New ATV Trail Hotline

Safety is the number one priority for the Eastern Charlotte ATV club in Pennfield and a hotline has been set up to help keep track of individuals on the trail, by doing so people may call the line with an estimated time of departure and arrival...Bill Mennie the club's treasurer says it's a good idea to know who and how many and what area to be searching in the event of an emergency. You can reach the hotline by calling 456-3767.

Skidder Fire in Basswood Ridge

RCMP in St. Stephen are investigating a skidder fire that took place in Basswood Ridge. Police say two individuals were spotted leaving the area on an ATV. Police are asking the public to come foward with any information that will lead to an arrest in this case by call 466-7030 or call crime stoppers at 1-800-222- Tips.

St. Stephen Animal Shelter Not Excepting Cats

The St. Stephen Animal Shelter is temporarily not excepting any cats due to an illness at the shelter. Board Member Evie Gagne say the cats are experiencing upper respority infections.

Gagne says the infections are common in shelters, because most of the cats are strays, and are probably not vaccinated.
Gange says the cats are doing well and all are up for adoption.

US Ambassador Thinks New Border Crossing Should be Used As Model

[New Border Crossing ----Photo by Lisa Gullison]
The United States Ambassador to Canada says all border crossings should follow the St. Stephen/Calais
example.

David Jacobson says the new state of the art building should be looked at as a model for other crossings.
He says other borders should look at the environmental standards used as well.
The crossing was built of natural wood products, and recycled materials, and produdes zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Prime Minister Officially Opens New Border

[Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the Border---Photo by Dave Briggs]
The Prime Minister was in chocolate town to inaugurate the new border crossing. The new St. Stephen Port of Entry is located on the new international bridge connecting to Calais. Stephen Harper says this helps to ease traffic between the border towns.

Harper says since the crossing opened in November residential traffic has eased, and commerical traffic has increased by 20%.

Stephen Harper officially opens New Bridge in St. Stephen

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is in St.Stephen today to officially open the new border crossing. Premier Graham and several of his cabinet ministers will join the PM along with officials from the State of Maine.


The Province has invested $60.5 million dollars in the project which includes 23 km's of new highway which stretches from Waweig to the new border crossing. The ceremony is expected to get started at 1:30pm. The new crossing and highway opened back on November.16th. Following the ceremony in St. Stephen, Harper will travel to Saint John where he is hosting a roundtable at the Delta at 5:30pm.

Gas Prices

The price of gas on the rise this morning in the St Stephen area following the weekly setting. The maximum price for self serve regular has been set at 102.9 a litre and 110.1 for diesel. Diesel is selling for 107.5.

The maximum price for furnace oil is 92.6 and 114.7 for propane.

NB-Aboriginal-Education

The New Brunswick government is spending more than $1 million to encourage more aboriginals to pursue post-secondary education.

The money will be used to hire recruiters and aboriginal co-ordinators at the province's universities and community colleges.

The University of New Brunswick will offer a bachelor's degree in First Nations governance and management the first undergraduate degree of its kind in Canada.

Post-secondary education minister, Donald Arsenault says the programs will ensure more New Brunswickers have an opportunity to obtain a post-secondary education.

Minimum wage will rise to Atlantic average by 2011

The minimum wage in New Brunswick will increase to meet the Atlantic average by Sept. 1, 2011, as part of a long-term plan announced today. The minimum wage will increase in four steps:
April 1, 2010: an increase of 25 cents to $8.50 per hour;
Sept. 1, 2010, an increase of 50 cents to $9 per hour;
April 1, 2011: an increase of 50 cents to $9.50 per hour; 
Sept. 1, 2011: an increase of 50 cents to $10 per hour.

Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault said it is important to outline a long-term plan for increasing the minimum wage.
The recommended increases will fulfil the provincial government's commitment to raise the minimum wage to the Atlantic average by Sept. 1, 2011, which is expected to reach $10 per hour.

ATV Club in Pennfield Gets Groomer

A new year and a new Trail Groomer for The Eastern Charlotte ATV Club. The machine arrived on New Years Eve and is being stored in the St. George area until it can be fully checked over mechanically. Three people will need to be trained to operate this Snow Cat compared to the size of a bulldozer...Bill Mennie the clubs treasure says this is a positive step for All Terrian Vechiles drivers in Charlotte County. Mennie says members are always needed for the financial help to keep the club up and operating and ensure the safety for the trails in Charlotte County.

Dredging contract awarded for Deer Island Ferry

A $1.7-million underwater dredging project aimed at enhancing ferry service between Letete and Deer Island has been awarded to R.J.MacIsaac Construction Ltd. Work will begin this month in the Goat's Point area. Fisheries Minister Rick Doucet made the announcement today on behalf of Transportation Minister Denis Landry. Doucet said that the department will work closely with the contractor to co-ordinate a project work schedule. "This investment will not only enhance day-to-day ferry operations, it also ensures the service can function safely in emergency situations," said Doucet. "We are pleased to be delivering a project that strengthens the island's connection to the mainland, which is a major priority for the people of Deer Island."
Funding for this project, which is to be completed this winter, will come from the department's $385.8 million capital budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Dementia News Conference

A news conference is scheduled for Fredericton this morning and the topic is Dementia. New statistics about the projected economic and social costs of the disease will be released by the Provincial Alzheimer Society to mark Alzheimer Awareness month. It warns the health care system could be overwhelmed. Twelve thousand people in this Province are living with a form of dementia and it is estimated that close to 15% are baby boomers under the age of 65. The news conference gets started at ten.

Maritime Storm

There's more snow and rain in the forecast for the Maritimes today --but nothing as severe as the weekend.
Up to 30-centimetres of snow fell on parts of the region yesterday and high winds knocked out power to 45-thousand customers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P-E-I. Rain and flurries are predicted for St. Stephen and surrounding area today..

Time to dig out.

Maritimers will be digging out today from the first major storm of the winter.


The region was lashed yesterday and overnight with combinations of snow, ice pellets, rain and high winds.

Nearly 45-thousand hydro customers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P-E-I were blacked out yesterday as gusts brought down power lines.

By early this morning, all but about 13-thousand in New Brunswick had their lights and heat back on.

Rain and flurries are forecast throughout most of the region today.

Winter storm warning in effect.

Issued at 9:30pm Jan 2, 10


tonight..snow at times heavy becoming mixed with periods of rain overnight. snowfall amount 15 to 25 cm. blowing snow this evening and after midnight. wind northeast 30 km/h gusting to 50 becoming north 40 gusting to 70 early this evening then northeast 60 gusting to 90 after midnight. temperature rising to plus 2 by morning.

sunday..periods of snow. snow at times mixed with rain in the morning. snowfall amount 2 to 4 cm. wind northeast 40 km/h diminishing to 20 in the afternoon. temperature falling to zero in the afternoon.

sunday night..flurries. amount 2 to 4 cm. wind north 20 km/h. low minus 1.

Happy New Year from 98.1 The Tide

Maritime Storm

Blowing snow has made for treacherous driving conditions across parts of the Maritimes.


There were reports that scores of cars had slipped into ditches across Prince Edward Island yesterday.

Powerful westerly winds gusted at more than 70 kilometres per hour in and around Charlottetown and Summerside.

On the Confederation Bridge, certain vehicles were temporarily restricted from crossing, including high-sided vehicles, automobiles towing trailers, tractor trailers and buses.

The deteriorating conditions eventually forced the closure of all government offices and agencies, including liquor stores.

Meanwhile, in southern New Brunswick, heavy wet snow blanketed the region, leaving many roads slippery.

Police reported a number of accidents in the Fredericton region.

With the temperatures dropping and the wind picking up, the wind chill was expected to drop to about -30 C.

New Brunswick's full fleet of 515 snowplows and graders was out on the roads.

Died from Swine Flu Virus

After spending nearly a month in intensive care, a 27 year old Quispamsis man has died from the swine flu virus. Doctors had treated him with the anti-flu drug Tamiflu no to avail. The province's Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Paul Van Buynder says the man had been suffering from a number of underlying medical conditions and its unlikely he had received an H-1-N-1 flu shot.

EnBridge Gas Is Denied Rate Increase

Residential and large customers of Enbridge Gas are feeling victorious. The company has been denied an interim increase on its delivery rate for natural gas by the Energy and Utilities Board. A day long oral hearing was held at the EUB office in City Hall Monday which heard from several companies and municipalities opposed to the hike that would have taken effect January,1st.



If approved delivery rates for residential customers would have risen by ten per cent and large corporate clients would have seen their delivery rates double.

Gas Prices Back Up

If filling up the tank is one of your last minute chores before shutting down for the holiday, get ready to dig deeper. The Energy and Utilities Board has released it's weekly price schedule which shows gasoline at a maximum total price of 98 cents. Most stations in St Stephen are selling a litre of self-serve for 95.9. Diesel has a maximum total price of $105.6 with most stations selling a litre for $103.6


Furnace oil has maxed out at 88.3 for a total price but the retail number comes in at 82.6 and the maximum total price for propane is $109.2.