Traffic Disruptions

It's a nuisance, but a necessary evil. Traffic in downtown Bridgewater will be disrupted for the next couple of weeks as infrastructure upgrades continue. Town Engineer Harland Wyand says crews are replacing storm sewer and sanitary sewer systems and water mains that in some cases are more than 50 years old. Crews are currently working at the King and Dufferin Street intersection and on Dufferin Street to Alexandra Avenue. Work is expected to take about 6 weeks to approximately November 1st, and is carried out from 7am to 7pm daily. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes.

State Your Name

Be prepared to give your name if you file a dangerous and unsightly premises complaint in the Municipality of Lunenburg. A ratepayer or resident can no longer remain anonymous. Councillor Basil Oickle says he's opposed because people will be reluctant to identify themselves fearing repercussions. Municipal Council approved a motion that each complaint must be accompanied by a name and the matter will be followed up within 14 days. A person's name could eventually be revealed through a request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) Act.

Be Quiet

Noise complaints associated with an automotive event at the Exhibition grounds is prompting Bridgewater Town Council to consider implementing a Noise By-law. Councillor Greg Ritcey says he fielded 14 calls regarding the South Shore in Motion Festival. He says he fully supports the festival but perhaps the organizers could look at rescheduling the events or change its hours to end earlier in the evening, even extending the event over a longer period such as a week. Bridgewater Town Council is looking at possibly implementing a Noise By-law. Mayor Carroll Publicover says the challenge is to encompass all the types of noise violations . Noise issues are currently covered under several Town By-laws and Provincial Legislation

AIR & SEA SEARCH FOR MISSING NOVA SCOTIA FISHING VESSEL & ITS CREW OF FOUR

Aircraft and ships are continuing a search for a fishing boat with four people on board that's missing in the Bay of Fundy.

So far, the search has turned up some debris, but it's not known whether it's from the scallop dragger "R-L-J" out of Digby.

A life-jacket and a picnic cooler have been found.

The 13-metre vessel went out fishing last week and was due back in port Sunday but failed to show up.

The vessel's last known position was east of Saint John.

The names of those on board have not been released.

Developer Seeks Amendments

The developer of a major multi-phased housing project is now seeking changes to the proposal. Jo-Lo Developments received approval from Bridgewater Town Council in June 2007 to construct a project consisting of 224 condo units, including semis, townhouses and multi unit residential buildings off Glen Allen Drive. The developer now wants an amendment to reduce the rear yard setbacks 4 units in Phases 1, 3, 5 and 7 due to rock issues and the wider public street right-of-way requirements.
Town Planner Eric Shaw says the changes are substantive and there are a number of outstanding issues that have to be resolved. A number of Hollingsworth Drive residents have also expressed concern over the construction timeline. Council endorsed the planners recommendation that the applicant submit all outstanding requirements for review before the matter can be scheduled for a public participation meeting.

Mushroom Foray

This year, friends of fungus will get together to unearth a little more of Nova Scotia's biodiversity. The Nova Scotia Mycological Society, a young group with an old-sounding name, will bring together nature lovers and mushroom experts for their 3rd annual foray, an organized walk into the woods to gather and identify mushrooms. The foray is structured around a 3 to 4 hour walk in the woods with an expert, collecting samples and learning about mushrooms in nature. Groups return from 3 or 4 trail locations to an indoor setting to lay out their samples, and begin the difficult work of identification. The 2 night, 3 day program including talks, clinics, field trips and entertainment, this year's foray is scheduled for September 24-26, 2010, at White Point Beach Resort in Liverpool. Those interested in the foray and the samples collected in previous years, are invited to visit www.nsmushrooms.org.

SCHOOL VANDALS

Chester County RCMP are investigating an act of vandalism.

Sometime between Friday night and Sunday morning the Aspotogan Consolidated Elementtary School was damaged.

The vandals placed debris around the schoolyard and damaged siding on the building.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact Lunenburg County RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

SCHOOL ZONE SPEEDERS

RCMP are ramping up traffic patrols in our region.

According to Western Traffic Services, 75 school zone speeders were ticketed in the south-western part of the province in one week.

Speed enforcement operations at schools in Barton and Weymouth in Digby County and in Arcadia and Yarmouth in Yarmouth County led to the onslaught of tickets.

According to the RCMP these increased patrols, and those on the South Shore, will continue as a way of reminding motorists to slow down in school zones.

RCMP education campaigns in playgrounds, parking lots and classrooms will also help increase safety for students, cyclists and pedestrians.

Western Traffic Services are reminding the public to use extra caution behind the wheel now that school is back in session.

FRIDAY NIGHT VANDALS

Bridgewater Town Police are investigating an act of vandalism.

Sometime overnight on Friday, Sept 10, the windows of an unoccupied home at the top Winburn Avenue were smashed out.

Meanwhile, on the same evening, a vehicle parked at 415 Dufferin Street had both mirrors smashed off.

Anyone with information on these crimes is asked to contact Bridgewater Police or Crime Stoppers.

MAN ARRESTED IN CALEDONIA

A local man is facing charges after Queens County RCMP were tipped off about an impaired driver.

Police received several calls, on Sunday night, from citizens concerned about a man driving under the influence in Caledonia.

Patrols were made and a 42 year old was arrested and lodged in cells.

He is facing charges of impaired driving and possession of a controlled substance.

The accused will appear in Liverpool Provincial Court on November 16th.

Award for Water Plant

The Town of Lunenburg's water supply upgrade has been selected as the Project of the Year by the Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Association. The award is to be presented at the ACWWA Annual Conference in Saint John New Brunswick tomorrow . The water utility of the Town of Lunenburg completed a 7.5 million dollar water treatment facility in May of this year. The water utility serves about 25 hundred customers.

Living Well by the Sea..Library Conference

Education Minister Marilyn More will be the guest speaker at the provincial Library Boards Association of Nova Scotia conference this coming weekend in Queens County. Library Staff and Board Members will gather at White Point Beach Resort on September 17th,18th, and 19th. Minister More will address library delegates about the importance of library service in Nova Scotia.

LCLC Looks for Funding

The Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre Society is hoping other municipal units will contribute to their capital campaign. The 33 million dollar facility to be built in Bridgewater will house an indoor aquatic centre, one NHL sized rink, a new library, multi purpose and active living space. The federal and provincial governments have each kicked in 10 million dollars with the Town of Bridgewater and Municipality of Lunenburg cost sharing a third . LCLC members pitched a proposal to Chester Council last week extolling the virtues of the centre for Chester residents and asking Council for a commitment of half a million dollars. The towns of Mahone Bay and Lunenburg will also be asked to commit funding to the project.

Chester Development Plan for Highway 3

A draft plan on development for the outskirts of Chester will now go to the public for feedback. The consultants plan for development of Highway 3 has been presented to Chester Municipal Council for review. Warden Alan Webber says it's a controversial issue and Council is trying to find a way to balance residential and commercial concerns. Public pressure resulted in Council voting down an amendment to rezone a portion of Highway 3 from the WIndjammer Restaurant to Collicut Building Supplies. Council then decided to undertake a broader planning approach with public engagement.

DEADLY CRASH

A woman from the United States has died on a Nova Scotia highway.

On September 11th, at approximately 3:15 PM, members of the Halifax District RCMP responded to a single vehicle crash which occurred in the 8700 block of Highway 333, Peggy’s Cove Road.

A Peggy’s Cove bound vehicle had failed to negotiate a slight curve in the road and hit the ditch on the right hand side of the road.

A rear seat passenger was thrown from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The deceased is a 62 year old female from the United States.

Three other people in the vehicle were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A traffic analyst was called to the scene to complete an investigation but neither speed nor alcohol is believed to be a factor at this time.

WALKING FOR CHANGE

More than 300-thousand Canadians of all ages live with type one diabetes.

Barb Conrad with the Diabetic Walk for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation says fortunately there is a chance to make a difference in our region.

Conrad explains how Roseanne and Mike Tanner of Mahone Bay started the walk three years ago.

"They decided they wanted to see if we could raise money in our local area, Lunenburg County, Queens, to get people together and raise the awareness of juvenile diabetes, " says Conrad

If you missed the the Diabetic Walk on September 19 just drop your bottles off to "Oickle's Bottle Exchange" at 100 High Street in Bridgewater and have donated them to the JDRF account.

THOSE WHO SERVED AT SEA REMEMBERED

The Annual Lunenburg Fishermen's Thanksgiving took place today at 2 o'clock at Central United Church.

The ceremony serves as a time of remembrance and proclaims a note of faith to those who still go to sea.

Mayor Laurence Mawhinney read a Roll of Hounour, including the names of all those fishermen lost in the years ending in zero, beginning in 1900.

Following the service those present proceeded to the waterfront where wreaths will were placed aboard a fishing vessel.

The Clergy will take part in the Prayer of Committal as wreaths were deposited in the ocean in memory of those lost at sea.

In the last century alone, more than 660 fishermen were lost while fishing out of Lunenburg County ports.

LIGHTS OUT, SOUTH SHORE

The lights are out over much of the South Shore.

More than five thousand customers are currently without power.

According the Nova Scotia Power website, the outages occurred shortly after 2 o'clock today.

Customers from various regions including New Germany, East Dalhousie, Springfield, Bridgewater, Lower and South Cornwall and West Northfield are experiencing outages.

As of 4:30 PM, 12101 customers are without power

The cause of the outages is being investigated.

The estimated restoration time for all outages is approximately 5 o'clock today.

For more information follow the link provided below.

http://www.nspower.ca/en/home/residential/outageinformation/liveoutagemap.aspx

First Responders Funding

Fire departments and first responders will once again benefit from improved equipment through the Emergency Services Provider Fund. The 500-thousand-dollar provincial funding program helps fire departments and first responders purchase equipment such as jaws of life, pumps and hoses. The program provides up to 50 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of 20-thousand dollars for approved projects. The deadline for applications is October 15th. Application Forms are available online at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/muns/espf .

Input Sought on Academy Use

The future use of the Lunenburg Academy after it ceases to be used as a school is under review and a task force is seeking public input. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says on Thursday September 16th, from 7 o'clock on, members of the community are invited to take a walk through the national heritage site. He says it's been well preserved by the Lunenburg Academy Foundation and was well used by Class Afloat when they occupied the space. He says it's quite impressive to see the sparkling condition of the 115 year old Academy.
Mawhinney says the general thrust he's hearing is for the Academy to retain its use as a place of learning. He says that might be a broad range of subject matter that could include cultural, artistic creative fields as well languages or architecture, things of that nature. He says once a review by the community has taken place expressions of interest will be solicited from across the country. Mawhinney says with the help of the Government of Nova Scotia they hope to come up with some creative ways to use the space and to pay for it.

Grand Opening for Chester Daycare

The Chester and Area Family Resource Centre is holding a grand opening celebration tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock. The new centre at 188 Pig Loop Road offers 36 licensed child-care spaces for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers. As well the kid zone program has the capacity for 28 children. The new permanent home for the resource centre will continue to offer licensed spaces, part-day as well as before and after school for children from ages 5 to 12.

MS Treatment Benefit

A benefit auction and dance is being held this Friday September 10th to help raise funds for a Shelburne woman to undergo a controversial medical treatment overseas. The Angela Archer Benefit is to help fund Multiple Sclerosis Liberation Treatment in Bulgaria. The event will be held at the Shelburne Curling Club getting underway at 7 p.m. Further information is available at "Angela Archer Benefit" on Facebook.

Fishermen's Thanksgiving Service

The Annual Lunenburg Fishermen's Thanksgiving is set for this Sunday, September 12th at 2 o'clock at Central United Church. It serves as a time of remembrance and proclaims a note of faith to those who still go to sea. The Roll of Honour will be read by Mayor Laurence Mawhinney and include the names of all those fishermen lost in the years ending in zero, beginning in 1900.
Following the service those present will proceed to the waterfront where the service will continue with wreaths being placed aboard a fishing vessel. Once clear of land, the Clergy will take part in the Prayer of Committal and the wreaths will be deposited in memory of those lost at sea. In the last century alone, more than 660 fishermen were lost while fishing out of Lunenburg County ports.

Drug Trafficking

A Queens County man is facing a charge of possessing marihuana for the purpose of trafficking following a search of a residence in Milton. Police seized a quantity of processed marihuana as well as a substantial amount of cash during the search which was carried out on Monday. A 24 year old male from Milton is scheduled to appear in Liverpool Provincial Court on October 19th

FAKE FIRE

The woods near McGowan Lake, outside Bridgewater will be on fire today.

Three eight-man Instant Management teams will be simulating a real forest fire.

Jim McNaughton, a fire tech with Bible Hill detachment says the training exercise is an important opportunity to improve public safety.

"We're constantly training. And with the Instant Management team it takes a fair amount of planning, bringing in members from across the province. It's designed to improve our skills so we can work more effectively when the real thing does happen, " says McNaughton.

MacNaughton says the members are recruited from various regions across the province so there is less stress put on a single detachment in the case of a real emergency.

The simulation began early this afternoon.

FRASER, SCRAPYARD BOUND

HMCS Fraser is en route to a scrap yard in Lake Erie, Ontario.

The president of the Artificial Reef Society, Rick Welsford, says there is only one thing that could save the vessel from being scrapped.

"Only time. The tow from Halifax through the St. Lawrence Seaway, through Lake Ontario into lake Erie is going to take them twelve or fourteen days. So we at least we have (that time) to try and come to sort of satisfactory resolution on this with the Department of National Defence, "says Welsford.

A federal court has quashed an arrest warrant slapped on the former Canadian Navy destroyer, which means the de-commissioned vessel that called Bridgewater home for a decade can be scrapped.

The vessel was resold to the Department of Defence in 2009 after years of sitting dockside in Bridgewater.

Welsford says his organization will continue to fight,

"There are alot of negotiations going behind the scenes and I would suggest that you'll see both parties back in court, shortly," says Welsford.

Welsford says the scrapping contract will cost taxpayers 2.6 million dollars and an additional 700 thousand for towing it away.

NEW REBATES FOR 'GREEN' HOMES

New Nova Scotia rebate incentives are easy on the wallet and the environment.

Rebates under the PerformancePlus program range from $3,000 to $7,000 for homes with an energuide rating above an 83.

Brian Hayes, an energy engineer with Conserve Nova Scotia, says this is an opportunity for the PerformancePlus program to encourage Nova Scotians to construct greener homes.

Hayes says its important to consider your options before you build.

"To convince consumers to take a real good look a their options while they have the opportunity to do it at the lowest possible cost, which is when they're building. Once homes the are built there are many options that disappear altogether, " says Hayes.

Hayes says homeowners can improve their energy rating by using solar power, improving insulation or by increasing their heating power by using drain water heat recovery systems.

The province says the program is capped at 1,200 homes on a first-come, first-served basis.

THEFT ON WOODLAWN DRIVE

Shelburne County RCMP are investigating a theft.

A 2003, blue Ford F-350 was stolen from Woodlawn Drive in Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

The theft took place sometime between 5:00 AM on September 5th and 5:00 PM on September 6th.

The license plate number is ENS-466.

The RCMP are seeking help from the public with this investigation.

Anyone with information regarding the crime is asked to contact the Shelburne Detachment or Crime Stoppers.

Recruits Wanted for Seniors Police Academy

**SENIORS SAFETY COORDINATOR - BETH GEORGE***

The Bridgewater Seniors Police Academy is looking for new recruits. Beginning September 30th, seniors will have a unique opportunity to learn something new about staying safe by participating in the Seniors Police Academy. The Academy
is a series of workshops designed to build skills and knowledge and reduce the likelihood seniors will become victims of crime.
The RCMP, VON Lunenburg County and Bridgewater Police Service are partnering to offer the seniors’ police academy in Dayspring at the Municipality Activity and Recreation Complex (the MARC) this fall.
Classes are offered for six consecutive Thursdays, from 1:30 – 3:30 pm in the afternoon and participants must be 55 or over. Seniors interested in enrolling in the Seniors Police Academy can contact Kathy at VON Lunenburg at 624-1897.

Yeah Jonathan Crouse !!

Congratulations to our own Jonathan Crouse, the morning host of HANK-FM. He is one of the nominees announced for this year's Music Nova Scotia Music and Industry Awards. Riverfest has been nominated for the Event of the Year Award. As well, Jonathan is also nominated for Radio Program of the Year for "That East Coast Show" which airs on CKBW. The awards will be handed out during Music Week activities being held this year in Yarmouth, November 4th to the 7th.

LCLC Information Sessions

A number of information sessions are planned for next week to update the public on the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. The meetings scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. will be held in a number of rural communities including New Germany and Petite Riviere. There will be a video presentation, details on government funding, the capital budget and a project timeline. There will also be an update on the Capital Fundraising Campaign. You can hear more about the information sessions on this weekend's South Shore Sunday Morning.

MEETINGS AS SCHEDULED:

Monday, September 13th New Germany Community Centre
Tuesday, September 14th Mahone Bay Legion
Monday, September 20th Petite Riviere Fire Hall
Monday, September 27th Chester Legion
Monday, October 4th Lunenburg Legion

DISRUPTIONS AND DETOURS IN BRIDGEWATER

The taps are running dry in parts of Bridgewater.

Town officials advise, customers in the area may be facing disruptions due to a water main break on South King Street .

Town officials also say water may be brown or discolored after service is restored.

Crews are on site asessing the estimated repair time.

A detour is taking place around the area and may be in place until nine o'clock this evening.

Motorists are advised to take an alternative route through Conquerall Mills to avoid delays.

PUMP THEFT

Lunenburg County RCMP are investigating a theft.

A blue coloured sewage pump was stolen from a construction site across the street from the Department of Natural Resources Wiles Lake Depot.

The theft occurred sometime within the last six days.

Police are asking anyone with knowledge of this crime to contact Lunenburg County RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

BONNIE LEA GETS A BARN

Good news for Bonnie Lea Farm in New Ross.

Almost a quarter of a million federal and provincial dollars will be funnelled into the facility for a major expansion.

Ottawa plans to invest 140-thousand dollars in the South Shore Community Service Association.

The Association operates Bonny Lea Farm which manufactures bark mulch.

Minister of National Revenue, ACOA and Atlantic Gateway, Keith Ashfield was at Bonnie Lea Farm this morning to make the announcement.

A 5,000 square foot expansion of the mulch mill will allow Bonny Lea to operate year-round, increase its production of consumer-ready products that embrace a variety of themes associated with greener living, and create more jobs.

THEFT ON PRINCE STREET

Bridgewater Police are investigating a theft.

Cash was stolen from a residence on Prince Street between 10 am and 2 pm on Monday, August 20th.

Police are seeking help from the public.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact Bridgewater Police or Crime Stoppers.

MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN ATV ACCIDENT

An ATV accident on highway 332 in Lower Lahave has a local man in hospital.

Staff Sergeant Bruce Hill for Lunenburg County says RCMP, the LaHave Fire Department, and EHS officials respond to the call at 7 o'clock on Saturday night.

"There was one person injured at the scene. He was taken to South Shore Regional Hospital with serious injuries. He was then transferred to the Halifax Infirmary," says Hill.

The driver was a fifty-five year old man from the Lunenburg County area.

Staff Sergeant Bruce Hill says police are looking at speed and alcohol as factors in the crash.

STORMY WATERS

A man at sea during the storm had help from hundreds of kilometres away.

The anchor on his sailboat was dragging and he was losing control in the powerful tides of hurricane Earl.

He made a distress call on his ham radio. Another boater in Florida responded and managed to get word to Lunenburg RCMP and South Shore coast guards.

Authorities made their way to second Peninsula, off the coast of Lunenburg, and helped the man from his boat to shore.

He made it safely to land in a small dingy.

Staff Sergeant Bruce Hill says the investigation will focus on one question; Why was the man sailing during gale force winds and heavy rain?

"My question is, there was a lot of notice that the hurricane was coming, so that's one of the things we're looking into, " says Hill.

The man sustained no injuries during the Saturday incident.

SHED THEFT

Lunenburg RCMP have new investigation on file.

Police are investigating a break and enter and a theft from a shed situated on a residential property on highway 329 in Hubbards.

A black Mastercraft battery charger was stolen sometime between August 30th and September 3rd.

Police are urging anyone with information on the crime to contact Chester RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

TICKETS AND TOW TRUCKS AT WHARF RAT RALLY

Police were busy at The Wharf Rat Rally in Digby.

Dedicated patrols on Highway 101 east and west of the Bear River bridge resulted in numerous charges.

Three people were charged with impaired driving and fifty summary offence tickets were issued.

Police say the charges include speeding, illegal possession of liquor, driving without insurance and driving while suspended.

Five vehicles were also towed away in the police sweep.

Despite the charges, police say it was a safe and enjoyable event.

MOTORCYCLE CRASH IN HANTS COUNTY

A man was taken to hospital after a motorcycle accident on Highway 326 in Clarksville, Hants County.

The driver and and lone occupant of the motorcycle was taken to Hants Community Hospital with undetermined injuries.

Police and Emergency personnel responded to the call at 7:30 pm on Sunday.

According to police reports the driver was injured after the bike left the highway and crashed.

Windsor District RCMP continue their investigation.

MAN DIES IN NEWPORT CORNER CRASH

One man is dead after a single vehicle rollover on Highway 14, in Newport Corner, Hants County.

The driver, and lone occupant , was pronounced at the scene.

Emergency Health Services personnel responded to the call at 6:30pm on Sunday.

Windsor District RCMP and Annapolis Valley Traffic Services continue to investigate the crash.

The name of the driver is not being released, pending family notification.

EMO and Earl

The Regional Emergency Management Co-ordinator for Lunenburg County, the Municipality of the District of Chester, the Town of Bridgewater and Mahone Bay says its Earl created a busy afternoon.

However, Heather MacKenzie-Carey says it appears the area has escaped any really serious damage from the storm.

"We've certainly had some pretty strong winds and heavy rain. We have a number of power outages and some trees down on the line... From an EMO point of view, we've had no requests from first responders," says MacKenzie-Carey.

The R-C-M-P have closed the road to Peggy's Cove to keep curious storm-watchers away from the dangerous, pounding surf.

There were also numerous flight cancellations at airports all across the Maritimes.

FERRY PROTECTED FROM EARL

The Lahave Ferry is heading back out on the water.

The service was shut down in anticipation of hurricane Earl

Bernie Ostebo with the Lahave ferry service said yesterday, the worst of the weather has passed.

We're expecting a little more wind to shift around here after the storm passes through. Possibly some more heavy rain showers but the storm has subsided now so it should be good for transporting the public back and forth," says Ostebo.

Ostebo says they were prepared for the worst but the severe damage they expected never materialized in the harbour.

"There's no visible damage around here anywhere. But where inside here, in the bay, in the mouth of the river. were pretty well protected from real heavy stuff," says Ostebo.

Ferry service was up and running at 1 pm on Saturday.

EARL UPDATE (12:55 PM)

Its been a busy few hours for power crews along the South Shore as hurricane Earl passes through the area.

Overnight the storm changed direction and instead of making landfall in communities bordering the Bay of Fundy, it moved more toward the northeast travelling along the Atlantic coast.

However, the high winds, some gusts as high as 120 km/hr, brought trees down and power lines with them.

There have been numerous power outages all along the south shore from Barrington to Bridgewater and Lunenburg.

While the National Hurricane Centre in the United States categorized Earl as a tropical storm, the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Dartmouth confirmed the storm as a Category 1 hurricane late this morning.

Earl is now forecast to track across the mainland of the province through this afternoon in Halifax, Lunenburg, Guysborough and Pictou counties and into Antigonish.

High winds are also forecast for Cape Breton.

A tropical storm warning, hurricane watch, wind warning and a rainfall warning are still in effect for Bridgewater.

EARL Update

Environment Canada has advised that Hurricane Earl will likely have an effect on the province beginning Friday evening and through the weekend. A hurricane watch has been issued for Digby, Queens, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties. A tropical storm watch has been issued for Annapolis, Halifax, Hants, Kings, Lunenburg counties, as well as the Fundy side of Colchester and Cumberland counties. As the storm moves closer, its potential impact and strength will become clearer, allowing officials to better assess risk and provide more specific guidance. People are encouraged to have an emergency kit, cash, family contact information and shelter ready. People should also check if they have enough propane on hand to operate a barbecue, that vehicles are fully fuelled and cellphones are charged. Travellers through Halifax Stanfield International Airport should check with airlines for up-to-date information, and monitor fly halifax dot com.

Bridgewater Elementary NOTICE

Due to the work taking place on the Bridgewater Elementary School roof, the P-1 playground will only be accessible through the gate located at Queen Street. Parents of students in grade primary can bring them into the building and proceed to the primary wing. Grade 1 students will meet their teacher on the playground (weather permitting). Until the roof work is complete, the York Street entrance to the P-1 playground will not be accessible

RCMP SEEK HELP

RCMP are investigating a Break and Enter in Auburndale.

Lunenburg RCMP are requesting public assistance in solving a break and enter into a shed and a theft from a vehicle on the Auburndale Road.

The incident occurred overnight on Saturday, August 21st.

Those responsible caused damage to four sheds and stole money and a hammer from an unlocked vehicle.

Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to contact the Lunenburg County RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

Funding for Seniors

Seniors at risk of financial, emotional, physical, and other forms of elder abuse will be safer and more informed after 270 thousand dollars in annual grants for community-based programs. Seniors Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse says the province is inviting proposals from community organizations interested in supporting a local seniors' safety program. Funding is available to a maximum of 20 thousand dollars per program, per year. The programs develop and enhance awareness about seniors' safety topics in communities, promote communication between seniors and police, and encourage more contact between seniors and young people. More information on the grants and application forms are available at www.gov.ns.ca/seniors .

Red Cross Ready for EARL

The Canadian Red Cross says its emergency teams and equipment are ready to respond if their help is needed in the wake of hurricane Earl this weekend. The Red Cross has about 900 disaster volunteers in Atlantic Canada, organized geographically into 21 emergency response teams. They're trained and equipped to provide services like setting up and managing shelters or keeping track of those who might be evacuated due to flooding, storm surges or other infrastructure damage. Bill Lawlor, director of disaster management for the Red Cross in Atlantic Canada says now is also the time for individuals to take some precautions such as making - or updating - a household emergency plan, a list of key contacts, and a disaster kit to use at home or grab-and-go if evacuated. Tips on making a plan and a kit are online at redcross.ca/ready.

FRENCH SCHOOL

French students in Cookville will have to wait another day to say "bonjour" to a new facility.

Construction is taking longer than expected.

But principal of the Le Centre Scolaire de la Rive-Sud says it will be well worth the wait.

Diane Racette says everything about the building is bigger and better.

"There is no comparison. We are right now in a very old building so that in itself is a huge improvement. So we're going into school with a better ventilation system. We are also going into a school that is just filled with windows so we'll have a lot of natural light coming in, " says Racette.

The facility also holds a community centre, daycare, a music room and more classrooms.

The school is built to accommodate about 250 students.

With 159 students registered so far, Racette says there's room to grow.

"Even though were not at capacity right now I don't think it will be long before we are," says Racette.

Classes start September 7th.

Parents are welcome at accompany their children on the first day of school for a treasure hunt and barbecue.

Registration is still open.

VANDALISM IN CARPOOL PARKING LOT

Chester RCMP responded to a call of vandalism today.

A driver returned to their vehicle, parked at the Car Pool Parking Lot, to find the windshield smashed.

The damage was incurred sometime between the 27th and the 29th August.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Chester RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

LOGGING TRUCK LOSES CONTROL

Lunenburg RCMP are investigating a hit-and run.

A collision occurred on Highway 12 near the Gold River Bridge in New Ross yesterday morning around 8 o'clock.

Police say a fully loaded logging truck, travelling north, struck a small blue car.

No injuries were reported.

Investigators are seeking the driver of the truck who, they say, is likely unaware the accident even occurred.

Anyone with information concerning the incident is asked to contact Chester RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

ST. MARGARET'S BAY RESIDENTS TO HAND BIG CHEQUE TO MINISTER ESTABROOKS

St. Margaret's Bay residents have a bone to pick with the province's transportation minister but they're also going to give him a gift.

Many residents are opposed to the government's proposal to build a connector road from highway 103 into the community.

The plan was devised without any prior consultation with residents in the area.

They fear properties will be expropriated and the way of life in the community disturbed.

Residents' spokesman Sean Kirby says their opposition hasn't wavered a bit through the summer.

However, they've got a present for the minister ... a check for ten million dollars.

Sean Kirby says... "its equal to the proposed cost of the connector road.
He says politicians love to hand out big cheques but the residents want to give this one back because they believe the money should be spent on more important things like improved highway safety in this province."

St. Margaret's Bay residents are calling for a referendum to decide whether the connector road should be built.

They've been very vocal on the issue in recent months with a public meeting in Black Point back in June and a write-in campaign to the minister's office.

EARLY EFFECTS OF EARL WILL BE FELT TOMORROW

The latest forecast from the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Dartmouth says hurricane Earl continues on its projected track and is likely to affect South Shore residents and others throughout Atlantic Canada by the weekend.

The powerful Category 3 storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 213 kilometres an hour, is moving northwest and is currently about 740 kilometres east of Nassau in the Bahamas.

The centre's Chris Fogerty says Earl is expected to continue its northwestward track before heading more towards the north.

Heavy wave action as a result of Earl should start showing up on South Shore beaches tomorrow.

Security Enhancements for Black Loyalist Heritage Society

Canada's Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has announced almost 6 thousand dollars for security infrastructure enhancements to help prevent hate crimes directed at the Black Loyalist Heritage Society in Shelburne. The organization is receiving federal Government funding from the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Pilot Program. The Minister says the money will improve security so that the communities and cultures the Black Loyalist Heritage Society serves can continue to remain engaged in the community without fear of harm.
The Black Loyalist Heritage Society is a national organization dedicated to discovering, interpreting, safeguarding, and promoting the history and heritage of the Black Loyalists through educational programs, activities and resources.

No Parking Please

A neighbourly feud has ended up before Lunenburg Town Council. One resident is asking Council to erect "No Parking " signs on both sides of Hill Street because her neighbours are blocking her driveway. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says Council doesn't intervene in disputes between neighbours, however, the residents request will be looked into. He says they sometimes do run into occasions where neighbours are having issues that are beyond the purview of the Council to resolve. Mawhinney says a request was made and the matter has been referred to the traffic authority and town engineer for a report back to Council.

Multi-Development for Mason's Beach Road

It's a vision for the Town of Lunenburg and Council has approved the next step forward for a proposed development at 101 Mason's Beach Road. Guenther and Susan Reibling of Stellar Investments plan to develop a 60 room 120 bed resort hotel, 60 residential condominium units and an additional 30 apartments . The project will be developed in three phases beginning with the condominiums. Town Council has agreed to hold a public information session in the near future. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says this will give the community the opportunity to see the proposed project for review and discussion.

STORM COULD REACH SOUTH SHORE

Forecasters are warning Nova Scotians to prepare for the storm.

Hurricane Earl is making its way toward the eastern seaboard and could very well make landfall anywhere from Maine to Eastern Newfoundland.

Chris Fogerty with the Canadian Hurricane Centre says Earl is now a category four storm, with maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometres per hour.

Fogerty says the movement of the storm is hard to predict.

"We have a forty per cent chance of gale force winds affecting western Nova Scotia (by Friday). And there is a possibility... of about five to ten percent chance of hurricane force winds reaching the province, " says Fogerty.

Fogerty says people should make a plan, purchase supplies and secure their homes in order to safely weather the storm.

He says higher impact areas along the coast will face stronger winds in a severe storm.

'PREVENTABLE CRIME'

An increasing number of people are becoming the victims of theft in Lunenburg County.

RCMP Staff Sergeant Bruce Hill says he's seen a slight increase in car thefts and thefts from cars in the last six months.

Hill says the crimes share a common denominator.

The persons who have had the vehicles stolen have reported that their keys were left in the vehicle along with the vehicle being left unlocked. Obviously this is almost like leaving out the welcome mat for any would-be thief," says Hill.

RCMP advise a simple solution for these crimes of opportunity; keep items, including your car, under lock and key.

Hill says there have been at least three preventable vehicle thefts in Lunenburg County in the last month.

He adds, people from small towns are used to trusting their neighbours but that's no excuse for putting yourself at risk.

INVESTIGATION AT HARBOUR VIEW HAVEN

Lunenburg County RCMP are investigating an attempted break and enter into the construction site at Harbour View Haven.

Police say a man wearing dark pants and a light coloured sweater tried to break in during the early morning on Saturday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lunenburg County RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

New Water Plant Opens

A 7 million dollar investment will be showcased on Thursday with the official opening of the Lunenburg Water Treatment Plant. The town first committed to constructing a new water treatment facility five years ago, after new water quality standards were instituted by the province. The cost of the new plant was initially pegged around 4.3 million dollars but the figure rose to just under 7 million and is cost shared equally by the three levels of government.
The public is invited to the official opening of the new plant at 524 Northwest Road, Highway 324 at 2 o'clock, September 2nd.

Welding Accident

A Barrington man was rushed to the Roseway Hospital in Shelburne after he was burned in a welding accident. EHS responded to a call on the Villagedale Road around 3 o'clock this afternoon. The man who was welding in his shed suffered burns to his chest, legs, arms and genitals. A lifeflight was put on stand-by.

DETAILS ON RIVER BANK BODY REVEALED

RCMP are releasing more information about a body found on the banks of the Mersey River in Liverpool.

Police say the body was that of a sixty-four year old man.

The deceased had been out eel fishing with a friend on the river last night

As the dark set in the tides started to rise the second man decided to leave and go home while the deceased remained on the water.

The friend visited the deceased's home this morning to find it empty.

He then returned to river bank and discovered the body.

Names have not been released.

RCMP continue to investigate the death. An autopsy is scheduled for today

NAVY SHIP UNDER ARREST

A Canadian Navy Ship is under arrest.

The Department of National Defence and the Artificial Reef Society here on the South Shore are battling over ownership of the former warship, HMCS Fraser.

The Fraser is being held at the Shearwater jetty in Halifax.

Prior to that, the Fraser sat idle at dockside in Bridgewater for a decade, until just last year.

The arrest warrant comes after news the ship was being prepared for scrap reached members the Artificial Reef society,

Chairman Rick Welsford says the society has worked hard to preserve the ship since 1997.

"All our hearts were in preserving it. And at minimum to make sure that she came to a proper end that was respectful to her fifty years of service in the Canadian Navy...so there was a lot of heartbreaks", says Welsford.

Welsford says the Artificial Reef Society resold the vessel to the government in 2008 on the condition it would be preserved or returned to them.

He says this is not about money.

"There aren't dollars on the table being argued about at the moment. it's a matter of whether the government of Canada actually had full title to go ahead and take the action they did when there was an outstanding condition in their contract, " says Welsford.

Court documents show it would cost 2.6 million to scrap the ship.

Firefighters Kept Busy

Three people had to be extricated from a vehicle which went down over an embankment on Highway 103 near Hubbards this afternoon. Fire personnel from Black Point and Bay Road along with EHS personnel responded to the call around 2:45 this afternoon. One person who had his arm pinned underneath the vehicle,was taken to the QE-II in Halifax. Two others were trapped inside the vehicle but they were freed .
Meantime fire crews were busy earlier this afternoon around 2 o'clock responding to a brush fire near cottages at 226 Shore Club Road in Hubbards near the Campground. The fire was knocked down quickly, and firefighters doused hot spots down, to ensure no flare ups occur. There were reports of youths seen driving off from the area after the smoke was noticed. RCMP was called to investigate.

Pole Down, Power Out

A motor vehicle accident led to a disruption of power for some Lunenburg residents this morning.

A tractor trailer was making a right turn at the intersection of Cumberland and Cornwallis Street when the driver lost control of the vehicle.

The trailer then ran into a power pole breaking it and damaging the electrical connection

The Lunenburg and District Fire Department and the Town of Lunenburg Electric Light Department responded to the call at 6:50 am.

Technicians are working on restoring power service this morning.

No charges are being considered in the collision.

Hit and Run

Bridgewater Police are investigating a hit-and-run.

A small red or brown truck struck a Honda Accord in the Superstore parking lot in Bridgewater around 1:30 pm on Friday.

The Honda sustained damage to the rear bumper, fender and tail light.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bridgewater Police or Crime Stoppers.

Hospital Theft

Bridgewater Police are investigating a theft from the South Shore Regional Hospital.

A purse was taken from a room on the fourth floor on the evening of August 24th.

The purse is burgundy and green and contained a beige wallet and a set of keys.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bridgewater Police or Crime Stoppers.

MAN'S BODY FOUND ON LIVERPOOL RIVER BANK

The body of a man was discovered this morning in Liverpool and as in the case of all sudden deaths, the RCMP are labelling it as suspicious.

The remains of the 64 year old were found on the bank of the Mersey River by a passerby.

Queens RCMP say it appears the body had not been there for long.

Investigators are not releasing the name yet.

An autopsy is planned for later today to determine the exact cause of death.

Investigation at Shell Cove Wharf

A fishing vessel was damaged while docked at Shell Cove Wharf.

RCMP say the damage occurred between Friday and Saturday, last week.

Anyone with information regarding the crime is asked to contact Chester RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

EXTRA SUMMER VACATION DAYS FOR STUDENTS AT BRIDGEWATER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

A couple of extra vacation days for students at Bridgewater Elementary.

Other schools on the South Shore open on Friday but Bridgewater Elementary will not open for classes until the day after Labour Day...Tuesday.

The school has been undergoing extensive renovations over the summer to construct a new cafeteria.

Next Tuesday when school opens at Bridgewater elementary, students will have partial cafeteria service until the new one is finished in October.

BRIEF MORNING POWER OUTAGE IN LUNENBURG TOWN

Power was restored in Lunenburg about an hour after it went out.

Around 6:30 Monday morning, a tractor trailer clipped off some hydro lines at Cumberland and Cornwallis Streets.

Lunenburg RCMP say the mishap occured when the driver made the turn at Cumberland and Cornwallis Streets a little too sharply.

No one was hurt and no charges against the driver.

Festivals & Events Funding

Destination Southwest Nova Association will be making a number of cheque presentations along the South Shore this week. The money is being presented under the Festivals & Events assistance funding for several community events in the region. Shelburne County will receive a cheque this morning at the Barrington Visitor Information Centre while Queens County will be presented with a cheque at 1:00 p.m. this afternoon at the Liverpool Visitor Information Centre. On Tuesday, August 31st, at 1:00 p.m., a cheque will be presented at the Lunenburg Visitor Information Centre for the Lunenburg/Chester/St. Margaret's area.

Canada's Public Safety Minister Visits Birchtown

Canada's Public Safety Minister Vic Toews will be visiting Shelburne County on Tuesday. The minister is to announce the security infrastructure improvements completed at the Birchtown Historical Site as the result of a pilot program. The Black Loyalist Heritage Society has historically been vulnerable to hate motivated crimes including arson, threats and vandalism. To increase the security and safety of our historical site, the BLHS’s applied to the Security Infrastructure Pilot Program. The approval of the application resulted in the installation of infra-red motion detection security cameras complete with DVD recorder and improved exterior lighting on all buildings at the Birchtown site.

Boat Adrift on Highway

The Lunenburg District RCMP are currently investigating a boat found on Highway 12 near Chester Basin.

Police says it appears the craft became dislodged from its trailer.

Investigators are asking anyone with information regarding the ownership of the boat to contact Chester RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

Drug Bust

Two residents of Central Caribou, Nova Scotia are facing charges of producing marijuana.

More than twenty mature plants were seized by Pictou County District RCMP and investigators on Wednesday.

The accused, a man and a woman, are scheduled to appear at the Pictou Justice Complex on October 19th.

TWO MEN HEAD FOR TRIAL IN SHELBURNE ON HUMAN SMUGGLING CHARGES

Two Ukrainian men accused of smuggling eight eastern-Europeans into Canada aboard a sailboat have asked for a jury trial in "Nova Scotia Supreme Court".

A preliminary-inquiry will begin October 13th in Shelburne for Mykola Tyshkivskyy and Vasyl Aksenin.

They are charged with helping people without proper documentation to enter Canada and have been remanded in custody until their October court-appearance.

Both men had earlier been denied bail.

The accused were arrested June 19th after a 13-metre sailboat was intercepted off Shelburne and escorted to the Shelburne Yacht Club.

TENDER AWARDED FOR NEW LIVERPOOL COMMUNITY CENTRE

A tender has been awarded for construction of the proposed new multi-million dollar community centre in Liverpool.

The Council of the Region of Queens has awarded a 14.5-million dollar contract to "Maxim 2000 Inc."

Initial construction work on the site is already underway and the entire project is expected to be completed and open by January 2012.

The Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality, John Leefe, says Queens Place may be a catalyst in attracting people to live in the area.

The Mayor says: "We are very confident that it will be a catalyst for people looking to move into a Nova Scotia community to look at ours and say ...wow, one of the things they have here is a tremendous community centre and thats what our family needs so, we're going to come and live in Queens County."

When completed, Queens Place will have a new and larger arena, a walking track, fitness centre, community rooms and other facilities.

Residents of the Liverpool area are invited to an open house on September 22nd from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Centre to meet the architects and learn more about the project.

Queens County Man Found Guilty of Child Luring

A Queens County man will be sentenced later this month for luring a child.

Richard Austin Maclean of Wellington Road, Greenfield pleaded guilty in Halifax Provincial Court Yesterday.

Between October 14th and November 1st Maclean made contact with a undercover police officer posing as a fifteen year-old girl.

Maclean was arrested in the parking lot of the Bloomfield Center in Halifax as he sat waiting for a meeting with the girl.

Chris Hansen of the Public Prosecution Service says its premature to speculate on his sentencing.

But says Maclean's lack of a prior record and his level of remorse for the crime, will play a role.

Maclean will be due back in court for sentencing on November 1st.

OPPOSITION GROWS TO HIGHWAY 103 CONNECTOR FOR ST. MARGARET'S BAY

A growing number of residents in the St. Margaret's Bay area are becoming increasingly alarmed by the province's proposed connector road to highway 103.
The transportation department has selected 5 possible locations for the route and expects to decide soon which one is best.
The budget for the project is 10-million dollars.
Many residents in the area are opposed to any connector being built thats going to gobble up properties.
They're calling for a referendum to settle the issue.
Residents have shown their opposition to the connector since they first learned it was in the planning process with a write-in campaign to the Transportation Minister and a public meeting in Black Point earlier this summer which attracted several hundred people.

Egging in Bridgewater

A Bridgewater residence has egg on their facade.

a Brook street home was egged last night around 10;30 pm.

Police say a small vehicle was heard accelerating away from the residence.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Bridgewater Police or Crime Stoppers.

The house was not damaged in the incident.

RCMP Report an Increase in Break and Enters

Break and Enters are on the rise in Lunenburg County.

Comparing reports from news years day until the end of July in 2009 to the same six-month period for this year, shows an increase of 19.6 percent.

Staff Sergeant Bruce Hill says two major factors encourage people to commit these crimes.

Convenience and addictions.

“A person may see something unattended and ma y use that occasion to commit a break and enter,or enter a house or a building and take something. We also find a lot of break and enters are related to the use prescription and non-prescription drugs,” says Hill.

The most items most commonly stolen include jewelry and electronics.

Hill says many of these items are easily sold to friends or traded at pawn shops, no questions asked.

He says people can protect themselves from theft by securing their homes with locks and alarms and keeping a watchful eye on the neighborhood.

One-hundred and thirty-four break and enters have taken place in the county so far this year.

A figure, Hill says is comparable with other regions throughout the province.

Woman Held Captive by Welchtown Man

Shelburne County RCMP say they received an unusual call early this morning.

Sergeant Barry MacLellan explains.

“Members of our detachment received a 9-1-1 call that there was a woman being held against her will in a residence in Welchtown,” says MacLellan.

The twenty-seven year old woman was allegedly forced from her vehicle and held at knife point inside the home for several hours.

RCMP responded to the call at approximately three o'clock in the morning and the woman was able to flee the home, unharmed.

A thirty year-old man was found asleep inside and arrested without incident.

The accused faces charges of assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and sexual assault in Yarmouth Provincial Court today.

Maclellan says this was an unusual incident for local Mounties.

“It's not something we normally respond to. It's considered an isolated incident in this area,” says MacLellan.

Fire at Bull's Head Wharf

A suspicious fire at Bull's Head Wharf in Stoney Island, Cape Sable Island has sparked a police investigation.

The fire destroyed a bait shed and extensively damaged a nearby storage building.

Island and Barrington Passage Fire Department responded to the call at 12:30 this morning.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Barrington Detachment or Crime Stoppers.

Theft on Prince Street

Bridgewater Police are investigating a theft.

A large quantity of cash was taken from a Prince Street residence on Friday.

According to police the crime took place between 10am and 2pm.

Police are asking anyone with information on the incident to contact the Bridgewater detachment or the Crime Stoppers hotline.

Thief at Bridgewater Mall

Bridgewater Police are seeking help from the public in an investigation.

An unknown male came into Cardinal Fire and Safety outlet in the Bridgewater Mall and took a large sum of money from the till.

The male then departed the mall with a female companion.

The crime took place on the evening of August 4th at approximately 10 p.m.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bridgewater Police or Crime Stoppers.

Barrington Man Faces Child Pornagraphy Charges

A thirty three year old man was arrested and charged with accessing child pornography on Friday.

He has been released on numerous conditions.

He must remain in Nova Scotia, notify Barrington RCMP of any changes in address or employment and not possess any form of pornography.

He is also barred from unsupervised contact with individuals under the age of eighteen or accessing the Internet outside of work.

The charges come after an investigation by the Barrington detachment , the Atlantic Region Integrated Tech Crime Unit and Nova Scotia Internet Child Exploitation Unit of the RCMP.

The man is due in Barrington Provincial court on October 14th

Fire on North King Street

Lunenburg County RCMP are investigating a fire at the parking lot of South Shore Truck Centre along North King Street in Lower Branch.

The Northfield District Fire Department and the Bridgewater Fire Department responded to the call at approximately 10:45 p.m. on Sunday.

The fire destroyed two semi tractors and damaged a third.

Staff Sergeant Bruce Hill says the cause of the fire is still not known to police.

"One of the leads were following up (on) is that the fire may have been caused by a malfunction of one of the vehicles. But it's still under investigation," says Hill.

Investigators are asking anyone anyone who may witnessed the fire before the authorities arrived to contact Bridgewater Police or Crime Stoppers.

Firearms and Drug Charges Pending

Two males are facing numerous charges after a routine traffic checkpoint on highway 331 in Petite Riviere.

RCMP and members of the South Shore Traffic Services arrested two occupants of a vehicle on Friday.

A search of a vehicle resulted in seizure of a small amount of marijuana and sawed-off 12 gauge shotgun.

the youth and adult were held in custody and then released to appear in court at a later date.

There a pending charges against both, including firearms offences, possession of a controlled substance and breaching court orders.

The investigation continues.