Fire Destroys Abandoned Home In Milton

Fire has completely destroyed a home on Tupper Street in Milton. Crews from four departments including Liverpool, Greenfield, Port Medway and North Queens responded to the call around 6:45 Friday evening. RCMP and the fire marshal were also called to the scene. Constable Rick Ellens says the home was abandoned and didn't have power. He says there were no injuries and the cause is undetermined. Police say the home was scheduled to be demolished and there will be no further investigation.

Nowe Wraps Up Play At National Junior Golf Event

Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe finished in a tie for 44th at the Canadian Junior Boys Golf Championship. The 17-year-old wrapped up his tournament with a three over-par, 75, Friday to finish at 12-over in total. Nowe finished one stroke behind Bedford's Bruce Tomie as top Nova Scotian in the event. He will now represent the province at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. British Columbia's Kevin Kwon shot a three under-par, 69, on route to a five shot victory. Kwon won the event for the second time in three years after winning the title in 2011.

School Board Workers Ratify Tentative Agreement

CUPE workers with two local school boards have ratified a tentative agreement reached earlier this summer. The South Shore and Tri-County Regional School Boards are among six districts that agree with the three-year deal settled on June 21. The deal, retroactive to April 1, 2012, includes yearly wage increases of two, 2.5 and three percent. It also includes adjustments to wages for some classifications including lunch supervisors and trades people, and a process to look at a defined benefit pension plan. CUPE School Board coordinator Kathy MacLeod says they are pleased that the majority of members were able to settle contracts before school returns in the fall. Members at the Chignecto Regional School Board initially voted against the deal, and will hold a re-vote in September.

Chester: Brush Cutting Needed Along Highway 329

The amount of brush around Deep Cove along Highway 329 is cause for concern for at least one municipal councillor in Chester. Andre Veinotte sent a letter to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal requesting brush to be cut along the highway in order to see Deep Cove. The request was met with no guarantees from the department, saying they have to prioritize work with over 2,500 kilometres of roadway in Lunenburg and Queens Counties. Veinotte says he's not surprised by the response.



Veinotte says it's a recreational issue as the area is used for fireworks, fishing and other activities but is being obscured by the brush. He says he will try and get permits to clear the brush and seek volunteer help from local fire departments.

Service Held For Long-Time Lunenburg Politician

A memorial service will happen today for long-time Lunenburg politician David Dauphinee. He passed away last Sunday at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater. Dauphinee spent 30 years on council including 17 as deputy mayor. Mayor Rachel Bailey says Dauphinee is an inspiration.



People can honour Dauphinee by providing memorial donations to the Lunenburg Arena or Bridgewater's Kinsmen Field. The service gets underway at 11am at St. John's Anglican Church.

Weekend ER Closures At Lunenburg Hospital

Several closures are planned through the weekend and into next week for the Emergency Department at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg.  The closures begin today at 5 pm with the ER re-opening at 7:30 Saturday morning.  The Fishermen's ER will be closed for the same time periods on August 3, 4, 5 and 6 with the closure on Tuesday the 6th lasting until 730am August 8 (Thursday).  South Shore Health's Director of Acute Care Lynn Farrell says the closures are a result of a nursing shortage.  She says it really began in June with a sudden resignation.



As usual, anyone requiring emergency services is advised to call 911 or visit the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.  Patients with "non-emergencies" should contact their family physician or call Health Link 811 for medical advice.

Here again is list of the closures with dates and times:

          August 2 at 5:00 p.m. (1700) and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 3/13.

          August 3 at 5:00 p.m. (1700)and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 4/13

          August 4 at 5:00 p.m. (1700) and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 5/13

          August 5 at 5:00 p.m. (1700) and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 6/13

          August 6 at 5:00 p.m. (1700) and will reopen - please note - at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 8/13

South Shore Gasoline Costs Less!

As expected, gasoline prices are lower this morning at South Shore pumps.  Regular self serve is down by about 2 cents to $1.35.8 per litre.  High test is lower in price by a similar amount to $1.44.8.  Diesel is also down by a couple of cents this morning to $1.32.8 a litre.

South Shore Athletes Ready For Canada Summer Games

A number of young men and women are in Sherbrooke, Quebec preparing to compete in the Canada Summer Games. Fourteen athletes from Lunenburg County are taking part in the national event, which opens Friday and runs until August 17. Participating athletes in track and field include Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh in Heptathlon, Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan in Decathlon, Mattias Wolter of Conquerall Mills in steeplechase, Bridgewater's Courtney Langille will run in the women's 4x400 metre relay and Chelsea Whalen of Liverpool will also compete in javelin and shotput. In soccer, Hunter Vaszily of Mahone Bay, Lunenburg's Nick Tanner, Bridgewater's Mallory Taylor and Sarah Taylor of Conquerall Mills will represent the province. Chester's Allison Chandler will play golf along with Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe. Chandler will also play tennis. Lunenburg's Mitch MacDonald will cycle, Hebbville's Claire McNally will compete in para-swimming, Bridgewater's Jamie Whynot in baseball, and Bridgewater's Olivia Pitman in women's volleyball.