AIMS Report Card

2009-04-22 06:45:58

South Shore schools are faring well in a report that grades educational facilities and academic achievement in the Maritimes.  The AIMS report card was released yesterday and the high school in Barrington Passage was third overall on the list for Nova Scotia Schools.  The think-tank gave a grade of A-minus for Barrington Municipal High School. 
Coming in 24th with a B-minus is Park View Education Centre in Bridgewater.  And with the same grade are number 26 Shelburne Regional High School and number 27 Bridgewater Junior-Senior High.  Liverpool Regional High School ranked 46th and Forest Heights Community School was 50th, both with a c-plus grade.  Eighteen other schools are unranked on this year's list.  AIMS says the fundamental belief that schools could get better, over time, that led to the launch of the first AIMS Annual Report Card on Atlantic Canadian High Schools in 2003. Visit http://www.aims.ca for the complete report.

Crab Charges

2009-04-22 06:11:33

Fishery officers from Liverpool have charged a Lunenburg county fisherman for an incident last Friday.  The man is from Dublin Shore.  He was arrested for possession female crabs while fishing for lobster.  A court date is set for June 10th in Bridgewater.

Foreign Fear

2009-04-22 06:10:02

The Region of Queen's isn't buying into the Buy Back Nova Scotia coalitions' concern over the Irving's private sale of 170 thousand acres.  The lands are located in Annapolis, Digby and Yarmouth counties.  Mayor John Leefe says the paranoia associated with possible foreign ownership is unfounded. He calls it a typically Canadian condition. And Mayor Leefe says what better way to extract a  high price than to create a public demand for the government to belly up to the bar and buy the lands. Leefe says it was only around 15 years ago that the Irvings purchased most of the land now for sale, from Bowater/Mersey for 34 million dollars.

R-o-Queens Budget

2009-04-21 06:01:04

It's a status quo budget for the Region of Queens Municipality as far as tax rates.. Mayor John Leefe says Council was able to hold the line on residental rates at 88 cents per 100 dollars of assessemnt for Districts 1 to 12.  Tax rates for Liverpool also remain unchanged at $1.85 per $100 of assessment.  Commercial rates are going up in all districts by 8 cents due to the phase out of the Business Occupancy Assessment.  Leefe says the greatest challenge for the Region will come into play next year with the loss of 1.6 million in revenue from the Nova Scotia Power  Corporation grant.   Leefe says the implementation won't take effect till the next fiscal year, April 1st, 2010. A number of other municipal units will also be affected by the province wide re-evaluation of Nova Scotia Power properties.

Car Thieves

2009-04-21 05:59:23

RCMP say they've arrested several teenagers who they accuse of stealing cars in Shelburne county recently.  Early on April 10th, someone took a vehicle from King Street in Shelburne, ditching it in Lockeport. A mini-van was then stolen from Cliff street and was driven and dumped back in Shelburne.  Police say early last Saturday morning, someone trying to steal a vehicle from Brewhouse Lane was scared off by the owner. Over the next few hours, other vehicles were entered on Woodlawn Drive and ransacked.  They were able to get another vehicle started and took off.  An RCMP officer on patrol tried to stop a vehicle on Water Street for a minor violation. That's when the vehicle sped off on Highway 103 towards Liverpool.  Police, citing safety issues didn't follow.  Investigators say the joint work between Shelburne, Queens and the Forensic lab in Yarmouth helped them get the stolen vehicle back and identified several of the people involved.  But they say because they are being charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, none of them can be identified. 

Assaulter Jailed

2009-04-21 05:58:20

A 30-year old Barrington Passage man has been taken back to jail for violating the conditions of his parole.  Sergeant Bob Forbes says a woman called 9-1-1 around 5:30 Sunday morning.  She had left their home after allegedly being assaulted by her common-law husband.  Police arrested the man charging him with Assault and Possession of a Controlled substance.  He will be taken back to Provincial Court in Barrington for an appearance on May 21st.

Bowater Back

2009-04-20 09:11:28

Employees at Bowater Mersey Paper Company are heading back to work on today following a five-week shutdown.  So far though, Union officials aren't commenting until they get more information about what's happening with the Queens county plant.  Today is the end of the plant's second five-week shut down in the past five months.  The parent company, AbibitBowater Inc. is seeking bankruptcy protection in the United States and Canada.  A 51/49-percent partnership with the Washington Post exempts the Brooklyn property from bankruptcy proceedings.  Union leaders have told CBC they have no idea whether the separation from the current action will benefit the local mill in the long term. A shutdown at the mill would affect more than 500 jobs in the region.

Joining Forces

2009-04-20 05:45:09

The Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce recently made presentations before two councils seeking input of their budgets.  Chamber President Craig Collins told both the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg and Town of Bridgewater having cohesive municipal units will result in creating an attractive business environment for the current business base and a competitive advantage to luring new business to the region. Sandra Richards, Chair of the Chamber's Advocacy Committee says there are concerns about rising commercial rate assessment trends, and on the day to day issues, there are concerns about the rising cost of fees in respect to services provided.

Municipal Budget

2009-04-20 05:44:12

No  hints at what's to come in the budget for the Municipality of Lunenburg, but Mayor Don Downe says it's going to be a challenge. Downe says the Municipality has a new working committee, the Budget/Finance Committe that has been working very hard in conjunction with staff.  Downe wouldn't speculate on whether it will be a status-quo budget that will be able to hold the line on tax rates.

Georges Moratorium

2009-04-17 12:11:51

Shelburne's MLA is urging the MacDonald government to commit to an extension of a ban on drilling on Georges Bank.
Sterling Belliveau accuses the Conservatives of ignoring the opinion and advice of the fishing industry in South West Nova.  He says no one in government will stand up on behalf of the industry and the thousands of jobs it provides.  Belliveau says the reaction to potential drilling on Georges Bank is something coastal communities don't want.   This week, Energy Minister Barry Barnet again raised the issues of ending the Georges Bank moratorium during a speech in Halifax. The moratorium expires on December 31, 2012.  Belliveau says people deserve an independent review of the moratorium and the potential risks of it not being in place.

Furey Runs

2009-04-17 05:43:49

He's spent 29 years serving the community with the RCMP. Thursday night, Mark Furey is heading down a different road as he enters politics. The Staff Sergeant with the Lunenburg County detachment is being acclaimed as the Liberal Candidate for Lunenburg West. Furey tells CKBW he wants to offer something different than what voters have come to expect from politicians.  Furey will be running against Gary Ramey of the NDP and Carolyn Bollivar Getson who is holding her nomination meeting the same night.

Queens Place Cash

2009-04-17 05:42:25

The Federal Government has come through with funding for the proposed Queens Place Recreation and Community Centre.  South Shore/St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy made the announcement in Liverpool Thursday morning.        Councillor Doug Adams who chairs the Queens Place Recreation Committee says the 7 million dollars  towards the project is a great step forward. Mayor John Leefe says Council is working towards obtaining other funding as well.  The 26 million dollar project will include a fitness centre, aquatic centre, fitness studios, community rooms, a walking track and an NHL sized arena with seating for 900.

Fire Help

2009-04-17 05:41:23

Community members are working at helping a young couple from Queens county who lost everything in a fire.  Firefighters will be setting up to accept donations of clothing and other items at the North Queens station.  And a bank account is being opened to accept money for the young family from Pleasant River.  The house was owned by Angela and Christopher Cherry, who bought it in October 2006. They lived there with their five-year-old daughter.  Both parents were working in Bridgewater when the fire broke out Wednesday morning, and their pre-schooler was in daycare.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The provincial Fire Marshal was on the scene today.

Pleasant River Fire

2009-04-15 12:08:59

A young family of three is staying with family after a fire destroyed their home in Pleasant River.  The North Queens Fire Association called on mutual aid from Liverpool and Hemford and Annapolis Royal stood by.  Highway 208 was blocked off to traffic for several hours Wednesday.  The two-story dwelling was fully engulfed in flames  when members arrived on scene. There were no injuries as both parents were at working at the time and their pre-schooler was in daycare. The cause of the fire, which was reported around 10:30 yesterday morning, is under investigation.  The home was insured. Canadian Red Cross volunteers will be assisting with emergency food, replacement clothing and personal-care items. Pleasant River is about  30 kilometres west of Bridgewater.

Academy Plans

2009-04-15 06:10:44

The Town of Lunenburg is getting a new Primary to Grade 9 school. The location, yet to be determined will replace the Lunenburg Academy, the town's  junior high school, Centre Consolidated and Riverport and District Elementary.  Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says the Academy, almost a sacred property in the Town  will operate in some capacity or other. Mawhinney says the Academy is too valuable a property to lose. Mayor Mawhinney says the Lunenburg Academy Foundation was formed in 1981 with the intent that when the Academy was no longer required as a school it could be used for other purposes.

Queens Denied

2009-04-15 06:08:46

Good news for the Town of Lunenburg..not so good for Liverpool. Premier Rodney Macdonald and Education Minister Judy Streatch announced nearly 32 million in new construction and renovations for schools in Lunenburg and Queens counties yesterday.  Toping the list is a new P-9 school for the Lunenburg, Centre and Riverport area at a cost of 21.5 million.  South Shore Regional School Board Chair Elliott Payzant was disappointed that the other  top priority for the region, a new middle school for South Queens, was not approved as requested.  The Board and the community have worked for several years for a much needed renovation to South Queens Junior High School.  Now, that building has deteriorated to the point that a renovation is not sufficient; a replacement facility is required,  The new capital list released yesterday topped up the original allocation for the delayed renovation with an additional 2.7 million providing a total of 8 million for an addition to the Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy.

New Schools

2009-04-14 10:35:59

Premier Rodney MacDonald and Education Minister Judy Streatch announced a three-hundred-and-seven million-dollar school construction-and-renovation program today.  Eight leading-edge schools will be built and forty-one others renovated under the program, part of the province's Building For Growth economic stimulus plan.  Premier MacDonald says the projects will give the province even more world-class schools to help prepare the leaders of  tomorrow and leave a lasting legacy for Nova Scotians.    The new schools include a P-9 in Lunenburg that will be open by 2011.   Renovations were announced including a 2-million dollar project at Bridgewater Elementary, 250-thousand for New Ross Consolidated and 2-million in upgrades at Park View Education Centre. Clark's Harbour in the Tri-County will see 3.48 million in renovation work.

 

Business Award

2009-04-14 10:26:25

A Shelburne county business owner is one of this year's nominees for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2009.  The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network will hand out the honour at a ceremony later this month (April 20th) in Halifax.  Terry Stewart of Terry's Accounting/Tax Centre, Shelburne County is nominated this year. He's competing against the owners of Sew Sweet in Canning; In Good Hands Massage Therapy; In-Thread-Able Design; Marshall Marks Cards and Creations and Perrier’s Concrete Homes all of H-R-M.  In its 11th year, the annual Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes and celebrates entrepreneurs with disabilities who have demonstrated business growth, innovation, passion and persistence.   EDN's 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year award recipient was Cedric Robicheau of Meteghan, who founded the multi-million dollar venture, BMC Seafoods.

Karissa remembered

2009-04-13 10:33:54

For some in the Bridgewater area, it is a memorial to a young life taken too soon.  And for some of her family, it's a painful reminder of how Karissa Boudreau's life ended.  In the days after her body was found on the outskirts of Bridgewater, the site became a place where people left teddy bears, poems and notes of compassion.  Volunteers have been keeping the site clean and there have been other tributes and memorials to the young murdered girl on the spot since last year.  A family member has posted a note on a Facebook site that says all of the items have been removed according to the wishes of the family.  Tracy Crouse writes they "don't want to forget the public's help through the tragedy their family has endured" adding they appreciate the "kind words thoughts and prayers, donations to the animal shelter and for everyone's time keeping the site clean and beautiful".   Crouse goes on to say the family has a different outlook on what that site means and if people want to plant a flower or two in memory of Karissa that would be appreciated.  But they say they want to remember her for the good things she had done and represents, not how she died or where she was found.   Karissa was murdered by her mother who later claimed she had run off in a snowstorm last year. Her body was found over the bank along the LaHave River just outside of Bridgewater.

Senator Duffy

2009-04-13 05:43:40

A former political commentator turned politician will be the special guest at an upcoming nomination meeting on the south shore.  Senator Mike Duffy is the guest speaker coming up a week from today at the Bridgewater Legion.  The long-time television commentator will be in town at the invitation of the PC Association for Lunenburg West.  Conservative Cabinet Minister and twice elected M-L-A Carolyn Bollivar Getson will be holding a meet-and-greet and Chinese Auction followed by a dinner. The "Duff-ster" will speak later in the evening.