Survey Says: Safe

Most Nova Scotians are satisfied with the provincial highways system, according to the 2008 Highway Customer Satisfaction Survey. The survey says 76 per cent of Nova Scotians feel safe driving and 65 per cent feel safe walking in their communities. Overall satisfaction with the highway system remains relatively consistent at 61 per cent. Cellphone use while driving was the top issue among respondents, followed closely by speeding and distracted drivers. This fiscal year, the department has dedicated More than 530 million dollars to highway spending, an almost 87-million-dollars more than last year. The 2008 Overall Highlights Report is available on the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal website at www.gov.ns.ca/tran/publications/ . The 2009 survey has begun.

Toddler Improving

RCMP from Queens tell CKBW the young boy run over in Bang's Falls is improving and is on his way to recovery. Staff Sergeant Bruno Deveau says the three year old is scheduled to leave the Intensive Care Unit at the IWK later today. The child was hit by a car in the driveway of his home around 3:30 Monday afternoon. His mother was driving the vehicle at the time. He was rushed to hospital in Bridgewater by paramedics. The provincial air ambulance then flew him to Halifax. Deveau says the investigation is ongoing and police are still waiting to speak to the boy's mother about what happened.

Former Premier Speaks

It's a special guest speaker for a special meeting. This will be the first Annual General Meeting in a long for members of the Lunenburg Progressive Conservative Association where there is not a sitting MLA from the riding. The Association says it's membership is working hard, taking on challenges with a renewed optimism in the rebuilding process. Their A-G-M is being held at the Barss Corner Community Centre on Saturday November 28, 2009. And the guest speaker is the Honourable Senator John Buchanan, QC. John Buchanan served as Premier of Nova Scotia from 1978 to 1990 and member of the Senate from 1990 to 2006.

Torch Run Money

The Town of Lunenburg is receiving $15,000 as they host celebrations during the Olympic Torch Relay’s visit. MP Gerald Keddy announced the funding support for the Town yesterday. Keddy says "When the Torch comes to Lunenburg, the Olympic spirit will touch each and every one of us." The Torch will visit the Town of Lunenburg on Friday, November 20th for an evening community celebration on the Lunenburg waterfront (Fisheries Museum Parking Lot). Celebrations are from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm with a fireworks display wrapping up the evening.

Toddler Injured

Few details and no update yet. Police say a three-year-old Queens county boy was taken to hospital with head injuries after he was hit by a vehicle driven by his mother. The accident happened yesterday afternoon in a private driveway in Bangs Falls while the woman was backing up. RCMP Staff Sgt. Bruno Deveau says the boy was conscious after the accident. But Deveau did not have details on the boy's condition. He says an investigation of the mishap continues. The boy was reportedly airlifted to hospital in Halifax.

Heath Fund Audit

An investigation is being conducted into accounting irregularities within the shared financial services of South Shore Health, Annapolis Valley Health, and South West Health. The matter was reported to the Kentville Town Police Department and an investigation is ongoing. Criminal Charges are possible. The three Health Authorities are also together conducting their own forensic audit.As a result of its own internal investigation, an employee based at Annapolis Valley Health has been dismissed for cause. The full extent of the circumstances won't be known until the police investigation and audit are complete.The three Health Authorities are cooperating fully with the police investigation.

Greenfield Fire

A Greenfield man is being treated in hospital for non-life threatening burns according to the fire chief in the community. Harry Nelson tells CKBW he and the Deputy Fire Marshal went through the house on Highway 210 this morning. They figure the cause of the fire was electrical. Crews from Greenfield Volunteer Fire were paged out just after four this morning to the house at 4939 Highway 210. Chief Nelson says they got help fighting the fire from Liverpool and North Queens crews. He says the man had been renovating the property and was staying there by himself. The man was apparently woken up by a loud noise this morning before smoke started filling the house. He went to a neighbour's to call 9-1-1. The interior is badly damaged by fire and smoke but the chief says the building is still standing. It's not known if it is insured.

No Shooting

Queens RCMP say an incident Friday night reported as a shooting in Charleston turned out to be an accident involving a man on an ATV. Staff Sergeant Bruno Deveau tells CKBW it started with a 9-1-1 call that ended abruptly around 5:15 Friday. Another call came in minutes later suggesting there had been a man had been shot and the shooter was in the woods. RCMP and Paramedics responded to a cabin in the Riversdale area where they found a 51-year old man with head injuries. He was taken to hospital in Bridgewater claiming he was shot at while riding his all terrain vehicle. In the meantime, a perimeter was set up in the area by Natural Resources and RCMP. It was not long after the doctor called police the man had NOT been shot. S/Sgt Deveau says it appears the man drove over an object that came up and hit the man in the back of the head. The Charleston man has since been treated and released from hospital.

Sudden Death

RCMP in Lunenburg county are calling it a sudden death but say no foul play is suspected. Staff Sergeant Mark Furey says their members were called to a home in Barrs Corner just after midnight Saturday. Paramedics were already on scene when officers arrived. The crews had already started working on the 48 year old woman but she was pronounced deceased about 15 minutes later. An autopsy is being conducted today. Again, police do not suspect foul play.

Winter Weather

Cape Breton will bear the brunt of an early winter storm. Environment Canada says the island will be experiencing very strong winds and snowfall amounts in some areas up to 25 centimeters. The south shore has been mainly seeing rain falling with the storm system moving past the province. Some areas are getting snow but it's not really adding up. The relatively warm pavement is keeping it from amounting to a lot although road conditions may get a bit slippery with slush, wet snow and rain.

From Environment Canada: A low pressure system south of Nova Scotia will lie southeast of Cape Breton this evening. Up to 15 centimetres of snow is expected inland and over high terrain. The Cape Breton highlands could see up to 25 centimetres. Additionally.. strong northerly winds will develop tonight with gusts up to 110 km/h beginning this afternoon and evening. For the south shore, it's periods of rain ending this afternoon then cloudy. Rain at times mixed with snow this morning. Rainfall amount 5 to 10 mm except snowfall amount 5 cm inland and over higher terrain. Wind northeast 40 km/h gusting to 60 becoming north 50 gusting to 70 this morning.

Snow turning to Rain

It may end up more wet than white by later in the day. According to Environment Canada, a low pressure centre is forming off the Carolina coast this morning. It is expected to deepen rapidly as it passes off the Shelburne coast after midnight on it's way to lie just east of Cape Breton Island late Friday. Strong northeasterly winds will develop overnight over the province and strengthen considerably out of the north on Friday as the low passes by. Rain is expected where winds blow onshore off the warm sea. Wet snow is expected tonight inland especially over higher terrain. Areas away from the sea may have amounts of wet snow up to 10 Centimetres. However..the weather office says these same areas will see increasing amounts of rain rather than snow through Friday as temperatures moderate. They are asking people to keep an ear on the forecast as conditions and details may change.

Inflated Tire Demand

With snow in the forecast, snowtires are top of mind. And it's extremely busy at the tireshops on the south shore today. Wally Pike with Goodyear Tire Center says it's been non-stop for the past few days since the talk started about the upcoming snowfall. He says they were there until late last night and it will likely be the same story in the next few days. Valley Tire staff has been busy as well trying to fit in all of the customers who have been stopping in for winter treads. And Rick Womboldt of G-C-R tire center says it's the same at their shop. He feels winter tires are more top-of-mind this season because of what happened last year. There was a shortage of tires in the maritimes because Quebec had legislated the use of winter tires. He says it sparked interest and has educated drivers about the benefits of snow tires. Most of the shops that sell or service tires are very busy with some booking appointments for next week even with extended hours trying to catch up to the demand.

Gearing Up

It's the first forcast snowfall of the season. And crews with the Department of Transportation are gearing up for whatever comes down tomorrow. Snowfall of between 2 and 10 centimeters could be hitting inland areas through tonight and tomorrow. It's expected to be rain along the coastal areas of the south shore. There's a good supply of salt on hand and the mechanics are getting the ploughs ready for the snow tomorrow. But the biggest factor will be how drivers deal with the first snowfall. And D-O-T crews are hoping people will use care and caution as they head out on potentially slippery roads.

Registry Wounded

The federal long-gun registry was in the crosshairs of Parliamentarians. A bill to dismantle the registry came up for a vote where it passed 164 to 137. South Shore/St. Margaret's M-P Gerald Keddy says he has been clear from the very beginning, he's never changed his position and never wavered on this bill against the registry for rifles and shotguns. Keddy says along with saving money, the streets will be safer because of more police officers being available with the money that will be saved. Meantime, Quebec's public safety minister has written to all M-Ps in the province, demanding they vote against the private member's bill tabled by the Conservatives. The legislation now goes to committee for further study and possible changes.

Mr Leonard's Opus

A long-serving Park View music teacher is being held up as one of the best according to a music education charity. Scott Leonard is the fifth annual winner of the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. Anne Murray presented him with the honour at a ceremony this week. Leonard has been a devoted mentor to music students for 24 years - 21 of them at Park View. The group says he epitomizes the spirit of the award as his commitment to music education extends far beyond the classroom. He was director of Park View's first school musical and he also teaches at the Lunenburg County Band Camp. Leonard teaches guitar, band, and embraces innovative new ideas, having created his own class - Recording Arts Technology. He will receive a $10,000 cash award, plus an additional $10,000 for his school's music program, a hand-crafted statuette created by JUNO Award statuette designer, plus an all-expenses paid trip to the 2010 JUNO Awards in St. John's.

Pregnant Clinic

Officials have been saying their supressed immune system should put expectant moms at the front of the line. South Shore Health is holding an H1N1 vaccination clinic today for pregnant women. They will be able to get the H1N1 vaccine at the obstetrics clinic at South Shore Regional Hospital. And in order to reduce wait times, the clinic is scheduling women based on trimesters. Women six to nine months pregnant should come from 9 a.m. to noon; women three to six months pregnant should come from 1 to 4 p.m.; and women less than three months pregnant should come from 4 to 7 p.m. And a Shelburne clinic planned for today, (Wed. Nov. 4) has been cancelled according to Southwest Health.

Clinic Busy

Business is brisk at the Flu Assessment Centre located at South Shore Regional Hospital. Communications Director Theresa Hawkesworth says the numbers have been steady since the clinic opened on Monday. The centre is open 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. Most cases of H1N1 are mild and will clear up in a few days by resting at home. However, people are encouraged to visit a flu assessment centre, instead of hospital emergency department, if they have flu-like symptoms and get sicker instead of better after a few days. People who are severely ill – especially with breathing difficulties -- should seek immediate help by going to your nearest Emergency department or calling 9-1-1.

Most cases of H1N1 are mild and will clear up in a few days by resting at home. However, people are encouraged to visit a flu assessment centre, instead of hospital emergency department, if they have flu-like symptoms and get sicker instead of better after a few days; or they have the flu and are in a high-risk group, which includes those: with a chronic medical condition, women who are pregnant, and children under 5.

Mersey Hydro Open House

They've done this in the past, but it's been a few years. And it's part of the process for a license renewal. Nova Scotia Power is holding an open house to talk with residents about the Mersey hydro system. Those who attend will learn more about how the system operates, and the ongoing environmental monitoring done by NS Power. Employees will be on hand later today (3pm-8pm) to answer questions at the Best Western in Liverpool. The open houses are part of the re licensing process for the province's hydro systems. They are held every 10 years for renewal of the system's operating approval. Another session is planned for next Thursday (Nov 12th) in Tusket Falls.

Hebbville Academy Power

Power was only out for about a half hour at Hebbville Academy this morning. There was a fire in a transformer behind the school just before 8:30 that was blamed for causing the outage. The electricity was back on just after nine. The students were kept inside waiting for the lights to come back on. Apparently they booed when the lights came back on...hoping for a bit of a break from classes.

Flu Assessment Clinic

Health officials are doing what they can to help people deal with the changing information in regards to H-1-N-1. South Shore Health points to the newly announced priorities for the vaccination: pregnant women; children younger than five (six months to 59 months); people living in First Nations communities; and health-care workers who provide direct care to patients. And in response to more people coming to their emergency departments by people with flu-like symptoms, there is an influenza assessment centre at South Shore Regional Hospital. The clinic will be open 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. The Walk-in Clinic will be held as usual. The Health authority wants to be clear, the Centre is not providing vaccinations or H1N1 testing. They say you should come to the centre if you think you have the flu and get sicker instead of better after a few days; or you have the flu and are in a high risk group.