Gold River-Western Shore Elementary To Close This Summer

Gold River-Western Shore Elementary School will stay on the chopping block for this summer. The board decided not to accept the education minister's recommendation to delay school closures for a year, instead, choosing to stay the course with all decisions made at its March 27 meeting. Chair Jennifer Naugler says the education minister put the board in a tough spot.



Naugler says the minister's recommendation created a lot of turmoil and stress on communities, and she recognizes it's difficult on them. She says she's glad decisions have been made and the matter has been dealt with. However, the decision didn't sit well with parent Terri Lynn Melvin, who says they will continue to stand tall for the school.



Some Gold River and Western Shore residents have decided to protest to show their support for the community. The protest is planned to be at the board office at 9am Friday morning.

Three Chester Groups Get Federal Funding

Three organizations in the Municipality of Chester have received funding from the local member of parliament. Gerald Keddy has announced roughly $46,000 for the East Chester Recreational Association, the Chester Art Centre and the Helping Hands to Enrich Learning and Lifestyles Programming Society in Fox Point. The recreational association is getting $20,000 to repair its hall floor and joists. The floor has never been replaced since the building was built in the 1800s. President Betty Gagnon says the funding is important for their space.



Work is expected to start by the fall. Meanwhile, the Chester Art Centre received $19,786 to offer mobile art workshops for seniors and the Helping Hands to Enrich Learning and Lifestyles Programming Society got just over $6,120 to offer weekly fitness sessions and monthly speakers for seniors.

Crews On Scene At Yarmouth Fire

Fire crews from Yarmouth and several other departments remain on scene at structure fire in the town. The blaze began earlier this morning at 61 Waverly Street. Firefighters arrived on scene to find smoke coming from the roof. It is owned by W.L. Nelson's Furniture and the owner confirms it is used as a warehouse. Jim Nelson says there is a major loss of appliances, furniture and bedding. No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire is not known.

Cooke Aquaculture Preparing New Sites In Jordan Bay

Cooke Aquaculture is putting the finishing touches on their new fish farms in Jordan Bay. The New Brunswick based company received approval from the Nova Scotia government to install the fish cages last summer. Cooke has already hired 16 people to oversee the project and will have room for 27 employees at full capacity. The sites should be up and filled with fish by the end of this month. Cooke Aquaculture is also working toward opening a new fish processing site in Shelburne County. The plant would be home to 320 employees at full capacity. They are also building a new salmon hatchery in Digby, and expanding a feed mill in Truro.

Pump Prices Down In New Brunswick

Could be good news for South Shore drivers when they wake up tomorrow. Gas prices in New Brunswick have taken a dive.  The price for regular self-serve is down 5.1 cents per litre to a maximum price of a $1.28 per litre. Diesel is down 6.8 cents to $1.32 per litre. Meanwhile, the price of furnace oil has dropped 3.5 cents per litre.

School Board: Special Meeting Called For Gold River-Western Shore School

The South Shore Regional School Board will reconvene Thursday evening to discuss the future of Gold River-Western Shore Elementary. A board member brought forward a motion Wednesday night to amend the decision to close the school later this year and delay its closure until 2015. SAC co-chair at Gold River-Western Shore, Sarah Swinamer, says their hopeful a decision will be made in their favour.



The common theme among the board was the feeling of uncertainty and confusion around the minister's recommendation to delay school closures for a year. A special board meeting will be held Thursday night at 7pm.

1688 PLFA President Resigns

The board of directors with the 1688 Professional Lobster Fishermen Association has revealed its newly-minted president has resigned. A press release from the group says John Crandall Nickerson has stepped down from the position effective immediately after some people in the industry disapproved the decision of him being president. The release explains Nickerson was put in a position where he had to choose between his full time employment or the association. A pair of meetings being held in Wedgeport and Barrington over the next few weeks have been temporarily cancelled until further notice. The 1688 PLFA board of directors is asking members to submit nominees for the president position.

Town Excludes Skate Park Design From Budget Pre-Approval

Bridgewater town council has pre-approved a number of capital projects for their 2013-14 budget, but a detailed design for a skate park was left off the list. Council decided to forgo the matter, instead choosing to bring it up during the budget process. The six projects that were pre-approved include repair to the York Street bridge, land purchase along St. Phillips Street and an IT assessment. Mayor David Walker feels a detailed design for the skate park can wait.



The total amount pre-approved by council is just over $1.1-million in the capital budget.

Fire Department History Project Receives Federal Funds

A project highlighting past contributions to Lunenburg County fire departments is getting financial help from Ottawa. MP Gerald Keddy is providing $25,000 to the "Greatest Volunteer Success Story in our lifetime: Fire Departments in Lunenburg County" project. The funding is being provided through the 'New Horizons For Seniors' program. The project honours the past efforts of firefighters in the Municipality of Lunenburg and towns of Bridgewater, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg. A book will be created showcasing seniors sharing their stories and contributions to the fire service. Local fire departments will then sell the book as a fundraiser.

Queens Mayor Relieved Government Funding Comes Through

The Nova Scotia government is extending an olive branch to the Region of Queens. The province will pay an additional $500,000 toward renovations and improvements at Queens General Hospital. It's a welcomed gesture following the closure of the Bowater Mersey mill last June. The money will cover the municipalities final two payments to South Shore Health for the $16 million hospital project. Mayor Christopher Clarke says the provincial funding will lessen the blow on the region's tax rates.



Clarke says council made a commitment to the hospital project during better times when the Bowater Mill was still operating and the municipality was in a stronger financial position. The Queens General Health project will feature a new collaborative health care clinic and the redevelopment of 22 inpatient units. It's expected to be ready in the spring of 2014. The province indicates it will also offer support to the Municipality of Lunenburg to help offset it's lost revenue due to the closure of the Oakhill Sawmill.

School Board: Members Expected To Discuss Minister's Recommendations

The future of a South Shore school is expected to be up for discussion this evening. School Board members will receive a letter from the education minister regarding her recommendation to forego school closures for the current year while a new review process is created. The board decided late last month to close Gold River-Western Shore Elementary in September and send students to Chester. The board wanted to explore legal opinion on its options, so it's not clear if a decision will be made during tonight's meeting. It gets underway at 7pm at the board office in Bridgewater.

Wednesday: Hospital Non-Urgent Clinic Open

Bridgewater's non-urgent care clinic will be open for the third straight day. The clinic is located in the regional hospital. It's been established to deal with minor illnesses or those in need of prescription refills. Residents will need to book an appointment in order to see a doctor at the clinic.  It's open today between 10:30am and 3:30pm. The number to call for appointments (between 8 and 10 am) is 527-5815. South Shore Health will look at announcing more clinic dates next month.

MODL Supports Joint Transportation Committee

Four municipalities are planning to work together to explore transportation options for their residents. Council members from the towns of Bridgewater, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg and the District of Lunenburg have created a Joint Transportation Committee. The group will work on establishing dial-a-ride services that could have a route for broader community outreach. Mayor Don Downe says it's still early in the process and things will have to be determined.



The service is considered to have the most potential for long-term sustainability under current government-funding programs. The committee is planning to seek funding from Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations to carry out its work.

Federal Gov't Supports Four Shelburne County Project

Four projects in Shelburne County will receive support from Ottawa. ACOA Minister, Gail Shea, says nearly $500,000 will be used to transform 12 hectares of land in the Shelburne Industrial Park into investment-ready lots with electricity, water and sewer services. A business loan of $208,000 will help a local company upgrade buildings. Kenney & Ross Limited manufactures fish gelatins, collagens and adhesives. ACOA is also spending $35,000 to help Aylward Fibreglass Inc develop expertise to export its fiberglas fuel tanks. Another $42,000 has been invested to help the District of Barrington to complete work on the Seal Island Light Museum. Meanwhile, the Nova Scotia government is investing $21,000 in the museum.

Projects Details

• An investment of $496,294, through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund, enables the Municipality of the District of Shelburne to transform 30 acres of land in the Shelburne Industrial Park into investment-ready lots for marine sector businesses. The Municipality will construct a road connecting to the existing Industrial Park and extend power, water and sewer services to the lots.

• A business loan of $208,107 through ACOA’s Business Development Program enables Kenney & Ross Limited to complete a variety of building upgrades. The company manufactures a full line of Kosher and Halal-certified fish gelatins, collagens and adhesives for global pharmaceutical, food and technical markets. Upgrades are being undertaken to the ceilings, walls and floors in the company’s production areas.

• An investment of $35,250 through ACOA’s Business Development Program assists Aylward Fibreglass Incorporated (AFI) in hiring necessary expertise to obtain certification to manufacture and export its fiberglass fuel tanks. The company is an industry leader in developing new eco-friendly products for export―including non-metallic fuel tanks.

• An investment of $42,750 through ACOA’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF) supports the Municipality of the District of Barrington as they complete work on the Seal Island Light Museum. The work will enable visitors to have continued access to the look-off area at the top of the structure. The Museum is a replica of the lighthouse that was constructed on the site in 1831.

Town Continues To Mull Future Library Space

The town of Bridgewater remains undecided about the future space of the current library building on King Street. Councillors voted 4-3 not to lease the space to the non-profit group, Cafe 12. But they also voted 5-2 against selling the property. Mayor David Walker says there were good points on both sides of the argument.



Walker says they're in no rush to make a decision with the library building in use until roughly the beginning of September. The issue is expected to be brought back up at council during their April 22 meeting.

Former Habs Coach, Cup Winner, Headlines 'Jacks Dinner

The last man to coach a Canadian team to a Stanley Cup title is coming to Bridgewater.  Jacques Demers was behind the bench when the Montreal Canadiens won the NHL crown in 1993. The 68 year old's impressive resume also includes head coaching stints with Detroit, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and Quebec. He twice won the Jack Adams' award as NHL coach of the year.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper named him to the Senate in 2009. Demers will be the guest speaker at the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks' annual Celebrity Dinner & Auction at the Bridgewater Best Western Plus on Friday, May 24th. Veteran CBC sportscaster Steve Armitage will also be at the head table. Ticket information will be released soon

Elderly Woman Taken To Hospital After Highway Collision

One person was sent to hospital after a two-vehicle collision on Highway 103 late Monday afternoon between Exits 6 and 7. Cpl. David Ferguson with Lunenburg County RCMP says a car collided a semi-truck and went into the ditch around 4:30pm. RCMP closed down a section of the highway for roughly two-and-a-half hours because of the incident. Ferguson says the driver of the car was an elderly woman. She was sent to South Shore Regional in Bridgewater with non life-threatening injuries.

UPDATED: Highway 325 Re-Opened Following Garage Fire

A number of Lunenburg County fire departments have left the scene of a garage fire along Highway 325 in Blockhouse. Fire crews from Blockhouse, Oakhill, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg responded shortly around 1pm this afternoon. Parts of Highway 325 between the Big Lots Road and School Street were blocked off for a couple hours. The highway re-opened at 4pm.

UPDATED: RCMP Deem Beech Hill Fire 'Suspicious'

RCMP have solely taken over the investigation into the cause of a weekend fire in Beech Hill. Staff Sgt. Bruce Hill with Lunenburg County RCMP says they're treating the fire as suspicious. Firefighters from the Western Shore Department along with a deputy fire marshal were on the scene for most of yesterday. The fire marshal's office says they will continue to assist police, if requested. The mobile home was gutted by fire late Saturday night.

BREAKING: Fire Forces Highway Closure In Blockhouse

A number of Lunenburg County fire departments are at the scene of a garage fire along Highway 325 in Blockhouse. Fire crews from Blockhouse, Oakhill, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg responded shortly after 1pm. Parts of Highway 325 between the Big Lots Road and School Street are blocked off while officials battle the blaze. Meanwhile, the School Board's bus garage says any buses serving Bayview Community School and Park View Education Centre travelling the Highway between Bridgewater and Mahone Bay will be delayed due to the road closure. The delay will be in effect until the road is open.

South Shore Mustangs Hand Out Season-Ending Awards

The two goalies between the pipes for the South Shore Mustangs not only share time in the crease, but also the most valuable player award. Cole Skinner and Corey Peterson were recognized for their play during the team's season-ending awards banquet Sunday night in Bridgewater. Also, Alex Nauss was named top forward and Riley Strowbridge picked up top defenseman honours. Other awards include Jordan Messenger for top rookie forward, Zach Miller for rookie defenseman and Christian Tufts for unsung hero. Scott Perry received the coaches award.

UPDATED: Caledonia Crash Victims Remain In Hospital

Mounties are trying to determine the factors behind a serious crash last night in Caledonia. A young man and woman remain in hospital after a single vehicle rollover on Highway 8 in Queens County. The 29 year-old Caledonia man along with a 24 year-old Mahone Bay woman were both ejected from their vehicle. Police say they suffered serious injuries and their status has not changed. The woman was airlifted to hospital in Halifax, while the man was taken to hospital in Bridgewater.

RCMP, Fire Marshal Still Investigating Beech Hill Blaze

RCMP and the fire marshal's office are still investigating the cause of a weekend fire in Beech Hill. Firefighters from the Western Shore Department along with a deputy fire marshal were on the scene for most of Sunday. The mobile home was gutted by fire late Saturday night. A neighbour reportedly alerted authorities of the fire.

Upset During Liberal Nomination In Queens-Shelburne

An upset in Queens County during a nomination meeting for the provincial Liberals. Caledonia`s Benson Frail will carry the banner for the grits in the new riding of Queens-Shelburne. He defeated odds-on favourite Sheldon Brannen in the process 101-74. Liberal leader Stephen MacNeil was guest speaker for the occasion. Residents of Queens will have new representation after the next election following Vicki Conrad`s decision to exit politics after serving the county since 2006. Fisheries Minister Sterling Belliveau is expected to run for the NDP in her place.

Local Women's Hockey Players Set For Nationals

Local hockey players Kristen Gordon of Liverpool and Rebecca Weagle of Lunenburg are off to the Esso Cup Nationals in Burnaby,  Bristish Columbia. Their team, Metro Boston Pizza, won the right to represent Nova Scotia in Burnaby by winning the Atlantic Championship in Pictou County over the weekend. They defeated New Brunswick 2-1 in Championship game on Sunday morning. The National tournament begins April 21st.

Liverpool's Whalen In Midst Of Breakout Season

Chelsea Whalen of Liverpool continues to re-write the record books. Whalen set another provincial Senior Womens' shot put record this weekend at the Florida relays. Her throw of 16.15m eclipsed her previous throw of 15.68m and it also ranks her 19th in the NCAA. Whalen`s throw puts her 2nd in the history of female shot put throwers at Florida State University.

Chester: Council Agrees To Widen Part Of Water Street

Chester council has given the green light to make a part of Water Street a little wider. Warden Allen Webber says there's a long-standing issue of parking and because it's so narrow, it could be a one-way street. Council has agreed to remove some rose bushes and curb opposite to the Rope Loft. Webber says it may be a temporary solution.


He says they will request additional parking signs from the Department of Transportation to be put up once the work is complete. The cost to remove the bushes and curb and add some gravel is approximately $1,000.

Town Developing Committee To Create Grant Policy

The town of Bridgewater is creating a new committee to deal with the way it doles out money for community groups. Mayor David Walker says they don't have a clearly defined policy for organizations to apply for grants. The committee will consist of four councillors along with a town staff member. Walker says it will be their job to provide clarity to the issue.



The committee is expected to be approved during this evening's town council session.

Serious Injuries In Caledonia Crash

Two people have been taken to hospital following a single vehicle crash in Caledonia. The incident occurred around 8:30pm Sunday evening along Highway 8. Sgt. Alain LeBlanc says a car was traveling southbound when it overturned into a ditch. He says a 29-year-old man from Caledonia and 24-year-old woman from Mahone Bay were both ejected from the vehicle and sustained serious injuries. The woman was taken by lifeflight to the QEII Hospital in Halifax while the man was transported to South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater. The cause of the incident is under investigation. 

Valley Wildcats Win Major Midget Hockey Atlantics, Move On to Telus Cup

The Valley Wildcats captured the Atlantic Major Midget Hockey championship today in Moncton with a 4-3 victory over Cornwall, PEI. The Cats move on to the Telus Cup National championship in Sault St. Marie, Ontario later this month.

Liberals Nominate Former Social Worker In Barrington-Argyle

A former social worker in Yarmouth, has won the Liberal nomination for the new riding of Argyle-Barrington. Kent Blades secured the nomination during a meeting Saturday in Barrington. Blades served three terms on Barrington Municipal Council. The 63-year old native of Cape Sable Island attributed his win to the establishment of a vigorous campaign with supporters from all corners of the constituency. Blades believes key issues in the upcoming campaign will include the return of the Yarmouth ferry, the local economy, power rates, health care and education.

Officials Investigate Beech Hill Fire

 

A mobile home in Beech Hill was gutted by fire last night. Firefighters with the Chester Basin and Western Shore Fire Departments were called to the scene  around mignight after a neighbour reported the blaze. Western Shore Fire Chief Scott Rafuse says they had the fire knocked down quickly but they are unsure how it started. It also wasn't known if anyone was still in the home at the time of the fire. RCMP and the provincial fire marshal's office are investigating.

Chester Clippers Fall In Semis At Atlantics

It was a heart-wrenching loss for the Chester Clippers. The local junior 'C' hockey club fell 5-4 in double overtime to the host Hampton Hurricanes, eliminating them from the Atlantic championships and ending their season abruptly. The loss is one that is tough to swallow for the Clippers, who allowed the tying goal with only six seconds left in the game. It will be an all-New Brunswick final, as the Western Valley Panthers won the other semi-final. Ben Bailey, Kyle Dilosa, Jeremy Church and Justin Bowen are this year's overage players and will not be back for another year.

Mooseheads Shutout Gatineau Again For 2-0 Series Lead

The Halifax Mooseheads shutout Gatineau 5-0 Saturday night at the Metro Centre to grab a 2-0 lead in that "Q" League best of seven quarter-final. The Olympiques are still searching for their first goal in the series after being blanked 7-0 on Friday night. Game three goes Tuesday night in Gatineau. 

Chester Earns Semi-Final Berth At Atlantics

Alex Armstrong, Jack Strowbridge and Connor Nauss each scored as the Chester Clippers defeated the Hampton Hurricanes 3-1 Friday night to wrap up the round robin at the Junior 'C' hockey Atlantics in Hampton, New Brunswick.  The win puts the Clippers in fourth place with a 2-2 record and means the two teams will meet again Saturday night in the semi-finals. Hampton finished in first place at 3-1. The game gets underway at 7pm and you can watch it by clicking here .

Mooseheads Win Game One Against Gatineau

The Halifax Mooseheads remain perfect in the playoffs. Last night at the Metro Centre the Moose blanked Gatineau 7-0 in that "Q" quarter-final opener. The best of seven series continues tonight at 7 in Halifax.

Liberals Set To Nominate In New Ridings

The provincial Liberal party is set to nominate their candidate in two new riding's. It's a two way race in Argyle-Barrington. The candidates seeking the nomination are Kent Blades and Louis d'Entremont.  Meanwhile, in Queens-Shelburne, Sheldon Brannen and Benson Frail are seeking the nod in that respective riding.
The successful candidates will carry the banner for the grits in the next provincial election. Liberal leader Stephen McNeil will be guest speaker at both events. The first nomination meeting will be held at Barrington Municipal High School. It gets underway at 2 o'clock. The second goes at the West Queens Community Centre at 7 o`clock.

Chester Clippers Earn First 'W' At Atlantics

The Chester Clippers have their first win at the Atlantic Junior 'C' Hockey Championships. The local club flexed their muscles offensively, scoring a 9-2 win over the Tignish Aces of PEI Friday afternoon. The win moves Chester into a spot in the semi-finals. They currently sit fourth out of five teams. They may be able to improve their position with a win at 8pm tonight against the host club, the Hampton Hurricanes.

Sustainability Expo Back For Its Second Year

Food is the theme for this year's South Shore Sustainability Expo at the NSCC campus in Bridgewater. The event will showcase the best in local and regional business and community practices for sustainability. A discussion led by a three-person panel from Lunenburg County will also focus on the importance of local food. Co-organizer Andrew Caines says people are feeling the financial crunch and growing your own food can help.



This is the second year for the event. The expo gets underway at 9am tomorrow. Full details on the event are available here .

Welcome Home Event Planned For Jessica Carver

It's been dubbed as a 'Welcome Home' event for a South Shore native who underwent double-lung transplant surgery last December. A planned get together and dance for Jessica Carver will be held Saturday night at the Michelin Social Club in Bridgewater. The 33-year-old recently returned home after a nine-month stay in Toronto because of the surgery. She says the event is the easiest way to say 'thank you'.



Carver has Cystic Fibrosis and she says she's looking forward to dancing the night away. All are welcome to the event, which gets underway at 7:30pm tomorrow night. Anyone who is planning to attend is urged to wear green in support of organ donation.

Argyle MLA Ponders Sad State Of Rural Economy

The opposition parties are raising doubts about whether the Dexter government has actually produced a balanced budget. Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil says the budget is nothing more than a pre-election document. He says its assumptions on the amount of revenues it will receive are based on what he calls "wacky'' assumptions. Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie says the lack of a jobs-plan means the province will have a difficult time keeping the books in the black. PC Argyle MLA Chris d'Entremont says the government is paying little attention to rural areas and concentrating on metro Halifax, where help isn't really needed.




d'Entremont says the government would do better if it stopped paying so much attention to its over-abundant NDP-ridings in Halifax and concentrated more in helping rural areas like the South Shore.

Insulin Pump Funding Lauded By Yarmouth MLA

The Dexter government says it will cover insulin pumps for children with Type 1 diabetes and pay for the pump's supplies for those under 25. It is part of the provincial budget presented yesterday and follows pressure from lobby groups and families of those living with the disease. The MLA for Yarmouth says its about time! Zach Churchill says his Liberal party has been pushing for the funding for years.




The government estimates the move will cost 5.3 million dollars a year, which is a fraction of the Health Department's overall 3.9-billion-dollar budget.

Chester Clippers Remain Winless At Atlantics

The Chester Clippers remain winless at the Atlantic Junior 'C' Hockey Championship in Hampton, New Brunswick. The provincial champs were dumped 8-4 Thursday night by the Kivalliq Canucks from Nunavut. The Clippers held a 3-0 lead after the first period on the strength of three goals by Kyle Dilosa. But the Nunavut squad stormed back with a four goal second period and never trailed after that. Dilosa added a fourth goal in the third period. Chester sits at 0-2 heading into today's final round robin games. They will face the PEI champions Tignish Aces at 3pm, and then the tournament hosts, Hampton Hurricanes at 8pm. To watch today's action, click here .

Clippers Drop Opening Game At Junior 'C' Hockey Atlantics

The Western Valley Panthers scored twice in the final 10 minutes to earn a 3-2 win over the Chester Clippers at the Atlantic Junior 'C' Hockey Championship. Western Valley scored first to lead 1-0 after the first period, but a power-play goal from Alex Armstrong late in the second notched things at 1-1 going into the third period. Kyle Dilosa added a third period marker to give Chester their first lead of the game with 11 minutes left. The loss puts the Clippers at 0-1 to start the tourney. The Clippers will be back on the ice at 8:30 tonight to play last year's Atlantic runner-up, the Kivilliq Canucks of Nunavut.

White Point General Manager Resigns After 30 Years

The general manager of White Point says it's time to move on after 30 years on the job. Danny Morton has dealt with the highs and lows of the popular Queens County resort for the last three decades. Now, he says the timing is right to pursue something else.



Morton says he isn't rushing to take another position at another job, but hopes he will remain in Nova Scotia. His resignation is effective April 14. Chief Financial Officer Joanne Veinot will serve as acting general manager in the interim.

Chester Council Supports Request To Delay School Closures

The Municipality of Chester is supporting the province's education minister in her request to delay any school closings for the next year. Council has agreed to write a letter to the school board, asking members to respect the minister's decision and re-evaluate their situation. Gold River-Western Shore Elementary falls within the municipality's jurisdiction and is scheduled to close this fall. Warden Allen Webber says he understands the board is in a tight spot.



The chair of the school board noted they will seek legal opinion regarding its options. The matter is expected to be further discussed at the school board meeting next week.

Accounting Firm Still Interested In Future Library Space

The president of a Bridgewater accounting firm says the future space of the library building is his best option to move into. John Swain of Swain and Associates says an opportunity to move his business to another location in the town has fallen through. He explains the company has been growing and are in need of a new spot.



Swain's group, along with the non-profit group Cafe 12 are under consideration for the library space, once they move into their new home near the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. The issue is expected to be in front of town council next week.

RCMP To Review Its Operations In Shelburne Town

The RCMP will conduct its own review of service to the Town of Shelburne. This follows a meeting this week between the Mayor and CAO of the town and the regional superintendent of the force. Mayor Karen Mattattal says the review should not be interpreted as a sign the Mounties might be doing a bad job in her town but rather to determine several things.



The mayor says a shortage of RCMP officers in the town is being addressed. A new officer has arrived and another is on the way and a third will hopefully be added in the coming months.

Court: Dog Dealer Drops Appeal, Due Back In May

A well-known dog dealer has dropped her bid to reserve a court ordered ban prohibiting her from selling canines. Gail Benoit was schedule to have a hearing on the matter today. However, she notified the court of her intention to drop the appeal Wednesday. Benoit will still return to court next month in relation to various charges of fraud and theft. The 43 year-old was charged in March based on allegations that she sold two boxers that she didn't own. A New Brunswick woman contacted police after she noticed her dogs were up for sale on the Internet. It's alleged Benoit was looking after the dogs at the time. Following a police investigation the dogs were returned to their rightful owner in Saint John.

Clippers Set To Defend Atlantic Junior 'C' Hockey Crown

The Chester Clippers open up play today at the Atlantic Junior 'C' Hockey Championship. The club is traveling to Hampton, New Brunswick to defend their title from last year. They will represent Nova Scotia following a five game series win over the Barrington Ice Dogs. Chester hits the ice at 3:30 this afternoon against the Western Valley Panthers of New Brunswick. The Clippers will then play last year's Atlantic runner-up, the Kivilliq Canucks of Nunavut at 8:30pm. You can follow all the action by clicking here .