Friday, 12 September 2025

BREAKING! Popular Hamilton Pub Held Up At Gunpoint

 BY IAN CROUCH

A popular Hamilton hotel has been held up at gunpoint early today (Friday 12 September, 2025).

Police say around 3.40am an unknown person entered the Sydney Junction Hotel on Beaumont Street armed with a pistol and threatened staff.

The alleged offender took an amount of cash before leaving the business.

No-one was injured.

Police have set up a crime scene and are appealing for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
 


 

Wednesday, 10 September 2025

Drugs and Knife Allegedly Found During Vehicle Stop At Cameron Park

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court today for a man after police allegedly found drugs and a knife in his vehicle at Cameron Park.

Around 10.30am on Tuesday September 9, Highway Patrol officers stopped a vehicle on Cameron Park Drive.

It's alleged the 22-year-old driver returned a positive reading to methamphetamine, cannabis and cocaine.

A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered a large knife, cannabis, cocaine, MDMA and ketamine.

The man's been refused bail charged with drug supply and possession offences and having custody of a knife in a public place. 



 

Police Investigate Unit Fire At Jesmond

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has destroyed a unit at Jesmond overnight.

Firefighters were called to a two storey six unit complex in Harvard Close just before 1.00am today (Wednesday 10 September, 2025) to find unit 4 engulfed in flames.

Newcastle Fire Command says the occupants of all the units were safely evacuated and no-one was injured.

Around 30 firefighters took more than an hour to bring the blaze under control.

Two neighbouring units also sustained structural damage.

Police have set up a crime scene as investigations continue into the cause of the fire. 



 


Four Arrested Over Alleged Pursuit In Stolen Car At Cessnock

 BY IAN CROUCH

A 17-year-old boy is accused of stealing a car and leading police on a pursuit near Cessnock.

He's one of three boys and a 24-year-old man arrested after the chase ended at Cessnock on Monday night.

Police pulled the vehicle over for an RBT on Cessnock Road at Neath.

They say the car stopped briefly before being driven from the scene.

The car was pursued to Cessnock where it's alleged the occupants stopped and tried to flee on foot.

Three boys aged 15,16 and 17 and a 24-year-old man were arrested.

The 17-year-old has been charged with several offences including take and drive conveyance without consent and deliberately blackening or disguising  his face to avoid detection.

The 15 and 24-year-old's were also charged while the 16-year-old was dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.  
 


 

Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Girl Dies In Hospital After Dog Attack At Singleton

 BY IAN CROUCH

A teenage girl has died in hospital after being mauled by a dog at Singleton last week.

Emergency services were called to a home on Broughton Street at about 11.30am last Thursday (4 September 2025) and found 17-year-old girl Annalyse Blyton suffering critical injuries to her head, neck and body.

Police were told Annalyse was at a friend's home when the incident occurred.

She was taken to the John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition but police were notified yesterday of her death in hospital. 

The 10-year-old dog, described as a large dog of mixed breed has been put down.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.

 


 


 

UPDATE! Appeal Launched To Find Missing Woman From Merriwa

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police have found a body believed to be that of a woman reported missing from Merriwa at the weekend

25-year-old Celeste Proctor was last seen around 1.00pm on Saturday.

When she couldn't be located or contacted, Hunter Valley Police were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Around 3.30pm on Monday, police located the body of a woman during a search of bushland in Coolah Tops National Park.

While yet to be formally identified, the body is believed to be that of the missing woman.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.  

EARLIER: 

Police are asking for our help to locate a woman who's gone missing from Merriwa at the weekend.

25-year-old Celeste Proctor was last seen in the area around 1.00pm on Saturday.

She's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm tall with a small build, medium-length light brown hair and blue eyes.

Celeste may be travelling in a black Toyota Hilux with the NSW registration  DB 89 JT.

She's known to frequent the Coolah Tops and Merriwa areas.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Missing woman Celeste Proctor


 

 

Thursday, 4 September 2025

ELEEBANA – Red Bluff Boardwalk Repairs to Cost $200,000

 BY PETER HYSLOP

It’s going to take $200,000 and five weeks to complete a temporary fix on the Red Bluff Boardwalk at Eleebana, with more permanent repairs likely to take more from Council coffers.

The walkway has been closed to the public since May when a houseboat came off its mooring and crashed into the bridge during a storm.

Pedestrians and cyclists have been seen using Macquarie Drive as a detour, which has no shoulder in the bridge stretch.

 


Wednesday, 3 September 2025

MAITLAND - Appeal to Locate Missing Girl

Police are asking for help to locate a teenager missing from Mailand.

Zoey Pollock, aged 15, was last seen in Metford on Monday night. Officers and family hold concerns for her welfare due to her age.

She's known to frequent the Maitland, Newcastle and Muswellbrook areas, and she's described as of Caucasian appearance, of thin build, with black hair usually in a bun.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

 

Credit: NSW Police

 

Tuesday, 2 September 2025

Police Seek Help To Find Missing Telarah Teenager

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for our help to find a teenage girl who's gone missing from Telarah.

15-year-old Jada Hill was last seen on Saturday August 30 at about 3.00am and police and family hold concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Jada's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm tall with a thin build and long red hair.

She was last seen wearing black track pants and a black school jumper.

Jada is known to frequent the Newcastle, Maitland, Hornsby and Sydney areas.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
 

Missing teen Jada Hill

 

UPDATE! Truck Crash Closes New England Highway At Singleton

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man in his 30's has been taken to the John Hunter Hospital with facial injuries and suspected leg and rib injuries following a truck crash at Singleton.

A truck carrying frozen chickens and an empty truck collided at the intersection of  Maitland Road and Kennedy Street just before 4.00am today (Tuesday 2 September 2025). It's understood one of the trucks crashed into the rear of another which was parked by the road.

Maitland Road re-opened to traffic just before 7.30am. 

EARLIER: 

The New England Highway has been closed at Singleton following a truck crash.

Newcastle Fire Command says two trucks collided at the intersection of Maitland Road and Kennedy Street just before 4.00am today (Tues 2 September, 2025).

It's understood one of the drivers has been injured but all occupants of the trucks are out of the vehicles.

Maitland Road has been closed to traffic with diversions in place while crews work to clear a diesel spill. 

Crews have requested a Hazmat unit to assist with the clean-up, with one of the trucks carrying approximately 700 litres of fuel. 




 

UPDATE! Firefighters Battling House Fire At Boolaroo

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire investigators have been called in to determine the cause of a fire which has destroyed a shed at the rear of a home in Boolaroo early Tuesday.

Crews were called to Second Street just after 3.30am to find a large amount of smoke and flames issuing from the rear of the weatherboard home.

They took almost two hours to completely extinguish and mop up the fire.

It's believed an E-Scooter left on charge may have sparked the blaze.

EARLIER: 

Firefighters are battling a house fire at Boolaroo.

Emergency services were called to the single story weatherboard home in Second Street just after 3.30am on Tuesday to find the rear of the house well alight.

A shed at the rear of the property was also on fire.

Fire crews from Cardiff took about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control and are now working to fully extinguish the blaze..

Newcastle Fire Command says all the occupants safely evacuated, although a pet dog is still missing.

The cause of the fire has not been determined at this stage.



 

Monday, 1 September 2025

NEWCASTLE COUNCIL – Proposed Meeting Reforms Welcomed

Proposed State Government reforms to Council meeting standards are being welcomed by local Councillors.

The new rules, if passed, would require more community forums and rowdy councilors could be thrown out of meetings by Mayors for bad behavior.

Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge says he welcomes the new rules.

“The Minister [Ron Hoenig] has had huge experience in local council, and has been concerned for sometime about the dysfunctionality of some councils.

“We had problems in Newcastle… with meetings that go on for extraordinary long lengths of time,” he said.



Woman Critical After Multi-Vehicle Crash At Glen Oak

 BY IAN CROUCH

Emergency services have been called to a serious a multi-vehicle crash at Glen Oak.

It's understood 3 cars collided on Clarence Town Road  just before 7.00anm on Monday.

NSW Ambulance says the drivers of two of the cars suffered minor injuries but a woman driving a third car was trapped after her vehicle collided with a tree.

It took about an hour to free her from the wreckage. 

She's being flown to hospital in a critical condition by the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter.