Liberal Reaction To Yarmouth Ferry Announcement

Yarmouth Liberal MLA Zach Churchill says the ferry service announcement on Tuesday was long overdue. He says, in hindsight, the service should not have been cancelled. Churchill says tens of millions of dollars in potential revenue for the tourist industry and other business has been lost as a result. He says a lot of repair lies ahead.



Churchill hopes the federal government will soon officially come on board and help with the resumption of the ferry service, including renovations to the abandoned ferry terminal in Yarmouth.

Memorial Softball Tourney Raises $5,500 For High School Bursary

A softball tournament has helped raise over $5,500 for a bursary at Barrington Municipal High School. The first ever Katlin Nickerson Memorial Mixed Softball Tournament was held last weekend at the Sherose Island, Shag Harbour and South Side ball fields. The event was held on the same weekend as Mariner's Day and Seaman's Memorial Day, paying tribute to men and women in the fishing industry and remembering those who have lost their lives at sea. Organizer and Katlin's mother, Della Sears, says it makes sense to have the tournament on that weekend.



Sears says she's thankful for the community support during the event.

Local Mayors Pleased By Ferry News

A pair of Lunenburg County mayors are pleased to hear steps have been taken to revive the Yarmouth ferry. The province is entering into negotiations with STM Quest to operate the service between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine. Bridgewater Mayor David Walker says its good news for the region.



The mayor for the District of Lunenburg agrees. Don Downe says a ferry service will benefit the entire province by bringing in more tourists.



Negotiations with the company are scheduled to begin later this week and last roughly three weeks. An update is expected early next month.

Summer Games: Golden Night For South Shore Athletes

It was a golden night Tuesday for South Shore athletes at the Canada Summer Games. Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan started the gold rush by winning the men's decathlon. The momentum continued with Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen earning top marks in the women's shot put. She had the top toss of 15.54 metres. And finally, Mattias Wolter of Conquerall Mills raced his way to first in the men's 3,000 metre steeplechase. He finished in a time of eight minutes, 58 seconds. Bridgewater's Courtney Langille along with her teammates also qualified for the women's 4 x 400 metre relay final. They finished third in their heat.

TSN Anchor Excited For Kraft Celebration Tour

One of the on-air personalities with the The Sports Network says he's looking forward to traveling to Bridgewater for the first time. Rod Smith has worked for TSN for 26-years, but will make his first appearance on the Kraft Celebration Tour since it began in 2009. Smith will team up with Kate Beirness to host Sunday's live broadcast at Shipyard's Landing. He says he's excited for the experience.



Smith says he's expecting a loud broadcast, with plenty of raucous people during the Bridgewater stop. Festivities get underway at 5pm Sunday before TSN begins its live broadcast at 7pm.

MODL: Local Group To Construct Highway 10 Sidewalk

A portion of Highway 10 near the French school in Cookville is getting over 300 metres of sidewalk. The Municipality of Lunenburg has awarded a tender to Town and Country Property for $108,507.37 to construct the sidewalk and around 270 metres of widened shoulder along Champlain Drive and Evanagelie Court. Funding is being provided from gas tax, as well as roughly $60-thousand from the Nova Scotia Moves grant. Mayor Don Downe says it's a community benefit.



The main purpose for the work is to allow children to have access to a sidewalk if there is an emergency at the French school. The start date for the work is not known.

Bridgewater: Town Exploring Plastic Bag Ban

The town of Bridgewater is exploring the option of banning plastic bags. Council is directing staff to further research and engage the community on the issue. Councillor Andrew Tanner says banning the plastic carry-out bags would help reduce litter and protect water quality in the area. He says things need to change.



Tanner says people could adjust to using reusable bags or paper bags when shopping. He hopes staff will report back with a goal to create a by-law banning plastic bags in the town by January 1, 2014.

STM Quest, Province To Negotiate Yarmouth Ferry Service

The Nova Scotia government will enter into negotiations with STM Quest to set up and run a ferry between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine. Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Graham Steele announced the decision today in Yarmouth. Three companies submitted business plans to operate the ferry service beginning next year.  A team of representatives from the Nova Scotia International Ferry Partnership and the province evaluated the plans based on financial stability, a management structure with expertise and a history of managing successful ferry services, and tourism and marketing experience. STM Quest is a joint venture between ST Marine Ltd. and Quest Navigation. The province has committed to investing up to $21-million over seven years for the service.

Chester: Public Hearing On Proposed Cell Tower

A communications tower will be topic for discussion Tuesday evening in Chester. Council is holding a public hearing on the matter, to gauge resident opinion on the installation of a 76-metre tower planned for 165 Beech Hill Road in Gold River. Eastlink is proposing the tower to meet the increasing demand of wireless services in the Chester, Chester Basin, Gold River and Western Shore areas. The hearing begins at 7pm at Chester Municipal Council Chambers.

Town Agrees To Sell King Street Library Building

The town of Bridgewater is selling the current library building on King Street. Council agreed to direct staff to advertise a tender that would list the property for sale, before the current tenants move to their new location in the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. The decision was 5-2 in favour of the motion, with councillors Jennifer MacDonald and Michael Graves voting against it. Graves hopes council doesn't live to regret the choice.



Mayor David Walker says he's confident with council's decision.



The decision comes after the group known as Cafe 12 withdrew their proposal to use the building for a non-profit community cafe.

Riverfest Founder Reflects On Summer Festival

Final prep work is underway before the start of Riverfest. The popular grassroots festival - which is held in the heart of a Lunenburg County turnip field - is entering it's ninth year. Organizer Jonathan Crouse says the concert grounds have been cleared and staging is being assembled today (Tuesday). Crouse says it's been special to watch the event grow over the years.



All the proceed from the event go toward Lunenburg County 4-H and St. Andrews Lutheran Church. For more information on tickets and performers - log on to www.rockthebush.com.

Summer Games: South Shore Athletes Making Their Mark

South Shore athletes are making their mark to open week two at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan sits atop the standings in the men's decathlon after five events on Monday. He'll have another five events Tuesday in his quest for gold. Lunenburg's Nick Tanner scored twice to lead the men's soccer team to a 9-1 victory over the Northwest Territories. They play again Wednesday against PEI. Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen qualified for the women's javelin final with a toss of 45.77 metres. Whalen will begin competition in the shot put Tuesday. Also, beginning competition Tuesday will be Bridgewater's Courtney Langille, who races in the women's 4 x 400 metre relays and Conquerall Mills' Mattias Wolter runs the men's 3,000 metre steeplechase.

Bridgewater: Assault Leaves Man In Critical Condition

Bridgewater police say a man is in critical condition after an assault over the weekend at the Exhibition grounds. They say the incident took place shortly after 2am on Sunday. A 21 year-old Lunenburg County man has been arrested in connection with the incident. He's due in court at a later date. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the assault to contact their detachment at 543-2464.

Bridgewater Man Faces Drug, Weapon Charges

A 21-year-old man from Bridgewater will be in court next month after police seized marijuana and weapons from his home last Friday night. Members of the Bridgewater Police Service, along with its street crime unit and RCMP police dog service found the items at the King Street residence. Constable Will Creamer says Derrick Robar is facing drugs and weapons-related charges. Creamer says they collected a pair of knives, a shotgun and a rifle. Robar was arrested Friday night and was released with conditions Monday morning. Robar is due back in court September 12.

Tuesday: Yarmouth Ferry Update Expected

There will be an update tomorrow (Tuesday) on the search for a new ferry operator between Yarmouth and Maine. Economic and Rural Development Minister Graham Steele will be in Yarmouth to give an update on the process. He will be joined by Keith Condon, chair of the Nova Scotia International Ferry Partnership. They are expected to provide an update on the evaluation of business plans submitted for a new ferry service in Yarmouth. Last month, Maine Governor Paul LePage indicated his support for re-establishing the ferry link. In a letter to Premier Darrell Dexter, the governor threw his support behind a proposal by STM Quest to operate the ferry. LePage indicated his office would also help the company secure an operating line of credit in the amount of $5 million.

Bridgewater: Public Hearing To Discuss King Street Property

The future space at 814 King Street in Bridgewater is the topic for debate Monday evening. The town is holding a public hearing to discuss an application by Bond Street Capital, a group looking to construct a single story building on the property. The space is currently occupied by Melissa's Stop and Wash. Bond Street Capital are looking to enter into a development agreement with the town to build a 4,400 square foot complex. The hearing will be held as part of tonight's council meeting at 6pm.

SPTS-South Shore Soccer Team Wins In New Glasgow

The South Shore United Under-14 girls soccer team was in New Glasgow over the weekend for a game against XFC.  Lacey Acker, McKenzie Sinclair and McKenzie Kelly combined to help shut out New Glasgow 3-nothing.  Kaye Dorey was the winning goalie for South Shore.

Possible Election Call Coming: McNeil & Baillie On South Shore Issues

There could be a provincial election call later this week. Everyone in political circles is talking about the strong possibility Premier Darrell Dexter will visit the lieutenant-governor either Friday night or Saturday and ask that the legislature be dissolved and an election date set. Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says everyone has been in over-drive for months, expecting an election call and this could finally be it. McNeil tells CKBW and Hank-FM News, South Shore Liberal candidates are set to "officially" hit the bricks.



Meanwhile, PC Leader Jamie Baillie tells us, the South Shore will be a key area in the campaign and maybe even a political battle-ground.



The opposition parties and political pundits are saying September 17th will likely be the date for the election.
The NDP government is into its 5th year in office. It has to go to the polls before next June 9th.

Now, information on who's running and in which South Shore ridings in the election campaign:
All NDP Members of the Legislature on the South Shore are re-offering in the next election, with the exception of one. Vicki Conrad announced several months ago, she will not run again. Shelburne MLA and Fisheries Minister Sterling Belliveau will offer his name for election in the newly created Queens-Shelburne.
Elsewhere, Denise Peterson-Rafuse is re-offering in Chester-St. Margarets,  Pam Birdsall hopes for re-election in Lunenburg, Gary Ramey is hoping to be returned in Lunenburg West. The NDP is yet to choose its candidates for Argyle-Barrington and Yarmouth.
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The Progressive Conservatives have a full slate of candidates in the South Shore ridings. They include Janet Irwin in Chester-St. Margarets, Brian Pickings in Lunenburg, David Mitchell in Lunenburg-West. Bruce Inglis will carry the tory flag in Queens-Shelburne and veteran PC Chris d'Entremont will be re-offering in Argyle-Barrington. John Cunningham is running in the Yarmouth riding.
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The Liberals have all their candidates in place along the South Shore. Seeking election for the Liberals in Chester-St.Margarets is Tim Harris. Suzanne Lohnes-Croft is the Liberal standard-bearer in Lunenburg. Its Mark Furey in Lunenburg West, Benson Frail in Shelburne-Queens, Kent Blades in Argyle-Barrington and incumbent Zach Churchill in Yarmouth.

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.