40th Boston Christmas Tree to be Cut

Ken and Donna Spinney of Central Argyle, Yarmouth County, are this year's donors of Nova Scotia's big Christmas tree gift to Boston.
A 45foot white spruce will be cut at the Spinney property during a public ceremony November 15.
The tree-cutting ceremony will include students from three Yarmouth County elementary schools, a town crier declaration and a storytelling and poetry presentation about the Boston tree. Provincial and municipal government representatives and RCMP, in ceremonial red serge, will attend. The truck will leave after being loaded to board the ferry at Digby. After it crosses the Bay of Fundy, it will continue through New Brunswick and the U.S. to Massachusetts. Elementary students and all Nova Scotians will be able to track the truck's progress online through website updates.
         Each year since 1971, Nova Scotia has sent Boston a large Christmas tree in gratitude for help Bostonians provided after the devastating Halifax Explosion of December 6, 1917. Boston provided medical personnel and supplies to help treat explosion victims. The Nova Scotia tree is decorated on the Boston Common and lighted at a ceremony attracting about 30,000 people and broadcast live on television. To learn more about the Yarmouth County tree cutting ceremony, visit http://www.gov.ns.ca/ .

Bridgewater MD Reprimanded

Bridgewater doctor, Anthony Atkinson has been reprimanded by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia. Atkinson, who has a history of drinking problems has been ordered to abstain from drinking alcohol, be tested for alcohol and get treatment. He denies being drunk while practicing medicine or on call. Communications Director Theresa Hawkesworth says Atkinson was suspended last July pending the results of an internal investigation and resigned his privileges on July 30th before the investigation was complete. She says Dr. Atkinson has not worked within South Shore Health since that time. In a released statement, the College said Atkinson had been repeatedly warned about his use of alcohol because of the risk presented to his practice.

Bowater Mersey Mill closing for one week

The Bowater Mersey Paper mill in Brooklyn is shutting down for one week later this month. The company is examining the mill's future and is expected to close from November 14-21, mainly due to market conditions. The director of public affairs with Abitibi Bowater, Pierre Choquette, says the Brooklyn Mill needs to address issues including power rates and labour costs. Choquette says the company is also in talks for another closure from December 19 until January 2, 2012, but the dates are tentative because no decision has been made.

Petite Riviere Elementary turns 50

Petite Riviere Elementary is celebrating the 50th anniversary of opening its doors. The school will celebrate the past and present during a celebration Tuesday night. Former principal and teacher at Petite Riviere, Janet Baxter, says the community helped her through each position.

"It was a huge growing experience for me to move from classroom teacher to prinicipal, but I was supported by both staff and community members and students and so, again, it was a very positive experience."

Baxter adds the community is behind the school, despite having less than 100 students. The 50th anniversary celebrations kick off Tuesday night at 6:30 until 8 at the school.

One dead, another injured after collision in Conquerall Mills

One person is dead and another in hospital after a car struck a power pole Monday night in Conquerall Mills. A 21-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene while a 19-year-old man was seriously injured and is in stable condition at South Shore Regional. The collision forced a road closure and caused a power outage for several hours in the Conquerall Mills area. Lunenburg County RCMP are investigating the cause of the collision but believe speed was a factor.

Leopold jailed four months for assaulting ex-girlfriend

A Liverpool man has been sentenced to four months in jail for assaulting a former girlfriend by sitting on her and cutting off her air supply. James Leroy Leopold already had a previous conviction for assaulting and threatening another former girlfriend. The 32-year-old Leopold was sentenced in Bridgewater provincial court Monday after pleading guilty to assaulting Debbie Lohnes when she broke up with him in June 2010. The court was told that as Leopold sat on Lohnes's stomach and she struggled to breathe, he threatened to kill himself. Leopold has a criminal record that includes assaulting another former girlfriend in 2006 and two counts of threatening her last year.