Oh Deer

Deer hunting season in Nova Scotia opens  on
Friday, Oct. 28th and runs through till Saturday, Dec.3rd.   Hunting is NOT permitted on Sundays. Natural Resources minister Charlie Parker says hunting is a popular sport, a means to obtain an inexpensive food source, and a way to help manage the wildlife population He reminds hunters to be familiar with hunting regulations and always wear hunter's orange in the woods. There are 12 deer hunting zones. Hunters applying for a licence should review the zones carefully to make sure they get a deer stamp for the zone they want.

Move Over Information Checkpoints

Information checkpoints are being set up this afternoon from 3 to 6 p.m. on Highway 103 in Chester Basin. There will be two checkpoints taking place - one in the east-bound lanes and one in the west-bound lanes - on the divided portion of Highway 103 near Exit 9. Members of the RCMP along with Emergency Health Services, Vehicle Compliance officers, and members of the local Fire Department will be passing out literature to remind motorists about "Move Over" legislation. Motorist are required to reduce speeds to 60 km/h when passing an emergency vehicle stopped at the side of the road with its emergency lights on.

Tall Ships to Return

Lunenburg will be a port of call for the Tall Ships that are returning to Nova Scotia next summer. The ships will arrive in Halifax July 19th to the 23rd and visit outports across the province July 24th to the 30th. Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Percy Paris announced the provincial commitment of 780 thousand dollars for the event.  The provincial contribution will fund the cost to bring the ships here and attract more visitors to the province. Along with Lunenburg the ships will also visit Shelburne, Yarmouth, Pictou Pugwash, Port Hawkesbury, Louisbourg and Sydney.
        The event is part of the Tall Ships Challenge - Atlantic Coast 2012 Race, organized by Tall Ships America. The ships will start in Savannah, Ga. and sail up the U.S. eastern seaboard, stopping in Charleston, S.C., Greenport, N.Y., and Newport, R.I.  The event will also include a special historical piece that will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.  Theodore Tugboat is playing a big role in the Tall Ships event. He is headed to the United States for the winter and bringing the Tall Ships back to Nova Scotia next summer.

Heritage Property Designation

The Old Stone Bridge on Victoria Street , Chester is one step closer to being designated a Heritage Property.  The Municipality of Chester has agreed to enter into a partnership with the provincial Departments of Communities, Culture and Heritage, and Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal to both designate and maintain the  property.  MLA for the area, Denise Peterson-Rafuse brought forward the proposal at a previous council meeting. Once the application for provincial heritage registration is accepted, the province's Advisory Council on Heritage Property will review the submission and assess if the Old Stone Bridge has provincial heritage value. A recommendation will then be forwarded to the Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage who has final sign-off on the provincial heritage designation.

Mustangs' Nickerson selected for Canadian Youth Olympic hockey team

Brendan Nickerson during NHLPA Camp in August

A member of the South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs has made the Canadian Youth Olympic hockey team. Defenceman Brendan Nickerson received the nod from Hockey Canada as the lone player from Nova Scotia to be named to the squad. Mustangs Head Coach Tim Boyce says the organization is proud of Nickerson's accomplishment.

"It's great for Brendan, he's a great kid and very deserving of the honour. He's been fast-tracked quite a bit over the last few years in his hockey career. He's a special young talent, he's very skilled for his age and he's got great size."

The team is for hockey players born in 1996. The 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games will be held from January 13-22 in Innsbruck, Austria.

NDP Topp enjoying leadership race

NDP Leadership Candidate Brian Topp

Federal NDP leadership candidate Brian Topp stopped in Bridgewater earlier this week for a meet and greet with the general public. Topp says he's enjoying the leadership race.

"A number of very good candidates are in the race. They're all colleagues of mine, we're all on the same team and when this is over, we'll all be working together. But, I think a job, is to outline your own vision, your own background, answer questions as best you can and the members will decide."

Topp is running against five other party members including Deputy Leader Thomas Mulcair, Quebec MP Romeo Saganash and Ontario MP Paul Dewar. The party will choose its new leader at a convention in Toronto in March.

Wigg, Noseworthy no longer with Lumberjacks

Andrew Wigg



Tyler Noseworthy



The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks are looking to trade forwards Tyler Noseworthy and Andrew Wigg. The two players have approached Head Coach Terry Rhindress about being traded to clubs, they feel, are contenders. Rhindress says its part of the business.



"I think they're not happy with the teams direction right now. I think they thought we were going to have more veterans back than we did, so, I think they're just looking to finish it out on a more contender team."

Rhindress says he's actively trying to trade the two players, but can't divulge what teams are involved. The Lumberjacks host Truro Friday night at 7pm at the Bridgewater Memorial Arena.