Plans For Shelburne County Fish Plant On Track

It's hoped a new fish processing plant in Shelburne County will be up and running in 2015. Cook Aquaculture is in the midst of a three year expansion plan which also includes a new salmon hatchery in Digby, and expanding a feed mill in Truro. Work in those areas will take place over the next two years, while the fish processing plant will serve as the final piece of their expansion puzzle in year three. In total, the three projects will create roughly 400 jobs with more than 300 of those located in Shelburne. Spokesperson Nell Halse says the company hasn't decided where they will locate the new plant.



Cooke plans to spend $150-million itself on the expansion. The Nova Scotia government has offered $25 million to help with the projects.

Province Toughens Stance On Impaired Driving With A Child

The provincial government is putting more teeth into penalties for drivers who are impaired with a child in the car. As of Wednesday, South Shore motorists convicted of impaired driving with a child passenger face increased penalties, including losing their licence for at least two years and participating in the Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program, for at least one year, at their expense. The interlock device prevents a vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver's breath. MADD Canada Atlantic Region director, Susan MacAskill, says the group stands behind the changes.



Convicted impaired drivers with a blood-alcohol level of more than .08 receive a criminal record and face a minimum fine of $1,000. About one-third of people killed on Nova Scotia's roads each year are a result of impaired driving.

Province Proclaims May As Motorcycle Safety Month

The province is proclaiming May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.The goal is to help prevent fatalities and call driver attention to increased motorcycle traffic on local roads. Last weekend, a 51 year old man was killed on Highway 12 in Aldersville when his motorcycle left the road and crashed into some trees. Police have not released the cause of the crash but road conditions were clear at the time of the incident. Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Maurice Smith says drivers need to be alert and especially careful as the use of motorcycles increases at this time of year. More information on motorcycle safety and training courses is available on the Safety Services Nova Scotia website.

RCMP Still Searching For Caledonia Robbery Suspect

Queens and Lunenburg County RCMP are working together to find a man who robbed the Caledonia Pharmasave. Constable Laura Cormier-Jones says there has been a positive response from the public after police released a photo of the suspect Tuesday evening. She says the two agencies are working together in case the suspect crossed-over into Lunenburg County. RCMP describe the man as five feet, 10 inches tall, slim and at the time was wearing a dark-coloured hoody and possibly blue sweat pants. The man's face was covered at the time of the robbery. Cormier-Jones there could be additional suspects in the case.



Officers continue to look for the individual, who is believed to be in his 20's and travelling in an older model white SUV.

Board Receives Letter From Minister, Upholds Closure Decision

The province's Education Minister says a letter sent to the South Shore Regional School Board was meant to make sure the board understood her request to delay the closure of Gold River-Western Shore Elementary. In a letter, Ramona Jennex says staff with the education department contacted the acting superintendent to ask for necessary clarifications in order to agree to the request to delay the school closure. She says the letter was sent in case they needed any more information.



However, the chair of the school board says they have no plan to reverse a decision to close Gold River-Western Shore Elementary this summer. Jennifer Naugler say they remain status quo on the issue.



Naugler says the board supports the minister's request to look at the school review process and looks forward to providing input on how it can be improved.