Closing Arguments in Ferguson Trial

The John Ferguson defamation trial resuming today with the closing arguments. First up is Ferguson's lawyer Rod Gillis, who was scathing in his criticism of senior city staff.


He tells the jury the Pension Board launched lawsuit to stifle discussion of what had to be done to get a handle on rising pension plan deficit. Rod Gillis also points out each senior city staff member who served on Pension Board has a pension worth more than a million dollars.

Gillis says no one on the Pension Board had an obligation to taxpayers and senior city staff frustrated Common Council on the city pension plan's rising deficit -- even though solutions to erase deficit were known in 2005.

John Ferguson, as a member of Common Council, had a duty to pursue issue.

Ferguson is currently the Chief Administrative Officer of St. Stephen.

Premier Says Shale Gas Being Handled In Responsible Manner

It may be a controversial issue - but - Premier Alward isn't making any apologies for exploring the possibility of developing a shale gas industry.
In an exclusive interview with Tide News - Alward says his government has a responsibility to see what future opportunities may exist if the resource is developed and how any revenue will be shared.
And the Premier says New Brunswickers will have a say on new regulations being developed for shale gas exploration -- deflecting any comment on how that will happen by saying the process will be up to Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup.

Thursday is Candidates Night In St. Stephen

St. Stephen is getting prepared for a big election next month.


Tomorrow ( Thursday, April 26th ) is Candidates Night, with 22 candidates vying for 7 positions on the St. Stephen Town Council.

Three men are running for Mayor, Robert Tinker, John Quartermain, and Kenneth Parker.

Current Mayor Jed Purcell did not re-offer.

The event will take place in the St. Stephen High School Auditorium between 7-9pm.

The municipal elections are May 14th.

French Immersion Information Meeting Tonight

There will be a meeting tonight for those interested in French Immersion for next year.


Parents and students in Grade 2 from St. George, Back Bay, Blacks Harbour, and Pennfield can find out more about the program.

The meeting starts at 6:30 at St. George Elementary School.

Grand March Scholarship Deadline Is Tonight

Today is the last chance for Graduates of SSHS to apply for a special Prom Scholarship.


Shannon-May Photography partnering with other businesses in St. Stephen, offering a prize package with goodies for Grand March to girls graduating this year.

The winner will be someone who has been a voice of encouragement to friends and classmates, to be positive and confident in who they are, and let their inner beauty shine.

The deadline to apply is tonight at midnight.

Here is the link to apply for the scholarship: http://seniorportraits.shannonmayphotography.com/#/grand-march-scholarship/

Candidate Wants To Help Jobs Stay In St. Stephen

Jamie White is running for St. Stephen Town Council.


In an interview with Tide News, White says we need to show the community that we are ready to bring in new business.

White says St. Stephen has sidewalks that are falling apart, roadways that need to be repaired, a Civic Center that needs to be paid for, businesses that start up and close down, a lot of small things that are great, but St. Stephen needs to think a little bigger and really bring the community together.

He says we need to help businesses that are already here, so they can make money and the jobs we do have can stay in the community. You can't have a community without jobs for people, or places for people to spend their money, and if St. Stephen is lacking in those areas, then everything else doesn't matter.

The municipal elections are on May 14.

Earth Day Activities Abound

In honour of Earth Day, some special events planned throughout the region.

The NB Museum in Market Square will be screening topical environmental documentaries from 2-3:30pm in coordination by the Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada and Planet in Focus.

At the Marine Museum in Saint Andrews, kids can do crafts and check two touch tanks, lobsters and seal feedings at 4 p.m. There will be a screening of Free Willy 3 at 1pm.

In Fredericton Green Matters will be commemorating Earth Day this year with a special screening of the Disneynature film “Chimpanzee” on April 22, 12 noon at the Empire Theatres. With a donation of a non-perishable food item or toy donation, admission will be $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children.

Fire in Saint John's South End

An evening blaze on Saint John's Princess Street caused smoke damage to an entire apartment building.

Police and fire officials responding to 178 Princess Street around 8 o'clock found smoke spreading throughout the multi-unit building.

The residents were evacuated and the source of the fire was traced to a kitchen on the second floor. The blaze was knocked down, but the people living there are still displaced from their homes.

Boat Catches Fire

A fire on a power boat partially loaded with fuel causing a scare at the Saint John Power Boat Club.

Fire officials responding to the call at 339 Kennedy Street saying a boat in winter storage had caught fire.

The blaze was contained to the 35 foot power boat where it started, but other vessels moored nearby sustained damage as well. District chief Joe Armstrong wouldn't say the boat was a write-off, but it did sustain major damage. No word yet on the cause of the blaze.

Irving Seeks Greener Image

Folks around the province will be celebrating our planet on Earth Day, which is April 22. The province's biggest corporation, Irving, wants to get the word out it's making some steps to reduce the amount of pollution it dumps into our air and waterways.

Mary Keth of JDI tells CHSJ News fossil fuels are one major contaminant, and since 2007 they've reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 346,000 tonnes annually.

Environment and Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch reminds citizens protecting the environment is a year-round endeavor.

Missing St. Stephen Man Found Dead

A missing St. Stephen man has been found dead over the Border.


Yesterday morning (April 19th), District 1 RCMP in St. Stephen recieving a call from police in Baileyville, Maine.

They said a local fisherman had found a car submerged in the Woodland Flowage area of the St. Croix River.

The body of 60-year-old Kenneth Lee, who has been missing since March 18th, was found inside the car.

Police say an autopsy is being done in Augusta, Maine.

Deadline Approaching For SSHS Prom Scholarship

St. Stephen High School Grads have an opportunity to win some great prizes for Grand March.

Shannon May Photography has partnered with other businesses in town to make a scholarship full of goodies for prom, including photos, accessories, nails, flowers and a cash prize.

The winner will be a girl who has been a voice of encouragement to friends and classmates, to be positive and confident in who they are, and let their inner beauty shine.

The deadline to enter is this Monday, April 23rd, at midnight.

You can apply through this link: http://seniorportraits.shannonmayphotography.com/#/grand-march-scholarship/

Premier Alward says drug policy is fair to pharmacists.

Premier Alward says his government's changes to the generic drug policy is fair to pharmacists.
The Pharmacists Association says they will be forced to cut staff and services thanks to government caps on mark-up and dispensing fees - but - in an interview with Tide News - the Premier says the new policy recognizes the challenges faced by pharamcists after consultations with them.
Alward says the new generic drug policy is good for New Brunswickers - however - he says pharmacists are private business owners and they will ultimately make business based decisions. 
The new policy takes effect June 1st.

10 Year Celebration For Relay For Life

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Relay for Life in St. Stephen.


In appreciation, the Charlotte County Relay for Life Committee is inviting all participants and volunteers to a celebration of gratitude.

The event will be held tomorrow evening ( April 19th ) at 7:30 in the St. Stephen Town Square.

There will be live music, refreshments and a mini luminary service.

Chocolate-Fest Meeting Tonight

The next meeting for Chocolate Fest is tonight.


Anyone who would like to host a Chocolate Fest event, or volunteer is welcome to attend.

The Annual Festival will run in St. Stephen this summer from Monday, August 6 until Sunday, August 12.

The planning meeting gets underway at 7 at the St. Croix Public Library.

Local Fisherman Found Dead

No foul play is suspected after a 50-year-old Blacks Harbour man has been found dead.


District 1 RCMP in St. George say Ralph Bradley Ramsey was reported missing last night after he didn't come home from a fishing trip to Bonny River.

RCMP found Ramsey's truck, and his body was found roughly 120 metres away, next to the canoe he was using.

An autopsy has been ordered.

Lawyer Says Ferguson Only Concerned With His Own Selfish Interests

Former Saint John Common Councillor -- and current St. Stephen Town Manager -- John Ferguson and Pension Board lawyer Barry Morrison clashed at the defamation trial.


Ferguson testified no one at Common Council asked him who on the Pension Board told him disability was being approved improperly with taxpayers in the city being laughed at. When Morrison suggested the conversation with Pension Board trustee David Gould was complete fiction, Ferguson disagreed saying his fellow Council members just dismissed what he had to say as if they didn't care.
 
Ferguson was also accused of going negative by Morrison.


The Pension Board lawyer is suggesting Ferguson was laying in wait to launch an attack on senior city staff about the pension plan and misled his fellow Council members. Ferguson denied that claiming he wanted consensus when seeking outside legal advice. Morrison charged Ferguson didn't give a hoot about the city but was only concerned with his own selfish interests.
 
Ferguson admitted he was intimidated when he found out the Pension Board was going to launch the defamation lawsuit against him.


Ferguson testified the prospect of being sued was so intimidating, he was reluctant to say anymore about the pension plan but considered it too important. Ferguson claims Common Councillor Chris Titus, who's a criminal prosecutor, said there was no insinuation of wrongdoing in what Ferguson presented to Common Council about the city's pension plan. Pension Board lawyer Barry Morrison disagreed saying Titus mean't there was no substance to what Ferguson was claiming.

Facebook Outrage Over Bullying To SSHS Student

A local bullying incident has sparked outrage on Facebook.

A story circulating on the popular social media website, describes a student from St. Stephen High School who's belongings were spit on in a locker room last Friday, while the student was helping a teacher in the Gymnasium.

Vice-Principal of SSHS Krista Amos tells Tide News the school is investigating the situation and will deal with it accordingly.

The story can be found in the "Love Is Louder" category on Facebook.

Ferguson Begins Cross-Examination At Defamation Trial

Former Saint John Common Councillor John Ferguson has begun to be cross examined at his defamation trial.


Ferguson told the court he knew it was a long shot when he ran for Mayor in 2008 but felt a weight being lifted off his shoulders when he lost because of the pension plan's financial problems. The court was also told the Pension Board put a lien on Ferguson's home in the city and that's why he and his wife decided to move away.
 
He's now the Town Manager in St. Stephen.
 
Lawyer Barry Morrison for the Pension Board questioning Ferguson about his math skills, asking him to multiply 52 times 11 and accused him of craving attention.


Morrison questioned Ferguson about the Free Ferguson tee shirt making the rounds and about rallies being held in his support. Ferguson testified he has no knowledge of either and denies being a publicity hound.

He also told the court no one asked him to serve on the Pension Board. Morrison suggested if he had, this media circus could have been avoided to which Ferguson replied there were some members of the Pension Board who didn;t know what was going on prior to 2003.

Ferguson testified Common Council had no real information about the city's pension plan while the deficit was rising. That's why he wanted a committee formed with broad representation. He maintains that would have shown the wider community that best practices would be brought to bear on the problem. Pension Board lawyer Barry Morrison suggested it was an effort to set up a shadow pension board but Ferguson replied he wanted to find a solution after first identifying what the problem was.

Town Council To Approve Contract - Without Contract To Approve

It seems St. Stephen Town Council was counting their eggs before they hatched.


Over the weekend, a special meeting was called to approve two motions concerning the Garcelon Civic Centre, the first to authorize the signing of the Design Build contract with DORA Construction.

But there was no contract to authorize at the meeting.

Chief Administrative Officer, John Ferguson tells Tide News it's a requirement for the Town to have any contract legally vetted.
 
He says Council went to have certain language changed in the contract, and when the meeting came to order, they had not yet heard back from DORA's legal council.
 
The second motion -- which did get approved -- was to adopt the governance model for the Advisory Commission of the Civic Centre.