Liverpool: Fay, Mayhew Begin Championship Round At Canadian Juniors

The championship round is underway at the M& M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Liverpool. Nova Scotia's Mary Fay, with a 5-1 record, is facing 4-2 BC this afternoon. Tonight at 6:30 at Queens Place Emera Centre the Chester team battles unbeaten Alberta. In the Junior Mens' bracket Windsor's Robert Mayhew, with a 4-2 record, is battling Ontario this afternoon. Tonight at 6:30 at the Liverpool Curling Club Nova Scotia meets Northern Ontario. Following Friday's final championship round games, the top three teams will advance to the weekend semi-finals and final.  The Canadian champs will earn a trip to the Worlds in Switzerland.

Construction Planned For Shelburne Falls Lane Bridge

A bridge in Shelburne is getting an upgrade later this year. The Shelburne Falls Lane Bridge will be getting an additional lane for vehicles, as well as a four metre wide multi-use active transportation lane for pedestrians, cyclists and ATV's. The project will cost $4.5-million. Spokeswoman with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, Pam Menchenton, says the work should be a boost for residents.



Menchenton says they're currently in the design phase of the project with planners and surveyors visiting the site. She expects construction to begin following the winter months. However, no firm date has been announced.

Parking Fees Rising At South Shore Health

The cost to park at South Shore Health's three hospitals is on the rise. The health authority's business plan was recently approved by the Department of Health and Wellness. It includes increasing parking costs by a dollar to four dollars beginning in March. Parking fees generate about $430,000 per year, which support the delivery of direct patient care. The increase is expected to generate an additional $140,000 per year in revenue. CEO Dr. Peter Vaughan says the rising cost is necessary to help protect existing programs and services.



Other measures identified in the business plan to help achieve approximately $1.3 million in cost savings include delays in filling vacant positions, administrative efficiencies such as reduced travel and supplies and strategies to reduce sick and overtime cost.

Yarmouth MLA: Return Of Ferry Service A Community Effort

The old Yarmouth ferry terminal and its customs annex will receive major upgrades prior to the May 1st resumption of ferry service to Maine. Ottawa is providing $2.5 million for the work. Two years ago it appeared the ferry service was gone forever. However, Yarmouth MLA Zach Churchill says the dedication of a lot of people has paid off.



The federal funding will go toward repainting lines in the marshalling yard and to  complete the demolition of the existing interiors of the building to remove mould and debris. Other work includes the installation of new roofs and doors and an upgrade to the building’s electrical, communications and heating systems.

Storm Expected To Intensify

We should be seeing heavy snow developing and gusty winds before long as the next wave of weather from that storm passing south of us kicks in. Environment Canada meteorologist Mel Lemmon says the snow earlier this morning will return and much more of it.



Environment Canada is forecasting 20 to 25 centimeters of snow for much of the South Shore. Winds will be gusting to 60 and from the northeast this afternoon creating white out conditions. The storm is expected to ease-up off tonight.

RCMP Issue Winter Parking Ban For Lunenburg County

A winter parking ban is in effect tonight for Lunenburg County. RCMP are asking motorists not to leave their vehicles unattended or parked along roads or highways with the impending snow storm. The Mounties say the ban is in effect between the hours of 1am and 6am. Sgt. Paul Coughlin says drivers risk their vehicles being towed if they don't follow the rules.



Coughlin says further restrictions are listed for communities including the Village of Chester, Western Shore and New Germany who have additional regulations in place to limit parking during snowstorms. Fines as high as $233 can be issued if cars have to be towed.

UPDATE: Kingsburg's Duckworth Reacts To Olympic Nod

It's official. Lunenburg County has another Olympian to call its own.
Kingsburg's Alexandra Duckworth was named to Canada's Olympic team Tuesday afternoon in Quebec by the Canadian Olympic Committee and Snowboard Canada. The 26-year-old half-pipe snowboarder is the only Nova Scotia woman among the Canadian team of athletes competing at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Duckworth says it's a dream come true.



Duckworth showed she deserved to be at the Games, following a pair of top-10 results recently in Finland and Quebec. She is now ranked as the top Canadian in the women's half-pipe. However, it was heartbreak for Duckworth four years ago in Vancouver. She was an alternate for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, after breaking her ankle mid way through qualifications, only to miss qualifying by one position. Duckworth says she's glad she stuck with it and will realize her dream.

She will compete February 12 at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park.

Lunenburg County Man Accused Of Possessing Illegal Cigs

A 46-year-old man from Lunenburg County will have to answer to the court after he was accused of possessing illegal cigarettes. Bridgewater Police along with the Integrated Street Crime Unit and Criminal Intelligence Service Nova Scotia conducted a targeted traffic stop on the man recently. They seized over 50 bags of illegal cigarettes, along with a small quantity of marihuana and cash while searching his property. The accused will appear in Bridgewater court on March 12.

Curling: Chester Rink Beat New Brunswick, Prepare For Championship Round

Chester's Mary Fay is roaring into the playoffs at the M & M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships. The Nova Scotia team topped New Brunswick this morning 10-5 to finish round robin action with a sparkling 5-1 record. She finished in a tie for first place in Pool B with Ontario and will cross over and play four playoff games against Pool A teams starting tomorrow. Nova Scotia's Robert Mayhew wraps up the preliminary round this afternoon against Alberta. The Windsor rink has already clinched a playoff spot by winning four of their first five matches. Action continues daily at the Liverpool Curling Club and Queens Place Emera Centre. The championship games are set for the weekend and will be televised nationally on TSN.

LaHave Resident Competing For MasterChef Canada Title

A local chef is one of two Maritimers competing on "MasterChef Canada." LaHave resident Trevor Jessome is among fifty contestants going to head-to-head on the new reality show, which began airing Monday night on CTV. The show consists of the top amateur chefs in the country after thousands applied to take part in the program. Jessome, who is a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, was deployed overseas and couldn't be reached for comment. Annapolis Valley resident Allison Abernethy is also competing on the show. The chefs are trying to win the inaugural title of MasterChef Canada and a $100,000 cash prize.

Man Injured In South Shore Industrial Accident

An industrial accident on the South Shore is being investigated by the province's labour department. A 23 year old employee at Bridgewater Metal Industries in Oakhill was struck on site by a fork-lift owned by the company. He was sent to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A stop work order is in place on the vehicle involved until investigators can examine it closely. Work has been allowed to continue as usual though at the company.

NS Teams Capture Playoff Berths At Jr. Curling Championships

Both Nova Scotia teams have grabbed playoff spots at the M & M Candian Junior Curling Championships in Liverpool. Mary Fay of Chester has a 4-1 record after two wins yesterday...9-4 over Northern Ontatio and 10-5 over PEI. The Fay foursome play their final round robin contest this morning against New Brunswick. Windsor's Robert Mayhew is also 4-1 after a 5-3 victory over the Yukon. His rink wraps up Pool-B round robin action today at 2 o'clock against Alberta. The playoffs start tonight with the championship games live on TSN this weekend. All the action is at Queens Place Emera Centre and the Liverpool Curling Club.

Liverpool Fire Labelled Suspicious

Investigators have ruled an early Saturday morning fire in downtown Liverpool is suspicious. Police and fire crews were called to the blaze in the vacant building on Market Street around 4:20 this past Saturday morning. The fire was kept from spreading and no one was hurt. Investigators say the blaze appears to have been deliberately set. The building formerly held Wong's Restaurant but its been vacant for several years. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Queens RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

Ottawa Lays Out Big Bucks For Ferry Terminal Upgrades

Ottawa has made it official! The federal government will spend up to $2.5 million to upgrade the Yarmouth ferry terminal and customs annex building. Monday's official announcement by Progressive Conservative MP Greg Kerr follows the transfer of the ferry terminal property to the town. The federal funding will go towards the repainting of lines in the marshalling yard and will complete the demolition of the existing interiors of the building to remove mould and debris. Other work to be completed includes the installation of new roofs and doors and an upgrade to the building’s electrical, communications and heating systems. The move comes ahead of the expected May startup of the new international ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine.

Powerful Storm Heading Our Way

Yet another major winter storm is heading our way for tomorrow! Environment Canada has issued a special weather warming. There are no specific total snowfall amounts predicted for the storm, but forecasters indicate if the storm maintains its current path, it could drop a significant amount of snow on us ... upwards of 30 centimeters. There will be strong gusting winds and blowing snow. Environment Canada is advising people to keep an eye on today's weather forecasts as they come in .

Mid-Week Storm Could Pound South Shore

Another winter storm is headed toward the South Shore. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Wednesday. There are no specific totals predicted for the storm, but the forecasters indicate if the storm maintains its path, it could mean significant snow, blowing snow and strong winds. Environment Canada is advising people to monitor future forecasts for any warnings that may be posted.

Former NS Mayor Leaves Lasting Legacy

A well-known municipal politican has died. Bob Stead served as mayor and a town councillor in Wolfville for more than 20 years. He was a key figure when the municipality moved to ban smoking in vehicles when a child is present. The community was the first in Canada to pass such a law. Municipality of the District of Lunenburg Mayor Don Downe says it was a groundbreaking move with Stead's strong personality behind it.



A funeral for Bob Stead will be held tomorrow (Tuesday) at Acadia University.

Curling: Mayhew Rink Clinches Playoff Berth

Nova Scotia's Robert Mayhew has clinched a playoff spot at the M & M Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Liverpool.  Mayhew improved to 4-1 this morning with a 5-3 win over the Yukon. The Windsor team play their final Pool "B" round robin game tomorrow against Alberta.  On the girls' side, Chester's Mary Fay carries a 2-1 record into her afternoon contest against Northern Ontario. Tonight at 6:30 Fay tangles with PEI. Action continues through Sunday at both the Queens Place Emera Centre and Liverpool Curling Club.

Exciting Days Ahead For Snowboarder Duckworth

A Lunenburg County snowboarder is a front runner to be named to Canada's Olympic team. Alex Duckworth of Kingsburg is now the top-ranked Canadian in the women's halfpipe. She placed ninth at a World Cup event in Quebec over the weekend. The event was the last opportunity for Canadians to secure a spot for the upcoming winter games in Sochi, Russia. The remaining spots for Canada's snowboard team will be nominated on Tuesday.

Weekend Fire At Former Liverpool Restaurant

Fire crews were able to quickly put out a Saturday morning fire in Liverpool. It broke out around 4 a.m. at the former Wong's Restaurant in the downtown area. The building has been vacant for several years. Crews were able to contain the fire before it spread to other structures. The cause hasn't been determined yet.

UPDATE: Hubbards Fire Victim Identified

The RCMP have released the name of the victim of a fatal house fire over the weekend in Hubbards. 56 year old Shirley Ann Greek was found dead after fire swept through a home on Shore Road. Investigators have ruled the fire was a result of careless smoking. A medical examiners autopsy shows the death was caused by the accidental fire. A man in his 60's, thought to be a friend, escaped the flames unhurt along with pets.

Hubbards: RCMP Probe Fatal Weekend Fire

A fatal fire in Hubbards over the weekend. A woman's body was found inside a home on Saturday night. The blaze occurred around 10:15pm on Shore Club Road. Mounties are investigating and say the home sustained substantial damage. An auptosy will be conducted on the woman body. A man in his 60's - believed to be a friend of the victim - along with pets were able to get out of the house safely. The Canadian Red Cross has stepped in to help with lodging and clothing. The RCMP is investigating. Some reports indicated investigators believe smoking in bed may have been cause of the fire.

New Health Clinics Boost For Doctors & Others

New collaborative health care clinics opening soon in Bridgewater and Liverpool will go a long way in improving health care on the South Shore. Nova Scotia Health Minister Leo Glavine says they'll also provide a professional boost for doctors and nurse practitioners.



The minister also says the clinics will also help relieve the work loads of ER's at hospitals in Lunenburg, Bridgewater and Liverpool.



The Bridgewater facility will be opening in a few weeks and the one in Liverpool later in the year.

Early Morning Liverpool Fire Contained

There's an investigation into an early morning fire in Liverpool. The blaze broke out shortly before 4 a.m. at the former Wong's restaurant. Fire crews were able to contain the fire before it spread to other buildings. It took just over two hours to put the fire out on Market Street - located in Liverpool's downtown core. No injuries were reported. Firefighters from Liverpool. Greenfield, North Queens and Bridgewater were all on scene to help battle the fire. (Photo submitted to Dahl Dispatch Facebook Page)

Bridgewater: Tops'l Tavern To Reopen Under New Ownership

They will continue slinging drinks at the Tops'l Tavern in Bridgewater. The 50 year old bar and restaurant is getting a second life. Part owner Sheila Rodenhiser MacKay says the tavern will re-open Sunday under new ownership. On Thursday, Rodenhiser-Mackey confirmed they would be closing Saturday night. The news of the tavern closing spread quickly on social media with hundreds of people reminiscing about their good times at Tops'l. However, an eleventh hour deal to sell the building and keep it open was reached on Friday. She wouldn't confirm who the new owners are, but says they live along the South Shore. It's believed the same staff will be retained. The bar is expected to keep its traditional name.

Chester Junior Curling Team Ready For National Spotlight

The M and M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships begin tomorrow in Liverpool. Fourteen men's and 14 women's teams from across Canada have arrived in Queens County seeking Canadian titles. Three draws will be played during tomorrow's starting day. The opening ceremonies will also be held at 6pm at Queens Place Emera Centre. Mary Fay and her Chester rink are representing Nova Scotia on the women's side. Fay says her team is looking forward to the challenge.



Fay's team begins play at 2pm Saturday against Newfoundland and Labrador at Queens Place Emera Centre. All tournament information can be found here .

Bridgewater: Mayor Shocked, Surprised About Tavern Closure

Bridgewater's mayor says it's disappointing to hear The Tops'l Tavern and Grill will close its doors. The owner confirmed the news with our newsroom Thursday afternoon that the popular tavern would close this weekend. The closure affects roughly 15 employees. The tavern has been a mainstay on King Street for 50 years since it opened in 1963. David Walker recalls his first visit to the pub and eatery while in Bridgewater for a teaching interview. He says people will remember their visits to the tavern.



Walker says the building is a landmark in the town, saying it is always there to greet people traveling over the new bridge. The tavern will close its doors on Saturday night.

Bridgewater Collaborative Health Centre Nearing Completion

The top doctor with South Shore Health says officials will begin moving into Bridgewater's collaborative health centre early next week. Dr. Peter Vaughan says the facility is nearing completion. He says they have two family practitioners, three nurse practitioners, a family practice nurse and administrative support designated for the clinic. They also have at least six family doctors interested in the facility. Vaughan says the numbers are good, but they're always on the lookout for more.



A grand opening of the Bridgewater collaborative health centre is expected by the end of March or early April. However, the clinic will be open to the public before that.

Financial Boost For Tourism Trail Project

Some major federal, provincial and municipal money will be pumped into a new project to attract tourists and locals on the South Shore. During a ceremony this morning at the Head of St. Margaret's Bay, $178,000 in funding was announced to create a continuous 109 kilometer hiking and cycling route between Halifax and Lunenburg. Known as the Destination Trail, it'll follow the former route and spur lines of the Halifax and Southwestern Railway and will include tourist promotion, signage and maps, information kiosks, improved access points, rest areas along the route and a mobile-compatible website. Lunenburg MLA Suzanne Lohnes-Croft says the trail will be a big boost to the tourism sector.



The trail will be promoted as a new way for visitors and locals to experience two of the province's most popular destinations and all the scenic communities in between.

Possible Overhaul Ahead For Municipal Taxation System

Updating the way Nova Scotia residential and commercial properties are assessed and taxed would be the focus of a proposed review. Municipal Relations and Service Nova Scotia Minister Mark Furey says its long overdue.



Property assessments across the province have increased this year and that will probably be reflected in tax rates set by the municipalities later this spring. Furey met with the mayors and councils of Lunenburg and Queens Counties on Thursday. He expects to do the same with others across the province in the coming month or two.

Queens Manor Facing Possible Strike

Management and workers at Queens Manor in Liverpool are hoping to avoid a strike. A conciliation officer has filed his report on the dispute with the province's labour minister. The 59 nursing home workers, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), will be in a legal strike position at 12:01am on January 29th. Both side have agreed not to take any action before then and they will meet again with the conciliation officer the day before, January 28th, to try and avoid a walkout. The CUPE members have already voted 98 percent in favor of a walkout. The main issue is sick time.

Gas Prices Rise

Gas prices have increased overnight. Regular self serve up at South Shore pumps by about half a cent to $131.4 per litre. High test has increased by the same amount. Diesel is up by about 3 cents though.

Weight Restrictions On Gravel Roads

Weight restrictions are now in effect on all provincial gravel roads in Lunenburg County. Trucks weighing more than 15-thousand kilograms are restricted from using them. DOT says the wet weather has made many gravel roads very soft and messy and thus the reason for the restrictions. Restrictions are also in effect on gravel roads in Hants and Annapolis counties.

Young Makes Lumberjacks Coaching Debut Against Summerside

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks host the Summerside Western Capitals Friday night in Bridgewater. The local Junior 'A' club will welcome Travis Young behind the bench in his debut as the team's new coach. He started running practices and drills with players on Wednesday night. He takes over a team that has struggled all season, winning only two out of 36 games. Young hopes to make strides with the club before the regular season ends.



Young says players were upbeat and he was impressed with their work ethic during practice this week. The Lumberjacks and Capitals square off at 7pm at the Clearwater Seafoods Arena.

Sports: 'Fever Weekend'; AtomMania Hockey Tourney

High school basketball players will catch a 'fever' this weekend. Park View hosts its annual 'Panther Fever Weekend' tournament in Bridgewater, starting Friday night. The opening game tips off at 6pm between Sackville and King's Edgehill. The hometown Panthers are up at 8pm against Middleton. Full schedule is listed below.

Friday January 17th
6pm - Sackville vs. King’s Edgehill
8pm - PVEC vs. Middleton

Saturday January 18th
9am –King’s Edgehill vs. PVEC
11am- Sackville vs. Middleton
1pm – PVEC JV vs. Forest Heights
3pm – Middleton vs. King’s Edgehill
5 pm – PVEC vs.   Sackville
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The South Shore Atom 'C' Ice Sharks are welcoming seven teams to town this weekend. The Ice Sharks host the RBC AtomMania Atom tournament at rinks in Bridgewater and Lunenburg. The tournament will consist of five teams from the HRM, one from Shelburne and another from Berwick.

Tops'l Tavern Closing In Bridgewater

One of the longest serving taverns in Bridgewater is closing its doors. The Tops'l Tavern on King Street is shutting down after 50 years. The bar opened in 1963. The tavern will close Saturday night. Roughly 15 employees will be out of a job. Owner Sheila Rhodenizer Mackay has confirmed the details with our newsroom.

Queens General Health Project Behind Schedule

The Queens General Health Project is behind schedule. Contractors informed South Shore Health this week that the project is delayed by roughly three to five months. The project was expected to be complete early this year. CEO Dr. Peter Vaughan says the delay is being caused by a lack of materials and human resources to do the job.



Vaughan says it's disappointing news for staff, but work will continue at a slower pace. Construction of the new medical unit and primary health care centre began in October 2012. The project includes the redevelopment of the 22-bed in-patient unit at Queens General Hospital. South Shore Health is expecting to receive the facility in May. They expect time for off-gassing before they move in sometime in July.

Duckworth Qualifies For Semis At World Cup Event

Kingsburg's Alex Duckworth is making her case to be named to Canada's Olympic team. The 26-year-old qualified for the semi-finals at a Snowboard World Cup event in Stoneham, Quebec today. Duckworth finished ninth out of 27 competitors in the women's half-pipe, good enough to earn the final spot in the semi-finals. She is the only Canadian to make the semis, which happen at noon on Saturday. This is the final Olympic qualifying event before the remainder of Canada's team will be finalized next Tuesday.

High School Hockey Tournament Underway In Barrington

The 18th Annual Tim Hortons Lobster Trap High School Hockey Tournament is underway in Barrington. The tournament runs until Saturday, with the championship game at 3:15pm. Teams participating are; Barrington, Par-en-Bas, Yarmouth, Clare, Bridgewater, Hants East, Parkview and Richmond Academy. Game, Day and Tournament passes are available. Here is the schedule:

Thursday, Jan. 16

10:45 – Barrington @ Bridgewater
12:30 – PEB @ Yarmouth
2:15 – Hants East @ Bridgewater
4:00 – PVEC @ PEB
5:45 - Yarmouth @ Clare
7:30 –  Hants East @ Barrington

Friday, January 17

8:00 – Bridgewater @ Richmond
9:45 – PEB @ Clare
11:30 – Skills competition
12:30 – Richmond @ Hants East
2:15 –  Clare @ PVEC
5:45 -  Richmond @ Barrington
7:30 – PVEC @ Yarmouth

Saturday, January 18

10:00 – Semi-final #1
11:45 – Semi-final #2

3:15 - Championship

Uncertainty Over When LaHave Ferry Will Return To Service

Don't expect the LaHave River ferry to be back in operation right away. The ferry broke free from its cable and drifted down the river and grounded at Oxner's Beach during the January 3rd snowstorm. Officials with the provincial Department of Transportation have been assessing the situation. The cable drum assembly was damaged and it could take some time to make repairs or even replace it. DOT has not given a date when the ferry will resume daily service between LaHave and East LaHave.

NS Health Minister: Pharmacies Great Help In Flu Shot Rush

More influenza vaccine has been ordered by several provinces and territories as they try to meet this winter's unusually high public demand for flu shots. Among them are BC and Newfoundland and Labrador. One of the only provinces not seeking to buy more is Nova Scotia, which has enough vaccine to cover half the population. The province's health Minister Leo Glavine is today heaping praise on pharmacies for being able to handle the work load.



Nova Scotia's chief medical health officer Dr. Robert Strang says no more vaccine will be bought for now because the window on making a difference this flu season is closing.

South Shore Gas Prices Will Likely Increase Tonight

There's a pretty good chance South Shore gasoline prices will take a small jump overnight tonight when the utility and review board sets the coming week's prices at the pumps. In New Brunswick today (Thursday), the provincial regulator there has raised the maximum price for self-serve regular by one cent to $1.30.3 with most stations selling for slightly less. Diesel jumps up as well, rising 2.4 cents per litre.

Better Relations Sought Between Province & Municipalities

A better dialogue is needed between the province and its municipalities according to the Minister of Municipal Relations and Service Nova Scotia. Thats why Mark Furey is hitting the road today for the South Shore. Its the start of several weeks of meetings across the province to open up the channels between the levels of government that Furey says broke down some time ago.



Furey, who's also the MLA for Lunenburg West, will meet today with the mayors and councils in Mahone Bay, Bridgewater and the Region of Queens. He expects his meetings with all municipalities across the province will take him into the spring to complete.

Bridgewater: Early Morning Fire Not Suspicious

Investigators say the cause of an early morning fire on North King Street was electrical. The blaze broke out Monday shortly before 4 a.m. No serious injuries were reported. However, the home was completely destroyed.

Shelburne: Proposed Water Rates Concern Residents

Some residents of Shelburne say they simply can't afford a 70 percent hike on their water bills. The town is asking for the increase to help dig out of a deficit and stabilize the utility. If approved, it would mean household water bills would be in the area of $800 annually or $186 per quarter. Former Mayor PG Comeau says money is already tight for many people in the county.



Meanwhile, CAO for the town Dylan Heide says they can't maintain the status quo. The increase is needed or the utilities deficit will balloon to nearly $800,000 in two years. However, he is hopeful new customers - like Cooke Aquaculture and its proposal to build a new fish plant - will come online to help.



The Nova Scotia Utility and Review will file its decision by the end of March. If approved, the rates would take effect April 1.

Bridgewater: Community Christmas Group Seeks New Leadership

A holiday tradition in Bridgewater is looking for new leadership. Members involved with the Community Christmas are looking for a few dedicated volunteers to take the reins of the project as a new board of directors. The Christmas Day event first began in 2009. Group member Brian Braganza says they're hoping to mentor people through the transition.



The group's year-end meeting will be held March 31. They hope to have a new board of directors in place around that time.

MODL: Councillor Wants Province To Buy Area Schools

A councillor in the Municipality of Lunenburg is offering a number of district schools to the province for a dollar. Martin Bell originally focused on Park View Education Centre, but added to the list to include all schools in the municipality except for Blockhouse, the soccer fields at Centre and one near Riverport. He says Park View is preparing to receive a $13-million financial upgrade and its value will increase. Bell feels more schools should be on the table than Park View.



Bell says he doesn't want the municipality to be in a position to own any more schools or absorb costs. Former schools near Riverport, Blockhouse and Centre have been turned over to the municipality in recent years.

Former Acadia Coach Fills Role With Lumberjacks

There's a new man behind the bench for the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks. Owner Ken Petrie confirms the team has hired 31-year-old Travis Young as the new head coach. Young spent six years as an assistant coach with the Acadia Axemen. He recently returned from Europe where he was coaching a pro team in Hungary. Young replaces interim head coach Matt Church, who stepped down from the position.

Mustangs Beat Cole Harbour; Move Into Fifth

Jordan Messenger had a goal and two assists as the Charlie's Pizza South Shore Mustangs beat Cole Harbour 5-4 Tuesday night in Bridgewater. Riley Merry added two goals while Ty Duffus and Mitchell Baker also scored. The win propels the Mustangs into 5th place in the Major Midget League. The Mustangs will be in Cape Breton this weekend for two games against the West Islanders.

Safety Concerns Over Pate Sold At Lunenburg Farmers' Market

Its more of a precaution than anything but Canada's Food Inspection Agency has issued a warning about some liver pate sold at the Lunenburg Farmers Market. There are fears it may contain a certain bacterium that causes botulism. The Agency says Hausmacher Liver Pate from Webber Foods was sold in unlabelled glass jars at the market from Nov. 13th to Dec. 5th last year. The product was also sold at the Hammonds Plains Farmers' Market. Webber Foods owner Chris Webber says the fear is people might not store his product in a refrigerator as they should.



The Food Inspection Agency suggests consumers who have the product should just throw it out. Food contaminated with the toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. There have been no reported illnesses associated with eating the pate.