Local Squads Advance To Provincial Soccer Finals

A pair of local soccer teams are one step away from winning provincial titles. Forest Heights and Park View have reached the finals in their respective divisions. The Park View Panther boys earned a spot in the division-one provincial final after defeating River View 3-1 in Friday's semi-final. They will face Halifax West in today's championship game at noon at Park View. Elsewhere, Forest Heights boys secured a spot in the division-three final thanks to a 2-0 victory over Annapolis West. Mitchell Walker and Spencer Adams got the goals while Morgan Keillor posted the shutout. Forest Heights battles Hants North for the division-three provincial crown at noon today at Chester Area Middle School.

Czechs Earn Pre-Tournament Win Over Lumberjacks

The Czech Republic's National Junior 'A' squad rolled over the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks 9-2 Friday night in front of a sold out crowd at Queens Place in Liverpool. Jeremy Butterworth and Brandon Leonardo scored for the Jacks while Billy Clarke and Jordan Lee shared the loss between the pipes. Head Coach Terry Rhindress says they did their best against the talented Czech Republic team.



The Lumberjacks will enjoy some time off before travelling to Pictou next Thursday to play the Weeks Crushers. Meanwhile, the Czechs kick off the World Junior 'A' Challenge in Yarmouth on Monday when they take on Russia in the tournament opener.

New Main Lodge Preparing For First Guests

The countdown to White Point's Main Lodge accepting its first official guests is down to single digits. Crews from Nova Scotia Music Week will start arriving at the popular Queens resort next week. The marketing and product development manager at White Point, Donna Hatt, says electricity, heat, a bar, and dining area are among the services ready for the guests. However, she says a few things won't be ready like the swimming pool. Hatt says she still expects people to be lively with music and entertainment during the week. She says its been an overwhelming project to be a part of.



Nova Scotia Music Week goes from November 8-11 in Liverpool. She believes an official opening of the Main Lodge will be held sometime in December.

'Rovers Quay' Project Delayed

A proposed project planned for the Liverpool waterfront has been delayed. There was hope construction on 'Rovers Quay' would start this fall but isn't expected now until next spring. Two of the four partners involved have decided to pull out of the project. The remaining partners, Stew Horton and Barry Tomalin are still interested in moving forward. The initial plan was to develop the project at Shipyard Point with 18 rental units targeting both current Queens County residents and those who choose to live in Liverpool for lifestyle reasons. Horton says they have received community support for the project. For more details on 'Rovers Quay', go to http://roversquay.ca/ .

Lunenburg: ER Closure Planned This Weekend

There will be a gap in emergency services at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg this weekend. The emergency department will be closed between 2:30PM on Saturday afternoon until 7:30AM on Sunday morning. A hospital spokesperson says the closure is due to a lack of physician coverage. Residents requiring emergency services are asked to go to the South Shore Regional Hospital or dial 9-1-1.

Search Over For Missing "Bounty" Captain

Robin Walbridge

The U-S Coast Guard has ended its search for the captain of the Lunenburg-built "HMS Bounty" that sank off the North Carolina coast during hurricane Sandy. Crews spent 90 hours searching for 63-year-old Robin Walbridge, using ships, helicopters and large planes before suspending efforts late yesterday. The Bounty was originally built at the former Smith and Rhuland Shipyard in Lunenburg in 1960 for the 1962 movie "Mutiny on the Bounty'' starring Marlon Brando and was featured in other movies. Crew on the three-masted tall ship, which sank before dawn Monday, abandoned the vessel and 14 were rescued but one woman died.

Here We Go Again! Gas Prices Are On the Rise!

It was bound to happen!  After a week or more of lower gasoline prices, the province's utility and review board has raised the price overnight for regular self-serve by 5 cents a litre. Its selling today at South Shore pumps for $1.25.9 a litre. Diesel is also up in price. A diesel is priced today at $1.35.5 a litre.Thats a cent more than yesterday's price.
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World oil prices are falling amid subdued demand for crude after hurricane Sandy. Benchmark crude for December delivery fell 28 cents midday in Asia to $86.81 U-S a barrel. Despite ongoing disruptions at refineries and supply terminals in the U-S northeast, analysts say the U-S still has sufficient supplies and that demand for crude oil would be lower than anticipated for a few weeks.

Lumberjacks Prepare To Cancel Czechs

The co-captain of the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks says people should be prepared for an entertaining game tonight against the Czech Republic. The two teams square off in an exhibition game at Liverpool's Queens Place. The game is meant to act as preparation for the Czech Republic's involvement in the upcoming World Junior 'A' Challenge in Yarmouth. Michael Crawley says the local club isn't taking the game lightly.



The game is sold out and fans are asked to wear red to support both squads. Puck drop is at 7pm.

Murray 'Honoured' By NS Sport Hall Of Fame Nod

Bridgewater's Glen Murray will get his nod into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame this weekend. Murray, who celebrated his 40th birthday Thursday, played 16 seasons in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins and L.A. Kings, totalling 651 career points in 1,009 games. He says some of his more memorable moments include his first NHL game, winning gold with team Canada at the World Championships and playoff series' between the Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. Murray says making it into the local Hall of Fame means a lot to him.



Murray says he was fortunate to have a 16-year career in the NHL, and feels everything he has in his life he owes to the game of hockey. Also being inducted are Olympic-medal winning paddler Steve Giles and Vince Horsman, a former major league pitcher. The induction ceremony goes tomorrow night in Halifax.

Hantsport Paper Mill To Close Next Month

It's another blow to the sturggling pulp and paper industry in Nova Scotia. The mill in Hantsport will close next month throw 135 workers out of a job, saying it is succumbing to the same competitive pressures that plague most plants in the industry. A letter to employees posted on the website of Minas Basin Pulp and Power Company says it hoped a restructuring of operations last year and changes to pricing would make the Hantsport plant sustainable. But the company says challenges in the marketplace, competition from plants using newer and more efficient technology, and rising operational costs are too difficult to overcome. It says 135 people will lose their jobs, though upwards of 40 employees will be moved to other companies within Scotia Investments, an investment holding company. The news comes a little more than a month after the former NewPage Port Hawkesbury paper mill in Point Tupper resumed operations after a year-long closure.

Tories Will Nominate Pickings In Lunenburg Riding

 The Tories are set to nominate an native of Upper LaHave in the riding of Lunenburg. Progressive Conservatives will officially select Brian Pickings as the party's candidate for the South Shore riding at an event Friday night. Pickings owns and operates his own carpentry business. He began his small business in 2008 after spending several years working out West. Leader Jamie Baillie will join Pickings at the nomination meeting at the Lunenburg Legion. It starts at 7 o'clock.

Helmet's Now Mandatory For Ski'ers/Snowboarders

Helmets are now mandatory for downhill ski'ers and snowboarders in Nova Scotia. The new law comes into effect today and carries a stiff fine for those caught not wearing the protective head-gear. The all-ages mandatory snow sport helmet law states that only A-S-T-M, Snell, C-S-A or C-E-N approved helmets can be worn. People age 16 or older are responsible for wearing an approved helmet, parents are responsible for those younger than 16.  Those caught without a helmet can face a minimum fine of 250-dollars.

Clocks Fall Back One Hour This Weekend

We've sprung forward, now it's time to fall back. Local residents are reminded to turn their clocks back this weekend. Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend so it's time to set your clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday or before going to bed Saturday night. Residents are also encouraged to change the batteries in smoke detectors and check the charge in fire extinguishers.

Search Continues For "Bounty" Captain

The search for the captain of HMS Bounty that sank off the U.S. coast earlier this week during Hurricane Sandy is in its fourth day. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class David Weydert says a cutter and a C-130 aircraft are still looking for 63-year-old Robin Walbridge. HMS Bounty went down Monday morning after it began taking on water off North Carolina. The crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats, and the Coast Guard rescued 14 crew members. However, 42 year-old Claudene Christian died. The ship was built in Lunenburg in 1960 for the 1962 movie, "Mutiny on the Bounty'' and was featured in several other films including "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest", starring Johnny Depp and "Treasure Island".

Caledonia Man Sentenced For His Part in Lunenburg Academy B&E

 The last of 3 men has been sentenced for breaking into Lunenburg Academy almost 2 years ago and stealing thousands of dollars worth of electronics. 21 year old Nicholas Clifford Feener of Caledonia was in Bridgewater court yesterday and was handed a 15 month conditional sentence and placed on house arrest. Two of his friends, Michael Dean Savory and Christopher Terrence O'Toole were earlier convicted in the case. Savory was sentenced to 9 months conditional and 4 months house arrest. O'Toole received a 1 year conditional sentence and 4 months house arrest.

Local Food Bank Rebounding From Desperate Times

The grass is getting a little greener for a local food bank. The Bridgewater Interchurch food bank was in a desperate situation over a month ago, fearing they would be forced to close by March because of increased demand. However, coordinator Gloria Hubley says things are looking up.



Hubley says the change is a result of more community support and fewer clients accessing the food bank. She hopes people will continue to donate to prepare them for the Christmas season.

Black-Legged Ticks Found In Queens County

Black-legged ticks and the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease have been found in Queens County, at Mersey Point. South Shore Health's medical officer, Dr. Linda Earle, says the public helped in confirming earlier suspicions.



Preventing exposure to blacklegged ticks is a part of enjoying nature safely in Nova Scotia. Although there are now six established areas of increased risk within Nova Scotia (Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Halifax and Pictou Counties), ticks have been found throughout the province due to their travels on migrating birds. Lyme disease can occur from exposure to adult ticks, which are active in the fall and spring months, however the greatest risk of infection occurs from bites of young ticks.  Nymphs are most active during the summer months (May to September) and represent a great risk because of their very small size compared to adult ticks. Tick activity is slowing down with the cooler weather and the first snowfall should kill them off. Dr. Earle says though you should still be vigilant with tick checks after being outside in wooded or bushy areas. The pests need to be attached to the skin for at least 24 hours in order to transmit Lyme disease.

South Shore: Flu Vaccine Clinics Still Available

South Shore Health is offering free vaccination clinics across the region. People at high risk of complications due to the flu are those 65 and older, young children, pregnant women and anyone with chronic medical conditions. The health authority is encouraging anyone who falls under those categories to get a flu shot and lower their risk.

A complete list of South Shore clinics is listed below: Remember to bring your health card

November 5th and 26th: Bridgewater from 2:00 pm-7:00 pm at Holy Trinity Anglican Church

November 6th: New Ross from 9:00 am-12:00 pm at New Ross Family Resource Center

November 6th, 8th: Caledonia from 1:00pm-4:00pm at North Queens Health Center

November 19th: Liverpool beginning at 2:00pm at Liverpool Family Resource Center. By appointment only. Call 354-1305

November 22nd: Lunenburg from 3:00pm-7:00pm at United Church Hall

December 6th: Caledonia from 1:00pm-4:00pm at North Queens Health Center

Sold Out Gala Dinner For Retiring Lunenburg Mayor

A gala dinner and celebration in honour of Lunenburg's outgoing mayor is completely sold out. The testimonial dinner for Laurence Mawhinney will held this Friday night at the Lunenburg and District Fire Hall. Director of Parks and Rec in Lunenburg, Robin Scott says it was an idea thought up by the current council and staff. Senator Wilfred Moore will serve as master of ceremonies for the event and a variety of guest speakers will recount their memories of the mayor during his 33-year career in office. Mahone Bay mayor Joe Feeney, Chester warden Allen Webber and Captain Dan Moreland will each offer remarks. More than 155 tickets have been sold for the dinner.

Police Issue Halloween Message - Safety Is Key

Police are urging drivers to be extra cautious today as children hit the streets to trick-or-treat. RCMP have issued a safety advisory outlining Halloween safety tips for motorists, kids and parents. Police will have additional patrols out today looking for any suspicious activity or vandalism. There is a curfew in effect in the Village of Chester, trick-or-treating is not permitted past 8 o'clock within the core of the village. Police recommend kids dress in brightly coloured costumes, carry a flashlight, trick-or-treat with others, don't enter a stranger's home or car and check candy before eating it.

Crosswalk Collision Nets Minor Injuries

A Yarmouth man is lucky he wasn't hurt more than he was. He suffered bumps and bruises when he was struck by a car in Bridgewater. Bridgewater Police say the 21-year-old was using a crosswalk on King Street when he was hit. A 75-year-old woman from Lunenburg was the driver. The victim was conscious and received medical attention from EHS. No charges have been laid but police are still investigating.

UPDATE (12:30PM): South Shore Power Outage(s)

Power is now restored in the area from Liverpool to Camperdown. About 4-thousand homes and businesses lost power for an hour or so around 6 o'clock this morning. NSP says the problem was caused by a power transmission line interuption.
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The power is still off  for several hundred people in Yarmouth and Pubnico. NSP hopes to have power restored by 2 o'clock this afternoon.
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Here is NSP's list of areas affected:

Pubnico

Tusket, Tusket Falls, Raynarton, South & North Belleville, Springhaven, East Canaan, Quinan, along Hwy #308 to Maple Lodge, Kedgeshook Lane, Hubbards Pt, Amirault's Hill, Morris Island, Surette's Island and surrounding areas

Mustangs Fall To Titans

The Halifax Titans scored four unanswered goals to defeat the South Shore Mustangs 4-1 last night in Bridgewater. Riley Donaldson scored the lone goal for the Mustangs while Cole Skinner stopped 29 shots in the loss. Head Coach Grant Johnston says they struggled to find the back of the net.


Roughly 300 people showed up for the 'Pink in the Rink' game, to help raise money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. It's the third loss in a row for the Mustangs, who are back on the ice this weekend in PEI for a pair of inter-league games against Charlottetown and Cornwall.

UPDATE: Wind & Rain All That Remains Of "Sandy"

It's been a relatively quiet night weather wise for much of the South Shore. According to Nova Scotia Power's outage map and their twitter feed, there are no power outages to report as of 10 o'clock on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Organization is also reporting a quiet night thus far in relation to tropical storm "Sandy". Residents in Cape Sable Island, Yarmouth and Lockeport told CKBW/HANK FM via our Facebook page that thundershowers had passed through the area but they didn't lose their power. Others living in Chelsea, Bridgewater, Liverpool, Shelburne told us their power flickered but their lights are still on at their homes. The Tancook ferry services was halted due to high winds on Monday. No word on when the service will resume. Meanwhile, Bay Ferries Limited cancelled it's Digby-St. John trip earlier today. Passengers are being asked to call in advance to check on future runs for Wednesday and Thursday.

Math Change Makes Sense To New Board Member

A newly-elected member of the South Shore Regional School Board believes increasing time students spend on math is a good decision. The province's education minister has announced Grade 10 students will spend twice as much time sharpening their math skills when they go to a full-year course in 2013. Students will receive 220 hours to study math in the classroom, up from 110 hours currently offered under the semestered system. The changes also include a beefed-up math curriculum to include lessons on how to keep a budget and calculate interest. Jennifer Naugler says the changes make sense.



The new curriculum will be phased in over three years, starting in September with grades primary to three and grade 10.

Momentum Builds For Chester-Based Health Centre

Fundraising efforts are underway to bring a collaborative health care facility to Chester. "Our Health Centre" will be built near Shoreham Village and feature six doctor's offices, examining rooms and a blood donor clinic. Spokesperson Jim Pattillo says the health centre will be funded, built and maintained by the community.  He says the fundraising committee has set a goal to raise nearly six million dollars for the OHC over the next 15 months.



"Our Health Centre" will be a multi-use facility and provide primary health care to a population of 15,000 in Chester, Hubbards and Tancook Island. Pattillo is hopeful the doors to the health centre will be open in 2014.

One Crewmember Dead, Captain Missing In Bounty Tragedy

HMS Bounty Capt, Robin Walbridge

A search is underway for missing ship captain, Robin Walbridge, off the coast of North Carolina. A woman who was rescued in the Atlantic after abandoning the vessel in rough weather yesterday churned up by Hurricane Sandy has died. Ironically, crew member Claudeen Christian was a descendent of Fletcher Christian, the mastermind behind the real-life mutiny on the original Bounty in 1789. 14 other crew members were rescued from their lifeboats by the US Coast Guard. Meanwhile, a retired shipbuilder who worked on construction of HMS Bounty at the former Smith & Rhuland yard in Lunenburg in 1960 says the vessel's sinking and loss of two crew members is a great tragedy. 76 year-old Gerald Zwicker says he and other workers are saddened by the event.



The replica of the orginal HMS Bounty was built for the 1962 MGM movie "Mutiny On The Bounty". Historians estimate ... about 45 people worked on her construction on the Lunenburg waterfront. The Bounty became a regular visitor to Lunenburg over the years and stopped off for a weekend visit in early August.

South Shore: No Major Power Outages

No major power outages on the South Shore after last night's strong wind and rain. Scattered outages affected a few hundred residents in Chester, Yarmouth and Liverpool. The longest occurred in the Liverpool area and spanned just over three hours. Meanwhile, firefighters in Mahone Bay were able to contain a small fire on a power pole near the government wharf. Officials say a transformer caught fire around 10 o'clock last night but it was quickly contained. The brunt of Superstorm Sandy is expected to reach the region later this evening and bring upwards of 50 millimetres of rain to Shelburne, Queens and Yarmouth counties. Lesser amounts are expected for Lunenburg County.

Region Of Queens Swearing-In New Council

Newly-elected members for the Region of Queens will be sworn-in tonight. Christopher Clarke will replace John Leefe as the new mayor, after winning this month's election over David Dagley, Owen Hamlin and Mervin Hartlen. Other members being sworn-in include Brian Fralic for District 3, Susan MacLeod for District 4, Jack Fancy in District 5 and Raymond Fiske in District Six. Darlene Norman, Bruce Inglis and Peter Waterman round out the council. The ceremony gets underway this evening at 7:30 in the community room at Queens Place Emera Centre.

Charges Expected After Car Slams School Bus

Charges are expected after a car slammed into a school bus in Conqueral Bank. The collision occurred on Highway 331 shortly after 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon. In a release, Bridgewater Police say a car crossed the centre line and side-swipped the bus causing significant damage to both vehicles. The driver and passenger in the vehicle were taken to the South Shore Regional Hospital with various injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Mustangs Host 'Pink in the Rink'

The South Shore Mustangs will be sporting some pink when they hit the ice in Bridgewater Tuesday night. The local major midget hockey club is hosting 'pink in the rink' tomorrow evening in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. It's also minor hockey night; all players who wear their jersey get in free. The Mustangs will face Halifax, trying to snap a two game skid. Puck drop is 7:30 in Bridgewater.

DOT: Expect Ferry Service Disruptions

The department of transportation has issued a province-wide notice regarding ferry service. The department indicates provincial ferry services are expected to be impacted by Hurricane Sandy. In a release, DOT says the Tancook ferry has already been halted. Because of expected strong winds and severe marine conditions, people who use Nova Scotia's ferries are advised to monitor the province's emergency road condition phone service at 511 for possible service suspensions.

 

 

Nova Scotia Power Prepares For Sandy

Nova Scotia Power crews are on standby in the event of power outages related to Hurricane Sandy. Spokeswoman Neera Ritcey says the company is closely monitoring the weather system as it approaches the Maritimes. She says crews will be ready to act quickly in the event of power outages. Ritcey says strong winds are the biggest concern linked to the storm.



Environment Canada is forecasting strong winds later today and into Tuesday with gusts exceeding 70 km/h for much of the South Shore and Tri-County area. Ritcey is encouraging residents to report power outages as they occur. She says the company will provide updates on its web site and twitter feed.

Emergency Officials Bracing For Hurricane Sandy

Local emergency management officials are gearing up for remnants of Hurricane Sandy. The Category One storm is expected to sweep into Canada tonight with winds gusting to 100 kilometres an hour and driving rains or snow. Locally, the South Shore is getting plenty of wind and rain over the next few days. Emergency Management coordinator for the town and municipality of Shelburne and town of Lockeport, Don Bower, says residents should expect the worst but hope for the best.



Meanwhile, the most recent forecast is projecting 35-50mm of rain in Shelburne County and Yarmouth, with wind gusts up to 80km/h for tonight and Tuesday. Bower says people should have enough have food and water to last 72 hours. He says they will have a number of people in the area in case emergencies occur. Meanwhile, Yarmouth's EMO is watching the storm carefully and says people should be prepared for power outages.

Update: Famous Lunenburg-Built Vessel Sinks/2 Crew Missing

HMS Bounty

The U.S. Coast Guard has rescued 14 members of the crew forced to abandon the tall ship HMS Bounty caught in high seas created by Hurricane Sandy off the coast of North Carolina.
The Coast Guard is searching for two other crew members and has corrected the total number of crew to 16 from 17. The vessel itself has sunk. HMS Bounty was built in Lunenburg in 1960, before Bluenose Two, for use in the 1962 movie "Mutiny on the Bounty". It left Connecticut last week bound for Florida. The vessel was a frequent visitor to the port of Lunenburg over the years and Mayor Laurence Mawhinney says today's loss of the Bounty is a tragedy.



The crew had apparently been in constant contact with the National Hurricane Center before today's sinking and tried to go around the storm.

South Shore Residents Should Prepare for Sandy

A senior forecaster says Nova Scotian's should prepare for high winds and heavy rain as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The late season hurricane is expected to reach the Maritimes late on Monday. The Canadian Hurricane Centre's Bob Robichaud says Maritimer's in general should be prepared for the possibility of power outages and storm surges in coastal communities. He says residents of Yarmouth and Tri-County area can expect the storm to begin with high winds and rain. It is still not know what the overall impact of Sandy will be for the South Shore. However, Robichaud is warning residents to be prepared. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia Power says they will have crews on standby in case of outages but the company isn't doing anything out of the ordinary in advance of the storm. The Canadian Red Cross issued a statement on Sunday urging people to prepare by stocking up on supplies like food, water, batteries, flashlights and a first aid kit. Hurricane Sandy could down trees and power lines and cause flooding. It is suggested a person have  enough supplies to last in an emergency for at least 72 hours. 

South Shore: 30 Diamond Jubilee Medals Awarded

South Shore MP Gerald Keddy presented 30 residents of the region with Queens Diamond Jubilee Medals in a cermony on Saturday. The jubilee medal is a commemorative item created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada.






Recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal:

Note: All medal recipients listed below were nominated by their colleagues, friends or a family member(s).


Lunenburg County Medal Recipients:

• Collin Nickerson, Mahone Bay, NS;
•  Jim McCorry, Bridgewater, NS;
•  Ken George, Bridgewater, NS;
• Carol Nauss, Chester, NS;
• Dr. Alberta Pew Baker, Chester, NS;
• Dr. Heather MacKinnon, Chester, NS;
• Gerald (Wayne) Rock, Middle Cornwall, NS;
• Ron Seney, New Germany, NS;
• Gerald Davis, New Ross, NS;
• Verne Lunan, Upper LaHave, NS;
• Dan Hennessey, Newcombville, NS;
• Mervyn Joudrey, Blockhouse, NS;
• Peter Matthews, Lunenburg, NS;
• Garry Zwicker, Chester, NS;
• Franklyn Dauphinee, West Northfield, NS;
• John Sawler, Wileville, NS;
• Virginia Selig, Newcombville, NS.

 

Shelburne County Medal Recipients:

• Allen Brannen, Barrington, NS;
• John Brannen, Barrington, NS;
• Emily Rose, Barrington Passage, NS;
• Charles (Edgar) Holmes, Shelburne, NS;
• Everett Cromwell, Birchtown, NS;
• Pat Nickerson, Beaverdam, NS;
• Cyril Meagher, Lockeport, NS.

 

Queens County Medal Recipients:

• John Leefe, Liverpool, NS;
• Lawrence Truelove, Milton, NS;
• Vernon Oickle, Liverpool, NS.

 

Halifax Regional Municipality Medal Recipients:

• Dr. Oscar Wong, Glen Margaret, NS;
• Dr. Francis Bail, French Village, NS;
• Beth McGee, Seabright, NS.

UaRB Approves South Shore Bus Service Takeover

The proposed new operator for a bus service travelling from Yarmouth to Halifax calls it a step in the right direction. The province's Utility and Review Board has given their nod of approval to Bernie's Shuttle Service to take over the run from Trius Tours. Trius was looking to abandon their service as a result of Acadian Lines decision to halt their operations as of the end of November. Now, owner Bernie Melanson says the real work goes into getting an application ready for the UaRB to approve a 21-passenger vehicle to replace Trius. Melanson says he's working hard to get things finalized, but it takes time.



Trius has agreed to keep operating the route until December 31. Melanson says he's heard some concern from the public regarding cost and service. However, he anticipates things will remain status quo with the take over. Melanson hopes to get UaRB approval and take over the service before that date.

VIDEO: SMART Program Launched In Bridgewater

A program expected to benefit companies and residents was announced this morning in Bridgewater. The Nova Scotia government is investing $3.5-million into the START program. The program is expected to connect residents looking for work, with employers willing to give them the jobs, experience and training they need. Labour Minister Marilyn More says eligibility for the program includes being unemployed, a Nova Scotia resident and able to work in Canada. She says the flexibility should be a benefit for employers and workers.



More says employers will be offered financial incentives to ease the cost of hiring a new employee, as well as training and wages. For more information about the program and how to apply, visit http://business.novascotia.ca/en/home/default.aspx . Below, Minister More talks about the program in detail.

Bambi Beware! Here Come The Hunters In Force!

South Shore hunters are all fired up and ready as many head out to their favourite hunting spots. The province's deer hunting season kicks off today and runs until December 8th. The Natural Resources Department says hunters with a valid licence and deer stamp can take one deer of either gender in zones 102, 105 and 107. Officials say a limited number of antler-less deer can be taken in the remaining mainland zones. Hunters are also required to submit reports that include an estimate of the deer population in their area to assist the department with its deer management.

Another South Shore Gas Pump Surprise!

The price of regular gasoline at South Shore pumps has dropped 9 cents in two days. Today, regular self serve is down in price again, selling for $1.20.9. Thats almost 5.5 cents less than yesterday after Wednesday night's cut by the URB when the price also dropped then by about 5 cents. A nice surprise for trucks or cars with diesel engines. Diesel gas is also down in price after being on the rise for several weeks.
Diesel is selling today for $1.34.6 a litre. Thats almost 5.5 cents less than yesterday.

UPDATE: Military Men OK After LaHave Accident

Two veteran members of the military have been released from hospital after their dump truck flipped on Highway 331 in LaHave on Wednesday. A spokesman with the armed forces based out in Greenwood says both men were discharged from hospital earlier today. John Pulchny says the men were working on a community project and were heading home for the day when their truck flipped near the Fort Point Road. He says one man suffered a broken wrist along with some other injuries. RCMP are investigating the cause of crash.

Woods Harbour Man Charged With Stunting

RCMP have charged a 55-year-old man from Woods Harbour with stunting. Mounties say they clocked the driver doing 182 km/h in a 100 km/h zone near Liverpool last night. Police say the man faces an automatic one-week driving suspension. If convicted, he also faces a fine of $2,400 and an automatic six points on his drivers's record. Stunting can be defined as traveling more than 50km/h over the posted speed limit. In a release, RCMP say they take these matters seriously and deem them to be one of the most dangerous forms of aggressive driving.

School Board's Maintenance Crew Wins Award

The local school board's operations department has bragging rights for the next year. The board's maintenance crew recently took home an innovation award from the Nova Scotia School Maintenance Advisory Conference. Staff made a special tool allowing doors and hinges to be straightened, re-adjusted and re-used, helping to save on time and money. Communications Manager Trish Smith says the award speaks volumes about their maintenance crew.



This is the first time the local school board has received the trophy.

Lunenburg: Power Outages Expected This Weekend

There will be two planned power outages over the weekend in Lunenburg. The first will take place between 4AM and 6AM on Saturday morning and will mainly affect residents of Old Town. Resident who live around Montague and Creighton Street and between Kaulback and Kemp Street will lose their power during that time. Another outage is planned between 12:30PM and 4:30PM on Sunday afternoon This outage will affect New Town residents between Lorne Street and High Street. The outages are necessary for pole replacement, line work, tree trimming and FibreOp preparation.

Fire Chief Says People Are Careless With Candles

A South Shore fire chief says people must be more careful when using candles. Lyle Russell of the New Ross Volunteer Fire Department says a case in point is last night's fire in his area that destroyed a home.
Departments from Chester Basin and Kentville helped New Ross fire fighters battle the blaze on Mill Road off Highway 12. Russell says people don't realize the dangers surrounding candles. Its believed the fire was started by an unattended candle.



The middle-age couple who lived in the home were outside doing work in their garage when the fire began.
No one was hurt. The fire marshall is investigating.

UPDATED: Long Night For Emergency Crews In LaHave

It was a long night for emergency crews after a flat bed truck transporting a front end loader over turned in LaHave late Wednesday afternoon. RCMP, EHS and fire crews spent 12 hours at the scene along Highway 331. Two men were injured as a result of the crash, with one airlifted to Halifax with serious injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation but RCMP believe alcohol was not as a factor. Corporal Scott MacRae says investigators are exploring all angles. MacRae says the truck was owned by the Department of National Defence. He says a large amount of fuel was spilled and environmental officials were on scene to analyze the situation.

Special Olympic Torch Run Hits The Road

Law Enforcement officers on the South Shore hit the road on foot earlier this morning in support of Special Olympics. Fifteen town police, RCMP, natural resources and fisheries officers left the Bridgewater Arena at 9:30am bound for Kentville in the Valley by way of Highway 12. They're raising money for Lunenburg and Queens counties Special Olympics through the sale of red shoe-laces. South Shore Special Olympics co-ordinator Betty-Ann Daury says money raised is put to good use.



Two South Shore Special Olympic athletes are also running the route. They're Jamie Belong of Liverpool and Mathew Fay of Chester. Everyone expects to arrive in Kentville by mid afternoon. Similar Law Enforcement Torch Runs for Special Olympics are held in dozens of communities today across the country.

Fire Destroys New Ross Home

A house fire in the New Ross area overnight has left a middle-age couple homeless. The fire broke out around 11 o'clock Wednesday night at the home on Mill Road off highway 12 in New Ross. The man and woman were doing some work in their garage when they noticed smoke coming from the house. New Ross Fire Chief Lyle Russell describes what he and his crew saw when they arrived.



The fire was out within a couple of hours. The New Ross department had help from fire departments in Kentville and Chester Basin. The cause of the blaze is believed to have been an unattended candle. The fire marshall will be investigating. No one was hurt.

Microbrewery Moving To Liverpool

A popular microbrewery in Cherry Hill is moving to Liverpool. Region of Queens council approved the zoning requirements for Hell Bay Brewing Company during a special meeting Wednesday. The new location is expected to be on Legion Street, in a building known as Hoggies Buy and Sell. Co-owner Melanie Baillie says it will be a big expansion.



Baillie says they will also become a full-time business to meet demands, after operating on a weekend schedule since their microbrewery opened. She says they are excited to move to Liverpool because they will be more accessible and could attract more people to the area. She says they plan to move to Liverpool in January 2013, and hope to produce their first batch of beer in their new location by next March.