Wolter Wins Silver At Legion Track And Field Nationals

A Conquerall Mills runner picked up a silver medal at the Royal Canadian Legion Track and Field Nationals. Tobias Wolter finished in second place in the men's 2,000 metre steeplechase at the meet in Langley, B.C. He finished in a time of five minutes, 58 seconds, four seconds behind the eventual winner. Wolter also finished in 17th place in the men's 1500 metre run. Elsewhere, Liverpool's Sarah Mitton collected 3,744 points to finish seventh in the women's heptathlon. LaHave Islands resident Josh Bell placed eighth in the boys under-16 discus competition with a toss of 41.10 metres. Chester's James Lucas ran the men's 100 metre dash in 11.89 seconds to finish fourth in his heat. He didn't advance to the finals.

Teen Charged After Late Night Joyride

Police say a 13 year old boy got behind the wheel of a car and slammed into a fence late Friday night in Bridgewater. They got a call just after midnight regarding a car that was speeding and all over the road. Officers tried to pull the car over but the boy kept on driving before he crashed on York Street. He wasn't hurt and was taken home to his mother. Police say the boy is facing charges of theft of a vehicle, evading police and dangerous driving.

Motorcycle Crash Sends Three To Hospital

Three people were taken to hospital after a three vehicle collision in Martins River. The Mounties say the incident happened around 7:15 Saturday night involving two motorcycles and a car along Highway 3. Police say one of the motorcycles collided with the car that was stopped ahead of them. The motorcycle then landed in the other lane, colliding with another motorcycle. Two people on the bikes were taken to South Shore Regional Hospital while the other was airlifted to QEII in Halifax. Their injuries are described as "moderate to serious." The driver of the car was not injured.

Bat Populations Cause For Concern In N.S.

The number of bats in Nova Scotia is catching the attention of the province. The government is looking to the public to help track the health of Nova Scotia's bat populations. A fatal infection known as white-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats in northeastern North America in just a few years. The syndrome causes bats to wake frequently during winter hibernation and with limited food sources available, they can die from starvation and hypothermia. The province has partnered with the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute in Queens County to create two tools for the public to report bat sightings; a telephone hotline and an online reporting form. The public can report sightings of bats, including summer bat roosts and over-winter sites, by calling 1-866-727-3447 (toll-free) or by going online here .

Lunenburg: Expect ER Closures At Fishermen's Memorial

It's a weekend of overnight closures at the emergency department in Fishermen's Memorial Hospital. The shut downs are being attributed to staffing shortages. The ER will close Saturday at 5 o'clock until 7:30 Sunday morning. Emergency services will also not be available during the same times Sunday and Monday night. It's the ninth time in August emergency services have not been available at the Lunenburg hospital. Residents dealing with an emergency should call 9-1-1 or go to the regional hospital in Bridgewater.

Weekend: Tribute To Fishing Industry

Those who make a living at sea will be remembered Sunday as the province observes Mariner's Day and Seaman's Memorial Day. Fisheries Minister and MLA for Shelburne, Sterling Belliveau, says it's a day to pay tribute to all men and women who contribute to the economic prosperity of the province and those lost their lives in the process. A sunset ceremony will take place at the Fishermen's Monument in Eastern Passage. Meanwhile, a slo-pitch tournament is also planned in the Municipality of Barrington in memory of Katlin Nickerson, captain of the ill-fated Miss Ally. The money raised will go toward a memorial bursary. In April, the Mariner's Day Act was passed to observe the second Sunday in August as Mariner's Day.

Request For Proposals Issued For LCLC Ice Cover

The search is on for an ice cover for the new Clearwater Seafood Arena at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. A request for proposals has been issued by the LCLC. General Manager Kevin Benjamin says groups have until August 20th to submit their request. He says an ice cover will be a welcome addition to the new facility.



The town of Bridgewater and Municipality of Lunenburg have agreed to share the cost of an ice cover for up to $215,000.

McNally Wins Second Bronze At Summer Games

Make it two bronze medals for Hebbville's Claire McNally. The 17-year-old won her second bronze at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec this week. McNally finished third in the S5-14 200 metre individual medley para-swimming event. She also won bronze in the 50-metre fly para-swim. Nova Scotia sits in seventh place in the overall medal standings with 13, heading into Friday's competition.

More ER Closures At Fishermen's Memorial Hospital

Another group of closures is ahead for the ER at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital. The Lunenburg hospital's emergency department will be closed from 5pm today to 7:30 Saturday morning.  It will also be closed during the same hours on Saturday overnight, Sunday overnight and Monday overnight.  Staffing shortages are blamed for the closings.  PC health critic Chris d'Entremont of Argyle says the chronic closures of the Fishermen's ER and those less-often at Roseway in Shelburne are signals that health care dollars don't have priorities.



South Shore Health reminds anyone in the Lunenburg area needing emergency services during the Fishermen's closures to call 911 or visit the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.  Those with non-emergencies should contact their family doctor, go to the nearest clinic or call Health Link 811 for medical advice.

Some Change In Gasoline Prices

A slight drop in some gasoline prices overnight. A litre of regular self serve is down half a cent at South Shore pumps. Its listed at $1.35.1.  High test is down by a similar amount to $1.44.1.  There is no change in the price of diesel though, listed at $1.32.8 per litre.

PC Leader Says Cyber-Bully Law Is A Start; More Needed

Two males have been arrested in the case of Rehtaeh Parsons.  She's the 17-year-old Halifax girl who was taken off life-support following a suicide attempt in April.  The RCMP arrested the two this morning in the Halifax area.  Rehtaeh's family alleges she was sexually assaulted and that a digital photograph of the incident was passed around her school.  Police initially said there were not enough grounds to warrant charges, but later reopened their investigation.  Meanwhile, the province's Progressive Conservative leader is hailing implementation of the Cyber Bully Law. It became law yesterday and while Jamie Baillie tells us the Dexter government did the right thing in implementing it, he says more is needed.



Baillie says teachers, parents and judges all need more teeth in the laws to crack down hard on cyber bullying.

Liberal Leader Targets South Shore Health Care Reform

There's a call out for the province's Minister of Health to address on-going problems at the South Shore's three hospitals.  Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says the minister needs to do more about bed shortages, long waits and closures of the ER's at Fishermen's Memorial in Lunenburg.  McNeil says there needs to be better recruitment of family doctors and specialists, elimination of two-thirds of the province's health districts and cutting excessive administration costs which would save tens of millions of dollars.  He believes greater emphasis is needed on setting up a chronic disease management plan.



McNeil says he'd make it a priority to reform the health care system, making it more cost-effective, if his party is elected to power in the next provincial election.

Kraft Canada Ready For Bridgewater Celebration Tour

Kraft Canada is gearing up to bring its Celebration Tour to Bridgewater. The company is planning to set up at Shipyard's Landing along with crews from The Sports Network on August 18. There will be a community barbecue, as well as a number of kids activities and games and a live broadcast of TSN's Sportscentre. Senior Promotions Manager, Susan Brookes, says the Celebration Tour is about creating something new or making something better.



Brookes says this is the fifth year of the tour and they're happy to help Bridgewater improve active living in the community. Events planned for August 18 are expected to begin around 5pm before the live broadcast starts at 7pm. You can hear full details from Susan Brookes and South Shore Seahawks Vice-President John Peters during South Shore Sunday Morning this weekend beginning at 8am on HANK-FM and 9am on CKBW.

Little Change Expected Tomorrow In Gasoline Prices

Don't expect too much change in gasoline prices when the province's utility and review board sets the coming week's prices at midnight tonight. In New Brunswick today, the regulatory board there has allowed an increase of less than a cent in the price of a litre of  regular self serve but a two cent hike in diesel.

Folk Harbour Festival Opens In Lunenburg

A number of local musicians and artists will begin performing in Lunenburg in the town's Folk Harbour Festival. The festival brings traditional and contemporary folk music to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This year will feature headliner David Myles, but also a number of other musical acts including Alex Hickey, Lennie Gallant and Rose Cousins. General Manager Chris Heide says they've made a few changes for this year including a new tent for the main stage on Blockhouse Hill.



The Folk Harbour Festival begins Thursday with a mixture of workshops and performances at various locations. This is the 28th year for the event, making it the province's longest-running folk festival. For more information on the event, click here

High Liner Foods Report Profit Despite Lower Sales

A Lunenburg based seafood company is reporting solid profits in the second quarter despite lower sales. High Liner Foods says it recorded a profit of US$9.9 million, up from $1 million a year ago. The company says the increase was the result of lower raw material costs which offset a decrease in sales volumes.The second quarter results also got a boost related to the company's acquisition of Icelandic USA. However, business was down in the United States because of soft restaurant sales. High Liner reported sales of US$204 million for the quarter, down slightly from US$216 million in the same period last year. Meanwhile, sales in the Canadian food service business, saw an increase in the second quarter compared to last year. The earnings amounted to 63 cents per share, compared with six cents in the quarter last year. High Liner Foods operates secondary processing plants in Lunenburg, Newfoundland, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Local Athletes Competing At Legion Track And Field Nationals

A handful of South Shore athletes have been selected to represent the province at the Legion Track and Field Nationals. James Lucas, Sarah Mitton, Josh Bell and Tobias Wolter are among 38 people competing for Nova Scotia in Langley, B.C. Wolter is looking to build off a great appearance at last year's event, where he won a gold and two silver medals and set a new Canadian record in the steeplechase. His coach, Tanya Daniels, says she expects things to be a bit tougher this year because he's entering a new age group.



Daniels says Wolter will have to race smart to be competitive. He says the legion event is laid back and an enjoyable experience.



Wolter will compete in the steeplechase while Bell tries his hand in the discus, Mitton stays busy in the heptathlon and Lucas sprints in the 100 metre. The competition is slated to begin Friday and last all weekend.

Trial Dates Set For Liverpool Paramedic

A 47 year-old paramedic has pleaded not guilty to stealing drugs from Emergency Health Services. Kenneth Wade Cosh, of Liverpool, will stand trial in provincial court over two days beginning January 13. He faces a total of 10 charges including breach of trust, possession of morphine, theft and forgery. EHS contacted Queens RCMP in February after allegations of thefts and misuse of drugs by a Liverpool paramedic. Police say they seized syringes and medical containers when they searched a home in the town four days later.

Old Bank Notes Stolen During Conquerall Mills Theft

RCMP are warning businesses to be on the lookout for older currency after a break and enter in Conquerall Mills. The Mounties say the incident happened between 12:30 and 3:30 Tuesday afternoon. Police say several items were taken including older $10 and $20 Canadian bills, a large quantity of toonies and American cash. Constable David Cullen with Bridgewater RCMP says they have few details regarding suspects.



Police are looking for the public's help in finding the people responsible for the break-in. Anyone with information should contact Bridgewater RCMP or Crimestoppers.

Hebbville Athlete Wins Bronze At Summer Games

A Hebbville swimmer has captured a bronze medal at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Claire McNally finished in third place in the S1-S6 para-swimming 50m fly event Tuesday evening. She finished in a time of 55.03 seconds. It's the 17-year-old's first medal at the Summer Games. McNally also received bronze at the 2011 Winter Games after competing in para-alpine skiing. Nova Scotia has five medals so far at the games including one gold, one silver and three bronze.

Crews Douse White Point Lodge Fire

No one was injured after a chimney fire broke out at White Point's main lodge. The blaze began just before 6pm Tuesday evening. Fire Officials from Liverpool and Greenfield responded to the call. The building was evacuated for over an hour before the blaze was doused. Spokesperson Donna Hatt says the fire didn't cause any structural damage to the lodge. The cause is not yet known. The lodge was rebuilt in 2012 after fire destroyed the previous building in November 2011.

RCMP Release Photo Of Hubbards Robbery Suspect

Mounties are following leads after a woman held up a pharmacy using a syringe. In an update Tuesday afternoon, RCMP say a suspect was released after she was taken in custody for questioning. Sergeant Al Leblanc confirmed the arrest in an email but no charges were laid. The incident took place Sunday afternoon at the Hubbards Pharmacy. In a media release, police say a woman walked into the drug store and demanded prescription pills. An employee at the pharmacy cooperated and was not injured. Mounties say the woman is about 5'3 with blonde hair and has a tattoo on her right arm.

Business Group Focuses On Attracting Companies To Region

A new group is focusing on growing the level of business activity in the region. The South Shore Business Growth Association is concentrating on regional economic development in Lunenburg and Queens Counties. The association is trying to fill a gap since the local development agency ceased operation in March. CEO Andrew Button says the group was created to attract more businesses to the area.



Button points to resources including 'Why Here', a website featuring a business map, video testimonials and information on the region that can help attract new businesses to the South Shore. He urges businesses to list their information on the website's map because it could help grow the economy.

South Shore Rugby Players Crack Team N.S.

Three South Shore athletes have been selected to represent the province at the Canadian National Rugby Festival in Vancouver, B.C., from August 7-12.  Seventeen-year-olds Renee Taylor and Naomi McKay, both Park View Panther players, will join the roster of the under-18 women's team. Both women played integral roles in earning a gold medal at the Canadian Eastern Rugby Championships in St. John's, NL last month. This will be their first experience on the national stage. Eighteen-year-old Nate Baker of Pentz has been named to the under-18 men's team. It's his third year playing for the National squad. The B.C. Rugby Union will be hosting the event at the University of British Columbia.

LCLC: Opening On Separate Dates

The opening of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre will happen on three different dates. General Manager Kevin Benjamin says they're expecting the arena will open in September, with the library hopeful for October and aquatic centre in November. He says the separate openings are due to a number of items that have taken longer than anticipated to complete. Benjamin says he doesn't expect the issue to cause any problems to the 2013-14 budget.



The issues will cause the Lumberjacks hockey club to start training camp in Liverpool for two days this month before coming back to Bridgewater to resume camp at the Memorial Arena.

Whalen Sets N.S. Javelin Record

Another record set by Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen. The 20-year-old established a new Nova Scotia Senior women's javelin record over the weekend in Port Williams with a throw of 52.08 meters. With the throw, Whalen also climbed to number two all-time at Florida State University in javelin. She also finished first in the shot put with a throw of 15.40 metres. Whalen is off to the Canada Games to represent Nova Scotia in the shot put and javelin in Sherbrooke, Quebec. She starts competing next Monday.

Tuesday: Lunenburg ER Closures Continue

There have been several overnight closures through the weekend of the ER at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg.  The closures are continuing today (Tuesday) at 5pm until Thursday morning at 7:30am. South Shore Health says a recent resignation of an ER nurse and a maternity leave have complicated scheduling. Progressive Conservative health critic, Chris d'Entremont of Argyle, says the government is trying to show it has improved ER care at Fishermen's, Roseway and elsewhere.



d'Entremont is calling upon the government to come up with a more attractive incentive plan to encourage trained ER doctors and nurses to settle in rural communites.

Chester: Province Declines Funding After Bowater Closure

The province is saying 'no' to a funding request from the Municipality of Chester. Warden Allen Webber sent a letter to the minister of economic and rural development and tourism asking for additional funding following the Bowater closure. The minister responds in a letter, saying they provided funding to the Region of Queens and Municipality of Lunenburg to support economic transition in the entire region. The letter from Graham Steele also notes those two municipalities were the hardest hit by the closure. Webber doesn't agree with the decision.



Webber says the letter indicates sharing resources between the local municipalities, but he's received no correspondence as of yet.

RCMP Search For Hubbards Robbery Suspect

RCMP are on the lookout for a woman who allegedly held up a Lunenburg County drugstore. Police say the Hubbards Pharmasave was robbed around 1:45 Sunday afternoon. The Mounties say the woman was holding a syringe and demanded a quantity of prescription pills. The woman then fled the store on foot carrying a red and white grocery bag. No one was injured. The suspect is described as a white female, approximately five foot, three inches tall with blonde shoulder length hair and a tattoo on her right forearm. She was wearing sunglasses, a camouflage ball cap, green printed t-shirt, black yoga pants and black sandals. Anyone with information is asked to contact RCMP.

Man In Hospital After Highway Crash In Hebbs Cross

A man is in hospital after a motorcycle collided with a car on Highway 103. RCMP say the incident occurred around 11:50 this morning near the Ultramar gas station in Hebbs Cross. Corporal Scott MacRae says the driver of the motorcycle was taken to hospital by EHS with undetermined injuries. The driver of the car was not injured. MacRae says there was a traffic slowdown on Highway 103 for roughly an hour and a half.

Greenfield: Man, Woman Safe After Boat Capsizes

A man and a woman are safe after their vessel capsized while boating in Greenfield. RCMP were called to Little Ponhook Lake around 6:25pm Saturday night. Constable Rick Ellens says the two people were thrown in the water when they're boat overturned, but were rescued quickly by another nearby vessel. Police say they were brought back to their nearby cabin and were in good condition. Greenfield Fire Department responded to the incident while the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax was listed on standby. Fire crews with Bridgewater and Northfield were also paged for boats but were cancelled.

Argyle Men Face Drug Trafficking Charges

Two Argyle men will appear in court this fall on drug trafficking charges. RCMP members from Shelburne and Yarmouth searched a home on Argyle Sound Road around 9pm Friday night. Police seized 53 ecstasy capsules, 10 grams of cocaine and other drug-related materials. The men, ages 20 and 23, were arrested but have since been released. They have been charged with possession for the purpose and breach of an undertaking. The men will appear in Yarmouth provincial court November 5th.

Fire Destroys Abandoned Home In Milton

Fire has completely destroyed a home on Tupper Street in Milton. Crews from four departments including Liverpool, Greenfield, Port Medway and North Queens responded to the call around 6:45 Friday evening. RCMP and the fire marshal were also called to the scene. Constable Rick Ellens says the home was abandoned and didn't have power. He says there were no injuries and the cause is undetermined. Police say the home was scheduled to be demolished and there will be no further investigation.

Nowe Wraps Up Play At National Junior Golf Event

Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe finished in a tie for 44th at the Canadian Junior Boys Golf Championship. The 17-year-old wrapped up his tournament with a three over-par, 75, Friday to finish at 12-over in total. Nowe finished one stroke behind Bedford's Bruce Tomie as top Nova Scotian in the event. He will now represent the province at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. British Columbia's Kevin Kwon shot a three under-par, 69, on route to a five shot victory. Kwon won the event for the second time in three years after winning the title in 2011.

School Board Workers Ratify Tentative Agreement

CUPE workers with two local school boards have ratified a tentative agreement reached earlier this summer. The South Shore and Tri-County Regional School Boards are among six districts that agree with the three-year deal settled on June 21. The deal, retroactive to April 1, 2012, includes yearly wage increases of two, 2.5 and three percent. It also includes adjustments to wages for some classifications including lunch supervisors and trades people, and a process to look at a defined benefit pension plan. CUPE School Board coordinator Kathy MacLeod says they are pleased that the majority of members were able to settle contracts before school returns in the fall. Members at the Chignecto Regional School Board initially voted against the deal, and will hold a re-vote in September.

Chester: Brush Cutting Needed Along Highway 329

The amount of brush around Deep Cove along Highway 329 is cause for concern for at least one municipal councillor in Chester. Andre Veinotte sent a letter to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal requesting brush to be cut along the highway in order to see Deep Cove. The request was met with no guarantees from the department, saying they have to prioritize work with over 2,500 kilometres of roadway in Lunenburg and Queens Counties. Veinotte says he's not surprised by the response.



Veinotte says it's a recreational issue as the area is used for fireworks, fishing and other activities but is being obscured by the brush. He says he will try and get permits to clear the brush and seek volunteer help from local fire departments.

Service Held For Long-Time Lunenburg Politician

A memorial service will happen today for long-time Lunenburg politician David Dauphinee. He passed away last Sunday at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater. Dauphinee spent 30 years on council including 17 as deputy mayor. Mayor Rachel Bailey says Dauphinee is an inspiration.



People can honour Dauphinee by providing memorial donations to the Lunenburg Arena or Bridgewater's Kinsmen Field. The service gets underway at 11am at St. John's Anglican Church.

Weekend ER Closures At Lunenburg Hospital

Several closures are planned through the weekend and into next week for the Emergency Department at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg.  The closures begin today at 5 pm with the ER re-opening at 7:30 Saturday morning.  The Fishermen's ER will be closed for the same time periods on August 3, 4, 5 and 6 with the closure on Tuesday the 6th lasting until 730am August 8 (Thursday).  South Shore Health's Director of Acute Care Lynn Farrell says the closures are a result of a nursing shortage.  She says it really began in June with a sudden resignation.



As usual, anyone requiring emergency services is advised to call 911 or visit the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.  Patients with "non-emergencies" should contact their family physician or call Health Link 811 for medical advice.

Here again is list of the closures with dates and times:

          August 2 at 5:00 p.m. (1700) and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 3/13.

          August 3 at 5:00 p.m. (1700)and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 4/13

          August 4 at 5:00 p.m. (1700) and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 5/13

          August 5 at 5:00 p.m. (1700) and will reopen at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 6/13

          August 6 at 5:00 p.m. (1700) and will reopen - please note - at 7:30 a.m. (0730) Aug 8/13

South Shore Gasoline Costs Less!

As expected, gasoline prices are lower this morning at South Shore pumps.  Regular self serve is down by about 2 cents to $1.35.8 per litre.  High test is lower in price by a similar amount to $1.44.8.  Diesel is also down by a couple of cents this morning to $1.32.8 a litre.

South Shore Athletes Ready For Canada Summer Games

A number of young men and women are in Sherbrooke, Quebec preparing to compete in the Canada Summer Games. Fourteen athletes from Lunenburg County are taking part in the national event, which opens Friday and runs until August 17. Participating athletes in track and field include Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh in Heptathlon, Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan in Decathlon, Mattias Wolter of Conquerall Mills in steeplechase, Bridgewater's Courtney Langille will run in the women's 4x400 metre relay and Chelsea Whalen of Liverpool will also compete in javelin and shotput. In soccer, Hunter Vaszily of Mahone Bay, Lunenburg's Nick Tanner, Bridgewater's Mallory Taylor and Sarah Taylor of Conquerall Mills will represent the province. Chester's Allison Chandler will play golf along with Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe. Chandler will also play tennis. Lunenburg's Mitch MacDonald will cycle, Hebbville's Claire McNally will compete in para-swimming, Bridgewater's Jamie Whynot in baseball, and Bridgewater's Olivia Pitman in women's volleyball.

Nowe Looks To Finish Strong At National Juniors

Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe shot an even-par, 72, Thursday in the third round at the Canadian Junior Boys Golf Championship in Sudbury, Ontario. Nowe mixed in five birdies with three bogeys and a double bogey. He sits in a tie for 43rd spot heading into Friday's final round. Kevin Kwon of British Columbia retains the lead after a three under-par 69 today. He leads by three shots.

UaRB: Decision On South Canoe Won't Meet Deadline

The province's regulatory board confirms it will not make a decision on the South Canoe Wind project before its 60-day deadline period. The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board's Paul Allen, says they have over 3,300 pages of documents to go through and it is taking extra time to come to a conclusion. The original deadline is August 5th. Allen says they don't have a concrete date in mind, but they are sifting through the material as quickly as they're able to, in order to make an accurate decision. "Friends of South Canoe Lake" are opposed to the construction of 34 wind turbines between Vaughan and New Russell. Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power are leading the project. It would generate enough power to heat 32,000 homes.

Charges After Dog Dies In Hot Car

A Lunenburg man has been charged in the death of a dog that was left in a sweltering car last month. RCMP say they responded to calls about a dog in distress on July 21 in Wolfville. In a media release, they say the animal was spotted in a parked car at Acadia University. Thirty-six year old Jason Remai was charged with failing to protect an animal under the Animal Protection Act of Nova Scotia. The charge relates to failure to provide an animal with reasonable protection from injurious heat or cold. He is scheduled to appear in Kentville provincial court on September 23rd.

Large Water/Sewer Project Approved In Bridgewater

Some motorists in Bridgewater are going to have to be patient come September. The town is moving ahead with a major water and sewer project on upper Aberdeen Road - one of the areas busiest streets. Council awarded the contract to J.R. Eisnor of Fall River. They expect to begin the project September 16th which ultimately will reduce a section of Aberdeen down to one lane for three months. Mayor David Walker says they recognize it will cause some traffic congestion.



The town will also put some fresh paving on a section of Aberdeen Road at a cost of $85,000. The price tag for the water/sewer and paving project is in the area of $800,000 and will be cost shared with the federal government.

Nowe Makes Cut At National Golf Tournament

It was an up and down day for two local golfers at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in Sudbury, Ontario. Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe shot a one over-par, 73, Wednesday to make the cut in a tie for 59th at eight over-par total through two days. Meanwhile, it wasn't meant to be for Riverport's Liam Fullerton. He struggled for a second straight day and missed the cut after shooting 87. Nowe will have to make a big move over his next 36 holes if he wants to catch the leader. B.C's Kevin Kwon continues to lead at six under-par overall.

Watch For Lower Gas Prices Again Tomorrow!

This bodes well for South Shore gas prices come tomorrow.  For the second week in a row, the price of gas is down today in New Brunswick.  The new maximum price for regular self serve in New Brunswick is $1.33.9 a litre.  That is a drop of almost 2 cents from yesterday.  Prices for diesel and furnace oil in New Brunswick have also dropped today.  Diesel is down just under 3 cents a litre and furnace oil has fallen 3.3 cents a litre.

Fire Department Bands 'Summon The Heroes' In Bridgewater

The Bridgewater Fire Department Band will 'Summon the Heroes' during a concert Thursday night. The group is joined by members of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Band from the United Kingdom for a concert of recognition for those people who volunteer or work in the fire service. Band Director Wendell Eisener says they'll open the concert with John Williams' 1996 fanfare 'Summon the Heroes.'



The two bands will also tribute the five Bridgewater men who recently competed in the Maritime and Atlantic regional firefit championships. The concert begins at 7pm Thursday night at Bridgewater High.

Health: Congestion Eases In Emergency Departments

Things are getting back to normal in emergency departments at three South Shore hospitals. The local health authority was experiencing longer than usual wait times for non-urgent care last week. South Shore Health spokesperson, Theresa Hawkesworth, says the departments are still busy in Bridgewater, Lunenburg and Liverpool but they have noticed improvements. She says more than one factor led to the delays.



Hawkesworth says people have been discharged and more beds have opened up in all three hospitals. She says it was a difficult situation for patients and staff, but they worked together to overcome the challenges.

UPDATED: Benoit's Fraud Case Delayed

A court case involving a woman notorious for selling dogs has another delay. Gail Benoit did not appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court this afternoon. Instead, her lawyer, Cathy Benton appeared on her behalf. Benoit's charges include theft and identity fraud. The charges are related to the alleged sale of two boxer dogs that didn't belong to her. Benoit's lawyer told court her client wanted more time to review the Crown's evidence before deciding to enter a pleas. The matter will be dealt with September 18th.

Dog Dealer Returns To Court In Bridgewater

A notorious canine dealer is due in court today on charges of fraud. Gail Benoit is facing three charges which include theft and identity fraud. The charges are related to the alleged sale of two boxer dogs that didn't belong to her. As part of her release conditions, Benoit is not permitted to buy or sell any animals while her fraud case is before the courts. In an unrelated matter, Benoit spent the weekend in jail after being arrested on an assault charge. She is accused of assaulting a 25-year-old man in Waverley on July 22. The troubled puppy broker was released from custody on bail on Tuesday. She's expected to enters pleas to the fraud charges this afternoon.