Local Band Tunes Up For Lieutenant Governor's Party

The Bridgewater Fire Department Band has a date with the province's Lieutenant Governor. The band has been invited to play in front of Brigadier-General J.J. Grant at the annual garden party in Halifax next month. It's one of the few times a civilian band will play at the prestigious event. Music Director Wendell Eisener says it's an overwhelming feeling for the band.



Eisener says the band is slated to play for roughly three hours and will focus on ceremonial tunes along with a selection of spring and summer collections. The event will be held June 19 at Government House in Halifax.

Three Local Companies Win Export Achievement Awards

Three South Shore companies are being recognized for their work in exporting goods. Terra Beata Cranberry Farm in Lunenburg, Cotter's Ocean Products Inc. in Lockeport and Novatec Braids Ltd. in Yarmouth are among nine recipients this year of the Nova Scotia Export Achievement Awards. Economic and Rural Development Minister Percy Paris says each year, about 850 companies produce exports worth almost $16-billion. The winners will be recognized during a luncheon event in Halifax May 14. This is the 29th year the awards have been held. Full details are available here .

New Funding For Search & Rescue Groups

Search and Rescue organizations in Nova Scotia are getting a much needed financial boost. South Shore-St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy has announced nearly $135,000 to boost response and safety across the province. He says the funding will improve search and rescue capacity and capability. The money is part of the Search and Rescue New Initiative Fund as part of an $8.1 million dollar investment for organizations across the country. The fund was established by the federal government in 1998.

MODL Planning To Change MARC North Name

The Municipality of Lunenburg is planning to move ahead with a name change for MARC North near New Germany. The space will now be called 'River Ridge Common' after a municipal committee held a contest in the surrounding communities. Councillor Cathy Moore says they received roughly 25 names. She says they wanted to have a unique name to separate it from the MARC in Dayspring.




Council still has to approve the idea at its next meeting.

Mooseheads Fever Hits Nova Scotia - Game 3 Tonight

The Halifax Mooseheads look to keep their undefeated play-off streak alive tonight in Quebec. The Mooseheads have been perfect thus far in the post season with a record of 14-0. They currently lead the Best-of-Seven series with Baie Comeau two games to none. This evening's Game 3 match-up will be shown on the big scene in Parade Square in Halifax. The game will also be televised depending on your cable provider. Puck drops at 8:30pm.

Heat Gun Believed To Have Caused Fire In LaHave

No one was injured after a fire broke out at a home in LaHave Monday afternoon. Crews from Riverport, LaHave, Pleasantville, Petite Riviere and Bridgewater were called to the scene along Highway 331. LaHave and District Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief, Nathan Ott, says a crew of painters reported the fire between the walls shortly after 3pm, near a side window. He says there was some damage to the home.



Ott believes the fire was caused by a heat gun, being used to strip paint around the window. He credits crews for knocking down the fire quickly.

Wolter Brothers Soaring In Steeplechase

A pair of Lunenburg County brothers were at it again on the track. Mattias Wolter dominated the field this weekend in New Jersey to win the Big East 3,000 metre steeplechase title. The junior at Louisville beat his nearest competitor by seven seconds. Meanwhile, his brother, Tobias Wolter, ran a 2,000 metre solo steeple in six minutes. The result now ranks him at the top of Canadian youth.

Police Chief Urges Public To Create 72-Hour Emergency Kit

A week reminding the public about the importance of being ready during an emergency kicks-off today across the country. Emergency Preparedness Week goes until May 11. Bridgewater Police Chief John Collyer says the message is simple; make sure your family is prepared for up to 72 hours in case of an emergency. He says having a plan of where to go and what to do in an emergency is the best way to be prepared.



Collyer says a 72-hour kit should contain a number of items including lots of water, canned food, a battery-powered radio, and a flashlight. The kit should also contain a list of important phone numbers including a doctor and emergency services.

Police Find Clothing Of Caledonia Robbery Suspect

Queens County RCMP are calling it a 'significant' break in their search for the alleged suspect in the Caledonia Pharmasave robbery. Corporal Victor Whalen says tips from the public led to police finding several pieces of clothing they believe the suspect was wearing at the time of the incident. He says the clothing was found just outside Caledonia. Whalen adds, the items will go to the forensic lab to be analyzed.



The drug store was robbed early last week. The suspect is described as a man in his 20's, five feet, 10 inches tall, with a slim build. Queens RCMP are hopeful more tips from the public will funnel in and help them locate the alleged suspect.

Work Continues Around Jordan Bay Fish Farms

A pair of fish farms in Shelburne County should be up and running by the end of May. Cooke Aquaculture has been working to prepare the sites over the past few months. The New Brunswick-based company has hired 18 new workers to maintain the sites.  Spokesperson Nell Halse says they've been focusing on hiring and training local people for their job openings.




Halse says the company is looking to hire 27 workers in total for the Jordan Bay operation. The aquaculture sites will be home to roughly 500,000 fish when its ready for operation.

VIDEO: Queens MLA Recognized By NDP

The MLA for Queens was recognized by her fellow caucus members during this weekend's NDP annual general meeting. Vicki Conrad is among six New Democrats who have chosen not to re-offer in the next provincial election. She says it was an emotional tribute by the party and was humbled by a standing ovation. Conrad says she has no regrets on her time as MLA.



She says she's working on a few projects in the region before her time as MLA ends. The NDP AGM was held at Pier 21 in Halifax.

Mooseheads Blank Baie-Comeau

The Halifax Mooseheads have grabbed the opener of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's championship series. Led by Zachary Fucale's 28 saves the Herd blanked Baie-Comeau 4-0 Friday night at a sold out Metro Centre. The best of seven set continues Saturday night at 7 in Halifax.

Liverpool's Whalen Sets New Career Bests

Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen had a day to remember Friday at the Seminole Twilight Invitational in Tallahassee, Florida. The 20-year-old junior at Florida State came away as the top performer after registering career best marks in javelin and shotput. Whalen started off in the javelin with a throw of 48.06 metres. The throw was good enough for third place but it surpassed her previous top score, which she set at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championship. In the shot put, Whalen continued her torrid pace this season, re-writing the school's record book for the third time with a throw of 16.35 meters. The toss was good enough for first place.

Conrad To Be Recognized By Provincial NDP

The MLA for Queens will be one of six New Democrat members honoured by the party during their provincial annual general meeting this weekend. The NDP are recognizing those MLAs who aren't re-offering in the next provincial election. Vicki Conrad confirmed last week that she will not run after consulting with family, close friends and the premier. She is the sixth member of the government caucus to say she won’t be running including cabinet ministers Graham Steele and Bill Estabrooks. The party's AGM will be held Saturday at Pier 21 in Halifax.

NDP's Fisheries Minister Will Run In Queens-Shelburne

NDP MLA Sterling Belliveau has announced he will seek the nomination in the newly formed riding of Queens-Shelburne. Belliveau was first elected to represent Shelburne in 2006 and was re-elected in 2009. He currently serves as Minister of Environment and Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. The Shelburne riding was eliminated when the province's electoral boundaries were redrawn last fall. Current NDP MLA for Queens Vicki Conrad announced she would not seek the nomination on April 26th.

UPDATED: Bridgewater Prepares To Flush Water Mains

Residents are advised that watermains will be flushed during the period of May 11-June 4, between the hours of 6pm and 2am, and in accordance with the schedule below.  Some loss of pressure and discolouration of the water may be experienced during the flushing.  Customers are reminded that domestic hot water tanks should be flushed annually, and main water valves in basements should be turned off when flushing is being undertaken in their area.  If you have any questions, contact the Engineering Department at 541-4370.

Schedule

May 11, 12, 14, 15
All streets on the west side of LaHave River, north of Dufferin St., but not including Dufferin St.

May 16, 21
All streets between Dufferin St. and Jubilee Rd., including Dufferin St., but not including Jubilee Rd.

May 22, 23
All streets south of, and including, Jubilee Rd., and west to, but not including Desbrisay Drive.

May 28, 29, 30
East side of LaHave River starting at Chapel Hill Road, flushing all streets westerly to LaHave St.

June 4
"Pressure zone" on east side of River, which includes Winter Street, Winburn Ave. above Glen Sarty Dr, Pine Grove Road, New Pine Grove Road, Highway 10 between Highway 103 and Champlain Drive.

NOTE: Due to weather and water conditions, there may be some deviation from the above schedule.

Yarmouth MLA Handed Suspension For Heckling

The MLA for Yarmouth has been handed a one-day suspension from the legislature for heckling. Deputy Speaker of the legislature Becky Kent initially suspended Zach Churchill for five days after asking him to apologize to her and to the house of assembly for unparliamentary behaviour. Churchill, who represents the Liberals in the riding of Yarmouth, said the move was heavy-handed and orchestrated by NDP house leader Frank Corbett. Corbett rejected the accusation. Kent later said she had erred in her ruling and reduced the suspension to one day.

PC Travelling Road Show Rolls Along The South Shore

The South Shore from Bridgewater to Yarmouth will be sporting a lot of Tory blue this weekend. The province's Progressive Conservative leader will be continuing a pre-election campaign swing through the region. Jamie Baillie says his party's fortunes have improved here in recent months and he wants to showcase the area's PC candidates.



Baillie will host a rally in Bridgewater on Saturday. On Sunday morning, he whips up pancakes at a candidates' breakfast in Yarmouth. Later in the day, there's a school/family fair in Argyle to attend and a meet and greet in Queens and Shelburne counties.

Mooseheads, Drakkar Clash In Q-League Final

The Halifax Mooseheads and Baie-Comeau Drakkar open up the President Cup Finals in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Friday night at the Metro Centre. The Moose have gone undefeated through 12 play-off games so far while the Drakkar have been equally impressive, going 12-2. Mooseheads play-by-play announcer John Moore says he expects a tough series.



The teams met twice in the regular season with the Mooseheads winning both contests. Tonight's game is sold out but will be on Rogers Sportsnet beginning at 8pm.

Yarmouth RCMP Arrest Man For Drug-Related Offences

RCMP in Yarmouth have arrested a 33-year-old man after drugs and weapons were seized at a home in Pinkney's Point. Police searched the home early Wednesday evening and found an indoor marihuana grow-op, several guns and a prohibited weapon. Trevor Preston Robichaud faces production and trafficking marihuana charges. He is also charged with unsafe storage of firearms and unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon. Robichaud will appear in Yarmouth Court in early July.