BREAKING: Controversial Teacher Put On Administrative Leave

Education Minister Ramona Jennex is intervening into the situation surrounding the controversial return of an ex-elementary school teacher. Jennex is directing the South Shore Regional School board to put Peter Speight on administrative leave until the status of his teaching certificate is complete. The minister says students at New Germany Elementary School need a stable, positive learning environment. Speight was given a conditional discharge in 2009 after he pleaded guilty to committing an indecent act in Halifax, and courts have ruled he should get his job back. The Department of Education has applied for a judicial review into an arbitrator's decision to return Speight's teaching certificate. A date for the hearing has not been set.

Lunenburg County Officer Faces Four Charges

The province's Serious Incident Response Team has laid four charges against a member of the RCMP in Lunenburg County. The independent body says the charges stem from alleged incidents which occurred over a two year period between December of 2010 and last August. The investigation was launched after a referral from the Bridgewater Police Service regarding an allegation of domestic violence against an RCMP member. The SIRT issued charges in August and include assault, sexual assault, uttering threats and careless use of a firearm. The male officer will return to Bridgewater court in the new year. The Serious Incident Response Team is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia.

White Point Beach Resort Will Host Open House

White Point Beach Resort is welcoming the community Friday afternoon. Officials are throwing an open house to let residents view the new building. Visitors will be able to take in the main lodge, pool area, and kitchen. Frances Dickson, author of "Destination White Point" will sign copies of her book. As well, a smudging ceremony will take place to cleanse the inside of the lodge. The open house begins at 3:30 Friday.

Bowater Mill Site Future Outlined By Premier

As expected, the former Bowater Mersey paper mill in Brooklyn will be converted into a research, development and demonstration facility. Premier Darrell Dexter made the announcement this morning at the site. He says his government is teaming up with Emera and Cellufuel, a renewable energy company, to launch the site. The establishment of the centre comes after the government made a deal this week to acquire the Bowater woodlands from Resolute Forest Products Ltd. while taking on $117.7 million in debt. Emera has signed-on as the centre's first tenant, promising to spend at least $1 million over the next five years. The provincial government is also giving $500,000 to Cellufuel, and half of that money is intended to help the company turn wood biomass into renewable diesel fuel.

Town Seeks Appraisal For Library Building

The town of Bridgewater will get a King Street property appraised before deciding on its future. Two expressions of interest have been received by the town for the library building..one by a group known as Cafe 12, the other by Swain and Associates. Councillors have decided to spend a few thousand dollars to see how much the property is worth. Mayor David Walker says its a necessary move.



Walker says an appraisal could answer questions around renovation costs and building code regulations. He says time is on their side as the property will have a tenant until at least the spring. Details on the appraisal will be released in the new year.

School Board: Larger Venue For Monthly Meeting

The South Shore Regional School Board has shifted the location of it's regular meeting to accomodate a larger crowd. In a tweet, the board states they will hold Wednesday's meeting at Hebbville Academy. The shift in location is an effort to accomodate the big crowd expected to hear more about the situation regarding Peter Speight. The local school board indicates the meeting is open to the public. It begins at 7 o'clock. For more information on the Speight story, check our website for the latest.

VIDEO: New Germany: Uproar Over Ex-Teacher's Past

Community members are in an uproar after restorative justice officials kept them out of a meeting with a former teacher. Roughly 125 parents attended last night's meeting at New Germany Elementary to question Peter Speight, while almost 30 people waited outside the school gym. Families are concerned because the Bridgewater native is on the verge of being reinstated as a teacher after pleading guilty to sex offences that occurred in the Halifax-area in 2008. Speight was given a conditional discharge and later fired by the South Shore Regional School Board. However,  an arbitrator deemed Speight was unreasonably 'let go' - a ruling later upheld in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.  Jamie Brewer's child attends the elementary school. She is surprised Speight is so close to getting his job back.



Meanwhile, Jolene Emino Mailman has a step-grandchild in the school. She questions the whole process.



Dozens of parents are threatening to transfer their children to different schools if the former Grade 3 teacher returns to the classroom. The Department of Education has filed for a judicial review of an arbitrator's decision to reinstate his teaching certificate. No date has been set for the hearing. The meeting was briefly interrupted when an individual stormed into the closed door meeting. Police escorted the man out of the school without incident.

MODL Mayor Concerned About Oakhill Mill's Future

The future use of the Oakhill sawmill is up in the air after the Dexter government failed to purchase the site from Resolute Forest Products. The province announced Monday they've taken control of 220,000 hectares of woodlands, along with Brooklyn Power and the former Bowater mill factory site. The government didn't purchase the Lunenburg County sawmill because of the softwood lumber agreement. Municipality of Lunenburg mayor Don Downe says he's spoken to Resolute officials about operating the mill again. But, he says, a decision hasn't been made.



Downe says if Resolute doesn't operate the facility, it should be sold to a business who will take over mill. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Montreal based-company has told CKBW/HANK-FM News they will take their time in deciding the future of the Oakhill sawmill.

Details On Future Of Bowater Mill Site Coming On Wednesday

Premier Darrell Dexter will make two announcements in Queens County on Wednesday. The first will include details surrounding the future of the former Bowater Mersey paper mill. The factory site was acquired in the deal reached with Resolute Forest Products on Monday.  The province has already revealed it plans to transform the defunct mill site into a new clean energy, bioenergy & forestry innovation centre. Meanwhile, Mayor Christopher Clarke will join Dexter later for another announcement later in the day relating to the future of Pine Grove Park in Milton.

'Inn From The Cold' Returns In Lunenburg County

An emergency shelter program in Lunenburg County is beginning their fourth year. 'Inn From the Cold' helps local homeless people by providing a bed and food once a week. The program partners with the Bridgewater Police and seven local churches. Coordinator Laura Uhlman believes residents will benefit from the program.



The service helped roughly 30 people last year and runs until May. People needing a place to stay are asked to call Bridgewater police.

New Germany: Former Teacher Meets With Parents

A former teacher fighting to reclaim his job at New Germany Elementary will meet with parents and school board officials later tonight. It's the final meeting as part of a restorative justice program for Peter Speight. The Bridgewater native was given a conditional discharge in relation to sex offences that occurred in the Halifax-area in 2008. In November, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court ruled Speight is apologetic, a low risk to re-offend and has completed rehabilitation. The ruling helped clear the way for his to return to the classroom. However, the Department of Education has filed for a judicial review of an arbitrator's decision to reinstate his teaching certificate. It would be the final hurdle before Speight can return to teaching. No date has been set for the hearing.

Woman Charged Twice With Stunting

A 31-year-old woman from Yarmouth County has been charged not once, but twice, with speeding. She was pulled over by the RCMP in Shelburne County on Sunday, for allegedly travelling way too fast. Officers claim she was clocked at 153 kilometers an hour in a 100 zone on highway 103. If found guilty in court, the driver from Hubbards Point in Yarmouth County faces a fine of as much as $2,412 for "stunting". She's also had her vehicle and license seized. Its the second time in two months the same driver has been caught driving at an excessive speed. On October 9th, she was charged with the same offence after being clocked by the Mounties doing 154 kilometers an hour in a 100 zone. No word on a court date. The RCMP is warning drivers to obey speed signs.

NS Gov't Unwraps Huge Bowater Land/Assets Deal

The Nova Scotia government is adding $117.7 million in debt to acquire a huge swath of private forest land formerly owned by Resolute Forest Products. The mega-deal was announced Monday night and will give the province control of 220,000 hectares of woodlands, along with Brooklyn Power and the former Bowater mill factory site. CKBW/HANK FM's Steve MacArthur has the details.



Dexter says acquiring the assets is necessary in order to revive the forestry industry and ``generate jobs and wealth in the province.'' The premier will unveil details of the Resolute deal at a forum later today in Halifax.

NS Gov't Announces Mega-Deal With Resolute

The Nova Scotia government has announced it has acquired 220,000 hectares of woodlands, Brooklyn Power Corporation and the former Bowater Mersey mill site. Premier Darrell Dexter announced the mega deal through a media release on Monday night. The land and assets were acquired from Resolute Forest Products. The Montreal-based company closed the former paper mill near Liverpool in June, throwing about 320 people out of work. Under the terms of the arrangement to take over the assets, the province is acquiring the shares of Bowater Mersey for $1 from Resolute and the Washington Post. However, with those shares come worker pension and severance liabilities that the province says are estimated to be $118.4 million and have to be repaid as the pension is wound up. In addition, Paul Black, director of policy and community planning in the premier's office, said that the acquisition will add $117.7 million to the province's $13.3 billion debt.

Other details of Resolute/NS Gov't Deal - in purchasing the shares of the company, the province now controls:

--  555,000 acres of commercial and protected woodlands, including the Medway, Rossignol and St. Margaret's Bay districts. The land's fair market value is pegged at $117.7 million or $212 per acre. The province issued an expression of interest earlier today, and is exploring opportunities for a Mi'kmaw forest initiative with the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Chiefs.

-- The former Bowater mill site in Brooklyn, including bio-refining machines, valued at $5 million. The site will be transformed into a research, demonstration and development centre of excellence and innovation in cleaner energy, bioenergy and forestry products and technology.

-- Brooklyn Power Corp, a 30-megawatt biomass generating facility.  The province will sell Brooklyn Power to Emera for $25 million in order to protect ratepayers from the termination of the current Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which expires in 2025.

The value of the assets acquired by the province, including the woodlands, Brooklyn Power, the mill site and fibre inventory, cash and tax credits total $150.4 million.

Total liabilities are $136.4 million, including $118.4 million of the company's assets funding the pension liability and severance, and the extinguishing of a portion of the company's debt at $18 million.

Bridgewater: Nauss Elected New Fire Chief

The town of Bridgewater has a new fire chief. Michael Nauss was elected Monday night by acclamation to take over the position from Wayne Thorburne, who stepped down because he was elected to town council. Nauss, who has served the last eight years as Deputy Chief, says Thorburne is irreplaceable.



Nauss says its nice to know the department's membership believe he's the best choice to serve as chief. Andy Wentzell will serve as Bridgewater's deputy fire chief.

Park View Looking To Cash-In On Provincial Funds

The province has set aside $500,000 to study potential projects at seven different schools including Park View Education Centre. The funds will be used to help the local school board hire consultants to prepare business cases. Director of Operations, Steve Prest, says the high school is in its mid-life stage right now, and could use a refurbishing. He says they want to design a project to extend the building's life by 15-20 years.



Prest hopes the study can happen early in the new year.

Local Groups Receive Provincial Grants For Seniors

A pair of local groups are reaping the benefits of provincial grants for seniors. The Aspotogan Heritage Trust Society in the Municipality of Chester and the Dayspring and District Fire Department each received $10,000. The money will help the Trust Society create two-to-three minute videos capturing the process of building an ageless community. The Fire Department is working on a project outlining success stories in volunteering, learning and developing research within Lunenburg County fire agencies. The funding was announced in Hubbards today by Seniors Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse.

Bridgewater Curling Club Seeks Loan For Repairs

The Bridgewater Curling Club will seek a loan to replace an aging piece of equipment that is crucial to its entire operation. President Lloyd Tancock says they need roughly $225,000 to cover all the necessary upgrades at the curling rink. Their most pressing need is to replace the club's ice making and refrigeration system. Tancock says they have already applied to access various grants to help lighten the borrowing amount.



He says they also need to replace its sprinkler system before next May. The club's membership authorized the executive to explore borrowing the necessary money for the upgrades during a meeting on Sunday.

Bridgewater Toy Drive Helps The Salvation Army

Empire Theatres in Bridgewater is full of toys! It's part of a toy drive to help the Salvation Army with its Christmas hamper program. The annual event helps struggling families in the South Shore receive gifts for their kids. Daniel Bonner, spokesperson for The Salvation Army says with the need getting higher community members are doing their part. However, Bonner says there is a new type of poor needing help.



Roughly 250 families in Lunenburg County were given toys last year through the help of Empire Theatres and Salvation Army. Donations will be accepted until December 23rd.

Bowater Transition Team Releases Final Report

It's considered a step in the right direction for Queens and Lunenburg counties. The Bowater Transition Advisory Team released their final report with recommendations late last week to help boost the local economy and attract families to the region. Some of the recommendations include capitalizing on regional advantages in seafood and agricultural production and greater marketing for tourism. Queens Mayor Christopher Clarke says the report is a good beginning.



The province is expected to provide resources to hire two or three project officers to pursue ideas in the report. It's not known when the officers will be hired. To see the full report, click here .