Outage Update

Strong winds and driving rain is causing numerous power outages across the province.


Here on the South Shore Nova Scotia Power hundreds of customers in Liverpool are still without electricity.

Residents in Port Mouton, Broad River, Along Hwy #103 To Carter's Beach, Stewart's Lake, Port Joli, Robinsons's Lake, Granite Village and surrounding areas are without power this hour.

As of 1pm this afternoon, more than 68 hundred Nova Scotians have lost electricity.

Small Lobster, Big Trouble

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is charging a Riverport man with possession of undersized lobster.


Fisheries officials say they discovered the prohibited catch during routine patrols.

Bill Wolfe, Conservation and Protection officer for Liverpool DFO, says the investigation continues.

Wolfe says the 41 year old accused will appear in Bridgewater court early next year.

Outage Update

Strong winds, driving snow and heavy rain are causing power outages across the South Shore.

Nova Scotia Power customers in Chester from Hwy 3 from Simms Settlement to East Chester Recreation centre and Hwy 329 from East River to Blandford Fire Hall are experienceing outages this morning.

In Liverpool customers in Port Mouton, Broad River, Port Joli, Robinsons's Lake, Granite Village and surrounding areas have lost power.

Yarmouth Industrial Park is also expercing outages at this hour.

As of 11 o'clock this morning more than 24000 Nova Scotia Power customers are wthout power.

Shoveling for Seniors

The local 3rd Bridgewater Scout Group is set to dig out local seniors this winter with a program called operation S.O.S.
The "Shovel Out Seniors" service is for people who do not have the means to clear their walks or driveways during the winter months.

Peter Biddle is the Commissioner for Scouting on the South Shore.

"There's alot of seniors out there today that don't have the resources that, when there is a snow storm they get storm stayed...but it also gives opportunity for the youth to get involved with the seniors but yet do some community service to help them and show their support for the seniors in our area," says Biddle.

Biddle says seniors can access the service by contacting Beth George, Seniors Safety Coordinator for the Bridgewater Police Service.

Please contact Beth George at 543-3567 or  at bgeorge@bridgewaterpolice.ca

POWER'S BACK IN SHELBURNE/PART OF QUEENS COUNTY

The power has been restored to residents and businesses in Queens County and Shelburne county where the power was out for several hours this morning.

The outage was caused by high winds bringing down limbs across power lines.
The power is still out in parts of Yarmouth.
Several thousand homes and businesses also without power in the Spryfield area of Halifax and in Dartmouth and in an area between metro Halifax and Truro.
At one point this morning, some 13 thousand Nova Scotians in total were without electricity during the breakfast period.

SLAIN WOMEN REMEMBERED THIS MORNING

The Lunenburg campus of the Nova Scotia Community College will hold a ceremony this morning to remember the 14 women who were slain at L'ecole Polytechnique in Montreal on this date in 1989.
The ceremony will take place in the atrium of NSCC's Lunenburg Campus in Bridgewater 10:30 a.m.
The ceremony is being organized to raise awareness about violence against women and children in this province.
It will include re-presentation from the Women Unlimited Program, Second Story Women's Centre and Harbour House as well as NSCC staff and students.
All participants have been requested to wear a purple ribbon as a sign of remembrance.

Highway 103 Accident- Update

A truck driver is recovering from minor injuries after an accident on highway 103 .


Queens County RCMP, firefighters and EHS personnel responded to the call at approximately 11 am yesterday morning.

A tractor trailer carrying a load of lobster overturned on the highway between exits 21 and 22.

Police say the load shifted in the cargo container causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

The wreckage was cleared from the scene by 3pm that afternoon.

103 Accident

An apparent accident on Highway 103 has stalled traffic near Port Joli.



The highway has been reduced to one lane between exits 21 and 22.


EHS personnel and police were on the scene this afternoon, but the details of the crash are remain unclear.

Port Latour Theft

Barrington RCMP are investigating the theft of a weight scale from a shed at the Port Latour Wharf. 

The galvanized scale is about one foot in length and height with a digital screen in the front and a hook swivel on both the top and bottom of the unit. 

The scale was stolen sometime back in August.

Province Invests in Greenfield Lumber Mill

A family owned lumber company in Queens County is receiving a 750 thousand dollar repayable loan through the province's Industrial Expansion Fund. The loan to Harry Freeman and Son Limited of Greenfield, was announced Friday by MLA Vicki Conrad. Over the past six years, the company has invested $18 million into modernizing its facility, building one of the most efficient and flexible sawmills in Atlantic Canada. The company provides significant economic spinoffs, purchasing more than $16 million worth of goods and services from local suppliers each year. The company which is 175 years old is one of the oldest family run businesses in Nova Scotia.

Police VS Paramedics

The second annual food bank challenge is set for this afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m.at the Superstore parking lot.. Town Police are taking on EHS paramedics to see who can stuff their vehicles the most with items for the Bridgewater Interchurch Food Bank. Last years competition was declared a draw . Two police cares, an ambulance and van were filled with non-perishable items all donated to the food bank. The competition will be decided at 3:30 p.m.

DEADLINE NEARS FOR COMPLETING DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG SURVEY

Voters in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg are being asked for their opinions on the role of council and how many councillors would best serve their needs.

There are 12 councillors plus the mayor in the municipality right now and the survey that was launched a few weeks ago is seeking input on whether the council is too small or two big and what should be done to improve operations.
The deadline for returning the filled-out survey is December 17th.
To encourage residents to fill it out and return it, there will be a draw for cash prizes of 100, 75, 50 and 25 dollars.
Those who return the completed forms to the municipality by the deadline will be eligible for the draw.

Queens Mayor Wins Tourism Ambassador Award

He's worn many hats, now there's a new feather to add. Region of Queens Mayor John Leefe has been honoured with the Ambassador award by the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia. The Ambassador award is presented each year to a recipient who has impacted Tourism on a national or international basis. As the only municipal leader to consistently participate in industry events, Mayor Leefe was this year’s recipient. Fostering event development while championing the history and culture of the area, the Mayor has always been a strong advocate for the industry in the Region of Queens Municipality. Throughout his career as teacher, MLA and Mayor, Mayor Leefe has recognized the power of tourism and its impact on the economy.

Union Agreement with School Board

Administrative and IT support workers for the South Shore Regional School Board have voted 100 percent to accept a tentative agreement through March 2012. The workers will see wage increases of 2.9% in the first year, 1% in second, 1% in the third year. There will also be an increase from 55 to 65 percent employer paid benefit plan. As well, workers will receive an additional week vacation after 30 years of service. There are approximately 72 members of the Local represented by the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union

Power Rate Increase for Lunenburg

Lunenburg residents could be looking at a power rate increase next year. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says the Electric Utility may have to increase rates because they've been falling behind NSPI cost increases and running close to a deficit.  Mawhinney says a meeting is planned to discuss options for the six municipal owned electrical utilities in the province.  He says Nova Scotia Power has the capacity to do more to assist the small utilities with helping their citizens learn how to conserve energy, and what measures should be adapted in homes and businesses to do that.  Lunenburg, Riverport and Mahone Bay along with  Antigonish, Berwick, and Canso make up Nova Scotia's first ever inter-municipal electrical co-operative.

TWELVE DAYS OF CRIME PREVENTION UNDERWAY

Making the Christmas shopping period easier and safer for everyone is the goal of a crime prevention campaign thats been launched by South Shore RCMP detachments.
The 12 days of Christmas Crime Prevention campaign is aimed at eliminating crimes of opportunity during the holiday season.
Sgt. Brigdit Leger (bridge-IT la-jeer) is the RCMP's media relations officer for the area.
Among other things, Sgt. Leger says its particularly important to keep your vehicle locked when shopping and keeping your purchases locked up in the trunk and out of sight while going from store to store.
Also, remove GPS systems, cell phones, MP3 players and othetr electronic devices when you are not in your vehicle.

MOVE AFOOT TO REDUCE CLEARCUTTING OF FORESTS

Nova Scotia is looking to reduce clearcutting of provincial forests by 50 per cent over five years.

Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell says such a reduction would be significant in a province where 95 per cent of harvesting is done through clearcutting.
Under the plan all commercial harvesters would have to register with the department and submit annual reports.
MacDonell says violators would face stiff fines.

Oh Christmas Tree !

A 39-year tradition of gratitude and holiday cheer continues today when a Christmas tree from Nova Scotia takes centre stage at the annual tree lighting ceremony in Boston. Every year, since 1971, Nova Scotia sends a Christmas tree to the people of Boston, in recognition for the help provided following the Halifax Explosion on Dec. 6, 1917. This year's tree is a 15-metre white spruce from Gary and Roseann Misner of North Alton, Kings County.  The ceremony will take place at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. in Boston) and will be televised to an estimated audience of 300,000 on WCVB Boston Channel 5, an ABC affiliate available in Atlantic Canada on cable.

Lunenburg in Solid Financial Position

An audited statement of Lunenburg. shows the town is in a solid financial position.  Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says the operating surplus was around 17 hundred dollars in a budget of over 4 million.  He says it's worthy of note that as a small community Lunenburg is not at risk as some communities may be as to their financial stability.  Mawhinney says it's very commendable that in a time when others are still looking to  find monies to pay for major capital investment, the Town spent over 7 million dollars this past fiscal year installing a new water treatment plant and only owe one million. The Mayor adds the Town is taking a very prudent and wise approach to fiscal management by waiting to source available provincial and federal funds.

Dog Park Considered for Lunenburg

By next summer there could be an area set aside in the Town of Lunenburg where Fido or Rover will be able to run free.  Council is exploring the feasibility and costs to set up an off-leash dog park.  Three sites have been recommended with one on Blockhouse Hill toward the back harbour being favoured. There have been complaints about some dog owners allowing their dogs to run off-leash on the Back Harbour Trail and on town sidewalks intimidating humans and other animals. Under the current By-law dogs do not need to be leashed but must be under effective control by their owner.