Child Abuse Investigated

Queens County RCMP are investigating a possible case of child abuse involving a 5 year old girl. The incident is alleged to have taken place in Liverpool during the week of April 12th. A 19 year old Liverpool man was arrested over the weekend and released on conditions he remain away from the alleged victim while the Mounties continue their investigation. No charges have been laid to date. Community Services and Child Welfare have been notified.

Senior's Friendly Initiative

Plans are in the works to help make Bridgewater a "Senior Friendly" Town. Beth George works with the Bridgewater Police Service as a Senior Safety Coordinator. In a recent presentation to Town Council, George says she's worked to pull together a group of people from the community to form a committee to help drive the senior friendly program forward. George says she wants to promote seniors inclusion and contribution to all areas of community life. About 20 percent of Bridgewater's population is over the age of 65. The public is invited to hear more about the voluntary program from the Coalition for an Age-Friendly Community this Thursday morning at 8am at the Wildwood Cafe on King Street.

Tax Rates Rise in Region of Queens

Tax rates in the Region of Queens are going up slightly. Residential rates are rising by 2 cents while commercial rates go up 5 cents Mayor John Leefe says with the lost of 1.5 million in Nova Scotia Power revenue over three years, Council had no choice but to increase the rates. Residential rates in District 13, the former Town of Liverpool are set at $1.87 per 100 dollars of assessment while commercial rates are $3.01. For the rest of the Municipality, Districts 1 through 12, residential rates are 90 cents per 100 of assessment and $2.04 for commercial rates. The total budget for the Region of Queens Municipality is 16.7 million dollars. Capital Projects including the Queens Place Recreation Facility total 13.4 million. Included in the budget, 46 thousand 500 dollars in grants to organizations. Grants ranged from 500 dollars to the Mersey Band Society up to 10 thousand dollars for Privateer Days.

LCLC is a go!

All systems are a go for the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre.

Today it was announced by both the Town of Bridgewater and The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, that the centre will be constructed on Wentzell drive in the Bridgewater Industrial Park.

The centre's capital cost is at approximately $32 million and will house an indoor aquatic centre, one NHL sized rink, a new library, multi purpose and active living space.

Early Childhood presentation

Canadian Research Chair in Population, Dr Clyde Hertzman will be visiting the South Shore this evening.

At 7pm at the Oak Island Inn, in Lunenburg County, Dr. Hertzman will be hosting a presentation and discussion.

The presentation will be on the importance of investing in the early years of childhood development and why that matters for Canadian and Nova Scotia society.

RSVP to Register at tmgriffin@eastlink.ca

For more information please contact Theresa Griffin
902-830-7558

LCLC Meeting today

A joint council meeting will take place at 12pm today to deal with municipal contributions to the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre project.

Both Councils from the Town of Bridgewater and the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg will meet at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 24 at noon today.

The public is welcome to attend.

CKBW will have the results of the meeting this afternoon.

Education Week Awards

Two South Shore area teachers the recipients of Education Week awards. Todd Symes of Chester Area Middle School and Julie Ramey of North Queens Rural High School will be presented with the awards at a reception this afternoon at the Black Cultural Centre in Dartmouth. Symes and Ramey were selected by a committee of their peers and Board Members . Also receiving an award for Education Week is Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake. The Association of Nova Scotian Educational Administrators Award reflects the theme Equity in Education. Pynch-Worthlake has worked hard as both a teacher and administrator to support this philosophy for students, staff and the community. This year Education Week is celebrated from April 18th to the 24th.

Off-leash Park Planned for Bridgewater

Plans are in the works for off-leash pet park in the Town of Bridgewater. Mayor Carroll Publicover, a long time dog owner himself says they're wonderful areas if managed properly. He says the old dump site off north St. Phillips Street has been designated and set aside for such a purpose. He says it's abandoned and only used occasionally by Public Works to dump unwanted materials. Publicover says there's a large tract of land, about 30 acres with an adequate access road and a good buffer on all sides. He says it has outstanding potential to be a good off-leash dog area. The Department of Parks and Recreation will be working with a committee of interested people and get a budget in place for the coming years then it should go forward.

Strategic Planning

The Town of Lunenburg is embarking on a new chapter with the development of a strategic plan. The process will involve community consultations with the first meeting set for tomorrow night. (Tue.Apr.20). Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says citizens, businesses and organizations in the community are invited to make their presentations at the meeting set for 7 o'clock at the Lunenburg Fire Hall. He says the Town will also accept written submissions with ideas the people may have as to what they would perceive the future for the Town of Lunenburg,and what areas they would like to see addressed, its strengths, its weaknesses and what the Town should be doing for the next 5 to 25 years.

Four Arrested in Chester Basin Stabbing

The Mounties have arrested four people in connection with a weekend stabbing in Lunenburg County.

The RCMP responded to a call at around 1:30 Sunday morning to a party in Chester Basin.

When the Mounties arrived at the residence on Demont Road, they found an 18-year-old man suffering from stab-wounds.

He was taken to the South Shore Regional Hospital for treatment and later transported to a Halifax hospital for further treatment.

Four suspects in the stabbing fled in a vehicle before the police arrived.

The Mounties later located and arrested what they call three "persons of interest" in relation to this incident.

Early Sunday afternoon, the fourth-person contacted RCMP and surrendered to police custody.
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Seniors Police Academy Graduation

Ten cadets graduated today from the latest Seniors Police Academy.

Mayor Don Downe, Deputy Mayor David Walker, and Chief Brent Crowhurst were on hand to congratulate the seniors and present their graduation certificates.

The six weeks of workshops the graduates had to complete covered
a dozen topics related to seniors safety and wellness.

NSLC Crash

Bridgewater Police are still investigating the accident of a driver who drove a car through the window of the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission outlet on Monday.

There were extensive damages to the store and only minor damages to the vehicle. No one was injured in the accident.

Police are not expecting to lay charges.

River Pub assault

A 42 year old Northfield man is facing a number of charges after he is alleged to have assaulted an eight year old boy, and caused a disturbance inside the River Pub while bound by a Probation Order on Monday.

Bridgewater Police Service charged him with with Assault, Causing A Disturbance, and Breach Of Probation.

He was later released and is scheduled to appear in court on June 30.

Exit-7 Highmishap

The R-C-M-P are investigating an early-morning traffic-accident on the 103-Highway.

The Mounties say the accident occurred shortly after 6:00 o'clock this morning when a vehicle hit a slippery-patch and left the road on the Halifax side of Exit-7.

The police do not yet know the condition of the lone-occupant of the vehicle.

But an ambulance was dispatched to the scene.

Fisherman's Memorial Hospital ER CLOSED

The Emergency Department at "Fisherman's Memorial Hospital" in Lunenburg is closed today.

The emergency-department in Lunenburg will remain closed today and overnight -- but -- will reopen tomorrow morning at 8:00 o'clock.

If the Lunenburg Hospital serves you and you need emergency-services,
the hospital advises you to call 9-1-1 -- or -- visit the "South Shore Regional Hospital" in Bridgewater.

For other medical issues, you should contact your family physician or dial 8-1-1.

Knife Threats

A 23 year old man is undergoing a 30 day psychiatric evaluation after allegedly threatening people with a knife on Aberdeen Road. Police arrested the man without incident at the location. He was charged with numerous offences including a breach of a conditional sentence order. The man appeared in Bridgewater Provincial Court and was remanded to the East Coast Forensic Unit in Dartmouth.

Crosswalk Charges

A 79 year old man has been charged in relation to an accident at a Bridgewater crosswalk last Friday.(April 9th). Three females were struck while they were crossing the road near the Community College on High Street. All three were taken to hospital with non-serious injuries. The elderly man was charged today (April 15) with Failing to Yield to a Pedestrian in a Crosswalk under the Motor Vehicle Act.

Vendor Service Guidelines

Guidelines are being established to cover vendors and concession operations within municipal parks in Lunenburg County. Mayor Don Downe says it's important to ensure quality and appropriateness of service and is not unlike other jurisdictions in the province. The guidelines will cover vendors or concessions that offer goods or services fro sale or rent to the public in municipal parks. Equipment rentals such as canoes, kayaks, paddle boats bicycles and surf boards will fall under the guidelines as will food services from a motorized vehicle or non-motorized.
Service agreements will run from 1 to 5 years with a minimum 500 dollar damage deposit for each agreement.

Bring the Stanley Cup to the South Shore

You can help bring the Stanley Cup to either Bridgewater or Lunenburg.

"Team up & Bring Home the Cup" is a contest in which hockey players can send in a story about their team and by getting the most online votes their Hockey Team could win the experience of a lifetime – spending time with the Stanley Cup and hockey legend Mark Messier.

Bridgewater Hawks right wing, Nic Stewart sent in his story for the contest.

As well the Lunenburg Falcons Novice Intermediate team is in the running.

To vote for each team visit http://teamup.tsn.ca/home

Dayspring community meeting

The LCLC, garbage and taxes were the three main topics at last nights community meeting in Dayspring.

The Municipality of Lunenburg hosted the 2nd annual meeting to review last years report card and hear the ideas, comments and concerns of the public.

Mayor Don Downe says he was pleased with the meeting and encourages people to attend future meetings.

The next community meeting is scheduled for tonight at the Lunenburg Fire Hall at 7pm