Bridgewater Collaborative Health Centre On Track

Construction on Bridgewater's new Collaborative Health Centre remains on track. A meeting was held Monday morning for LaHave Investments to provide an update on the project. The group's president says the foundation and plumbing work are complete and crews are working towards pouring the concrete flooring. South Shore Health spokesperson Theresa Hawkesworth says they're aggressively recruiting doctors for the centre.



Hawkesworth says they hope to have a handful of doctors recruited by the time the new health care facility opens. The project is expected to be complete sometime in the fall.

Lunenburg: Long-Time Politician Passes Away

A long-time councillor and deputy mayor in Lunenburg has passed away. David Dauphinee died Sunday at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.  He was 76-years-old. Dauphinee spent 30 years on council starting in 1982 when he was first elected. He spent 17 years as the town's deputy mayor. Former mayor Laurence Mawhinney says Dauphinee will be missed by many.



Mawhinney says his fondest memory of Dauphinee was traveling together to Ottawa roughly 15 years ago to lobby the federal government for support to clean up the town's wastewater system. Dauphinee is survived by his wife and three daughters.

Liberal Leader Accuses Dexter Government Of Downplaying Importance of 103 Twinning

Nova Scotia Liberal leader Stephen McNeil suggests the Dexter government doesn't consider twinning the 103 from exit 5 to 13 a priority.  He says its even removed the roadway from the 5 year provincial highway improvement plan.  McNeil questions suggestions from local NDP MLA's Pam Birdsall and Gary Ramey for motorists to stick to the speed limit and pull over to use their cell phones to make the highway safer. McNeil says that is not the end of it.



The Liberal leader says his party applauded the government a few years ago for establishing the 5 year plan. However, McNeil says to remove the 103 from the list now is disappointing and troubling!  He believes its a move by the Dexter government to downplay a potential "hot" election issue.

Turtle Santuary Created In Queens County

Conservationists are celebrating the creation of a turtle sanctuary in Queens County.  The Nova Scotia Nature Trust has bought land around McGowan Lake to protect a primary habitat of the endangered Blanding's turtle.  The sanctuary contains more than five kilometers of undeveloped shoreline, ideal nesting ground for the turtles.  It's been estimated there are only 350 Blanding's turtles left in the wild in Nova Scotia.

Patience Needed With Highway 103 Twinning: MLAs

A pair of Lunenburg County MLAs are preaching patience when it comes to the topic of twinning Highway 103. Pam Birdsall and Gary Ramey say the issue has been front and centre since the NDP formed government in 2009. However, the twinning project isn't listed in this year's edition of the province's Five-Year Highway Improvement Plan. Birdsall says the issue takes time.




The government website says the project is at the Environmental Assessment stage. Both MLA's encourage people to drive the posted speed limit and pull over if there is a need to use a cell-phone. A petition has been circulating online for the last week and has garnered more than 6,100 signatures in favour of twinning Highway 103.

Shelburne: Men Charged With Stealing Cable

Two men are facing charges after they were allegedly caught stealing cable channels in Shelburne County. In a media release, RCMP say they executed two search warrants in Shelburne Friday evening in relation to investigations into illegal cable. Police say a 21 year-old man was arrested at a home on Clements Street after officers seized telecommunication equipment and marihuana plants. A few hours later, they arrested a 39-year-old man when they searched another residence on the same street. Both men are facing charges and will appear in court in October.

Third Annual Wooden Boat Reunion Starts In Lunenburg

History and Heritage will be on display this weekend in Lunenburg as the third annual Wooden Boat Reunion gets underway. The weekend highlights include the Nova Scotia Schooner Association's Heritage Cup race for schooners and other wooden vessels. There's also dory rowing, and a putt-putt race between wood boats with single engines. Event chairperson, Maggie Ostler, says people can also visit the country's oldest saltbank schooner.



Ostler encourages anyone with a wooden boat to get involved in the festivities. A schedule of events can be found here .

Provincial Program Spruces Up Communities

The province is providing grants to community groups, businesses and municipalities through its Mainstreet 2.0 program. The program, announced Friday at the DesBrisay Museum in Bridgewater, will allow groups to access up to $1,000 in grants to make positive changes to their area. The money is designated for things like new flower beds, painting community benches and other revitalization ideas. Lunenburg MLA Pam Birdsall says it's money to help spruce up local communities.



Total funding for the project will be $1.5-million a year and is part of the province's tourism strategy. Applications will be available in the winter, with grants approved next spring.

South Shore: Liberals Call Hospital Crowding "Crisis"

The leader of the province's liberal party has deep concerns regarding the ongoing health crisis along the South Shore. Stephen McNeil was responding to the latest over-crowding issue in emergency departments in the region. Hospitals in Bridgewater, Lunenburg and Liverpool are operating at full capacity and currently have no hospital bed availability. South Shore Health is asking residents with non-urgent matters to visit local walk-in clinics or see their family health care provider until the issue clears. McNeil says the situation underlines the struggles and challenges within the current health care system. In a media release, he reiterated his party's plan to reduce the number of district health authorities in Nova Scotia from nine to one. The Liberals says they would re-invest the millions in cost savings into health services and infrastructure to help prevent against a similar crisis in the future.

Clippers Move To Bedford Fizzles, Off To Cape Breton

The Chester Clippers move to Bedford has fallen through. The Junior 'C' hockey team was expected to move to the Halifax-area suburb but was unable to secure a deal in the best interest for the club and the league. However, earlier this week the League's Board of Governors has approved the transfer and relocation of the team to a group in Cape Breton. Heading the group is Jordan Evasuk-MacDonald, who tells CKBW/HANK-FM, the club will play out of the North Sydney-area. He says they're leaning towards the team being called the Northside Vics, after a former men's senior hockey team in the community. Evasuk-MacDonald says they are currently in negotiations to play out of the Sydney Mines and District Community Centre and the Emera Centre in North Sydney.

Police Seize 80,000 Contraband Cigarettes In Shelburne County

A 26-year-old Shelburne County man is facing charges after police seized over 80,000 contraband cigarettes. RCMP searched a home around 3pm Wednesday afternoon on Paces Lane in Roseway. During their search, police nabbed 300 cartons. They also seized the man's 2013 Honda Accord after another 100 cartons were located in the vehicle. The man faces charges under the Federal Excise Act and Provincial Revenue Act and is scheduled to appear in Shelburne Provincial Court in September.

Brooklyn Power Sale Complete

The sale of Brooklyn Power Corp. in Queens County is complete. The Nova Scotia government announced Thursday the deal has wrapped up after the initial plan was revealed in December. The province purchased Bowater Mersey Paper Company Ltd. from Resolute Forest Products Inc. and changed the name to ReNova Scotia Bioenergy Inc. Emera Energy Inc. has paid $25-million for Brooklyn Power. ReNova hired Deloitte to provide an opinion on the purchase price, and Deloitte concluded that the purchase price of $25-million was fair from a financial point of view. About 30 people work at Brooklyn Power. Region of Queens Mayor, Christopher Clarke, says the facility keeps local people working and maintains an important player in the forestry sector, which is in transition.

Last Man Charged In Confinement Case Will Stand Trial

A 64 year old man allegedly linked to the sexual assault of a confined teenage boy will stand trial. John Leonard MacKean of Lower Sackville is facing two charges in total, they include sexual assault and communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services under the age of 18 years old. Judge Gregory Lenehan ruled today there is enough evidence to send the case to Supreme Court for trial. MacKean was arrested in Fredericton back in November. He is the final person charged in connection with the disturbing case where a boy was chained up and sexually assaulted for a period of ten days last fall in Upper Chelsea.  Another man, David Leblanc has already been sentence to 11 years in jail for his role in the incident. MacKean is free on bail, in addition to a number of court ordered conditions.  He's due back in court August 22nd to set dates for a trial.

Longer Wait Times Expected For Non-Urgent Care

South Shore Health is advising the public to expect longer than usual waits for non-urgent care at all of the District's emergency departments. There is currently a large number of patients in the emergency departments who have been admitted to hospital for care, but cannot be moved to a medical unit because there are no available beds. This is creating delays in admissions and long waits for non-urgent care. All patients not requiring urgent care are asked to visit their family health care provider, call 811 for advice from a registered nurse or go to the nearest walk-in clinic in Bridgewater, Hammonds Plains or Tantallon.

RCMP Continue To Probe Martin's River Fire

No new information is being released regarding a fire in Martin's River. The July 14 blaze destroyed two outbuildings and extensively damaged a third at 127 Shingle Mill Road. Constable Tamu Bracken says debris is being sent for analysis following the blaze. She says it could be months before they know any results. The province's fire marshal has issued their report and RCMP have taken the lead in the investigation.

Court: Final Chapter In Teen Confinement Case

A Lower Sackville man charged for his role in allegedly sexually assaulting a confined teenage boy will appear in court later today. John Leonard MacKean is charged with sexual assault and communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services from a person under 18. He was arrested in Fredericton after police launched an investigation last fall into a report that a barefoot teen showed up at a woman's doorstep in Upper Chelsea chained at his wrists and ankles. A preliminary hearing is set for this morning to determine if there is enough evidence against MacKean to send the matter to trial. Another man, David James Leblanc, was sentenced to 11 years in jail for his part in the disturbing incident involving a 16 year-old boy. Leblanc's sentence also included child porn related charges stemming incidents in the Halifax area.

Baillie & McNeil Call For Vast '103' Improvements

Nova Scotia politicians are lining up to join the chorus of calls for a major overhauling of Highway 103 along the South Shore. Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says if he's elected premier in the next provincial election, he will make twinning whats been called "Canada's deadliest highway" a priority. He says doubling the road from Exit five to at least 13 is long overdue.



McNeil says the federal government can easily afford to cost-share the project when you consider the money it hauls in yearly in gas taxes. Meanwhile, PC Leader Jamie Baillie says its outrageous the issue has dragged on so long with no action plan implemented.



Baillie says the province and Ottawa need to work together and cost-share such a large project. He says if elected premier, he will make it a priority to encourage the federal government to come on board a multi-year plan to overhaul the highway.

Lower East Pubnico Fisherman Dies At Sea

A man has died after a fishing accident about 170 kilometres south of Cape Sable Island. A spokesperson with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax says a man fell from a high mast around 4pm Tuesday afternoon while on a sword fishing vessel. Yarmouth RCMP have identified the man as 55-year-old Brex Malone of Lower East Pubnico. Police say he was aboard the fishing vessel 'Savana & Jax' from Lower East Pubnico during the time of the incident. RCMP are partnering with the Department of Labour to continue the investigation.

Online Petition Calls For Twinning Highway 103

A former Bridgewater resident has started an online petition to get Highway 103 twinned from exits five to 13. Tim Conrad now lives in Grande Prairie, Alberta and started the petition following this weekend's fatal crash near Hubbards. He's no stranger to the issue after forwarding a similar petition with 5,500 names to the Conservative government in 2008-09. Now with technology changes, every time a person signs online, an email is sent to the premier, prime minister and other federal and provincial politicians. Conrad says something needs to be done sooner rather than later.



The petition states over 65 people have died in the last six years on Highway 103. Conrad says it will take time to do the work, but feels governments should provide money to twin the highway within the next year. He is hoping to gather 10,000 signatures. To sign the petition, click here.

Grand Opening Planned For Sawpit Wharf Upgrades

Upgrades to Sawpit Wharf Park will be the cause for celebration this week. The Municipality of Lunenburg will host a grand opening to show-off the new upper parking lot and floating dock. Area councillor Errol Knickle says the $65,000 parking lot will allow people to stay in the area longer.



The $25,000 floating dock provides space for roughly 16 punts or small watercraft to be tied up. The grand opening will be held Thursday afternoon from 2-4pm at the Sawpit Wharf Park in Garden Lots.