Shipped Out

After more than a decade tied up alongside in the LaHave River, a tentative date has been given for the removal of retired Naval Destroyer Fraser. All indications are that tugs will arrive to start towing the ship out towards the ocean starting Tuesday morning. She will be moved at High tide which is at around 8:30 that morning. Staff with the Department of National Defence will be releasing details of the move after the ship is purchased from the Artificial Reef Society of Nova Scotia. That official process won't happen until the tugs are alongside. Fraser has had its supporters and detractors over the years after several ambitions plans were scuttled by battles over assessments and court challenges. The future of the vessel still hasn't been settled officially with previous discussions suggesting Fraser will become a wharfside museum somewhere or possibly even sunk to create an underwater diving attraction. The ship, a St. Laurent Class destroyer commissioned in 1957 was brought to the port of Bridgewater in 1998 after it was declared surplus by the Navy.

H-1-N-1 Update

Swine flu continues to make the headlines with the latest outbreak spreading through three summer camps in Ontario. Here in Nova Scotia there have been 358 confirmed cases of H1N1, human swine influenza. There has been one confirmed case in the South Shore Health District, however, the person did not require hospitalization and is recovering. South Shore Health will not be releasing the person's gender or any other details. Meantime, Communications Director Theresa Hawkesworth says the District H1N1 readiness planning committee is meeting weekly to get provincial updates, share information and discuss current local concerns and questions.

First Nation Funding

The Mi'kmaq and Acadian Festival and Reunion getting a helping hand from the federal government to the tune of 64 hundred dollars. South Shore St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy announced the funding during a visit to the Mi'kmaq/Acadian Burial Ground in Petite Riviere yesterday. Ellen Hunt, head of the Mi’kmaq Burial Grounds Research and Restoration Association says the funding will help make the festival and reunion larger as it helps us to promote and share the heritage and culture of the Mi'kmaq/Aboriginal and Acadian Cultures and traditions. Hunt says they'll be able to have a website, more advertising, a genealogy site, and bring in traditional elders to teach more of the culture and traditions.The Mi'Kmaq and Acadian Festival and Reunion will take place at the Fort Point Museum, LaHave, August 21st and 22nd.

Still Working

There's work going on behind the scenes now that a wrench has been thrown into plans to relocate Bridgewater's post office to North Street. Council rejected a developer's building plan because it was too close to the neighbouring apartment building. Genevieve Latour with Canada Post says there's nothing that would keep them from having their operation outside town limits. But she says they are trying to stay in Bridgewater's perimeter and the North Street location was the one they were pleased with. But she adds they have nothing to do with the town and its bylaws since they will only be renting part of the building. So far, there's been no comment from the developer about their plans for 131 North Street since council rejected the appeal for a varience from the town's planning guidelines.

E-I Fine

A hefty fine for a Lunenburg man who defrauded Employment Insurance over a 20 month period. Thirty-nine year old Leonard Clarke pleaded guilty to 39 counts of EI fraud between October 2004 and May 2006. He was fined $200 on each count for a total of $7,800. Clarke was also placed on house arrest for 6 months as part of a conditional sentence. Authorities say Clarke also received Workers Compensation benefits and was working some of the time he filed for unemployment. EI is recovering the fraudulent payments internally, and Clarke has already repaid more than $6,000.

Parking Review

Bridgewater Council has decided to review parking all over town since councillors couldn't come to a consensus on Glen Allan. Mayor Carroll Publicover strongly feels if people won't pay to use the hospital parking lot, they should be forced to pay to park on the surrounding streets. Publicover says staff has been asked to bring back a report on options which could include revamping some parking meters to raise the parking fees.

False Alarms

The Municipality of Lunenburg along with the RCMP will develop and implement an education program on the issues and impact of false alarms. Mayor Don Downe says they're trying that approach before implementing a by-law. Downe says there has to be accountability. The education program will be reassessed at the end of a one year period to see if there has been a decrease in false alarms.

Shipshape Help Wanted

Lunenburg will be the only tall ships stop on the South Shore. And organizers expect a very busy two-day festival of historic sailing ships, displays, musical entertainment and a variety of family activities. Because of that, they are looking for help. Linda Baker of the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic says there were more than 50 volunteers at the 2007 event. They took on roles including shuttle drivers, security, staffing admission gates and retail sales. Baker says if you have an hour or two to spare, they could use your help. All you have to do is get in touch with the museum in Lunenburg. The 2009 Lunenburg Tall Ships Festival is a partnership of the Town of Lunenburg, the Lunenburg Board of Trade and the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.

Postal Review Details

All rural mailboxes in Lunenburg county are being assessed to see if they are in a safe place. Canada Post spokesperson Genevieve Latour says the company is obliged by law to review 800-thousand mailboxes Canada-wide because of employee safety concerns. The review will take until the fall. She says a team will evaluate each mailbox and will let the homeowners know what they've found. She says the process involves speaking with people and letting them know what's taking place. And Latour adds this isn't just happening in our area, rather it's a county-wide review that was ordered after workers' complaints. Latour says there is absolutely no plan to get rid of rural mailboxes in Canada adding this inspection issue is about occupational health and safety. You'll be able to hear more about this review coming up this weekend on South Shore Sunday Morning.

Acadia Broadcasting Expands

The owner of the Bridgewater radio station is buying two FM stations in Thunder Bay, Ont., from Newfoundland Capital Corporation for $4.5 million, plus working capital. The stations, CKTG-FM The Giant 105.3 and CJUK-FM Magic 99.9, are being bought by Acadia Broadcasting Limited - the owners of CKBW FM. The deal is subject to approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and is set to close at the end of this year. Acadia Broadcasting vice-president Jim MacMullin said the two stations will be a great addition to its existing radio stations in the Ontario cities of Fort Frances, Kenora and Dryden. Newcap has 81 licences across Canada. Acadia Broadcasting is a community-focused radio broadcaster with 10 licences in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario.

Lunenburg Tallships 2009

Bluenose II is one of five vessels that will be in her home port of Lunenburg for the 2009 Tallships event. Organizers have two days of events planned for the seaside UNESCO town. Along with the replica of the Grand Banks schooner, visiting ships include: the full-rigged Friendship of Salem, the recently restored Boston schooner Larinda, the gaffed rigged schooner Peer's Fancy, and the topsail schooner Unicorn. Other events will be held along the Lunenburg Waterfront in and around the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. And along with the music and entertainment there will be a discussion on Tall Ships of Lunenburg with Ralph Getson. The event in Lunenburg is being held on Wednesday and Thursday. Be listening for more on the event on this weekend's South Shore Sunday Morning.
**NOTE - CORRECTION** - Lunenburg Recreation director Robin Scott tells CKBW, Friendship of Salem has reported seaworthy issues and will NOT be a part of Tallships in Lunenburg. He says Caledonia will be arriving instead.

Mail Delivery

Proposed changes to rural mail delivery causing more than a bit of concern for Lunenburg Municipal Councillors. Mayor Don Downe says he's been fielding numerous calls from constituents worried their home mailbox delivery will be changed to community mailboxes. Downe says Council plans a more aggressive approach to the problem. Downe says Canada Post seems to have an agenda to rid itself of all rural home mail delivery. Council will send a letter of concern to Canada Post and also discuss the matter with the area's MLA's and MP.

Seized Drugs

A drug bust in Hubbards netted police 3 thousand grams of marijuana bud, 221 marijuana plants, scales and extensive grow equipment. Police also seized six assorted long rifles and ammunition. The search was conducted on the Fox Point Road Tuesday morning by members of the HRM Integrated Drug Section with assistance from the South Shore RCMP Street Crime Enforcement Unit, RCMP Federal Drugs Grow Team, and Nova Scotia Power . A 34-year-old male was arrested and charged with Cultivation, Possession for the Purpose, Theft of Power, Unsafe Storage of Firearms, and Possession of a stolen Nissan Pathfinder SUV. He'll appear in court at a later date.

Armed Robbery

Correction: Gold Reserves A.F.N. was the name of the business robbed at gunpoint. R-C-M-P incorrectly identified the business in both a news release and on the telephone when CKBW News called to question the business name they provided. - July 16/09 SBM

No one was hurt in a brazen armed robbery in Gold Reserve. RCMP Sergeant Paul Coughlin says there were staff and customers in the Gold Nugget Casino on the Beech Hill Road when the two masked men burst in around 10:10 Monday night. The two got away with an undisclosed amount of cash. A white Jeep Cherokee that was stolen earlier from a Chester Basin area business was used in the crime. It was found abandoned on a gravel road at the intersection of Beech Hill Road and Highway 103 Sergeant Coughlin says the suspects might have been picked up on the highway, or they could have taken off along the ATV trail. He says they are hoping someone noticed the two either before or after the armed robbery and that they get in touch with police. The Chester RCMP detachment is handling the investigation.

Permit Denied

Bridgewater Town Council has turned down an appeal for a variance setback request for a planned development at 131 North Street. The proposed two storey, concrete, steel and glass building was to be the future home of a new Bridgewater Post Office. Mayor Carroll Publicover says council's decision was unanimous, but he hopes some other arrangement can be worked out to allow the project to proceed. He says they hope the develper goes back to the planning department saying they've revised their plan to meet the required setback requirements under the bylaws. Mayor Publicover says he's not overly concerned the developer will cancel the project saying they are smart people who know what the rules are. The town's bylaw requires a setback of 50 feet from a residential property, but the building proposed for North Street only allowed for 36 to 37 feet.

Michelin Anniversary

July 1969. Apollo 11 astronauts launch for the moon. The Beatles record "The End" and Michelin announced it was coming to North America. That year, the tire manufacturer said it would build two plants, one in Granton and one in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. Michelin is now celebrating 40 years in the province. During the last four decades Michelin has produced millions of tires, created thousands of jobs, invested billions of dollars and announced a number of expansions, including the addition of a third facility in Waterville in 1982. As part of the celebration, Michel Rollier, managing general partner, Groupe Michelin; Francois Michelin, retired managing partner, Groupe Michelin; and Dick Wilkerson, chairman and president, Michelin North America, visited the Granton facility. There they thanked employees for their dedication and contributions to the success of the company.

Rifle Arrest

A few tense moments Friday evening ended with RCMP arresting a 23-year old Shelburne county man who is still in jail. Around 6:15, police responded to a 9-1-1 call about a man walking along McGray's Avenue in Northeast Point with a rifle. As they were responding, they were told the man had fired several shots. When the members from Barrington and Shelburne detachments showed up, the man turned and ran away from police, throwing the rifle to the ground. Police chased him down and arrested him. He's been held in custody all weekend and will be brought to court sometime today. The Mounties say they are following up on reports of threats, pointing a firearm and break and enter. A woman who was taken into custody at a nearby residence was later released. No one was injured in the incident.

Fire Loss

Cash donations are being accepted for a family of five that lost their Pleasantville home earlier this week. John and Lori Outerbridge and their three children - including a boy marking his ninth birthday - escaped the fire unharmed Thursday night but lost their belongings. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The family is staying with relatives for the time being. Donations to the family can be made at any Scotia Bank branch along the South Shore.

Political Mailboxes

The NDP member for Lunenbug West says Canada Post must make rural delivery a priority. Gary Ramey says rural mailboxes are a necessity for many seniors, people with disabilities and those living on fixed incomes, Ramey says. Canada Post needs to ensure this essential service will continue. His comments come in light of a flyer being circulated by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. The flyer says Canada Post is replacing rural mailboxes with community boxes to ensure the safety of mail carriers. Lunenburg County residents who are concerned about their mail delivery should call the Canada Post customer service line or contact South Shore-St. Margaret’s MP Gerald Keddy.

Pleasantville Fire

A family of five is staying with relatives after fire destroyed their home Thursday evening in Pleasantville, a few kilometres east of Bridgewater. A couple and three children - including a boy marking his 9th birthday - escaped unharmed, but lost their belongings. Red Cross volunteers who met with the family say relatives have provided them with a temporary place to stay. Family, friends and neighbours also organized a birthday party for the youngster within hours of the blaze. The cause of the fire, at 19 Church Road in Pleasantville, is under investigation. It's believed the home was insured. (Images from Littlemac Custom Computers & Electronics littlemac@eastlink.ca)