Education Minister Not Commenting On T-Shirt Issue

Education Minister Ramona Jennex is staying out of an issue involving the wording on a t-shirt that led to a student suspension. Department of Education spokesman Peter McLaughlin told CKBW/HANK FM news that Jennex believes its an issue that should be handled by the South Shore Regional School Board. William Swinimer, a grade 12 student at Forest Heights Community School in Chester Basin was suspended for five days this week for wearing a T-shirt that says "Life is Wasted Without Jesus." School board Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says the wording on the shirt is problematic because it is aimed at the beliefs of others. She says the school has spoken with Swinimer a number of times about the shirt, asking him not to wear it again.

Local Firefighters Attending Parade For Fallen Comrades

Wayne Thorburne

At least three local firefighters are heading to Halifax this weekend for a special ceremony. Bridgewater Fire Chief Wayne Thorburne, Deputy Michael Nauss and firefighter Harry Whitman will take part in a memorial service and parade Sunday to honour fallen firefighters. Its the first time an event like this has happened. Thorburne says its important to show respect to those who lost their lives in the line of duty. The parade is expected to close down some Halifax streets.

Adoption Fair For Abandoned Cats

An animal rescue group will hold an adoption fair for some cats left abandoned at a house just outside Lockeport in February. Out of the thirty cats rescued by Pet Projects, only seven have been adopted, leaving twenty-three looking for a permanent home. Vice-president Shelley Leblanc says the cats are healthy and hopes an adoption fair at the Shelburne Fire Hall next Saturday will help.

"We will have the more adoptable cats, the ones that are ready to go, we'll move them up to the fire hall so people can come in, take a look at them, and if they want to adopt them, they can fill out an adoption form, and we can get that process, hopefully we can find a home for a lot of these kitties."

When the animals were found they were suffering from frostbite, infection and were malnourished, while some of the cats required surgery to be nursed back to health. Leblanc says there have been no more felines dumped at the abandoned house in Shelburne County. Donations and adoptions can be made at www.petprojects.ca.

Newly Minted Fire Chief In New Ross

The New Ross Volunteer Fire Department has selected a familiar face to serve as their new fire chief. Lyle Russel was recently appointed to the new post at the departments annual general meeting. Before his promotion, he had been acting as the Deputy Fire Chief in New Ross. Russel has spent the last decade as a firefighter and says he's looking forward to the new role.

"Definitely a lot of responsibilities and being younger than a lot of the other members there will be some challenges. But, I am looking forward to bringing our department forward for the next five or ten years and see what the future brings for us,"

Russel will be officially recognized during a meeting next week. He takes over from Scott Reeves who held the position for the last two years.

Couple & Toddler Homeless After Shelburne Fire

A house fire near Shelburne has left a couple and their 17-month old baby temporarily homeless. They were not home at the time but lost all their belongings and several pets.  The couple and child are now staying with relatives and the Red Cross has been helping them with emergency purchases including clothing, food and infant supplies.  No word yet on a cause of the fire at 2111 Sandy Point Road.

Internet Fraud/Mischief Case Heads To Trial

A South Shore teen will stand trial this year on a charge of misleading police, investigating the death of a person she allegedly invented as part of a fake Facebook profile.  The trial for 18-year-old Jessica Boudreau of Liverpool is scheduled to take place November 29th in Bridgewater provincial court. Boudreau was charged after police looked into the purported suicide of a girl named Clarissa Chistiakov. Police were alerted to the suicide by Cheryl Veinotte, a South Shore woman whose son, Brandon Wentzell, had been supposedly talking with Chistiakov on-line before he died earlier this year of an overdose of vodka and Dilaudid.  Wentzell had never met Chistiakov in person and it later turned out .... the girl did not exist. After her son died, Veinotte told police she received a series of text messages claiming to be Chistiakov's mother, saying the girl had committed suicide after hearing of Wentzell's death.

Tri-County Schools Facing Cuts

Forty-one jobs are being cut by the Tri-County Regional School Board.  Twenty-two are teachers who will be eliminated through retirements, the number of teacher assistants will be reduced by five, two custodial jobs will be eliminated, three library techs dismissed and some administrators will also be gone.  A severe-learning disability specialist position will also be eliminated and a vacant psychologist position will not be filled.  The school board for Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby Counties has approved a 67.4 million dollar budget for 2012-13, which is 2.3 million less than last year and the reason for the cuts.  Three Yarmouth County schools are also up for review this year.

Student Suspended Over Religious T-Shirt

A grade 12 student in Lunenburg County has been suspended from his school for wearing a t-shirt publicizing his religious beliefs. William Swinimer attends Forest Heights Community School in Chester Basin. He was suspended for five days for wearing a shirt saying "Life is Wasted without Jesus." Swinimer is a devout Christian. School Board Superintendent Nancy Pynch-Worthylake says the school has spoken with Swinimer a number of times about the shirt, asking him not to wear it. She says the slogan suggests people need to change their beliefs.

"When an expression is based on a student's personal belief, there is no issue whatsoever. Should there be a situation, where an expression or slogan could be interpreted or is obviously offensive to other beliefs, that would be unacceptable."

Pynch-Worthylake says the school tried mediation before suspending him. However, she says the student seems set in his ways and is being defiant. The superintendent says she is exploring a mediated approach that respects the rights of everyone involved.

BREAKING: Keji Park Hit With Job Cuts

Eleven jobs will be affected at Kejimkujik National Park as part of cuts within Parks Canada. The cuts are part of deficit reduction obligations announced in the federal budget. Lynda Frank is a spokesperson for Parks Canada here in Nova Scotia.

"It will be a combination of a reduction, voluntary retirements and seasonal adjustments. And our level of service during the shoulder seasons will be reduced, and again to align with our visitations levels in the spring and fall when fewer people are visiting the park."

Along with the affected jobs, visitor facilities will be closed during the winter months. But the park will continue to have full access during the summer. Meanwhile, there will also be two positions affected at Fort Anne National Historic site in Annapolis Royal for the same reasons.

SSRSB Hires Deloitte Inc. To Develop Assessments

A familiar name will help the local school board in its school review process. Deloitte Inc., the consulting group that completed an audit which led to the previous board being fired, has been hired to help develop impact assessment reports for the 10 schools up for review. Board member Judith Sullivan-Corney says they hired the consulting firm to help make sure it was a smooth process.

"We heard from focus groups that the study committees needed to have some help and that there was a distrust about the information that had come from the school board, so, therefore what I was trying to do was to open up the process so the school advisory committees received their impact assessment information as early as possible."

The group was selected out of two applicants through a call for proposals on the provincial government website. Deloitte is in the early stages of meeting with respective principals as well as the chair of each advisory committee. Deloitte is considered one of Canada's leading professional services firms that provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services. The group will wrap up its analysis and make its recommendations to the new school board next February.

Home Building Centre Wins Top Prize

A local hardware store in Bridgewater has been given national recognition. Buck's Home Building Centre is one of twenty stores across Canada to win the company's "Proud Of My Home Award". The award looks at over a thousand Home Hardware stores and gives the prize to those with the high standards in retailing, performance and other areas. Store owners Janice and Brian Buck were awarded at a ceremony in St. Jacobs, Ontario. Brian says they're very proud of the staff they have.

"We keep keep hiring staff with the right attitude, that enjoy working with consumers, and then having a training program in place that we can continue to ensure that they're gaining knowledge on product and emphasize customer service"

The Bucks have owned the store and it's thirty four employees for over 11 years. This is the second time they've won the award.

Tense Moments In Shag Harbour

Lobster fishermen in Shelburne County who continue to catch -- despite a strike -- were met with hostility in Shag Harbour today. A group of striking lobster fishermen were at the wharf trying to stop their colleagues from going out on the water for a second day. At least four boats were out in the water early yesterday morning. Last week the Professional Lobster Fishermen's Association called for a strike to force buyers to pay at least $5.50 a pound for their catch. They say a price less than that would make it difficult for them to make a profit. However some fisherman are content with getting $5 a pound. This morning dozens of fishermen who support the strike arrived at the Shelburne County wharf to argue for an expanded strike.

Former Tory MLA Not Seeking Nomination Bid

Carolyn Bolivar-Getson

The Progressive Conservative party will have a new face campaigning in Lunenburg West during the next provincial election. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson has decided not to put her name into the nomination ring. She says her health isn't where it needs to be.

"I know that if I'm going to run for MLA that I need to be 150% and I don't feel that my health is 100% right now."

Bolivar-Getson suffered what she believes was a stroke last November and is still recovering. She says health is her number one priority.

"Toughest decision I think I've ever made because I really enjoy representing the people and I don't want to do something that I cannot commit what I need to commit to do."

Bolivar-Getson previously held the riding between 2003 and 2009. She was defeated by NDP member Gary Ramey in the last provincial election. Bridgewater councillor David Mitchell has announced his intention to seek the nomination.

Former Lieutenant Governor Kinley Passes Away

A former lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia who served as a merchant marine during the Second World War has died. John James Kinley passed away Tuesday at the age of 86. Premier Darrell Dexter says Kinley will be remembered as a respected community member, accomplished businessman and loving family man. Kinley served as president of the family foundry and engineering company in Lunenburg for more than 50 years. He was appointed to the Order of Nova Scotia in 2002 and was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. Kinley was the province's 29th lieutenant governor from 1994 until 2000.

Projected Surplus, Capital Overage Highlight First Bridgewater Budget Meeting

Budget deliberations are underway in the town of Bridgewater. During a public meeting, Director of Finance, Dawn Keizer, projected a $650,000 surplus for the fiscal year ending 2011-12. The surplus is from an unexpected increase in deed transfer tax, reduced spending in snow removal and other areas that came in under budget. Keizer also revealed a $200,000 overage in capital spending from a sewer and sanitation project on Dominion Street. Mayor Carroll Publicover says tapping into the town's reserve funds would help pay off that project.

"It was a long time, over five years from the beginning of that project until now and cost increases over that time have really hurt us but this should be the end of it."

The next public meeting will be held May 7.

Distinguished Flying Cross Recipient Passes Away

Lunenburg County has lost one of its World War II veterans. A memorial service for Douglas Maxwell Cox of Conquerall Mills will be held Saturday after he passed away recently at Fisherman's Memorial in Lunenburg. He was 92. Cox served as navigator in Ferry Command and in Bomber Command based in the United Kingdom. He was also a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down. Cox received the Distinguished Flying Cross, given to an individual for an act or acts of valour and courage or devotion to duty performed while flying in active operations against the enemy. A memorial service and reception will be held at 2pm Saturday at Bridgewater United Church. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.sweenysfuneralhome.com .

Lunenburg: Intersection May Have Been Rushed

The mayor in Lunenburg admits construction on the Green Street/Tannery Road intersection may have been rushed. As a result, the intersection was not built wide enough to properly handle any big rigs, buses or large vehicles. Laurence Mawhinney believes the project was hurried in an effort to get the intersection completed before Bluenose Academy opened. Mawhinney says he'd like to see the issue resolved as soon as possible.

"If there is any work that needs to been done, we can do it maybe as soon as school is out...any work that needs to be done could happen in July and August when the area is not so busy with students and buses. It would be the logical time, in my opinion, if your going to make some changes to do it then,"

The town has already held meetings with MLA Pam Birdsall in hopes the province will help fund some of the costs to widen the road. However, the province has yet to commit any new funding.

Two Queens Councillors Announce Mayoral Intentions

Mervin Hartlen

Two Queens councillors have announced their intentions to replace mayor John Leefe. Mervin Hartlen started on council in 1980 until 1987. He then returned in 2000 after spending time on the school board. Hartlen says he's the right fit for mayor based on his experience.

"I've lived and worked in Queens County for the last 63 years and I think I know the people from my old profession on Nova Scotia Land Surveyor and I know what they want and I know the problems we're going through right now with seniors housing and Bowater and numerous other things and I think I can help solve some of those problems."

Hartlen says he decided to run for mayor once Leefe announced his intention to step down. Owen Hamlin is the other councillor seeking the mayor's seat. Municipal elections will be held October 20.

No Injuries After Dufferin Street Car Fire

No injuries after a car caught fire Monday night in Bridgewater. Fire officials responded to the call at 8:20pm of a car ablaze around 197 Dufferin Street. Chief Wayne Thorburne says it wasn't your typical fire.

"Well, I was talking to the owner and they had just left the parking lot and noticed smoke underneath the driver's seat, so it actually started inside the car and spread very quickly."

Thorburne says roughly 25 firefighters were on scene and had the blaze under control in a matter of minutes. He says there were two or three people in the car when it caught fire.

Bridgewater Exploring Residential And Commercial Tax Decrease

The town of Bridgewater is considering lowering its residential and commercial tax rates. Council discussed the option Monday night during the first of three budget meetings. The option would decrease the residential rate from almost $1.67 per 100 of assessment to $1.65. It would also drop the commercial rate from $4.05 to $3.99. Councillor Bill McInnis proposed the idea. He says it would be a step in the right direction.

"Will this be the cure for bringing business to the town of Bridgewater? Probably not. But at least we'll be able to say we're moving in the right direction and I'd like to see it move a lot further. Our town has seen significant growth over the last five, six and seven years and I think it's time we pay back a little dividend to the business sector, as well as the residents in our town."

The public will have another chance to have their say on the proposed budget May 7.