In Review: New School Board Elected

It was a fresh start for the local school board as seven new faces and one long-time member were elected in October. The new members took over the reins from Judith Sullivan-Corney, who was brought in by the education minister after the previous board was fired late in 2011. The local board endured a busy first eight weeks with some hot-button issues including financially settling with a former teacher and adjusting to their new roles. Chair Jennifer Naugler says she's pleased with how the board has reacted.



She says every day is a new challenge and expects 2013 to be busy with school review and budget time approaching quickly in the new year.

In Review: Fresh Start For White Point

From ashes to opening; it's been an emotional year for officials at White Point. The new main lodge reopened last month, just under a year after fire destroyed the historic building. The lodge features more windows for better views of the ocean, more open spaces, higher ceilings and a beachstone fireplace. General Manager Danny Morton says he's still getting used to the new property.



Morton says roughly 125 workers have been hired back since the new lodge opened. The total cost to rebuild is believed to be around $7-million.

A Messy, Windy Day Ahead

A storm that caused weather troubles in the US over Christmas is rolling across the Maritimes today. Its bringing heavy snow for New Brunswick and ice pellets, snow, rain and high winds to this province. Here on the South Shore, the wind could top 100 kilometers an hour this evening before it peters out over night. Police forces in the area advise all motorists to slow down on the highways. As the temperature hovers around the freezing point, the snow falling this morning (ahead of rain this afternoon) is making the roads dangerous.

In Review: Teen Confinement Case Rocks South Shore

When you re-examine 2012, the one news story that stands out as representing a dark moment in our history came to light in late September.  That's when a teenage boy suddenly showed up on an elderly woman's doorstep in Upper Chelsea pleading for help. The 16- year-old claimed he'd been held captive in chains for days and sexually assaulted in a neighbouring home. The RCMP issued a Canada-wide warrant for the arrests of two suspects. One of them, 31-year-old Wayne Allan Cunningham was found dead a week later, along a woods road in Northern Ontario. The other suspect, 47-year-old David James Leblanc, was apprehended in the same area two days later. The incident raised fears among Lunenburg County residents that "big-city" type incidents had finally found their way to the area. District of Lunenburg Mayor Don Downe tried to ease everyone's concerns.



Since early October, Leblanc has been in and out of court in Bridgewater. He's facing seven charges, including sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, forcible confinement and kidnapping. Leblanc is back in court January 16th when dates will be set for a preliminary hearing. Another man, 63-year-old Leonard McKean of Lower Sackville, has also been charged in the case. He's out on bail and is back in Bridgewater court January 23rd.

Junior Curling Championship Kicks Off

The road to the "Canadian Junior Curling Championship" goes through the South Shore starting today. The Chester Curling club will be hosting the "AMJ-Campbell Junior Provincials".
Eight girls' teams will battle for the title including Mary Fay of the host club and Bridgewater's Raquel Bachman.  The one local boys crew is Trevor Crouse of Bridgewater.  The event gets rolling at 4 o'clock this afternoon. Four more draws hit the ice tomorrow morning starting at 8 o'clock. The championship trophies will be handed out on New Year's Eve. Winners will represent the province at the "M & M Canadian Juniors" in Fort McMurray, Alberta in February.