Bridgewater: Town Rejects Big Rig Hill Climb

A big rig hill climb will not make its debut this year for South Shore in Motion. Bridgewater council quashed the request in a 4-3 decision Monday night during a special council meeting. The new event was proposed for Exhibition Drive during their August event. Some councillors felt there would be too much risk after the town's insurer wouldn't cover the event. Mayor David Walker says they weren't ready to endorse the new event.



Meanwhile, festival chairperson Darren Wentzell says they're disappointed.



Wentzell says the group will talk about the future of South Shore in Motion during a meeting on Tuesday night.

South Shore Hockey Players Win Bronze In Quebec

A bronze medal finish for Nova Scotia at the Quebec Major Junior Excellence Challenge in Boisbriand. Bridgewater's Keith Getson, Christopher Goreham of Clark's Harbour and Hunter Hurlburt of Yarmouth helped Nova Scotia finish third in the five team event. They defeated Newfoundland 6-2 in the consolation game. Getson finished with two assists in five games while Hurlburt and Goreham each had one assist. The QMJHL Entry Draft will be held in Sherbrooke on May 31st.

Contest Challenges Students To Design New Oak Island Logo

Local students are vying for bragging rights and a cool $500 to design a new Oak Island logo. The Friends of Oak Island Society are gathering submissions from art students at Park View Education Centre, New Germany Rural High, Bridgewater Junior-Senior High and Forest Heights. Chairperson Shelley Rafuse says they're looking for something eye-catching.



The logo contest will see the new design be used on clothing, marketing materials, digital media and will be used worldwide. Students have until Friday to submit their art work.

Local Search And Rescue Looking For Younger Volunteers

Lunenburg County Ground Search and Rescue are looking to attract younger volunteers. The group held a six-hour mock exercise Sunday to kick-off Emergency Preparedness Week across the province. The week serves as a reminder to know the risks, plan ahead and prepare for potential emergencies. Search Director Sherry Veinot says they're always looking for new people.



Veinot says they mainly recruit through social media. Roughly 50 members are part of Lunenburg County Search and Rescue. Emergency Management Minister Mark Furey says Nova Scotia is among the best in the country when dealing with a disaster.



The province's Emergency Management Office says people should prepare kits for their home and car with enough resources for 72 hours. EMO Planning Officer, Steve Mills, says having a 72-hour supply is important.

The kits are available from the Canadian Red Cross.

Search On For Robbery Suspect

The RCMP in Tantallon are looking for a suspect in an armed holdup yesterday of a drug store in the area. During the supper hour last evening, Tantallon Mounties were called to the Lawtons Drugs on St. Margarets Bay Road where a man had enterred the store, threatened a female employee with a syringe and forced her to hand over a quantity of prescription drugs. The suspect escaped on foot and a search of the area with a service dog did not find him. Investigators suspect he fled the area in a waiting car.

RCMP ID Female Pilot In Weekend Plane Crash

RCMP are releasing the name of a woman killed over the weekend when her ultra-light plane crashed in Hants County. Maryanne Hardman of Halifax died when her plane went down near Stanley Airport. The 50 year old was the pilot and only person in the plane. It's still not known what caused the crash.

Province Looks To Reduce Surgery Wait Times

It's hoped some new money will reduce wait times for foot and ankle surgeries in Nova Scotia. The province will invest $4.2 million to improve orthopedic services beginning this year, and is now providing surgeon wait time information online. The money will help recruit a foot and ankle sub-specialist surgeon, perform more hip and knee replacements to help reduce wait times, and streamline orthopedic care.  Kevin Chapman of Doctors Nova Scotia says wait times can reach up to two years.



Health Minister Leo Glavine says they know wait times are too long and adds the investment is an effort to work on solutions for people needing the surgery. To view the online wait times list 

Man Faces Drug Charges Following Yarmouth Bust

A 39 year old Yarmouth area man is facing numerous charges related to an RCMP drug bust just outside the town. A home in the village of Hebron (HEE-brun) was searched by the RCMP and officers seized a quantity of marijuana and drug paraphenalia. Wilfred Laurier Crosby has been charged with possession and trafficking of marijuana. He will appear in Yarmouth court in early July.

Woman Dies In Hants County Ultra Light Crash

A woman died over the weekend as a result of the crash of an ultra-light plane in Hants County. It happened in Stanley just after the noon hour on Sunday. The female pilot and lone occupant of the plane was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation is underway to determine the cause.

Income Tax Deadline Near

If you're a procrastinator and you've been putting off filing your 2013 income taxes, you have until midnight tomorrow (Monday) to do so. As you carefully plod your way through all that paperwork, renowned Canadian financial expert, author and university professor Mark Milke (MILL-kee) says you can blame our government of nearly 100 years ago for putting you through all the stress today! Milke says the newly imposed income tax during the First World War was supposed to be in place for a short time, not a long time.



Milke is the author of 5 books and dozens of studies and he's released a new edition of his best seller ... "Tax Me I'm Canadian". Its an entertaining history of how we ended up being saddled with income and other taxes in Canada.

Four of Region's Worst Roads In Nova Scotia

A rural road in Cape Breton is the winner of the Canadian Automobile Association's annual Worst Roads Campaign! The Gillis Point East Road in Washabuck Centre won this year's on-line public voting. Gary Howard of the CAA says often the reason for so many roads cracking and heaving is a result of poor construction.



Howard hopes the top 10 list will shame governments into fixing up the pot-hole littered and crack-laden roads. In all 4 Nova Scotia roads made the list and 3 in New Brunswick. Among them, Park Street in Kentville and the Hanwell Road in Fredericton.

Police Holding Second Prescription Drug Drop-off

RCMP are asking people to get rid of their unused medications safely. The Mounties along with municipal police services are holding their second National Prescription Drug Drop-Off day on May 10. The RCMP say people should clean out their medicine cabinets and bathroom drawers to get rid of medications. Sgt. Keith MacKinnon says they want reduce access and abuse of prescription drugs.



MacKinnon says they collected roughly two tonnes of pills during last year's inaugural event and they're hoping to build off that success. Drop-off points will be held across the province including Bridgewater at the Bridgewater Mall, in Chester at the Chester Pharmasave, at Kinley's Drug Store in Lunenburg and the RCMP detachment in Yarmouth.

EMO: Prepare Today For An Emergency

Emergency Preparedness Week kicks off today in Nova Scotia. The government is using the week to remind people to take responsibility to know the risks, plan ahead and prepare for potential emergencies. Lunenburg West MLA Mark Furey will be in Pine Grove on Monday to meet with emergency management officials. Furey, who is also the Emergency Management Minister, says emergency preparedness begins at home. The Emergency Management Office says people can prepare a 72-hour home emergency kit, select a common meeting place for their family and keep a list of phone numbers and addresses by the phone. Emergency Preparedness Week runs until May 10.

World War II Battle Remembered

It was a turning point in World War II. Today, marks the 71st anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino says the month of May in 1943 was a game changer for the Allies. They gained the upper hand over German U-boats. The victory by the Allies kept supply routes open between North American and Britain. Heroic efforts by the Royal Canadian Navy and Air Force kept those critical routes open but claimed the lives of 4,600 men and women. The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, running from 1939 to the defeat of Germany in 1945.

Campaign Focus' On Motorcycle Safety

Bikers are set to hit the open road as the warm weather approaches. A public awareness campaign has been launched in Nova Scotia as motorcycle traffic is set to increase on rural roads and cruises on the Trans-Canada. Last year, there were 11 bikers killed in crashes in the province. Spokesperson for Safety Services, Ed Snow says that's extremely concerning.



New data shows there are over 30,000 motorcycles registered in province including 4,500 that are newly licensed. Snow suggests new and experienced bikers should always consider taking defensive driving courses before the riding season kicks into high gear.

Two Arrests In Halifax Homicide Case

A pair of arrests in connection with a homicide last fall in Halifax. Investigators with major crimes are questioning two people in relation to the death of Matthew Sudds. His body was found in a ditch along Africville Road last October. The 24 year old's death was determined to be suspicious the same day. This morning, a 29-year-old Halifax man was arrested in relation to the death. Meanwhile, a 23-year-old woman, originally from Halifax, was arrested in Ontario. They are currently in custody and being interviewed. No charges have been laid.

d'Entremont Challenges Heritage Minister Over Bluenose II Delays

The PC MLA for Argyle-Barrington has taken the heritage minister to task for recent comments regarding Bluenose Two. Chris d'Entremont says minister Tony Ince said in mid-April in the Legislature the vessel was undergoing sea trials. Yet, yesterday Ince said the sea trials won't be done until a steering problem with the vessel is examined during an upcoming test drive in Lunenburg Harbour. d'Entremont wanted clarification.



The Lunenburg Shipyard Alliance - which has been rebuilding Bluenose Two - says they will not be surprised if the iconic vessel isn't ready for public sailing tours this summer. Officials there say they're taking unfair criticism for delays in getting the vessel back in service.

Studded Tires Removal Delayed In Nova Scotia

The province of Nova Scotia has extended the deadline for removing studded winter tires from vehicles to the end of the month. Its designed for garages and tire shops to clear a backlog of customers wanting their studded tires removed. In turn, extending the deadline could lead to even more damage to highways. Gary Howard of the Canadian Automobile Association says the benefits of studded tires are outweighed by the damage thats caused.



Howard suggests studded tires are not really needed .. that present-day tires are of higher quality and provide good traction in winter driving.

Barrington Council Votes Down Mayoral Proposal

There will be no change in the form of government in the Municipality of Barrington, at least for now. Councillors there have been discussing the pros and cons of establishing a mayoral system to replace the present warden system. Barrington Warden Eddie Nickerson says council has voted down the issue.



Barrington residents have already voted by plebescite in favor of a mayoral system. Council will be seeking a closer study of the issue before members come up with a final vote.

Peterson-Rafuse: People Feel Betrayed By Liberals

The MLA for Chester-St. Margaret's says she's not surprised to see the spring sitting of the Legislature rise early. NDP member Denise Peterson-Rafuse says the sitting usually goes until at least mid-May but it wrapped up on Thursday. She says the Liberal government upset a lot of people, including students, when they ended the Graduate Retention program and did very little in return.



Peterson-Rafuse says she's heard comments from the public saying the Liberals aren't as advertised and they feel betrayed. The spring sitting was in session for just over a month.