Court: Jury Will Decide MacKean's Fate

The sexual assault trial involving a Halifax man is entering it's final stages. Both sides in the case presented their closing arguments Thursday afternoon during the Nova Scotia Supreme Court trial in Bridgewater. John Leonard MacKean is facing two charges including sexual assault and a prostitution related offence. MacKean denies the boy was chained up when he visited the cabin on September 20, 2012. MacKean also testified he would have helped the 16-year-old if he knew the boy was being held against his will. However, the 64-year-old admitted to touching the teenagers genitals while he was at the cabin in Upper Chelsea. MacKean stated he went to the cabin to get a massage from Wayne Cunningham. The Crown has submitted DNA evidence that matches MacKean. Prosecutor Lloyd Tancock says evidence shows the sexual meeting was pre-planned. The defence argues the case comes down to credibility and whether the teenage victim was telling the truth while under oath due to varying versions of his story. The jury will begin its deliberations after getting instructions from the judge Friday morning.

Chester: Flat Fee Proposed For Universal Sewer Rate

A flat fee is being proposed as a route for a universal sewer rate in Chester. The municipality is exploring a universal rate to help eliminate deficits in five of their six sewer systems. Staff is recommending the flat fee based on property assessment instead of using the existing system with as much as a 20 per cent rate increase. Warden Allen Webber feels its the best option.



A presentation from the public also provided another option but council still has to review it. A final decision has not been made. Council is giving residents and business owners two weeks to review the information.

Visitor Restrictions At Lunenburg Nursing Home

An outbreak of noro virus has prompted officials at a nursing home in Lunenburg to limit visiting. Administrator Tim McAulay at Harbourview Haven Home For Special Care says several residents have shown signs of the gastro-intestinal illness in recent days. He says friends and loved ones are being asked to limit their visits.



There are 143 residents at Harbour View Haven and McAulay says the restrictions will be lifted once the number of cases declines.

Accused Takes Stand At Bridgewater Sexual Assault Trial

A 64 year old Halifax-area man charged with sexual assault is testifying today during his Supreme Court trial in Bridgewater. John Leonard MacKean says he would have helped the teenage boy who was chained up and blindfolded, if he had known he was being held against his will.
MacKean is accused of paying to perform sexual acts on the boy while he was chained-up and blindfolded. However, the 64 year old denies those charges, saying he was duped by Wayne Cunningham into going to the cabin. Cunningham was one of the main figures in the kidnapping and confinement of the 16 year old in Upper Chelsea. The relationship between MacKean and Cunningham grew through Cunningham offering personal massages to help MacKean with his bad hip after they met in 2011 at alcoholic anonymous meetings in Halifax. MacKean testified this morning he was just going for another massage when he went to the cabin on September 20, 2012. The accused also stated he never discussed paying to perform sexual acts on the boy. The crown will have an opportunity to question the accused later today. A 12 member jury is expected to begin its deliberations later today or tomorrow.

School Hoax Making The Rounds In Bridgewater & New Germany

Bridgewater Police and school officials at Park View Education Centre and New Germany Rural High are trying to get to the bottom of a hoax. Numerous parents have received automated phone calls lately saying their children had been selected to undergo drug testing at their school. Bridgewater Police Chief John Collyer says it may take some time to track the source but he says its definately a hoax.



And the Chief says the school board and his force are still trying to determine from where the calls are originating. He says if the person is found, its difficult to determine what the consequences might be, other than maybe mischief charges.

Gasoline Prices May Drop Slightly Tonight

Look for South Shore gas prices to remain the same or drop slightly overnight tonight when the utility and review board sets the coming week's prices. In New Brunswick this morning, self serve regular is down half a cent a litre and is selling for about $1.34.3. Diesel is also two cents a litre cheaper in New Brunswick. The maximum price for heating oil is almost 2 cents a litre less expensive and another decrease in the maximum price of propane in New Brunswick, this time by just over 4.5 cents a litre at $1.20.4.

Welcome To Spring But Winter Will Hang Around Longer

Spring officially begins this afternoon just before 2 o'clock (1:57pm to be precise). However, because spring arrives doesn't necessarily mean warm temperatures will suddenly break out and flowers and green grass pop up. Meteorologist Steven Hatt at Environment Canada in Dartmouth says the chilly weather we've had all winter will continue.



Most forecasters are saying temperatures will be below normal through much of the first 6 weeks of spring.
If that holds true, that'll put us into the first week of May before any real change possibly happens.

DNA Evidence Submitted, MacKean Takes Stand

The man accused of sexual assault in a high profile court case will take the stand on Day 3 of the Supreme Court trial in Bridgewater. Defence lawyer Mike Taylor confirmed the news just before the court proceedings wrapped up on Wednesday. John Leonard MacKean is accused of paying for sexual acts involving a teenager who was chained up and blindfolded in a cabin in Upper Chelsea. Taylor says his testimony will help clear some issues up for the jury.



Meanwhile, DNA evidence that matches MacKean's has been submitted before the court. Crown prosecutor Lloyd Tancock says two forensic reports were filed as evidence which places the accused inside the cabin.



Closing arguments are also expected on Day 3 of the trial. A 12 member jury will ultimately decide MacKean's fate.

Yarmouth: Ferry Service Delayed; Agreement Reached On Terminal

Nova Star Cruises has requested a new start date for ferry service between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine. The company is looking to start the service on May 15, two weeks after the original May 1 date. However, the province still needs to approve the request for an extension. Commissioner William Doyle of the United States Federal Maritime Commission says they have issued a certificate of performance permit for Nova Star Cruises, which allows the ferry company to begin promoting and selling tickets. Meanwhile, the COO of Nova Star also announced today that it has signed a lease agreement with the Town of Yarmouth for the use of the municipal ferry terminal. The seven year agreement means the company will be responsible for operational costs and pay the Town of Yarmouth an annual lease and usage fee, based on passenger numbers. Nova Star Cruises estimates that the lease agreement will generate more than $350,000 for the town this year.

Accused In Sexual Assault Case Thought Teen Was Older

A Halifax area man accused of sexually assaulting a young boy told police he thought the teenager was older. John Leonard MacKean made the statement just hours after he was arrested by police in New Brunswick. The 64 year-old also told police he had no idea the  16 year old had been kidnapped and was being held against his will. The information was revealed during police interrogation conducted in November 2012. The four hour video was played publicly for the first time today during his Supreme Court trial in Bridgewater. MacKean is accused of paying to perform sexual acts on the teenager who was chained up and blindfolded in a cabin in Upper Chelsea. The teenager was kidnapped by Wayne Cunningham and David Leblanc. MacKean is facing two charges in total including sexual assault and a prostitution related offence.

Lunenburg: New Ownership At Grand Banker Restaurant

What started out as a job as a teenager has turned into a perfect opportunity. Adam Bower is one of the new owners of the Grand Banker Seafood Bar and Grill and Brigantine Inn in Lunenburg. He grew up in the town, working as a bus boy at the restaurant in 1998. Now, he's a proud owner after it was sold to him and his wife, Christina. Bower says it's important for him to be back in Lunenburg.



Bower says plans include keeping the restaurant open year-round, instead of seasonal.

Opening day is scheduled to be April 7.

Ottawa Provides Money For South Shore Clean Technology Company

A South Shore-based clean technology innovator is starting up with financial input from Ottawa. CelluFuel's plant just outside Liverpool will transform otherwise low-value wood fibre into renewable diesel fuel for the refinery market. The firm is debuting its technology at ReNova Scotia Bioenergy in Brooklyn with a long-term plan to launch a full commercial-scale operation in Clare by 2015. South Shore-St. Margarets MP Gerald Keddy says the federal government will  contribute half a million dollar repayable investment through ACOA. The money will help in purchasing special equipment for setting up the plant. The Province of Nova Scotia has already announced a $1.5 million repayable investment in the project.

Bridgewater: Chamber Hosts 'Breakfast With Mayor' Event

Bridgewater residents are getting a chance to have breakfast with the mayor. The Bridgewater Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event Thursday morning from 7:30am-9am at the Days Inn and Convention Centre. David Walker is expected to talk about the future of the town and listen to resident concerns. People can register for the event on site, beginning at 7am or they can pay at the chamber website here .

Keddy Reflects On Jim Flaherty

Gerald Keddy says Jim Flaherty was one of Canada's best finance ministers. The South Shore-St. Margarets MP is reflecting on the now former finance minister who resigned Tuesday after 8 years on the job. Keddy tells us Flaherty will be sorely missed.



Keddy expects Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver will also be a good finance minister. He will be taking over Flaherty's job for the final year of the Harper government's mandate. Flaherty plans to return to the private sector. Replacing Oliver as Natural Resources Minister will be Greg Rickford.

Interrogation Of Accused Heard In Sexual Assault Trial

The 12 member jury hearing a sexual assault trial in Bridgewater Supreme Court is hearing police interrogation of the man accused of paying to have sex with a teenage boy. John Leonard MacKean is facing charges of sexual assault and communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services with a person under eighteen. The 64 year old's arrest over a year ago came shortly after a Canada wide man hunt ended in Northern Ontario with the arrest of David Leblanc and the discovery of Wayne Cunningham's body. Leblanc and Cunningham orchestrated the kidnapping and confinement of a teenage boy in Upper Chelsea. The boy was sexually assaulted daily for eight days before he was able to escape. It's alleged MacKean paid to perform sexual acts on the boy while he was chained up. The jury is hearing a four hour interrogation led by RCMP officer Luc Cote. The Supreme Court trial is expected to last at least another day before the jury begins deliberations.

Bridgewater: Teenager Can't ID Third Man

A high profile sexual assault case enters its second day in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Bridgewater. The alleged victim testified in court yesterday he was chained to a bed and sexually assaulted numerous times inside a Lunenburg County cabin in September 2012. The teenager told court he was blindfolded and not able to identify a man believed to have paid to perform sexual acts on the boy. Defence lawyer Mike Taylor says identification plays a big factor in any case.



However, Crown attorney Lloyd Tancock is expected to submit DNA evidence during court proceedings Wednesday. Sixty-four year old John Leonard MacKean is facing charges of sexual assault along with a prostitution related offence. He's is being tried by judge and jury.

Yarmouth: No Injuries Following Barn Fire

The Canadian Red Cross says a family of four escaped injury after a fire caused major damage to their home near Yarmouth. The fire destroyed a barn attached to their home in South Ohio on Monday night. It also caused extensive damage to their older wood-frame home. The couple and their two children were not home at the time of the fire. They are staying with relatives have have been helped with emergency purchases such as food and clothes. The Red Cross says passing motorists who saw the smoke and flames rescued three pet dogs and a rabbit  from the house. Firefighters from the Yarmouth, Lake Vaughn, and Valley and District responded to the blaze.

Acadian Seaplants Expanding; Province Supports Project

A Nova Scotia company is sprucing up two of its facilities on the South Shore. Biotech group Acadian Seaplants is investing more than $4-million for new equipment at its Yarmouth and Charlesville, Shelburne County plants. It also includes the company's Cornwallis facility. The expansion is expected to increase capacity, introduce new technologies, and enhance product quality and worker safety. Acadian Seaplants harvests and processes seaweed for global markets involving specialty fertilizer products and animal feed supplements. The company expects to add roughly 30 jobs throughout its operations over the next three years. The province is also contributing almost $540,000 to support the project. (Photo Courtesy: Acadian Seaplants Limited)

Teen Tells Court He Was Blindfolded, Chained To Bed

Chilling details are being revealed in the sexual assault case involving a teenage boy who was chained up for 10 days inside a cabin in Lunenburg County. Sixty-four year old John Leonard MacKean is facing two charges in relation to his alleged role in the incident which took place in September 2012. The alleged victim - a teenage boy - was the first witness to take the stand  in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Bridgewater. He told court he was blindfolded and chained to a bed while he was sexually assaulted by David Leblanc and Wayne Cunningham. The teenager also testified about a third man involved in the sexual acts. However, the boy was blindfolded and could not clearly identify the other individual. Evidence of chains, a blanket from the bed and a blindfold were submitted as evidence by the Crown prosecutor. Defence lawyer Mike Taylor will cross examine the alleged victim this afternoon. The trial is being heard before a judge and 12 member jury. It's expected to last three days.

Yarmouth Prepares To Welcome New Ferry

Just a month and a half before ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine resumes and excitement is building. Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood says the community's "All Hands On Deck" campaign will be holding a special public meeting Wednesday evening. The mayor says it'll be a good prelude to May 1st, an update on whats happening.



The NovaStar left Singapore on the weekend bound for Boston. It'll take the new vessel about a month to travel the 16-thousand kilometers. The NovaStar is also expected to travel to Yarmouth for a courtesy call prior to the start up of service May 1st.