Bridgewater: Snow Clearing Costs High In December

Snow clearing crews in Bridgewater were faced with a busy month in December. Finance Director Dawn Kaizer says they've spent roughly $90,000 of their snow clean-up fund so far, and that doesn't count the blizzard that hit the South Shore late last week. She says while the numbers aren't finalized, last Friday's storm clean-up could cost in the area of $40,000. Kaizer says there is no need to panic.



The snow removal budget for 2013-14 is $356,000. However, Kaizer says they also have almost $88,000 in a contingency fund.

Repeat Drunk Driver Case Back This Week

A repeat drunk driver is due back in court later this week. Kevin Wheaton of Bridgewater was pulled over January 2 on a main road in the town. He was arrested and charged with impaired driving. It's the ninth time the 49 year-old has been charged with an alcohol related driving offence. He also was charged with driving a vehicle without a license. Wheaton will be back in court Thursday.

Plenty Of Rain Coming To The South Shore

The next 24 hours could be wet and windy along the South Shore. Rainfall amounts are expected to exceed 25 millimetres in Lunenburg, Queens and Shelburne counties. Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning.  A low pressure system over Quebec will intensify as it tracks northward. The system is creating a strong warm front across the region today. The combination of rain with the recent snowfall could result in challenging surface conditions, especially as temperatures fall back below freezing again early Tuesday. In addition, winds will gust as high as 70km/h through tomorrow along the South Shore.

LaHave Ferry "Rescued" From Beach

The LaHave River ferry has been re-floated and is back at a wharf in LaHave. The vessel, which plies the river daily between LaHave and East LaHave, snapped its operating cable during Friday's storm and floated down river and grounded on Oxner's Beach. Three people were on board but were not injured. The Manager of Marine Services for the Department of Transportation, John Majchrowicz says Monday's operation to free the stranded ferry went smoothly.



If the weather improves today (Tuesday), Majchrowicz says divers will inspect the vessel's hull looking for any holes.



After that, repairs will be needed for the cable and its gears before the ferry can be put back into operation. That could take a week or more.

Updated: Fisherman's Body Found In Water In Stonehurst

A 79-year-old man has died after falling into the water in Stonehurst. RCMP received a call around 1 o'clock Monday morning after residents reported the man missing. Sgt. Paul Coughlin says four local fire units, police, EHS and a helicopter from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax all helped look for the man. He says the man's body was found around 5 a.m. near the shoreline.



Sgt. Coughlin says the man was from Stonehurst South. He says an autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death. The man's name has not been released.