RCMP: Two Men Charged In illegal Smokes Bust

A pair of Lunenburg County men are facing charges after Mounties seized some illegal cigarettes. In the first case, officers found some contraband smokes when they raided a home in West Northfield. Police say 2,400 illegal cigarettes were seized or enough to make about 100 packs. William Oswald Russell faces several charges. He was due to appear in court this week. Meanwhile, Robert Murphy of Upper Branch also faces several charges for the same reason. RCMP say the 32 year-old was found in possession of approximately 1,200 illegal cigarettes. He's due in court in October.

Delays Expected For South Canoe Wind Project

The warden of Chester says he's worried about a delayed decision on the South Canoe Wind project. The province's regulatory board has yet to make an announcement on the issue, over a week after their 60-day deadline passed to make a decision. But it's not the only concern on the table. A court challenge is also scheduled for November on the financing package for Nova Scotia Power in respect to the project. Allen Webber says it throws a wrench on a construction start date.



Webber says he has no idea when the Utility and Review Board will render its decision. Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Oxford Frozen Foods and Nova Scotia Power are behind the $200-million project.

Provincial Funds Help Local Fire Departments

Fire departments in the region will have extra cash to buy some new equipment thanks to the Nova Scotia government. The province is investing more than $125,000 in 10 organizations in the Region of Queens, Lunenburg and Shelburne counties. The funds will be used to purchase essential equipment such as personal protective equipment, communication equipment, and thermal imaging cameras. The money is coming from the Emergency Services Provider Fund. The program provides up to 50 per cent of eligible costs for approved projects, to a maximum contribution of $20,000.

In total, the program is providing about $500,000 to 55 organizations.

Fire Departments, Emergency Responders receiving funding are:

-- Big Tancook island Emergency Response Association, Lunenburg County, $6,353

-- Hebb's Cross Fire Department, Lunenburg County, $5,519

-- Indian Point Volunteer Fire Department, $10,873

-- Island and Barrington Passage Fire Department, Shelburne County, $6,492

-- Lunenburg and District Fire Department, $20,000

-- Lunenburg County Ground Search and Rescue, $3,333

-- Mill Village and District Fire Department, Regional Municipality of Queens, $19,455

-- New Ross Volunteer Fire Department, Lunenburg County, $20,000

-- Tri District Fire/Rescue, Lunenburg County, $13,518

-- Western Shore and District Fire Department, Lunenburg County, $20,000

Sustainability Festival Kicks-Off Fifth Year

People are encouraged to take the next step at this year's Growing Green Festival in Bridgewater. The unique festival has events scattered around Lunenburg County, but is primarily featured on King Street with sustainable booths set up for people to visit. Films began showing earlier this week and concerts will also be held Friday night and Saturday. Festival Chair Patrick Hirtle says the event has grown over the years.



This is the fifth year for the event. A full schedule for the event can be found here .

Queens: Municipality Trying To Save Piping Plovers

The Region of Queens is doing all it can to give a pair of newborn Piping Plovers a fighting chance. They are reminding anyone who goes to Beach Meadows Beach to take their dog for a walk to make sure their pups are on a leash. Director of Recreation Norm Amirault says it will give the sparrow sized birds a better chance to survive. He says a nest of five hatched earlier this month and already three have not survived.



The small birds are sand-coloured and are unable to fly for the first few weeks after they are born. According to statistics, half of the dwindling Plover population live on the Atlantic Coast.

Gasoline Prices Expected To Drop Again!

Look for another drop in South Shore gas prices come tomorrow morning, possibly by as much as 2 cents a litre.  In New Brunswick today, the price there is lower for the third time in the past month. Regular self serve in New Brunswick is down a couple of cents to $1.32.1 a litre.  Diesel is down almost 2.5 cents with no change in the price of propane.  Nova Scotia's Unity & Review Board will set the coming week's prices here at midnight tonight.

Summer Games: Golf Begins, Men's Soccer Into Quarters

A Bridgewater golfer is five shots of the pace at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Ryan Nowe shot an opening round two over par 75. Meanwhile, on the girl's side, Chester's Alison Chandler shot an 89. Both Nowe and Chandler play their second rounds Thursday. In other action, Mahone Bay's Hunter Vaszily and Lunenburg's Nick Tanner are off to the quarter-finals as part of the men's soccer team. They beat PEI yesterday 3-0 and will play B.C. Thursday afternoon with a chance to advance to the final four. Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh opens up competition today in the women's heptathlon. (Photo Courtesy: Communications Nova Scotia)

No Opposition To Communications Tower In Gold River

There is no opposition to build a communications tower in Gold River. There were no residents at Tuesday night's hearing in Chester or any letters opposing Eastlink's proposal to construct a tower at 165 Beech Hill Road. Warden Allan Webber says they will issue a letter of concurrence to Industry Canada, who has final say on the matter. He says the tower should help residents with improved coverage and data.



Webber says the municipality will earn minor tax revenue from the auxiliary building built near the tower. He's unsure of the construction timeline, but believes it could be complete in the next few months.

No Swimming: Bayswater Beach Closed

A Lunenburg County beach is off-limits to swimmers. Bayswater Beach has been closed because of high levels of bacteria. The province's Department of Health and Wellness indicates the beach will reopen when water testing shows it is safe. It's the second time this summer Bayswater Beach has been closed because of high bacteria levels. If you are looking for updates, call the Lifeguard information line at 477-6168.

Chester Race Week Sets Sail

The largest keelboat regatta in Canada is underway. Chester Race Week set sail today, and features nearly 125 entries. They will compete for bragging rights in a dozen different divisions on a challenging course in waters around Mahone Bay. Committee Chair JP Currie called it a highlight of the summer sailing season. He says it's also a great community event.



A large percentage of the participants hail from Lunenburg, Chester, Mahone Bay and Halifax. Chester Race Week continues through until Saturday.

Veteran PC MLA Gives Thumbs-Up To Minister For Ferry Announcement

Chris d'Entremont is the Progressive Conservative MLA in Argyle. He says Tuesday's announcement about talks pending between the province and a potential new Yarmouth ferry operator about a resumption of service is the best news he's heard in some time. d'Entremont is also giving full marks to Tourism and Economic Development Minister Graham Steele. He says Steele has added credibility to these two major government departments that seemed for years to lack guidance.



At the same time, d'Entremont says the ferry announcement will no doubt form some part of the Dexter government's re-election campaign in this region.

Liberal Reaction To Yarmouth Ferry Announcement

Yarmouth Liberal MLA Zach Churchill says the ferry service announcement on Tuesday was long overdue. He says, in hindsight, the service should not have been cancelled. Churchill says tens of millions of dollars in potential revenue for the tourist industry and other business has been lost as a result. He says a lot of repair lies ahead.



Churchill hopes the federal government will soon officially come on board and help with the resumption of the ferry service, including renovations to the abandoned ferry terminal in Yarmouth.

Memorial Softball Tourney Raises $5,500 For High School Bursary

A softball tournament has helped raise over $5,500 for a bursary at Barrington Municipal High School. The first ever Katlin Nickerson Memorial Mixed Softball Tournament was held last weekend at the Sherose Island, Shag Harbour and South Side ball fields. The event was held on the same weekend as Mariner's Day and Seaman's Memorial Day, paying tribute to men and women in the fishing industry and remembering those who have lost their lives at sea. Organizer and Katlin's mother, Della Sears, says it makes sense to have the tournament on that weekend.



Sears says she's thankful for the community support during the event.

Local Mayors Pleased By Ferry News

A pair of Lunenburg County mayors are pleased to hear steps have been taken to revive the Yarmouth ferry. The province is entering into negotiations with STM Quest to operate the service between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine. Bridgewater Mayor David Walker says its good news for the region.



The mayor for the District of Lunenburg agrees. Don Downe says a ferry service will benefit the entire province by bringing in more tourists.



Negotiations with the company are scheduled to begin later this week and last roughly three weeks. An update is expected early next month.

Summer Games: Golden Night For South Shore Athletes

It was a golden night Tuesday for South Shore athletes at the Canada Summer Games. Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan started the gold rush by winning the men's decathlon. The momentum continued with Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen earning top marks in the women's shot put. She had the top toss of 15.54 metres. And finally, Mattias Wolter of Conquerall Mills raced his way to first in the men's 3,000 metre steeplechase. He finished in a time of eight minutes, 58 seconds. Bridgewater's Courtney Langille along with her teammates also qualified for the women's 4 x 400 metre relay final. They finished third in their heat.

TSN Anchor Excited For Kraft Celebration Tour

One of the on-air personalities with the The Sports Network says he's looking forward to traveling to Bridgewater for the first time. Rod Smith has worked for TSN for 26-years, but will make his first appearance on the Kraft Celebration Tour since it began in 2009. Smith will team up with Kate Beirness to host Sunday's live broadcast at Shipyard's Landing. He says he's excited for the experience.



Smith says he's expecting a loud broadcast, with plenty of raucous people during the Bridgewater stop. Festivities get underway at 5pm Sunday before TSN begins its live broadcast at 7pm.

MODL: Local Group To Construct Highway 10 Sidewalk

A portion of Highway 10 near the French school in Cookville is getting over 300 metres of sidewalk. The Municipality of Lunenburg has awarded a tender to Town and Country Property for $108,507.37 to construct the sidewalk and around 270 metres of widened shoulder along Champlain Drive and Evanagelie Court. Funding is being provided from gas tax, as well as roughly $60-thousand from the Nova Scotia Moves grant. Mayor Don Downe says it's a community benefit.



The main purpose for the work is to allow children to have access to a sidewalk if there is an emergency at the French school. The start date for the work is not known.

Bridgewater: Town Exploring Plastic Bag Ban

The town of Bridgewater is exploring the option of banning plastic bags. Council is directing staff to further research and engage the community on the issue. Councillor Andrew Tanner says banning the plastic carry-out bags would help reduce litter and protect water quality in the area. He says things need to change.



Tanner says people could adjust to using reusable bags or paper bags when shopping. He hopes staff will report back with a goal to create a by-law banning plastic bags in the town by January 1, 2014.

STM Quest, Province To Negotiate Yarmouth Ferry Service

The Nova Scotia government will enter into negotiations with STM Quest to set up and run a ferry between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine. Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Graham Steele announced the decision today in Yarmouth. Three companies submitted business plans to operate the ferry service beginning next year.  A team of representatives from the Nova Scotia International Ferry Partnership and the province evaluated the plans based on financial stability, a management structure with expertise and a history of managing successful ferry services, and tourism and marketing experience. STM Quest is a joint venture between ST Marine Ltd. and Quest Navigation. The province has committed to investing up to $21-million over seven years for the service.

Chester: Public Hearing On Proposed Cell Tower

A communications tower will be topic for discussion Tuesday evening in Chester. Council is holding a public hearing on the matter, to gauge resident opinion on the installation of a 76-metre tower planned for 165 Beech Hill Road in Gold River. Eastlink is proposing the tower to meet the increasing demand of wireless services in the Chester, Chester Basin, Gold River and Western Shore areas. The hearing begins at 7pm at Chester Municipal Council Chambers.