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.

Passamaquoddy And Lincourt Keeping Visitors Out

Visiting hours are being cut at two of our local Charlotte County nursing homes to keep our elderly from getting sick.

The Passamaquoddy Lodge in St. Andrews and Lincourt Manor in St. Stephen announcing they have shut their doors to visitors until further notice.

The closure comes as a way of keeping the influenza virus at bay.

Major Water Damage Delays Opening Of Peel Plaza Courts

Problems at the new Saint John Law Courts building at Peel Plaza.

The opening of the courts will be delayed, after the building suffered major water damage in the overnight hours of Sunday. In an e-mail, Department of Justice and Attorney General spokesman Dave MacLean says an issue came up with the heating equipment that caused pipes to burst and resulting in water damage in the building.

In the meantime, the old courtrooms at City Hall, Charlotte street and Sydney street are temporarily being used. The contractor is working with its insurance company to evaluate the damage.

The new courthouse has 13 courtrooms. The original completion date was to have been June 2012, with the first cases scheduled to be heard this month.

Stabbing & Assaults Keep Police Busy Over NYE

'Non-stop' is how City and Rothesay Police describe their work over New Years Eve.

Saint John City Police Sgt. Jim Fleming tells Tide news a man in his twenties is in hospital after being stabbed by a 35-year-old man around 1:30 am. The man is due to appear in court today facing charges of assault with a weapon. Flemming says the stabbing occurred on the streets in the south end and it appears to be a random act since the two don't know each other. Alcohol is believed to be a factor.

There was also a total of 9 criminal arrests in the city that were mostly assaults. Those include 2 domestic assaults, while the rest were at bars in the uptown area and out east. 7 people were held overnight for drinking a little too much. Police say most of the commotion started after midnight.

Police do say there were no arrests for drinking and driving in Saint John, although in Rothesay there were 2 impaired driver reports.

In Rothesay, police tell Tide news they've been incredibly busy with calls since 9 pm and having to put a few people in jail until they sobered up. There were 5 car accidents and 2 domestic disputes.

Saint John Fire Department wasn't as busy, but did respond to a fire alarm being pulled at the Delta on King Street, although there was nothing to be found.

Mill Rats Coach David Cooper Named Coach Of The Month

A big accomplishment for a newer coach. Saint John Mill Rats coach David Cooper has been named Coach of the Month for December by the National Basketball League of Canada.

Cooper has been a Mill Rats player, VP of marketing and assistant coach before being named head coach in August. He's lead the team from a 3-6 record at the end of November to a 10-8 run, including a six game winning streak from December 13-28.

The Mill Rats are currently atop the NBL's Atlantic Division standings.

The Snow Is Done Falling, But The Temperature Isn't

Now that we're done shoveling snow -- it's time to throw on an extra sweater.


Environment Canada reporting 22 cms of snow falling on St. Stephen yesterday (Sunday, December 30th) with higher amounts being reported outside of town.

Meteorologist Linda Libby tells Tide News Charlotte County may see a few flurries over the next week. She says, "Primarily tonight and tomorrow, we will see a chance of flurries for New Year's Day. After that, we are either looking at sunshine, or a mix of sun and cloud with no weather systems at this time in our near forecast."


Libby says in the New Year, the temperature is going to drop. She says, "It won't be too bad for the next day or so, but by time we get to Wednesday or Thursday, where we are under a ridge of high pressure, we will see daily highs of minus 12 degrees ( C ) which is considerably colder than normal for this time of the year." Libby says the overnight lows will drop to the mid to low teens, which is just slightly colder than normal for this time of year.

Economy The #1 Issue For 2013, Says Liberal Leader

As we enter 2013, Provincial Liberal Leader Brian Gallant has no hesitation in saying what the number one issue is in New Brunswick these days. He says our major challenge is the economy, with a 11.2% unemployment rate and a rising deficit

Despite that, Gallant says the Liberals still favour a moratorium on shale gas development with too many unanswered questions. He tells Tide News even Provincial Energy Minister Craig Leonard can't say how many jobs will be created, what impact it would have economically and how it would affect the environment.

Rplex? Rothesay Looks Into New Rec Centre

Quispamsis has the Qplex, and now Rothesay is looking at creating its own recreational centre.

Mayor Bill Bishop tells Tiude news there's 2 million dollars in their capital budget for a design study, but that will only be used if Rothesay Council gets enough information on funding and size to go ahead.

Bishop says the rec centre would have a focus on indoor sports, with small rooms for martial arts, an indoor walking track and courts for basketball and volleyball.

New Brunswick Gets First Dumping Of Snow

Hopefully you don't have anywhere to go today, because most of southern New Brunswick is snowed in.

Gelas Duguay, a meteorologist from Environment Canada, says the worst of the snowfall is mostly over, but there's still snow coming. He says we've received as much as 15 cm of snow at the airport that started late overnight. Duguay says the heaviest of the snow fall will end around 8:30 am, but we will continue to get 5-6 cm of lighter snow throughout the day. Although the snowfall will end tonight, we'll still have strong winds up to 70 kilometers an hour.

The winter blast is dumping as much as 30 cm of snow across Nova Scotia, PEI and southern and eastern New Brunswick. It will then head to Newfoundland, bringing winds gusting up to 140 kilometers an hour.

The high will be zero today, with a low of minus 12 for tonight.

The Princess of Acadia ferry crossing the Bay of Fundy has been cancelled for the day because of the storm. City transit says buses will start running at 10 am, but warn to expect delays and service may be stopped if the weather gets worse. Delays and cancellations have started at the airport.