Bridgewater: Proposed Feeding Wildlife By-Law Postponed Until May

The town of Bridgewater has postponed a wildlife feeding by-law until next May. Council didn't vote on first reading after deciding more information was needed on the issue. The by-law would essentially limit people from intentionally feeding wild animals, with exception of feeding fish or birds near duck ponds or baiting a live trap to capture an animal. Mayor David Walker says education and enforcement needs to be addressed.



Walker says the town will be reviewing its by-laws and enforcement, so he didn't feel council should rush into the matter. The need for a by-law grew after local residents approached council, frustrated with a person excessively feeding raccoons and birds. The citizen group say it is negatively affecting their properties and starting to attract rats.

Valley: High Risk Sex-Offender Arrested/More Charges

Mounties have arrested a high risk sex-offender in the Annapolis Valley. Thirty-six year-old Shane Smith was arrested on Monday after police stopped by his home in Aylesford. However, police say he wasn't home at the time, which breached his curfew. Smith has been charged with two counts of breach of recognizance. He was released from custody and is due back in court at a later date.

Lumberjacks Pickard, Parsons Named To Team Atlantic

A pair of CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks will represent the Atlantic provinces in the World Under-17 Challenge in Cape Breton. Campbell Pickard and Layton Parsons are two of nine Nova Scotians named to the team Atlantic roster for the event, being held from December 29 to January 4 in Port Hawkesbury and Sydney. Pickard has 11 points in 16 games with the Lumberjacks this season while Parsons has seven points in 18 games. Team Atlantic will open its round robin against Ontario on December 30. This year's World Under-17 Hockey Challenge will mark the last tournament which will see a Team Atlantic squad participate. Hockey Canada announced earlier in the year they will be sending three teams to the event instead of the traditional five Canadian teams. Team Atlantic's full roster can be found here .

Bridgewater: Resident Remembers Loved One At Ceremony

It's never easy to lose a loved one, but it's more difficult when it's near a significant holiday. That's what happened to Bridgewater resident Virginia Oickle. Her brother-in law Phillip was killed just before Christmas eight years ago while driving on Highway 103. Oickle took part in today's National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims in Bridgewater. She says the ceremony helps in the healing process.



Officials with the town, police, fire, EHS and MADD Canada gathered with members of the public at the Bridgewater Police Headquarters. The day was also used to remind people to be safe behind the wheel, and conscious of their actions. The Canadian flag was lowered to half mast for the day. This is the first year the National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims was marked in Bridgewater.

South Shore: Six Locals Awarded Bravery Medals In Halifax

It was a tragedy which tugged on the heart strings of the entire South Shore. Five young fishermen were killed when the lobster fishing boat "Miss Ally" capsized in rough seas on February 17. Now, four members of a dive team that searched the wreckage have been awarded the Nova Scotia Medal of Bravery.  The nomination was put forward by the Municipality of Barrington. Shelburne County divers Donnie Mahaney, Thomas Nickerson, Gary Thurber and Thomas Hennigar received their medals during a special ceremony at Province House in Halifax. Meanwhile, another native of the South Shore was awarded a bravery medal. Aiden Brunn of Martin's River was also given a medal for his heroic efforts to help in a head on crash. Brunn was the first on scene when a car collided with a pickup truck on Highway 324 at the overpass of Exit 11. The car burst into flames and Brunn helped pulled an unconscious driver out of a burning vehicle. He was later joined on the scene by Patrick May of Maplewood - who also was awarded a medal today at Province House. Premier Stephen McNeil presented the medals, with some family members of the victims in attendance. This is the sixth year for Nova Scotia's Medal of Bravery. (Photo courtesy: Communications Nova Scotia)

UPDATE: Liverpool Fires Deemed Not Suspicious

The province's fire marshall's office and the RCMP say two fires in Liverpool, one last night and one this morning (Wednesday) are not suspicious. The causes of the two fires have not been pinpointed yet though. No one was hurt when a blaze erupted around 9:30 this morning at the back of an apartment building on Main Street. It was quickly put out by firefighters but did cause some smoke damage. Another blaze last evening on Payzant Street forced 5 people from their apartments and smoke, water and fire damage to their units. However, no one was injured in that fire and the building's owner and the Red Cross have offered assistance to those affected.

Lunenburg: Power Rate Hearing For Town Utility

Power rates in Lunenburg will be up for discussion on Wednesday. A hearing is scheduled between the town, on behalf of its electric utility, and the province's Utility and Review Board. The town is looking to increase power rates for the first time in roughly seven years. Pocket books will be hit the hardest for residents with a proposed hike of nearly 10 per cent. Mayor Rachel Bailey says it's never easy to raise fees, but it has to be done.



Bailey estimates roughly 1,600 residents would be affected by a rate increase. The hearing begins at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning at the Lunenburg courthouse. An evening session is also planned for 7pm.

Local Mounties Receive Award At Law Conference

Two South Shore RCMP officers received an award recently at the 2013 Atlantic Women in Law Enforcement conference. Constable Brandy Steeves and Constable Susan Foote won the AWLE Team Endeavour Award at the conference held in Charlottetown, PEI. Both members helped create the Lunenburg County RCMP Youth Advisory Committee and Name the Shame initiative. The committee helps raise awareness about bullying and youth issues, provide resources and information to the community, develop leadership skills in public speaking and the media, and focus on current youth issues. The initiative was created to prevent harassment and abuse and strengthen knowledge and awareness around sexual harassment, abuse and relationship violence. Steeves is a member of the Bridgewater detachment as a school safety resource officer. Foote recently retired from the Chester detachment.

Slight Raise In 2014 Dues At Osprey Ridge

You can expect to pay a few more bucks next year if you golf at Osprey Ridge in Pine Grove. A committee has approved small cost increases for adult, intermediate and junior memberships while some prices dropped including locker rentals and corporate memberships. The price changes are between four dollars and $50. Municipality of Lunenburg Mayor Don Downe says there's little change.



Downe says they're trying to keep their costs competitive and help bring in green fee players to generate additional revenue. Below are the 2014 rates.

Bullying Awareness Week: A Call For Help

It's Bullying Awareness Week - so call out if you need help. Nova Scotia's new CyberSCAN investigative unit has received 30 complaints in its first six weeks of operation, 15 involving adults and 13 involving youth. Two were deemed outside of the unit's mandate. Twenty investigations are ongoing, while eight have been resolved in a variety of ways, from informal resolutions to referring cases to police for further action. Justice Minister Lena Diab says she knows bullying can take a large toll on young people and no one should have to live in fear every time they turn on their computer or phone. Investigators have also visited schools across the province to give workshops on helping students stay safe online. Nova Scotians can call 902-242-6900 in HRM or toll-free for South Shore Residents at 855-702-8324 to talk to an investigator. Parents of young victims can call the hotline and take action on their child's behalf. Referrals can also come from school staff, police, or anyone who is aware of an instance of cyberbullying taking place. More information on the unit and on options for people who believe they are experiencing cyberbullying is available online at www.cyberscan.novascotia.ca 

Lumberjacks Acquire Blueliner From Miramichi

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks have added another blueliner to their roster. The Bridgewater club traded a second-round pick in next year's draft to Miramichi for defenseman Patrick Byrne and future considerations. The 5-foot-9, 18-year-old has played 14 games with the Timberwolves this season and has no points. The Lumberjacks could also see Matt Wright to report to the team this week. He was acquired as part of the Shawn Boudreau trade to Yarmouth late last month.

Cookville: No Injuries After Two Vehicle Crash

No one was taken to hospital after a two-car collision Tuesday morning in Cookville. Staff Sgt. Bruce Hill with Lunenburg County RCMP says a vehicle was turning into Pine Grove just before 8am when the utility trailer it was hauling was struck by a car. Police, fire officials and EHS responded to the incident. There were no injuries. (Photo Courtesy: Evan Dahl)

Remembering Road Crash Victims

For the first time, police, emergency and other organizations on the South Shore will gather to remember the victims of highway crashes. A National Day of Remembrance is being held tomorrow (Wednesday) right across the country and Bridgewater Police Chief John Collyer says it'll be an important event in convincing drivers to change their habits.



In Canada, 2,800 people die every year in road crashes and another 195,000 are injured. The ceremony in front of the Bridgewater Police headquarters on Dufferin Street begins at 9 o'clock Wednesday morning.

Pleasantville Fire Department Awaiting New Truck

Members of the Pleasantville Fire Department are awaiting the arrival of a brand new fire truck to serve residents of Lunenburg County. Fire Chief Tony Allen says they have purchased a new pumper truck to replace their older pumper. It's going cost in the area of $350,000 and will be paid for entirely by the local department. Allen says it's a significant purchase for the volunteer organization.



Allen says they will continue to host community dinners and other fundraising events to help pay for the vehicle. The truck will be coming from South Dakota, it's expected to arrive in early December.

Curlers Raise Over $500 Towards Winter Games Opportunity

A group of South Shore curlers trying to reach the 2015 Canada Winter Games held a successful fundraiser over the weekend. Eight youth, including six from Bridgewater and two from Yarmouth, raised just over $500 towards the effort. The group held a bottle drive at the Bridgewater Curling Club on Saturday. They collected over 7,000 bottles as well as monetary donations. The money will help them buy new equipment like grippers and broom heads. Two local teams are into the elite six play-downs, which are scheduled for Shelburne, Bridgetown and Halifax between January and March.

Bridgewater: Town Denies Land To Church

The town of Bridgewater has denied a request for land from the Bridgewater Open Bible Church. The church was looking to lease or acquire under an acre of land on the corner of Jubilee Road and Exhibition Drive. The church's Trustees Board chair says they have a congregation of roughly 170 people and need to expand parking. However, Mayor David Walker says there could be plans for the land.



Walker says there is land across the street from the church that could be purchased and provide additional parking spaces.

South Shore: Windy/Wet Evening Expected

It looks it will be a nasty evening - weather wise - on the South Shore. High wind and rain is expected to hit Shelburne, Yarmouth, Lunenburg and Queens counties. Environment Canada predicts wind gusts will reach 80 kilometres in some communities with 15 to 20 millimetres of rain expected tonight. There are a few power outages to report but none in our region. Nova Scotia Power crews are working to restore electricity to about 7,000 customers in Dartmouth and Amherst. The largest outage is in the Amherst area where the cause is being investigated. We'll be sure to keep you updated if any power outages are report in our region.

Yarmouth's Graves Suits Up In Subway Super Series

A Yarmouth native prepares to join some of the best Quebec Major Junior Hockey players in the Subway Super Series. Ryan Graves will suit up for the opening game Monday night against a team of Russian stars in Gatineau, Quebec. The 18-year-old defenseman plays for the Charlottetown Islanders. He has two goals and three assists in 23 games this season. The former South Shore Mustang was selected in the fourth round of this summer's NHL draft by the New York Rangers. Three Halifax Moosehead players are also playing for the 'Q' team including Jonathan Drouin, MacKenzie Weegar and Zachary Fucale. The series lasts six games. The Russians will play two games each against stars from the QMJHL, the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League.

Witty & Creative Nova Scotia Book - A Best Seller

It's a hot item on bookshelves and the backdrop is based right here in Nova Scotia. "You Might Be From Nova Scotia If..." was released in September and has become a national best seller. It's a compilation of witty and creative cartoons with a humorous spin highlighting everyday life as a Bluenoser. Chronicle Herald cartoonist Michael De Adder is the mind behind the sketches and says people can relate to the book. He feels that's why it has become so popular.



De Adder put the pencil to may of the cartoons in the book at his cottage just outside of Bridgewater. He'll be stopping by the Bridgewater Mall for a book signing on December 1st. The book is backed by publisher John MacIntyre (MacIntyre Purcell Publishing).

Optimism Buyer Will Be Found For Former Sawmill Site

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg still hopes a buyer will eventually come along for the former Oakhill Sawmill site. The mill was closed more than a year ago when Resolute Forest Products shutdown both the Bowater Mersey Mill in Brooklyn and its Oakhill operation. MODL Mayor Don Downe says the potential for the site is being examined closely by officials in Lunenburg and Queens Counties, the province and Ottawa.



The Oakhill sawmill employed 125 workers prior to closing in 2012. Resolute still owns the property, although its now quiet and most equipment and stock removed. A potential buyer would also have to consider an environmental cleanup after generations of sawmill operations.