Northern Financial Corporation (TSX: NFC) announced that it acquired today an additional 100,000 common shares of High Desert Gold Corporation ("HDG"; TSX: HDG) representing approximately 0.24% of the total issued common shares of HDG. The HDG shares were acquired on the Toronto Stock Exchange for investment purposes. The highest price paid per HDG share was $0.175 and the average price paid per HDG share was $0.171.

Crown Hill Capital Corp. is pleased to announce its intention to merge MACCs Sustainable Yield Trust (TSX: MYT.UN) with Crown Hill Dividend Fund (TSX: PBK.UN). Upon completion of the merger, the Continuing Fund will be renamed the Crown Hill Fund.

The media had reports that GMR Infrastructure Limited may acquire a coal mine in Indonesia for over $100 million.

VenCan Gold (TSX VENTURE:VCG) is pleased to provide an exploration update on its Mt. Logano gold property and the Costello Property, both in the Timmins area.

Bill McWilliam, President of Golden Dawn Minerals Inc. (GOM: TSX-V) is pleased to announce that the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing an Acquisition Agreement between 6891667 Canada Inc., a private Ontario corporation, and its shareholders and Warrantholders, and Golden Dawn Minerals Inc.

Northern Financial Corporation (TSX: NFC) announced that it acquired today an additional 429,500 common shares of High Desert Gold Corporation ("HDG"; TSX: HDG) representing approximately 1.05% of the total issued common shares of HDG.

Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. is pleased to announce the acquisition of all issued and outstanding shares of Sarbit Asset Management Inc..

Otelco Inc. (NASDAQ: OTT; TSX: OTT.un), the sole wireline telephone services provider in several rural communities in Alabama, Maine and Missouri, today announced results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2008. Key quarterly highlights for Otelco include:

CenturyTel investor news says CenturyTel and EMBARQ Agree to Merge. Bloomberg and AP report that CenturyTel Agrees to Acquire Embarq for $5.8 Billion.

GMV Minerals Inc. (TSX-V:GMV) is pleased to announce further details surrounding its recently announced acquisition of an option to earn up to a 75% interest in the RHG property.

Gerber Scientific, Inc. (NYSE: GRB) announced today that its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary Gerber Scientific International Ltd., who assumed the rights and responsibilities of Gerber Scientific Canada Inc. in connection with the offer, has taken up 29,369,010 common shares of Virtek Vision International Inc. (TSX: VRK) under the offer to acquire all of the common shares of Virtek at a price of C$1.05 cash per common share.

Between October 14 and 21, 2008, Mr. Robert G. Peters purchased 1,200,000 Class A common shares of Bellamont Exploration Ltd. through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange.