Lunenburg Crimes

A break and enter being reported at the Golf Course in Lunenburg. RCMP say it happened overnight Friday or early Saturday morning. Someone busted into the Bluenose Golf Club and took off with a substantial amount of alcohol. Police think a vehicle was likely involved in the crime. They are asking for anyone who saw any suspicious activity around the Lunenburg golf course after hours this weekend to call them. They are also reporting damage to property on Maple Avenue in Lunenburg. That was Saturday. Lawn ornaments were thrown around and a vehicle was damaged.

Campaign School

Her first try at politics didn't win her a seat. But it's been a very busy year for Denise Peterson-Rafuse. In 2004, she made an unsuccessful run at a seat on Municipal Council. This year, she ran for the NDP in Chester St. Margaret's, winning the seat and earning a place in cabinet. And she's paying some of that forward. The Minister responsible for the status of women is helping with a campaign school next week trying to encourage more females to enter politics and bring the numbers up from about one in four. The school is being run at Mt St Vincent University this coming weekend. Brochures and application forms are available at www.women.gov.ns.ca or by calling 1-800-565-8662.

Drug Search

It's the latest success for the Integrated Street Crime Enforcement unit on the south shore. RCMP and Bridgewater police say they've seized twenty pounds of marijuana from a home they searched in New Russell, Lunenburg county. The warrant landed them the pot and an unsecured firearm. A 41-year old New Russell man is now facing charges of production and posession. His court date is set for December 2nd for the accused to enter a plea.

Lockeport Planning

It takes a community to raise a village. And Lockeport is working on a second day of planning for a sustainable future for the smallest town in Nova Scotia. Municipalities country-wide have to have a plan to access federal gas tax money. Dale Eshelby is the integrated community sustainability plan coordinator for Lockeport. She says sometimes the answers have to grow from the grassroots and that's why they are hoping the people in the community take part in the planning. There are events and displays at both Lockeport Regional High School and Lockeport Fire Hall.

http://www.lockeport.ns.ca/page_1228153171906.html for a schedule of events.

Seafood Support

Nova Scotia's seafood industry is improving its competitiveness in the global marketplace with support from the provincial government. Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister, Sterling Belliveau announced today (October 8th), one-point-two million dollars in funding for a number of seafood processors through the Community Development Trust Fund. This investment will help to diversify markets, develop new products, improve productivity and product quality, and meet consumer expectations around food sustainability. Belliveau says government understands the issues facing the seafood sector and these projects will help renew the industry and meet current challenges.

Smoke Sentencing

A Mount Pleasant man who pleaded guilty to possessing tobacco not bearing the prescribed markings will be sentenced next month. Fifty-four year old Ronald Nelson Veinot was charged under the provincial Revenue Act. He's also facing charges of possession illegal cigarettes under the federal Excise Act and producing and possessing marihuana. The charges stem from a search of Nelson's Mount Pleasant residence in March. Police seized 29 thousand illegal cigarettes and three pounds of processed marihuana. A pre-sentence report has been requested. Nelson will return for sentencing November 18th.

Wharf Assault Delay

One of the men charged in connection with an assault at the Chester government wharf earlier this summer has requested more time to see a lawyer. Twenty-eight year old Chad Wesley Swinimer of Chester along with a co-accused are facing resulting from a late night altercation at the wharf on August 20th. A woman was taken to hospital with serious head injuries after she allegedly got involved in a disagreement between her husband and three other men. Swinimer is accused of striking the woman and her husband with a wooden fence stake. He's charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of assault causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, assault and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
He's also facing two drug charges including production and possession for the purpose of trafficking. Swinimer is slated to return to court November 18th to enter pleas. Meantime, 26 year old Joel Ray Meister has elected to be tried by a Supreme Court judge alone on the charges he's facing in relation to the wharf incident. A preliminary hearing has been set for next March 25th.

Crash Charge Trial

A Bridgewater man facing a number of charges relating to a series of hit and run crashes in April has pleaded not guilty and will go to trial next May 25th.. Forty year old Stephen Richard Burton is charged with impaired driving, dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and one count of property damage.
The charges were laid following a string of collisions in Bridgewater back on April 22nd. That night around 9 p.m. a grey Chev Cavalier struck a vehicle on LaHave Street. An RCMP officer off duty at the time approached the driver of the Cavalier who fled the scene. The Mountie followed in his own vehicle. The Cavalier then struck another vehicle on Aberdeen Road, turned onto Hirtle Drive and ended up smashing into a residence on Hollingsworth Drive and damaging a car that was parked in the lot at Eastside Apartments. The Cavalier eventually went off the road on Streatch Drive where the driver ditched the car and fled on foot. Burton was arrested at his residence a short time later.

Baker Order of NS

The investiture ceremony for the 2009 Order of Nova Scotia will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be held in the Red Chamber of Province House, 1726 Hollis St., Halifax.


This year's Order of Nova Scotia recipients are:
-- Michael Gilbert Baker (posthumous), Lunenburg
-- Melvin James Boutilier, Halifax
-- Muriel Helena Duckworth (deceased), Bedford
-- Philip Riteman, Bedford
-- Viola Marie Robinson, Truro

Cynthia Baker accepting on behalf of Mike.

Michael Gilbert Baker (posthumous), Lunenburg, was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1998, representing the constituents of Lunenburg. He served in cabinet as the Minister of Transportation and Public Works, Minister of Communications Nova Scotia, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, and Minister of Finance. During the final years of his tenure, he continued to provide exemplary service to the people of the province despite his own personal battle with a life-threatening and debilitating disease. His untimely death cut short a lifetime of dedicated, and committed service to Nova Scotia and its residents.

Crime Files

RCMP are keeping busy investigating a number of thefts in Lunenburg County. A number of items were taken from outside a residence in the New Germany area while the owners were away. The theft occurred sometime between Sunday September 27th and Tuesday, September 29th. Elsewhere a vehicle was damaged and items stolen while the vehicle was parked at the carpool parking lot at Exit 13 in Wileville. That incident took place Monday September 21st.


And Queens County RCMP are investigating a theft that took place at the Beech Hill Road in Hunts Point on the night of Tuesday, September 29th. The item taken was a large industrial type weedeater. It's described as a Honda, model UMK431. It has a red plastic cover over the engine and requires a shoulder harness which was not taken.

Tractor Trailor Accident

Lunenburg County RCMP continue their investigation into an accident last weekend that resulted in one man being airlifted to the QE2 hospital. The accident between a pick-up truck and tractor trailor happened on Saturday October 3rd around 1 a.m. on Highway 103 between Exits 11 and 12. The driver of the Chev pick-up truck was transported to the South Shore Regional Hospital and later airlifted to Halifax where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. The two occupants in the tractor trailor were not injure

Arson in Shelburne

A male youth is facing charges of arson casing damage to property in relation to an incident in Shelburne last Saturday. RCMP responded to a fire at the George Street playground at midnight on October 3rd. Once the fire was extinguished by the Shelburne Fire Department, it was discovered that the large plastic slide was deliberately set on fire. The accused cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Ground Breaking for New Hotel

Bridgewater native and two-time NHL all-star Glen Murray is investing in a Best Western Hotel in his home town. He says the plan has been in the works for a couple of years. Murray and his partner, Rodney Grace have known for many years they would partner in a business benture at some point. After more than two years of strategic planning they're ready to hit the ground running. The land at Exit 12 , just beyone Boston Pizza was acquired from the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg .The Three level 63 room hotel will also be home to "Lahave Peak Convention Centre", a fully serviced 4 thousand square foot banquet area. The new hotel will also include a large swimming pool equipped with an 80 foot spiral water slide and Jacuzzi. Site work will begin immediately, and General Contractor, Saulnier Lozier of Moncton, New Brunswick will work toward a spring 2010 completion.

Shooting in Shelburne

A Shelburne County man will appear in Yarmouth Court today for a bail hearing following a weekend shooting. Forty-nine year old Michael Goulden of Carleton Village is charged with assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, careless use of a firearm and pointing a firearm. Goulden was arrested at his house early Sunday morning after a 28-year-old driver of an all terrain vehicle was shot in the back with a twelve gauge shotgun. RCMP say two ATVs were being driven in a reckless manner when a man fired two rounds from a twelve gauge, striking one of the drivers. The gun shot penetrated his clothing and lodged in his back. The victim was treated in hospital and released. His injuries are not considered serious. Police seized a total of 43 firearms from Goulden's residence along with a large quantity of ammunition.

Funding for Rec Centre

The dream can now become a reality. Federal funding of 10.35 million dollars has been announced towards the construction of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. MP Gerald Keddy delivered the good news and the check at the Michelin Social Club Friday morning. The federal money is coming from the Major Infrastructure Component of the Building Canada Fund. The Town of Bridgewater and Municipality of the District of Lunenburg have committed a total of 10 million dollars for the project as has the province. Total cost estimates are now pegged at 32.37 million dollars. The Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre will be a year round sport, recreational and cultural facility. The project involves the construction of two NHL regulation sized ice pads with fixed seating for 1800 spectators. The facility will also include a walking track on the upper concourse area, an aquatic centre with sport training, leisure and therapeutic pool, a public library and other multipurpose spaces.

No Charges

Charges will not be laid against a Bridgewater Police Officer who was involved in a collision while responding to an apartment fire September 15th. Deputy-Chief John Collyer was heading to the fire scene to assist in evacuation efforts. At the intersection of North Street and Aberdeen Road he met an oncoming vehicle. No air bags deployed and there was only minor damage to both the police car and other vehicle and there were no injuries. The Deputy-Chief in an effort to clear the road for an emergency vehicle behind him, pulled off the street into the parking lot of a nearby business. The other vehicle's operator did the same thing, however, neither driver was then visible to the other. There was no evidence of any attempt to evade responsibility and the Town of Bridgewater will pay for the damages to the other vehicle.

Rec Centre Funding

The long wait may soon be over. A funding announcement for the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre will be held this Friday morning at 10 a.m. at theMichelin Social Club on Logan Road in Bridgewater. The Town of Bridgewater and Municipality of the District of Lunenburg have committed 10 million to the project with the province kicking in 10 million as well. The federal contribution is also expected to be 10 million. The plans for the Lifestyle Centre include two ice rinks, one six-lane, 25-metre pool, and fitness and meeting space as well as a new library.

Robbery with Violence

An elderly male the victim of a robbery with violence in West Dublin last evening. Two unknown persons entered the man's residence around 8:30 p.m. last night assaulting him and stealing an undisclosed amount of money from his wallet. An RCMP Police Service Dog and the Forensic Identification Unit are assisting the Lunenburg County RCMP with the investigation which is ongoing.

Death Deemed Accidental

RCMP have determined the death of a 58 year old Lunenburg County man was accidental. The Mounties responded yesterday to a missing persons complaint in the Cherry Hill area. Neighbours reported that a 58 year old male had not been seen for approximately ten days. An extensive search by the RCMP of the adjacent woods near the subjects home located the body of the missing person pinned under his farm tractor.

Crack Cocaine Seizure

A Martin's River couple is facing drug trafficking charges after a quantity of crack cocaine was seized during a traffic stop. Fifty-one year old Judy Ann Demont and 45 year old Stephen Patrick Smith, have been charged with trafficking crack cocaine and possession for the purpose of trafficking crack cocaine . As a result of a lengthy drug trafficking investigation the South Shore Integrated Street Crime Unit with the assistance of the Lower Sackville RCMP Street Crime Enforcement Unit and the Lunenburg County RCMP arrested the couple during a traffic stop in the East River area of Highway 103 . Demont and Smith will be appearing in Bridgewater Provincial Court on November 18th, 2009 to answer to the charges.