CAO Recommends Virtual Tour Of Civic Center

The Garcelon Civic Centre is really starting to take shape.
Tilt-up wall panels can now be seen on most of the structure which will be the final exterior of the building.

St. Stephen Chief Administrative Officer John Ferguson tells Tide News a lot of work has been put into foundations and footing, surveying, and getting the steel erected for the arena section. Ferguson talks about what is next. "Work will continue inside the building on the section that has been enclosed. When we get into more milder weather in the spring, further work will continue on the exterior of the building that would include the pool, the conference area, the front entrance, offices, and ticket area."





Ferguson says the Garcelon has a split-level design with two main levels. He describes what the final result will look like once you walk through the front doors. "There is a 10 foot deck to your right, which is the platform of the pool. It's sort of in-between the first and the second floor. Then if you take the staircase or the elevator, you will end up on the second floor which is the conference area and the upper concourse of the arena walking track. If you stay on the main level, there is the lower concourse with access to all of the changing facilities, Zamboni rooms, maintenance rooms, and office area."

Ferguson says we are still on budget, and despite a few minor setbacks this winter, the construction is still on time to be completed by mid-October.
To see a full 3-D video of the completed Garcelon Civic Center click the link www.yourciviccenter.com

If You Are Sick, Don't Make Others Suffer

It's officially 'flu season, and Horizon Health wants to ensure the infection isn't spread more than necessary.

If you're coughing, feverish, sneezing, or have a sore throat, you're asked to avoid visiting friends and loved ones in the hospital. Or if you can't avoid visiting while under the weather, wear a mask and clean your hands with an alcohol based hand rub upon entering and exiting. Regional lead Marita MacMillan tells Tide News good hygeine is key: "To practice good hand hygeine, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rinse or soap and water because both methods are effective.

You can get surgical masks and hand rub at the entrances of all hospitals. If you have any questions you're asked to contact your local health-care facility.

Prison Guard Testifies He Followed Orders To Not Intervene

A prison guard who videotaped the death of Ashley Smith of Moncton says he was just following orders when he didn't intervene as the 19-year-old woman lay dying in her cell.
Rudy Burnett was testifying at the inquest into Smith's death in a cell in Kitchener, Ontario, five years ago.
He said there were orders and a protocol to follow at the correctional centre. The inquest was also told Smith trashed the sprinkler head in her segregation cell just hours after arriving at the jail where she died a few months later.
Another guard, Blaine Phibbs testified he first saw Smith tie a ligature around her neck within 12 hours of her arrival at the jail.

Deep Freeze To Last Until Next Tuesday

Put on your long-johns, the cold snap is holding strong.

Environment Canada issuing a wind chill warning for all of New Brunswick for tonight and tomorrow. Meteorologist Claude Cote tells Tide News the temperatures in Charlotte County are well below normal. He says, "Typically for this time of the year we should have afternoon temperatures near -4C, and overnight temperatures at -16C. Overnight tonight (Wednesday) Charlotte County will dip down to -24C and Thursday afternoon will se a high of -17C."

Cote says Charlotte County will be under the deep-freeze all week. "Beginning on Saturday, the temperature will start to recover somewhat, but we will have to wait until next Tuesday before the temperatures will return to seasonal value , around -3C to -4C, and by then we're probably going to find it mild."



Cote says a cold, arctic air mass from northern Canada and the Arctic has moved south to cover Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. He says there is nothing in the upper atmospheres to push the air mass away from us that would make the cold last only a day or so. He adds, as a result, we've been under the same air mass for the past week and it is only going to be pulling out of the region late over the weekend or early next week.

Maxwell Crossing Closed After Crash Causes Extensive Damage

The short-cut through Maxwell Crossing has been cut off.

Local Police report a single car crash yesterday afternoon caused extensive damage to the Maxwell Crossing covered bridge, which has now been closed to through traffic.

RCMP say three people traveling east in a car lost control of the vehicle just before the bridge around 3:30pm.

All three people were injured and taken to hospital by ambulance, the car was totaled, and the bridge is now missing a large section on one side.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight tells Tide News alcohol was not involved, but high speeds, slippery conditions, and driver inexperience were all factors to the crash.

MacKnight says DOT has closed the bridge because of the damage and it will likely remain that way for quite some time.
(Top Picture taken by Murray Weeks)

At A Grow-Op Near You...

With winter upon us, criminals often move their illegal operations indoors....

Crime Stoppers and New Brunswick RCMP asking the public report any information they may have about possible indoor marijuana grow ops. Growing marijuana indoors can pose a number of risks, including criminal activity and risks of fire and toxic chemical exposure.

Signs of a grow-op include heavy condensation and dark coverings over the windows, an unusual number of vents, increased security measures, and a strange odour coming from the house.

If you have a tip regarding a grow-op in your area, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). There is a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Nursing Homes Open To Visitors, But Screening For Flu-Bug

A ban on public visitation has been lifted for two local nursing homes.

The Passamaquoddy Lodge in St. Andrews and Lincourt Manor in St. Stephen both confirming they are now allowing family and friends to visit loved ones at the facilities after a ban was put in place December 31st to keep the influenza virus from coming into contact with residents.

Karen Lord from the Lodge tells Tide News they are open, however, she asks anyone showing cold or flu-like symptoms to please stay away.


Lincourt says they are currently screening visitors before allowing them to visit.

Cold Snap Could Get Costly With Electric Baseboard Heating

A prolonged cold snap focuses the mind wonderfully on what you can do to keep your heating bills from exploding.

Carl Diuvenvorden says electric baseboard heating is inefficient and tells Tide News from first hand experience he knows what effect the installation of heat pumps or mini splits can have.

He says, "I can tell you, my mother lives in northern New Brunswick and she installed two mini-splits and a few other upgrades as well, and her power bills fell by 50%. In the case of a mini-split, they are several thousand dollars each."



Diuvenvorden says with baseboard heating you get one unit of heat for each unit of electricity.

Snook Stays In Jail

Former Saint John common councillor Donnie Snook will remain in provincial jail until March 11. Snook waiving his right to a bail hearing due to the amount of evidence still remaining to be processed by city police.

According to crown prosecutor Kelly Lamrock the police predict the investigation will take 4-6 weeks to complete. Police are currently working to identify victims in images found on Snook's computer and other potential victims. A number of people have also approached city police and the RCMP since the initial charges came to light, saying they too were abused.

Snook's laywer, Dennis Boyle, says Snook will be entering a plea on March 11.

More Alleged Victims Coming Forward Against Snook

Several people coming forward to both Saint John City Police and RCMP alleging they've been sexually abused by former Saint John Councillor Donnie Snook.

In a release, police say they're also trying to identify victims from the computer images seized from Snook's laptop. 40-year-old Snook is facing 8 charges in total, relating to child pornography, child exploitation, and sexual interference with a child under 16.

Police and the RCMP'S Internet Child Exploitation Unit are asking anyone with information relating to this matter to contact them.  Saint John Police Force at 506-648-3333, RCMP at 1-888-506-7267 or N.B. Crime Stoppers anonymously online at www.crimenb.ca  or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Snook was arrested at his home on January 9th and resigned as a councillor on Thursday. He's set to appear in court tomorrow for a bail hearing.

New Affordable Housing In Fredericton

Those searching for affordable housing in the Fredericton area may soon have a little more choice...

The government announcing the opening of 8 new units for low-income individuals at 411 St. Mary's St., and 75 units for seniors, non-elderly singles and people with disabilities at Brookside and Terrace Courts.

The Feds contributed $3 million in funding for the  Brookside Drive development, and the provincial and federal government contributed equally to the $75 million dollar costs for the development on St Mary's Street.

Human Resources Minister Troy Lifford referred to the developments as part of the mission to enhance taxpayers quality of life while also living within their means.

Liberals Call On Health Minister For Apology

The opposition critic of health is not impressed with various actions by Health Minister Ted Flemming this week.

Donald Arsenault tells Tide news he knows Flemming has a plan in place to reduce 22 emergency rooms to 15, but it's the way he's doing it that's frustrating. Arsenault says the way he's attacked doctors and referred to New Brunswicker's as hillbillies for not jumping on the shale gas bandwagon is not a proper comment to make.

He says if the minister is thinking about shutting down ER's to save money, he should be honest with the public and say where they are. Arsenault worries it's the province's rural areas that would suffer the reduction in health care.

Arsenault is calling on Flemming to make an apology, and be more open with the public in a less aggressive way.

Doctors' Pay Will Not Be Made Public

The idea, put forward by provincial Auditor-General Kim McPherson, to make the individual pay of doctors public has been rejected by the Alward Government.

Health Minister Ted Flemming met with the New Brunswick Medical Society to talk about the concerns raised by her about double billing on the part of some doctors.

Anthony Knight of the Medical Society says it supports addressing what he calls rare inconsistencies but tells Tide News the doctors have gone out of their way to help out the province financially with a two year freeze on any increases in their Medicare fee schedules. He questions how much value the provincial government has placed on that.

The Medical Society has told us doctors believe they have been under attack of late in some sort of campaign to taint the public's perception of them but adds they're looking forward to a stronger relationship with the Department of Health.

Snook's Seat To Remain Empty Until Spring

With the official resignation of Saint John Councillor Donnie Snook, the picture of will happen to his seat around the council horseshoe is becoming much more clear.

Mike Quinn of Elections NB tells Tide News the are regular scheduled by-elections to fill vacant seats that arise throughout the province.

The next round of by-elections is scheduled for Monday, May 13th, so Snook's seat will remain vacant until then. There are currently 6 different requests for by-elections from 6 different municipalities throughout the province, and the number will be 7 if Saint John council votes to move in that direction.

Those Drowning In Debt Seek Help

Now's the time the credit card bills from Christmas are coming in and that's putting a strain on the finances of many households.

John Eisener, the President of Credit Counselling Services for Atlantic Canada, tells Tide News the average debt loads of the people who are coming into his office for held are anywhere from 26 to 28 thousand dollars.

He says if you made minimum payments each month, it would take you from 20 to 30 years to pay it all off.

Eisener says the rising cost of living is putting a strain on households and if your finances are causing you to lose sleep at night or arguments at home then you need some help to get out of the hole.

Another Person Is Sick With E. Coli

An investigation is underway to determine the source of a new case of E. coli which has been confirmed in the province.

Lab results show there's a link with six other cases already reported and Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Eilish Cleary says the most likely cause is shredded lettuce distributed by FreshPoint.

Seven people have now been diagnosed with E. coli in New Brunswick. There are other cases in Nova Scotia and Ontario.

She says if you're going to eat lettuce or cabbage, throw the outer leaves away and then remove the remaining leaves before thoroughly rinsing them in water for about 30 seconds.

Operation Cat Nip Takes Off Today

There's many four-legged early risers this morning.

Volunteers and staff at the Saint John SPCA Animal Rescue League are packing up 35 cats and supplies for their trip to UPEI'S Veterinary College. It's the start of Operation Cat Nip, a new initiative where all the cats will be spayed and neutered at a minimal cost to help lower Port City's vast amount of stray felines.

The SPCA calls it a "win-win" for both the shelter and students, who gain clinical experience from the surgeries and the cats are fixed for a low cost.

Cats who have been fixed are less likely to roam, mark their territory, and have a reduced risk of illness. All the cat surgeries will take place today and the felines will be checked over before coming back home to Saint John.

New Hotel To Open Alongside Garcelon Civic Center

The Bordertown now has two big projects to open this fall.

The announcement coming yesterday from local businessman Tom McFarlane that his company Spur Line Properties Inc. will build a 5-story, multi-million dollar hotel complex within feet of the Garcelon Civic Centre on the St. Stephen waterfront.

St. Stephen's Chief Administrative Officer John Ferguson tells Tide News there couldn't be two more opportune developments to work together.

He says you want to fill your seats in your Civic Center and you want to fill your beds in your hotel, adding, they both need participation and will create great economic spin-offs for the community.

The hotel will include 90-100 rooms, a pool, a seafood and steakhouse restaurant, penthouse condominiums that can be leased, and employ 30-50 full and part-time staff.

The date for completion for the hotel is October of this year, corresponding as closely as possible to the opening of the Garcelon Civic Center.

Councillor With Child Porn Charges Resigns

The mayor of Saint John says a city councillor charged with possessing child pornography and sexual interference with a child has resigned his seat.
    A statement from Mel Norton said he received a letter from Donnie Snook's lawyer on Thursday indicating the councillor was resigning.
    Norton said in the one-page statement that it was the result of a ``personal matter'' for Snook and thanked him for dealing with the matter in a timely manner.

    Snook is charged with eight counts, including possessing and making child pornography as well as sexual interference with a child under 16.

Ecoli Cases Leading Back To Shredded Lettuce

It's believed shredded lettuce distributed by Freshpoint is the cause of a new confirmed case of E. coli in the province.
There is an investigation underway to find the source.
 Lab results show there's a link with six other cases already reported.
Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Eilish Cleary says you should throw the outer leaves of lettuce and cabbage away, then remove the remaining leaves and thoroughly rinse them in water for about 30 seconds before eating.

NB Major Midgets Hockey League To Play In Bordertown Sunday

A big game happening this weekend in St. Stephen -- and two of our local hockey players are tying their skates.

Andrew Dempsey and Damian Gallant playing with the New Brunswick Major Midget Hockey League against the Fredericton Canadians.

The League tells Tide News the boys have been traveling to Saint John all winter and hopes the community will come out to support them.

This is the top level of hockey in the province for ages 15-17. The team has members from St. Stephen all the way to Sussex.

The game is Sunday at the Border Arena. Puck drops at 2:30.

Regional With Top Heart Equipment In North America

The Saint John Regional Hospital now has the top heart equipment in North America, thanks to the $775,000 raised from The Give 2012.

Between selling anything from pizzas to t-shirts, to private and company donations, the foundation exceeded it's original goal by $25,000.

Dr. Marc Pelletier, department head of cardiac surgery, says he wouldn't be surprised if the equipment runs longer than 15 years, since there's less moving parts in the machine and more magnets. Pelletier says this equipment will make a world of difference for more complex surgeries and for more vulnerable patients like seniors.

Thanks to the donations, the heart centre now has 13 pieces of new equipment that will make operations safer and better. The top-notch equipment consists of new heart-lung machines, machines that monitor blood levels better, machines that keep the heart strong during operations, and keep watch of oxygen levels.

The New Brunswick Heart Centre performs over 750 open-heart surgeries, sees 13,000 patients annually, and only 20% of those patients are from Saint John.

Unique Sculpture At Regional Hospital

What do you get when you mix a human torso and heart together? A new sculpture at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

The donated work of art is 140-pounds and made from pieces of the old Saint John Jail. It took Richard Arsenau over 300 hours to create the piece. "What inspired me about this was just the fact that the human torso kind of reminded me of the shape of a heart, so I decided to blend the two together in both the human heart and the human torso."

Called "The Heart Prevails", Arsenau says it represents how the heart and soul can overcome adversity.
The sculpture can be seen in the main lobby of the Saint John Regional Hospital.

Conflicting Testimony At EUB Hearing

There has been some conflicting testimony at the Energy and Utilities Board Hearing on the accuracy of NB Power's accounting practices.

The hearing is looking at the deferral account for the Point Lepreau nuclear refurbishment and its cost overruns of a billion dollars.
An economist who specialises in energy, Kurt Strunk charges there are a number of violations. He says, "In my pre-filed evidence, I identified two areas where the deferral account has not been made in compliance with the act and associated regulations, leading to inaccurate amounts being presented to the board."
Strunk charges the figures in the deferral account are not accurate. "NB Power neglected to apply the necessary manual adjustments to all units and all time frames during the deferral period. Infact, there are several months in which NB Power appeared to have ignored there own guidelines."

On the other hand, Deloitte and Touche, testified that, based on the samples reviewed, NB Power's costs in reference to the deferral account are accurately recorded.

Bail Hearing For Snook Rescheduled For Monday

There's been a delay in the case of a Saint John city councillor accused of sexual interference with a child under 16.

Donnie Snook's lawyer told provincial court yesterday he needed more time to review the case.
   
As a result, the Saint John city councillor will have to wait another week for a bail hearing. Snook's next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, January 21st, 2012.
   
The 40-year-old is also charged with possession of child pornography and making child pornography.

Meanwhile, there's no word whether any move will be made at the next meeting of Saint John Common Council to remove Councillor Donnie Snook for missing more than 3 meetings in a row.

Phone Scam Still Ringing

A telephone scam we warned you about a few months ago is still hanging around.

People are still receiving fake phone calls pretending to be NB Power and claiming they have ways of reducing your electricity bill. The scam claims you're paying too much and that your home doesn't meet current electricity codes.

NB Power says they do contact customers about account balances, but would never request financial information over the phone.

If you've been contacted, you're encouraged to report the incident to police, RCMP or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or go online.

New Health Council To Improve Health System

Looking at saving money and being more efficient in our health care system is the role the new Innovation and Best Practice Council will play.

The members consist of many executive directors and vice-presidents from different health sectors like the Office of Health System Renewal, Horizon Health and the Department of Health.

In a release, Health Minister Ted Flemming says they'll focus on pin-pointing and adopting cheaper but efficient health practices from the best health systems in Canada.

Not Too Late To Get Your Flu Shot

Flu season is here much earlier than suspected, and it's knocking maybe people in North America off their feet and into bed with tissues and a snuggie.

With sniffles and coughing in mind, New Brunswick pharmacists are encouraging you to get your flu shot. It's not too late, and it's the best method to keep the flu at bay, says Paul Blanchard, executive director of the New Brunswick Pharmacists' Association. He tells Tide news it's important to get a flu shot every year, since the flu strain is always changing.

A big myth is that getting the vaccine could actually give you the flu, which Blanchard says is simply not true. He says the vaccine is made from dead cells of the influenza, which helps your body to develop an immunity. Blanchard says the flu is causing overcrowding in Boston emergency rooms, so the sooner you get it the better.

You can get the vaccine from one of the 230 pharmacists in the province who are trained to give injections. The cost is in the area of $20-$25, but it's free if you're over 65, have a chronic illness (such as diabetes, asthma, a suppressed immune system) and if you're under 18.

For more information, click here.

The Diocese Of Fredericton Is Reviewing Snook Charges

The Diocese of Fredericton is looking into and reviewing information related to the 8 charges Saint John Common Councillor Donnie Snook is facing.

In a release, Archbishop Claude Miller says he remains shocked and saddened. Snook's position as executive director of the Saint John Inner City Youth Ministry -- which includes the Chicken Noodle Club -- is suspended with pay until the resolution of the charges.

The 40-year-old is facing charges of sexual interference on a child under 16, possession of and making child pornography, and making it available. He was arrested at his house on Martha Avenue Wednesday night. Snook remains in custody and will appear in court tomorrow for a bail hearing.

Know A Young Person Looking For A Job?

With the economy in a slump many are complaining it's a lot tougher for young people to find their first jobs...but the SEED program for students might make that a little easier.

The provincially funded program places  students in provincial government departments and agencies; municipal offices and non-profit organizations. Students who want to start a summer business can also apply for an interest-free loan of up to $3,000.

Students can get SEED application at Service New Brunswick, on campuses, in high schools, and regional offices of the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.

Milk Prices Set To Rise

Milk may do your body good...but it's getting more expensive as of February 1. The New Brunswick Farms Commission announcing steadily-increasing costs for distributing milk to consumers are going to result in a 3 cent per litre price increase for the white stuff.

Producers will receive less than one cent, processors will receive one and one-half, and the rest goes to  retailers. Pricing under the School Milk Program will not be changing over this school year.

Deer Warning In Effect

If you're driving on Highway 1 between St. Stephen and Saint John you're advised to be extra cautious of deer on the highway. Deer have recently been reported on both fenced and non-fenced sections of the highway.

In fenced sections, deer have become trapped between the fencing and DNR staff have managed to herd some back through, but several deer have been killed recently by cars.

The Department of Natural Resources also wants to remind you that as of Jan. 1, 2013, drivers who are on the same side of a road or highway must slow down  when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle exhibiting a flashing red light. On highways with two or more lanes of traffic, you must also move over into another lane if it can be done safely

Violators will be fined $292.50 and lose three points off their driver’s license.

Fast Food Lettuce To Blame For E.coli

Lettuce from a fast-food restaurant is to blame as the likely source of an E.coli outbreak that affected more than two dozen people in 3 provinces.

Nova Scotia's deputy chief medical officer says lettuce used at KFC and Taco Bell caused 5 people here in New Brunswick to be sick, along with 10 people in Ontario and Nova Scotia. It's not believed the restaurants are responsible for the contamination, and it's unlikely more E.coli cases will come from it considering the specific lettuce has passed its shelf-life.

KFC says it's removed all the affected lettuce and reassure their food is safe to eat.

Two of the cases of E. coli were in Saint John, while 3 were in Fredericton.

5 People Caught Drinking & Driving

Five is the number of impaired drivers caught overnight.

Saint John City Police say they found 3 uptown, one out east and the other out west. The ages of the drivers arrested vary from a 20-year-old woman to a 40-year-old man. There was a foot chase that was short lived, when one of the drivers was also caught violating a parole.

There was no damage or accidents caused by the drivers.

Charges Laid In Rothesay High Lockdown

A bail hearing is scheduled on Monday for the man charged with uttering threats that led to a lockdown of Rothesay High School on Thursday.

Rothesay Police say the 20-year-old wasn't near the school when one of the students received threats through a text message. It was for that reason that the school was in lockdown for 20 minutes while police ensured the building was safe.

15 Year Old SSHS Student Competing For Team Canada

Two years to the day, Emily Dean picked up her first rifle -- now she's competing for Team Canada.

The 15-year-old St. Stephen High School student is heading to Australia on Sunday to compete in the 10 meter Olympic Style Air Rifle competition at the Olympic Festival in Sydney.

Emily's mother, Julie Dean tells Tide News it's been a very quick rise in the sport for her daughter. She says, "When we moved here from B.C. (Britich Columbia), she was hanging out with friends, and somebody told her to try shooting, so she (Emily) said she'd give it a try. So she went up there and was just blown away by it. I think Don Brown, her coach, and a couple of others were just like, 'Oh my gosh! We've got a sharp-shooter!'" She says the competition will be two years to the day from when locals convinced Emily to pick up a rifle and try it out.




Dean says she is very thankful for all the support, generosity, and love coming from the Town of St. Stephen for her daughter. "It is so wonderful! It has just made Emily feel so good. Being outsiders, we've been welcomed in with so much support."

The Town of St. Stephen recently awarding Dean with a $500 grant to help with travel expenses for the Olympian competition.

You can follow Emily's progress on the St. Croix Sportsman Club website, www.stcroixsportsmanclub.com or on her Twitter account @emilykdean22. 

SJ Councellor Facing Child Pornography Charges

 A Saint John Common Councellor looking at child pornography charges.

Ward 3 Common Councillor Donnie Snook is facing a total of 8 charges, including possessing and making available child pornography, and touching a child under 16 for sexual purposes. Snook is flushed, appears slightly disheveled but otherwise shows no emotion when asked if charges are understood.

Snook is charged with 3 counts of sexual interference on a child under 16 years of age between December 2006 and January 2013. All the counts are in regards to the same victim. Two counts of possession of child pornography between March 2011 and January 2013. One count of making child pornography between March 2011 and January 2013. Two counts of making child pornography available between March 2011 and December 2012.

Snook has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing on January 14.

40-year-old Snook was taken into custody yesterday by the RCMP's Internet Child Exploitation Unit. A search warrant was executed. During the search, police seized computer equipment and child sexual abuse images.

In a release, the Mounties say the investigation involves the RCMP, Saint John Police Force and Toronto Police Service and dates back to 2011.

In a release from the Diocese of Fredericton, Archbishop Claude Miller says they were shocked and concerned to learn about the recent arrest of Donnie Snook, who is the Executive Director of the Saint John Inner City Youth Ministry.

The board of ICYM will address the situation at a meeting later today. Archbishop Miller assures the authorities they will cooperate fully in their investigation.

SJ Police Chief Thinks 2 Murder Investigations Will Close In 2013

 With the dawn of a new year, progress is being made in two high-profile murder investigations in Saint John.

Police Chief Bill Reid tells Tide News the February 14, 2012 death of Serena Perry is now in the hands of the Crown, and her family is being kept in the loop. He says, "Rightly so, people will want answers, and they will want answers about what took place in an institution or facility, or in the hospital." Ried says Perry's death wasn't reported in the usual manner. "We didn't recieve a phone call right away. And when we did recieve a phone call to our Public Safety Communications Centre, it was in terms that the hospital couldn't find the next of kin and asked us to do a death notification."

Further, he says he expects an arrest to be made in the murder of Richard Oland by the end of the year. "They have everything that they need, at this point, to what I believe, can produce a case to go to court."
Reid says the wheels of justice can move slowly, but it's key to get all the facts in order.

Ski Instructor Dies After Collision At Crabbe

Jason Crawford, the general manager of the Crabbe Mountain ski hill, is giving details about the death of a skier this week.

He tells Tide News the name of the 62-year-old man who died Tuesday has not been released, but he says he was a ski school instructor at the hill, which is located 30 kilometers northwest of Fredericton.

Crawford says the collision between the instructor and a teenage girl happened on a relatively flat, and wide area at the bottom of the hill and that weather conditions were excellent. He says the man was not instructing at the time and both he and the girl were wearing helmets.He adds that members of the ski patrol, and a paramedic and doctor who were skiing, were able to reach the injured within minutes.

Crawford says the staff are very close to each other and they are having a hard time dealing with the loss. A grief counsellor is working with the staff.
 
The teenage girl was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

  

Algonquin GM Speaks Out On Hiring

The newly named General Manager of the Algonquin Hotel in St. Andrews is speaking out on local jobs.

Tim Ostrem tells Tide News his goal is to hire locally as much as possible for staff at the historic resort.The GM says he will definately bring back some of the old staff from before the hotel began it's renovation.
He says, "We're building a team, we've got a new brand, and we are looking to support the community as much as possible and in doing that, that will certainly mean bringing back many of the old faces our guests have come to know and love."

Ostrem says over the next couple of months they will be at job fairs and starting recruitment opportunities.  



He says they have not started the recruitment process for the front lines yet, but keep our eyes on the job sites. He says, "We've begun posting some of our key roles. Right now we've just recently posted for an Executive Chef, a Director of Rooms, and a Food and Beverage Manager. As we complete that process, we will be beginning to recruit for other positions."
He says they will begin hiring in late March and April.

Ostrem, originally from Alberta, has been linked to big names like Fairmont, Delta, and The Cambridge Suites in Toronto. He was named the new GM of the resort last week.
He tells Tide News being a part of the re-birth of the Algonquin is one of the many attractions of St. Andrews for him. "Most importantly, it's the community and the people. It's [St. Andrews] a charming seaside town, with some wonderful people, and the opportunity to really be a part of something that I think will be very, very special is a great attraction."

Currently, the tudor-design hotel is undergoing a major $20 million renovation, which will include new roofing, windows, heating and air conditioning, a new indoor pool with an indoor/outdoor 3-storey waterslide, balconies along the second floor, and a make-over that will match the newer and older sections of the hotel with the original design.
Ostrem says he is most excited about building his team and the grand re-opening of the Algonquin in June of this year.

January is Alzheimers Awareness Month

2500 a year -- 7 per day.
That's how many people in New Brunswick will be diagnosed with dementia.

The Alzheimer Society of New Brunswick launching the 2013 Awareness Campaign this week titled, "See Me, Not My Disease. Let's Talk About Dementia."

Saint John Regional Coordinator Jamie Matthews tells Tide News what their goal is this year. He says, "We want to address the mis-information that's out there about Alzheimers and Dementia and to shift those attitudes to make it easier and for people who are diagnosed to talk about it openly and honestly."

He says, "It's something that we still need to learn a lot about, despite the reach of this disease and how many are affected, especially in New Brunswick."

Matthews tells us there are 13,000 people in New Brunswick diagnosed with Dementia. This year alone, 2500 will be diagnosed in the province, which works out to 7 people per day.
Matthews says one of the big things you can do to help someone with demetia is by talking with them about the disease. He says this will keep them from feeling shame or isolation which is very common for those diagnosed.

Matthews says they will be having information sessions coming up in March titled "Alzheimer Journey: First Steps."

If you would like to contact the Alzheimer Society of New Brunswick, you can call them at 1-800-664-8411, or the Saint John branch at 1-506-634-8722. You can also check out their website at www.alzheimernb.ca , or they have a Facebook Page "Alzheimer Society of New Brunswick".

Astronaut Chris Hadfield Admires SJ From Space

Although we see the snow as more of an inconvenience than as a pretty picture, Saint John is looking pretty good from space.

That view coming from Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield, who took this picture of Port City and tweeted it from the International Space Station on Wednesday.

In the tweet, 53-year-old Hadfield describes our city as "beautiful in the sunlit snow." Hadfield launched into space in December and is scheduled to stay until May.

His twitter handle is @Cmdr_Hadfield.

NBCC Saint John Working Closely With UNB Saint John

The New Brunswick Community College has embarked on a five year strategic plan and more of the pieces of that will be put into place in 2013. This is the first operational plan the community college has ever had.

Community College President Marilyn Luscombe tells Tide News there will be more collaboration with the university.

Luscombe says along with being co-located they have started to talk very intentionally and made progress on articulation and transfer of our one and two year programs into degree programs at UNB.

Luscombe also says the college will be moving forward with E-Learning so those students who have other responsibilities can take programming online, essentially anywhere, anyplace.

'Like' And Donate $25 To The Hospital At No Cost To You

Your 'like' on Facebook means a $25 donation to the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation.

The John T. McMillan Jr. Memorial Foundation will donate the cash for every 'like' on their Facebook page from now until January 26th.

Chair of the board Jack Skerry tells Tide news they'll donate up to $25,000. He says they decided to start this campaign not only to raise money but to share the stories the non-profit group has. The campaign ends on the night of their 7th annual Casino and Dance for the Families Helping Families fund.

The McMillan Foundation is an non-profit organization that focuses on helping families or individuals affected by leukemia and other blood related cancers.

To find the link to their Facebook page, click here.

3 Cars Stolen While Warming Up

Although it's tempting to warm up your car by leaving it running in the morning, it could run off without you.

City Police are reminding Saint Johnners that it's an offence under the provincial Motor Vehicle Act to leave your car unattended and running with the keys in the ignition.

On Thursday alone, 3 cars in Saint John were stolen after owners left their keys in the ignition while trying to warm up their car. All of the stolen cars were recovered but cost the owners fines similar to a towing fee.

Police says the answer is simple to avoiding the mess, just lock your car and pocket your keys.

95,000 Contraband Cigs Seized

A big bust by RCMP in Oromocto.

Two men from Mill Cove being arrested for having over 95,000 contraband cigarettes in their car. RCMP say the 31-year-old and 20-year-old man were arrested on Highway 2 near Oromocto. Police believe the illegal cigarettes were headed for the Greater Fredericton area.

They're both scheduled to appear in Burton Provincial Court to face charges for possession of contraband tobacco.

US Man Sentenced For Smuggling Child Sex Photos At St. Stephen Crossing

It's 15 months in jail for a Philadelphia man for possession of and smuggling into Canada images of children being sexually abused.

31-year-old Shayne Clark was arrested at the St. Stephen border crossing  October 13, 2012 by the Canada Border Services Agency. His vehicle was searched and CBS members found a laptop containing images of children being sexually abused.

Clark pleaded guilty and was sentenced yesterday (January 2, 2013) in St. Stephen Provincial Court.

His name will be added to the National Sex Offender Registry for a period of 10 years. Clark was ordered to submit his DNA to the Offender DNA Data Bank. He is also prohibited for a period of 10 years from attending any public area where children under the age of 16 could be present, from having any contact with persons under the age of 16 unless under supervision, and from accessing the Internet.

Shayne Clark will remain on probation for three years once he is released from jail.

New Castle Names New General Manager Of Algonquin

With new parents -- comes a new manager.


Today, New Castle Hotels & Resorts naming Tim Ostrem as the new General Manager of the historic Algonquin Resort in St. Andrews.

Officials with the Algonquin say Ostrem has 23 years experience in management, 17 of those spent with upscale brands such as Delta, Fairmont, and The Cambridge Suites Hotel Toronto.
New Castle and Halifax-based Southwest Properties bought the Algonquin from the provincial government in 2012. Major renovations are currently taking place with a $20 million price tag, which include new roofing, windows, heating, and an indoor pool with a two-storey waterslide.

The hotel is set to reopen in June 2013.