Lunenburg: Collaborative Emergency Centre Announced

Residents of Lunenburg will have greater access to various health care providers with the creation of a new Collaborative Emergency Centre at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital. It will be the seventh emergency centre established in the province and will provide faster access to doctors and nurses. Health Minister Dave Wilson says it will help to address issues of long waits and overcrowding. However, it's not known when the centre will officially be open to the public. Wilson says more exploratory work is needed regarding staffing and infrastructure.



Wilson says the new centre will also reduce the stress of emergency room closure rates at Fishermen's Memorial. South Shore Health is currently working with officials at the Department of Health and Wellness to develop the best possible model to meet the community's needs. Nova Scotia's first Collaborative Emergency Centre opened in Parrsboro in July 2011. There are now CECs in Pugwash, Tatamagouche, Annapolis Royal, Musquodoboit Harbour, and Springhill.

School Board Faces $47,000 Bill For Judicial Review

The South Shore Regional School Board is footing the bill for a judicial review with an ex-elementary school teacher. The board will have to find $47,000 in this year's budget associated with trying to keep Peter Speight out of the classroom. Director of Finance, Wade Tattrie, says its unbudgeted money.



Tattrie says it's highly unlikely they will be forced to cut a teaching position. The Department of Education will cover the school board's legal and arbitration fees of $116,000.

Schools Lower Flags To Respect Connecticut Victims

Flags are at half-mast today at South Shore Schools to show respect for those who lost their lives in the tragic shooting late last week in Connecticut. Twenty children and six adults were killed Friday when a gunman entered the Newtown school and opened fire. School Board Communications Manager, Trish Smith, says it's important for them to show respect.




Smith says the board has also encouraged staff and parents to speak with kids who have questions about violent events. More details can be found here . The premier has called the event a "shocking and unthinkable act."

Bridgewater Police Getting New Radio System

Bridgewater Police are getting a more modern radio system. Town council has given a green light to a proposal and pre-approved over $37,000 for the resource. The radio equipment was used for a one-month period during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Chief John Collyer says it works out well for the police service.


Thirty-thousand dollars will come from reserve while just over $7,600 will be provided from the 2013-14 budget. The police service's current radio system has been in use since 1993.

Teams Advance To NS Women's Curling Championship

Six women's curling teams advanced to the Provincial Scotties at a qualifier in Sydney over the weekend. Those earning berths include defending champ Heather Smith Dacey of Mayflower and clubmate Mary Anne Arsenault. Bridgewater's Nancy McConnery was ousted after posting a 1-3 record. The final two spots will be decided in Port Hawksbury early next month. The Scotties will be staged in Halifax at the end of January

Western Hurricanes Win One/Tie Another

The BMO Western Hurricanes travelled to Cape Breton over the weekend. The team won Saturdays game 4-3. Keith Getson, Matt Barron, Logan Walters and Cameron Jacquard all scoring singles. Sundays game was a 4-4 tie. Keith Getson scored all 4 goals for the Hurricanes. The team now plays Dartmouth in Liverpool this coming Saturday at 6pm and Sunday at 11am.

Parkview Boys Win/Girls Split Hockey Games

In boys high school hockey action, Park View defeated the Avon View Avalanche 6-2. Nathaniel Beck and Fabien Sund had 2 goals each. Jake Wile was the winning goalie.

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The Park View Lady Panthers hockey team split a home and away series against the Horton Griffins over the weekend. Park View won in Canning on Friday evening 2-1. Scoring for Park View were Robin Knickle and Martha Jenkins. Savannah Cruikshank scored for Horton. Horton won by the same 2-1 score Sunday night in Bridgewater. Giselle Rudderham and Mariah Carey scored the Horton goals. Robin Knickle scored for Park View.

"Jacks" Lose Another

In MHL action in Summerside Sunday afternoon, the Western Capitals doubled the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks 4-2. Mitchell Hennebury & Michael Crawley scored for the Jacks who've now lost eleven in a row. Despite the long losing skid, there were positive signs over the weekend for the locals as they kept things close against three of the league's top clubs and earned a point in a shootout loss in Truro on Saturday.

Yarmouth Consolidated To Officially Open

A new school will be unveiled in Yarmouth this afternoon. Education Minister Ramona Jennex will be on-hand with staff and students at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School to mark the occasion. Students started classes in September, but today's ceremony will officially open the facility. It gets underway at 2pm in the school's gym.