Shelter Program Hoping To Expand In Bridgewater

An update by a Lunenburg County emergency shelter program reveals they're hoping to grow the service in Bridgewater. Reverend Eric Campbell and Laura Uhlman with Inn from the Cold spoke to council recently about several ideas including advertising space on the town's website to help raise awareness. They are also hoping to have their own shelter instead of using different churches in the county. However, no formal request was made to council. Deputy Mayor Bill McInnis feels one consistent location would be a solution.



This is the fifth year of operation for Inn from the Cold. The officials estimated roughly 30 people used the service over the winter months. However, the group didn't provide any concrete figures.

Province Helps Fund Shelburne Industrial Park Expansion

The Municipality of Shelburne is getting some provincial help to expand the local industrial park. The province is providing $100,000 in economic development funding to help transform 12 hectares in the Shelburne Harbour Industrial Park into lots for marine-sector businesses. The park will add 18 lots, preparing the area for more economic opportunity and new jobs. A longer road along with power, water and sewer services will all be extended to the new lots. Warden Roger Taylor says the project puts the municipality in a position to capitalize on existing opportunities in the marine sector. The industrial park is considered one of the most important pieces of community economic infrastructure in the District of Shelburne.

Shelburne Lobster Festival Is A Go Despite Wet Weather

The annual Shelburne County Lobster Festival is a go .. rain or shine! The popular event begins this evening with a slew of events running all weekend, including the official opening tonight at 6:30 at the Barrington Arena. Anna Kenney is with the organizing committee.



The festival, which runs through Sunday is a celebration of the lobster fishing industry in Shelburne County, often called Canada's Lobster Capital. Besides lots of lobster meals being consumed, there will be sporting events, dances, yard sales, flea markets and a gospel concert.

Bridgewater Relay For Life To Move Indoors

The Bridgewater Relay for Life has decided, to move this evening's activities planned for Kinsmen Field inside to the main building at the South Shore Exhibition grounds.  The leadership co-chair for the Bridgewater Relay for Life, Sarah Sweeny, says all events except the survivor reception at the Bridgewater Anglican Church Hall will be in the main building.  The decision was made this morning in light of the rain and wind thats on the way later today, tonight and tomorrow. As much as 45 mm of rain is forecast for much of the South Shore.

Gas Prices Hold/Diesel Drops

Our Friday morning price check at South Shore gas pumps shows diesel dropping two cents a litre overnight. Its selling today for $1.26.4.  No change in the prices for other grades.  Regular self serve is unchanged at $1.29.1.  High test is selling for $1.38.1 per litre.

Review Process Meetings Underway

The province's Education Minister is holding meetings across the province to talk with school board officials about the school review process. The first meeting was held Wednesday night in Port Hawkesbury, while other meetings are planned for Monday night in Berwick and June 26 in Halifax. Jennex proposed questions to board members including ideas for moving forward, what worked within the process and suggestions for surplus schools. She says responses will help identify changes.



Jennex says the committee is expected to be formed before the end of the month and release its findings by the fall. Some South Shore board members are expected to attend Monday night's meeting.

Back-Up Location Found For Bridgewater Relay For Life

The Bridgewater Relay for Life has a back-up location prepared in case Tropical Storm Andrea tries to ruin the occasion. The group will use the main building at the South Shore Exhibition grounds if weather threatens the event. The leadership co-chair for the Bridgewater Relay for Life, Sarah Sweeny, says the forecast will be the difference-maker.



Sweeny says all events except the survivor reception at the Bridgewater Anglican Church Hall would be in the main building, if the Exhibition grounds are needed. A final decision will be made at 8:30 Friday morning.

New Queens-Shelburne PC Candidate Ready To Stump For Economic Improvements!

The new Progressive Conservative candidate for Queens-Shelburne says he's ready to spearhead a drive to solve some of the economic problems in the area.  Bruce Inglis believes "the fix" is not going to be more large industries like Bowater but, smaller businesses with many of them tied to tourism.  Inglis says much of it hinges on getting the Yarmouth ferry service up and running again.



Inglis intends to campaign for his party in the lead-up to the next provincial election while also continuing as a councillor for the Municipality of the District of Queens.  He will also continue to oversee operations at his financial services business.

Emotional Testimony As Wind Farm Hearing Concludes

A regulatory hearing into a large wind farm proposed near New Ross has wrapped up. Fifteen witnesses testified over the course of the five day hearing. Emery Peters gave an impassioned closing argument yesterday as a hearing into the appeal of the South Canoe wind farm concluded. Peters represents the Friends of South Canoe Lake. The group is opposed to the $200 million dollar wind farm because of unknown health risks and location of turbines. Peters has been vocal about the project from the beginning and feels project is tearing their community apart. Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power are the developers behind the wind farm. The board has 60 days to file its decision.

Mixed Results For Whalen, Wolter At NCAA Championships

A disappointing day for Chelsea Whalen at the NCAA Division-One Track and Field Championships. The Liverpool native finished in 13th place in the javelin, after placing 12th last year. Whalen was hoping for a top eight performance. She will now focus on shot-put on Saturday. Also, Mattias Wolter of Conquerall Mills qualified for the final of the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase. Wolter finished fourth in his heat with a time of eight minutes and 45 seconds. The final will be run on Friday. The event is being held in Eugene, Oregon.

Minor Injuries After Two Vehicle Crash In Marriotts Cove

Three people were taken to hospital early Wednesday evening after a two car collision just outside Chester. RCMP Corporal Gilbert Hiscock says the incident occurred around 5:30 along Highway 3 in Marriotts Cove. He says all three people were taken to local hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Police say the cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Second Wind For Riverport Pub

There's been a turning point for a proposed pub and marina in Riverport. President of the Heron Pub and Marina Association, Peter Knowles, says an anonymous person has stepped forward and helped the group acquire a building on Lower LaHave Road. Knowles adds, they are expected to close the sale of the building on Friday. He says it will help them move forward.

Knowles says there has been a lot of community support for the pub and he hopes to have it up and running in the mid to late fall. The group will have a development agreement meeting with the Municipality of Lunenburg tomorrow night at 7pm in council chambers.

Weather Could Dampen Lunenburg's 260th Anniversary

Organizers preparing Lunenburg's 260th anniversary celebrations this weekend are squaring off against an uncontrollable element, the weather. The forecast is calling for rain for both Saturday and Sunday. It would dampen the town's efforts to hold outdoor concerts on the Lunenburg Waterfront and a barbecue and picnic at St. John's Anglican Church. Coordinator of Special Events, Robin Scott, says they're holding out hope that mother nature will co-operate.



Scott says event planners along with the mayor are expected to meet Thursday to discuss alternative options. A full calendar of events for the rest of this week is below.


JUNE 6
Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Luncheon to commemorate
60th Anniversary of the Dutch Oven Cook Book
Lunenburg Fire Hall, 12:00 pm

JUNE 7
Walking Tour with Sheila Allen - 10:00 am
Bluenose Academy Seahawk Walk - 9:00 am
Mayor’s Address to students - 11:00 am
Bluenose Academy Kite Flying Festival - 12:30 - 2:00 pm ( on sports fields )
Knaut Rhuland House Open House - 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
BCAF Seafood Chowder / Rum Tasting Experience at Capt. Angus Walters House - 5:00 pm
“Let’s Go gardening Lunenburg” nominations open

JUNE 8
Walking Tour with Sheila Allen - 10:00 am
Bluenose Academy Ball Hockey Tournament - Arena, 9:00 am start
International Dory Race Eliminations - Waterfront, 9:00 am - noon
Waterfront Concert with featured guest Garret Mason - Waterfront tent, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Lunenburg’s Birthday Bash with Blue Bay - Community Centre, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am

JUNE 9
Heritage 5km Race - Start at Community Centre, 9:30 am
Fisheries Museum Open House, 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
St. John’s Anglican Church 260th Anniversary Service - 10:30 am
Ecumenical Community Service - 12:00 pm
Community BBQ / Picnic - 12:30 pm
St. John’s Anglican Church Open House until 2:00 pm
Atlanta Boy Choir Concert at St. John’s Anglican Church - 7:30 pm

**Subject to change, depending on the weather**

Forties Road Among Top Finishers In Worst Roads Campaign

A South Shore road is headlining the list of Top 10 worst roads in all of Atlantic Canada. The Canadian Automobile Association's campaign ended on the weekend and attracted more than four thousand votes on its website. Many of them went to the Forties Road near New Ross for its broken shouldersand pot-holed pavement.  The CAA's Gary Howard says the "Forties" is in bad shape.



Highway 203 in Yarmouth County near Kemptville tied for sixth place for its roughness.  The Cape John Road in River John was voted the worst road in the region. This was the third year for the CAA's campaign, designed to pressure governments to pay more attention to the state of our highways.
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Here is the list of the top 10 worst roads:
1. Cape John Road, River John Road, Nova Scotia
2. Hanwell Road, Fredericton, New Brunswick
3. New Brunswick 630, Andersonville, New Brunswick
3. Forties Road, New Ross, Nova Scotia
4. Foxbrook Road, Hopewell, Nova Scotia
5. Kempt Head Road, Ross Ferry, Nova Scotia
6. Nova Scotia 203, Kemptville, Nova Scotia
6. Ridge Road, Digby, Nova Scotia
7. Rothesay Avenue, Saint John, New Brunswick
8. Balmoral Road, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia
9. Pleasantview Ave, Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador
10. Fredericton Road, Salisbury, New Brunswick

**There were ties for 3rd and 6th place**

Tories Have Selected Candidates For All South Shore Ridings

With Bruce Inglis' selection last night as the Progressive Conservative candidate in Queens-Shelburne, the provincial party now has all its South Shore candidates in place for the next election. In addition to Inglis, members of the PC team include David Mitchell in Lunenburg West and Brian Pickings in Lunenburg. The other candidates in South Shore ridings are Janet Irwin -- Chester-St. Margarets,
Chris d'Entremont in Argyle-Barrington and in Yarmouth, John Cunningham.

Mediator Appointed To Avert Paramedic Strike

A mediator has been appointed in an effort to solve a contract dispute and possible strike by paramedics in Nova Scotia. Labour Minister Frank Corbett has named John Clarke to help in contract negotiations between the union that represents the paramedics and their employer, Emergency Medical Care. Corbett says he believes both sides care about patients and he is confident they are working to avoid a disruption in health care services. The paramedics will be in a legal strike position Saturday. They are represented by represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 727. Clarke is a veteran arbitrator and lawyer from Newfoundland.

Lunenburg: ALS Walk Set For Saturday

The 4th annual ALS Walk will be held in Lunenburg this weekend. The event has grown in each of it's first three years and took in nearly $20,000 last year which went directly to funds for equipment and research. Organizer John Garroway says their main goal is to raise awareness and help families dealing with the illness known as "Lou Gehrig's" disease.



The event begins with registration at 9 o'clock at the Lunenburg Curling Club. Last week, the ALS Walk in Western Shore raised more than $19,000.

Wolter, Whalen Open Up Competition At NCAA Championships

A pair of South Shore athletes begin competing today at the NCAA Division-One Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen opens up in the javelin. She'll be up against 23 others in the semi-finals. The top nine will advance to the finals. Whalen will also compete in the shot-put on Saturday. Also, Conquerall Mills native Mattias Wolter will run his 3,000 metre steeplechase semi-final this evening. The top five from each heat plus the next two fastest times will make up the final 12. The final is scheduled for Friday. You can follow results live as they happen by going to this link .

Inglis Wins Tory Nod In Queens-Shelburne

Bruce Inglis will carry the Progressive Conservative flag into the next provincial election for the new riding of Queens-Shelburne.  Inglis, a member of municipal council in the District of Queens, was nominated last night at a meeting in Liverpool.  He defeated former MLA and cabinet minister Kerry Morash. Inglis and PC leader Jamie Baillie both spoke at last night's nomination meeting and said tackling economic issues in the area is a priority to get people working again! Inglis says he plans to spend the coming weeks and months meeting with voters and discussing their priorities.

Town Mulling Street Light Options

The town of Bridgewater is mulling the financial cost of buying or leasing LED lights from Nova Scotia Power. Council must decide by June 30 to meet the province's deadline. The town has to convert all their street lights to LED by 2020 under the mandate of the provincial government. Deputy Mayor Bill McInnis says they're exploring their options.



McInnis says the matter is expected to be dealt with at next week's council meeting.