Pennies For Protection: Campaign Hits Final Stretch

It's down to the home stretch in the 'Pennies for Protection' competition. Fourteen fire departments from across the province, including 10 along the South Shore are collecting the coin to raise money for volunteer departments. The one that collects the most pennies will be named 'King Penny 2012.' Deputy Chief of the Liverpool Fire Department, David Payzant, says there's more to it than just winning the competition.




Port Medway Fire Department has at least 75 pounds of pennies while as of Monday, Port Williams had 104 pounds. Payzant says they don't have a tally on their pennies yet.



Officials with each department are expected to bring their coin to Liverpool for a weigh-in Saturday from 1am until 1pm. A ceremony to announce the 'King Penny 2012' will be held right after.

South Shore: Officials Concerned For RDA

 

A letter from municipal leaders on the South Shore is now in the hands of the Nova Scotia government. They are hoping the Lunenburg Queens RDA will get a break when the province begins to review the funding model for regional development agency's. Each council wants the local RDA to be exempt from the review due to the stress created by the closure of the Bowater Mersey paper mill. Executive Director of Regional Planning Development for the province, Holly Boston, says the government is not prepared to comment on the request.




Boston says the government needs to look at the model due to a loss of $2 million dollars in core funding through  the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.



The review has not yet started but Boston says they'll look at meeting with stakeholders in the near future. Core funding from ACOA will cease as May 21, 2013.

South Shore Athletes Compete At Track and Field Trials

Olympic dreams come to the forefront Wednesday as South Shore athletes begin their trek to the London Games. The Canadian Track and Field Championships open in Calgary. Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh opens things up in the heptathlon. She will compete in the 100 metre hurdles, high jump, shotput and 200 metres Wednesday evening, with three other events planned for Thursday. Meanwhile, another Bridgewater native, Jenna Martin opens defense of her Canadian title Thursday in the women's 400 metre semi-final. She is also entered in the 200 metre event Saturday. Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen will compete in the women's javelin and shotput, held Friday and Saturday.

MODL: Construction On The Rise

It's a sign of increased construction activity in the District of Lunenburg. Building applications and permits are on the rise from last year, along with $1.4-million in increased value. CAO Tammy Wilson says things are looking good for the municipality.




The District has received 154 building applications so far this year, compared to 132 last year. They have also issued 151 building permits so far in 2012, opposed to 133 at this point in 2011. This year's construction is already valued at more than $8.8-million.

Osprey Ridge Golfer Leads New Brunswick Event

A Dayspring golfer is leading the pack heading into the final round of the East Coast Junior Championship in Bouctouche, New Brunswick. Ryan Nowe of Osprey Ridge fired a +1 over 73, good enough for a one shot lead over Justin Shanks of Sussex. Nowe's round included a -2 under front nine and a +3 over back nine. The 16-year-old tees off at 1:48 in this afternoon's final round against 74 other golfers.

UPDATED: Leopold Given Seven Years In Jail

A Liverpool man convicted of manslaughter has been sentenced to seven years in prison for killing his fiancee Laura Lee Robertson. A provincial Supreme Court jury found James Leroy Leopold guilty of the charge last month in Bridgewater. In handing down his sentence, Judge Kevin Coady awarded Leopold credit for time already served in jail (one year). Leopold will also have to provide a DNA sample and is prohibited from owning a firearm for the rest of his life. Crown attorney Leigh-Ann Bryson says she is pleased with the sentence.



Leopold told police in a videotaped interview that he hit Robertson because she bit him during a drunken sex act at their apartment in Liverpool on April 13, 2011, and killed her. He said he struck Robertson once in the neck while in bed. He later told police he wrapped Robertson's body in a blanket and took it to the woods near Greenfield. Leopold led police to her remains two weeks later buried under sticks and tires. During an interview with reporters today in Bridgewater, her son, Tim thanked the Queens RCMP detachment and residents of Liverpool for their support.



In March, Leopold offered to enter a guilty plea to manslaughter, however, Crown prosecutors rejected the deal and proceeded to trial on a second degree murder charge.

BREAKING: Leopold Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison

James Leroy Leopold has been sentenced to seven years in jail for manslaughter in the death of  Laura Lee Robertson. The judge handed down the verdict this morning in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Bridgewater. More details to come.

South Shore Man Faces Sexual Assault Charges

An elderly South Shore man is facing sexual assault charges.  The five counts date back 40 years and two females are alledged to have been assaulted by the suspect between 1972 and 1979. 

82 year old Laurie Basil Wentzell of Lower Branch returns to court August 1st to enter pleas to the charges.

E-Voting Coming To Bridgewater In October

It's official. The town of Bridgewater will move to electronic voting in October. Council approved its Alternative Voting Method by-law Monday night, paving the way for telephone and internet voting to start 10 days before election night. Councillor Patrick Hirtle is hoping the new initiative will improve voter turnout.




Paper ballots will still be available if a person votes on October 20.

South Shore: Municipal Leaders Back LQRDA

 

Municipal leaders in Lunenburg and Queens want the province to scale back a review of the area's regional development agency. The six municipal units are preparing to write the premier asking for an exemption due to the stress the region is facing with the Bowater Mersey closure. Mahone Bay mayor Joe Feeney says the local agency needs to focus on building momentum. He says they shouldn't have to worry about their own financial future.



A province-wide review of RDA's is being launched in response to funding cuts within the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Earlier this year, ACOA announced core funding to provincial development agency's would cease as of May 21, 2013.

"Princess Of Acadia" Docked For Repairs

 

Tourism operators in Digby are hoping the Princess of Acadia ferry will be back in service in time for the Canada Day long weekend. The ferry is docked for repairs after a propeller hit some fishing gear on its reroute from Digby to Saint John, New Brunswick. The ferry is expected to be back in service later this week. The governments of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have promised $6-million in subsidies to keep the service going until 2014. Bay Ferries hopes to resume the Digby-Saint John service on Thursday, but the company is urging passengers to check for updates.

Court: Leopold Sentencing Set For Wednesday

The fate of a Liverpool man found guilty of manslaughter will be known on Wednesday. Justice Kevin Coady will hand down a sentence in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Bridgewater. Thirty-three year-old James Leroy Leopold was charged with second degree murder in the death of Laura Lee Robertson in April of last year. However, a twelve member jury found Leopold guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter last month. Leopold struck Robertson in the neck during a night of drunken sex after she bit his penis. During the trial, defense lawyers argued Leopold never intended to kill Robertson and her death was an accident. There is no minimum sentence for manslaughter and the charge carries a wide range of sentencing possibilities.

Bluenose II: Launch Date Nears

The Nova Scotia government is expected to announce the launch date of the Bluenose II by the end of the month. In an interview with CKBW/HANK FM, Heritage Minister Leonard Preyra says the province plans to firm up a relaunch date in the next few days. The schooner has undergone a $16 million rebuild on the Lunenburg waterfront. Workers have already started to dismantle the massive dome that has been covering the vessel while it was being

Mayor Confident In Return Of Ferry Service

Yarmouth Mayor Phil Mooney

The pressure is on for re-establishing the ferry link between Yarmouth and Maine. Yarmouth Mayor Phil Mooney says he's getting the sense the province is under a lot of pressure now that yet another business in the region has folded, that one being Bowater Mersey. 

The mayor says the region's largest industry and employer needs saving before its too late.



Mayor Mooney says it was made evident last week when the provincially-appointed panel met with various community leaders and groups; there's a serious problem that needs fixing and quickly.



The mayor believes a conventional ferry service will be up and running by next spring.

New Additions Coming To Veterans' Memorial Park

Two new granite monuments will soon honour those who served in the Royal Canadian Navy and Air Force. The monuments will be placed on the York Street side of Veterans' Memorial Park in Bridgewater. Chair of the park's committee, Roger Purnell, says the monuments should be in place later this year.



Purnell is optimistic the new monuments will be in place in time for Remembrance Day. The five foot cenotaphs are expected to be placed across from two other memorials.



Purnell suggests the monuments will cost around $8,000. MP Gerald Keddy announced up to $3,685 in federal funds to help with the project.

Power Out This Morning For Some South Shore Residents

A number of South Shore residents are without power at this hour.
About 132 Nova Scotia Power customers are affected along the Naugler Rd, Maitland, Maitland end of Mullock Rd, Hirtle Rd, Blockhouse, Aulenback Point, Sweetland, Woodstock Rd, Clearland, and the Mahone Bay end of the Oakland Rd and surrounding areas. Its not known what has caused the outage. NSP hopes to locate the problem, fix it and have the power restored by 1:30 this afternoon.

Renovations Planned For South Shore Regional Hospital

Changes are coming to South Shore Regional Hospital. The hospital's auxiliary has approved funding for two renovations; one for the front lobby and reception area, the other is on the main floor to expand clinic space for chronic disease management. Outgoing CEO Alice Leverman says more cubicles will be added to the lobby to improve confidentiality.




The auxiliary has set aside roughly $70,000 for the two renovations. Leverman expects the work to start very soon.

LaHave Ferry: Out Of Service Tuesday

The LaHave Ferry will be out of service Tuesday from 9am until about 6pm for repairs. Steve Smith with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal says the shutdown is due to mechanical repairs. The ferry is expected to be up and running Wednesday.

Mahone Bay: Tax Bills To Rise In 2012/13

 

 Property taxes for residents and business owners in Mahone Bay are on the rise. The residential rate has been set at $1.15 which represents an increase of about 1.6 percent. Mayor Joe Feeney says setting the tax rate is a balancing act for the town.



The commercial rate has been set at $2.88 per hundred of assessment. The town will spend $500,000 in capital projects this year with just over $12,000 approved in grant requests.

Martin Confident, Prepared Ahead Of Canadian Trials

Jenna Martin says she's in the best shape of her career and ready for the challenge. The 400 metre runner from Bridgewater has to be at her best this week at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Calgary, Alberta. Martin needs to break a time of 51.55 seconds and finish in the top 3 to qualify for the London games. She says she's focused and not feeling any pressure.



The reigning Canadian champion is the top-ranked runner heading into the 400 metre event. Martin says she has trained hard and is confident she will get the job done.




Qualifying will be held Wednesday evening with semi-finals scheduled for Thursday and the finals on Friday.

Hennessey To Run For Municipal Council

The manager of the Visitor Information Centre in Cookville will try his hand in municipal politics. Dan Hennessey is throwing his name into the hat for District 8 councillor in the Municipality of Lunenburg. Hennessey believes his experience in sales and marketing and prior work with the provincial government will help in the municipal circle. He says he's ready to do his part for Lunenburg County.




Hennessey says he wants to promote the county to more tourists and residents. Current District 8 councillor John Veinot remains undecided if he will re-offer.

Poll Respondents Split On Future Of Sawmill Industry

There's a flip-flop of opinion among listeners to CKBW and those of Hank-fm when it comes to our latest poll at both of our websites.  We asked the question .... Can the sawmill industry in Lunenburg and Queens Counties survive with the shutdown of Bowater?

46% of those voting at "CKBW.ca" said ... NO ... it cannot survive!  32% believe it can.  22% said they don't know .... the situation is too volatile right now.

Meanwhile, the same question was asked at "Hank-fm.ca" and the results are opposite. 40% say the sawmill industry can survive!  31% don't think so.  Many people ... 29% of those who responded are not sure.

Here's what the premier is saying about the future of sawmills in the area now that Bowater is closed.



Darrell Dexter is not sure but .... he's remaining optimistic a solution or solutions can be found.

Clyde River Golfer Heads To National Championship

Berwick, N.S.

A Shelburne County golfer is one of the best in the Province.  Aaron Nickerson from the River Hills in Clyde River has captured the 2012 Mid-Amateur Championship at the Berwick Heights Golf Course in the Annapolis Valley.  Nickerson finished strong as he birdied the 17th and 18th holes to beat his playing partner Glenn Robinson of Ashburn by one stroke. Nickerson will lead Team Nova Scotia along with Robinson and Chris Topshee to the 2012 Canadian Men's Mid-Amateur Championship in Vancouver in September.

Bridgewater Police Retrieve Stolen Goods

Bridgewater Police have been able to recover thousands of dollars worth of stolen property thanks to some tips.  Officers were able to use public information to find a stolen motorcycle and a large amount of tools.  Numerous calls about the stolen property were made which helped police track down the items.
Police say the goods are valued at about $20,000.

No Job Guarantees Behind Cooke Deal: Canadian Taxpayers Federation

There are no job guarantees included in the deal from the province to provide Cook Aquaculture with millions of dollars for expansion.  The Atlantic President of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation... Kevin Lacey ... is worried the arrangement may run into trouble like the one between the province and Resolute Forest Products.



The Dexter government announced last week 25 million dollars in loans and grants to allow Cooke to proceed with a fish plant in Shelburne, a salmon hatchery in Digby and a feed mill in Truro.  400 jobs could be created as a result.

Park View Graduate Receives NSCAD Scholarship

A former Park View student is getting some financial help for her post-secondary education. Lauren Dial has been named a recipient of the Harrison McCain Scholarship from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. The Lunenburg native graduated from Park View in 2011 with honours. The scholarship is in memory of Marion McCain, a community-minded New Brunswick philanthropist with a keen interest in the arts. The scholarship is worth $4,000 a year and is renewable.

Dexter: Ferry Service Needs To Make Sense

Premier Darrell Dexter says the Yarmouth to Maine ferry service could be re-established but only if it makes sense. Dexter says the ferry needs to be viable and sustainable over the long term in order to run again. An expert panel was in Yarmouth this week to gather information and discuss what would be required to bring the the ferry back to life. Dexter says the decision depends heavily on the panels findings.



Dexter says the difficulty with the Yarmouth to Maine link is the province has had a difficult time securing a partner to help fund the service. The ferry hasn't operated since 2009.

CAMS Receives Automated External Defibrillator

An important piece of medical equipment has been installed at Chester Area Middle School. Officials with the Heart and Stroke Foundation have set up an Automated External Defibrillator in the school's main foyer. Communications Manager, Jolene Titus-Roberts, says a school fits the bill for an AED.




It's the Foundation's hope they will set up 100 Automated External Defibrillator's over the next five years. AED's have been set up across the South Shore including at Queens Place in Liverpool, the Shelburne County Arena, the Forties Community Centre in New Ross and Forest Heights Community School in Chester.

Chester, Yarmouth Relay For Life Results

The results are in from the Chester and Yarmouth Relay for Life events. Communications Manager with the Canadian Cancer Society, Barb Johnson, says Yarmouth raised $78,000 while Chester took-in $62,000 during their June 15 relays. She says more money could filter in because fundraising is open until a month after the event ends. More relays will be held Friday evening in East Hants, Digby, Kentville and Pictou. To date, more than $1.7-million has been raised total for all events this year.

Destination White Point: Book To Be Released Soon

The history of a popular Queens County resort will be released in a book. 'Destination White Point' was written by East LaHave author Frances Jewel Dickson. It explains how the resort came to be and also talks about the recent fire that claimed the historic main lodge. The book was ready to be published until the fire happened. Dickson says it was quite a re-write to make sure the fire was included in the book.




Dickson says she spoke with former staff and resort users, and also current employees to help write her book. Copies of Destination White Point will be available soon at local book stores.

Bluenose II Assets Still Not Given To Province

 

Nova Scotia's heritage minister is frustrated over the situation brewing over the assets of the province’s iconic sailing ambassador. After seven years, the Bluenose II Preservation Trust Society has still not handed over all of the schooners assets to the province. Senator Wilfred Moore is head of the society and announced earlier this month they had handed over half of its $1.4 million in assets. However, Leonard Preyra says that's not the case and the province is still waiting for full disclosure of financial records.



Under an agreement with the province the society maintained and operated Bluenose II from 1994 until 2005. The "Company Store" in Lunenburg - which closed earlier this month - is considered their main asset.

South Shore Gasoline Prices Drop

As predicted, gasoline prices came down overnight.  The utilities and review board has set the new price for a litre of self-serve regular at South Shore pumps at $1.21.7.  Thats a 3 cent a litre drop from yesterday.
----
Meanwhile, the price of oil on the world market continues to fall after closing yesterday at an eight-month low.  Oil is down 60-cents this morning, and is trading at $77.60 U-S a barrel.  The price has tumbled 25 per cent since the beginning of May.

South Shore Health Adopts Healthy Eating Policy

South Shore Health is substituting chocolate bars and chips for granola bars and fruit. The authority adopted its healthy food policy to start creating an environment in their hospitals where smart foods will be provided. A team of health officials have been visiting different town councils in the area trying to get councillors to buy into the idea, but haven't been successful so far. Outgoing CEO Alice Leverman says they aren't deterred by the lack of enthusiasm shown so far.




But, Leverman suggests its their job as health officials to take the initiative when it comes to healthy eating.



The policy will apply to all of South Shore Health's cafeteria's, caterings, staff and community meetings, and vending machines. The policy follows Canada's Food Guide and will be implemented over a two year period from now until 2014.

BREAKING: Cooke Aquaculture Expanding In Shelburne

The province is lending $25-million to Cooke Aquaculture to expand its operations in Shelburne, Digby and Truro. The provincial government says in a release that $16-million of the loan will bear interest, but the remaining $9-million will be forgivable through the Nova Scotia Jobs Fund and jobsHere. Cooke plans to spend $150-million itself on the expansion, which is already underway. The provincial government says the money will create more than 400 jobs, including 320 positions in Shelburne County. Cooke is opening a fish processing plant in Shelburne, building a new salmon hatchery in Digby, and expanding a feed mill in Truro.

Women Have Their Say In New Book

It's a book empowering women to tell their story. '20 Winners at the Game of Life' gives 20 different women a chance to explain how they became successful in their own way. Co-Director of the book, Pat Watson, says its an eye-opener for women.





The book features successful women in all walks of life including five from the South Shore. It will be launched tonight from 6-8pm at Second Story Women’s Centre in Lunenburg.

Government Wrong In Dealing With Electoral Boundaries Commission: Baillie

NS PC Leader Jamie Baillie

The debate continues over the Nova Scotia Provincial Electoral Boundaries Commission interim report it presented in May.  The commission has been told by the government to go back and re-do it because recommending 4 minority-group constituencies be maintained was not part of its terms of refernce.

PC Leader Jamie Baillie says the Dexter government is out of line by telling the commission what or what-not it should be doing.

Baillie says: "The debate is not really about those seats anymore. Its about a government that is using its majority to write its own rules. That is why I say... what a disgrace if this was in Uganda. But, thats exactly what is happening with the rules of the next election here in Nova Scotia and that bothers me more than the protected seats does."

The commission said in its initial report, among other things, there should continue to be 52 members in the Legislature and the four "protected constituencies", including Argyle and Preston, should be retained. The commission now says it will rewrite its final report for release in late August.

Gasoline Prices Will Likely Drop Again!

This could be a fore-runner of what may happen overnight tonight with South Shore gas prices.  For a third straight week, the price of gas is down in New Brunswick.  Regular self-serve fell an even two cents last night to a new top price of $1.23 a litre.  Diesel has dropped three-tenths of a cent and furnace oil has fallen just over a penny to a new maximum price of $1.06 per litre.  The prices are at their lowest level in New Brunswick since last Christmas.

South Shore Company And Fishermen Go To Trial

Charges have been laid and trials are underway for a fish company on the South Shore and 12 individuals.  It follows a lengthy DFO investigation ... running from January 2006 to June 2009.  Some 66 charges in all are involved, dealing with alledged illegal activity in the groundfish and clam fishing industries.  Charges range from buying, selling or processing groundfish and clams in contravention of the fisheries act ... to ... fishing without a license.  The cases against Deep Cove Marine of Chester, its president and 11 other fishermen are back in Bridgewater court later in the summer and into the fall.

Injured Motorcyclist Transferred To Halifax

A motorcyclist, who suffered a critical leg injury in an accident in the New Germany area Tuesday evening, has been transferred to the QE2 Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. The female driver of the second bike involved in the crash has been released from South Shore Regional in Bridgewater.  The accident happened on the Newburne Road in Maplewood and involved two motorcycles and a car.  The driver of the car wasn't hurt. The investigation into the accident continues.

Provincial Money To Boost Aquaculture Industry

A Shelburne County fish farm operation is about to receive an infusion of money from the Dexter government.  Millions of dollars are expected to be heading to New Brunswick-based Cooke Aquaculture.
The company has plans to expand operations, including a processing plant in Shelburne County, a feed mill in Truro and development of a fish hatchery in Digby.  The announcement will be made later this morning by the premier at the end of a two-day cabinet meeting in Shelburne.

One Injured After Two Vehicle Collision in Bridgewater

At least one person has been taken to hospital after a two vehicle collision in Bridgewater. The incident occurred on North Street in front of Guys Frenchy's early Wednesday afternoon. Town police, EHS and the Bridgewater Fire Department responded to the scene. The extent of the injuries are not known at this time

Bowater: Dexter Appoints Response Team

Its another avenue to help those affected by the Bowater closure. Premier Darrell Dexter has announced the creation of a provincial response team. The team is expected to bring expertise and resources from across government to get the support and services for people who need them. Dexter says it is a top priority for government and the province is committed to do what it takes to see the community and industry through a very tough time. The team is led by Jeff Larsen, executive director of investment and trade in the Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism, and Allan Eddy, senior director with the Department of Natural Resources. It will also include resources from the departments of Labour and Advanced Education, Natural Resources, Community Services, Energy and Nova Scotia Business Inc. The team will support transition advisor Ron Smith, who was appointed earlier this week to help communities impacted by the Bowater mill closing. The response team will focus on three key areas:

• Community Adjustment: Help community, workers and businesses through transition. Increase and diversify the local skills base.
• Economic Diversification: Identify growth opportunities in key sectors. Implement strategies to attract investment and create jobs. Support entrepreneurship.
• Forestry Transition and Supply Chain: Pursue opportunities to support the forestry sector. Transition regional forestry sector and supply chain. Identify short, medium and long term opportunities for forestry innovation.

 The team will also meet with the forestry sector to discuss immediate needs. The province is also gathering information on the 500,000 acres of land for sale by Resolute. 

Support Builds Around Shelburne Food Bank

Residents of Shelburne are ready to return the favour and help an organization in need. The Shelburne Loyalist Food Bank is preparing for its summer food drive and community members are stepping up to help re-stock their shelves. Students and staff at Shelburne Regional High School have already indicated they are willing to help. Principal Mary Manning says parents and students are being asked to bring a donation to this year's prom and graduation celebrations later this month.



Food bank volunteer Wayne Dukes says a two-week food drive will begin next week. He says the food bank sees around 80 to 100 people on a regular basis.



Donations will be accepted at location throughout Shelburne including  Sobeys, Goulden's Shell and the Post Office.

South Shore Under High Risk For Forest Fires

DNR Fire Weather Index Map as of June 20

Its considered a risky time to have a fire on the South Shore. The entire region is under a high risk hazard for forest fires. The Department of Natural Resources says dry conditions mixed with warm temperatures has led to the warning. Supervisor of Wildfire Management, Jim Rudderham, says the high risk is typical for this time of year.



He encourages people not to have fires right now, but if they do, to make sure its properly extinguished. Rudderham is hoping weekend rains will reduce the risk.

What Will Become Of Bowater Woodlands?

What will become of the assets of Bowater Mersey? 
Thats a question bothering many people.

As private woodlot owners in the western part of the province struggle to find a new buyer or buyers for their product, the president of the woodlot owners association hopes his fears don't become a reality.

Marc Chisholm hopes a big international conglomerate will not be allowed to buy up the 600-thousand acres of Bowater woodland, harvest the trees and ship them elsewhere.  He and his fellow members are hoping government will step-in to protect private woodlot owners.



Chisholm says allowing Bowater's woodland assets to be sold indiscrimately would be a disaster for the forest industry in general.

Serious Injuries In New Germany-Area Crash

A man and a woman are in a South Shore hospital this morning as a result of a crash involving two motorcycles Tuesday evening near New Germany. The collision between the two occurred in Maplewood on the Newburne Road. 

RCMP investigators say the man has a severe injury to his left leg and is in critical condition at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater. Police don't know the woman's condition, but say she's not as badly hurt.

The names of the injured haven't been released.

Lunenburg: Zwicker Will Not Re-Offer

 A town councillor in Lunenburg has decided not to re-offer in the upcoming municipal election. Peter Zwicker was first elected in 2004 and announced on Tuesday he will not seek re-election in October. During his eight years on council he has served as deputy mayor, chair of the Planning Advisory Committee and a strong proponent and supporter of Lunenburg’s first Strategic Plan. In making the announcement, Zwicker told CKBW/HANK FM it has been a pleasure and an honour to have served the residents of the historic community.

Zwicker says it was a tough decision but hopes it will allow others the opportunity to become involved in their community.

Dollivers Brook Bridge: Closes For Repair

The province's department of transportation will begin work on the Dollivers Brook Bridge in Voglers Cove on Thursday. The bridge will close until the end of the month while the structure is being replaced. In the meantime, a detour, using Highway 103 and Hirtle Road is available for motorists. The bridge is located on Route 331.

Support Offices Open In Liverpool & Bridgewater

The province is offering more support for workers affected by the shutdown of the Bowater Mersey paper mill. Offices in Liverpool and Bridgewater are staffed with a team of career counsellors and specialists in job training. The province's deputy minister of labour, Jeff Conrad, says the team will work with people on career options and services, skills assessments and training. Conrad says information sessions that will cover issues such as EI claims will begin next month.



The team includes members of Employment Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Adult Education, as well as municipal and federal staff and resources. Support teams are located in two locations. South Shore Opportunities in Liverpool, 7 Henry Hensey Drive, 902-354-2616 and Employment Solutions Society in Bridgewater at 215 Dominion Street, 902-543-2479. Additional information can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/employmentnovascotia 
 

Support includes:

-- making sure workers have accurate information about career options and services so they can make informed decisions about their next steps

-- individual skill assessments

-- essential skills development such as computer use, resume writing, literacy upgrading

-- identification of self-employment options and support for business startups

-- customized training options for people that move them directly into employment, through programs like One Journey or Link, that match people with specific skill sets to employers.

Baillie: Resolute Needs To Compensate Bowater Workers & Companies

PC Leader Jamie Baillie

The province needs to insure a lot of people aren't left in the lurch financially with the closure of the Bowater Mersey paper mill.  That comment today from provincial PC Leader Jamie Baillie.  During a CKBW/Hank-fm News interview, the PC leader says sawmills and truckers owed money by Bowater's parent company, Resolute Forest Products, need to be paid and right away and the hundreds of workers at the plant itself need compensation too.


Baillie says there is still a bright future for the forest industry on the South Shore despite the demise of  Bowater.  He says the right business just needs to be found to tap into it. Baillie tells us everyone pulling together: politicians, business and the community in general, will insure that happens.



Baillie says among other things, the transition committee setup by the government needs to spearhead the way in finding newer and stronger markets for wood chips and lumber to help take up a bit of the slack from the closure of Bowater.

BREAKING: Don Downe To Re-Offer For Mayor

The mayor for the District of Lunenburg has announced he will re-offer for the position. Don Downe confirmed his decision Tuesday during an exclusive interview with CKBW/HANK-FM. The mayor was first elected into the seat in 2008 after representing Lunenburg West as an MLA from 1993 until 2003. He says he's ready for another term and expects to be challenged for the seat.



The decision didn't come easy for Downe. He says he was approached to run for provincial politics again, but decided against it.



He adds, it was a tough decision to make because of time commitments and daily challenges that come with the position. Downe says he's proud of the work council has done over the last four years. But, he says issues remain like improving services at the solid waste facility in Whynott's Settlement and potentially sharing services with Mahone Bay and Bridgewater. More details to come.