Bus Service Coming To Shelburne County

A Shelburne County organization is close to bringing a bus service to its residents. The Sou'west Nova Transit Association's application to the province's Utility and Review Board has been approved. Now, they just need to train bus drivers before they can begin offering the service. Co-chair of the Association's board of directors, David Meyer, believes a bus would be frequently used by residents.



Meyer says they hope to start training drivers in the next week. He expects the bus service to be up and running by the end of the month. For more information, head to http://www.souwestnovatransit.ca/ or call Renata Tweedy at (902) 637-2592.

Lunenburg: Council Baffled By Bluenose II Secrecy

 

Members of town council in Lunenburg are calling for more transparency surrounding the launch of the Bluenose II. The historic sailing vessel is expected to reach the water in July. However, the provincial government is releasing few details on its launch official launch. Councillor Jamie Myra says he can't understand why the province is holding back information surrounding it's launch.



Meanwhile, mayor Laurence Mawhinney says the launch of the schooner will garner international attention and he wants the milestone event to get the attention it deserves.



The historic sailing vessel is undergoing a $15.9 million dollar refit Lunenburg's waterfront. Once the vessel hits the water, it will take another three months to install the masts, sails and boom upon completion. The schooner will feature a crew of 20 people when it resumes sailing in 2013.

School Board: Special Meeting on Review Process

Its providing information as early as possible in a transparent way according to Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake. A special school board meeting will be held Wednesday night to give the public an update on work completed by consultants on school review and impact assessment reports. Deloitte Inc. was hired by the board to help them through the review process. Pynch-Worthylake says they're hoping to shed light on the consultants findings so far.



The public meeting will be held at 7pm Wednesday night at the board's office in Bridgewater.

Nine Year Old Raises Money And Hope For Diabetes Cure

Regan Howard

She's only 9 years old but she is very "grown-up" in her outlook on life!  What makes Regan Howard stand-out too is the fact she is a ... diabetic.  The Saint John resident who would like to be a ballet dancer has Type-1 diabetes, also known as Juvenile Diabetes.  However, Regan doesn't flinch a bit about special diets, exercise, insulin pumps and needles.  She's had the disease since age 5 and she's not about to let it get the best of her!



Regan is giving back ... raising nearly 40-thousand dollars for diabetes awareness and research. She even has her own fund-raising website and this year she's 94 percent on the way to raising another 10-thousand.  Her father, Gary, says every contribution makes a difference.



For more information and how to make a contribution, ... google "Regan's Dream Team". By the way, the annual Walk To Cure Diabetes takes place this month in many Canadian cities.  Halifax next Tuesday and Saint John on Sunday.

Queens Adult High School Moving To New Location

The Queens Adult High School is changing its address. The school, originally planned to move into Liverpool High for 2012-13, will instead be located at the Rossignol Cultural Centre. School Board Superintendant Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says it was a convenient location.



Pynch-Worthylake adds they decided to switch locations to make it easier to access for parents. The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning provided the Board with $15,000 to help with expenses.

Court: Sentencing Delayed For Bridgewater Woman

A 22 year-old Bridgewater woman will be sentenced later this month for intentionally stabbing her former boyfriend. Katelin Whitney-Joudrey was scheduled to be sentenced on Monday but was delayed at the request of her lawyer. Her lawyer wanted more time to gather information to include in a pre-sentence report. Whitney-Jourdrey was convicted of stabbing a man 12 times in an incident that took place on New Year's Eve in 2010. Judge Jim Burrill is expected to hand down a sentence on June 26th in Bridgewater Court.

Inflow Reduction System: Phase 3 Work Expected To Start

Concerns around flooding, parking and emergency access are on residents minds' when it comes to the third phase of Bridgewater's inflow reduction system. A handful of people turned out to Monday night's meeting at town hall to see what the project will look like and how it will affect them. Amber Construction is expected to start work immediately on Dominion Street from the bottom of King Street to High Street. Linda Richards lives on Glenridge Avenue off of Dominion Street. She's concerned about first responders accessing her home in an emergency situation.



Meanwhile, Paul Belliveau operates a business on Dominion Street, which will also be affected by the work. He says there isn't much the company can do but prepare clients.



Consultants expect the project to take between five and seven months to finish.












The consultants expect the project to take between five and seven months to complete.

Record Breaking Fundraiser for SHAID

It was a record breaking fundraiser for the annual SHAID Tree Animal Shelter yard sale. The largest yard sale on the South Shore was held last weekend at the Exhibition grounds in Bridgewater and raised 45-thousand dollars. Vice President Colleen Baker says money will help keep the shelter operating and pay for things like food and veterinarian bills.



SHAID primarily serves Lunenburg and Queens but has been known to rescue animals as far away as New Brunswick.

File Not Closed On Cold Case Crime

David Keddy

People in the Middleton area and RCMP investigators are remembering a brutal crime that occurred twenty-five years ago. On June 5th, 1987, the body of David Keddy was discovered floating on a wooden raft in an isolated part of the Annapolis River near an old railway bridge between Middleton and Nictaux.  Autopsy results showed that he had died as a result of foul play.  RCMP media-relations officer Sgt. Brigit Leger says back then and even now, there are few leads in the case.



Keddy was last seen alive during the early morning hours of June 3rd 1987, after visiting his girlfriend in Nictaux.  His older brother Garnet says its been difficult dealing with his brother's killing, not knowing the circumstances or who killed him.



On this 25th anniversary, the RCMP is urging anyone who has information to come forward, regardless of how insignificant the information may seem.  There is a 150-thousand dollar reward for information leading to the killer or killers of David Keddy.  You can contact the following:

A. The Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program at 1-888-710-9090.
B. Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.

Chester Company To Receive Environmental Award

A Chester company is the lone South Shore recipient of a Mobius Environmental award this year. Haven Productions will be recognized with the Large Business of the Year honour during Tuesday's ceremony in Halifax. Overall, 13 groups or individuals will be recognized at the luncheon. The awards are given to individuals or groups who go above and beyond to champion waste reduction in the province.

Murray Inducted Into N.S. Sports Hall Of Fame

The best hockey player to ever come out of Bridgewater is headed for the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame. Former South Shore Mustang Glen Murray is a member of the 2012 Inductee Class announced Monday. The 39-year old Murray played 16 NHL seasons with Boston, Pittsburgh, and L.A.. He tallied 337 goals and 651 points in 1,009 regular season games. He also posted 20 playoff goals. His best season came in 2002-03 when he notched 92 points in 82 games. Other inductees include Olympic Bronze medalist Steven Giles and one-time Blue Jay pitcher Vince Horsman. The official induction ceremony will take place November 3rd.  

South Shore: Provincial Parks Review

A review of Nova Scotia's provincial park system will hit the South Shore this week. A series of public meetings are planned over the next two days to discuss the value of provincial parks and how they should be managed in the future. The review is part of government's natural resources strategy which calls for a review to develop a more sustainable parks system. Director of Park and Recreation for the province, Harold Carroll, says information gathered will be used to develop a draft plan on how to manage provincial parks going forward.



The province has nearly 300 properties in the provincial park system, including 122 day-use parks. Public consultation meetings will be held in Bridgewater, Shelburne and Yarmouth this week. Details are listed below.

All meetings are from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the following locations:

Tuesday, June 5

-- Bridgewater: Days Inn and Convention Centre, 50 North St.

-- Yarmouth: Rodd Grand Hotel, 417 Main St

-- Kentville: Fire Hall, 463 Main St.

Thursday, June 7

-- Shelburne, Royal Canadian Legion, 120 Water St.

-- Digby, Royal Canadian Legion, 92 Mount St.

Western Shore Nominated For Celebration Tour

You can add Western Shore to the list of local nominations for the Kraft Celebration tour. The community, just outside Mahone Bay, joins the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre in Bridgewater and Queens Place in Liverpool as South Shore areas trying to receive $25,000 to improve active living in the area. The nomination was made by resident Richard Corkum, who says the community playground and baseball field are in great need of upgrades. The nomination period ends June 10.
Previous Nova Scotia winners include Pictou, Sackville and Port Hood. To have your say go to http://www.kraftcelebrationtour.ca/ .

Election Poll: South Shore Voters Have Favourites

The results of our "election" poll over the past week are in and have produced some interesting results. We asked the question "If a provincial election were held today, how would you vote?". The results of the "unscientific" poll have 47 percent of those who voted in favor of Jamie Baillie's Progressive Conservatives. The Liberals under Stephen McNeil came in with 35 percent support and Darrell Dexter and his governing NDP finished with 18 percent of the popular vote. PC Leader Jamie Baillie believes its a sign his party's message is getting out.



Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says he has more work to do to show South Shore voters his party is electable and would be a reliable alternative to the Dexter government. He plans to continue talking with people about how he would solve many economic and social problems.  McNeil says he's particularly happy with potential Liberal candidates for the South Shore.


Premier Darrell Dexter has decided not to comment.  A spokeswoman from the premier's office said in an email that 'the poll is not representative of the region and we are not interested in commenting.'

Mustangs Hold Banquet, Prepare For Golf Tourney

The South Shore Canadian Tire Mustangs awarded some hardware to players during their May 27th closing banquet. The 2011-2012 recipients are: 

• Unsung Hero- Brandon Challoner
• Coach's award- Jamie Blair
• Rookie Defenseman- Alex Mann
• Rookie Forward- Morgan Messenger
• Forward of the Year: Avery Clarke
• Defenseman of the Year- Brennan Bailey
• Most Valuable Player - Shaun McEachern

The Mustangs also had a few records broken this year. Defenseman Brennan Bailey broke three long-standing records including most points in a season by a defenseman, most career points by a defenseman and most goals by a defenseman. Meanwhile, the sixth annual Mustangs Major Midget Golf Tournament goes this Friday June 8 at 12:30pm at Osprey Ridge Golf Club. Entry fee is $500 for a four-person team. Details can be found at http://mustangs.goalline.ca/ .

South Shore: Early Tourism Numbers Show Promise

It's been a solid start to the season for many tourism operators along the South Shore. Several operators report a higher than normal traffic flow for the month of May. In Lunenburg, mayor Laurence Mawhinney believes the conference scene in Halifax and the nice weather has played a significant role in boosting visits in the town. However, Mawhinney says its hard to predict how the rest of the season will fair, especially during an election year in the United States.



The town has also thrown its support behind efforts to restore the Yarmouth to Maine ferry service. Mawhinney called it the missing link right now for many tourism operators along the South Shore.

Lunenburg Lighthouse Nominated For Protection

A historic lighthouse in Lunenburg has been nominated for special designation. The Lunenburg Waterfront Association has nominated the Battery Point Lighthouse for designation under the federal Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act. The lighthouse was de-commissioned in 1987 but the structure as it's known today has been standing since 1951. Chair of the Waterfront Association, Allen Cresser says the structure has a storied past since its been perched at the end of the Battery Point Breakwater.



Approximately 350 lighthouses across the country have been nominated for such designation with nearly 95 of them located in Nova Scotia. The federal government will determine which lighthouses will be designated as heritage over the next three years.

More Bike Lanes Coming To Bridgewater

Cyclists are about to get more space on Bridgewater roads. The town's planning department is expecting to start work as early as this week on new shared bike lanes. The lanes will be installed on a portion of North Park Street, York Street and Alexandra Avenue. Director of Planning, Eric Shaw, says the bike lanes provide people with another option to travel.


Shaw says the town will also be putting up signage to help educate motorists on how the lanes work. He says they don't anticipate many traffic holdups, with the work occurring in the early morning hours.

Weekend Closure For Fisherman's ER

A South Shore Hospital Emergency Department will be closed for several hours over the weekend. The ER at Fishermen's Memorial in Lunenburg will close at 10:30 Saturday night and will re-open at 3:30 Sunday afternoon. The closure is a result of a staff shortage. Officials at Fishermen's advise people who have emergency situations to call 911 or proceed to the ER at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.

Bridgewater: Two-Car Collision

A 25-year-old Lunenburg County woman and her one-year-old son suffered minor injuries after a car accident last night. Bridgewater Police responded to a two-car collision just after seven o'clock at the intersection of King Street and Jubilee Road. A Dodge pick-up was travelling north turning on to Jubilee Road when it paused for a pedestrian at a crosswalk. The pedestrian waved the driver through to make the left turn when it struck a Honda Civic heading south. Both vehicles suffered extensive damage. The driver of the Dodge, from Lunenburg County, was not injured. Bridgewater Police Cst. William Creamer encourages people on the South Shore to take their time when driving.



No charges have been laid at this time, the accident is still under investigation.

South Shore Health Celebrates Excellence

Three women have been awarded South Shore Health's Celebrating Excellence awards. Sylvia Mailman, Susie Wood and Kathy Jo Rumboldt received the awards during Thursday night's ceremony at the Bridgewater Best Western. Mailman won the spirit award for her outstanding commitment to the organization's values including excellence, integrity and leadership. Wood took home the Community Health Leadership award while Rumboldt received the Exemplary Service honour. The Outstanding Quality Initiative award went to local executives of South Shore Health's union partners NSGEU, CUPE, and NSNU. Celebrating Excellence Awards are presented by South Shore Health's Board of Directors annually to recognize innovation, dedication, commitment, teamwork, service and leadership in health.

Park View Celebrates First Year Of New Wing

Park View is celebrating the first year of its new wing. An open house was held Wednesday to showcase its two-level music room and skilled trades workshop. Skilled trades students recently built a three-unit model apartment. Principal Charles Williamson says the students were proud of their work.



Students completed every aspect of the build including carpentry, electrical, plumbing, drywall and painting. Park View is the first school in the South Shore region to offer recently developed skilled trades courses.

Sportfishing Weekend in Nova Scotia

South Shore residents are encouraged to try their hand at sportfishing on the Nova Scotia Sportfishing weekend this Saturday and Sunday. Residents and non-residents can fish without a general fishing licence during the annual event. Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Sterling Belliveau says sportfishing weekend is a wonderful opportunity for Nova Scotians of all ages and skill levels to enjoy the popular outdoor sport. He encourages all anglers to put safety first. The sportfishing weekend is supported by more than 20 community organizations, with fishing derbies throughout the province offering fun and prizes. A full list of events is available at http://novascotia.ca/fish/sportfishing/troutderby2012.pdf .

Old Bridge Closing For Repairs

The Old Bridge is closing down for construction. The bridge will close Sunday to replace the expansion joint on the west side of the span by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Its expected to re-open Saturday June 9. Traffic will not be permitted across the bridge until repairs are complete. Pedestrians will still have access to the walkways. The portion of Old Bridge Street will remain open from Lahave St. to the entrance of Bridgewater Mall and T.D. Bank entrance. The Veteran's Memorial Bridge will be open for vehicles and pedestrians.

New Trail Opens On Brier Island

The bridges are built, the gravel is hauled and the signs are in. Digby County students and the Nature Conservancy of Canada put the finishing touches on a new and improved trail on Brier Island yesterday. The five-kilometre trail was built to give tourists and residents a scenic view of the southern coast and to protect the property. Craig Smith from Nature Conservancy says the idea of teaming up with students came from Cobequid Trails Consulting.



Among many jobs the students hauled gravel, planted two signs, and built five 20 foot bridges over creeks.

Liberal Leader Begins Summer Tour On South Shore

Stephen McNeil

Nova Scotia's Liberal leader is convinced his party will make inroads with the South Shore electorate in the next provincial election.  Stephen McNeil believes the party might be able to unseat one or more of the area's sitting NDP members of the legislature.  Because of that, he intends to be visible in the area through the summer.  This morning, McNeil kicked off his annual summer tour across the province.  He says the South Shore was chosen deliberately as the starting point.



McNeil is meeting today with business leaders in Chester, Lunenburg, Mahone Bay and Bridgewater. He expects to be back on the South Shore in a few weeks to visit Queens and Shelburne Counties.

Fourth Season Of Farmers' Market

Spring means warm weather, barbeques, and the Bridgewater Farmers' Market. This Saturday the market opens for it's 4th season on the King Street parking lot. Ran by members and a not for profit society, the venue features more than 14 vendors selling local fruit, veggies, meats, candles, baked goods and more. The season kick-off will also feature music from international singer/song-writer Darren Arsenault.

As well as local performers, the market has a community booth that promotes causes and raises funds. It opens this Saturday from 8:30 until noon and will run weekly until Thanksgiving.

Lunenburg: New Rescue Boat

Lunenburg's Volunteer Fire Department will be the owner of a new rescue boat. The 25 foot fibreglass boat is about 9 feet bigger than the departments original. The $87,000 purchase was made between fundraising, federal funding and through a joint account between the fire department and the town of Lunenburg. Assistant Deputy Chief Trevor Lohnes says the boat will be able to go farther in an emergency.



The boat will also feature a cut-out door for personal rescue, radar and a water pump for fire fighting on islands and boats. It will arrive from Halifax in about 3 weeks.

Surprise Turnout At SSRSB Candidates Meeting

A surprising turnout for School Board officials at Wednesday night's candidates information session. Roughly 50 people attended the meeting to learn more about what it takes to be part of the school board. Board member Judith Sullivan-Corney says it was nice to see that many people take in the meeting.



The public learned about the qualifications needed to run, who makes up the board and the roles of board members. Hebbs Cross resident Jennifer Naugler says the meeting helped answer her questions.



Naugler says she hasn't decided whether she will run or not. Meanwhile, Elmer Garber says the meeting touched on some key information.



School Board nominations close September 11. Sullivan-Corney says she is open to holding another meeting in case people were undecided or unable to attend.

Video: Governor General's Visit To Yarmouth

Mayor Phil Mooney

It was a warm welcome for the Governor General of Canada in Yarmouth on Wednesday. David Johnston was greeted by Yarmouth mayor Phil Mooney before heading into an informal meeting with community leaders and citizens at Town Hall. During his whirlwind tour of south western Nova Scotia, Johnson took in a first hand look of a lobster pound and embarked on a two hour boating excursion to do some lobster fishing in the harbour. On Thursday, Johnson will visit West Pubnico. It will mark the first time a Governor General of Canada has visited the historic Acadian community of Pubnico.

NDP: Dexter Shuffles His Cards As Election Nears

A major shake-up within the majority NDP government in Nova Scotia. Premier Darrell Dexter has shuffled his cabinet, appointing Maureen MacDonald as the province's first female finance minister. MacDonald takes over for Graham Steele, who announced on Wednesday that he will not seek re-election after an 11-year career in politics. Steele made his announcement during a speech to the Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce.




Meanwhile, Bill Estabrooks also announced he will not run again after 14 years in public life, and his former job as transportation minister will be filled by NDP backbencher Maurice Smith. Dave Wilson will become the new health minister, and Leonard Preyra enters cabinet for the first time in Wilson's former job as communities, culture and heritage minister. Steele was first elected to the provincial legislature in a 2001 and sworn in as finance minister when Nova Scotia elected its first NDP government in June 2009.

Buyer Walks Away From Old Post Office Sale

Talks have broken down on a potential sale of the old Canada Post building on King Street in Bridgewater. CKBW and HANK-FM News first reported the potential sale of the property in March after a company spokesperson confirmed negotiations were underway. Mayor Carroll Publicover says the potential buyer has decided against the purchase.



Publicover wouldn't comment but a tentative plan was to create a microbrewery in the building. The mayor says there are other parties ''unofficially'' interested in purchasing the 109-year-old landmark. The spot has been for sale since 2010.

Lohnes Finding Stride Before Nationals

A Bridgewater judoka continues to excel on the mat. Whitney Lohnes finished first in the under-20 division and third in the seniors category at the Ontario Open in Toronto. She also placed third recently at the U.S. Open in Miami and fifth at the Miami World Cup. Lohnes will continue training ahead of junior and senior nationals, which are scheduled for early July in Toronto.

Seniors Warned About Door To Door Pitchmen

The Better Business Bureau is warning South Shore residents, especially seniors, to be extremely cautious when answering the door this summer to traveling alarm system sales people.  There have been complaints right across the continent of people being subjected to high-pressure sales tactics and felt deceived by the salesperson into buying an expensive personal safety alarm system.  The BBB's Atlantic President Don MacKinnon says many of these so-called sales people don't have a license to sell door-to-door or legally sell and install alarm systems.  He warns seniors to use caution.



You can always contact the Better Business Bureau for advice.  Last year, several South Shore residents were cohearsed into buying these systems and handed over thousands of dollars.

Bridgewater E-Voting By-law Passes First Reading

A by-law concerning electronic voting in Bridgewater has passed first reading. Council approved its first look of the 'Alternative Voting Method' for the October elections during their Monday night meeting. The potential move would see e-voting, like telephone and internet, available for residents 10 days before the ordinary polling day scheduled for October 20. The returning officer and staff believe paper ballots should also be provided. Mayor Carroll Publicover disagrees.



Second reading is expected to be held at council's June 25 meeting.

E-Voting Scrapped In Lunenburg Until 2016

The town of Lunenburg won't offer e-voting when voters head to the polls this October. Council and staff felt they didn't have enough time to properly implement the new voting system in time for municipal elections. Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says they didn't want to confuse voters so close to an election. Voter turnout in the last municipal election in Lunenburg was around 55 percent - well above the province average. Council is working to draft a by-law to introduce e-voting for municipal election in 2016.

Lunenburg: Active & Vibrant Despite Greying Population

Town of Lunenburg mayor Laurence Mawhinney says the town is a vibrant and active community. He was responding to questions surrounding census data released by Statistic's Canada on Tuesday. The latest figures indicate Lunenburg has the highest median age among the main communities in the province at almost 53 years. However, Laurence Mawhinney says the town continues its work to attract young families to the area.



In regards to employment, Mawhinney says major companies such as High Liner, HB Studios and Composites Atlantic are committed to the town and each feature a median age of 45 years and younger. Several new homes are also under construction which Mawhinney says is another positive step.

Governor-General In Yarmouth Today, West Pubnico Tomorrow

Governor General David Johnston

The town of Yarmouth will be hosting a special visitor today.  Governor-General David Johnston will be there to learn more about the area.  He will get a first hand look at a lobster pound, do some lobster fishing and have a private meeting with Mayor Phil Mooney to discuss the loss of the ferry service two years ago.
The Mayor says it was at the Governor-General's insistence that he better understand the impact of the ferry loss on the area.


 
The Governor General will present awards during a late-afternoon reception.  He will also visit West Pubnico on Thursday and then return to Halifax later in the day.

VIDEO: Province Releases Aquaculture Strategy

Sterling Belliveau

The province's fisheries minister is promising to increase oversight in the aquaculture sector. Sterling Belliveau released a strategy Tuesday to improve regulations and share more information with the public about the $50-million industry. He says he's trying to understand public concern over aquaculture.


 
Under the plan, the provincial government wants companies to report fish losses due to disease and mandate disinfection of aquaculture sites. The announcement comes a month after a fish farm near Shelburne was ordered to kill hundreds of thousands of salmon due to a viral outbreak. Infectious salmon anemia was found at a Cooke Aquaculture site outside Shelburne Harbour earlier this year.

Efforts To Get New Yarmouth Ferry Service Moving Ahead

A meeting in Stockholm, Sweden a few days ago may go a long way in re-establishing ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine.  The head of the Nova Scotia Ferry Partnership and an official of the province's economic development department met with officials interested in exploring the possibility of re-establishing the link.  Yarmouth Mayor Phil Mooney says the meeting was a forerunner of what may come in the not too distant future.

The mayor is hoping a new ferry can be in operation by next year.  Meanwhile, the special committee set up by the premier to examine the best economically- feasible ferry service for the area will be in Yarmouth next week, gathering information for its study.

UPDATE: Queens General Health Project

The final stage of prep work before a tender is issued for the Queens General Health Project is underway. Maintenance staff are in the midst of constructing temporary inpatient units at the hospital. The new units will keep patients comfortable and away from construction areas while the bulk of the work is being carried out. South Shore Health spokeswoman Liz Finney says a number of staff needed to relocate their offices in order to accommodate the short term units.



A work tender for the $16 million dollar project is expected to be awarded in July with construction scheduled to begin in August. The QGH Project includes a new primary care clinic and redevelopment of the 22-bed in-patient unit at the hospital in Liverpool.

Fawson Seeking Second Term On MODL Council

The current deputy mayor of the District of Lunenburg is looking for a second term on council. Frank Fawson will try and retain his seat in the October 20 election. Fawson has been on council since 2008. He says he's glad members are involved in "Your Council - Your Ideas" sessions to help councillors meet with the public. Fawson says he has work to be done.



Fawson expects sustainability, sewage in the LaHave River and renewable energy to be pressing issues for council in the near future. He says one council highlight includes reducing the overall debt by $2-million, with no new borrowing. He is running for District three councillor, serving constituents in Dayspring, Rhodes Corner and Crouses Settlement.

Lumberjacks Announce Co-Captaincy For 2012-13

A pair of 20-year-olds will lead the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks on the ice this season. Michael Crawley and Jacob Conrad have been announced as the co-captains this year. Head Coach Terry Rhindress says he isn't sure how a co-captaincy will work yet.



Rhindress says the two players will be expected to help younger players develop their games. Crawley led the Jacks with 78 points last season while Conrad rejoins the team after spending the previous three years with Gatineau in the Quebec league.

Shelburne: Border Services Intercept Illegal Weapons

A Shelburne County man faces charges after three packages containing illegal stun guns and pepper spray were intercepted by the Canada Border Services Agency. The packages - bound for an address in Shelburne County - were flagged at the Vancouver International Mail Centre in December. After a lengthy investigation, 23 year-old Scott Nickerson was arrested earlier this month. Manager of Criminal Investigations for the CBSA, Albert Price says 32 stun guns were seized along with ten cans of pepper spray.



In total, Nickerson is facing 20 charges including five smuggling related offences under the customs act. He is due in court June 14th in Halifax.

Governor General To Visit Yarmouth

The town of Yarmouth is gearing up to host the Governor General. David Johnston will visit the area Wednesday afternoon after he takes in a few events in Halifax Tuesday. The Governor General will visit mayor Phil Mooney, meet with education, business and environment representatives, visit a lobster pound, go lobster fishing in the town's harbour and present awards during an evening reception. He will also visit West Pubnico Thursday.

Chester Curling Club To Host Three Provincial Events in 2013

The Chester Curling Club will be a busy spot next season with three provincial events scheduled to hit their ice. The AMJ Campbell Provincial Junior championship rolls into the Village between Christmas and New Year's followed by the under-18 play downs in late February. In early March, the provincial mixed event will be in the spotlight. Bridgewater will host one Provincial bonspiel in 2013; the Under-13 Youthspiel championship in mid-February. The Molson Coors Mens Tankard is pegged for Truro next year while the Scotties has been awarded to the Halifax Club. The locations were announced at the Nova Scotia Curling Association's AGM over the weekend in Halifax.

Whalen Qualifies For NCAA Championships

Chelsea Whalen

A Liverpool native has punched her ticket to the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Chelsea Whalen had a javelin throw of 46.44 metres this past weekend at the East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Florida. Whalen's throw placed her ninth in a field of 48. She is currently ranked 21st in the nation heading into the competition, which will be held June 6-9 in Iowa.

Open Meeting For Potential School Board Candidates

A meeting will be held this week for people thinking about becoming a school board member this October. The regional school board is hosting the information session. The meeting is expected to provide potential members with an indication of what it means to be part of an elected School Board. It will also include information like how to run a campaign, the highlights and challenges of being a School Board member, and the role of governance and management. The meeting will be held Wednesday from 6:30-9pm at the School Board office in Bridgewater.

Facts And Folklore: Book to Be Launched

A book with quips and quirks about the South Shore will be launched Saturday at the Bridgewater Mall. South Shore Facts and Folklore was written by Vernon Oickle and talks about some of the region's history, culture and people. Oickle says the book is full of useful information.



The book is dedicated to current region of Queens Mayor and former teacher John Leefe. Oickle says Leefe taught him and inspired his interest in local history. The book will be launched at COLES Book Store from 1-3pm.

Slight Drop In Gasoline Price

The recently slumping price of oil is headed up again. After gaining 76-cents yesterday, oil is up another 50-cents this morning to trade at $91.16 U-S a barrel. Still, oil is down 13 per cent so far this month. Here on the South Shore this morning, gasoline prices are down a bit. The URB set the price overnight for regular self serve at $1.29 per litre. Thats a penny less than yesterday's price.

Air Cadets Celebrate 60th Anniversary in Queens

The 545 Air Cadets will celebrate 60 years in Queens County this weekend. It's a big milestone for the squadron which will culminate with a celebration at Queen Place in Liverpool on Sunday. The cadets have been busy preparing for the gala event - set to feature demonstrations, displays and visit from Premier Darrell Dexter. Commanding Officer Brian Oickle believes the anniversary is a great opportunity to show case the program.



The air cadets are in the midst of moving their program to the former South Queens Junior High facility in hopes of becoming more visible in the community. Events begin at 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon.