RCMP Seize Enough Pot To Create 85,000 Joints

Police seizing hash oil, marijuana plants and dried marijuana from a home near Florenceville-Bristol, and they say, 85-thousand joints could have been made from the seizure.

The Mounties and the Woodstock Police Force used a search warrant in a house in Piercemont, and during their search, they also recovered an ATV that was reported as stolen back in 2011.

A 59-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman were arrested. 

They're going to be in court at a later date and are expected to face multiple charges.

The Rain Is Finally Over

After a full week of rain, many of us are feeling a bit water-logged. So how much rain did we get?

Environment Canada meteorologist Claude Cote tells Tide News since last Thursday, (May 23rd, 2013)  Charlotte County reported anywhere from 85-105 mms of rain. Cote says, "That brings the total monthly rainfall to about 147 mms, typically in Charlotte County we have 118 mms, so already we are above normal."
He tells us, over the weekend, on average, communities in New Brunswick received 70 mms of rain.

Cote says St. Stephen recieved 91 mms of rain, Grand Manan reported 102, and the Bayside and St. Andrews areas with 103 mms of rain.



He adds we will soon dry out with June, July, and August in Charlotte County having warmer than normal temperatures.
Sunshine is forecast for tomorrow.

Moose On The Loose In McAdam

RCMP are warning people in McAdam of an increase in wildlife sightings -- especially moose.

Officials say in the past week alone, one officer spotted five of the animals near a roadway, they had one report of a moose in the middle of a highway that refused to move, and one vehicle collision involving a moose that caused extensive damage to the vehicle and minor injuries to the occupants.

Police ask that drivers be extra cautious along Highway 3 and Highway 4, and make sure your headlights are working well, and are clean.



Police say the majority of the sightings are in the evening or at night.

RCMP also recommending drivers to slow down, even below the recommended speed limit at night

Funeral Today For Woman Killed In K-V

There was no public visitation but a funeral service will be held this morning for 33 year old Tanya Marie Shand who was killed last week with her common law partner charged in her death. 

The funeral service starts at 11 this morning in the Kennebecasis Community Funeral Home on the Pettingill Road. 

39 year old Adam Lee Steven Prest is charged with second degree murder and is scheduled to reappear in court on June 10th. He was sent back to jail in the meantime. 

Prest was arrested after Rothesay Regional Police responded to a call at an apartment on the Dolan Road.

Changes At Murder Trial After Juror Injures Herself

The composition of the jury at the second degree murder trial of 28 year old Crystal Dawn MacKenzie has changed.

One of the jurors injured herself on the way to the jury room at the Saint John Sydney Street Courthouse and had to be taken to the hospital. 

She was replaced and the jury is now made up of six men and six women.

MacKenzie is being retried for the death of 29 year old Patrick Thomas in March of 2010 on Alma Street. 

The Court of Appeal ordered a new trial after concluding the judge at the original trial erred in his instructions to the jury.

The first trial heard plenty of testimony about MacKenzie and Thomas having a volatile and often violent relationship.

CTF Calls On Province To Stop Taxing Gas Taxes

Dig deep when traveling this season to cover the high price of gas.

Kevin Lacey of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation tells Tide News that gas taxes cost New Brunswickers $24 every time they fill up their tanks --$4 more than it cost in 2010.

He says they are calling on the government to stop taxing the taxes on gasoline when they balance the provincial books.

Lacey adds we pay taxes on everything but he would have thought the Alward government would have stopped taxing its own taxes.

Lacey says the Alward government’s 2011 gas tax hike costs provincial families $31 million this year.

Heavy Rainfall This Weekend Could Lead To Flooding

They say a little rain never hurt anyone, but the same isn't true for a lot of rain.

As of late last night, Saint John was the recipient of the second highest amount of rainfall in the province with 80mm, with the first being Grand Manan. That comes on the heels of an advisory issued by River Watch warning people who live in flood-prone areas to keep an eye out for high water levels. 

They say that homeowners who have experienced flooding during heavy rain storms in the past, should make sure that their rain gutters, culverts and ditches are free from debris and leaves.

Chief Coroner Admits Drowning Death Remains A Mystery

There's still a lot of mystery about what happened in the three minutes 17 Year old Yifan Wang  hit the water at the Aquatic Centre until he was discovered unconscious in the deep end of the pool. That admission from Chief Coroner Greg Forestell in spite of an inquest at which 21 witnesses testified. 

Forestell does say, if nothing else, at least a lot of rumours and misconceptions were disspelled. The inquest determined Wang was not sick when he drowned or on drugs. 

Forestell regrets not being able to find out more about what sort of person Yifan was but his parents remained in China and did not attend the inquest.
 
He admits we still don't know what transpired in the 3 minutes from the time Yifan  hit the water until he was discovered unconscious in the pool and likely never will.
 
The family has until mid September to decide whether or not to launch legal action against the Aquatic Centre.

Holder Says Boys & Girls Club Will Have A Chance To Renew Next Year

The Boys & Girls Club of Grand Manan saved the season this time -- but what about the next one?

A one-year agreement being finalized with the Club to operate the Anchorage Provincial Park, after the province decided it would not open it's doors as a way to save money.

Tourism Minister Trevor Holder tells Tide News the Boys & Girls Club will have the opportunity to renew after this year. "After that, we often look at multi-year agreements, but that will be finalized come the next fiscal year. The Boys & Girls Club will have the usage of this park from now until the end of this fiscal year at the end of March."

With the camping season already upon us, Holder says they are hoping to have the park open for campers by early June. "That will welcome visitors to Grand Manan Island and give them a place to put their trailer and enjoy everything that Grand Manan and the Bay of Fundy has to offer."

Some Students Drink, Smoke, And Take Pills

The province releasing the results of the 2012 Student Drug Use Survey Report.

It's been in use since 1996 to gather info on the use  of alcohol, tobacco, gambling and more to understand student behavior and respond the right way.

More than 3500 randomly selected students in grade 7, 9, 10 and 12 completed the survey.

The results found 48 per cent of students consumed alcohol, 22 per cent smoked cigarettes and 28 smoked pot.

11 per cent report taking oxycontin or codeine without a prescription and 57 per cent drink energy drinks.

The numbers are consistent with the 2007 survey and down significantly from the 2002 edition.

Jury Delivers Reccommendations At Drowning Inquiry

The four person coroner's jury determined 17 year old Yifan Wang died of accidental drowning.

The jury made nine recommendations including additional lighting at the deep end of the swimming pool, province wide standards for aquatic centres and swimming pools along with an additional lifeguard at the shallow end of the pool.

They would also like to see portable phones for the lifeguards, the use of spineboards for swimmers who get into trouble and are pulled from the the water and provincial paramedics should be required to have a minimum of Advanced Paramedic training as they do in Nova Scotia.

The inquest began on Tuesday.

Owner Of Dog Offering $3000 Reward

A man who claims his family pet was stolen by misguided animal rights vigilantes is campaigning to get his family dog back. 

Elad Shalom says after his Alaskan Malmute, Tara, went missing he posted about it on Kijiji to see if anyone had spotted the distinctive white purebred. In response he received anonymous messages back from someone saying they had taken the dog because they thought Shalom was keeping her in a sub-standard crate. 

Shalom tells Tide News Tara is a show dog who has won numerous awards including Best Pet and Best in Breed. He describes Tara as a family member and says his children miss her desperately. The family moved from Israel to New Brunswick less than two months ago. 

Starting Saturday morning, Shalom is offering a $3000 reward to whoever finds both the dog at the thief.

Visit the Facebook group campaigning for the dog's return here

If you have any information about Tara's whereabouts you can contact the owner directly at 506-654 6664 or by email at e@devaffair.com

Doucet Applauds Grand Manan Residents For Fighting To Keep Park

Now that one of our Provincial Parks is off the chopping block, one local MLA hopes the government will still help out.

The announcement coming this week the Boys & Girls Club of Grand Manan is finalizing a one-year agreement with the province to take over operations of the Anchorage Provincial Park for 2013. The park was set to close this year in an effort to find efficiencies and cut costs.

Charlotte-The Isles MLA Rick Doucet tells Tide News the club came up with their proposal only weeks ago. "They've had little time to prepare and the camping season is already upon us, so there's got to be a lot of work from the Department of Tourism and from government to help them out to get them through the season because this is a big undertaking for a volunteer group."

Doucet says when the closure was first announced, the entire island took part in signing petitions and letters to keep the park open. He says, "It took every Islander who could print or write their name to sign a petition. There were countless letters that went into government. Bad press and bad social media, the Mayor was demanding a meeting with the Premier, and we also had a debatable motion in the legislature on the park."

He adds he applauds the people of Grand Manan for keeping the issue alive.

Dig Deeper At The Pumps

Dig deeper at the pump today.

The price of gas up by 2.2 cents per litre bringing the price for regular self-serve gas to a $1.29 a litre.

Diesel is up 1.7 cents a litre and furnace oil is up 1.6 cents a litre.

Regular self-serve gas was selling for 126.5 a litre around town while diesel was going for 128.7 a litre.

Inquest Hears From Pathologist

The inquest into the death of 17 year old Yifan Wang has been told by pathologist Dr. Marek Godlewski the cause of death was drowning even though Wang did not die until a couple of days after being pulled from the swimming pool at the Aquatic Centre.

The inquest also heard there was no indication Wang was sick before he drowned.

There was evidence of bronchial pnuemonia but that is consistent with taking in water and being on a ventilator.

He also had bruising and abrasions which the doctor concluded was caused when Wang was pulled from the pool and given what was described as aggressive CPR.

Adam Lee Steven Prest Facing 2nd Degree Murder Charge

A 39 year old man facing 2nd degree murder charges in the death of his common law partner 33 year old Tanya Shand.
 
Rothesay Regional Police have not released how she died in a violent domestic incident early Wednesday morning on the Dolan road.
 
Detective Sergeant Craig MacDougall tells Tide News he isn't surprised by the community's reaction.

He says anytime there is a homicide it's shocking especially in small community like Rothesay.

Adam Lee Steven Prest has been remanded to the Saint John Regional Correctional Center.
Police would not say if there was a history of violence at the couple's apartment. 

MacDougall tells us he doesn't expect any further updates now that the matter is before the courts. 

Prest is due back in court on June 10th.

Guilty Pleas In NS Confinement Case

A Nova Scotia man accused of confining and sexually assaulting a teenage boy at a home in Upper Chelsea has pleaded guilty to five charges in the case.
 
David James LeBlanc appeared in Nova Scotia Supreme Court today in Bridgewater, where he pleaded guilty to kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats and breach of conditions.

The victim's mother, who can't be identified, says it was difficult to see Leblanc in court today.  She says it was hard and she wants him to suffer adding she isn't normally like that but the whole thing is overwhelming.
   
Leblanc was charged after a woman reported that a barefoot teenager arrived at her home in Upper Chelsea chained at his wrists and ankles.
 
At the time, the RCMP said they believe the 16-year-old was held captive about ten days before he was able to escape.

LeBlanc also pleaded guilty today to making and distributing child pornography as well as sexual interference in a separate case. 

The Crown and Defence are working on a joint recommendation for a prison term in the range of 11 years.

33 Year Old Woman Dies In Rothesay Incident

Rothesay Regional Police reporting the death of a 33 year old woman this morning through their Facebook page.

Craig MacDougall of the Major Crime Unit says a 39 year old man is under arrest and will be charged in the death.

The incident happened in the Dolan Road area about 5am.

In a video release, MacDougall says the names of the victim and the accused will be released later.

Inquest Hears From Paramedics And Lifeguards On Aquatic Centre Death

Testimony from Aquatic Center lifeguards continues at the inquest into the 2011 death of Yifan Wang.

Both lifeguards and paramedics on the stand said all procedures were followed correctly the day the 17 year old student died.

A lifeguard testified the Aquatic Center would have had adequate supervision even with 2 guards and 3 were on duty when Yifan Wang died. According to paramedics the boy had no heartbeat when they arrived on the scene, but his heart was restarted in hospital with a shot of adrenalin.

The paramedic added that from his very first impression of the patient he didn't expect a good outcome.

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.