Mill Cove Residents Argue Boundary Changes

A long standing boundary issue between Mill Cove and Birchy Head has reached its tipping point. About 10 residents residents of Mill Cove attended this morning's council meeting in Chester to discuss a petition on the proposed boundary change. Many residents told council the original petition was confusing and that they wanted to change their vote. Councillor Floyd Shattford is hoping a second petition - mailed out by the municipality - will give the issue some clarity. 'We'll get it right at the end of the day. It's not going to change peoples lives, it's not going to change peoples postal address its just a matter of moving a sign from one place to another - it's sensitive for some people and I understand that but hopefully at the end of the day all will go well...and no hard feelings,"  According to the proposed boundary changes, residents who currently reside in Mill Cove would technically be living in the community of Birchy Head. Council will revisit the issue at a future meeting.

BREAKING: SSRSB identifies six schools for review

The South Shore Regional School Board has identified six schools for review this year. Board member Judith Sullivan-Corney stated Gold River-Western Shore Elementary, Pentz Elementary, Petite Riviere Elementary, Hebbville Academy, Bridgewater Junior/Senior High and Mill Village Consolidated will go through the review process. Sullivan-Corney says there is a need to look at some schools.

"I think its important for us to review schools that are close together, schools that are very small that require a lot of repair, we need to look at that because I think over time, we're not going to be able to maintain all of those schools."

A decision was delayed on four schools including New Ross Consolidated, Newcombville Elementary, and both New Germany Elementary and New Germany High. Sullivan-Corney also indicated Aspotogan Consolidated Elementary, North Queens Community School and Greenfield Elementary would not be reviewed. She says a decision on the four delayed schools could come as early as next month. The review process has many options including recommending a facility be closed, upgraded or consolidated. Check out the video below of Sullivan-Corney explaining why the board decided to send six schools to the review process.

Mitchell: Steele inaccurate over no tax increase claim

A Bridgewater town councillor disagrees with Finance Minister Graham Steele that taxes won't be raised in the province this year. David Mitchell says the message Steele is sending is not exactly true. He says although the province may not increase taxes, municipalities might be forced to.

"I find it humorous because at the provincial level it's easier for them to say no tax increases and send that message out to the people of Nova Scotia, yet, they increase the burden on municipalities, which may result in a lot of them increasing their taxes."

Mitchell doesn't expect the town of Bridgewater to be affected after population growth and an increase in tax revenue because of development. But he notes, total property values in the province increased by an average of six per cent from last year, meaning some homeowners should expect a hike on their tax bills.

LCLC in negotiating phase

The LCLC has entered the negotiation phase. Chair Paul Belliveau says they met with the project manager and architects Tuesday to discuss the results of the tender. He says the manager and architects have come up with a list of items where the price could be reduced and closer to budget. Belliveau says they have to negotiate with Bird Construction to see if they can reduce costs.

"The $24.389-million bid that came in was between $500,000 to $900,000 more than what we had budgeted for. So, we're working to get that number back, closer to our budget, so we can get the very same facility, same components, for the dollars that we have available."

Bird Construction submitted the low bid of almost $24.4-million. Belliveau says they're looking at reducing costs in items dealing with the appearance of the structure, not the functional use. He says they expect to fundraise if they can't cut costs to meet their budget. Belliveau says they would like to have work start on-site around the middle of March.

Record Year for Lunenburg's High Liner Foods

A record year of sales and profit for High Liner Foods. The Lunenburg based company reports overall sales increased by 14.3 percent to $668.6 million up from $584.7 million in 2010. It's EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) increased by an impressive 15.9 percent to $54.7 million up from $47.2 million. High Liner Foods banner year was helped by the acquistions of Viking Seafoods Inc and Icelandic Group's US and Asian Operations. The US$232.7 million dollar Icelandic deal was completed in December making High Liner Foods the leading value-added seafood supplier in North America. CEO Henry Demone says the companies US operations grew in both food service and retail but sales volumes in Canada were unchanged due to a challenging retail market. However, the company did report a 4.1 percent increase in Canaidian sales.

Province commits $750,000 to Black Loyalist Centre



Design for the new Black Loyalist Heritage Centre

The province is supporting the new Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Shelburne County. The Nova Scotia government has committed $750,000 to the Birchtown project through the Community Development Trust Fund. The Centre is expected to tell the story of the Black Loyalists, who relocated to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick after fighting for the British in the American Revolutionary War. Hundreds settled in Birchtown during the 1780s. The province also provides $250,000 annually in operational funding for the Centre. The federal government has also pledged roughly $2.6-million towards the new centre. African Nova Scotian Affairs Minister Percy Paris says the Black Loyalists are a fundamental part of the province's history and the new centre will help make sure their story is told for generations to come. Construction will begin in late May, with the centre expected to be open in July 2013.

Morning Rollover on Italy Cross Road

Slippery roads are to blame for a single vehicle rollover on the Italy Cross Road this morning. RCMP say a woman in her early 50's was taken to hospital when her vehicle slid of the road and flipped into the ditch. The woman was trapped inside her car until emergency crews arrived and cut out the windshield. Police describe the woman's injuries as minor.

Plan Needed To Fight Prescription Drug Abuse: Glavine

The prescription pain killer .. OxyContin ... will not be funded anymore by the Nova Scotia government's Pharmacare Program.  The move is aimed at reducing prescription painkiller abuse.
However, Liberal health critic Leo Glavine tells us its only a half-hearted attempt to address the problem with no government strategy in place.  He says drug abuse is a fact of today's life for many people and there needs to be greater government-funded rehab to help those who need and want help.
Glavine tells us: "Its a 21 day program. I know the one at Fishermen's Memorial has a couple of tremendous counsellors in the program. But very often, 21 days is just the beginning of changing behaviours and re-equipping people with the skills and tools for better decision making and re-managing their lives."
Glavine says the government promised more than two years ago it would come up with a plan to deal with prescription drug abuse and he says nothing will change until that happens.

Finance Minister: No Tax Hikes & Budget Targets Attainable

Finance Minister Graham Steele's pre-budget consultations have reached the South Shore. Steele along with Lunenburg West MLA Gary Ramey met with select groups in the Bridgewater area last night to discuss how the upcoming fiscal plan should look. The government is projecting a $365-million deficit for this year, with a deficit of about $215 million next spring and a balanced budget the following year. In a interview with CKBW/HANK FM, Steele says the government is on track to reach those targets. "I'm happy to say as the finance minster that we are on track to do exactly that, it hasn't been easy but the plan is working," Meanwhile, Steele says Nova Scotians won't see any tax increases in the upcoming budget which he says will be delivered in early April.

VIDEO: Keddy visits Lunenburg Foundry

It's the first time he's seen it, and already he's impressed. MP for South Shore- St. Margaret's Gerald Keddy got his initial look at the Lunenburg Foundry's KDM system, which uses two mirrors to harness the sun's power for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Keddy says he was impressed by what the system could do.

"This thing has potential, not just to make bronze castings and brass castings but this has potential for applications in third world countries around the world, for applications to heat hot water here we are on a February day and they are going up to a couple thousand degrees Celsius in order to melt a bronze/magnesium mixture."

Keddy stopped by the Foundry Tuesday afternoon to get a first-hand look at practices the company is involved in. He also says he likes the look of the Bluenose II. Keddy says the build is drawing a lot of attention.

"This is the most important build on the planet and I'm not exaggerating that. You know, everybody who is remotely interested in sailing vessels and wooden ships is watching this on the webcam, its that big."

 He says the visit is to help inspire companies to pursue supply chain opportunities that will be created by the Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan.

Check out the video below to see the KDM system work with comments from Lunenburg Foundry President Peter Kinley and MP for South Shore- St. Margaret's Gerald Keddy.

NB Contractor Files Lawsuit Against Grace Murray Inc.

A New Brunswick based contractor has filed a lawsuit in Nova Scotia Supreme Court against Grace Murray Inc. Saulnier Losier Management claims it is owed just over $400,000 for extra costs it had to cover when they built the Bridgewater Best Western Hotel. Grace Murray Inc is co-owned by Rodney Grace and former NHL'er Glen Murray. In a prepared statement, Grace told CKBW/HANK FM News his company 'entered into a fixed price contract with Saulnier Losier and has no intention of paying more than what was agreed upon for a turnkey complete project.' Saulnier Losier was contracted in October 2009 to build the three-story 63-room Best Western in Cookville. Saulnier Losier claims the project experienced numerous cost overruns during construction and the construction contract between the two parties was breached. They are also seeking interest and costs. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Calls to Saulnier Losier of New Brunswick this afternoon have not been returned.

MODL secures waste collection until 2019

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg has secured waste collection services until 2019. Council has approved awarding the lone tender received to G.E.'s All Trucking for just over $10.6-million for seven years, beginning in 2013. The new contract contains the same services as the current agreement with additional items including a route supervisor, Christmas tree pickup and a green cart administrator. The new services add more than $348,000 to the seven year budget.

Potential Bus Service for Shelburne County

A Shelburne County organization is looking at establishing a bus service for its residents. The Sou'west Nova Transit Association has filed an application to the province's Utility and Review Board for a motor carrier license. The request would allow the group to operate a 14-passenger bus with three wheelchair accessible seats and eight passenger seats. It could then drive people along the South Shore as far as Halifax and Yarmouth. The chair of the Association, David Meyer, says it could be a valued service for the area.

"Our service must be pre-booked, it will be door-to-door and will be specifically intended for people who have mobility problems or medical problems, the elderly, people in a low income situation and people who require transportation that they can arrange ahead of time."

Objections to the service need to be received by March 14 to board@gov.ns.ca . If there are none, the UARB could grant the application without a public hearing. You can check out the groups website at http://www.petprojects.ca/swnt/index.html .

Osprey Ridge to host Canadian Junior Boys Championship

A local golf course will host this year's Canadian Junior Boys Championship. Osprey Ridge has been selected by the Canadian Golf Association to test the best junior golfers in the country from July 30 to August 3. Over 150 golfers from coast to coast are expected to tee it up for the event. The championship will be 72 holes of stroke play. Kevin Kwon of B.C. won last year's title.

Liberal MLA wants February holiday in Nova Scotia

Today is a holiday in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and PEI. Having the third Monday in February as a holiday gives everyone a break from the rigours of winter. In our province though, today is just another Monday and we won't be getting a break until Easter in April. Halifax-area Liberal MLA Diana Whalen has been trying for years to establish a February holiday and she tells CKBW/HANK FM News she's applying more pressure to have her idea in place by next year. She says communities here would make good use of the holiday. "They really create a lot of exciting in the communities, I know there are a lot of activities like winter carnivals that take place and things of that nature and I'm sure the people of the South Shore would jump right in and do that...tt becomes a real family weekend," Next year, Whalen is hoping Nova Scotia will join the list of those having mid-February holidays.

Three Dozen Abandon Cats Recovering

More than three dozen malnourished cats that were rescued from a home outside of Lockeport are on the road to recovery. Members of the Beulah Burman Memorial Animal Shelter in Shelburne took in 31 cats from an abandon home in Rockland earlier this month. The cats were suffering from frostbite, infection and starvation when they were found but volunteers have been nursing the animals back to health. Shelter volunteer Shelley Leblanc says its been a heart warming experience to watch the community rally around the animals. "Rescuing cats has been one of the most rewarding things that I have ever done. It's over whelming but if you look at the future that these cats now have - they are going to have a life, they are going to be warm, they are going to be fed and its such a rewarding thing because it makes such a difference in your life," Five of the cats have already been adopted to new homes while another half dozen are ready to go to a good home. Anyone interested donating time, money or adoption can log on to http://www.petprojects.ca/ for more information.

Bridgewater's Lohnes Picks Up "Michener Award"

A special honor for judo champ Whitney Lohnes of Bridgewater. The 19 year old is one of two recipients of the 2011 Roland Michener Canada Games Award. Lohnes won gold at last year's Canada Winter Games in Halifax. More recently she picked up gold at the Commonwealth Judo Championships in Wales. Lohnes was given the Michener Award in recognition of her leadership skills and scholastic and athletic achievements. Lohnes is training in Montreal these days and attending Concordia University.

Bridgewater projecting budget surplus

Dawn Keizer

The town of Bridgewater is currently forecasting a healthy surplus. Director of Finance, Dawn Keizer, released her third quarter numbers during the February 13 council meeting. She is indicating a projected surplus of $639,400. The third quarter financial report for 2011-12 ended December 31, with projections to March 31, 2012. Keizer is projecting protective services, recreation and culture and environmental health to finish in the black, while transportation is anticipated to be in the red. While the numbers look good at the moment, Keizer says it is important to note that much can change in the next month.

South Shore resident wins 'Award of Sexcellence'

A member of South Shore Health has picked up an award from the Nova Scotia Association for Sexual Health. Lori McCracken has won the 'Award of Sexcellence' for her contributions to the field. McCracken says its nice to be recognized.

"Well, sometimes I don't consider myself a forerunner in terms of sexual reproductive health. I can definitely now say that this topic is maybe not what everybody does in their job, so it's great to be recognized for that."

McCracken has helped develop a youth health centre in New Germany, and a sexual health board game for teens.

Mustangs look to stave off elimination against Valley

A must-win situation Saturday night for the South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs. The local major midget club needs a victory to avoid being swept of their best of five series against the Valley Wildcats. The Wildcats earned one goal victories in Bridgewater earlier this week, to lead the series 2-0. The game will be held at 8pm Saturday night in Berwick.