Summer Games: McIntosh Records Another Gold For South Shore

Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh won gold in the women's heptathlon at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The 22-year-old dominated the competition, scoring 5,407 points and winning six of the seven events in the discipline. McIntosh's effort puts a stamp on South Shore accomplishments in athletics. McIntosh, along with Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan, Conquerall Mills' Mattias Wolter and Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen all won gold medals this week. Whalen still has the women's javelin final later tonight. Courtney Langille of Bridgewater will also run in the women's 4 x 400 metre final tonight.

Premier Says No Election Call This Weekend

Opposition party candidates and voters may have to wait awhile yet for a provincial election call. In a CKBW-HANK-FM News interview, Premier Darrell Dexter says you can pretty well rule out an election call this weekend, despite all the talk to the contrary for the past week. He tell us, there is still work to be done including a fiscal update to be unveiled next week outlining the province's current financial state.



The premier by law must call an election before next June. NDP candidates on the South Shore are ready to officially kickoff their campaigns when the premier "drops the writ". Shelburne MLA and Fisheries Minister Sterling Belliveau will offer his name up for re-election in the newly created Queens-Shelburne. Elsewhere, the Minister of Community Services and Seniors Denise Peterson-Rafuse is re-offering in Chester-St. Margarets, Pam Birdsall hopes for re-election in Lunenburg, Gary Ramey is looking to be returned in Lunenburg West. The NDP is yet to choose its candidates for Argyle-Barrington and Yarmouth.

CLOSED: Three Lunenburg County Swimming Holes Off-Limits

Three popular swimming areas in Lunenburg County are now off limits. Bayswater Beach, Sand Dollar Beach and Sawpit Wharf in Lunenburg Back Harbour have all been temporarily closed due to high levels of bacteria in the water. It's the second time this summer Bayswater Beach has been closed because of unsafe bacteria levels in the water. If you are looking for updates, call the Lifeguard information line at 477-6168.

Martin, Canada Miss Relay Final At Worlds

Bridgewater's Jenna Martin and her Canadian teammates gave it their all, but didn't advance to the finals of the women's 4 x 400 metre event at the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Moscow, Russia. The team finished fifth in their heat, in a time of three minutes, 31 seconds, failing to qualify for the finals by less than two seconds. Team Canada set a seasonal best time with their results.

Summer Games. McIntosh Closing In On Gold Medal

A busy day coming up for several South Shore athletes at the Canada Summer Games. Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh has a hold on first place, heading into the final three events of the women's heptathlon. Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe and Chester's Allison Chandler tee-off in round three of the golf event. Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen competes in the women's javelin final. Bridgewater's Courtney Langille will run in the women's 4 x 400 metre relay final.

Bridgewater: Street Closures Due To Kraft Celebration Tour

People will need to find some alternate routes around Shipyard's Landing on Sunday. Bridgewater's Public Works department is closing a number of streets to allow Kraft and TSN to set up staging and other equipment for the Celebration Tour. The closures include King Street between Cornwallis Street and Jubilee Road, School Street will be shut down between Prince Street and King Street, and Park Street will be off-limits between Prince Street and King Street. Some streets will be available for detours in the area. The closures take effect Sunday from 7am until 10pm.

RCMP: Two Men Charged In illegal Smokes Bust

A pair of Lunenburg County men are facing charges after Mounties seized some illegal cigarettes. In the first case, officers found some contraband smokes when they raided a home in West Northfield. Police say 2,400 illegal cigarettes were seized or enough to make about 100 packs. William Oswald Russell faces several charges. He was due to appear in court this week. Meanwhile, Robert Murphy of Upper Branch also faces several charges for the same reason. RCMP say the 32 year-old was found in possession of approximately 1,200 illegal cigarettes. He's due in court in October.

Delays Expected For South Canoe Wind Project

The warden of Chester says he's worried about a delayed decision on the South Canoe Wind project. The province's regulatory board has yet to make an announcement on the issue, over a week after their 60-day deadline passed to make a decision. But it's not the only concern on the table. A court challenge is also scheduled for November on the financing package for Nova Scotia Power in respect to the project. Allen Webber says it throws a wrench on a construction start date.



Webber says he has no idea when the Utility and Review Board will render its decision. Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power are behind the $200-million project.

Provincial Funds Help Local Fire Departments

Fire departments in the region will have extra cash to buy some new equipment thanks to the Nova Scotia government. The province is investing more than $125,000 in 10 organizations in the Region of Queens, Lunenburg and Shelburne counties. The funds will be used to purchase essential equipment such as personal protective equipment, communication equipment, and thermal imaging cameras. The money is coming from the Emergency Services Provider Fund. The program provides up to 50 per cent of eligible costs for approved projects, to a maximum contribution of $20,000.

In total, the program is providing about $500,000 to 55 organizations.

Fire Departments, Emergency Responders receiving funding are:

-- Big Tancook island Emergency Response Association, Lunenburg County, $6,353

-- Hebb's Cross Fire Department, Lunenburg County, $5,519

-- Indian Point Volunteer Fire Department, $10,873

-- Island and Barrington Passage Fire Department, Shelburne County, $6,492

-- Lunenburg and District Fire Department, $20,000

-- Lunenburg County Ground Search and Rescue, $3,333

-- Mill Village and District Fire Department, Regional Municipality of Queens, $19,455

-- New Ross Volunteer Fire Department, Lunenburg County, $20,000

-- Tri District Fire/Rescue, Lunenburg County, $13,518

-- Western Shore and District Fire Department, Lunenburg County, $20,000

Sustainability Festival Kicks-Off Fifth Year

People are encouraged to take the next step at this year's Growing Green Festival in Bridgewater. The unique festival has events scattered around Lunenburg County, but is primarily featured on King Street with sustainable booths set up for people to visit. Films began showing earlier this week and concerts will also be held Friday night and Saturday. Festival Chair Patrick Hirtle says the event has grown over the years.



This is the fifth year for the event. A full schedule for the event can be found here .

Queens: Municipality Trying To Save Piping Plovers

The Region of Queens is doing all it can to give a pair of newborn Piping Plovers a fighting chance. They are reminding anyone who goes to Beach Meadows Beach to take their dog for a walk to make sure their pups are on a leash. Director of Recreation Norm Amirault says it will give the sparrow sized birds a better chance to survive. He says a nest of five hatched earlier this month and already three have not survived.



The small birds are sand-coloured and are unable to fly for the first few weeks after they are born. According to statistics, half of the dwindling Plover population live on the Atlantic Coast.

Gasoline Prices Expected To Drop Again!

Look for another drop in South Shore gas prices come tomorrow morning, possibly by as much as 2 cents a litre.  In New Brunswick today, the price there is lower for the third time in the past month. Regular self serve in New Brunswick is down a couple of cents to $1.32.1 a litre.  Diesel is down almost 2.5 cents with no change in the price of propane.  Nova Scotia's Unity & Review Board will set the coming week's prices here at midnight tonight.

Summer Games: Golf Begins, Men's Soccer Into Quarters

A Bridgewater golfer is five shots of the pace at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Ryan Nowe shot an opening round two over par 75. Meanwhile, on the girl's side, Chester's Alison Chandler shot an 89. Both Nowe and Chandler play their second rounds Thursday. In other action, Mahone Bay's Hunter Vaszily and Lunenburg's Nick Tanner are off to the quarter-finals as part of the men's soccer team. They beat PEI yesterday 3-0 and will play B.C. Thursday afternoon with a chance to advance to the final four. Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh opens up competition today in the women's heptathlon. (Photo Courtesy: Communications Nova Scotia)

No Opposition To Communications Tower In Gold River

There is no opposition to build a communications tower in Gold River. There were no residents at Tuesday night's hearing in Chester or any letters opposing Eastlink's proposal to construct a tower at 165 Beech Hill Road. Warden Allan Webber says they will issue a letter of concurrence to Industry Canada, who has final say on the matter. He says the tower should help residents with improved coverage and data.



Webber says the municipality will earn minor tax revenue from the auxiliary building built near the tower. He's unsure of the construction timeline, but believes it could be complete in the next few months.

No Swimming: Bayswater Beach Closed

A Lunenburg County beach is off-limits to swimmers. Bayswater Beach has been closed because of high levels of bacteria. The province's Department of Health and Wellness indicates the beach will reopen when water testing shows it is safe. It's the second time this summer Bayswater Beach has been closed because of high bacteria levels. If you are looking for updates, call the Lifeguard information line at 477-6168.

Chester Race Week Sets Sail

The largest keelboat regatta in Canada is underway. Chester Race Week set sail today, and features nearly 125 entries. They will compete for bragging rights in a dozen different divisions on a challenging course in waters around Mahone Bay. Committee Chair JP Currie called it a highlight of the summer sailing season. He says it's also a great community event.



A large percentage of the participants hail from Lunenburg, Chester, Mahone Bay and Halifax. Chester Race Week continues through until Saturday.

Veteran PC MLA Gives Thumbs-Up To Minister For Ferry Announcement

Chris d'Entremont is the Progressive Conservative MLA in Argyle. He says Tuesday's announcement about talks pending between the province and a potential new Yarmouth ferry operator about a resumption of service is the best news he's heard in some time. d'Entremont is also giving full marks to Tourism and Economic Development Minister Graham Steele. He says Steele has added credibility to these two major government departments that seemed for years to lack guidance.



At the same time, d'Entremont says the ferry announcement will no doubt form some part of the Dexter government's re-election campaign in this region.

Liberal Reaction To Yarmouth Ferry Announcement

Yarmouth Liberal MLA Zach Churchill says the ferry service announcement on Tuesday was long overdue. He says, in hindsight, the service should not have been cancelled. Churchill says tens of millions of dollars in potential revenue for the tourist industry and other business has been lost as a result. He says a lot of repair lies ahead.



Churchill hopes the federal government will soon officially come on board and help with the resumption of the ferry service, including renovations to the abandoned ferry terminal in Yarmouth.

Memorial Softball Tourney Raises $5,500 For High School Bursary

A softball tournament has helped raise over $5,500 for a bursary at Barrington Municipal High School. The first ever Katlin Nickerson Memorial Mixed Softball Tournament was held last weekend at the Sherose Island, Shag Harbour and South Side ball fields. The event was held on the same weekend as Mariner's Day and Seaman's Memorial Day, paying tribute to men and women in the fishing industry and remembering those who have lost their lives at sea. Organizer and Katlin's mother, Della Sears, says it makes sense to have the tournament on that weekend.



Sears says she's thankful for the community support during the event.

Local Mayors Pleased By Ferry News

A pair of Lunenburg County mayors are pleased to hear steps have been taken to revive the Yarmouth ferry. The province is entering into negotiations with STM Quest to operate the service between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine. Bridgewater Mayor David Walker says its good news for the region.



The mayor for the District of Lunenburg agrees. Don Downe says a ferry service will benefit the entire province by bringing in more tourists.



Negotiations with the company are scheduled to begin later this week and last roughly three weeks. An update is expected early next month.