South Shore: Local Boston Marathon Participants Checking-In

South Shore participants in the Boston Marathon have confirmed they are safe following Monday's tragic incident at the finish line of the historic event. Chester`s Erin Greenwood-Beaudin touched base with our newsroom shortly after the explosions were first reported. Beaudin, resides in Coldbrook and works for the Municipality of Chester. She told our newsroom her husband was right in the middle of the blasts but is okay. Meanwhile, brothers Chris and John Anderson of Lunenburg also confirmed they are safe after finishing the race. A pair of Yarmouth County runners, Marco Albright and Denise Robson checked in with loved ones soon after the blasts. Victor Nickerson of Liverpool also finished the race and escaped any harm.

BREAKING: Nova Scotians Reported Safe In Boston

At least two people are dead and hundreds were injured in two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. A runner from Toronto, one of more than two-thousand Canadians taking part in the race, describes ``really, really bloody'' victims being pulled into the medical tent. Roughly 2,000 Canadians are participating in this year Boston Marathon. CKBW/HANK FM News can report the following Nova Scotians are safe after the explosions in Boston. Please note the list below is made up of those we have heard from via Twitter, Facebook, email, family member, loved one or credible organization. If a name doesn't appear below, the number to call for checking status on family and friends: 617.635.4500

Boston Marathon: Nova Scotia Participants - Confirmed Safe

Wade Keller - Lawrencetown
Wanda Mulrooney - Halifax
Dan MacNeil - Halifax
Lee McCarron - Antigonish
Darren Kaulback - Eastern Passage
Chris Anderson - Lunenburg
John Anderson - Lunenburg
Malcom Pain - Halifax
Dave Holder - Bedford
Cathy Carter - Halifax
Bruce Gallagher - Halifax
Ray Williams - Dartmouth
Marco Albright - Yarmouth
Denise Robson - Yarmouth/Halifax-area
Erin Greenwood-Beaudin - Chester/Coldbrook
Victor Nickerson - Liverpool
Stacy Juckett Chesnutt - Dartmouth
Edie Baxter - Halifax
Brenda (Skinner) MacDonald - Halifax/Lunenburg
Francine Comeau - Beaver Bank
Nicole Gushue - Tusket
Annette M. Love - Halifax
Rami Bardeesy - Halifax
Heather Lee-Callaghan - Timberlea
Doran Donovan - Halifax
Laura Leslie - Halifax
Doreen Redmond - Halifax
Steve Taylor - Middle Sackville
Scott Norton - Bedford
Audrey Norton - Bedford
Clint Cummings - Halifax
Nick Tentomas - Halifax
Frank Reinhardt - Ketch Harbour
Mike Hennessey - Truro
Dan McDougall - Truro
Ian Johnstone - Truro
Jody Mattie - Truro
Victoria Jollimore - Halifax (not running)
Barry Morsehead - Halifax
Clint Cummings - Halifax
Bettina Bentley - Halifax
Dean Simon - Antigonish
Ethan Michaels - Halifax
Mike Fitzsimmons - Fall River
Chad Randell - Halifax
Dave Nevitt - Dartmouth
Paul Gallant - Halifax
Nadia Farbstein - Halifax
Elizabeth Corkum - Hammonds Plains
Laura Keefe - Halifax (Did Not Start)
David Kachan - Halifax
T.J. Armstrong - Halifax
Sandra Jamieson - Halifax
Gary Burns - Halifax
Petra Spires - Hubley
Sheila Blair-Reid - Halifax
Craig Hawkins - Halifax
Christine Pound - Halifax
Norma MacIntyre - Elmsdale
Scott MacIntyre - Elmsdale
Steve Allen - Dartmouth
Harry Neynens - Enfield
Colleen Neynens - Enfield
Darrell Spears - New Glasgow
Vernon MacIntosh - Hopewell
Deborah MacDonald - New Glasgow (Did Not Start)
Sam Gyde - Halifax
Elizabeth Hill - Enfield
Douglas Archibald - Enfield
Shawn Lewis - Beaver Bank
Kerri Lewis - Beaver Bank (Did Not Run)
Susan Campbell - Waverley
Evan Bezanson - Centreville

South Shore Volunteers Recognized By Province

Fourteen South Shore individuals and a Bridgewater company were honoured in Halifax today for their volunteer work. The 39th Annual Provincial Volunteer Awards were handed out to people and groups from across Nova Scotia. Over 70 people received the awards. Nova Scotia continues to have a high participation rate for volunteering, and one of the highest rates of youth volunteers in the country. More than 450,000 Nova Scotians give their time to a variety of worthwhile causes, programs and organizations. A full list of South Shore recipients can be found below.


SOUTH SHORE REGION

Rev. Bill Newell - Town of Yarmouth
Kaitlin Scott - Region of Queens Municipality
Doreen Holdright - Region of Queens Municipality
Sue Kelly - Town of Lunenburg
Dawn DeMings-Taylor - Town of Lockeport
Melvin Landry - Municipality of the District of Argyle
Virginia Stoddard - Municipality of the District of Yarmouth
Mary Schnare - Municipality of the District of Chester
Della Smith - Town of Clark’s Harbour
Ellen Nickerson - Municipality of the District of Shelburne
Gloria Corbett - Town of Shelburne
Vernon Whynot - Municipality of the District of Lunenburg
Darrell Stoddard - Municipality of the District of Barrington
Robert Boudreau - Town of Bridgewater
LaHave River Credit Union - Small Business Volunteer of the Year Award

RCMP Recover Stolen Antique Dolls, Cologne And After-Shave

It's been almost two years in the making, but Shelburne County RCMP have recovered some stolen property. The area's street crime unit has recovered nine antique dolls and 21 antique colognes and after-shaves valued at almost $2,000. Police recently found the items in the Ingomar-area after receiving new information regarding a break, enter and theft that happened in September 2011. The owner, an elderly woman, now lives outside Canada and arrangements have been made to return her items. There have been no arrests made and police are still investigating.

Queens: Commercial Tax Rate Down, Residential Rate Increases

Municipal council in Queens County has approved a budget focused on growth and economic prosperity. The commercial tax rate in Liverpool has gone down by two cents to support existing businesses. Mayor Christopher Clarke says it's hoped an appealing tax rate will also attract new businesses to the area. The commercial rate is the third lowest in the province. Meanwhile, home owners will see a small hike on their tax bills. Council has approved an increase of between two and four cents in the residential tax rate. It will represent about $20 to $40 more on annual tax bills. The operating budget is $17.7-million dollars while the capital budget has been set at $1.8-million. An additional $85,000 has been allocated in continued investments in economic growth. The budget was the first since the closure of the Bowater Mersey paper mill. It represents a loss of about $500,000 in revenues for the municipality.

Liverpool's Whalen Sets Shotput Record At Florida State University

Mark down another win and record for Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen. At the Seminole Invitational in Tallahassee, Florida over the weekend, Whalen had a throw of 16.23 metres to win the women's' shotput. Along with setting a new Nova Scotia senior women's record, she now holds the all-time women's shotput record at Florida State University. Whalen won the javelin competition as well over the weekend. She is now preparing for the ACC Championships which will be held in North Carolina this coming weekend.

RCMP Search For Break-In Suspect

RCMP across the region are on the lookout for a suspect, wanted in connection with home break and enters in Colchester and Lunenburg counties. Locally, several homes in West Clifford, Newcombville and Chelsea were targeted. Lunenburg County RCMP Staff-Sergeant Bruce Hill says the suspect is not a local person and the break-ins happened during daytime hours last week.



Money, electronics and other house-hold goods of value were stolen.

Group To Reveal Final Plan For Bridgewater's Downtown And Waterfront

The town of Bridgewater is ready to see what the future of its downtown could look like. Ekistics Planning and Design will unveil its final plan for the downtown and waterfront this evening. A draft plan released in late January showcased better signage in the town, more prominent green space around Riverside Park and roundabouts at North and Aberdeen and King and Victoria. It also floated the idea of getting rid of the south parkade and instituting angle parking along King Street. A special council meeting has been called for 6pm tonight at town hall. It is open to the public.

MODL: Funding Helps Alleviate Lost Revenue From Mill Closure

The province is offering more financial assistance to the South Shore to help it cope with the closure last year of the Bowater paper mill. The Municipality of Lunenburg is getting $90,000 to cover part of the cost of upgrading its financial and information technology systems. Lunenburg West MLA Gary Ramey says the funding reflects the estimated lost tax revenue resulting from the mill closure in June 2012.



Mayor Don Downe says the money helps them move forward.



Downe says the money allows them to spend more attention on other projects and helps keep the tax rate where it is. The province committed $500,000 last week to cover the municipal portion of bills associated with renovating Queens General Hospital in Liverpool.