Delays Expected At New South Queens Middle School

The new South Queens Middle School in Liverpool will not be ready for classes in the fall. Instead, students and staff will remain in the existing school until some time in November. Officials with the local school board say they want to make sure the new building is safe, healthy and meets the needs of the students and staff. The delay will give workers more time clean up the school properly and ensure air quality standards are met. Sod was turned on the $15 million South Queens Middle School last fall. The new middle school would be home to students in Grades 6-8. Construction on the school is expected to be complete in October.

Canada Wins First Leg Of 61st Annual International Dory Races

It was a rare victory for the Canadian team of dory racers at the Jodrey State Fish Pier in Gloucester, Massachusetts over the weekend. Teams earned two victories in three races in the first leg of the 61st Annual International Dory Races. The Canadians surprised many, as rowers from Gloucester have been difficult to beat on their home turf in recent years. In mixed doubles, it was the Americans beating the Canadian pair of Kelly George and Robert Fox. Canada's Gail Atkinson and Kathryn Moore won the women's division and Markus Schmidt and Joel George got by the U.S. in the men's category. The second leg of the event will be held in Lunenburg August 24. Full results are below.

Mixed Doubles:

USA-Mike Frontiera and Elin di'Angelo 6:27
CAN-Kelly George and Robet Fox 6:35

Women's Division: 

CAN-Gail Atkinson and Kathryn Moore 6:48
USA-Samantha Rose and Alexandria Pizzimenti 7:53

Men's Division:

CAN- Markus Schmidt and Joel George 9:45
USA-Tom Jarvis and Jimmy Tarrantino 9:54

Seahawks Seek Town Support For Celebration Tour

The South Shore Seahawks Football Club are calling on the town of Bridgewater to rally behind them if they're selected for the next step of the Kraft Celebration Tour. The group asked council to help them further promote the chance to win $25,000 through the town's facebook and website. The Seahawks are hoping to be chosen, to help put money towards improving drainage at Kinsmen Field. One of the club's organizers, John Peters, says they're hoping to keep the field in good condition.



The group recently signed up more than 90 kids this season for teams in the atom, peewee and bantam divisions. The Seahawks will find out if they have been named to the final 20 nominations later this week.

Sportchek Moving Into Bridgewater Mall

A sports equipment and apparel store is coming to Bridgewater. The manager of the Bridgewater Mall, Jim Chambers, confirms in an email that Sportchek is expected to occupy some space in the former Zellers building. Chambers says construction will start soon. The email also suggests Dollarama will roughly double in size to 15,000 square feet. Chambers says two more tenants of 30,000 and 10,000 square feet will be announced shortly. He believes the changes will bring new and exciting retail offerings to the local market.

Spts-Bridgewater Baseball Team Loses In Tournament Final

The Bridgewater Bulldogs Bantam Triple-A baseball team travelled to Dieppe, New Brunswick over the weekend. The team competed in one of the largest and most competitive tournaments in Atlantic Canada.
The Bulldogs defeated Charlottetown, Miramichi, Fredericton and Riverview but ultimately lost to the host team Dieppe Cardinals 2-0 in the final. Zack Zinck threw a 1 hitter to lead the Bulldogs.

Spts-South Shore Boys 'n Girls Soccer Teams Have Up & Down Weekend

In Under-14 Tier-1 Girls Soccer action over the weekend, South Shore United girls shutout Valley United in Kentville. 3-0 was the score. Kaye Dorey was the shutout goalie while McKenzie Sinclair scored two goals and McKenzie Kelley had one. The under-14 boys soccer team didn't fare as well, they were defeated by Dartmouth FC, 2-1.

New CT Scanner Coming To Yarmouth Regional

A new CT Scanner should be in place at Yarmouth Regional Hospital later this fall. The scanner will cost about $1.4 million. The Nova Scotia government has announced it will contribute one-million dollars toward the new equipment while South West Health will pick up the remainder of the tab. The new scanner will provide high quality scans faster and give health care staff more time to focus on patients. Last year, more than 7,500 scans were performed at Yarmouth Regional Hospital. The hospital serves about 60,000 people in Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne counties.

Six-Figure Lottery Ticket Sold In Bridgewater

Someone in Bridgewater could be sitting on $100,000. The Atlantic Lottery Corporation's website indicates a six-figure ticket for Friday night's Lotto Max TAG draw was sold in the town. The website doesn't say what store sold the ticket. The winning number is 110530. The winner must contact the ALC regional offices in Dartmouth, St. John's or Moncton to claim their prize.

Woman Injured In Chester Basin Fire

One person was injured in a fire earlier Monday morning in Chester Basin. The blaze broke out around 4 o'clock in a home on Kitchener Daw Lane. Those living in the home were apparently awakened by smoke detectors and escaped but a woman suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital. Chester Basin Fire Chief Doug Rines says there was little fire fighters could do to save the home except keep the blaze from spreading.




Several fire departments responded to Chester Basin's call for help including Martin's River, Western Shore, Chester and New Ross. The fire marshal and RCMP are expected on scene later today to determine the cause of the fire.

CUPE School Board Locals Reach Tentative Agreement

Non-teaching school board workers appear to be avoiding a strike. A tentative agreement has been reached between the Nova Scotia School Board Council of Unions and the Department of Education. The council represents the seven CUPE locals in the province, including the hundreds of non-teaching staff across the South Shore and Tri-County who voted in favour of a strike mandate. CUPE School Board coordinator, Kathy MacLeod, says it's a positive step.



Details aren't being released until members have had a chance to vote. The tentative agreement was reached through conciliation after more than 15 hours of discussion late last week.

South Shore Communities Gear-up For Canada Day

The federal government is helping more than a dozen communities along the South Shore celebrate the country's birthday. MP Gerald Keddy has announced over $36,000 to assist with Canada Day events across the region. Organizers of the celebration in New Germany were given just over $9,000. While the Region of Queens and Town of Lockeport received $7,500 to help host their events. Meanwhile, Canada Day of the LaHave in Bridgewater was awarded $2,200, while the Town of Clark's Harbour was given $2,000. Many communities host their own firework displays on July 1st with a number of family orientated events scheduled throughout the day. In total, 16 community groups received funding from Ottawa for Canada Day celebrations.

In South Shore – St. Margaret’s, a total of $36,805 has been awarded to the following organizations:

• New Germany Canada Day Committee - $9,000 (New Germany)
• Region of Queens Municipality - $7,500 (Liverpool)
• Town of Lockeport - $7,500 (Lockeport)
• Canada Day on the LaHave Committee - $2,200 (Bridgewater)
• Town of Clark’s Harbour - $2,000 (Clark’s Harbour)
• Nova Scotia Guides Association - $1,500 (Caledonia)
• North Queens Board of Trade - $1,300 (Caledonia)
• Hubbards Heritage Society - $1,100 (Hubbards)
• Shelburne Association Supporting Inclusion - $1,050 (Shelburne)
• North Queens Nursing Home - $800 (Caledonia)
• Queens Home For Special Care Society (Queens Manor) - $750 (Liverpool)
• Through the Years Daycare & Community Centre - $600 (Hubbards)
• Town of Lunenburg - $500 (Lunenburg, NS)
• Riverport District Fire Protection Commission - $500 (Riverport)
• Charing Cross Garden Club - $300 (New Ross)
• Shoreham Village Senior Citizens Association - $205 (Chester)

Double Silver For Whalen At Track And Field Nationals

Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen followed up a silver medal performance in the shot-put Friday night with an equally better effort in the women's javelin championship Saturday evening at the Canadian Track and Field Championships. Whalen finished in second place after a toss of 51.15 metres. The 20-year-old will now prepare for the Summer Universiade/ World University Games to be held in Kazan, Russia from July 6-17.

McIntosh, Martin Win National Silver

Third time wasn't a charm for Jenna Martin. The 25-year-old from Bridgewater was edged at the finish line, on route to a silver medal in women's 400 metre final at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Moncton, New Brunswick. Martin was trying to win her third straight national title in the event. She ran 52.97 seconds, while Alicia Brown crossed the line at 52.92. Meanwhile, another Bridgewater native also earned silver for her showing in the women's heptathlon. Rachael McIntosh scored 5,519 points to finish second behind Olympian Brianne Thiesen.

Whalen Wins Shot-put Silver At Nationals

Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen picked up a silver medal Friday night in the women's 4kg shot-put event at the Canadian Track and Field Championships. Whalen had a top throw of 16.20 metres, good enough for second place behind defending champion and Olympian Julie Labonte. The 20-year-old will now turn her focus to the women's javelin championship, which gets underway at 6:15 Saturday evening in Moncton.

Bridgewater's Martin Qualifies For National Final

Bridgewater's Jenna Martin has given herself a chance to win a third straight national title. The 25-year-old won her women's 400 metre semi-final heat Friday at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in a time of 53.75 seconds. The final is scheduled for Saturday at 6:15 in Moncton.

Yarmouth: Charges Laid After Police Search Two Homes

Two people faces a variety of charges after police searched two homes in Yarmouth. Police say numerous stolen items were recovered when they carried out search warrants at a pair of homes on Wednesday afternoon. Fifty two year old Keith Muise has been charged with possession of stolen property, possession of illegal cigarettes and possession of a controlled substance. Meanwhile, 50 year-old Mary Muise has been charged with possession of stolen property. Both of the accused are from Yarmouth and are due in court September 24th.

Lunenburg's Drennan Withdraws From Track And Field Nationals

A Lunenburg native has pulled out of the Canadian Track and Field Championships. Twenty-year-old Jesse Drennan was competing in the men's decathlon. He finished the shot-put event yesterday when he felt a minor hamstring pull. Drennan says in an exchange through Facebook that he withdrew as a precaution. He says it's a little disappointing but is looking forward to the Canada Games in August. Three other South Shore athletes are in action today at the event in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Review Committee Seeking Public Input

The public is being asked to provide their perspective to help prepare a discussion paper towards a new school review process. The review committee is looking for feedback from South Shore residents. Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Ramona Jennex announced in April that the school-review process was not working. She's looking for input that will help school review meet the needs for everyone involved. The deadline for submissions is July 31. The review committee will then develop a discussion paper by September. The paper will be made public and feedback from parents, school boards, communities and municipalities will be gathered again, before any decision is made. A new process is expected to be in place by next spring. People can make submit their suggestions online at www.ednet.ns.ca/discussionpaperinput or email it to discussionpaper@gov.ns.ca or mail it to:

School Review Process Review Committee
c/o Corporate Policy
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Box 578
2021 Brunswick St.
Halifax, N.S. B3J 2S9

Queens County Mill Closes

A Queens County chip mill is closing for good and its 20 employees laid-off. Great Northern Timber used to supply wood chips to Bowater-Mersey in Liverpool. It also did the same for Brooklyn Power after the Bowater mill closed a year ago. However, GNT says its now not worth continuing in a non-profitable market and will concentrate its operations at its Sheet Harbour facility. The President of Great Northern, Tony Mee, declined our requests for an interview. He did blame the Liverpool GNT mill's decline on Bowater's closure. At peak production, the Great Northern Timber's mill produced as much as 300,000 tons of wood chips every year.

Middleton Man Killed Overnight In Meadowvale

A Middleton man has died after he was struck by an oncoming vehicle overnight on Highway 201. The 37 year old was struck at 2:45 this morning in Meadowvale. A collision analyst was called to scene to help with the investigation. No name is being released at this time.  Police did not reveal whether charges will be laid.