South Shore Health Bracing For Funding Freeze

The CEO for South Shore Health says they're anxiously awaiting their budget targets, after the province's health minister revealed all districts should be prepared for a funding freeze. Peter Vaughan says it's no real surprise because the health-care system is feeling pressure across the country with an aging population with more chronic diseases. Vaughan says the health authority has to be as efficient as possible, and look where they can trim some costs.



Vaughan says they have to start thinking differently about how they're delivering service. Health care funding represents about 40 per cent of provincial spending, or about $3.8-billion. The spring budget will be announced April 4.

Chester Warden: South Canoe Emotional Experience

Councillors in Chester have given the green light to a $200 million wind farm in Lunenburg County. A motion to enter into a development agreement  for the South Canoe Wind Project was approved in a 6-1 vote. The only vote against came via New Ross councillor Tina Connors.  Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power are behind the project which would feature 34 turbines stretching between Vaughan and New Russell. Chester Warden Allen Webber says the project has created division within the municipality.



The wind farm would stretch over 3,000 hectares and be known as the largest wind energy project in Nova Scotia. The turbines are expected to generate enough power for 32,000 homes, create 100 jobs during construction. It's expected the project will come online late in 2014.

UPDATED: Chester Council Approves Wind Project

Councillors in Chester have given thumbs up to a $200 million wind farm between Vaughan and New Russell. It was a 6-1 vote in favour of entering into development agreement with the three proponents behind the South Canoe Wind Project. The only vote against came via New Ross councillor Tina Connors, who felt the turbines would be too close to homes. Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power want to build 34 turbines over 3,000 hectares in Lunenburg County. It would be known as the largest wind energy project in Nova Scotia. The turbines are expected to generate enough power for 32,000 homes and create 100 jobs during construction which will begin this year. It's expected the turbines will be turned on late in 2014.

Youth In Custody Following Break-Ins

The Bridgewater Police Service has one youth in custody after a number of break and enters into out buildings and motor vehicles late last month. Members of the service's Community Response Unit used a combination of monitoring areas of town with an unmarked cruiser, along with foot patrol throughout the nights. Officers made their first arrest of a male youth shortly after 3am Wednesday. Police have recovered some of the property stolen and remind the public to lock doors to buildings and vehicles.

South Shore Groups Receive Mental Health Grants

Two South Shore groups are among 23 organizations receiving new provincial grants to help people living with mental illness and addictions. Lunenburg West MLA and ministerial assistant for Health and Wellness, Gary Ramey, released details of Together We Can, the province's mental health and addictions strategy. The South Shore Improving Partnerships Advisory Committee is getting a one year grant worth $45,000 to build a community health network to help improve the quality of care for people with dementia, addictions and mental illness, and support their families and caregivers. The Split Rock Learning Centre Association in Yarmouth will receive $29,000 until 2015 as a three-year grant.

Unfair To Chop More Health Care Dollars: PC Health Critic

More belt tightening awaits South Shore Health and the other 8 health authorities across the province and the IWK Health Centre. The Dexter government has sent out a warning to prepare to pare more from their budgets. PC Health critic Chris d'Entremont of Argyle says enough is enough. He says there's litttle left to be cut as it is! He says: "If you're asking the district health authorities to make due with what they have is quite honestly creating a deficit situation for them because of the different things they have to spend on whether its wages or whether its other contracts they have over longer terms." d'Entremont fears cuts to services might result. Health-care funding represents about 40 per cent of provincial spending, or about 3.8-billion dollars.

MacKinnon Returns, Nets Pair In Mooseheads Win

Nathan MacKinnon didn't miss a beat. After missing 14 games because of an MCL injury, the Cole Harbour native potted two goals and two assists last night in Sydney as the Halifax Mooseheads dumped Cape Breton 6-2. Linemate Jonathan Drouin chipped in with a goal and two assists to tie Ben Duffy of PEI for the "Q" scoring lead.    

MHL: Crushers Eliminate 'Jacks In Blowout

The Lumberjacks' season is over. The Bridgewater club fell 7-1 to the Pictou County Weeks Crushers last night in New Glasgow. The Crushers took the best of three MHL mini series two games to none. Jessie McInnis scored early to give the Jacks a 1-0 lead and the clubs were tied 1-all after the first. But the home side broke things open with three goals in the middle stanza and they kept the pedal to the metal in the third. The Jacks were out shot 48-25. Pictou moves on to face Truro while Amherst and Yarmouth will hook up in the division semi finals.

Carver Returning Home After Double-Lung Transplant Surgery

A New Germany woman is returning to the South Shore after recovering from double-lung transplant surgery. Thirty-three year old Jessica Carver will begin the drive home Thursday from Toronto with her father, three months after surgery in mid-December. Carver has Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disorder which critically affects the lungs, and also the pancreas and liver. She says there's mixed emotions with leaving.




Carver says she experienced some rejection with her new lungs, but adds, it's common in the first year and took medication to help the issue. She says she's looking forward to coming home after spending the last nine months in Ontario. She hopes to get back in Nova Scotia by late Friday and expects to visit the South Shore early next week. A 'Welcome Home' event is planned for Carver on April 6 at 7:30pm at the Michelin Social Club in Bridgewater.

MODL: 'No Stance' On Proposed Blockhouse Facility

The deputy mayor for the Municipality of Lunenburg says council doesn't have a stance on a proposed construction and demolition diversion facility in the Blockhouse-area. Don Zwicker says there is a process items must go through before they reach the council table. Halifax C and D Recycling has applied for a development agreement for property off the Cornwall Road near Exit 11. Zwicker says he questions some people who feel this will be a 'waste' facility.



Business owners in the area are concerned because they feel the facility shouldn't be located near a new visitor information centre and will flood the area with more vehicle traffic and pollution. Another meeting on the matter is planned for next month.

Multiple Charges Laid In Relation To Stolen Vehicle

A Lunenburg County man is facing six charges after he was pulled over on King Street. Police say their community response unit was following up with concerns of speeders when they made the stop Monday in Bridgewater. Blake Bishop has been charged with impaired driving, driving without a license and breach of probation. During their investigation Bridgewater police also determined the accused was driving a stolen vehicle. He is also facing charges in relation to those allegations. Bishop will remain in custody until his next court appearance on March 18th.

Lumberjacks Face Must-Win Scenario In Pictou

It's do or die tonight for the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks. The local Junior 'A' hockey club head out on the road tonight with their season hanging in the balance. The Pictou County Weeks Crushers are up one game to none in the best of three MHL mini series and will look to put away the Jacks. Bridgewater hopes to pull out a win and force a winner take-all showdown on Thursday. Tonight's contest is a 7 o'clock start at the Pictou County Wellness Centre in New Glasgow.

Town Receives Few Responses On Upcoming Budget

A dismal number of people have provided the town of Bridgewater with responses to this year's budget input survey. The town's strategic initiatives coordinator told council that only 317 people participated in the survey, out of a population of just over 8,200. That represents roughly four per cent of the town's population. Mayor David Walker says the numbers are low, but its a good first step.



Some of the budget questions dealt with taxes and town services. The feedback is expected to help assist council in their budget deliberations this year. Council has scheduled a meeting for next Monday night at 6pm  in council chambers to discuss the capital and operating portions of the upcoming budget. The meeting is open to the public.

Pub In the Works For Riverport

An application has been presented to the Municipality of Lunenburg to develop a pub in Riverport. Local resident Peter Knowles has submitted the document for a development agreement to build 'The Heron Pub and Marina' at 30 Lower LaHave Road. A letter to the municipality reveals the building space would be roughly 3000 square feet. Deputy mayor and councillor for the Riverport-area, Don Zwicker, says it would be a nice addition to the community.



Council has sent the matter to the area advisory committee for review and recommendation.

RCMP Charge Valley Man After Weekend Incident

A New Minas man is facing 14 charges after an incident over the weekend in Kings County. RCMP were notified about a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of the road near Berwick Sunday morning. In a media release, police say they spotted two men using cocaine when they located the vehicle. The car drove off in an effort to escape police. During the pursuit, the passenger jumped out and was arrested soon after. The driver kept on going but was later arrested as a gas station in Kingston. Police say 34 year-old Mark Walter Harris will remain in custody until his next court appearance on Wednesday. He's facing a slew of charges including assaulting a police officer, uttering threats, impaired driving and fleeing police.

Museum Officials Hope To Attract More People In 2013

The director of the DesBrisay Museum feels they can do a better job in attracting more people to the historic facility. Over 4,000 people visited the museum in Bridgewater in 2012. Commission member Peter Oickle believes they have a responsibility to the town.




The museum also received 184 new artifacts last year that reflect the towns history and generated $97,000 in additional revenue. It is one of the oldest community museums in Canada. For more on the museum, you can click here .

Watch Out For Deceptive Winning Letters In Mail!

A warning's been issued for South Shore residents to be suspicious if they get a letter in the mailing claiming they've won a big UK or North American sweepstakes jackpot. Jill Atkinson of the Better Business Bureau says the phoney letters look very authentic, especially the $3,750. cheque from Sunlife Assurance. She tells us: "they look like the real cheque that you would receive and of course they use the SunLife Assurance Company of Canada name and logo. People recognize that and so its a very deceptive cheque." Atkinson says the letter requests the receiver send money to retrieve the jackpot. It turns out, the cheque supposedly from Sunlife is worthless and any money sent to the address provided is gone for good! Atkinson says anyone receiving the letter and accompanying cheque should report it right away to police or the Better Business Bureau.

The BBB Suggests the following:

>  Check out the business with the BBB first.

> Don’t ever agree to pay anything upfront to collect winnings.

> Do not agree to wire money, send a cheque, bank account information or personal information to any unknown person or firm.

> It is impossible to win a lottery when you haven’t bought a ticket.

> Be wary if the letter contains a list of well-known company names that they claim are part of the sweepstakes.

> Be wary if the letter comes by bulk mail.

> Be wary if there is a rush to reply to the letter.

Lumberjacks Squander Three Goal Lead; Lose To Pictou

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks squandered a 3-0 lead on route to a 5-3 loss to the Pictou County Weeks Crushers in game one of the MHL's mini-series. Shawn Boudreau, Shaun MacEachern and Luc Ramey all scored first period goals while captain Michael Crawley chipped-in with two assists. Crawley says the club took too many penalties and paid the price.



Billy Clarke made 39 saves in nets for the Lumberjacks. They will try and tie the series Wednesday night in Pictou County.

Business Owners Concerned About Waste Facility In Blockhouse

A proposed waste facility in Blockhouse is being met with some resistance from business owners. Halifax C and D Recycling has applied for a development agreement off the Cornwall Road near the new visitor information centre. One owner, Nancy Wentzell, believes there's too many negatives to consider including increased volume of trucking, smell and noise pollution. Meanwhile, Doug Johnson owns the Happy Cooker restaurant. He believes land near the community recycling site in Whynott's Settlement is a better option.



Johnson says he'd rather see the municipality lease the current site to the company as a transfer point to help recover taxpayer money. The local advisory committee deferred making a decision on the application and will re-visit the matter early next month.

Liverpool Fire Department Replacing Ladder Truck

The Liverpool Fire Department is replacing its current ladder truck with one from Chicago. Officials asked Queens council to borrow some $79,000 to purchase the 1998 model vehicle, to replace the current ladder truck of over 30 years. Council decided to amend a previous loan with the group to include $59,000, and also surprised the department members with a $20,000 grant. Mayor Chris Clarke says the grant should cover the cost of shipping the truck to Liverpool.



Clarke says the money comes from reserves and the truck will be able to service the whole county.