Rumour mill running on overdrive

(From the Hants Journal)



There’s an old saying; if there isn't a rumour running by 9 a.m., start one.

The Journal has heard a variety of items lately ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. For starters, a rumour has been making its way around the county like a leaf in a windstorm. Here’s the latest: The Hants Journal is going to close.

Let's get real. This newspaper was first established as The Windsor Mail in 1851 and later changed its name in 1867. For the past 151 years, it has reported on events that happen in Hants County and is poised to continue for at least another century or more. So rest easy; we're in this for the long haul, and we never close!

With a substantial subscription list in the thousands and countless consumers who pick up a copy of the local paper at county stores, The Hants Journal is the publication of choice and newspaper of record for county residents who want to know what's happening in their community.

Secondly, another rumour suggests that Fred Lawrence quit as editor and went to work for another newspaper. That’s news to us.

We announced in the Oct. 5, 2006 edition Mr. Lawrence's promotion to his new position as editor. After seven years writing as a columnist and five years in the position of full-time reporter/photographer, allow us to set the record straight. The new editor isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Where such rumours start is anyone's guess, but quite often they provide a good humour in what can be a hectic environment. What does Journal staff do when they hear such nonsense?

Laugh. A lot. And, of course, being in the business they’re in, attempt to find the source, which often results in a dead end.

But rumours can lead sometimes to an interesting story so they’re difficult to ignore. Especially if the cashier at the local bakery tells you, “everyone’s talking about it.�

Indeed, the latest gossip is far from reality and comical, too, but it behooves us to address such drivel when it concerns local livelihoods and this paper’s prominent position in the community.

The Hants Journal has consistently held the best interests of the region as its primary ethos for the past century-and-a-half. Your community newspaper strives to bring readers the best coverage while providing an excellent forum for businesses to advertise to a large base of loyal readers.

Transcontinental Media, a Canadian company, owns the paper. Employees work within a team concept and strive to bring to our readers the best community coverage possible each week.

As a corollary to that, an exciting development is our new website, www.NovaNewsNow.com, where you will find the latest news coverage, stories, photos, columns, regional links, contests and much more.

This site is the result of a lot of hard work and dedication by Transcontinental Media employees to bring our readers the latest news at the touch of a key.

Check it out; it’s a perfect one-stop shop if you want up-to-the-minute local news, and you never know. You just might find a photo of you or someone you know on the site!



Proposed power hike shocks ratepayers



On Oct. 10, Nova Scotia Power filed application with the Provincial Utility and Review Board to raise their residential and municipal rate by 10 per cent. This comes on the heels of an 8.9 per cent hike in March.

Last year, power consumers faced an increase of 6.9 per cent. At the rate NSP is upping its fees, the idea of municipalities investing in wind farms is looking very good indeed. This province should show leadership by producing “green� alternative energy sources – that won't come with constant increases for power consumers.

Given the sorry state of affairs with the way energy is produced in this province and the incredible gall of the highly overpaid executives running the main power plant, it's time for the public to take a stand.