Run For The Cure Today

Today is the 21rst annual Run for the Cure. The major breast cancer fundraiser kicks off in Saint John at 1:30 this afternoon, and will also be a BBQ and events for the kids, weather permitting.

 Karen McCumber tells Tide News they're hoping to raise a lot of money in this big push: they have already raised close to $80,000 with the goal being $235,000.

Individuals can still come sign up to run 5k or walk 1k. For more information, click here

Historic Saint John Church To Close

The bells toll for the last time today at St Jude's as a separate congregation...as of October 1, parishioners at Saint John's historic West Side church will join the nearby congregation at Saint George's Church.

Reverend Rob Salloum tells Tide news while it's sad to see the church close after over 100 years, it makes sense in the face of a declining church population  and both congregations need to look toward the future.

Saint George's final non-combined service will be held tonight.

Major Crime Investigates Blaze on Winslow

Another abandoned building has been destroyed by fire: this time, on Saint John's West Side. Fire crews responding to the call around 2:30 in the afternoon to reports of a fire at 158 Winslow Street.District Fire Chief Joe Armstrong tells Tide News the fire was already somewhat advanced by the time they arrived.

Smoke and fire were visible in the rear of the wooden building on both the first and second floors.

Crews performed an aggressive interior attack and managed to knock the fire down, but remained on the scene for over 3 hours. The blaze is under investigation by the city's Major Crime Unit.

Pot Seized After Truck Tips Over

A 31-year-old man is in hot water after a car accident resulting in the seizure of several marijuana plants.

Police responded to a call around 6pm of an accident on the East side of Saint John. When crews arrived, a pickup truck was tipped over on the median at the intersection of Barnesville Road and Loch Lomond Road.

After examining the scene police found a number of marijuana plants in the vehicle. As a result, the suspect is expected to appear in court at a late date.

Over 50 Trucks & Cars At Long Wharf Today

A new event and fundraiser will be rolling into Saint John today.

"Touch A Truck" will feature over 50 trucks at Long Wharf today, and proceeds go towards First Steps Housing Project which helps young mothers.

First Step's Sharon Amirault tells Tide news kids will be able to climb in many of the vehicles, which range from antiques, to construction, and military. Amirault hopes to raise between $10,000-$20,000.

Tickets are $5 which can be purchased at Harbour Station or at the event. Children under 2 are free. The vent is rain or shine and runs from 10:00-3:00 pm.

Test Drive & Help School Programs

You can take a car for a test drive and Ford will donate $20 for Samuel de Champlain school.

Called "Drive One 4 UR School" program, the fundraiser hopes to raise $6,000 to help pay for sports, arts and technology programming.

Ford sales manager David Brown tells Tide news there will be 15 vehicles to test drive at the school.

There will also be a car wash, BBQ and soccer tournament from 9 until 3 today.

Anti-Bullying Advocate Paints Fundy Pink

It's time to paint the school Pink!


Today, Fundy High School in St. George welcoming an anti-bullying advocate who made headlines 5 years ago by creating "Pink Shirt Day".

In 2007, Travis Price and friend David Shepherd decided to stand up for a fellow student who was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt on the first day of school. Overnight, they bought pink shirts from a women's clothing store, and through Facebook, were able to get much of the student body to wear pink the next day to class.

Price tells Tide News he never expected his actions to spread so far. He says it was one of those things he didn't think would fly because bullying had gone for so many years without a face, nobody to inspire kids. He says he really feels that he and David were able to do this, where kids could point and say "I'm going to be like them, I'm going to stand up for myself."

Price is now working with the Canadian Red Cross on the "Beyond The Hurt" program, which gives kids a place to find information and resources about bullying. Price says he really wanted to expand on more than just a "pink shirt", and the "Beyond The Hurt" program gives him that option. He says the Red Cross are a great group of professionals and he is very excited to be working with them.

( In Picture: Fundy High School Principal John Tanner with Travis Price )

Local MLA Against NB Liquor Closure

NB Liquor announcing the closure of two stores by the New Year leaving St. George feeling dismal.


The corporate-owned stores in St. George and Bristol will be replaced with privately owned agency stores.

Charlotte-The Isles MLA Rick Doucet says the net gain by opening the agency store would be minimal. He says the jobs would be amalgamated with another location so therefor you wouldn't see any net gain in jobs. As well, residents will be left with about an eighth of the selection of booze available now.

Doucet adds this is another slap in the face to rural New Brunswick, with the government basically saying "Go move out west where there are more jobs."

NB Liquor president Daniel Allain says the stores are no longer efficient, each are more than 50 years old, and staff will be moved to other locations.

In total, Doucet says 7 local jobs will be taken by the closure.

Murphy Wants To Help Young People Stay In NB

"Help with university loans and tax credits for businesses that hire local grads."


That's what Provincial Liberal leadership candidate Mike Murphy would like to see.

Murphy, who made a stop in St. Stephen this week tells Tide News he's concerned students have a mind set they have to move out of the province once they graduate because there are "no jobs".

He says it's very difficult to ask people from outside of New Brunswick, or even young people inside New Brunswick, to come and stay in the province when we don't even invest in ourselves.

Murphy adds he'd create a youth investment bank to help with student loans.

The liberal leadership election will be held next month.

Local CEO Going Undercover

Ever wonder how your boss would make out if he did your job?

Now you can see for yourself!

Cooke Aquaculture CEO Glenn Cooke worked undercover in this season of Undercover Boss Canada.

The hit TV show invites CEO's to go undercover and work with their employees at a base level, to learn more about their workers and to find what is lacking in the business.

Cooke spent a week with the men and women who care for his fish, and hearing their remarkable stories.

The Cooke episode debuts tomorrow night ( September 27th, 2012 ) at 10 pm on W Network.

Teen Faces More Charges After Multiple Car Thefts

A teen from Wards Creek, near Sussex, will re-appear in Hampton Provincial Court later this month to face an additional 22 charges for a rash of car thefts and thefts from vehicles.


Five vehicles in Kings, Saint John, and Charlotte Counties were reported stolen between September 11-15.

There were also a number of thefts from vehicles and break and enters around the same time. It's believed the teen was stealing cars in order to travel around committing more thefts.

All of the vehicles had their doors unlocked and keys inside, say Corporal Pat Cole--which should be a lesson to drivers.

Ousted Conservative MLA Overwhelmed With Support

The independent M-L-A for Fundy River Valley, Dr. Jim Parrot says he wouldn't join the Liberals even if they called him and will remain a Tory until they throw dirt on him.

Dr. Parrot tells Tide News he was told of his expulsion from the Conservative caucus by the Premier over the phone.

As for the reaction he's getting, Parrot says it takes him about half a day to clear his Blackberry from messages of support, and people telling him he is doing the right thing. Judging by the support he's receiving, Dr. Parrot tells Tide News maybe large numbers of people are getting fed up with a government that doesn't listen.


He vows to continue speaking out on the issues, and denies the Premier's accusations of taking cheap shots and not speaking up about healthcare.

Two St. Stephen Men Busted For Drugs

Two St. Stephen men in their 50's are in hot water after a Bordertown bust.


Mounties doing a search at a home yesterday (Sunday, September 23rd, 2012) found marijuana, pills, cocaine and cash.

Both men were arrested, released on conditions and are due before a judge at a later date.

St. Stephen Man New Leader Of The Provincial Greens

He's pumped and ready for a new challenge. After leading the Conservation Council for 28 years, David Coon is embracing his new role as leader of the Provincial Green Party.


Coon was elected at a leadership convention held on the weekend in Fredericton.

He tells Tide News the transition is not bittersweet. He thinks if we go down the road towards greater local economic alliance and a green economy, we are going to attract young people from across the country because -- in his words -- it's going to be exciting.

Coon tells us his short and long term goals range from learning the Green Party's office number to getting out on the road and meeting more people in the province.

Local Man Getting Creative With An Old Fundraiser

One local man putting a beautiful edge to a dull fundraiser.


Instead of collecting recycled pop tabs to have made into whellchairs, Todd Larsen, a brain injury survivor from St. George is making the tabs into unique jewelery, collecting, cleaning and reconstructing the tabs to sell and raise money to buy whellchairs and other specialized needs for -- as Larsen puts it -- the "Awesome People of Charlotte County".

Larsen says he wants to give back to the community who helped him, not just by buying wheelchairs, but by helping anyone who really needs it with a specialized case.

Todd's Assistant, Mary Rogers tells Tide News Larsen raised $144 at the St. Stephen Fall Fair on Saturday ( September 22, 2012 ), and since they started the project back in May of this year, they have raised around $4000.

Rogers says each wheelchair they intend to buy can range between $2000 to $2500, and with the money raised so far they can buy around one and a half wheelchairs. She says Todd's goal is to get at least five wheelchairs.

If you would like to help Todd with his goal, you can buy your own "Pop Tab Jewels". To place an order call 529-3404.

Missing Man's Body Found In River

The body of a missing man has been found in a car in the St. John River near Aroostook road.

43-year-old Robert Ernest Durost of Aroostook had been missing since Tuesday. RCMP's Underwater Recovery Team recovered his body in his vehicle at the bottom of the river yesterday.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, foul play is not suspected.

Auction To Save A Friends Life

A family benefit auction is being held next weekend to help save a friends life.

42-year-old John Phillippe has a form of brain cancer that can only be stopped by a drug called Avastin, which costs $10,600 a month and isn't covered by the province or a medical plan.

Friend Janet Holt is gathering gift cards and items for the auction which, she says, is the only way friends and family know how to help him. Holt says one prize they have is a 7 day vacation and RV rental in Hampton. She says the drug has greatly helped John, who was partially paralyzed on one side and is now walking and talking.

The auction is taking place on Saturday, September 29th at the Aquarius Pub & Restaurant. Tickets are $20, a meal is served at 4:30, and the auction starts at 7:00pm.

Tickets can be purchased at Cox Electronics & Communication (843 Fairville Blvd) or by calling Janet Holt at 652-1889.

Quispamsis Is Moving Forward On Lift Station

Quispamsis isn't sitting still on their lift station.

Quispam Mayor Murray Driscoll tells Tide news the idea of them moving the station in 5 to 10 years is simply not true. Driscoll says they have agreed to move their lift station which, according to Rothesay council, has been leaking sewage into Rothesay brooks whenever it rains. Driscoll admits that lift stations do occasionally overflow in various areas across the province, and Quipamsis isn't immune to that.

Driscoll adds if Rothesay does not go forward with the retention pond, it would give Quispam more breathing room in moving the lift station, which could mean inserting a force main first then moving the station second.

Driscoll says Quispam is right on schedule, the design is 80% done and there's no reason to think they're not moving the lift station.

Earlier this month at Rothesay Council Mayor Bill Bishop said their council was writing a letter to Quispam addressing the lift station being moved immediately. Driscoll says he has yet to receive that letter.

Global Protests Against Fracking

More than 100 protests against the natural gas drilling process known as fracking are planned around the world today, and organizers are using a simple message to draw people out and spur outrage.

The Global Frackdown website that's promoting the protests claims the process ``pollutes water and makes people sick.''

There is, however, disagreement among scientists about the risks.

The US Environmental Protection Agency and many state regulators contend that fracking can be done safely.

Green MP Elizabeth May will be speaking at an anti-fracking rally in front of the leg in Fredericton at noon today.

Protests are planned in cities that include Pittsburgh, New York, Paris and Madrid.

Teenager Pleads Guilty To Car Theft

A 16-year-old Wards Creek boy will be back in court Monday where police expect to lay more charges of car thefts and break and enters from incidents across Kings, Charlotte, and Saint John Counties.

RCMP say the teen appeared in Provincial Court in Saint John yesterday and pleaded guilty to theft of a pickup truck from a few weeks ago.

Corporal Pat Cole reminds people to keep any items and money in your car out of of sight and to lock your doors.

Walk The Fundy Trail & Fight Cancer

Rain or shine, people who've been affected by cancer will be taking part in the 13th annual Fundy Trail Cancer Walk today.

Proceeds from the walk goes towards cancer treatment centre at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

Organizer Nancy Maynard tells Tide news the event started small and has since grown, with people from Greater Saint John and Fredericton participating. Maynard says the fundraiser was started by cancer survivors to recognize cancer and the people it affects.

Registration starts at 10:00 am until noon. There will also be a BBQ, entertainment, and a 50/50 draw.

The walk is at the Big Salmon River on the Fundy Trail Parkway.

Workplace Accident Sends Man To Hospital

A man is in hospital after a workplace accident in Saint John.

According to the Saint John Fire Department, the accident occurred just before noon at the Irving Pulp and Paper Mill.

No other details have been released.

Doucet Speaks Out On Conservatives Ousting Their Own

"I think it's wrong."


That word from local Liberal MLA Rick Doucet on Fundy River Valley MLA Dr. Jim Parrot being ousted by his fellow Conservatives.

The former heart surgeon used a written commentary to accuse his government of not listening to doctors about health-care and then spoke out about the cost of language duality in healthcare a couple of days later.

Doucet tells Tide News the real team is the people who elect you. He says "..as an elected official you have to be the voice of the people, you have to stand up and fight for what you believe is right. Quite frankly, Alward has thrown the notion of true consultation out the back door, where you don't listen to your own elected member. All he (Dr. Parrot) was doing was echoing the concerns that he is hearing."

Doucet adds, "Alward was elected under the veil of openness and transparency, and his plans were that he was going to listen to the people."
  Parrot will now sit as an Independent in the legislature.

Pedestrian Hit By Vehicle By Old Town Tavern

A pedestrian being struck by a moving vehicle last night in St. Stephen.

District 1 RCMP being called just before 8pm to King Street, infront of the Old Town Tavern, where the man was hit.

Police tell Tide News the driver of the vehicle did stop and was questioned by police.

According to family members, the man struck received a cut on his head and nose, plus has a broken pelvis.

No word yet if any charges will be laid against the driver of the vehicle.

Police Search For Thief From Local Business

Police are still looking for a local thief and are asking the public for help.


District 1 RCMP tell Tide News between the 23rd and 25th of May (2012), someone broke into Southwest Concrete and Construction in St. Stephen.

Police say a "Mastercool" hydraulic flaring tool was taken, which is valued at over $400.

If you have any knowledge of this crime, please call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Crimestoppers will pay up to $2000 for information leading to an arrest.

"Take Back The Night" March This Friday

Shatter the Silence. Stop The Violence.


The 2nd Annual "Take Back The Night" walk will be taking place this Friday ( September 21st, 20120 ) in St. Stephen.

The Charlotte County Abuse Prevention Network hosting the walk to raise awareness of violence against women in our communities.

The Walk will go from 7pm to 9pm, marching from the Border Arena on King Street to St. Stephen's University on Main Street.

"Don't Be A Victim Of Car Theft" - District 1 RCMP

If your car is locked, most culprits would rather move on than cause damage trying to get in.


That coming from Sgt. Bob MacKnight from District 1 RCMP on how to keep yourself from becoming a victim of car theft.

MacKnight points to a number of thefts from vehicles -- and a theft of a vehicle -- in St. Stephen last week, and says in nearly every instance, the cars were unlocked, with keys inside, and valuables in the open.

He says most of the culprits he deals with will not cause damage to a car that is locked, they will simply move on to another unlocked vehicle.

MacKnights wants to remind our listeners (and readers) that they should "lock it and pocket the key". As well, with respect to valuables and cash, you should take them inside the house, or in the very least, placed out of sight. He says this is the easiest way to keep yourself from becoming a victim.

Conservative M-L-A Lambasts His Own Government On Health Care

One of Premier David Alward's own M-L-A's has some blistering criticism of the provincial government when it comes to health care. 

In a written commentary, Fundy River Valley M-L-A Dr. Jim Parrot charges the Alward Government is not listening to doctors and no effort is being made to engage them on any real issue. 

Dr. Parrot goes on to write the ball was dropped on Canadian Blood Services which is transferring blood production from Saint John to Dartmouth and almost was on the M-R-I issue.

He also complains of not being asked in his two years as an M-L-A for his input on any health related issue in spite of his many years in the health care system and being recognised as one of the top heart surgeons around.

School Water Fountains Removed With More To Follow

More than 250 water fountains in schools throughout the province have been removed because they contained high levels of lead and copper with another 180 water fountains to be replaced and 26 water treatment systems installed to fix the problem. 

That word from Provincial Education Minister Jody Carr following tests last fall that found many school water fountains had levels of lead that exceeded Health Canada guidelines and the greatest problems were in the Saint John area. 
 
More than $50,000 has been spent to provide bottled water in schools and another $320,000 has been set aside to replace water fountains but it will be December before everything is installed.
  

Grow Op Found Because Of Traffic Violation

Two men, aged 36 and 58, have been busted after the RCMP discovered a marijuana grow op by chance on Grand Manan.
 
The grow op was found after an RCMP officer followed up on a possible traffic violation when an all terrain vehicle failed to stop for police along Route 776.
 
The officer tracked the ATV to a residence on Route 776. Police got a search warrant and confiscated a quantity of marijuana plants as well as six firearms.
 
The two are scheduled to appear in court  November 15th to face drug charges.

Funeral Service Tomorow For High School Student Killed Tragically

Friends and relatives will get a chance today to say their goodbyes to 14 year old Blake Sherwood of Apohaqui who died tragically earlier this week after his dirt bike collided with a pickup truck on Route 121.  

Blake's family will be receiving relatives and friends at the Wallace Funeral Home in Sussex from 1 to 3 this afternoon and from 6 to 8 tonight. 

A funeral service will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 at St. Paul's United Church in Sussex.

Stolen Car Found At Ganong's Factory

Local roots has proven to be successful.


District 1 RCMP tell Tide News a car stolen from Victoria Street in St. Stephen was found yesterday afternoon  ( September 13th, 2012 ) in good condition by an officer with a hunch.

Police say Cst. John Beck knows our area well and discovered the car -- a 2013 white Hyundai -- in the new parking lot at Ganong's Factory.
The department's Forensic Identification Section dusted for fingerprints and charges are pending.

The car was stolen sometime early yesterday morning ( September 13th, 2012 ) from Victoria Street in St. Stephen.

Children's Donor Wall Unveiling On Saturday

The Fundy Discovery Aquarium having a special day tomorrow ( Saturday, September 15, 2012 ).


Almost a year in the making, the children's seal donor wall will be unveiled at 11am during the 1st seal feeding.

The project is in the image of a seal with 1000 children's names on it. Spokesperson Ashley Simpson tells Tide News the wall was created as a way for those under 18 to contribute to the aquarium.

The Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews decided to make a 2nd wall, after the 1st wall -- put in place last year when the aquarium opened -- was so popular.

Tomorrow, all children under 12 can go free of charge if accompanied by an adult, and will get free treats all day.

Charlotte County Fall Fair This Weekend

The Charlotte County Fall Fair kicks off today!


A weekend full of fun and activities at the Ganong Nature Park, located at the end of Todd's Point Rd in St. Stephen.

Some of the new events this year include a moose calling contest, a McAdam railway Dining Car re-creation, and a barn dance.

The Fall Fair runs tonight from 5pm - 9:30pm, Saturday from 8am - 5pm, and Sunday from 12 noon - 5pm.

Tickets are $5 per person or $20 per family.

For a full schedule of events, go to www.ganongnaturepark.com .

Police Investigate Car Theft In St. Stephen

Local police reporting two separate thefts in St. Stephen.


District 1 RCMP say sometime between Wednesday night ( September 12th ) and Thursday morning ( September 13th ), a 2013 white Hyundai Elantra with the New Brunswick plates reading JDM-538 was stolen from Victoria Street.

Also overnight, St. Stephen Police reporting that money was stolen from a parked vehicle in the Veasey Street area.

If you have any information about these crimes, please call District 1 RCMP at 1-506-466-7030.

Gun Shots Fired In Milltown

Local Police say a St. Stephen man is charged after shots were fired at a car in Milltown.


District 1 RCMP tell Tide News they received a call early yesterday morning (Sept 12, 2012) of gunshots being fired at an occupied vehicle on Spring Street.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight says 22-year-old Michael Kenneth Hanley was arrested and charged with Careless Use of a Firearm.

Hanley pleaded guilty in Saint John Provincial Court yesterday.

He goes back for sentencing on Tuesday, September 18th.

Milltown Legion To Close Before 2013

The Milltown Legion will be closing it's doors before New Year's Eve of 2012.


President of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #48 Amy McCrum tells Tide News they will not be giving up their Charter, just the building.

Currently, the Legion leases the building on Milltown Blvd from the Town of St. Stephen for $1 a year, however, maintaining the building, and paying its bills, is becoming too costly.

McCrum says the members are dwindling and so is the cash flow.

She adds Branch #48 will continue with the Rememberance Day Service and Annual Poppy Campaign this year as normal.

No word yet on future plans for the building.

International Celebrity Chefs Come To St. Andrews To Learn

Dulse, salmon, mussels, and lobster.


The 1st-ever Canada Brand Seafood Lover's Academy bringing celebrity chefs and journalists from around the world to St. Andrews to take part in cooking classes, demonstrations, and tours, all about atlantic seafood.

Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Keith Ashfield tells Tide News we have exceptional seafood in Atlantic Canada, and we need to showcase that. Ashfield says by bringing the group to St. Andrews, each one will take their experience back home with them, and spread the word in their countries. He adds that this is a great opportunity to boost our exports, broaden our markets, and help our over-all economy.

Organizer Andrew Lively tells Tide News says the celebrity chefs have come from 12 different countries, including the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Austria, Germany, Greece, India, Switzerland, Singapore, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Chun Lau stars in food television programs in Hong-Kong as well as writes a regular newspaper food column. He tells Tide News Canada has something that asian markets are missing.
He says Canada not only has great ingredients, but also has a great concern for the environment and the ethics behind our food. He thinks that asian markets need to understand, to consume food as well as try to preserve the environment.

( Picture - Chef Marcus Ritter and Chef Rodrigo Acuna Bravo from the Europa Restaurant in St. Andrews, setting up for their next atlantic seafood cooking class. )

Short Of $10 Grand For Local Fire Department

Just under $10,000.


That's how much the St. Stephen Fire Department raised during the 8th Annual Bucket Sit taking place this past weekend at the Atlantic Superstore.

The fundraiser sees local firefighter Merton Lewis spending 50 hours in a bucket truck, 50 feet in the air.

Dwayne Richards from the department says the final total will probably reach over the ten thousand mark, as late donations are still coming in.
The money raised will go towards specialized rescue equipment.

Richards adds, over the past 7 years, the department has raised in excess of $100,000.

Property Sale Doesn't Change $200,000 SPCA Needs

The sale of the former SPCA peacock property to the Joshua Group is a huge benefit for both the animal shelter and the kids charity... but there's still more work to be done for both organizations.

SPCA President Melody McElman tells Tide news the property sold for $202,000, but the Joshua Group still needs to raise around $60,000 to cover the rest of the cost. McElman says the sale means they can pay down their mortgage and jump start their capital campaign.

McElman says the sale is a huge help for the shelter, but it doesn't change the $200,000 they still need for daily operating costs.

Since last week more than $52,000 has been raised for the SPCA to keep it's doors open.

Government Needs To Focus On Jobs Says Critic

Job creation is not high on the agenda for the provincial government according to opposition critic Chris Collins.

Collins tells Tide news in the past two years the government has lost 1,500 jobs, whereas the previous government created that many. He says he sees young people leaving the province in droves to work elsewhere.

Collins believes the Alward government needs to make a plan by meeting with workers in various industries to figure out how to create jobs.

Last month unemployment rose in the province from 10% to 10.4%.

Three People Homeless After Fire

A house fire in Fredericton has left three people without a home.

The Canadian Red Cross says no one was injured or home at the time of the blaze that happened around 11 am on Saturday.

Red Cross volunteers found a place for the woman and her teenage daughter to stay. The two rented half of the duplex at 32 Simpson Court.

Future Sculpture SJ's Planned

What looked like just a ton of granite a month ago is now shaping it's way into public art.

Sculpture Saint John is in it's sixth and final week at the Coast Guard Site, where artists from around the world have been sculpting giant granite art pieces for Greater Saint John.

Chair Diana Alexander tells Tide news the artists -- many who've been to over forty symposiums -- say it's the best event they've been too. On Saturday, September 15th from 1:00pm - 4:00pm  they'll be having a big reveal called "Rock On The Dock", where you'll be able to touch the pieces and talk to the artists.

Alexander says this isn't the real end of the sculpture symposium. The event has been so successful, they're planning symposiums every two years until 2020. She hopes pieces from future symposiums can be created for towns from Saint Stephen to Sussex.

Just Rain From Hurricane Leslie

Hurricane Leslie won't be hitting the province hard... just a little bit of rain.

The Canadian Hurricane Centre of Environment Canada says the tropical cyclone's influence in New Brunswick is very low at this point.

They say it's weakening and slowly moving northward, resulting in a bit of rain, cloud coverage and larger waves.

Chance Harbour Man Sentenced For Sexual Assault

Hard drinking will destroy your support network of family and friends........That advice from Mr Justice Hugh McLellan, handing down a sentence of 2 years in jail, plus 3 years probation, to 25-year-old Bradley Scott Wilson.

Wilson was found guilty of sexual assault in connection with a January incident at a West Side pub in Saint John.

In a statement to the court, the victim of the assault said she quit her job out of embarrassment and is haunted by the pain of the incident every day.

Wilson's defense pointed out while his client had a prior record, his offenses were all alcohol-related, but the judge said he simply needs to learn to stay sober.

Wilson was also entered on the sex offender registry and required to submit a DNA sample.

His mother and father have say they don't feel justice has been served.

City Police Officer Sentenced To Jail Time

3 months in jail the sentence handed a Saint John city police officer who was found guilty of common assault and engaging in threatening conduct after a breakin at his home on Westfield Road.

Mr. Justice Hugh McLellen cited a New Brunswick Court of Appeal ruling in sending 39 year old Constable Chris Messer to jail. The Court of Appeal ruled when police break the law, a conditional discharge is woefully inadequate.

The judge also rejecting house arrest when Messer's lawyer expressed concern over his safety in jail.

Messer was told he was convicted largely on the basis of his own evidence. The police officer suspected Randy King of breaking into his home and admitted to punching him three times in the back of the head outside the detention area after transporting him from the west side.

The judge also telling Messer he was in a conflict of interest by investigating a crime committed against himself but no one in the police department prevented him from doing so. Mr. Justice McLellen says Messer doesn't seem to understand he was in a conflict of interest which is a breach of trust.

Big News For Joshua Group

It's a happy day for the both the Saint John SPCA and the Joshua Group....Joshua Group founder Bobby Hayes announcing they've managed to buy the former animal shelter on Taylor Avenue to use as a permanent headquarters for the kid's charity.

Hayes tells Tide News there's still much that needs to be done to assess the cost of renovations and make sure the building is safe for the kids to use.

No word yet on how much the building went for, or when the group is expected to start using it.

Two Arrests In B&E Overnight

Two men are in police custody after two separate break and enters that happened in Saint John overnight.

City Police say one B&E attempt by a 26-year-old man was in the west end on Lloyd Street while the other was by a 29-year-old man in the north end on Clarendon Street.

Both incidents happened around 3:00 am.

72 Hour Gaming Convention In Saint John

It doesn't matter if you're a level 12 elf or you've never rolled a D20 before... all levels of gamers in Saint John are together for the 11th annual Impossible Realities gaming convention.

For 24 hours a day, all weekend long, gamers are playing everything from role playing games like Circus Imperium, Dungeons & Dragons and Call of Cthulhu to classic family board games. Organizer Dana Betts says players come from all walks of life, some even from the US, Nova Scotia & PEI. He says it's now "chic to be geek", with popular shows like Big Bang Theory & Community. He says most people who are big into role playing games are usually pretty low key, so this convention gives them a chance to come out and enjoy the company of other people who love gaming. Betts says if you're new to gaming, there's staff there to help you learn.

There will also be a number of artists and vendors from the Maritimes, including Sandy Carruthers (illustrator, "Men in Black"), André Myette (creator of "Humbug!"), and local artist Chas Goguen (creator of "Dotman").

The convention runs until 6:00pm on Sunday at the Chinese Cultural Centre at 24 Coburg Street in uptown Saint John. It's $10 for a day, $20 for the weekend and all ages are welcome.

(Photo courtesy of Impossible Realities)