EARL UPDATE (12:55 PM)

Its been a busy few hours for power crews along the South Shore as hurricane Earl passes through the area.

Overnight the storm changed direction and instead of making landfall in communities bordering the Bay of Fundy, it moved more toward the northeast travelling along the Atlantic coast.

However, the high winds, some gusts as high as 120 km/hr, brought trees down and power lines with them.

There have been numerous power outages all along the south shore from Barrington to Bridgewater and Lunenburg.

While the National Hurricane Centre in the United States categorized Earl as a tropical storm, the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Dartmouth confirmed the storm as a Category 1 hurricane late this morning.

Earl is now forecast to track across the mainland of the province through this afternoon in Halifax, Lunenburg, Guysborough and Pictou counties and into Antigonish.

High winds are also forecast for Cape Breton.

A tropical storm warning, hurricane watch, wind warning and a rainfall warning are still in effect for Bridgewater.

EARL Update

Environment Canada has advised that Hurricane Earl will likely have an effect on the province beginning Friday evening and through the weekend. A hurricane watch has been issued for Digby, Queens, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties. A tropical storm watch has been issued for Annapolis, Halifax, Hants, Kings, Lunenburg counties, as well as the Fundy side of Colchester and Cumberland counties. As the storm moves closer, its potential impact and strength will become clearer, allowing officials to better assess risk and provide more specific guidance. People are encouraged to have an emergency kit, cash, family contact information and shelter ready. People should also check if they have enough propane on hand to operate a barbecue, that vehicles are fully fuelled and cellphones are charged. Travellers through Halifax Stanfield International Airport should check with airlines for up-to-date information, and monitor fly halifax dot com.

Bridgewater Elementary NOTICE

Due to the work taking place on the Bridgewater Elementary School roof, the P-1 playground will only be accessible through the gate located at Queen Street. Parents of students in grade primary can bring them into the building and proceed to the primary wing. Grade 1 students will meet their teacher on the playground (weather permitting). Until the roof work is complete, the York Street entrance to the P-1 playground will not be accessible

RCMP SEEK HELP

RCMP are investigating a Break and Enter in Auburndale.

Lunenburg RCMP are requesting public assistance in solving a break and enter into a shed and a theft from a vehicle on the Auburndale Road.

The incident occurred overnight on Saturday, August 21st.

Those responsible caused damage to four sheds and stole money and a hammer from an unlocked vehicle.

Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to contact the Lunenburg County RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

Funding for Seniors

Seniors at risk of financial, emotional, physical, and other forms of elder abuse will be safer and more informed after 270 thousand dollars in annual grants for community-based programs. Seniors Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse says the province is inviting proposals from community organizations interested in supporting a local seniors' safety program. Funding is available to a maximum of 20 thousand dollars per program, per year. The programs develop and enhance awareness about seniors' safety topics in communities, promote communication between seniors and police, and encourage more contact between seniors and young people. More information on the grants and application forms are available at www.gov.ns.ca/seniors .

Red Cross Ready for EARL

The Canadian Red Cross says its emergency teams and equipment are ready to respond if their help is needed in the wake of hurricane Earl this weekend. The Red Cross has about 900 disaster volunteers in Atlantic Canada, organized geographically into 21 emergency response teams. They're trained and equipped to provide services like setting up and managing shelters or keeping track of those who might be evacuated due to flooding, storm surges or other infrastructure damage. Bill Lawlor, director of disaster management for the Red Cross in Atlantic Canada says now is also the time for individuals to take some precautions such as making - or updating - a household emergency plan, a list of key contacts, and a disaster kit to use at home or grab-and-go if evacuated. Tips on making a plan and a kit are online at redcross.ca/ready.

FRENCH SCHOOL

French students in Cookville will have to wait another day to say "bonjour" to a new facility.

Construction is taking longer than expected.

But principal of the Le Centre Scolaire de la Rive-Sud says it will be well worth the wait.

Diane Racette says everything about the building is bigger and better.

"There is no comparison. We are right now in a very old building so that in itself is a huge improvement. So we're going into school with a better ventilation system. We are also going into a school that is just filled with windows so we'll have a lot of natural light coming in, " says Racette.

The facility also holds a community centre, daycare, a music room and more classrooms.

The school is built to accommodate about 250 students.

With 159 students registered so far, Racette says there's room to grow.

"Even though were not at capacity right now I don't think it will be long before we are," says Racette.

Classes start September 7th.

Parents are welcome at accompany their children on the first day of school for a treasure hunt and barbecue.

Registration is still open.

VANDALISM IN CARPOOL PARKING LOT

Chester RCMP responded to a call of vandalism today.

A driver returned to their vehicle, parked at the Car Pool Parking Lot, to find the windshield smashed.

The damage was incurred sometime between the 27th and the 29th August.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Chester RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

LOGGING TRUCK LOSES CONTROL

Lunenburg RCMP are investigating a hit-and run.

A collision occurred on Highway 12 near the Gold River Bridge in New Ross yesterday morning around 8 o'clock.

Police say a fully loaded logging truck, travelling north, struck a small blue car.

No injuries were reported.

Investigators are seeking the driver of the truck who, they say, is likely unaware the accident even occurred.

Anyone with information concerning the incident is asked to contact Chester RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

ST. MARGARET'S BAY RESIDENTS TO HAND BIG CHEQUE TO MINISTER ESTABROOKS

St. Margaret's Bay residents have a bone to pick with the province's transportation minister but they're also going to give him a gift.

Many residents are opposed to the government's proposal to build a connector road from highway 103 into the community.

The plan was devised without any prior consultation with residents in the area.

They fear properties will be expropriated and the way of life in the community disturbed.

Residents' spokesman Sean Kirby says their opposition hasn't wavered a bit through the summer.

However, they've got a present for the minister ... a check for ten million dollars.

Sean Kirby says... "its equal to the proposed cost of the connector road.
He says politicians love to hand out big cheques but the residents want to give this one back because they believe the money should be spent on more important things like improved highway safety in this province."

St. Margaret's Bay residents are calling for a referendum to decide whether the connector road should be built.

They've been very vocal on the issue in recent months with a public meeting in Black Point back in June and a write-in campaign to the minister's office.

EARLY EFFECTS OF EARL WILL BE FELT TOMORROW

The latest forecast from the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Dartmouth says hurricane Earl continues on its projected track and is likely to affect South Shore residents and others throughout Atlantic Canada by the weekend.

The powerful Category 3 storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 213 kilometres an hour, is moving northwest and is currently about 740 kilometres east of Nassau in the Bahamas.

The centre's Chris Fogerty says Earl is expected to continue its northwestward track before heading more towards the north.

Heavy wave action as a result of Earl should start showing up on South Shore beaches tomorrow.

Security Enhancements for Black Loyalist Heritage Society

Canada's Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has announced almost 6 thousand dollars for security infrastructure enhancements to help prevent hate crimes directed at the Black Loyalist Heritage Society in Shelburne. The organization is receiving federal Government funding from the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Pilot Program. The Minister says the money will improve security so that the communities and cultures the Black Loyalist Heritage Society serves can continue to remain engaged in the community without fear of harm.
The Black Loyalist Heritage Society is a national organization dedicated to discovering, interpreting, safeguarding, and promoting the history and heritage of the Black Loyalists through educational programs, activities and resources.

No Parking Please

A neighbourly feud has ended up before Lunenburg Town Council. One resident is asking Council to erect "No Parking " signs on both sides of Hill Street because her neighbours are blocking her driveway. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says Council doesn't intervene in disputes between neighbours, however, the residents request will be looked into. He says they sometimes do run into occasions where neighbours are having issues that are beyond the purview of the Council to resolve. Mawhinney says a request was made and the matter has been referred to the traffic authority and town engineer for a report back to Council.

Multi-Development for Mason's Beach Road

It's a vision for the Town of Lunenburg and Council has approved the next step forward for a proposed development at 101 Mason's Beach Road. Guenther and Susan Reibling of Stellar Investments plan to develop a 60 room 120 bed resort hotel, 60 residential condominium units and an additional 30 apartments . The project will be developed in three phases beginning with the condominiums. Town Council has agreed to hold a public information session in the near future. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says this will give the community the opportunity to see the proposed project for review and discussion.

STORM COULD REACH SOUTH SHORE

Forecasters are warning Nova Scotians to prepare for the storm.

Hurricane Earl is making its way toward the eastern seaboard and could very well make landfall anywhere from Maine to Eastern Newfoundland.

Chris Fogerty with the Canadian Hurricane Centre says Earl is now a category four storm, with maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometres per hour.

Fogerty says the movement of the storm is hard to predict.

"We have a forty per cent chance of gale force winds affecting western Nova Scotia (by Friday). And there is a possibility... of about five to ten percent chance of hurricane force winds reaching the province, " says Fogerty.

Fogerty says people should make a plan, purchase supplies and secure their homes in order to safely weather the storm.

He says higher impact areas along the coast will face stronger winds in a severe storm.

'PREVENTABLE CRIME'

An increasing number of people are becoming the victims of theft in Lunenburg County.

RCMP Staff Sergeant Bruce Hill says he's seen a slight increase in car thefts and thefts from cars in the last six months.

Hill says the crimes share a common denominator.

The persons who have had the vehicles stolen have reported that their keys were left in the vehicle along with the vehicle being left unlocked. Obviously this is almost like leaving out the welcome mat for any would-be thief," says Hill.

RCMP advise a simple solution for these crimes of opportunity; keep items, including your car, under lock and key.

Hill says there have been at least three preventable vehicle thefts in Lunenburg County in the last month.

He adds, people from small towns are used to trusting their neighbours but that's no excuse for putting yourself at risk.

INVESTIGATION AT HARBOUR VIEW HAVEN

Lunenburg County RCMP are investigating an attempted break and enter into the construction site at Harbour View Haven.

Police say a man wearing dark pants and a light coloured sweater tried to break in during the early morning on Saturday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lunenburg County RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

New Water Plant Opens

A 7 million dollar investment will be showcased on Thursday with the official opening of the Lunenburg Water Treatment Plant. The town first committed to constructing a new water treatment facility five years ago, after new water quality standards were instituted by the province. The cost of the new plant was initially pegged around 4.3 million dollars but the figure rose to just under 7 million and is cost shared equally by the three levels of government.
The public is invited to the official opening of the new plant at 524 Northwest Road, Highway 324 at 2 o'clock, September 2nd.

Welding Accident

A Barrington man was rushed to the Roseway Hospital in Shelburne after he was burned in a welding accident. EHS responded to a call on the Villagedale Road around 3 o'clock this afternoon. The man who was welding in his shed suffered burns to his chest, legs, arms and genitals. A lifeflight was put on stand-by.

DETAILS ON RIVER BANK BODY REVEALED

RCMP are releasing more information about a body found on the banks of the Mersey River in Liverpool.

Police say the body was that of a sixty-four year old man.

The deceased had been out eel fishing with a friend on the river last night

As the dark set in the tides started to rise the second man decided to leave and go home while the deceased remained on the water.

The friend visited the deceased's home this morning to find it empty.

He then returned to river bank and discovered the body.

Names have not been released.

RCMP continue to investigate the death. An autopsy is scheduled for today