Bridgewater Golfers Crack Team N.S.

Two Bridgewater golfers will tee it up on their home course at the end of the month after top-3 finishes at the Junior provincials. Matt Gallupe and Ryan Nowe tied for second at 16-over-par after four rounds at the Abercrombie Country Club in New Glasgow. Bell Bay golfer Brett McKinnon won the tournament by four strokes, finishing at 12-over-par. The three golfers will now make up team Nova Scotia at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, held at Osprey Ridge beginning July 30.

Fitness Hearing Ordered In Infant Assault Case

A fitness hearing has been ordered for a Shelburne County man accused of seriously wounding his infant son last November. Twenty-four year-old Adam Harold Hogg is facing three charges against Ethan Hogg, who was only a few weeks old at the time of the incident. Some of the charges include aggravated assault and failing to provide the necessities of life. The baby was allegedly assaulted in Lake George located on the outskirts of Shelburne. The hearing will begin on September 6th.

BREAKING: Fire Ban In Effect Across Province

The Department of Natural Resources has issued a province-wide ban on open fires. The ban applies to all outdoor fires. Supervisor of Wildfire Management, Jim Rudderham, says it's a necessary step to take.

He says people can continue to use their barbecues and camp stoves, but should use extra caution. The ban will be in place indefinitely until significant rain falls in the region. For more information, go to http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/forestprotection/wildfire/burning-ban.asp .

N.S. Liberals Would Break Up Power Monopoly If Elected As Government

South Shore residents, stung by constantly increasing power rates, are owed money from Nova Scotia Power.  That comment from the province's Liberal leader Stephen McNeil.

He tells CKBW and Hank-Fm News, a recent fuel adjustment audit shows NSP paid 22-million dollars more for natural gas and coal for generator fuel than it should have.



McNeil says NSP won't lower rates and return money to customers because its a monopoly and can do what it wants. He says if he becomes premier after the next provincial election, he will seek to break the monopoly. McNeil says previous governments have refused to tackle the issue but he says he's determined to tackle it ... head-on!



McNeil says power rates would be a lot lower if there wasn't a monopoly. He says consumers have felt the benefits of opening up the telecommunications market to competition back in the 1980's and the same would happen with the supply and price of power.

South Shore: Noon News July 12

The latest news on the South Shore at noon July 12. To listen, click below.

Chester: Speeders Cause Concern In Village

A councillor in Chester is asking for a greater police presence in the village. Brad Armstrong says he has received more than a dozen complaints over the past few weeks regarding speeders. Armstrong says cars and motorcycles are driving too fast and often squealing their tires late at night.



Armstrong says he's concerned over public safety because the street are bustling during the summer months. The issue will be brought up at the next meeting of the RCMP advisory committee.

Developer Excited Over Post Office Purchase

The developer who purchased the old post office in Bridgewater says buying the property was an easy decision. Ken Anthony, president of Anthony Properties, says he loves the location with a great view of the LaHave River and in the heart of the town. He says lots of money will have to be spent to get the building prepared.


However, Anthony does say the building is still a sound structure.



He declined to comment on the cost of the building but did mention he was quite happy with the price. Work is expected to begin as soon as the sale closes. He says the second floor will be apartment rentals while the main level will either be commercial space or offices.

Hirtle Re-offers For Bridgewater Council

In a year that included heart surgery, Patrick Hirtle admits it would be easy to step aside. However, the Bridgewater councillor says he's not deterred and has decided to re-offer for the position. Hirtle says being a councillor means a lot to him.



Hirtle says he looks forward to the work being done on the town's downtown and waterfront master plan. He adds, there are a couple of irons in the fire when it comes to potential designation of heritage properties in the town. Municipal elections will be held October 20.

Buyer Of NewPage Mill Might Bail Over Excessive Power Costs

Closed NewPage Mill-Cape Breton

There's a message from the company working to reopen the NewPage paper mill in Cape Breton and the message has an ominous tone.

The company says it will not proceed with the project if it's required to pay a higher contribution to Nova Scotia Power's fixed cost than proposed in a rate filing.

Pacific West Commercial Corp. made the comment in a document filed recently with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.  Under the proposed 7 1/2-year deal, the mill would make a contribution of $2 per megawatt hour to NSPI's fixed cost, as well as pay fuel costs while the utility would also receive dividends if the mill is profitable.

A consultant hired by the province's small business advocate, John Athas, has suggested the contribution to fixed costs should increase from year to year. However, Pacific West says the company would not consider it appropriate to make an investment in the mill unless it has confidence in a ``long-term foundation for success''.  It adds it's not near sufficient to get an electricity cost structure that would allow it to ``merely operate competitively.''

Hearings into the proposed load-retention tariff application jointly made by the company and NSPI begin Monday.

Gasoline Prices: Up, Up They Zoom!?

Don't be surprised if gasoline prices here on the South Shore take another "jump" come tomorrow morning and it could be a sizeable hike!

In New Brunswick this morning, gas price hikes there are more than expected. Analysts were predicting an increase of three to four cents per litre in the maximum price of gasoline overnight.  However, the province's Energy and Utilities Board went a little further, raising the price ceiling by almost five cents to one dollar and 25.4 cents per litre.

Local Morning News & Sports

Its Thursday, the 12th of July.
Here is the latest South Shore news and sports this morning from CKBW and Hank-FM News.

(To listen, click below)

Bridgewater Golfers Contending For Provincial Title

A pair of Bridgewater golfers are in contention for a provincial title heading into today's final round at the Nova Scotia Golf Association's Junior Championship. The event is taking place at Abercrombie County Club in New Glasgow. Matt Gallupe sits two shots back of leader Brett McKinnon of Bell Bay. Ryan Nowe is three behind. Gallupe shot a third round 75 Wednesday while Nowe posted a 76. The three players tee off together in the final group at 11 Thursday morning. The top three players after Thursday's final round will represent Nova Scotia at the 2012 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, held at Osprey Ridge beginning July 30.  

Martin Wins Final Race Before Pre-Olympic Camp

Jenna Martin won her second race in a row Wednesday night at the Toronto International Track and Field Games. The Bridgewater Olympian ran 53.09 seconds, beating out Chantel Malone of the British Virgin Islands. She also won Sunday's 400 metre event at the Aileen Meagher Track Classic. Martin now heads back to Florida before leaving for pre-Olympic camp in Germany.

South Shore News: CKBW/HANK Evening Cast

In case you missed today's news from the South Shore, here's the latest for Wednesday July 11. To listen, click below.

South Shore: DNR Could Issue Fire Ban

Officials will decide within the next 24 to 48 hours whether or not to impose a fire ban in Lunenburg and Queens Counties. The two counties are considered a high risk for forest fires under the Department of Natural Resources Fire Weather Index map. Supervisor for Wildfire Management, Jim Rudderham, says they are close to issuing a ban.



Criteria for a fire ban includes the amount of rain in the forecast and how much rain has fallen over the last few days. Rudderham says people should avoid having a fire if they can.

Bridgewater: Practitioners To Accept More Patients

Bridgewater's new nurse practitioners will begin accepting more patients next week. It's the second intake since their temporary offices opened on Glen Allen Drive in May. The practitioners have already taken on 600 patients with the ability to handle up to 1,400 at full capacity. It's expected to take at least a year to completely fill out the patient list. Premier Darrell Dexter visited their office during a stop in the area this week. He says they are filling a large gap in the community and assisting those without family doctors.



Nurse practitioners are qualified to order tests, prescribe medications and refer patients to specialists. Beginning on Monday, new patients will be able to phone and arrange an appointment. The number is 527-4310. A third intake is set for sometime in fall.

BREAKING: Former Bridgewater Post Office Sold

The 109-year-old former post office on King Street in Bridgewater has been sold. Mayor Carroll Publicover confirmed the news today with CKBW/HANK-FM. Publicover says Developer Ken Anthony has acquired the building. He says the post office will be renovated for a new look and called it positive news.



It's not known what the final price tag was for the building, which has been for sale since 2010.

South Shore News: CKBW/HANK-FM Noon July 11

In case you missed the noon news over the airwaves, here's the latest in South Shore news for Wednesday July 11. To listen, click below.

Good Luck Card Circulating For Jenna Martin

South Shore residents are getting the chance to give Jenna Martin a personalized send-off to London. Financial management company Assante Hydrostone has created a good luck card for anyone to sign and give best wishes to the two-time Canadian champion before she embarks on the Olympics. The chair of Jenna's fundraising campaign, Kevin Hayward, says its another avenue for people to show their support.





The link to the card is http://www.assantehydrostone.com/jennamartin/ . Meanwhile, Martin is running Wednesday night in Toronto in her final race before heading to Germany for pre-Olympic camp.

Price Tag Revealed For Purchase Of NewPage Mill



Pt. Tupper, N.S.

 Legal documents say Vancouver-based Pacific West Commercial Corporation intends to spend 33 million dollars to buy the shuttered NewPage paper mill in Cape Breton.  The mill has been closed since last September. 

An affidavit says Pacific West would become the only shareholder of the mill in Point Tupper under the plan, which has yet to be approved in court. 

Pacific West has been in talks to purchase the idled mill since January, though a purchase price had previously not been disclosed.