Doomed Park Saved By Boys & Girls Club

A doomed provincial park on Grand Manan Island being rescued by locals.

Tourism Minister Trevor Holder announcing an agreement has been reached between the Boys & Girls Club of Grand Manan to operate the Anchorage Park for the 2013 season.

The Alward government decided it would not open the park this year due to a decreased budget and sought a third party to continue its operations.

Holder says after reviewing proposals, the department decided the Boys & Girls Club had an innovative plan for operating the park.

He says a 1 year agreement is being finalized.

Death Toll Downgraded In Oklahoma Twister

The Medical examiner's office is revising the death toll from the Oklahoma tornado to at least 24.

The Oklahoma state medical examiner's office says that 20 children are among the dead in the tornado that ripped through Oklahoma City suburbs.

Medical examiner spokeswoman Amy Elliott confirmed the children's deaths last night.    The tornado made a direct hit on an elementary school in Moore and rescuers were seen pulling children alive from the rubble.

Authorities are still searching for victims throughout the community.

Inquest Begins Into Aquatic Centre Death

A jury of three women and two men have been chosen to hear testimony at the inquest into the death of a Chinese student at the Aquatic Centre in September of 2011

The General Manager of the Aquatic Centre, Karen Ervin was the first witness to testify at the inquest  

She wasn't working on the Sunday when Yi Fan Wang died.

She testified there is usually 1 lifeguard for every 25 swimmers. The inquest will be focusing on the Ultimate Swim when everything at the swimming pool can be used. 

Yi Fan Wang's family is not in attendance.

Two-Person Protest On Health Care Cuts

Two protestors gathering outside of a provincial announcement on the west side to show their disagreement with health care cuts.

Rick Patton, who works in nursing with CUPE tells Tide News the cuts that Health Minister Ted Flemming is imposing will have an impact on all communities in the province, big and small, but especially in rural areas, which he says have seen a reduction in both staff and service.

Patton tells us he's worked at the Ridgewood Veterans Heath wing for the past 25 years. 

Point Lepreau Power Output Increses

Point Lepreau's power output continues to climb. 

NB Power says that the nuclear power plant is now operating at 60% capacity. Power was down earlier in the year because of trouble with the reactor's fuel caps, forcing the company to slow re-fueling. They've said that the caps were too tight after adjustments were made during a refurbishment of the plant that finished in November.

The company says they'll continue to boost energy over the next few weeks until they reach full power. Point Lepreau began sending energy to back the grid in late April, with the reactor at 35% power.

Medical Residents Say Docs Won't Find Much Work In NB

Doctors who want to live and work in this province may be forced to find work elsewhere.

That's from Dr. Bobby Pomerleau, an assistant chief resident in Saint John. Medical residents have written a letter to Premier David Alward and Heath Minister Ted Fleming expressing their concerns that this province is discouraging family physicians from practicing here.

Pomerleau says that before he became aware of these issues, he would always say yes, that he is a New Brunswicker and wanted to stay and work in this province, but as he's nearing the end of his residency training, he says it's becoming more and more obvious that there simply aren't practice opportunities in our cities.

He says the few positions available in the province require doctors to take over established practices or move to remote and rural areas where there's little support for new physicians.

Paramount Film Makes International Debut

 A made-in-Saint-John film about the long-derelict Paramount Theatre will have its American debut tonight in Chicago.

Producer Greg Hemmings tells CHSJ News everyone can relate to the loss of community theatres which are being rapidly replaced by big-box cinemas.

The film, The Paramount, has gathered national attention since its release last year. The actual derelict theater, which is in uptown Saint John has not fared as well, with efforts to repurpose the building apparently at a standstill.

Scandal-Fuelled Departure of Senator Raises Question

With the news much-maligned Senator Mike Duffy is stepping down from the caucus, Saint John MP Rodney Weston is remaining tight-lipped about the inquest into allegations Duffy--who campaigned on his behalf in 2011--dipped into public money for his private expenses.

Weston simply said he would prefer to leave the investigation to the RCMP and ethic commission.

Premier David Alward tells CHSJ News it opens a valid debate over whether we should have an elected Senate.

Duffy is charged with making over $90,000 in improperly-claimed living expenses.

Dennis Oland Named Prime Suspect In Richard Oland Murder Case

Speculation has been running in this direction since the investigation began, but now we are able to report that Dennis Oland is considered the prime suspect in his father Richard Oland's murder according to search warrants. The Saint John businessman was murdered in his office two years ago this July.

There had been a broadcast ban on Oland's name since last fall, but that was lifted today by Justice William Grant. We had previously been able to report that Dennis Oland's home and boat had been searched, but not that he is considered the prime suspect.

Grant agreed with media lawyer David Coles that the broadcast ban served no purpose and went against the principle of an open court.

Police Say Veterans Upset Over Stolen Lantern

A stolen 70-year-old lantern is causing a stir among local vets.

NB Crimestoppers tells Tide News the lantern, which normally hangs from the cenotaph in the St. Andrews Market Square was taken sometime between Tuesday, May 14th, and Wednesday, May 15th.

St. Andrews RCMP say many residents are very upset with the loss, especially the Veteran community,  and police want your help in getting it back.

The lantern is from the 1940's and is valued around $500.

If you have any information on where the lantern may be, contact NB Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or St. Andrews RCMP.

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

Government Property Vandalized On Campobello Island

Mischief on government property is a serious offence.

Crime Stoppers and the Campobello Island RCMP are asking for your help with the investigation of  vandalism and the damages on  New Brunswick highway road signs, which took place in Welshpool in April and May.

Any one with knowledge is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or RCMP Campobello Island at (506) 752-2211.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Coastguard Chopper Flying From The City To Grand Manan

A Coastguard chopper flying in Saint John's sky isn't an everyday sight, and some may be wondering what it was doing.

Stephen Bornais of Fisheries and Oceans Canada tells Tide News that the helicopter was traveling from Saint John to Grand Manan to do maintenance on the Gannet Rock lighthouse.

Health Minister Says Emergency Rooms Won't Close

Some good news for those worried about health care.

Health Minister Ted Flemming is turning aside speculation some hospital emergency rooms will be shuttered.

Appearing before a Legislature committee - Flemming is putting to rest any concerns - at least for now.
The Health Minister told the committee there are no hospital or emergency room closures in his department's spending estimates for the current budget year that ends next March.

But - Flemming isn't being pinned down on potential closures beyond this budget year - he says he's looking for other ways to find savings because we simply can't afford to continue to maintain the current level of spending on health care.

Paying More For Gas At The Pumps

Gas prices rise over a cent a litre after the weekly setting. 

Self serve regular in the city is selling for $1.24.3 a litre with diesel at an even $1.27.
 
Propane has gone down by just over a half a cent a litre with the maximum price of $1.05 while the maximum price of heating oil has risen to $1.09.2 a litre.

New Rules For Prepping Chemo Medication

The Ontario government says a gap in oversight has now been shut tight after about 12 hundred patients received diluted chemotherapy drugs including 186 at the Regional Hospital.
    
Starting immediately, the government will ensure hospitals buy drugs only from accredited, licensed or otherwise approved suppliers.

The Ontario College of Pharmacists will also be responsible for inspecting drug preparation facilities. Previously, there had been no oversight.

Flemming On Hand To Announce The Healthy Toddler Assessment

The Province announcing a healthy toddler assessment for 18-month-olds by a public health nurse.
 
The aim being that they will allow for earlier detection of health concerns and provide better cooperation between the Department of Education and the early Childhood Development preschool assessments.
 
Health Minister Ted Flemming says the move from home or daycare to school or pre-school is pretty dramatic so early detection is key.

He says the sooner you know anything medically the sooner you can have the appropriate medical intervention.

Flemming says the great thing about this program is that it's available at all Department of Health clinics throughout the province.

Hockey NB Looking At Body Checking Ban For Pee Wee

Hockey New Brunswick will be deciding on whether to ban body-checking among the younger pre-teen pee wee players between the ages of 11 and 12 when it holds its annual meeting in Saint John is early June. 

Executive-Director Brian Whitehead tells Tide News Hockey NB wants to see what Hockey Canada does when it meets later this month on P-E-I.

Whitehead doesn't expect much push-back if the decision is made to go ahead with the same ban approved in both Nova Scotia and Alberta. He concedes parents are concerned about concussions that are suffered by younger players.

University Could Play Key Role In Finding Energy Solutions

U-N-B Saint John wants to get involved in energy development in a big way because universities can come up with creative solutions to our energy needs while, at the same time, protect the environment. 

That message delivered to the Cities of New Brunswick by University Vice-President Dr. Robert MacKinnon. He tells Tide News energy success depends on collaboration.
            
Dr. MacKinnon universities can play a big role in developing innovative ways to better protect the environment because when people think of energy development these days, the first thought that comes to mind is more pollution.

He also says there's a need to improve energy literacy so people know what they're talking about.

Recent Forest Fires Spark Air Quality Advisory

Provincial public health officials issuing a precautionary smoke advisory because of the high number of forest fires.

Dr. Denis Allard is warning residents to take precautions when heavy smoke affects air quality.

He suggests babies, kids, pregnant women, older adults, smokers and those with chronic heart and lung disease stay indoors with the windows closed to reduce their exposure to the air outdoors.

People experiencing difficulty breathing or chest pain should consult their physician.

MLA's Get Pay Freeze

It looks like M-L-A's and provincial cabinet ministers will have their pay frozen for another year under amendments introduced in the Legislature.
    
Government house leader Paul Robichaud says this will freeze the wages of M-L-A's and cabinet ministers for the fourth year in a row.  
    
Robichaud says the last time they got a raise was back in 2008.

Liberals Demand Carr's Resignation

After the test score of a 17 year old student at Oromocto High School was leaked by the Department of Education, the Opposition Liberals are calling for Education Minister Jody Carr to resign. 

Education Critic Chris Collins tells Tide News Carr's office abused its power, likening the snafu to a Health Minister using his or her position to find out the medical test results of a patient.

The student in question had received media attention due to questions raised over whether she should write the English Language Proficiency Exam. The Liberals are asking the premier to intervene and relieve Carr of his duties.

Man Pleads Guilty In Drunken Machete Attack

A man accused of threatening his partner with a machete in a grocery store parking lot has pleaded guilty to assault and a weapons charge. 

51 year old Arnold James Lawrence Cote was arrested on April 23rd after a drunken confrontation with his girlfriend.

The victim was driving Cote to the liquor store when he began waving the machete around and hitting her with the back side of the blade. When they stopped in the parking lot, she ran up to another woman and asked for help---as it turned out, she was the wife of a senior-ranking Rothesay Police official.

Cote will be back in court of June 7th.

Perth-Andover Waiting For Rain

You have never seen so many people eager for rain but that's the case in our tinder dry province.
 
It's hoped the coming rain will help firefighters put out a blaze north of Perth-Andover where two reception centers are open to support nearly 300 people under evacuation orders or notices.

All evacuees are asked to visit the reception center on Main Street in Tobique and register with the Red Cross disaster team giving authorities a clearer picture of how many people are impacted. 

Another center is set up in the River Valley Civic Centre in Perth-Andover.

Residents of about 200 homes in Perth-Andover, Tobique and other communities were told yesterday to evacuate as a precaution.
 
Schools in the area are closed today as a precaution.

Transport Driver Charged With Aggravated Sexual Assault and Confinement

A 54-year-old truck driver from Québec is charged with aggravated sexual assault and forcible confinement after allegedly attacking a woman in a Moncton parking lot.

On April 25, witnesses called 911 when they saw a young woman running naked in a parking lot near the intersection of Church Street and Mountain Road. She was screaming for help after having gotten out of a transport truck, which managed to drive off.

Police tracked down the truck driver in a community on the South Shore of Montreal. Maurice Cloutier will be brought back to New Brunswick to face the charges.

Two Locations Possibilities For Direct Flight To U.S.

Newark and Philadelphia have been identified as two possible locations for a direct flight to the U.S. from Saint John. Airport President and C-E-O David Allen says discussions are ongoing. 

The airport is also talking to Air Canada about adding a flight to Toronto.
 
Allen would also like to see additional flights to Halifax and St. John's, Newfoundland. He tells Tide News the airport has a lot of potential but it's unrealized potential.

The number of passengers using the airport last year increased by more than 4 per cent to over 216 thousand.

Few Leads On Choi Disappearance

Police are still searching for a Korean woman living on the West Side of Saint John who went missing back on April 22, and Police Chief Bill Reid tells Tide News that will continue despite the absence of any solid leads.

Reid says the police force is highly conscious of the fact that there is a family at home wondering where their mother and wife is, and will follow up on any information they receive.

Choi is described as being approximately five-feet, four-inches tall, with short dark hair and two piercings on both ears. She was last seen wearing black tights, a dark knit  sweater and black calf-length boots. She was also possibly carrying a black knapsack.

A $50,000 reward has been offered for information on Choi's whereabouts.

Saint John Mayor Headed Out West

Saint John Mayor Mel Norton is offering further details on his upcoming trip to Calgary.

The trip has the aim of enticing big oil producers to ship their product to the Port City, and is being financed by the travel budget of the mayor's office.

Energy Minister Craig Leonard and Port representatives will also be attending the meetings, which will include a stop at the Calgary-based Irving Oil office. Norton says he and the province have informed Irving of their plans and consulted with them about which producers they should meet.

Norton says we are currently in the midst of so-called open season, the period when oil producers look to fill the pipelines that could ultimately make their way to Saint John. 

That period typically lasts 60 days from mid-April to mid June; as a result, Norton says he hopes to forge some connections, and secure some commitments in short order.

At the end of May the Mayor will travel to Ottawa with MP Rodney Weston to meet with federal politicians who might support bringing the West-East oil pipeline to Saint John. At the same time, they plan to consult with bureaucrats from P3 Canada to get a sense of the progress on the city's application for water funding.

Pension Coalition Comes Out Swinging

Despite public meetings on the shared risk model for the provincial pension plan -- including one in St. Stephen -- the retirees and the Alward Government couldn't be further away from reaching agreement. 

The Pension Coalition is accusing the province of trying to divide and conquer by giving the impression that the retirees are greedy by not agreeing to changes. The Coalition's Clifford Kennedy calls this unethical telling Tide News the retirees, when they were working, agreed not to accept wage increases so they could have secured and guaranteed pensions.

Kennedy charges the government claims the provincial pension plan is running a billion dollar deficit but it's own records from March of last year shows a 141 million dollar surplus.

He adds when the province's pension task force was announced, it was supposed to deal with private pension plans and nothing was said, at the time, about public pensions and the Premier gave no indication the shared risk model would apply to the retirees as well as those provincial government employees still working.

Council Of Canadians Bringing Healthcare Campaign To Saint John

A new deal for healthcare... That's what the Council of Canadians claims is needed but unlikely to happen given Prime Minister Harper's inclinations. 

The Council's healthcare campaigner Adrienne Silnicki, who'll be speaking in the city, tells Tide News Prime Minister Harper keeps talking about alternative methods of healthcare delivery which is really a parallel public-private system but they don't achieve the promised results.

Silnicki warns the cuts we're now seeing in provincial healthcare are just the tip of the iceberg if the Prime Minister goes ahead with cutting 36 billion dollars in transfer payments for health a couple of years from now.

She says that translates into enough funding for 11 hospitals as well as 30 health care centres and clinics.

Silnicki will be delivering a public talk on all this at the Church of St. Andrew and St. David in Saint John on Germain Street tomorrow night at 6.

The stories of and behind the literary figures in New Brunswick are now more accessible through a project launched by the library. 

The New Brunswick Author Portal is an online resource that collects information about local writers and its now available through the New Brunswick Public Library Service. Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Trevor Holder tells us we have a thriving literary scene here in New Brunswick and he names Wayne Curtis and David Adams Richards as two of his favourite local writers. Holder tells us that this portal is a way to showcase them and their fellow authors.

To access the portal, click here.

St. Thomas University Ignores Cap on Tuition Fees

The tuition hike at St. Thomas University in Fredericton is raising some eyebrows. The annual fee is being raised by $434, a number that's nearly triple the provincial government's cap on tuition increases. 

Jeffrey Carleton, a spokesman for the university says the increase was necessary to balance the books, but post-secondary education minister Danny Soucy says he's disappointed that they're not abiding by the cap. However, the cap is not a law, so he has to go over the matter before he decides if the government can take any action with the university. 

The government froze funding for public universities and introduced at $150 cap to tuition fees in its 2013-2014 budget. 

With the hike, the annual cost of a bachelor of arts degree at St. Thomas University is now $5,379.

Teens Plead Guilty To Drug Charges Relating To SSHS

Two teens pleading guilty to bringing illegal drugs to St. Stephen High School.

18-year-old Donald Torrance is charged with trafficking in marijuana and will be sentenced June 4th.

A 15-year-old boy charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking marijuana will be sentenced June 3rd in St. Stephen.



The teens were arrested April 24th as part of an investigation into illegal drugs being sold at St. Stephen High School.

Another 17-year-old who was arrested back in October for trafficking will also be sentenced on June 3rd.

Milltown Port Of Entry To U.S. Closed Until Fall

You may have noticed when crossing to the states -- you only have two options. Not three.

The Milltown Port of Entry to the U.S. in St. Stephen is now temporarily closed until Fall. Customs and Border Protection says one lane on the bridge is barricaded to allow for the demolition and reconstruction of a new port entry at that location.

Throughout the summer, the Ferry Point Bridge in downtown St. Stephen will remain open to passenger vehicles only, and the International Avenue "Third Bridge" is open to both passenger vehicles and commercial trucks.


CBP says the barricades will be up until September or October of 2013, and you can still cross back to Canada using the Milltown bridge.

Judge Calls Assault Sad And Chilling

An 18 year old man has been sentenced to 30 months federal time for his part organizing what the judge called a "sad and chilling" February assault in Glen Falls.

John Alexander Adams didn't argue that he was the key orchestrator of the attack, which the victim's father described as the precursor to "43 long, agonizing days in hell" as his son was hospitalized in a coma. The victim is recovering in a rehabilitation center but will suffer long-term problems with memory loss, exhaustion, and paranoia.

Adams and another young man who cannot be named lured the victim into a shed in the East Side suburb and hit him with a baseball bat, causing skull fractures and hemorrhaging. The judge told the court Adam's youth and lack of an adult record were mitigating factors in the sentence, with also requires his to submit a DNA sample and a lifelong weapons ban.

Open Letters To Doctors In The Province

As the New Brunswick Medical Society takes the province to court, Health Minister Ted Flemming is publishing an open letter to doctors telling them his door remains open to ideas that will achieve 20 million dollars in health care savings.
 
Flemming is telling the doctors each child born in the province is immediately saddled with a debt of more than 15 thousand dollars before he or she draws a breath.

He claims the financial situation is so dire, the health department had to present its spending plans to the bankers who will underwrite the province's debt and answer questions about how money will be saved. 

He's now saying those savings can be achieved without a medicare cap but there's no way workers in healthcare won't be affected since three-quarters of the health department's budget is made up of wages.

The Province Widens Breast Cancer Screening Age Group

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among New Brunswick women....and the province is hoping to help women detect it by broadening the suggested age range for screening.

Women ages 50-74 are encouraged to get screened....previously, screening was only recommended for women ages 50-69. 

550 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the province in 2012.

For more information on how and where you can get screened for breast cancer
click here

Lacey Says The Feds Need To Stick To Their Decisions

Planes and ships might be stuck in administrative muck... That's according to Kevin Lacey of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation who tells Tide News that after seeing the auditor general's report which outlined search and rescue's too-small aircraft fleet, he wonders if the feds' procurement strategy will have an effect on the shipbuilding project in Halifax.

He says the question is will changes that are needed to fix that problem have an effect on the procurement of those ship building vessels that are not signed in stone.   He says that is something his group and others are going to watch in the coming months.

Lacey says when the government makes a decision, they need to move quickly and actually build the product.

Miss Scoops To Open May 9th In St. Stephen

Mr. Scoops is now Miss. Scoops.

Owner Cynthia Foster says she has bought the dairy bar that has been a staple in St. Stephen for the past nineteen years, re-named it and re-vamped it into a new and inproved business.
Foster tells Tide News, "It's a completely different business. A new business. But you're not going to be able to tell the average Joe in St. Stephen when they see the same two faces behind the counter, it's still the same place as far as they're concerned."

Foster says she will be opening the store at their new location on Milltown Blvd in St. Stephen, directly beside Chocolate Park, with lots of new things added to the menu. Foster says, "We will still have over 50 flavors of hard icecream, and over 50 flavors of soft icecream, but we are intruducing fresh fruit smoothies, frozen yogurt, coffee, and baked goods." Foster adds, your favorite desserts will be much fresher. "Your apple crisp for your apple crisp sundaes, they will be made. Your strawberry toppings are going to be made from the strawberries I buy from Tuddenham's and make the simple syrup out of. Same with your blueberries and anything like that, everything will be locally purchased, locally broke down into a syrup. Everything will be local. Local, local, local."

Foster says Miss Scoops Dairy Bar will be never close again, making the new business open all-year-round, offer birthday parties for kids, and all of their supplies from icecream containers to cleaning items are eco-friendly. Foster says, "I want to make the store as "green" as possible so an icecream dish isn't still kicking around when my grandbaby grows up."

Miss Scoops will open Thursday, May 9th.

Retired Doc Says Healthcare Needs To Be Redone

The Independent M-L-A for Fundy-River Valley says there has to be a long term plan to revamp healthcare in the province because the fiscal situation demands it. 

Dr. Jim Parrot tells Tide News the dispute between doctors and the provincial government with a threatened lawsuit is just a small part of a larger problem.
 
Dr. Parrot warns if this dispute does go to court, there may not be a resolution by the time the next provincial election rolls around.

Fundy Baykeeper Calls Cooke Statement Shocking And Scandalous

For the Fundy Baykeeper, the half million dollar fine that Kelly Cove Salmon has to shell out for using an illegal pesticide in salmon farms, is a bittersweet victory. 

Matthew Abbott tells Tide News that while he's appreciative of the work Environment Canada enforcement did to bring the case to light, he admits it's frustrating that one of the biggest companies in the province used the products in the first place.

Glen Cooke, the CEO of Cooke Aquaculture, which owns Kelly Cove Salmon, released a statement after-the-fact where he said he questions the allegations, but wanted to avoid a drawn-out court case. You can read Cooke's statement here. Abbott says they're contradicting themselves, since they plead guilty.

Man Charged With Stabbing Bus Driver In Court Today

A stabbing last month left an intercity bus driver in hospital undergoing surgery for multiple wounds, and today the Dalhousie man charged with the attack is due in court today in Grand Falls. 

27-year-old Ryan Jason Hickey is being charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault. Police say the attack happened when the driver pulled into the parking lot of a gas station in Perth-Andover. 

Two RCMP officers who happened to be inside the station were flagged down.

Teen Apprenticeship Program Launches In Southern New Brunswick

Teens who want a future as a carpenter or a electrician can get their career on track early with a new career training program. The Teen Apprentice Program is recruiting 30 grade 10 students from five high schools in southern New Brunswick to learn a skilled trade. 

Mark Sherman of program founding member, Irving Oil, tells CHSJ News that the average age of the building trades journey-person in the province is 50 years old, meaning many jobs will need to be filled in the future. He estimates that between 5000-8000 jobs will need to be filled just to replace a retiring workforce.

20 businesses will taken on the students, and by the time they graduate from high school, they will have completed the skilled trade apprenticeship block 1 training hours in their trade of choice.

Mother Petitioning Horizon Health for Independent Patient Advocate

Health problems are bad enough without feeling out of the loop about your treatment, and Fredericton activist Monica McNally is petitioning the board of Horizon Health for an independent patient advocate to make sure people get the answers they're seeking. 

McNally tells CHSJ News under the current system, patient advocates are hospital employees and as a result aren't exactly impartial. She'd like to see a totally independent advocate, like an ombudsman, to answer questions and make sure patients are treated with respect.

She says her son, Laurie, was misdiagnosed and treated disrespectfully by some hospital staff as he recovered from a life-altering bowel surgery. She says the province can't afford to make errors with people's treatment.

Half Million Dollar Fine For Using An Illegal Pesticide In Bay Of Fundy

Kelly Cove Salmon has been ordered to pay 500 thousand dollars after pleading guilty to two charges in St. Stephen under the Federal Fisheries Act with all other charges being dropped.

Kelly Cove Salmon is owned by Cooke Aquaculture and was charged with using an illegal pesticide in 2009 and 2010 to get rid of sea lice but hundreds of lobsters were killed in the Bay of Fundy.

400 thousand of that half million dollars will go to the Environmental Studies programme at U-N-B and scholarships. The C-E-O of Cooke Aquaculture, Glenn Cooke releasing a statement that the company decided not to fight the charges even though it questions the allegations  to avoid a long and public legal battle in court.

Fundraising and Awareness Walk For Alzheimer's Education and Support Programs In The Province

As the baby boomer generation gets older, the rates of Alzheimer's will get higher. Jamie Matthews of the Alzheimer's Society of New Brunswick tells CHSJ News it's projected that in the next quarter century, the number of people suffering from the disease will more than double. 

He tells that even though it's a disease that's all around us, we still have some misconceptions. One of which is that we often think dementia is isolated to nursing homes, but in fact, 50% of those diagnosed still live in the community. The other is that people with dementia can't make new memories, which Matthews says is untrue.

Matthews tells us there are over 13,000 people currently living with the disease in the province, and in the next year alone it's predicted we'll have 2500 new cases. If you want to help out, you can sign up for Walk for Memories, an Alzheimer's fundraising and awareness walk in Saint John. For event details and to register, click here.

Duck Watching Season Is Here

For the next 6 to 8 weeks nature-lovers will have a chance to see more wild birds than usual in their natural habitats. 

It's the season where ducks come out in droves to feed and mate before they start to settle down and build their nests. Andrew Holland of the Nature Conservancy of Canada tells CHSJ News it's a great activity for families. He says it's a beautiful and spectacular sight.

Holland says most local ponds, streams and rivers will have more wildlife activity at this time of year.

Layoffs Could Mean Longer Wait Times At Hospitals

The Horizon Health Network has announced it must find $12.5 million in efficiencies in its budget by the end of this fiscal year.

The sheer size of that sum means nearly 80 healthcare workers will be seeing layoff notices on their desks in the near future. Horizon Health Network CEO John McGarry tells Tide News the cuts will be happening on all levels from administration on down.

On the one hand, McGarry tells Tide News the cuts will not mean decreased quality of care; however, he also says the cuts will mean people have to travel to get certain types of care and wait longer for others. He says while Horizon will attempt to be as compassionate, the fact is the majority of the corporation's resources are spent on people, and thus jobs are what will need to be cut.


He blames the so-called "out of control growth" of the system in previous decades for the current cuts, adding Horizon's situation is hardly unique--on the contrary, it's a pattern that's playing out worldwide.

Country Legend George Jones Dies At 81

George Jones, the hard-living country singer who recorded dozens of hits about good times including "He Stopped Loving Her Today'' has died at the age of 81.

Publicist Kirt Webster says Jones died today at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville after being hospitalized with fever and irregular blood pressure.

Known for his clenched, precise baritone, Jones had No. 1 songs in five separate decades, 1950s to 1990s, and was idolized not just by fellow country singers, but by Frank Sinatra, Pete Townshend, Elvis Costello, James Taylor and countless others.

In a career that lasted more than 50 years, ``Possum'' recorded more than 150 albums and became the champion and symbol of traditional country music, a well-lined link to his hero, Hank Williams.

Many Elderly Patients Should Not Be In Hospitals

It is a sad fact of our healthcare system that many elderly people--especially those with dementia--end up in hospital beds when their needs would be much better provided for in nursing homes. 

Horizon Health Board Member Linda Forestall tells Tide News in NB there are 415 patients currently in that situation, which results in back logs in the hospitals. In addition to contributing to overcrowding, the hospital environment can hasten the progression of dementia and decrease the quality of life for the patient.

Those 415 represent almost 28% of all hospital beds. Forestall says better home care, getting families involved wherever possible, and developing a comprehensive plan for more nursing home development are all essential.

3 Teens Arrested For Drugs Outside SSHS

The police are closing in on our local high school.

The RCMP arresting three people as part of an ongoing investigation into the sale of illegal drugs near St. Stephen High School.

An 18-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman, both from Oak Bay have been nabbed for trafficking in marijuana. 

A 15 year old youth was also arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking.