Hanging up the Holster

It's time to hang up the holster for the top Mountie in the Region of Queens. Staff Sgt. Bruno Deveau is retiring at the end of this month after some 35 plus years of service with the RCMP. He says its time to move on and let someone else to take over the seat. Staff Sgt. Deveau has headed up the Queens detachment for the past 3 and a-half years. Opening the lines of communication with Council and the community has been rewarding. They've also opened a community policing office in Caledonia. Staff Sgt. Deveau says he'll miss the employees and the challenges associated with the job but is looking forward to doing some travelling. with his wife Wanda. Sgt. Jeff Wells formerly with the South Shore Traffic Services will be the new commander of the Queens detachment

Municipal Auditor General

The Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities is seeking input on the potential workplan for the Municipal Auditor General. The province announced two years ago it would appoint a Municipal Auditor General to perform value for money audits. The positron was to be appointed by this April 1st, but the Minister has granted an extension.
Region of Queens Mayor John Leefe says its absolutely essential to get it right the first time. He says there has been some suggestion the UNSM would dictate the areas in which the Auditor General would undertake his reviews. Leefe says Queens supports the model whereby the Municipal Auditor General would have a small staff and farm out audits to the private sector, rather than creating a whole new bureaucracy that would be the equivalent to the operation that the Provincial Auditor General supports

Tourism Kiosks

Finding a location for a third tourism kiosk is proving a bit of a challenge for the Municipality of Lunenburg. Deputy-Mayor Martin Bell says initially they agreed to place one centrally, one on the east side of the LaHave River, and one on the west side of the river. A chosen location in Bayport had to be scrapped because a restaurant where the panel was to be placed has closed. Councillors couldn't reach agreement where the third panel should be relocated. Bell says the Tourism Focus Group has been given 30 days to bring back a recommendation to Council.
The two sites already selected for the kiosks are near the Best Western Hotel under construction in Cookville, and Mosher's look-off in Dublin Shore. The kiosks are being erected as a temporary measure for the 2010 tourism season, while a determination is made on a permanent Visitor Information Centre.

Counterfeit Cash

Next time your handed a twenty dollar bill you better make sure it's real. Shelburne RCMP recently received a complaint from a local business who believed they received counterfeit twenty dollar bills. Two 18 year old residents were arrested and are set to appear in court at a later date on counterfeit charges. Six twenty counterfeit bills were seized.

Things to check:

1. Feel the texture of the bill.
2. Compare the bill with another of the same denomination and series.
3. Look carefully at the printing quality.
4. Look for coloured strands in the paper.
5. Hold it up to the light and look at the watermark.
6. Examine the serial numbers.

Possible salmonella in Lay's Potato Chips

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume certain sized bags of Lay's Smokey Bacon flavour Potato Chips. The chips contain tainted ingredients which have been recalled in the U-S and Canada by Basic Food Flavours.

*Information from The Canadian Press.

Cemetery Vandalism

RCMP in Queens County are investigating an incident of vandalism at the Catholic cemetery in Liverpool . Several headstones in the College Street cemetery were damaged sometime between Friday March 12th and Monday March 15th. Anyone having any information regarding the damage is asked to contact the Liverpool Office of the RCMP at 354-5721.

Top Mountie Moving On

Just about a year ago he took an unpaid leave to enter provincial politics, now Staff Sgt. Mark Furey is making another move. The RCMP Commander of the Lunenburg County detachment is taking a one year posting to Kosovo. He leaves the job he's held here since August 2008 at the end of this month. Staff Sgt. Furey will be working in the senior levels of the Kosovo Police Service. His replacement has not been named.
Furey ran for the Liberal party in Lunenburg West in the last provincial election. He finished in third place. The seat was won by NDP candidate Gary Ramey who ousted former Conservative cabinet Minster Carolyn Bolivar-Getson.

RCMP Reduction

Usually its a call for more police officers but the Region of Queens is asking the Justice Minster for a reduction of RCMP service levels by one member. Mayor John Leefe says about four years ago Council increased the budgeting for RCMP officers by two . The purpose was to get a handle on street crime. However, two years later the province introduced a program aimed at preventing street crime and fully funds the Integrated Street Crime Units across the province.. Leefe says
Queens and Lunenburg Counties work together with RCMP members from both detachments along with the Bridgewater Police Service.

Queens Place Operating Budget

A first year operating budget for the proposed Queens Place recreation centre show a deficit of almost 255 thousand dollars. Region of Queens Mayor John Leefe says the figures are for the first full year of operation which will be from April 1st, 2012 to March 31st, 2013. He says the numbers are based on the long term experience of the Queens Memorial Arena Association, the Queens Fitness group, and projections based on talks with operators of similar facilities.
Leefe says on the expenditure side the total operating deficit is projected to be 254 thousand 508 dollars, but he says offsets include an increase of one-half percent in the deed transfer tax which will be totally dedicated to defraying the operating cost. Also he says there will be ongoing revenue sources such as the landfill reserves to reduce the deficit to 177 thousand which will be supported by an increase of about two cents on the tax rate.

Agricultural Safety Week

Farmers are being encouraged to make the health and safety of their workers a priority during Canadian Agricultural Safety Week which runs until Saturday. Plan - Farm - Safety is the theme of a three-year campaign that focuses on farmers developing a farm safety plan for their business. This year, the campaign will promote the plan component of the theme with safety walkabouts and planning. Next year, the farm component will include implementing, documenting and training. The third year will emphasize the safety component, including assessing, improving and further developing of safety systems.

Protect the Bay

A group of residents from St Margaret's Bay have joined together to let the government know they aren't happy with plans for a connector road between the Bay and Highway 103. Resident, Sean Kirby says the $10 million dollars budgeted for the connector could be used for more important things such as education and health care. He added the proposed connector is a shameful waste of taxpayers' money at a time when the province faces so many challenges.

For more information visit www.protectthebay.ca

Roseway Manor CLOSED

An influenza outbreak has caused the Roseway Manor in Shelburne to close until further notice. If anyone has any questions, you can call the RN Supervisor at 875-4707, ext 224.

Food for Thought

A Food for Thought for Youth workshop is being held this afternoon from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Michelin Social Club. Young people are invited to give suggestions about what is needed for youth in the Bridgewater area, and who can help make it happen. Youth will be invited to join the Youth Action Team which is an Action Team of the Bridgewater Development Association. A major project being worked on at this time is designing and building a permanent skateboard park near the Fieldhouse.

Low Income Tax Exemption

The Municipality of Chester is holding the line on its tax exemption policy . Tax exemption amounts for this year remain as they presently are. The tax exemption amounts range from 400 dollars for owners with an income level of 12 thousand or less to 100 dollars for owners with an income level of 15 thousand one dollar to 17 thousand. Warden Alan Webber says last year the figure came in at around 30 thousand dollars of lost tax revenue for the Municipality.

Shelburne Event..Something for Everyone

Our Community – Something for Everyone will be showcasing various activities and events that take place in the various communities that make up Shelburne County. The event is set to take place April 24th at the Shelburne Regional High School. To date more than 20 booths are registered. The Planning Committee is working on other activities to round out the day including musical performances, demonstrations, presentations, and games . Further information can be obtained at
your local Recreation Department, Volunteer Services, or King Street Family Resource .

ICSP Adopted by Municipality

A final draft of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan has been adopted by the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Deputy-Mayor Martin Bell says it will now be submitted to the province for approval. He says they have looked at the preliminary copy so they know they're aligned with other municipal units in the province. Bell says the information has been passed onto the budget committee so they can start moving as early as next year. He says there are some certain budget implications.
The intent of the ICSP is to provide strategic direction to the Municipality on identified issues, which can then be recognized and incorporated into the Municipality's Corporate Strategic Plan and into its general operational plans. Bell says the ICSP plan had to be adopted and submitted by March 31st in order to receive the gas tax funds.

Wind Energy

The Municipality of Chester in the running to develop a template for large scale wind energy projects. Warden Alan Webber says they've submitted an expression of interest to the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. The template would be used by the rest of the province with regards to developing such wind energy projects. The province will fund up to 50 thousand dollars to assist with the development of the plan. Webber says the Municipality could know by late next week whether it has been chosen for the wind energy development plan.

Infrastructure Adjacent to Water

Road washouts are becoming more common in the Municipality of Chester. Warden Alan Webber says the water is coming over the roads much more frequently. He says following the last big rain and wind storm some significantly sized rocks washed up into the roadway in Western Shore. Webber says the concerns are being forwarded to the Department of Transportation. Webber suggests consideration be given to place more effective barriers such as rock walls to prevent the smaller rocks and gravel washing away from the shoulders of roads when storm surges take place.

Outdoor Ice Rink Proposed

It's a little late for this season, but Bridgewater Town Council will consider an outdoor ice rink for next winter. Councillor David Mitchell says the initiative was first discussed at council and a resident came forward with a proposal which included 5 thousand dollars in start up money. Such funding will be considered during budget deliberations. Mitchell says it's worth exploring a number of venues which have been suggested including the Exhibition grounds.

Liberal Leader visits the South Shore

Liberal Leader Stephen MacNeil has made his way to the South Shore for a visit. MacNeil says this visit is a way to reach out to different organizations. This morning MacNeil attended meetings in Bridgewater, this afternoon he will be visiting business' in the Shelburne County, then he'll be traveling into Yarmouth for the evening. He says this trip is a way to meet, talk and listen to the people of these communities.