Folk Harbour Festival Opens In Lunenburg

A number of local musicians and artists will begin performing in Lunenburg in the town's Folk Harbour Festival. The festival brings traditional and contemporary folk music to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This year will feature headliner David Myles, but also a number of other musical acts including Alex Hickey, Lennie Gallant and Rose Cousins. General Manager Chris Heide says they've made a few changes for this year including a new tent for the main stage on Blockhouse Hill.



The Folk Harbour Festival begins Thursday with a mixture of workshops and performances at various locations. This is the 28th year for the event, making it the province's longest-running folk festival. For more information on the event, click here

High Liner Foods Report Profit Despite Lower Sales

A Lunenburg based seafood company is reporting solid profits in the second quarter despite lower sales. High Liner Foods says it recorded a profit of US$9.9 million, up from $1 million a year ago. The company says the increase was the result of lower raw material costs which offset a decrease in sales volumes.The second quarter results also got a boost related to the company's acquisition of Icelandic USA. However, business was down in the United States because of soft restaurant sales. High Liner reported sales of US$204 million for the quarter, down slightly from US$216 million in the same period last year. Meanwhile, sales in the Canadian food service business, saw an increase in the second quarter compared to last year. The earnings amounted to 63 cents per share, compared with six cents in the quarter last year. High Liner Foods operates secondary processing plants in Lunenburg, Newfoundland, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Local Athletes Competing At Legion Track And Field Nationals

A handful of South Shore athletes have been selected to represent the province at the Legion Track and Field Nationals. James Lucas, Sarah Mitton, Josh Bell and Tobias Wolter are among 38 people competing for Nova Scotia in Langley, B.C. Wolter is looking to build off a great appearance at last year's event, where he won a gold and two silver medals and set a new Canadian record in the steeplechase. His coach, Tanya Daniels, says she expects things to be a bit tougher this year because he's entering a new age group.



Daniels says Wolter will have to race smart to be competitive. He says the legion event is laid back and an enjoyable experience.



Wolter will compete in the steeplechase while Bell tries his hand in the discus, Mitton stays busy in the heptathlon and Lucas sprints in the 100 metre. The competition is slated to begin Friday and last all weekend.

Trial Dates Set For Liverpool Paramedic

A 47 year-old paramedic has pleaded not guilty to stealing drugs from Emergency Health Services. Kenneth Wade Cosh, of Liverpool, will stand trial in provincial court over two days beginning January 13. He faces a total of 10 charges including breach of trust, possession of morphine, theft and forgery. EHS contacted Queens RCMP in February after allegations of thefts and misuse of drugs by a Liverpool paramedic. Police say they seized syringes and medical containers when they searched a home in the town four days later.

Old Bank Notes Stolen During Conquerall Mills Theft

RCMP are warning businesses to be on the lookout for older currency after a break and enter in Conquerall Mills. The Mounties say the incident happened between 12:30 and 3:30 Tuesday afternoon. Police say several items were taken including older $10 and $20 Canadian bills, a large quantity of toonies and American cash. Constable David Cullen with Bridgewater RCMP says they have few details regarding suspects.



Police are looking for the public's help in finding the people responsible for the break-in. Anyone with information should contact Bridgewater RCMP or Crimestoppers.

Hebbville Athlete Wins Bronze At Summer Games

A Hebbville swimmer has captured a bronze medal at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Claire McNally finished in third place in the S1-S6 para-swimming 50m fly event Tuesday evening. She finished in a time of 55.03 seconds. It's the 17-year-old's first medal at the Summer Games. McNally also received bronze at the 2011 Winter Games after competing in para-alpine skiing. Nova Scotia has five medals so far at the games including one gold, one silver and three bronze.

Crews Douse White Point Lodge Fire

No one was injured after a chimney fire broke out at White Point's main lodge. The blaze began just before 6pm Tuesday evening. Fire Officials from Liverpool and Greenfield responded to the call. The building was evacuated for over an hour before the blaze was doused. Spokesperson Donna Hatt says the fire didn't cause any structural damage to the lodge. The cause is not yet known. The lodge was rebuilt in 2012 after fire destroyed the previous building in November 2011.

RCMP Release Photo Of Hubbards Robbery Suspect

Mounties are following leads after a woman held up a pharmacy using a syringe. In an update Tuesday afternoon, RCMP say a suspect was released after she was taken in custody for questioning. Sergeant Al Leblanc confirmed the arrest in an email but no charges were laid. The incident took place Sunday afternoon at the Hubbards Pharmacy. In a media release, police say a woman walked into the drug store and demanded prescription pills. An employee at the pharmacy cooperated and was not injured. Mounties say the woman is about 5'3 with blonde hair and has a tattoo on her right arm.

Business Group Focuses On Attracting Companies To Region

A new group is focusing on growing the level of business activity in the region. The South Shore Business Growth Association is concentrating on regional economic development in Lunenburg and Queens Counties. The association is trying to fill a gap since the local development agency ceased operation in March. CEO Andrew Button says the group was created to attract more businesses to the area.



Button points to resources including 'Why Here', a website featuring a business map, video testimonials and information on the region that can help attract new businesses to the South Shore. He urges businesses to list their information on the website's map because it could help grow the economy.

South Shore Rugby Players Crack Team N.S.

Three South Shore athletes have been selected to represent the province at the Canadian National Rugby Festival in Vancouver, B.C., from August 7-12.  Seventeen-year-olds Renee Taylor and Naomi McKay, both Park View Panther players, will join the roster of the under-18 women's team. Both women played integral roles in earning a gold medal at the Canadian Eastern Rugby Championships in St. John's, NL last month. This will be their first experience on the national stage. Eighteen-year-old Nate Baker of Pentz has been named to the under-18 men's team. It's his third year playing for the National squad. The B.C. Rugby Union will be hosting the event at the University of British Columbia.

LCLC: Opening On Separate Dates

The opening of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre will happen on three different dates. General Manager Kevin Benjamin says they're expecting the arena will open in September, with the library hopeful for October and aquatic centre in November. He says the separate openings are due to a number of items that have taken longer than anticipated to complete. Benjamin says he doesn't expect the issue to cause any problems to the 2013-14 budget.



The issues will cause the Lumberjacks hockey club to start training camp in Liverpool for two days this month before coming back to Bridgewater to resume camp at the Memorial Arena.

Whalen Sets N.S. Javelin Record

Another record set by Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen. The 20-year-old established a new Nova Scotia Senior women's javelin record over the weekend in Port Williams with a throw of 52.08 meters. With the throw, Whalen also climbed to number two all-time at Florida State University in javelin. She also finished first in the shot put with a throw of 15.40 metres. Whalen is off to the Canada Games to represent Nova Scotia in the shot put and javelin in Sherbrooke, Quebec. She starts competing next Monday.

Tuesday: Lunenburg ER Closures Continue

There have been several overnight closures through the weekend of the ER at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg.  The closures are continuing today (Tuesday) at 5pm until Thursday morning at 7:30am. South Shore Health says a recent resignation of an ER nurse and a maternity leave have complicated scheduling. Progressive Conservative health critic, Chris d'Entremont of Argyle, says the government is trying to show it has improved ER care at Fishermen's, Roseway and elsewhere.



d'Entremont is calling upon the government to come up with a more attractive incentive plan to encourage trained ER doctors and nurses to settle in rural communites.

Chester: Province Declines Funding After Bowater Closure

The province is saying 'no' to a funding request from the Municipality of Chester. Warden Allen Webber sent a letter to the minister of economic and rural development and tourism asking for additional funding following the Bowater closure. The minister responds in a letter, saying they provided funding to the Region of Queens and Municipality of Lunenburg to support economic transition in the entire region. The letter from Graham Steele also notes those two municipalities were the hardest hit by the closure. Webber doesn't agree with the decision.



Webber says the letter indicates sharing resources between the local municipalities, but he's received no correspondence as of yet.

RCMP Search For Hubbards Robbery Suspect

RCMP are on the lookout for a woman who allegedly held up a Lunenburg County drugstore. Police say the Hubbards Pharmasave was robbed around 1:45 Sunday afternoon. The Mounties say the woman was holding a syringe and demanded a quantity of prescription pills. The woman then fled the store on foot carrying a red and white grocery bag. No one was injured. The suspect is described as a white female, approximately five foot, three inches tall with blonde shoulder length hair and a tattoo on her right forearm. She was wearing sunglasses, a camouflage ball cap, green printed t-shirt, black yoga pants and black sandals. Anyone with information is asked to contact RCMP.

Man In Hospital After Highway Crash In Hebbs Cross

A man is in hospital after a motorcycle collided with a car on Highway 103. RCMP say the incident occurred around 11:50 this morning near the Ultramar gas station in Hebbs Cross. Corporal Scott MacRae says the driver of the motorcycle was taken to hospital by EHS with undetermined injuries. The driver of the car was not injured. MacRae says there was a traffic slowdown on Highway 103 for roughly an hour and a half.

Greenfield: Man, Woman Safe After Boat Capsizes

A man and a woman are safe after their vessel capsized while boating in Greenfield. RCMP were called to Little Ponhook Lake around 6:25pm Saturday night. Constable Rick Ellens says the two people were thrown in the water when they're boat overturned, but were rescued quickly by another nearby vessel. Police say they were brought back to their nearby cabin and were in good condition. Greenfield Fire Department responded to the incident while the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax was listed on standby. Fire crews with Bridgewater and Northfield were also paged for boats but were cancelled.

Argyle Men Face Drug Trafficking Charges

Two Argyle men will appear in court this fall on drug trafficking charges. RCMP members from Shelburne and Yarmouth searched a home on Argyle Sound Road around 9pm Friday night. Police seized 53 ecstasy capsules, 10 grams of cocaine and other drug-related materials. The men, ages 20 and 23, were arrested but have since been released. They have been charged with possession for the purpose and breach of an undertaking. The men will appear in Yarmouth provincial court November 5th.

Fire Destroys Abandoned Home In Milton

Fire has completely destroyed a home on Tupper Street in Milton. Crews from four departments including Liverpool, Greenfield, Port Medway and North Queens responded to the call around 6:45 Friday evening. RCMP and the fire marshal were also called to the scene. Constable Rick Ellens says the home was abandoned and didn't have power. He says there were no injuries and the cause is undetermined. Police say the home was scheduled to be demolished and there will be no further investigation.

Nowe Wraps Up Play At National Junior Golf Event

Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe finished in a tie for 44th at the Canadian Junior Boys Golf Championship. The 17-year-old wrapped up his tournament with a three over-par, 75, Friday to finish at 12-over in total. Nowe finished one stroke behind Bedford's Bruce Tomie as top Nova Scotian in the event. He will now represent the province at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. British Columbia's Kevin Kwon shot a three under-par, 69, on route to a five shot victory. Kwon won the event for the second time in three years after winning the title in 2011.