Local Pastor Named New Chaplain For Bridgewater Police Service

The Bridgewater Police Service is turning to a local pastor to be their new chaplain. Reverend Paul Jensen of St. Paul's Lutheran Church has been named to the position. He was recognized during a reception earlier this week. Jensen says he looks forward to helping police.




Jensen is also expected to assist in police duties from time to time.

Wind Farm Opponents Present Case To Utility Board

A regulatory hearing is underway in relation to a large wind farm near New Ross. Eight days have been set aside for the hearing before the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board. Fifteen witnesses will be called to present evidence in relation to wind energy. The Friends of South Canoe Lake claim Chester council didn't have enough information on wind power before approving the project. Three developers want to construct 34 turbines stretching between Vaughan and New Ross. Chester council approved the $200 million wind farm in March.

Town Approves Grants To Organizations Policy

The town of Bridgewater has approved a new policy dealing with grants to organizations. The policy is needed to help provide guidelines for awarding money to non-profit organizations or societies that apply to the town for financial assistance. Deputy Mayor Bill McInnis says its council's intent to contact groups who have been applying since 2008.



Under the policy, there is now criteria for determining eligible applicants, separate grant categories and a process for reviewing and shortlisting applications.

Taylor Named To Canadian Sevens For University Games

A Bridgewater native has been named to the Canadian rugby sevens team for this summer's World University Games. Matt Taylor goes to school at the Royal Military College of Canada. He's listed as a centre on the school's team roster. Taylor is the lone Nova Scotian on the squad, which was announced on Tuesday. The Canadian rugby sevens team will make its debut at the World University Games July 14-17 in Kazan, Russia.

Public Input Sought In Yarmouth Arson Investigation

The RCMP in Yarmouth is hoping the public will help in their investigation of two recent suspicious fires. Late in the evening on April 11th, a fire in an apartment building on Forbes Street in the town was put out by a tenant before the fire department arrived. Then, late in the evening on April 29th, RCMP were again called to the same Forbes Street location after the Yarmouth Fire Department responded to another blaze which they again labelled suspicious. Both fires are being investigated and the RCMP hopes the public will help them locate a suspect or suspects. If you have any information regarding these crimes, please contact the Yarmouth Town RCMP at 902-742-8777 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Data Released On Hand Hygiene, C. Difficile At South Shore Health

The public can now access statistics on how often health workers clean their hands and patients get ill from the hospital-acquired C. difficile. The province's Health and Wellness Minister announced the new public reports during an announcement Wednesday at the regional hospital in Bridgewater. The reports indicate South Shore Health has the top hand-washing practices in the province for the first three months of this year. The health authority has an 87 per cent hand-washing rate before patient contact and a 92 per cent mark afterwards. President and CEO, Dr. Peter Vaughan, says they need to continue working towards their goal of 100 per cent.



South Shore Health is also above the provincial average of C. difficile for the same time period. The data says five people out of 10,000 patients contracted the bacteria, while the province averages about three. The Nova Scotia government passed law in May 2012 called the Patient Safety Act that requires hospitals to collect information called Patient Safety Indicators and report results to Department of Health and Wellness and the public. The findings can be found on the department's website.

Regulatory Hearing For Wind Farm Begins

A hearing before the province's regulatory board regarding a large wind farm begins today in New Ross. The Friends of South Canoe Lake are leading an appeal with the Nova Scotia Utilities and Review Board on the $200 million South Canoe Wind Project. They claim the development will lower their property value and cause health issues. The organization is appealing Chester council's decision to enter into a development agreement with the proponents of the wind farm. Councillors voted 6-1 on March 14 to approve the project after a pair of exhaustive public hearings. Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power are leading the project. If it moves ahead, it would generate enough power to heat 32,000 homes.