VIDEO: LCLC Tour

Media were invited by the general manager of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre to partake in a tour of the construction site.  Representatives were shown various parts including the locations of the active living space, Margaret Hennigar Library, and aquatic centre. The video shows a look at the arena and how far along workers with Bird Construction have come since starting construction last spring.

South Shore Health: Expect Long Wait Times In ER's

South Shore Health is advising residents to expect long waits for non-urgent care at each of its three hospitals. The emergency departments in Bridgewater, Lunenburg and Liverpool are dealing with high patient volumes which is creating delays in admissions and extended waits for non-emergency's. The health authority cites a lack of long term care beds, shortages in family physicians and seasonal illness as contributing factors. CEO Peter Vaughan says officials are exploring the possibility of creating a daytime walk-in clinic to ease the backlog of patients wanting to see a doctor. Vaughan says the health authority is doing all it can to ensure people have access to health care.

Bridgewater: Outdoor Rinks Await Water

A pair of outdoor rinks in Bridgewater are waiting on water before they can be used. The two structures have been built since before Christmas but a lack of cold weather prevented them from opening. Now, the temperatures have dropped and volunteers are working with the town's fire department to fill the rinks with water. Councillor Andrew Tanner hopes that can happen this weekend.



The rinks are located on Kinsmen Field. One rink is used for ice hockey while the other is used for general skating. For updates, you can visit the facebook group here .

Bowater Deal Could Cost Much More Than Thought

The former Bowater mill's power deal could end up costing the Nova Scotia group that now owns the closed paper mill more than three million dollars this year. The province inherited the arrangement when it acquired the mill's assets and liabilities last month from Resolute Forest Products. ReNova, the renamed Bowater Mersey Paper Company, has estimated net debits of 200-thousand to 300-thousand dollars a month. The opposition Liberals and PC's are calling on the Dexter government to reveal the costs of the deal, saying they're concerned about the liabilities the province has taken on.

Gasoline Prices Rise Again

It will cost you more to fill up the car or truck with regular or high test gas and diesel. Prices at South Shore pumps have increased today, as predicted. For the first time in a few weeks, the price of regular self serve has cracked the one dollar and 30 cent mark per litre. Its selling now for $1.30.1 per litre. Diesel is also up today, priced at $1.37 a litre. Thats about two cents more.

Annual New Year's Classic Basketball Tourney Underway

The 39th annual Bridgewater High School New Year’s Classic Basketball Tournament opens up play today. Teams participating will include Park View, Liverpool, Middleton, Hants North, Hants East, Millwood, North Kings Education Centre, and, of course, the host Bridgewater High School Vikings. Games started at 10am this morning and continue throughout the day with two evening games being held at Park View at 6pm and 8pm. There will be an Alumni game played at 10:00 pm featuring only alumni players. Games continue on Saturday at BHS, starting at 9:00 am. The championship game is scheduled for 3pm.

Bridgewater: Stomach Virus Still Going Around

A section of the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater will remain closed to visitors over the weekend. The health authority issued the restriction earlier this week because of a severe stomach virus circulating among patients. Hospital spokesperson Theresa Hawkesworth says another new case has been confirmed bringing the total number of patients dealing with the illness to ten. She says 48 hours need to pass without a confirmed new case before the restriction can be lifted. The gastrointestinal illness is primarily affecting patients on the third floor in the medical and surgical unit. All other outpatient hospital services at the hospital are available.