Highway Environment Assessment Open For Public Comment

The Environmental Assessment report is now complete for the proposed four lane highway connecting Highways 103 and 102.
The report is now in the hands of the Environment Minister and is open for public comment.
The new highway is designed to bypass the Halifax area and relieve congestion on the Hammonds Plains Road. The report is available by clicking here.

Copies of the Environmental Assessment Report may also be examined at the following locations:
Tantallon Public Library, 3646 Hammonds Plains Road, Upper Tantallon, NS Keshen Goodman Public Library, 330 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, NS Clean Nova Scotia, 126 Portland Street, Dartmouth, NS Ecology Action Centre, 2705 Fern Lane, Halifax, NS Nova Scotia Environment, Central Regional Office, 1595 Bedford Highway, Suite 224, Bedford, NS Nova Scotia Environment, 5th Floor Library, 5151 Terminal Road, Halifax, NS

Charities Granted Tax Exemption

It was a close vote -- but -- Bridgewater town council has approved a bylaw giving named registered charities a property tax exemption.
Mayor Carroll Publicover tells CKBW news there were some concerns about whether to have the exemption effective in the next budget year or make it retroactive to this year.
But -- in the end -- Council voted 4-3 in favour of making the exemption retroactive to this year.

More Flu Related Deaths Reported

The province has recorded two more Swine Flu related deaths -- the victims were a man and woman in their forties with underlying medical conditions.
The man died in the Pictou County area while the woman died in the Capital District Health Authority area -- bringing the total of number of flu related deaths to five.
Meantime -- the Flu Assessment Clinic at the Yarmouth Hospital has closed effective today -- officials say there's been a drop in the number of people showing up with flu related symptoms.
The Flu Assessment Clinic at the South Shore Regional Hospital remains open Monday through Friday between one and four in the afternoon.

Flu Clinic Closing

The latest round of the Swine Flu appears to be on the wane -- and -- the latest sign is the closure of the Flu Assessment Clinic at the Yarmouth Hospital effective tomorrow.
Officials say the there has been a drop in the number of people showing up with flu symptoms -- but -- it will re-open if that situation changes.
Meanwhile -- the Flu Assessment Clinic at the South Shore Regional Hospital remains open Monday through Friday between one and four in the afternoon.

Town Moves To Control Adult Entertainment

Bridgewater council wants to have tighter controls on where adult entertainment venues set up shop in the town.
Mayor Carroll Publicover says the town doesn't have any legal right to ban the clubs -- but -- he tells CKBW News town staff will look at a couple of zoning options by either setting up an exclusive zone for the operations or tightening up existing zoning to make sure they can't locate in - or - near residential areas.
The town started looking into the situation after learning Bridgewater was being considered as one of a number of potential location for an adult entertainment club.

New Regional Chief Crown Attorney Appointed

There will be a new chief Crown Prosecutor serving our region at the end of January.
Ingrid Brodie will take over from Craig Harding who is retiring.
Brodie is a life long resident of the Annapolis Valley and has been involved in a number of projects including the Safer Communities and Neighborhoods Act as well as input into the creation and operation of the Sex Offender Registry.
She'll be responsible for regional offices along the South Shore - the southwestern region - and - the Annapolis Valley.

Nasty Weather Coming Our Way

It may be just a month until Christmas Eve -- but -- our spring like weather is continuing with a twist of dampness today.
A rainfall warning has been issued for our area with rain at times heavy tonight into tomorrow morning -- a total of up to60-mm's of rain is expected before the system passes tomorrow.
The rain will be combined with fog and a strong wind making for tricky driving conditions later today and tonight.

Crib Recall

(CP) It's the biggest baby-crib recall in Canadian and U-S history.
Nearly a million drop-side cribs are being recalled in this country and 1.2-million stateside, following reports that four babies have died and dozens have been injured.
The drop-side cribs are made by Stork Craft Manufacturing of B-C, and feature a side that moves up and down to allow parents to lift kids from the cribs more easily.
There's been no comment yet from Health Canada.
But the U-S Consumer Product Safety Commission says the main problem is that the drop-side can become detached, leaving a space where a baby can become trapped and suffocate.
The cribs were made between 1993 and last month.
A free repair kit is available from Stork Craft that will convert the dropside to a fixed side - the toll free number is 1-877-274-0277.

Old Tire Deal Inked

Halifax based C&D Recycling is the successful bidder to begin a recycling program for old car tires.
The Resource Recovery Fund Board announced the deal today calling it a made in Nova Scotia solution for used tires.
The company will turn the old tires into a material used for lightweight fill - insulation against frost - backfill - and - drainage layers for roads and landfills.
The contract will run five years with the option for renewal.

N-S Can't Afford Not To Develop Kids Program

The Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Council for Early Childhood Development says we can't afford to be without an early childhood development program.
Theresa Griffin tells CKBW News a provincial strategy would pay dividends in the long term through lower crime rates and the number of special needs kids.
The Council has called on the Dexter government to develop an early childhood development strategy covering children from birth to six years of age -- it says that strategy could include things like full day learning for 4-and-5 year olds and summer programs for school aged kids.

Flu Clinics For All

There are a number of Swine Flu shot clinics scheduled this week with the vaccine now available to all residents.
There's a clinic today in Liverpool at the Best Western running from one until six while a clinic is scheduled at the Freeport Legion today between 2 and 6.
Officials are cautioning there may be line ups - and - reminding you to bring your health card.
Meantime -- all South Shore Health facilities are now open to regular visiting -- but -- you're being asked to stay away if you have any flu symptoms.

Jenkins Wins School Board Nod

There's a new face on the South Shore Regional School Board -- Dr John Jenkins of Lunenburg has been elected the member for District 7.
Jenkins won Saturday's by-election defeating rival Craig Buffet by a 99-vote margin -- the results won't be official until tomorrow after the Returning Officer confirms the tally.
The seat became vacant when former vice-chair Karen Kinley resigned in August after accepting a provincial government job in Halifax.

Jenkins Wins School Board Nod

There's a new face on the South Shore Regional School Board -- Dr John Jenkins of Lunenburg has been elected the member for District 7.
Jenkins won Saturday's by-election defeating rival Craig Buffet by a 99-vote margin -- the results won't be official until tomorrow after the Returning Officer confirms the tally.
The seat became vacant when former vice-chair Karen Kinley resigned in August after accepting a provincial government job in Halifax.

Lunenburg Doctor new School Board Member

Dr. John Jenkins of Lunenburg is the newly elected South Shore Regional School Board member for District 7. Jenkins won the by-election on Saturday with 233 votes to 134 for Craig Buffett. There were a total of 368 ballots cast, with two ballots rejected. Voter turnout was 6.8 percent. The result won't be official until Tuesday when the Returning Officer collects the ballot boxes and confirms there were no mistakes at the polling stations. The seat became vacant when former Vice-Chair Karen Kinley resigned from the Board August 31st after accepting a job with the provincial government's legislative council office in Halifax.

Flu Shots Now Available To All Nova Scotians

Provincial health officials are opening up the Swine Flu vaccinations to all Nova Scotians.
Chief Public Health Officer - Dr Robert Strang - says he's anticipating a steady supply of the vaccine in the coming weeks.
But public health officials are also cautioning some clinics may run out of vaccine due to initial heavy demand at those clinics.

Olympic Torch Arrives This Evening

It's a big night for the South Shore area -- we get a chance to get up close to the Olympic Torch as it makes its way across the country heading to Vancouver for the Winter Games.
The torch is scheduled to arrive in New Germany just before 5 this afternoon then it will make its way to Bridgewater and is due to begin its journey through town around 5:20 on North Street -- it will then travel down Aberdeen to the New Bridge turning left onto King Street where it will make its way to the Old Bridge across to LaHave Street and down the street ending at 5:54pm when it will then make its journey to Lunenburg where a two hour event is planned in front of the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.
It leaves tomorrow for P-E-I.

Calls For Early Childhood Strategy

The Nova Scotia Council for Early Childhood Development is calling on the provincial government to create an early childhood development strategy.
The call comes as the council marks National Child's Day and the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The council says Nova Scotia should follow recent recommendations in Ontario which call for full day learning programs for 4-and-5 year olds - and - enhanced parental leave among other things.

Real Estate Market Cools Slightly

The real estate market has cooled a bit along the South Shore.
The Nova Scotia Realtors Association reports sales off by six percent between August and October compared to the same period a year ago.
But the Association reports the average price in our area is up just over two percent and now stands at just under 170-thousand dollars.
The Yarmouth area saw a 50-percent increase in sales between August and October this year compared to 2008 -- but -- the average price there has dropped five percent to just over 115-thousand dollars.

Black Ice Conditions Reported

The temperature may feel warm as you head out this morning - but - don't be fooled.
There is a lot of black ice on bridges - overpasses - and - now some roads mainly in the northern part of the county with a couple of accidents reported already.
Transportation Department crews are out with salt and sand -- but -- they're advising caution.

Man Hit With Big Fine For Illegal Cigarettes And Pot

A Mount Pleasant man has been hit with ove 22-thousand dollars in fines for possessing illegal cigarettes.
54-year old Ronald Nelson Veinot was also charged with possession of marijuana.
Police swooped down on his home last March and seized over 140 bags of smokes and dried marijuana bud.
He claimed the pot was for his own use and he was storing the cigarettes for a friend.