MAN DEAD AFTER SNOWMOBILE ACCIDENT

A Cherryfield, Lunenburg County man is dead after the snowmobile he was on ran off the railway bed and collided with a large tree yesterday morning. RCMP received a call from passing snowmobile riders that came across the accident scene and called 911.The 66 year old male died as a result of injuries sustained from the collision. Name of the decreased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and results of an autopsy.

RCMP Officer died in Haitian Earthquake

An RCMP officer who worked in Nova Scotia has been found dead in the rubble of his Haitian home. Sergeant Mark Gallagher's body was recovered under the collapsed remains of the apartment building in Port -au- Prince. Arrangements are being made to return Sgt. Gallagher’s body to Canada. Recently, Gallagher left Haiti to spend three weeks with his family in New Brunswick. He returned to Haiti just a few hours before the devastating earthquake that trapped him underneath the apartment where he was unable to free himself. Sgt. Mark Gallagher the recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal and earned the Police Exemplary Service Medal for over 20 years of police service. Formerly a member of the Moncton Police, Gallagher has been a member of the RCMP for the past 12 years.Gallagher’s service includes a variety of duties in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Prior to his deployment Gallagher was the Media Relations Officer at RCMP Headquarters in Halifax.

Missing Woman Located

A Bridgewater woman reported missing earlier this week has been located. 41 year old Shelley Lynn Arenburg was reported missing by her friends on Monday. She was last seen leaving her apartment Saturday around 5pm. Arenburg was located and is in good health. The Bridgewater Police Service thanks the public for their assistance.

MISSING BRIDGEWATER WOMEN

Still no word on a Bridgewater missing women that was last seen at her residence on Maple Street at approximately 5pm on Saturday.
Police were informed Monday that Shelley Lynn Arenburg had failed to return and her friends are concerned for her well being.
Miss Arenburg is described as a Caucasian female, 5'2" in height , 159 lbs , with brown hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a green jacket, a blue hoodie and blue jeans.
Anyone who has seen or has had contact with Miss Arenburg is asked to contact the Bridgewater Police Service.

Morning Fire

A number of fire departments were called to the scene of a fire on Tannery Road in Petite Reviere this morning around 1:30am. The fire involved a shed which was close to another building but fire departments from LaHave,Petite Riviere,United Communities,Hebbville,Pleasantville and Italy Cross were all able to extinguish the fire.No other details have yet been released.

WAYS TO DONATE TO HAITI

The following is a list of reputable aid organizations currently seeking cash donations for relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Donations can be made at the web pages or by calling the appropriate phone numbers.

CANADIAN RED CROSS (hoping to raise at least $2 million): www.redcross.ca/helpnow, or call toll free 1-800-418-1111, visit any Red Cross office.

HUMANITARIAN COALITION (consists of CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec and Save the Children Canada): www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca.

Plan Canada : https://plancanada.ca/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pidid

SALVATION ARMY : http://www.salvationarmy.ca, or call 1-800-725-2769. Rogers Wireless and Bell Mobility customers can make $5 donations by texting the word ``haiti'' to 45678. Donations can be mailed to Army Territorial Headquarters, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M4H 1P4. Donations can also be dropped off at local Salvation Army units. Specify ``Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund.''

UNICEF CANADA : https://secure.unicef.ca/portal/SmartDefault.aspx?at0&CID

UNITED JEWISH APPEAL OF GREATER TORONTO : http://www.ujadonations.com/haiti or call 416-631-5705.

WORLD VISION CANADA : https://www.worldvision.ca/give-a-gift/Pages/EarthquakeinHaiti.aspx

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has also compiled a guide designed to help the public avoid scams and ensure their donations are of maximum value: http://www.international.gc.ca/humanitarian-humanitaire/canadians_he lp-aide_canadien.aspx Calls for donations are also prevalent on social networking services Twitter and Facebook .

Traffic Lights on North Street

Bridgewater Town Council is looking at installing a set of traffic lights on North Street in response to a petition from residents of Winburn Avenue. Mayor Carroll Publicover says the lights could be advanced separate from the upgrade of North and Aberdeen. The engineering department has been asked for an accurate cost to be included for consideration in this years capital budget. The traffic lights which would be a short term solution would be located at the intersection of Seasons Drive and Haven Drive on North Street.

Special Purpose Tax to Pay For LCLC

A special purpose tax is being considered by the Municipality of Lunenburg to help pay its share of the capital cost of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. Mayor Don Downe says Council approved in principle the concept of a stand alone tax with a time line of when it will be paid off. Numbers aren't being discussed at this point because Downe says until design costs of the facility are determined it's premature to talk of possible amounts for the special tax. The Municipality along with the Town of Bridgewater previously committed funding totalling one third of the estimated 32 million dollar complex. The province and federal government have each committed 10 million.

Councils support ferry link

Another resolution encouraging a continuance of a transportation link between Yarmouth and Maine. The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg unanimously backed the resolution to be sent to the province. Mayor Don Downe says the link has to be maintained and it's not just a Yarmouth issue.He says it's all of Southwest Nova and beyond. Downe says since the CAT was there, in excess of 1.7 million people have been brought into the area those are dollars coming into the economy creating jobs and weath for the area. He says Council is just showing its support forthe continuation in the future of a linkage between Nova Scotia and the United States. Bridgewater Town Council also endorsed a motion calling on the province to come up with a viable solution in maintaining a linkage.

Court house for sale

The former Bridgewater Court house will soon be up for sale. Even though it's located in the Town, the property belongs to the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Mayor Don Downe says they received the keys on Friday and the deed yesterday so the title transfer is now complete. Downe says the next step is to have the property appraised then put it on the market. The old court house has been replaced with a 16.8 million dollar Justice Centre on High Street. It was officially opened by Premier Darrell Dexter last July 30th and was previously dedicated to former minister of Finance and Lunenburg MLA Michael Baker who died of cancer last March.

Bridgewater Missing Person

Bridgewater Police are asking for the public's assistance in locating a 41 year old woman who was last seen Saturday January 9th. Shelley Lynn Arenburg was last seen when she left her Maple Street residence around 5pm. Police were notified by concerned friends on Monday when Arenburg failed to return. She is described as a Caucasian female, 5' 2, about 160 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. When last seen she was wearing a green jacket, a blue hoody and blue jeans. Anyone who has recently seen or had contact with Miss Arenburg is asked to contact the Bridgewater Police Service at 543-2464.

King Street Park Improvement Project

Tenders totalling a little more than 66 thousand dollars have been approved for the King Street Park Improvement Project. Bridgewater Mayor Carroll Publicover says the initial tender call for the complete project came in way over budget, so council broke the project down into several components. NEDCO Atlantic of Bridgewater will supply four park lights with LED fixtures, Bricks and Stone Landscape Design of LaHave was awarded the tender for the supply, delivery and installation of interlocking concrete paver stones, and Bear River Plastics of Cornwallis will construct and deliver a floating dock and gangway system.

Chester Family Homeless, Four Sent to Hospital

A 17 year old female remains in the QE2 for treatment of burns following a pre-dawn house fire Saturday near Chester Basin sent all four members of a family to hospital. The parents were released from hospital in Halifax Saturday evening after treatment for smoke inhalation. Their15-year-old son was expected to be released Sunday from the IWK Health Centre in Halifax. All four escaped the burning house shortly after 5 a.m. with only the clothes they were wearing. Canadian Red Cross volunteers have arranged for emergency purchases of clothing and food, provided blankets and personal-care items and say the couple and their son will be staying with friends for now. Their house, at 5109 Highway 3 a few kilometres west of Chester, was destroyed. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

House Fire in Chester.

A house fire early this morning near Chester Basin, Nova Scotia has sent all four members of a family to hospital for treatment of burns and smoke inhalation.
Two teenagers were sent directly to the IWK Health Centre in Halifax while their parents were being treated in Bridgewater.
Canadian Red Cross volunteers met briefly with the parents on-scene and will follow-up with assistance if needed once they're released from hospital.
The home, at 5109 Highway 3 a few kilometres west of Chester, was destroyed despite the efforts of five area volunteer fire departments.
The cause of the fire is under investigation

Party goer points rifle

A 32 year old Camperdown man will appear in court next month accused of pointing a rifle at another person during a New Year’s Eve party. The Mounties received a complaint January 1st around 2:30 am that a man had pointed a rifle at another person during a New Year's Eve party. A search of the man's residence January 6th turned up a stash of weapons including three military style rifles, several handguns, other long guns and a quantity of ammunition. The man has been released on conditions until his court appearance in Bridgewater February 24th.

STRIKE MAY AFFECT THE SOUTH SHORE

Services at South Shore Health will begin being reduced this week in preparation for a possible strike by CUPE employees on Jan 18th.
South Shore Health’s CEO Alice Leverman says they have been working with the local union to ensure they are able to provide a safe level of emergency care for communities. She added that patient, staff and public safety is and will continue to be their number one priority.
South Shore Health was originally preparing for a January 11 strike date, but CUPE announced earlier this week that they will take strike action on January 18.

Truck flips after tangling in wires

A truck driver escaped injury after his vehicle overturned after getting tangled up in telephone wires. The man was doing snow removal at a business on Logan Road shortly after midnight when the accident happened. Apparently the raised box on his truck got caught up in the telephone wires causing the truck to flip over. Aliant and Nova Scotia Power were called to the scene to deal with damage to the affected wires and power pole. Police say no charges are pending at this time.

Pedestrian struck in crosswalk in Bridgewater

An 88 yr old Bridgewater man has been charged after he struck a pedestrian on a scooter yesterday at the intersection of King Street and Old Bridge street.At around 3:04pm members of the Bridgewater Police Service along with the assistance of paramedics responded to the motor vehicle-pedestrian collision where the 56 year old Bridgewater resident, was conveyed to South Shore Regional Hospital by EHS for an unrelated injury.No further details on the incident have yet been released.

Sherry O'Toole and Jeremy Stevens the proud parents of the first baby born in the new year at South Shore Regional Hospital. Baby GIRL Jordyn arrived at 10:10pm on New Year's Day, January 1st and was welcomed by parents and big sister Mya. The South Shore Regional Hospital Auxiliary donated a basket full of gifts to the baby’s family.

Farm Market Guidelines

A draft policy on guidelines for farm markets is lacking in clarity according to Region of Queens Mayor John Leefe . He says Council has expressed its concerns over the draft regulations. Leefe says the draft regulations unlike the current ones in effect only allow for two days a week for a public market. He says in some instances vendors who are permitted by the Department of Agriculture can access the public or farm market up to seven days a week. Leefe say the policy is quite confusing. Representatives from the Department of Agriculture met with Council last week and will incorporate some of the suggested changes in the new policy..