13-Year-Old Boy Missing From Kurri Kurri

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage boy missing from Kurri Kurri. 

13-year-old Ayden Jack was last seen at a home on Lang Street at about 5:30pm on Tuesday the 28th of November, 2023. 

At the time, he was wearing grey shorts and a red, white and blue Fila-branded puffer jacket.

Ayden may be on a pushbike and is known to frequent the Kurri Kurri, Weston and Cessnock areas.

His family and police hold concerns for his welfare due to his age.

Ayden is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, of a medium build, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information into his whereabouts is being urged to contact Cessnock Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

Sonia Hornery Calls for Action in Beresfield Lifeguard Job Losses

BY HOLLY FISHLOCK

Twelve lifeguards from Beresfield Pool have been sacked following the Council's privatisation deal with BlueFit Aquatics.

The move has been heavily criticised by Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery, who has called the job losses and privatisation disappointing.

"I have been, as a Labor member, a long-term opponent of privatisation because it ends up not benefiting the community, it benefits the private companies," Ms. Hornery says.

It comes after City of Newcastle stated any changes to the pool management would not result in job losses.

"It's sad that we read documents and pledges from Labor councillors that say there would be no job losses. And yet, we know twelve qualified, experienced, long-term staff at Beresfield pool have lost their job," she says.

She is now calling for council to offer re-employment to the twelve staff, and to apologise to them.

"There have been no steps to right the wrong. I am asking the councillors to do right by the Beresfield and Tarro community and by the twelve employees that they sacked; to reinstate those experienced, qualified employees, and take them back to the pool."

Singleton Celebrates Permanent Train Services

BY JACK LEWIS

Residents in Singleton now have more options for their daily commute thanks to the permanent addition of passenger train services. 

They'll now have access to two daily return train services to Newcastle, seven days a week, bringing better timetable flexibility and improved access to other parts of the Hunter and Sydney. 

It comes after more than a decade of campaigning by council and the "Two More Trains for Singleton" group, as well as a three-and-a-half year trial of the services.

Both the advocacy group and council are pleased with the move, but say they will continue to advocate for even greater public transport connectivity in the area. 

Two Men Charged Over Another Alleged Copper Theft

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Two men have been charged over another attempted copper theft in the region this week.

Police were called to a property on Wangi Road at Myuna Bay at about 5:00pm on Wednesday the 2nd of August 2023, following reports copper cables were being stolen.

It's there they spotted two men, aged 38 and 49, allegedly removing the copper cables and loading them into a vehicle.

The pair was arrested at the scene and taken to Toronto Police station.

They've been granted bail to appear before Toronto Local Court on the 29th of August.