Queens Ballot

2009-05-12 06:15:20

It's now official - the ballot is set with all three candidates in place.   Kerry Morash is the Conservative party candidate in Queen's.  Morash - a lifelong Queens resident - was first elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2003.  He was acclaimed as candidate at a nomination meeting Monday night.    He has served as caucus chair and held two portfolios in cabinet and most recently was Rural Outreach Coordinator.  Morash was defeated by the NDP's Vicki Conrad in 2006 - the first time the Tories lost in Queens in fifty years.  Many said it was the lack of a Liberal candidate in the riding that allowed the NDP to take the seat by 55 ballots last time. The Grits have Wayne Henley on the ballot this time.  Conrad is fighting to hold onto the seat for the New Democrats heading into a very competitive campaign.

Fatal A-T-V Accident

2009-05-11 11:56:29

An all terrain vehicle accident has claimed the life of a 40-year old Queens county man.  RCMP Staff Sergeant Bruno Deveau says the RCMP were called out yesterday morning to a private dirt road in North Brookfield in Queens.  That's where they found Terry Scott Rawding of Pleasant River. He was pronounced dead at the scene. S/Sgt Deveau says he had been at a camp the night before and he left that night headed for home. That's when they believe the accident happened.  Police say Rawding was wearing a helmet. They are still investigating.

Sawmill Fire

2009-05-11 11:54:52

Officials with Bowater's sawmill operation in Lunenburg county call it a minor fire. Robin Anthony says there was only slight damage in a Stacker Outfeed area of the sawmill in Oakhill. And there were no injuries.Oakhill and Dayspring responded to the call last night around twenty to ten. The fire was reportedly in the same outbuilding where some welding had been done earlier in the day.

Leader's Tour

2009-05-11 11:41:07

Rodney MacDonald was the first.   Darrell Dexter wasn't too far behind.  And today, the Leader of the Liberal Party will be campaigning in Lunenburg county.  Stephen McNeil says the area is important to his party. McNeil will be in Bridgewater, Lunenburg and Mahone Bay today and in Tantallon with the Chester St. Margaret's candidate this evening.  Darrell Dexter is in Lunenburg today where he will be taking a tour of video-game developer H-B Studios.  Premier MacDonald is spending the day in the Halifax area.

Tax Credit

2009-05-11 05:50:54

Lunenburg's NDP candidate says one of their party's campaign planks would be a help to companies like Composites Atlantic.  Pam Birdsall says the ten percent manufacturing and processing tax credit would help businesses grow and would create employment in Lunenburg.  Thursday, she took a tour of Composites with party leader Darrell Dexter adding their proposal would allow them to invest in new equipment.  She adds it's not just a tax break but an incentive for companies to upgrade and become more competitive.  Lunenburg's total manufacturing labour force accounted for just over 42-hundred jobs according to statistics from 2001.

French School Land

2009-05-11 05:49:11

Now that the sale has closed, we're finding out how much the Municipality got for a piece of land for a new French school in Cookville.  C-A-O Tammy Wilson says the property is just over ten acres. It was sold to the province earlier this year at a cost of $400,000.  The piece of property is just off Highway 10 near the WalMart development.   A replacement for École de la Rive-Sud in Blockhouse will be built near the Osprey Ridge development.  The school will have up to 285 French first-language students from the region. It will cost about $13 million and should be completed in 2010.  A local real estate agent says forty-thousand an acre is a fair price for a lot that size near the Exit 12 development.  She says that's where a lot of people want to be right now as the retail area continues to grow.  The municipality isn't sure if the 1 percent deed transfer tax applies to the sale between the two levels of government.

Beach Protection

2009-05-08 06:29:13

The dunes of Cherry Hill Beach are being protected .  Effective today, (Friday, May 8th,) vehicle traffic along the dunes and the beach is banned.Beach access for traditional uses such as clam digging, waterfowl hunting and swimming  will continue to be permitted. There will be a designated area for parking.  Cherry Hill Beach is  an important nesting habitat for the endangered piping plover and a vital feeding and resting area for many thousands of migrating shorebirds." The ban will be enforced by Department of Natural Resources officers and, when appropriate, RCMP. Operators who ignore the ban can be charged under the Crown Lands Act and/or the Motor Vehicle Act.

McHappy BBBS

2009-05-08 06:26:13

They're awfully McHappy at South Shore Big Brothers and Big Sisters today.  The group was the beneficiary of the funds from yesterday's McHappy Days at the Bridgewater McDonald's restaurant.  A dollar from each mcmuffin and Big Mac sold yesterday were given to charity.  And after the numbers were crunched, it looks like there were a lot of sandwiches munched.  Sandra Murray says they will be receiving $2,000 to help pay for their programs to help boys and girls in the area.

Generous Enough

2009-05-08 06:23:36

A May 20th public meeting on the Queens Place recreational facility has been cancelled because of a lack of "information gaps".  One of those according to the Region's Rec department is a shortfall in funding. The group says the five-million dollars from the province doesn't quite come up to one third of the cost.  They were also hoping for additional money to develop the land around the construction site.  Premier Rodney MacDonald says his government has already given what it can to the project.  The group says a public meeting on Queens Place will be held, but not until they have all of the information they need to provide to residents of Queens.

Leaders Tour

2009-05-07 09:33:24

NDP Leader Darrell Dexter hits the south shore area to campaign with local candidates today.  Dexter will be doing some mainstreeting at the Bridgewater Mall Plaza with Lunenburg West candidate Gary Ramey at noontime. At 2 o'clock this afternoon the Provincial New Democrat leader will tour Composites Atlantic in Lunenburg with Pam Birdsall who's running for the NDP in the Lunenburg riding. Later in the afternoon Dexter will join  candidate Denise Peterson Rafuse for a meet and greet at the NDP Campaign Headquarters for Chester-St. Margaret's at 4171 Highway 3 in Chester.  Dexter will also pay a visit to Shoreham Village.

After an intense day of Campaigning on the south shore including an appearance at the Lunenburg nomination meeting, Premier MacDonald is in Pictou county today. Peter Zwicker was elected as the Conservative's candidate for the Lunenburg riding last night.

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil will be in the valley campaigning today.

 

Queens Place stall

2009-05-07 09:31:59

 

A public meeting for Queens Place scheduled for later this month is being postponed because of outstanding issues including funding.   A news release from Recreation says the purpose of the meeting was to present the Schematic Design for the recreation facility as well as provide specific information about capital and operating costs.   But they point to "information gaps" that need to be resolved before a public meeting.  Those include a need for completed site development costs and more federal and provincial money.  They say the seven million from the Federal Government was 1.8 million less than what they asked for. And the five-million from the province was less than the one-third project funding in many other communities.  The Region has asked for a top up but says that hasn't materialized yet. They also say the election campaign underway will likely impact a request for funding to help defray the costs of developing commercial land next to Queens Place.  They add the combination of these three critical areas impact on the Region's capacity to provide the best information possible to the public. Once full information is available, they say the meeting will be rescheduled.

Home Invasion

2009-05-07 06:26:05

Charges have now been laid against two people allegedly involved in a home invasion on Pleasant Street early yesterday afternoon. Twenty-three year old Matthew Kevin Glavine and 18 year old Shaun Tyler Greek are facing charges of  break and enter into a dwelling and committing an indictable of aggravated assault.  Breach charges as well as a charge of trafficking in crack cocaine are also alleged. Arrest warrants for the pair have been issued.  Meantime, An individual who was initially arrested by police yesterday has been released without charge.  This incident, is still under investigation.   Police are asking anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of GLAVINE and GREEK to contact  Bridgewater Police, 543-2464 or CRIMESTOPPERS

Home Invasion

2009-05-07 06:26:05

Charges have now been laid against two people involved in a home invasion on Pleasant Street early yesterday afternoon. Twenty-three year old Matthew Kevin Glavine and 18 year old Shaun Tyler Greek are facing charges of  break and enter into a dwelling and committing an indictable of aggravated assault.  Breach charges as well as a charge of trafficking in crack cocaine are also alleged. Arrest warrants for the pair have been issued.  Meantime, An individual who was initially arrested by police yesterday has been released without charge.  This incident, is still under investigation.   Police are asking anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of GLAVINE and GREEK to contact  Bridgewater Police, 543-2464 or CRIMESTOPPERS

Inspection Changes changed

2009-05-07 06:24:03

 A bit of a reprieve for tuners and off-roaders.  Government officials say concerns from vehicle owners and the motor vehicle industry have prompted an in-depth review of the processes for inspecting modified vehicles.     A recent clarification to the Motor Vehicle Inspection Manual explicitly states testers are required to fail a vehicle that has been raised or lowered, unless the alteration had been previously approved by an engineer.  And that would have required taking the vehicle to New Brunswick to be certified.  The clarification has raised a number of issues, which the review will address. The review will take up to one year to complete and will result in recommendations for the appropriate next steps.   In the meantime, testers will continue to follow the same safety standards in place for all other vehicles.

Leader's Schedule

2009-05-06 06:05:20

With the provincial election campaign starting to rev up, the Conservatives are giving the south shore a lot of attention. Premier MacDonald spoke with CKBW news yesterday morning at seven o'clock, one of the first interviews of the day about the election.
Today, the Conservative leader is campaigning with Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. He's scheduled to be serving Big Macs with her for McHappy Day at McDonalds in Bridgewater.
Then this afternoon, it's off to Queens to start campaigning with Kerry Morash.  Party officials tell us he will be the only person seeking the PC nomination in Queens when their meeting is held next Monday.
And tonight, MacDonald will be in Mahone Bay for the nomination meeting to see if it will be Peter Zwicker or Ron Allen who will be vying for Michael Baker's former seat in Lunenburg.
Liberal Leader, Steven McNeil is campaigning in Metro.
And NDP leader Darrel Dexter is in the Truro and New Glasgow areas today.

Drug Arrests

2009-05-06 06:00:02

Two Pinehurst males facing  drug and weapons charges after a search warrant was executed at a Penny Road residence.  The South Shore Integrated Street Crime Unit with assistance from RCMP and Bridgewater Police executed the warrant May 1st.  A quantity of marijuana plants were seized as well as firearms that were unsafely stored in the residence.   A 59 year old male and an 18 year old male are facing charges of production of a marijuana and unsafe storage of firearms.  The accused are scheduled to appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court on June 17th for election and plea.

Election Budget

2009-05-05 06:15:18

What started out as a budget document is now a plank in the Conservative's election platform.    Premier Rodney MacDonald will pay a visit to the province's lieutenant-governor this morning.    That's when he is expected to ask Mayann Francis for an election on June 9th.    MacDonald's minority Conservative government was defeated last evening after losing a vote to amend the Provincial Finance Act.    Both opposition parties had repeatedly said they would not support the bill.    The defeat means this year's budget would have a 260-million dollar deficit.    Expect the political rhetoric to have both the Premier and the opposition blaming each other for forcing us to the polls this summer.

The ballots aren't quite set yet for the five ridings on the south shore. There are two more nomination meetings to come, and both of them involve the Progressive Conservatives.

Community Services minister at dissolution, Judy Streatch is running again in Chester St. Margaret's.  The Liberals will have JoAnn Grant and Denise Peterson-Rafuse is running for the NDP.
In Lunenburg, Rick Welsford is on the ballot for the Liberals and Pam Birdsall for the NDP.  The Conservatives will be chosing between Ron Allen and Peter Zwicker at their nomination meeting tomorrow in Mahone Bay.
Lunenburg West has Natural Resources minister Carolyn Bollivar Getson for the PC's running against Mark Furey for the Liberals and Gary Ramey for the NDP.
In Queens, incumbant New Democrat Vicki Conrad is on the ballot against Wayne Henley of the Liberals and a Conservative candidate who will be chosen next Monday.
And in Shelburne, Sterling Belliveau will be working to hold the seat for the NDP while running against Eddie Nickerson of the Conservatives and Darian Huskilson of the Liberals.

Health money

2009-05-05 06:13:05

South Shore residents are going to be seeing an enhancement of service at the South Shore Regional Hospital. MLA  Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, on behalf of Health Minister Karen Casey, says a multi-million dollar  investment in South Shore Regional Hospital will enhance emergency room service and accommodate a satellite dialysis unit.  Funding was also announced for design work on Queens General Hospital in Liverpool. The design work will enable the Queens project to move forward.  Christopher Clarke co-chair of the hospitals fundraising committee says they've been working towards the project for about 6 years. The 22 medical beds that were built in 1965 will be replaced with modern up to date facilities and there will be a new primary care centre meaning better medical delivery in Queens

Harbour Cash

2009-05-05 06:11:27

17 South Shore harbours will be receiving some money from the Federal Government.  South Shore- St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy says the funding will go towards harbour maintenance and dredging projects.  Bush Island, Fox Point, Indian Point, and Mill Cove are among the communities Keddy hopes will see a strengthened economy and new jobs in the commercial fishery as a result of the improvements.  The money is coming from Canada's Economic Action Plan. Nova Scotia will see about 40 million dollars of the 200 million the government set aside for similar projects across the country.

Chrysler Optimism

2009-05-05 06:09:32

A new month, a new agreement and a new sense of optimism at a Bridgewater area Chrysler dealership.  Co-owner Peter Saunders tells CKBW, it was a difficult few months with the uncertainty surrounding the Chrysler Corporation.  Saunders says the agreement with Fiat is an exciting development for the manufacturer.  Business as usual will continue, although Saunders says there may be some challenges with the supply of vehicles but overall he and his staff are relieved with the situation.

H1-N1 Update

2009-05-04 06:28:49

As of today (May 3rd) two new lab-confirmed cases of H1N1 (human swine influenza) virus have been reported. To date, a total of 33 cases have been confirmed in Nova Scotia. Both new cases are related to the King's-Edgehill school
community.   Of the six confirmed cases announced Saturday (May 2nd) from outside the King's-Edgehill community, five are still under investigation and one is a teenage student in Baddeck. That student had recently visited King's-Edgehill.     Deputy chief medical officer of Health Dr. Maureen Baikie says public health officials are not surprised to see confirmed cases in other parts of the province but she remain confident in the vigor of the public health system.     Taking preventative action is the best way for Nova Scotians to protect themselves for H1N1 (human swine influenza) or seasonal influenza. That means washing your hands thoroughly and often, coughing or sneezing into your sleeves, staying away from public areas if you are sick and frequently cleaning and disinfecting common surfaces and items such as doorknobs and counters.

Furey Acclaimed

2009-05-04 06:23:49

The top mountie in the District has been selected as the Liberal candidate for the riding of Lunenburg West.  Mark Furey, a 29 year veteran of the RCMP was unopposed at a nominating meeting Friday night in Bridgewater.   Furey has served as adviser to the Minister and Deputy Minister of Justice, been involved in public education initiatives, and performed a tour of duty in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1995.  Liberal Party leader Stephen McNeil was on hand for Friday nights nomination meeting.  Along with Furey, the other candidates for the Liberal team on the South Shore include Rick Welsford, JoAnn Grant, Wayne Henley and Darian Huskilson.

 

River Recognized

2009-05-04 06:19:20

An historic south shore river used by Mi'kmaq travelers for centuries, is now protected by a designated wilderness area.     Shelburne River Wilderness Area in Queens County, is close to six thousand acres. Environment Minister David Morse says the province is living up to its commitment to protect lands purchased from Bowater Paper Company in 2007.            The wilderness area protects the old canoe route celebrated by the popular Tent Dwellers festival last year. The new wilderness area will protect most of the lower Shelburne River, about 40 kilometres of river frontage. Upper parts of the river are within the Tobeatic Wilderness Area.

MODL Taxes

2009-05-01 06:52:29

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is holding the line on its tax rates at 79 cents per $100 of assessment for residential and a $1.92 per 100 for commercial.  Mayor Don Downe says Council approved a good budget responsible to the needs of the municipality but which enables the municipality to move forward with the provision of services to the residents.  Highlights include a "Compassionate Tax Policy " to provide relief to low income property owners, a grant support staff position, investment in infrastructure at Osprey Village, promotion of active living and enhanced recreational opportunities, meeting environmental obligations and sustainability initiatives.

Peter Zwicker

2009-05-01 06:48:50

And now there are two.   The next candidate for the Progressive Conservatives in the riding of Lunenburg will have to win to get in.  Peter Zwicker is the second person to announce he is going after the nomination in the riding formerly held by Michael Baker.  Zwicker is a current Lunenburg town councilor, into his second term.  He says he believes there is no greater calling than to serve the people of the Lunenburg riding adding the chance to represent the community at a broader level is a challenge he's eager to embrace.  Earlier this week, retired Michelin supervisor Ron Allen announced he would be seeking the nomination.  The party will choose its representative at a nominating meeting in Mahone Bay May 6th.

Grow-Op

2009-05-01 06:47:46

An indoor marijuana grow-op has been seized from a Lunenburg county home and the couple living there are now facing charges.   Members of the South Shore Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant Wednesday night at a home on Bridgeview Drive in Gold River.  Police officers say they found an indoor growing system with 347 pot plants along with electrical equipment and fertilizers. They also seized several unsafely stored firearms.  Constable Jacques Rioux says a 38 year old man and a 32 year old woman are looking at cultivation and firearm charges. A court date has been set for June 17th for election and plea in Bridgewater Provincial Court.

Earth Day Totals

2009-05-01 06:38:40

Although the weather was against them again this year, organizers are pleased with the level of participation for this year’s Earth Day Challenge.  Totals this year rivalled peak numbers from the past according to Solid Waste Management.   Valda Walsh says many of the cleanups did not happen on the 22nd, but they happened nonetheless. And she says the amount of litter collected highlights the importance of this event.   More than 2,000 people in four counties rolled up their sleeves to clean up litter in their communities collecting more than 5,000 kilograms of litter.  Walsh calls it a banner year with more people registering than ever before adding it's an indication people understand litter is an issue that affects us all.  But she says with littering up 21 percent, people's attitudes toward litter have change but their behaviours have not.

Lobster Thief

2009-05-01 06:31:10

A Riverport fisherman has been fined $4,236 and will serve a 10 day suspension of his fishing licence beginning midnight May 21st. Tom Drake was scheduled to go to trial but changed his plea to guilty for having possession of stolen lobsters which were removed from someone else's traps. Drake was charged last May 30th under section 22 of the Fishery General Regulations. The Judge accepted a joint recommendation in imposing the fine and licence suspension.  As well, proceeds of the sale of  the lobsters seized, valued at $763.88 will be forfeited to the Crown.

Slipped Up

2009-04-30 06:13:35

A slip on the ice ended up hurting in more ways than one for a Bridgewater man in his 60's.  Paramedics were called to the scene of a man who was lying on a path after slipping on an icy surface.  John William Godfrey was taken to his apartment and helped inside.  However, police were called to assist in locating Godfrey's medication.  They spotted a plastic bag of cigarettes on top of a microwave and Godfrey was charged with having unstamped tobacco product.  He was fined 500 dollars for having 148 illegal cigarettes.

 

Murder Charges

2009-04-30 06:11:45

A Bridgewater court judge has approved a warrant allowing the extradition process to get underway for a man serving a life sentence for a murder in New York state.  Glen Race of Dartmouth faces two counts of first degree murder in connection with the death of two Nova Scotia men in May of 2007. Bridgewater Crown Prosecutor Paul Scovil says amending the charges and getting the warrant were the last steps in preparing the extradition documents for the Federal Department of Justice. Twenty-seven year old  Race is currently in prison after being convicted of the murder of Darcy Manor of Mooers, New York , May 10th, 2007.   He's charged in the deaths also in May of 2007  of Paul Michael Knott and Trevor Brewster.

Lunenburg Conservative

2009-04-30 06:10:26

A big week for a long-time Dayspring resident.   Ron Allen is now a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. And he is the first person to announce his candidacy for the riding of Lunenburg.  A 38 year resident of the community has retired after more than 36 years with Michelin.  Allen is an ironman competitor who believes in promoting awareness about physical activity.  He tells CKBW he's never run for office before and feels he can offer good representation for the people in the riding.  The Constituency Association will chose it's candidate at a meeting next Wednesday evening at seven o'clock at the Mahone Bay Firehall.  So far, Ron Allen is the only person to tell us he's interested in running for the Conservatives in Lunenburg, a seat held by the late Michael Baker for ten years.

United Winner

2009-04-29 10:30:23

Pictured from left. Clare Leblanc –Northcott (UW Canada), Mark Winfield (UW Lunenburg), Michael Graves (UW Lunenburg), Helen Himmelman (UW Lunenburg) 

A local Bridgewater businessman has won a national award from the United Way of Canada.. Mark Winfield, Chair of the  Board of United Way of Lunenburg County is the recipient of  the prestigious Chair's Award of Distinction.
The  award recognizes the critical role that volunteers play with their sustained dedication to their communities and the United Way Movement .  Since it's inception in 2003, the United Way of Lunenburg County has invested over 300,thousand dollars  in over 60 Lunenburg County based organizations and projects. Winfield says if every single working person in Lunenburg County invested 1 dollar per week they would have $1.1 million dollars each and every year to invest in programs that will make a measurable difference to Lunenburg County residents"

E-R Closure

2009-04-29 10:28:49

Another hospital E-R closure because of staffing shortages.  The emergency department at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg is closed today (April 29). The Health Authority says it's because of  the unavailability of staff to cover the shifts.  The department will be closed from 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 29 to 7:30 a.m. Thursday, April 30.  A spokesperson says the closure has nothing to do with the outbreak of swine flu in Nova Scotia.  Although South Shore Health says two staff within the district were sent home yesterday because they had been in close contact with King's-Edgehill students from Windsor.  Communications director Theresa Hawkesworth says those staff did not exhibit any signs of having contracted the virus and have in fact been allowed to return to work.  They are being watched in case they do develop symptoms.

Staying On

2009-04-29 09:21:05

He's into his 10th consecutive term at the helm of Lunenburg Town Council and that's where Laurence Mawhinney is staying put.  He has no plans to jump from municipal to provincial politics when the election writ is dropped, possibly this week. Mawhinney is one of Nova Scotia's longest-serving municipal leaders. He is into his 30th year as Mayor, a position he has held since 1979.  His name has been rumoured as a possible  Conservative candidate for the Lunenburg  riding  held by Michael Baker who died March 2 at the age of 52 after battling Cancer for nearly three years.

Lobster Trap

2009-04-29 06:15:03

The NDP's Fisheries Critic says the Conservatives are smothering lobster fishermen with red tape.  Shelburne MLA Sterling Belliveau says adding red tape will limit the fishermen's ability to sell directly to consumers and impede them from providing for their families.  Belliveau says he was approached by a number of fishermen last winter who wanted to sell their product directly to the public as it was the only way they could survive.  Belliveau says the announcement that  food permits will now be required show the Fisheries Minister and the Rodney MacDonald government have done nothing but show that they are turning their back on Nova Scotia lobster fishermen.

Cruiser Crash

2009-04-29 06:13:08

A Sergeant with Bridgewater police is recovering from minor injuries after a crash involving the police car he was driving.
Police say the accident happened last Friday afternoon.   The officer was responding to a complaint when the Dodge Charger and a Chevy pickup collided at the intersection of Aberdeen Road and LaHave street.  Both vehicles sustained serious damage.  The couple in the truck is from Upper LaHave. Neither of them was seriously hurt either.  Police say they are still investigating the accident.

Breastfeeding Support

2009-04-29 06:09:46

The Lunenburg & Queens Baby-Friendly Initiative Committee has a new community resource  available for businesses and organizations to create supportive environments for breastfeeding families.  Susie Wood, Co-chair of the  Committee unveiled the Action Support Binder, Make Breastfeeding Your Business at Bridgewater Town Council Monday night. Wood says support and education are key in creating a community that supports breastfeeding. Wood says it's an opportunity for Bridgewater to serve in a leadership role and act as a champion in creating supportive environments for other places of employment throughout the community in making breastfeeding the cultural norm in Bridgewater.

Mourning Day

2009-04-28 08:53:56

The South Shore Labour Council will hold a candlelight vigil this evening at the Kinsmen Hall, 1153 King Street to mark the 25th anniversary of the Day of Mourning.  A ceremony is being held at Province House to remember, pay tribute to and mourn for the 29 Nova Scotian workers who lost their lives in 2008, the highest number since the Westray disaster. 
Tonight's vigil in Bridgewater gets underway at 7 o'clock.

Car Show Cash

2009-04-28 08:51:53

Bridgewater Town Council has decided not to back an antique auto show projected to draw 10,000 visitors creating a projected economic spinoff of more than $600,000.  The Great Atlantic Antique Automotive Show requested $3,000 from Town Council to help market the two day show July 17th to the 19th at the MARC in Dayspring.  Mayor Carroll Publicover says Council voted 4 to 3 against referring the request to budget deliberations, partly because they needed an immediate answer, and the request came in late. The group is also approaching the councils of Mahone Bay and town of Lunenburg for support, and has already received considerable support from the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg.

Queens Fire

2009-04-28 08:49:30

 

Queens RCMP are investigating a suspicious fire in Harmony Mills.  The fire in the early evening hours of Friday, April 24th, was in a salvage yard behind a ballfield.  The North Queens Volunteer Fire Fighters responded to the call and extinguished the fire which consisted of mostly crushed and junked vehicles.  The location of the fire posed a significant hazard for the firefighters while attending and putting out the blaze.
On another matter, the Mounties are investigating damage to a vehicle on the Molega Lake Road in Labelle. The owner of a truck reported that the wiring harness on the vehicle was pulled off the engine and left at the scene sometime between April 22nd and the 24th.  Anyone having information on either incident is asked to contact the Queens RCMP Detachment.  (354-5721)

Swine Flu Watch

2009-04-28 05:52:19

South Shore Health is monitoring the Swine Flu situation very closely and is in regular contact with the  Departments of Health Protection and Promotion and the Department of Health as well as  provincial counterparts.Communications Director Theresa Hawkesworth says locally they are following all recommended guidelines and protocols and are working with Health Promotion and Protection to enhance existing surveillance for respiratory illness in Nova Scotia.  They are also working to ensure that heath care professionals get the information they need to identify and manage suspected cases.  Hawkesworth says  they have had a number of calls from the public with questions and concerns. She says  if you've been to Mexico recently and have severe flu-like symptoms, you should isolate yourself and contact your family doctors or other health care professional. Make sure you mention your travel history.  People with general questions or concerns should contact Public Health in Bridgewater

Chester Liberals

2009-04-28 05:50:03

Jo-Ann Grant will be carrying the Liberal banner into the next provincial election in the riding of Chester-St. Margaret's.  Described as a women's advocate and community volunteer, Grant won the contested nomination at a meeting on Friday night at the East Chester Recreation Center.  Grant is a professional sales manager with a background in small business. She beat Lea Russell for the chance to run for the Liberals against Cabinet Minister Judy Streatch.  Grant is a member of the Canadian Women's Foundation and its Women Moving Women program. She is also a member of the Village of Chester Tourism and Development Association and previously sat on the board of the Queens County VON.  Liberal leader Stephen McNeil spoke at the nomination meeting.

Swine Flu

2009-04-27 06:15:51

 

The Department of Health Promotion and Protection, working with the Public Health Agency of Canada, has identified four cases of swine influenza in Windsor, Hants County.  Dr. Robert Strang, chief public health officer for the province, says there is no reason for the Windsor community or Nova Scotians to be overly concerned. He says the individuals affected have all experienced mild symptoms and are recovering. No one, at this point, has been hospitalized because of this illness. Dr. Strang says the province remains vigilant and is continuing surveillance across the province.  Pat Dunn, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection, says he has the utmost confidence in the ability of Nova Scotia's strong public health system and its highly skilled and caring  professional staff.  Anyone planning to travel to Mexico is advised to get a flu shot.  Prevention continues to be the best approach to prevent  illness. Nova Scotians are advised to wash their hands thoroughly and often, cough into their sleeves and stay away from the public if they are sick.

Canoe accident

2009-04-27 06:13:14

Police have identified Terry Lee Zwicker as the drowning victim of a canoe accident on a river in Queens county.  RCMP Const. Allan Nickerson says the 46 year old's floating body was found after a search of the Mersey River, near Dam No. 2.  Zwicker, from Queens county,  was declared deceased after being taken to Queens General Hospital on Friday evening.  Police say the other man in the boat managed to swim to shore and was unharmed.   RCMP say the men had been fishing and were not wearing life-jackets, although two were found in the canoe. Emergency Health Services received the call at 12:38 p.m. Friday that two men were in the water and sent two ambulances.

SPCA Funding

2009-04-27 06:11:08

The province has announced 100,000  dollars in funding to the Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Minister of Agriculture Mark Parent, says the funding will support the S-P-C-A's work implementing the new Animal Protection Act, which will be proclaimed in the  coming months.  The new act shifts responsibility for farm animals from the SPCA to the Department of Agriculture. It will allow the SPCA to focus on the protection of non-farm animals.     The funding will allow the SPCA to focus on improving  investigations by providing operational funding and additional training.

New Station Granted

2009-04-24 14:03:20

Country music is coming back to the airwaves in Bridgewater. CKBW has received approval from the CRTC to operate a second radio station. Jim MacMullin, Vice-President of Acadia Broadcasting says the company is extremely pleased and excited about the successful application for a new country  music station for the south shore approved today.  MacMullin says  "in addition to the country music, Acadia's community involvement and local news coverage will only continue to get better because we'll be adding staff to the new station which we truly hope to have on the air by early 2010 at the latest."

RCMP Funding

2009-04-24 09:42:24

Two literacy programs in Shelburne county are getting a boost from the RCMP Foundation.  More than $570 is being given to the WOW Reading Challenge taking place in area elementary schools and for the Boys Night Out program at the Barrington Municipal Library.  Both programs are a partnership between regional library branches in Barrington and Clark's Harbour and the Barrington Detachment of the RCMP.  Detachment Commander Sergeant Bob Forbes believes strongly in the RCMP's active partnership with Western Counties Regional Library in the two youth literacy programs.  He says youth who get involved with these programs are less likely to run afoul of the law, are more likely to have a positive relationship with the police and may even be drawn to the RCMP as a career.  The RCMP Foundation was created in 1994 to support community initiatives in which local RCMP members are involved.

Early Risers

2009-04-24 06:12:50

Starting this September, the beginning of the new school year there will be a change in bus routes and bell times for the Chester area family of schools.  Board Chair Elliott Payzant says by and large the proposed changes  which have been in the works for years are widely supported .  Recommendations included changing daily beginning and ending bell times from 9:25 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 8:45 a.m.  and 2:40 p.m.   Bus runs in the morning and afternoon would also be reduced for a total of 8 fewer runs   Bus routes were also designed to be the  most direct routes possible  to reduce travel time for the students in the extremities of the Municipality.

Land Protection

2009-04-24 06:11:22

The Nova Scotia Nature Trust is announcing the permanent protection of a very special piece of southwest Nova Scotia. The 62 acre conservation lands on Cameron Lake, Queens County, provide habitat for 2 nationally endangered species—Redroot and the Eastern Ribbonsnake.  The only surviving habitat in Canada for the Redroot plant is found on a few lakes in southwest Nova Scotia.  Most of these lakeshores face intensive cottage development. Nature Trust incoming president, Nil d’Entremont, commented, “The Nature Trust is delighted with this important conservation achievement, and the irreplaceable contribution it makes to protecting Canada’s biodiversity.” The land acquisition was supported with funding from Nova Scotia’s Crown Share Land Legacy Trust Fund, Environment Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program, Aveda and many other community supporters and Nature Trust members.

Pre-Budget Breakfast

2009-04-23 11:13:55

It's a chance to hear more about what could be the budget that launches us into the next Provincial Election.  Finance Minister Jamie Muir will deliver the third in a series of pre-budget addresses across the province tomorrow on the south shore.  Muir will be speaking to the Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce tomorrow morning as part of a breakfast meeting.  The event is being held at the Days Inn on North Street.  Opposition parties have been critical of the MacDonald government's piecemeal release of financial details over the past month. They want to see the budget document introduced and debated in the Legislature, not in the public through the media.  Either the Liberals or New Democrats will have to support the budget to keep the minority government from falling to a non-confidence vote.

Wild Ride

2009-04-23 09:54:23

It was a police dog that finally netted an alleged drunk driver who smashed into three cars and a building in Bridgewater.  Police say they got a call about a hit and run around nine last night. A vehicle was struck on LaHave street. They say a grey-coloured Cavalier that was involved drove off when an off-duty RCMP officer approached.  The constable followed in his personal vehicle.  Police say the Cavalier was involved in another accident, hitting a Honda Accord on Aberdeen Road.  The car kept on going, heading south on Hirtle Drive and eventually hitting a house on Hollingsworth Drive and damaging a parked car in the lot of Eastside Manor Rest Home.  The Cavalier went off the road on Stretch Drive and the driver jumped out and ran off.  A police services dog was brought in and tracked the suspect to his home where he was arrested. He had to be taken to South Shore Regional Hospital for treatment of minor injuries police say were not the result of his arrest.  The man is facing charges of drunk driving, leaving the scene of an accident, damage to property and dangerous operation of a vehicle.  He has a court date set for June 24th in Bridgewater.  And Bridgewater police are asking to hear from anyone who witnessed any part of the string of events that happened last night.

Brothers Sentenced

2009-04-23 06:16:20

Two Chester brothers caught in a drug bust by the South Shore Integrated Street Crime Unit have been sentenced in Bridgewater Provincial Court. The search of a Commons Road residence last October netted almost 15 pounds of processed marijuana.  Forty-one year old Paul Onald Graves pleaded guilty to charges of producing marijuana and processing marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. He was placed on a 12 month conditional sentence, the first 6 months to be served on house arrest. That will be followed by a year on probation.  Graves was also ordered to undergo substance abuse counseling, submit a DNA sample, is prohibited from having firearms for 10 years and is restricted to having only one person in his residence at any given time except for family members.   His younger brother, 33 year old David Scott Graves pleaded guilty to an included offence of simple possession while the Crown withdrew a charge of production.  Police seized 6,878 grams of marijuana during the search last October 15th. 

South Queens High

2009-04-23 06:14:52

It was listed as a top priority on the capital projects list by the South Shore Regional School Board, but the province nixed a new school to replace the South Queens Junior High.  Board Chair Elliott Payzant says members are quite disappointed in the province's allocation of funding for school projects.  The Board approved a motion to request a meeting with Education Minister Judy Streatch to express their disappointment  and concerns and determine the future direction.

Art Exhibit

2009-04-23 06:13:57

Students from African Canadian Studies at Bridgewater Junior Senior/High School are hosting a freedom quilt art exhibition today (April 22th) as part of provincial Education Week.   The class will display paper replicas of freedom quilts they designed with help from local artist Rebecca Fisk.    Fisk says the students are discovering their artistic potential. She says they're mixing textures and colours and  coming up with beautiful designs.        Bridgewater Junior/Senior High received an ArtSmarts grant, through the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and funded by the Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs.

AIMS Report Card

2009-04-22 06:45:58

South Shore schools are faring well in a report that grades educational facilities and academic achievement in the Maritimes.  The AIMS report card was released yesterday and the high school in Barrington Passage was third overall on the list for Nova Scotia Schools.  The think-tank gave a grade of A-minus for Barrington Municipal High School. 
Coming in 24th with a B-minus is Park View Education Centre in Bridgewater.  And with the same grade are number 26 Shelburne Regional High School and number 27 Bridgewater Junior-Senior High.  Liverpool Regional High School ranked 46th and Forest Heights Community School was 50th, both with a c-plus grade.  Eighteen other schools are unranked on this year's list.  AIMS says the fundamental belief that schools could get better, over time, that led to the launch of the first AIMS Annual Report Card on Atlantic Canadian High Schools in 2003. Visit http://www.aims.ca for the complete report.

Crab Charges

2009-04-22 06:11:33

Fishery officers from Liverpool have charged a Lunenburg county fisherman for an incident last Friday.  The man is from Dublin Shore.  He was arrested for possession female crabs while fishing for lobster.  A court date is set for June 10th in Bridgewater.

Foreign Fear

2009-04-22 06:10:02

The Region of Queen's isn't buying into the Buy Back Nova Scotia coalitions' concern over the Irving's private sale of 170 thousand acres.  The lands are located in Annapolis, Digby and Yarmouth counties.  Mayor John Leefe says the paranoia associated with possible foreign ownership is unfounded. He calls it a typically Canadian condition. And Mayor Leefe says what better way to extract a  high price than to create a public demand for the government to belly up to the bar and buy the lands. Leefe says it was only around 15 years ago that the Irvings purchased most of the land now for sale, from Bowater/Mersey for 34 million dollars.

R-o-Queens Budget

2009-04-21 06:01:04

It's a status quo budget for the Region of Queens Municipality as far as tax rates.. Mayor John Leefe says Council was able to hold the line on residental rates at 88 cents per 100 dollars of assessemnt for Districts 1 to 12.  Tax rates for Liverpool also remain unchanged at $1.85 per $100 of assessment.  Commercial rates are going up in all districts by 8 cents due to the phase out of the Business Occupancy Assessment.  Leefe says the greatest challenge for the Region will come into play next year with the loss of 1.6 million in revenue from the Nova Scotia Power  Corporation grant.   Leefe says the implementation won't take effect till the next fiscal year, April 1st, 2010. A number of other municipal units will also be affected by the province wide re-evaluation of Nova Scotia Power properties.

Car Thieves

2009-04-21 05:59:23

RCMP say they've arrested several teenagers who they accuse of stealing cars in Shelburne county recently.  Early on April 10th, someone took a vehicle from King Street in Shelburne, ditching it in Lockeport. A mini-van was then stolen from Cliff street and was driven and dumped back in Shelburne.  Police say early last Saturday morning, someone trying to steal a vehicle from Brewhouse Lane was scared off by the owner. Over the next few hours, other vehicles were entered on Woodlawn Drive and ransacked.  They were able to get another vehicle started and took off.  An RCMP officer on patrol tried to stop a vehicle on Water Street for a minor violation. That's when the vehicle sped off on Highway 103 towards Liverpool.  Police, citing safety issues didn't follow.  Investigators say the joint work between Shelburne, Queens and the Forensic lab in Yarmouth helped them get the stolen vehicle back and identified several of the people involved.  But they say because they are being charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, none of them can be identified. 

Assaulter Jailed

2009-04-21 05:58:20

A 30-year old Barrington Passage man has been taken back to jail for violating the conditions of his parole.  Sergeant Bob Forbes says a woman called 9-1-1 around 5:30 Sunday morning.  She had left their home after allegedly being assaulted by her common-law husband.  Police arrested the man charging him with Assault and Possession of a Controlled substance.  He will be taken back to Provincial Court in Barrington for an appearance on May 21st.

Bowater Back

2009-04-20 09:11:28

Employees at Bowater Mersey Paper Company are heading back to work on today following a five-week shutdown.  So far though, Union officials aren't commenting until they get more information about what's happening with the Queens county plant.  Today is the end of the plant's second five-week shut down in the past five months.  The parent company, AbibitBowater Inc. is seeking bankruptcy protection in the United States and Canada.  A 51/49-percent partnership with the Washington Post exempts the Brooklyn property from bankruptcy proceedings.  Union leaders have told CBC they have no idea whether the separation from the current action will benefit the local mill in the long term. A shutdown at the mill would affect more than 500 jobs in the region.

Joining Forces

2009-04-20 05:45:09

The Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce recently made presentations before two councils seeking input of their budgets.  Chamber President Craig Collins told both the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg and Town of Bridgewater having cohesive municipal units will result in creating an attractive business environment for the current business base and a competitive advantage to luring new business to the region. Sandra Richards, Chair of the Chamber's Advocacy Committee says there are concerns about rising commercial rate assessment trends, and on the day to day issues, there are concerns about the rising cost of fees in respect to services provided.

Municipal Budget

2009-04-20 05:44:12

No  hints at what's to come in the budget for the Municipality of Lunenburg, but Mayor Don Downe says it's going to be a challenge. Downe says the Municipality has a new working committee, the Budget/Finance Committe that has been working very hard in conjunction with staff.  Downe wouldn't speculate on whether it will be a status-quo budget that will be able to hold the line on tax rates.

Georges Moratorium

2009-04-17 12:11:51

Shelburne's MLA is urging the MacDonald government to commit to an extension of a ban on drilling on Georges Bank.
Sterling Belliveau accuses the Conservatives of ignoring the opinion and advice of the fishing industry in South West Nova.  He says no one in government will stand up on behalf of the industry and the thousands of jobs it provides.  Belliveau says the reaction to potential drilling on Georges Bank is something coastal communities don't want.   This week, Energy Minister Barry Barnet again raised the issues of ending the Georges Bank moratorium during a speech in Halifax. The moratorium expires on December 31, 2012.  Belliveau says people deserve an independent review of the moratorium and the potential risks of it not being in place.

Furey Runs

2009-04-17 05:43:49

He's spent 29 years serving the community with the RCMP. Thursday night, Mark Furey is heading down a different road as he enters politics. The Staff Sergeant with the Lunenburg County detachment is being acclaimed as the Liberal Candidate for Lunenburg West. Furey tells CKBW he wants to offer something different than what voters have come to expect from politicians.  Furey will be running against Gary Ramey of the NDP and Carolyn Bollivar Getson who is holding her nomination meeting the same night.

Queens Place Cash

2009-04-17 05:42:25

The Federal Government has come through with funding for the proposed Queens Place Recreation and Community Centre.  South Shore/St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy made the announcement in Liverpool Thursday morning.        Councillor Doug Adams who chairs the Queens Place Recreation Committee says the 7 million dollars  towards the project is a great step forward. Mayor John Leefe says Council is working towards obtaining other funding as well.  The 26 million dollar project will include a fitness centre, aquatic centre, fitness studios, community rooms, a walking track and an NHL sized arena with seating for 900.

Fire Help

2009-04-17 05:41:23

Community members are working at helping a young couple from Queens county who lost everything in a fire.  Firefighters will be setting up to accept donations of clothing and other items at the North Queens station.  And a bank account is being opened to accept money for the young family from Pleasant River.  The house was owned by Angela and Christopher Cherry, who bought it in October 2006. They lived there with their five-year-old daughter.  Both parents were working in Bridgewater when the fire broke out Wednesday morning, and their pre-schooler was in daycare.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The provincial Fire Marshal was on the scene today.

Pleasant River Fire

2009-04-15 12:08:59

A young family of three is staying with family after a fire destroyed their home in Pleasant River.  The North Queens Fire Association called on mutual aid from Liverpool and Hemford and Annapolis Royal stood by.  Highway 208 was blocked off to traffic for several hours Wednesday.  The two-story dwelling was fully engulfed in flames  when members arrived on scene. There were no injuries as both parents were at working at the time and their pre-schooler was in daycare. The cause of the fire, which was reported around 10:30 yesterday morning, is under investigation.  The home was insured. Canadian Red Cross volunteers will be assisting with emergency food, replacement clothing and personal-care items. Pleasant River is about  30 kilometres west of Bridgewater.

Academy Plans

2009-04-15 06:10:44

The Town of Lunenburg is getting a new Primary to Grade 9 school. The location, yet to be determined will replace the Lunenburg Academy, the town's  junior high school, Centre Consolidated and Riverport and District Elementary.  Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says the Academy, almost a sacred property in the Town  will operate in some capacity or other. Mawhinney says the Academy is too valuable a property to lose. Mayor Mawhinney says the Lunenburg Academy Foundation was formed in 1981 with the intent that when the Academy was no longer required as a school it could be used for other purposes.

Queens Denied

2009-04-15 06:08:46

Good news for the Town of Lunenburg..not so good for Liverpool. Premier Rodney Macdonald and Education Minister Judy Streatch announced nearly 32 million in new construction and renovations for schools in Lunenburg and Queens counties yesterday.  Toping the list is a new P-9 school for the Lunenburg, Centre and Riverport area at a cost of 21.5 million.  South Shore Regional School Board Chair Elliott Payzant was disappointed that the other  top priority for the region, a new middle school for South Queens, was not approved as requested.  The Board and the community have worked for several years for a much needed renovation to South Queens Junior High School.  Now, that building has deteriorated to the point that a renovation is not sufficient; a replacement facility is required,  The new capital list released yesterday topped up the original allocation for the delayed renovation with an additional 2.7 million providing a total of 8 million for an addition to the Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy.