Curling: Fay, Mayhew Drop Championship Round Openers

M & M Canadian Junior Curling Update from Liverpool: Chester's Mary Fay lost 7-6 to BC this afternoon. She takes a 5-2 record into a game tonight at 6:30 against unbeaten Alberta. Meantime Nova Scotia's Robert Mayhew dropped to 4-3 after a 5-4 loss to Ontario. He'll face Northern Ontario at 6:30 this evening. 

Liverpool: Fay, Mayhew Begin Championship Round At Canadian Juniors

The championship round is underway at the M& M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Liverpool. Nova Scotia's Mary Fay, with a 5-1 record, is facing 4-2 BC this afternoon. Tonight at 6:30 at Queens Place Emera Centre the Chester team battles unbeaten Alberta. In the Junior Mens' bracket Windsor's Robert Mayhew, with a 4-2 record, is battling Ontario this afternoon. Tonight at 6:30 at the Liverpool Curling Club Nova Scotia meets Northern Ontario. Following Friday's final championship round games, the top three teams will advance to the weekend semi-finals and final.  The Canadian champs will earn a trip to the Worlds in Switzerland.

Construction Planned For Shelburne Falls Lane Bridge

A bridge in Shelburne is getting an upgrade later this year. The Shelburne Falls Lane Bridge will be getting an additional lane for vehicles, as well as a four metre wide multi-use active transportation lane for pedestrians, cyclists and ATV's. The project will cost $4.5-million. Spokeswoman with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, Pam Menchenton, says the work should be a boost for residents.



Menchenton says they're currently in the design phase of the project with planners and surveyors visiting the site. She expects construction to begin following the winter months. However, no firm date has been announced.

Parking Fees Rising At South Shore Health

The cost to park at South Shore Health's three hospitals is on the rise. The health authority's business plan was recently approved by the Department of Health and Wellness. It includes increasing parking costs by a dollar to four dollars beginning in March. Parking fees generate about $430,000 per year, which support the delivery of direct patient care. The increase is expected to generate an additional $140,000 per year in revenue. CEO Dr. Peter Vaughan says the rising cost is necessary to help protect existing programs and services.



Other measures identified in the business plan to help achieve approximately $1.3 million in cost savings include delays in filling vacant positions, administrative efficiencies such as reduced travel and supplies and strategies to reduce sick and overtime cost.

Yarmouth MLA: Return Of Ferry Service A Community Effort

The old Yarmouth ferry terminal and its customs annex will receive major upgrades prior to the May 1st resumption of ferry service to Maine. Ottawa is providing $2.5 million for the work. Two years ago it appeared the ferry service was gone forever. However, Yarmouth MLA Zach Churchill says the dedication of a lot of people has paid off.



The federal funding will go toward repainting lines in the marshalling yard and to  complete the demolition of the existing interiors of the building to remove mould and debris. Other work includes the installation of new roofs and doors and an upgrade to the building’s electrical, communications and heating systems.

Storm Expected To Intensify

We should be seeing heavy snow developing and gusty winds before long as the next wave of weather from that storm passing south of us kicks in. Environment Canada meteorologist Mel Lemmon says the snow earlier this morning will return and much more of it.



Environment Canada is forecasting 20 to 25 centimeters of snow for much of the South Shore. Winds will be gusting to 60 and from the northeast this afternoon creating white out conditions. The storm is expected to ease-up off tonight.

RCMP Issue Winter Parking Ban For Lunenburg County

A winter parking ban is in effect tonight for Lunenburg County. RCMP are asking motorists not to leave their vehicles unattended or parked along roads or highways with the impending snow storm. The Mounties say the ban is in effect between the hours of 1am and 6am. Sgt. Paul Coughlin says drivers risk their vehicles being towed if they don't follow the rules.



Coughlin says further restrictions are listed for communities including the Village of Chester, Western Shore and New Germany who have additional regulations in place to limit parking during snowstorms. Fines as high as $233 can be issued if cars have to be towed.

UPDATE: Kingsburg's Duckworth Reacts To Olympic Nod

It's official. Lunenburg County has another Olympian to call its own.
Kingsburg's Alexandra Duckworth was named to Canada's Olympic team Tuesday afternoon in Quebec by the Canadian Olympic Committee and Snowboard Canada. The 26-year-old half-pipe snowboarder is the only Nova Scotia woman among the Canadian team of athletes competing at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Duckworth says it's a dream come true.



Duckworth showed she deserved to be at the Games, following a pair of top-10 results recently in Finland and Quebec. She is now ranked as the top Canadian in the women's half-pipe. However, it was heartbreak for Duckworth four years ago in Vancouver. She was an alternate for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, after breaking her ankle mid way through qualifications, only to miss qualifying by one position. Duckworth says she's glad she stuck with it and will realize her dream.

She will compete February 12 at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park.

Lunenburg County Man Accused Of Possessing Illegal Cigs

A 46-year-old man from Lunenburg County will have to answer to the court after he was accused of possessing illegal cigarettes. Bridgewater Police along with the Integrated Street Crime Unit and Criminal Intelligence Service Nova Scotia conducted a targeted traffic stop on the man recently. They seized over 50 bags of illegal cigarettes, along with a small quantity of marihuana and cash while searching his property. The accused will appear in Bridgewater court on March 12.

Curling: Chester Rink Beat New Brunswick, Prepare For Championship Round

Chester's Mary Fay is roaring into the playoffs at the M & M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships. The Nova Scotia team topped New Brunswick this morning 10-5 to finish round robin action with a sparkling 5-1 record. She finished in a tie for first place in Pool B with Ontario and will cross over and play four playoff games against Pool A teams starting tomorrow. Nova Scotia's Robert Mayhew wraps up the preliminary round this afternoon against Alberta. The Windsor rink has already clinched a playoff spot by winning four of their first five matches. Action continues daily at the Liverpool Curling Club and Queens Place Emera Centre. The championship games are set for the weekend and will be televised nationally on TSN.

LaHave Resident Competing For MasterChef Canada Title

A local chef is one of two Maritimers competing on "MasterChef Canada." LaHave resident Trevor Jessome is among fifty contestants going to head-to-head on the new reality show, which began airing Monday night on CTV. The show consists of the top amateur chefs in the country after thousands applied to take part in the program. Jessome, who is a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, was deployed overseas and couldn't be reached for comment. Annapolis Valley resident Allison Abernethy is also competing on the show. The chefs are trying to win the inaugural title of MasterChef Canada and a $100,000 cash prize.

Man Injured In South Shore Industrial Accident

An industrial accident on the South Shore is being investigated by the province's labour department. A 23 year old employee at Bridgewater Metal Industries in Oakhill was struck on site by a fork-lift owned by the company. He was sent to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A stop work order is in place on the vehicle involved until investigators can examine it closely. Work has been allowed to continue as usual though at the company.

NS Teams Capture Playoff Berths At Jr. Curling Championships

Both Nova Scotia teams have grabbed playoff spots at the M & M Candian Junior Curling Championships in Liverpool. Mary Fay of Chester has a 4-1 record after two wins yesterday...9-4 over Northern Ontatio and 10-5 over PEI. The Fay foursome play their final round robin contest this morning against New Brunswick. Windsor's Robert Mayhew is also 4-1 after a 5-3 victory over the Yukon. His rink wraps up Pool-B round robin action today at 2 o'clock against Alberta. The playoffs start tonight with the championship games live on TSN this weekend. All the action is at Queens Place Emera Centre and the Liverpool Curling Club.

Liverpool Fire Labelled Suspicious

Investigators have ruled an early Saturday morning fire in downtown Liverpool is suspicious. Police and fire crews were called to the blaze in the vacant building on Market Street around 4:20 this past Saturday morning. The fire was kept from spreading and no one was hurt. Investigators say the blaze appears to have been deliberately set. The building formerly held Wong's Restaurant but its been vacant for several years. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Queens RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

Ottawa Lays Out Big Bucks For Ferry Terminal Upgrades

Ottawa has made it official! The federal government will spend up to $2.5 million to upgrade the Yarmouth ferry terminal and customs annex building. Monday's official announcement by Progressive Conservative MP Greg Kerr follows the transfer of the ferry terminal property to the town. The federal funding will go towards the repainting of lines in the marshalling yard and will complete the demolition of the existing interiors of the building to remove mould and debris. Other work to be completed includes the installation of new roofs and doors and an upgrade to the building’s electrical, communications and heating systems. The move comes ahead of the expected May startup of the new international ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine.

Powerful Storm Heading Our Way

Yet another major winter storm is heading our way for tomorrow! Environment Canada has issued a special weather warming. There are no specific total snowfall amounts predicted for the storm, but forecasters indicate if the storm maintains its current path, it could drop a significant amount of snow on us ... upwards of 30 centimeters. There will be strong gusting winds and blowing snow. Environment Canada is advising people to keep an eye on today's weather forecasts as they come in .

Mid-Week Storm Could Pound South Shore

Another winter storm is headed toward the South Shore. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Wednesday. There are no specific totals predicted for the storm, but the forecasters indicate if the storm maintains its path, it could mean significant snow, blowing snow and strong winds. Environment Canada is advising people to monitor future forecasts for any warnings that may be posted.

Former NS Mayor Leaves Lasting Legacy

A well-known municipal politican has died. Bob Stead served as mayor and a town councillor in Wolfville for more than 20 years. He was a key figure when the municipality moved to ban smoking in vehicles when a child is present. The community was the first in Canada to pass such a law. Municipality of the District of Lunenburg Mayor Don Downe says it was a groundbreaking move with Stead's strong personality behind it.



A funeral for Bob Stead will be held tomorrow (Tuesday) at Acadia University.

Curling: Mayhew Rink Clinches Playoff Berth

Nova Scotia's Robert Mayhew has clinched a playoff spot at the M & M Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Liverpool.  Mayhew improved to 4-1 this morning with a 5-3 win over the Yukon. The Windsor team play their final Pool "B" round robin game tomorrow against Alberta.  On the girls' side, Chester's Mary Fay carries a 2-1 record into her afternoon contest against Northern Ontario. Tonight at 6:30 Fay tangles with PEI. Action continues through Sunday at both the Queens Place Emera Centre and Liverpool Curling Club.

Exciting Days Ahead For Snowboarder Duckworth

A Lunenburg County snowboarder is a front runner to be named to Canada's Olympic team. Alex Duckworth of Kingsburg is now the top-ranked Canadian in the women's halfpipe. She placed ninth at a World Cup event in Quebec over the weekend. The event was the last opportunity for Canadians to secure a spot for the upcoming winter games in Sochi, Russia. The remaining spots for Canada's snowboard team will be nominated on Tuesday.