School Closures Pegged For Lunenburg, Queens Counties

Four schools are expected to close over the next few years after decisions were handed down from the South Shore Regional School Board. The immediate school to close will be Gold River-Western Shore Elementary, effective September of this year. That means students will attend Chester District Elementary this fall. SAC Chair for Gold River-Western Shore, Sarah Swinamer, says she wishes they could have had one more year for a transition period.



Meanwhile, Pentz and Petite Riviere schools are also pegged to shut down if a new school is built in the area and Mill Village in Queens will close in September 2014, with students transferring to Dr. J.C. Wickwire. Other changes will see students from grades nine at Chester Area Middle School go to to Forest Heights in September 2014. New Ross will be reconfigured to be a primary to grade eight school in 2014, with grade nines also going to Forest Heights. Full details are available below.

New Ross Consolidated

- Motion is to reconfigure New Ross for primary to grade eight with grade nines going to Forest Heights beginning September 2014 is approved by a 6-2 vote (Board Members Griffin and Crossland vote against)

Mill Village Consolidated

- Board approves option 5-2 (Board Members Fougere and Crossland voted against, while Board Member Stevens declares a conflict with child in the school, so she doesn't vote) to close Mill Village and transfer students to Dr. J.C. Wickwire effective September 2014. Also, grade five students at Mill Village be transferred to new South Queens middle school in Liverpool when they enter grade six in 2013, leaving Mill Village reconfigured as a grade primary to grade five school. Board approves by a 6-1 vote. (Board Member Simms voted against)

Gold River- Western Shore Elementary

- Board Members approve motion to close Gold River-Western Shore Elementary in September 2013 by a 5-3 vote  (Board Members Crossland, Griffin, and Stevens voted against). This means students will attend Chester District Elementary in the fall.

Chester Area Middle School

- The board approves a motion that will see students in grades 9 from CAMS attend Forest Heights in September 2014. This means CAMS would be reconfigured to include Grade 6,7,8 with 9-12 going to Forest Heights Community School in September 2014. The motion is approved by a 6-2 vote (Board Members Crossland and Griffin voted against).

Petite Riviere Elementary

- Board votes unanimously to permanently close Petite Riviere Elementary and request a new school be built to replace Petite and Pentz.

Pentz Elementary

- Board members vote unanimously that Pentz Elementary be permanently closed and request a new school to be built to replace Pentz and Petite Riviere Elementary.

Hebbville Academy

- Board members unanimously approve keeping Hebbville Academy open and with current configuration of  primary to grade five and grades six to nine. (Board Chair Naugler removed herself from vote because she has three kids in the school.)

UPDATED: Moore Case Delayed

An impaired driving case involving the death of a nine-year-old girl has been put over until May. Candice Roxanne Moore did not appear in Bridgewater court today but was represented by her lawyer. Moore is facing four charges after an incident January 19th in Pleasantville. Moore was driving when she dropped off her daughter, Olive, at a home. The nine-year-old was struck by the vehicle and later died in hospital. Moore is facing impaired driving cause death charges, refusal to comply with a demand for a breath sample, dangerous driving causing death and criminal negligence causing death. The matter will be back in court May 15.

Case Involving Death Of Young Girl Begins

The court case involving a 30 year-old woman accused of impaired driving causing the death of her young daughter begins in Bridgewater today. Candice Roxanne Moore is facing six charges after an incident January 19th. Moore's nine year-old daughter, Olive, was killed when she was struck by a van after being dropped off at home in Pleasantville. The Mount Pleasant woman was charged nine days after the tragic incident occurred following an investigation by Lunenburg County RCMP. The charges include impaired driving causing death, refusing to provide a breath sample, criminal negligence and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Dog Dealer Wants Court Condition Removed

A recognized canine dealer is challenging a court condition preventing her from selling dogs. Gail Benoit was charged with fraud earlier this month after she allegedly sold two dogs she didn't own. An investigation began after a New Brunswick woman told Bridgewater police her boxers dogs were sold without her permission. The two dogs were sent from Saint John to Halifax to be looked after temporarily. However, a few weeks later the owner claims she found out the dogs were sold. Benoit asked the condition be removed during a court appearance in Bridgewater. She explained selling dogs is her livelihood and felt the condition was unfair. Judge Gregory Lenehan scheduled an April 4th hearing to deal with the matter.

Four People Homeless After Liverpool Area Fire

Four adult members of a South Shore family are homeless as a result of a house fire yesterday near Liverpool. The fire broke out at 66 Shore Road, just outside the town. The two-storey home was extensively damaged. However, the four residents escaped unhurt. The Red Cross is helping with emergency lodging and relatives and friends are assisting by taking in several displaced family pets. There's no word on the cause of the fire.