In Review: MODL Mayor Recaps Challenging Year

The mayor for the Municipality of Lunenburg says 2012 was a trying year for the district, and hopes better times are ahead. Don Downe says community was hit hard with the Oakhill Sawmill closing and layoffs at the Whynotts Settlement Recycling Centre. But, he notes there were bright moments as well, including the beginning of joint services between the municipality and towns of Mahone Bay and Bridgewater. He also points to construction of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. Downe says it will be a dynamic addition to the area.




Construction is expected to wrap up before the fall of 2013. Downe expects the opening to be one of the many shining moments of the year.

RCMP: Plan Ahead Before Driving New Year's Eve

The message is simple; if you're drinking, you're not driving. RCMP are planning checkpoints across the province this evening targeting impaired drivers including those who are driving under the influence of drugs. Police say people should make plans to get home safe by finding a designated driver, call a cab, stay at a friend's house or take transit. Cpl. Scott MacRae says people can help them stop impaired driving.



MacRae says people should plan ahead and think before they drink.

Chester: Fay Loses In Semi-Final At Junior Curling Provincials

Chester's Mary Fay fell in a semifinal showdown this morning to end her run at the AMJ Campbell Provincial Junior Curling championships. Fay lost 11-4 to Mary Myketyn-Driscoll of Truro. Myketyn-Driscoll will battle Mayflower's Emily Dwyer in the title match at 2 o'clock at the Chester Curling Club.
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On the men's side, Stuart Thompson of Mayflower has successfully defended his Provincial crown. The Thompson crew punched their ticket to the Nationals in Fort McMurray, Alberta, by posting a perfect 7-0 record.

Lunenburg: ER Closing At Fishermen's Memorial

The Emergency Department at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg is once again short on staff. The ER is closing at 4pm this afternoon and will reopen at 7:30am New Year's Day. Anyone requiring emergency services is advised to call 911 or visit the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater. Patients with non-emergencies should contact their family physician or call Health Link 811 for medical advice.

In Review: Bluenose II Relaunch Big Crowd Pleaser

In looking back at 2012, there were no events on the South Shore that drew the attention of so many people like the re-launch of the province's famous sailing ambassador. After a $16-million re-build lasting three years on the Lunenburg waterfront, Bluenose II was refloated in Lunenburg Harbour early on a dark, threatening morning in late September. If people couldn't be there in person, they watched on the internet just as they had been following the rebuild, day after day. According to the just-retired 33 year veteran of the mayor's office in Lunenburg, Laurence Mawhinney, the re-launch was a crowning moment in his long career.



This winter, Bluenose II is being re-outfitted with masts, sails and other fittings and being made ready to sail again in the spring of 2013. A date for that is yet to be announced.

In Review: Mawhinney Retires After 33 Years As Mayor

In looking back at 2012, the retirement of the venerable Laurence Mawhinney from the office of mayor in Lunenburg was one of the biggest local political changes of the year. The mayor had been in office in one of the province's most-historic towns for 33 years and he decided it was time to go. However, the lure of the old office can be hard to break.



Among his accomplishments, the former mayor says he takes pleasure in being part of the effort to have Lunenburg declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. He's also happy with the apparent political stability he was able to foster in the town over all the years. However, Mawhinney says with his retirement and the retirements of at least two other mayors locally, it became obvious the electorate in last fall's municipal elections wanted change.



These days, former mayor Mawhinney and his wife Marion are continuing their team ministry at several Lunenburg and area Presbyterian churches with the past life at the mayor's office always not far away.

Two Men Charged In Chester Break & Enter

Two men have been charged in connection with a break, enter and theft from a home in the Chester area. It happened on Friday and RCMP investigators say various items were taken. The accused face several charges including break and enter, theft over $5,000., possession of property obtained by crime and numerous firearms offenses. The suspects are in custody and appear in court at a later date.

Storm Centre: Flights Delayed & Power Outages

A winter storm has knocked out power and is forcing airlines to adjust their flight schedule. The system - bringing snow, ice pellets and high wind - moved into the Yarmouth area just before midnight and worked its way up the coastline overnight. Environment Canada is predicting 20-30 centimetres of snow for the South Shore. Nova Scotia Power is working on an outage affecting 500 residents of the Argyle area. Crews have already restored a power outage in Shelburne, roughly 100 to 150 residents were without electricity for a four hours. Also, it looks like flights schedule will be a mess at the Halifax airport. A tweet from the Halifax Stanfield International Airport: Ice pellets, high winds and snow causing airlines to adjust flights schedules. Disruptions expected to continue through morning/early afternoon. Passengers should check their airlines web site or call ahead to find out the status of their flight. The bad weather is expected to continue through until Sunday night.

Latest forecast: 

Winter storm warning in effect. Lunenburg, Queens and Shelburne Counties

Today

Snow. Snow mixed with ice pellets this morning. Rain along the coast this morning. Snow and ice pellet amount 15 cm. Blowing snow. Winds gusting to 80 early this afternoon. High plus 1.

Tonight

Flurries ending after midnight then cloudy. Amount 2 cm. Blowing snow this evening and after midnight. Windy. Low minus 5.

Monday

Mainly cloudy. Clearing in the afternoon. Winds gusting to 80. High minus 4.

In Review: Big Decisions Ahead For Chester Council

The Warden in Chester says it was a solid year on numerous fronts for municipal council and staff. Allen Webber says council was able to push forward with it's large wind project in Kaizer Meadow, expected to be operational in 2013. The 2.3 megawatt wind project is expected to generate annual revenue exceeding 270-thousand dollars over the 20 year-life of the turbine. Webber says the municipality remains in good financial health with significant reserve funding as they head into the new year.



Chester council has a busy year ahead with public hearings and a decision expected on Minas Basin's South Canoe Wind Project. Webber says they will also have to decided whether to invest into the Chester-based collaborative health centre - called Our Health Centre.

Update: South Shore Curling Teams Cling To Life

Two South Shore teams remain alive, but both are down to their last life, at the AMJ Campbell Provincial Junior Curling championships in Chester. Racquel Bachman of Bridgewater and Mary Fay of the host club must win both of their games on Sunday to clinch a playoff spot. Defending champ Emily Dwyer of Mayflower and Truro's Mary Myketyn-Driscoll have already qualified for the playoffs. In the boys division defending champ Stuart Thompson of Mayflower leads the way with a perfect 4-0 record. Trevor Crouse of Bridgewater was eliminated yesterday. Draws are slated for 11, 4, & 9 today at the Chester Club. The winners will be crowned on Monday.  

Storm Centre: Heavy Snow, Ice Pellets & High Wind

Residents of the South Shore should gas up their snow blowers and get their shovels ready. Environment Canada has issued a winter storm warning for the region and most of mainland Nova Scotia. The latest forecast is predicting snowfall amounts totaling 30 centimetres over the weekend. The snow is expected to begin this evening and become more intense overnight. The weather agency is also calling for high winds, blowing snow and ice pellets along the coast. The bad weather will continue into tomorrow with snow, ice pellets and blizzard conditions anticipated. Conditions should begin to improve by Sunday night.

Chester: Mayflower Rink Leads Curling Championship

Mayflower's Emily Dwyer leads the way at the AMJ Campbell Provincial Junior Curling Championships at the Chester Club. Dwyer improved to 3-0 and grabbed the first playoff spot with a 9-6 win over Racquel Bachman of Bridgewater in last night's late draw. Bachman, at 2-1, is tied with Mary Fay of the host club. Those rinks go head to head this afternoon.  On the guys' side, Bridgewater's Trevor Crouse lost twice yesterday and will now have to win four in a row in order to make the playoff round. Mayflower's Stuart Thompson and Robert Mayhew of Wolfville share the lead with 2-0 records. Draws are set for today at 8am, noon, 4pm, and 8pm in Chester. 

Winners will advance to the Canadian Juniors in Fort McMurray, Alberta in early February.

In Review: Seahawks Football Soars

It was a magical year for local football on the South Shore. The inaugural season for Seahawks Minor Football was an overwhelming success for the players, coaches and parents who supported the team. It took roughly five years of hard work and $25,000 to get the program off the ground. Program co-founder Gary Linthorne says it was a proud moment when  more than 800 fans attended the Seahawks home opener in September. He says their season was filled with highlights.



The program will expand to include a Bantam league in 2013. Linthorne says the organization is also looking to buy a new scoreboard for the upcoming season.

Curling: Bridgewater's Bachman Leads At Junior Provincials

Bridgewater's Trevor Crouse is in search of his first win at the AMJ Campbell Junior curling provincials in Chester. Crouse lost his first match this morning 7-3 to Robert Mayhew. He's on the ice at 4pm against Nicholas Schroeder. Over on the women's side, Bridgewater's Raquel Bachman sits in a tie for first place after winning her second straight game. Bachman defeated Mary Myketyn-Driscoll 6-5 in extra ends today. She also defeated Chester's Mary Fay Thursday night. Fay got her first win today, a 9-4 decision over Hayley McCabe. She sits at 1-1. Tournament winners will represent the province at the "M & M Canadian Juniors" in Fort McMurray, Alberta in February. For all tournament information, click here .

In Review: Mayor: Positive Year For Bridgewater

The mayor of Bridgewater says 2012 was a positive year for the town. David Walker says an increase in population growth, a reduced commercial and residential tax rate, and more building construction adds up to a good year. Construction also began on the LCLC and the town started working with Mahone Bay and Municipality of Lunenburg on joint services. However, Walker considers the municipal election to be a significant moment for the town.



Walker says he's excited to work with council on concerning issues over the next four years.

In Review: Remembering Bowater

Looking back at 2012, we remember the Bowater Mersey paper mill in Brooklyn. After weathering slumping paper markets worldwide and the general economic downturn, the mill closed in June and hundreds of people suddenly found themselves without jobs. The closure stunned the region and the mayor of the District of Queens at the time, John Leefe, says the loss of Bowater was a dark time in all his 12 years in office.



A transition team was established to help people in Queens and Lunenburg counties cope with the loss of Bowater and recommend how to move forward.  Ron Smith headed the team.



The province has lately inked a deal with Bowater-owners Resolute Forest Products to take over the company's woodlands and the Brooklyn mill site. Nova Scotia Power purchased the power generating facility.  The Oakhill sawmill which provided wood chips and sawdust to Bowater was not part of the arrangement. Its now closed and the equipment is being dispersed to other Resolute operations in North America.

In Review: New School Board Elected

It was a fresh start for the local school board as seven new faces and one long-time member were elected in October. The new members took over the reins from Judith Sullivan-Corney, who was brought in by the education minister after the previous board was fired late in 2011. The local board endured a busy first eight weeks with some hot-button issues including financially settling with a former teacher and adjusting to their new roles. Chair Jennifer Naugler says she's pleased with how the board has reacted.



She says every day is a new challenge and expects 2013 to be busy with school review and budget time approaching quickly in the new year.

In Review: Fresh Start For White Point

From ashes to opening; it's been an emotional year for officials at White Point. The new main lodge reopened last month, just under a year after fire destroyed the historic building. The lodge features more windows for better views of the ocean, more open spaces, higher ceilings and a beachstone fireplace. General Manager Danny Morton says he's still getting used to the new property.



Morton says roughly 125 workers have been hired back since the new lodge opened. The total cost to rebuild is believed to be around $7-million.

A Messy, Windy Day Ahead

A storm that caused weather troubles in the US over Christmas is rolling across the Maritimes today. Its bringing heavy snow for New Brunswick and ice pellets, snow, rain and high winds to this province. Here on the South Shore, the wind could top 100 kilometers an hour this evening before it peters out over night. Police forces in the area advise all motorists to slow down on the highways. As the temperature hovers around the freezing point, the snow falling this morning (ahead of rain this afternoon) is making the roads dangerous.

In Review: Teen Confinement Case Rocks South Shore

When you re-examine 2012, the one news story that stands out as representing a dark moment in our history came to light in late September.  That's when a teenage boy suddenly showed up on an elderly woman's doorstep in Upper Chelsea pleading for help. The 16- year-old claimed he'd been held captive in chains for days and sexually assaulted in a neighbouring home. The RCMP issued a Canada-wide warrant for the arrests of two suspects. One of them, 31-year-old Wayne Allan Cunningham was found dead a week later, along a woods road in Northern Ontario. The other suspect, 47-year-old David James Leblanc, was apprehended in the same area two days later. The incident raised fears among Lunenburg County residents that "big-city" type incidents had finally found their way to the area. District of Lunenburg Mayor Don Downe tried to ease everyone's concerns.



Since early October, Leblanc has been in and out of court in Bridgewater. He's facing seven charges, including sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, forcible confinement and kidnapping. Leblanc is back in court January 16th when dates will be set for a preliminary hearing. Another man, 63-year-old Leonard McKean of Lower Sackville, has also been charged in the case. He's out on bail and is back in Bridgewater court January 23rd.