Operation Christmas Launched

Queens MLA Vicki Conrad on hand Thursday to help launch Operation Christmas. Checkpoints targeting impaired drivers were set up in Truro to signify the start of the province-wide initiative. Operation Christmas is an annual campaign to reduce impaired driving. Conrad says the days of having a couple of drinks and getting behind the wheel are long gone The province, in partnership with law enforcement across Nova Scotia are sending a clear message that if you drink and drive, there are serious consequences. Impaired driving is one of the leading contributing factors in fatal collisions in Nova Scotia.

Public Input Sought on Wind Energy By-law

The Municipality of Shelburne will be holding a public meeting December 2nd to present to residents a draft policy and bylaw for the regulation of wind turbines. Residents are encouraged to attend the session from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Jordan Falls IOOF Hall and provide feedback on the draft documents.  Detailed mapping of wind resources in the District  and a series of public consultations  took place over the summer months. The Municipality of the District of Shelburne is continuing work on a wind energy development plan, in partnership with the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.

Chester Reduces Septage Waste Costs

The Municipality of Chester is reducing the cost for accepting septage waste from 30 to 22 dollars per ton. Warden Alan Webber says the price had been increased to cover the costs of compliance with new regulations coming into effect in January. There was some discussion on the merit of reducing the charge or not providing the service. By reducing the charge the Municipality could at least recoup some lost revenue. Webber also says there are some capacity issues with the  Municipality's dewatering truck. It works great for the sewer treatment plants but doesn't work well at the landfill, processing all the sewage that comes in from all over the Municiaplity. The reduction in septage costs will remain in effect until March 31st of next year.

United Way of Lunenburg County

They're lean and mean and want to put as much money as possible back into the community. That's how Michael Graves described the United Way of-Lunenburg County during a presentation to Chester Council. Graves says since 2006 they've invested a little more than 454 thousand dollars in Lunenburg County organizations with direct benefits to the Municipality of Chester. He says 94 thousand 600 of that investment provided an exclusive benefit only to the residents of Chester.   Graves says if every single working person in Lunenburg County contributed just 15 cents a day the organization would raise over 1.1 million dollars a year. Some of the projects funded by the United Way in the municipality of Chester include P.R.O. Kids, Chester Community Wheels, the New Ross recreation field ,Bonnie Lea Farm and Through the Years Community Community Centre in Hubbards.

TOWN OF BRIDGEWATER WATCHING SPENDING

The province is looking to slash funding to all of its departments in order to balance the budget.

Bridgewater Mayor Carroll Publicover says politicians and residents alike need to be prepared for the fiscal unknown.
He says the Town of Bridgewater has a surplus right now and to help maintain that situation in the future, expenses have to be kept under control and even reduced to do so.
However, the mayor says everything could change in the second quarter.
Premier Darrell Dexter has said current provincial spending is not sustainable and the deficit must be reduced.
The province is facing a shortfall of more than 590 million dollars.

PUBLIC TO HAVE INPUT ON PLANNING FOR NEW SOUTH QUEENS HIGH SCHOOL

South Queens is getting a new school and one small group of South Shore Residents are sure to get some say in the planning process.

The South Shore Regional School Board is establishing a "School Steering Team".
The group, of more than a dozen members, will provide recommendations on school location, layout and design to the Minister of Education.
Peter Howitt of the Department of Education, Barry Butler of the South Shore Regional School Board and Darlene Norman of the the Region of Queens Council are among the chosen members of the group.
Anyone with suggestions for school sites are asked to contact 'Steering School Team' members online at SSRSB-DOT-C-A.