Lady Alers Win Women's Softball League Title

The Lady Alers are the inaugural champions of the South Shore Women's Softball League. The Alers defeated the Vixens 13-3 in the final to be crowned the top club out of the six-team league. League president and Alers member, Renee Roast, says it was a total team effort in the win.



Roast says she is extremely proud of the team and their effort all season. She is hoping to expand the six-team league to eight clubs in 2013.

Former Board Chair Running For School Board

A former chair of the South Shore Regional School Board is running for a seat in this fall's election. Elliott Payzant is running for district one, which covers the entire Region of Queens. Payzant served on the board since 1994 until he was among 12-members fired by the Education Minister last November. He says his 18 years of experience could be a benefit to an eight-person board.



Payzant has also served as the president of the Nova Scotia School Board Association. He feels there needs to be different methods of providing education to students like virtual classrooms because of dwindling budgets. School Board elections will be held October 20.

Chester: Bond Challenges Webber In District 4

The campaign trail in Chester is heating up with just over a month to go before municipal elections. Chester Basin area resident Stephen Bond has announced he will challenge long time councillor and warden Allen Webber in District 4. In an interview with CKBW/HANK FM, Bond feels more support for local businesses is needed to promote growth within the municipality. He also cites the need for a stronger relationship with the provincial government to help with road and street upgrades.



Bond is a small farm operator and is an active member of the Canadian Army Reserve. He says his goal is to present a strong new voice at the council table. Municipal elections will be held throughout the province on October 20th.

Provincial Parks Closing Due To Severe Weather

Provincial beaches, the Shubenacadie wildlife park, day-use and camping parks will be closed to the public because of anticipated weather conditions from tropical storm Leslie. All properties will close by 4pm today, and will remain closed Tuesday. All locations will be re-evaluated for storm damage or safety concerns on a case-by-case basis. Full refunds will be given for camping park reservations cancelled because of the storm. Call 1-888-544-3434 for refunds and further updates about parks and tropical storm Leslie. Off-road trail users are urged to use caution as conditions may deteriorate. For more information on provincial parks, visit http://www.novascotiaparks.ca/ .

Crown Attorney Appointed In Liverpool

Queens County has a new crown attorney. Sharon Goodwin has been appointed to the Liverpool office of the Public Prosecution Service. The Director of Public Prosecutions made the announcement Monday. In a statement, the Director says Goodwin's experience in criminal law will be an asset to the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service. Goodwin is a native of Port Hastings, Inverness County. She graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 2006. Goodwin was in private practice before joining the Antigonish office of Nova Scotia Legal Aid in 2009.

Stomach-Flu Outbreak Closes Roseway Manor

A stomach-flu outbreak has forced the Roseway Manor in Shelburne to temporarily close its doors. Between 10-15 residents have experienced illness since Saturday evening. Administrator Sharon Callan says they closed the manor Sunday.



Callan says the residents have shown improvements since being diagnosed over the weekend. There were no new cases as of Monday morning. The manor is closed to friends and visitors until further notice.

Significant $ Needed To Boost Damaged Business & Tourism: Yarmouth MLA



"Prince of Fundy" Ferry On Yarmouth Run 1970's

The province will help in the search for a private operator for a new ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine. The Dexter government has committed 21 million dollars over several years. However, Yarmouth Liberal MLA Zach Churchill is wondering what can be done to revitalize business and tourism in the region.
It was devastated by the loss of the ferry service more than 3 years ago.



Ottawa hasn't indicated yet if it will provide any funding to help re-establish the ferry service.

Lunenburg County Soccer Teams Do Well At Provincials

It was a very good weekend for the Upper (Lunenburg) County Soccer Club based in New Germany. The Under-12 and Under-14 Girls' teams won silver at the provincials played in Lunenburg County. The Under-14 Boys claimed gold at their provincials played in Dartmouth.

Pee Wee Bulldogs Grab Bronze At Atlantics

Bridgewater has finished third at the 2012 Atlantic Pee Wee Baseball championships. The Bulldogs topped a Metro squad 10-7 in yesterday's bronze medal game at St. John's, Newfoundland.

Lumberjacks Drop Decision To Shipbuilders

In MHL exhibtion action yesterday in Dartmouth the Metro Shipbuilders dumped the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks 6-2. The contest was tied at 2 midway through the second period before Metro scored four unanswered goals. The Jacks finish their pre season with a 2-2 recprd and play their regular season home opener this Friday night against Yarmouth.

RCMP Investigate Fire On Cape Sable Island

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of a residential fire in Centreville. Barrington RCMP say the blaze was reported at a mobile home on Saturday night around 9:30PM. The trailer was fully engulfed when emergency crews arrived at the home located on Cape Sable Island. Mounties say no one was injured and the home was completely destroyed. The provincial fire marshal's office has been called in to investigate.

Federal Funds Benefit Astor Theatre In Liverpool

It's a boost for those who enjoy the artistic scene at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool. The federal government has invested $20,000 in the Astor Theatre performing arts series "This is Canada". MP Gerald Keddy made the announcement in a media release last week. Keddy says the funds will help promote live performances and experiences on the South Shore. The "This is Canada" series will feature different shows by a variety of professional artists from four provinces and parts of the North. The money be spread out over the next two years and help attract new talent to the theatre and expose their audiences to a wider genre of performances.

MHL: Jacks Prepare For Final Pre-Season Tune-Up

In MHL pre-season action last night in Yarmouth the Mariners topped the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks 6-4. Playing his first game this year Lumberjack Luc Ramey was the first star with two goals and two assists. The Jacks play their final exhibition contest today at 12:30 at the Dartmouth Sportsplex against the Metro Shipbuilders.

Bulldogs Look For Solid Finish At Atlantics In NFLD

The Bridgewater Bulldogs can place no higher than third at the 2012 Atlantic Pee Wee Baseball championships in St. John's, Newfoundland. Fredericton scored the game's only run in the bottom of the seventh to edge Bridgewater 1-0 in last night's semi final.  The Bulldogs will face Lower Sackville in the bronze medal game this morning.

Bulldogs Advance To Semi-Finals at Atlantics

Bridgewater has advanced to the semi finals at the Atlantic Pee Wee Baseball championships. The Bulldogs scored early and often as they dumped the host team from St. John's, Newfoundland 8-2 this afternoon. Bridgewater will face Fredericton in the semis tonight. The gold medal game goes tomorrow.

NDP Ferry Service Support Is Political Hay Making: Yarmouth Liberal MLA

Zach Churchill

The Nova Scotia government has antied-up 21 million dollars to re-launch a ferry service that once linked Yarmouth and Portland, Maine. Premier Darrell Dexter made the announcement this morning, three years after his government effectively killed the service by cancelling a six-million dollar annual subsidy. The premier says the money will be provided over a seven-year period on the condition a private operator can be found to run it. Yarmouth Liberal MLA Zach Churchill says he's happy to see this issue move forward finally. He questions the timing though.



The premiers's announcement this morning came after the release of an independent report that concluded the service could be revived with 35 million dollars in public funds and a significant boost in passenger traffic.

NS Government Backs Revived Yarmouth Ferry Service



Premier Darrell Dexter

 A new ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine is not a lost cause according to an independent panel report released this morning. It concludes an initial $35 million in public funds would be needed as well as a significant boost in passenger traffic to ensure the service is viable. However, the provincial government is adding its support to a new service with premier Darrell Dexter saying 21 million dollars over 7 years will be committed to the project. The province will also look for a private sector operator. Yarmouth Mayor Phil Mooney says its the best news he's heard in a long time and he's optimistic a ferry service can be up and running by next summer.



The mayor says its now up to the federal government to also make a major committment. He says the local Conservative MP Greg Kerr and Defence minister Peter McKay have already voiced their support. Mooney believes they'll hold weight in any Harper Government discussion on whether to provide financing.

Power Rates: UARB Sides With Electric Co-op

It's decision that will save members of the province's municipal electric co-op millions in unnecessary charges. Nova Scotia Power attempted to apply a $30 million dollar cost recovery charge to keep the five municipal utilities locked into their power grid. However, the Utility and Review Board rejected the request in a ruling handed down yesterday in Halifax. Members of the co-op have been working for the past seven years to secure a cheaper source of power and were caught off guard by NSP's request. The UARB decision means the co-op can proceed with its negotiations with an outside energy producer in an effort to find cheaper power for their residents. The Municipal Electric Co-op is made of independent utilities in the town's of Mahone Bay, Lunenburg, Riverport, Berwick and Antigonish.

Slight Increase In Gasoline Prices

The province's utility and review board has set gasoline prices for the coming week. Only a slight change in some South Shore prices this morning. Regular self serve is up a bit to $1.39 per litre. Thats just under half a cent more than yesterday. High-test is selling for $1.48. Diesel is unchanged at $1.37.1.

Lumberjacks Trim Roster As Season-Opener Nears

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks have whittled down their roster as the regular season looms. The Junior "A" hockey club has sent three players back to their respective Major Midget clubs including Cole Skinner, Riley Strowbridge, and Patrick Duggan.  More players will be released following the Jacks' exhibition games this weekend in Yarmouth and Dartmouth. The Lumberjacks open their regular season a week from tomorrow night when they welcome Yarmouth.