Province Buys Wheelchair Golf Cart For Campobello

Just because you're in a wheelchair -- doesn't mean you can't shoot under par.

The Provincial government announcing today on Campobello Island the purchase of a wheelchair golf cart for the Herring Cove Provincial Park.

Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, Travor Holder tells Tide News accessibility is important to everyone. "It's important for both our residents to have an accessible experience so they can have the opportunity to play golf, and it's also very important as we move forward trying to promote ourselves as an accessible destination as well."

A number of upgrades have taken place recently in provinical parks as the government reviews health, safety, and accessibility in the Parks Act.

In Picture, From Left: Healthy and Inclusive Communities Minister Dorothy Shephard; local park patron Kyle Newman; Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Trevor Holder; and Charlotte-Campobello MLA Curtis Malloch. Picture from Conservative website.

Social Assistance Rate Rising In October

The number on your social assistance check will be a little higher this month. 

The province boosting the province's basic social assistance rate by four percent on the first of October, and it's going to go up again by three percent in April of next year. The government says it's part of their focus to reduce, prevent and alleviate poverty in the province. 

They're also making a few other changes to the system, including more support for families with high shelter costs and better assistance for clients with disabilities who are living with their parents.

UPDATED...Number Of Sex Abuse Victims Escalates

Deceased Saint John city police officer Ken Estabrooks may have sexually abused 263 children over the course of nearly three decades dating back to the late 1950s. 

That word coming from the private investigator contracted by Common Council to investigate the extent of the abuse. After decades of secrecy, private investigators and the city say vulnerable children were targeted for at least 25 years. Most of the sexual abuse victims were boys but some girls have been identified in the investigation. They were between the ages of 6 and 19 when the abuse happened.

About 53 of the victims are still living, 33 are dead and it's believed there are another 152 suspected victims.
 
Estabrooks confessed in 1975, but charges weren't laid until more than 20 years later. Perry revealing to Tide News he continued to sexually abuse children after resigning from the police department and being quietly transferred to a job in City Works. He was finally convicted in 1999 and sentenced to six years in jail, dying of cancer in 2005.

A toll free number has been set up for victims wanting to contact investigator Dave Perry and receive counseling paid for by the city of Saint John. The number to call is 1-866-790-4764.

Perry says the investigation could take up to a year to wrap up.

More Details Coming In Another Case Of Abuse Of Trust

An update into the investigation of now deceased former Saint John city police officer Ken Estabrooks, with more alleged victims coming forward, being delivered today. 

And as the decades-old case continues to unfold, the province's Youth Advocate speaking on the social impact of an all too similar case which came to light just this year. 

Norm Bosse tells Tide News, like Estabrooks, disgraced former Common Councillor Donnie Snook was in a position of trust and authority and he believes Snook used that power as a way of getting away with abusing his victims. "Who is going to question him?" asks Bosse.

While many may blame themselves for what happened, Bosse says at the end of the day only one person is responsible for Snook's actions, and that is Snook himself. However, he believes parents need to be aware of what their children are doing.

Bosse, who is a lawyer, represented the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of notorious pedophile Karl Toft at the Youth Training Centre in Kingsclear in the '90s.

Health Minister Defends Five-Year Heath Care Plan

With the Council of Hospital Unions slating the province's new five-year health care plan as more concerned with the fiscal bottom line than patients, Health Minister Ted Flemming says healthcare can't continue to grow at a rate of 5-8% or a billion dollars more today than 10 years ago.

Flemming tells Tide News what matters is the end result, and that's the highest level of health care people can get. He adds, if we can do that more efficiently and if we can do it on a more cost effective basis, he considers that "no crime."

Flemming says efficiencies are going to be found in all areas, there won't be just one area cut. The Council of Hospital have expressed frustration with the vagueness of the plan and they are anticipating more layoffs.

Apartment Blaze Displaces Residents

An apartment building being evacuated after a fire broke out in one of the units.

The Saint John Fire Department says there was heavy smoke pouring out of a third floor apartment on Davenport Avenue when they arrived. They found a fire in the back of the home, possibly in a bedroom. 

While fire crews kept the fire from spreading, the room is heavily damaged by fire and the rest of the apartment has major smoke and water damage. The building itself has slight smoke and water damage.

The people living in the apartment where the fire started are displaced for a while until the apartment is fixed. No word on the cause of the blaze.

Two Arrested In Uptown Saint John Stabbing

A teenager brought to hospital with multiple stab wounds after intervening in an uptown assault.

Sergeant Cowan of City Police says the incident happened on Peters Street where two men were assaulting a third man. When the 17-year old stepped in to help the assault victim, he was stabbed. Cowan says his injuries are not life-threatening and believes the teenager has already been released from hospital.
 
A 56-year old and 29-year old have been arrested and will be making court appearances. Police are still looking for a third suspect.

No word on the condition of the assault victim

Crews Respond To Milford Blaze

Saint John fire crews battling a blaze on the Upper West Side for three hours. It happened at 353 Dwyer Road, in the Milford area. 

Firefighters kept the fire contained to the outside of the building, but there was some slight smoke damage inside.

Vehicles Broken Into On West Side Of SJ

Car prowlers hitting more than five vehicles on the West side. Saint John Police say it happened overnight and the vehicles were not locked at the time. No word on what was swiped from the cars.

You Can Still Apply For Mill Rats Mini Camp

If you've always wanted to be a Saint John Mill Rat, you've got an opportunity to try out.

There are still a few spots open to apply for their mini-camp being held next Sunday in New Hampshire. From there, if you impress management with your skills, you'll be placed in the training camp roster. 

The mini camp has only 40 spots and is by invitation only. To qualify, you must register and pay online here by October 1st.

Explore NB's Forests This National Forest Week

Whether it's going for a stroll in the woods or having a picnic by the shade of a tree, take some time to appreciate forests this week.

That's what Andrew Holland of the Nature Conservancy of Canada is suggesting you do to mark National Forest Week. Holland tells Tide News forests help drive our economy, clean our air and water, help mitigate flooding from storms and give us a place to explore.

Holland says many people who grew up in rural New Brunswick learned to find a friend in trees, but nowadays, many kids are only interested in staying indoors and playing video games and he believes we have to get them back to enjoying nature.

Saint John Arts Centre Celebrates 10th Birthday

It's a day of celebration at the Saint John Arts Centre, where they're simultaneously marking their 10th birthday and National Culture Days, which encourages people to explore and engage in arts and culture in their communities. 

Executive Director Andrew Kierstead tells Tide News they're offering tours of the centre, which includes a stop at the new printmaking facility where artist Herzl Kashetsky made his latest edition of etchings. Kashetsky will be singing the prints today at noon.

Musical events start at 11am, when young pianist and composer Wen Gao will be playing original piano transcriptions of Hollywood movie music and popular Asian songs. At 12:30pm, Saint John Idol runner-up Sadie Donahue is will be singing with Jerry-Faye Flatt and at 1:30pm, Master Hammer Dulcimer Player Wenmei Li is performing.

All events are free.

Rothesay Police Looking For Help Solving Cases

Rothesay Regional Police want your help with a number of investigations.

On Tuesday, they found a water scooter floating on the river along the Gondola Point Road. On Sept. 3, a cell phone and wallet were swiped from the men's locker room at the Goodlife Fitness on the Hampton Road.

On Aug. 15, a Mercury short-shaft motor was stolen out of a boat on Cameron Road Beach in Rothesay. It has a chip in the propeller and a white arrow on the throttle handle. They're also looking for info in the theft of a ski-doo on the Vincent Road. The blue 2012 Grand Touring was stolen sometime between April 19 and Aug. 24.

Police asking you to give them or Crimestoppers a call if you have information about any of these investigations. You can contact police by calling 847-6300 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Ideas Brought Forward On Border Arena Future

An indoor skate park? A movie theatre? A paint-ball field?

Those are just a few of the ideas brought forward by residents on the future of the Border Arena.With the opening of the Civic Centre in downtown St. Stephen in the midst, a public meeting was held this week for residents to give their opinion on what should become of the 40-year-old facility.

Other ideas included an indoor turf for sports, a youth hostel, and keeping the building as an arena for a few more years until ice time requirements are met with the Civic Centre.



Deputy Mayor John Ames says the land is leased from the province and the arena will need around 40-50 rentable hours in order to keep costs withing reason.

No definate plans have been made yet.

Update Monday On Sexual Abuse Investigation

The city has scheduled an update Monday on the investigation into sexual abuse perpetrated years ago by then City Police officer Ken Estabrooks, amid reports of many more victims have come forward. There are also rumblings a potential class-action lawsuit. 

Saint John Common Council has approved an additional $100,000 to continue the investigation. There may have been more than 40 victims of the abuse.

 Estabrooks was never charged in 1975 even though he confessed. Estabrooks resigned from the police department but was transferred to City Works. Charges were finally laid in 1998 and Estabrooks, who died in 2005, was convicted in 1999 and sentenced to six years in prison. The Police Commission released a report, calling the 1975 investigation "unprofessional" which allowed a serious sex offender to go unpunished.

Inmate Hospitalized After Assault

Yesterday at around 11pm an inmate was assaulted in the maximum-security jail in Renous. The victim had to be taken to an outside hospital.

 The Mounties are investigating and they know who committed the assault.

The victim is in stable condition. Jail officials say they taking what they call "appropriate" measures to keep incidents like this from happening.

Mike Biggar Launches New Country Record Tonight

Mike Biggar is a name in country star most local folks will recognize. 

Biggar's been breaking into the mainstream music scene will his collaborations with Chris Cummings and big names and he tells Tide News he's excited to release his new album Feels Like Now.

Biggar is an ECMA and New Brunswick Music Award Winner with several successful albums. 

He will be performing tonight on Mexicali Rosa's patio on Princess Street in Saint John with Chris Cummings and a full band to launch the new record. 

The concert is free.

Not Everyone Is Enthralled With The National Energy Board

Premier David Alward says he has confidence the National Energy Board will be able to adequately evaluate the environmental risks associated with building a pipeline to Saint John. 

David Thompson of the Conservation Council tells Tide News a lot of people were turned off by their treatment when the National Energy Board held hearings in the city a few years ago on the natural gas pipeline through Rockwood Park.

Thompson says the rules apparently have changed since then and a lot of people who might want to have something to say and take part could be shut out from participating because they won't be given standing.
 
A grassroots energy summit will be held in the city next week with the theme that shale gas, oil pipelines and nuclear energy represent the past and not the future. One of the speakers will be Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians.

Higgs Releases Financial Update In Saint John

The Alward government providing a long overdue fiscal update with first quarter results projecting a deficit of nearly 500 million dollars.

Finance Minister Blaine Higgs joined by the Premier and MLA Glenn Savoie for the announcement at the Delta today as the Saint John caucus wraps up its summer retreat.
 
Higgs says if government had not confronted spending the revenue challenges they have been facing would be much worse.

In 2011 and 2012, Higgs says they saw year over year expenses decrease for the first time in 11 years adding in the last two years they have seen spending only grow by a half a per cent compared to the 10 year average of 4.2 per cent.

Premier Alward says historically departments have been way over budget with their early quarterly results and now they are seeing departments below budget and within 1 per cent representing a huge shift.

The Premier also revealing to the gathered media that the fall session of the Legislature will begin early on November 5th.

Empress Of Ireland Exhibit

Next May will mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland.  

It's happened in the St. Lawrence River and more than a 1000 passengers on the ship died.   

The New Brunswick Museum hosting a traveling showcase on the ship which includes video of the underwater wreck. 

Pascale St. Amand tells Tide News the exhibit is moving on to Halifax at 5 today.

She says she has had many visitors from cruise ships and they are a bit scared by the tragedy but most people are surprised they have not heard of the Empress before.

St. Amand says the exhibit includes a video that depicts how the Storstad hit the Empress sinking her.    She add the sinking is significant as World War 1 broke out a short time later.

Maine Mom Chases Ex-Boyfriend Down The Street With Angry Mob

A news conference by the mother of a missing toddler becoming quite dramatic.

Trista Reynolds, mother of Ayla Reynolds, holding the gathering in Lincoln Park yesterday, which is adjacent to the Portland Courthouse.

The Associated Press reports the child's father, Justin DiPietro, left the courthouse following an unrelated assault charge, only to be screamed at and chased down the street and through a parking garage by Reynolds and her followers.


The AP also reporting DiPietro and his attorney tried ducking into the Portland Police Station to escape only to be surrounded by the crowd, shouting things at him such as "Murderer!" and "Where's Ayla?".

Ayla was reported missing from DiPietro's home in Waterville, Maine in December 2011, and her body has never been found.

Trista releasing information in the past week that she claims police gave her about Ayla's case in an effort to get DiPietro charged. Some of the evidence claims Ayla's blood was found throughout DiPietro's house, vehicle, and on his shoes.


Maine State Police have said they do not expect to find the girl alive.

Police have also stated they think the three adults who were in the house when Ayla went missing (DiPietro, his sister, and then-girlfriend) know more than they are saying about her disappearance.

Medical Society Releases 'Care First' Document

Just days after the province came out with their healthcare blueprint, the province's doctors releasing a companion piece called Care First.

The New Brunswick Medical Society says their document is built around the four pillars of primary care renewal, wait time reduction, healthy living and front line work input.

Medical Society President Dr. Robert Desjardins tells Tide News they advocate a new program called 'Choose Wisely' which aims to improve decision-making by medical profession in areas like testing.

He says the program will support a certain kind of standardization in testing but it only works with education and in co-operation with the government.
Desjardins says in the US, the standardization of testing has saved over 25 per cent in hospital laboratory costs.

The Medical Society is also calling on New Brunswickers to be more responsible for their own health adding just talking about it is not enough.  He says their must be some legislation by the government to force hospitals and schools to serve better food in their own cafeterias.

Provincial Conservatives Retreating In The City

With poll numbers in the doldrums, Premier David Alward and his M-L-A's are holding a caucus retreat in the city with a year to go before the provincial election. 

The Premier is rejecting criticism about not demanding more liability protection from the risks to the environment with Trans Canada's proposed pipeline to Saint John.  

Alward says he has full confidence in Trans Canada based on its history. He adds the proposal will be scrutinised by the National Energy Board which will evaluate the risks and the provincial Environment Department will have input.

Many Of Us Have Heart Disease

More than 2600 people in this province got a diagnosis of heart disease between 2009 and 2010.

That startling stat from a provincial report on heart health.

More than 21,000 men and over 13,000 women are living with the disease.

Almost 1800 people in the province went to hospital for the first time with heart failure over those two years.

The rate of new cases of heart disease is steadily decreasing over the last decade and more people with heart disease are living longer.

With growing senior populations and the increase in rates of diabetes and adult obesity, the evidence doesn't show whether or not the decline in new cases and deaths due to heart disease will continue.

Not Getting Hospital 3T MRI A "Broken Promise"

Just another promise he made to get elected. That's what one Liberal Health Critic is calling the Alward government's failure to get the Saint John Regional Hospital a 3T MRI.

Donald Arsenault tells Tide News that was a commitment Premier David Alward made to the community and is now just another addition to a long list of broken promises. He says he wants to know where Alward stands on the issue now.

The city's medical professionals seem to want the 3T version, while the Horizon Health Network has come out against it. Arsenault says they'll see what position Health Minister Ted Flemming takes and go from there.

New Airmiles Scam Making The Rounds

A new telemarketing scam is making the rounds. The Saint John Police Force Fraud Section warns people are receiving calls stating that they have won anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 bonus Air Miles.

They are then asked to provide personal information like a credit card number. Air Miles has debunked the scam as a fake saying they never use automated messages.

You can visit the Canadian Antifraud Centre's website at here to learn more about what steps you should take to avoid becoming a victim of telemarketingand automated telephone schemes.

MLA Calls For Proactive Approach To Flooding

We need to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to flooding. That from MLA for Charlotte-The Isles, Rick Doucet who isn't happy his idea to establish a committee on flood damage control was shot down by Premier David Alward. 

He tells Tide News the government's Regional Emergency Management Coordinators network only deals with flooding after-the-fact. He says we have to get into a proactive stage and get out in front of these things because they're going to be happening more and more frequently.

Doucet says we're losing an opportunity to open up some dialogue on a topic that's impacting all New Brunswickers.

Roadbuilders Still Hopeful Province Will Spend More Money

The New Brunswick Roadbuilders Association is not discouraged by the response of the Transportation Minister to spending more money on roads around the province. Claude Williams warns money is tight. 

Tom McGinn is the Association's Executive-Director. He says the idea is to spend a bit today, then avoid being faced with a more serious problem that will require more money down the line.
 
McGinn also warns many of the people who work on the roads have gone out west to the point where there's a labour shortage.

More Is Known About T-B Patient In Province

The patient who's suffering from a potentially highly contagious type of tuberculosis and remains hospitalized at the Dr. Georges Dumont Hospital is a business faculty student at the University of Moncton who was on hand for the first week of classes.
 
Medical authorities indicate the student’s condition is getting better and are optimistic the risk of infection is low.
 
They're also confident only those people who had close contact with the affected student are at risk of infection.

The university is establishing a list of those who could have potentially been in contact with the student, including other students, professors and all other staff members. 

Over the next few days, health professionals will be present in the classes in which the affected student would have been present during the contamination period in order to answer questions that may arise.

Guilty Pleas In Cochrane's Robbery

It's a crime that shocked the community at a place you might not expect to see violence.

Cochrane's Country Market in Rothesay was robbed in the early morning hours of July 16th and two employees were tied up.

Arrests were made by Rothesay Regional Police in early August.

Stephen Corey Richard and Blake Andrew Smith pleading guilty in court and will be sentenced October 4th.  Both are in their late 20's.

47 year old Keith Oliver Dixon also pleading guilty at an earlier court appearance and will be sentenced next month as well.

Bar To Offer Pregnancy Tests

Thunder Bay's  Outpost bar is the first in Canada to offer pregnancy tests in their bathroom dispensers.

The purpose is to help prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

The initiative at Lakehead University starts today and they hope to have more bars get on board and offer pregnancy tests.

Maine Mom Releases Police Documents In Daughter's Disappearance

In hopes of seeing charges filed, a Maine mom releasing documents from the police investigation into her daughter's 2011 disappearance.

Trista Reynolds posting the information on her website regarding the disappearance of 20-month-old Ayla Reynolds.

The move is an effort to get charges laid against Ayla's father Justin DiPietro and Reynolds believes there is enough evidence for a successful prosecution.

The document states the toddler's blood was found throughout DiPietro's house and vehicle, including a plastic tote box found in his basement containing bloody sheets.

Reynolds says police do not want to arrest DiPietro without Ayla's remains.

The toddler went missing in 2011 from her father's home in Waterville, Maine. 

To read Trista Reynold's entire release, click here

Council of Hospital Unions President Expects More Layoffs

The province's new five-year health care plan is more concerned with dollars and cents than delivering services to patients. 

That from the President of the Council of Hospital Unions, Norma Robinson. Robinson tells Tide News they're fully expecting to see more layoffs, but what they're unsure of is when and where the job cuts will be happening---which she says is very frustrating.

The New Brunswick Nurses Union says they're concerned about how little detail was shared about how the plan will be carried out, and how it affects the role of registered nurses.

Search Continues For Cloutier

Moncton RCMP looking for your help as they try to find a missing 24 year old man.

Romeo Cloutier was reported missing on the 13th and his vehicle was found in Sainte-Marie de Kent the same day.

The search for Cloutier was expanded recently in that area with help from Tri-County Ground Search and Rescue but it didn't provide any clues as to where he is.

Romeo Cloutier is described as 6 feet tall with brown eyes and tattoos on his arms and neck.

When he was reported missing, he weighed about 145 pounds and his head was shaved.

If you can help, contact Codiac Regional RCMP at 506-857-2400 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Kenyan Mall Seige Has Saint John Connection

Kenyan security forces are still battling al-Shabab extremists in an upscale Nairobi mall for a fourth day  in what they claim is a final push to rescue the last few hostages in a siege that has left at least 62 people dead. 

Despite Kenyan government assurances of success on Twitter, the Associated Press is reporting another explosion and more gunfire could be heard coming from the mall. 

A woman who spent time in Saint John and has lived in Nairobi for the past two years, Joanne Ball Burgess has told the Toronto Star about being trapped inside the mall on Saturday when the attack got underway. 

She speaks of being trapped in a bathroom for 3 and a half hours then hiding in a closet as she made her way to freedom through a fire exit.

Sunday Shopping Debate Isn't Over

Saint John Common council appears to be warming somewhat to the idea of letting businesses set their own Sunday Shopping Hours.

Mayor Mel Norton tells Tide News he approves of the decision to look into the by-law change, since local retailers are struggling in some parts of the city and need to be able to stay competitive.

Common councillor Shirley McAlary says she initially worried about workers and that hasn't changed--however, since the last meeting she's heard from retail workers who say they could use the extra hours where they can get them. Further, she says, businesses should be trusted to make the decisions best for them.

The City Mananger has been asked to look into the by-law change which would take a minimum of weeks to go through the legal department have a second and third reading.

Little Mistake On Larger-Than-Life Likeness

There's a little mistake on a larger-than-life likeness of a certain famous Saint Johner hanging on Prince William Street.

The recently-unveiled portrait of silver screen star Donald Sutherland on Prince William Street tacks an extra year on to the 78 year old's age, pegging him as born in 1934 rather than the correct 1935.

Thandi Restaurant owner Holly Singh commissioned the mural. She wasn't aware of the discrepancy until CHSJ News drew it to her attention. She says it won't be a hard fix for Grand Manan artist Sarah Griffin.

There's talk of donating the old murals--which are a little worse-for-wear after hanging on the building since 1990--to Saint John High School.

Province Releases Health Plan

The Province releasing its long-awaited health plan which Health Minister Ted Flemming says will address our health care challenges and provide support for those who want to rebuild their personal health while making a system that will be sustainable for generations.

Over 5 years, the Department of Health will keep working with health system partners to achieve financial sustainability.

In a release, the government says the plan encourages a philosophical shift that put the patient at the center of care with a bigger emphasis on building a healthier population and more services in the community.

The New Brunswick Cancer Network will work with the two regional health authorities and primary healthcare practitioners to implement screening programs for cervical and colon cancer.

For more info, click here

Man Involved In Crash In Serious Condition

The man involved in a collision on the Harbour Bridge in Saint John is in serious condition. 

Police say the 30-year old is at the Saint John Regional Hospital after his car crashed into a cement barricade just before 4:30 Sunday morning.

Traffic was slow-going on the bridge for most of the day.

Woman Faces Charges After A July Fight Goes Viral

A video of a fight that took place in Saint John on Ellerdale Street went viral on social media showing what appears to be a pregnant woman being kicked in the stomach.

We now have a better idea of when it happened and the aftermath.  City Police telling us they are investigating and both the victim and perpetrator have been identified.

A 20 year old woman has been charged and will be appearing in court on October 28th. 

She faces several charges including making threats, assault, probation violation and theft which is unrelated to the fight itself. 

Police also say the incident actually occurred on July 2nd but the video surfaced just recently.

Survey Shows Mental Health Needs Not Being Met

About one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem in a given year, but getting help isn't always easy. 

A Stats Canada report revealing over 1.5 million Canadians had a perceived unmet or partially met need for mental health care.

The CEO of the Canadian Psychological Association, Dr. Karen Cohen says psychological services needs to be made more easily available to the public, and they've been calling for that for some time now. 

Cohen tells Tide News the association commissioning a report to develop some models whereby Canada could make psychological care more accessible. The models are available on their website.

You Can Get Your Resume Done Without Charge

The Anglophone South School District will be opening up its 7th Career Work Room at the end of this month but this one won't be inside a school.

 Co-ordinator Theresa Murray says it will be at Agar Place off Waterloo Street in Saint John and is there for those who are not students to get help looking for a job. More than 3 thousand adults and 95 hundred students come in for help each year. 

You can get career counseling along with a resume and cover letter written, free of charge.

Murray says they're also in touch with employers about what their needs are and students who come in are quite serious about getting help in selecting what courses they need to better their career chances.

The Career Work Rooms are open all year round.

Airport Says It Has Lots Of Prime Space For Development

Enterprise Saint John, the Saint John Real Estate Board and Saint John Waterfront Development were all in Moncton over the weekend to talk about investment opportunities in the Saint John area. 

 Former Mayor Norm McFarlane chairs the Saint John Airport Authority and tells Tide  News the airport has 500 acres of prime land just ready for development but concedes nothing will likely take place in the short term so long as economic growth is not robust. 

Talk about developing the land around the airport dates back to when Elsie Wayne was mayor. McFarlane says there are lots of possibilities which include hooking up with a road connection from Quispamsis to the industrial park.

Unidentified Big Cats Being Spotted In Woods

Officially, there hasn't been a documented mountain lion sighting in this part of Canada since the late 1930s, but many people still swear they've seen or heard the big cats in the woods of New Brunswick. 

Researcher Bill Betty doesn't think they're all mistaken....he's with the Eastern Puma Research Network and he tells Tide News there's an even stranger possibility than a new and unknown species...wild house cats, which have been documented to get as big as 56 inches after living outside for generations.

He says the big black cats people have reported seeing could be the Asiatic Leopard which are a problem in Europe but haven't been proven to exist yet here, but we'll just have to wait until one is captured to know for sure.

Port City Commemorates Battle Of Britain

King and Charlotte blocked off from traffic as veterans, family members, cadets, and members of the public gathering in Kings Square to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the Battle of Britain. 

John Bampton of the Royal Air Force was born in England but now lives in Sussex. He fought in the World War II battle as part of the 59th squadron. Bampton, who is now 91-years old, tells Tide News it's an emotional occasion for him because there aren't very many of veterans left, but it's also a reminder that it's all been worthwhile.

Bampton giving thanks on behalf of the veterans to the people of Canada, and especially the Maritimes, for backing them up in a time of need and helping them get back up on their feet after the war.

Quispamsis Gets $28,000 To Extend Trail System

The trail system in Quispamsis is expanding to become part of the Trans Canada Trail, thanks to a $28,000 dollar grant.

The funding, which comes from the Trans Canada Trail, will be used to extend the Saunders Brook Trail from Doncaster Drive to Lancelot Drive. 

Mayor Murray Driscoll tells Tide News they're always working on the town's trails. He says the money is a good start, and he hopes this is phase one of a larger project that will put a trail right through the community.

Ultimately, the Quispamsis trail will include the rehabilitated Matthews Cove Park and will connect to Rothesay along with Kingston via the Kennebecasis River and the Gondola Point Ferry.

Harbour Bridge Crash

One person in hospital after the car they were driving crashed into a cement barricade. City Police say it happened on the Harbour Bridge in Saint John just before 4:30 in the morning, going eastbound.

Importing Gas Would Increase PotashCorp's Costs

If PotashCorp can't secure a local supply of natural gas in the province, they'll have to look for an outside source, and that means higher energy costs. 

That's according to General Manager of the New Brunswick division, Stewart Brown, who says they need that local source of natural gas for their growing operation. He says we have a natural resource available here in the province and need to have clear and transparent regulations so companies that can extract it are able to move forward and we don't have that yet.

95% of the potash production from Sussex is shipped out of the Port City, which is about a million tonnes every year.

Queens Square Farmers Market Gets Postponed

Looks like you'll have to wait until next week to get those fresh vegetables and hot coffee.

Organizer Jody Kliffer letting us know the Queens Square Farmers Market in Saint John has been postponed until next Sunday, Sept. 29. 

It's been cancelled because of the rain forecasted for tomorrow morning.

Fire Crews Called To The Paramount

A concerned citizen calling City Fire after witnessing what they thought was smoke coming out of the back of an old theatre in uptown Saint John.

They responded to the Paramount, which is now undergoing demolition, and Division Fire Chief Gerald Green tells Tide News they discovered there was no fire in the building, it was just dust from bricks falling.

Demolition started on the Paramount this past Wednesday. It's scheduled to be finished by November.