Dexter Stepping Down As NDP Leader

Darrell Dexter is stepping down as leader of the province's New Democratic Party. Dexter submitted his letter of resignation at a meeting yesterday in Halifax. His term as leader will end next weekend. Dexter says it has been a privilege to serve New Democrats across Nova Scotia over the past 12 years. He led the NDP to its first provincial government in Nova Scotia history in the June 2009 election.  However, the NDP fell to third party status in this fall's election, garnering only seven of 51 seats in the legislature. Dexter also lost his riding of Cole Harbour-Portland Valley to Liberal Tony Ince. Maureen MacDonald will be nominated as Acting Leader at a meeting on Saturday in Halifax. A process to elect the new leader of the party will be announced at a future date.

Salvation Army Readies For Local Kettle Campaign

Its a Christmas Season tradition and it'll soon be visible again in shopping areas along the South Shore. Its the Salvation Army's annual Christmas Kettle Campaign. It raises funds to help needy families in the area and it begins next Friday, the 22nd. In Lunenburg County, the Salvation Army's Captain Felipe Vega says despite a sluggish economy in recent years, donations have kept pace.



Vega says money raised through the Kettle campaign goes to help needy families in the area throughout the year, providing food and clothing and helping with heating bills too.

RCMP, Fire Marshal Investigate New Germany Fire

RCMP and the Fire Marshal's office are investigating after a Saturday fire in New Germany. Fire officials from Hemford, West Northfield and New Germany responded to the blaze Saturday morning around 9:20am along Highway 208. Police say there was moderate damage to the home that was vacant at the time of the blaze. There were no injuries.

Hockey: Jacks Lose, Glen Murray Final Set

The Amherst Ramblers dumped the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks 7-2 Saturday night. The Jacks jumped out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. But Amherst stormed back with six second period goals to take control of the hockey game. Connor Hilton and Ryan Groom scored for the Bridgewater club, who are in Dieppe Sunday for a matinee game against the Commandos.
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It will be an all South Shore final at the Glen Murray Hockey Tournament in Bridgewater. The Park View Panthers will take on Forest Heights in the championship game. Park View defeated Barrington 1-0 while Forest Heights blasted West Kings 8-1 in Saturday night's semi-finals. The championship game is slated for 1:30 Sunday afternoon at the Bridgewater Memorial Arena. 

Ottawa Providing Money For Yarmouth Ferry Terminal

The federal government has announced support for the ferry terminal in Yarmouth. The MP for West Nova made the announcement recently in the town. He didn't provide specific figures on the costs of the upgrades. However, the co-chair of the Nova Scotia International Ferry Partnership says the cost is estimated between two to three million dollars. Yarmouth County's three municipalities will cost share roughly 20 per cent, with the feds providing 80 per cent. The terminal must be divested and will eventually be owned by the Yarmouth and Area Industrial Commission. The chair of that commission and warden for the Municipality of Yarmouth, Murray Goodwin, says they need to do some renovations to the existing buildings.



The province and STM Quest signed a deal last week to operate the Nova Star ferry between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine, beginning May 2014. Goodwin expects contractors to begin quoting the project as early as this week.