Local Men In Hospital After Boat Capsizes

Two Lunenburg County men have been taken to hospital after their boat capsized Saturday evening. Sgt. Alain LeBlanc says a 63-year-old and an 80-year-old are at South Shore Regional Hospital after the incident occurred around 5:30pm on Wentzells Lake. RCMP, along with EHS and fire officials responded to the scene. Sgt. LeBlanc says the extent of injuries is not known at this time. Preliminary investigation has determined that the men were out fishing in a small aluminum boat when the incident happened. 

Mooseheads Open Memorial Cup Against WHL Champion

The long-awaited start to this year's Memorial Cup in Saskatoon is about to begin for the Halifax Mooseheads. The herd square-off Saturday evening against the WHL Champion Portland Winterhawks. The top-three ranked junior players will all play in the game. Halifax's Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin will battle top-ranked defenceman Seth Jones. The game starts at 7pm.

Local Provincial Parks Set To Open

A pair provincial parks along the South Shore are opening for the season this weekend. Rissers Beach in Lunenburg County and Thomas Raddall in Queens will officially open Saturday. The Victoria Day long weekend is the unofficial kick-off to the summer season. Campers are reminded that the annual alcohol-free period is in effect at all parks until early July. RCMP say they will be out in full-force to monitor roads.

RCMP Remind Public About Bicycle Safety

RCMP are calling on residents to make sure they are being as safe as they can while riding their bicycle. Police says its important for people riding bicycles to remember to wear helmets, and they must have a light and reflector on their bike while riding at night. If people are caught without using the safety features, fines range from $141 to $342. The bike could also be seized by police for over 30 days. Police say motorists also face fines up to $800 if they don't give a bicyclist at least a metre of space while passing them.

Municipal Council Approves Pension Payments, Name Change

MARC North has a new name and a pension plan will be paid in a lump sum. The Municipality of Lunenburg moved ahead with the two recommendations from committee. Council has approved paying up to $190,000 to fund pension plans for 13 laid-off workers at the recycling centre in Whynott's Settlement. They also decided to change the name of MARC North, to River Ridge Common. A contest was held in surrounding communities to change the name of the land just outside New Germany.

Gas Prices Rise Again

You can hear the moaning and the groaning of South Shore drivers. Gas prices are up yet again today at the pumps. Its Friday and the province's utility and review board set prices overnight. Regular self serve has been bumped up almost 2 cents to $1.29.2 per litre. Diesel is unchanged at $1.26.1.

Argyle-Barrington Tories Select Their Candidate

A familiar face will be the PC candidate in Argyle-Barrington in the next provincial election. Chris d'Entremont was selected last night at a nomination meeting in Barrington. In accepting it, d'Entremont bashed the Dexter government for what he calls its lack of action in dealing with 13 percent unemployment in his area.



Progressive Conservative Party leader Jamie Baillie was also at last night's nomination meeting. He charged the NDP government with turning its back on families in the area. d'Entremont is a former radio announcer and first elected to the House of Assembly in 2003. He has served as a minister in various high-profile Cabinet posts, such as agriculture and fisheries and health.

RCMP, Fire Marshal Investigate Western Shore House Fire

RCMP and the fire marshal's office have taken over an investigation into an early morning house fire in Western Shore. Officials with both groups spent the morning at the scene, gathering data and sifting through debris to help them establish the cause of the blaze. Five fire departments were called to the scene just after 1 o'clock Thursday morning. Deputy Fire Marshal Ron Thibeau says they've wrapped-up their investigation at the Swinimer Road home. He says the next step is to interview fire fighters, residents and the homeowners to gather additional details. There is no timeline when the investigation may be complete.

Hebbville Academy Marks Milestone

A 30 year anniversary is being marked at Hebbville Academy. Since 1983, students and staff at the Lunenburg County school have taken part each year in the Heart and Stroke Foundation's "Jump Rope For Heart" campaign. Its aim is to promote healthier lifestyles. Students at Hebbville Academy have raised more than 80-thousand dollars in 30 years for the program. Barb Johnson of the Heart and Stroke Foundation says that's a lot of money.



This morning, this year's fund-raiser was kicked off with an information session for students with videos explaining the program and the school's involvement over the years.

Town Approves Cleve's Move To Old Bridge Automotive Building

A sporting goods store in Bridgewater has been given the green light by council to start expanding the Old Bridge Automotive building. Members unanimously approved a development agreement for Cleve's Source for Sports that will expand the Old Bridge location by almost 2,900 square feet. Company President Kevin Bezanson says they're hoping the move will increase the number of customers and allow them to hire more staff. He believes it will be a better location than their current store on King Street.



There is a two-week appeal period for the public to oppose the matter. If there are objections, a hearing will be held with the province's Utility and Review Board.

Guilty Pleas Expected In Teen Confinement Case

The lawyer for a man accused of confining and sexually assaulting a teenage boy in a run down cabin in Upper Chelsea says his client will plead guilty to some charges in the case. Mike Taylor confirmed in an interview today with The Canadian Press that David James Leblanc will enter guilty pleas on a number of charges when he appears next Thursday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Bridgewater. Taylor declined to specify which charges Leblanc intends to plead guilty to, but he said the matter would be finalized when the pleas are entered. Taylor said the remaining charges would be dropped by the Crown, likely during sentencing about two or three weeks after Leblanc pleads. Leblanc faces seven charges in relation to the alleged incident last fall. Those charges include sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, forcible confinement and kidnapping. The 47 year-old had been scheduled in relation to the matter next March.

Lottery Scam Targets Unsuspecting Consumers

The RCMP is "red-flagging" yet another scam thats shown up in the province. Residents in Antigonish have been receiving unmarked envelopes in the mail claiming they've won millions in an international lottery. However, the Better Business Bureau says its also receiving complaints from the South Shore, the Valley and HRM about the scam. Jill Atkinson of the BBB says it appears the fraudsters are blanketing the region.



Atkinson says if you receive one of the envelopes, ignore it and call the BBB. The aim of the scam is like most others ... to get personal identification and financial information from you.

VIDEO: Fire Destroys Home In Western Shore

An overnight fire in Western Shore has uprooted several people. Crews from five fire departments including Chester, Chester Basin, Martins River, Mahone Bay and Western Shore were called to the home at 99 Swinimer Road shortly after 1 o'clock Thursday morning. The cause isn't known. Western Shore Fire Chief Scott Rafuse says the two-storey house is a complete loss.



Rafuse adds, no one was home at the time of the blaze. The fire marshal is expected to be on scene later Thursday morning.

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.