Bridgewater: Jury Selected In MacKean Trial

The trial for a Lower Sackville man charged with sexual assault in the case of a teenage boy who was chained inside a Lunenburg County cabin will begin tomorrow. John Leonard MacKean is scheduled to have a three-day trial by judge and jury in Bridgewater Supreme Court.
Jury selection for the trial began Monday. MacKean is charged with a prostitution related offence. A panel consisting of seven women and five men will hear the trial. Last June, David James LeBlanc was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats and breach of conditions.
That conviction involves the same teenage boy who was able to escape the cabin. The incident was reported to police shortly after he escaped.

Plan In Motion To Raise Cape Rouge

A plan is in place to raise an old fishing trawler in Bridgewater. Several pylons will be placed between the dock and the ship over the next few days for stabilization. Divers with RMI Marine Ltd. will then seal up the ship, making it water-tight before the vessel will start being pumped out of the water. Senior response officer with the Canadian Coast Guard, Keith Laidlaw, expects to see some movement on the weekend. He says it's a lengthy process.



Laidlaw says they are being calculated and careful during this step. Over 5,000 litres of fuel was taken out of the ship while over 700 kilograms of absorbent pads soaked in oil were gathered from water surrounding the vessel. The Cape Rouge began sinking at the Port of Bridgewater on March 10.

Business Group Halting Managerial Duties Of 'Why Here' Project

Bridgewater is taking a wait-and-see approach before it decides if it will provide funding to an initiative that promotes the local area. The 'Why Here' project has been managed by the South Shore Business Growth Association since the Lunenburg-Queens Regional Development Agency shut its doors. However, the association will no longer manage the program as of March 31 due to a lack of funding. Manager of the Bridgewater Development Association, Ida Scott, says units including the Region of Queens, the municipalities of Chester and Lunenburg and towns of Bridgewater, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg could look after the 'Why Here' project for six months.



Scott says they have a proposed six month budget of $23,000, which includes a part-time coordinator and technical support for the website. Bridgewater has declined a $5,000 pre-budget request until more information is available.

Trial Begins For Third Man Related To Upper Chelsea Confinement Case

The trial for a Lower Sackville man charged with sexual assault in the case of a teenage boy who was chained inside a Lunenburg County cabin will begin this week. John Leonard MacKean is scheduled to have a three-day trial by judge and jury in Bridgewater Supreme Court. Jury selection got underway this morning (Monday). MacKean is charged with a prostitution related offence and sexual assault. Last June, David James LeBlanc was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats and breach of conditions. That conviction involves the same teenage boy who was able to escape the cabin. The incident was reported to police shortly after he escaped.

South Shore Labour Protests Cutting Door To Door Mail Delivery

The South Shore District Labour Council held a rally and march this morning (Monday) in Bridgewater. About a dozen members walked from the North Street main post office at 8 o'clock to outside the office of South Shore-St. Margarets MP Gerald Keddy. Rally organizer Jackie Giffin says among other things, they're focusing attention these days on Canada Post's plan to eliminate door-to-door mail delivery.



Eliminating door-to-door mail delivery is only part of Canada Post's plan to cut costs, including increasing postage.  Giffin also says the federal government is cutting too many public services and that is impacting society as a whole.

South Shore Sports: Weekend Wrap

A big weekend for Josh Shatford of Fox Point. The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks' forward scored a goal in his first ever 'Q' League game, helping Charlottetown to a win over Saint John. Shatford and the Islanders begin the playoffs this Friday night in Halifax against the Mooseheads. The red-hot Herd have won 13 straight games finishing second overall in the standings.

The BMO Western Hurricanes finished fourth overall in the NS Major Bantam provincials over the weekend in North Sydney. They were defeated in the bronze medal game in sudden-death overtime 4-3 by the Breton Sport Cougars. In nets for the Hurricanes was Parker Rowter, stopping 32 of 36 shots. The Hurricanes ended their regular season with 21 wins, five losses and seven ties. 

A Bridgewater team has claimed the 2014 Under-15 provincial junior curling championship. The Christopher Rafuse rink topped Liam Moore of CFB Halifax 9-3 in Sunday's final in Liverpool. The team, which includes Kya McArthur, MacKenzie Nauss, and Abby Rafuse, finished the event with a 5-1 record.

UPDATE: 4 Injured In Bridgewater Fire

A pot of grease left unattended and boiling on a stove caused a fire in a Bridgewater apartment Saturday night. Three people were injured and a Bridgewater fire fighter also suffered an injury. Fire chief Michael Nauss explains.



Meanwhile, Chief Nauss says grease fires are among the most dangerous kitchen fires.



By the way, damage to the Pleasant Street apartment was minimal, mainly smoke in the kitchen area.

Bridgewater: Grease Fire Causes Multiple Injuries

 

There were multiple injuries following a grease fire in Bridgewater over the weekend. The fire broke out Saturday evening at a home on Pleasant Street. Police say three people were taken to South Shore Regional Hospital - one person was later taken to Halifax for further treatment. Meanwhile, a volunteer firefighter was also injured while fighting the fire. Those injuries are described as being minor in nature. The fire has been deemed accidental.

Top Ten Scams

Computer virus fixing, credit card interest rates, debt settlement and mystery shopping are among the top ten scams making the rounds in our region. The Maritime Better Business Bureau has compiled a list. The Bureau's Jill Atkinson says virus-fixing tops it as consumers get suspicious email messages claiming they have a serious virus problem in their computer that needs fixing right away.



Atkinson says if that happens, you're open to the scammers getting all your personal information, passwords, credit card numbers and the like. She suggests ignoring such messages and even reporting them to police or the BBB.

Here's the top ten list of scams as compiled by the Better Business Bureau:

1.         Computer Virus fixing Scam

2.         Credit Card Interest Rates

3.         Advance Fee Loans Scam

4.         Debt Settlement

5.         Door to Door Sales

6.         Mystery Shopping

7.         Foreign Lotteries

8.         Sweepstakes

9.         Phishing Scams

10.       Inheritance Scams

Demolition of Lunenburg Building Likely After Appeal Period

One of Lunenburg's old waterfront buildings appears headed for demolition. The Yamaha Building on Montague Street was seriously damaged by an electrical fire last fall and its been determined the cost to repair it would be too excessive. The Town of Lunenburg held a public hearing this past week on a demolition proposal. Mayor Rachel Bailey said no one, opposed to bringing the old building down, showed up. There's an appeal period now which lasts thirty days. After that, if there's no objection, the demolition permit will go ahead.

New Wildfire-Risk Season Opens Saturday

A new wildfire-risk season is beginning in Nova Scotia. The season opens Saturday. There are new rules this year. People no longer need a permit to burn domestic brush but they must check an online burning restrictions map to learn when they can burn a pile of brush. The map will show green, red, or yellow in each county. It will let people know if it is safe to burn, unsafe to burn, or safe, with restrictions. The map is at www.novascotia.ca/burnsafe . People can get the same information in a recorded message by calling 1-855-564-2876, toll-free. The map and recorded phone message will be updated daily.

Hurricanes Open Provincials With Two Wins

The BMO Western Hurricanes are hoping to win their first provincial title this weekend. The major bantam hockey club is in North Sydney for the provincial championships along with seven other teams. Jacob Myra and Ian MacPhee each scored as the Hurricanes moved to 2-0 with a 2-0 win over Cole Harbour. The Hurricanes opened the tournament with a 3-2 win over the Nova Jr. X-Men. Head Coach Adam Masland says it's tough competition.



The Hurricanes lost in the finals last year. They also won provincial bronze in 2012. Their next game is Friday night at 8pm against Bedford.

Fire Temporarily Blocks Access To Mahone Bay

Lunenburg County REMO is advising motorists that access to Mahone Bay is blocked at the four-way stop in Blockhouse due to a house fire. Multiple fire departments are on scene on Main Street. People looking to get into Mahone Bay are encouraged to travel Highway 103 and take Exit 10.

Acadia Broadcasting Granted Approval For Moncton Station

Acadia Broadcasting is expanding - the parent company of CKBW/HANK-FM has received approval from the Canadian Radio - Television - and - Telecommunications Commission to purchase Moncton radio station CKNI-FM from Rogers Broadcasting. Acadia plans to move the station to newly constructed studios and launch its new sound later this year. Moncton becomes the 13th station for Acadia Broadcasting spanning New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario.

Lockeport Mourns Long-Time Fire Chief

An emotional time for the town of Lockeport. The seaside community is preparing to say goodbye to long-time fire chief Leo Williams, who passed away from illness earlier this week at the age of 66. Williams served 39 years as the town's fire chief and was also one of the founding members of the Mutual Aid service. He joined the Lockeport Fire Department in 1972, becoming chief in 1975 until his death on Monday. Mayor Darian Huskilson says the loss has been tough on the community.



Huskilson says he's proud the town, the fire department and first responders created the Leo T. Williams Lockeport High School Bursary, given every year to a graduating student. A funeral service for Leo Williams is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Lockeport United Baptist Church.

Your Clutter May Be Gold For Others

Its almost spring cleaning time and the Canadian Diabetes Association wants all your clutter! The CDA's Clothesline Program has been extended to the end of April giving South Shore residents and others time to get their old stuff bundled up and ready for pickup. Joanna Dunn of the Diabetes Association says money raised when sold to second hand stores goes to a good cause.



The Clothesline Program also has an incentive for you to de-clutter! Its offering a 10-thousand dollar closet makeover or a vacation for four to Barbados.

NS Auditor General Recruitment Too Political: Peterson-Rafuse

Nova Scotia's NDP says the process for finding a new auditor-general for the province smacks of Liberal patronage! Economic Development critic and Chester MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse says how its being done will hamper who-ever gets the job.



Members of the recruitment panel, appointed by Premier Stephen McNeil, include a former auditor-general, members of the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary's University and several chartered accountants and an un-named recruitment firm. The process results from the recent retirement of Jacques LaPointe after 7 years as auditor-general.

More Money Needed For Infrastructure Improvements

Municipalities across the country are expressing concern about the new Building Canada Fund. Its supposed to keep money flowing to help communities repair roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects. However, Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities President David Corkum of Kentvile fears there's not enough money to go around.



Corkum also says there may be too much red tape involved for villages, towns and cities to aquire funding.
He's calling on Ottawa to join in talks with municipalities to examine ways of fixing the problems.

Liverpool Fire Under Investigation

An investigation is underway this morning into a fire last night in an abandoned building in Liverpool. The fire at 90 Common Street in the town broke out around 10pm (Thursday). The building, which used to be a church, was extensively damaged. No one was hurt. The RCMP suspect arson but it hasn't been confirmed yet. They're looking for the public's help in their investigation.

Small Change In Gasoline Prices

Gasoline prices have dropped a bit overnight at South Shore pumps. Regular self serve is about half a cent less this morning, selling for $1.38.6 a litre. High test is down by the same amount to $1.47.5. Diesel is up by about half a cent though and selling at many locations for $1.45.7.