More ER Closures Planned At Fishermen's Memorial

There are more closures planned for the emergency department at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg. The ER will be closed Friday December 28 at 2:30pm and will reopen on Saturday December 29 at 7:30am. The emergency department will also close at 2:30 this afternoon and open back up at 7:30 Tuesday morning. The closure is being blamed on a shortage of available doctors. Anyone needing emergency services are being asked to head to the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater. Patients with non-emergencies should contact their family physician or call Health Link 811.

Lunenburg: ER Closure At Fishermen's Memorial

The emegency department at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg will be temporarily closed over Christmas. A lack of physician coverage is to blame for the closure which begins on Monday afternoon at 2:30PM. The ER will re-open Christmas Day at 7:30AM. Residents requiring emergency services are being asked to visit the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater. Patients with non-emergencies should contact their family physician or call Health Link 811.

Gas Prises Rise Ahead of Holiday Rush

If you're hitting the highway heading home for Christmas, you will have to pay more to hit the road. Gasoline prices are "up" at South Shore pumps and elsewhere in the province. The utility and review board set the prices for the next week at midnight last night. A litre of regular self serve is up 3.5 cents this morning to a $1.23.7. Diesel is also up in price this morning by the same amount.
Its selling for a $1-34.8 a litre.

Basketball Jones: Holiday Hoop Fest Tips Off

The Day's Inn Holiday Hopp Fest boys basketball tournament begins this morning at Park View with the host Panthers tiping off agaisnt the Memorial Marauders from Sydney Mines. Games continue all day including the Bridgewater Vikings playing at 2:00pm against the Dartmouth Spartans.The Panthers will play their second game of the day at 6:00pm an the Vikings wil host their scond game at the BHS gym at 8:00pm.

 

HOOP FEST SCHEDULE

 

Game 1 10:00am  Memorial      VS  Park View

Game 2 12:00pm  Central Kings vs  Halifax West

Game 3  2:00pm  Dartmouth     vs  Bridgewater

Game 4  4:00pm  J.L.Ilsley    vs  Shelburne

Game 5  6:00pm  Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2  @ Park View or B.H.S.

 

Game 6  6:00pm  Loser  of Game 1 vs Loser  of Game 2  @ Park View or B.H.S.

 

Game 7  8:00pm  Winner of Game 3 vs Winner of Game 4  @ Park View or B.H.S.

Game 8  8:00pm  Loser  of Game 3 vs Loser  of Game 4  @ Park View or B.H.S.

 

Saturday Dec. 22  @ Park View

3:00pm  Championship

Supreme Court: Eisnor Murder Trial Begins In May

Nine days have been set aside for a Barss Corner man charged with first degree murder. Wayne Paul Eisnor is accused of shooting his wife, Tina Mae, in a New Germany parking lot in June 2010. He then turned the gun on himself and suffered significant brain damage as a result of the self inflicted gun shot wound. The 48 year was deemed mentally fit to stand trial by a provincial court judge in April. However, Crown lawyer Lloyd Tancock says the matter of mental fitness is a live issue. He says Eisnor's mental fitness to stand trial could be put in the hands of a jury before proceed with the remainder of the murder case. The Nova Scotia Supreme Court trial will begin on May 13th. Eisnor will be tried by judge and jury.

Mayor Disappointed Oakhill Sawmill Will Not Reopen

A Lunenburg County mayor says a decision by Resolute Forest Products to keep the Oakhill sawmill closed doesn't make sense. The company revealed its intent to dismantle the mill in a letter that came across the desk of Don Downe on Tuesday. He says it's disappointing news.



Downe was hopeful the company could find a local suitor to take over operations and keep the sawmill afloat. At least 125 people lost their jobs when the mill was idled shortly after the Bowater Mersey Paper mill was closed in June. A call to Resolute Forest Products has not been returned.

Residents Plead To MODL To Save Rose Bay Wharf

Proponents of a public wharf in Rose Bay are reaching out to the Municipality of Lunenburg to help them keep the property in the community. Residents are concerned because a divestiture from the Federal government needs to be accepted or the wharf will be demolished. It's the only wharf in the community and local fisherman would need to move to another area if something isn't done. Committee Chair David Adler says the wharf is a necessity.



The municipality has referred information to a committee to further discuss the wharf's future. It has until the end of March to reach a decision on whether it will accept or decline the divestiture.

Dates For Eisnor Trial Will Be Set On Thursday

Trial dates for a Barss Corner man charged with first degree murder in the death of his estranged wife will be set on Thursday. Wayne Paul Eisnor is accused of shooting his wife, Tine Mae, in a New Germany parking lot in June of 2010 before turning the gun on himself. Eisnor suffered significant brain damage as a result of the self inflicted gun shot wound but a provincial court judge ruled in April his condition had improved and he was mentally fit to stand trial. The 48 year-old's fate will be determined by judge and jury in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

SSRSB: Some Schools Being Dismissed Early

A number of schools on the South Shore will dismiss their students early today due to tricky road conditions. Students at New Germany Elementary and High School, North Queens, Greenfield and New Ross Consolidated will be sent home at 11:30AM. That also includes New Ross area students attending Forest Heights.

Another Delay In Teen Confinement Case

Inclement weather has delayed the teen confinement case until the new year. Dates for a preliminary hearing involving David Leblanc were expected to be set during today's court appearance in Bridgewater. However, the 47 year year-old's lawyer Mike Taylor, was unable to attend this morning court's appearance in Bridgewater due to tricky road conditions. Leblanc is facing seven charges in relation to the sexual assault and confinement of a 16 year-old boy in Upper Chelsea. The matter has been adjourned until January 16th.

UPDATED: Resolute Won't Re-Open Oakhill Sawmill

Resolute Forest Products will not re-open a Lunenburg County sawmill.The Montreal-based company is preparing to dismantle the Oakhill Sawmill and move its equipment out of province to service other operations within the company. Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Jacques Vachon revealed the company's plans in a letter to the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. The Oakhill sawmill was idled shortly after the Bowater Mersey Paper mill was closed in June. The sawmill used to employ roughly 100 employees.  The operation was not purchased by the Nova Scotia government in a massive land and assets deal announced last week.

Province, School Board Split Costs For Judicial Review

It's being pegged as a miscommunication between the South Shore Regional School Board and Department of Education. An official with the education department says the two sides will now split the cost of legal and arbitration fees for the judicial review involving Peter Speight. The school board said earlier this week they would incur $47,000 while the Department of Education would cover $116,000. Department spokesperson, Dan Harrison, says the two parties had a misunderstanding over the costs.



Each side will now pay $81,500. However, the school board remains committed to its earlier stance, saying no teaching positions will be affected by the unbudgeted expense.

Energy Audit Planned For Four Bridgewater Facilities

Four facilities in Bridgewater are going under the microscope to have their energy consumption reviewed. The Memorial Arena's seniors complex and shed along with Brookside Cemetery's office and garage will be audited to see if they can reduce their carbon footprint. The four buildings have never been audited and staff believe their could be significant energy-saving opportunities. The audits are part of the town's initiative to lower energy consumption in facilities by 15% compared to 2007-08 levels. Council has approved an unbudgeted expenditure of $4,800 for the audits. Efficiency Nova Scotia has agreed to cover half the costs of the project, and could pay for all of it if the audit recommendations are fully implemented.

BREAKING: Charges Dropped In Chester Basin Murder Investigation

A second degree murder charge has been dropped in the case of an 18 year-old accused of killing his mother in Chester Basin. Jack Buckley was released from custody this afternoon after spending the past nine months behind bars. The body of 57 year-old Victoria Brauns-Buckley was found inside her home on the Borgels Point Road on March 2nd.  Her teenage son was arrested a week later and charged in relation to her death. The cause of her death has never been released. Crown lawyer Lloyd Tancock told reporters their case lacked sufficient evidence to obtain a conviction in the case.



Meanwhile, defence lawyer Patrick MacEwan says his client is relieved and was told he would be released on Saturday. The investigation into the death of Brauns-Buckley remains active.

Shelburne: Green Light For Aquaculture Projects

The province has approved two new aquaculture sites in Shelburne County. Fisheries Minister Sterling Beliveau says the approvals come with strict agreements to ensure the sites will protect the local fishing industries and coastal environment. Kelly Cove Salmon Limited, a subsidiary of Cooke Aquaculture will operate the new sites in Jordan Bay. The Nova Scotia government says the company went through a rigorous application process that took 26 months. Belliveau says these new sites will help to further grow the industry and the economy. An extensive review concluded these sites would pose minimal risk or adverse effects to fish, fish habitat, and fisheries resources.

Some conditions attached to the licences and leases include:

-- following a code of containment for Atlantic salmon in marine net pens

-- enhanced environmental monitoring by a third-party consultant, including more site visits and additional sampling locations

-- reduced stocking densities.

Lunenburg: Collaborative Emergency Centre Announced

Residents of Lunenburg will have greater access to various health care providers with the creation of a new Collaborative Emergency Centre at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital. It will be the seventh emergency centre established in the province and will provide faster access to doctors and nurses. Health Minister Dave Wilson says it will help to address issues of long waits and overcrowding. However, it's not known when the centre will officially be open to the public. Wilson says more exploratory work is needed regarding staffing and infrastructure.



Wilson says the new centre will also reduce the stress of emergency room closure rates at Fishermen's Memorial. South Shore Health is currently working with officials at the Department of Health and Wellness to develop the best possible model to meet the community's needs. Nova Scotia's first Collaborative Emergency Centre opened in Parrsboro in July 2011. There are now CECs in Pugwash, Tatamagouche, Annapolis Royal, Musquodoboit Harbour, and Springhill.

School Board Faces $47,000 Bill For Judicial Review

The South Shore Regional School Board is footing the bill for a judicial review with an ex-elementary school teacher. The board will have to find $47,000 in this year's budget associated with trying to keep Peter Speight out of the classroom. Director of Finance, Wade Tattrie, says its unbudgeted money.



Tattrie says it's highly unlikely they will be forced to cut a teaching position. The Department of Education will cover the school board's legal and arbitration fees of $116,000.

Schools Lower Flags To Respect Connecticut Victims

Flags are at half-mast today at South Shore Schools to show respect for those who lost their lives in the tragic shooting late last week in Connecticut. Twenty children and six adults were killed Friday when a gunman entered the Newtown school and opened fire. School Board Communications Manager, Trish Smith, says it's important for them to show respect.




Smith says the board has also encouraged staff and parents to speak with kids who have questions about violent events. More details can be found here . The premier has called the event a "shocking and unthinkable act."

Bridgewater Police Getting New Radio System

Bridgewater Police are getting a more modern radio system. Town council has given a green light to a proposal and pre-approved over $37,000 for the resource. The radio equipment was used for a one-month period during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Chief John Collyer says it works out well for the police service.


Thirty-thousand dollars will come from reserve while just over $7,600 will be provided from the 2013-14 budget. The police service's current radio system has been in use since 1993.

Teams Advance To NS Women's Curling Championship

Six women's curling teams advanced to the Provincial Scotties at a qualifier in Sydney over the weekend. Those earning berths include defending champ Heather Smith Dacey of Mayflower and clubmate Mary Anne Arsenault. Bridgewater's Nancy McConnery was ousted after posting a 1-3 record. The final two spots will be decided in Port Hawksbury early next month. The Scotties will be staged in Halifax at the end of January