New Government Garage Setting up shop in St Stephen

( Photo by Kim Hall)

Great news for the Department of Transportation and the citizens of St Stephen. The new government garage will be setting up shop at the Industrial park off progress drive in Milltown. Local MLA Rick Doucet tells tide news this has been a long time waiting:


Doucet says they should start construction late this fall and continue early spring. The DOT will provide service as far as St George. In 2002 the old government garage was condemned.

Gas Leak In Milltown Caused Some Excitement

Some excitement last night in Milltown area. RCMP spokesperson tells tide news Just after 6:30 pm they responded to a report of a gas leak on Queensway between Church Street and Hill Street in St. Stephen. The natural gas line had been struck by a worker operating heavy equipment. The St. Stephen Fire Department and Enbridge Gas made an immediate patrol and set up an exclusion zone of 90 meters, nearby residents were notified and traffic was diverted from the area. There were no flames of fire reported and no one was hurt or damage to property. After a short time the leak was sealed and the area declared safe.

Gas Leak

Some excitement last night in Milltown area. Eye witness tells tide news a natural gas line was hit around the causeway between church and hill street. Rcmp and Fire department was on the scene. Not sure how many people were evacuated at this time..

Gas Leak

Some excitement last night in Milltown area. Eye witness tells tide news a natural gas line was hit around the causeway between church and hill street. Rcmp and Fire department was on the scene. Not sure how many people were evucated at this time..

Trial Continues for St Stephen Man In The Death Of A Baby

The trial continues today in St Andrews in the death of a baby. A police officer who took statements from a Moores Mills man accused of killing an infant is expected to testify at his trial. Twenty-seven-year-old Rodney Miller is accused of first-degree murder.




Outside the court yesterday, Miller's lawyer, Joel Hansen said they don't dispute the fact that Miller killed the baby boy. But the defence maintains it was not a planned, deliberate murder.

Trying to Avoid the Swine Flu

Get both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccine shots.....that continues to be the message from Provincial Health Officials. This as plans to combat the virus continue to be rolled out. Dr. Scott Giffin is the District Medical Officer of Health and says high risk groups will be the first asked to roll up their sleeve.



Dr. Giffin adds seasonal flu shots will be available next month and the first round of H1N1 influenza will be rolled out in November.

Energy Minister Meets with Prime Minister Harper

There will be an impact to rate-payers but it will be spread over 30 years. That from Energy Minister Jack Keir following his meeting with Prime Minister Harper and Premier Graham this week. All three discussed the refit at Point Lepreau and Atomic Energy of Canada. AECL announced late last week the project is now 16 months behind schedule. keir has been facing a lot of criticism on this file from Conservative Leader David Alward:.




Keir says he would have felt better if Harper would have cut them a cheque but the argument remains the same, there was never a chance for the original schedule to succeed.

Local Rcmp Promoted

After many years of serving as acting Sergeant he has now been promoted to Detachment Commander. It was announced today that Corporal Bob MacKnight with the St Stephen Rcmp was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and is now officially the St. Stephen Detachment Commander. Mcknight was promoted to the rank of Corporal in 1998 and have been the acting Sergeant since sept 2008.


McKnight will oversee the operations of St Stephen and Campobello Posts.

The Second Annual Youth Movements Festival In St Andrews

( Duncan Cumming and Hilary Cumming, Photo Courtesy of SAAC)



The second annual Youth Movements Festival is taking place this year at Greenock Presbyterian Church in St. Andrews. The St. Andrews Arts Council is presenting a concert with University of Albany professors, Duncan Cumming, piano and Hilary Cumming, violin . A free will donations will be accepted and proceeds will go towards supporting the Arts Council’s performing arts outreach programs for Charlotte County children.




This program is to be part of a festival in New York called Youth Movements. The event kicks off on October 4 at 1:30 pm.

Man Goes To Trial Today In St Andrews

A 27-year-old man will return to court today to answer to a charged of first-degree murder in the death of an infant.


Rodney Stuart Miller of Moores Mills, near St Stephen was charged in February in connection with the death of a baby in January.

Sarah Marie Russell, 19, is charged with manslaughter and with being an accessory to the death.

RCMP found the body of an infant in woods near a home where the couple lived.

Russell will appear for a preliminary hearing in November.

The case has reopened an emotional wound in Charlotte County after a trial last year where a woman received a conditional sentence for disposing of her newborn in 2007.

Harper on Point Lepreau

( Point Lepreau , File Photo )

The economy not the only issue Prime Minister Harper was faced with during his visit to Saint John. Point Lepreau and the 18-month delay with the refit was front and center. Harper says Atomic Energy of Canada is being encouraged to finish this project as quickly as possible.



Harper adds the delay is costing a lot of money to both this Province and Ottawa. The Prime Minister met with Premier Graham and Energy Minister Jack Keir to discuss the issue. In a statement, the Premiers office says it presented its case to the federal government and the Prime Minister agreed to investigate the matter and respond to the Premier.

Harper on CBS Center

( Blood Service Center in Saint John, file photo )

As the future of the blood distribution center in Saint John continues to look bleak, it doesn't appear help is on the way from Ottawa any time soon. During his visit to Saint John yesterday, our news department asked Prime Minister Harper if he was up to speed on the file. Harper says it's his understanding this decision is made by an arms length body that has representatives from the Federal and Provincial Governments.




Harper adds these types of decisions are to be made by Canadian Blood Services not Health Canada. Just last week, Premier Graham told CBS officials the Province is willing to pick up the cost of an expansion at the current facility in Millidgeville. CBS says they will meet with the Health Minister next month to discuss the proposal.

Harper Makes a Stop in Saint John

The Harper Government will stay the course when it comes to stimulating the economy. Prime Minister Harper was in Saint John yesterday to deliver the third report on his parties economic plan. The numbers show 90 per cent of the plan to stimulate the economy for this fiscal year has been committed and Harper is addressing all the election chatter:



Harper says Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff just a few months ago voted to support the economic action plan and we are not out of the woods yet. The economy remains fragile and could take a few steps back through no fault of our own but due to the world markets.

Sports Page

Morning Sports


SSHS Varsity boys soccer team won the Matt Bender Invitational posting a 3 and 0 record. In game 1 SS defeated Fundy 1-0 in a shootout. In game 2, SS defeated Woodstock 1-0. In Game 3, SS defeated Harbourview 7-0.

The Saint John Sea Dogs are in First Place in the Q-League Atlantic Division after a 4-3 home win over the Moncton Wildcats.


In Highschool Football: Fredericton won over Saint Macs, Leo Hayes over Hampton, Oromocto over Saint JohnHS, Harbourview over Simonds, Saint Stephen over Rothesay, In Fundy Minor Football Pee Wee action: The KV Raiders defeated St. Stephen 49-27

In the NHL the winners are: Detroit, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Edmonton and Anaheim Among the NFL winner are: the Jets, Green Bay, Jacksonville, New England, the Giants, Denver, Cincinnati and Indianapolis.


Over in the Majors: Toronto took the win, along with the Yankees, the White Sox, Tampa Bay, the Angels, Pittsburgh, Houston and Arizona

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Afternoon Sports

Afternoon Sports
In Highschool football: KV will take on Odyssee after yesterday's game was cancelled due to poor field conditions

In NHL Pre-season action: Florida will take on Tappara in Finland and Chicago will go up against HC Davos in Switzerland.

NFL play has: Carolina at Dallas
10 games in the Majors including: the White Sox at Cleveland, Kansas City takes on the Yankees, Minnesota goes up against Detroit, Baltimore at Tampa Bay, Toronto takes on Boston, Texas goes up against the Angels, the Dodgers head to Pittsburgh, and Houston takes on Philadelphia

Apartment Fire

Three people are under the care of the Canadian Red Cross after an apartment building fire yesterday around 5pm in St John. A high rise on Brunswick Drive went up in flames damaging the homes of two women and one man leaving them temporarily homeless.
The Canadian Red Cross has arranged emergency ac-commodations, meals, and clothing for them. No one was hurt during the blaze. No word at this point on the cause.

Harper Visits Saint John

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will deliver his government's third economic report card in Saint John today. Harper's speech will be followed closely since his government is dealing with the largest budget deficit in Canadian history. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says it will be more than five billion dollars higher than originally thought, to a projected 55.9 billion.
No matter what the update says, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff says his party will introduce a non-confidence motion.

Alward on Point Lepreau

This is news that should concerns all tax-payers....that from Conservative Leader David Alward on the latest numbers on the Lepreau refit. It's 18 months behind schedule and isn't scheduled to go back on line until February 2011. Alward tells us, steps have to be taken to make sure rate-payers are not left shouldering the brunt of this blunder.
Alward says Energy Minister Jack Keir has a responsibility to manage his files and it's un-acceptable he tried to distance himself from it by saying he asked for answers and couldn't get any.

Premier Praises Canaport LNG Terminal

[Premier Shawn Graham----File Photo]

Premier Shawn Graham says the opening of the Canaport liquified natural gas terminal in Saint John is something everyone should be proud about. He says not only has the project improved workers outlook of the province, but will benefit future projects.Premier Graham adds the Canaport LNG terminal is a great and important addition to the provincial energy hub. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the site last week to officially open it after three and a half years of construction.

Federal Government Standing Behind Contract

[Saint John M-P Rodney Weston---File Photo]

With word that the refit at Point Lepreau is now 18 months behind schedule, the MP for Saint John is weighing in on the debate. Rodney Weston was a member of the former Lord Government which signed the deal with Atomic Energy of Canada to get this project rolling. Weston tells CHSJ News, AECL and the Harper Government are standing behind this contract to make sure tax-payers are not on the hook to pay the difference in constructions costs.

Alward Not Holding Back

[Conservative Leader David Alward----File Photo]

We're still a year away from a provincial election but Conservative Leader David Alward is talking like a man the on the campaign trail. He adressed party faithful at it's policy convention in Moncton over the weekend and didn't hesitate to fire the first shot at Premier Graham.Alward also took a shot at the main plank of the Graham platform....Self-Suffiency. He calls that nothing more than a marketing slogan although it is better than the new license plate wording of ""Be in This Place""