Third Bridge Not Reaching Full Potential

Some interesting numbers coming from the Canadian Border Services Agency.

Many residents of St. Stephen expected the Milltown Border crossing to close down, once the new Third Bridge was opened.

But, statistics from the CBSA based on 2011, saw the Milltown bridge far exceeds the amount of travelers, with just short of 460 thousand.

The Third Bridge processed barely more than 245 thousand travellers for 2011.

Worries in Grand Manan on Lobster Licenses

Lobster fishermen in Grand Manan may be in hot water.

Concerns have been raised by the Grand Manan Fisherman's Association to local MLA Rick Doucet about the potential loss of lobster licenses.

A temporary freeze on interprovincial license transfers between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia has been lifted.

The GMFA has sent a letter to Fisheries and Oceans Minister Keith Ashfield asking for the freeze to give time to address concerns.

Doucet supports it.

He says "the island's economy is heavily dependent on this industry, this is their livelihood."

Food Drive For Tomorrow!

The storm bringing lots of cancellations today, including our Food Drive.

98.1 has decided to cancel tonight's portion of the Tide's Marathon Food Drive, but we will continue as planned tomorrow morning.

We will be filling shopping carts at the St. Stephen Superstore, the St. Andrews Save-Easy, and the St. George Save-Easy to donate to our local food banks.

The drive kicks off at 10am, running until 2pm.

New Speed Limit On Porter Street

A narrow street in St. Stephen -- where 'Just 4 Kidz' daycare resides -- is getting a new speed limit.

Concerns were raised by residents whom witness speeders daily who take the side street to avoid waiting for a red light.

St. Stephen Town Council approved the lower speed limit to 30 kms per hour, effective as soon as signs are in place.

RCMP Retires His Badge

Today, St. Stephen sends a thank you to one of our finest.

Constable John MacCready retires from the District 1 RCMP, after serving more than 38 years with the force.

His final years he spent as the town's Court Liaison Officer.

Best wishes John!

(Picture - St. Stephen Mayor Jed Purcell with Cons. John MacCready)

Lacey Pleads For No Tax Increases

Please don't raise our taxes!

This from Atlantic Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation Kevin Lacey when confronting Finance Minister Blaine Higgs on the 2012-2013 provincial budget.

Lacey says New Brunswickers' salaries are not going up, but all the fees we pay like food, health, gasoline, and CPP are.


He adds, to raise taxes now would not give the revenue that is needed, nor will it benefit any New Brunswicker that is forced to pay all the prices that are on the rise.

Lacey and Finance Minister Blaine Higgs were at the St. Stephen Legion Tuesday, hosting a pre-budget consultation to get New Brunswickers' input.

Healthcare Cut To The Bone?

How will our healthcare be affected in the 2012-2013 provincial budget?

Finance Minister Blaine Higgs says it's not about cutting services that are needed.

Concerns were raised in the border town, as to why the province is cutting hours down in health clinics.

Higgs asked, if it made sense to have a facility open for hours and hours, if there is nothing happening there.

Higgs was in St. Stephen for 1 of 10 pre-budget consultations, getting New Brunswickers' input before the budget is announced.

(Picture - Finance Minister Blaine Higgs seated with Campobello-Charlotte MLA Curtis Malloch)

What is Next For The Garcelon?

What is the next step for the Garcelon Civic Centre?

 Town Manager John Ferguson tells Tide News some activity will include stockpiling fill, approximately 7 metres high, designed to weigh down a specific area of property, compacting the land, to support the future pool.

He adds, that stockpile mimics years and years of compaction, and the process will take around 2 months to complete.

Project Manager Announced for Civic Center

It's a big step towards our new Civic Center.

Last night, St. Stephen Town Council approved E.A. Farren Limited from Saint John as the Project Management for the Garcelon Civic Center, for a price just over $439 thousand dollars.

Town Manager John Ferguson says there were 6 companies who applied for the position.

He says E.A. Farren had the lowest price with no potential for cost overruns.

Finance Minister In St. Stephen

Another stop in gathering New Brunswickers' input -- Finance Minister Blaine Higgs will be in St. Stephen tomorrow morning.

Higgs is making the rounds in the province, holding public meetings in 10 communities, gathering the public opinion first, before the 2012-2013 budget comes out.

Everyone is allowed to participate, even thought the meeting is labeled for stakeholders.

The meeting goes from 10am until 12 noon at the St. Stephen Legion, located at 43 Queen Street.

Scammer In Charlotte County!

A scam is making the rounds in Charlotte County.

One of our listeners in Pennfield tells Tide News, during a call this morning, she was asked to give her credit card number over the phone, so an unknown person could de-bug and clean her computer so it ran better.

Our listener says she doesn't have a computer, and when she asked who was calling, they hung up.

A spokesman for the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says they've had over 4000 complaints since early December for the same scam.

He warns they are targeting our directory, hitting on areas from St. Stephen to Grand Manan Island.

If you think you have been scammed, call the Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

1 Week Until The Marathon Begins!

Get your shopping carts ready!

1 week from today, The Tide is hosting The 10th Annual Marathon Food Drive, and it's getting bigger!

This year, a separate food drive will take place at the St. Stephen Superstore, the St. Andrews Save-Easy, as well as the St. George Save-Easy, filling the shelves of food banks in each community.


Food Drive times are Friday, from 5-9pm, and Saturday, from 10am-2pm.

Photos Released Of Snowmobile Armed Robbers

The RCMP have released photos and descriptions of two suspects in the armed robbery of Zealand Convenience, on Route 104.

A shot was fired but no one was hit.

The store owner was assaulted and taken to hospital where he was treated and later released.

An undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes was stolen.

There was an earlier armed holdup at Estey's General store on Route 104 in Millville, where a shot was fired with cash and cigarettes being stolen.

Witnesses say after each robbery, the suspects escaped on snowmobiles.

Grand Manan Opens Community Centre Tomorrow

Grand Manan Island will have the official opening of it's Community Centre tomorrow.

The ceremony gets underway at 1:30, at 1021, Route 776.

NB South-West MP John Williamson will be attending, alongside Wellness, Culture and Sport Minister Trevor Holder and Grand Manan Mayor Dennis Greene.

Health Advocate Digging on Ambulance NB in St. Andrews

Opposition Health Advocate, Bill Fraser has filed a right-to-information request with Ambulance New Brunswick concerning an incident in St. Andrews.

Last June, a town resident suffering from an allergic reaction waited for an ambulance to be dispatched from Lepreau.

Fraser says,  on the surface, ANB’s response rates look very good, they claim they’re meeting both urban and rural response targets in ninety percent of cases.

But what’s not often revealed is that there are exemptions that allow for missed response times to not be factored in.




This comes as Cupe Local 4848, which represents paramedics raises concerns over ambulance response times and proper coverage.

It claims the number of ambulances in the province is down 40 percent during the night and current health care cuts could lead to lengthier response times.

Red Cross Stepping In For Fire Victims

Two mothers and their children getting help, after their apartment building was destroyed by fire.

Janice Babineau of the Canadian Red Cross says the families were given blankets, clothing, hygiene products, and teddy bears for the kids.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight with the District 1 RCMP says the blaze was caused by a mattress that caught fire in one of the apartments at 17 Pleasant Street in Milltown.

He says there were no fatalities, but two people were treated for smoke inhalation.

SJ Airport Down In Passengers

CEO of the Saint John Airport, Bernie LeBlanc, giving a presentation to the St. Stephen Chamber of Commerce this afternoon.

He touched base on the airport's finances, budget, and goals.

LeBlanc says Saint John is down about 14 thousand passengers in 2011, as compared to 2010.

He hopes to improve those numbers by expanding customer offerings, enhancing facilities, and to get more involved with the community.

LeBlanc says their biggest problem is a lack of population.

(Picture: VP of Chamber of Commerce Terry Jordan with CEO of SJ Airport Bernie LeBlanc)

Murder In Saint John?

A two day preliminary hearing will be held in the spring to determine if 50 year old Stephen Wallace Martin should stand trial for the killing of a man in Saint John before Christmas.

It gets underway on May 2nd with two days set aside for testimony.

The body of 70 year old Robert Ryan was discovered by firefighters after they were called to 374 Mount Pleasant Avenue North.

Police have not said how he died but determined it was a homicide.

School Canceled From Lack of Heat

Lots of little ones staying home from school today over the river.

Kathy Lawrence of the Calais School Department confirmed the Calais Elementary School canceled classes for today, due to no heat in the building.

No word yet if classes will continue tomorrow.

Fire In Milltown Leaves 9 Homeless

Many residents of St. Stephen thinking of past time, spent living in an apartment building that caught fire last night.

EMS and Fire Services from St. Stephen and Calais responding to the blaze around 6pm at 17 Pleasant Street in Milltown.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight of the District 1 RCMP says a mattress in one of the apartments was the cause of the fire.

He says tenants tried to remove the mattress but were overcome by smoke inhalation.

Two people suffered minor injuries from the smoke and were treated.

In total, nine people were left homeless and have been arranged temporary accomodations.

MacKnight says foul play is not suspected.