Health Minister Takes Notice Of McAdam Incident

A conflicting incident in McAdam, finally being noticed by the provincial Health Minister.


A spokesperson for Madeline Dube cites the Ambulance NB policy, saying ambulances are required to take their patients to the closest destination hospital.

She says the regional health authorities and the Department of Health are involved in deciding what constitutes a hospital, and a full-time emergency room is needed.

McAdam Mayor Frank Carroll raised the issue after four fire victims were made to wait for ambulances Monday morning, rather than be treated at the McAdam Health Care Centre which was only 700 feet away.
 
Carroll says this policy doesn't work for McAdam, as it is an isolated area, with bad travelling conditions, and they need to be able to use the best available services, at any given time.

SSHS - The Bullying Stops Here!

Roses are red -- T-shirts are Pink?

Today is the 5th annual National Pink Shirt Day, with businesses and schools all over Canada wearing pink, creating awareness and taking a stand against bullying.

SSHS Student Danielle Mann says Pink Shirt Day means a lot to her because she has been bullied in the past, and Pink Shirt Day really shows that you are not alone, giving everyone a chance to show you really care about Bullying.

Premier David Alward is also promoting the event, asking everyone to wear pink and show support for respect and tolerance within families, homes, workplaces and schools.

Pink Shirt Day began in 2007, when two Nova Scotia teenagers encouraged fellow students to wear pink T-shirts in support of another student who was being bullied.

McAdam Mayor Frustrated With ANB Policy

Four fire victims from McAdam were made to wait over an hour for ambulances to arrive -- while they looked upon a health clinic 700 feet away.


A mother and 3 children -- including a baby -- were not allowed to be taken to the McAdam Health Care Centre yesterday after a fire in a home, because it is against Ambulance NB's policy to take a patient to a clinic rather than a hospital.

McAdam Mayor Frank Carroll is frustrated with the policy.

He says they are a rural community, with bad travel conditions, and that makes it difficult in emergency situations.

He says what is not acceptable, is not using the best possible services available, to respond in the best possible way.

ANB confirms the policy, however the decision to change it is in Health Minister Madeline Dube's hands, not theirs.

The minister was unable to be reached for comment.

Fundy Discovery Aquarium Makes Trade With Biodome

It's a unique kind of business trade.


The Fundy Discovery Aquarium in St. Andrews is the new home for 2 animals, an Atlantic wolffish, and a much rarer kind in the Bay of Fundy, a spotted wolffish.

Employees from the Biodome in Montreal, in trade took a couple of Atlantic sturgeons back to Quebec.

As a tradition at our local aquarium, names are needed for the fish, who are temporarily and unoriginally being called "Spot" and "Stripes".

Visitors can submit their ballots for the new names until St. Patrick's Day.

Tait Says Many Times Ferguson Got Under His Skin

Saint John East M-L-A Glen Tait continuing to testify at the defamation trial of former Saint John Common Councillor John Ferguson.

Ferguson is currently the Town Manager of St. Stephen.

Tait, a former common councillor, pulls no punches telling jury there were many times Ferguson got under his skin.

Tait told the court he was frustrated with Ferguson making allegations without providing any proof to back them up.

Tait, was receiving a city pension while serving on Council and the pension board.

He sought a legal opinion on whether he was in a conflict of interest, but says his pension benefits did not change or increase.

City Solicitor John Nugent calls the allegations reckless.

Harbour Bridge Gets More Closures

Get ready for the temporary closures of one eastbound lane on the Saint John Harbour Bridge over the next eight weeks.


The closures are necessary to allow crews to prepare for the final phase of bridge work, which will close both eastbound lanes from April 15 until the fall.

Transportation Minister Claude Williams says in a release that up until April 15, they are committed to keeping at least three of the four lanes open at all times. Williams notes it will be necessary to close one lane at times to allow crews to do preliminary work in advance of the closure of the eastbound lanes.

The temporary lane closures will only take place during non-peak hours between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m Monday through Saturday and the closures are

dependent upon the weather.

Police Search For Two Suspects In Saint John Weekend Robbery

The Saint John Police Force looking into an armed robbery on Saturday night at the Garnett Shell Service Station on Wellesley Ave.


Police are looking for two white men in their twenties who left the area on foot with some cash.

No one was hurt in the robbery.

One man is described as between 5 feet and 5 foot 5 weighing 220 pounds and the other is between 6 feet and 6 foot 5 with a skinny build.

Both men were wearing blue jeans, sneakers and a black jacket with a hood.

If you know anything call the Saint John Police Force at 648-3333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Hiking Trails Need Protection

With 30% of New Brunswickers considered obese, it's time to take a hike. But Sentier Trails NB, the organization responsible for developing and promoting  the province's trails, saying tough economic times are taking their toll on outdoor recreation.

Jorgensen tells Tide News the question is how to keep the trails well-maintained and accessible.
 

He says funding was cut last year by 40-thousand dollar. Sentier Trails NB calling for the government to get behind the province's greenways and trail systems despite the downturn.

MLA Discusses Changes to Old Age Security

The government wants you to know that any upcoming changes to Old Age Security won't effect people who are about to collect, or collecting now. MLA Rodney Weston says despite Stephen Harper's talk about raising the eligibility age from 65 to 67, those changes won't be happening for a long time,

Weston tells CHSJ News there's no cause for alarm yet--despite the fact that he's been inundated with calls and emails from worried citizens--because there will be enough consultation for people to make changes in their retirement plans.

The proposed changes wouldn't happen until at least 2020. Weston says it's being considered to make sure that OAS will be there for people in the long run.

Family Cat Alerts Owners Of Fire In Pennfield

A family pet coming to the rescue during a fire Tuesday morning.


District 1 RCMP say a trailer caught fire shortly after midnight at 11 Millie Lane in Pennfield.

The family said the cat alerted the household of the blaze.

The family of four say they were renting and most of their belongings were destroyed in the fire.

There's no word yet on how that fire got started.


The Red Cross is helping out the couple and their two school-aged children with emergency lodging, food and clothing.

Cpl. Jason Anderson says there were no injuries and foul play is not suspected.

St. Stephen Goes Smoke-Free

Here is the smoke-free policy approved by St. Stephen Town Council on Monday, February 20th, 2012.

The following locations will be designated as "Smoke-Free."
a) a park on Town property or property the Town is licensed to maintain;
b) an outdoor recreational facility on Town property, including but not limited to a grandstand, seating area or bleacher;
c) the grounds of a Town building;
d) the grounds of an event on Town property that is open to the public, including but not limited to a festival, market or concert, whether admittance to the event is free or for a fee;
e) a cemetary on Town property;
f) a trail or path on Town property or property the Town is licensed to maintain;
g) a street along a parade route while the parade is in progress.

Beckett Frustrated By Ferguson Case

More testimony from Former City Finance Commissioner Andrew Beckett at the defamation trial of former Common Councillor John Ferguson.


Beckett told the jury he was frustrated and bewildered by Ferguson's charges as well as being embarrassed then Mayor Norm McFarlane felt it was necessary to come to the former finance commissioner's defense.

More video from Common Council was played during which Ferguson charged the early retirement programme cost the city more money that was thought and there were errors in the city's audited financial statements. Beckett told the court Ferguson never presented any documentation he claimed to have.
 
Ferguson is currently the Town Manager of St. Stephen.

Plans For Chocolate Fest Start Tonight

Are you craving Chocolate?


Tonight is the first planning meeting for Chocolate Fest 2012.

The public is invited to learn more about the new vision for the festival, and how you can host an event or volunteer.

The meeting will be held at the St. Croix Public Library, at King Street in St. Stephen at 6pm.

Chocolate Fest is scheduled to run from August 6-12th.

Ferguson Lawyer Says Council Minutes Don't Amount To A Hill Of Beans

Former finance commissioner and pension trustee Andrew Beckett taking to the stand once again in the defamation trial of former city councillor John Ferguson.


Pension board lawyer Barry Morrison pulling out emails, council minutes, and other documents from 2004-2005 as background for Ferguson's allegedly defamatory comments about the pension board.

Ferguson's lawyer Rod Gillis tells Tide News all that doesn't amount to a hill of beans, because in a defamation trial the actual words are what's important. A 2005 video clip played in court showed Ferguson saying he was advised by senior legal counsel the pension board comitted gross negligence.

Morrison argued those statements were unsubstantiated.

Ferguson is currently the Town Manager of St. Stephen.

Dexter Working In Musquash and Prince of Wales

More construction zones starting on Monday.


Dexter Construction tells Tide News construction on the Route 1 Gateway is starting in Musquash.

Musquash, week of February 20 - Eastbound lane will be reduced to one lane.

Musquash, week of February 27 - Westbound traffic will be diverted to the eastbound lane creating two way traffic until August 2012.

Prince of Wales, week of February 27 - Eastbound and westbound lanes will be reduced to one lane until September 2012.

Dexter reminding drivers to slow down and drive safely in construction zones.

The Route 1 Gateway is expected to be completed by July 31, 2013.

Beckett Testifies In Ferguson Trial

Saint John's former Finance Commissioner is continuing to testify at the defamation lawsuit launched by the pension board against former Common Councillor John Ferguson.

Ferguson is currently the Town Manager of St. Stephen.


Andrew Beckett told the jury the city's pension plan had an estimated surplus of 29 million dollars at the end of 2000.
 
A year and a half later there was a significant deficit.
 
By 2003 there was the realisation that investment returns were so low, the plan would not get back on track by a rebound in the stock market alone.
 
Both Beckett and Councillor Chris Titus, a pension board member at the time, raised concerns over the cost of disability pensions and approvals.
 
Beckett says there was no reluctance to keep Common Council informed.

Biker Festival Gets Funding For Music Events

Help for music events is coming in the form of $2000.


The Canadian Committee for the Rally in the St. Croix Valley making the announcement today.

The Charlotte Coastal Region Tourism Association providing the funds and joining forces with the Rally for the event this summer.

The biker-fest is scheduled to run from Canada Day through to July 8th.

A Nickel Mine In St. Stephen? Maybe.

A nickel mine in the town of St. Stephen is still a possibility -- but that's all it is.


Manager of Geophysics and Project Generation for Continental Nickel, Sharon Taylor tells Tide News the project in St. Stephen is not a done deal, with many stages left to complete before a decision to build a mine can be made.

She says they have just finished a drilling program, drilling seven holes. She says the plan for 2012 is to evaluate the size of those discoveries, as well as having a lot of untested marks left.
Taylor gave the update last night at the Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner.

Gas Leak Causes Evacuation In St. George

A police officer with a good nose may have saved lives today in St. George.


Shortly after midnight, a member of District 1 RCMP detected a foul smell while patrolling near the intersection of Main and Portage Streets.

The St. George Fire Department and Enbridge Gas were called to the scene to discover the smell was a leaking natural gas meter running to a business.

An apartment building housing ten people was evacuated as a precaution, but they were allowed to return after about an hour.

There were no injuries.

Police do not suspect foul play.

Pension Board Treasurer Takes Stand In Ferguson Case

Saint John's former Finance Commissioner for the city Daryl Wilson taking the stand in the defamation lawsuit between former common councillor John Ferguson and the city's pension board.


Wilson also served as treasurer on the pension board.

He told jurors during his time with the board, he had no knowledge of any illegal activity on the board or anyone abusing long-term or permanent disability benefits.

But he did concede the number of employees who were out on long-term or permanent disability seemed abnormally high.

The point was also made by an actuary who suggested the city had to redefine what constituted long-term and permanent disability.

John Ferguson is currently the Town Manager of St. Stephen.

Sketches Of Suspects In B & E's Around MacDougall Lake

 Police releasing sketches of two men they think broke into over a dozen local camps.


District 1 RCMP say two men were spotted by a neighbour on Route 785, near MacDougall Lake.

The men assaulted the neighbour and left in a blue Pontiac Grand Am.

One suspect is described as caucasian, in his early 20's, with sandy color hair, one pierced ear, and a thin build.

The other is also in his late teens or early 20's, and unknown ethnicity.

Both wore camoflage clothing.

Between December 15th and 16th, over a dozen camps in the MacDougall Lake and Seeley Lake areas were broken into.

If you have any information please contact St. George RCMP at 5-6-755-1130 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Merrill Sheds Light On Fracking

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is nothing new.


Stephanie Merrill of the New Brunswick Conservation Council says there are seven companies in the province, all in different stages of shale gas exploration.

She says there is actual production in Penobsquis, and they have been producing gas there for almost 10 years.

However, Merril adds, people are just starting to realize now that it's not new and the exploration has been around for awhile.

Merril giving Charlotte County residents the pros and cons of fracking at a meeting last night in St. Stephen.

She wants everyone to have all the facts, before deciding to go for or against the controversial issue.

RCMP Need Witnesses To Collision In St. George

District 1 RCMP in St. George are looking for witnesses.


Last Thursday, an accident between a silver Nissan truck and a grey Ford Focus happened on Route 1 around 5pm.

The crash was located just off the entrance ramp coming from St. George towards Saint John.

Police are requesting anyone with information, or who may have witnessed the accident to call the St. George RCMP at 506-755-1130.

Jurors Picked In Ferguson Case

Over the next six weeks, a jury of 5 men and 4 women will be hearing testimony at the defamation lawsuit launched by Saint John's pension board against former Common Councillor John Ferguson back in 2007.


The jurors have been told there's a lot of documentation that will be presented along with the playing of excerpts from meetings of Common Council.
 
The lawsuit was launched after Ferguson voiced criticisms of how the city's pension plan was being managed.
 
Since that time, Ferguson ran for the Mayoralty but lost and is now serving as the town manager in St. Stephen.
 
The city's pension deficit, meantime, has increased to 190 million dollars.

Office Open For Civic Center

If you have questions concerning the future of the new Garcelon Civic Center in St. Stephen, the Civic Center Office is open this week to give you answers.

Here are the hours of operation for this week.

Tuesday 11am-1pm


Thursday 11am-1pm and 4pm-6pm

Friday 11am-1pm and 4-6pm

The office is located at 103 Milltown Blvd in St. Stephen.

Rally In Support For John Ferguson

The Saint John pension board's lawsuit against former Common Councillor John Ferguson goes to court starting today.

Six weeks set aside to hear testimony.

Ferguson is currently the Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of St. Stephen.

The Pension Board launched the suit back in 2007, after criticisms voiced by Ferguson about what he saw as the mismanagement of the pension plan.

John Campbell, who has already announced he's running for a seat on Common Council, tells Tide News this is a complete waste of time and money, calling it frivalous, and says the only people making money from this is the lawyers.
A rally is also being organised for in front of the provincial courthouse on Charlotte Street where the trial is being held.

Illegal Smokes Seized

A man getting burned in a sting on illegal smokes.

At approximately 7pm on Thursday, the RCMP n arrested a Moncton man on the Trans Canada Highway near Salisbury for being in possession of contraband cigarettes.  


Police stopped the truck he was driving and seized approximately 220,000 contraband cigarettes. 

A 26-year-old man was arrested and is facing charges under the  Provincial Tobacco Tax Act.

Photo Credit: RCMP

Dragonfly Centre For Autism To Open This Weekend

The Dragonfly Resource Centre for Autism will celebrate their Grand Opening  tomorrow between 1-4pm.

Everyone is welcome.

The Dragonfly Centre is located at 36 Milltown Blvd in St. Stephen.

Civic Centre Office Now Open

All questions from the community about the new Civic Centre -- can now be answered.


The Grand opening of the Garcelon Civic Centre office taking place today.

The Town of St. Stephen inviting everyone to check out the office at 103 Milltown Blvd, filled with plans and information about the project.

Deputy Mayor Jim Maxwell says the office will stay open during the construction process as an information centre.

Family Of 6 Burned Out

A fire yesterday in St. Stephen put a family of six out in the cold.

The Canadian Red Cross has stepped in, providing temporary accommodations and food for the couple and their four children.

The kids range in age between 2 and 13.

No word yet on the cause of the fire.

No Support From Town At Elm Street Park Meeting

'Frustrating' was the word of the night at a meeting for the St. Stephen Elm Street Park Society.

Wilf Torunski, President of the Society tells Tide News the resurrection of the park has not drawn the interest of the town council.

He says they are trying to re-open the southern section of Elm Park, which is mostly wooded areas, at little or no cost to the town.

Torunski says the society has received a $1000 grant from the provincial government to get started on the park.

With exception to Mayor Jed Purcell being out of town, all town officials were invited to the meeting, however, not a single one showed up.

St. Stephen Town Manager John Ferguson was unable to be reached for comment.

Endangered Species Only Home In Charlotte County

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is spreading the awareness about an endangered species found only in Charlotte County.

Program Manager of the NCC, Paula Noel, tells Tide News of a delicate plant with purple bell shaped flowers, called Van Brunt's Jacob's Ladder.


She says there were records of the plant being seen in New Brunswick in the 1880's, but there had been no record of it since then, so everyone assumed it was extinct.

Jacob's Ladder was re-discovered in 2005 by Dwayne Sabine and Stephen Clayden in Dipper Harbour.

The plant has also been found in Utopia.

The NCC is asking anyone to report their sightings of Jacob's ladder.

You can email them at atlantic@natureconservancy.ca or by phone at 1-877-231-4400.


Photo by Stephen Clayden.

Elm Park for Public Use Again?

What is the future of the St. Stephen Elm Street Park?

A public meeting will be held tomorrow at Humphrey's Funeral Home by the Elm Street Park Society.

The purpose is to try and re-establish the park in town for public use.

The meeting gets underway at 7pm.

For more information call Wilf at 465-6422.

Send A Valentine To Your Favorite Crustacean

Even the critters from the Bay of Fundy are feeling the love.

The Fundy Discovery Aquarium in St. Andrews inviting children to write Valentine's Day cards for the animals.

The cards will be dropped into special boxes near the animals, such as Loki and Snorkel the harbour seals, and Big Dee-Dee the Lobster.



Genny Simard will be making a presentation on lobsters and lobster love at 2:30pm.

The celebration is this Saturday, from 10-5.

Impaired Driver Hits Police Car in St. Andrews

Don't drink and Drive -- you may hit a police car.

That's what happened to a 20-year-old man last Friday, just shortly after 2am in St. Andrews.

The man from Saint John failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Parr and Sophia Street, colliding with a police cruiser head on.

The officer was sent to hospital with minor injuries and was released.

No other injuries, but both vehicles were significantly damaged.

The man was found to be impaired, and will appear in court to face charges at a later date.

St. Stephen urged to conserve water.

The Town of St. Stephen is urging everyone to conserve their water usage this morning as the town is running on a limited supply due to a breakdown that happened last evening.
Residents may be experiencing little or no pressure due the breakdown.
St. Stephen Water Department say parts to fix the problem will be trucked in from Saint John.

Loan Gives St. Stephen 13 New Jobs

A St. Stephen company is getting money from Invest NB and the provincial government to create 13 new full-time jobs.

Premier David Alward making the announcement today at Superior Tanks.

Alward says the government and Invest NB are empowering businesses to create jobs, grow their communities, and rebuild a stronger economy.

Superior Tanks co-owner Sylvain Villeneuve says the support has allowed them to nearly triple their workforce.

Invest NB is providing a $100 thousand forgivable loan.

Canadian Country in China

Two country stars from New Brunswick will soon be entertaining the chinese.

Kevin Chase of the Kingston Peninsula and Melanie Morgan of Cap Pele are a tour with 5 stops, ending in Shanghai.

 The purpose of the trip is to create awareness of their brand of Canadian Country in China.

 They leave next month.

Questions Raised About Nuclear Spill in Lepreau

An environmentalist is raising questions about the role of Canada's nuclear safety regulator after a heavy-water spill two months ago at the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant.
   
David Coon of the Conservation Council says the regulator, then called the Atomic Energy Control Board should have followed-up on similar incidents back in 1995.
   
The earlier incidents came to light in a report from NB Power.
   
The report, obtained by The Canadian Press, says heavy water entered a gas monitor three times during a shutdown in 1995, but the design was never changed.

Will Marriot Parent The Algonquin?

A prominent piece of New Brunswick history may be getting a new owner.
   
The Crown-owned Algonquin Resort in St. Andrews could soon carry the Marriott banner, if a deal can be finalized.
  
Tourism Minister Trevor Holder says the provincial government is in final negotiations with a consortium.
   
New Castle Hotels and Southwest Properties are interested in buying the resort, or becoming a partner with the province.
   
The minister says the parties now have 60 days to conduct their due diligence.
   
The province launched the search for a new operator last February .
  
Last year, the government said the century-old resort needed repairs and upgrades worth 20 to 25 million dollars.

Something For Every Biker

The "Rally in The St. Croix Valley" scheduling rides for all different kinds of bikers.

Canadian Chair Bob Hamel tells Tide News about a new ride added this year, called a dual-sport ride, for specialized bikes that go on and off road.

Hamel says they have a few dual-sport rides scheduled, leading the bikers through wooded areas, and giving them a chance to utilize the bike they own.
There will also be a "Blueberry-Chocolate" ride that includes blueberry tasting at Granite Farms in St. George and a tour of the Chocolate Museum in St. Stephen.

The Rally is set for July 1st to the 8th.

They are currently looking for volunteers, if you would like to participate, contact Bob Hamel at 467-7101 or through Facebook.

Cooke's To Be Awarded For Heroic Efforts

A local fish plant being honored for their heroic efforts.

Cooke's Aquaculture in St. George will be given an Industry Achievement Award during the Fish Canada/Workboat Canada Trade Show this weekend, for their selfless acts in the Flood of 2010.

When Charlotte County went under water last winter, an excess of 60 employees of Cooke's utilized boats to rescue people, as well as deliver food and supplies.

Cooke's also joined with JD Irving, in efforts to get those hit hardest into a new subdivision.

Glenn Cooke, CEO of Cooke's Aquaculture says "the flood happened in our town and to our people, there was no question of us getting involved."

The award will be presented at the Moncton Coliseum tomorrow night at 6.

SJDA Wins Technology Package

Congratulations goes out to the Sir James Dunn Acadamy in St. Andrews.
They are one of the winners from the MindShare Learning 21st Century Digital Classroom Challenge.  Sir James Dunn Adadamy is one of three regional winner’s from Canada  that will receive technology packages worth over $15,000.

Teacher Seth Richardson says “At SJDA technology education is at the forefront of our 21st century learning initiative. He says they are committed to inspiring future leaders to question, innovate and collaborate, using the skills necessary to succeed".

Business Participation Wanted For Bikers

Local communities are revving their engines for the Rally in the St. Croix Valley.

A public meeting was held last night at the Calais Motor Inn to organize the ground work behind the scenes of the event planned for this summer.

Canadian Chair Bob Hamel says the major thing they need now is for the business community to step up.

Hamel says this is an opportunity for businesses within the community to bring in an influx of financial support for themselves, by finding a special niche to provide for the folks coming into town during the Rally.

He adds they are also looking for any non-profit groups who would like to participate.

The entire event will be non-profit, with all proceeds going to Veterans Organizations, and they are allowing non-profit groups to "piggy-back" by holding fundraisers and events of their own.

If you would like to participate, contact Chair Bob Hamel at 467-7101, or on Facebook at Rally in the St. Croix Valley.