Sudden Death

RCMP in Lunenburg county are calling it a sudden death but say no foul play is suspected. Staff Sergeant Mark Furey says their members were called to a home in Barrs Corner just after midnight Saturday. Paramedics were already on scene when officers arrived. The crews had already started working on the 48 year old woman but she was pronounced deceased about 15 minutes later. An autopsy is being conducted today. Again, police do not suspect foul play.

Inflated Tire Demand

With snow in the forecast, snowtires are top of mind. And it's extremely busy at the tireshops on the south shore today. Wally Pike with Goodyear Tire Center says it's been non-stop for the past few days since the talk started about the upcoming snowfall. He says they were there until late last night and it will likely be the same story in the next few days. Valley Tire staff has been busy as well trying to fit in all of the customers who have been stopping in for winter treads. And Rick Womboldt of G-C-R tire center says it's the same at their shop. He feels winter tires are more top-of-mind this season because of what happened last year. There was a shortage of tires in the maritimes because Quebec had legislated the use of winter tires. He says it sparked interest and has educated drivers about the benefits of snow tires. Most of the shops that sell or service tires are very busy with some booking appointments for next week even with extended hours trying to catch up to the demand.

Gearing Up

It's the first forcast snowfall of the season. And crews with the Department of Transportation are gearing up for whatever comes down tomorrow. Snowfall of between 2 and 10 centimeters could be hitting inland areas through tonight and tomorrow. It's expected to be rain along the coastal areas of the south shore. There's a good supply of salt on hand and the mechanics are getting the ploughs ready for the snow tomorrow. But the biggest factor will be how drivers deal with the first snowfall. And D-O-T crews are hoping people will use care and caution as they head out on potentially slippery roads.

Cornwall Road Fire Call

An early start to the day for volunteer firefighters. Blockhouse was called out to a shed on fire at 448 Cornwall Road around quarter after five. They were rolling up on the scene within fifteen minutes. Mahone Bay crews weren't far behind as they were called in to assist. And a team from Lunenburg was called in to help with a cascade system. Nova Scotia Power showed up to cut off the power to the property and RCMP were also called in to the scene. So far, no word on what may have caused the fire. The last of the trucks were backing in to the Blockhouse hall around ten to eight.

Pot Seizure

A Gold River man is facing charges after a seizure of more than 70 pounds of processed marijuana . Officers of the South Shore Integrated Street Crime Unit searched two homes in Gold River on Monday, one on Bridgeview Drive the other on the Beech Hill Road . Thirty-nine year old Leroy James Hatt is facing charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for illegal production of marijuana and possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. Hatt is slated to appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court on December 16th for election and plea. Police are continuing their investigation.

Race Charges

Race on the track, not on the street. It's a message they didn't hear and now they are lucky enough to still be alive to face charges. Lunenburg County RCMP confirm there was a two vehicle accident in Lower Branch on Thanksgiving Day around 4:30 in the afternoon. Staff Sergeant Mark Furey says police were able to establish both vehicles were racing on the public road at the time. And that contributed to the crash. One vehicle left the road, ending up in the woods and according to witnesses, barely missed two telephone poles. One of the male drivers was taken to South Shore Regional where he was checked out and then released. Police say both drivers are charged with "racing" under the motor vehicle act and will be in court December 2nd to enter plea.

Suspicious Activity

RCMP are investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle in the Chester Basin area. An unknown male allegedly approached two kids waiting for the school bus on Wednesday and asked them to get in his vehicle. The car is described as a large sedan with four doors and beige in colour. The male driver was wearing a grey knitted hat with a red lumber jacket, and he had a crooked tooth on his bottom row of teeth. Anyone with information concerning the incident is asked to contact the Chester RCMP or Crimestoppers.

More Money

The Government of Canada is contributing more than $400,000 through the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan for the revitalization of downtown Bridgewater. The announcement was made Thursday by South Shore/St. Margaret's MP, Gerald Keddy. The funding is for Phase 1 of a five-phase concept to revitalize the LaHave River Waterfront and the downtown core of the Town. This phase will include site upgrades and the installation of a fountain in the King Street Court Park as well as a floating gazebo, gangway ramp, stairs, and look off point, site furniture, and interpretive panels and signage. Keddy then travelled to Mahone Bay for another funding announcement.The Town is receiving more than $100,thousand through the Innovative Communities Fund to support a series of upgrades to the Mahone Bay Community Centre. The investment will allow for the creation of resource space for youth, local groups, and entrepreneurs as well as reduce the operating and energy costs of the facility.

Drug Search

It's the latest success for the Integrated Street Crime Enforcement unit on the south shore. RCMP and Bridgewater police say they've seized twenty pounds of marijuana from a home they searched in New Russell, Lunenburg county. The warrant landed them the pot and an unsecured firearm. A 41-year old New Russell man is now facing charges of production and posession. His court date is set for December 2nd for the accused to enter a plea.

Smoke Sentencing

A Mount Pleasant man who pleaded guilty to possessing tobacco not bearing the prescribed markings will be sentenced next month. Fifty-four year old Ronald Nelson Veinot was charged under the provincial Revenue Act. He's also facing charges of possession illegal cigarettes under the federal Excise Act and producing and possessing marihuana. The charges stem from a search of Nelson's Mount Pleasant residence in March. Police seized 29 thousand illegal cigarettes and three pounds of processed marihuana. A pre-sentence report has been requested. Nelson will return for sentencing November 18th.

Police Post

It's inflatable and missing. RCMP are looking into a report of a boat stolen from Marriotts Cove. It has a white outboard motor attached and it went missing overnight Friday. Not locking their car doors ended up with a call to police. Also Friday night, someone rifled through a couple of vehicles parked at a residence on Summer Crescent in Bridgewater. Last Wednesday evening, a black Hyundai Accent was damaged in the Brigdewater Mall Parking Lot. It was parked near the "B" entrance. And overnight Tuesday, someone broke into a garage on Miller Drive. They stole a poulan power saw, delta mitre saw, an air compressor and a fishing rod.

Staying in Jail

A Bridgewater man who was arrested and returned from Calgary will remain behind bars until his next court appearance October 7th. Twenty-two year old Cory Kyle Langille is facing nine charges including two of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with a pair of early morning stabbings in Bridgewater on June 29th, 2008. Both victims were taken to hospital in serious condition and required surgery. A Canada wide warrant was issued for Langille and Bridgewater Police travelled to Alberta when he was located and arrested August 21st at his brother's Southwest Calgary apartment.

Not Fair Game (note content)

Grabbing a female clerk's breast and making inappropriate remarks has landed a Hebb's Cross man probation for a year. Fifty-seven year old Donald Warden Tanner received a suspended sentence and was ordered to take counselling and submit a DNA sample and will be listed with the Sexual Offenders Registry for 10 years. Tanner was charged with sexual assault following the incident at an Italy Cross gas station March 26th. Although Judge Anne Crawford agreed the offence was on the low end of scale she told Tanner the time has passed when men can consider women fair game in public, and there must be consequences for his behaviour. The victim in an impact statement to the court says she is now fearful of people and feels she might be touched if she is "too cheerful."

Pot Seizures

They were in the skies over Lunenburg county on the annual Marihuana Eradication program. RCMP say there were around 100 marihuana plants seized County-wide during an operation carried out yesterday (September 15, 2009). It was a group search and seizure involving a helicopter, The RCMP Marihuana Grow Operations Team, Lunenburg County RCMP, the South Shore Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Team and the Bridgewater Police Service. Police have been getting help from the public and say they can use more help. They are encouraging people to report suspicious behavior to local police or Crime Stoppers.

Bathroom Plans

A public washroom for the Village of Chester is one step closer. The Village Commission recently unveiled plans for a new washroom at the Lido Pool at a cost of about 70 thousand dollars. Chester Warden Alan Webber says Municipal Council has indicated they might be able to offer some assistance but hasn't had any recent communication with the Commission. The Village Commission had previously made a request to Council for assistance with the washroom, and upgrades to the changehouses.

New Chambers?

It's not in the near future but Lunenburg Municipal Council will explore options for a budget timeline and financing for the construction of a new administration building. Mayor Don Downe says they're looking at putting money aside if they decide to move forward. Downe says a study shows staff have outgrown the current administration building at 210 Aberdeen Road. Former C-A-O Doug Quinn brought the issue to council's attention in his 2004 annual report. At that time he said the three decade old building was overcrowded . Council did set aside over $100 thousand dollars in that year's budget for repairs and renovations.

Former Jail Idle

The former jail in Centre still sets idle eight years after it was closed for good. The last inmates left the facility in May 2001 and the building reverted to the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Mayor Don Downe says a recent proposal for the property was not supported by Council and there's nothing concrete in the works. The Lunenburg County Correctional Centre better known as the Centre Jail first opened in 1950.

Biker Critical

A 56 year old man is in critical condition at the QE-2 in Halifax (as of the last update given to police yesterday afternoon around four). The man was involved in a car/bicycle collision Thursday morning. The cyclist, from Garden Lots was struck by a car around 7:40 in the morning on Route 3 in front of Center Consolidated School. The driver of the car is a 35 year old man from Bridgewater. He is an employee with the South Shore Regional School Board. RCMP say the vehicle was pulling into the driveway at the school when it collided with the cyclist. The driver told police he was blinded by the sun and didn't see the bicycle. Police say they are still investigating.

Cyclist Update

A 50 year old man has been transferred to the QE2 in critical condition after he was involved in a car/bicycle accident Thursday morning. The cyclist, from Garden Lots was struck by a car around 7:40 Thursday morning on Route 3 near Center Consolidated School. The operator of the vehicle, a 35 year old male from Bridgewater is an employee with the South Shore Regional School Board. RCMP Staff-Sgt. Mark Furey says the accident is still under investigation, the cause has yet to be determined. He says these were unfortunate circumstances and has a caution for motorists and pedestrians. Staff Sgt. Furey says there is zero tolerance for those who don't obey the regulations in school zones.

Bike vs Car

A bit of a scene for kids heading back on the first day. Lunenburg and District Firefighters were called out to help paramedics after an accident between a car and a bicycle this morning on Route 3. That was around 7:40 in front of Center Consolidated school. A man, believed to be in his fifties, was knocked unconscious in the collision. No other details are available at this time.