N.S. Senator Dickson passes away at 74

Fred Dickson, left, with Gerald Keddy, right, at an announcement in Chester in January 2011

The MP for South Shore-St. Margaret's says the province lost a great man Thursday in Fred Dickson. The Nova Scotia Senator passed away early Thursday morning after a four-year fight with colon cancer. He was 74. Gerald Keddy says Dickson played a key role in provincial and federal projects including Nova Scotia's oil and gas agreements with Ottawa in the early 1980s. Keddy says Dickson was well known on the South Shore, particularly for his involvement with Chester Race Week. He adds, Dickson was well-respected by his peers.

"I can tell you, in caucus, Fred was one of those guys that when he had something to say, he said it and everyone listened. A real asset and a great advocate right to the end for Nova Scotia."

Dickson was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in late 2008. He is survived by his wife Kay, children Kathryn, Ian and Colin and many grandchildren.

Tankard: Stevens falls in Draw Four

A steal of two in the eighth and one in the ninth gave Jamie Murphy's rink enough to upend Chester's Chad Stevens in draw four of the Molson Tankard. Sitting tied at five after six ends, Murphy managed to score one in the seventh before stealing the final two ends for a 9-5 win. The win moves Murphy to 3-1 and in a first-place tie with Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc and Mark Dacey. Stevens is in a fourth place tie with Kent Smith and Peter Burgess. The Chester squad looks to rebound against Dacey in draw 5 Thursday night at 7pm at the Bridgewater Curling club.

Standings


Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc 3-1

Jamie Murphy 3-1

Mark Dacey 3-1

Chad Stevens 2-2

Kent Smith 2-2

Peter Burgess 2-2

Brent MacDougall 1-3

Ian Juurlink 0-4

Chester, Bridgewater Mayors react to Census

The town of Bridgewater's population grew by 297 people from 2006 to 2011. The latest census figures, released Wednesday, indicate Bridgewater had a 3.7 percent spike. Mayor Carroll Publicover says its important for the town to keep growing.

"That's our sole source of income. When communities don't grow, when their assessment base doesn't grow, then you are facing a reduced revenue base on which to provide services. So, if we want to expand our services and offer more to our residents, growth is really important."

In Chester, the communities population decreased by 142 people over the last five years. Warden Allen Webber says lack of jobs, an aging population and the draw to move out West are all significant factors.

"We just aren't creating enough jobs here. Hopefully in the future, we can address that issue because that's what it takes to keep people here, that's what it takes to bring people here. I just don't think we're doing a good enough job of that and on the immigration front, of course, we're falling short.

Webber says Chester's population has remained pretty stable over the past 10 years with no sharp increases or decreases in population. He notes the community will soon see some benefits from the province's ship building contract. Elsewhere on the South Shore, the town of Lunenburg lost four residents from 2006 to 2011.

Final Joint Services Meeting held in Petite Riviere

The last public meeting exploring joint services between the towns of Mahone Bay, Bridgewater and the Municipality of Lunenburg goes Thursday night in Petite Riviere. After this evening's meeting, the issue will go back to each of the respective councils for members to decide on the report's recommendations. Each council is expected to make a decision over the next few weeks. Thursday night's meeting gets underway at 7pm at the Petite Riviere Fire Hall.

Tankard: Stevens rink in first-place tie after draw 3

Chester's Chad Stevens has jumped to the top of the leaderboard after draw 3 of the Molson Tankard. Stevens' rink dumped Peter Burgess 8-3 Thursday morning to move to 2-1 and a first place tie with Mark Dacey, Kent Smith, Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc and Jamie Murphy. The Chester club will take on Murphy in the next draw, which gets started at 2pm at the Bridgewater Curling Club.

Standings


Chad Stevens 2-1

Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc 2-1

Jamie Murphy 2-1

Kent Smith 2-1

Mark Dacey 2-1

Brent MacDougall 1-2

Peter Burgess 1-2

Ian Juurlink 0-3

Cats found in Abandoned Rockland home

Up to 30 cats have been found at an abandoned house in an area just outside Lockeport. Members of the Beulah Burman Memorial Animal Shelter were notified recently about the problem in Rockland. Shelter Director Shelly Hipson says a situation like dumping pets isn't out of the ordinary.

"It's an easy way to get rid of a problem. They don't get their cats spayed or neutered, so often they end up with batches of kittens and they're unable to find homes and this is what is seen as an easy solution is to dump them by roadside or at wharfs or in this instance, an abandoned home."

Hipson adds, some of the cats look fine while others need medical attention.

"One has so much infection and frostbite in its ears that they weren't recognizable when we brought him in. We've taken him to the vet and they have been flushed but he was too thin to actually be put under to do the proper surgery, so were just waiting to heal him a bit. Another cat as well, we're looking at an eye removal, there's just so much infection."

Hipson says they are hoping people will adopt the cats and help make a difference. She is also part of group called Pet Projects, which is hoping to raise money to have all the cats spayed or neutered, as well as other surgeries. Donations can be mailed to PET Projects PO Box 267 Shelburne, NS BOT 1W0 or go online to www.petprojects.ca/ . You can also contact Shelly Hipson to see how you can help at (902) 875-2367.