BY IAN CROUCH
Cessnock Police are investigating an armed robbery at Stanford Merthyr.
Police have been told a man entered a service station on Mulbring Street at about 7.40pm on Wednesday and threatened an employee before demanding money.
The man left the store with an amount of cash and the worker was not injured.
Police have set up a crime scene as investigations continue.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
BY IAN CROUCH
Police have charged a woman over a fatal crash near Scone earlier this month.
On Friday October 4, emergency services were called to Bunnan Road at Owens Gap to reports of a crash between a Mitsubishi Lancer and a Nissan Navara.
A front seat passenger of the Lancer, a 76-year-old woman, died at the scene while the 53-year-old female driver and a 39-year-old female passenger were airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital.
A 27-year-old man driving the Nissan and his 24-year-old female passenger were also taken to the John Hunter.
Following extensive investigations, police have a charged the 53-year-old woman with dangerous and negligent driving occasioning death and failing to keep left of dividing line.
She's due to face Muswellbrook Court on December 17.
BY IAN CROUCH
Two people have been evacuated after a house fire at Islington.
Newcastle Fire Command says 7 trucks were sent to Morgan Street just before 6.00pm on Tuesday where a 2 storey home was on fire.
The blaze caused extensive damage to the rear of the property and the roof space, with crews taking around two hours to extinguish and mop up the fire.
Two people were evacuated and treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation.
Fire investigators will arrive on Wednesday morning to look into the cause of the fire.
BY IAN CROUCH
Police are appealing for help to find a man who went missing from Medowie late last month.
26-year-old Johdyn Richards was last seen on Barringum Close on Wednesday September 25.
Police and family hold concerns for his welfare.
He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 167cm tall with a large build and brown hair and was last seen wearing an orange jacket and brown tracksuit pants.
Johdyn is known to frequent the suburbs around Charleville in Queensland and Wodonga in Victoria.
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| Missing man Johdyn Richards |
BY IAN CROUCH
Protesters have picketed a community information session at Wickham overnight amid concerns about the indoctrination of children in schools.
Former Victorian state coordinator of the the Australia One Party, Craig Cole was giving a talk at the Croation Wickham Sports Club.
He promoted the event arguing the sexualised indoctrination of children in schools needs to stop.
Around two dozen protesters gathered outside the club.
In a statement, protest organiser, Nimiah Anderson said school should be a safe learning space for all kids, including trans kids and spreading fear mongering and hateful misinformation only causes harm.
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| Protesters gathered at Wickham on Monday night |
BY IAN CROUCH
A major Hazmat incident is unfolding at 12 Mile Creek north of Raymond Terrace where two trucks have collided.
Newcastle Fire Command says a truck and fuel tanker collided in the northbound lanes of the Pacific Highway just south of the Bucketts Way at about 7.00am on Monday.
It's understood the drivers have been treated by paramedics and one has been taken to hospital.
Fire & Rescue says the tanker has spilled 26,000 litres of fuel on the road.
Northbound traffic on the highway is back for 5 kilometres and police are setting up a contra flow.
Several fire and Hazmat vehicles are at the scene, with the incident expected to be protracted for some hours.
BY JORDAN REGNIS
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenager missing from Muswellbrook.
Alea Picket, aged 14, was last seen on Ford Street, Muswellbrook, about 12.30am yesterday (Thursday 10 October 2024).
Police hold concerns for her welfare due to her young age.
Alea is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm-170cm tall,
of thin build, with blonde hair brown eyes.
She is known to frequent the Muswellbrook area.
Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Hunter Valley Police District or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Alea Picket
BY IAN CROUCH
Fire has ripped through a furniture factory at Kurri Kurri overnight.
Newcastle Fire Command says more than 50 firefighters have been working on the blaze at the Resourceful Living factory in Northcote Street since just after 11.00pm on Thursday.
They managed to achieve fire control at about 3.15am on Friday.
Seven appliances are still at the scene with crews attempting to extinguish hot spots - a task made more difficult due to the roof of the building collapsing at the height of the blaze.
Police say no-one's been injured and local traffic diversions are in place.
However, one firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.
The fire is being treated as suspicious.
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| Fire crews battle the fierce blaze at Kurri Kurri. Picture: Kearsley Fire & Rescue |
BY IAN CROUCH
A man will face court later this month accused of attempting to break into homes and cars at New Lambton.
Police say two men attempted to enter homes and vehicles on Duke Street and Henderson Place early last Tuesday morning.
Investigations led to a the search of a unit on Christo Road at Waratah yesterday (Wednesday 9 October, 2024) where police say clothing and jewellery were seized along with a key to a vehicle reported stolen from Rankin Park last Thursday.
A 20-year-old man was arrested and charged with several offences including attempted break and enter in company, larceny, goods in custody and breaching bail.
He's been refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court on October 17.
Investigations are continuing.
BY IAN CROUCH
Fire has destroyed a house at Windale overnight.
Newcastle Fire Command says they were alerted to the fire in the single level fibro home on Sturt Street just after 2.30am on Thursday.
More than 30 firefighters from five stations and the Newcastle Hazmat unit were called to the incident, taking around 90 minutes to fully extinguish the blaze.
The residents were not home when the fire broke out.
The fire is being treated as suspicious and the Fire Rescue Investigation Unit and Forensic Police are looking into how the fire started.
BY IAN CROUCH
Fire crews are battling a garage fire at Medowie.
Newcastle Fire Command says firefighters from Raymond Terrace and an RFS crew from Medowie were called to Overland Avenue at about 4.45am on Wednesday to find a 10 x 20 metre detached garage well alight.
Crews have been tackling the blaze in defensive mode from outside the building for almost an hour but are expected to move to offensive mode soon.
It's understood the fire is contained to the garage and a 5 bedroom brick and tile home on the property has not been impacted.
Police and ambulance crews are also at the scene.
BY IAN CROUCH
Great News!
Police have advised that Catherine has been found safe and well.
They've thanked the public and the media for their assistance.
EARLIER:
Police are appealing for public assistance to find a woman who's gone missing from the Maitland area.
48-year-old Catherine Copeland was last seen at Rutherford at 3.00pm on Monday 7 October, 2024, and police were notified when she couldn't be located or contacted.
Police and family hold serious concerns for her welfare.
Catherine's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall with a solid build and shoulder length red hair.
She's known to frequent the Rutherford, Nundle Hanging Rock and Tamworth areas.
If you've seen Catherine or know where she is call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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| Missing woman Catherine Copeland |
BY JORDAN REGNIS and IAN CROUCH
It's feared the data of more than 30,000 electors enrolled to vote in Newcastle Council's Ward Three could fall into the wrong hands, after a printed roll used to mark off electors went missing.
The data on the roll includes the voter's identification number, full name, address, date of birth and sex.
For silent electors, the data includes their identification number, full name and sex
The roll was raised as potentially unaccounted for after a polling place was packed down at the end of election day.
The NSW Electoral Commission has urged those affected to be on alert for the possible misuse of their personal details.
The Commission is contacting affected individuals directly by mail, with details on what steps they can take to protect their personal information.
It is also working with police and the NSW Privacy Commissioner.
There data covers 30,971 electors covering Birmingham Gardens, Georgetown, Jesmond, Hamilton North, Kotara, Lambton, New Lambton, New Lambton Heights, North Lambton, Rankin Park Wallsend(part), Waratah and Waratah West.
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| The data of more than 30,000 electors in Ward 3 of the Newcastle LGA may have been compromised |
BY IAN CROUCH
Police have arrested three teenage boys following a pursuit in an allegedly stolen car at Kurri Kurri overnight.
Officers spotted the car on Deakin Street at about 12.20am on Tuesday, but say the vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit began.
The chase went through several suburbs before the car stopped in Love Street at Cessnock.
The driver, a 19-year-old man, and two male passengers aged 16 were arrested.
The man's been charged with police pursuit, unlicensed driving, drug possession and car theft.
he's been refused bail to face Cessnock Court today.
One of the 16-year-old boys is facing the children's court today - the other will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
BY IAN CROUCH
Orica says it remains open to holding discussions with interested parties to progress the Hunter Hydrogen Hub after Origin Energy announced it's walking away from the project.
The energy giant sited the slow pace of development for commercial hydrogen as the reason from withdrawing from $207 million joint project at Kooragang Island.
A spokeswoman for Energy Minister, Chris Bowen said the decision is disappointing for workers and businesses involved in developing the hub.
In a statement, Shadow Energy Minister Ted O'Brien said Origin's decision to walk away from the project is a blow to the government's renewable energy goals and puts Australia's energy security in jeopardy.
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| The future of the Hunter Hydrogen Hub is in doubt after Origin pulled out of the project |
BY IAN CROUCH
Four people have been injured in a serious crash at Bar Point on the Central Coast.
A car travelling in the southbound lanes of the M1 Pacific Motorway crashed into a rock wall just before 3.00am on Friday.
A truck loaded with laundry then collided with the car before coming to a stop about 400 metres down the road.
Three people in the car sustained head, leg and arm injuries.
It's understood the person with a head injury is being taken to hospital after suffering a seizure.
The truck driver suffered leg injuries.
Two of three southbound lanes were closed for almost two hours while a salvage operation continued to recover the car and the truck.
All southbound lanes of the motorway re-opened just before 5.00am.
BY IAN CROUCH
A 12-year-old girl reported missing from Lambton has been found safe and well in Waratah West.
She was last seen at Lambton Swimming Pool on Thursday morning and police and family held concerns for her welfare due to her age.
Police say she was located just after 4.30am on Friday.
EARLIER:
Fears are growing for the welfare of a young girl who's gone missing from Lambton.
12-year-old Lara Sutton was last seen at the Lambton Pool in Durham Road at about 11.30am on Thursday and the alarm was raised when she couldn't be located or contacted.
Lara's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm tall with a thin build, brown hair and blue eyes.
She's known to frequent the Waratah West, Woodrising and Toronto areas.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Newcastle City Police or Crime Stoppers.
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| Missing girl Lara Sutton |
BY JORDAN REGNIS
Police have released CCTV images of two men they believe were involved in multiple break-ins at storage sheds at Morisset last week.
Two men broke into 12 storage units after entering a facility on Advantage Drive last Wednesday (September 25).
Anyone with information which may help identify them is being urged to contact crime stoppers.
BY IAN CROUCH
Firefighters say an overnight fire at a Hamilton South commercial laundry could've been much worse.
Around 20 firefighters from three stations, including the ladder platform from Newcastle, were called to Ezy Laundry in Hassall Street just before 10.00pm on Tuesday.
They had to force entry to the premises, where they found a dryer on fire.
It's taken about an hour to douse the flames and ventilate the heavily smoke-logged premises.
The fire was contained to the dryer, which was destroyed in the blaze along a customer's clothing.
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| A dryer and a customer's clothes were destroyed by fire at the Ezy Laundry outlet at Hamilton South |
BY HOLLY FISHLOCK
Police believe two teenage girls missing from the Central Coast could be in the Hunter region.
13 year old Brodie Monger and 14 year old Mailey Gelder were last seen at Davistown late Sunday night.
They've both been described as Caucasian in appearance, about 140 to 150 centimeters tall, with shoulder-length brown hair.
Mailey was last seen wearing black track pants and a black hoodie.
They're known to frequent East Maitland and the Central Coast.
BY PETER HYSLOP
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a 21-year-old man missing from the Hunter.
Eli Elliott was last seen in Thornton on Monday September 30. When he could not be contacted, officers commenced inquiries into his whereabouts. His family hold concerns for his welfare.
He's known to frequent East Maitland and Thornton, and is being described as of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, of a thin build with short brown hair. He was last seen wearing grey track pants and a grey hooded jumper.
Anyone with information is being urged to contact Raymond Terrace Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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| Eli Elliott. Credit: NSW Police |
BY IAN CROUCH
Two men are due to face court today (Tuesday 1 October, 2024) over their part in an alleged home invasion at Macquarie Hills.
Police were called to a home in Alhambra Avenue just after 3.30am on Monday.
They say a man and woman aged 35 and 34 were assaulted with a knife after two men forced their way into the home.
The man was taken to hospital with a stab wound to his right shoulder - the woman was treated at the scene for a minor injury.
Following inquiries, two men aged 27 and 28 were arrested.
They were taken to Tornoto Police Station and charged with enter building/land with intent to commit indictable offence and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of other
They've been refused bail to face Belmont Local Court today.
