NS Gov't Wants Auditor General Reviewing Bluenose II

The Nova Scotia government wants the auditor general to review ballooning costs related to the Bluenose II rebuild in Lunenburg. Premier Stephen McNeil states there are too many questions surrounding the project. The AG's review will shed some light on why the project is so over budget.. Earlier this week, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation revealed through a freedom of information request that some supplies for the schooner were purchased at a 43 percent mark-up price. It's believed the cost of the project has soared over its $16 million price-tag.

Martin, Whalen Among Nominees For Athletics Nova Scotia Awards

A number of South Shore athletes have been nominated for awards from Athletics Nova Scotia. Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh and Jenna Martin along with Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen are up for top senior female. Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan and Conquerall Mills' Mattias Wolter are up for top senior male. Tobias Wolter, also of Conquerall Mills, is nominated for youth male athlete of the year. Bluenose Athletics coach Tanya Daniels is in the running to win the High Performance Coach Excellence award. The awards will be handed out March 1.

Ready! Set! Zoom! Gas Prices Expected To Rise Again!

Gas prices at South Shore pumps will likely rise again overnight tonight when the provincial utility and review board sets prices for the coming week. In New Brunswick today, regular self serve there is up two cents a litre. Diesel is up 5 cents. The Nova Scotia Utility & Review Board will set our prices at midnight and the increases are expected to be similar to those in New Brunswick. Diesel may remain unchanged here though after this week's increase of 6 cents a litre.

Queens-Shelburne Tories To Hear From Leader Baillie

Provincial Progressive Conservatives in Queens-Shelburne will meet tonight. Leader Jamie Baillie will be the keynote speaker at their annual general meeting. He will outline how the party's new role as official opposition will work.



Queens-Shelburne was a seat the Progressive Conservatives narrowly lost in the October election. NDP MLA Sterling Belliveau held on to the seat by 363 votes over the PC's Bruce Inglis - who finished second.

Tonight's AGM begins at 7:30 at the Liverpool Lions Hall.

Ice Creating Challenge For LaHave Ferry Resumption

The Department of Transportation remains optimistic that the LaHave River Ferry will be back in service by the end of the week. Spokeswoman Pam Menchenton says there is a considerable amount of ice in the river. She says crews on site are hoping for wind and good tides to shift the ice that would allow the ferry to be hooked back up to the cable. The ferry has been out of service since January 3 after it broke free from its cable during a strong wind and snowstorm.

Flag Signing Held For Alex Duckworth

Lunenburg County's newest Olympian is about to get an extra push from local residents. The Municipality of Lunenburg and town of Bridgewater are giving people a chance to sign flags that will be given to Alex Duckworth before she competes in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The flag signing will begin Friday night at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. One of the mayors, Don Downe, feels the support will mean a lot to Duckworth.



Both councils have also agreed to contribute $1,000 to help support Duckworth and her training. Flags will be available to sign until February 6 before Duckworth's parents take them to Sochi. Duckworth competes in the women's half-pipe snowboarding event on February 12. Below are the the dates when the flags will be available to sign at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre.

Flag signing dates and times

January 31 - 6pm to 9pm
February 1 - 10am to 6pm
February 2 - 10am to 5pm
February 3 - 3:30pm to 5pm
February 4 - 3:30pm to 8pm
February 5 - 3:30pm to 8pm
February 6 - 3:30pm to 5pm

Less Than Ideal Driving Conditions

A reminder of road conditions this morning (Thursday) along the South Shore. Most have been ploughed overnight but most are still snow covered and ice underneath. The 103 is snow packed this morning so drive carefully, especially along the stretch from Bridgewater to Upper Tantallon. By the way, the back road closure plan is in effect for Lunenburg & Queens school buses.

Power Out In Eastern Section of South Shore

There's a power outage this morning in the eastern portion of the South Shore! Some 1200 homes are without power in the St. Margarets Bay area including areas along Highway 333 from Upper Tantallon to McGraths Cove including Tantallon, Glen Haven, French Village, Seabright, Glen Margaret, Hacketts Cove, Indian Harbour, Peggy's Cove, Middle Village, East and West Dover. Also without electricity, Upper Tantallon to Ingramport including Allen Heights, Head of St. Margarets Bay, Masons Point and Boutiliers Point. NSP hopes to have the power back on to everyone around 8am.

South Shore Curlers Ready For Scotties

A pair of South Shore curlers are about to begin their quest to bring a national women's curling title back to Nova Scotia for the first time since 2004. Jill Brothers of Liverpool and Blisse Joyce of Lunenburg will represent the province as part of Team Smith when the Scotties Tournament of Hearts kicks off on Saturday in Montreal. Joyce is competing in her third Scotties. For Brothers, it's only her second time competing at the national event after playing in 2007. She says she's better prepared for this year's event.



Nova Scotia opens up play Saturday afternoon against Newfoundland and Labrador.