South Shore Students Receive Lieutenant Governor's Education Medal

Eleven students from the South Shore Regional School Board were presented with the Lieutenant Governor's Education Medal today. The ceremony took place at North Queens Community School with Brigadier-General J.J. Grant in attendance to present the medals. The medal can been awarded to two grade 11 students from each high school across the province. They are given to a boy and a girl who demonstrate leadership and service in their school and community while maintaining their academic standing. Students are nominated by their school annually. This year's medal recipients are listed below.

• Breanna Eileen Laffin - Bridgewater Jr/Sr High School
• Benjamin Willis Conrad - Bridgewater Jr/Sr High School
• Chelsea Jean Collicutt - Forest Heights Community School
• Brandon Granville Bremner - Forest Heights Community School
• Robyn Destiny Jade McLeod Whynot - Liverpool Regional High School
• Gavin William Raddall - Liverpool Regional High School
• Emma-Sue Wagner - New Germany Rural High School
• Jonathan Stanley Murphy - New Germany Rural High School
• Nichole Jane van Dyk - North Queens Rural High School
• Hanna Marie Longard - Park View Education Centre
• Morgan York Zwicker - Park View Education Centre

VIDEO: United Way Of Lunenburg County Celebrates 10 Years

A good mix of business representatives and community supporters turned out for the United Way of Lunenburg County's celebration of 10 years in operation Wednesday morning at the Days Inn in Bridgewater. The event also recognized the group's successful campaign of reaching $1-million invested back into the community. The video below is of various group's receive money from the United Way Lunenburg County.

Midville Branch House Fire Deemed Accidental

A fire that destroyed an Upper Branch Road home has been deemed accidental. Midville Fire Chief Graham Campbell says the fire marshal has wrapped up their investigation, but the cause remains unknown. Firefighters from Midville returned to the scene Wednesday morning after they received a call for a flare-up in the basement. A family of four are homeless as a result of the fire, which broke out early Tuesday afternoon.

Yarmouth MLA Calls On "Feds" To Shelve EI Reform

The MLA for Yarmouth is calling on the prime minister to stop ignoring the Atlantic region and put a hold on Employment Insurance reforms. Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the Atlantic premiers are wrong in suggesting changes to EI rules are hurting seasonal workers and industry. He says they're spreading misinformation. Liberal Zach Churchill in Yarmouth says the federal government has acted wrecklessly and should halt EI reform right away.



The Atlantic premiers plan to study the effects of the changes and present interim findings to the annual meeting of Canada's premiers in July.

Kiosks Help Parents Register Babies At Hospital

The province has set up a new electronic kiosk at the South Shore Regional Hospital to allow parents to register their baby's birth and enrol their child in government programs. The initiative gives parents the opportunity to apply for the baby's Social Insurance Number and Canada Child Benefits, activate a baby's health card and order their baby's birth certificate. A secretary for maternal child units with South Shore Health, Lisa Joudrey, says the kiosk reduces the amount of paperwork new parents face.



The hospital is one of nine across the province to have the kiosk installed. The system has been installed on the fourth floor in the maternal unit. The process to apply and activate a baby's information takes about 20 minutes.

UPDATED: Impaired Driving Causing Death Case Delayed

 

The case of a Lunenburg County woman charged with impaired driving causing the death of her nine-year-old daughter has been put over to June. Candice Roxanne Moore did not appear when her case came to provincial court in Bridgewater today. Her lawyer says she needs more time to review the case. Moore is charged with criminal negligence causing death, dangerous driving causing death and refusing to comply with a demand for a breath sample. Police say the 31-year-old woman's daughter was killed on January 19 after the little girl was dropped off at a home in Pleasantville. They say Olive Moore was standing in the road when she was struck by a van as it left the driveway. The case has been adjourned until June 19.

Updated: Red Cross Helps Family After Fire Destroys Home

The Canadian Red Cross has stepped-in and provided emergency lodging after fire destroyed a home Tuesday afternoon in Midville Branch. The blaze started around 1:30pm along the Upper Branch Road. A woman and the family’s pet dog escaped unhurt.  The woman's husband was at work in Bridgewater while their two kids were in school at the time of the blaze. Five fire departments including Midville, Hemford, Bridgewater, Northfield and Tri-District responded to the call. Fire officials say the blaze appeared to start in the basement and spread quickly, but the cause is under investigation.

Lumberjack Forward Butterworth Drafted Into USHL

One of the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks top rookies has been drafted in the United States Hockey League. Jeremy Butterworth was taken in the fifth round, 73rd overall by the Fargo Force of North Dakota. The 17-year-old enjoyed a standout season with the Lumberjacks, notching 42 points in 45 games. Butterworth says he's looking forward to the opportunity.



He says the USHL is known to produce hockey players to the NCAA and Butterworth adds, it's been a goal of his to play college hockey since he was about 10-years-old. Tryouts for the club will be held this summer.

United Way Of Lunenburg County Celebrates Million Dollar Mark

The coordinator for the United Way of Lunenburg County says people have two reasons to come to a event being held Wednesday in Bridgewater. The group is celebrating its 10th anniversary, but it's also marking its $1-millionth dollar invested in the community. Michael Graves says it's a major accomplishment.



He says the United Way of Lunenburg County gave out just over $180,000 this year to 32 groups. The event will be held from 9:30 until 11:30am Wednesday at the Bridgewater Days Inn.

Police Chief: Drug Drop-Off Day "A Success"

It's considered a good first step by police and mental health officials concerned about pills getting into the wrong hands. Bridgewater held their first prescription drug drop-off day over the weekend, and collected just over 6,600 pills. Police Chief John Collyer says among the old and unused meds were roughly 500 pills commonly found in the town including hydromorphones. He says they're pleased with the turnout.



Collyer says from what he's heard, Bridgewater had some of the best results across the province. He's hoping the event will expand further down the South Shore next year.

Fire Leaves Two People Homeless

A fire in Windsor has left two people homeless. It happened Monday  evening. A woman and her teenage daughter escaped injury as the blaze extensively damaged their apartment at 1011 Burgess Crescent in the town. They're receiving help with emergency lodging, clothes and food from the Red Cross. Other tenants in the 24-unit building were evacuated while the fire was put out and the smoke ventilated. They were later allowed back in. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.

Local Winery Expansion Gets Federal Boost

A New Ross-based winery is getting a financial boost from the federal government. A $150,000. repayable loan is being given to Muwin Estate Wines to help with its expansion. South Shore-St. Margarets MP Gerald Keddy says the money will also support the purchase of new equipment to help the company meet increasing export demands for its products in Asia, including China, South Korea, and Taiwan. The company has also sold small quantities to the Netherlands and Nigeria. Keddy says the wine industry is quickly becoming a major economic driver for the province and continues to expand.

Bridgewater Approves 2013-14 Budget

The town of Bridgewater has approved its 2013-14 budget, agreeing to hold the line on its tax rates. Council kept the residential rate at $1.65 per 100 of assessment and the commercial rate at $3.99 after lowering both last year. Members also gave a green light to a capital budget of just over $3-million and an operating budget of $18.7-million. Mayor David Walker believes it is a sound budget.



The budget was unanimously approved by council.

Mounties Investigate Barrington Fire

Mounties say an early morning fire in Barrington last week is suspicious. The fire took place on Villagedale Road and was reported around 2am on Friday. Police say no one was living at the home - which has been destroyed. In an email, RCMP Sergeant MJ DeLuco stated evidence at the scene suggests the fire was deliberately sparked. Several fire departments in Shelburne County responded to the fire. No injuries were reported.

South Shore Volunteer, Association Recognized By Hockey NS

A local volunteer with the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks and Western Nova Hockey Association has been recognized for his efforts. Hockey Nova Scotia held its annual awards banquet over the weekend and selected Devan Naugler as its recipient of the Jed Ritcey Award for volunteer of the year. The 36-year-old from Newcombville says he's volunteered for about 10 years. Naugler says it's nice to be honoured.



He credits several other volunteers for helping him win the award. The South Shore Minor Hockey Association was also recognized, receiving the Lauchie MacIsaac Award for Association of the Year.

Triple Gold For Bridgewater Badminton Club

The Atlantic Junior Badminton Championships were held in Truro over the weekend with more than 170 players competing for titles in Under 12, Under 14, Under 16 and Under 19 age classifications. Several members of the Bridgewater Junior Badminton Club participated in this event and swatted their way to outstanding results. Sara Hirtle won the gold medal in U14 girls singles and Olivia Bazot brought home gold medals in U12 girls singles and U12 mixed doubles with partner Trevor Hayne of Antigonish. Medals were also awarded to Joshua Fortin who placed 1st in the consolation round of U12 boys doubles with partner Trevor Hayne of Antigonish and to Rielle Doucette and Catherine Talbot who placed 1st in the consolation round of U12 girls doubles. Catherine Talbot also placed 2nd in the consolation round of U12 girls singles and won the Yonex True Sport Fair Play Award for outstanding sportsmanship.

RECAP: Final Minutes Of Mooseheads President Cup Win

The Halifax Mooseheads erased 19 years of close calls and missed opportunities by winning their first President Cup Friday night with a 5-1 win over Baie-Comeau in game five of the best-of-seven series. The Mooseheads will now play in the Memorial Cup in Saskatoon from May 17-26. This video is from an upper bowl perspective.

More Impressive Numbers For Chelsea Whalen

Another great weekend for Liverpool native and Florida State junior Chelsea Whalen. She continued her breakout season at the Georgia Tech Invitational with career-best marks in both the shot-put and javelin.
For the third consecutive meet, Whalen improved her own school record in the shot-put with a mark of 16.45 meters, which was good for a second place finish. She then followed-up with a huge personal-best in the javelin, 48.85 metres, which was good for the win. Whalen is tied for seventh among shot-putters in the NCAA East and jumped from 16th to ninth in the javelin. She now has a week-off to get ready for the first round of the NCAA qualifiers in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Former South Shore NDP Candidate Leaves Provincial Party

The last candidate to run for the federal NDP in South Shore-St. Margaret's has quit the provincial party. Gordon Earle ran for the New Democrats in the riding from 2004-2011. Earle and his wife have withdrawn their membership from the party because of the provincial government's handling of abuse allegations at the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children. In a letter, Earle says the government is taking too long to respond positively and directly to the former residents of the home and feels they are being re-victimized. He was the first black member of Parliament in Nova Scotia. Earle represented Halifax West as an MP from 1997-2000. The province announced late last week an independent panel would address the abuse allegations.

Improvements At Shelburne County Arena Aimed At Seniors

The Shelburne County Arena will soon be more senior-friendly. South Shore-St. Margarets MP Gerald Keddy has announced federal funding to the tune of $25,000 to install accessible washroom facilities at the arena. Funding for the project comes from the New Horizons For Seniors Program. Officials with the Shelburne Arena Association say they'll be able to continue with Old Timer's hockey, senior skating and community events. Since its beginning several years ago, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded more than 12-thousand projects across the country.