Moose Season

(Photo submitted by a Tide Listener )

Moose Season has approached us and the swampdockey's are out around Charlotte County.
A moose was spotted when a driver from the area was heading to work and spotted the beast by the side of the highway. Reminder to slow down and be aware the moose are out of the woods during this time of year.

St. Stephen mayor Reacts on Behalf of the New CAO

(St Stephen Mayor Jed Purcell, File photo )

St. Stephen Mayor Jed Purcell says John Ferguson's new postition Chief Administrative Officer for the town has nothing to do with the on going court battle with the Saint John pension board.

Purcell says the lawsuit has nothing to do with Ferguson's ability to perform the job and adds, he has one hundred percent faith in Ferguson.

John Ferguson Resurfaces

(C-A-O of St Stephen, Photo by Kim Hall)

A former Saint John city councilor has re-surfaced in the Town of St. Stephen. John Ferguson has been hired as the town's Chief Administrative Officer. Ferguson you'll remember fell out of favor at City Hall after allegations of making slanderous comments about the pension board which resulted in an on-going lawsuit against him. Ferguson tells Tide News, he doesn't suspect the Town has an issue with hiring someone currently in litigation with another municipality.

Ferguson adds he can't talk about the on-going court case with City Hall which is still in the discovery process. The new job in St. Stephen will pay Ferguson $75,000 dollars a year which he will start next week on the 28th.

H1N1 (Flu)

(District Ten Superintendent Keith Pierce , File photo)

In the meantime there has been no reported cases of the H1N1 here at home. District Ten superintendent Keith Pierce tells tide news the Health minister has been sending out the message for a while and it remains the same to wash your hands with soap and water.
Pierce says flu season is the worst in the fall and schools are keeping on top of the situation.

The New Chief Administrative officer

(The new CAO for St Stephen John Ferguson, Photo by Kim Hall)

There will be a new face around town hall. The mayor and council of the Town of St Stephen announced the new Chief Administrative officer at last night council meeting. After a three month search John Ferguson of St John has been chosen to be the new CAO. Mayor Jed Purcell tells tide news his personality and his resume was very impressive.

Speaking with Ferguson he tells tide news the first thing he wants to look at is how the civic center is going and when the construction will begin. He says he looks forward to meeting the people of St Stephen and working with the mayor and council.

Ferguson was born and raised in St John. He worked for four years on the common council for the city.

Schryer Flu

(Mary Schryer, Courtesy of Department of Health)

The confirmation of a recent case of H-1-N-1 flu at Rothesay Netherwood School should serve as a reminder to other schools and parents -- that's the word from Health Minister Mary Schryer.

Schryer says she's confident schools are prepared for any outbreak of the flu -- meantime -- she wants to clear up confusion over the availability of the H-1-N-1 vaccine -- Schryer says it will be available to all New Brunswickers free of charge and on a voluntary basis later this year.

Free Upgrades

Good news for adults looking to upgrade their school studies.Starting October 19th, free academic upgrade courses will be offered at New Brunswick Community College campuses.The programs will include a comprehensive orientation, email and telephone support and evening sessions.A spokesperson for the Department of Education tells Tide News, any adult aiming to improve their skills to find a better job is able to take part in the courses---but space is limited. http://www.nbcc.nb.ca/

Water line Repairs

Due to waterline repairs , The Town of St Stephen will being turning off the water at noon time today on the north side of Milltown Blvd from Maine street to King street .This does not include the Garcelon Building, Heritage Building and Bank of Montreal.

Handing Out the Swine Flu Shot

The first week of November is when the Department of Health will roll out the first shots of pandemic HINI vaccination the first week of November. At a cost of over $17 million dollars, it's hoped the shot will prevent the flu from spreading rapidly. Health Minister Mary Schryer says everyone, especially the high risk groups should get the shot.

Early projections from medical professionals say at least a third of the work-force will get hit by the HINI pandemic.

Superintendent Moving On

(District Ten Superintendent Keith Pierce ,File Photo,)

Charlotte County 's school Superintendent is moving on to further his career in the Education Department. Keith Pierce tells Tide news he has worked for District Ten over the past four years and the new position will carry a term of at least a couple of years or more.
Pierce says the position is with the Improvement Services Branch and he will help over-see the school review and improvement process. He will be working out of Fredericton but will serve St John, Rothesay and Charlotte County districts .

NB-Nuclear-Delay

(Point Lepreau, File Photo)


The province's energy minister says delays in the refurbishment of a nuclear generating station aren't good for Atomic Energy of Canada when it comes to future projects. Jack Keir says the lack of answers from Ottawa on Point Lepreau doesn't help A-E-C-L's bid to build a new advanced Candu reactor. Premier Shawn Graham says he's grown frustrated by the situation. He's written Prime Minister Stephen Harper, pressing for answers. N-B Power says the 1.4-(b)-billion-dollar project is at least seven months behind schedule.The utility says it will cost the province an extra 1 (m) million dollars to buy replacement power for each day the project lags. No one is willing to forecast a completion date.

NB-Girl-Search

RCMP are looking for help from the public in a search for a missing 13-year-old girl. Emily Deveau of Dieppe was reported missing late Wednesday night by her mother. She was seen with a friend at the Champlain Place mall Wednesday evening and again yesterday around Moncton High. Despite speaking with friends of the girl, police still don't know where she is staying. They do believe she remains in the Moncton area. The girl is five-foot-two and 140 pounds with dark hair, and she wears glasses.

NB-RI-Flight-Flap

Flying in a U-S governor to attend a conference in Saint John this week on the provincial government's dime isn't sitting well with the Opposition. The provincial government plane flew to Rhode Island on Monday to pick up the state governor, transporting him and other staff to Saint John. then returning them back to Rhode Island on Wednesday.
Premier Shawn Graham's office says the two round trips cost 98-hundred-dollars. That doesn't fly with Bruce Fitch. The Tory finance critic says the government isn't walking the talk when it comes to making choices in a tough economic climate. But Graham is defending the gesture, saying the governor wouldn't have been able to attend the conference otherwise due to scheduling difficulties.

Gas Prices

The price of gasoline has dropped two cents as the Energy and Utilities Board releases its maximum price schedule for the next week. Regular self-serve gas can sell for up to 94.6 cents a litre-- plus a possible two cent delivery charge. Most gas stations in St Stephen are selling fuel for 95.4.
Diesel fuel has gone up per centage points to land at 94.1--plus delivery; while furnace oil is selling for a maximum of 81.2 and propane is about one cent cheaper at 96.6 cents a litre---including the possible two cent delivery charge.

C-A-O

Mayor and council will have to make a decision at Monday nights council meeting who will be the next Chief Administrative Officer for the town of St Stephen. Jed Purcell tells us the two who are being interviewed are very well qualified but who will take the position will only be release next week.

Marijuana On Grand Manan

Over the past two months, RCMP on Grand Manan have found seven outdoor marijuana grow operations and seized over 110 plants. Officers tell us this is enough dope to roll 55,000 joints.
No word on any arrests or charges and RCMP say they uncovered the plants thanks to tips and their on-going surveillance.

News letters sent home to Parents

(St Stephen Elementary Shcool, Courtesy of Department of Education)

The principals in Charlotte County will be sending news letters home to parents to tell them about safety issues at schools. Derek O'Brien principal of St Stephen elementary tells tide news there will be a letter sent home monthly to discuss what they promoting in school:

O'Brien says the first letter sent home is discussing pets in school, no scents and allergies in the schools and washing hands frequently especially during flue season. He says if you have not received the letter it should be on its the way.

Washing Hands Kills Germs say Superintendent

District Ten Superintendent Keith Pierce tells tide news there have been no signs of the H1N1 flu virus in the schools here at home but he strongly encourages students and staff to wash their hands frequently. Pierce says if your sick stay home.

Pierce says the flu season hits this time of year but there are no more students sick then usually at this time for right know.

Protestors in Front of the Delta

Trades workers for the second day in a row staged a protest outside the Courtney Bay Inn in St John. This is to voice their displeasure with workers from Alberta coming in and taking jobs at the CanaPort LNG Terminal while many of them are looking for work. Spokes-person Terry Maceachern tells us, this just doesn't make any sense.

The crowd was loud but well behaved with a strong police presence on hand video taping the demonstration. The workers were hoping to get a word in with Premier Graham as the New England Govenors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference continues at the Delta.

Delays at the Reactor at Point Lepreau aren't sitting well with Premier Graham

Delays in the major overhaul of the reactor at Point Lepreau aren't sitting well with Premier Graham -- neither is the fact Atomic Energy of Canada Limited has been dragging its feet in providing answers to questions about the project. Premier Graham says it appears A-E-C-L isn't focused.

Graham says he will be meeting with N-B Power top dog David Hay later this week to discuss the issue -- and -- he plans on bending the Prime Minister's ear to get the crown corporation to provide updated information. The Premier says A-E-C-L is responsible for covering the costs associated with the delays under the contract struck by the former Lord government.