Shelburne County man facing child abduction charge

A Shelburne County man is expected to be in court Friday morning after an alleged domestic dispute with his wife earlier this week.

Colin Lawrence is in custody and facing charges of forcibly abducting his own baby.

Police say a man had taken his 11-day-old baby from the mother without her consent around 4pm Wednesday afternoon.

Police located the man seven hours later, around 11pm on Highway 104 near Oxford, roughly 350 kilometres from Shelburne.

The baby has been returned to her mother.

Lawrence was charged with child abduction and mischief in Bridgewater Provincial Court Thursday afternoon and remanded in custody.

He's scheduled to make a another court appearance at 9:30 Friday morning.

Bay Side Home opening 40 new beds

Premier Darrell Dexter says the opening of 40 new beds at Bay Side Home in Barrington has been talked about for too long.

He says he remembers at least three elections that the beds were promised, and also believes preliminary talks first began in the 1970s.

Dexter says the expansion is a big asset for Shelburne County.

"It's going to supply them with a high quality facility that means that seniors in that area, the loved ones of that part of Shelburne County are going to have a place that they can go and stay near there families."

Dexter calls the Bay Side Home expanision a significant increase, basically tripling its size.

The opening will be held at the Home at 1pm Friday afternoon.

Seatbelt-Exemptions

Nova Scotia's transportation minister says everyone should be required to wear a seatbelt in the province and that exemptions should be ended. Bill Estabrooks says a road action committee is looking at the issue of whether firefighters should be exempted from wearing seatbelts. He says everyone is safer wearing a seatbelt and police and firefighters should be setting a good example to the public.  Couriers, taxi drivers, emergency health-care workers and people with certain medical conditions can get exemptions.

Green CommUnity School Grants

Here's a chance for South Shore area schools to turn green ideas into reality. The World Wildlife Federation is looking for ideals to make schools and communities more environmentally friendly. Schools can win up to five thousand dollars from the WWF Green CommUnity School Grants Program. Funded by Loblaw Companies Limited, the program aims to connect students with nature, help reduce a community's impact on the environment and stimulate environmental leadership. The deadline for applications is October 13th. Winners will be announced in December West Northfield Elementary School was a Spring 2011 recipient. For more information visit herehttp://www.wwf.ca/greengrants

Fire Tax Rates

Fire tax rates for Municipal fire departments will increase slightly for four department and decrease for three.  The rates per 100 dollars of assessment  have been approved by Lunenburg Municipal Council.  Mayor Don Downe says  a number of departments actually increase the fee if they purchase a big piece of equipment and  once the equipment is paid for the  tax is reduced down. Downe says that speaks well of the community fire departments and their sensitivity to the tax issue by residents. Additionally, all fire departments have a rate of point 01 per acre for forestry land assessment class.

Shelburne Baby Safe After 7 Hour Disappearance

    An 11 day old infant is safe and doing well after a harrowing experience yesterday for her family in Shelburne. The baby girl was forcibly removed from her home by her father following a domestic dispute with the new-mother.
    The RCMP were alerted and a 7 hour search was initiated. RCMP Sgt. Brigit Leger says father and baby were spotted late last evening by the Mounties, far from home, in the northern part of the province. Leger says: "Shortly after 11pm last evening (Sep 21), the father and child were found in a vehicle heading west on highway 104 near Oxford. Both were safe and in good health."
    The infant has been returned home and re-united with her mother.
    The father is in RCMP custody but no charges have yet been laid.

Dayspring Doggie Day

We've heard before how man's best friend can often lift the spirits of the sick and elderly at a time when they need a boost. With that in mind, there will be a doggie wellness day a week from this Saturday in Dayspring.    
The "Bluenose Agility and Recreational Canines", also known as "BARC", is partnering with
the Lunenburg County Community Health Board in hosting activities designed to promote healthy living ... with the aid of man's best friend. Its called "Woof For Wellness Day" and kicks off October 1st at 11am and runs till 1:30 at the MARC in Dayspring.   
Everyone's invited to bring their furry friends and all of them must be on a leash.   
The event will happen, rain or shine.

Dismissed Africville Heritage Trust Exec. Has Shelburne Connection

A white Anglican minister, let go from her 3 month old job as executive director of the Africville Heritage Trust in Halifax, has a South Shore connection.   
Rev. Carole Nixon had a posting at Christ Anglican Church in Shelburne a couple of years ago where she served as the parish priest. Nixon was living in Toronto before she applied and approved for the position with the Africville Heritage Trust.   
She says she wasn't given a reason for her termination by the trust board and will be talking to a lawyer about it. Nixon was let go a day after some media outlets reported she had left jobs in Ontario and elsewhere over allegations of inappropriate spending. The chair of the Africville Heritage Trust, Daurene Lewis, says race wasn't an issue in the decision to terminate Nixon.  
Her dismissal follows weeks of angry comments by some members of the Halifax black community who said Nixon's appointment was inappropriate.

South Shore Weather -- Thursday, September 22, 2011

TODAY
Increasing cloud and a chance of showers or drizzle this afternoon. High 21.
(((**UV Index: 4 or moderate**))).

TONIGHT
Cloudy with showers or drizzle and fog spreading inland late this evening. Low 16.

TOMORROW
Mainly cloudy and a chance of showers or drizzle early in the morning. High 21.



THE FIVE DAY FORECAST

Saturday
Cloudy and showers. Low 15. High 18.

Sunday
Cloudy with a chance of showers. Low 15. High 21.

Monday
Cloudy. Low 16. High 21.

Tuesday
Cloudy with a chance of showers. Low 11. High 16.

Wednesday
Cloudy with a chance of showers. Low 11. High 16.



THE TIDES

Low- 10:20am
High- 4:00pm
Low- 10:55pm