Yarmouth: Ferry Service Delayed; Agreement Reached On Terminal

Nova Star Cruises has requested a new start date for ferry service between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine. The company is looking to start the service on May 15, two weeks after the original May 1 date. However, the province still needs to approve the request for an extension. Commissioner William Doyle of the United States Federal Maritime Commission says they have issued a certificate of performance permit for Nova Star Cruises, which allows the ferry company to begin promoting and selling tickets. Meanwhile, the COO of Nova Star also announced today that it has signed a lease agreement with the Town of Yarmouth for the use of the municipal ferry terminal. The seven year agreement means the company will be responsible for operational costs and pay the Town of Yarmouth an annual lease and usage fee, based on passenger numbers. Nova Star Cruises estimates that the lease agreement will generate more than $350,000 for the town this year.

Accused In Sexual Assault Case Thought Teen Was Older

A Halifax area man accused of sexually assaulting a young boy told police he thought the teenager was older. John Leonard MacKean made the statement just hours after he was arrested by police in New Brunswick. The 64 year-old also told police he had no idea the  16 year old had been kidnapped and was being held against his will. The information was revealed during police interrogation conducted in November 2012. The four hour video was played publicly for the first time today during his Supreme Court trial in Bridgewater. MacKean is accused of paying to perform sexual acts on the teenager who was chained up and blindfolded in a cabin in Upper Chelsea. The teenager was kidnapped by Wayne Cunningham and David Leblanc. MacKean is facing two charges in total including sexual assault and a prostitution related offence.

Lunenburg: New Ownership At Grand Banker Restaurant

What started out as a job as a teenager has turned into a perfect opportunity. Adam Bower is one of the new owners of the Grand Banker Seafood Bar and Grill and Brigantine Inn in Lunenburg. He grew up in the town, working as a bus boy at the restaurant in 1998. Now, he's a proud owner after it was sold to him and his wife, Christina. Bower says it's important for him to be back in Lunenburg.



Bower says plans include keeping the restaurant open year-round, instead of seasonal.

Opening day is scheduled to be April 7.

Ottawa Provides Money For South Shore Clean Technology Company

A South Shore-based clean technology innovator is starting up with financial input from Ottawa. CelluFuel's plant just outside Liverpool will transform otherwise low-value wood fibre into renewable diesel fuel for the refinery market. The firm is debuting its technology at ReNova Scotia Bioenergy in Brooklyn with a long-term plan to launch a full commercial-scale operation in Clare by 2015. South Shore-St. Margarets MP Gerald Keddy says the federal government will  contribute half a million dollar repayable investment through ACOA. The money will help in purchasing special equipment for setting up the plant. The Province of Nova Scotia has already announced a $1.5 million repayable investment in the project.

Bridgewater: Chamber Hosts 'Breakfast With Mayor' Event

Bridgewater residents are getting a chance to have breakfast with the mayor. The Bridgewater Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event Thursday morning from 7:30am-9am at the Days Inn and Convention Centre. David Walker is expected to talk about the future of the town and listen to resident concerns. People can register for the event on site, beginning at 7am or they can pay at the chamber website here .

Keddy Reflects On Jim Flaherty

Gerald Keddy says Jim Flaherty was one of Canada's best finance ministers. The South Shore-St. Margarets MP is reflecting on the now former finance minister who resigned Tuesday after 8 years on the job. Keddy tells us Flaherty will be sorely missed.



Keddy expects Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver will also be a good finance minister. He will be taking over Flaherty's job for the final year of the Harper government's mandate. Flaherty plans to return to the private sector. Replacing Oliver as Natural Resources Minister will be Greg Rickford.

Interrogation Of Accused Heard In Sexual Assault Trial

The 12 member jury hearing a sexual assault trial in Bridgewater Supreme Court is hearing police interrogation of the man accused of paying to have sex with a teenage boy. John Leonard MacKean is facing charges of sexual assault and communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services with a person under eighteen. The 64 year old's arrest over a year ago came shortly after a Canada wide man hunt ended in Northern Ontario with the arrest of David Leblanc and the discovery of Wayne Cunningham's body. Leblanc and Cunningham orchestrated the kidnapping and confinement of a teenage boy in Upper Chelsea. The boy was sexually assaulted daily for eight days before he was able to escape. It's alleged MacKean paid to perform sexual acts on the boy while he was chained up. The jury is hearing a four hour interrogation led by RCMP officer Luc Cote. The Supreme Court trial is expected to last at least another day before the jury begins deliberations.

Bridgewater: Teenager Can't ID Third Man

A high profile sexual assault case enters its second day in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Bridgewater. The alleged victim testified in court yesterday he was chained to a bed and sexually assaulted numerous times inside a Lunenburg County cabin in September 2012. The teenager told court he was blindfolded and not able to identify a man believed to have paid to perform sexual acts on the boy. Defence lawyer Mike Taylor says identification plays a big factor in any case.



However, Crown attorney Lloyd Tancock is expected to submit DNA evidence during court proceedings Wednesday. Sixty-four year old John Leonard MacKean is facing charges of sexual assault along with a prostitution related offence. He's is being tried by judge and jury.

Yarmouth: No Injuries Following Barn Fire

The Canadian Red Cross says a family of four escaped injury after a fire caused major damage to their home near Yarmouth. The fire destroyed a barn attached to their home in South Ohio on Monday night. It also caused extensive damage to their older wood-frame home. The couple and their two children were not home at the time of the fire. They are staying with relatives have have been helped with emergency purchases such as food and clothes. The Red Cross says passing motorists who saw the smoke and flames rescued three pet dogs and a rabbit  from the house. Firefighters from the Yarmouth, Lake Vaughn, and Valley and District responded to the blaze.

Acadian Seaplants Expanding; Province Supports Project

A Nova Scotia company is sprucing up two of its facilities on the South Shore. Biotech group Acadian Seaplants is investing more than $4-million for new equipment at its Yarmouth and Charlesville, Shelburne County plants. It also includes the company's Cornwallis facility. The expansion is expected to increase capacity, introduce new technologies, and enhance product quality and worker safety. Acadian Seaplants harvests and processes seaweed for global markets involving specialty fertilizer products and animal feed supplements. The company expects to add roughly 30 jobs throughout its operations over the next three years. The province is also contributing almost $540,000 to support the project. (Photo Courtesy: Acadian Seaplants Limited)

Teen Tells Court He Was Blindfolded, Chained To Bed

Chilling details are being revealed in the sexual assault case involving a teenage boy who was chained up for 10 days inside a cabin in Lunenburg County. Sixty-four year old John Leonard MacKean is facing two charges in relation to his alleged role in the incident which took place in September 2012. The alleged victim - a teenage boy - was the first witness to take the stand  in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Bridgewater. He told court he was blindfolded and chained to a bed while he was sexually assaulted by David Leblanc and Wayne Cunningham. The teenager also testified about a third man involved in the sexual acts. However, the boy was blindfolded and could not clearly identify the other individual. Evidence of chains, a blanket from the bed and a blindfold were submitted as evidence by the Crown prosecutor. Defence lawyer Mike Taylor will cross examine the alleged victim this afternoon. The trial is being heard before a judge and 12 member jury. It's expected to last three days.

Yarmouth Prepares To Welcome New Ferry

Just a month and a half before ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine resumes and excitement is building. Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood says the community's "All Hands On Deck" campaign will be holding a special public meeting Wednesday evening. The mayor says it'll be a good prelude to May 1st, an update on whats happening.



The NovaStar left Singapore on the weekend bound for Boston. It'll take the new vessel about a month to travel the 16-thousand kilometers. The NovaStar is also expected to travel to Yarmouth for a courtesy call prior to the start up of service May 1st.

High Liner Supports Lunenburg Academy Of Music Performance

Proponents with the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance have secured a second major financial donation. High Liner Foods Inc. has committed a $100,000 funding agreement over four years with the international school of music. It follows a $100,000 investment last October from Susan and Guenther Reibling, owners of Lunenburg-based Stellar Investment. The support from High Liner will allow LAMP to negotiate a lease agreement with the town for the third floor of the Lunenburg Academy building. LAMP will open its doors to the world on October 13 with the first annual Rossini Opera Academy. The distinguished Maestro, Alberto Zedda will conduct an intense two-week course on modern Rossini performance techniques. President of LAMP's Board of Directors, Ellen Wathen, says they have more potential donors in place and expect to release more news in April.

Sexual Assault Trial Underway in Bridgewater Supreme Court

The sexual assault trial of a Lower Sackville man got underway this morning in Bridgewater Supreme Court. John Leonard MacKean is facing two charges involving a chained-up teenage boy in a cabin in Upper Chelsea in 2012. The 64 year old is also charged with communicating for the purpose of obtaining sexual services from a person under 18. Crown prosecutor Lloyd Tancock says three witnesses will be called over the coarse of the trial. The young boy is expected to be one of the witnesses. A 12 member jury, consisting of 7 women and 5 men, was selected yesterday. Defence lawyer Mike Taylor will represent the accused. The high profile case is expected to last about three days.

Dying With Dignity Holds Lunenburg County Talks

A new Dying with Dignity chapter in Nova Scotia believes people deserve to know their rights regarding end-of-life choices.  Volunteers with the chapter are hoping to shine some light on the issue on the South Shore A pair of talks are planned for Tuesday. The first one will be at the Mahone Bay Centre at 2pm. Another talk is scheduled for 6:30pm inside the Margaret Hennigar Public Library at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre.

Bridgewater: Jury Selected In MacKean Trial

The trial for a Lower Sackville man charged with sexual assault in the case of a teenage boy who was chained inside a Lunenburg County cabin will begin tomorrow. John Leonard MacKean is scheduled to have a three-day trial by judge and jury in Bridgewater Supreme Court.
Jury selection for the trial began Monday. MacKean is charged with a prostitution related offence. A panel consisting of seven women and five men will hear the trial. Last June, David James LeBlanc was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats and breach of conditions.
That conviction involves the same teenage boy who was able to escape the cabin. The incident was reported to police shortly after he escaped.

Plan In Motion To Raise Cape Rouge

A plan is in place to raise an old fishing trawler in Bridgewater. Several pylons will be placed between the dock and the ship over the next few days for stabilization. Divers with RMI Marine Ltd. will then seal up the ship, making it water-tight before the vessel will start being pumped out of the water. Senior response officer with the Canadian Coast Guard, Keith Laidlaw, expects to see some movement on the weekend. He says it's a lengthy process.



Laidlaw says they are being calculated and careful during this step. Over 5,000 litres of fuel was taken out of the ship while over 700 kilograms of absorbent pads soaked in oil were gathered from water surrounding the vessel. The Cape Rouge began sinking at the Port of Bridgewater on March 10.

Business Group Halting Managerial Duties Of 'Why Here' Project

Bridgewater is taking a wait-and-see approach before it decides if it will provide funding to an initiative that promotes the local area. The 'Why Here' project has been managed by the South Shore Business Growth Association since the Lunenburg-Queens Regional Development Agency shut its doors. However, the association will no longer manage the program as of March 31 due to a lack of funding. Manager of the Bridgewater Development Association, Ida Scott, says units including the Region of Queens, the municipalities of Chester and Lunenburg and towns of Bridgewater, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg could look after the 'Why Here' project for six months.



Scott says they have a proposed six month budget of $23,000, which includes a part-time coordinator and technical support for the website. Bridgewater has declined a $5,000 pre-budget request until more information is available.

Trial Begins For Third Man Related To Upper Chelsea Confinement Case

The trial for a Lower Sackville man charged with sexual assault in the case of a teenage boy who was chained inside a Lunenburg County cabin will begin this week. John Leonard MacKean is scheduled to have a three-day trial by judge and jury in Bridgewater Supreme Court. Jury selection got underway this morning (Monday). MacKean is charged with a prostitution related offence and sexual assault. Last June, David James LeBlanc was sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats and breach of conditions. That conviction involves the same teenage boy who was able to escape the cabin. The incident was reported to police shortly after he escaped.

South Shore Labour Protests Cutting Door To Door Mail Delivery

The South Shore District Labour Council held a rally and march this morning (Monday) in Bridgewater. About a dozen members walked from the North Street main post office at 8 o'clock to outside the office of South Shore-St. Margarets MP Gerald Keddy. Rally organizer Jackie Giffin says among other things, they're focusing attention these days on Canada Post's plan to eliminate door-to-door mail delivery.



Eliminating door-to-door mail delivery is only part of Canada Post's plan to cut costs, including increasing postage.  Giffin also says the federal government is cutting too many public services and that is impacting society as a whole.