VIDEO: Lumberjacks Fall To Mariners

Defenseman Brandon Leonardo scored the lone goal for the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks in a 4-1 loss to the Yarmouth Mariners. The loss is the fourth in a row for the Lumberjacks, who sit in 5th place in the Eastlink Division. Jordan Lee stopped 28 shots in the loss. Head Coach Terry Rhindress was happy with his team's effort.



The Lumberjacks look to break their current losing skid Friday night when they host the Metro Shipbuilders. Watch below as Brandon Leonardo scores the lone goal for the Lumberjacks.

Campbell Named To Canada East Selection Camp

Colin Campbell

A forward with the Yarmouth Mariners and a goalie with the Metro Shipbuilders highlight four MHL players chosen to be a part of Canada East's selection camp for the 2012 World Junior 'A' Hockey Challenge. Colin Campbell and Anderson Snair will try and crack the roster when the camp opens up October 28 in Toronto. The 19-year-old Campbell has 23 points in 13 games this season for Yarmouth while the 18-year-old Snair is 0-7 with the Shipbuilders, posting a 5.41 goals-against-average. Other MHL players invited include Justin McDonald of the Dieppe Commandos and Brandon Pye of the Truro Bearcats. The camp wraps up November 1 before the team travels to Digby for an exhibition game against Russia November 3. The Challenge gets underway November 5 in Yarmouth. For more details, visit http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php?ci_id=170547&la_id=1 .

Province Searches For Yarmouth Ferry Operator

It's another step toward starting a new ferry service in Yarmouth. The province is working to attract a qualified ferry operator through a transparent and competitive process. A draft request for proposals was issued today to be used in discussions with potential ferry operators. Information gathered will be used for revisions to a formal request for proposals. The new ferry operator will need to meet the requirements set out in the province's aid package and show they will be able to turn the ferry run to Maine into a profitable service. The Nova Scotia government is prepared to commit as much as $21 million over seven years to attract a new long-term cruise ferry operation in Yarmouth.

Greenfield Students Sent Home After Power Outage

Students at Greenfield Elementary were sent home early today after a power outage in the community. Nova Scotia Power reported a car accident caused the outage to roughly 830 residents in the area, as well as Middlefield, LaBelle, and Buckfield. The outage was reported around 12:30pm this afternoon and restored just before 2pm.

Bayview Students Stand-Up To Cyberbullying

A group of students at Bayview Community School are working with the province to help combat cyberbullying. Evan Hennigar, Grace Adams, Maggie Baxter and Connor Zinck have been selected to promote their message through a public awareness campaign. The group of four from Mahone Bay created a video encouraging other students to look past a person's online identity and get to know them. Bayview Principal Craig Pottie says he's proud of the students.



The students will work with a marketing group to develop their campaign later this fall.

Leblanc Case Delayed Until November 14

Nova Scotia Legal Aid will not represent a 47 year-old man charged with kidnapping, sexual assault and forcible confinement. David James Leblanc's court appearance in Bridgewater was brief and quickly set over this morning in order to give him more time to seek private counsel. He is accused of confining and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy last month in Upper Chelsea. Legal aid lawyer Barry Whynot says a conflict of interest handcuffs their ability to represent Leblanc. However, Whynot says their office will help the accused find private representation.



Leblanc is facing seven charges in total and will remain in custody until his next court appearance.  He appeared today in Bridgewater provincial court, three weeks after he was arrested in northern Ontario. He appeared to be in better health but still wore bandages on his frostbitten feet. The matter has been adjourned until November 14th.

School Board, Ex-Teacher Headed To Judicial Review

A judicial review has been scheduled between the South Shore Regional School Board and a former elementary school teacher. The two sides will be in Halifax court Tuesday morning to discuss details around the board's firing of the employee. The teacher plead guilty to one count of willfully engaging in indecent acts in 2009. The court issued a conditional discharge in 2009, but the accused was fired by the local school board because they felt his actions were inappropriate for a teacher. The male teacher is arguing he was unjustly fired by the board and is looking to be re-instated. The review will begin at 11am in Halifax.

Chester Council Will Select New Warden On Nov. 8

The new council in Chester will select their warden by secret ballot on November 8th. Veteran warden Allen Webber successfully retained his District 4 seat in a hard fought victory over newcomer Stephen Bond on Saturday night. Webber will be the favourite to return to the warden's office in Chester. He has held the position for the past 18 years. The new council will feature a mix of veteran and rookie members. Andre Veinotte and Tina Connors are the new faces after election night victory's in their respective districts. Incumbents Brad Armstrong, Floyd Shatford, Bob Myra and Sharon Church Cornelius will round out the remaining seats on council.

VIDEO: Skilled Trades Funding For Forest Heights

A new skilled trades centre is just the start of some major renovations about to begin at Forest Heights Community School. The province has announced the Chester Basin school will also get a new roof, sprinkler system and energy-efficient lighting. The new additions are expected to cost $920,000 as part of the Dexter government's $15-million funding announced for the South Shore in August. Vice Principal John Doucette says the centre and renovations are a benefit for the future.



Forest Heights will be the second South Shore school to have a skilled trades centre. The program will be offered to students next September.

Accused Kidnapper Back In Court On Tuesday

A bail hearing will take place on Tuesday in Bridgewater for a 47 year-old man charged with kidnapping, forcible confinement and sexual assault. David James Leblanc will make his second court appearance since his arrest in northern Ontario earlier this month. Leblanc led police on a week-long man hunt which ended on October 1st when police picked him up on a logging road near Long Lac, Ontario. He is accused of confining and sexually assaulting a 16 year-old boy for over a week in Upper Chelsea. Leblanc is facing seven charges in total and is being held at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth.

Lunenburg Teen Faces Stunting Charge/Fine

RCMP have charged a Lunenburg-area teenager with stunting after he was clocked going 63 kilometres over the speed limit near Exit 12. According to police, the 17 year-old was traveling 163 in a 100 zone along the stretch of Highway 103, near Bridgewater. RCMP say the driver had just recently received his license. If convicted, a stunting charge carries an automatic fine of nearly $2,500.

Newcombville Resident Being Awarded Queens Medal

A local cancer survivor is being rewarded for his work with prostate cancer awareness and Lunenburg County veterans. Dan Hennessey is receiving a Queens Diamond Jubilee medal this weekend. He says he's excited about receiving the honour.



Hennessey helped work on a video involving World War II veterans on the South Shore and has written a book and directed a video promoting the need for men to get checked for prostate cancer. He is expected to accept the medal during a presentation at the Bridgewater Days Inn on Saturday.

Bridgewater: Change In Council And Mayor

Bridgewater residents have voted for change around the council table. Five of the six people elected will be new to the position including Sandra Mailman, Jennifer MacDonald, Wayne Thorburne, Andrew Tanner and Michael Graves. Bill McInnis is the lone incumbent at the council level. Meanwhile, David Walker defeated Gary MacNeil by only 122 votes to claim the mayor's seat. Walker says the people have spoken.



The newly-minted mayor and council will be sworn-in during a ceremony November 5 at Bridgewater town hall.

Town Of Lunenburg: Bailey Defeats Stockton For Mayor

The town of Lunenburg has spoken and elected its first ever woman as mayor. Rachel Bailey won in convincing fashion defeating Ron Stockton by a count of 854 votes to 285. Bailey has spent the last four years as a councillor and deputy mayor in the town. She says she expects some challenges when she takes office.



Bailey says she expects the new council to be proactive in making changes that make sense for the historic community. She will be sworn-in as the new mayor, along with the council during a meeting in November.

New School Board To Be Sworn-In November 14

The former board chair is the lone incumbent to return to the South Shore Regional School Board. Elliott Payzant was re-elected in District 1 to serve the Region of Queens over four other candidates. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Crossland was voted to the board in District 2 along with Cheryl Fougere in District 3, serving the town of Bridgewater. Rounding out the newly-elected board includes Jennifer Naugler in District 4, Elmer Garber in District 5, and Theresa Griffin serving Chester in District 6. The members will be sworn into their new roles during the School Board's meeting November 14.

Beaulieu Out In Clark's Harbour

David Beaulieu is out as a councillor in Clark's Harbour. He finished 25 votes behind Rex Stoddard for the final seat on council. Meanwhile, status quo for mayor as Leigh B. Stoddard was acclaimed. The elected councillors have their name bolded below.

Mayor

Leigh B. Stoddard (acclaimed)


Council

Russell W. Atkinson - 202 

*Sherry Atkinson - 212 

Vaughn R. Atwood - 60

Irene Baker - 332 

*David Beaulieu - 171

Bridget Brannen - 167

*Cecil W. Brannen - 204 

Carter Mitchell Nickerson - 143

Trudy Perry Quinlan - 236 *

*Rex Stoddard - 196

South Shore: Sweeping Changes After 2012 Election

There are some sweeping changes to report from the South Shore after last night's municipal election. Rachel Bailey was elected mayor in Lunenburg after defeating Ron Stockton in convincing fashion.  She will serve as the first female mayor in the historic town following an impressive run by Laurence Mawhinney spanning 33 years. Mawhinney announced his retirement from municipal politics in the summer. Meanwhile, in the most heated race on and off the campaign trail, Don Downe was elected to a second term as mayor for the Municipality of Lunenburg. Downe defeated his opponent Kirk Meisner in landslide fashion by a margin of over 4,000 votes. In Bridgewater, veteran politician David Walker will be sworn in as Bridgewater's new mayor after a hard fought race against challenger Gary McNeil. In Queens, Christopher Clarke will return to the mayor's chair after a 12 year absence from municipal politics. Clarke will take over from outgoing mayor John Leefe. Residents in Shelburne elected Karen Mattatall to serve as their new mayor for the town. Mattatall defeated incumbent Al Delaney for the top job in Shelburne. In Chester, Allen Webber was re-elected in District 4 serving Chester Basin. He will join newcomers Andre Veinotte and Tina Connors on the new council combined with three other incumbents. Brad Armstrong also retained his seat representing residents of the Village of Chester. The new Chester council will select their warden during the next council meeting.

Fresh Start For School Board

The South Shore Regional School Board will only have one incumbent when the members swear-in next month. Elliott Payzant, the board's former chair, was elected by voters in the Region of Queens. Voters chose to select five new people to represent students in the local area. Winners in each district are bolded and in italics.


Electoral District 1 - The entire Region of Queens Municipality (including the Maitland Bridge area of the County of Annapolis in polling District 8.)

Allan Foster 
Clifford 'Butch' MacLeod 
Karen Ohrt 
Elliott Payzant 
Courtney Wentzell 

Electoral District 2 - Municipality of the District of Lunenburg Polling Districts 5, 6, 7,and 9.

Wallace Rex Cross
Elizabeth Crossland
Bob Mertens
Dan Thimot

Electoral District 3 - Town of Bridgewater

Cheryl Fougere
Jerome Tanner

Electoral District 4 - Municipality of the District of Lunenburg Polling Districts 2, 8, 10, 11, and 12.

Fred Daugherty
Brian Eisener
Jennifer Naugler
Karen Reinhardt

Electoral District 5 - Municipality of the District of Lunenburg Polling Districts 1, 3, 4 along with the Town of Mahone Bay and Town of Lunenburg.

Rick Carey
Elmer Garber

Electoral District 6 - All polling districts in the Municipality of the District of Chester.

Theresa Griffin
Warren Laws
Maxwell Rafuse

African Nova Scotian Member of the South Shore Regional School Board - Vernon Simms (acclaimed)

Downe Elected To Second Term In MODL

It was a convincing victory for Don Downe in the municipal election on Saturday night. Downe defeated his opponent, Kirk Meisner in a landslide fashion and will return for a second term as mayor in the Municipality of Lunenburg. The results are listed below for all district seats with several new faces set to appear on the new council including Errol Knickle, Michael Ernst, Claudette Garland, Terry Dory and Carolyn Bolivar-Getson.






Mayor: Total Votes

Don Downe - 5646

Kirk Meisner - 1575


District 1:

Nancy Allen-Rogers - 290

Errol Knickle - 420

Basil Oickle - 196



District 2: 

*Don Zwicker (acclaimed)



District 3: 

*Frank J. Fawson (acclaimed)



District 4:

Michael S. Ernst - 296 

Nancy Wentzell - 260



District 5:

Claudette E. Garland - 388 

Larry Power -188



District 6: 

Wade S. Carver - 281

Terry Dorey - 322

Dave Moore - 129


District 7: 

Cathy Moore - 704

Ron S. Seney - 79


District 8:

Dexter Halliday - 26

Dan Hennessey - 165

John Veinot - 466


District 9:

Carolyn Bolivar-Getson - 298

John Harley -189

Gary Mailman -125


District 10:

*Lee E. Nauss (acclaimed)


District 11: 

*Martin E. Bell (acclaimed)


District 12:  

*Eric Hustvedt (acclaimed)

Residents Vote For Change In Bridgewater

The town of Bridgewater is getting a new look around its council table. Incumbents Patrick Hirtle, Greg Ritcey and Jim Bell will not be around the table for the next four years. Instead, new blood will fill their seats as five of the six positions will be filled with first-time representatives. The mayor's race was also highly contested, but in the end David Walker pulled out the win over Gary MacNeil. Election results are listed below, with those names bolded indicating the elected officials.

Mayor

Gary MacNeil - 1316

David Walker - 1438


Council 

Jim Bell - 961

Beverlee Brown - 876

Michael Graves - 1407

Patrick Hirtle - 1175

Sandra Mailman - 1668

Kevin Marlin - 1075

Jennifer McDonald - 1211

Bill McInnis - 1306

Greg Ritcy - 745

Andrew Tanner - 1480

Wayne Thorburne - 1291

Dennis Woodworth - 918