Lumberjacks Shutout Campbellton, Snap Winless Skid

The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks finally have their third win of the season. The Lumberjacks shutout the Campbellton Tigers 5-0 Friday night in Bridgewater. Brennan Bailey led the way with a goal and an assist. Patrick Byrne, Shaun MacEachern, Matt Wright and Jesse MacInnis also scored while Jeff Arkin turned aside 24 shots for the shutout. The victory broke a winless streak of 19 games for the Lumberjacks, who hadn't won since November 15. The Junior 'A' club is back on the ice Saturday night against the Valley Wildcats.

Anti-Tethering March Planned For Saturday

Hundreds of animal-lovers and their canines will take to the streets in Bridgewater tomorrow. They'll be marching to support planned amendments to the province's Animal Cruelty laws. The changes would ban the chaining of dogs over long periods of time and provide stiff penalties for those who break the laws. One of the march's co-ordinators Lindsey Parnell says the movement for change began here on the South Shore.



Saturday's march begins at the former Appleberry property on LaHave Street and will wind its way through the town. There will be similar marches tomorrow in other parts of the province including Halifax and Yarmouth.

Queens: Mounties Searching For Answers On Suspicious Fire

Queens RCMP are hoping public tips will help make a difference in finding individuals responsible for a fire in Liverpool earlier this month. Police have received very few leads or new information regarding a blaze January 18 at the former Wong's restaurant on Market Street. Investigators say the blaze appears to have been deliberately set. The building has been vacant for several years. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Queens RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

Minimum Wage Increasing April 1

Minimum wage is going up in Nova Scotia. The province has agreed to increase minimum wage by 10 cents, to $10.40 an hour beginning on April 1. Rates are adjusted annually, based on the previous year's national Consumer Price Index.  Nova Scotia has the fourth highest minimum wage rate in the country, behind Nunavut, the Yukon, and Manitoba.

Taxpayers Federation & NS Government Seek Answers

The Nova Scotia government is asking the auditor-general to review those huge cost overruns related to the Bluenose II rebuild in Lunenburg. Premier Stephen McNeil says there are too many questions surrounding the project and he wants a full accounting of why the project is so far over budget. Earlier this week, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation revealed to us through a freedom of information request that some supplies for the schooner were purchased at a 43 percent mark-up. Now, CTF Atlantic director Kevin Lacey says its important for the auditor-general to look into the goings-on around the rebuild.



It's believed the cost of the project has soared way past it's original $16 million price-tag.

A Hike At The Gas Pumps

As expected, gasoline prices took a hike overnight, heading northward at South Shore pumps! Regular self serve has increased two cents and is selling now for $1.34.7 a litre. High test is selling for $1.43.6. Diesel is now up to $1.50.5 a litre at many South Shore locations.

Jerry's Diner Sold To Wilson Fuels

It's been a mainstay in Bridgewater for 34 years, and now it's changing hands. Jerry's Diner is being sold to Wilson Fuels. The sale is expected to be approved before the end of the day on Friday. The popular restaurant opened in 1980 under owners Jerry and Vera Swain. The couple has decided to sell the restaurant and retire after a recent health scare. Jerry Swain says it wasn't an easy decision.



Swain expects Wilsons to make a few minor changes, but adds there are no job losses and the diner is there to stay. He says the couple will remain in Bridgewater and enjoy time with family.

Fay Gets Back To Work At Under-18 Curling Championship

Ten South Shore curling rinks are vying to be the next provincial curling champion. Play gets underway Friday at the 2014 Nova Scotia Under-18 championships in Bridgewater and Chester. Mary Fay's rink of Chester is the number one seed on the women's side. The team is the reigning provincial and Atlantic champions in the age group. They're also coming off a bronze medal at the national junior championship in Liverpool. There will be plenty of competition among the 12 women's teams including the second seed, Brooke Demone of Lunenburg. On the boys side, there are 16 teams including Matthew Manuel of Mayflower. He is the defending champ and ranked number one followed by Chester's Adam Cocks. The winners will represent Nova Scotia at the Atlantic Under-18 Championship.

NS Gov't Wants Auditor General Reviewing Bluenose II

The Nova Scotia government wants the auditor general to review ballooning costs related to the Bluenose II rebuild in Lunenburg. Premier Stephen McNeil states there are too many questions surrounding the project. The AG's review will shed some light on why the project is so over budget.. Earlier this week, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation revealed through a freedom of information request that some supplies for the schooner were purchased at a 43 percent mark-up price. It's believed the cost of the project has soared over its $16 million price-tag.

Martin, Whalen Among Nominees For Athletics Nova Scotia Awards

A number of South Shore athletes have been nominated for awards from Athletics Nova Scotia. Bridgewater's Rachael McIntosh and Jenna Martin along with Liverpool's Chelsea Whalen are up for top senior female. Lunenburg's Jesse Drennan and Conquerall Mills' Mattias Wolter are up for top senior male. Tobias Wolter, also of Conquerall Mills, is nominated for youth male athlete of the year. Bluenose Athletics coach Tanya Daniels is in the running to win the High Performance Coach Excellence award. The awards will be handed out March 1.

Ready! Set! Zoom! Gas Prices Expected To Rise Again!

Gas prices at South Shore pumps will likely rise again overnight tonight when the provincial utility and review board sets prices for the coming week. In New Brunswick today, regular self serve there is up two cents a litre. Diesel is up 5 cents. The Nova Scotia Utility & Review Board will set our prices at midnight and the increases are expected to be similar to those in New Brunswick. Diesel may remain unchanged here though after this week's increase of 6 cents a litre.

Queens-Shelburne Tories To Hear From Leader Baillie

Provincial Progressive Conservatives in Queens-Shelburne will meet tonight. Leader Jamie Baillie will be the keynote speaker at their annual general meeting. He will outline how the party's new role as official opposition will work.



Queens-Shelburne was a seat the Progressive Conservatives narrowly lost in the October election. NDP MLA Sterling Belliveau held on to the seat by 363 votes over the PC's Bruce Inglis - who finished second.

Tonight's AGM begins at 7:30 at the Liverpool Lions Hall.

Ice Creating Challenge For LaHave Ferry Resumption

The Department of Transportation remains optimistic that the LaHave River Ferry will be back in service by the end of the week. Spokeswoman Pam Menchenton says there is a considerable amount of ice in the river. She says crews on site are hoping for wind and good tides to shift the ice that would allow the ferry to be hooked back up to the cable. The ferry has been out of service since January 3 after it broke free from its cable during a strong wind and snowstorm.

Flag Signing Held For Alex Duckworth

Lunenburg County's newest Olympian is about to get an extra push from local residents. The Municipality of Lunenburg and town of Bridgewater are giving people a chance to sign flags that will be given to Alex Duckworth before she competes in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The flag signing will begin Friday night at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. One of the mayors, Don Downe, feels the support will mean a lot to Duckworth.



Both councils have also agreed to contribute $1,000 to help support Duckworth and her training. Flags will be available to sign until February 6 before Duckworth's parents take them to Sochi. Duckworth competes in the women's half-pipe snowboarding event on February 12. Below are the the dates when the flags will be available to sign at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre.

Flag signing dates and times

January 31 - 6pm to 9pm
February 1 - 10am to 6pm
February 2 - 10am to 5pm
February 3 - 3:30pm to 5pm
February 4 - 3:30pm to 8pm
February 5 - 3:30pm to 8pm
February 6 - 3:30pm to 5pm

Less Than Ideal Driving Conditions

A reminder of road conditions this morning (Thursday) along the South Shore. Most have been ploughed overnight but most are still snow covered and ice underneath. The 103 is snow packed this morning so drive carefully, especially along the stretch from Bridgewater to Upper Tantallon. By the way, the back road closure plan is in effect for Lunenburg & Queens school buses.

Power Out In Eastern Section of South Shore

There's a power outage this morning in the eastern portion of the South Shore! Some 1200 homes are without power in the St. Margarets Bay area including areas along Highway 333 from Upper Tantallon to McGraths Cove including Tantallon, Glen Haven, French Village, Seabright, Glen Margaret, Hacketts Cove, Indian Harbour, Peggy's Cove, Middle Village, East and West Dover. Also without electricity, Upper Tantallon to Ingramport including Allen Heights, Head of St. Margarets Bay, Masons Point and Boutiliers Point. NSP hopes to have the power back on to everyone around 8am.

South Shore Curlers Ready For Scotties

A pair of South Shore curlers are about to begin their quest to bring a national women's curling title back to Nova Scotia for the first time since 2004. Jill Brothers of Liverpool and Blisse Joyce of Lunenburg will represent the province as part of Team Smith when the Scotties Tournament of Hearts kicks off on Saturday in Montreal. Joyce is competing in her third Scotties. For Brothers, it's only her second time competing at the national event after playing in 2007. She says she's better prepared for this year's event.



Nova Scotia opens up play Saturday afternoon against Newfoundland and Labrador.

Bridgewater: Councillor Concerned About Missing Civic Numbers

A town councillor is concerned about the status of civic numbering in Bridgewater. Wayne Thorburne says improvements have been made but there are still too many issues. He says some numbers aren't visible, others have contrasting colors and many are missing. Thorburne says that's a problem for emergency services, who have difficulty finding homes in the area.



Thorburne is looking for a by-law to be created to help fix the issue. More discussion is expected between council, the public and emergency officials.

Interim NDP Leader Making South Shore Tour

The interim leader of the NDP is making a swing through the South Shore. Maureen MacDonald says she will be meeting with some residents over the next few days to hear their concerns and gather feedback in advance of the spring session of the legislature. MacDonald says the party is moving on from a disappointing October election where they were left with just seven seats.



MacDonald says she will join MLA Sterling Belliveau for community consultations in the riding of Queens-Shelburne. There's no date for a leadership election for the NDP, who are seeking a new leader after Darrell Dexter stepped down following the last election.

Former Lunenburg MLA Eyes Federal Politics

A former MLA in Lunenburg is throwing her hat into the federal ring. Pam Birdsall has announced her intention to run for the NDP in the South Shore - St. Margaret's constituency in the next federal election. Birdsall spent four years in provincial politics before she was ousted from office by Liberal member Suzanne Lohnes-Croft in last October's election. Birdsall feels she's ready for a new chapter in her life.



Birdsall is the first person to announce their intention, and she expects to be challenged by others. She feels it's time to reign out the Conservatives.



The next federal election is planned for the fall of 2015 or sooner.