Farmer's Dairy Strike Update

The union president for Farmer's workers says the company hasn't been entirely truthful.

Brian Bennett says Farmers Dairy isn't using all non-unionized workers on the job.

He says they're also using SCAB workers, or people who aren't qualified to run the equipment.

Bennett says the fact that Farmers says its using ALL non-unionized workers is "completely false."

Andrea Hickey with Farmers Dairy says they are being forced to use temporary workers for distribution and are still dedicated to creating a quality product.

The strike has entered its ninth day and Bennett says there's still no planned talks between the two sides.

Jail Time for Drugs

A Bridgewater man has been sentenced to over two years in prison after pleading guilty to drug charges. Twenty five year-old Jason Samuel Emmons fled to Ontario in 2007 to try to avoid the charges but was arrested in May and brought back to the province. He pleaded guilty to three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and four Criminal Code charges late last week. Emmons will serve two years and four months in custody.

Sudden Death Investigated

Lunenburg County RCMP are investigating the sudden death of a 23-year-old woman early Saturday morning. Emergency Health Services responded to a call at a home on Stovepipe Lane in Mahone Bay around 7:30am July 17th.Police say the woman was in cardiac arrest and emergency personnel couldn't revive her.

Man Injuured in Fall

A Lunenburg man was taken to hospital this morning (Friday,July 16) after falling off a ladder while trying to get on his boat. Lunenburg County RCMP responded to the call shortly after 9am at the Fisherman's Wharf. Reports indicate the man fell approximately eight feet and landed on the concrete below. The man, whose name wasn't released, is from the local area. He was conscious and transported to hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Employment Solutions Funding

People with disabilities will get help preparing for jobs as a result of federal support for Employment Solutions Society. South Shore/St.Margarets M.P. Gerald Keddy, announced funding of 80 thousand, 434 dollars under the Community Coordinator component of the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities. The project will help 16 people with disabilities gain the skills they need to obtain jobs. Employment Solutions Society has delivered funding programs as a community coordinator for the last few years to clients with disabilities in the Lunenburg and Queens counties. As of July 5th,program delivery for the Opportunities Fund has been expanded to clients in Windsor and East Hants.The Opportunities Fund helps support an array of activities, such as increasing employability skills, providing work experience and preparing individuals for self-employment.

Chester Wharf Attack

He was supposed to have a trial date set, instead one of the men involved in a violent attack at a Chester wharf last summer entered a guilty plea to two charges of assault on Wednesday. Twenty-seven year old Joel Ray Meister admitted he kicked a man and threw rocks at a woman during the altercation last August 20th. The woman was sent to hospital with serious head injuries. The Crown and Defence both agreed Meister who had jumped into a scuffle to help a friend played a lesser role in the night's events and did not inflict the woman's injuries. He's been sentenced to 18 months on probation with a number of conditions and has been ordered to take counselling. Meantime, 29 year old Chad Wesley Swinimer has pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing bodily harm and will be sentenced August 30th.

Truck Ties Up Traffic

A truck mishap tied-up traffic in Bridgewater Monday evening shortly after 6:00 o'clock. Apparently, the parking-brakes on a lumber-truck did not prevent the vehicle from moving forward, allowing it to block North Street by the "Cookville Irving" and strike a tree on the opposite side of the road. A "loader" was needed to remove the lumber off the truck before it could be moved. Members of the Northfield Fire Department received assistance from Bridgewater firefighters for traffic-control while New Germany fire-fighters remained on "standby" at the Northfield Fire Hall.
***Photo..courtesy of Casey Boutilier***

Farmres Dairy Dispute Update

Talks remain stalled between the two sides of a local labour dispute.

The CEP-Local 40 Union and Farmer's Dairy haven't spoken since a 17-hour bargaining session on July 9th, resulting in both sides walking away for the table.

Union President Brian Bennett says though there are no plans for further talks, he believes the non-unionized workers filling in can only last so long.

The union is holding out because of issues surrounding pay, pension and force labour.

Over 240 workers have been off the job since 12:01 Saturday morning.

New Nurse for New Germany

The New Germany and Area Medical Centre is getting a temporary nurse. Dawn Chubbs has accepted a part-time role with South Shore Health, replacing Rob Snelling, who resigned earlier this month. Chubbs will see patients two to three days a week and will also work part-time with South Shore Health's stroke program. She'll start seeing patients starting July 26th.

Fire Departments to Merge

The Municipality of Lunenburg is going through a firefighting makeover. The decision to combine the Newcombville, Chelsea and Baker Settlement fire departments was approved at a Municipal Council meeting on Tuesday, July 13th. The mayor of the Municipality of Lunenburg, Don Downe, says the three fire department chiefs proposed the combination, to provide better service to the area. He says they're are also amalgamating because of issues surrounding old equipment, training and manpower.
Downe says the departments will get the help from the municipality's solicitor and clerk.

Car Hits Liverpool Bank

Queens RCMP are continuing their investigation into a motor vehicle mishap in which a car drove into the Scotiabank in Liverpool.

The incident occured Friday afternoon when a vehicle with two elderly occpants suddenly accelerated along Market Street and crashed into the ScotiaBank.

Before the car crashed into the building, it had already struck the Queens County By-Law Patrol Vehicle from behind and pushed it off the road.

The two occupants in the Patrol Vehicle, as well as the two elderly occupants of the car, were taken to the Queens General Hospital.

The Mounties report that all four people sustained "light to moderate injuries" and are expected to recover.

The Liverpool Scotiabank sustained extensive damage to its storefront.

The Queens R-c-M-P continue to look into the cause of the crash.

Two Men in Court for Alleged Robbery and Violence

Two men will appear in Bridgewater court Monday morning to face a number of charges.

On Thursday, July 8th, 2010, Bridgewater Police recieved a complaint of a robbery with violence on Victoria Road.

R-C-M-P arrested two men and held them overnight while the investigation continued.

On Friday, the two men were charged with numerous offences, including "robbery" and "assault causing bodily harm".

Man Hospitalized after Chelsea Highway Accident

A 46-year-old man has been taken to hospital after a highway accident in Lunenburg County.

The man was trapped inside a 2008 Astor after it went off the road on Highway-210 in Upper Chelsea shortly after 9:00 o'clock this morning.

The Chelsea Fire Department, along with the RCMP and an ambulance, were on the scene.

The Baker Settlement Fire Department also assisted at the site of the mishap.

Shelburne County Drug Raid

A 25-year-old man faces charges after an RCMP drug raid in Shelburne County.

The Mounties confiscated 63 marihuana plants yesterday when they used a search warrant to investigate a residence in Beaverdam.

They also found various articles used to grow marihuana.

The police arrested a Beaverdam resident in Shelburne in connection with the drug seizure.

They released him and he will appear at a later date in Shelburne Provincial Court to face a charge of "production of marihuana".

A member of the Shelburne county Street Crime Unit says there is no evidence that the pot was intended for sale anywhere other than in the local area.

Corporal Nancy Mason says that the marihuana would have had an estimated street-value of 60-thousand-dollars.

Alleged Killer in New Germany Shooting Asks for Lawyer

A Lunenburg County man accused of fatally-shooting his estranged-wife last week has apparently been able to tell authorities he wants a lawyer.

47-year-old Wayne Paul Eisnor of Barss Corner remains in "critical" condition in a Halifax hospital with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police allege that he shot 42-year-old Tina Mae Eisnor on June 30th in New Germany, before turning the gun on himself.

She died nearly eleven hours after the shooting.

He, however, survived and underwent surgery.

The court was told Monday that he remains in an "induced coma", under the watch of sheriff deputies.

A judge at Bridgewater Provincial Court was told yesterday that Wayne Eisnor is drifting in and out of consciousness but was able to write that he wants a lawyer.

Lunenburg Assault

The RCMP are investigating an assault that occurred last month.

During the early morning hours of June 26th, a male was assaulted on Falkland Street in Lunenburg.

The victim was then transported to hospital and later released.

Contact the Lunenburg County RCMP if you have any details regarding the incident.

Mountie Faces Impaired Driving Carges in Bridgewater

An RCMP officer will stand trial in December on charges of driving while impaired in Lunenburg County.

Catherine Frances Mansley was arrested on April 4th after a vehicle went off the road and into the ditch near Rissers Beach.

The 43-year-old Mansley is on "administrative duty" with the Mounties and, therefore, she is not working in a patrol car.

She did not appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court yesterday -- but her lawyer entered a "not guilty" plea on her behalf.

A half-day trial will be heard in Bridgewater on December 21st.

Bridgewater Sheriffs' Hours Not Reduced

The Department of Justice says it will cut back on the amount of hours worked by casual and part-time sheriffs.

The department confirms that the move will affect 23 out of 190 sheriffs working at courts across the province.

The exceptions are the sheriffs working at the courthouse on High Street in Bridgewater, as well as those at facilities in Halifax and Sydney.

Spokeswoman Jennifer Gavin says the affected workers will see their hours cut by 20-per-cent or more.

The justice critic for the Progressive conservatives says the reductions do not make sense.

Murray Scott says the previous Tory government beefed-up the sheriffs-service in response to some high-profile prisoner-escapes and complaints over a lack of resources.
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Outdoor Service for Tina Mae Eisnor

An outdoor service will be held Tuesday to celebrate the life of a woman who was gunned down in New Germany last week.

43-year-old Tina Mae Eisnor of Hemford died in hospital eleven hours after being shot while sitting in her van outside Barry's Freshmart last Wednesday afternoon.

Witnesses said the gunman then turned the weapon on himself.

Her husband -- 47-year-old Wayne Paul Eisnor of Barss Corner -- was charged with "first-degree murder" on Friday while lying in his bed in a Halifax hospital.

The memorial service is to be held at the home of her parents, Raeburn and Janet Illingworth, in Simpsons Corner.

The family has requested no visitation at the funeral home.

Murder Charge Laid in Shooting

A Barrs Corner man is being charged with first degree murder following a shooting incident on Wednesday.(June 30th). Forty-seven year old Wayne Paul Eisnor is charged in the death of Christina (Tina) Mae Eisnor. The Hemford woman died in hospital Wednesday night, hours after a double shooting outside Barry's Freshmart grocery store in New Germany.Police say the 47-year-old accused remains in hospital in critical condition but has been remanded into custody and will appear in court at a later date. RCMP Sergeant Brigdit Leger says investigators believe the woman was shot by a man who then turned the gun on himself. She says due to the privacy act the RCMP can't confirm any relationship between any two people but they can confirm that this was not a random incident.