South Shore: Thieves Empty Church's Oil Tank

Thieves have siphoned an entire tank of oil from a church in Martin's River. Lunenburg County RCMP say the theft occurred early Tuesday morning at St. Martin's Anglican Church. Constable Christa Morrison says the church just had the tank filled the day before the theft took place. Morrison believes the oil was worth approximately $600 in total. She says it's a big blow to a small rural church and its clergy. The church is located near an ATV trail along Highway 3 in Martin's River. Mounties are looking for multiple suspects in their investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact local police or Crime Stoppers.

Health Counselors Help Students Cope With Daily Challenges

More health counselors will be available to help students at schools in Lunenburg and Queens. Six counselors are now in place to assist with issues such as addiction, mental health and sexual health throughout the school district. It represents an increase of four positions to join the already existing support provided by staff from South Shore Health. Director of Community Health Programs, Todd Leader says the new support will help youth deal with everyday challenges.



Leader says health counselors will have a regular presence in schools on a rotation style basis. The expanded services are the result of the realignment of some of South Shore Health's program staff and funding through the province's mental health strategy.

Future Of Riverport School Unknown

The future of the Riverport school is up in the air. Councillors with the Municipality of Lunenburg debated spending money to heat the building to preserve equipment over the winter. But, a few councillors spoke out about saving money and demolishing the facility sooner rather than later. Mayor Don Downe says they will wait to talk with the councillor for the area before making a decision.



Don Zwicker missed the session but is expected back for council's meeting next Tuesday. Council could spend anywhere from $2500 to $30,000 if they choose to continue heating the school over the winter.

Lumberjacks Re-Assign Seyforth, Release Langille

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks have given walking papers to a forward and a defenceman. Head Coach Terry Rhindress says Alex Seyforth has been re-assigned to Junior 'B' while the team took a different direction with Craig Langille, who has been released. The Jacks had seven defenceman once Brandon Gaudet returned to the lineup after an injury. The local Junior 'A' club is on the road this weekend with games against Campbellton, Miramichi and Woodstock.

Bridgewater: Candidates Forum On Wednesday

The twelve candidates seeking a seat on Bridgewater town council will debate the issues in an open forum Wednesday night. In Bridgewater, municipal councillors are elected at large with the top six vote getters securing a seat on the new council. The forum will be held at the Days Inn in Bridgewater. It begins at 7 o'clock.





The following candidates are seeking election on October 20th: Top six vote getters are elected.


*Jim Bell

Beverlee Brown

Michael Graves

*Patrick Hirtle

Sandra Mailman

Kevin Marlin

Jennifer McDonald

*Bill McInnis

*Greg Ritcey

Andrew J. Tanner

Wayne S. Thorburne

Dennis Woodworth

*indicates incumbent candidates

"Experience Key In Transition Period For Lunenburg"

A veteran councillor in Lunenburg believes his experience can help the new council during a transition period for the town. Danny Croft is a life-long resident of Lunenburg and has served on town council for more than 13 years. He cites fiscal responsibility, keeping taxes reasonable and the future of Lunenburg Academy as some of the big issues facing council and residents. Croft believes a steady hand at the council table will help move those issue forward.



Nine councillors in total are looking for six council seats in Lunenburg when municipal elections are held on October 20th.

Police Investigating Mischief At LCLC

Bridgewater Police are looking for one or more individuals who spray-painted containers and pavement at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. The incident happened overnight late last week. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bridgewater Police Service at 543-2464.

Ohrt Challenging Former Members In Queens

The school board seat for Queens County will be highly contested. Five people are running for the lone seat on the eight-member board including Elliott Payzant, Allan Foster and first-time candidate Karen Ohrt. The Beach Meadows resident says she believes its time for a change.



Ohrt considers declining enrollment and budget restrictions the two biggest challenges the school board is facing. Courtney Wentzell and Cliff 'Butch' MacLeod are also running for the seat. School Board elections will be held later this month.

Bridgewater Police Officer Trial Dates Set

An off-duty Bridgewater police officer charged with two counts of domestic assault will stand trial next March. Forty-six year-old Christine Marion Bonnell is charged with assaulting Joseph Wiley Ross Jr. between July 1 and July 21, 2012, and again on July 31, 2012. She has pleaded not guilty. Her lawyer asked that the cases be tried separately, so trial dates have been set for March 22 and March 25, 2013. Bonnell, who has not been on active duty since 2008, was charged after an investigation by the province's Serious Incident Response Team, which is called in to investigate allegations against police officers. She has been released on an undertaking pending her trials.

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.