Harbour Cash

2009-05-05 06:11:27

17 South Shore harbours will be receiving some money from the Federal Government.  South Shore- St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy says the funding will go towards harbour maintenance and dredging projects.  Bush Island, Fox Point, Indian Point, and Mill Cove are among the communities Keddy hopes will see a strengthened economy and new jobs in the commercial fishery as a result of the improvements.  The money is coming from Canada's Economic Action Plan. Nova Scotia will see about 40 million dollars of the 200 million the government set aside for similar projects across the country.

Chrysler Optimism

2009-05-05 06:09:32

A new month, a new agreement and a new sense of optimism at a Bridgewater area Chrysler dealership.  Co-owner Peter Saunders tells CKBW, it was a difficult few months with the uncertainty surrounding the Chrysler Corporation.  Saunders says the agreement with Fiat is an exciting development for the manufacturer.  Business as usual will continue, although Saunders says there may be some challenges with the supply of vehicles but overall he and his staff are relieved with the situation.

H1-N1 Update

2009-05-04 06:28:49

As of today (May 3rd) two new lab-confirmed cases of H1N1 (human swine influenza) virus have been reported. To date, a total of 33 cases have been confirmed in Nova Scotia. Both new cases are related to the King's-Edgehill school
community.   Of the six confirmed cases announced Saturday (May 2nd) from outside the King's-Edgehill community, five are still under investigation and one is a teenage student in Baddeck. That student had recently visited King's-Edgehill.     Deputy chief medical officer of Health Dr. Maureen Baikie says public health officials are not surprised to see confirmed cases in other parts of the province but she remain confident in the vigor of the public health system.     Taking preventative action is the best way for Nova Scotians to protect themselves for H1N1 (human swine influenza) or seasonal influenza. That means washing your hands thoroughly and often, coughing or sneezing into your sleeves, staying away from public areas if you are sick and frequently cleaning and disinfecting common surfaces and items such as doorknobs and counters.

Furey Acclaimed

2009-05-04 06:23:49

The top mountie in the District has been selected as the Liberal candidate for the riding of Lunenburg West.  Mark Furey, a 29 year veteran of the RCMP was unopposed at a nominating meeting Friday night in Bridgewater.   Furey has served as adviser to the Minister and Deputy Minister of Justice, been involved in public education initiatives, and performed a tour of duty in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1995.  Liberal Party leader Stephen McNeil was on hand for Friday nights nomination meeting.  Along with Furey, the other candidates for the Liberal team on the South Shore include Rick Welsford, JoAnn Grant, Wayne Henley and Darian Huskilson.

 

River Recognized

2009-05-04 06:19:20

An historic south shore river used by Mi'kmaq travelers for centuries, is now protected by a designated wilderness area.     Shelburne River Wilderness Area in Queens County, is close to six thousand acres. Environment Minister David Morse says the province is living up to its commitment to protect lands purchased from Bowater Paper Company in 2007.            The wilderness area protects the old canoe route celebrated by the popular Tent Dwellers festival last year. The new wilderness area will protect most of the lower Shelburne River, about 40 kilometres of river frontage. Upper parts of the river are within the Tobeatic Wilderness Area.

MODL Taxes

2009-05-01 06:52:29

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is holding the line on its tax rates at 79 cents per $100 of assessment for residential and a $1.92 per 100 for commercial.  Mayor Don Downe says Council approved a good budget responsible to the needs of the municipality but which enables the municipality to move forward with the provision of services to the residents.  Highlights include a "Compassionate Tax Policy " to provide relief to low income property owners, a grant support staff position, investment in infrastructure at Osprey Village, promotion of active living and enhanced recreational opportunities, meeting environmental obligations and sustainability initiatives.

Peter Zwicker

2009-05-01 06:48:50

And now there are two.   The next candidate for the Progressive Conservatives in the riding of Lunenburg will have to win to get in.  Peter Zwicker is the second person to announce he is going after the nomination in the riding formerly held by Michael Baker.  Zwicker is a current Lunenburg town councilor, into his second term.  He says he believes there is no greater calling than to serve the people of the Lunenburg riding adding the chance to represent the community at a broader level is a challenge he's eager to embrace.  Earlier this week, retired Michelin supervisor Ron Allen announced he would be seeking the nomination.  The party will choose its representative at a nominating meeting in Mahone Bay May 6th.

Grow-Op

2009-05-01 06:47:46

An indoor marijuana grow-op has been seized from a Lunenburg county home and the couple living there are now facing charges.   Members of the South Shore Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant Wednesday night at a home on Bridgeview Drive in Gold River.  Police officers say they found an indoor growing system with 347 pot plants along with electrical equipment and fertilizers. They also seized several unsafely stored firearms.  Constable Jacques Rioux says a 38 year old man and a 32 year old woman are looking at cultivation and firearm charges. A court date has been set for June 17th for election and plea in Bridgewater Provincial Court.

Earth Day Totals

2009-05-01 06:38:40

Although the weather was against them again this year, organizers are pleased with the level of participation for this year’s Earth Day Challenge.  Totals this year rivalled peak numbers from the past according to Solid Waste Management.   Valda Walsh says many of the cleanups did not happen on the 22nd, but they happened nonetheless. And she says the amount of litter collected highlights the importance of this event.   More than 2,000 people in four counties rolled up their sleeves to clean up litter in their communities collecting more than 5,000 kilograms of litter.  Walsh calls it a banner year with more people registering than ever before adding it's an indication people understand litter is an issue that affects us all.  But she says with littering up 21 percent, people's attitudes toward litter have change but their behaviours have not.

Lobster Thief

2009-05-01 06:31:10

A Riverport fisherman has been fined $4,236 and will serve a 10 day suspension of his fishing licence beginning midnight May 21st. Tom Drake was scheduled to go to trial but changed his plea to guilty for having possession of stolen lobsters which were removed from someone else's traps. Drake was charged last May 30th under section 22 of the Fishery General Regulations. The Judge accepted a joint recommendation in imposing the fine and licence suspension.  As well, proceeds of the sale of  the lobsters seized, valued at $763.88 will be forfeited to the Crown.

Slipped Up

2009-04-30 06:13:35

A slip on the ice ended up hurting in more ways than one for a Bridgewater man in his 60's.  Paramedics were called to the scene of a man who was lying on a path after slipping on an icy surface.  John William Godfrey was taken to his apartment and helped inside.  However, police were called to assist in locating Godfrey's medication.  They spotted a plastic bag of cigarettes on top of a microwave and Godfrey was charged with having unstamped tobacco product.  He was fined 500 dollars for having 148 illegal cigarettes.

 

Murder Charges

2009-04-30 06:11:45

A Bridgewater court judge has approved a warrant allowing the extradition process to get underway for a man serving a life sentence for a murder in New York state.  Glen Race of Dartmouth faces two counts of first degree murder in connection with the death of two Nova Scotia men in May of 2007. Bridgewater Crown Prosecutor Paul Scovil says amending the charges and getting the warrant were the last steps in preparing the extradition documents for the Federal Department of Justice. Twenty-seven year old  Race is currently in prison after being convicted of the murder of Darcy Manor of Mooers, New York , May 10th, 2007.   He's charged in the deaths also in May of 2007  of Paul Michael Knott and Trevor Brewster.

Lunenburg Conservative

2009-04-30 06:10:26

A big week for a long-time Dayspring resident.   Ron Allen is now a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. And he is the first person to announce his candidacy for the riding of Lunenburg.  A 38 year resident of the community has retired after more than 36 years with Michelin.  Allen is an ironman competitor who believes in promoting awareness about physical activity.  He tells CKBW he's never run for office before and feels he can offer good representation for the people in the riding.  The Constituency Association will chose it's candidate at a meeting next Wednesday evening at seven o'clock at the Mahone Bay Firehall.  So far, Ron Allen is the only person to tell us he's interested in running for the Conservatives in Lunenburg, a seat held by the late Michael Baker for ten years.

United Winner

2009-04-29 10:30:23

Pictured from left. Clare Leblanc –Northcott (UW Canada), Mark Winfield (UW Lunenburg), Michael Graves (UW Lunenburg), Helen Himmelman (UW Lunenburg) 

A local Bridgewater businessman has won a national award from the United Way of Canada.. Mark Winfield, Chair of the  Board of United Way of Lunenburg County is the recipient of  the prestigious Chair's Award of Distinction.
The  award recognizes the critical role that volunteers play with their sustained dedication to their communities and the United Way Movement .  Since it's inception in 2003, the United Way of Lunenburg County has invested over 300,thousand dollars  in over 60 Lunenburg County based organizations and projects. Winfield says if every single working person in Lunenburg County invested 1 dollar per week they would have $1.1 million dollars each and every year to invest in programs that will make a measurable difference to Lunenburg County residents"

E-R Closure

2009-04-29 10:28:49

Another hospital E-R closure because of staffing shortages.  The emergency department at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg is closed today (April 29). The Health Authority says it's because of  the unavailability of staff to cover the shifts.  The department will be closed from 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 29 to 7:30 a.m. Thursday, April 30.  A spokesperson says the closure has nothing to do with the outbreak of swine flu in Nova Scotia.  Although South Shore Health says two staff within the district were sent home yesterday because they had been in close contact with King's-Edgehill students from Windsor.  Communications director Theresa Hawkesworth says those staff did not exhibit any signs of having contracted the virus and have in fact been allowed to return to work.  They are being watched in case they do develop symptoms.

Staying On

2009-04-29 09:21:05

He's into his 10th consecutive term at the helm of Lunenburg Town Council and that's where Laurence Mawhinney is staying put.  He has no plans to jump from municipal to provincial politics when the election writ is dropped, possibly this week. Mawhinney is one of Nova Scotia's longest-serving municipal leaders. He is into his 30th year as Mayor, a position he has held since 1979.  His name has been rumoured as a possible  Conservative candidate for the Lunenburg  riding  held by Michael Baker who died March 2 at the age of 52 after battling Cancer for nearly three years.

Lobster Trap

2009-04-29 06:15:03

The NDP's Fisheries Critic says the Conservatives are smothering lobster fishermen with red tape.  Shelburne MLA Sterling Belliveau says adding red tape will limit the fishermen's ability to sell directly to consumers and impede them from providing for their families.  Belliveau says he was approached by a number of fishermen last winter who wanted to sell their product directly to the public as it was the only way they could survive.  Belliveau says the announcement that  food permits will now be required show the Fisheries Minister and the Rodney MacDonald government have done nothing but show that they are turning their back on Nova Scotia lobster fishermen.

Cruiser Crash

2009-04-29 06:13:08

A Sergeant with Bridgewater police is recovering from minor injuries after a crash involving the police car he was driving.
Police say the accident happened last Friday afternoon.   The officer was responding to a complaint when the Dodge Charger and a Chevy pickup collided at the intersection of Aberdeen Road and LaHave street.  Both vehicles sustained serious damage.  The couple in the truck is from Upper LaHave. Neither of them was seriously hurt either.  Police say they are still investigating the accident.

Breastfeeding Support

2009-04-29 06:09:46

The Lunenburg & Queens Baby-Friendly Initiative Committee has a new community resource  available for businesses and organizations to create supportive environments for breastfeeding families.  Susie Wood, Co-chair of the  Committee unveiled the Action Support Binder, Make Breastfeeding Your Business at Bridgewater Town Council Monday night. Wood says support and education are key in creating a community that supports breastfeeding. Wood says it's an opportunity for Bridgewater to serve in a leadership role and act as a champion in creating supportive environments for other places of employment throughout the community in making breastfeeding the cultural norm in Bridgewater.

Mourning Day

2009-04-28 08:53:56

The South Shore Labour Council will hold a candlelight vigil this evening at the Kinsmen Hall, 1153 King Street to mark the 25th anniversary of the Day of Mourning.  A ceremony is being held at Province House to remember, pay tribute to and mourn for the 29 Nova Scotian workers who lost their lives in 2008, the highest number since the Westray disaster. 
Tonight's vigil in Bridgewater gets underway at 7 o'clock.