South Shore Health: Take Caution Around Queens General Hospital

South Shore Health is asking people to use extreme caution when visiting Queens General Hospital. The health authority says a combination of snow, ice, mud and construction vehicle traffic has created messy and slippery conditions in the parking lot. Facility Planning Director, Margo Walsh-Leaman, says people need to be careful when they're on the property.



Traffic is also being temporarily re-routed at the hospital so an underground pipe can be installed. People are encouraged to follow the designated signs when visiting the hospital.

PC Leader Calls For Insulin Pump Program If Elected Premier

Those money-losing Tim Horton outlets in Halifax hospitals should be closed and the 1.4 million dollar subsidy they're receiving be re-directed to fund a provincial insulin pump program for diabetic children. Thats what the province's PC's are committed to doing if elected to power in the next provincial election. Leader Jamie Baillie says kids under 19 need the support to improve their lives.



Nova Scotia and PEI are the only provinces in Canada that do not provide funding for insulin pumps for diabetic children. Baillie says if he's elected premier, this province will be struck from that list. Canadian country music star George Canyon, who's from Pictou, joined Baillie this morning in announcing the proposed program. Canyon has been a Type 1 diabetic since he was 14 and says life would have been much easier in those earlier days if he had been outfitted with a pump.

Chester Council Supports Sea Cadets Program

Chester council will lend a helping hand in support of their local sea cadet program. Councillors voted unanimously to purchase $250 worth of tickets toward the Toronto Maple Leafs alumni game set to take place at the Chester Arena later this month. The tickets will then be given to the pro kids program in the municipality and distributed to deserving children. Deputy Warden Floyd Shatford says the donation is for a great cause.



The 351 Llewellyn Sea Cadets program is trying to raise money for a trip to Chester, England later this year. The Leafs alumni game is a part of a fundraiser for the cadets program and will be held on February 26.

Forest Heights: Construction On Skilled Trades Centre Begins In March

A future skilled trades centre at Forest Heights is nearing the start of construction. Director of Operations with the local school board, Steve Prest, says a tender was awarded to Rikjak Project Inc. of Lunenburg and S P Dumaresq Architect of Halifax. The two companies will be on-site starting their work on March 1st. Prest says construction is expected to last until the end of May.



The project cost is roughly $283,000. The construction of the skilled trades centre is considered the number one priority by the operations department. Roughly 300 students attend Forest Heights.

Boiler Issue Causes Smoke To Funnel From Bridgewater Elementary

An issue with one of the boilers caused large volumes of smoke to pour out of Bridgewater Elementary this evening. Crews with the Bridgewater Fire Department received the call shortly after 5pm of a possible chimney fire. But, members quickly realized a boiler wasn't firing correctly, causing smoke to funnel out of the school. Deputy Chief Andy Wentzell says they handled the situation quickly.



Wentzell says a technician solved the issue with the boiler. Roughly 20 firefighters were on the scene at the time. No one was injured.

Retired Principal's Child Porn Case Delayed Until March

The former principal of a Lunenburg area school will return to court next month after he was charged with possessing and accessing child pornography last summer. Brian David Jobb was charged in August after police searched a home in Lilydale. The 62 year-old did not appear in court today in Bridgewater but was represented by his lawyer. Jobb retired as principal of Lunenburg Academy in 2006. The matter has been set aside to March 6th.

Mooseheads GM Pleased With Brennan Bailey

The general manager of the Halifax Mooseheads says he's pleased with how Brennan Bailey is adjusting to his role with the club. The 19-year-old Lunenburg native was called up to the Mooseheads from Pictou County in the MHL at the trade deadline, but has yet to play a game. Cam Russell says the club has a lot of talent at the moment and Bailey is currently the 7th or 8th defenseman on the team's depth chart. However, Russell says Bailey is working hard and getting some quality practice.



Russell says Bailey could see some ice time before the playoffs if the Mooseheads clinch first place and rest some of their players. The herd face a tough test at home tonight when they host the second place Rimouski Oceanic at 7pm.

MODL: Council Against Lobster Fishery Quota

The Municipality of Lunenburg is saying no thanks to a quota system for the inshore lobster fishery. The decision was made after it was revealed that former Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea proposed the idea in response to low prices and high supply in this year's lobster season. Currently, each boat operator has a certain amount of traps they can use during the season. A quota would limit the catch. Mayor Don Downe says council is against a quota.



Council has decided to write letters to the Fisheries Minister, local member of parliament Gerald Keddy, other MPs from Nova Scotia, MLAs and the UNSM opposing the matter. The letters will also show support for the fishery's current practices and conservation measures.

StormCentre: Heavy Snow, High Winds Expected This Weekend

Another winter storm system is expected to rock parts of Nova Scotia on the weekend. Environment Canada has issued a special weather advisory for Saturday. The weather agency says high winds and potential heavy snowfall is expected throughout the province. Meteorologists say it's too early for good estimates of snowfall amounts, but up to 40 centimetres of snow is possible in some areas. We'll know more of what kind of conditions to expect on the South Shore as we get closer to the weekend. Special weather bulletins have also been issued for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

SPTS-Local Teams Clash On The Hardwood

The Shelburne Junior Boys Basketball team beat Lockeport 59 to 41 Tuesday night in a Tri-County game played in Shelburne. Cody Carter led the Green Wave (Lockeport) with 12 points. Brendan Balcom had 24 points and Skye Buchanan had 14 in leading Shelburne. The final league game of the season will be played Thursday night at 6 with Shelburne hosting Drumlin.

Birdsall Running Again In Lunenburg

The MLA for Lunenburg says you can count her in as a candidate in the next provincial election. New Democrat Pam Birdsall says a highlight of her past three and a half years as an MLA is the passing of her private members bill dealing with death certificates. Nurse practitioners are now able to sign one if a doctor isn't available. Birdsall tells CKBW/HANK FM News she wants a second term to pursue more projects for her constituents. Birdsall says besides, she loves the job.



Birdsall also says she's helped spearhead a move for better upkeep on many of the constituency's roads. Birdsall was first elected to the Nova Scotia legislature in 2009. She says she's like everyone else with no knowledge of when the premier may call the vote. However, she says she's ready to go.

SPTS-Local Hockey Teams Lose Games

A dominant performance by the Truro Bearcats Tuesday night in Bridgewater as they dumped the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks 8-3. The Cats broke the contest open with a four-goal third period including three in 77 seconds. Shawn Boudreau had two goals for the Jacks who were outshot 54-25. Bridgewater look to snap their seven game slide tomorrow in Liverpool when they host the Campbellton Tigers.
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Meanwhile, in Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League playoff action in Berwick, the Valley Wildcats topped the South Shore Mustangs 4-1. The Wildcats now hold a 2-0 lead in the best of seven quarter-final series. Game 3 goes Saturday at 5pm at the Bridgewater Arena.

Chronic Condition Support Group Starting In Bridgewater

A volunteer with South Shore Health is starting up a support group for people who have been or are affected by chronic health problems. The Chronic Condition Support Group is pegged as a place where people can open up and learn positive ways to cope with their condition. Facilitator Tom Burt says sometimes people need to reach out and communicate with others.



Burt says it will be an open forum led by those who attend, and could feature guest speakers from the health authority. The discussion is free to join and is for people suffering from any chronic condition including cancer, heart disease or diabetes. It will be held on the first Wednesday of each month. The group will have its first talk Wednesday evening at 7pm in the community room at the Bridgewater Superstore.

Two Lumber Trucks Collide Near New Germany

There were minor injuries after two big rigs collided on Highway 10 near New Germany this morning. RCMP in Lunenburg County says the collision occurred just before 9 o'clock. Both 18 wheelers were transporting some lumber at the time, but they didn't loose their cargo. Police say one of the two male drivers was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Mounties are investigating the cause of the crash.

Chester: Council To Discuss "Health Centre" Zoning Change

Chester council will host a pair of public hearings Wednesday to deal with two separate issues. The first public hearing surrounds the construction of a proposed radio telecommunications tower for the Western Shore Fire Department. The tower would be located on the department's property in Western Shore. The second meeting is to deal with a rezoning request for the proposed "Our Health Centre" project in Shoreham Village. The current zoning bylaws do not permit such a facility in that area of Chester. Organizers are in the midst of a major fundraising drive to raise $6 million for the project which would be home to six new doctors offices. The meetings will be held consecutively beginning at 7 O'clock at the municipal office in Chester.

Shelburne: 80-Unit Seniors Complex Moves Forward

Construction on an 80 unit seniors complex in Shelburne is set to begin in April. The $7 million project will be located in Sandy Point and feature two apartment buildings - home to 40 units in each building. The Seniors Independent Housing Initiative has been working to bring a seniors complex to the area for nearly three years. Chair Joan Bowers says there is a great need for seniors housing in the Shelburne area.



Bowers says the project is attracting a lot of interest and those who have committed to the units can expect to move into the complex by August or September. The project is being developed by Atlantic Baptist Senior Citizens Home Inc.

Federal Dollars For Hubbards Hooked Rug Museum

A Hubbards based charitable organization has been given federal funding to help commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. South Shore St. Margarets MP Gerald Keddy has announced nearly $10-thousand for the Hooked Rug Museum of North America Society. The museum's mandate is to mount displays of the history and evolution of hand-hooked rug hooking in North America, starting from its early development within the original boundaries of old Acadia. The money will help members present an exhibit of 12 hand-hooked rugs depicting the history of the War of 1812, with a focus of the experience of women on the East Coast during the conflict. A commemorative event will officially open the museum and its War of 1812 exhibit on June 15th.

SPTS-Local-Hurricanes Win Spud Hockey Tourney

The BMO Western Hurricanes played in the PEI Spud tournament this past weekend in Charlottetown and came away victorious. They have been crowned the bantam tournament champions. They went 6-0 during the tournament, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 39 goals for and only 6 goals against. They beat the top team from PEI 6-0 and the top team in New Brunswick in the final championship game.

 

Lunenburg Restaurant Only Temporarily Closed: Owners

The owners of Trattoria Della Nonna say there doors will open again in due time. In an emailed statement to CKBW/Hank-FM News, Guenther and Susan Reibling say they are only temporarily closed because their operating partners are moving on. The email goes on to say that after being open for six years, absorbing substantial losses, dealing with the tripling of property taxes, and several minimum wage increases, they need to adjust opening times. The Reiblings confirm all employees have been put on employment insurance until February 7th, when their partners were hoping to re-open. The email states they have started searching for a new chef and hope to re-open later this spring. However, no firm date for re-opening was given.

School Board To Receive Study Committee Reports

The South Shore Regional School Board has called a special meeting tonight to formally receive reports from study committee's for the six school's under review. The committee's have held meetings over the last month to engage with the public about their concerns with their school under review. Board Chair Jennifer Naugler says there's plenty of work left once they receive the reports.



Once board members receive the reports, they will be available to read on the school board's website. Tonight's meeting gets underway at 7pm at the school board office in Bridgewater.