Bowater Shutdown

A five week shutdown for close to three hundred workers at the Abitibi-Bowater Mersey Paper Mill in Queens county accortding to Union officials. They confirm they were notified Thursday morning of the fourth work stoppage at the plant since Christmas. Courtney Wentzell with the Communications Energy and Paper Workers says the Nova Scotia plant has been down more weeks than it's been running this year. The Queens paper mill will be shut between August 29th and October 4th. Company officials have been citing tough market conditions brought on by the current economic downturn.

NOTE: Company spokesperson Robin Anthony tells CKBW the shutdown will affect under 175 employees.

A Day on the Range

The General Training Course Cadets will participate in familiarization training throughout the two weeks that they will spend here at the Greenwood Air Cadet Summer Training Centre. From survival training and recreational training to trips in a glider and range training, the day of a GT cadet is filled with many fun activities. Today, many of the GT cadets spent time on the range. For many, it is their first time being able to shoot the air rifles. Cadet Makayla Whynot of 545 Liverpool Privateer Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron located in Liverpool, N.S., is pictured here getting ready to take her first shot. The Cadet Program is available across Canada to young people ages 12-18. It is one of the largest youth programs in the country (over 55,000 cadets nationally) and is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment where young people can develop as strong leaders and active citizens. (Story and picture submitted)

Camperdown Obama Carver

Bradford Naugler of Camperdown, a renowned Nova Scotia folk artist is having his life-sized carvings of the Obama family unveiled as a new addition to the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia on Monday, August 17th. The work depicts Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Malia Obama and Sasha Obama and joined by the family dog Bo. The work won rave reviews at the recent Lunenburg Folk Art Festival and will be on view at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia until September 7, 2009. Bradford Naugler is considered one of Canada's most prominent and successful folk artists', with his work exhibited and collected in both North America and Europe.

Drug Raid

A 38-year old Petite Riviere woman is looking at an October court date on drug charges after a police search of her home. Members of the Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit went into the Italy Cross Road home yesterday. Police say they seized a quantity of Marihuana Plants, Ecstasy and prescription medication in the raid. Bridgewater police, RCMP and a dog unit were there with a warrant under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Hospital Pickets

Picket lines will be up at South Shore Regional Hospital Friday. They'll be manning the lines from 6:30 to 9 a.m. to highlight the challenges CUPE local 1933 is facing in provincial bargaining talks. One of the health workers who will be on the line says they're hoping to avert a strike by informing the public and members about what's going on at the table around acute care bargaining. The picket lines will be at the entrance and exit of the hospital property on Glen Allan and Nafthal Drive. The Union's lead negotiator Wayne Thomas will also be taking part in the picket tomorrow morning.

Blacktop Topup

Four different roads in Lunenburg County on the list of road improvements announced yesterday by the province. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Bill Estabrooks says the department is determined to keep the road builders of Nova Scotia busy by getting these jobs into their hands during the current construction season. The seven projects have an estimated value of almost 12-million dollars, and include paving, repaving and other road improvements. All seven projects are scheduled for completion before the end of 2009. Among the tenders is 7.8 kilometres of repaving on four different roads in Lunenburg County.

Black Loyalist Support

It was a big Community Welcome of the Amistad Freedom Celebration 175 on the Shelburne Waterfront today. And Gerald Keddy brought a present from Ottawa. The MP for the South Shore announced $13,700 for the Black Loyalist Heritage Society. Keddy says these events help people understand the history of slavery and allows residents commemorate and celebrate the 175th anniversary of the abolition of slavery. Concerts, tours of Freedom Schooner Amistad, a march from Shelburne to Birchtown, the Junior Leaders Freedom Camp, a reception honouring elders from the local African Nova Scotian community; and a display of quilts and art are all part of the festivities running through till Sunday.

Gold River Bridge

Lunenburg County residents and visitors have a new modern six-million-dollar bridge. Gold River Bridge on Trunk 3 has been replaced and the new bridge is now open. Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Bill Estabrooks says that the replacement of the bridge was an important project in maintaining the beauty of the historic Lighthouse Route. The replacement project began in early 2008, as the original structure approached the end of its structural life. Work to dismantle the temporary detour bridge will take place over the next two to four weeks. Drivers are asked to proceed with caution in the area during this time.

Coastal Habitat Protection

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is thrilled to announce the protection of pristine coastal habitat at Port Joli in southwest Nova. Still unspoiled by development, the Port Joli area is a vital home for a number of migratory bird species, including Canada geese and Harlequin ducks. The area contains sandy beaches, eel grass flats, inter-tidal mudflats and coastal forests and was designated a Migratory Bird Sanctuary in 1941. Gerald Keddy South Shore/St. Margaret's MP says the Federal Government's Natural Areas Conservation Program is an important on-the-ground initiative that takes real action to preserve Canada's environment and conserve its precious natural heritage for present and future generations. While NCC already owned 136 acres (55 hectares) at Port Joli, the additional 341 acres (138 hectares) will ensure this unspoiled habitat remains in its natural state.

New Home Rebate

Applications for the province's new home construction rebate are now available at Access Nova Scotia Centres and online. The rebate is on new home construction and is equivalent to 50 per cent of the provincial portion of the HST, to a maximum of seven-thousand dollars. Up to 1,500 individuals who build or purchase a new home will qualify for this one-time rebate. The province has also moved the municipal building permit eligibility date to Jan. 1, 2009. Premier Darrell Dexter says this will help keep skilled tradespeople at home and boost the home-building industry. Application forms and information on eligibility for the rebate program are available at Access Nova Scotia centres or online at www.getyourrebate.ca .

No Idle Project

We'll know this week if the Town of Bridgewater has been selected to take part in the Ecology Action Centre's "Idle-less Project'. Two municipal units will be selected to take part in the eight month project. Deputy-Mayor David Walker says the concept certainly blends into the Town's sustainability initiative. He says idling causes problems with greenhouse gasses but he's interested in finding out how the balance will be made between the environment and businesses like drive-thru's. The project involves two primary components. A community oriented campaign to reduce idling, including targeted business. And an examination of government policies and practices to reduce the amount of energy consumed by vehicles.

Postal Pre-emptive

Rural home mail delivery in Lunenburg County could be a thing of the past if Union's fears are realized. Canada Post is assessing its delivery service as a result of safety concerns expressed by rural mail drivers. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is alleging it's a move to save millions of dollars by eliminating home delivery and setting up community mailboxes. Toni Mckafee, the Education and Organizational Officers for CUP-W Atlantic Region says customers will likely be contacted in Lunenburg County in the next few weeks and customers have to voice their concerns and demand to keep their roadside mailbox. The Union has sent flyers to rural customers advising them of actions they can take to protect their rural mail delivery.

Water Speed Limits

With things about to get busy on the water with Chester Race Week, a timely advisory from the RCMP. Constable Brandy Steeves sent out a news release about complaints police were getting about seadoos speeding in Chester Harbour. She says they wanted to remind boaters and pleasure craft operators to note the posted speed limits and respect them. Chester Race Week starts tomorrow. It's billed as Canada's largest keel boat regatta.

Health Helpers Helped

Some caregivers in Nova Scotia will soon be able to receive financial help from the province for the work they do supporting loved ones and friends. Caregivers and the person requiring care must both meet certain criteria to be eligible for the 400 dollars per month caregiver allowance. Eligible caregivers must be residents of Nova Scotia, 19 years of age and older and provide 20 or more hours of assistance a week to qualified care recipients. Eligible care recipients must be Nova Scotia residents, 19 years of age or older and have a high level of disability or impairment. Their income will also be reviewed. More information about the allowance is available on the Department of Health website www.gov.ns.ca/health .

South Shore Visits

No better time than the summer to see the south shore. And two of the federal party leaders are heading our way. Jack Layton of the New Democratic Party was scheduled for a boat tour of Chester Harbour last evening. Today, he'll be spending time with Lunenburg MLA Pam Birdsall and Lunenburg West's Gary Ramey. This evening he's scheduled to have dinner with Mayors Joe Feeney, Don Downe and Lawrence Mawhinney and Deputy Mayor David Walker. And Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is in Cape Breton today and will be in Yarmouth, Shelburne and Clarke's Harbour tomorrow.

Recreational Center Holding

An architectural firm has been retained and legal and financial expertise is being put in place but the proposed Lunenburg County Lifestyle Facility is not yet at the "Shovel-Ready" stage. Deputy Mayor David Walker says they still haven't heard anything about federal funding. He says they are still optimistic there will be something coming. But he adds it doesn't make it any easier knowing they are ready to go and are waiting for the last piece of the puzzle to come from Ottawa. The two councils jointly announced a proposed multi-use facility back in 2004.

No Parking-lot

Another school year with the same limited parking lot at Parkview Education Centre. Construction to separate school bus and private vehicle traffic has been delayed by the South Shore Regional School Board. The project will now be carried out next summer. Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake tells CKBW the late date in the current construction season and concerns for student safety drove the decision. Pynch-Worthylake says school and school board officials will work with students to address any safety concerns that may arise.

DOMESTIC STANDOFF

Charges are pending following a domestic incident that turned into a standoff with RCMP yesterday afternoon. The Mounties Emergency Response Team and local officers responded to a 9-1-1 domestic call to a bungalow in Newcombville around 2:30 p.m. Staff Sgt. Mark Furey says twhen they arrived on scene they were able to secure the safety of the female occupant of the home. The male barricaded himself in the residence. The ERT, police negotiators, local officers and a police service dog remainded on the scene until 1:45 in the morning. ERT officers entered the home and arrested the male resident without incident. Highway 325 was closed to traffic for almost 12 hours. The individual remains in custody pending further investigtion.

Police Files

Bridgewater Police investigating a number of complaints of property damage. On August 4th, between 8 and 10 p.m. a silver vehicle was keyed in the area of 215 King Street. Between August 1st and 2nd, a vehicle was damaged while parked on Olympiad Avenue. That incident happened between 11:30 p.m. and 8am. There was also damage done to mailboxes at 65 Marie Avenue sometime overnight of July 28th and 29th. And during the early morning hours of July 24th, unidentified teens threw eggs at a residence on Nauss Avenue.

WATER TREATMENT PLANT

A sod turning ceremony to highlight a new water treatment plant for the Town of Lunenburg is set for Thursday morning at 11 o'clock at the top of Northwest Hill. The project, funded jointly by all three levels of government and announced in August 2006, will ensure that approximately 950 households will have improved drinking water. The project will not only result in a substantial improvement in water quality but will also ensure compliance with provincial water quality standards. Along with Mayor Laurence Mawhinney, South Shore St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy and Lunenburg MLA Pam Birdsall will attend the sod turning ceremony.