Updated: Red Cross Helps Family After Fire Destroys Home

The Canadian Red Cross has stepped-in and provided emergency lodging after fire destroyed a home Tuesday afternoon in Midville Branch. The blaze started around 1:30pm along the Upper Branch Road. A woman and the family’s pet dog escaped unhurt.  The woman's husband was at work in Bridgewater while their two kids were in school at the time of the blaze. Five fire departments including Midville, Hemford, Bridgewater, Northfield and Tri-District responded to the call. Fire officials say the blaze appeared to start in the basement and spread quickly, but the cause is under investigation.

Lumberjack Forward Butterworth Drafted Into USHL

One of the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks top rookies has been drafted in the United States Hockey League. Jeremy Butterworth was taken in the fifth round, 73rd overall by the Fargo Force of North Dakota. The 17-year-old enjoyed a standout season with the Lumberjacks, notching 42 points in 45 games. Butterworth says he's looking forward to the opportunity.



He says the USHL is known to produce hockey players to the NCAA and Butterworth adds, it's been a goal of his to play college hockey since he was about 10-years-old. Tryouts for the club will be held this summer.

United Way Of Lunenburg County Celebrates Million Dollar Mark

The coordinator for the United Way of Lunenburg County says people have two reasons to come to a event being held Wednesday in Bridgewater. The group is celebrating its 10th anniversary, but it's also marking its $1-millionth dollar invested in the community. Michael Graves says it's a major accomplishment.



He says the United Way of Lunenburg County gave out just over $180,000 this year to 32 groups. The event will be held from 9:30 until 11:30am Wednesday at the Bridgewater Days Inn.

Police Chief: Drug Drop-Off Day "A Success"

It's considered a good first step by police and mental health officials concerned about pills getting into the wrong hands. Bridgewater held their first prescription drug drop-off day over the weekend, and collected just over 6,600 pills. Police Chief John Collyer says among the old and unused meds were roughly 500 pills commonly found in the town including hydromorphones. He says they're pleased with the turnout.



Collyer says from what he's heard, Bridgewater had some of the best results across the province. He's hoping the event will expand further down the South Shore next year.

Fire Leaves Two People Homeless

A fire in Windsor has left two people homeless. It happened Monday  evening. A woman and her teenage daughter escaped injury as the blaze extensively damaged their apartment at 1011 Burgess Crescent in the town. They're receiving help with emergency lodging, clothes and food from the Red Cross. Other tenants in the 24-unit building were evacuated while the fire was put out and the smoke ventilated. They were later allowed back in. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.

Local Winery Expansion Gets Federal Boost

A New Ross-based winery is getting a financial boost from the federal government. A $150,000. repayable loan is being given to Muwin Estate Wines to help with its expansion. South Shore-St. Margarets MP Gerald Keddy says the money will also support the purchase of new equipment to help the company meet increasing export demands for its products in Asia, including China, South Korea, and Taiwan. The company has also sold small quantities to the Netherlands and Nigeria. Keddy says the wine industry is quickly becoming a major economic driver for the province and continues to expand.

Bridgewater Approves 2013-14 Budget

The town of Bridgewater has approved its 2013-14 budget, agreeing to hold the line on its tax rates. Council kept the residential rate at $1.65 per 100 of assessment and the commercial rate at $3.99 after lowering both last year. Members also gave a green light to a capital budget of just over $3-million and an operating budget of $18.7-million. Mayor David Walker believes it is a sound budget.



The budget was unanimously approved by council.

Mounties Investigate Barrington Fire

Mounties say an early morning fire in Barrington last week is suspicious. The fire took place on Villagedale Road and was reported around 2am on Friday. Police say no one was living at the home - which has been destroyed. In an email, RCMP Sergeant MJ DeLuco stated evidence at the scene suggests the fire was deliberately sparked. Several fire departments in Shelburne County responded to the fire. No injuries were reported.

South Shore Volunteer, Association Recognized By Hockey NS

A local volunteer with the CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks and Western Nova Hockey Association has been recognized for his efforts. Hockey Nova Scotia held its annual awards banquet over the weekend and selected Devan Naugler as its recipient of the Jed Ritcey Award for volunteer of the year. The 36-year-old from Newcombville says he's volunteered for about 10 years. Naugler says it's nice to be honoured.



He credits several other volunteers for helping him win the award. The South Shore Minor Hockey Association was also recognized, receiving the Lauchie MacIsaac Award for Association of the Year.

Triple Gold For Bridgewater Badminton Club

The Atlantic Junior Badminton Championships were held in Truro over the weekend with more than 170 players competing for titles in Under 12, Under 14, Under 16 and Under 19 age classifications. Several members of the Bridgewater Junior Badminton Club participated in this event and swatted their way to outstanding results. Sara Hirtle won the gold medal in U14 girls singles and Olivia Bazot brought home gold medals in U12 girls singles and U12 mixed doubles with partner Trevor Hayne of Antigonish. Medals were also awarded to Joshua Fortin who placed 1st in the consolation round of U12 boys doubles with partner Trevor Hayne of Antigonish and to Rielle Doucette and Catherine Talbot who placed 1st in the consolation round of U12 girls doubles. Catherine Talbot also placed 2nd in the consolation round of U12 girls singles and won the Yonex True Sport Fair Play Award for outstanding sportsmanship.

RECAP: Final Minutes Of Mooseheads President Cup Win

The Halifax Mooseheads erased 19 years of close calls and missed opportunities by winning their first President Cup Friday night with a 5-1 win over Baie-Comeau in game five of the best-of-seven series. The Mooseheads will now play in the Memorial Cup in Saskatoon from May 17-26. This video is from an upper bowl perspective.

More Impressive Numbers For Chelsea Whalen

Another great weekend for Liverpool native and Florida State junior Chelsea Whalen. She continued her breakout season at the Georgia Tech Invitational with career-best marks in both the shot-put and javelin.
For the third consecutive meet, Whalen improved her own school record in the shot-put with a mark of 16.45 meters, which was good for a second place finish. She then followed-up with a huge personal-best in the javelin, 48.85 metres, which was good for the win. Whalen is tied for seventh among shot-putters in the NCAA East and jumped from 16th to ninth in the javelin. She now has a week-off to get ready for the first round of the NCAA qualifiers in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Former South Shore NDP Candidate Leaves Provincial Party

The last candidate to run for the federal NDP in South Shore-St. Margaret's has quit the provincial party. Gordon Earle ran for the New Democrats in the riding from 2004-2011. Earle and his wife have withdrawn their membership from the party because of the provincial government's handling of abuse allegations at the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children. In a letter, Earle says the government is taking too long to respond positively and directly to the former residents of the home and feels they are being re-victimized. He was the first black member of Parliament in Nova Scotia. Earle represented Halifax West as an MP from 1997-2000. The province announced late last week an independent panel would address the abuse allegations.

Improvements At Shelburne County Arena Aimed At Seniors

The Shelburne County Arena will soon be more senior-friendly. South Shore-St. Margarets MP Gerald Keddy has announced federal funding to the tune of $25,000 to install accessible washroom facilities at the arena. Funding for the project comes from the New Horizons For Seniors Program. Officials with the Shelburne Arena Association say they'll be able to continue with Old Timer's hockey, senior skating and community events. Since its beginning several years ago, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded more than 12-thousand projects across the country.

Yarmouth Tories Pick Candidate

Yarmouth Progressive Conservatives now have their candidate for the next provincial election. John Cunningham is a municipal councillor and a long-time area resident. He was selected over the weekend at a three-way contested nomination meeting. In his acceptance speech, Cunningham said he believes the party's plan creates the winning conditions for economic success: lower taxes, responsible government spending and less waste, and will lead to more jobs and relief for the family budget. PC Leader Jamie Baillie was guest speaker at the meeting. He said: “John's experience as a Councilor will be put to use as he advocates for the people of Yarmouth." Baillie said: “The high-tax plan of the NDP has made life harder for Nova Scotians and Yarmouth will be well served by having someone of John’s experience representing them in the House of Assembly.”

Woman Suffers Minor Injuries After Highway 103 Crash

RCMP say a 71-year-old woman was taken to Halifax hospital following a single vehicle crash on Highway 103. Corporal Scott MacRae says the incident happened around 10:30 Sunday morning between Exits 5 and 6 heading towards Chester. MacRae says its believed the woman lost control of the vehicle after it hydroplaned and went into the ditch. Police say the woman suffered minor injuries.

Tri-County Youth Outreach Program Seeks More Federal Help

A youth outreach program in the Tri-County area has applied to the federal government for continued funding. Its last grant expires at the end of June. Officials at the SHYFT Youth Services Society in Yarmouth hopes its federal funding will be renewed before then so there's no lapse in service to homeless and unemployed youth in Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby  Counties. The chair, Bernadette MacDonald, says they couldn't function without government support.



The provincial government has refused to provide any funding for the project. The latest application to Ottawa, if approved, will assure another 130-thousand dollars for operations until the end of March 2014.

Caps Win, Bearcats Lose At RBC Cup

It was a tale of two different starts for both MHL teams at the RBC Cup in Summerside. The host Western Capitals got off on the right foot, scoring a 5-1 win over the Minnesota Wilderness. In the tournament opener Saturday afternoon, the Truro Bearcats were thumped 7-1 by the Brooks Bandits. The Bearcats are back on the ice this afternoon against the Surrey Eagles. Summerside has an off-day and will play their next game on Monday.

Minor Injuries After Car Goes Into Ditch On Highway 12

Two women were taken to hospital after their vehicle went off the road and into a ditch. The incident occurred around 4:20 Saturday afternoon in Chester Grant. Members of the Chester Basin Fire Department along with RCMP and EHS were called to the scene along Highway 12. Police say the two women were taken to South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater with minor injuries.

Training Courses "Must" For Off-Road Vehicles

The province is reminding ATV, dirt bike and other off-highway vehicles drivers to make sure they take the mandatory safety training course. Natural Resources Minister Charlie Parker says they must also register their vehicles and have liability insurance. All Terrain Vehicle Association of Nova Scotia executive director Barry Barnet, says riders who ignore safety laws give responsible riders a bad name. Off-highway vehicle users also need to remember that laws  against drinking and driving apply to them and they must wear helmets while operating their machines. Some vehicle drivers qualify for exemptions from the training. More details are on the Department of Natural Resources website.