Blandford Man Faces Charges For Stealing From Vehicles

A 26-year-old Blandford man is facing charges of stealing from motor vehicles and trespassing following an early morning spree in Middle Sackville. Halifax RCMP tracked the man for up to two hours this morning after reports of thefts from vehicles. The incidents were linked between Lucasville Road and Exit 2A on Highway 101. The man was taken into custody and is facing 12 charges relating to the arrest.

Boudreau Remembers Slain Daughter

It's been nearly five years since Karissa Boudreau was murdered by her mother in a case that made headlines across the country. And after year's of grieving, the girl's father is speaking out about his 12-year-old daughter. Paul Boudreau says the pain will never go away, but adds focusing on good memories helps each day. However, like any parent who has lost a child, Boudreau has his ups and downs.



One avenue that has helped Boudreau get over his loss has been the Karissa Boudreau Memorial Pet Food Drive, which has raised thousands of dollars over the last five years for local animal shelters and programs. He says communities like Bridgewater have really come together and supported the fundraising initiative. The 40-year-old Shelburne County native says he has fond memories of his daughter, and will always remember his daughter's joy around Christmas.



Penny Boudreau is serving a life sentence in prison with no chance of parole for 20 years in relation to Karissa's death.

Third Suspect In Confinement Case Elects Supreme Court Trial

A Lower Sackville man will face a judge and jury in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in connection with the alleged confinement of a 16-year-old boy in Upper Chelsea. The election was entered by the lawyer for 63-year-old John Leonard MacKean, who did not appear at a hearing today in Bridgewater provincial court. MacKean, who is charged with sexual assault and prostitution related offence is scheduled to appear for a preliminary inquiry on July 25. He was arrested in November at a hotel in Fredericton. Police launched an investigation in September after a woman reported that a barefoot and shackled teen had shown up on her doorstep seeking help. David James LeBlanc also faces seven charges in the case and is to return to court in April for a preliminary inquiry.

Brrrr! Baby! Its Cold Outside!

Its a mid-winter reality check as temperatures all across the region dip to minus double-digit figures. Here on the South Shore, temperatures could reach minus 29 overnite tonight, when the wind chill is factored in. Daytime "highs" tomorrow won't be much more than that either! Schools in northwestern New Brunswick are closed today because of the cold. In Grand Falls, the wind chill factor hit minus-36 at 10 o'clock this morning. Wind-chill warnings are in effect all across the Maritimes with northern Nova Scotia, all of New Brunswick, P-E-I and western Labrador feeling the most cold. Expect these kind of temperatures right into the weekend before it warms up on Monday.

Third Suspect In Confinement Case Due In Court

A 63 year-old man allegedly connected to the sexual assault and confinement of a teenage boy in Upper Chelsea is due in court this morning. John MacKean of Lower Sackville is facing a charge of sexual assault and another prostitution related offence.  MacKean was arrested in November in relation to the case at a hotel in Fredericton. He is the third suspect charged in the disturbing case where a 16 year-old told police he was held captive and sexually assaulted for about a week last September. Forty-seven year-old David James Leblanc is facing seven charges and will return to court in April for a preliminary inquiry. The third suspect, Wayne Alan Cunningham, was found dead in northern Ontario toward the tail of a nation-wide manhunt.  Charges against Cunningham have been withdrawn.

VIDEO: Police Reveal Seized Weapons From York Street Home

The Bridgewater Police Service revealed the weapons seized from a home on York Street Monday after a pair of schools were put in lock down as a precautionary measure. The man who was arrested at the scene, 37-year-old, Sheldon Earl Bowers, is facing seven charges including uttering threats to cause death, unsafe storage of firearms and federal drug charges. He will remain in custody until his next court appearance on January 30.

Lunenburg Councillor Upset With Flyer Distribution

A councillor in Lunenburg is upset with a Halifax company over flyer distribution. Peter Zwicker says he has written The Chronicle Herald to persuade its drivers to deliver flyers to the door instead of throwing them onto driveways and yards from their vehicles. Zwicker says it's an issue mainly in nNew Town, not Old Town.



Zwicker says council dealt with the concern a few months ago but it has since gotten worse. He hopes the company will take responsibility and fix the issue.

Seven Charges Laid After Schools Locked Down

A 37 year-old man will remain in custody until his next court appearance after police found a large cache of weapons inside a home near two schools in Bridgewater. Sheldon Earl Bowers is facing multiple drug and weapons related offences after police searched his home on York Street. Town police say the search uncovered eight long guns, including shotguns, rifles and an assault-style weapon. Officers say they also found marijuana and cocaine inside the home. Crown attorney Leigh-Ann Bryson says the accused is facing seven charges in total.



Bridgewater Elementary School and the nearby high school were locked down for more than an hour Monday after police warned school officials about a potential threat to the community. Bowers will return to court on January 30th.

Couponers Beware: You Could Be Scammed

The Better Business Bureau has a warning for South Shore consumers looking to save money by gathering on-line coupons. It says beware of scammers! Yes, even they are trying to cash-in on the coupon-craze. Scam coupon sites often ask for your contact information. You need to make a purchase, but you hope to save money by finding a coupon online. A Google search turns up dozens of websites. Most of the online coupons promise a modest 10%-15% discount. But one offers a significantly better deal: 50% off your purchase. You click the link, and the website looks official. It uses the logo of the business. It asks you to enter your email address and telephone number, promising that your coupon will be sent to you. Jill Atkinson of the Better Business Bureau says "bait and switch" is big among scammers who are trying to get your info to sell to others.




Atkinson says avoid anything that seems suspicious and if you have questions, contact the Atlantic Better Business Bureau.

Police Seize Rifles, Shotguns & Drugs From York Street Home

A 40-year-old Bridgewater man remains in custody following an arrest yesterday at his York Street home. Police chief John Collyer confirms a search of the man's home found a large number of weapons including eight long guns ranging from shotguns to rifles including an assault-style weapon. Collyer also says they found marijuana and cocaine inside the home and have dismantled a grow-op. The Bridgewater Elementary School and the nearby high school were locked down for more than an hour yesterday because the man's home is located just a few blocks away. The man has not been formally charged but police expect him to appear in court later this afternoon.

Early Budget Talk Reveals Potential Deficit In Bridgewater

It's still early in the town of Bridgewater's budget talks for 2013-14, but there's preliminary talks of a deficit. The town's director of finance indicated a potential $1.1-million shortage if the projected numbers are maintained. But, the mayor says there's still plenty of information to gather before the budget is approved in the spring. He expects it to be tough to balance.



Some suggestions from councillors to crawl back the debt includes asking town departments for as much as a 10 per cent cutback in costs. More public budget meetings will be held in early February.

Bridgewater Man Arrested During School Lockdowns

A 40 year-old Bridgewater man has been arrested after two schools were put under lock down this afternoon. Bridgewater police received a call around 11:30 this morning about a distraught man who was allegedly threatening other people. Chief John Collyer say the man will undergo a mental health assessment and charges are pending. Bridgewater Elementary School and Bridgewater Junior-Senior High School were locked down at the request of local police due to the potential threat in the community. Collyer says the man gave himself up after exiting his home.



He says police seized a firearm from the man's house at 201 York Street - located just down the street from both schools. Police have not released the man's name and would not confirm if shots were fired. The lock down began around lunch time and lasted for more than an hour.

BREAKING: Arrest Made In Relation To Lockdown

Police have made an arrest after two schools were put under lock down in Bridgewater. Officers arrested a man at a house on York Street. Bridgewater high school and elementary were put under lock down shortly after lunch due to a possible threat in the community. An official with the South Shore Regional School Board told our Newsroom the schools were both put under lock down as a precautionary measure. Police say students and staff are all safe. Parents of students attending Bridgewater Elementary are being asked to pick up their children at the NSCC - Lunenburg Campus. The Bridgewater Police Service is holding a press conference to brief media on the situation.

BREAKING: Bridgewater Schools Under Lockdown

Two Bridgewater area school's are under lock down. Police confirm Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School and the neaby elementary school were ordered to undergo the procedure shortly after lunch. CKBW and HANK FM's Nick Yorston says police have not revealed the reason for the lock down.



Students from Bridgewater Elementary are being relocated to the NSCC - Lunenburg Campus. Police have the situation under control. We will have more on this developing story as information becomes available.

Duckworth Finishes 10th At Snowboard World Championships

Kingsburg's Alex Duckworth was the lone Canadian to crack the top 10 over the weekend at the FIS Snowboard World Championships in Quebec. Duckworth finished in 10th place in the women's halfpipe, her career best finish at the major event. The 26-year-old is competing in several world cup events this year to try and reach the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Memorial Pet Food Drive Raises $1740 For Local Groups

It was a successful final year for the Karissa Boudreau Memorial Pet Food Drive. One of the organizers, Tracy Daniels, says Shaid Tree Animal Shelter received four heaping shopping carts of food and supplies. She says the Trap Neuter Release program also received a full cart of cat food and $1740 in cash from donations and t-shirt sales. Daniels hopes people will continue to donate to local animal shelters and programs.

Grief Counselors Help Students In Petite Reviere

Grief counselors will be working with students at Petite Riviere Elementary today. Nine year-old Olive Moore was a student at the school and was killed after she was hit by a van backing up in a driveway on Saturday. The girl was taken to South Shore Regional Hospital where she later died from her injuries. A 30 year-old woman from Mount Pleasant was arrested for impaired driving but was released from custody on Sunday. No charges have been laid. RCMP say their investigation is ongoing.

Mounties ID Young Girl Killed In Driveway

Lunenburg RCMP have released the name of a young girl killed during an incident in a driveway in Pleasantville on Saturday. Nine-year-old Olive Moore of Mount Pleasant died as a result of injuries sustained when she was struck by a van that was backing up. A 30-year-old Mount Pleasant woman was arrested for impaired driving. She has been released from police custody and the investigation is ongoing. No charges have been laid against the woman.

Yarmouth: RCMP Find Drugs During Traffic Stop

Texting while driving has landed a Yarmouth man in hot water. RCMP say a 32 year-old was pulled over because he was seen texting while driving last Thursday. However, a strong smell of pot was coming out of the vehicle during the traffic stop. A search of the vehicle turned up more than a few text messages as neatly a half kilogram of marihuana was discovered inside the vehicle. Police made the find on Highway 1 in Hebron. The man is facing possession and trafficking charges. He's due in Yarmouth court in April. 

New Police Community Response Unit Created

The Bridgewater Police Service has a new community response unit. The Board of Police Commissioners for the town and the Bridgewater Police Association have signed on to the one-year pilot project. The unit is expected to be focused on crime prevention and enforcement of community issues like break and enters or speeding. Constable Will Creamer says the new unit makes sense strategically and financially.


Creamer says the unit will be made of of three constables to start, with room to add a fourth member. He says the unit's goal is to enhance the level of police service to the town.