Bridgewater Remembers "Lead Rock" In Curling Community

A key rock in Bridgewater's curling community will be honoured tomorrow. Members of the curling club will gather to remember Helen Naugler.  Naugler passed away at the age of 94 last week. She was a curling coach at the national level and the recipient of Nova Scotia Ladies Curling Association Award of Merit in 1992. Naugler also helped develop Bridgewater School Curling Programs and was instrumental in getting the Little Rocks Youth Program up and running. Her passion for curling and love of helping others led her to be named Volunteer and Year for the Town of Bridgewater and Province of Nova Scotia in 2004. A celebration of life will take place Monday at the Bridgewater Curling Club between 11am and 3pm.

South Shore: Three Killed In Tragic Weekend Crashes

Two separate crashes on the South Shore have claimed three lives. The first collision took place around 11 o'clock Saturday morning near Exit 6. RCMP say an elderly woman was killed when her van crossed the centre line and slammed into an SUV. The woman has been identified as 75 year-old Myrtle Veinotte of Beach Hill. Meanwhile, four of the six people traveling in the SUV were sent to hospital - three were listed in critical condition. However, in an update on Sunday, RCMP said an 87 year-old Ontario man passed away overnight from his injuries. All of those in the SUV are believed to be from the Toronto area. A section of Highway 103 was closed for nearly five hours while investigators looked over the crash scene. Later in the day, a single vehicle rollover in East River claimed the life of a 25 year-old man. RCMP say the incident occurred when their vehicle stuck a culvert, rolled and hit a power pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Three others, all from the Halifax area were taken to hospital with various injuries. Police have not released the name of the man killed in the crash.

Fatal Accident In East River Point

A 25-year-old man is dead following a single vehicle crash in East River Point. RCMP say the incident happened around 9:20pm Saturday night along Highway 329. Police say preliminary investigation revealed the vehicle left the roadway, struck a culvert, rolled and struck a power pole, coming to rest on its roof. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Three other passengers, from the Halifax area, were transported to the QEII Hospital. One was air-lifted while the other two were transported by ambulance. They remain in Halifax hospital, two with non-life-threatening injuries and one in serious but stable condition. An RCMP Collision Reconstructionist has been called to assist with the investigation.

Crash Kills Elderly Woman, Three In Critical Condition

A 75 year-old Beech Hill woman has died following a serious crash near Exit 6 involving seven people. Mounties say Myrtle Veinotte was pronounced dead at the scene. The collision involved a maroon van and white SUV and occurred around 10:45am on Highway 103. A section of the highway was closed for more than five hours. Four of the six people riding in the SUV were taken to hospital - three of those are listed in critical condition. Those in the SUV are thought to be from the Toronto area. Investigators say the collision happened when the elderly woman's vehicle crossed the centre line and collided head on with the SUV. She was the only person traveling in the van. The highway has re-opened.

Fatal Crash Near Exit 6

Emergency crews spent nearly six hours at the scene of a fatal two-vehicle crash at Exit 6. The incident ocurred around 10:45am on Highway 103. The highway had been shut down but has since re-opened. Mounties say one-person was killed in the crash. EHS, fire crews and a Life Flight helicopter were called to scene. RCMP say a traffic analyst was also called in to help with their investigation. No other details have been released.

Smoke-Eaters Square Off In FireFit Competition

It's been dubbed the ''toughest two minutes in sports.'' Firefighters from across the country are preparing to show residents of Lunenburg County some of their on-the-job duties in a timed obstacle course. Volunteer and professional firefighters are in Bridgewater to compete in the Maritime Atlantic FireFit competition. Individual races are held Saturday and team trials on Sunday. The winners will qualify for nationals in Edmonton, Alberta this September. The action can be seen at the Bridgewater Fire Hall. A full schedule of events can be found here .

Local Fire Fighter To Battle Quebec Fires

A Lunenburg County man is one of 21 wildfire fighters from the province being sent to Quebec to help battle several forest fires. Corey Conrad with the Department of Natural Resources will fly out to Quebec on Saturday. He's the lone official from the South Shore making the trip. The province is responding to Quebec's request for help just as other jurisdictions have helped Nova Scotia fight wildfires in the past. The firefighting crew will be battling one or several fires over a 14-day assignment period.

Weekend: Bayswater Beach WILL Re-Open

Bayswater Beach will re-open after a swimming ban was imposed due to high levels of bacteria in the water. The Department of Health and Wellness issued the original closure notice Wednesday.

Chester: CAO Preparing Options For Former School

The keys to Gold River-Western Shore Elementary School will fall into the hands of the Municipality of Chester today. School board officials will revert the building back into the municipality's possession following the closure earlier this spring. The municipality is in the process of getting the school appraised and the CAO expects to deliver a list of options to council in early August. Warden Allen Webber reserved his opinion on the matter until he gets more details.



Webber expects the options will include demolition, selling the property or keep it for municipal use. A major obstacle with the school is the roof, which is slated to cost $110,000 to replace.

Zach In A Box Fund Raiser Set To Go

The Liberal MLA for Yarmouth feels he's reaching for new heights in raising money for a charitable organization. Zach Churchill will climb into a bucket at the end of a construction crane in the Yarmouth Mall parking lot over the supper hour today to begin raising money for the Yarmouth High School's Memorial Club. He will stay there for 24 hours except for brief breaks along the way. Churchill says he couldn't resist the challenge.



Money raised this weekend by the "Zach In A Box" campaign will go to the Memorial Club and its programs to help veterans and seniors in the community.

Investigators Probe Fatal Shooting In Wedgeport

Investigators remain at the scene of a fatal shooting in Wedgeport. RCMP in Yarmouth say they will continue to investigate the matter but don't expect to lay charges. A 47 year-old man was found dead early Thursday morning on Corporon Road. An autopsy on the victim's body is being conducted today in Halifax. In a media release, police say a 46-year-old man was also injured but they aren't releasing how the incident unfolded. A 49-year-old female also connected to the shooting was not hurt. More details on the shooting are expected to be released early next week.

Gas Prices Climb Almost Four Cents

As expected, Nova Scotia gas prices took a hike overnight. Here on the South Shore, the price for a litre of regular self-serve is now $1.40.4.  Thats an increase of almost 4 cents from yesterday.  High test is up by a similar amount.  However, diesel remains steady, no increase.  Its selling for $1.34.4 per litre.

Yarmouth Seafest Celebrates Life By The Sea

A salute to the area fishing industry and the town of Yarmouth is underway! This is the 35th year for Seafest.
Yarmouth mayor Pam Mood says the event has grown into a major tourist attraction and money maker for the town. She says there's good reason for it!



Among the scores of events are dorey races, a walking tour of the town looking at the area's history, scallop & oyster shucking, double rope splicing & rope coiling, lobster shucking and banding, haddock filleting, lobster pot building, net knitting and knitting bait bags. Seafest in Yarmouth runs until July 27th with activities scheduled at numerous venues across the town.

Minor Injuries After Vehicles Collide In Conquerall Mills

An elderly woman has been taken to South Shore Regional Hospital after a two-vehicle collision in Conquerall Mills. Constable David Cullen with Bridgewater RCMP says it appears a car pulled out of Lakeview Circle and was hit by a half-ton truck travelling the Conquerall Mills Road near Fancy Lake. The incident happened around 1:20 this afternoon. The driver and passenger in the truck were unharmed. Police say the 77-year-old driver of the car is dealing with minor injuries.

Nowe Wins, Chandler Tenth At Atlantic Golf Championship

Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe has gone wire-to-wire to win the CN Future Links Atlantic Championship in Antigonish. Nowe shot a final round two-over par, 74, Thursday to win by seven shots over Bedford's Bruce Tomie. The 17-year-old never trailed in the event and earns an exemption into the 2013 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, which will be contested July 29 to August 2 at the Timberwolf Golf Club in Sudbury, Ont. Meanwhile, Chester's Allison Chandler struggled to a 92 today, but managed to finish in 10th place.

MODL: Council Awards Riverside Work To Dexter Construction

Dexter Construction Company Ltd. is being hired to provide upgrades to the Riverside Wastewater System. The Municipality of Lunenburg awarded a tender contract to the group, who had the lowest bid out of five companies. The scope of the work will focus on replacing the collection system and installing treatment plant equipment. Mayor Don Downe says they're trying to get the system working properly.



The tender price from Dexter Construction was $462,242.50. Downe expects work to begin soon.

Chester: Council Seeks Crown Land In Western Shore

A parcel of land in Western Shore could become property of the Municipality of Chester. The Nova Scotia Government owns roughly an acre of Wild Rose Park. The municipality is interested in acquiring the land through a 20-year lease arrangement that would include an out-clause regarding the seawall, which is provincially-owned. Warden Allen Webber says they don't want to be held responsible if the seawall erodes and causes flooding. He says the lease would provide the municipality with a sense of security.



Webber didn't know the cost but says its a marginal amount of money. The matter has been back and forth between the municipality and the province for over a year.

Wedgeport: RCMP Investigate Fatal Shooting

A man has died after a shooting overnight in Wedgeport. According to the RCMP, the incident happened on the Corporon Road around 1:20am. They say a 47-year-old man died and a 46-year-old man was injured. A 49-year-old female also connected to the shooting was not hurt. Mounties say all those involved are known to each other and investigators don't consider the shooting a random act. The RCMP Southwest Nova Major Crimes unit is in the preliminary stages of their investigation.

Gold River: Accused In Alleged Shooting Remains In Jail

A Gold River man will remain behind bars after an alleged shooting over the weekend on the Lunenburg County reserve. Ronald Lorne Paul is facing three charges after an incident Saturday night that sent a man to hospital with an apparent gunshot wound. The 60 year-old has been charged with aggravated assault, discharging a firearm with intent to endanger a life and assault with a weapon. The 31 year-old shooting victim was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Paul will return to court August 2nd.

Dish Washing Made Easier At South Shore Regional Hospital

Doing the dishes at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater has just become a lot easier and safer. A new system of loading up the dish-washers involves staff now only having to put dishes in the racks, pushing a button and automation doing the heavy work. Gone are the days of manually lifting heavy dish racks on to a conveyor belt. South Shore Health's Manager of Facility Services, Robert Barss, says tried-and-true manufacturers could not solve the problem. It took a local company to come up with something new.



According to Barss, its the first such automated system in the province. Funding for it, $150,000. came from the provincial Department of Health and Wellness.