Track and Field: McIntosh Fourth After Day One Heptathlon

Rachael McIntosh

Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh is off to a good start in the heptathlon at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Calgary. McIntosh sits fourth overall out of 13 competitors after accumulating 3,199 points Wednesday through four of seven events. Among her results were a fifth place finish in the 100 metre hurdles, fifth in high jump, fourth in shot put and fifth in the 200 metre sprint. She rounds out her competition Thursday with the long jump, javelin and 800 metre events.

Osprey Ridge Golfer Wins Junior Tournament

Ryan Nowe

It's the perfect start to the golf season for Ryan Nowe. The Dayspring native fought back nerves after holding the 18 hole lead to shoot a 3-under 69, good enough for a two day total of 2-under 142 and a six stroke victory at the 2012 East Coast Junior Boys Championships in Bouctouche, New Brunswick. The 16-year-old credits his short game for the win.



Nowe had five birdies, including three in a row on the back nine along with two bogeys. The Osprey Ridge member says the win gives him a lot of confidence for the rest of the year. Next up for Nowe will be provincials, to see if he can qualify for the Canadian Junior Boys Championships being held at Osprey Ridge July 30 to August 3. 

Pennies For Protection: Campaign Hits Final Stretch

It's down to the home stretch in the 'Pennies for Protection' competition. Fourteen fire departments from across the province, including 10 along the South Shore are collecting the coin to raise money for volunteer departments. The one that collects the most pennies will be named 'King Penny 2012.' Deputy Chief of the Liverpool Fire Department, David Payzant, says there's more to it than just winning the competition.




Port Medway Fire Department has at least 75 pounds of pennies while as of Monday, Port Williams had 104 pounds. Payzant says they don't have a tally on their pennies yet.



Officials with each department are expected to bring their coin to Liverpool for a weigh-in Saturday from 1am until 1pm. A ceremony to announce the 'King Penny 2012' will be held right after.

South Shore: Officials Concerned For RDA

 

A letter from municipal leaders on the South Shore is now in the hands of the Nova Scotia government. They are hoping the Lunenburg Queens RDA will get a break when the province begins to review the funding model for regional development agency's. Each council wants the local RDA to be exempt from the review due to the stress created by the closure of the Bowater Mersey paper mill. Executive Director of Regional Planning Development for the province, Holly Boston, says the government is not prepared to comment on the request.




Boston says the government needs to look at the model due to a loss of $2 million dollars in core funding through  the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.



The review has not yet started but Boston says they'll look at meeting with stakeholders in the near future. Core funding from ACOA will cease as May 21, 2013.

South Shore Athletes Compete At Track and Field Trials

Olympic dreams come to the forefront Wednesday as South Shore athletes begin their trek to the London Games. The Canadian Track and Field Championships open in Calgary. Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh opens things up in the heptathlon. She will compete in the 100 metre hurdles, high jump, shotput and 200 metres Wednesday evening, with three other events planned for Thursday. Meanwhile, another Bridgewater native, Jenna Martin opens defense of her Canadian title Thursday in the women's 400 metre semi-final. She is also entered in the 200 metre event Saturday. Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen will compete in the women's javelin and shotput, held Friday and Saturday.

MODL: Construction On The Rise

It's a sign of increased construction activity in the District of Lunenburg. Building applications and permits are on the rise from last year, along with $1.4-million in increased value. CAO Tammy Wilson says things are looking good for the municipality.




The District has received 154 building applications so far this year, compared to 132 last year. They have also issued 151 building permits so far in 2012, opposed to 133 at this point in 2011. This year's construction is already valued at more than $8.8-million.

Osprey Ridge Golfer Leads New Brunswick Event

A Dayspring golfer is leading the pack heading into the final round of the East Coast Junior Championship in Bouctouche, New Brunswick. Ryan Nowe of Osprey Ridge fired a +1 over 73, good enough for a one shot lead over Justin Shanks of Sussex. Nowe's round included a -2 under front nine and a +3 over back nine. The 16-year-old tees off at 1:48 in this afternoon's final round against 74 other golfers.

UPDATED: Leopold Given Seven Years In Jail

A Liverpool man convicted of manslaughter has been sentenced to seven years in prison for killing his fiancee Laura Lee Robertson. A provincial Supreme Court jury found James Leroy Leopold guilty of the charge last month in Bridgewater. In handing down his sentence, Judge Kevin Coady awarded Leopold credit for time already served in jail (one year). Leopold will also have to provide a DNA sample and is prohibited from owning a firearm for the rest of his life. Crown attorney Leigh-Ann Bryson says she is pleased with the sentence.



Leopold told police in a videotaped interview that he hit Robertson because she bit him during a drunken sex act at their apartment in Liverpool on April 13, 2011, and killed her. He said he struck Robertson once in the neck while in bed. He later told police he wrapped Robertson's body in a blanket and took it to the woods near Greenfield. Leopold led police to her remains two weeks later buried under sticks and tires. During an interview with reporters today in Bridgewater, her son, Tim thanked the Queens RCMP detachment and residents of Liverpool for their support.



In March, Leopold offered to enter a guilty plea to manslaughter, however, Crown prosecutors rejected the deal and proceeded to trial on a second degree murder charge.

BREAKING: Leopold Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison

James Leroy Leopold has been sentenced to seven years in jail for manslaughter in the death of  Laura Lee Robertson. The judge handed down the verdict this morning in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Bridgewater. More details to come.

South Shore Man Faces Sexual Assault Charges

An elderly South Shore man is facing sexual assault charges.  The five counts date back 40 years and two females are alledged to have been assaulted by the suspect between 1972 and 1979. 

82 year old Laurie Basil Wentzell of Lower Branch returns to court August 1st to enter pleas to the charges.