Paddlefest 2014 Success In The Rain

It was a bit cold and rainy on the water this weekend -- but that didn't stop very many from getting in a kayak.

Paddlefest 2014 Kayaking and Activities Co-ordinator Alex Reid tells Tide News the Town of St. Andrews was still a busy spot. He says they had a big turn-out and everyone seemed to be enjoying their time in St. Andrews.

The kayaks weren't the only thing to bring people to the seaside town. Reid says, "The music. Luke MacDonald has put together a fantastic line up and there are people coming from all ends of eastern Canada to see his production."

Reid says his favorite part of the festival is the people. "Everybody is here with a big, happy smile on their face and ready for summer to start, so that's always good to see."







One sea kayak tour was cancelled due to high wind conditions on Saturday -- but they were still able to have multiple tours during the festival.

School Partnership Enticing Our Kids To Read

Extra reading for your child could win them a brand new bike.

The Books & Bikes Contest is in partnership with Mason's in St. George.

Anglophone South Superintendent Zoe Watson tells Tide News it's happening in 5 local elementary schools between St. Stephen and St. George.
She tells us for every book a child reads, they get a ballot. Those ballots go into a draw for 6 new bicycles and helmets per school.

A total of 30 bikes and helmets will be given away before the school year is up.

Local Police Very Busy Over Long Weekend

While many enjoyed the river this weekend -- the police were straight out busy.

57 calls were made to District 1 RCMP throughout Charlotte County from Saturday to Monday.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight tells Tide News the had 9 checkstops and issued 20 tickets for a variety of offences -- but there were no fatal collisions, and none that caused injury.

MacKnight does say they have seen, however, an increase in property related offences like break and enter, theft, and mischief, with 3 such calls coming in this morning alone.

If you have any information on these crimes, you are asked to call local police in St. Stephen @ 466-7030 or in St. George @ 755-1130.

Saskatchewan Man Charged In Child Exploitation Case Involving NB Girl

A 53-year-old man being arrested after a joint investigation by Child Exploitation Units in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.

The man from Carlyle, Saskatchewan is facing multiple charges including possession of child pornography and sending sexual material to a person under the age of 18 to facilitate the commission of an offense.

RCMP say the alleged victim is a girl from this province and the man's name isn't being released right now to protect the child's identity. He will be making a court appearance in a few weeks time.

Marijuana Plants, Firearms & ATV Seized At Lakeville Home

Police seizing more than 350 marijuana plants, a stolen ATV and unsecured firearms after searching a home in Lakeville.

A 48-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy being arrested, questioned and then released with a promise that they will appear in court in late August.

If you have information on people who are growing pot, the Mounties urging you to report it by calling them at 506-387-2222 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Premier Says Province Has No Choice But To Help Seniors Stay In Their Homes Longer

The Home First policy came about because of a study that was done four years ago predicted unless there was a change, within a decade every acute care hospital bed in the province would be occupied by a senior waiting for transfer to long term care. 

Premier David Alward tells Tide News keeping seniors in their own homes longer depends on having the proper support in place and he acknowledges home care workers aren't earning enough. 

Over 7 million dollars will be spent in the first year on Home First care. 

Its estimated by 2030, the demographics show workers in the province will be outnumbered by people who aren't working.

Provincial NDP Leader Will Monitor Ukraine Election

40 thousand Russian soldiers are moving back to their home bases from the border regions with the Ukraine. This is being perceived as Russian President Vladimir Putin trying to ease tensions with the West over Ukraine. 

Meantime, Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy has been selected to be one of the many monitors for the upcoming election in the Ukraine to determine it's conducted fairly or not. 

Cardy has had experience as an election observer in Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladash and Cambodia.

Research To Be Done By Saint John Doctors On Coping With Pain

With the first graduating class of Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick from the medical school on the campus of U-N-B Saint John being honoured over the weekend, it's hoped some of them, if not most, will set up shop in the province. 

There are hundreds of research projects underway at Horizon Health. Saint John Doctor Neil Manson of the Orthopedics Department at the Regional Hospital will be studying the effect of coping with pain that is part and parcel of spinal surgeries.
 
Dr. Manson tells Tide News the people who can best handle pain will have better outcomes and it depends not only on how fit you are but also on mental and social fitness. 

Dr. Manson and Dr. Edward Abraham are receiving grant money from the Chesley Research Fund for their study on the psychological risk factors that lead to poor outcomes after spinal surgeries.

Premier Tries To Allay Fears Over Forestry Plan

Some have called it a contradiction to promote our beautiful forests to tourists, then introduce a forestry plan that drastically increases clear cutting.

Yet Premier David Alward tells Tide News those things aren't mutually exclusive.

The Premier tells Tide News our forests are going to continue to be New Brunswick's greatest asset under the new forestry plan. He says he need to be able to assure people that the plan is responsible--and that it really will attract hundreds of millions of dollars in private sector investment, as has been advertised.

The new forestry plan reduces the amount of protected old growth forest and deer habitat from 30% to 23%, and allows for 20% more softwood to be cut annually on Crown land.