Britt's Fast Feet

14 minutes, 3 seconds and 48 milliseconds. That's Barry Britt's time at his 5000 metre heat, and his own personal best.

Hailing from Hampton and competing for Idaho University, the 23-year-old's time is the third fastest ever by a New Brunswick runner on the track, and also ranks the Saint John Club member 3rd in all of Canada.

Gabriel LeBlanc, the Technical Director of Athletics New Brunswick says he has no doubt that Britt will challenge the provincial record in the 5000 metre this year, and be a contender for a spot on the provincial team heading to the Jeux De La Francophonie in Nice, France. He adds that he thinks Britt will be among the elite of Canadian distance running in the upcoming years.

Green Party Will Sit Out Kent By-Election

The Green Party will not run a candidate in the riding of Kent for the April 15th by-election.

A news release says party leader David Coon visited the eastern riding earlier in the week, and he says what he heard when he was there was that people aren't happy with parties "parachuting" candidates into their communities, so the Greens have decided they won't run someone from outside.

He says the party's potential local candidates weren't able to run on such short notice, and because the general election is just 18 months away, they've decided to "wait this one out."

The seat was vacated by former premier Shawn Graham earlier this month, who left politics after he was found to be in a conflict of interest over a $50-million loan guarantee his government gave to Acton, a construction firm with ties to his father.

Celebration of the Scottish

A day of celebration is coming up for those of you with Scottish in your blood. 

Tartan Day celebrates the heritage of the Scots and the contributions that they've made in the province. Laurie Hossack, the president of the Saint Andrew's Society's tells CHSJ news that the Scots played a major role in the shipbuilding industry and commerce in Saint John.

It dates back to about 1993, when MLA Georgie Day presented a resolution to the New Brunswick Legislature to declare April 6th Tartan Day. It passed unanimously. 

On this year's Tartan Day, they'll raise Scotland's flag in front of city hall in the morning and host a Ceilidh in the evening, complete with piping, drumming, highland dancing and of course, haggis. Tickets are $10 in advance by calling (506) 696-4253 or $15 at the door at the Simonds Lions Auditorium at Loch Lomond Villa, on 185 Loch Lomond Road. 

Cardy Says Prescription Drug Programme Could be Launched Next Year

There's still no word from the Alward Government about funding for a comprehsive prescription drug programme even though it was a promise made during the last provincial election campaign.

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy is trying to get either the Conservatives or Liberals to introduce an amendment to the Budget Motion which would transfer over 17 and a half million dollars from the Economic Development Department, what Cardy refers to as Corporate Welfare, to the Health Department. 

He believes a prescription drug programme could be launched by the end of next October.

New Date For Inquest Into Death Of Chinese Student

An inquest into the death of a 17 year old  Chinese student while swimming at the Aquatic Centre in Saint John in September of 2011 has been changed. 

It will be held from May 21st through the 24th at the Sydney Street Courthouse in Saint John instead of early next month. 

The circumstances surrounding the death of Yi Fan Wang remain murky. He was swimming in the pool with some friends when something happened to him. He was unconscious when taken out of the swimming pool and died two days later at the Regional Hospital's intensive care unit. 

The inquest was called to hear from witnesses about the circumstances and come up with recommendations.

Warning About Funding For Universities And Student Flight

The Alward Government is being accused of starving universities in the province. That charge made by Miriam Jones of U-N-B Saint John who's President of the New Brunswick Association of University Teachers. 

Jones says universities provide hope to young people that they can have a better future. Without that hope, Jones argues young people will move to a place where there are better prospects which is what's happening these days.

She adds the squeeze on university funding is tighter than ever.

School Buildings Will Be Looked At For Their Sustainability

Each of the 75 buildings in the Anglophone South School District from Sussex to St. Stephen will be gone over to see in how good a shape they're in and what sort of repairs are needed. 

Enrollments are generally going down in most places and many of the school buildings in Saint John, for instance, are getting long in the tooth dating back to 1924. 

School District Chair Rob Fowler says despite that, school closures are not a given. He explains that a school will only be closed if the enrollment is way down and the repairs to bring the building up to par are sky high.
 
The province wants the school districts to come up with a five year infrastructure plan by the end of June.

Medical Society Disputing Claim By Health Minister

The Alward Government and the New Brunswick Medical Society are sniping at eachother over the cap on medicare fees. 

Provincial Health Minister Ted Flemming accuses the Medical Society of not co-operating to lower the cost of healthcare. 

Medical Society President Dr. Robert Desjardins tells the Tide an extensive report complete with suggestions on how to make the healthcare system more efficient was handed over to the government last August but there was no followup.
 
Dr. Desjardins speculates the Medical Society's recommendations are gathering dust somewhere.

M-P For Charlotte County Speaks Out About Speaking Out

The unrest within the Conservative caucus over stiff party control is showing no signs of calming down. 

Three more M-Ps stood in the House of Commons to assert their freedom to say what they want in Parliament, without first being vetted by the party leadership.  

Charlotte County M-P John Williamson was among those defending the right to speak in the House about anything they wish. Ironically, Williams, who once headed the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, also served as Prime Minister Harper's Communications Director at one time. 

The backbenchers have been denounced by other Conservative M-P's as going rogue but they say this is actually a matter about the right of an M-P to represent his or her constituents.

S-U-V Flips Over After Leaving Highway

An S-U-V leaving the highway and rolling over near the Ducks Unlimited Marsh in Musquash. This happened around 4:30 yesterday afternoon. 

The Musquash Fire Department found the S-U-V on its roof. A mother and her child outside the vehicle. They sustained what appeared to be minor injuries but were sent to hospital as a precaution to be looked over. 

The S-U-V had been going westbound along Highway 1.

(Photo Courtesy Of Andrew Sanojca)

NB Liquor Changing Hours For Easter Weekend

Some new hours of operation coming with the Easter long weekend for beer, wine and spirits.

NB Liquor telling us liquor stores across the province will be closed both Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

They will be open Easter Monday from 10 to 6 with regular hours on Saturday.

CUPE Expects Job Losses With Healthcare Freeze

The contents of the provincial budget is making many of the people who work in the healthcare system nervous about their futures.

Gordon Black is Regional Director of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and he tells Tide News several hundred people could be getting their layoff notices because something has to give when healthcare costs are rising at 6 per cent a year but spending is frozen.

Black believes any cutbacks in health will take place at the smaller hospitals around the province. He claims rural New Brunswick is under attack.

Black is not surprised at being one of the few voices in favour of the tax cuts of 2008 being rolled back to the 2006 levels.

NDP Thinks Docs Will Leave NB Because Of Budget

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy is criticizing the provincial budget for cutting 20 million dollars from the billable hours agreement with the province's doctors, which he says means essentially a couple of months worth of billable hours are disappearing off the table.

He worries we're likely to see them head elsewhere where they won't see their pay cut.

 

Cardy is glad to see the Alward Government dealing with what he describes as the terrible mistake the Shawn Graham Liberals made with the tax cuts in 2006.

Gallant Says Corporations Will Fare Better Than Individuals

Corporations will fare better than people when it comes to provincial tax hikes.

That's according to Liberal leader Brian Gallant, who tells Tide News that out of the $373 million expected in two years, corporations will only pay $39 million. Gallant calls that number alarming, since they received $34-47 million dollar property tax cut a few months ago. He tells us now, corporations are now in a position where they'll be paying less taxes.

Gallant says he was very disappointed with the provincial budget presentation and that the Tories broke their two election promises: that they had a plan to balance the budget and that they wouldn't raise taxes.

RCMP Still Looking For Wanted Man

The Dairytown Mounties are still looking for a man after a stabbing late last month where a woman was hurt.

It happened near Sussex on February 27th and a charge of attempted murder was laid against 49-year-old Robin White and a warrant was issued for his arrest on March 4th.  

Despite many efforts, White has still not been located.

Robin White is described as white about 5 foot 11 brown hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen wearing glasses, a black coat, jeans and black boots. 

He may be driving a 2009 grey Honda Ridgeline truck with the provincial license plate CPM 926.

If you know anything about the location of Robin White or the vehicle he was seen driving,  contact police or Crime Stoppers immediately but do not approach him.

First Meeting Tonight For Chocolate Fest 2013

It's that time of the year again!

Preparations for Chocolate Fest 2013 are underway.

The first public meeting will be held tonight in St. Stephen for anyone with questions on how to get involved in the upcoming festival this summer.

The meeting is scheduled 6:30pm at the Chocolate Museum on Milltown Blvd.

You can learn how to volunteer, host your own event, or become a sponsor.  

Lacey Calls Budget A Slap In The Face To Middle Class Families

A slap to the face of average working families... that's what Kevin Lacey of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling tax increases presented at the provincial budget. He tells Tide News it's an attack on the struggling middle class.

He says families will have to shell out up to $1000 in more tax in some cases. The $8.5-billion budget presented today will see personal income taxes hiked to 2006 levels, and that's expected to yield $136 million for 2013-14. 

He tells us the only positive thing he's seen so far is getting rid of the government airplane, which he calls the gravy plane.

Smokers Feel Wallet Pain With New Budget

The Province delivering a budget that hikes tobacco taxes and eliminates previous income tax cuts as it tries to wrestle with a deficit projected to grow to $479 million.

    The $8.5-billion budget presented today seeing personal income taxes rise to 2006 levels which is a measure expected to generate $136 million in revenue for 2013-14.

    The corporate income tax rate will be increased to 12 per cent from 10 per cent on July 1, resulting in an estimated boost of $17 million in additional annual revenue.
 
    Smokers will also pay higher taxes on tobacco as of midnight tonight---up two cents per cigarette.
 
    Finance Minister Blaine Higgs says the government will continue efforts to reduce the size of the public service through attrition and attempt to cut their use of sick leave by 20 per cent.
 
    Higgs says the government can return to balanced budgets by 2015-16 if there is improved economic growth and revenues.

Warning On Sex With Strangers

People around the province who are having anonymous sex are being encouraged by the chief medical health officer to be tested for sexually transmitted disease.   
 
Dr. Eilish Cleary issuing the warning because of an increase in the numbers of people in the province having unprotected sex with strangers they meet on dating websites. 

Recently, a New Brunswicker, who was a frequent user of a website that facilitates anonymous sexual encounters and had about two dozen sexual partners living in the province, tested positive for HIV. Health officials are now trying to track down the people, mostly men, he had sex with. 

The sexual encounters took place in Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton.

NCC Gets $20 Million From Feds

This year's federal budget pledging a significant sum of cash to the conservation of undeveloped landscapes. 

$20 million going to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and the NCC's Andrew Holland tells Tide News that on a local level, they'll build on the work they've done on the Musquash Estuary.

The money will support their Natural Areas Conservation program through 2013-2014. Holland says the non-profit is going to start work on matching the federal contribution.

Mounties Identify Man In Fatal Crash

The Mounties releasing the name of the man killed in a crash on Highway 7 yesterday near Geary. 

44-year-old Michael James Boucher of Burton died at the scene of a collision early Monday morning between his truck and a transport.

Boucher was the only driver in a pickup truck heading northbound on Highway 7 that crossed the centre line and collided head-on with a transport truck.

The transport truck driver was not hurt.

SOS: Please Help Us Save Our Library

The Save Oceans Science Committee presenting it's case to St. Stephen Town Council over the proposed closure of the St. Andrews Biological Station Library.

In March 2012, the federal government announced that due to budget constraints, cuts would be made to the Biological Station. The plan will see most of the holdings in St. Andrews transferred to Halifax, Nova Scotia in September.

Former St. Andrews Mayor Nancy Aiken tells Tide News it is a $4 million dollar library that just opened last year and it is a resource to roughly 20 organizations from the fishing industry, including universities like UNB and UNBSJ, as well as aquaculture and conservation groups and the Huntsman Marine Science Centre.

Aiken says they are taking a grassroots approach now within the communities, after not getting much of a response back from Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Keith Ashfield, or MP for South-West New Brunswick John Williamson. She says they are bringing the issue to those most concerned in the community.

She says the closure will have a seriously negative impact on Charlotte County's already struggling economy.

Town Council Will Not Hire Someone To Hire Someone

It's a big job finding the right person for the big job.

That's the case with St. Stephen Town Council as they are now fully in charge of finding the new manager for the soon-to-be-completed Garcelon Civic Centre.

The biggest concern is finding a manager soon so they can oversee work being done while construction crews are still on the St. Stephen waterfront.

A proposal last night, (March 25th, 2013) would see the town hire an outside source to recruit for the position at a cost of $12,000, plus HST.




Councillor John Ames says, "We don't need someone to line them up in a row for us, this is a rediculous amount of money, and I think it's a waste of our taxpayers dollars."

Councillor Debbie MacDonald argued she didn't think the council has enough experience to hire for such an important position.
The proposal, however,  was shot down with a vote of 3-2, putting council members in charge of the whole process.



Mayor John Quartermain says they will offer the job locally, but ultimately, they will hire the person most qualified for the job.
The Garcelon Civic Centre is set to open this fall.

Provincial Budget Unveiled Tomorrow

All eyes in the province tomorrow will be on what Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs comes up with in his latest budget. 

The provincial government's deficit has risen to above 400 million dollars and the debt is in the neighbourhood of 11 billion together with a sluggish economy and, because of that, shrinking population. 

Kevin Lacey, the Atlantic Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, tellsTide  News now is the time for something bold to get back on track and that means doing something significant to cut spending.

Lacey argues provincial government spending has gone up 1.7 billion dollars in the last five years but there's little to show for it. It's estimated each man, woman and child in the province owes more than 30 thousand dollars in provincial and federal debt.

Tractor Trailer Crash Claims Life

RCMP telling Tide News about a deadly crash on Highway 7 about 730 this morning involving a pickup truck and a tractor-trailer near the Geary exit.

That crash is causing a major traffic snarl today on Highway 7, between Saint John and Fredericton.
 
Corporal Chantal Farrah tells Tide News a man driving a northbound pickup crossed the centre line colliding with a transport truck.

The driver of the pickup died at the scene but the transport driver was not hurt.

A roadblock was set up on Highway 7, rerouting all drivers via Highway 101 through Geary up to Welsford.RCMP officers were posted at either end of Highway 101 directing traffic.

Apply Now To Volunteer For The World Women's Curling Event

If you want to be part of next year's Ford World Women's Curling Championship in Saint John, you can start applying now.

Event Chair Jeff Lacey tells Tide News 400 volunteers will be needed in a variety of jobs from driving to bartending but, judging by the amount of interest shown since the announcement back in December that Saint John will host the event, he doesn't foresee any problem in having enough.

Lacey says it's been 15 years since a curling event of this magnitude has been held in the city and back then, the level of interest in being part of it was tremendous.
You can apply by going to www.curling.ca

Jordan Avenue Blaze

A blaze engulfing and extensively damaging a bungalow on 22 Jordan Avenue in Moncton. The homeowner was outside walking her dog when the building caught fire, so she wasn't hurt.

No word from Moncton Fire Department officials on the actual cause of the fire, which is under investigation, but it looks like the flames started in the basement, gutted part of the main level and then spread into to the attic.

Westmorland Institution Inmate Dies

Corrections Canada is reporting an inmate from Westmorland Institution has died after being found unresponsive in his cell.

70 year old John Allain was serving a five year sentence for Indecent Assault on a woman and Sexual Interference with a woman under the age of 14.

Corrections Canada is looking into how he died.

Illegal Items Seized Outside Of Prison

More information has been released about the seizure of a package containing unauthorized items on the perimeter of the minimum security Westmorland Institution at Dorchester. 

The prison service estimates the contents of the package have an institutional value of more than 30 thousand dollars.
 
Police have been called in and the Correctional Service is also investigating.
 
The Correctional Service says the methods it utilizes to control the flow of drugs into prisons include ion scanners and drug dogs to search buildings, prisoners and visitors.

Upcoming Provincial Budget Worries CTF

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is a bit uneasy about the next provincial budget that will be unveiled on Tuesday.
 
It's Atlantic Director Kevin Lacey fears an increase in taxes and license fees. He tells Tide News to look what's happening with the property assessments which are tax increases by another name.

Some homeowners are outraged by the increase they're being hit with.

Lacey says it would be a mistake to roll back the 2008 tax reductions that were implemented by the previous Liberal government under then Premier Shawn Graham.

Those tax cuts are seen by some, including Rod Hill of U-N-B Saint John who ran for the NDP, as making the provincial deficit worse and not achieving the economic growth that was hoped for.

CUPE Wants Solution To Overcrowding In Jails

Following a Saint John man's extended jail sentence for a prison beat-down, the union representing prison workers is raising the red flag about overcrowding. 

Thomas Jack was attacked by his cellmate Jeremy David in November 2011 and will never work and drive again due to the impact of his injuries.

Mike Davidson of CUPE tells Tide News they have concerns about the current management at the provincial jail on the Old Black River road.

He says under the current management they have had a riot, an assault on an inmate and the early release of an inmate involved in a homicide.

Davidson calls overcrowding a serious issue and they haven't been too successful with the province on resolving it.

Our newsroom has an interview request into Public Safety Minister Robert Trevors for his take on things.

Three Teens Face Charges After Local Police Seize Loaded Guns

Three teenagers from St. Stephen are facing charges after a search from local police turned up with loaded guns.

Police tell Tide News yesterday morning, (March 20th, 2013) District 1 RCMP executed a search warrant at an apartment on Ross Avenue in Milltown.

Police say they seized firearms, several of which were loaded, cash, and other items thought to be related to criminal activity.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight says, "The unlawful possession of firearms, particularly firearms which are not properly stored and loaded, pose a threat to public and police safety."

Two young men, ages 17 and 18, and an 18-year-old girl were arrested and released on conditions to appear in court at a later date.

Winter Storm For Last Day Of Winter

As usual, Mother Nature likes to be ironic.

Today is the last official day of winter, with a winter storm touching down on our area tonight.

Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for St. Stephen and northern Charlotte County, Grand Manan, and coastal Charlotte County.

The Network is calling for up to 20 cms of snow by tomorrow afternoon, with strong winds, and the temperature will stay below freezing.

Blaze Considered Suspicious In Milltown

Police say a house fire on Queensway in Milltown/St. Stephen is being called suspicious.

Firefighters from St. Stephen and Calais responding shortly after midnight yesterday morning (March 18th, 20130) to a two-storey home.

Police say the only resident at the home discovered the fire at the back porch area and was unable to put it out, so they ran to the neighbours to call 911.
Police say noone was hurt in the fire.

Anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity is being asked to contact local police or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Local Firefighters Battle Two Blazes In One Day

Local firefighters being put to the test with two house fires in one day.

Yesterday around 4pm, fire departments from Moores Mills, St. Stephen, and Western Charlotte responding to a blaze on Route 745, on the corner of the Oak Hill Road and the Moores Mills Crossroad.

Moores Mills Fire Chief Steve Smith tells Tide News a passer-by called 911. He says it was difficult getting past the metal roof to put the fire out. Smith says by time the first firefighters arrived, the floors of the home were already burned out.

He says there was noone at home, no pets were inside the home at the time of the fire and the cause is being investigated by the Fire Marshal.

Fire Departments from St. Stephen and Calais responded only a few hours before to a house fire in Milltown on Queensway Way, shortly after midnight. Police say both homes have significant damage.

Organized Labour Says No Need To Change EI

The Employment Insurance program is seen by the federal government, regardless of which party is in power, as being its cash cow to be used when needed to reduce the deficit even though it doesn't contribute a nickel to the fund. 

That charge being leveled by Serge Landry of the Canadian Labour Congress who was in Saint John speaking at a town hall meeting and warning workers the appeal process is being made harder.
 
Landry tells Tide News the E-I program doesn't have a funding problem at all. In fact, the C-L-C has suggested there's a surplus and benefits could be increased.

Landry says last year in New Brunswick, there were 35 thousand unemployed workers with only 38 hundred available jobs.

Propane Truck On Highway 1 Flipping On Side Today

A propane truck tipping over this morning is tying up a lot of emergency personnel resources today.

In the latest update, Highway 1 just west of Spruce Lake is open to traffic one lane in each direction.

A technical issue has prevented the removal of the propane at this time.
It was decided it would best to wait until after rush hour to close the roadway.

The roadway will now be shut down after 6pm to remove propane from the truck and remove the truck itself.

Cause Under Investigation After Fire On Queensway

A house fire in Milltown over the weekend is under investigation.

Local police say the home on Queensway is a total loss with significant damage after it caught fire Sunday night (March 17th, 2013).

RCMP say noone was hurt.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight tells Tide News the cause of the fire is under investigation with assistance from the local Fire Marshall.

Nurse Championing Green Porch Light Community Challenge

When you choose to donate your organs and tissue after death, you're giving somebody a chance at life. 

Registered nurse Betty-Anne Waugh says that signing your medicare care and talking to your family about your plans to be a donor, could make all the difference for a patient waiting for a life-saving donation in the future. 

Waugh says studies have shown that 75% percent of people who have said no to organ and tissue donation said if they had been better informed they would have said yes, and that they regret it down the road.

Waugh is currently championing the Green Porch Light Community challenge, which coincides with national organ and tissue donor awareness week from April 21-28. She's asking people to change one regular light bulb in their home to a green light bulb during that time frame, to bring attention to the cause.

Stanley Local Calls Flooding Worst in 40 Years

A huge ice jam on the Nashwaak river has created what one local has described as the worst flooding Stanley has seen in 40 years. Bethany Ryan, a store clerk, says that around 35 homes were evacuated on Thursday as the water spilled onto the banks. Ryan says the main road the village center were covered in about a half metre of water in a mere 15 minutes.

The water has since receded from the village, located north of Fredericton. A spokeswoman for River Watch says water levels should continue to go down over the next couple of days, but says that residents should stay alert.

White-Tailed Deer Farming Allowed In NB

The Alward government had talked about banning deer farming after a man in northern New Brunswick was killed sometime ago by one of his own deer, but the province will allow the farming of white-tailed deer. 

A review was done after the government got some pushback on a ban.
 
The provincial government will not allow pen hunting and farmers will not be permitted to sell white-tailed deer meat and other white-tailed products within New Brunswick.
 
Deer farmers will have to comply with provincial rules on fencing standards and identification of farmed deer in order to obtain a permit to keep white-tailed deer. 

They will also be required to comply with any federal requirements in order to lessen the risk to wild populations of white-tailed deer.

Atlantic National Home Show This Weekend In Saint John

Another sign that spring is just around the corner is when Harbour Station hosts the annual home show. That's happening this weekend with more than 130 exhibitors and it usually draws a big turnout from the region.

Denise Miller of Master Promotions tells Tide News a growing number of people come armed with definite ideas they may have gotten on the internet on what they want done to their homes.

The Saint John Animal Rescue League will also be at the Station if you want to adopt a shelter pet.

Locals Give Opinion On New Mandatory Course On Rinkside Behaviour For Parents

The parents of the youngest hockey players in the province will be required to take a course on rinkside behaviour beginning in the fall. 

Brian Whitehead of Hockey New Brunswick says the organization is planning to introduce the online course in September.

Whitehead says the course will be mandatory for any parent registering children aged four to eight years old. The course will also be free of charge to parents, unlike a similar course offered in Nova Scotia which charges parents a $12 fee.

In the meantime, The Tide's Facebook page is getting a lot of action on the issue.

Stephanie says, "I get so embarrassed when parents behave badly at games. Hopefully this will help to stop the cycle!"

Brenda says she doesn't think the course will change anything.

Jason says, "I don't believe there are any reasons not to have parents know the rules and conduct of the game."

One comment told of a situation on the weekend in Fredericton where a parent allegedly went into the opposing team's locker room to have words with the coach.

Shannon says, "As a hockey parent myself, I think it should be mandatory for all of us, on an annual basis!"






Most of the comments were positive towards the new course, however, a high percentage thought it was sad that children's hockey has come to this.

Special Police Unit Investigating 5 Child Sex Abuse Cases In SJ

The Internet Child Exploitation Unit of the Saint John police force reports they are investigating 5 child sex abuse files in the Saint John area in the last week alone, and there are currently 50 suspected cases of pedophiles sharing abuse images across the province.

Constable Tonia Williams of the ICE Unit tells Tide News law enforcement is constantly trying to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technologies predators have at their disposal.

The ICE Unit gave a presentation to Police Commission outlining how they respond to cases of child porn sharing. The unit advises parents to monitor what their kids are doing even if the computer is in a common area -- because they've seen videos that show the parent was even in the same room when their child was chatting on webcam with a pedophile.

Challenges Hindering Snook Child Sex Abuse Case

With the child sex abuse investigation into former Saint John common councillor Donnie Snook continuing to bring forward new victims, Police Chief Bill Reid is hoping they can help everyone affected find some kind of justice.

Reid tells Tide News the wheels of justice turn more smoothly if you can get everyone to come forward in a timely fashion. He says it's vastly preferable to deal with all the complaints in one shot than see them trickle in over 6 or 7 years.

Reid says investigators are dealing with a number of challenges, including the fact that some kids are too young to articulate the information and some families are in denial that abuse has occurred.

Donnie Snook reappears in court on May 29th.

White Smoke Signals New Pope

White smoke is pouring out from the Sistine Chapel chimney in St. Peter's Square, signalling that a new pope will appear on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica within the hour before many faithful waiting to witness the first new pontiff in eight years.

River Watch Warns Of Possible Flooding

You might want to keep an eye on water coming into your basement.

An advisory today warning locals about the possibility of flooding from River Watch because of ice jams due to the milder temperatures and heavy rainfall.

A special weather statement being issued by Environment Canada for St. Stephen and northern Charlotte County, Grand Manan, coastal Charlotte County, Saint John, and Fundy National Park with up to 40 millimetres of rain falling before it ends tonight.

Callers to our 466-2222 news line report water coming over the Reardon Road near Digdeguash (as seen in picture ), rising waters under the Rollingdam covered bridge, as well as near the King Street traffic Circle in St. Stephen.

Prison Time For Former Investment Dealer

A 48 year old former investment dealer has been sentenced in Moncton to 3 and a half years in prison for defrauding several of her clients. 

Catherine Darlene Ford pleaded guilty to six charges. 

The court was told she illegally withdrew 1.3 million dollars from the accounts of six of her clients, many of whom were elderly. They have since been reimbursed by Scotia McLeod. 

Several of her clients had more than 100 thousand dollars taken from their accounts without consent.

New Brunswick Takes #1 Spot As Seafood Producer In Canada

New Brunswick is number one... at least when it comes to seafood. New Brunswick ranked as Canada's largest exporter of seafood for 2012, with exports valued at $967 million. 

Nova Scotia and British Columbia came in second and third.

In a statement, Premier David Alward acknowledging the importance of the seafood industry in creating new jobs, especially in rural communities. Local producers from Charlotte County participated in the Boston International Seafood Show this week, promoting their products to more than 16,000 buyers and sellers from more than 90 countries.

In recent years, the province has turned to Asia and Europe as markets for its seafood.

Traffic Delays At Reversing Falls

If you plan on traveling to Saint John in the near future, you can expect delays over the next several weeks.

The city telling Tide News beginning today and for the next several weeks, the Reversing Falls Bridge will be down to one lane and there will be no vehicle access to Douglas Avenue from Bridge Road or Chesley Drive. 

There will be temporary traffic lights in place at both ends of the bridge but, as you might expect, there will be continual delays. 

The traffic flow is being disrupted to allow upgrades to be done to the east-west water main below the bridge.