VIDEO: Board Receives Impact Assessment Reports

The South Shore Regional School Board has received the impact assessment reports for the six schools remaining on the school review list. Reports for Hebbville Academy, Gold River Western Shore Elementary, Mill Village Consolidated School, Pentz Elementary School, Petite Riviere Elementary School and New Ross Consolidated School can be read at http://ssrsb.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=770&Itemid=371 . Deloitte Inc. will talk about the reports during a meeting scheduled for November 28.

Kinsmen Field Remains Temporarily Closed

Wet weather over the weekend means the Kinsmen Field in Bridgewater remains closed for the time being. The field was closed late last week after significant amounts of rain left the field unusable. Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture, Carol Pickings-Anthony, says they need to make sure the field doesn't suffer permanent damage.



Pickings-Anthony says staff will be on-site early tomorrow morning to re-evaluate the field's condition.

MODL Approves Healthy Eating Policy

Junk food could soon become a thing of the past at events held in the Municipality of Lunenburg. Council has approved a healthy eating policy that will see more nutritional foods at all recreation facilities, municipal events, fundraisers and vending machines in the district. Mayor Don Downe says the policy is the next step.



Downe says Nova Scotia has the highest obesity rates in Canada and the South Shore has the highest obesity rates in the province. The policy will be put into place right away and will provide mostly nutritional foods with some unhealthy options during the phase-in period. The policy has also been given the go-ahead by the town of Bridgewater and Municipality of Chester.

New Area Code For NS/PEI Coming Soon

Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island will be assigned another area code in two years. The CRTC says people in those provinces asking for a new phone number as of November 30, 2014, could be given one starting with the area code 782. The commission says that's due to a shortage of phone numbers in those provinces, which now share the area code 902. Ten-digit dialing will also take effect as of August 2014.

UPDATED: Leblanc Found On Logging Road

One of two men wanted in connection with a disturbing sexual assault in Lunenburg County is in custody in Northwestern Ontario. Coverage provided from our sister station in Thunder Bay -  Vic Krasowski reports.

(Click on play button to listen to report from Thunder Bay, Ontario)

UPDATED: Leblanc Arrested In Ontario

Ontario Provincial Police have arrested one of the two men wanted in connection with an alleged confinement and sexual assault case involving a 16 year old boy in Lunenburg County. Ontario Provincial Police picked up 47 year old David James Leblanc overnight in the Thunder Bay area after receiving reports of a man in distress. He was arrested on a logging road in Longlac, Ontario. It's about three hours from Thunder Bay. Leblanc is set to make a video court appearance today before being transferred back to Nova Scotia for further court appearances. Thirty-one year-old Wayne Allan Cunningham remains at large. Police believe he is headed to the Calgary. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact RCMP.

South Shore News & Weather - AM - October 1

Here is this morning's local news and weather.
(Click on arrow below to listen)

WANTED: RCMP Manhunt Enters Day Six

An RCMP manhunt enters its sixth day as Mounties continue to search for two men wanted in an alleged forcible confinement and sexual assault case. Police have been searching for 47-year-old David James Leblanc and 31-year-old Wayne Alan Cunningham since last Tuesday. Leblanc and Cunningham are believed to be responsible for holding a 16 year-old boy captive for nearly two weeks in a delapitated cabin in Upper Chelsea. Police believe the men are hiding out somewhere in Ontario. RCMP say tips have been pouring in but they've yet to locate the wanted men.

VIDEO: Bluenose II Towed To Fisheries Museum

All systems were a go today after much anticipated wind and rain held off until the very end, giving enough time for the Bluenose II to enter the water and move towards the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic for the day-long celebration.

VIDEO: Defence Minister Celebrates Bluenose II

Canada's Defence Minister spoke today at the re-launching of the Bluenose II. Peter MacKay, also the MP for Central Nova, talked about the Federal Government's contribution to the project and calls today a historic moment for Canadians.

Mawhinney: Re-Launch Highlights Term As Mayor

Nova Scotia's sailing ambassador made a successful return to the water during an early morning relaunch in Lunenburg. Bluenose II was relaunched shortly after 8 o'clock this morning in an event celebrated by thousands of spectators. Lunenburg's Laurence Mawhinney called today's event a highlight of his 33 years as the town's mayor.



No major traffic issues were reported in Lunenburg. An all day celebration will be capped off with a fire works show later tonight along the Lunenburg waterfront.

Manhunt Continues: Tips Pouring Into RCMP

Mounties say tips are pouring in and the manhunt for two men wanted in a possible forcible confinement case continues. RCMP believe 47-year-old David James Leblanc and 31-year-old Wayne Alan Cunningham have fled Nova Scotia. They have received tips which indicate the men are in or traveled through Ontario. Leblanc and Cunningham are charged with forcible confinement and sexual assault in an alleged case involving a 16 year-old boy. Earlier this week, RCMP revealed the teen had been held captive for up to two weeks. RCMP are working with the appropriate police service of jurisdiction to locate the accused. The RCMP Major Crime Unit is now leading the investigation.

BREAKING: Plane Crash In New Germany

A 46 year-old man is in serious condition following a plane crash in New Germany. Emergency officials say the pilot was the only person riding in the ultra-light plane when it went down shortly after 2 o'clock near Falkenham Lane. An investigation is underway into the cause of the crash. However, Corporal Scott McRae says it appears the aircraft was dealing with some engine trouble shortly after take-off. McRae says the pilot has been airlifted to a Halifax hospital. Officials from Transport Canada and Department of Environment attended the crash site to investigate the scene. It's believed some fuel leaked from the aircraft and had to be cleaned up.

No Plans To Re-Schedule Bluenose II Re-Launch

The Bluenose II relaunch will take place as scheduled despite some inclement weather in tomorrow's forecast. The latest forecast for Lunenburg County is calling for heavy rain (15-25MM) and wind gusts up to 50 km/h. Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage spokesperson, Steve Warburton, says the event will go ahead as planned on Saturday morning. Warburton says they only need a small window to ensure Bluenose II enters the water safely. An all-day celebration begins at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning in Lunenburg.

Roseway Manor Re-Opens After Flu Bug Hits

A long-term care facility in Shelburne has re-opened. Roseway Manor has been closed for three weeks because of a nasty flu bug. Administrator Sharon Callan says fortunately, no one died as a result and now everyone appears free of the virus.



During the closure, families were kept up to date on their loves ones' conditions but they weren't allowed to visit. Now, the restriction has been lifted and everything is back to normal at the manor.

Town, MODL Approve New Visitor Information Centre

The Municipality of Lunenburg and the town of Bridgewater have approved a joint venture to fund a new Visitor Information Centre. Both units will cost-share the centre at just over $23,000 for at least the first five years of a 10-year lease. The location of the building will be just off exit 11 in Blockhouse. Bridgewater Mayor Carroll Publicover says it's a convenient location.




The new location is expected to provide easier access for tourists and generate more traffic. Construction is expected to start in late October or early November. The centre is expected to be ready to open by May 1, 2013.

Too Early To Know About Cap Effects: School Board

The Nova Scotia government says it will hire 45 elementary school teachers in an effort to relieve pressure on class sizes. In a statement, the Education Department says school boards have submitted class sizes that show while most Primary to Grade 3 classes were below historic averages, some were too large. Fifteen per cent of those classes have 25 or more students, and Education Minister Ramona Jennex says she wants to keep class sizes capped at 25. School Board member Judith Sullivan-Corney says they don't quite know the impact on their schools.

 

Sullivan-Corney says they have about 13 classrooms over the cap, but only by a few students.

Gasoline Prices Rise

Gasoline prices at South Shore pumps are higher this morning. Thats oppositite to New Brunswick the other night where prices decreased by three cents a litre. Gasoline prices here today have risen 3 cents from yesterday. Regular self serve is selling for $1.37.9 a litre. Diesel is also up by a couple of cents.

RCMP Investigate Martin's River Assault

Lunenburg County RCMP are looking into an assault in Martins River. A woman was out for a walk along the walking trail near Station Road around 6 o'clock Thursday morning when she was confronted by an unknown man. The woman was knocked to the ground but managed to fight him off. The suspect then took off, running toward Martins River. The amount of information about the suspect is small because it was dark and raining at the time of the incident and the victim was unable to get a good look at him. The RCMP are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect.

Mounties Believe Leblanc/Cunningham In Ontario

The two men accused in a forcible confinement case are believed to be traveling through Ontario. RCMP say they believe 47-year-old David James Leblanc and 31-year-old Wayne Alan Cunningham have fled Nova Scotia. Police say they have received several tips over the past 24 hours. Leblanc and Cunningham are charged with forcible confinement and sexual assault in an alleged case involving a 16 year-old boy. Earlier today, RCMP said the teen had been held captive for up to two weeks. Police are working with the appropriate police service of jurisdiction to locate the men. The RCMP Major Crime Unit is now leading the investigation.