Barracudas Win Third Straight Provincial Swimming Title

Make it three straight provincial swimming titles for the Bridgewater Barracudas. The swimming club owned the podium over the weekend in Halifax, winning the overall large-team title, along with placing first in the 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18 age groups. The team won the overall title by roughly 170 points over the Cole Harbour Hurricanes. Head Coach Ian Smith says the team had some odds against them.



Smith was named coach of the year while Barracudas swimmer Fletch Selig was named one of the top men's performers, earning high points at the competition. Eleven barracudas were named all-stars. The provincial title wraps up the swim season for the Bridgewater club.

MODL: First South Property To Be Demolished

Third time was not a charm for a First South resident with an unsightly property. The Municipality of Lunenburg had given the property owner a pair of extensions to repair the home and shed along Highway 332. However, she will now have a 30 day deadline to demolish the two buildings. Mayor Don Downe says they've agreed to take the next steps.



The initial complaint on the property was received last November. The home and shed are listed in a state of non-repair and no longer suitable to live in.

Bridgewater: Mayor Weighs In On Plastic Bag Ban

Bridgewater is looking to become one of the provincial leaders by banning plastic bags at grocery stores. The town discussed the option last week and has directed staff for further research and community engagement. The issue has become a recent concern after complaints of bags being found in local waterways and clogging septic systems. Mayor David Walker says people can do their part to stop using plastic.



Leaf Rapids, Manitoba became the first town to ban plastic bags in 2007. Fort McMurray also banned them in 2010. Walker says anything the town can do to ban plastic bags would be a step forward. One town councillor hopes staff will report back with a goal to create a by-law banning plastic bags in the town by January 1, 2014.

Inspectors Probe Bayswater Beach Closure

Environmental inspectors are at Bayswater Beach to try and find the source of bacteria that's keeping the popular swimming area off-limits. The beach has been closed since August 14 because of unsafe levels of bacteria in the water. Lori Errington is a communications advisor with the Department of Environment. She says they don't normally don't get called in to inspect beach closures.



The province announced yesterday they would inspect the area to see if there is a specific source causing the problem in the ocean water. Bayswater is located on Highway 329 between Blandford and Aspotogan.

Lumberjacks To Play Regular Season Opener In Liverpool

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks will open up their regular season at Queens Place Emera Centre. Owner Ken Petrie says the club was informed last week they wouldn't be able to play out of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre to kick off the season. The facility is still under construction and is expected to open in stages beginning in the fall. Instead, the Lumberjacks will take on the Yarmouth Mariners in Liverpool on September 13th. Petrie says they are happy to open up at Queens Place and look forward to a big celebration and tail gate party when they play in Bridgewater the following week. The Lumberjacks are now expected to make their first appearance at the LCLC on September 20th.

UPDATED: Officials Take Closer Look At Bayswater Beach

Bayswater Beach could re-open for swimmers within the next few days. In the meantime, officials will take a closer look at what's causing high levels of bacteria in the water. The Department of Environment is examining the area to try and see if something specific is causing elevated bacteria counts in the water. The Lunenburg County beach was closed to swimmers August 14th. It's the second time this summer the beach has been closed because of high bacteria levels. Meanwhile, Sand Dollar Beach and Sawpit Wharf in Lunenburg Back Harbour will also remain closed to swimmers. Those waters could re-open by Wednesday.

Liverpool: Prostate Cancer Support Group Formed

A newly formed support group in Queens County is reaching out to help those recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. The support group held it's inaugural meeting earlier this month in Liverpool. Gary Conrad helped form the new group and is a prostate cancer survivor. He says it's important to have somewhere to turn if you've been diagnosed with the disease.



Conrad says the group provides people with a place to seek comfort during a difficult time. They meet every second Wednesday each month at the Atlantic Superstore in Liverpool.

Bridgewater: More Retail Space Coming To King Street

Bridgewater is moving ahead with additional retail space along the LaHave River. Only a handful of people showed up to a public hearing last week regarding a proposed development agreement by Bond Street Capital for a 4,400 square foot complex. The property is located at 814 King Street. Mayor David Walker says he's pleased with the decision.



Bond Street Capital is developing the property, replacing the current car wash on site.

Record-Setting Summer Games For Nova Scotia

Some South Shore athletes return home Monday following a historic Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Nova Scotia won 56 medals at the games, topping their previous best mark of 52 set at the PEI games in 2009. The province finished fifth in the overall medal standings with 16 gold, 18 silver and 22 bronze. Five of the province's 16 gold medals were won by local track stars including double gold by Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen in the women's javelin and shot put. Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh won the women's heptathlon, Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan won the men's decathlon and Mattias Wolter of Conquerall Mills in the men's 3000 metre steeplechase. Hebbville's Claire McNally also won double bronze in para-swimming events. The next Canada Summer Games will be held in Manitoba in 2017.

Premier Says Public & Business Should Have Had Say In Ferry Future In 2009

Mistakes were made and if he had it to do over again, he'd handle it differently. That comment from Premier Darrell Dexter on the cancellation of the Yarmouth to Maine ferry service back in 2009.  In a CKBW and HANK-FM News interview, the premier says there should have been greater community involvement in the decision-making process.  He says the public and business should have been made aware of the situation and advice sought before cancelling the subsidy which led to the demise of the ferry service.



However, that was then and this is now and the premier says the International Ferry Partnership has taken great strides in making certain the public has been involved in the past year's efforts to restore service.

Negotiations are currently underway between the province and S-T-M Quest and if successful may see a resumption in ferry service by next spring, in time for the tourist season of 2014.

Bridgewater Celebrates $25,000 Donation From Kraft

A raucous crowd gathered at Shipyards Landing in Bridgewater last night with the town in the national spotlight. The South Shore Seahawks Minor Football Club were awarded a $25,000 cheque from Kraft Canada as part of their Celebration Tour before TSN broadcasted a live edition of sportscentre. The money will improve drainage at the Kinsmen Field. Resident Shawn Woodworth says the event was a crowd-pleaser.



Thousands of people attended. This part of the tour moves on to Fredericton, New Brunswick to broadcast again Tuesday.

UPDATE: Fatal Plane Crash Near New Germany

A 65-year-old Barss Corner man has died after a ultralight plane crash earlier this morning in Barss Corner. RCMP say Byron Varner was the pilot and only person in the plane at the time of the crash just after 10am. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Mounties say early investigation reveals the plane burst into flames after impact. RCMP don't yet know the cause of the crash.

BREAKING: Plane Crash In New Germany

RCMP say one man is injured after an ultralight plane crashed near the Old Barss Corner Road in New Germany. Sgt. Al LeBlanc says the incident happened around 10:20 this morning. A cause has yet to be determined. EHS and members of the New Germany Fire Department are on scene.

Kraft Celebration Tour Arrives

Thousands of people are expected to be in attendance when festivities kick-off this evening for the Kraft Celebration Tour at Shipyard's Landing on King Street. Things open up to the public at 5pm, with Rod Smith and Kate Beirness anchoring the live edition of TSN's Sportscentre at 7pm. A member of the organizing group, Tanya Bolivar, says she's hopes people will show their community spirit by wearing jerseys, painting their faces and creating signs. She says people from surrounding communities should enjoy the event as well.



Kraft will present a $25,000 cheque to the South Shore Seahawks football club to help fix drainage issues at Kinsmen Field.

Meanwhile, if you're heading to Shipyard's Landing this evening, make sure you travel ahead of time. The town has closed a number of streets to allow Kraft and TSN to set up equipment for the Celebration Tour. The closures include King Street between Cornwallis Street and Jubilee Road, School Street will be shut down between Prince Street and King Street, and Park Street will be off-limits between Prince Street and King Street. The closures last until 10pm.

Summer Games: Whalen Wins Second Gold Medal

The feeling of winning gold at the Canada Summer Games is twice as nice for Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen. The 20-year-old won the women's javelin event Friday night in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Whalen had a top toss of 48.83 metres. She won her first gold earlier this week in the women's shot put. Nova Scotia sits at 56 medals heading into the final day of competition at the Summer Games on Saturday.

Summer Games: McIntosh Records Another Gold For South Shore

Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh won gold in the women's heptathlon at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The 22-year-old dominated the competition, scoring 5,407 points and winning six of the seven events in the discipline. McIntosh's effort puts a stamp on South Shore accomplishments in athletics. McIntosh, along with Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan, Conquerall Mills' Mattias Wolter and Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen all won gold medals this week. Whalen still has the women's javelin final later tonight. Courtney Langille of Bridgewater will also run in the women's 4 x 400 metre final tonight.

Premier Says No Election Call This Weekend

Opposition party candidates and voters may have to wait awhile yet for a provincial election call. In a CKBW-HANK-FM News interview, Premier Darrell Dexter says you can pretty well rule out an election call this weekend, despite all the talk to the contrary for the past week. He tell us, there is still work to be done including a fiscal update to be unveiled next week outlining the province's current financial state.



The premier by law must call an election before next June. NDP candidates on the South Shore are ready to officially kickoff their campaigns when the premier "drops the writ". Shelburne MLA and Fisheries Minister Sterling Belliveau will offer his name up for re-election in the newly created Queens-Shelburne. Elsewhere, the Minister of Community Services and Seniors Denise Peterson-Rafuse is re-offering in Chester-St. Margarets, Pam Birdsall hopes for re-election in Lunenburg, Gary Ramey is looking to be returned in Lunenburg West. The NDP is yet to choose its candidates for Argyle-Barrington and Yarmouth.

CLOSED: Three Lunenburg County Swimming Holes Off-Limits

Three popular swimming areas in Lunenburg County are now off limits. Bayswater Beach, Sand Dollar Beach and Sawpit Wharf in Lunenburg Back Harbour have all been temporarily closed due to high levels of bacteria in the water. It's the second time this summer Bayswater Beach has been closed because of unsafe bacteria levels in the water. If you are looking for updates, call the Lifeguard information line at 477-6168.

Martin, Canada Miss Relay Final At Worlds

Bridgewater's Jenna Martin and her Canadian teammates gave it their all, but didn't advance to the finals of the women's 4 x 400 metre event at the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Moscow, Russia. The team finished fifth in their heat, in a time of three minutes, 31 seconds, failing to qualify for the finals by less than two seconds. Team Canada set a seasonal best time with their results.

Summer Games. McIntosh Closing In On Gold Medal

A busy day coming up for several South Shore athletes at the Canada Summer Games. Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh has a hold on first place, heading into the final three events of the women's heptathlon. Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe and Chester's Allison Chandler tee-off in round three of the golf event. Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen competes in the women's javelin final. Bridgewater's Courtney Langille will run in the women's 4 x 400 metre relay final.