Hantsport Paper Mill To Close Next Month

It's another blow to the sturggling pulp and paper industry in Nova Scotia. The mill in Hantsport will close next month throw 135 workers out of a job, saying it is succumbing to the same competitive pressures that plague most plants in the industry. A letter to employees posted on the website of Minas Basin Pulp and Power Company says it hoped a restructuring of operations last year and changes to pricing would make the Hantsport plant sustainable. But the company says challenges in the marketplace, competition from plants using newer and more efficient technology, and rising operational costs are too difficult to overcome. It says 135 people will lose their jobs, though upwards of 40 employees will be moved to other companies within Scotia Investments, an investment holding company. The news comes a little more than a month after the former NewPage Port Hawkesbury paper mill in Point Tupper resumed operations after a year-long closure.

Tories Will Nominate Pickings In Lunenburg Riding

 The Tories are set to nominate an native of Upper LaHave in the riding of Lunenburg. Progressive Conservatives will officially select Brian Pickings as the party's candidate for the South Shore riding at an event Friday night. Pickings owns and operates his own carpentry business. He began his small business in 2008 after spending several years working out West. Leader Jamie Baillie will join Pickings at the nomination meeting at the Lunenburg Legion. It starts at 7 o'clock.

Helmet's Now Mandatory For Ski'ers/Snowboarders

Helmets are now mandatory for downhill ski'ers and snowboarders in Nova Scotia. The new law comes into effect today and carries a stiff fine for those caught not wearing the protective head-gear. The all-ages mandatory snow sport helmet law states that only A-S-T-M, Snell, C-S-A or C-E-N approved helmets can be worn. People age 16 or older are responsible for wearing an approved helmet, parents are responsible for those younger than 16.  Those caught without a helmet can face a minimum fine of 250-dollars.

Clocks Fall Back One Hour This Weekend

We've sprung forward, now it's time to fall back. Local residents are reminded to turn their clocks back this weekend. Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend so it's time to set your clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday or before going to bed Saturday night. Residents are also encouraged to change the batteries in smoke detectors and check the charge in fire extinguishers.

Search Continues For "Bounty" Captain

The search for the captain of HMS Bounty that sank off the U.S. coast earlier this week during Hurricane Sandy is in its fourth day. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class David Weydert says a cutter and a C-130 aircraft are still looking for 63-year-old Robin Walbridge. HMS Bounty went down Monday morning after it began taking on water off North Carolina. The crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats, and the Coast Guard rescued 14 crew members. However, 42 year-old Claudene Christian died. The ship was built in Lunenburg in 1960 for the 1962 movie, "Mutiny on the Bounty'' and was featured in several other films including "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest", starring Johnny Depp and "Treasure Island".

Caledonia Man Sentenced For His Part in Lunenburg Academy B&E

 The last of 3 men has been sentenced for breaking into Lunenburg Academy almost 2 years ago and stealing thousands of dollars worth of electronics. 21 year old Nicholas Clifford Feener of Caledonia was in Bridgewater court yesterday and was handed a 15 month conditional sentence and placed on house arrest. Two of his friends, Michael Dean Savory and Christopher Terrence O'Toole were earlier convicted in the case. Savory was sentenced to 9 months conditional and 4 months house arrest. O'Toole received a 1 year conditional sentence and 4 months house arrest.