Bowater Shutdown

A five week shutdown for close to three hundred workers at the Abitibi-Bowater Mersey Paper Mill in Queens county accortding to Union officials. They confirm they were notified Thursday morning of the fourth work stoppage at the plant since Christmas. Courtney Wentzell with the Communications Energy and Paper Workers says the Nova Scotia plant has been down more weeks than it's been running this year. The Queens paper mill will be shut between August 29th and October 4th. Company officials have been citing tough market conditions brought on by the current economic downturn.

NOTE: Company spokesperson Robin Anthony tells CKBW the shutdown will affect under 175 employees.

A Day on the Range

The General Training Course Cadets will participate in familiarization training throughout the two weeks that they will spend here at the Greenwood Air Cadet Summer Training Centre. From survival training and recreational training to trips in a glider and range training, the day of a GT cadet is filled with many fun activities. Today, many of the GT cadets spent time on the range. For many, it is their first time being able to shoot the air rifles. Cadet Makayla Whynot of 545 Liverpool Privateer Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron located in Liverpool, N.S., is pictured here getting ready to take her first shot. The Cadet Program is available across Canada to young people ages 12-18. It is one of the largest youth programs in the country (over 55,000 cadets nationally) and is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment where young people can develop as strong leaders and active citizens. (Story and picture submitted)

Camperdown Obama Carver

Bradford Naugler of Camperdown, a renowned Nova Scotia folk artist is having his life-sized carvings of the Obama family unveiled as a new addition to the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia on Monday, August 17th. The work depicts Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Malia Obama and Sasha Obama and joined by the family dog Bo. The work won rave reviews at the recent Lunenburg Folk Art Festival and will be on view at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia until September 7, 2009. Bradford Naugler is considered one of Canada's most prominent and successful folk artists', with his work exhibited and collected in both North America and Europe.

Drug Raid

A 38-year old Petite Riviere woman is looking at an October court date on drug charges after a police search of her home. Members of the Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit went into the Italy Cross Road home yesterday. Police say they seized a quantity of Marihuana Plants, Ecstasy and prescription medication in the raid. Bridgewater police, RCMP and a dog unit were there with a warrant under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Hospital Pickets

Picket lines will be up at South Shore Regional Hospital Friday. They'll be manning the lines from 6:30 to 9 a.m. to highlight the challenges CUPE local 1933 is facing in provincial bargaining talks. One of the health workers who will be on the line says they're hoping to avert a strike by informing the public and members about what's going on at the table around acute care bargaining. The picket lines will be at the entrance and exit of the hospital property on Glen Allan and Nafthal Drive. The Union's lead negotiator Wayne Thomas will also be taking part in the picket tomorrow morning.

Blacktop Topup

Four different roads in Lunenburg County on the list of road improvements announced yesterday by the province. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Bill Estabrooks says the department is determined to keep the road builders of Nova Scotia busy by getting these jobs into their hands during the current construction season. The seven projects have an estimated value of almost 12-million dollars, and include paving, repaving and other road improvements. All seven projects are scheduled for completion before the end of 2009. Among the tenders is 7.8 kilometres of repaving on four different roads in Lunenburg County.