Folk Harbour Festival Opens In Lunenburg

A number of local musicians and artists will begin performing in Lunenburg in the town's Folk Harbour Festival. The festival brings traditional and contemporary folk music to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This year will feature headliner David Myles, but also a number of other musical acts including Alex Hickey, Lennie Gallant and Rose Cousins. General Manager Chris Heide says they've made a few changes for this year including a new tent for the main stage on Blockhouse Hill.



The Folk Harbour Festival begins Thursday with a mixture of workshops and performances at various locations. This is the 28th year for the event, making it the province's longest-running folk festival. For more information on the event, click here

High Liner Foods Report Profit Despite Lower Sales

A Lunenburg based seafood company is reporting solid profits in the second quarter despite lower sales. High Liner Foods says it recorded a profit of US$9.9 million, up from $1 million a year ago. The company says the increase was the result of lower raw material costs which offset a decrease in sales volumes.The second quarter results also got a boost related to the company's acquisition of Icelandic USA. However, business was down in the United States because of soft restaurant sales. High Liner reported sales of US$204 million for the quarter, down slightly from US$216 million in the same period last year. Meanwhile, sales in the Canadian food service business, saw an increase in the second quarter compared to last year. The earnings amounted to 63 cents per share, compared with six cents in the quarter last year. High Liner Foods operates secondary processing plants in Lunenburg, Newfoundland, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Local Athletes Competing At Legion Track And Field Nationals

A handful of South Shore athletes have been selected to represent the province at the Legion Track and Field Nationals. James Lucas, Sarah Mitton, Josh Bell and Tobias Wolter are among 38 people competing for Nova Scotia in Langley, B.C. Wolter is looking to build off a great appearance at last year's event, where he won a gold and two silver medals and set a new Canadian record in the steeplechase. His coach, Tanya Daniels, says she expects things to be a bit tougher this year because he's entering a new age group.



Daniels says Wolter will have to race smart to be competitive. He says the legion event is laid back and an enjoyable experience.



Wolter will compete in the steeplechase while Bell tries his hand in the discus, Mitton stays busy in the heptathlon and Lucas sprints in the 100 metre. The competition is slated to begin Friday and last all weekend.

Trial Dates Set For Liverpool Paramedic

A 47 year-old paramedic has pleaded not guilty to stealing drugs from Emergency Health Services. Kenneth Wade Cosh, of Liverpool, will stand trial in provincial court over two days beginning January 13. He faces a total of 10 charges including breach of trust, possession of morphine, theft and forgery. EHS contacted Queens RCMP in February after allegations of thefts and misuse of drugs by a Liverpool paramedic. Police say they seized syringes and medical containers when they searched a home in the town four days later.

Old Bank Notes Stolen During Conquerall Mills Theft

RCMP are warning businesses to be on the lookout for older currency after a break and enter in Conquerall Mills. The Mounties say the incident happened between 12:30 and 3:30 Tuesday afternoon. Police say several items were taken including older $10 and $20 Canadian bills, a large quantity of toonies and American cash. Constable David Cullen with Bridgewater RCMP says they have few details regarding suspects.



Police are looking for the public's help in finding the people responsible for the break-in. Anyone with information should contact Bridgewater RCMP or Crimestoppers.

Hebbville Athlete Wins Bronze At Summer Games

A Hebbville swimmer has captured a bronze medal at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Claire McNally finished in third place in the S1-S6 para-swimming 50m fly event Tuesday evening. She finished in a time of 55.03 seconds. It's the 17-year-old's first medal at the Summer Games. McNally also received bronze at the 2011 Winter Games after competing in para-alpine skiing. Nova Scotia has five medals so far at the games including one gold, one silver and three bronze.

Crews Douse White Point Lodge Fire

No one was injured after a chimney fire broke out at White Point's main lodge. The blaze began just before 6pm Tuesday evening. Fire Officials from Liverpool and Greenfield responded to the call. The building was evacuated for over an hour before the blaze was doused. Spokesperson Donna Hatt says the fire didn't cause any structural damage to the lodge. The cause is not yet known. The lodge was rebuilt in 2012 after fire destroyed the previous building in November 2011.

RCMP Release Photo Of Hubbards Robbery Suspect

Mounties are following leads after a woman held up a pharmacy using a syringe. In an update Tuesday afternoon, RCMP say a suspect was released after she was taken in custody for questioning. Sergeant Al Leblanc confirmed the arrest in an email but no charges were laid. The incident took place Sunday afternoon at the Hubbards Pharmacy. In a media release, police say a woman walked into the drug store and demanded prescription pills. An employee at the pharmacy cooperated and was not injured. Mounties say the woman is about 5'3 with blonde hair and has a tattoo on her right arm.

Business Group Focuses On Attracting Companies To Region

A new group is focusing on growing the level of business activity in the region. The South Shore Business Growth Association is concentrating on regional economic development in Lunenburg and Queens Counties. The association is trying to fill a gap since the local development agency ceased operation in March. CEO Andrew Button says the group was created to attract more businesses to the area.



Button points to resources including 'Why Here', a website featuring a business map, video testimonials and information on the region that can help attract new businesses to the South Shore. He urges businesses to list their information on the website's map because it could help grow the economy.

South Shore Rugby Players Crack Team N.S.

Three South Shore athletes have been selected to represent the province at the Canadian National Rugby Festival in Vancouver, B.C., from August 7-12.  Seventeen-year-olds Renee Taylor and Naomi McKay, both Park View Panther players, will join the roster of the under-18 women's team. Both women played integral roles in earning a gold medal at the Canadian Eastern Rugby Championships in St. John's, NL last month. This will be their first experience on the national stage. Eighteen-year-old Nate Baker of Pentz has been named to the under-18 men's team. It's his third year playing for the National squad. The B.C. Rugby Union will be hosting the event at the University of British Columbia.

LCLC: Opening On Separate Dates

The opening of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre will happen on three different dates. General Manager Kevin Benjamin says they're expecting the arena will open in September, with the library hopeful for October and aquatic centre in November. He says the separate openings are due to a number of items that have taken longer than anticipated to complete. Benjamin says he doesn't expect the issue to cause any problems to the 2013-14 budget.



The issues will cause the Lumberjacks hockey club to start training camp in Liverpool for two days this month before coming back to Bridgewater to resume camp at the Memorial Arena.

Whalen Sets N.S. Javelin Record

Another record set by Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen. The 20-year-old established a new Nova Scotia Senior women's javelin record over the weekend in Port Williams with a throw of 52.08 meters. With the throw, Whalen also climbed to number two all-time at Florida State University in javelin. She also finished first in the shot put with a throw of 15.40 metres. Whalen is off to the Canada Games to represent Nova Scotia in the shot put and javelin in Sherbrooke, Quebec. She starts competing next Monday.

Tuesday: Lunenburg ER Closures Continue

There have been several overnight closures through the weekend of the ER at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg.  The closures are continuing today (Tuesday) at 5pm until Thursday morning at 7:30am. South Shore Health says a recent resignation of an ER nurse and a maternity leave have complicated scheduling. Progressive Conservative health critic, Chris d'Entremont of Argyle, says the government is trying to show it has improved ER care at Fishermen's, Roseway and elsewhere.



d'Entremont is calling upon the government to come up with a more attractive incentive plan to encourage trained ER doctors and nurses to settle in rural communites.

Chester: Province Declines Funding After Bowater Closure

The province is saying 'no' to a funding request from the Municipality of Chester. Warden Allen Webber sent a letter to the minister of economic and rural development and tourism asking for additional funding following the Bowater closure. The minister responds in a letter, saying they provided funding to the Region of Queens and Municipality of Lunenburg to support economic transition in the entire region. The letter from Graham Steele also notes those two municipalities were the hardest hit by the closure. Webber doesn't agree with the decision.



Webber says the letter indicates sharing resources between the local municipalities, but he's received no correspondence as of yet.

RCMP Search For Hubbards Robbery Suspect

RCMP are on the lookout for a woman who allegedly held up a Lunenburg County drugstore. Police say the Hubbards Pharmasave was robbed around 1:45 Sunday afternoon. The Mounties say the woman was holding a syringe and demanded a quantity of prescription pills. The woman then fled the store on foot carrying a red and white grocery bag. No one was injured. The suspect is described as a white female, approximately five foot, three inches tall with blonde shoulder length hair and a tattoo on her right forearm. She was wearing sunglasses, a camouflage ball cap, green printed t-shirt, black yoga pants and black sandals. Anyone with information is asked to contact RCMP.

Man In Hospital After Highway Crash In Hebbs Cross

A man is in hospital after a motorcycle collided with a car on Highway 103. RCMP say the incident occurred around 11:50 this morning near the Ultramar gas station in Hebbs Cross. Corporal Scott MacRae says the driver of the motorcycle was taken to hospital by EHS with undetermined injuries. The driver of the car was not injured. MacRae says there was a traffic slowdown on Highway 103 for roughly an hour and a half.

Greenfield: Man, Woman Safe After Boat Capsizes

A man and a woman are safe after their vessel capsized while boating in Greenfield. RCMP were called to Little Ponhook Lake around 6:25pm Saturday night. Constable Rick Ellens says the two people were thrown in the water when they're boat overturned, but were rescued quickly by another nearby vessel. Police say they were brought back to their nearby cabin and were in good condition. Greenfield Fire Department responded to the incident while the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax was listed on standby. Fire crews with Bridgewater and Northfield were also paged for boats but were cancelled.

Argyle Men Face Drug Trafficking Charges

Two Argyle men will appear in court this fall on drug trafficking charges. RCMP members from Shelburne and Yarmouth searched a home on Argyle Sound Road around 9pm Friday night. Police seized 53 ecstasy capsules, 10 grams of cocaine and other drug-related materials. The men, ages 20 and 23, were arrested but have since been released. They have been charged with possession for the purpose and breach of an undertaking. The men will appear in Yarmouth provincial court November 5th.

Fire Destroys Abandoned Home In Milton

Fire has completely destroyed a home on Tupper Street in Milton. Crews from four departments including Liverpool, Greenfield, Port Medway and North Queens responded to the call around 6:45 Friday evening. RCMP and the fire marshal were also called to the scene. Constable Rick Ellens says the home was abandoned and didn't have power. He says there were no injuries and the cause is undetermined. Police say the home was scheduled to be demolished and there will be no further investigation.

Nowe Wraps Up Play At National Junior Golf Event

Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe finished in a tie for 44th at the Canadian Junior Boys Golf Championship. The 17-year-old wrapped up his tournament with a three over-par, 75, Friday to finish at 12-over in total. Nowe finished one stroke behind Bedford's Bruce Tomie as top Nova Scotian in the event. He will now represent the province at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. British Columbia's Kevin Kwon shot a three under-par, 69, on route to a five shot victory. Kwon won the event for the second time in three years after winning the title in 2011.

School Board Workers Ratify Tentative Agreement

CUPE workers with two local school boards have ratified a tentative agreement reached earlier this summer. The South Shore and Tri-County Regional School Boards are among six districts that agree with the three-year deal settled on June 21. The deal, retroactive to April 1, 2012, includes yearly wage increases of two, 2.5 and three percent. It also includes adjustments to wages for some classifications including lunch supervisors and trades people, and a process to look at a defined benefit pension plan. CUPE School Board coordinator Kathy MacLeod says they are pleased that the majority of members were able to settle contracts before school returns in the fall. Members at the Chignecto Regional School Board initially voted against the deal, and will hold a re-vote in September.

Chester: Brush Cutting Needed Along Highway 329

The amount of brush around Deep Cove along Highway 329 is cause for concern for at least one municipal councillor in Chester. Andre Veinotte sent a letter to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal requesting brush to be cut along the highway in order to see Deep Cove. The request was met with no guarantees from the department, saying they have to prioritize work with over 2,500 kilometres of roadway in Lunenburg and Queens Counties. Veinotte says he's not surprised by the response.



Veinotte says it's a recreational issue as the area is used for fireworks, fishing and other activities but is being obscured by the brush. He says he will try and get permits to clear the brush and seek volunteer help from local fire departments.

Service Held For Long-Time Lunenburg Politician

A memorial service will happen today for long-time Lunenburg politician David Dauphinee. He passed away last Sunday at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater. Dauphinee spent 30 years on council including 17 as deputy mayor. Mayor Rachel Bailey says Dauphinee is an inspiration.



People can honour Dauphinee by providing memorial donations to the Lunenburg Arena or Bridgewater's Kinsmen Field. The service gets underway at 11am at St. John's Anglican Church.

Weekend ER Closures At Lunenburg Hospital

Several closures are planned through the weekend and into next week for the Emergency Department at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg.  The closures begin today at 5 pm with the ER re-opening at 7:30 Saturday morning.  The Fishermen's ER will be closed for the same time periods on August 3, 4, 5 and 6 with the closure on Tuesday the 6th lasting until 730am August 8 (Thursday).  South Shore Health's Director of Acute Care Lynn Farrell says the closures are a result of a nursing shortage.  She says it really began in June with a sudden resignation.



As usual, anyone requiring emergency services is advised to call 911 or visit the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.  Patients with "non-emergencies" should contact their family physician or call Health Link 811 for medical advice.

Here again is list of the closures with dates and times:

          August 2 at 5:00 p.m. (1700) and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 3/13.

          August 3 at 5:00 p.m. (1700)and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 4/13

          August 4 at 5:00 p.m. (1700) and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 5/13

          August 5 at 5:00 p.m. (1700) and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 6/13

          August 6 at 5:00 p.m. (1700) and will reopen - please note - at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 8/13

South Shore Gasoline Costs Less!

As expected, gasoline prices are lower this morning at South Shore pumps.  Regular self serve is down by about 2 cents to $1.35.8 per litre.  High test is lower in price by a similar amount to $1.44.8.  Diesel is also down by a couple of cents this morning to $1.32.8 a litre.

South Shore Athletes Ready For Canada Summer Games

A number of young men and women are in Sherbrooke, Quebec preparing to compete in the Canada Summer Games. Fourteen athletes from Lunenburg County are taking part in the national event, which opens Friday and runs until August 17. Participating athletes in track and field include Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh in Heptathlon, Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan in Decathlon, Mattias Wolter of Conquerall Mills in steeplechase, Bridgewater's Courtney Langille will run in the women's 4x400 metre relay and Chelsea Whalen of Liverpool will also compete in javelin and shotput. In soccer, Hunter Vaszily of Mahone Bay, Lunenburg's Nick Tanner, Bridgewater's Mallory Taylor and Sarah Taylor of Conquerall Mills will represent the province. Chester's Allison Chandler will play golf along with Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe. Chandler will also play tennis. Lunenburg's Mitch MacDonald will cycle, Hebbville's Claire McNally will compete in para-swimming, Bridgewater's Jamie Whynot in baseball, and Bridgewater's Olivia Pitman in women's volleyball.

Nowe Looks To Finish Strong At National Juniors

Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe shot an even-par, 72, Thursday in the third round at the Canadian Junior Boys Golf Championship in Sudbury, Ontario. Nowe mixed in five birdies with three bogeys and a double bogey. He sits in a tie for 43rd spot heading into Friday's final round. Kevin Kwon of British Columbia retains the lead after a three under-par 69 today. He leads by three shots.

UaRB: Decision On South Canoe Won't Meet Deadline

The province's regulatory board confirms it will not make a decision on the South Canoe Wind project before its 60-day deadline period. The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board's Paul Allen, says they have over 3,300 pages of documents to go through and it is taking extra time to come to a conclusion. The original deadline is August 5th. Allen says they don't have a concrete date in mind, but they are sifting through the material as quickly as they're able to, in order to make an accurate decision. "Friends of South Canoe Lake" are opposed to the construction of 34 wind turbines between Vaughan and New Russell. Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power are leading the project. It would generate enough power to heat 32,000 homes.

Charges After Dog Dies In Hot Car

A Lunenburg man has been charged in the death of a dog that was left in a sweltering car last month. RCMP say they responded to calls about a dog in distress on July 21 in Wolfville. In a media release, they say the animal was spotted in a parked car at Acadia University. Thirty-six year old Jason Remai was charged with failing to protect an animal under the Animal Protection Act of Nova Scotia. The charge relates to failure to provide an animal with reasonable protection from injurious heat or cold. He is scheduled to appear in Kentville provincial court on September 23rd.

Large Water/Sewer Project Approved In Bridgewater

Some motorists in Bridgewater are going to have to be patient come September. The town is moving ahead with a major water and sewer project on upper Aberdeen Road - one of the areas busiest streets. Council awarded the contract to J.R. Eisnor of Fall River. They expect to begin the project September 16th which ultimately will reduce a section of Aberdeen down to one lane for three months. Mayor David Walker says they recognize it will cause some traffic congestion.



The town will also put some fresh paving on a section of Aberdeen Road at a cost of $85,000. The price tag for the water/sewer and paving project is in the area of $800,000 and will be cost shared with the federal government.

Nowe Makes Cut At National Golf Tournament

It was an up and down day for two local golfers at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in Sudbury, Ontario. Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe shot a one over-par, 73, Wednesday to make the cut in a tie for 59th at eight over-par total through two days. Meanwhile, it wasn't meant to be for Riverport's Liam Fullerton. He struggled for a second straight day and missed the cut after shooting 87. Nowe will have to make a big move over his next 36 holes if he wants to catch the leader. B.C's Kevin Kwon continues to lead at six under-par overall.

Watch For Lower Gas Prices Again Tomorrow!

This bodes well for South Shore gas prices come tomorrow.  For the second week in a row, the price of gas is down today in New Brunswick.  The new maximum price for regular self serve in New Brunswick is $1.33.9 a litre.  That is a drop of almost 2 cents from yesterday.  Prices for diesel and furnace oil in New Brunswick have also dropped today.  Diesel is down just under 3 cents a litre and furnace oil has fallen 3.3 cents a litre.

Fire Department Bands 'Summon The Heroes' In Bridgewater

The Bridgewater Fire Department Band will 'Summon the Heroes' during a concert Thursday night. The group is joined by members of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Band from the United Kingdom for a concert of recognition for those people who volunteer or work in the fire service. Band Director Wendell Eisener says they'll open the concert with John Williams' 1996 fanfare 'Summon the Heroes.'



The two bands will also tribute the five Bridgewater men who recently competed in the Maritime and Atlantic regional firefit championships. The concert begins at 7pm Thursday night at Bridgewater High.

Health: Congestion Eases In Emergency Departments

Things are getting back to normal in emergency departments at three South Shore hospitals. The local health authority was experiencing longer than usual wait times for non-urgent care last week. South Shore Health spokesperson, Theresa Hawkesworth, says the departments are still busy in Bridgewater, Lunenburg and Liverpool but they have noticed improvements. She says more than one factor led to the delays.



Hawkesworth says people have been discharged and more beds have opened up in all three hospitals. She says it was a difficult situation for patients and staff, but they worked together to overcome the challenges.

UPDATED: Benoit's Fraud Case Delayed

A court case involving a woman notorious for selling dogs has another delay. Gail Benoit did not appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court this afternoon. Instead, her lawyer, Cathy Benton appeared on her behalf. Benoit's charges include theft and identity fraud. The charges are related to the alleged sale of two boxer dogs that didn't belong to her. Benoit's lawyer told court her client wanted more time to review the Crown's evidence before deciding to enter a pleas. The matter will be dealt with September 18th.

Dog Dealer Returns To Court In Bridgewater

A notorious canine dealer is due in court today on charges of fraud. Gail Benoit is facing three charges which include theft and identity fraud. The charges are related to the alleged sale of two boxer dogs that didn't belong to her. As part of her release conditions, Benoit is not permitted to buy or sell any animals while her fraud case is before the courts. In an unrelated matter, Benoit spent the weekend in jail after being arrested on an assault charge. She is accused of assaulting a 25-year-old man in Waverley on July 22. The troubled puppy broker was released from custody on bail on Tuesday. She's expected to enters pleas to the fraud charges this afternoon.

Local Golfers Struggle At National Junior Championships

Two South Shore golfers are in danger of missing the cut at the Canadian Junior Championships in Sudbury, Ontario. Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe and Riverport's Liam Fullerton struggled in their opening rounds at Timberwolf Golf Club. Nowe shot a seven over-par round of 79 while Fullerton had an off-day, firing a 92. British Columbia's Kevin Kwon, who won the event in 2011, is the first round leader after an eight under-par, 64. Nowe sits in a tie for 91st while Fullerton is in 154th spot. The field will be narrowed down to the top 70 and ties after Wednesday's second round.

Attendance Figures Down At The Big EX

Attendance was down at this year's South Shore Exhibition in Bridgewater. Manager Christine Sarty says 37,680 people took-in the sights and sounds of the six-day agricultural event last week. It's a drop of 2,424 people from last year. Sarty believes the forecast kept a lot of people from coming.



Sarty says sunshine helped bring over 16,000 people to the event on the weekend and increase overall attendance. She says they're pleased with the overall figures with the weather that occurred.

Well-Known Engineer Passes Away

A key part behind the construction of the South Shore Regional Hospital has died. Arthur MacKenzie Dechman of West LaHave passed away early this morning at age 89. He spent 40 years at Acadia Road Builders and Acadia Construction, the group which helped build the Bridgewater hospital in 1988. Dechman attended Acadia University before entering the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. He was also known as an avid yachtsman and competitive sailor, racing the offshore circuit as a long time member of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. Dechman was also Past Commodore and Honourary life member of LaHave River Yacht Club and enjoyed the sights and sounds of Chester Race Week. A celebration of life will take place at the Bridgewater United Church on Friday.

New Germany: Uncertainty Still Surrounds Eisnor Trial

There is more uncertainty surrounding a matter that's been before the courts for nearly three years. A Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge will decide next month whether the issue of a man's fitness to stand trial for the first-degree murder of his wife should go before a jury. Wayne Paul Eisnor has twice been found mentally fit to stand trial for the shooting death of his estranged wife, Tina Mae. However, his lawyer - Roger Burril, argued in Supreme Court in Bridgewater yesterday that the jury should first be tasked with determining his client's fitness to stand trial. His mental state is an issue because Eisnor shot himself in the head after his wife was shot twice and killed in the parking lot of a grocery store in New Germany on June 30th, 2010. Eisnor suffered serious brain damage as a result but has improved since the incident. He also testified he has no memory of the incident in New Germany. He is set to stand trial in September. A judge is expected to rule on the jury-fitness matter August 16th.

Shelburne: RCMP Search Two Homes - Drug Charges Laid

Two men in Shelburne County will appear before a judge on drug charges after RCMP raided a pair of homes in the town. In the first incident, a residence on Annapolis Road was searched on Saturday.  RCMP say they found about two pounds of pot, along with some plants, drug paraphernalia and seven unsecured firearms. A 54-year-old Shelburne man has been arrested and faces numerous drug and firearms-related charges. Meanwhile, officers also searched a home on Parr Street and seized approximately 60 grams of marihuana, cash and drug paraphernalia. A 28-year-old male was arrested without incident and is facing charges of drug possession and trafficking. Both of the accused have separate court appearances in October.

Headed To Russia: Martin Competing At Worlds

Jenna Martin has been selected to run in her third IAAF World Track and Field Championships. The 25-year-old from Bridgewater was named to the women's 4 x 400 metre relay team that will compete in Moscow, Russia from August 10-18. Martin says a coach wanted her to be a part of the team, even though she wasn't part of the group that qualified. She says she has mixed emotions.



Martin flies to Kamen, Germany on Wednesday for training before leaving for Moscow August 7th. This will be Martin's third world championship after competing in 2009 and 2011.

Nowe, Fullerton Tee Off At National Junior Championships

Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe is set to take on the best junior golfers from across the country in the 2013 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. The field is set at 156 players for the first two rounds Tuesday and Wednesday before it gets cut to the top 70 and ties for the final 36 holes. Nowe has enjoyed a competitive summer so far including victories in Pugwash and Antigonish and a second place finish at the provincials in North Sydney. The 17-year-old will be playing in his second consecutive Canadian Championship after tying for 58th last year when the event was hosted by Osprey Ridge. Riverport's Liam Fullerton is also participating in the event for a second straight time after missing the cut in 2012. The event is taking place at the Timberwolf Golf Course in Sudbury, Ontario. All details on the event can be found here .

Valley Warehouse Fire Suspicious

An overnight fire that destroyed a warehouse in the Annapolis Valley has been deemed suspicious.  The blaze broke out before midnight in Kingston and more than a dozen valley fire departments prevented the flames from spreading to several nearby buildings, including a legion hall.  The RCMP and the fire marshall's office are now investigating.  No one was hurt.

Bridgewater Collaborative Health Centre On Track

Construction on Bridgewater's new Collaborative Health Centre remains on track. A meeting was held Monday morning for LaHave Investments to provide an update on the project. The group's president says the foundation and plumbing work are complete and crews are working towards pouring the concrete flooring. South Shore Health spokesperson Theresa Hawkesworth says they're aggressively recruiting doctors for the centre.



Hawkesworth says they hope to have a handful of doctors recruited by the time the new health care facility opens. The project is expected to be complete sometime in the fall.

Lunenburg: Long-Time Politician Passes Away

A long-time councillor and deputy mayor in Lunenburg has passed away. David Dauphinee died Sunday at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.  He was 76-years-old. Dauphinee spent 30 years on council starting in 1982 when he was first elected. He spent 17 years as the town's deputy mayor. Former mayor Laurence Mawhinney says Dauphinee will be missed by many.



Mawhinney says his fondest memory of Dauphinee was traveling together to Ottawa roughly 15 years ago to lobby the federal government for support to clean up the town's wastewater system. Dauphinee is survived by his wife and three daughters.

Liberal Leader Accuses Dexter Government Of Downplaying Importance of 103 Twinning

Nova Scotia Liberal leader Stephen McNeil suggests the Dexter government doesn't consider twinning the 103 from exit 5 to 13 a priority.  He says its even removed the roadway from the 5 year provincial highway improvement plan.  McNeil questions suggestions from local NDP MLA's Pam Birdsall and Gary Ramey for motorists to stick to the speed limit and pull over to use their cell phones to make the highway safer. McNeil says that is not the end of it.



The Liberal leader says his party applauded the government a few years ago for establishing the 5 year plan. However, McNeil says to remove the 103 from the list now is disappointing and troubling!  He believes its a move by the Dexter government to downplay a potential "hot" election issue.

Turtle Santuary Created In Queens County

Conservationists are celebrating the creation of a turtle sanctuary in Queens County.  The Nova Scotia Nature Trust has bought land around McGowan Lake to protect a primary habitat of the endangered Blanding's turtle.  The sanctuary contains more than five kilometers of undeveloped shoreline, ideal nesting ground for the turtles.  It's been estimated there are only 350 Blanding's turtles left in the wild in Nova Scotia.

Patience Needed With Highway 103 Twinning: MLAs

A pair of Lunenburg County MLAs are preaching patience when it comes to the topic of twinning Highway 103. Pam Birdsall and Gary Ramey say the issue has been front and centre since the NDP formed government in 2009. However, the twinning project isn't listed in this year's edition of the province's Five-Year Highway Improvement Plan. Birdsall says the issue takes time.




The government website says the project is at the Environmental Assessment stage. Both MLA's encourage people to drive the posted speed limit and pull over if there is a need to use a cell-phone. A petition has been circulating online for the last week and has garnered more than 6,100 signatures in favour of twinning Highway 103.

Shelburne: Men Charged With Stealing Cable

Two men are facing charges after they were allegedly caught stealing cable channels in Shelburne County. In a media release, RCMP say they executed two search warrants in Shelburne Friday evening in relation to investigations into illegal cable. Police say a 21 year-old man was arrested at a home on Clements Street after officers seized telecommunication equipment and marihuana plants. A few hours later, they arrested a 39-year-old man when they searched another residence on the same street. Both men are facing charges and will appear in court in October.