Police Investigate Car Theft In St. Stephen

Local police reporting two separate thefts in St. Stephen.


District 1 RCMP say sometime between Wednesday night ( September 12th ) and Thursday morning ( September 13th ), a 2013 white Hyundai Elantra with the New Brunswick plates reading JDM-538 was stolen from Victoria Street.

Also overnight, St. Stephen Police reporting that money was stolen from a parked vehicle in the Veasey Street area.

If you have any information about these crimes, please call District 1 RCMP at 1-506-466-7030.

Gun Shots Fired In Milltown

Local Police say a St. Stephen man is charged after shots were fired at a car in Milltown.


District 1 RCMP tell Tide News they received a call early yesterday morning (Sept 12, 2012) of gunshots being fired at an occupied vehicle on Spring Street.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight says 22-year-old Michael Kenneth Hanley was arrested and charged with Careless Use of a Firearm.

Hanley pleaded guilty in Saint John Provincial Court yesterday.

He goes back for sentencing on Tuesday, September 18th.

Milltown Legion To Close Before 2013

The Milltown Legion will be closing it's doors before New Year's Eve of 2012.


President of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #48 Amy McCrum tells Tide News they will not be giving up their Charter, just the building.

Currently, the Legion leases the building on Milltown Blvd from the Town of St. Stephen for $1 a year, however, maintaining the building, and paying its bills, is becoming too costly.

McCrum says the members are dwindling and so is the cash flow.

She adds Branch #48 will continue with the Rememberance Day Service and Annual Poppy Campaign this year as normal.

No word yet on future plans for the building.

International Celebrity Chefs Come To St. Andrews To Learn

Dulse, salmon, mussels, and lobster.


The 1st-ever Canada Brand Seafood Lover's Academy bringing celebrity chefs and journalists from around the world to St. Andrews to take part in cooking classes, demonstrations, and tours, all about atlantic seafood.

Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Keith Ashfield tells Tide News we have exceptional seafood in Atlantic Canada, and we need to showcase that. Ashfield says by bringing the group to St. Andrews, each one will take their experience back home with them, and spread the word in their countries. He adds that this is a great opportunity to boost our exports, broaden our markets, and help our over-all economy.

Organizer Andrew Lively tells Tide News says the celebrity chefs have come from 12 different countries, including the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Austria, Germany, Greece, India, Switzerland, Singapore, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Chun Lau stars in food television programs in Hong-Kong as well as writes a regular newspaper food column. He tells Tide News Canada has something that asian markets are missing.
He says Canada not only has great ingredients, but also has a great concern for the environment and the ethics behind our food. He thinks that asian markets need to understand, to consume food as well as try to preserve the environment.

( Picture - Chef Marcus Ritter and Chef Rodrigo Acuna Bravo from the Europa Restaurant in St. Andrews, setting up for their next atlantic seafood cooking class. )

Short Of $10 Grand For Local Fire Department

Just under $10,000.


That's how much the St. Stephen Fire Department raised during the 8th Annual Bucket Sit taking place this past weekend at the Atlantic Superstore.

The fundraiser sees local firefighter Merton Lewis spending 50 hours in a bucket truck, 50 feet in the air.

Dwayne Richards from the department says the final total will probably reach over the ten thousand mark, as late donations are still coming in.
The money raised will go towards specialized rescue equipment.

Richards adds, over the past 7 years, the department has raised in excess of $100,000.

Property Sale Doesn't Change $200,000 SPCA Needs

The sale of the former SPCA peacock property to the Joshua Group is a huge benefit for both the animal shelter and the kids charity... but there's still more work to be done for both organizations.

SPCA President Melody McElman tells Tide news the property sold for $202,000, but the Joshua Group still needs to raise around $60,000 to cover the rest of the cost. McElman says the sale means they can pay down their mortgage and jump start their capital campaign.

McElman says the sale is a huge help for the shelter, but it doesn't change the $200,000 they still need for daily operating costs.

Since last week more than $52,000 has been raised for the SPCA to keep it's doors open.

Government Needs To Focus On Jobs Says Critic

Job creation is not high on the agenda for the provincial government according to opposition critic Chris Collins.

Collins tells Tide news in the past two years the government has lost 1,500 jobs, whereas the previous government created that many. He says he sees young people leaving the province in droves to work elsewhere.

Collins believes the Alward government needs to make a plan by meeting with workers in various industries to figure out how to create jobs.

Last month unemployment rose in the province from 10% to 10.4%.

Three People Homeless After Fire

A house fire in Fredericton has left three people without a home.

The Canadian Red Cross says no one was injured or home at the time of the blaze that happened around 11 am on Saturday.

Red Cross volunteers found a place for the woman and her teenage daughter to stay. The two rented half of the duplex at 32 Simpson Court.

Future Sculpture SJ's Planned

What looked like just a ton of granite a month ago is now shaping it's way into public art.

Sculpture Saint John is in it's sixth and final week at the Coast Guard Site, where artists from around the world have been sculpting giant granite art pieces for Greater Saint John.

Chair Diana Alexander tells Tide news the artists -- many who've been to over forty symposiums -- say it's the best event they've been too. On Saturday, September 15th from 1:00pm - 4:00pm  they'll be having a big reveal called "Rock On The Dock", where you'll be able to touch the pieces and talk to the artists.

Alexander says this isn't the real end of the sculpture symposium. The event has been so successful, they're planning symposiums every two years until 2020. She hopes pieces from future symposiums can be created for towns from Saint Stephen to Sussex.

Just Rain From Hurricane Leslie

Hurricane Leslie won't be hitting the province hard... just a little bit of rain.

The Canadian Hurricane Centre of Environment Canada says the tropical cyclone's influence in New Brunswick is very low at this point.

They say it's weakening and slowly moving northward, resulting in a bit of rain, cloud coverage and larger waves.

Chance Harbour Man Sentenced For Sexual Assault

Hard drinking will destroy your support network of family and friends........That advice from Mr Justice Hugh McLellan, handing down a sentence of 2 years in jail, plus 3 years probation, to 25-year-old Bradley Scott Wilson.

Wilson was found guilty of sexual assault in connection with a January incident at a West Side pub in Saint John.

In a statement to the court, the victim of the assault said she quit her job out of embarrassment and is haunted by the pain of the incident every day.

Wilson's defense pointed out while his client had a prior record, his offenses were all alcohol-related, but the judge said he simply needs to learn to stay sober.

Wilson was also entered on the sex offender registry and required to submit a DNA sample.

His mother and father have say they don't feel justice has been served.

City Police Officer Sentenced To Jail Time

3 months in jail the sentence handed a Saint John city police officer who was found guilty of common assault and engaging in threatening conduct after a breakin at his home on Westfield Road.

Mr. Justice Hugh McLellen cited a New Brunswick Court of Appeal ruling in sending 39 year old Constable Chris Messer to jail. The Court of Appeal ruled when police break the law, a conditional discharge is woefully inadequate.

The judge also rejecting house arrest when Messer's lawyer expressed concern over his safety in jail.

Messer was told he was convicted largely on the basis of his own evidence. The police officer suspected Randy King of breaking into his home and admitted to punching him three times in the back of the head outside the detention area after transporting him from the west side.

The judge also telling Messer he was in a conflict of interest by investigating a crime committed against himself but no one in the police department prevented him from doing so. Mr. Justice McLellen says Messer doesn't seem to understand he was in a conflict of interest which is a breach of trust.

Big News For Joshua Group

It's a happy day for the both the Saint John SPCA and the Joshua Group....Joshua Group founder Bobby Hayes announcing they've managed to buy the former animal shelter on Taylor Avenue to use as a permanent headquarters for the kid's charity.

Hayes tells Tide News there's still much that needs to be done to assess the cost of renovations and make sure the building is safe for the kids to use.

No word yet on how much the building went for, or when the group is expected to start using it.

Two Arrests In B&E Overnight

Two men are in police custody after two separate break and enters that happened in Saint John overnight.

City Police say one B&E attempt by a 26-year-old man was in the west end on Lloyd Street while the other was by a 29-year-old man in the north end on Clarendon Street.

Both incidents happened around 3:00 am.

72 Hour Gaming Convention In Saint John

It doesn't matter if you're a level 12 elf or you've never rolled a D20 before... all levels of gamers in Saint John are together for the 11th annual Impossible Realities gaming convention.

For 24 hours a day, all weekend long, gamers are playing everything from role playing games like Circus Imperium, Dungeons & Dragons and Call of Cthulhu to classic family board games. Organizer Dana Betts says players come from all walks of life, some even from the US, Nova Scotia & PEI. He says it's now "chic to be geek", with popular shows like Big Bang Theory & Community. He says most people who are big into role playing games are usually pretty low key, so this convention gives them a chance to come out and enjoy the company of other people who love gaming. Betts says if you're new to gaming, there's staff there to help you learn.

There will also be a number of artists and vendors from the Maritimes, including Sandy Carruthers (illustrator, "Men in Black"), André Myette (creator of "Humbug!"), and local artist Chas Goguen (creator of "Dotman").

The convention runs until 6:00pm on Sunday at the Chinese Cultural Centre at 24 Coburg Street in uptown Saint John. It's $10 for a day, $20 for the weekend and all ages are welcome.

(Photo courtesy of Impossible Realities)

Two Crashes In St. Stephen - One Involving School Bus

Two car crashes in St. Stephen this morning, one involving a school bus.


Police say the first accident taking place on Exit 7 to Little Ridge and Basswood Ridge, where a truck turning left failed to see the car approaching on his left, and the two crashed.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight with District 1 RCMP tells Tide News there were no injuries to either party, but extensive damage to both vehicles.

MacKnight adds that seatbelts and airbags work.

The second accident taking place at the railway crossing on Hayman Ave, where a car ran into the back of a school bus while it was stopped at the crossing.

MacKnight says there were no injuries, no students on the bus, no damage to the bus, but plenty of damage to the car.

(Picture - From 1st accident, car that was approaching from the left )

The Bucket Will Lift-Off Today At Superstore

Today at the Atlantic Superstore, local firefighter Merton Lewis will be lifted 50 feet in the air, in the bucket of a bucket truck, where he will stay for 50 hours.


It's the St. Stephen Fire Department's 8th Annual Bucket Sit raising funds for specialized rescue equipment.

Dwayne Richards from the department says they have finally raised enough money from past bucket sits, to buy the specialized equipment they need.

However, Richards says, they will continue the fundraiser to keep up with the ever-changing needs of the fire service.

If you would like to help support this project, you can purchase a rung on "Mert's Escape Ladder".
For a donation of $50 or more, your name or the name of your business will be put on a rung and displayed on site while Merton is in the bucket.

For more information on donating to the St. Stephen Fire Department, call Dwayne Richards at 466-7779.

Rain Blamed For Crash On Highway 1

The heavy rains being blamed for a crash on Highway 1.


District 1 RCMP tell Tide News a man pulled his vehicle onto the soft shoulder near the Eastbound Exit 39 marker.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight says the man over-corrected when he pulled over, sending the vehicle across the road, and rolling over an embankment.

Both the driver and the passenger were sent to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and the vehicle has extensive damage.

MacKnight says due to the heavy rain, excess water on the roadways made driving very dangerous.

Pot Seizures In Charlotte County Over The Weekend

Approximately 800 marijuana plants being seized this past weekend from rural St. Stephen and the St. Andrews area.


RCMP Provincial Spokesperson Cpl. Chantal Farrah tells Tide News how the drug raids take place. She says they rely strongly on information from the public, such as tips to Crimestoppers to find where the grow-ops are taking place. She adds the RCMP use all-terrained vehicles, their own vehicles, as well as help from helicopters to spot the plants from the air.

Farrah says it is never too late for someone to report a grow-op. And they can do so my calling Crimestoppers, reporting it to the website at crimenb.ca, or directly call the RCMP.


Cpl. Farrah also has a message for parents: "I know there are alot of misconceptions out there about marijuana, but for parents, please be reminded that marijuana is often the drug that youth will start first, and then go on to harder drugs. It is not harmless."

The Kids Go Back!

Summer vacation has come to an end - at least -  for most of the students.

Tomorrow ( September 5th, 2012 ), students going to St. Stephen Elementary School, as well as Grades 6 and 9 will be starting their classes.

Other students in Grades 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 will be getting a staggered start, with their first classes being held on Thursday ( Sept 6th, 2012 ).

This is the first semester of the new Anglophone South School District, which amalgamated Districts 6, 8, and our local District 10, into one.

The new Superintendent of the District now has 74 schools to be in charge of from Sussex to St. Stephen.

Zoe Watson says some of the high schools will have over a thousand students each to the smallest school on White Head Island with just 20 students.