RCMP: Two Men Charged In illegal Smokes Bust

A pair of Lunenburg County men are facing charges after Mounties seized some illegal cigarettes. In the first case, officers found some contraband smokes when they raided a home in West Northfield. Police say 2,400 illegal cigarettes were seized or enough to make about 100 packs. William Oswald Russell faces several charges. He was due to appear in court this week. Meanwhile, Robert Murphy of Upper Branch also faces several charges for the same reason. RCMP say the 32 year-old was found in possession of approximately 1,200 illegal cigarettes. He's due in court in October.

Delays Expected For South Canoe Wind Project

The warden of Chester says he's worried about a delayed decision on the South Canoe Wind project. The province's regulatory board has yet to make an announcement on the issue, over a week after their 60-day deadline passed to make a decision. But it's not the only concern on the table. A court challenge is also scheduled for November on the financing package for Nova Scotia Power in respect to the project. Allen Webber says it throws a wrench on a construction start date.



Webber says he has no idea when the Utility and Review Board will render its decision. Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power are behind the $200-million project.

Provincial Funds Help Local Fire Departments

Fire departments in the region will have extra cash to buy some new equipment thanks to the Nova Scotia government. The province is investing more than $125,000 in 10 organizations in the Region of Queens, Lunenburg and Shelburne counties. The funds will be used to purchase essential equipment such as personal protective equipment, communication equipment, and thermal imaging cameras. The money is coming from the Emergency Services Provider Fund. The program provides up to 50 per cent of eligible costs for approved projects, to a maximum contribution of $20,000.

In total, the program is providing about $500,000 to 55 organizations.

Fire Departments, Emergency Responders receiving funding are:

-- Big Tancook island Emergency Response Association, Lunenburg County, $6,353

-- Hebb's Cross Fire Department, Lunenburg County, $5,519

-- Indian Point Volunteer Fire Department, $10,873

-- Island and Barrington Passage Fire Department, Shelburne County, $6,492

-- Lunenburg and District Fire Department, $20,000

-- Lunenburg County Ground Search and Rescue, $3,333

-- Mill Village and District Fire Department, Regional Municipality of Queens, $19,455

-- New Ross Volunteer Fire Department, Lunenburg County, $20,000

-- Tri District Fire/Rescue, Lunenburg County, $13,518

-- Western Shore and District Fire Department, Lunenburg County, $20,000

Sustainability Festival Kicks-Off Fifth Year

People are encouraged to take the next step at this year's Growing Green Festival in Bridgewater. The unique festival has events scattered around Lunenburg County, but is primarily featured on King Street with sustainable booths set up for people to visit. Films began showing earlier this week and concerts will also be held Friday night and Saturday. Festival Chair Patrick Hirtle says the event has grown over the years.



This is the fifth year for the event. A full schedule for the event can be found here .

Queens: Municipality Trying To Save Piping Plovers

The Region of Queens is doing all it can to give a pair of newborn Piping Plovers a fighting chance. They are reminding anyone who goes to Beach Meadows Beach to take their dog for a walk to make sure their pups are on a leash. Director of Recreation Norm Amirault says it will give the sparrow sized birds a better chance to survive. He says a nest of five hatched earlier this month and already three have not survived.



The small birds are sand-coloured and are unable to fly for the first few weeks after they are born. According to statistics, half of the dwindling Plover population live on the Atlantic Coast.

Gasoline Prices Expected To Drop Again!

Look for another drop in South Shore gas prices come tomorrow morning, possibly by as much as 2 cents a litre.  In New Brunswick today, the price there is lower for the third time in the past month. Regular self serve in New Brunswick is down a couple of cents to $1.32.1 a litre.  Diesel is down almost 2.5 cents with no change in the price of propane.  Nova Scotia's Unity & Review Board will set the coming week's prices here at midnight tonight.

Summer Games: Golf Begins, Men's Soccer Into Quarters

A Bridgewater golfer is five shots of the pace at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Ryan Nowe shot an opening round two over par 75. Meanwhile, on the girl's side, Chester's Alison Chandler shot an 89. Both Nowe and Chandler play their second rounds Thursday. In other action, Mahone Bay's Hunter Vaszily and Lunenburg's Nick Tanner are off to the quarter-finals as part of the men's soccer team. They beat PEI yesterday 3-0 and will play B.C. Thursday afternoon with a chance to advance to the final four. Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh opens up competition today in the women's heptathlon. (Photo Courtesy: Communications Nova Scotia)