Teen Faces More Charges After Multiple Car Thefts

A teen from Wards Creek, near Sussex, will re-appear in Hampton Provincial Court later this month to face an additional 22 charges for a rash of car thefts and thefts from vehicles.


Five vehicles in Kings, Saint John, and Charlotte Counties were reported stolen between September 11-15.

There were also a number of thefts from vehicles and break and enters around the same time. It's believed the teen was stealing cars in order to travel around committing more thefts.

All of the vehicles had their doors unlocked and keys inside, say Corporal Pat Cole--which should be a lesson to drivers.

Ousted Conservative MLA Overwhelmed With Support

The independent M-L-A for Fundy River Valley, Dr. Jim Parrot says he wouldn't join the Liberals even if they called him and will remain a Tory until they throw dirt on him.

Dr. Parrot tells Tide News he was told of his expulsion from the Conservative caucus by the Premier over the phone.

As for the reaction he's getting, Parrot says it takes him about half a day to clear his Blackberry from messages of support, and people telling him he is doing the right thing. Judging by the support he's receiving, Dr. Parrot tells Tide News maybe large numbers of people are getting fed up with a government that doesn't listen.


He vows to continue speaking out on the issues, and denies the Premier's accusations of taking cheap shots and not speaking up about healthcare.

Two St. Stephen Men Busted For Drugs

Two St. Stephen men in their 50's are in hot water after a Bordertown bust.


Mounties doing a search at a home yesterday (Sunday, September 23rd, 2012) found marijuana, pills, cocaine and cash.

Both men were arrested, released on conditions and are due before a judge at a later date.

St. Stephen Man New Leader Of The Provincial Greens

He's pumped and ready for a new challenge. After leading the Conservation Council for 28 years, David Coon is embracing his new role as leader of the Provincial Green Party.


Coon was elected at a leadership convention held on the weekend in Fredericton.

He tells Tide News the transition is not bittersweet. He thinks if we go down the road towards greater local economic alliance and a green economy, we are going to attract young people from across the country because -- in his words -- it's going to be exciting.

Coon tells us his short and long term goals range from learning the Green Party's office number to getting out on the road and meeting more people in the province.

Local Man Getting Creative With An Old Fundraiser

One local man putting a beautiful edge to a dull fundraiser.


Instead of collecting recycled pop tabs to have made into whellchairs, Todd Larsen, a brain injury survivor from St. George is making the tabs into unique jewelery, collecting, cleaning and reconstructing the tabs to sell and raise money to buy whellchairs and other specialized needs for -- as Larsen puts it -- the "Awesome People of Charlotte County".

Larsen says he wants to give back to the community who helped him, not just by buying wheelchairs, but by helping anyone who really needs it with a specialized case.

Todd's Assistant, Mary Rogers tells Tide News Larsen raised $144 at the St. Stephen Fall Fair on Saturday ( September 22, 2012 ), and since they started the project back in May of this year, they have raised around $4000.

Rogers says each wheelchair they intend to buy can range between $2000 to $2500, and with the money raised so far they can buy around one and a half wheelchairs. She says Todd's goal is to get at least five wheelchairs.

If you would like to help Todd with his goal, you can buy your own "Pop Tab Jewels". To place an order call 529-3404.

Missing Man's Body Found In River

The body of a missing man has been found in a car in the St. John River near Aroostook road.

43-year-old Robert Ernest Durost of Aroostook had been missing since Tuesday. RCMP's Underwater Recovery Team recovered his body in his vehicle at the bottom of the river yesterday.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, foul play is not suspected.

Auction To Save A Friends Life

A family benefit auction is being held next weekend to help save a friends life.

42-year-old John Phillippe has a form of brain cancer that can only be stopped by a drug called Avastin, which costs $10,600 a month and isn't covered by the province or a medical plan.

Friend Janet Holt is gathering gift cards and items for the auction which, she says, is the only way friends and family know how to help him. Holt says one prize they have is a 7 day vacation and RV rental in Hampton. She says the drug has greatly helped John, who was partially paralyzed on one side and is now walking and talking.

The auction is taking place on Saturday, September 29th at the Aquarius Pub & Restaurant. Tickets are $20, a meal is served at 4:30, and the auction starts at 7:00pm.

Tickets can be purchased at Cox Electronics & Communication (843 Fairville Blvd) or by calling Janet Holt at 652-1889.

Quispamsis Is Moving Forward On Lift Station

Quispamsis isn't sitting still on their lift station.

Quispam Mayor Murray Driscoll tells Tide news the idea of them moving the station in 5 to 10 years is simply not true. Driscoll says they have agreed to move their lift station which, according to Rothesay council, has been leaking sewage into Rothesay brooks whenever it rains. Driscoll admits that lift stations do occasionally overflow in various areas across the province, and Quipamsis isn't immune to that.

Driscoll adds if Rothesay does not go forward with the retention pond, it would give Quispam more breathing room in moving the lift station, which could mean inserting a force main first then moving the station second.

Driscoll says Quispam is right on schedule, the design is 80% done and there's no reason to think they're not moving the lift station.

Earlier this month at Rothesay Council Mayor Bill Bishop said their council was writing a letter to Quispam addressing the lift station being moved immediately. Driscoll says he has yet to receive that letter.

Global Protests Against Fracking

More than 100 protests against the natural gas drilling process known as fracking are planned around the world today, and organizers are using a simple message to draw people out and spur outrage.

The Global Frackdown website that's promoting the protests claims the process ``pollutes water and makes people sick.''

There is, however, disagreement among scientists about the risks.

The US Environmental Protection Agency and many state regulators contend that fracking can be done safely.

Green MP Elizabeth May will be speaking at an anti-fracking rally in front of the leg in Fredericton at noon today.

Protests are planned in cities that include Pittsburgh, New York, Paris and Madrid.

Teenager Pleads Guilty To Car Theft

A 16-year-old Wards Creek boy will be back in court Monday where police expect to lay more charges of car thefts and break and enters from incidents across Kings, Charlotte, and Saint John Counties.

RCMP say the teen appeared in Provincial Court in Saint John yesterday and pleaded guilty to theft of a pickup truck from a few weeks ago.

Corporal Pat Cole reminds people to keep any items and money in your car out of of sight and to lock your doors.

Walk The Fundy Trail & Fight Cancer

Rain or shine, people who've been affected by cancer will be taking part in the 13th annual Fundy Trail Cancer Walk today.

Proceeds from the walk goes towards cancer treatment centre at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

Organizer Nancy Maynard tells Tide news the event started small and has since grown, with people from Greater Saint John and Fredericton participating. Maynard says the fundraiser was started by cancer survivors to recognize cancer and the people it affects.

Registration starts at 10:00 am until noon. There will also be a BBQ, entertainment, and a 50/50 draw.

The walk is at the Big Salmon River on the Fundy Trail Parkway.

Workplace Accident Sends Man To Hospital

A man is in hospital after a workplace accident in Saint John.

According to the Saint John Fire Department, the accident occurred just before noon at the Irving Pulp and Paper Mill.

No other details have been released.

Doucet Speaks Out On Conservatives Ousting Their Own

"I think it's wrong."


That word from local Liberal MLA Rick Doucet on Fundy River Valley MLA Dr. Jim Parrot being ousted by his fellow Conservatives.

The former heart surgeon used a written commentary to accuse his government of not listening to doctors about health-care and then spoke out about the cost of language duality in healthcare a couple of days later.

Doucet tells Tide News the real team is the people who elect you. He says "..as an elected official you have to be the voice of the people, you have to stand up and fight for what you believe is right. Quite frankly, Alward has thrown the notion of true consultation out the back door, where you don't listen to your own elected member. All he (Dr. Parrot) was doing was echoing the concerns that he is hearing."

Doucet adds, "Alward was elected under the veil of openness and transparency, and his plans were that he was going to listen to the people."
  Parrot will now sit as an Independent in the legislature.

Pedestrian Hit By Vehicle By Old Town Tavern

A pedestrian being struck by a moving vehicle last night in St. Stephen.

District 1 RCMP being called just before 8pm to King Street, infront of the Old Town Tavern, where the man was hit.

Police tell Tide News the driver of the vehicle did stop and was questioned by police.

According to family members, the man struck received a cut on his head and nose, plus has a broken pelvis.

No word yet if any charges will be laid against the driver of the vehicle.

Police Search For Thief From Local Business

Police are still looking for a local thief and are asking the public for help.


District 1 RCMP tell Tide News between the 23rd and 25th of May (2012), someone broke into Southwest Concrete and Construction in St. Stephen.

Police say a "Mastercool" hydraulic flaring tool was taken, which is valued at over $400.

If you have any knowledge of this crime, please call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Crimestoppers will pay up to $2000 for information leading to an arrest.

"Take Back The Night" March This Friday

Shatter the Silence. Stop The Violence.


The 2nd Annual "Take Back The Night" walk will be taking place this Friday ( September 21st, 20120 ) in St. Stephen.

The Charlotte County Abuse Prevention Network hosting the walk to raise awareness of violence against women in our communities.

The Walk will go from 7pm to 9pm, marching from the Border Arena on King Street to St. Stephen's University on Main Street.

"Don't Be A Victim Of Car Theft" - District 1 RCMP

If your car is locked, most culprits would rather move on than cause damage trying to get in.


That coming from Sgt. Bob MacKnight from District 1 RCMP on how to keep yourself from becoming a victim of car theft.

MacKnight points to a number of thefts from vehicles -- and a theft of a vehicle -- in St. Stephen last week, and says in nearly every instance, the cars were unlocked, with keys inside, and valuables in the open.

He says most of the culprits he deals with will not cause damage to a car that is locked, they will simply move on to another unlocked vehicle.

MacKnights wants to remind our listeners (and readers) that they should "lock it and pocket the key". As well, with respect to valuables and cash, you should take them inside the house, or in the very least, placed out of sight. He says this is the easiest way to keep yourself from becoming a victim.

Conservative M-L-A Lambasts His Own Government On Health Care

One of Premier David Alward's own M-L-A's has some blistering criticism of the provincial government when it comes to health care. 

In a written commentary, Fundy River Valley M-L-A Dr. Jim Parrot charges the Alward Government is not listening to doctors and no effort is being made to engage them on any real issue. 

Dr. Parrot goes on to write the ball was dropped on Canadian Blood Services which is transferring blood production from Saint John to Dartmouth and almost was on the M-R-I issue.

He also complains of not being asked in his two years as an M-L-A for his input on any health related issue in spite of his many years in the health care system and being recognised as one of the top heart surgeons around.

School Water Fountains Removed With More To Follow

More than 250 water fountains in schools throughout the province have been removed because they contained high levels of lead and copper with another 180 water fountains to be replaced and 26 water treatment systems installed to fix the problem. 

That word from Provincial Education Minister Jody Carr following tests last fall that found many school water fountains had levels of lead that exceeded Health Canada guidelines and the greatest problems were in the Saint John area. 
 
More than $50,000 has been spent to provide bottled water in schools and another $320,000 has been set aside to replace water fountains but it will be December before everything is installed.
  

Grow Op Found Because Of Traffic Violation

Two men, aged 36 and 58, have been busted after the RCMP discovered a marijuana grow op by chance on Grand Manan.
 
The grow op was found after an RCMP officer followed up on a possible traffic violation when an all terrain vehicle failed to stop for police along Route 776.
 
The officer tracked the ATV to a residence on Route 776. Police got a search warrant and confiscated a quantity of marijuana plants as well as six firearms.
 
The two are scheduled to appear in court  November 15th to face drug charges.