Nowe Looks To Finish Strong At National Juniors

Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe shot an even-par, 72, Thursday in the third round at the Canadian Junior Boys Golf Championship in Sudbury, Ontario. Nowe mixed in five birdies with three bogeys and a double bogey. He sits in a tie for 43rd spot heading into Friday's final round. Kevin Kwon of British Columbia retains the lead after a three under-par 69 today. He leads by three shots.

UaRB: Decision On South Canoe Won't Meet Deadline

The province's regulatory board confirms it will not make a decision on the South Canoe Wind project before its 60-day deadline period. The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board's Paul Allen, says they have over 3,300 pages of documents to go through and it is taking extra time to come to a conclusion. The original deadline is August 5th. Allen says they don't have a concrete date in mind, but they are sifting through the material as quickly as they're able to, in order to make an accurate decision. "Friends of South Canoe Lake" are opposed to the construction of 34 wind turbines between Vaughan and New Russell. Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power are leading the project. It would generate enough power to heat 32,000 homes.

Charges After Dog Dies In Hot Car

A Lunenburg man has been charged in the death of a dog that was left in a sweltering car last month. RCMP say they responded to calls about a dog in distress on July 21 in Wolfville. In a media release, they say the animal was spotted in a parked car at Acadia University. Thirty-six year old Jason Remai was charged with failing to protect an animal under the Animal Protection Act of Nova Scotia. The charge relates to failure to provide an animal with reasonable protection from injurious heat or cold. He is scheduled to appear in Kentville provincial court on September 23rd.

Large Water/Sewer Project Approved In Bridgewater

Some motorists in Bridgewater are going to have to be patient come September. The town is moving ahead with a major water and sewer project on upper Aberdeen Road - one of the areas busiest streets. Council awarded the contract to J.R. Eisnor of Fall River. They expect to begin the project September 16th which ultimately will reduce a section of Aberdeen down to one lane for three months. Mayor David Walker says they recognize it will cause some traffic congestion.



The town will also put some fresh paving on a section of Aberdeen Road at a cost of $85,000. The price tag for the water/sewer and paving project is in the area of $800,000 and will be cost shared with the federal government.

Nowe Makes Cut At National Golf Tournament

It was an up and down day for two local golfers at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in Sudbury, Ontario. Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe shot a one over-par, 73, Wednesday to make the cut in a tie for 59th at eight over-par total through two days. Meanwhile, it wasn't meant to be for Riverport's Liam Fullerton. He struggled for a second straight day and missed the cut after shooting 87. Nowe will have to make a big move over his next 36 holes if he wants to catch the leader. B.C's Kevin Kwon continues to lead at six under-par overall.

Watch For Lower Gas Prices Again Tomorrow!

This bodes well for South Shore gas prices come tomorrow.  For the second week in a row, the price of gas is down today in New Brunswick.  The new maximum price for regular self serve in New Brunswick is $1.33.9 a litre.  That is a drop of almost 2 cents from yesterday.  Prices for diesel and furnace oil in New Brunswick have also dropped today.  Diesel is down just under 3 cents a litre and furnace oil has fallen 3.3 cents a litre.

Fire Department Bands 'Summon The Heroes' In Bridgewater

The Bridgewater Fire Department Band will 'Summon the Heroes' during a concert Thursday night. The group is joined by members of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Band from the United Kingdom for a concert of recognition for those people who volunteer or work in the fire service. Band Director Wendell Eisener says they'll open the concert with John Williams' 1996 fanfare 'Summon the Heroes.'



The two bands will also tribute the five Bridgewater men who recently competed in the Maritime and Atlantic regional firefit championships. The concert begins at 7pm Thursday night at Bridgewater High.

Health: Congestion Eases In Emergency Departments

Things are getting back to normal in emergency departments at three South Shore hospitals. The local health authority was experiencing longer than usual wait times for non-urgent care last week. South Shore Health spokesperson, Theresa Hawkesworth, says the departments are still busy in Bridgewater, Lunenburg and Liverpool but they have noticed improvements. She says more than one factor led to the delays.



Hawkesworth says people have been discharged and more beds have opened up in all three hospitals. She says it was a difficult situation for patients and staff, but they worked together to overcome the challenges.

UPDATED: Benoit's Fraud Case Delayed

A court case involving a woman notorious for selling dogs has another delay. Gail Benoit did not appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court this afternoon. Instead, her lawyer, Cathy Benton appeared on her behalf. Benoit's charges include theft and identity fraud. The charges are related to the alleged sale of two boxer dogs that didn't belong to her. Benoit's lawyer told court her client wanted more time to review the Crown's evidence before deciding to enter a pleas. The matter will be dealt with September 18th.

Dog Dealer Returns To Court In Bridgewater

A notorious canine dealer is due in court today on charges of fraud. Gail Benoit is facing three charges which include theft and identity fraud. The charges are related to the alleged sale of two boxer dogs that didn't belong to her. As part of her release conditions, Benoit is not permitted to buy or sell any animals while her fraud case is before the courts. In an unrelated matter, Benoit spent the weekend in jail after being arrested on an assault charge. She is accused of assaulting a 25-year-old man in Waverley on July 22. The troubled puppy broker was released from custody on bail on Tuesday. She's expected to enters pleas to the fraud charges this afternoon.

Local Golfers Struggle At National Junior Championships

Two South Shore golfers are in danger of missing the cut at the Canadian Junior Championships in Sudbury, Ontario. Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe and Riverport's Liam Fullerton struggled in their opening rounds at Timberwolf Golf Club. Nowe shot a seven over-par round of 79 while Fullerton had an off-day, firing a 92. British Columbia's Kevin Kwon, who won the event in 2011, is the first round leader after an eight under-par, 64. Nowe sits in a tie for 91st while Fullerton is in 154th spot. The field will be narrowed down to the top 70 and ties after Wednesday's second round.

Attendance Figures Down At The Big EX

Attendance was down at this year's South Shore Exhibition in Bridgewater. Manager Christine Sarty says 37,680 people took-in the sights and sounds of the six-day agricultural event last week. It's a drop of 2,424 people from last year. Sarty believes the forecast kept a lot of people from coming.



Sarty says sunshine helped bring over 16,000 people to the event on the weekend and increase overall attendance. She says they're pleased with the overall figures with the weather that occurred.

Well-Known Engineer Passes Away

A key part behind the construction of the South Shore Regional Hospital has died. Arthur MacKenzie Dechman of West LaHave passed away early this morning at age 89. He spent 40 years at Acadia Road Builders and Acadia Construction, the group which helped build the Bridgewater hospital in 1988. Dechman attended Acadia University before entering the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. He was also known as an avid yachtsman and competitive sailor, racing the offshore circuit as a long time member of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. Dechman was also Past Commodore and Honourary life member of LaHave River Yacht Club and enjoyed the sights and sounds of Chester Race Week. A celebration of life will take place at the Bridgewater United Church on Friday.

New Germany: Uncertainty Still Surrounds Eisnor Trial

There is more uncertainty surrounding a matter that's been before the courts for nearly three years. A Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge will decide next month whether the issue of a man's fitness to stand trial for the first-degree murder of his wife should go before a jury. Wayne Paul Eisnor has twice been found mentally fit to stand trial for the shooting death of his estranged wife, Tina Mae. However, his lawyer - Roger Burril, argued in Supreme Court in Bridgewater yesterday that the jury should first be tasked with determining his client's fitness to stand trial. His mental state is an issue because Eisnor shot himself in the head after his wife was shot twice and killed in the parking lot of a grocery store in New Germany on June 30th, 2010. Eisnor suffered serious brain damage as a result but has improved since the incident. He also testified he has no memory of the incident in New Germany. He is set to stand trial in September. A judge is expected to rule on the jury-fitness matter August 16th.

Shelburne: RCMP Search Two Homes - Drug Charges Laid

Two men in Shelburne County will appear before a judge on drug charges after RCMP raided a pair of homes in the town. In the first incident, a residence on Annapolis Road was searched on Saturday.  RCMP say they found about two pounds of pot, along with some plants, drug paraphernalia and seven unsecured firearms. A 54-year-old Shelburne man has been arrested and faces numerous drug and firearms-related charges. Meanwhile, officers also searched a home on Parr Street and seized approximately 60 grams of marihuana, cash and drug paraphernalia. A 28-year-old male was arrested without incident and is facing charges of drug possession and trafficking. Both of the accused have separate court appearances in October.

Headed To Russia: Martin Competing At Worlds

Jenna Martin has been selected to run in her third IAAF World Track and Field Championships. The 25-year-old from Bridgewater was named to the women's 4 x 400 metre relay team that will compete in Moscow, Russia from August 10-18. Martin says a coach wanted her to be a part of the team, even though she wasn't part of the group that qualified. She says she has mixed emotions.



Martin flies to Kamen, Germany on Wednesday for training before leaving for Moscow August 7th. This will be Martin's third world championship after competing in 2009 and 2011.

Nowe, Fullerton Tee Off At National Junior Championships

Bridgewater's Ryan Nowe is set to take on the best junior golfers from across the country in the 2013 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. The field is set at 156 players for the first two rounds Tuesday and Wednesday before it gets cut to the top 70 and ties for the final 36 holes. Nowe has enjoyed a competitive summer so far including victories in Pugwash and Antigonish and a second place finish at the provincials in North Sydney. The 17-year-old will be playing in his second consecutive Canadian Championship after tying for 58th last year when the event was hosted by Osprey Ridge. Riverport's Liam Fullerton is also participating in the event for a second straight time after missing the cut in 2012. The event is taking place at the Timberwolf Golf Course in Sudbury, Ontario. All details on the event can be found here .

Valley Warehouse Fire Suspicious

An overnight fire that destroyed a warehouse in the Annapolis Valley has been deemed suspicious.  The blaze broke out before midnight in Kingston and more than a dozen valley fire departments prevented the flames from spreading to several nearby buildings, including a legion hall.  The RCMP and the fire marshall's office are now investigating.  No one was hurt.

Bridgewater Collaborative Health Centre On Track

Construction on Bridgewater's new Collaborative Health Centre remains on track. A meeting was held Monday morning for LaHave Investments to provide an update on the project. The group's president says the foundation and plumbing work are complete and crews are working towards pouring the concrete flooring. South Shore Health spokesperson Theresa Hawkesworth says they're aggressively recruiting doctors for the centre.



Hawkesworth says they hope to have a handful of doctors recruited by the time the new health care facility opens. The project is expected to be complete sometime in the fall.

Lunenburg: Long-Time Politician Passes Away

A long-time councillor and deputy mayor in Lunenburg has passed away. David Dauphinee died Sunday at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.  He was 76-years-old. Dauphinee spent 30 years on council starting in 1982 when he was first elected. He spent 17 years as the town's deputy mayor. Former mayor Laurence Mawhinney says Dauphinee will be missed by many.



Mawhinney says his fondest memory of Dauphinee was traveling together to Ottawa roughly 15 years ago to lobby the federal government for support to clean up the town's wastewater system. Dauphinee is survived by his wife and three daughters.