Yarmouth: No Injuries Following Barn Fire

The Canadian Red Cross says a family of four escaped injury after a fire caused major damage to their home near Yarmouth. The fire destroyed a barn attached to their home in South Ohio on Monday night. It also caused extensive damage to their older wood-frame home. The couple and their two children were not home at the time of the fire. They are staying with relatives have have been helped with emergency purchases such as food and clothes. The Red Cross says passing motorists who saw the smoke and flames rescued three pet dogs and a rabbit  from the house. Firefighters from the Yarmouth, Lake Vaughn, and Valley and District responded to the blaze.

Acadian Seaplants Expanding; Province Supports Project

A Nova Scotia company is sprucing up two of its facilities on the South Shore. Biotech group Acadian Seaplants is investing more than $4-million for new equipment at its Yarmouth and Charlesville, Shelburne County plants. It also includes the company's Cornwallis facility. The expansion is expected to increase capacity, introduce new technologies, and enhance product quality and worker safety. Acadian Seaplants harvests and processes seaweed for global markets involving specialty fertilizer products and animal feed supplements. The company expects to add roughly 30 jobs throughout its operations over the next three years. The province is also contributing almost $540,000 to support the project. (Photo Courtesy: Acadian Seaplants Limited)

Teen Tells Court He Was Blindfolded, Chained To Bed

Chilling details are being revealed in the sexual assault case involving a teenage boy who was chained up for 10 days inside a cabin in Lunenburg County. Sixty-four year old John Leonard MacKean is facing two charges in relation to his alleged role in the incident which took place in September 2012. The alleged victim - a teenage boy - was the first witness to take the stand  in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Bridgewater. He told court he was blindfolded and chained to a bed while he was sexually assaulted by David Leblanc and Wayne Cunningham. The teenager also testified about a third man involved in the sexual acts. However, the boy was blindfolded and could not clearly identify the other individual. Evidence of chains, a blanket from the bed and a blindfold were submitted as evidence by the Crown prosecutor. Defence lawyer Mike Taylor will cross examine the alleged victim this afternoon. The trial is being heard before a judge and 12 member jury. It's expected to last three days.

Yarmouth Prepares To Welcome New Ferry

Just a month and a half before ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine resumes and excitement is building. Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood says the community's "All Hands On Deck" campaign will be holding a special public meeting Wednesday evening. The mayor says it'll be a good prelude to May 1st, an update on whats happening.



The NovaStar left Singapore on the weekend bound for Boston. It'll take the new vessel about a month to travel the 16-thousand kilometers. The NovaStar is also expected to travel to Yarmouth for a courtesy call prior to the start up of service May 1st.

High Liner Supports Lunenburg Academy Of Music Performance

Proponents with the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance have secured a second major financial donation. High Liner Foods Inc. has committed a $100,000 funding agreement over four years with the international school of music. It follows a $100,000 investment last October from Susan and Guenther Reibling, owners of Lunenburg-based Stellar Investment. The support from High Liner will allow LAMP to negotiate a lease agreement with the town for the third floor of the Lunenburg Academy building. LAMP will open its doors to the world on October 13 with the first annual Rossini Opera Academy. The distinguished Maestro, Alberto Zedda will conduct an intense two-week course on modern Rossini performance techniques. President of LAMP's Board of Directors, Ellen Wathen, says they have more potential donors in place and expect to release more news in April.

Sexual Assault Trial Underway in Bridgewater Supreme Court

The sexual assault trial of a Lower Sackville man got underway this morning in Bridgewater Supreme Court. John Leonard MacKean is facing two charges involving a chained-up teenage boy in a cabin in Upper Chelsea in 2012. The 64 year old is also charged with communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services from a person under 18. Crown prosecutor Lloyd Tancock says three witnesses will be called over the coarse of the trial. The young boy is expected to be one of the witnesses. A 12 member jury, consisting of 7 women and 5 men, was selected yesterday. Defence lawyer Mike Taylor will represent the accused. The high profile case is expected to last about three days.

Dying With Dignity Holds Lunenburg County Talks

A new Dying with Dignity chapter in Nova Scotia believes people deserve to know their rights regarding end-of-life choices.  Volunteers with the chapter are hoping to shine some light on the issue on the South Shore A pair of talks are planned for Tuesday. The first one will be at the Mahone Bay Centre at 2pm. Another talk is scheduled for 6:30pm inside the Margaret Hennigar Public Library at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre.