Deed Transfer Hike

2009-05-22 12:10:11

It's only been four years since they've been charging a tax on every property sold in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg.   And now they are looking at increasing the deed transfer tax.  Council is proposing to bump up the rate from three quarters to a full one percent of the value of the property transferred.  Second reading of the changes to the Deed Transfer Tax Bylaw will be held in the county council chambers in Bridgewater on June 9th.  The tax came into effect in the municipality in September 2005. According to the municipality's figures, the tax earned them $541,554 in the last budget year.

House Prices

2009-05-22 12:08:22

No housing market crash in this part of the country.   Average house prices on the south shore are at a record high according to the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors.  In April the average residential price was just under 207-thousand dollars - a five-point-four percent increase over last year.  The national average was down 3-point-2 percent.  Residential properties on the south shore went up by 11 percent, second only to the Valley Region where prices were 15 percent higher.  The Association says the number and value of sales were down in April compared to last year and new listings were also down for the fourth consecutive year-over-year.  President of the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors says the bridge between buyer demand and housing supply is continuing to narrow. Linda Smardon says that helps maintain stability in housing prices.   The average house price in the South Shore Region is $173,853.

Leader's Tour

2009-05-22 07:12:26

The Conservatives and New Democrats are kicking off their election activities today (Friday) with campaign statements in Dartmouth.  Premier Rodney MacDonald has scheduled a morning news conference at the Dartmouth East campaign headquarters. While the premier speaks, N-D-P Leader Darrell Dexter will talk about the future for young people at the community college's waterfront campus before heading to the south shore. He'll be campaigning with Garey Ramey and Pam Birdsall this afternoon. Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil will spend the afternoon campaigning with Mark Furey in Bridgewater, Wayne Henley in Liverpool and Darian Huskilson in Shelburne. MacDonald is also fanning out with several candidates later today.

Fight Injury

2009-05-22 07:11:20

One man was taken to hospital following a fight at the Lunenburg Community Centre earlier this week.  RCMP responded to a complaint of a fight between two men just after 5 p.m. Wednesday evening, May 20th.  Police and Emergency Health Services also responded and a 19 year old male was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.  Preliminary investigation indicates the 19 year old intoxicated man became involved in a fight with a 17 year old youth.  The 19 year old fell and struck his head on the pavement during the incident and was taken to Fishermen's Memorial Hospital then to South Shore Regional.  The youth as well as witnesses at the scene were interviewed by police who are continuing their investigation.

Drug Arrests

2009-05-22 07:01:37

A Milton couple is facing charges following a seizure of marijuana and stolen property.  Queens RCMP with assistance from the Shelburne and South Shore Street Crime Enforcement Units executed a search warrant on a Milton residence on May 19th.  As a result of the search, 31 year old Michael Samuel Fancy has been charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of stolen property.  Twenty-six year old Tanya Dawn Bent is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking marijuana and possession of stolen property.  About $6,000 worth of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were seized during the search.