SSRSB Member Reinhardt states her case

Karen Reinhardt

A South Shore Regional School Board member who allegedly breached 11 sections of the code of ethics is telling her side of the story. In an exclusive interview with CKBW/HANK-FM News, Reinhardt says the Board had planned a special meeting for November 15, but it wasn't supposed to be about her being censured. Reinhardt says the Board didn't inform her about being censured until after she was volunteering overseas.

"I think that it's a bit unfair. To let me go away and believe one thing, I don't know why they didn't let me know that. They weren't fair enough to let me know that before I left, because I think they were aware of it before I left."

Reinhardt says she wouldn't have made the trip to Liberia if she had known before-hand that the Board planned on making a censure motion. She also wanted to clear the air over allegations she interfered in the school review process. Reinhardt says members exchanged emails and phone calls because they felt they had no time or opportunity to discuss school review before the March 30 meeting. Reinhardt says she doesn't feel she's done anything wrong.

"I don't think there's anything wrong, I can't see anything wrong with board members talking with each other and exchanging information. I don't think that subverts, not only, democracy, but it doesn't subvert board authority at all, especially when 10 board members voted for the motion not to review any schools at this time."

She says School Board Chair Elliott Payzant should also shoulder some of the blame.

"I mean, I do blame the Chair a little bit, because knowing that there was initiative from more than one board member to have a discussion about this, he could've called a special meeting and then we could've done it within the perameters of bylaws and regulations, but that didn't happen."

Reinhardt says final reports, with significant changes, were given to the board just before the March 30 meeting began, giving them no time for careful review or deliberation. Reinhardt also reacted to recent comments by the Education Minister. Ramona Jennex criticized the Board's decision Monday evening, for not making a responsible decision to censure Reinhardt. The vote failed to pass by a 7-4 margin. Reinhardt says she's not sure how to take the Minister's comments.

"She does have a couple of options open to her, neither one of which, in my mind, is terribly pleasant for anybody including her. But, I don't know what to think about what part of that she was dissatisfied with."

Jennex can still decide to overrule the Board's decision and vacate Reinhardt's seat, or the Minister can choose to disband the entire Board. To hear Reinhardt's full interview, tune into this weekend's South Shore Sunday Morning program from 8-9am on HANK-FM and 9-10am on CKBW.

No Serious Injuries After School Bus Veers of the 103

No serious injuries after a school bus went off the road outside of Chester this afternoon. The incident occurred around 1 o'clock on Highway 103 near Exit 7. No children were on board the bus at the time of the incident.  EMS and RCMP are on the scene to check on the status of the bus driver. No word on what caused the bus to veer off the road.

Webber: Pleased Eastlink will Relocate Cell Tower

The Warden of the District of Chester says he's pleased Eastlink has backed down from their proposal to construct a cell phone tower near Demone Road. Allen Webber says it was a poor choice for a telecommunications tower given it's proximately to homes in the area. He says numerous residents had expressed concerns. "It's sort of like you're putting an industrial structure in a entirely residential neighbourhood, so people just don't like that - even if its good or bad or indifferent. There are all kinds of concerns - is it too close to property lines and what if it falls down - those are legitimate concerns," Eastlink still wants to construct a tower in the municipality and is hoping to work with council and the community on selecting an alternate site. Council will send a letter of thanks to the company for removing the Demone Road site from its initial plans.

GasPrices May Fall Again

This may bode well for drivers on the South Shore.
The price of gasoline is down today in New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
In New Brunswick, the Energy and Utilities Board has reduced the maximum price of regular self-serve to a dollar-22-point-2 a litre.
That's lower by almost two-and-a-half cents from last week's posting.
In Newfoundland, the regulator there has dropped the price by three cents.
Here in this province, the utility and review board will set the weekly price at midnight tonight.

MLA Conrad Pleased with South Queens Site Selection

Queens MLA Vicki Conrad

The new South Queens Junior High will be built at the same address as the current school. The province made the site selection announcement Thursday morning in Liverpool. Queens MLA Vicki Conrad says she expects the old school will be demolished, but not right away.

"The students will be able to remain in the current school while the rebuild is taking place. So it's going to be an easy transition, you know, we won't see students being moved to other locations, teachers will be on site, as the rebuild is happening."

Conrad says she's excited to see the new South Queens remain at the same address because it will keep students in the heart of Queens County. The new South Queens is expected to be built in 2013. It will house grade six to eight students, with grade nines going to Liverpool Regional High.

2011: A Tough Year for Tourism

It's been another tough year for tourism in Nova Scotia and that includes the South Shore. Locally, tourism operators are dealing with a 3 percent dip in occupancy rates while campgrounds and hotels are also facing a 5 percent reduction in total nights sold. Officials are blaming the downward trend on increasing global competition, a difficult economic climate and poor weather. Director of Marketing for the province Kristi Wenous isn't surprised by the latest numbers. "As we understand the pressures and the economic climate - it's understandable discretionary spending such as travel would be down," Meanwhile, road travel and cruise ship passengers into Halifax are also down, while visits to Sydney are on the rise. Air travel did see a positive spike of 9 percent compared to the same time period in 2010. Tourism statistics vary across the province. Details at www.gov.ns.ca/econ/tourism/research/latest-activity-updates.asp.

Two Cars Damaged in Bridgewater Parking Areas

Police in Bridgewater are looking for information on a couple of hit & runs. Two separate incidents were reported Monday night. The first, occurred in the Superstore parking lot where a Honda Accord was struck causing damage to the drivers side door and rear door. The other incident took place on Glen Allen Drive. Police say a Honda CRV sustained serious damage while parked near the South Shore Regional Hospital entrance. The Bridgewater Police Service is hoping to get some tips.

Centre Jail Demolition Expected to start Nov. 24

Photo Courtesy of CP Harmon

The former Centre jail is expected to be demolished over the next week. The jail is expected to start being torn down Thursday morning, depending on weather conditions. Chris Gallivan with Strum Environmental says East Coast Demolition will start by removing old fuel tanks, fuel lines and furnaces. He says, once that is finished, they will start structural demolition by knocking supports down and crushing the building into itself. The jail is located along Highway 3 in Centre. Municipality of the District of Lunenburg Engineer, Satu Peori, says Council doesn't have any immediate plans for the land. The jail opened in 1950 and has been empty since 2001.

Province Announces Funding for Two South Shore Schools

Bluenose Academy

Two new South Shore schools are receiving funds from the provincial government. The still to be built South Queens Junior High is getting $8.5-million while Bluenose Academy in Lunenburg is pegged to get $840-thousand. Department of Education spokesperson Peter McLaughlin says the announcement shows that government considers the schools a priority for the South Shore. McLaughlin couldn't comment on what each school plans to use the money towards. The funding is part of the government's 2012-13 Capital plan. Site selection for the new South Queens Junior High is scheduled for Thursday morning while Bluenose Academy is anticipated to open in 2012.

Public Hearing in Chester: Cancelled

A public hearing regarding the proposed location of a new telecommunications tower in Chester has been cancelled. The hearing was to deal with the location of an Eastlink owned tower and it's proximity to homes on the Demone Road. The tower would offer better high speed Internet connection and cell phone usage in the community. The meeting was set for tonight but due to the weather it will be rescheduled.

RCMP: Motorists Need to Slow Down

It's been a hectic morning for Lunenburg County RCMP. Staff Sergeant Bruce Hill says roads are extremely slick and he's asking motorists to slow down. "The roads at this time are very slick, the snow is hitting the pavement and turning to ice. We've had about 10 accidents already this morning, no injuries reported as of yet. We're asking motorists to slow down, use caution and ensure you leave enough room between yourself and the vehicle ahead of you," No serious incidents to report, Hill says in most cases vehicles have slid of the road. Meanwhile, a number of school closures are already being reported. Under the South Shore Regional School Board, all schools will be closed today.

Snow & Rain to Pound South Shore - UPDATED

R-C-M-P are already warning drivers to be ready for slippery, slushy roadways this morning. Snowfall warnings are in effect across Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick, as well as central and eastern PEI. A number of school closures are already being reported. Under the South Shore Regional School Board, all schools will be closed today. It looks like Nova Scotia will get the brunt of the snow with amounts of up to 35 centimetres expected today and tonight over inland areas. Coastal areas, however, could be getting a good soaking with up to 40 millimetres of rain. Stay tuned to CKBW/HANK FM for the latest on the forecast, road conditions and potential cancellations.

Salvation Army Launches Christmas Kettle Program

The Salvation Army has started its major fundraiser for the holiday season and new year. The Christmas Kettle Program is officially underway throughout Canada, including in Lunenburg County. Captain Stephen Holland with the local Salvation Army says the Kettle Program allows them to help people year-round with emergency needs like food, medication, transportation or heat. Holland says around four kettles will be placed in areas around Lunenburg County including the Bridgewater Mall, Superstore and Sobeys. He says he hopes the Christmas Kettle Program will raise around $50-thousand this year.

Education Minister Concerned with Reinhardt Decision

Education Minister Ramona Jennex

Education Minister Ramona Jennex is questioning the South Shore Regional School Board's decision not to censure Karen Reinhardt. Jennex says the decision concerns her.

"It raises, in my mind, questions about this Board's ability to function responsibly, you know, they're there to act in the best interests of our students and teachers and I didn't see evidence of that from the decision they made on Monday evening."

Jennex told CKBW/HANK-FM News she received the Deloitte Inc. report at noon Tuesday and she'll be reviewing it after question period Tuesday afternoon. Reinhardt survived a 7-4 censure vote from her peers Monday night, after the Board didn't receive the two-thirds majority needed to oust her. Jennex says the Board missed the mark with the decision.

"There were clear violations and I was really looking forward to the Board making the right decisions in the appropriate manners, so, as I said, it raises questions in my mind."

Jennex says she expects to make a decision quickly, once she's done an in-depth review of Deloitte's report.

South Shore Regional: Expansion & Upgrades

It's a good news day for the South Shore Regional. Preliminary work on a new patient-transfer elevator is underway while plans were also announced to expand the emergency department at the hospital. South Shore Health CEO Alice Leverman welcomed both announcements during a press conference this morning. Leverman says another elevator at the hospital will separate patients and staff from the general public. "Certainly it's going to give our patients privacy. Also, infection control is a big issue for us today. This will allow us to address any infection control issues that might occur when patients and the general public are being transported at the same time," The new elevator is estimated to cost around $2 million dollars and will be in place early in 2013. Meanwhile, South Shore Health also received $1.5 million dollars for planning and design work to improve patient flow in the emergency department. Dr. Greg McNally says expansions are badly needed. "It's a big step. It's obvious we need ambulance bay coverage so patients aren't being transferred out in the cold, we need better/bigger assessment areas and it'll make a huge difference to what we can provide to the patients of the South Shore," No word on when those expansions will begin.

DFO: Shellfish Harvesting Ban Lifted

A ban on harvesting shellfish in a number of communities along the South Shore has been lifted. The ban was put in place following heavy rain on Remembrance Day. Officials implemented the harvesting ban due to concerns surrounding increased bacterial levels in the water. Chief of Regulations for the Maritimes, Rick Young, says recent tests indicate the products are now safe to harvest and to eat.  The ban included waters within three kilometres of the shoreline in Lunenburg, Queens and Digby.

Forties Community Centre Receives DeFibrillator

Left: Phillip Broome, Chairperson for the Forties Community Centre Board of Directors, Middle:

Patty faith from Medavie Blue Cross, Right: Greg Bayers from EHS/Photo Courtesy of Christine Bland

The Forties Community Centre in New Ross has received a life-saving device. The Centre now has a Defibrillator after a contribution from Medavie Blue Cross to the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Restart a Heart, Restart a Life program. The Chair of the Forties Community Centre Board of Directors, Phillip Broome, says its an important device to have on site, in case any emergencies arise. Roughly 45,000 cardiac arrests occur in Canada every year, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

SSRSB Votes to Not Censure Karen Reinhardt

Karen Reinhardt

11 alleged breaches in the South Shore Regional School Board's code of ethics wasn't enough to deter members to censure one of their own. Karen Reinhardt survived a 7-4 vote from her colleagues, after the board couldn't reach the required two-thirds majority needed to oust her. The Board needed eight votes to remove Reinhardt, receiving seven with member Jill Francis not present. Reinhardt says its back to business as usual.

"Well, I feel, actually relieved, of course. I don't know if I can say I feel vindicated because the vote was very close, but I'm pleased that the process is behind us and that I'm going to be able to serve the students."

Reinhardt says she was upset over the allegations, calling them unfounded and unsubstantiated. Board Chair Elliott Payzant says Reinhardt has been quiet to him over the allegations.

"She has never responded, saying that any of them were not true, so if she said tonight that they were untrue, it's the first I've heard and I have discussed all of them with her and she had not refuted any of them prior to this evening."

Both Reinhardt and Payzant say they hope the Board can move on from this issue and continue working together. Education Minister Ramona Jennex is still waiting on a report from Deloitte Inc., to make her decision on the board's actions during the March 30 school review process.

NS Gov: $6.5 M Help Purchase Land for Protection

The Nova Scotia Government has earmarked $6.5 million dollars to purchase land so it can be protected. Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse made the announcement in Chester this morning and says the funds will be available in the new fiscal year. It's only the second time in Nova Scotia's history that government is releasing some details of its capital plan in advance of the spring budget. Peterson-Rafuse talked to reporters about the significance of that move.  "This is about communities identifying the areas they want to preserve, it's not about what the government wants. In order to be able to do a good job in anything that you do in life - you have to have a plan and that's what we're trying to do,".  The province has a legislated goal to legally protect 12 percent of its land by 2015. Consultations on what land to protect is already underway and the public is invited to comment until February 12. The land that will be selected for protection is based on ecological and environmental importance.  For more information on the province's goal and protected areas in Nova Scotia, visit http://gov.ns.ca/nse/12percent/

Lumberjacks Acquire Langille from Dieppe

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks have added another defenseman to their roster. The Jacks acquired 18-year-old Craig Langille from the Dieppe Commandos, in exchange for an 8th round pick in 2013 and future considerations. Head Coach and General Manager Terry Rhindress says its a good pickup for his club.

"He's a first year kid out of Midget 'AAA' , but at a frame of 6'3 and 210 pounds, he doesn't move too bad. He's a physical guy. His presence alone should settle things down in the defensive zone and kind of make some guys play a little bigger because he is a big kid."

Langille played 16 games with Dieppe this season, registering no points and 14 penalty minutes. He's expected to be in the lineup for the Lumberjacks this Thursday night against Metro.