Fishermen's Memorial ER Closure

A staff shortage forcing a temporary closure of the Emergency Department at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital. The Lunenburg E.R. will be closed tonight (Aug.6th) from 6:30 pm until 7:30 Saturday morning (Aug.7th) due to the unavailability of staff to cover the shift. Area residents requiring emergency services are advised to call 9-1-1 or visit South Shore Regional in Bridgewater. Patients with non-emergencies should contact their family physician or Health Link 8-1-1 for medical advice.

Stockwell Day Addresses Chamber of Commerce

The president of the Treasury Board says our nation's economy is in better condition than those of other countries emerging from the global downturn.

Stockwell Day said during a luncheon address to the Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday that they should not to take his word for it.

He says that the International Monetary Fund, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development -- as well as the World Economic Forum -- have praised Canada's economic performance.

Day also noted that the magazine, "The Economist", calls Canada an "economic miracle."
___

MURDER ARREST IN LUNENBURG

A young man facing a charge of second-degree murder has been arrested in Lunenburg. R-C-M-P found 20-year-old Robert Harris Lamb at an apartment in the town on Wednesday evening.
Lamb was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant in connection with a fatal New Year's Eve brawl at a house party in Antigonish.
25 year-old Jonathan Beaton died in hospital New Years Day, four hours after police were called to a brawl that broke out at a house party in Antigonish.

Tent Dwellers Canoe Festival

The 2010 Tent Dwellers Canoe Festival will be celebrated at Kejimkujik National Park next week. Parks Canada, in cooperation with Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia and Friends of Keji Cooperating Association, will celebrate wilderness camping, conservation, local history, and the canoe on Friday, August 13 through Sunday, August 15. As part of Friday nights festival there will be a viewing of a Meteor shower at 9:30pm. Tent Dwellers activities are free with regular admission to park. Bring or rent a canoe to recreate a section of the Tent Dwellers route Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. Depart Jakes Landing as part of a large canoe flotilla and head for tea and biscuits at Kedge Beach. For a complete schedule of events for this weekend celebration, please visit www.tentdwellers.ca, or for more information call (902) 682-2772. Tent Dwellers activities are free with regular admission to park.

Property Damage at Petro-Can

Bridgewater Police are investigating property damage to the Petro-Can station on North Street. On July 25th, during the evening hours a canopy was loosened and eventually fell over. There were no injuries and relatively minor damage. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bridgewater Police or CRIMESTOPPERS.

TWO ARRESTED IN SEFFERINSVILLE DRUG RAID

The RCMP have arrested two people in connection with a pot growing operation in Lunenburg County.

The Mounties say they interrupted an outdoor marihuana growing operation when they raided a residence in the Sefferensville area yesterday.

The police seized a quantity of maraihuana during the raid.

The two people arrested in the operation will appear in court at a later date to face numerous charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act.

Age-Friendly Community

The Municipality of Chester is looking at ways to become an "age friendly" community. Warden Alan Webber says Chester is pretty much a retirement community. Council is applying for funding of 5 thousand dollars through the Age-Friendly Communities Grant Program of the Nova Scotia Department of Seniors. The money will be used to assess the age friendliness of the Municipality. Webber says once the assessment identifies barriers or specifics that need to be addressed, the Municipality will be in a better position for future funding opportunities related to senior projects and initiatives.

Grants to Organizations

Over 41 thousand dollars has been approved for grants to organizations by Chester Municipal Council. The amounts range from 100 to 75 hundred dollars. Warden Alan Webber says there's never enough money to fund all the requests every year. He says Council looks at the necessity of the grant request and what the project is. Webber says Council also looks at the amount of money the organization itself is putting into the project . He says they didn't expend all of the money, there's still 33 thousand 500 dollars left in the grants funding. Webber says there's a lot of year left and they know more grant requests will come in.

South Shore in Motion

The South Shore in Motion festival gearing up for this weekend in Bridgewater. Town Council has approved closing a portion of King Street from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday night to accommodate a meet and greet show vehicle display. The street closure takes in the main street between Dominion and Dufferin, and includes the old bridge. Most of the events for the festival are set for the Exhibition grounds between August 6th to the 8th and feature burnouts, truck pulls, celebrity lawn tractor races, a motorcycle poker run and an ATV challenge.

Stockwell Day to Address Chamber

The President of the Treasury Board of Canada will be in town on Friday (Augsut 6th) . Stockwell Day will be the featured guest speaker at a luncheon sponsored by the Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce. Friday's event
is set for at the Days Inn and Convention Centre on North Street in Bridgewater. Tickets are $20.00 for chamber members and $25.00 for non-members. Registration starts at 12:00 and the lunch will start at 12:30. All tickets must be reserved prior to the event. Please email bacc@eastlink.ca or call 902-543-4263 to reserve you seat.

South Shore Exhibtion Seeks More Safety

The South Shore Exhibition is adding new safety features after four people suffered injuries last week.

Organizers will add a new exercise area, in the rear parking lot, for pull horses next year.

South Shore Exhibition Commission Board Member, Christine Sarty, says the "scoot" area will help prevent any further accidents.

She says the board considered adding the pen this year but a lack of government funding hampered their plans.

Sarty says the commission doesn't take accidents lightly and will be discussing more safety measures at next month's board meeting.

Three young girls and a horse handler were injured when a horse became spooked and ran freely through the grounds.

Sarty says this year's fair was a success despite the unfortunate accident.

More than 44 thousand people attended the event, almost twelve hundred more than last year.

FIRE DAMAGES BRIDGEWATER SAVE EASY

Police and officials from the Fire Marshall's office are investigating a fire that took place early Sunday morning at the Bridgewater Shopping Plaza.

They suspect that the fire began after someone set a stack of wooden pallets on fire behind the Save Easy store.

The fire scorched the side of the building and sent flames to the roof before firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control.

There was smoke and water damage to the area of the plaza nearest the fire.

COMPUTER THEFTS FROM PENTZ ELEMENTARY

The RCMP are continuing their investigation into a weekend burglary at a Lunenburg County school.

Thieves made off with a number of items from Pentz Elementary School.

Among other things, they stole a computer laptop and two desktop computers.

Pirates Take Over Town

Pirates will be taking over the Town of Mahone for a three day festival that will be launched this morning. The Mahone Bay Regatta replaces the Classic Boat Festival which attracted approximately 50 thousand tourists last year. The New event will feature dory races, boat displays, historical re-enactments and free family entertainment. A news conference at the Mahone Bay Civic Marina,at 10:30 this morning will officially launch the Regatta.

New Ferry Christened

The new cable ferry on the LaHave River, was officially christened today,(July 29,) as the Brady E. Himmelman to honour a long-time local ferry operator. The $3.5-million ferry can carry 14 full-size cars, two more per trip than its predecessor, the LaHave II. It was designed by E-Y-E Marine Consultants of Dartmouth and built by A.F. Theriault and Son Ltd. of Meteghan River. Mr. Himmelman, who was in charge of the ferry at LaHave from 1948 until 1983, was on hand to witness the christening, which was performed by his wife, Ramona. Premier Darrell Dexter who was also on hand for the ceremony says the projectis one of many that are creating good jobs and growing our economy.

Arrests in West Dublin Fire

A fire last night in Lunenburg County has resulted in charges being laid against three people. RCMP have charged a male and female youth and an adult male with arson, break and enter and theft . The charges are in relation to the blaze that destroyed Risser"s General Store in West Dublin. Firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after 6 last evening and found the building engulfed in flames. RCMP evacuated the area around the fire and blocked-off Highway 331 for a short time as firefighters from several area departments battled the blaze.

RUNAWAY HORSES INJURE 4 AT "BIG EX"

Four people, including three girls between the ages of seven and 13, have been injured by a runaway team of horses at the South Shore Exhibition.
Police were called to the exhibition grounds around 5 p-m.
The horses' handler and two of the girls suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to South Shore Regional.
The third girl was airlifted to Halifax as a precaution and was listed in stable condition last night.

Charges in Car/Pedestrian Accident

A 54 year old man is facing charges resulting from a motor vehicle/pedestrian accident with injuries last Thursday.. The man is charged with " Backing a Vehicle When Unsafe" and will appear in court for plea September 15th. The accident happened at the Apple Berry Farm Market July 22nd around 5:45 pm. A 74 year old man was struck by a vehicle and was taken to South Shore Regional Hospital with
non-life threatening injuries. Police are continuing their investigation.

Church Vandalism

It's becoming all too common...another local church has been damaged by vandals. Lunenburg County RCMP is investigating a complaint of damage to the United Church in First South. The incident happened sometime between noon on July 18 and 9 a.m. July 25th. A knife was thrown at the front of the church multiple times causing damage. This particular church has been targeted by acts of vandalism in the past. RCMP is asking the public for assistance to come forward with any information they may have regarding the incident.

Legion Funding Announced

Royal Canadian Legion branches in the province will benefit from improved infrastructure under a new program announced today.( July 26.) The Legion Capital Assistance Program is a $100,000 provincial funding program. The application-based program will provide funding for repairs to existing legion buildings. Eligible projects include upgrades to wastewater and water systems, bathrooms, kitchens, heating systems and repairs or replacement of windows and roofs. The funding program will provide up to 50 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of 10-thousand dollars for approved projects. Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister Ramona Jennex was on hand for the announcement at the Bridgewater Legion Branch 24, on Churchill Street.