CKBW's Wiles Winner

Describing it as a junior farm system, Dave Bannerman says CKBW and Acadia Broadcasting are helping young people get into the broadcasting business. Bannerman is an instructor with the NSCC's Waterfront Campus. He says John Wiles has been named National Broadcaster of the year by the Broadcaster Educators Association. CKBW's station manager John Wiles was recently presented with an award recognizing him and the radio station for their continued support of broadcast students. He is a native of Liverpool who has worked in broadcasting in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia over his 30 year career.

Tuition Winners

Four Nova Scotia high school students have each won five thousand dollars in tuition for a Nova Scotia university or college of their choice through the online game Mission Tuition. Mission Tuition was designed to encourage more high school students to plan careers in Nova Scotia, by making them aware of the range of successful business and job opportunities here at home. More than 23-hundred people played the interactive online game on a website telling Nova Scotians about opportunities in growth sectors such as aerospace, finance, skilled trades, IT and health. The four winners are: David Cann, Riverview Rural HighSchool (Sydney); Kelsie Johnston, Sackville High School; Alessandra Pagnottella, Sacred Heart School (Halifax); and Allison Rand, Bridgewater Junior and Senior High School. They were randomly chosen from more than 900 entries.

Health CEO Deputized

South Shore Health CEO, Kevin McNamara, has been appointed acting deputy minister of the Department of Health. Premier Darrell Dexter in making the announced today says McNamara understands the unique challenges of Nova Scotia's health-care system and will be able to help government prepare to address those challenges. The appointment will take effect Friday (July 3rd) and will last about three months.

MLA's Appointed

Two South Shore NDP MLA's among eight appointed to the role of ministerial assistants. They will represent ministers and government to build relationships with important stakeholders, and oversee policy and program development that helps government keep commitments. Lunenburg West's Gary Ramey has been named ministerial assistant to the Department of Health while Queens MLA Vicki Conrad, has been appointed to Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Ministerial assistants will not receive additional pay for their role and it is not a full-time position.

Justice Center Opens

Bridgewater's new justice center opens Monday, months later than scheduled and millions of dollars over original budget estimates. The exact cost has not been released by officials but at last count it was close to double the original estimate of 9-point-75 million dollars. The building was supposed to open last November but was delayed another six months because of labour issues according to the Department of Justice. The justice centre includes a centralized court administration area and four courtrooms. The late Michael Baker, who was credited with pushing to have a new court house built in the community, got to tour the building in February.

Justice Issues

Shelburne RCMP say drug charges are pending after a 9-1-1 call to a Parr Street residence. They don't say what prompted the emergency call. But they say when they got there, they found a marijuana grow-op. Officers got a search warrant to dismantle the grow and seize exhibits. They say a large number of plants in various stages of growth were seized.

Chester Mounties are looking into a break, enter and theft in Chester village. Someone broke into Chester Area Middle school and stole a silver Hewlett Packard 15 inch computer monitor. It's believed it happened overnight Thursday.

Furnace Finances

The Forties Community Centre is looking for a lifeline from Chester Council. Warden Allan Webber says they're asking for a $16,000 grant to replace their hot water furnace Webber says the Municipality has been swamped with grant requests this year and there's only so much money to go around. The Community Centre still has four years left on its mortgage and has no additional funding for the emergency cost of replacing the furnace.