hopedale one two bedroom home.

$116,000 was also allocated from TRHA’s HST money.

Housing repairs were allocated as per the following: $34,000 for Nain, $50,000 for Hopedale, and $32,000 went to Makkovik.

Lucy adds Nain will receive four new homes, plus $81,459 for repairs.

Home repairs for Hopedale will total $50,000.

Makkovik will have one new home built, plus the repairs.

In Rigolet, three new homes will be built, and $70,000 in repairs will be completed.

A veterinarian clinic will take place in Nain next week.

This is a free vet service for anyone with pets that will be offered by The Chinook Project.

The free service will include spay, neuter, vaccinate, nail trimming and general check up with pets.

The Chinook Project will take place at the Community Shed on Monday, June 11, 2018.

The Jens Haven Memorial School (JHMS) in Nain will soon be holding its annual Year End Concert.

The concert will take place at the Grades 4-12 school gym on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 7 pm.

The Grade 12 graduation will be held Thursday, June 28, which is also awards night, and the last day of school for students.

OK Radio will have more information on the other grades’ graduation and awards presentation next week.

Clients in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL region will now have access to the ambulatory care clinic at the Labrador Health Centre seven days a week between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

During weekend hours, the Ambulatory Care Clinic will be available to walk-in patients, as well as prescheduled appointments.

The clinic offers a number of services, including intravenous therapy, wound care and injections.

The extended hours will assist in aligning services to meet the needs of the population by providing non-emergency visits in a primary care setting and decreasing the need to visit the Emergency Room Department for non-emergent care.

It is anticipated that this strategy will also decrease wait times in the Emergency Room Department.

Nain RCMP have laid additional charges against two residents of Nain for the unlawful sale of contraband alcohol.

Gustav Samuel Jeremias Bennett has been charged with selling liquor.

He is also charged with unlawfully selling liquor to a minor pursuant to the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Control Act.

Jeffrey Solomon Douglas Tobias Millie has been charged with selling contraband liquor pursuant to the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Control Act.

Both men will appear in court in September, 2018.

Nain RCMP are appreciative of the community’s support and assistance to date, and are requesting their continued help in furthering the disruption and dismantling of bootlegging operations in the community.

If you have information on bootleggers and bootlegging activity, please contact Nain RCMP at 709-922-2862.

To remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (TIPS is 8477), by Secure Web Tips at www.nlcrimestoppers.com, or by downloading their free and secure mobile app.

Search your App Store for “P3 Tips”.

Electronic tips submitted to Crime Stoppers are encrypted, entirely confidential, and completely anonymous.