Gas Prices Slightly Lower

If you're keeping track of your travel budget and the price of gasoline, take note there is a small change at the pumps today. The Utility and review Board set prices overnight and regular self serve is down a cent on the South Shore, selling today for $1.35.1 per litre. Diesel is down by the same amount. It too is selling for $1.35.1 per litre.

Junior 'C': All-South Shore Final Opens In Liverpool

It's an all South Shore final as the Junior 'C' championship series begins tonight in Liverpool. The top-ranked Chester Clippers host the second place Barrington Ice Dogs in game one of the best of seven final. The Clippers won three of four games against Barrington in the regular season. However, Chester President and General Manager, Jehad Assaff, says Barrington is no push over.



Three out of four games were decided by one goal. Puck drop is at 8:30 tonight at Queens Place-Emera Centre. A full schedule is listed below:


Game 1: Barrington @ Chester - Friday, March 15th - 8:30pm at Queens Place Emera Centre, Liverpool
Game 2: Barrington @ Chester - Saturday, March 16th - 8:30pm at Queens Place Emera Centre, Liverpool
Game 3: Chester @ Barrington - Friday, March 22nd - 8:00pm at Barrington Municipal Arena
Game 4: Chester @ Barrington - Saturday, March 23rd - 7:00pm at Barrington Municipal Arena
Game 5*: Barrington @ Chester - Sunday, March 24th - 7:00pm at Bridgewater Memorial Arena
Game 6*: Chester @ Barrington - Friday, March 29th - 8:00pm at Barrington Municipal Arena
Game 7*: Barrington @ Chester - Saturday, March 30th - 7:00pm at Queens Place Emera Centre, Liverpool
*If necessary

South Shore Health Bracing For Funding Freeze

The CEO for South Shore Health says they're anxiously awaiting their budget targets, after the province's health minister revealed all districts should be prepared for a funding freeze. Peter Vaughan says it's no real surprise because the health-care system is feeling pressure across the country with an aging population with more chronic diseases. Vaughan says the health authority has to be as efficient as possible, and look where they can trim some costs.



Vaughan says they have to start thinking differently about how they're delivering service. Health care funding represents about 40 per cent of provincial spending, or about $3.8-billion. The spring budget will be announced April 4.

Chester Warden: South Canoe Emotional Experience

Councillors in Chester have given the green light to a $200 million wind farm in Lunenburg County. A motion to enter into a development agreement  for the South Canoe Wind Project was approved in a 6-1 vote. The only vote against came via New Ross councillor Tina Connors.  Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power are behind the project which would feature 34 turbines stretching between Vaughan and New Russell. Chester Warden Allen Webber says the project has created division within the municipality.



The wind farm would stretch over 3,000 hectares and be known as the largest wind energy project in Nova Scotia. The turbines are expected to generate enough power for 32,000 homes, create 100 jobs during construction. It's expected the project will come online late in 2014.

UPDATED: Chester Council Approves Wind Project

Councillors in Chester have given thumbs up to a $200 million wind farm between Vaughan and New Russell. It was a 6-1 vote in favour of entering into development agreement with the three proponents behind the South Canoe Wind Project. The only vote against came via New Ross councillor Tina Connors, who felt the turbines would be too close to homes. Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power want to build 34 turbines over 3,000 hectares in Lunenburg County. It would be known as the largest wind energy project in Nova Scotia. The turbines are expected to generate enough power for 32,000 homes and create 100 jobs during construction which will begin this year. It's expected the turbines will be turned on late in 2014.

Youth In Custody Following Break-Ins

The Bridgewater Police Service has one youth in custody after a number of break and enters into out buildings and motor vehicles late last month. Members of the service's Community Response Unit used a combination of monitoring areas of town with an unmarked cruiser, along with foot patrol throughout the nights. Officers made their first arrest of a male youth shortly after 3am Wednesday. Police have recovered some of the property stolen and remind the public to lock doors to buildings and vehicles.

South Shore Groups Receive Mental Health Grants

Two South Shore groups are among 23 organizations receiving new provincial grants to help people living with mental illness and addictions. Lunenburg West MLA and ministerial assistant for Health and Wellness, Gary Ramey, released details of Together We Can, the province's mental health and addictions strategy. The South Shore Improving Partnerships Advisory Committee is getting a one year grant worth $45,000 to build a community health network to help improve the quality of care for people with dementia, addictions and mental illness, and support their families and caregivers. The Split Rock Learning Centre Association in Yarmouth will receive $29,000 until 2015 as a three-year grant.

Unfair To Chop More Health Care Dollars: PC Health Critic

More belt tightening awaits South Shore Health and the other 8 health authorities across the province and the IWK Health Centre. The Dexter government has sent out a warning to prepare to pare more from their budgets. PC Health critic Chris d'Entremont of Argyle says enough is enough. He says there's litttle left to be cut as it is! He says: "If you're asking the district health authorities to make due with what they have is quite honestly creating a deficit situation for them because of the different things they have to spend on whether its wages or whether its other contracts they have over longer terms." d'Entremont fears cuts to services might result. Health-care funding represents about 40 per cent of provincial spending, or about 3.8-billion dollars.

MacKinnon Returns, Nets Pair In Mooseheads Win

Nathan MacKinnon didn't miss a beat. After missing 14 games because of an MCL injury, the Cole Harbour native potted two goals and two assists last night in Sydney as the Halifax Mooseheads dumped Cape Breton 6-2. Linemate Jonathan Drouin chipped in with a goal and two assists to tie Ben Duffy of PEI for the "Q" scoring lead.    

MHL: Crushers Eliminate 'Jacks In Blowout

The Lumberjacks' season is over. The Bridgewater club fell 7-1 to the Pictou County Weeks Crushers last night in New Glasgow. The Crushers took the best of three MHL mini series two games to none. Jessie McInnis scored early to give the Jacks a 1-0 lead and the clubs were tied 1-all after the first. But the home side broke things open with three goals in the middle stanza and they kept the pedal to the metal in the third. The Jacks were out shot 48-25. Pictou moves on to face Truro while Amherst and Yarmouth will hook up in the division semi finals.

Carver Returning Home After Double-Lung Transplant Surgery

A New Germany woman is returning to the South Shore after recovering from double-lung transplant surgery. Thirty-three year old Jessica Carver will begin the drive home Thursday from Toronto with her father, three months after surgery in mid-December. Carver has Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disorder which critically affects the lungs, and also the pancreas and liver. She says there's mixed emotions with leaving.




Carver says she experienced some rejection with her new lungs, but adds, it's common in the first year and took medication to help the issue. She says she's looking forward to coming home after spending the last nine months in Ontario. She hopes to get back in Nova Scotia by late Friday and expects to visit the South Shore early next week. A 'Welcome Home' event is planned for Carver on April 6 at 7:30pm at the Michelin Social Club in Bridgewater.

MODL: 'No Stance' On Proposed Blockhouse Facility

The deputy mayor for the Municipality of Lunenburg says council doesn't have a stance on a proposed construction and demolition diversion facility in the Blockhouse-area. Don Zwicker says there is a process items must go through before they reach the council table. Halifax C and D Recycling has applied for a development agreement for property off the Cornwall Road near Exit 11. Zwicker says he questions some people who feel this will be a 'waste' facility.



Business owners in the area are concerned because they feel the facility shouldn't be located near a new visitor information centre and will flood the area with more vehicle traffic and pollution. Another meeting on the matter is planned for next month.

Multiple Charges Laid In Relation To Stolen Vehicle

A Lunenburg County man is facing six charges after he was pulled over on King Street. Police say their community response unit was following up with concerns of speeders when they made the stop Monday in Bridgewater. Blake Bishop has been charged with impaired driving, driving without a license and breach of probation. During their investigation Bridgewater police also determined the accused was driving a stolen vehicle. He is also facing charges in relation to those allegations. Bishop will remain in custody until his next court appearance on March 18th.

Lumberjacks Face Must-Win Scenario In Pictou

It's do or die tonight for the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks. The local Junior 'A' hockey club head out on the road tonight with their season hanging in the balance. The Pictou County Weeks Crushers are up one game to none in the best of three MHL mini series and will look to put away the Jacks. Bridgewater hopes to pull out a win and force a winner take-all showdown on Thursday. Tonight's contest is a 7 o'clock start at the Pictou County Wellness Centre in New Glasgow.

Town Receives Few Responses On Upcoming Budget

A dismal number of people have provided the town of Bridgewater with responses to this year's budget input survey. The town's strategic initiatives coordinator told council that only 317 people participated in the survey, out of a population of just over 8,200. That represents roughly four per cent of the town's population. Mayor David Walker says the numbers are low, but its a good first step.



Some of the budget questions dealt with taxes and town services. The feedback is expected to help assist council in their budget deliberations this year. Council has scheduled a meeting for next Monday night at 6pm  in council chambers to discuss the capital and operating portions of the upcoming budget. The meeting is open to the public.

Pub In the Works For Riverport

An application has been presented to the Municipality of Lunenburg to develop a pub in Riverport. Local resident Peter Knowles has submitted the document for a development agreement to build 'The Heron Pub and Marina' at 30 Lower LaHave Road. A letter to the municipality reveals the building space would be roughly 3000 square feet. Deputy mayor and councillor for the Riverport-area, Don Zwicker, says it would be a nice addition to the community.



Council has sent the matter to the area advisory committee for review and recommendation.

RCMP Charge Valley Man After Weekend Incident

A New Minas man is facing 14 charges after an incident over the weekend in Kings County. RCMP were notified about a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of the road near Berwick Sunday morning. In a media release, police say they spotted two men using cocaine when they located the vehicle. The car drove off in an effort to escape police. During the pursuit, the passenger jumped out and was arrested soon after. The driver kept on going but was later arrested as a gas station in Kingston. Police say 34 year-old Mark Walter Harris will remain in custody until his next court appearance on Wednesday. He's facing a slew of charges including assaulting a police officer, uttering threats, impaired driving and fleeing police.

Museum Officials Hope To Attract More People In 2013

The director of the DesBrisay Museum feels they can do a better job in attracting more people to the historic facility. Over 4,000 people visited the museum in Bridgewater in 2012. Commission member Peter Oickle believes they have a responsibility to the town.




The museum also received 184 new artifacts last year that reflect the towns history and generated $97,000 in additional revenue. It is one of the oldest community museums in Canada. For more on the museum, you can click here .

Watch Out For Deceptive Winning Letters In Mail!

A warning's been issued for South Shore residents to be suspicious if they get a letter in the mailing claiming they've won a big UK or North American sweepstakes jackpot. Jill Atkinson of the Better Business Bureau says the phoney letters look very authentic, especially the $3,750. cheque from Sunlife Assurance. She tells us: "they look like the real cheque that you would receive and of course they use the SunLife Assurance Company of Canada name and logo. People recognize that and so its a very deceptive cheque." Atkinson says the letter requests the receiver send money to retrieve the jackpot. It turns out, the cheque supposedly from Sunlife is worthless and any money sent to the address provided is gone for good! Atkinson says anyone receiving the letter and accompanying cheque should report it right away to police or the Better Business Bureau.

The BBB Suggests the following:

>  Check out the business with the BBB first.

> Don’t ever agree to pay anything upfront to collect winnings.

> Do not agree to wire money, send a cheque, bank account information or personal information to any unknown person or firm.

> It is impossible to win a lottery when you haven’t bought a ticket.

> Be wary if the letter contains a list of well-known company names that they claim are part of the sweepstakes.

> Be wary if the letter comes by bulk mail.

> Be wary if there is a rush to reply to the letter.

Lumberjacks Squander Three Goal Lead; Lose To Pictou

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks squandered a 3-0 lead on route to a 5-3 loss to the Pictou County Weeks Crushers in game one of the MHL's mini-series. Shawn Boudreau, Shaun MacEachern and Luc Ramey all scored first period goals while captain Michael Crawley chipped-in with two assists. Crawley says the club took too many penalties and paid the price.



Billy Clarke made 39 saves in nets for the Lumberjacks. They will try and tie the series Wednesday night in Pictou County.

Business Owners Concerned About Waste Facility In Blockhouse

A proposed waste facility in Blockhouse is being met with some resistance from business owners. Halifax C and D Recycling has applied for a development agreement off the Cornwall Road near the new visitor information centre. One owner, Nancy Wentzell, believes there's too many negatives to consider including increased volume of trucking, smell and noise pollution. Meanwhile, Doug Johnson owns the Happy Cooker restaurant. He believes land near the community recycling site in Whynott's Settlement is a better option.



Johnson says he'd rather see the municipality lease the current site to the company as a transfer point to help recover taxpayer money. The local advisory committee deferred making a decision on the application and will re-visit the matter early next month.

Liverpool Fire Department Replacing Ladder Truck

The Liverpool Fire Department is replacing its current ladder truck with one from Chicago. Officials asked Queens council to borrow some $79,000 to purchase the 1998 model vehicle, to replace the current ladder truck of over 30 years. Council decided to amend a previous loan with the group to include $59,000, and also surprised the department members with a $20,000 grant. Mayor Chris Clarke says the grant should cover the cost of shipping the truck to Liverpool.



Clarke says the money comes from reserves and the truck will be able to service the whole county.

Waterfront Spruce Up In Yarmouth

Federal dollars will be pumped into making improvements to the Yarmouth waterfront area. $375,000. will result in improvements to the entertainment venue and some side streets. Also, there will be new heritage murals painted and a feasibility study looking at setting up a new market. Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood says the improvements come at a good time. She says: "there will be a little bit of work from the waterfront development up to Hawthorne Street where we have a market. So a little bit of a connection will be made. All those things just to allow more people to enjoy the area." The improvements will also include a better Wi-Fi infrastructure and an improved town website. The mayor is ruling out any connection with possible renovations to the old ferry terminal. However, she says upgrades to the waterfront and ferry terminal would compliment each other.

Chester Council Nearing Decision On Wind Farm

A decision on a proposed $200 million wind farm in Lunenburg County could come as early as Thursday. Chester Warden Allen Webber says three dates have been set aside where council could potentially vote on whether to support the South Canoe Wind Project. He says if council needs more time to discuss the matter they have also scheduled special council meetings for March 20 and 21.



Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power are behind the massive wind farm which would stretch between Vaughan and New Russell. It would feature 34 turbines and create enough energy to heat 32,000 homes.

Hurricanes Grab Silver At Hockey Provincials

The BMO Western Hurricanes have returned home from the provincial hockey championships with a silver medal. The local major bantam squad fell 4-2 to the Halifax Hawks in Sunday's final in Cape Breton. The Hurricanes were down 3-0 heading into the third period before Cameron Jacquard scored a pair to cut the deficit to 3-2. But the Hawks, scored an empty net goal in the final minute to clinch the title. The Halifax club will now represent Nova Scotia at the Irving Oil Cup, Atlantic Canada's Bantam 'AAA' championship tournament. The event goes from March 21-24 in Montague, PEI.

Lumberjacks Open Mini-Series At Home Against Pictou

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks open the Maritime Hockey League playoffs tonight at home against the Pictou County Weeks Crushers. The fifth-place Jacks finished 38 points behind the Crushers in the Eastlink Division with Pictou taking five of six games against the locals. The clubs meet tonight at 8 o'clock in Bridgewater.The best of three mini-series will shift to New Glasgow for game two on Wednesday night. A third game, if required, would be played Thursday in New Glasgow.

Fishermen's Memorial ER Re-Opens Monday

The emergency department at a Lunenburg based hospital will re-open this morning after a temporary weekend closure. The closure was announced late Sunday afternoon at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital. The ER will be open for patients with emergencies beginning at 7:30am. 

Health Foundation Reaches Fundraising Goal

The Health Services Foundation of the South Shore says two ventilators are on their way to the area. The equipment was ordered after an anonymous donation was received earlier this week that helped put them over the top.The foundation now sits close to $77,000. The foundation's Bernadette Jordan says they also received good news that the equipment is going to cost less than they anticipated. Jordan says she's not sure how quickly they can be used once they arrive. She says they could arrive by the middle of this week.

Hurricanes Clinch Spot In Provincial Final

The BMO Western Hurricanes have clinched a spot in the provincial final Sunday in North Sydney. The local major bantam squad knocked off Bubba Ray's 3-1 Saturday night in the semi-final. Jered Scott scored the game-winner on the power-play in the second period. Also scoring for the Hurricanes were Travis Parks and Matt Grace. The Hurricanes will meet Halifax in the final at 1:30 Sunday afternoon. The winner will represent Nova Scotia at the 'Irving Oil Atlantic Challenge' later this spring.

Turn Your Clocks Ahead This Weekend

Just a reminder to turn your clocks ahead this weekend. People can expect to have more sunlight in the evenings when daylight savings time begins tomorrow. Justice Minister Ross Landry is reminding people to set their clocks ahead one hour at 2 a.m., or tonight before going to bed. Watches and clocks are not the only items that need adjustment - microwaves and ovens, electronic devices, car clocks and automatic timer lights need to be turned ahead. This is also a good time to clean dryer vents to prevent fires, and change batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Smoke detectors should be tested monthly and replaced every 10 years.

Hurricanes Improve To 2-0 At Provincials

The BMO Western Hurricanes are now 2-0 at the provincials in Cape Breton. The Hurricanes scored the games first six goals, earning an 8-3 win over the Kings Mutual Wildcats. Christopher Goreham and Jerod Scott each scored twice to pace the Hurricanes attack. Keith Getson, Quinten Johnson, Travis Parks and Jacob Myra added a goal each. The major bantam club is back on the ice at 6pm tonight against the Newbridge Senators.

Consultation Dates Revealed For Crown Land Use

The Nova Scotia government will hold nine public meetings over the next few weeks for people to share their ideas on the use of Crown land in western region. The province announced consultations would begin on the 1.5 million acres of land in February. The Crown land includes the former Bowater lands and large parcels in Queens, Annapolis, Shelburne, Yarmouth, HRM and Lunenburg. Acting Natural Resources Minister Maurice Smith says people can give their ideas on ways to use the lands to bring economic and social gain. Meeting have been scheduled to take place in West Northfield, Greenfield, Shelburne and Yarmouth - among other locations. Community forests, agricultural, renewable energy, wineries, maple syrup production and tourist activities are among the options. The planning will also consider access to lakes, roads, and trails on the lands. A list of open house locations and dates is on the Natural Resources website or call, toll-free 1-855-814-5832.

Meeting Schedule:

-- March 18, Shelburne Fire Hall and Community Centre

-- March 19, Windsor Legion Hall

-- March 25, Digby Co, Saulnierville Legion  Hall

-- March 26, Yarmouth Legion Hall

-- April 2, Cornwallis, Annapolis Basin Conference Centre 

-- April 3, Berwick and District Fire Hall

-- April 4, Lunenburg Co, West Northfield District  Fire Hall

-- April 8, HRM, Black Point Fire Hall

-- April 9, Queens Co, Greenfield Recreation Centre 

Saturday: Queens Manor Re-Opens To Visitors

Officials at a group home in Liverpool say they will re-open to visitors this weekend. Queens Manor had been off limits for nearly a month due to an outbreak of the flu. The restrictions will remain in effect for today. However, family members and friends will be able to visit their loved ones as usual beginning Saturday. Group homes require 48 hours without a new case before they can lift a visitation ban in order to reduce the spread of the illness.

Lunenburg Council Agrees To Install More Stop Signs

Lunenburg council has unanimously agreed to install more stop signs in the town. Councillor Peter Zwicker says a new three way stop will be created at the intersections of King and Lincoln and King and Montague. He says its a necessary step to help improve pedestrian and traffic safety.



Zwicker says council decided to initiate some recommendations from consultants in their traffic and parking study. He expects the stop signs to be installed sometime this spring.

Search Called Off After Spotted Flare Reports

An official says a search launched along the South Shore after a flare was reportedly spotted has been called off. The Canadian Press was first to report the search was called off. Major Martell Thompson, a spokesman for the Joint Rescue Co-ordinator Centre in Halifax, says searches were conducted along the Liverpool shoreline, but nothing out of the ordinary was found. He also says no local vessels or people have been reported overdue.

Mooseheads Drop Wild Match In New Brunswick

A wild "Q" game in northern New Brunswick Wednesday night as the Acadie-Bathurst Titan edged the Halifax Moosheads 8-7 in overtime. The Moose rallied from a 5-2 deficit to take a 7-5 lead before the Titans bounced back to tie it. The Herd played without several regulars including Jonathan Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon.

Residents Concerned Over Automated MLA Phone Calls

Some local residents are concerned after getting recorded phone calls from MLAs who don't represent them. People reportedly received automated calls from Lunenburg MLA Pam Birdsall and Lunenburg West MLA Gary Ramey asking people to call-in to a town hall style meeting with them earlier this week. However, some of the phone calls were made to people who aren't represented by either political figure. Birdsall says she doesn't feel it was a robocall issue.



Birdsall says they had over 600 people participate in the phone-in session, calling it a successful venture. She says people responded to questions regarding the shipbuilding contract and future of health-care in the region. She apologizes to anyone who was inconvenienced by the calls.

McIntosh, Drennan Win Medals At CIS Track Championships

A pair of South Shore athletes have set Nova Scotia senior records with their performances at the CIS Track and Field Championships in Edmonton. Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh struck gold in the women's pentathlon while Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan notched a silver medal in the men's pentathlon. The 22-year-old McIntosh won three of the five events including the shotput, long jump and 800 metre run on route to a personal best and defending her title from last year. Drennan, meanwhile, had the top score in the shotput and also placed third in the high jump and long jump events. Bridgewater's Jen Pitman will compete in the women's high jump on Saturday.

Hurricanes Open Provincials With Shutout Win

The BMO Western Hurricanes got goals from five different players on route to a 5-0 win Thursday to open the provincial championships in Cape Breton. Jaron Bollivar, Keith Getson, Logan Walters, Cameron Jacquard and Jacob Myra each scored while Colby Muise turned aside 20 shots for the shutout. The Hurricanes will play two games Friday. There first game will be at 10 this morning versus Kings Mutual. They also play at 6pm against the Newbridge Senators.

Police Investigate Damaged Power Equipment In Woods Harbour

Police say damaged equipment at the Nova Scotia Power station in Woods Harbour caused a significant outage earlier this week. Barrington RCMP are looking for vandals after residents of Argyle, Pubnico and Woods Harbour were without power overnight Monday. Police say 91 glass insulators were shot at and damaged. The equipment was battered by wind and rain, resulting in an outage of more than 3,000 households and businesses. Anyone with information is asked to call RCMP.

MODL Changes Solid Waste Collection By-Law

The Municipality of Lunenburg has added some much needed teeth to its Solid Waste Collection and Disposal by-law. Council passed a motion to accept changes to the document, which includes new sections on rejection of waste, construction or demolition materials and legal and illegal disposal. The municipality feels the by-law amendments could help reduce the amount of unsorted waste being generated and cut down on illegal dumping. Deputy Mayor Don Zwicker says the housekeeping was long-overdue for the by-law.



Council is expected to formally approve the changes at their next meeting.

Father And Son Fined For Fisheries-Related Offenses

A hefty penalty has been imposed on a father and son for failing to properly report their halibut catch. In Bridgewater court, Lorraine Boutilier and his son Blaine of Hubbards were slapped with more than $10,000 in fines after they pleaded guilty to various fisheries-related offences. The charges were laid more than three years ago after federal fisheries officers conducted a search at Deep Cove Aqua Farms Limited. Their investigation revealed the Boutilier's were involved in catching and selling more than 500 kilograms of unreported halibut. Judge Gregory Lenehan told court all fishermen should know the importance of reporting an accurate catch. He explained failing to properly report catches negatively affects quotas and hurts other fishermen. The Boutilier's were given at least a year to pay-off the fines.

Stompin’ Tom Connors dies at 77

For hockey fans around the world, he was known for 'The Hockey Song.' For everyone else, he was Stompin' Tom. The country-folk musician from Saint John, New Brunswick died Wednesday at the the age of 77 at his home in Ontario. Connors was known for his toe-tapping music and unwavering patriotism. According to his website, Stompin' Tom recorded 61 albums, which featured hits Bud the Spud, Sudbury Saturday Night and Up Canada Way. Connors released a message to his family upon his death, part of which said:

"It was a long hard bumpy road. But this great country kept me inspired with its beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world."

Tom is survived by his wife Lena, two sons, two daughters and several grandchildren.

Bantam Hurricanes Start Provincials In Cape Breton

The BMO Western Hurricanes will try and add a provincial title to their resume this weekend. The major bantam provincials kick-off today in North Sydney, with the top seven teams ready to battle for top spot. The Hurricanes are the third seed based on regular season standings. They will play their first game at 4pm this afternoon against the Mobil 1 Barons. The provincial winners earn the right to represent Nova Scotia in the 'Irving Oil Atlantic Challenge' later this spring.

More Jobs, Less-Government Lead Economy Discussion

Roughly 65 people participated in a meeting discussing the province's economic future at the Best Western in Cookville Wednesday night. The 'Nova Scotia Commission on Building Our New Economy' hosted the meeting to gauge ideas from local residents and business owners on new directions for wealth creation. Among the discussion topics included what people would change about the area and why they choose to live here. Wileville resident Elspeth McLean-Wile believes solving issues in rural Nova Scotia will start with its residents.



People believe some of the factors working against the area include out-migration of youth and workers, cost of living and lack of public transit. People were also asked during the evening to provide one word they could use to improve the area. The most-requested suggestions included more jobs, less-government, sustainability, and education. The commission now moves on to Shelburne for a meeting at 9am Thursday morning at the Fire Hall. They plan to release an interim report on their findings in April.

Athletes Prepare For CIS Track And Field Championships

Three South Shore athletes are competing this week at the CIS Track and Field Championships in Edmonton, Alberta. Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan along with Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh and Jen Pitman are all representing their respective universities at the event. Drennan and McIntosh will each compete in the indoor pentathlon while Pitman is in the women's high jump. McIntosh says she's ready to go.



McIntosh says she's ranked number one heading into pentathlon, but her training partner at the University of Calgary is right behind her. She will also compete in the women's long jump and 4 x 400 metre race. Events get underway tomorrow afternoon in Edmonton. Live results will be posted here once the competition starts.

Queens Place General Manager Resigns

There's a vacancy at the helm of Queens Place-Emera Centre. General manager Neil Raymond has resigned. He's been on the job for only a year and has accepted a new job in New Brunswick. His resignation in Liverpool is effective March 15th. Mayor Christopher Clarke is wishing Raymond well and is thanking him for helping to get Queens Place-Emera Centre up and running smoothly.

Economy Commission Hosts Meeting In Cookville

An independent body mandated by the province to discuss the economy is in Cookville this evening. The Nova Scotia Commission on Building Our New Economy, is chaired by Acadia University president Ray Ivany. Four other members make up the group, which was created to engage communities in discussion and debate on potential economic development opportunities. Ivany feels the province is at a critical stage.



The commission was established last November and has recently made stops in Wolfville, Digby and Halifax. The meeting starts at 7pm tonight at the Best Western Plus in Cookville. More details can be found here .

Court: Jail Time For Man Possessing Illegal Smokes

It's two months in jail for a West Northfield man after being caught with hundreds of illegal cigarettes. William Oswald Russell was sentenced in provincial court earlier today. Police found the smokes when they carried out a search warrant at Russell's home last summer. The 61-year-old has a previous criminal record and has been convicted on multiple occasions of possessing illegal smokes. Judge Gregory Lenehan told court Russell owes "hundreds of thousands" in previous court ordered fines related to banned cigarettes. Lenehan imposed another fine in the range of $5,500 in court today. Russell will also spend twelve months on probation when he is released.

Shelburne County: Police Seize Marihuana Plants From Home

A 23-year-old man from Shelburne County has been charged with production of marihuana after police allegedly found and dismantled an indoor grow-op in his home. Shelburne County RCMP searched a home on Port Latour Road Tuesday around 5pm and seized 11 marihuana plants along with drug paraphernalia and equipment. The man was arrested and later released. He is scheduled to appear in Barrington Provincial Court April 25th.