Curling: Provincial Men's Qualifer Underway

Today's storm hasn't stopped the Provincial Mens Curling Qualifier at the Dartmouth Club. Nineteen teams are battling for five spots in the upcoming Molson Coors Tankard in Halifax. After three draws, eight teams remain unbeaten, including Allan O'Leary, Chad Stevens, Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc, and Mark Dacey. Action continues through Sunday.

Former Premier Says Bowater Closure Was One Of His Darkest Hours

The closure of the Bowater mill near Liverpool in 2012 and the loss of hundreds of jobs was a dark time for former Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter.  In his first media interview since his October election defeat, Dexter tells CKBW and HANK-FM News, he saw the writing on the wall long before the shutdown but hoped the paper industry would turn around.  However, it didn't and Dexter says his next move was to seek certain guarantees.



Recently back from vacation down south, the former premier says he's ready to begin the next chapter in his life, possibly working in economic development with the Region of Queens, where he grew up. As for his re-election campaign back in the fall, Dexter says it was efficient, well-managed and he doesn't harbour any grudges against the Liberals and Tories in helping defeat his party.

Former Premier Looks Back & To The Future

 Former Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter says he has no regrets!  In his first media interview since his election defeat in October, the former premier tells CKBW and HANK-FM News, he's proud of the work his NDP government did in trying to improve the economy over 4 and a half years.  Dexter says his re-election campaign was efficient and well-run. However, he says there was a change in the mood of the electorate sweeping the province, fueled by the opposition parties.



Recently back from vacation down south, the former premier says he's now ready to begin the next chapter in his life!  He tells us he's ready to put his experience over 4 and a half years to work to help in the economic development of the South Shore.



Dexter says he has no regrets and doesn't harbour any grudges against the Liberals and Tories in helping defeat his party at the polls.

Bridgewater Man Facing 9th Alcohol Related Driving Conviction

Bridgewater Police are charging a man in what could turn out to be his ninth conviction for driving while impaired. Police say they pulled over a car January 2 on Aberdeen Road in Bridgewater. Kevin Wheaton was arrested at the scene and charged with impaired driving anf driving while his license was suspended. The 49 year-old is currently being held at the Burnside Correctional Facility. If found guilty, it would be his ninth conviction for an alcohol related driving offense. He's due back in court January 6.

Oil Spill Detected In Milton Being Cleaned Up

Nova Scotia Power is testing some water wells in Queens County after a late December oil spill. "Nova News Now" was first to report the story. The spill was detected at a substation owned by Nova Scotia Power in the Milton area. It's not known exactly when it happened, but it's believed about 5,000 litres of crude was spilled. The company is working with the Department of Environment to ensure the site is properly remediated and fully cleaned up. The contaminated soil is being taken for disposal. A few people live around the substation, but its not believed they will be impacted or see any affects by the spill. Nova Scotia Power is testing the wells as a safety measure.

Another Gas Price Hike This Morning

Gas prices have increased overnight at South Shore pumps. Regular self serve up almost 2 cents to $1.35.8 a litre. High test is now $1.44.8. Diesel also up in price this morning.

Storm Far From Over

Local police and the RCMP are warning drivers to stay off the highways today. As yet another snowstorm blows through the region, driving is dangerous. They're snow covered with icy patches underneath. Environment Canada says the worst is yet to come, with another 10 to 20 centimetres of snow expected today along the South Shore mixed with strong winds and causing whiteout conditions. There are no power outages to report. However, there are flight delays and cancellations at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Also, numerous government offices and businesses are closed today. So are the NSCC campuses in the area.

Friday: Lumberjacks Game Postponed

The impending blizzard has forced the postponement of tomorrow night's MHL game in Bridgewater.  The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks were scheduled to host the Woodstock Slammers at the Clearwater Seafoods Arena at 7 o'clock. The contest will be re-scheduled at a later date. The Jacks' first game of the New Year is now slated for New Glasgow against the Pictou County Weeks Crushers on Saturday evening.   

Watchdog Group: Use Gas Taxes To Improve The 103

There will probably be no change overnight tonight in gasoline prices at South Shore pumps.  Canadian Taxpayers Federation Atlantic Director Kevin Lacey says thats a good thing. However, he says gas would be a lot cheaper without the tax on tax at the pumps.  Lacey says money collected through all those taxes though should be used to improve our roads, particularly the dangerous highway 103.



Lacey says directing gas tax money to improve the 103 would not only boost driver safety but also improve the local economy.

Wanted: Health Care Professionals, South Shore & Beyond

Nova Scotia's health minister expects to unveil a committee in the coming few weeks to look at ways of recruiting doctors to the province. In a CKBW and HANK-FM News interview, Leo Glavine says thats not all that is the focus of attention at the health department these days.



Glavine has been warned the province could face alarming shortages across a range of professions in the health-care system.  That as workers approach retirement, which includes a shortage of 800 nurses within five years.  In briefing notes when he first became minister, the notes tell Glavine professions requiring close monitoring include physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, continuing care assistants and lab and diagnostic imaging staff, to name a few.

MODL: Mayor Pleased Old Schools Will Be Reviewed

A South Shore mayor is pleased the provincial government is looking at taking the pressure off municipalities when schools are closed. Under the current system, when a school closes it reverts back to the municipality and in some cases causes financial pressure for taxpayers and council. Don Downe says he welcomes the news given the Municipality of Lunenburg took control of three former schools over the past few years.



However, Downe says the news isn't all bad as the facilities in Riverport, Blockhouse and Centre each have potential. He says council is involved in discussions with a number of potential tenants for those former schools.

School Review Meetings Begin Next Week

Meetings to discuss the way schools are closed in Nova Scotia will be held this month. Nine public sessions will be held including stops in Bridgewater, Yarmouth, Halifax and Berwick. Bridgewater's meeting will be January 13 at Park View Education Centre. Yarmouth's meeting will be the next night at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School. All meetings will be held from 7-9pm. The first meeting of the process will be held January 6 in Sydney. The meetings will examine the school review process and look into what's done with old schools when they are closed or new facilities are built. A consultations committee is gathering input from the public, school boards, the teachers' union, and municipalities on the school review process. The feedback will be used to develop recommendations that will be given to the education minister by the end of February.

South Shore: Kraft Hockeyville Contest Underway

Residents of the South Shore can nominate their community or town for the Kraft Hockeyville contest. The wildly popular contest brings hockey communities together in the quest to receive $100,000 in arena upgrades from Kraft Foods and the NHL. Also, the successful community gets to host an NHL pre-season game. Last year, Yarmouth made it through to the second last round of voting. The top 16 communities that will compete for Kraft Hockeyville will be revealed on Hockey Night in Canada on March 8th. The winner will be announced in April. You can nomination your community here

Chester Rink Captures Provincial Title

A team based in Chester is off to the Canadian Junior Curling Championships. Mary Fay's rink captured the provincial title on New Years Eve. She beat defending champ Mary Myketyn-Driscoll of Truro. Final score was 9-4 at the Lakeshore Curling Club. The curling championships kick off January 18th in Liverpool.

Big Snowstorm Headed Our Way

For all you winter weary folks, as if we haven't had enough in recent weeks, get set to be dumped upon yet again by lots of snow. An added feature this time will be very high wind gusts. Environment Canada has issued a blizzard warning for the South Shore and most of the province. It's expected we could get a total of between 20 and 35 centimeters of heavy snow over the next day or so. It should peter out on the weekend with sunshine for cleaning up on Saturday and temperatures above zero on Sunday and Monday.

Update: Chester Rink Eyes Provincial Title

Chester's Mary Fay is just one win away from the Provincial Junior Women's Curling Championship. In semi final action this morning the Fay rink stole three points in the fourth end on their way to a 9-2 victory over Mayflower's Emily Dwyer. Fay meets defending champ Mary Myketen-Driscoll of Truro in the 2 o'clock final at the Lakeshore Curling Club. In their only meeting this week Fay scored a 10-3 win. Meantime Robert Mayhew of Windsor captured the Junior Men's title with an 8-3 decision over Matthew Manuel of Mayflower. Mayhew won seven of eight games at the Lower Sackville event. He'll represent the Province at the M & M Meat Shops Canadian Junior championships in Liverpool next month.

2014=More Taxes!

2014 is bringing with it even more taxes to be paid by South Shore residents and others in the province. Kevin Lacey of the watchdog group, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says life won't be any cheaper for residents here when you factor-in increased EI and CPP premiums and bracket creep. Thats when you earn a bit more than usual and the taxman grabs most of it.



Lacey says what the new increases mean is a South Shore family of 4, including 2 kids, earning $60,000. a year, will pay about $130. more in taxes in the new year than in 2013. Thats in addition to high gas taxes, income tax and the HST at 15 percent.

"Our Health Centre" Looks For 2014 Opening

The multi-millon dollar health centre project in Chester is moving forward with a vigorous fundraising campaign. Officials with "Our Health Centre" are looking to raise $6 million dollars to fund construction, equipment and start up costs for project. In addition to public and private donations, they've received $500,000 through the Nova Scotia government over the past year. In a year end interview, Chester Warden Allen Webber says council is still mulling over what kind of support they can offer the project.



The collaborative health centre is expected to be open late in 2014. According to its web site, they want to raise between $3.5 to $4 million before construction begins on the project. It would be located in Shoreham Village.

Winter Sport Fishing Begins

Get your rods and reels ready because the winter sportfishing season kicks off tomorrow (New Years Day). Selected lakes on the South Shore and elsewhere will open for rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, chain pickerel or perch. Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell says winter sportfishing is a great way for Nova Scotians of any age to enjoy the outdoors and he encourages anglers to use caution when fishing in boats, on the ice or from shore. A 2013 general fishing licence is required to winter fish and can be purchased at Department of Natural Resources offices. More information is available on the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture website.

For Review: MLA's Pension, Salary & Travel

A three member panel set up to review MLA compensation has been finalized. Roy Salmon, Janet Hazelton, and John Merrick were appointed to the panel.They will review salaries, benefits, pensions, travel and constituency allowances for MLAs. Salmon served as auditor general of Nova Scotia for 14 years will be the panel's chair. Hazelton has served as president of the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union since 2002. Merrick previously worked on the public inquiry into the Westray Mine Disaster. The panel will begin its deliberations early in the New Year and will present its findings by March 31.