Chester: Sewer Rates Back At Council May 15

The future of sewer rates in Chester will be back at the table later this month. The municipality was proposing to amend its sewer by-law and create a universal rate based on property assessment. However, a large number of residents opposed the idea based on unfair rate changes. Warden Allen Webber feels council is doing what it can to keep residents happy.



Council directed staff to look at a modified equivalent dwelling unit system, with a user fee for larger groups. Staff are expected to report their findings back to council on May 15.

No Charges Laid Against South Shore Police Officer

No charges will be laid against a South Shore police officer after allegations of domestic violence. On April 15th (2014), a woman lodged a complaint about her husband, an RCMP officer at the Bridgewater detachment. The province's Serious Incident Response Team launched an investigation. After weighing all the evidence including statements by both sides, SIRT has determined the officer in question did not use unreasonable force to protect his personal property from being damaged. SIRT is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia.

Update: Woman Fined After Car Strikes Pedestrian

A 37-year-old woman has been fined after an incident Tuesday on Old Bridge Street in Bridgewater. Police Chief John Collyer says the woman must pay a fine of $291.45 as a first time offender for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license. The woman was driving when she struck a 57-year-old female in a wheelchair who was trying to cross the street. However, Collyer says witnesses indicate the woman in the wheelchair did not press the crosswalk lights. She was taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Police are still investigating the matter.

South Shore In Motion Cancels 2014 Event

South Shore in Motion has been cancelled for this year. Committee members with the festival decided not to host it for their 10th anniversary because they feel there is a lack of support from the town of Bridgewater. Councillors decided not to endorse a big rig hill climb on Monday night because their insurance wouldn't cover it. South Shore in Motion chairperson Darren Wentzell says they lost about 40 per cent of their show through the town's decision.



Wentzell says it was a difficult decision to make, but feels they've tried everything they could to make the event happen. He says the group will gather again in June to begin thinking about their long-term future.

Yarmouth: Serious Injuries After Truck Slams Into Home

An older Yarmouth County man has serious injuries after the truck he was driving slammed into a house in Tusket. It happened mid-morning at the intersection of Highway 308 and Frank Doucette Road. Police say the 63 year-old lost control of the truck and went off the road. It's not known what caused the man to go off the road. There was also significant damage to the house and the truck.

Bridgewater: Woman In Wheelchair Struck By Car

A woman in a wheelchair escaped with only minor injuries after she was hit by a car today in Bridgewater. Police, firefighters and EHS responded to the call around 11am at the intersection near TD Bank on Old Bridge Street. Constable Danny MacPhee says they're trying to determine who is at fault and if any charges are pending. The woman was taken to South Shore Regional Hospital for treatment.

Economic Action Plan Desperately Needed For South Shore: PC Leader

Lunenburg Progressive Conservatives meet tonight to discuss issues and look at what lies ahead. Opposition Leader Jamie Baillie will address the area's annual PC dinner. As he prepares to head to the event, Baillie tells us the South Shore is in dire need of economic stimulus. However, he says nothing is getting done because there's no government economic plan in place.



Tonight's PC dinner in New Germany is being held at the Legion starting at 6:30.

Events Lunenburg County Looking For Business Support

A new organization is looking to bring major conferences and attractions to the local area. Events Lunenburg County has secured some start-up funding. Now, they're looking for the business community to jump on board. Andrew Tanner presented the idea to the Municipality of Chester recently and says it's about promoting the area.



Tanner says the group wants to develop a website, hire a part-time person to start bidding on events and partner with similar groups in Queens County and Halifax. A meeting will be held May 12 at Bridgewater town hall at 8am for business groups and industry leaders to learn more about Events Lunenburg County.

Crematorium Land Compromise In Liverpool

Construction of a crematorium in Liverpool appears to be back on track. Chandlers Funeral Home withdrew its earlier application to the Region of Queens a couple of weeks ago. It involved building the facility adjacent to the funeral home in downtown Liverpool. Now, the Region and Chandlers have reached agreement on a new location, in the Liverpool Industrial Park. Chandlers General Manager Kevin Samuels says the new site is a compromise and an effort to appeaze any public opposition.



A purchase and sale agreement is expected to be finalized in a few days and construction on the crematorium will begin right away. Chandlers hope to have the facility in place by the fall.

South Shore School Misses Winning National Competition

The Waldorf School in Blockhouse didn't win the top prize in a national on-line contest. However, according to a parent, the just-completed contest has put the independent school on the education map. Anastatia Malay says being a part of the Majesta Trees of Knowledge competition has laid the ground work for future endeavours.



The Waldorf School, which finished 6th place in the on-line voting, did win a thousand dollars. A similar facility in Ontario placed first and won the 20-thousand dollar grand prize.

Lunenburg County: Softball Season Could Begin Friday

It's hoped the main ball fields in Lunenburg County will be ready for action in the near future. The men's and women's leagues were all set to kick off this week at the MARC in Dayspring, but the fields were still too wet to begin the season. However, Recreation Director Trudy Payne says field conditions have improved significantly over the past 24 hours. She says they just wanted to make sure the fields don't sustain permanent damage.

Payne says if the weather cooperates, the complex could be open tomorrow (Wednesday). The co-ed league is set to open Friday night.

Bridgewater: Town Rejects Big Rig Hill Climb

A big rig hill climb will not make its debut this year for South Shore in Motion. Bridgewater council quashed the request in a 4-3 decision Monday night during a special council meeting. The new event was proposed for Exhibition Drive during their August event. Some councillors felt there would be too much risk after the town's insurer wouldn't cover the event. Mayor David Walker says they weren't ready to endorse the new event.



Meanwhile, festival chairperson Darren Wentzell says they're disappointed.



Wentzell says the group will talk about the future of South Shore in Motion during a meeting on Tuesday night.

South Shore Hockey Players Win Bronze In Quebec

A bronze medal finish for Nova Scotia at the Quebec Major Junior Excellence Challenge in Boisbriand. Bridgewater's Keith Getson, Christopher Goreham of Clark's Harbour and Hunter Hurlburt of Yarmouth helped Nova Scotia finish third in the five team event. They defeated Newfoundland 6-2 in the consolation game. Getson finished with two assists in five games while Hurlburt and Goreham each had one assist. The QMJHL Entry Draft will be held in Sherbrooke on May 31st.

Contest Challenges Students To Design New Oak Island Logo

Local students are vying for bragging rights and a cool $500 to design a new Oak Island logo. The Friends of Oak Island Society are gathering submissions from art students at Park View Education Centre, New Germany Rural High, Bridgewater Junior-Senior High and Forest Heights. Chairperson Shelley Rafuse says they're looking for something eye-catching.



The logo contest will see the new design be used on clothing, marketing materials, digital media and will be used worldwide. Students have until Friday to submit their art work.

Local Search And Rescue Looking For Younger Volunteers

Lunenburg County Ground Search and Rescue are looking to attract younger volunteers. The group held a six-hour mock exercise Sunday to kick-off Emergency Preparedness Week across the province. The week serves as a reminder to know the risks, plan ahead and prepare for potential emergencies. Search Director Sherry Veinot says they're always looking for new people.



Veinot says they mainly recruit through social media. Roughly 50 members are part of Lunenburg County Search and Rescue. Emergency Management Minister Mark Furey says Nova Scotia is among the best in the country when dealing with a disaster.



The province's Emergency Management Office says people should prepare kits for their home and car with enough resources for 72 hours. EMO Planning Officer, Steve Mills, says having a 72-hour supply is important.

The kits are available from the Canadian Red Cross.

Search On For Robbery Suspect

The RCMP in Tantallon are looking for a suspect in an armed holdup yesterday of a drug store in the area. During the supper hour last evening, Tantallon Mounties were called to the Lawtons Drugs on St. Margarets Bay Road where a man had enterred the store, threatened a female employee with a syringe and forced her to hand over a quantity of prescription drugs. The suspect escaped on foot and a search of the area with a service dog did not find him. Investigators suspect he fled the area in a waiting car.

RCMP ID Female Pilot In Weekend Plane Crash

RCMP are releasing the name of a woman killed over the weekend when her ultra-light plane crashed in Hants County. Maryanne Hardman of Halifax died when her plane went down near Stanley Airport. The 50 year old was the pilot and only person in the plane. It's still not known what caused the crash.

Province Looks To Reduce Surgery Wait Times

It's hoped some new money will reduce wait times for foot and ankle surgeries in Nova Scotia. The province will invest $4.2 million to improve orthopedic services beginning this year, and is now providing surgeon wait time information online. The money will help recruit a foot and ankle sub-specialist surgeon, perform more hip and knee replacements to help reduce wait times, and streamline orthopedic care.  Kevin Chapman of Doctors Nova Scotia says wait times can reach up to two years.



Health Minister Leo Glavine says they know wait times are too long and adds the investment is an effort to work on solutions for people needing the surgery. To view the online wait times list 

Man Faces Drug Charges Following Yarmouth Bust

A 39 year old Yarmouth area man is facing numerous charges related to an RCMP drug bust just outside the town. A home in the village of Hebron (HEE-brun) was searched by the RCMP and officers seized a quantity of marijuana and drug paraphenalia. Wilfred Laurier Crosby has been charged with possession and trafficking of marijuana. He will appear in Yarmouth court in early July.

Woman Dies In Hants County Ultra Light Crash

A woman died over the weekend as a result of the crash of an ultra-light plane in Hants County. It happened in Stanley just after the noon hour on Sunday. The female pilot and lone occupant of the plane was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation is underway to determine the cause.