BREAKING: MacKean Found Guilty On All Charges

A 12 member jury has found a Halifax area man guilty of both charges in his Supreme Court trial in Bridgewater. The verdict was reached after five hours of deliberations. John Leonard MacKean was facing charges of sexual assault and communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual service from a person under 18. Crown lawyer Lloyd Tancock says the guilty verdict will mean jail time for the 64 year old. However, Tancock told reporters it's too early to discuss the prison term the Crown will seek. MacKean is the third and final person charged in the confinement and sexual assault of a teenage boy in Upper Chelsea in September 2012. Wayne Cunningham died while on the run from police in Northern Ontario while David Leblanc is serving an 11 year jail term for his role in the crime. MacKean will be sentenced on June 24.

The Wrath Of The Mighty Pot Hole

Spring is here and so is one of the season's most irritating dilemmas! Many a tire will be busted, shocks and struts damaged and hub-caps lost before pot hole season ends. The craters are everywhere on South Shore roads and District of Lunenburg Mayor Don Downe says they're hard to dodge and fix.



Road crews have been trying to keep ahead of the game, keeping the potholes filled. However, nothing permanent can be done until the weather is warmer and it could be some time yet before that happens.

Jury Still Deliberating In Sexual Assault Case

A 12 member jury has been sequestered for nearly five hours in the sexual assault case involving a Halifax area man. Deliberations began this morning after the panel were given final instructions from the judge. John Leonard MacKean is facing charges of sexual assault and communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services from a person under the age of 18. The allegations involve performing sexual acts on a teenage boy that was blindfolded in a cabin in Upper Chelsea MacKean was arrested in a hotel in Fredericton in November 2012. The 64-year-old is the third and final person accused in the chained teen case. Wayne Alan Cunningham died on the run from police in Northern Ontario. David James Leblanc is serving 11 years in jail for his role in the kidnapping and confinement of the teen. The trial is now in its fifth day.

RCMP Setting Up Checkpoints For Impaired Drivers

Nova Scotia RCMP will be out in force this weekend checking for impaired drivers. The Mounties are holding their second national impaired driving enforcement day on Saturday. Officers will be conducting checkpoints across the province. Corporal Scott MacRae says they want people to be safe and sober behind the wheel.



The campaign was first launched in December. RCMP checked more than 10,000 vehicles and laid over a dozen charges for impaired driving.

Bridgewater: Fire Department Band Hosting Lieutenant Governor

The Bridgewater Fire Department band is getting a visit from a pair of special guests.The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Brigadier-General J.J. Grant and his wife, will visit the town next month to watch the band's spring concert. Director Wendell Eisener says it's a nice surprise after frequent invitations.

Eisener says it's a special honour for the band. He says they will need to be sharp.



The spring concert is scheduled for April 27th at 7pm at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Bridgewater. Tickets will be available soon.

Peewee 'B' Ice Sharks Drop Opening Game At Provincials

A tough start for the South Shore Ice Sharks Peewee 'B' team at provincials. The club lost their opening game 4-0 to TASA Black at the Lunenburg Arena. They're back on the ice at 5pm in Lunenburg against Thorburn. Play shifts to the Clearwater Seafoods Arena in Bridgewater for games on Saturday and Sunday.

New Finance Minister Should Cut Taxes/Kill Debt: Taxpayer Watchdog

Joe Oliver has replaced Jim Flaherty as Canada's finance minister. The now former Natural Resources Minister was chosen earlier this week when Jim Flaherty suddenly resigned. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation applauds the appointment. However, CTF spokesman Gregory Thomas tells us, Oliver needs to soon whip-up a healthy dose of tax relief for South Shore residents and other Canadians while finally dealing with the federal debt.



Thomas insists the new finance minister can also send a strong signal to South Shore employers and their workers by rolling back EI payroll tax hikes brought in after the 2008 financial meltdown.

Fox Point's Shatford Ready To Suit Up Against Mooseheads

A 17-year-old hockey player from Fox Point says it means everything to him to suit up in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.  Josh Shatford is on the Charlottetown Islanders roster tonight in the opening game of their playoff series with the Halifax Mooseheads. Shatford says he is ready to help his hockey team de-throne the defending Memorial Cup champions. The Halifax Metro Centre could have over 10,000 people in the seats. Shatford says it's tough on his nerves.



The Islanders struggled against the Mooseheads in the regular season, losing eight of nine games. Shatford notched 21 points in 47 games with the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks this season. He is facing off against his Lumberjacks teammate, Brennan Bailey, who was also called-up recently by the Mooseheads. Game one goes tonight at 8pm in Halifax. (Photo Courtesy: Matt Healy Photography)

UPDATE: Bridgewater Sexual Assault Case Goes To The Jury

The sexual assault case in Bridgewater Supreme Court involving a Halifax area man is now in the hands of a jury. Deliberations began this morning after the panel was given final instructions from the judge. John Leonard MacKean is facing charges of sexual assault and communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services from a person under the age of eighteen. The allegations involve performing sexual acts on a teenage boy who was blindfolded and chained up in a cabin in Upper Chelsea. MacKean was arrested in a hotel in Fredericton in November 2012. That was after investigators found a cell phone in Northern Ontario belonging to Wayne Cunningham - who was on the run from police. The phone contained text messages discussing a get together involving MacKean and Cunningham. Cunningham and David Leblanc were the masterminds behind the kidnapping and confinement of the teenager. Cunningham's body was found in Ontario while Leblanc is serving an 11 year prison sentence for his role in the incident. MacKean is the third and final person accused in the case. The trial was originally expected to last only three days but now is in it's fifth.

South Shore Peewee 'B' Ice Sharks Host Provincials

The best Peewee 'B' hockey teams in Nova Scotia are in town this weekend. The South Shore Ice Sharks are hosting provincials in Lunenburg and Bridgewater. Five teams including two from St,. Margaret's, Cape Breton, and Pictou County are playing in the tournament. Head Coach Jamie Myra is hoping to win a provincial banner.



The Ice Sharks will play their first game at the Lunenburg Arena at 11am Friday against TASA Black. Full schedule can be found here .

Surprise! Surprise! Gasoline Prices Lower

A nice surprise this morning at South Shore gas pumps. Regular self serve is down almost three cents to $1.35.8 a litre. High test down by the same to $1.44.8. Diesel is down two cents and selling in some places for $1.43.9.

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.