VIDEO: Conservancy Group Acquires Sandy Bay Land

Photo Courtesy of Mike Dembeck

Three families have come together to donate a parcel of land to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The Worrall, Van Loon and Carver families of Sandy Bay have donated 171-acres of beach, wetland and forest along the South Shore's coastline. A daughter for one of the families, Deborah Carver, says each family bought the land in order to protect it.



Carver says the three families owned the land since 1971. A regional vice-president with the group, Linda Stephenson, says the beach and nearby wetlands provide habitat for the endangered piping plover and other shorebirds. The Nature Conservancy of Canada spent over $500,000 for the land with financial help from the federal and provincial governments and private donors.

Local Champion Log-Roller Flattens The Competition

Champion South Shore log roller, Darren Hudson of Barrington, has won his 6th World Log-Rolling Championship in Hayward, Wisconsin. Hudson competed at the Lumberjack World Championships held over three days this past weekend, winning all 3 of his matches which took him to the finals. He rolled long-time competitor, J.R. Salzman, in a 3-1 match to take home the title. Hudson is the nephew of 9 time World Log-rolling Champion, Phil Scott. Also competing at the weekend championships was Hudson's cousin Marcel Scott. He took home 2nd place in the Boom-Run Championships and placed 7th in Log-rolling.

RCMP Search For Those Involved In Home Invasion

RCMP have one man in custody and are looking for three others after a home invasion over the weekend. In a release, police say four individuals forced their way into a home in Lunenburg County shortly after 4 o'clock on Saturday morning. The suspects allegedly used bear spray and baseball bats to attack those inside the home. Police say the victims are known to each other and the incident is not considered random. Two men were taken to hospital in Bridgewater, treated and released.

DNR: Province-Wide Fire Ban Still In Effect

Photo from DNR Website

A ban on all open fires continues to be in effect across Nova Scotia. Most of the province including the South Shore is considered a low threat for wildfires, with other areas marked moderate or high. An official with the Department of Natural Resources says an update on the ban could come later this week. A province-wide ban went into effect July 12.

Norman Bows Out Of Queens Mayor Race

She was considered a front-runner in the race for mayor in the District of Queens in this fall's municipal elections. However, District 1 councillor Darlene Norman has withdrawn. She tells us she wants to continue her work with the group "Friends of Port Mouton Bay". Norman also says her family life could soon change dramatically with her husband working out of province. She says she's just as happy to re-offer for councillor.



Norman has been a councillor for district 1 for 12 years.  The mayors race now has four people including Christopher Clarke, David Dagley, Owen Hamlin and Mervin Hartlen.

McNeil: Ferry Link 'No-Brainer' For The Province

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil says a ferry service is needed sooner rather than later. McNeil recently met with residents and politicians in Yarmouth and heard renewed calls for a ferry link between the community and Maine. Municipal governments completed a transportation study recently on western Nova Scotia. He says recommendations include a ferry service be seasonal rather than year long.




The premier has said the ferry needs to be viable and sustainable over the long term in order to run again. An independent panel studying the viability of a ferry service is expected to release a report sometime this fall.

Porn Charges Laid In Lunenburg County

A 62 year old Lunenburg County man is facing charges of accessing and possessing child pornography. The charges were laid after RCMP officers carried out a search warrant last week at a home in Lilydale. The man was later released on numerous conditions including he stay within the province and not possess any form of pornography.  He's also prohibited from being in the presence of anyone under the age of 18, unless they are with a parent or guardian.  The accused, whose name hasn't been released, is due to appear in Bridgewater court on December 19th.

Top Canadian Junior Golfers Tee Off At Osprey Ridge

One hundred and fifty-six golfers are embarking on Osprey Ridge for the start of the Canadian Junior Boys Golf Championship. A practice round will be held Monday for all golfers before the first day of competition gets underway Tuesday. Four Osprey Ridge golfers are in the field including Ryan Nowe, Matt Gallupe, Liam Fullerton and Matt Flinn. Director of Golf at Osprey Ridge, Jared Lohnes, believes one of the four locals could walk away with the title.



Last year's champion Kevin Kwon of B.C. is also in the field to defend his title. A full schedule of events is listed below.


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Tuesday, July 31


7:30 am – 9:42 am/12:30 pm - 2:42 pm         Round 1 (156 players) - #1 & #10 tees

Wednesday, August 1

7:30 am – 9:42 am/12:30 pm – 2:42 pm        Round 2 (156 players) - #1 & #10 tees

Thursday, August 2


7:30 am – 9:42 am                                          Round 3 (low 70 and ties) - #1 & #10 tees     

Friday, August 3


7:30 am - 9:42 am                                          Final Round (low 70 and ties) - #1 & #10 tees
3:30 pm (time approximate)                           Awards Ceremony for individual and team competitions