CONTRACT TALKS BETWEEN BRIDGEWATER AND ITS UNIONIZED POLICE OFFICERS BREAK OFF

Negotiations between the town of Bridgewater and its unionized police officers have broken down.


Bridgewater is not alone in this however. Its the same situation for the towns of Kentville, Amherst and New Glasgow and THEIR town cops.

Officials from the four towns originally thought that by negotiating as a group, they could come to a one-agreement-suits-all package.

Negotiations will now continue with each of the individual locals.

The main issue continues to be pensions after last year's court ruling that municipalities had to cover any fund deficiencies.

FREE FLU SHOTS

There isn't a big scare for South Shore health officials like last year when the H1N1 flu virus was wreeking havoc and stirring up fear.


However, officials suggest getting a flu shot soon to prevent illness when the season kicks-in in a few weeks.

The shots this year are free and considered a safe and effective way of protecting yourself and your family.

Theresa Hawkesworth of South Shore Health says flu shots are available through family doctors and public health nurses.

She suggests the elderly, young children between 6 and 23 months of age, pregnant women and anyone with chronic medical conditions should definately be vaccinated against the flu.

RE-ZONING OF SECTION OF BRIDGEWATER INDUSTRIAL PARK

The Town of Bridgewater is keeping big business away from part of the town's industrial park.


The southeastern portion is being re-classified as a light industrial zone.

Mayor Carroll Publiclover says the 25 acre parcel of land will be promoted to less imposing facilities.

He says rezoning of the land east of York street and south of Wentzell Drive and Cook Road, will not disrupt current business in the park.

DRUGS SEIZED & CHARGES LAID IN LUNENBURG BUST

Police have seized cocaine and processed marijuana in Lunenburg and charged a man and woman.


The South Shore Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit, Lunenburg County RCMP, Bridgewater Police and a police dog took part in a search of a residence on Kaulback Street.

The two male and female residents, both in their 40's, appear in court in December charged with possessing cocaine and marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

SOD TURNING FOR NEW LUNENBURG SCHOOL

A sod turning for the new school in Lunenburg will go ahead this morning.


South Shore school board, municipal and provincial officials will be on hand at the site of the former junior-senior high to officially launch construction on the new Bluenose Academy.

The new school, when completed in January 2012, will bring together grades primary to 9 students from Riverport and District School, Centre Consolidated, Lunenburg Junior High and Lunenburg Academy.

It will also be one of the most technically-advanced and environmentally-friendly buildings in the province.

NEW GERMANY MAN RULED NOT FIT TO STAND TRIAL-FOR NOW

A Lunenburg County man, accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife in June, has been found unfit to stand trial because of mental impairment caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.


Wayne Paul Eisnor of New Germany has appeared in Bridgewater provincial court on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Tina Mae Eisnor.

The court was told that Eisnor suffered a wound to his brain and doesn't fully comprehend that his wife is dead.

Eisnor is being held at the East Coast Forensic Unit in Dartmouth and the Nova Scotia Review Board will determine in another 45 days if he is still unfit to stand trial.

COYOTE CULL CONTROVERSY

Nova Scotia's bounty on coyotes gets underway this weekend.

Starting Friday the province will offer trappers twenty dollars a pelt in a province-wide effort to cull aggressive animals from the regional population.

However, one biologist and conservationist says these measures won't work.

Dr. Bill Freedman, a professor at Dalhousie University tells says the plan is merely a political ploy.

"A bounty, in my view, is mostly a political action that's undertaken my management agencies in order to be seen to be doing something about a problem. And in this case coyotes that some people feel threatened by," says Freedman.

Freedman says coyotes will mate more rapidly when their population is threatened.

He says, there should instead be a targeted effort to kill the problem animals in the pack.

MAN FOUND DEAD IN BRIDGEWATER APARTMENT

Bridgewater Police are investigating the death of a man who was found in his South End apartment this morning.

Around six this morning, Bridgewater Police received a 911 call regarding a possible sudden death.

Upon arrival, a 28 year old man was found dead in the apartment.

Police say the cause of death is unknown.

An autopsy will be performed and the matter is under investigation.

MOTORCYCLE SEIZED AFTER HIGH-SPEED CHASE

An East Chester man lost his motorcycle and earned a day in court after failing to pull over for police.

Bridgewater Police says they attempted to apprehend a man after he popped a wheelie with his bike near the Veteran's Memorial Bridge.

He failed to pull over but was eventually arrested after failing to negotiate a turn after entering the former Kirk's Tree Yard just off LaHave Street.

Deputy Chief John Collyer with the Bridgewater Police force says the motorist must have failed to get the message about plans for increased patrols.

"It's kind of uprising to see an individual doing this of activity on a weekend when we had announced in advance that we would be out in force looking for this kind of activity, " says Collyer.

The accused will appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court next month to face numerous charges.

VANDALS TAKE TO TIRES

RCMP in Nova Scotia are looking for those responsible for puncturing the tires on about fifty vehicles in the Eastern Passage and Cole Harbour areas.

The majority of the damage was incurred on Friday night.

Police are advising the public to carefully inspect their tires as the punctures could lead to slow leaks, not easily detected upon first glance.

The investigation continues.

ILLEGAL HARVEST

An Annapolis County man is facing multiple charges after a large marihuana seizure.

RCMP say the seizure was significant with an estimated street value of over 218-thousand dollars.

More than 151 marihuana plants were located in the search.

Charges of production of marihuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking are pending against the twenty-nine year old accused.

Police have not released the man's name as the investigation continues.

DATES SET FOR MURDER TRAIL

A Nova Scotia man arrested in Lunenburg over the summer on a Canada wide warrant for murder has had dates set for his preliminary hearing.

20 year old Robert Harris Lamb of Dartmouth faces a charge of second-degree murder in the death of Jonathan Beaton, who died after a brawl outside a house party in Antigonish on Jan. 1.

Four days were set aside for his preliminary inquiry beginning Jan. 4.

The inquiry will determine if there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.

ONE FAMILY HOMELESS AFTER APARTMENT FIRE

Nine people from three families escaped without injury after a fire last night damaged a three-unit apartment building in downtown Liverpool.

The Liverpool Fire Department responded to the call at 396 Main Street around 8 o'clock, Friday night.

One apartment was heavily damaged but it’s expected occupants of the other two may be able to return home today after cleanup of smoke and water damage.

The fire is being attributed to an unattended pot of cooking oil.

The Canadian Red Cross arranged emergency accommodations and meals for six people from two units. Occupants of the third apartment stayed with family in the community.

Mi'kmaq History Month

Students from the Nova Scotia Community College’s Lunenburg Campus are celebrating Mi’kmaq History Month by learning about Mi’kmaq burial grounds and traditional drumming and songs. The Heartbeats, a local group that came together to learn Mi’kmaq songs and chants, will perform for the staff and students at the Lunenburg Campus on Wednesday October 13th starting at noon. The performance will be followed by a presentation on Mi’kmaq burial grounds and genealogy by Ellen Hunt, President of the Mi’kmaq Burial Grounds Research and Restoration Association.
The presentations are of particular interest to students in the Natural Resources Environmental Technology (NRET) program. NRET students study Traditional Knowledge and the Environment as part of their program. The courses study Aboriginal communities and their deep understanding of how the components of our environment are interconnected as well as the strong tradition of community that is passed on orally through songs and stories, as well as through actions and observation.

Social Justice Day

The South Shore Regional School Board will be hosting a Social Justice Day for students on Thursday, October 14th. The event will see select students from across the region come together to learn about poverty in their communities. Students are chosen as delegates who will take the information back to their fellow students and educate them on what poverty looks like in Nova Scotia. A special guest speaker will be 12 year old Logan MacGillvary, of Bedford, a grassroots philanthropist who started the Charity, Listen to the Children (www.listentothechildren.net)

Addressing Hunger & Poverty

Addressing hunger and poverty in our communities requires a collective effort. FEED NOVA SCOTIA, a provincial organization that supports your local food banks and meal programs, is hosting an open meeting on October 20 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Best Western in Bridgewater. Please join us to discuss how we can all work together to more effectively tackle hunger and poverty. All members of the community are welcome. For more information call 902-457-1900.

SHELBURNE COUNTY MAN GUILTY OF ARSON & ASSAULT

A Shelburne County man who tried to burn down a house with his girlfriend inside in January 2009 will be sentenced next month in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

37 year-old Jonathan Wade Smith has been convicted of arson and assault and the Crown is looking for a prison term.

At the man's trial, the Crown and defence agreed that Smith started the fire in the Woods Harbour home that he shared with Kristie Brannen.

School Bus Safety Week

**Constable Will Creamer wishing the kids a safe trip home as they board the bus at the end of the day**

Stop on RED...Kids Ahead.. is the theme of this years School Bus Safety Week, which runs from October 18th to the 22nd. The theme reminds all drivers that they are required by law to stop when a school bus’s red-flashing lights are activated. Each day about 33 school buses transport more than 1,200 school children within the town of Bridgewater. This year the Bridgewater Police Service will be taking part in School Bus Safety Week.
Failing to stop for a stopped bus exhibiting red lights can be costly. The fine is $397.71 for the first offence, $685.21 for the second and $1260.21 for the third offence.  The driver will have 6 points added to their driver’s license each time and after accumulating ten points will lose their license.  Plus their insurance will go up.

The Bell is Back

RCMP have recovered the Roseway United Church bell swiped from a Shelburne cemetery. The historic church bell has been found at a scrap metal yard some 230 kilometres away. The large brass bell and its assembly were recently stolen some time between September 29th and October 2nd.
RCMP Corporal Nancy Mason of the Shelburne detachment says tips from the public were received by police following media reports of the theft. Mason says she drove to the city on Wednesday and recovered the church bell and believe it was destined to be scrap metal. Charges are expected to be laid in the next week against a suspect, who is not from Shelburne Country.

Charges in 5 Year Old Break-Ins

A Shelburne County man has been charged with several counts of break, enter and theft which occurred during a five year period in Yarmouth County. Twenty-nine year old Michael Jordan Wamback of Clark's Harbour is charged with seven counts of break, enter and theft as well as two counts of theft. During the last five years, numerous break and enters were reported in the Argyle area of Yarmouth County. Wamback has a court date of December 7th. The investigation is continuing and several other charges of break, enter and theft are expected.