Off-duty Mountie Charged with Impaired Driving

The Mounties have charged one of their own with impaired driving . Lunenburg County RCMP received a call April 4th reporting a vehicle had gone off the road by Risser's Beach. Witnesses reported the driver was intoxicated , and had identified herself as an RCMP officer. The vehicle was pulled out of the ditch and the driver left the area before the Mounties arrived, however, the parked vehicle was located in Conquerall Bank. After searching the local area, the driver was located and arrested. Forty-three year old Catherine Frances Mansley has been charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle. She is scheduled to appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court on June 9th. The officer was off duty at the time of the incident.

Finance Minister visits Bridgewater

Finance Minister, Graham Steele was in Bridgewater this afternoon for his first public meeting after releasing the Provincial Budget on Tuesday.

Steele spoke with CKBW News on what his main focus was in today's meeting.

"I wanted to talk to the people from the Bridgewater area and the Chamber of Commerce about what was in the budget and about the governments plan to return to a balanced budget."

Steele and his Cabinet Colleges plan to visit many communities across the Province in the weeks to come to talk about the budget and what it means for the Province

Overcrowding Protocol Initiated

South Shore Health has initiated its overcrowding protocol this afternoon due to large numbers of patients in the emergency departments.. Communications Director Theresa Hawkesworth says as of this morning, there were 11 admitted patient in the emergency department at South Shore Regional Hospital. Although the emergency departments remain open, the public should expect longer than normal delays for non-urgent services, especially at South Shore Regional Hospital. Patients may also experience delays in admission and possible transfers to another hospital for care. Surgeries may also be cancelled and the District will seek support from neighbouring Health Authorities.

Budget Affordability for Seniors

Chester/St. Margaret's MLA and Minster of Seniors, Denise Peterson -Rafuse says a new Poverty Reduction Credit will help about 15-thousand Nova Scotians living in poverty, many of whom are disabled.Peterson- Rafuse along with Finance Minister Graham Steele visited Sackville Heights Community Centre on Wednesday (April 7th) to discuss how the budget makes life more affordable for seniors. Steele says
removing the Guaranteed Income Supplement from calculation of the adjusted family income will benefit roughly 18-thousand low-income seniors. The minister says the new Affordable Living Tax Credit is a way to alleviate any tough measures in the budget.

***Photo from Government of Nova Scotia***

Four Homeless After Morning Fire

A family of four is temporarily homeless after fire this morning gutted their two-storey house near the rural community of Allendale, a few kilometres northeast of Lockeport Volunteer fire departments from Lockeport, Little Harbour and Sable River responded to the blaze,at 2784, Highway 3 around 10 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The couple, their two teenaged boys and several pets are staying with nearby relatives and neighbours for now. Canadian Red Cross volunteers have arranged emergency purchases of clothing and food, and provided them with some personal-care kits and blankets. A number of groups and the teenagers' school are also looking at fund-raising activities to help out.

Crosswalk Accident

Three people were taken to hospital following a car pedestrian accident on High Street earlier this afternoon. The adults were in the crosswalk adjacent to the Community College at the time of the accident around 12:45 p.m. The three adults were taken to hospital for assessment. It's not believed there were any serious injuries. A 79 year old male driving a silver Ford Taurus was being questioned by police. Any witnesses to the accident are asked to contact the Bridgewater Police.

Design 2011 Canada Games medals

People in the South Shore have a chance to show their creativity in designing the 2011 Canada Games medals.
The Halifax Host society for the Games is accepting original designs that can be any shape but must incorporate the 2011 Games logo, and reflect the unique nature, theme and culture and spirit of the Games and the Province.
The competition is open to Nova Scotia residents ages 13
and up.
For more information visit

Smart Growth for Bridgewater

The Bridgewater Development Association is hosting an event to showcase and share success stories of the communities growth. BDA Manager Ida Scott says anyone can attend to learn more, share successes and celebrate while enjoying a complimentary breakfast. The public, partners, and developers are invited to attend on Thursday, April 22nd 7:30 am – 9:30 am at the Michelin Social Club. The BDA is the lead development agency that has been behind many of the initiatives and work that keeps Bridgewater’s growth at the forefront. Also partnering on this event is the Town of Bridgewater. If you are not able to attend the event, you can “visit growbridgewater.com to hear some of the stories about what’s happening and to discover how you can get involved in helping

Roseway ER Meeting

The Roseway Hospital Emergency Department the focus of a public consultation meeting next Wednesday April 14th at Shelburne High School.The meeting by South West Health is a chance to talk with the public about what is being done to improve coverage for the Roseway Hospital Emergency Department. It is also an opportunity for the public to share their ideas and solutions to help South West Health fulfill its commitment to minimize temporary closures and keep the Roseway Hospital Emergency Department OPEN 24/7.All information gathered at the meeting will be shared with the Minister of Health in accordance with the Nova Scotia Government Emergency Room Accountability Act which requires District Health Authorities to consult with communities affected by temporary Emergency Department closures. People unable to attend the meeting can still provide input by sending it to:
Blaise MacNeil, CEO, South West Health
60 Vancouver St.,
Yarmouth, NS, B5A 2P5
Fax: 742-0369

Nova Scotia Budget Tabled

An increase in the harmonized sales tax by 2 percentage points was unveiled in the provincial budget today, April 6th. Finance Minister Graham Steele says this is the first year of a four year fiscal plan to return to a balanced budget. Among the Nova Scotia budget highlights:

_ Total spending for 2010-2011 forecast at $9.0 billion with a $222 million deficit, less than half as big as this year's deficit.

_ Harmonized sales tax to rise by two percentage points to 15 per cent as of July 1, generating $215 million in revenue this fiscal year.Other measures will see the province remove the provincial portion of the H-S-T on children's clothing and footwear through a new point-of-sale rebate.

_ To offset the tax increase, rebates will be offered to households earning less than $30,000 annually, amounting to about $240 per household.
Meanwhile, the 18-thousand seniors who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement will no longer have to pay any provincial income tax. That measure is expected to save the province's seniors about 12.5 million dollars.
_ No increases to corporate or personal income taxes, which are already the highest in Canada.

_ Those earning more than $150,000 annually will be subject to a new tax bracket that will claim 21 per cent of earnings over that amount.


_ The NDP government will also eliminate 1,000 jobs from the public service over the next four years through attrition, while imposing wage restraints and a pension earnings cap on those who remain.

Complete budget details are available at the Department of Finance website at www.gov.ns.ca/finance .

*** Budget Details & Photo courtesy Government of Nova Scotia***

Identity Theft

A man who police arrested for possession of stolen credit cards and impersonation will appear in court today.

Gary David Daigle was arrested last Friday and police later executed a search warrant on a Bridgewater residence.

Daigle was in possession of a number of other people's names throughout the Atlantic Provinces.

If anyone has any information on this matter you are asked to contact the Bridgewater Police.

ER Closures Reduced

An improvement in the number of ER closures at Fishermen's Memorial in Lunenburg. Between March 5, 2009 and March 5, 2010, there were 14 closures, representing approximately 3 % of available hours. South Shore Health C-E-O Alice Leverman says all closures were due to an unavailability of staff to cover the shifts. Efforts taken to minimize closures include cross training of staff between South Shore Regional and Fishermen's Memorial hospitals, active recruitment of experienced staff and promotion of 811. The department is also exploring the possibility of using advanced paramedics for casual staffing.

Mobile Speed/Radar Trailer

Lunenburg County law enforcement has a new tool to help curb speeding. Bridgewater Police Service and Lunenburg County RCMP have used a 15 thousand 500 dollar grant from the Department of Justice to purchase a mobile speed/radar enforcement trailer to be used throughout the county. The mobile trailer works by displaying the visual speed of approaching vehicles on a lighted display enabling the drivers to be aware of their speed and reduce it accordingly. The mobile trailer will be parked in areas of concern throughout Lunenburg County and used as a warning to motorists exceeding the posted speed limit. The new mobile speed/radar enforcement trailer will be presented to all municipal representatives within Lunenburg County at a ceremony at the Chester RCMP office Tuesday morning, April 6th at 10 a.m.

UNESCO Associated Schools Project

The Lockeport schools have been selected as Nova Scotia's first UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network member and are planning to celebrate tomorrow. (Tuesday, April 6th). Dale Eshelby the ICSP Coordinator for the Town of Lockeport says the process started as a spin-off of a revitalization event last October. She says a UNESCO representative is coming to the town on Tuesday and events are slated to get underway at 10:40 a.m. at Lockeport Regional High School. Celebrations include the unveiling of the ASPnet plaque and the Lockeport greenhouse project ribbon cutting ceremony. There will be a special Leatherback Turtle presentation and a display of student's science, heritage, and related projects in the Fire Hall following ceremonies in the school. The public is invited to attend.

Wait Times for Cataract Surgery

South Shore Health is now within the acceptable standard for wait times for cataract surgery. C-E-O Alice Leverman acknowledges the tremendous support from members of the Department of Surgery which allowed additional O.R. time to be made available for catch up of their wait list. Leverman says the Districts wait list was well over a year compared to the acceptable level of 12 to 16 weeks. She says last Spring Dr. Colin Mann's wait-time was approximately 14 months. In order to maintain the wait list at an acceptable level Dr. Mann is now doing cataract surgery six days per month. Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed type of eye surgery.

South Shore Health Welcomes New Doctor

South Shore Health is pleased to welcome family physician Dr. John Paleta to the District. Dr. Paleta will join Dr. Jolene Jarvis at her practice in Hubbards. He will begin seeing patients beginning Tuesday April 6. The clinic phone number is 857 1312. Priority will be given to residents of the Municipality of the District of Chester who do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Originally from South Africa, Dr. Paleta has been practising in Chilliwack, British Columbia since 2004.

Fishing season opens today

A eager angler could be facing a total of $500 worth of fines for fishing before the opening season. The man was caught at Fiddlers lake in Shelburne County and his Boat & gear was ceased for evidence. Fishing season officially opens today, and Conservation Protection Super visor of Shelburne County, Chris Sperry wants to warn people that they are out patrolling fishing activity.

Donald Gow Passes Away

A prominant Lunenburg County businessman has died.

83-year-old Donald Gow passed away peacefully at his home in Bridgewater on Tuesday.

Donald was successful in business but music was his passion.

He was a member of the Bridgewater Fire Department Band and other bands for seventy years.

The funeral service for Donald Arthur Gow is 2:00 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the United Church in Bridgewater.

Injured Man Found Near LaHave Ferry Terminal

The Mounties are looking into the situation of an injured man found lying on a highway in Lunenburg County.

A cyclist found him yesterday afternoon lying on the road near the LaHave Ferry Terminal on Highway-332.

Emergency Services responded shortly before 4:30 to a call to the scene in East LaHave and took the man to the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center in Halifax.

The RCMP say the man -- in his fifties -- had suffered head injuries and may have fallen from a moving vehicle.

If you have any information about this incident, call the RCMP in Cookville at 527-5555.

Navy Centennial Celebrations

The Town of Lunenburg will be presented with a plaque as part of the Canadian Navy's Centennial celebrations slated for June 29th to July 2nd. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says despite the fact all the events are scheduled for Halifax, Town Council is looking at holding some type of reception possibly in conjunction with the Legion. Mawhinney says a plaque is being presented to each community which had a vessel that bore the name of that community in the second world war. The HMCS Lunenburg was a flower class corvette during the second world war, and some of the memorabilia of that corvette is still in Lunenburg at the Legion and Town Hall. Meantime, the Navy is sending a vessel to Lunenburg on May 10th to take part in torch ceremonies for the 2011 Canada Winter Games.