Tops'l Dining Room and Lounge Re-Opening

Big changes at the Tops'l Dining Room and Lounge in Bridgewater. The long-time bar and restaurant is re-opening, with renovations currently happening at the King Street property. Some of the changes include a bigger stage for bands, a new elevated shooter bar, additional pool tables, new bathrooms, a designated smoking-area outdoors, a dress code, longer kitchen hours and increased security. General Manager Mike Habib says they want to change the way people think about the bar.



The new owner is Sharon Saulnier of Liverpool. Habib says they plan on catering to all ages.



There will be roughly 30 people employed. The restaurant will open Thursday. Habib says a full opening could happen if they receive their liquor license.

Communities Push For New Health Accord

Communities across the country were standing up to support health care today. The Health Accord established in 2004, expires at the end of this month. The agreement between federal, provincial and territorial governments ensures certain levels of funding to help deliver health care services. In Bridgewater, Council of Canadians member Mary Wright says it's important to raise awareness.



Rallies will be held in 45 communities in Canada on Monday. They will be raising awareness and calling for new Health Accord.

REMO: Potential Flooding For Lunenburg County

Another 30 millimeters of rain is forecast to fall in Lunenburg and Queens counties. It's putting the Lunenburg County Regional Emergency Management Organization on watch for potential flooding. The group reports 96 millimeters of rain has fallen along coastal areas of the two counties since Saturday night. Spokesperson John Collyer says the LaHave River should have room to absorb the rain.



Collyer says people should be prepared as best they can for potential flooding. Rainfall and freezing rain warnings have been issued by Environment Canada for Lunenburg County. The weather agency has also issued rainfall warnings for Queens.

Mediation Talks Resume In Nurses' Dispute

Its back to the table today for the union for nurses in the Halifax area and Capital Health. They'll be meeting with a previously-appointed mediator. Both sides are hoping to avoid a walkout which could legally happen this Thursday. Health minister Leo Glavine says time is running out and he feels the situation now could have been avoided more than a year ago.



A previous mediation session about a week ago failed. The latest follows an appeal late last week by the premier.

Lunenburg Regional Council Readies For Community Meetings

Lunenburg Municipal Council is hitting the road! Its annual series of meetings throughout the county kicks off this evening with a stop in Conquerall Bank. Mayor Don Downe says after five years, these meetings have become a "rite of spring" in the region.



Tonight's meeting begins at 7 o'clock at the Conquerall Bank fire hall (Doors open at 6:30pm). Other sessions are planned over the next couple of months in West Northfield, Newcombville, Lunenburg, Cherry Hill, Barss Corner and Big Tancook Island.

Bridgewater: Fundraiser Underway For Off-Leash Dog Park

A fundraiser has started in Bridgewater to bring an off-leash dog park to the town. People can now buy stainless steel dog bones for $25 or $50 and get them engraved with their name or pet name. The bones will then be hung from the fence surrounding the off-leash park. Town councillor Andrew Tanner says they need about $60,000.



ABCO Industries of Lunenburg has been tasked to do the work. The bones are available at town hall in Bridgewater.

VIDEO: Ice Sharks Fall In Peewee 'A' Provincial Hockey Final

It was a second place finish at provincials for the South Shore Ice Sharks Peewee 'A' hockey team. The club fell 4-3 in overtime to the Sackville Flyers in Sunday's final. Colton Lohnes, Nick Landry and Remi Levesque scored for the South Shore while Jeremy Robar stopped 50 shots. Head Coach Yves Levesque says there is no shame in finishing in second place.



The club also won three tournament banners this year, with another event coming up in early April. Tournament awards went to Nick Collins for top defenseman and Colton Lohnes as most valuable player. Lohnes was also named to the first all-star team along with goaltender Jeremy Robar and Remi Levesque. The game winning goal is shown below.

Lobster Fishermen Need Input Into Study: d'Entremont

Those attending a lobster industry summit held in Halifax this past week included buyers, shippers and processors. However, it didn't represent everyone. According to Progressive Conservative MLA Chris d"Entremont, whose riding of Argyle-Barrington has a large population of lobster fishermen, he says the ones who really make it all work were not at the meeting.



The Maritime lobster fishing industry is getting behind the idea of a one cent levy on catches to help support marketing lobster around the world.

Oak Island Seen As Tourism Bonanza

A famous island on the South Shore is catching the attention of people everywhere, thanks to the medium of television. Oak Island in Mahone Bay is particularly appealing to History Television viewers in the US who are seeing it as an interesting place to visit and to search for buried treasure. Chester-St. Margarets MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse is urging the provincial government to capitalize on the new notoriety and better promote Oak Island as a tourism must-see location.



The History Channel, which features a reality show about two brothers looking for the fabled treasure buried on Oak Island, recently did a survey of its viewers. It indicated more than 100,000 of them would be very interested in visiting Nova Scotia and touring Oak Island. They say the remarkable scenery, the way of life and the lure of possible buried treasure are key reasons.

Province, Roué Family Reach Bluenose II Settlement

A settlement has been reached between the province and the Roué family over copyright and moral rights claims in the restoration of the Bluenose II. Terms were reached today. The agreement includes the province paying the Roué family $300,000, which includes legal fees. The family will release the province, the Lunenburg Shipyard Alliance, Lengkeek Vessel Engineering and MHPM from any and all claims relating to the project or future activities relating to the Bluenose II. The dispute arose from allegations the province used William J. Roué's drawings in the Bluenose II restoration project. Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Tony Ince says he is pleased a settlement has been reached, and says it is clear the Bluenose II and its legacy belong to the people of Nova Scotia and William J. Roué has played an important part as the original designer of Bluenose. The schooner is in the final stages of the restoration process and is expected to sail this summer.

Province Wipes Out Student Loan Interest

It's going to be a big help for graduates with heavy student loans. Interst on loans will no longer have to be paid. Advanced Education Minister Kelly Regan says the move will save graduates money as they start their careers. There are about 18,000 borrowers who be eligible to benefit every year. That number does not include current students who may also qualify in the future. In order to qualify you must have graduated, be a resident of Nova Scotia, have a "direct-lend" loan sponsored by the government and have made payments recently. However, the program does not include the federal government portion of the borrower's loan. The Nova Scotia government will invest $1.6 million in this program per year. Newfoundland was the first province to eliminate student loan interest in 2009.

South Shore Hockey: Wild Lose, Ice Sharks Tie

The South Shore Wild remain winless at the Maritime Hockey North Junior 'C' Championships. They fell 8-1 to the Kivalliq Canucks. They play their final round robin game at Queens Place Emera Centre at 8pm tonight against Spryfield.

The South Shore Ice Sharks Peewee 'A' team opened up provincials with a 3-3 tie against Sackville. Colton Lohnes, Jenson Glover and Rylan Mayo scored for the home team. They play Pictou County at 5pm at the Clearwater Seafoods Arena.

Also, the South Shore Ice Sharks Atom 'AAA' club tied Truro 5-5 this morning at their provincials in New Waterford. They play the TASA Ducks at 2pm.

Coast Guard Suspects Broken Pipes For Sinking Ship

The Canadian Coast Guard says two pipes in the engine room of the Cape Rouge were found broken causing the vessel to sink to the bottom of the LaHave River in Bridgewater. Senior Response Officer, Keith Laidlaw, says the pipes likely froze and split due to the cold temperatures. The coast guard raised the old fishing trawler on Tuesday. He says they will begin steam-cleaning the entire vessel early next week because its full of oil.



A red Transport Canada surveillance plane with oil tracking equipment has also been scouring the LaHave River. Laidlaw says small sheens of oil have been noticed in the river, but its too late to be recovered. He urges people to report any sheens they see by calling the oil pollution desk at 1-800-565-1633. (Photo Courtesy: Frank Bailey)

Premier Urges Nurses, Capital Health To Resume Talks

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil is urging Capital Health and the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union to get back to the bargaining table. Addressing the legislature, the premier says Nova Scotians shouldn't have to feel their safety might be jeopardized by a nurses strike in HRM.



The 25-hundred nurses could walk out next Thursday and its effects could be felt right across the province, including the South Shore.

Wild Aim For Semi-Final Berth At Junior 'C' Championships

The South Shore Wild need at least one win today to have chance of advancing at the Maritime Hockey North Junior 'C' Championships. The club sits at 0-2 heading into today's final day of round robin play in Liverpool. The Wild take on the Kivalliq Canucks at 11am and the Spryfield Silver and Black Attack at 8pm at Queens Place Emera Centre. The top four teams advance to tomorrow's semi-finals. The championship game will be held Sunday.

Pressure Mounts On Province To Deal With Threatened Nurses' Strike

A strike by 25-hundred nurses in the Halifax area is looming with threats of a walkout happening next Thursday. As Premier Stephen McNeil says he's watching the situation closely and calling on both sides to get back to the bargaining table, hospitals in HRM are preparing for a walkout with pending cancellations of surgeries and patients being sent home. Progressive Conservative health critic and Argyle-Barrington MLA Chris d'Entremont says the government has to deal with the situation quickly.



d'Entremont says an HRM nurses strike would impact all of the province's health districts, including the South Shore.

Friday Morning Gasoline Prices At South Shore Pumps

Some prices for South Shore gasoline are lower this morning, while another is higher. Regular self serve is down a cent to $1.34.9 per litre. High test is also down by the same amount to $1.43.9. The price for a litre of diesel has risen though by a cent and a half. Its selling in many places this morning for $1.45.5.

Lobster Levy Endorsed During Industry Summit

Some rare unity within the fishing industry will help market lobster around the world. Fishermen, buyers, shippers and processors all endorsed a levy to help promote lobster in new markets. The levy will support creating a generic marketing plan to promote Canadian lobster as a premium product. The consensus was reached during an industry summit in Halifax. It was hosted by the three Maritime fisheries ministers and was attended by more than 200 industry members. Fisheries Minister Keith Colwell says he is encouraged by the co-operation and that the ministers received great feedback on important issues. The two day summit wrapped up Thursday.

Atom 'AAA' Ice Sharks Compete At Provincials

The province's Atom 'AAA' provincial championship gets underway today in New Waterford. The South Shore Ice Sharks are taking part and their first game will be at 5pm this afternoon when they meet the East Hants Penguins. Other teams involved in the provincials include the New Waterford Sharks, the Cape Breton West Screaming Eagles, Sydney Steelers, Truro Bearcats and TASA Ducks.

Wild Look For First Win At Junior 'C' Championship

The South Shore Wild look for their first win of the Maritime Hockey North Junior 'C' Championships this afternoon. The club takes on the Tignish Aces from PEI at 5pm at the Queens Place Emera Centre. Ryan Poirier, Ryan Campbell and Ryan Matheson scored for the Wild in a 5-3 loss to Hampton, New Brunswick in their opening game. Play goes until Sunday in Liverpool. More information on the tournament can be found here . (Photo Courtesy: Chris LaRocque)

Bridgewater: Outdoor Pool Returning This Summer

Bridgewater's outdoor pool has at least one more summer in it. The town agreed to keep it open and will evaluate data before deciding on its future after the upcoming season. A survey was conducted at Bridgewater Elementary and shows 65 per cent of roughly 500 students use the outdoor pool. Guidance counsellor Belinda Josephson says student responses support the pool.



Josephson says a lot of families don't own vehicles and the pool is more convenient then the new aquatic facility at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. Meanwhile, President of the Bridgewater Barracudas swim club, Blair Lipsett, says the outdoor pool allows them to have spectator and team camaraderie.



Lipsett says swimmers thrive on the environment of the outdoor pool. Meanwhile, the BMO Financial Aquatic Centre is expected to be open next month. Bridgewater's outdoor swimming pool has been in the community for 42 years. The town will spend $17,591 to keep the pool open this summer.

Shelburne: Lights Back For Most Residents

It's relief for some residents of Shelburne. Nova Scotia Power crews have restored the juice to residents of Lockeport and Port Clyde area. They didn't have power for the last 24 hours.
Comfort centres were opened to give people a warm place to hang out before the issue was fixed. Outages still remain in a small pocket of Shelburne County. Others are reported in New Germany and sections of Yarmouth County.

Queens: Youth Charged After Threatening Father With Knife

A youth in Queens County has been charged after threatening his father with a knife. RCMP were called to a home on Old Port Mouton Road on Monday. The youth and his father allegedly got into an argument before the weapon was pulled. He was arrested and held in police custody overnight. The youth has appeared in court and is facing threats and weapons charges.

Legislation Cutting Number Of DHA's Not Ready Yet: NS Health Minister

The Nova Scotia Legislature begins its spring session today and jobs and the economy are likely to take centre stage. However, the McNeil government may have to deal with a pending strike by nurses in the Halifax area. Other health issues: the minister Leo Glavine doesn't expect to bring in legislation just yet, cutting the number of health boards in the province from 9 to 2.



The legislation, when its presented to the House, would cut the number of health boards, or DHA's, from 9 to 2, one for Capital Health and the IWK and one for the rest of the province. A throne speech is expected to begin the legislature session this afternoon.

South Shore MLA Seeks "Revival" Of Seniors Programs

The Nova Scotia legislature's spring sitting begins this afternoon. Jobs and the economy will likely be among the top issues but there will probably be some focus on the possible nurses strike in the Halifax area and its impact on the rest of the province. Meanwhile, Chester-St. Margarets NDP MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse plans to push the government during the upcoming legislature sitting to revitalize several programs for seniors which she says the current government doesn't seem to take seriously.



The legislature session begins this afternoon (Thursday) with the throne speech. A budget will be presented in a week or so.

Gas Prices May Rise Slightly

There are predictions the price of gas at South Shore pumps will remain about the same or rise slightly. In New Brunswick today, gas prices there have increased. Regular self serve is up by 7/10ths of a cent. The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board will likely follow closely at midnight tonight when it sets the coming week's prices.

Shelburne: Comfort Centre Open Due To Lengthy Power Outages

Some residents in Shelburne County have been without power for more than 24 hours. In parts of Lockeport, the power went off yesterday morning at 10 o`clock. A spokesperson for the emergency management office says comfort centres will remain open at the fire hall in Lockeport and Port Clyde. Howard Roszell says they want to make sure people are safe and have a warm place to go until the power comes back.



Nova Scotia Power says restoration times could be as late as 6 o`clock. Outages are also being reported outside of Liverpool, Chester and Yarmouth.

Cleanup Day Is Underway

Its the day after, cleanup day from that snowstorm that whalloped us through most of yesterday. The wind was the big factor in the storm. A few gusts were clocked as high as 125km/hr in the Shelburne-Lockeport area and 100 further east in Liverpool, Bridgewater and Chester. Environment Canada meteorologist Andy Firth says snow amounts vary.



It will be clearing up today with sunshine for the afternoon but the wind will persist until overnight tonight.
The storm this morning is centered to the east of Cape Breton heading toward Newfoundland.
As a result of the storm, all schools across the province are closed for the day.

Bridgewater Mayor Expects Tough Budget Process

The mayor of Bridgewater expects the budget process will be difficult for the upcoming year. Preliminary figures indicate the town has a $1-million shortfall. Councillors debated a number of issues Monday night, including paying for the outdoor pool for at least one more year and giving pre-budget approval for an electronic fingerprint device for town police. Mayor David Walker says times are tough and he doesn't want to raise the residential tax rate.



Walker feels some key programs or services may be cut during talks. The town has a goal of approving their 2014-15 budget by April 24th.

Baillie Looking For Answers For Bluenose II Cost Overruns

The Nova Scotia Legislature begins its spring session on Thursday. Jobs and the economy are likely to take centre stage in the House but the McNeil government will probably have to deal right away with a pending strike by nurses in the Halifax area. Many are wondering if they'll be legislated back to work like home care workers were in February. Meanwhile, Progressive Conservative Opposition Leader Jamie Baillie will be seeking answers on why the rebuild of Bluenose Two has cost so much and the vessel is still not back in service. He says the government is being too secretive about it.



A throne speech is expected to begin the sitting on Thursday afternoon.

Storm Watch: Power Outages Reported Shelburne & Queens Co

Nova Scotia power crews are working to get the heat back on for about 1,700 customers in Shelburne, Queens and Lunenburg Counties. Roughly 1,300 people are without power in the Shelburne area. Meanwhile, 400 residents in Queens County are dealing with outages. NSP expects the power to be restored in these areas between 5:00-9:00pm. In addition, EMO in Shelburne County says Lockeport Fire Hall will serve as a comfort centre for residents. Another comfort centre in Port Clyde has also been established - if you need a ride contact that fire hall. 

According to NSP, here is a list of South Shore areas affected by power outages: NSP outage map link

Bridgewater Street Crews Ready For Snow Clearing

An important part of dealing with a storm like the one today is keeping the streets and highways open, especially for emergency vehicles. Acting Bridgewater Town works director Larry Feener says its important drivers don't park their vehicles on the streets and police work to prevent tie-ups during  snow clearing.



Feener says his crews have been on standby all night and going into action throughout the storm.

Nova Scotia Power Ready For Any South Shore Power Outages

As we hunker down for today's storm, an official at Nova Scotia Power says having the ability to get around in a large storm to deal with outages is challenging. However, Neera Ritcey of NSP says crews are ready to go if the power goes out today or tonight.



Ritcey says about two dozen repair crews are on standby today along the South Shore and throuh the Valley. She also says contracted repairmen can be called up in pretty short order to help if there's a need.

Snow/Wind Storm Moving In

That forecasted nor-easter is still on the books for today! Most places along the South Shore from Yarmouth to Halifax, through the Valley and beyond are starting to feel the effects of it as the morning rolls along. Meteorologist Andy Firth at Environment Canada says its going to be a rugged day.



The wind overnight tonight with an additional 5 or 10 centimeters may peak as high as 120 in some places along the coast. When its all over, some 50 cm

Queens Supporting Blue Wave Seafoods Workers

The mayor of the Region of Queens says they're looking out for workers with Blue Wave Seafoods. The Port Mouton fish processor and exporter is bankrupt after a proposed deal fell through with a Halifax company. Up to 70 jobs have been lost. Christopher Clarke says they want to lend a hand and help.



Clarke says it's tough news for the region. However, he hopes former employees can get further training and transition into other jobs. The Nova Scotia government offered the company a controversial $500,000 loan last August right before the provincial election. However, the economic development department is claiming that money back as a secure creditor.

EMO's Suggestions In Case Power Goes Out

Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office is offering up a few tips for home owners in preparation for the storm on Wednesday. Chad Lucas of EMO says above all, have an emergency kit at home in case the power goes out.



Lucas suggests there should be enough of those supplies on hand for at least 72 hours.

Bridgewater Snow Removal Budget Way Over As Another Storm Looms

Word of yet another major snowstorm, this one projected to be larger than the other 9 since late November, is causing some concern at Bridgewater Town Hall. The snow removal budget is already over by $150,000. and the cleanup from tomorrow's storm could push that figure closer to $200,000. The town's Director of Finance, Dawn Keizer, says however there appears to be a way around the deficit.



Town council will begin dealing with budget estimates for the coming year in a few weeks.

Bridgewater: Cab Company Crying Foul Over Road Conditions

A Bridgewater business owner is not happy with the current condition of the town's roads. Darrell Watson is co-owner of Reliable Cab, which operates seven vehicles and provides transportation to residents in the local area. He says maintenance bills have spiked because of the amount of potholes. Watson feels the town should bear responsibility.



Watson says he has close to $7,000 worth of maintenance bills for January and February. The town will involve their insurer to have a look at Watson's claim.

South Shore Sweeps High School Curling Championships

A clean sweep for South Shore curling teams at the NSSAF provincial high school curling championships. It was a second straight title for Bridgewater High in the boy's division. Trevor Crouse, Ben Conrad, Morgan Bishop and Kyle Barrie won six straight games after dropping their opener to win back-to-back titles. Park View's Brooke Demone, Cicely Smith, Megan Bustin and Jenna Mosher had a come from behind victory over Halifax West in the girl's division final. Also, Park View's Mary Fay, Spencer Demone, Ashley Francis and Jacob Rowsell went undefeated to win the mixed division. The event was held at the Lakeshore Curling club in Lower Sackville.

Police Dump 31 Charges On Lunenburg County Man

A Lunenburg County man is facing 31 charges after police raided a home in Conquerall Bank.  Twenty-seven year old Sean Andrew Ivany has been in custody since he was arrested Friday in a home on Cove Road. Police found some heavy pain killers, $5,000 cash and several loaded firearms - including a sawed off shotgun and three handguns. RCMP Sergeant Derek Smith says they also recovered a cocaine press. He called that a significant find in the region.



A cocaine press is used to cut coke with other substances to make more dollars off a dealers product. Meanwhile,  Bridgewater Police Cheif John Collyer says taking the pills off the street will put a dent into the drug trafficking trade in the area.




 Ivany will appear before a judge in the near future. More charges could be laid.

A Record Snowfall May Not Be Out Of The Question: Environment Canada

Its literally the calm before the storm as we go through a very pleasant day today with sunshine and no wind. That however is ahead of a big snowfall and wind storm tomorrow and Environment Canada has issued blizzard and storm surge warnings. Forecasters are predicting it will slowly begin overnight tonight and by mid-morning tomorrow it will be going full force. Meteorologist Denis Thibodeau says 50 cm is quite possible along the South Shore through the day tomorrow and the wind will be very intense.



Thibodeau says a storm of this magnitude this late in March could be a record breaker. Temperatures will slowly be rising after tomorrow into double digits by Saturday.

Water Being Pumped Out Of Cape Rouge

Water will start being pumped out of the Cape Rouge Tuesday morning. It's the latest development dealing with the old fishing trawler that sank to the bottom of the LaHave River in Bridgewater earlier this month. Preparations began this weekend as divers went underwater to install hoses. They will begin pumping water out of the ship about two hours before low tide. Senior Response Officer with the Canadian Coast Guard, Keith Laidlaw, says the incoming snow storm is a concern for them.



Once water is pumped out of the vessel, it will be secured to the wharf. An investigation will then be done to determine the cause of the sinking.

Ten Thousand Potholes In Chester Area

The province's Department of Transportation is applauding their work on roads in the Chester-area. However, they know more needs to be done. Councillors in Chester brought forward concerns with roads including Duke Street, the Chester Grant Road and a section of Highway 3 in Martin's Point. District Director Stephen MacIsaac says some issues take more time than others. He says they have a big problem to worry about.



He says the department used material three or four years ago that is wearing out.



He says its an issue on the Forties Road that spans from New Ross to East Dalhousie. MacIsaac says they're looking to keep additional manpower employed after this month to get a head-start on the issue.

Municipalities Fear Other "Springhills"

Officials with the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities have met with those for the province. They're all concerned about the Town of Springhill which has applied to lose its town status and join the surrounding municipality. District of Lunenburg Mayor Don Downe says the situation in Springhill and the possibility of several other towns having to do the same over money issues is disturbing.



The mayor says all municipalities including HRM and the Cape Breton Region are now talking seriously about working more closely together including a greater partnership with the provincial level.

Lunenburg: Nursing Home Visitor Restrictions Continue

A visitor restriction remains in effect at a nursing home in Lunenburg. A stomach bug is making the rounds at Harbour View Haven Home for Special Care. Administrator Tim McAulay says there have been some new cases over the past few days. McAuley says the public has helped tremendously by following the visitor limitation. There are 143 residents at Harbour View Haven. The restrictions will be lifted once new cases decline.

Bridgewater: Medical Issue Behind Salon Crash

A medical issue is behind a single vehicle collision on King Street in Bridgewater. Police say a 73 year-old crashed into a Hair Salon last night. Firefighters and town police got the call around 8:30 p.m. The driver was coming down Dominion Street and was unable to stop. His truck kept straight through a stop sign and crashed into a brick plaza building at 622 King Street. No charges are expected. (Photo submitted to Dahl Dispatch Facebook Page)

HRM Nurses Strike Would Affect South Shore: Health Minister

The possibility of a strike of 25 hundred nurses in Halifax's Capital Health District is worrisome to the province's health minister. Leo Glavine says South Shore Health and other districts in the province will be impacted by a walkout.



Mediation talks between the nurses' union and the province broke off over the weekend. The nurses could walkout in about 10 days if there's no agreement reached before then.

RCMP: New Vicious Malware Holds Computers Ransom

A new computer virus is causing major problems. Mounties say malicious software is literally popping up on Internet users’ browsers and holding their computers ransom. It's called Ransomware. As part of Fraud Awareness Month, police are highlighting some of the sophisticated Internet-related schemes and scare tactics scammers are using to trick consumers into handing over money. Corporal Christian Hochold says the pop up goes far beyond being a nuisance and won't allow users to access anything on the computer beyond the pop-up screen. Hochold says the creator of the malware demands a ransom in order to unlock your computer and is extremely difficult to clean and recover your data. For more information you can visit the RCMP's fraud section on their web site.

Valley Community Looking To Win "Hockeyville" Competition

A Nova Scotia community has a good chance of winning the latest version of the national Kraft Hockeyville competition. Kingston in the Annapolis Valley stands to win 100-thousand dollars toward upgrading its community arena if it can top Sylvan Lake, Alberta in today's on-line voting. The area MLA Leo Glavine says the arena is the centre of the village.



Winning Hockeyville will allow for the installation of a permanent floor. Also included for the winner will be a Hockey Night In Canada live broadcast from the community and an NHL Pre-Season game hosted by the Kingston Arena. You can vote today on-line for Kingston as many times as you want at "Kraft Hockeyville.CBC.ca" until 1 o'clock Tuesday morning.

Get Ready For A Major Mid-Week Snowfall

An early spring snowstorm is forecast to dump 25 to 30 centimeters on the South Shore by mid-week! Winds gusting to 80 kph will create blowing snow conditions. Environment Canada meteorologist Paula Sutherland tells us, the temperature will be just above the freezing point on Wednesday, making for ideal heavy snow conditions.



It should be over late Wednesday or early Thursday and by Friday, temperatures will be well above freezing again and the snow and ice melt will be on again!