SSRSB Votes to Not Censure Karen Reinhardt

Karen Reinhardt

11 alleged breaches in the South Shore Regional School Board's code of ethics wasn't enough to deter members to censure one of their own. Karen Reinhardt survived a 7-4 vote from her colleagues, after the board couldn't reach the required two-thirds majority needed to oust her. The Board needed eight votes to remove Reinhardt, receiving seven with member Jill Francis not present. Reinhardt says its back to business as usual.

"Well, I feel, actually relieved, of course. I don't know if I can say I feel vindicated because the vote was very close, but I'm pleased that the process is behind us and that I'm going to be able to serve the students."

Reinhardt says she was upset over the allegations, calling them unfounded and unsubstantiated. Board Chair Elliott Payzant says Reinhardt has been quiet to him over the allegations.

"She has never responded, saying that any of them were not true, so if she said tonight that they were untrue, it's the first I've heard and I have discussed all of them with her and she had not refuted any of them prior to this evening."

Both Reinhardt and Payzant say they hope the Board can move on from this issue and continue working together. Education Minister Ramona Jennex is still waiting on a report from Deloitte Inc., to make her decision on the board's actions during the March 30 school review process.

NS Gov: $6.5 M Help Purchase Land for Protection

The Nova Scotia Government has earmarked $6.5 million dollars to purchase land so it can be protected. Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse made the announcement in Chester this morning and says the funds will be available in the new fiscal year. It's only the second time in Nova Scotia's history that government is releasing some details of its capital plan in advance of the spring budget. Peterson-Rafuse talked to reporters about the significance of that move.  "This is about communities identifying the areas they want to preserve, it's not about what the government wants. In order to be able to do a good job in anything that you do in life - you have to have a plan and that's what we're trying to do,".  The province has a legislated goal to legally protect 12 percent of its land by 2015. Consultations on what land to protect is already underway and the public is invited to comment until February 12. The land that will be selected for protection is based on ecological and environmental importance.  For more information on the province's goal and protected areas in Nova Scotia, visit http://gov.ns.ca/nse/12percent/

Lumberjacks Acquire Langille from Dieppe

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks have added another defenseman to their roster. The Jacks acquired 18-year-old Craig Langille from the Dieppe Commandos, in exchange for an 8th round pick in 2013 and future considerations. Head Coach and General Manager Terry Rhindress says its a good pickup for his club.

"He's a first year kid out of Midget 'AAA' , but at a frame of 6'3 and 210 pounds, he doesn't move too bad. He's a physical guy. His presence alone should settle things down in the defensive zone and kind of make some guys play a little bigger because he is a big kid."

Langille played 16 games with Dieppe this season, registering no points and 14 penalty minutes. He's expected to be in the lineup for the Lumberjacks this Thursday night against Metro.

Bluenose II Launches Online Store

Bluenose II Lapel Pin/Courtesy Wayne Walters

There's a new online store dedicated to selling Bluenose II swag. Nova Scotia firm Blue Cow Creative Design and Production Ltd. was awarded the contract to build the store. The Director of Operations with Bluenose II, Captain Wayne Walters, says the store will accomodate people, both on the South Shore and away from the area.

"We had a lot of inquiries from people around the world who couldn't come to Lunenburg and see the work going on, so we thought we would get the online store going so people could buy something that would remind them of the project because they can see it online through the webcams as it is now."

Walters says items including books, model kits and photographs are available for purchase at the online store. For a look at what the online store has to offer, head to http://www.bluenose2store.ca/ .

Hunters Helping the Hungry

 Once again this year hunters are helping the hungry.  For the sixth year in a row, hunters are giving to food banks across the province.   They donate deer and moose meat to the Hunters Helping the Hungry program, which distributes it to Feed Nova Scotia  foodbanks.   Natural Resources Minister Charlie Parker says the province is proud to work with Feed Nova Scotia and others to help make life better for Nova Scotia families.   Hunters have donated 3,553 kilograms of meat to Feed Nova Scotia over the past five years.
         To donate deer or moose meat, hunters may take carcasses to one of 18 participating, registered meat cutters in the province and indicate the amount of meat they want to donate. Feed Nova Scotia then distributes the meat to 150 member food banks provincewide. For more information on this program and other ways Feed Nova Scotia is helping hungry families, visit http://www.feednovascotia.ca/ .

SSRSB to Debate Censuring Reinhardt

South Shore Regional School Board members are about to debate censuring one of their colleagues. Karen Reinhardt breached 11 sections of the Board's code of ethics. Board members voted 6-4 last Wednesday, in favour of deferring a decision until Monday night. Reinhardt is expected to be at the meeting, which begins at 7pm at the School Board office.

No Band-Aid Fixes For Bowater - Dexter

Premier Darrell Dexter says the province is in discussion with Bowater Mersey on a potential assistance package. However, officials are facing a January 1st deadline to come up with a savings package that Resolute Forest Products will have to accept in order to keep the mill open. Dexter spoke about the potential deal during a closed door meeting with almost all of the South Shore's mayors and wardens in Liverpool last week.  He told reporters before the meeting that the province doesn't want a band-aid solution for the mill. "We want to look for technologies that will be more energy efficient which of course yields a benefit over the long term. These are the kinds of things we want to look for, we want to make sure the plant isn't just sustainable for a year - but over the longer term,". The Region of Queens Municipality extended an olive branch to the company last week as well, council approved a 10 year-deal that will lower taxes for the mill by $135,000 annually. The Board of Directors at Resolute will ultimately decide the future of the mill in December.