Fox Point: RCMP Investigate Weekend Fire

The cause of a fire at an empty home in Fox Point is under investigation. In a media release, police say they were called to the scene on the Lighthouse Road around 9:30 on Friday night. Fire crews in Hubbards and Blandford were dispatched to help battle the blaze. The home sustained significant damage. There were no injuries. Mounties are asking anyone with information to contact the Lunenburg County RCMP.

Second Public Meeting To Discuss Group Home

The town of Bridgewater will hold another public discussion on by-law changes for a group home on Evergreen Road. LaHave Manor wants to increase the number of residents permitted to live in the facility from three to five. The town has changed wording in its bylaw to allow for the increase and are holding a meeting to gather public feedback. Mayor David Walker says they want to keep the public engaged in the process.



The meeting will is scheduled for mid-January.

Hockey Wrap: 'Jacks Hang Tough Against Bearcats

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks battled hard in Truro last night, eventually falling 2-1 in a shootout to the Bearcats. Josh Bowman's goal early in the third period was the equalizer as the Jacks earned a big point on the road. Goalie Jordan Lee made 39 saves for the Jacks who play their third game in as many days this afternoon in Summerside. In Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League in Sydney the Cape Breton Tradesmen edged the South Shore Mustangs 3-2. Alex Nauss had both goals for the Stangs who've lost eleven straight. The clubs meet again this morning. In Q League action the visiting Halifax Mooseheads outscored the Moncton Wildcats 8-6. 

Queens Place Celebrates First Anniversary

Queens Place Emera Centre is celebrating their first anniversary next week. Hundreds of residents attended the grand opening of the 22 million dollar facility last December. General Manager, Neil Raymond says over the past year the centre has been well recieved.



He adds there are big plans for the new year including the Hank Snow Tribute in the summer. Queens Place will also be home to the 2014 Canadian Nationals for junior curling.

Gasoline Prices Drop Again!

As expected, gasoline prices along the South Shore dropped overnight. A litre of regular self serve is down almost 4 cents today at $1.20.2. Diesel is also lower. Its selling at $1.31.4 per litre. Thats down 3 cents a litre from yesterday.

MHL: 'Jacks Look To End Slide

It's out of the frying pan and into the fire for the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks. Bridgewater's Junior "A" hockey team has lost eight straight as they get set to play three games in three days against three of the MHL's top clubs. They'll kick things off tonight at home against the defending league-champion Woodstock Slammers. The Jacks will journey to Truro tomorrow to face the first-place Bearcats before travelling to Summerside for a Sunday matinee against the Capitals.
This evening's tilt against the Slammers faces off at 7 at the Bridgewater Arena. 

Minister: New Germany Residents Should Take Time To Heal

The province's education minister says New Germany residents should take time to heal after a stressful few days. The community endured an emotional roller-coaster this week after learning a controversial teacher was close to returning to the classroom. The local school board voted unanimously Wednesday night to accept a settlement with Peter Speight that includes he resign and surrender his teaching license. Ramona Jennex says people can take comfort he'll never teach in this province.



Under the arrangement, Speight will receive compensation over and above the $150,000 he's owed in back pay. Jennex would not reveal the financial details of the settlement, but confirmed the school board will not be adversely affected.

Lucky Driver Avoids Serious Injuries In 103 Accident

RCMP officers say the female driver of a small car that went out of control earlier this morning on the Gold River Bridge on Highway-103 is lucky to have escaped serious injury.  They say the vehicle, heading east, apparently encountered a sheet of black ice on the bridge, spun out of control, missed colliding with other traffic and rammed a guardrail. The driver was apparently shaken-up by the mishap and paramedics took her to hospital in Lunenburg to be checked out. The Bridgewater-bound lane of the 103 was closed between exits 9 and 10 for more than an hour as the scene was cleared and DOT applied salt to the bridge deck.

New Germany Residents React To Teacher Settlement

A small group of residents from New Germany erupted in jubilation after the South Shore Regional School Board came to a settlement with a former teacher. The board voted unanimously Wednesday night to accept a settlement with Peter Speight that includes he resign immediately and surrender his teaching license. Parent Myra Jodrey has a son in grade six at New Germany Elementary and was overwhelmed with the outcome.



President of New Germany Elementary's Home and School Association, Jennifer Hayward, says the decision will come as a relief to the community.



Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says they have to protect the best interests of students and the community.



She says the financial terms of the settlement are confidential but confirmed Speight will be paid on top of the $150,000 already owed in back pay. The agreement was announced after the school board moved in-camera for nearly an hour to consult with their lawyer. In the video below, school board members unanimously vote in favour of a settlement and lawyer John MacPherson also talks about the issue of confidentiality in dealing with the matter.

BREAKING: Speight Surrenders Teaching License

In a stunning development, the South Shore Regional School Board has reached a settlement with a controversial ex-elementary school teacher. The board confirmed the deal involving Peter Speight this evening during their regular monthly meeting at Hebbville Academy. The arrangements of the deal include the former Grade 3 teacher immediately resign and surrender his teaching license. Financial terms of the arrangement have not been revealed. Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says the financial terms are confidential but confirmed Speight will be paid on top of the $150,000 already owed in back pay. The agreement was announced after the school board moved in-camera for nearly an hour to consult with their legal team. Lawyer John MacPherson told board members there had been a flurry of developments regarding the matter and that a settlement had been reached. The elected board then passed a motion to accept the terms of the settlement in unanimous fashion. Late Wednesday, Education Minister Ramona Jennex ordered the school board to place Speight on administrative leave until a judicial review process was complete. The South Shore Regional School Board had been ordered to give Speight his teaching position back even though he had pleaded guilty to sex charges more than three years ago. Speight was given a conditional discharge at the time and was later fired by the board for his actions. However, after a judicial review it was determined he was unreasonably discharged and deemed a low risk to re-offend - a decision upheld by the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in November. The Department of Education and local school board had been fighting for the last few year's to block Speight's return to the classroom. The settlement means Speight will not be making another appearance at New Germany Elementary.

BREAKING: Controversial Teacher Put On Administrative Leave

Education Minister Ramona Jennex is intervening into the situation surrounding the controversial return of an ex-elementary school teacher. Jennex is directing the South Shore Regional School board to put Peter Speight on administrative leave until the status of his teaching certificate is complete. The minister says students at New Germany Elementary School need a stable, positive learning environment. Speight was given a conditional discharge in 2009 after he pleaded guilty to committing an indecent act in Halifax, and courts have ruled he should get his job back. The Department of Education has applied for a judicial review into an arbitrator's decision to return Speight's teaching certificate. A date for the hearing has not been set.

Lunenburg County Officer Faces Four Charges

The province's Serious Incident Response Team has laid four charges against a member of the RCMP in Lunenburg County. The independent body says the charges stem from alleged incidents which occurred over a two year period between December of 2010 and last August. The investigation was launched after a referral from the Bridgewater Police Service regarding an allegation of domestic violence against an RCMP member. The SIRT issued charges in August and include assault, sexual assault, uttering threats and careless use of a firearm. The male officer will return to Bridgewater court in the new year. The Serious Incident Response Team is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia.

White Point Beach Resort Will Host Open House

White Point Beach Resort is welcoming the community Friday afternoon. Officials are throwing an open house to let residents view the new building. Visitors will be able to take in the main lodge, pool area, and kitchen. Frances Dickson, author of "Destination White Point" will sign copies of her book. As well, a smudging ceremony will take place to cleanse the inside of the lodge. The open house begins at 3:30 Friday.

Bowater Mill Site Future Outlined By Premier

As expected, the former Bowater Mersey paper mill in Brooklyn will be converted into a research, development and demonstration facility. Premier Darrell Dexter made the announcement this morning at the site. He says his government is teaming up with Emera and Cellufuel, a renewable energy company, to launch the site. The establishment of the centre comes after the government made a deal this week to acquire the Bowater woodlands from Resolute Forest Products Ltd. while taking on $117.7 million in debt. Emera has signed-on as the centre's first tenant, promising to spend at least $1 million over the next five years. The provincial government is also giving $500,000 to Cellufuel, and half of that money is intended to help the company turn wood biomass into renewable diesel fuel.

Town Seeks Appraisal For Library Building

The town of Bridgewater will get a King Street property appraised before deciding on its future. Two expressions of interest have been received by the town for the library building..one by a group known as Cafe 12, the other by Swain and Associates. Councillors have decided to spend a few thousand dollars to see how much the property is worth. Mayor David Walker says its a necessary move.



Walker says an appraisal could answer questions around renovation costs and building code regulations. He says time is on their side as the property will have a tenant until at least the spring. Details on the appraisal will be released in the new year.

School Board: Larger Venue For Monthly Meeting

The South Shore Regional School Board has shifted the location of it's regular meeting to accomodate a larger crowd. In a tweet, the board states they will hold Wednesday's meeting at Hebbville Academy. The shift in location is an effort to accomodate the big crowd expected to hear more about the situation regarding Peter Speight. The local school board indicates the meeting is open to the public. It begins at 7 o'clock. For more information on the Speight story, check our website for the latest.

VIDEO: New Germany: Uproar Over Ex-Teacher's Past

Community members are in an uproar after restorative justice officials kept them out of a meeting with a former teacher. Roughly 125 parents attended last night's meeting at New Germany Elementary to question Peter Speight, while almost 30 people waited outside the school gym. Families are concerned because the Bridgewater native is on the verge of being reinstated as a teacher after pleading guilty to sex offences that occurred in the Halifax-area in 2008. Speight was given a conditional discharge and later fired by the South Shore Regional School Board. However,  an arbitrator deemed Speight was unreasonably 'let go' - a ruling later upheld in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.  Jamie Brewer's child attends the elementary school. She is surprised Speight is so close to getting his job back.



Meanwhile, Jolene Emino Mailman has a step-grandchild in the school. She questions the whole process.



Dozens of parents are threatening to transfer their children to different schools if the former Grade 3 teacher returns to the classroom. The Department of Education has filed for a judicial review of an arbitrator's decision to reinstate his teaching certificate. No date has been set for the hearing. The meeting was briefly interrupted when an individual stormed into the closed door meeting. Police escorted the man out of the school without incident.

MODL Mayor Concerned About Oakhill Mill's Future

The future use of the Oakhill sawmill is up in the air after the Dexter government failed to purchase the site from Resolute Forest Products. The province announced Monday they've taken control of 220,000 hectares of woodlands, along with Brooklyn Power and the former Bowater mill factory site. The government didn't purchase the Lunenburg County sawmill because of the softwood lumber agreement. Municipality of Lunenburg mayor Don Downe says he's spoken to Resolute officials about operating the mill again. But, he says, a decision hasn't been made.



Downe says if Resolute doesn't operate the facility, it should be sold to a business who will take over mill. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Montreal based-company has told CKBW/HANK-FM News they will take their time in deciding the future of the Oakhill sawmill.

Details On Future Of Bowater Mill Site Coming On Wednesday

Premier Darrell Dexter will make two announcements in Queens County on Wednesday. The first will include details surrounding the future of the former Bowater Mersey paper mill. The factory site was acquired in the deal reached with Resolute Forest Products on Monday.  The province has already revealed it plans to transform the defunct mill site into a new clean energy, bioenergy & forestry innovation centre. Meanwhile, Mayor Christopher Clarke will join Dexter later for another announcement later in the day relating to the future of Pine Grove Park in Milton.

'Inn From The Cold' Returns In Lunenburg County

An emergency shelter program in Lunenburg County is beginning their fourth year. 'Inn From the Cold' helps local homeless people by providing a bed and food once a week. The program partners with the Bridgewater Police and seven local churches. Coordinator Laura Uhlman believes residents will benefit from the program.



The service helped roughly 30 people last year and runs until May. People needing a place to stay are asked to call Bridgewater police.