Salvation Army Toy Drive: "Huge Success"

It's a story of generosity that warms your heart just in time for the Holidays. Captain Stephen Holland of the Bridgewater Salvation Army says this seasons Toy Drive was a huge success. So huge, that every family or individual who enrolled in the program will receive a gift this Christmas. "I want to thank everybody in the community for their support. You know, we couldn't do it without the community going the extra mile with their donations of toys and its really making a Christmas for everyone, I'm sure," More than 250 families in Lunenburg County applied to the organization for help this year through their annual Toy Drive.

Remuneration Committee to review Bridgewater council

An independent committee is being set up to review Bridgewater town council's compensation and benefits. The Council Remuneration Review Committee is expected to be in place following the 2012 elections. Mayor Carroll Publicover says the committee will help keep council open and transparent. Council currently base their remuneration on evaluating similar sized municipalities including Yarmouth, Truro, Kentville and New Glasgow. The committee will consist of five members, including three Bridgewater residents, and two former town councillors or mayors.

Man escapes injury after vehicle rollover

A 69-year-old man escaped injury after rolling his car over in Upper LaHave. The incident happened just before 12:30 Monday afternoon at 6206 Highway 332. Constable Rob James with Lunenburg County RCMP says it wasn't your typical accident.

"A 69-year-old male was temporarily blinded by the sun, while, I believe, going around a corner and rolled over an embankment. He sustained no injuries, his vehicle was towed out and there are no charges forthcoming."

Dayspring and District Fire Department responded to the call while Oakhill was stood down moments after being paged to assist. James says people should reduce their speed if the sun gets in their eyes while driving.

Provincial Berth for Dorey Rink

Chester's Micayla Dorey grabbed the final Provincial Junior Womens curling spot at a Halifax playdown on Sunday.  Dorey scored five in the third end en route to a 10-4 win over a Mayflower squad. Dorey joins clubmates Mary Fay and Lindsay Doucet in the eight team event.  On the guys side, Thomas Raddall of Bridgewater is the lone South Shore rink in the field. The AMJ Provincials start one week from today at the Windsor Club.

Bailey breaks 15-year record for Mustangs

Brennan Bailey

A South Shore Canadian Tire Mustang has broken a 15-year-old team record. Brennan Bailey scored two goals Sunday, surpassing Tim Rice as the Mustangs all-time scoring leader for a defenseman. Bailey says he's thrilled about breaking the record.

"Well, it's just a great accomplishment and it's just very nice and one thing I had set in my mind from the start of the season."

Bailey now has 55 career points with the Mustangs, breaking Rice's previous mark of 53 points. The team captain is also chasing down most points by a defenseman in one season. He's currently at 27 with eight games left. Pete Lecain holds the record with 34 points in 1997-98.

Queens Place Gets Grand Opening

The ribbon was officially cut on the new Queens Emera Place in Liverpool this afternoon. The $20 million dollar facility is home to a regulation size arena, fitness centre, walking track and conference space. Premier Darrell Dexter, a native of nearby Milton, says the recreation center will serve as a year round facility for residents of Queens and the surrounding area. He spoke with CKBW/HANK FM News about his memories of the fundraising campaign for the old Queens Memorial Arena more than 40 years ago. "I remember the walk-a-thon to raise money and I remember everyone wearing those little buttons that said 'we want a rink' for the Queens Memorial. At the time, we just wanted something with four walls where we could skate - so this is a huge achievement." Dexter says facilities such at Queens-Emera Place will make life better for residents of the area. He says it will also help attract new people and families to rural communities along the South Shore.

Ribbon Cutting @ Queens Place in Liverpool

It's a big day in Liverpool! The new Queens Place Athletic Centre will be officially opened this afternoon and a large ceremony is planned. District of Queens Mayor John Leefe says the much-anticipated, multi-million dollar facility will allow for a number of community and regional sporting events. "It's a multi-purpose facility. It includes a little over one-thousand fixed seats, we'll also be purchasing a floor to put over the ice surface for non-ice related events. We've already got figure skating and two significant hockey tournaments lined up,"  The new centre will also feature a gymnasium, a walking track, community meeting rooms and other facilities. Opening ceremonies begin this afternoon at 2 o'clock.

Baillie Swings Through South Shore

Conservative leader Jaime Baillie will make a swing through the South Shore today. Baillie is set to meet with management and staff at Michelin in Bridgewater this morning in what he calls a show of support for the company. The visit follows the NDP government's decision to pass a controversial labour law on so called "First Contract Arbitration". Baillie's party voted against the bill and even tabled a letter in the legislative assembly signed by Bridgewater Town Council indicating their concerns over the legislation.  "For the mayor and councillors in Bridgewater who stood up for Michelin and for the employers - they did their job. I can understand if council is frustrated with NDP MLA's representing Lunenburg and Lunenburg West didn't - they put their party's back-room interests in front of jobs in the areas they represent,"  Both the Liberals and Tories maintain the bill isn't needed and will stifle the province's economic competitiveness. Large employers such as Michelin and Sobeys called the legislation a black mark on business in Nova Scotia.

Weekend Sports Wrap

• The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks are limping into the Holidays. The Jacks lost their fifth in row Sunday, 4-1 against the Commandos in Dieppe. Brennan Saulnier scored the lone goal for the last-place Lumberjacks who head into the Christmas break 11 points out of a playoff spot.

• The South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs snapped a three game losing skid with a big 4-3 home victory over the Halifax Titans. Brennan Bailey scored twice for the Stangs who handed the first place Titans only their second regulation loss this season. Corey Peterson took the win in goal stopping 23 of 26 shots. The Mustangs head into the Holiday break in 3rd place in the Major Midget standings.

• Another South Shore curling team has earned a spot in the upcoming Provincial Junior Championships. At a qualifying event this weekend, Thomas Raddall of Bridgewater won all three of his games to clinch a berth. The final two junior mens and womens spots will be determined later today in Halifax. The AMJ Provincials are set for the Windsor Club starting December 27th.

• In Nova Scotia Major Bantam Hockey League action, a two game series between first place BMO Western Hurricanes and second place Bay Gulls generated intense end to end action for home crowds at the brand new Queens Place in Liverpool on Saturday and the Chester Arena on Sunday.  The Hurricanes increased their first place lead in the Nova Scotia Major Bantam Hockey Leage with a dominating 7-1 victory on Saturday evening in Liverpool and battled to a 3-1 win on Sunday afternoon in Chester.  The Hurricanes have now won 16 straight games and lead the league with a 20 and 2 record.   The Hurricanes now head into the Holiday break and will resume league play on January 7th.

• The Yarmouth Vikings defeated the Park View J.V. Panthers 79-49 Saturday to claim the championship game of the Days Inn "Holiday Hoop Fest". Luke Nickerson of Yarmouth was selected tournament M.V.P. and teammate Adam Barnett was selected a tournament all-Star. Jake Langille was Park View's representative on the all-star team. Northumberland claimed third place with a 60-53 win over Bridgewater High. Bridgewater's Jonah Comeau was a tournament All-Star. Park View's Division-1 team soundly defeated Memorial 101-78 to claim the consolation final.
  

Bridgewater Council defers disabled man's request

A disabled man will have to wait at least another month before knowing if Bridgewater Town Council will waive an $800 planning application fee. Dylan Robar is looking to apply for an amendment to Bridgewater's Land Use By-Law, which if approved, would allow his family home to be converted from a single-unit to a two-unit dwelling. He has requested that the application fee, which is primarily used to cover required advertising costs for notices, be waived. Robar requires the conversion of his family home to a two-unit dwelling in order to be eligible for a funding program administered by the province, which would assist in paying for renovations. Councillor David Mitchell says he would like to see changes made to the requirements of the funding program, eliminating the need to change Bridgewater's Land Use By-Law. The issue is expected to be back in front of council in January.

Holliday Hoopfest Wraps Up

The Yarmouth Vikings defeated the Park View J.V. Panthers 79-49 to claim the championship of the Days Inn Holiday Hoop Fest. Luke Nickerson of Yarmouth was selected as the tournament M.V.P. and   teammate Adam Barnett was selected as a tournament all-Star. Jake   Langille was Park View's representative on the all-star team. Northumberland claimed third place with a 60-53 win over Bridgewater High. Meanwhile, Bridgewater's Jonah Comeau was a tournament All-Star. Park View's Division 1 team soundly defeated Memorial 101-78 to claim the consolation final.

ED Closure in Lunenburg this Weekend

Officials at the Fisherman's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg say their emergency department will be closed for the remainder of the weekend. The ED will reopen on Monday morning at 7:30AM. The closure is necessary due to a shortage in staff.  Anyone with a medical emergency during these times is asking to dial 9-1-1 or visit the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.

SSH: Holding Tender on QGH Project in Liverpool

South Shore Health will wait until spring to award a work contract that's connected to the Queens General Health Project. Heavy rain over the past few weeks has made working conditions difficult on a parcel of land adjacent to the hospital where clearing work was set to take place. The land will eventually serve as a lay-down area for material during construction of the project. Spokesperson Barb Johnson says it would cost an additional $60,000 to install proper drainage on the site which would send the project into the red. She says the work will be now included as part of a larger tender which is anticipated to be issued in a few months. The $16 million dollar QGH Project includes the creation of a new primary care clinic and redevelopment of the 22-bed in-patient unit at the hospital in Liverpool.

Fire in Northwest Harbour destroys Processing Plant

Damage is estimated at close to 200-thousand dollars as a result of a fire last night in the Clyde River area. A herring and lobster processing plant at "AJY Fisheries" in Northwest Harbour went up in flames. Fire fighters from Barrington, Northwest Harbour, Clyde River and Ingomar fought the blaze which completely destroyed the large facility. Investigators suspect faulty electrical wiring was responsible. The fire happened at a particularly busy time with the annual lobster season well underway. However. the company expects to quickly rebuild and hopes to be back up and running again in a few weeks.

Denied Bail: Lower Northfield Resident Accused of Luring

A Lower Northfield man accused of trying to lure teen girls for sex via text message and social media has been denied bail. Thirty year-old Bradley Ronald Whynot will remain in police custody pending the outcome of his trial. Whynot faces three counts each of luring a child, invitation to sexual touching and sexual interference. He is also facing various drug related charges and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon. A publication ban has been imposed on evidence and arguments from this week's hearing. Whynot is scheduled to return to court December 21.

Holiday Hoopfest tips off in Bridgewater

Local basketball players lace'em up for the Holiday Hoopfest, beginning Friday morning. The tournament begins at 10am and features Park View and Bridgewater teams, as well as Yarmouth, Hants North, Memorial, J.L Ilsley and Northumberland. The coach for the Division-1 Park View team, Eric Whynot, says he hopes the tournament can help turn around his club. Games will be played Friday and Saturday in the Park View and Bridgewater gyms.

FRIDAY Dec. 16


10:00am Game 1 Park View J.V. vs Memorial

12:00pm Game 2 Bridgewater vs J.L. Ilsley

2:00pm Game 3 Yarmouth vs Hants North

4:00pm Game 4 Park View vs Northumberland

6:00pm Game 5 Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 2
Bridgewater Game at B.H.S.

6:00pm Game 6 Loser Game 1 vs Loser Game 2
other game at P.V.E.C.

8:00pm Game 7 Winner Game 3 vs Winner Game 4
Park View game at P.V.E.C.

8:00pm Game 8 Loser Game 3 vs Loser Game 4
other game at B.H.S.


SATURDAY DEC. 17

10:00am Game 9 Loser Game 6 vs Loser Game 8

12:00pm Game 10 Winner Game 6 vs Winner Game 8

2:00pm Game 11 Loser Game 5 vs Loser Game 7

4:00pm Game 12 Winner Gsme 5 vs Winner Game 7 Championship

Lumberjacks host Miramichi

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks will try and snap a two-game losing skid Friday night when they host the Miramichi Timberwolves. The Jacks will be without Shawn Boudreau, who was called-up to the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior League earlier this week. The Lumberjacks have won both meetings against Miramichi this season. Puck drop is 7pm Friday night at the Bridgewater Memorial Arena.

Thorburne re-elected as Bridgewater Fire Chief

Bridgewater Fire Chief Wayne Thorburne

Bridgewater's Fire Chief has been re-elected to another term. Wayne Thorburne successfully retained his office after defeating Captain Reid Whynot for the position. Thorburne says he's happy to stay on as Fire Chief.

"I'm very pleased. It's a busy department and I enjoy the work and I enjoy the people and I enjoy the community and I just love doing what I'm doing."

He says he would like to increase membership in the department in 2012. Currently, the Bridgewater Fire Department has 43 members and Thorburne is hopeful they can reach 50 in the new year.

'Darksiders' expand to Bridgewater

Bridgewater's police chief is calling for calm despite the fact a Dartmouth-based biker gang with ties to the Hells Angels have expanded to the South Shore. John Collyer says the biker-group - known as the Darksiders - are currently renting a space on King Street in Bridgewater but adds they haven't done anything wrong to cause alarm. However, Collyer says police will keep an eye on the situation "To this point they haven't created any kind of criminal activity here and they haven't caused any problems. We treat them like we treat any other citizen of Bridgewater and we will continue to monitor the situation,"  Police were made aware of the gangs intentions to move into Bridgewater for about three months because the group has local members. Collyer says police are working with RCMP in Halifax and Dartmouth to gather information about the biker group.

Friday Power Outage: Town of Lunenburg

Some residents within the Town of Lunenburg will be without power for a short time Friday morning. Officials are making some emergency line repairs between 5AM and 6AM. Customers affected include those living on Green Street Dufferin, Brook, Maple Avenue, Tanyard Road, Knickle Road, the North Side of Harbour View Drive and Mason's Beach Road. The outage should only last an hour. Be sure to put some batteries in your alarm clock or use your cell phone for a wake-up.

South Shore RCMP Battle Impaired Driving

RCMP across the South Shore are ramping up efforts to put a halt to impaired driving this holiday season. In Lunenburg County, Constable Rob James says Mounties will be conducting stop checks on a regular basis leading up to Christmas in an effort to keep the roads safe. James explains it's a constant battle for police and an offense that carries steep consequences. "You wouldn't be able to just run out to the store and grab something, you wouldn't be able to drive your kids to soccer practice, you wouldn't be able to drive yourself to work. You would need to depend on someone else to get all of these things done. Not to mention, a lot of employers would frown on the fact you don't have a drivers license," James says impaired driving is not only limited to alcohol consumption but also applies to those who choose to operate a vehicle under the influences of drugs. The same charges and fines apply.  On average, 22 Nova Scotians die each year in alcohol related collisions.

Lunenburg woman turns lemons into $250,000

Call it a dream come true for Glo McNeill. The 82-year-old from Lunenburg turned her recipe into riches Wednesday night, taking home the Food Network's grand prize of $250,000. McNeill says she just kept believing she would win. Her Luscious Lemon Pudding Cakes received the most votes during a three day voting period last week. McNeill says she plans to use the money to fix up her house, put it on her mortgage and maybe take a vacation. You can catch the full interview on this weekend's South Shore Sunday Morning.

Bridgewater Councillors take aim at local MLAs

Councillor Bill McInnis

Councillor David Mitchell

A pair of Bridgewater councillors are sounding off about local MLAs voting in favour of First Contract Arbitration. Bill 102 passed late last week in the Legislature with Lunenburg MLA Pam Birdsall and Lunenburg West MLA Gary Ramey supporting their government's decision. Bill McInnis had some advice for the two politicians.

"I think those two MLAs should seriously consider resigning for what they've done to our town, potentially what they have done to our town."

McInnis says it was a very serious decision and should not have been supported by the local MLAs. Meanwhile, Councillor David Mitchell also chimed in, saying it was a questionable decision.

"It's pretty clear that they weren't necessarily listening to the people and as MLAs, their job is to be the representatives of the people at the provincial level."

Mitchell says he's concerned because the decision could halt Michelin's investment into their provincial plants including the South Shore.

Local Author to give Lecture on Swissair 111 Crash

A Chester Basin author is bringing his theory about what may have brought down Swissair Flight 111 to Mahone Bay. Paul Palango, widely known for three books about the inner workings of the RCMP, will lead a lecture on the 1998 disaster this afternoon. The crash was attributed to a fire caused by faulty wiring in the attic of the plane but Palango suggests that terrorists were responsible for the crash and the fire on the plane wasn't accidental. Palango says his interest in the crash peaked a few years ago when he was contacted by the lead forensics investigator on the disaster. "I wasn't really that interested in the beginning because I thought it would be some kind of conspiracy theory but as I went through the documents and the scenarios involved it became clear to me and others who I shared this with that there was something else going on here," The lecture will take place at the Mahone Bay Centre at 2 PM.

Environmental concerns cause additional costs at Centre jail

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is shelling out an extra $8,000 after some environmental concerns were found at the Centre jail property. Strum Environmental found asbestos under floor tiles and needs to sample and analyze ash material discovered under one of the outbuildings. The company completed work on the asbestos issue for $2,833.96 plus HST and is asking for another $4,880 plus HST to sample and test the ash material. Strum Environmental's original contract was $21,413 and will increase to $29,125.96 as a result of the findings. A report from the Department of Engineering and Public Works says test results of the ash material will be received in the next 15 days.

Giant Tiger donates $2,500 to Bridgewater Interchurch Food Bank

Giant Tiger in Bridgewater has given a major donation to a local food bank. The store raised $2,500 for the Bridgewater Interchurch Food Bank last Tuesday. The store gave one dollar from each sale towards the food bank. Store Manager Shane Demmings says they sold a variety of items to help raise the money. He urges people to continue to donate to food banks in the area. A cheque presentation was held Tuesday at the Bridgewater Interchurch Food Bank.

Whynott's Settlement: Accident

A South Shore man is in good condition despite an unusual accident this morning in Whynott's Settlement. His vehicle skidded off an icy highway 325 just before daybreak and landed, partially-submerged, in a brook. Lunenburg RCMP officers found the back-window had been kicked out but the driver couldn't be found. Staff Sergeant Bruce Hill says they feared he might have been swept downstream. "Oak Hill and Dayspring Fire Department were on the scene and they had a boat - so as a precaution we had them search the river in case someone had been in the water or if there was any evidence. About 45 minutes later we found the gentleman had got out of the car and was at a friends residence,"  He was taken to South Shore Regional Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. This was one of several accidents on Queens and Lunenburg County roads this morning caused by black ice. No serious injuries were reported.

GAP final plan receives in principle approval

Generations Active Park has been given a preliminary go-ahead. Bridgewater town council approved the Ekistics Planning and Design final plan in principle during Monday night's meeting. Mayor Carroll Publicover says he's pleased that the plan will not only attract Bridgewater residents but other visitors from across the region. The park's plan includes a leash free dog space, a splash pad, over eight kilometres of trail and multi-use courts. The plan would cost the town approximately $3.1-million over 12 years. The Department of Parks and Recreation will study the Generations Active Park plan over the next month before the issue is expected to be back in front of council in January.

Fryday Dorey running for provincial PC party presidency

The first name has been thrown into the hat to become the new president of the Nova Scotia PC party. The current executive vice-president, Janet Fryday Dorey, announced her decision to run late last week. Fryday Dorey says she believes in helping party leader Jamie Baillie form the next provincial government. She has served the party in many roles including manager for South Shore - St. Margaret's and Chester - St. Margaret's campaigns. Fryday Dorey is looking to replace current PC party president Robert Batherson, who recently said he's stepping down to spend more time with his family.

South West Health: Tick Update in Yarmouth Co

Those ticks collected from wooded areas in Gavelton in Yarmouth County carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Officials at South West Health says there's no reason for alarm if people keep protection in mind when outdoors during the mild temperatures. Wearing light-colored, long sleeve shirts, pants and socks so the ticks show up, checking clothing and exposed skin after being outside and making sure grass is kept well trimmed are among suggestions. The Black-Legged tick has also been found recently in parts of Lunenburg County, Blue Rocks, Garden Lots, Heckman's Island and First Peninsula. The unusually mild weather this fall has been keeping ticks active. Usually they die-off in cold conditions.

Acadian Lines Hoping for an end to Lockout

A lockout of Acadian Lines bus drivers is at a standstill with Christmas only two weeks away. It's the busiest time of the year for the bus company as people are shipping packages and trying to get home for the holidays. The labour dispute isn't disrupting service within Nova Scotia but those hoping to get back home from either New Brunswick or PEI are out of luck. Company spokesperson Marc Varin says they are hoping for a resolution soon. "We realize this is a very bad time of year, not only for passengers but we also carry parcels and envelopes as part of our express service and that's also a busy part of our operation but right now unfortunately we're can't ship in those two provinces," Buses are still running in Nova Scotia because the company's employees are part of a different union. However, packages can only be shipped as far as Amherst.

Baillie Disappointed with First Contract decision

Nova Scotia PC Leader Jamie Baillie

The leader of Nova Scotia's PC party says South Shore MLAs have let their constituents down. Jamie Baillie says Gary Ramey, Pam Birdsall, Vicki Conrad and Denise Peterson-Rafuse decided not to listen to resident concerns after voting in favour of First Contract Arbitration. The bill passed by a 27-18 vote in the legislature late last week. Baillie says it's a bad decision because it could kill future investment in the province by local companies like Michelin, Sobeys and Clearwater. The NDP government believes the legislation will increase productivity by avoiding strikes or lockouts.

Man Charged with Child Luring

A Lower Northfield man has been arrested following an investigation into luring a child over the internet. The 30-year-old appeared in court Friday afternoon and was remanded in custody until December 14. The man has been charged with three counts each of luring a child, invitation of sexual touching and sexual interference. He's also been charged with two counts of trafficking a controlled substance and one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Lumberjacks Heating up at Home

The captain led the way as the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks edged the Campbelton Tigers 5-4 last night in Bridgewater. Jake Bullen had three goals, plus an assist, as the Jacks won for the third time in four home starts. The clubs were tied at 3 entering the third period before Bullen potted a pair to clinch the victory. Tonight the Jacks head to Amherst to face the first place Ramblers before a date in Woodstock tomorrow against the league-leading Slammers.
 
Tonight in Bridgewater there's Major Midget hockey when the South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs host the first place Halifax Titans. Gametime is 8 o'clock.

Despite Balmy Temps Normal Ski Season Expected

Ski operators in Nova Scotia aren't panicking over the spring-like temperatures we've been experiencing. Temperatures have been balmy with highs reaching 16 degrees in recent days in the South Shore. Andy MacLean of Ski Martock says he' s confident the hill will still have a good season. Officials at Martock are hoping to open before Christmas again this year but MacLean says they'll need temperatures to dip below freezing for a few days in a row. He says some snow wouldn't hurt either.

"Car Shopping": Not just a Holiday Crime for Bridgewater Police

Bridgewater's police chief is stressing the need for residents shopping or browsing downtown stores to lock their vehicles. A number of cases have been reported in the past few weeks where items - including cash - have been taken from unlocked vehicles. John Collyer says police deal with these issues all the time and the holiday rush is no different.  He advising residents to lock their doors, take valuables inside and keep important items out of sight. Collyer says the street word for the crime is called "car shopping". Cash has been taken from unlocked vehicles at least twice in recent days. Other items targeted include Ipod's, camera's and cell phones.

Conrad: Fires back at Liberals and Tories over Bowater Package

The MLA for Queens took a shot at the Liberals and Conservatives this week for their stance on the NDP's plan for Bowater Mersey. New Democrat Vicki Conrad says their opposition to the $50 million dollar deal won't be forgotten by the people of the South Shore. Conrad made the comments after Liberal MLA Manning MacDonald called the pulp and paper industry a "dinosaur industry" during question period. Hundreds of families in Queens, Lunenburg, Shelburne, Digby, Annapolis and Halifax depend on the mill for their livelihood. The life-line from the NDP earlier this month assures the mill will remain in operation for at least five years.

Chester Warden: Big Decision Looms on Wild Rose Park

Councillors in Chester are set to debate the future of Wild Rose Park in Western Shore later this month. The Municipality of the District of Chester is faced with a decision on whether or not to engage itself in keeping the park fully accessible for public use. Large parts of the park are located on Crown Land while other areas are privately owned and divided into 12 separate parcels of land. Warden Allen Webber says council has been keeping an eye on the situation for more than a year and now have to decide whether or not to inject in the situation. "I've been here for 30 years, and never, have we ever, expropriated anybody's property and for good reason - it's a very extreme measure. However, extreme circumstances sometimes call for extreme action. It's an available tool for us, whether we use it or not remains to be seen, but let me be clear - we'll negotiate with land owners on a case by case basis to acquire their interests. Should we go down that path"  Webber is urging the residents of Chester and the surrounding area to attend a meeting on the mater on December 22nd. The meeting will begin at 8:45AM. Information packages are available at the Municipal office in Chester.

Phone Scams around the South Shore

Shelburne RCMP are looking into a telephone scam involving computers. Numerous residents have been getting calls regarding this scam for weeks. Mounties says those behind it claim to be a computer consultant who require access to the persons computer because it was attacked by a virus. From there, the fraudsters proceed to erase the victims hard drive but police says it's unclear if any personal information is obtained. In another case, residents are being offered a service keeps personal computers or laptops secure from viruses at a cost of $120 per year.  Mounties says the consultant told people they were based out of New York and were of East Indian decent. The RCMP is reminding the public not to give out any personal information over the phone and to report any suspicious calls to your local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Phonebusters at 1-888-495-8501 or http://www.phonebusters.com/

Power Outages across South Shore

Thousands of South Shore residents are without power at this time due to the high winds. About 400 households and businesses in Queens County lost power between 9-10 Thursday morning. Close to 2,000 residents in Shelburne County are also without electricity. Around 1,000 homes in Lunenburg County have lost their power as well. Nova Scotia Power says service should be restored to those areas no later than 3:15 this afternoon. The NSCC campus in Shelburne has been closed for the day after losing its power. The Tancook Ferry is out of service until further notice Thursday because of extreme high winds and waves.

Fairview Inn set to be demolished; Police say no charges will be laid

**Pictures taken of the Fairview Inn Wednesday December 7**

A Conquerall Mills company begins work Thursday morning on tearing down one of the oldest Inns in NovaScotia. C & T Construction is expected to have two excavators on site of the Fairview Inn on Queen Street. The company's owner, Craig Fancy, says they've already removed most of the metal from inside the building. He says it's just a matter of time before the building is demolished and the site is clear.

"Once we get it on the ground, I think it will go pretty quick. We have to get the trucks to haul it away to Chester, so it does take time."

The building's ruins will be taken to the Kaizer Meadow Landfill in the Municipality of Chester. Fancy is asking residents to remain away from the Fairview Inn site while its being demolished because of safety concerns. Meanwhile, Bridgewater Police Chief John Collyer says no charges will be laid after fire destroyed the Inn June 4. Collyer said in a release Wednesday that the fire marshal has concluded he cannot determine the exact cause of the fire.

Mayor unaware of Tethering issue in Municipality

The mayor of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg says he's not aware of a tethering issue with dogs in the area. The Nova Scotia SPCA is pressuring municipalities to protect pets from being tied up outside too long. Downe says he would like the SPCA to make a presentation to council on the issue. He says the municipality's current bylaw deals with dangerous dogs, dogs at large and dogs that constantly bark. The SPCA is claiming municipal bylaws don't do enough to protect the pets. They are asking for chains to be at least five metres long and away from trees and bushes to prevent dogs from getting tangled.

Decent Catch - Low Prices

Analysts, government and industry officials are calling this ... one of the best lobster fishing seasons in years. However, one of the ironies is ... while catches are as good, if not better than last year, market prices are lower. Provincial Fisheries Minister Sterling Belliveau says there's concern. Lobster is selling for about 3 dollars and 25 cents a pound. Some fishermen have resorted to selling their catches roadside where they can easily get a couple of dollars more per pound. The season opened a week ago and ends next May.

Chapter Ends at Sagor's Bookstore

Its been a fixture of the downtown commercial landscape of Bridgewater for decades. Now though, after 40 years, Sagor's Bookstore is closing. Owners Ron Topp and Susan Goodwin say times have changed, hi-technology is taking over and sales are dwindling for book sellers in general. Topp says after 4 decades, life is going to be very different for the two of them. "It's a big part of our social life actually and that's going to be quite a chance. It's going to be a relief in some ways to get out of the pressures of the business but yes, going to be a big change. We hope to keep in touch with people of course," Topp says inventory will be sold-off over the coming couple of weeks. Sagor's is Bridgewater's first bookstore and its the oldest one in the Maritimes.

Ski Martock: Helmet Law Makes Sense

The operator of a Windsor-based ski hill says mandatory helmet use for skiers and snowboarders makes sense. Andy MacLean has been overseeing operations at Ski Martock for more than 25 years says he's not surprised by the move. MacLean expects a smooth transition for many ski enthusiasts who visit Martock. He says around 90 % of guests who visit the ski hill already wear helmets on the slopes and that's tops in Canada. "We always been big promoters and big advocates of helmet use here at Martock. So, I think people know the law and it's top of mind right now that's for sure. I think between the three resorts in the province, we'll make it a smooth transition," Under the legislation, inspectors would be hired to enforce the law, which could result in a stiff $250 fine for each offense. The government says it intends to have the legislation in effect next November if passed.

Vote For Glo

Voting is underway for a Lunenburg County woman trying to win $250,000 for her 'Lucious Lemon Pudding.' Glo McNeill has become a popular fixture in the South Shore region after winning the first episode of the Food Network's TV show 'Recipe to Riches'. Now, the 82-year-old is looking for your help to make her the grande prize winner. McNeill says she's looking for people to cast their vote at http://www.recipetoriches.ca/ . Voting starts at 1:01 Wednesday morning and ends at 12:59am on Friday December 9. She says people can vote once a day, for three days. The voting results will be released during the final episode of 'Recipe to Riches', to be aired December 14 at 10pm on the Food Network.

Bridgewater council becoming Electronically Advanced

Bridgewater council is moving to a more technical way of doing business. Council recently discussed options of online voting during 2012 elections and issuing laptops for councillors to cut down on paper costs. Mayor Carroll Publicover says it should improve the way council works. Publicover says he expects council will move to e-voting and e-council around the October 2012 elections. He says the new initiative is covered in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 budgets.

MLA Parker introduces bill to enact Pulp and Paper Mill Agreement

Charlie Parker

Legislation was introduced Wednesday implementing a provincial investment in jobs, land purchases and innovation at the Bowater Mersey Pulp and Paper Mill near Liverpool. Natural Resources Minister Charlie Parker says the bill is a strong statement of the province's commitment to support good jobs, strong rural communities and a sustainable pulp and paper industry that is an integral part of the provincial economy. The Bowater Mersey Investment Act will give legal authority to enact a multi-year agreement, outlined by Premier Darrell Dexter on December 2nd, that includes a capital investment, land acquisition and worker skills training. Highlights of the agreement include:


- $25 million in capital improvements to help reduce electricity consumption and also produce additional renewable energy.
- $23.7 million to buy 25,000 acres of company-owned land, some of which could be used towards the province's goal of 12 per cent protected lands by 2015.
- $1.5 million for skills training through the Productivity Investment Program.

Long Standing Bridgewater Business has New Ownership

A familiar Bridgewater business is changing hands. Gow's Home Hardware has been in the Gow family for several generations. Now, its been purchased by a long-time employee of the firm. New owner Amanda Fancy is a Lunenburg County native and she says the values and community-spirit of Gow's that's traditional with the company will continue. There will be no company name-change and the now-former owner Peter Gow will remain on staff. The change takes effect January 1st.