Firing up the barbecue in Queens County could be a bit of a problem this summer. The region is about to lose the last free-standing propane fill-up. Mayor John Leefe says the situation will also affect some businesses. There is still the availability for the 30-pound tanks to be filled in Queens through exchange programs.

Service Award

Judy Purcell of Bridgewater one of the team members recognized with the Premier's Award of Excellence, the highest honour of the Nova Scotia civil service. It recognizes public servants for outstanding contributions to the province. Purcell is a member of the Skill Development Coordinators Team, Department of Labour and Workforce Development. The team played a lead role in responding to closures in industry by creating on-site and community response teams, conducting job vacancy studies in affected and nearby communities, developing transition centres for displaced workers, and arranging and providing direct programs and services to help workers find new employment. Premier Rodney MacDonald presented the awards to two teams and three individuals this week.

Michael Hall Reward

Another case in Nova Scotia's Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program was added today (June 16th) by the Department of Justice. The department is offering a cash reward of up to 150-thousand-dollars for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible in the case of homicide victim Steven Michael Hall of Seffernsville, Lunenburg County. Hall was last seen on Saturday, April 27th, 1996, hitchhiking towards Chester, after paying a bill at the Ultramar in Chester Basin. Hall was not seen again until his body was recovered in a wooded area of Lunenburg County on November 23rd, 1996. More information on the homicide case of Mr. Hall and other cases, can be found on the Department of Justice website.

Stroke Awareness

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in Canada but work continues on the south shore to address the health issue. The District is working on a program to both treat and prevent brain attacks, also known as strokes. Clinical Services President Sandy Christie says on the South Shore, we have high rates of many of the risk factors for stroke. They include smoking, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, physical inactivity and elevated cholesterol levels. As part of the program, funded by the Department of Health, South Shore Health hired a Coordinator to help support District planning and implementation. South Shore Health has dedicated 4-beds on the Cardiovascular Health Unit at South Shore Regional Hospital to stroke care. Christie says evidence shows grouping stroke patients together improves functional outcomes, reduces mortality rates and decreases length of hospital stay.

Woman Located

A sad ending to a search for a Lunenburg county woman. RCMP say the body of Hazel Laurence was located in the Church Lake area yesterday. Police, members of the Lunenburg County Ground Search and Rescue team and a helicopter were all called in to search for the 58-year old woman. They had been called in to look for her in the Cornwall Road area Monday. She had last been seen around 4:30 Sunday afternoon. An autopsy is being completed by the Medical Examiner to find out the cause of death.

Wire Worries

Town Council has given the go-ahead for the construction of 4 two-storey semi-detached dwellings fronting on Glen Allan Drive, In a report to Bridgewater Council, Town Planner Eric Shaw says the matter of power connections was discussed in relation to the number of utility poles and wires in the subdivision. The applicant, Jamie Cochrane didn't support underground connections saying it wasn't fair to come up mid-way through the process. Council voted voted in favour of the option of above grade connections, contingent on early consultation between the developer and NSP.

Farmers Market Returns

It's now officially confirmed. A Farmers Market is coming to downtown Bridgewater, starting on Saturday, July 4th from 8:30am to noon. Councillor David Mitchell says the market will be held on King Street in the parking lot between Intelligent Choice Computers and The Garden of Reading between Dominion St and Empire St. Mitchell says the location provides the best of both worlds he says there is plenty of space for the vendors and that section of King St has parking of both sides of the street as well as parking on Empire. The market will also attract people to the downtown core and into the shops on King St. The first week will see at least 6 producers with, baked goods, meat and produce and Mitchell says that number will grow throughout the season.

Sewage Smell

2009-06-12 05:54:29

Something smells in the Municipality of Lunenburg and it's going to cost almost $100,000 to make it go away.  Council has awarded a tender for an odour control system at the Cookville wastewater treatment plant,  Deputy-Mayor Don Zwicker says there's been an odour issue at the plant for quite some time.  He says they've been told since day one there's not enough flow of sewage going through the plant so that's why there's an odour. He says that's why they have to do something to fix the odour issue. Western Plumbing and Heating Limited of Dartmouth was awarded the tender for almost $98,000 plus HST.  Work at the plant is expected to start immediately.

NSCC Grads

2009-06-11 06:19:59

She returned to school after 28 years, and this evening she'll be delivering the valedictorian address at the convocation ceremonies for NSCC, Lunenburg Campus.  Barb Tidd, is a student in the Office  Administration program. Tonight's ceremonies set for 7:00 p.m. will  recognize the achievement of all 223 Lunenburg Campus graduates who have earned diplomas and certificates over the last academic year.

Lunenburg School

2009-06-11 06:18:48

A new Primary to Grade 9 school will be built in Lunenburg in the next few years, but the exact location still has to be decided.   A School Steering team has been formed and a public meeting has been scheduled for later this month.  School board officials say the site selection is one of the first items that will be addressed by them.  The board passed a motion to have the school built in Lunenburg with the possible sites are being whittled down to three locations.  Board members will get those at the June 24th meeting and their recommended site for the Lunenburg school will then go to the Government.  The selection committee is made up from all four school communities and and a public meeting has been scheduled at Lunenburg Junior Senior High School for June 29th at 7:00 p.m.  The process for naming the new school is still being worked out.

South Shore Results

2009-06-10 06:29:59

Chester St Margaret's:

NDP   Denise Peterson-Rafuse 4,835 48.09% Elected
PC  Judy Streatch  2,762  27.47 %
LIB  Jo-Ann Grant  2,122  21.11 %
GRN  Ryan Cameron 335  3.33 %

Lunenburg:

NDP   Pam Birdsall   3,644   48.82% Elected
PC  Peter Zwicker  2,049  27.45%
LIB  Rick Welsford  1,190  15.94%
IND  Milton Countway  457  6.12% 
GRN  Jason A. Remai  124  1.66%

Lunenburg West:

NDP   Gary Ramey   3,600   39.60% Elected
PC  Carolyn Bolivar-Getson 3,045  33.50% 
LIB  Mark Furey  2,297  25.27%
GRN  Emily Richardson 148  1.63%

Queens:

NDP   Vicki Conrad   4,012   59.91% Elected
PC  Kerry Morash  1,926  28.76%
LIB  Wayne Henley 674  10.06%
GRN  Stuart Simpson 85  1.27%

Shelburne:

NDP   Sterling Belliveau  3,844 55.41% Elected
PC  Eddie Nickerson 1,637 23.59% 
LIB  Darian Huskilson 1,356  19.54% 
GRN  Robin Smith  101 1.46%

RESULTS

2009-06-09 21:13:24

 An NDP majority in Nova Scotia and a south shore sweep for the party. Vicki Conrad held on to her seat, winning in Queens. Sterling Belliveau was returned as the NDP MLA for Shelburne. Two cabinet ministers on the south shore were unseated with Judy Streatch falling to Denise Peterson-Rafuse and Carolyn Bolivar-Getson ceding her seat to Gary Ramey, a first time candidate.  In Lunenburg, Pam Birdsall was elected as the New Democrat representative.

The first N-D-P government elected east of Ontario has not only won -- it's won big.   Voters in Nova Scotia have delivered a decisive majority win to a party that offered a modest platform and a commitment to balance the province's books.
    The N-D-P is elected in 30 ridings and leading in one.   It appears the Liberals will be elevated to the Official Opposition, with the Grits elected in 10 ridings and leading in one.  The Tories have won 10 seats.
    
The New Democrats swept to a majority government by boosting their share of the popular vote to 45 per cent.    That's up from about 35 per cent in 2006.    The Tories fell to 25 per cent from 40 per cent in the last election.  The Liberals polled 27 per cent of the vote, up a touch from about 23 per cent in 2006.

Tune in tomorrow morning for results and reaction to this historic night.

Foul Play Ruled Out

2009-06-09 17:46:11

Bridgewater police say foul play has been ruled out in the death of a woman who's body was found in Glen Allen Park.  She has been identified as 50-year old Deborah Bell-Ivany of Bridgewater.  An autopsy is being performed today in Halifax at the Provincial Medical Examiner's office.  Police say they are still conducting interviews and they are waiting for results from additional forensic testing.  A man walking his dog in the park found the remains just before noon yesterday.

Voting Day

2009-06-09 06:19:43

It's Election day in Nova Scotia. Polls open across the province at 8:00 this morning as a general election gets underway. New Democrats are hoping to form government for the first time having led in opinion surveys for most of the 35-day campaign. At dissolution, there were 21 Tory seats in the 52-seat legislature, 20 NDP, nine Liberals, one Independent and one vacancy.  Polls are closing at seven tonight. And then join CKBW for team coverage of the results from the five South Shore ridings brought to you by the Home Center, North Street, Bridgewater.

Chester-St. Margarets: Ryan Cameron, Green; Jo-Ann Grant, Liberal; Denise Peterson-Rafuse, NDP; Judy Streatch (i), PC.

Lunenburg: Pam Birdsall, NDP; Milton Countway, Independent; Jason Remai, Green; Rick Welsford, Liberal; Peter Zwicker, PC

Lunenburg West: Carolyn Bolivar-Getson (i), PC; Mark Furey, Liberal; Gary Ramey, NDP; Emily Richardson, Green

Queens: Vicki Conrad (i), NDP; Wayne Henley, Liberal; Kerry Morash, PC; Stuart Simpson, Green

Shelburne: Sterling Belliveau (i), NDP; Darian Huskilson, Liberal; Eddie Nickerson, PC; Robin Smith, Green

(i)=incumbant

Joey Mailman

2009-06-08 11:32:51

A husband, father and longtime DOT employee has lost his courageous and lengthy battle with cancer.  Joey Mailman passed away this weekend at the age of 63.  A proud life-long Bridgewater resident, Joey was also committed to helping in his community.  From refereeing hockey, he was a founding member of Shaid, a dedicated member of the Bridgewater Golf and country club, he was also a director for Bridgewater minor baseball and president of South Shore Video Group.  He was a Lions club member and spent a great deal of time helping raise money for the fight against cancer.   A celebration of life service is being held tomorrow, Tuesday at the RA Corkum Funeral Home.   

Obituary notice from RA Corkum funeral home

Campaign change

2009-06-08 06:39:32

A political scientist says when voters get in a mindset that a change is needed, there's no fighting it.  The Conservatives have been asking for another mandate based on experience and leadership.  But Dr Michael MacMillan of Mount Saint Vincent University says government's aren't elected, they're defeated. He says opposition parties wait for opportunities for the government to discredit itself, make mistakes or voters just get tired of them. Dr MacMillan says when making up their minds they look at the parties first, leaders second followed by issues and local candidates. He says opinion polls rank well below those factors when it comes to people making their minds up about who to vote for.

The head of a leading market research firm says Nova Scotians are in the mood for a big change. Don Mills, C-E-O of Corporate Research Associates, says the major theme of the 35-day election campaign was ``change in a substantive way,''  The Halifax-based pollster has been tracking Nova Scotia politics for two decades. His quarterly polls show the N-D-P has been the preferred choice for voters for almost three years.

Itineraries of the Nova Scotia party leaders for Monday, June 8:  
Rodney MacDonald, Progressive Conservative party:
    IONA: Canvassing. 10:30 a.m. 
    NORTH SYDNEY: Canvassing. 12:00 p.m.   
    ESKASONI: Canvassing. 2:00 p.m.
      
Darrell Dexter, New Democratic Party:
    BRAS D'OR: Canvassing at Tim Hortons, 366 Park Rd. 8:15 a.m.   
    NORTH SYDNEY: Canvassing at Tim Hortons, 7 Blowers St. 8:45 a.m.
    NORTH SYDNEY: Canvassing at Northside Community Guest Home and Extended Care, 11 Queen St. 9:15 a.m.
    MILLBROOK: Canvassing. 2:00 p.m.   
    SALMON RIVER: Canvassing along Birch Street. 2:30 pm   
    TRURO: Canvassing along Young Street. 2:50 p.m.
    BIBLE HILL: Canvassing at Bible Hill Estates. 3:30 p.m.
    PUGWASH: Canvassing along Victoria, Prince Albert and Black streets. 5:00 p.m.
  
Stephen McNeil, Liberal party:
    DARTMOUTH: Waving at traffic on the Angus L. Macdonald bridge. 7 a.m.   
    DARTMOUTH: Canvassing at Seniors Apartments, Jamieson Street. 10:00 a.m.   
    DARTMOUTH: Canvassing along Virginia Avenue. 11:30 a.m.   
    WINDSOR: Canvassing along Water Street. 2:00 p.m.   
    NEW MINAS: Waving at the Atlantic Superstore. 3:00 p.m.   
    KENTVILLE: Canvassing on Main Street. 4:00 p.m.   
    ANNAPOLIS: Canvassing. 6:00 p.m.

Doctor Passes

2009-06-05 12:33:33

A family physician who served Bridgewater residents for more than 40 years has passed away.  Doctor Fred Prince was 81.  He died at home yesterday.  Doctor Prince was born in Kentville but served tirelessly as a family doctor in Bridgewater for decades after graduating Dalhousie medical school in 1956.  In 1963, he organized the first medical clinic on the South Shore on Hillcrest Street, which housed three general practitioners and a dentist.   He was also a huge supporter of music.    Over the years, he was a member of the Gentlemen of Swing, the Don Warner Orchestra, the Chester Brass, the South Shore Concert Orchestra, the Bridgewater Fireman’s Band, and the Big Sound Band.   Doctor Fred Prince is survived by his wife of 57 years Beatrice along with his children and grandchildren.  A family service is being held next week in the Valley.  Visitation will be on Monday night at Sweeny's funeral home in Bridgewater.

New Charges

2009-06-05 09:32:11

A Simpsons Corner man facing charges of impaired driving three months after being sentenced on a same charge has asked for time to see a lawyer. Forty-seven year old Randall James Durling was fined $600 February 23d . He had been set to go to trial on a charge of impaired driving causing bodily harm, but changed his plea to a lesser offence of impaired driving. The initial charge stemmed from a collision in Nineveh in December 2007. The latest charges were laid May 22nd when Durling was stopped in New Canada. Along with the impaired and breathalyzer counts, Durling is also charged with operating a motor vehicle while disqualified, and possession of marijuana.  He's scheduled to be back in court June 24th.

Campaign Update

2009-06-05 06:22:03

Just to highlight how important the five ridings are in this campaign, both the NDP and the Conservatives are criss-crossing the south shore today.  Rodney MacDonald will be in Lunenburg with Peter Zwicker this morning before heading out with Carolyn Bolivar-Getson in Bridgewater this afternoon and then it's off to Liverpool with Kerry Morash this evening.  Darrell Dexter will be in Lunenburg this morning for a campaign statement at the Fisheries Museum at ten, before heading to Mahone Bay with Pam Birdsall. He then will be off to Wolfville this afternoon.  Stephen McNeil will be in and around Halifax this morning before heading to Stewiacke, Guysborough and Antigonish.

Two political scientists say the chances of the New Democrats forming a government may be decided in close races in rural Nova Scotia on Tuesday.    David Johnson of Cape Breton University says there's strong evidence the N-D-P has consolidated its lead in most Halifax ridings.    He says a breakthrough victory would be the result of a ``two-decade haul'' of ground work.    Jennifer Smith at Dalhousie University also says she believes the party's hold is strong in Halifax.    However, both long-time observers of party politics say it's much harder to call what will happen in smaller ridings.    That includes ridings like Queens, where just a few hundred votes in the south shore district may decide the outcome in three-way races.    Smith notes when the N-D-P won in Queens in the last election, there was no Liberal candidate, and this race is ``too close to call.'' (The Canadian Press)

Missing Woman Found

2009-06-05 06:20:46

(UPDATE) A Queens county woman who RCMP had asked for help in locating has been found.  Corporal Grant Webber says she was found in Sobeys in Liverpool after making a phone call to her home.  He adds she wasn't lost. Her family was concerned about her well-being when they notified police yesterday afternoon.  Police are thanking everyone for their help on this file.

Queens RCMP asking for public assistance in locating 53 year old Wilma Karen Labrador of Liverpool. Labrador is about 5 feet, 2 inches, 170 to 180 pounds and has chin length dark hair with gold highlights.  She was wearing a beige T-shirt and black pants.  A police dog and helicopter are being used in the search for Labrador who has been missing since around 1:15 Thursday afternoon.  Anyone having seen her or knows of her whereabouts is asked to contact the Queens RCMP.