Lunenburg: Town Awaiting URB Power Rate Final Approval

The town of Lunenburg has determined power rates will rise by 7.5 per cent for residents in the new year. However, the province's Utility and Review Board still needs to sign off on the figure. The URB recently approved an average rate increase for the five different classes in the town. Mayor Rachel Bailey says its never easy to raise power rates.



Bailey says residents still pay about nine per cent less than Nova Scotia Power customers. The URB will confirm the exact numbers affecting Lunenburg by January 1st.

Beware Of Christmas Tree Nabbers

Here's something to think about if you're a South Shore Christmas tree vendor selling your product in parking lots or on street corners. In Saint John, vendors there are guarding their firs and pines from thieves who lurk near their lots at night, trying to steal them. For instance, someone stole 15 Christmas trees in one night from a lot that was unattended. Now, more tree vendors are moving heated trailers into their lots as living accomodations so they can be on guard 24-7 during the Christmas-season. Police say its difficult to trace a stolen tree because they do not have serial numbers or any kind of identification.

Sledge Hockey Coming To Bridgewater

People are getting the opportunity to try sledge hockey in Bridgewater. The Charlie's Pizza South Shore Mustangs are working with Parasport Nova Scotia and Sport Nova Scotia to host the initiative. There will be roughly 20 sledges for use, which were donated by local recreation directors and the Easter Seals program out of Halifax. Mustangs assistant coach Andrew Caines says the idea grew after he found out the Clearwater Seafoods Arena supported sledge hockey use.



There will be four half hour sessions when the event is held from 6-8pm on December 21. People are encouraged to donate money to try sledge hockey, with proceeds going towards Parasport Nova Scotia, Lunenburg-Queens Special Olympics, and the recreation director association.

Ferry Fares Yarmouth To Portland Revealed

The fare schedule for the new ferry service between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine has been released by the company that will operate it. Nova Star Cruises says the fares for the 9 hour trip aboard the 161-metre long cruise ferry "Nova Star" will range from $79 to $129 for adults and between $39 to $64 for children ages 5 to 12 depending on the travel dates, while children under 5 will travel for free all season long. The fares will change with lower fares at the beginning and at the end of the season and higher fares during the peak summer months. Special combination rates that include round-trip passenger fare, plus a cabin and auto transportation both ways, range from $299. to $449. per person based on double occupancy. For more details about the fares includingdiscounts for seniors and military personnel, go th this web address:  www.NovaStarCruises.com. 

Gas Price Hike Expected Tomorrow

Be prepared for a boost in gas prices at South Shore pumps tomorrow morning. In New Brunswick today, drivers there are paying about 4 cents more per litre. Regular self serve is at $1.28,9. Diesel is also more expensive in New Brunswick. Its up by a couple of cents to about $1.44.4 a litre.

UPDATE: Highway Re-Opened Following LaHave Fire

Highway 331 in LaHave is now re-opened to traffic between Mount Pleasant Road and Hughey Lake Road. It was closed and traffic rerouted earlier following a house fire. The road was caked in ice from all the water used by the pumper trucks in fighting the blaze. Highway crews spent several hours salting and trying to remove the ice buildup. As for the fire, no one was hurt. The newer-style house at 3250 Highway 331 in LaHave was destroyed though. LaHave fire chief John Mulock says the blaze broke out around 2:30am.



Seven fire departments were involved in battling the flames.



The fire is believed to have started in the chimney.

Former Development Authority CEO Returns To Court In January

The former CEO of the Southwest Shore Development Authority will be back in court in the new year. RCMP laid charges against 64-year-old Frank Anderson of Yarmouth County in October. He's charged with eight counts of uttering forged documents and one count of fraud over $5,000. Anderson's lawyer appeared in Yarmouth court this week. He requested the Crown to adjourn the case because the defence was looking for more information. Police began their investigation into the now-defunct authority last September. A forensic examination commissioned by the province's Department of Economic and Rural Development looked at expense claims and supplier invoices. The matter will be back in court January 28.

Bridgewater: Thai Restaurant Coming To King Street

Bridgewater is getting a Thai restaurant on King Street. Town council approved the sale of the current library building to THAI'D and TRUE, a company operated by Hazen and Gillian Trueman of Lower Kingsburg. The cost was just over $217,000. The couple were the only group to submit a bid on the property. Mayor David Walker says the restaurant could be a good fit.



Hazen Trueman used to be one of the owners of the King's Arm Pub in Kentville. The group is expected to take control of the current library space before next spring.

Canada Post Announces Big Changes

Big changes coming to the way some people get their mail. Canada Post is phasing out door-to-door delivery of regular mail in large city centres and will jack up the cost of stamps. Some people will need to get their letters, bills and flyers at community mail boxes. It doesn't appear people living in rural areas - like the South Shore - will be impacted by the changes. Transport Minister Lisa Raitt has floated the idea of cutting door-to-door delivery in urban areas. She made those comments in September after the Crown Corporation unveiled $104 million in losses in the second quarter. The Crown corporation is also increasing the cost of mailing a letter to a dollar on March 31. However, those stamp booklets will cost you about $0.85 per stamp. The announcement comes just a few weeks before Christmas - the busiest time of the year for Canada Post.

New Judge Appointed In Yarmouth

A familiar face in Yarmouth's legal community is becoming a judge in the town. The province's justice minister has appointed Michelle Christenson as Nova Scotia's newest provincial and family court judge. Christenson was called to the bar in 1996. She worked with the Public Prosecution Service in 2003 in Yarmouth. Before that, she was in private practice. Judges are appointed to both the provincial and family courts to allow flexibility in dealing with court workloads.

MODL: Councillor Upset Over Lack Of Public Access

A councillor with the Municipality of Lunenburg is fighting to improve access to Sherbrooke Lake. Terry Dorey represents District 6 including Walden and Parkdale. He is one of a handful of councillors who are upset with the municipality's stance on improving public access. However, Mayor Don Downe says they're moving forward with it as planned.



Dorey unleashed strong language at Tuesday's council meeting, saying there was bias among council and he felt betrayed. Staff will report back on the issue next October. However, Dorey and a few other councillors want it dealt with sooner.

Minor Hockey Woes; Lunenburg Arena Facing Deficit

Trouble brewing with the Lunenburg Arena? The town's director of recreation, Robin Scott, says they're facing a financial shortfall after a drop-off in use from minor hockey. He says over the years the rink has averaged about 26 hours a week for minor hockey, but it's been substantially cut back to about 12 hours this year. Scott says it's been tough.



He believes the deficit would have to be offset by the tax-base in the town. Scott believes some of the causes are declining numbers in minor hockey, the addition of the Clearwater Seafoods Arena in Bridgewater and the amalgamation of the Lunenburg and Bridgewater hockey associations.

Mounties Conduct 20 Checkstops On Busy Weekend

Mounties say they nabbed four drunk drivers on the South Shore during a nation-wide initiative targeting impaired drivers. RCMP conducted checkpoints across the province on Saturday.  It was part of National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day. Sergeant Al Leblanc says 20 road blocks were set up throughout Lunenburg, Queens and Shelburne. He says police screened roughly 2,000 vehicles.



Throughout Nova Scotia, 75 checkpoints were conducted on Saturday with police charging 14 people with impaired driving. LeBlanc says officer were able to stop roughly 10,000 vehicles.

Bridgewater Denies ATV Club Request To Access Centennial Trail

There will be no ATVs on the Centennial Trail unless the town of Bridgewater gives the go ahead. Council unanimously voted to deny the Central Nova ATV club from accessing the trail from Cookville to Hebbville or from Dayspring to the former Apple Berry property. Mayor David Walker says they had lots of feedback against the matter from residents and people outside their community. He feels council made the best choice.



The town also directed staff to install signage at access points indicating what is allowed or not allowed on the trail. It will also seek options for trail enforcement from the police commission. A group of ATV drivers can still access the trail if they acquire a special permit from the town.

Updated: Police Car Involved In Two-Vehicle Crash

No serious injuries after a two-vehicle collision today involving an unmarked police car. The incident occurred mid-morning on North King Street in Bridgewater. A section of the road near Eisenhauer Lane was closed for a few hours while investigators took a look at the scene. The province's Serious Incident Response Team was notified about the crash. That's an independent group tasked with investigating incidents involving police. The person driving the other vehicle involved in the crash was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Halifax: New Contracts Awarded For Shipyard Upgrades

Nova Scotia suppliers are beginning to see more benefits in relation to the $25-billion shipbuilding contract awarded to Irving Shipbuilding. The company is announcing just over $28 million in fresh work contracts to modernize the yard in preparation to build Canada's new fleet of combat ships. President of Irving Shipbuilding, Kevin McCoy, says the company has awarded $175 million in contracts connected to the upgrades needed at the Halifax dockyard. The project will take two-years to complete and cost $300 million. Several Halifax-area companies were awarded new work in relation to the modernization efforts at the shipyard. In Nova Scotia, work contracts to date have generated roughly 870 full time jobs.

Slick Roads & Some Closed Schools

Its cleanup day as a result of yesterday afternoon and evening's snow, ice pellets and rain. Many of the South Shore's roads are slick this morning so, drive carefully. As a result, there are some school closures too in the Chester area. Forest Heights and its feeder schools, New Ross, Chester Area Middle School, Chester District and Aspotagan Consolidated are all closed for the day. All other schools along the South Shore are open today as usual.

Foundation Urges People To Start Collecting For Radiothon

It's the time of year for giving and the Health Services Foundation of the South Shore is hoping they will be in your thoughts. The local foundation is gearing up for its annual radiothon and are hoping for local groups or businesses to start raising money as early as they can. The Health Services Foundation is trying to raise $100,000 this year to put towards a new mobile x-ray unit. Development Officer Bernadette Jordan says local residents are the reason behind their success.



This is the fourth year for the radiothon. It will be broadcast on CKBW and HANK-FM in February.

West LaHave Man Receives Fire Services Award

A member of the Pleasantville Fire Department received a huge honour over the weekend. Reverend Douglas Porter of West LaHave was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association Municipal Long Service Medal. He's the first person in Canada to receive the award. Porter has given 30 years of volunteer time to firefighting in Nova Scotia. He says the award means a lot to him.



The medal recognizes an individual who has performed outstanding and long service to their municipal unit with at least thirty years of active fire service as a volunteer. It was handed out Saturday evening at the Pleasantville Fire Hall. (Photo Courtesy: Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association)

Bridgewater Police Absorbing Decibel Meter Cost

Bridgewater's police chief says the cost is on them to purchase decibel meters to enforce noise in the town. Council recently approved a noise by-law. John Collyer says there won't be any additional officers hired to enforce the issue. He says he'll have to determine where the cost will come from.



Collyer says he doesn't intend to ask the town for any funding. He says it will take time to find the right equipment and train officers. Collyer says they're planning to start enforcing the noise by-law in March.