Health Warning

Another health warning from the provincial government.Chief Medical officer Dr. Eilish Cleary is reminding everyone to protect themselves against lyme disease.Cleary says people are generally not aware of the seriousness of the disease, and there are indications that blacklegged ticks and lyme disease are spreading in eastern Canada.Those infected generally develop flu like symptoms, such as headaches and fatigue, as well as a bull's eye target rash near the tick bite.For more information on preventing Lyme disease check out www.gnb.ca\health.

Turbines Coming Home

Almost eight and half months after they fell into the Harbor......two turbines which are pieces of the refit project at Point Lepreau, arrive back in the City today. Heather MacLean with NB Power tells Tide News, the rotors will be stored at the Saint port until the end of the fishing season but no confirmed date on when they will be transported.
They were sent to the UK to be refurbished after they were dropped into the harbor in October of last year while being loaded onto a barge for delivery to Point Lepreau.

Increased Tourism Promotion

Provincial Tourism Minister Stuart Jamieson is remaining optimistic we will experience a decent year in the tourism sector. Jamieson tells Tide News he's hoping a lot of the business will be home grown.
Jamieson says promotion has been stepped up in Quebec - Ontario - and - the New England states -- and -- he says the web site has been upgraded making it more attractive and user friendly.

Housing Prices in Saint John

Housing prices in the greater Saint John area are on the way up -- the Saint John Real Estate Board says the average price of M-L-S listed homes hit $188,500 last month -- that's the highest average price on record and a 12-percent increase from May of 2008. M-L-S sales in the local area were also up 4.1-percent last month compared to May of last year. Meantime -- Canada Mortgage and Housing reports new housing starts to the end of May are off by a little over two percent compared to the same period a year ago.

Swine Flu Warning

The province has its third confirmed case of the H1N1 virus --or-- the swine flu.The Department of Health says it received confirmation that a 20-year-old woman from the Moncton area has contracted the virus. Chief medical officer of health, Dr. Eilish Cleary, says the woman had recently returned from a trip to the United States.
Back in May, Dr. Cleary warned that additional cases could be expected this summer and even more in the fall. Of the three cases confirmed in New Brunswick since the outbreak began on April 26, none have required hospitalization.

Crash Victim Identified

A woman who crashed into a Moose on Route 114 Wednesday night has been identified. Someone who heard the description of the victim and her 1990 Pontiac car on the radio contacted police with a possible name. As a result, police have confirmed the victim as a 32 year old woman from the Mechanic Settlement area.
She remains in the Intensive Care Unit at a hospital in Moncton.

O CANADA TO BE SUNG IN THE CLASS-ROOM.

The Provincial Giovernment has brought in a regulation requiring the daily playing of O Canada at all schools in the province. The move follows a dispute earlier this year when the principal at Belleisle Elementary banned the daily singing of the anthem and later left his job over the controversy.
Education Minister Kelly Lamrock says it's important to remind students that to be citizens means to be part of something larger than themselves.

Canaport 1st Shipment

The first tanker carrying liquefied natural gas for the new Canaport L-N-G terminal is due Monday. The tank will under go a cooling process once the shipment arrives. The flare will be visible near the seaside of the terminal located off Red Head Road for up to 10 days. Energy Minister Jack Keir says this marks the start of Saint John being the energy hub.

The second natural gas tank will be operational next month with the third and final tank accepting product by the end of the year.

Worker Has Recovered

A 60-year-old man taken to hospital earlier this week after falling into a tub of dis-infectant chemicals at a fish farm is doing just fine. The accident happened Tuesday afternoon at Cooke Aquaculture in St. George.
Fire officials say the chemical is called Foam Force and is used to clean the plant. A spokesperson for the plant tells us, the man was checked over and released from hospital. She says the company is looking at ways to prevent a similar accident from happening again. WorkSafeNB is also investigating.

Police report

St. Stephen Rcmp are reminding residents to make sure your pin number to your debit card is secure and that is not easy to figure out if you lose you wallet. This after someone had lost their wallet and money was withdrawn from their bank account. Officers didn't tell us how much money was taken.

Gas Prices Are Up

For the seventh week in a row......it is going to cost you more to put gasoline in your vehicle. The Energy and Utilities Board has released it's weekly price schedule which shows the maximum price for a litre of self-serve is $103.6 which is up just shy of four cents from seven days ago. Most station in St Stephen are selling a litre of self serve for 104.4..
Diesel is up just over two cents at 97.6........furnace oil is also up over two cents coming in at 79.7 while propane tops off at 84.3 which is also up two cents.

Mayor speeks on bylaw rules

The St Stephen mayor says there are rules that have to be follow when the bylaw officer gets a complaint.Jed Purcell tell tide news you have to make an applications to organize a event involving loud music or it is not allowed.

Purcell says it does not matter what time of day when music is played if there is a complaint that effects the citizens of the town the law has to be followed.He says the council and outside of the council will look at the bylaw but at this point it has to be followed.

Third Annual Motorcycle show and shine done early

This years Third Annual Motorcylce Show and Shine at the border cafe on Milltown Blvd did not turn out the way they wanted it to.The town bylaw officer told them to shut it down because the music was to loud.Spokeperson John Dillman says Many local businesess help support this event every year. He says and know they are told it is agaisnt the noise bylaw to host this event.He says the town makes up it owns rules.
Dillman says there is no difference in playing music in the town square.He is hoping the bylaw in the town of St Stephen will change.He says Money raised from the event went to the IWK foundation and is hoping they can continue raising funds for many years to come to donate to other organization.He is hoping to meet with the town council in the near future to try and change to bylaw.

MAN FALLS INTO CHEMICALS

New for June17/09
8:48

A 60 year old man was rushed to hospital yesterday after falling into a tub of disinfectant chemicals at a fish farm. The accident happened at 4:30 p.m at Cooke Aquaculture in St. George.
Fire officials say the chemical is called Foam Force and is used to clean the plant. There is no word on the man's condition.

Paving continues on Highway 1

The provincial government is moving ahead with paving the rest of Route 1 approaching the St. Stephen and Calais Border.Transportation Minister Denis Landry tells Tide News, a $1.5 million dollar contract has been awarded for a second seal of asphalt on the new section of highway from Church Street to the Route 3 area.Landry says crews will also pave the shoulder of the road.He says the investment for this stretch totals $11 million when you consider grading work that took place last fall. Two construction companies are involved in the project, which should be completed by mid-July.Landry says his department will be announcing details of other awarded highway contracts for the Charlotte County region in the coming days after the Legislature wraps up its spring session.

Pay Equity

 

 

The provincial Coalition for Pay Equity says the province needs to continue it's movement towards pay equity.  The minister responsible for the status of women, Mary Schryer, has announced the provincial government will begin work in 2010 to achieve pay equity for workers in child-care; home support; nursing home; and transition homes. Coalition Executive Director, Johanne Perron tells Tide news the province needs to implement pay equity legislation:

The Pay Equity Act will take effect April 1, 2010.

Alward Ministers

 

 

Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's days are numbered.
This according to Tory leader David Alward, who tells Tide News, to expect several changes in the Graham government when the legislature closes.

Alward says the Premier is trying to distance himself from the problems by refusing to answer questions at the legislature.
Alward says when it all comes down to it the buck stops with the Premier, and he is respsonsible for all of the decisions that have been made.

Gas Prices

 

 

With sunshine in the forecast for the weekend, it looks like driving weather this weekend, but it will cost you. The price of regular self-serve gasoline has gone up to 99.7 cents a litre, plus a possible 2 cent delivery charge.

The Energy and Utilities Board has released its weekly price schdule showing Diesel fuel has shot up about 4 cents from yesterday to land at 95.09 cents per litre. Propane has remained about the same at 82.35 cents.

Domtar pulpmill in Baileyville re-opens

 

 

Some great news today for employees in  Baileyville and surrounding areas. The Governor of Maine announced today that the Domtar pulp mill in Woodland will resume production. Since the first week of May the pulp mill had been shut down because of the economic slowdown. The governors says starting June 22 the mill will be up and running calling back employees from the area and in Eastport. The mill employees over 300 people including some residents here in St Stephen and Calais.

Council speaks on Gas leak

 

 

The Chair of Public Safety and Environment says that everything was done that could be done and there was no immediate danger from last nights gas leak.
 Councillor Robert Tinker tells Tide news  a lateral was inadvertently snagged that goes into Steve Backmans House as they were digging up asphalt on the King Street project.
  It appears that there was no immediate danger and everything was done that could be done and the system worked to ensure the safety of everyone involved.