Wind Storm Hits Saint John Hard

A wild day of wind and rain have been incredibly destructive in the Port City.

The causeway is closed to traffic Eastbound because of high water and Bayside Drive is closed from the Causeway to Redhead Road due to downed power lines.
The Chipman Hill Pedway has now reopened as the windows have been secured. Large glass planes were dangerously close to coming out of the pedway and falling onto to Chipman Hill.

NB Power is reporting more than 33,000 customers are without power in the rain and wind storm. Over 8600 in impacted in Darlings Island, Quispam, Rothesay, Hampton and the Peninsula. Major outages are also reported in Sussex and St. Stephen and Moncton.

Saint John Energy is dealing with numerous broken poles and wires down and expect that work to continue until tonight.

City police telling Tide News the Redhead dyke is now closed due to the high water.
High surf is reported at Saint's Rest today.

Lancaster Avenue is blocked to traffic at Simms Corner after a power pole came down.
The storm leading to cancelled and delayed flights at the Saint John Airport.

Legion Ownership Was A Question Of Ethics

The deed is done.
However,  many residents are asking why the Town of St. Stephen is giving the old Milltown Legion building to the Legion members, when the Legion plans on selling the building to the St. Croix Christian Centre.

St. Stephen Town Manager John Ferguson tells Tide News, "Research of the deeds found that when the previous legion building burnt down in 1965, it led to the construction of a new legion building being built on Town property. But the legion that was built, was actually built by the legion members, and paid for and constructed by the legion members."

Ferguson tells us it was a question of ethics. He says, "The ethical route that Council took in this matter was to say, 'Do we believe this should belong to the Legion?' They determined whether or not they could own property, they found out that they could, and Council is basically deeding the property to them to do with what they wish."

High Winds Cause Havoc For Charlotte County

The high winds are wreaking havoc for NB Power crews who are busy with downed poles, wires and power outages.

Currently, NB Power's website says there are 3385 people without juice in Charlotte County.
The hardest hit area in Charlotte County is the Dufferin area outside of St. Stephen with 884 without power.

We have several tips to our 466-2222 News Line of a large spruce tree, approximately 50 feet long, that has toppled over power lines and is covering 3/4 of the road in Chamcook. The tree is positioned by the Clamdigger Take-out and NB Power crews have surrounded the tree with pylons until they are able to take care of the issue.

Every area from St. Stephen through to St. Andrews and Bayside, clear to St. George and surrounding areas has been affected by power outages.

Vocational Centre Needs Help!

Anything and Everything -- we just need donations.

That word coming from the St. Croix Vocational Centre in St. Stephen, who are left with only a small table of items used to support their organization.

Manager Tammy Parks tells Tide News their clients work sorting through clothes, books, and household items, as well as in the Wood & Wardrobe Thrift Store. She says, "It's kind of like a never-ending circle because the items people purchase helps the customers but they also help us because we have to make a certain amount of our own money in order to keep our organization going. The government funds us a portion, but they don't fund us completely."







Parks tells Tide News when it comes to people giving donations -- they're not fussy. "We sell clothing, men's, women's, children's, infants, we sell furniture, appliances, books, jewelery, you name it, we sell it. There is a corner for everything in this store."

The Vocational Centre serves intellectually disabled adults in Charlotte County, teaching them many things like literacy, life skills, and work ethics. Parks says donations are sorted, sold at the Wood & Wardrobe Thrift Store, and in turn, creates revenue to fund the program.

Parks says donations can be dropped off at 129 Union Street, and they are also willing to pick up any donations as far away as St. Andrews.
To contact the Vocational Centre call 466-4977.
(In Picture Kevin Clark and Bobby Clarke standing infront of what is left of their dwindling pile of donations.)

NBCC States Case To Council Over Donation To Kids Carnival

"It's a community engagement piece, not a way to fanaggle money."

That word from NBCC Student Life Coordinator Justin Sweeney while defending the 5th Annual Kids Winter Carnival to St. Stephen Town Council. The debate over a $200 donation brought Sweeney to Council Chambers last night (Monday) to clarify a few things reported elsewhere by local media.


Sweeney says, "The mention of fundraising and trying to raise funds for ourselves and things of that nature, I felt that was very innacurate, I felt that was where the misperception was." Sweeney tells Tide News he wants to clarify the event is not a fundraiser, infact, NBCC is in the hole around $1600 from the past 4 years. "People ask, and we'll say, 'Yeah, It was a huge success!' and for us, we measure success in the number of kids who attend the event, the fact that they have never had any injuries, and the only time we tend to see a kid upset is when their parents say it's time to go, so I mean, to us, that's the major success."

After Sweeney stated his case, St. Stephen Town Council voted 4-2 in favor of the $200 donation.

The 5th Annual Kids Winter Carnival will take place next Saturday, Feb 9th, at NBCC, from 10-6pm.

Charlotte County Residents Helping Local Fundraisers

Local communities were in the giving spirit this weekend.

The Tide's 11th Annual Marathon Food Drive held Friday and Saturday at the Atlantic Superstore in St. Stephen raising 1109 pounds of food along with $566 in cash donations for our local foodbank, the Volunteer Center of Charlotte County.

Meanwhile, Saturday night the Charlotte County Crime Stoppers held their annual community hockey game at the Fundy Arena in Black Harbour.
Locals saw Team 911 beat the Funday High School Alumni 14-9.



The fundraising game raised $1400 for Charlotte County Crime Stoppers.

Buildings Torn Down, Cause Still Unknown

The two buildings on Mecklenburg that received the most fire damage are being torn down today.

The Divisional Chief for Fire Prevention Mark Wilson tells Tide News they're bringing in a private contractor to bring the dilapidated and dangerous buildings down. While that's happening, investigators will be keeping a keen eye on the buildings as they continue their search for the origin of the fire. Wilson says they still don't know what started the fire, but believe it started at the rear of the vacant building.
Witnesses, first responders, and residents will all be interviewed today to help solve the mystery.
As for the frozen cars, a tow truck will move them around the corner in hopes that the sun will melt their icy casing. Wilson says there's been no other damage to the cars, that became encased after water from the fire hose froze on them.

The major fire Saturday morning fire destroyed buildings at 72 and 74 Mecklenburg street, and badly damaged another. 16 people have been displaced.

5 Busted After 4 Month Drug Investigation

Three men and 2 women, all from Saint John, busted after a four month drug investigation with police confiscating drugs with an estimated street value of more than $11,300.

City Police, the RCMP, Rothesay Regional Police and  the Canada Border Services Agency staged raids on Somerset Street, McLaren Blvd and Baxter Road along with a vehicle being searched.

Police say they seized cocaine, marijuana, prescription pills, 4 firearms, ammunition, a prohibited knife, other weapons, contraband smokes and more than $6000 in cash. 

St. Andrews Woman Helping Fire Victims In Saint John

7 kids including an unborn baby from 3 famillies are looking for everything you need to live after a devastating fire on Mecklenburg street in Saint John.

Stephanie Craig lives in St. Andrews but has an apartment on Orange street in the city and is friends with one of the fire victims.
 
She created a Facebook group in the aftermath of the blaze and has seen a tremendous outpouring of support with people offering everything school supplies to baby clothes.

She tells us she is impressed with the support was surprised to wake up this morning and see the group now has 1000 members.

Craig says they need the use of a large vehicle to transport larger items that people are offering to donate.  

To help out, you can post directly on the Mecklenburg Facebook page, click here

Fresh Start Services through the Salvation Army on Prince Edward Street.

Cannon Security on Bayside Drive above Beats and Bytes.

(photo courtesy of Brett Stevens)

Logs Smash Through Cab In Musquash Crash

Plenty of damage after a crash in Musquash last night.

Officers with the Musquash Fire Department tell Tide News a man driving a pick-up crashed his truck into a utility pole around 11pm last night (Sunday) on Route 790.
At the time, the truck was carrying logs, which crashed into the passenger side of the cab from the force of the impact.
Firefighters say they blocked traffic until NB Power crews could arrive. They tell us power and phone lines were down, including one home that had the service entrance ripped off of it.

Officials say the man was able to get out of the truck on his own and walk away from the vehicle before firefighters arrived. The man was sent to hospital to be treated.
(Pictures courtesy of Lt. Paul Poirier with the MFD)

VIDEO: 2 Buildings Destroyed By Fire In Saint John

Fire crews are still battling a major fire in the south end in Saint John, which has completely destroyed 2 buildings and caused serious water and smoke damage to a third.

Fire Platoon Chief Peter Saab tells Tide news the fire started at 71 Mecklenberg Street around 2 am, then spread to 2 other buildings eastward. The first two buildings are completely gutted, and had their back ends completely cave in from the damage. Saab explains the first building was unoccupied, while the surrounding homes were evacuated and no one was hurt.

Saab says it's a stubborn fire that's deep in the building and will take awhile yet to put out. Over 30 fire fighters are on scene, Saab says they're not only battling fire but the cold and exhaustion.

The Canadian Red Cross say 16 people were evacuated and sheltered on city transit buses until Red Cross volunteers arranged emergency lodging at motels.

There's still no sign as to what caused the fire. Fire investigators will look at the scene once everything has been extinguished.

Know Ice Strength By Color & Thickness

As we're smack dab in the middle of winter, skating outdoors on frozen lakes looks very tempting.

But to be safe, Divisional Chief for Fire Prevention Mark Wilson says you have to look at the color of the ice and measure how thick it is. Ice is strongest when it's clear blue, if it's white/opaque it's half as strong, and if it's grey in color it's very unsafe. If the ice is 15 cm thick it's safe to walk on, 20 cm means it can hold groups or party games, and 25+ cm can handle snow mobiles.

Wilson adds it's best to avoid going out alone and at night. For more information on ice safety, click here.

After School Programs Get Boost From Province

After-school programs getting a $52,000 boost from the provincial government.

The After School Hours grant program helps fund opportunities for school children to be active and engaged in fun activities. First Nations, schools, licensed day cares, community organizations and family resource centres in Saint John, Fredericton and 6 other communities have received the funding.

Healthy and Inclusive Communities Minister Dorothy Shephard says after-school hours are a key time and opportunity for kids to be active.

Sarah Wagner, interim executive director of the organization, says there's a need in the province for quality after-school programming that's affordable and accessible.

Premier Hasn't Seen Change With Ousted MLA

Premier David Alward says he's ready and willing to sit down with independent Fundy River Valley MLA Dr. Jim Parrot, but doubt he'll see a change.

Parrot was ousted from the Tory caucus in September after he criticized the party for not listening to doctors when making decisions on healthcare.  Alward says he understands Parrot wants to meet with him, and he will, but adds that so far he's seen no change in Parrot's attitude.

Alward says when Parrot made his comments he broke their trust, which is why they made the difficult decision to cut him from the Conservatives.

Alward says they did wish him well over the holidays, when Parrot underwent heart surgery.

Great Outdoors Full Of Winter Activities

Getting outside and enjoying the bitter winter can be 'cooler' than you think.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is showing you the beautiful outdoors at a wellness fair today at Market Square. NCC spokesperson Andrew Holland says the Musquash Estuary boasts 3,900 acres of forest and two trails. He says that's plenty of space for activities like birding, snowshoeing, and even a popular treasure hunting activity called geocaching.

The Fundy Wellness Network will also be promoting healthy eating, living and activities today in Market Square from 1 until 4.

Cross-Country Ski Event Hits The Slopes

Tomorrow an annual cross-country ski event will be hitting the slopes at the Kouchibouguac National Park.

The 29th annual Boules de Neige Loppet will offer 3 different distances for skiers that include 3, 10 and 30 kilometers. People who register will also get a warm meal. The oldest and youngest competitors that compete at least 10 km will receive a plaque that will be displayed at the waxing hut in the park.

The event gets underway at 9:30 am for 30 km and 11:00 am for 3 and 10 km tomorrow morning.

For more information, click here.

Literacy Skills As Essential As Healthy Food

Having strong literacy skills is as essential to your well-being as eating healthy... that's according to Deanna Allen, executive director of Laubach Literacy NB.

Today is Family Literacy Day, a day to recognize and promote the importance of literacy for both parents and children. Allen tells Tide news parents should put an effort into helping kids improve their reading and writing in their everyday lives. She says there's many easy exercises parents can do, like asking their child to read recipes, labels on boxes and picking out places on a map.

Although some parents may not have a love of reading themselves, Allen says just like eating healthy foods it's essential and kids will imitate their parents. She says 60% of people over 16 in New Brunswick have literacy problems, which is a pattern that needs to change.

Inquest Into Death At Aquatic Centre

An inquest into a death that occurred at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre in Saint John over a year ago is scheduled for court.

17-year-old Yi Fan Wang died in September 2011 from injuries sustained during a public swim session. The inquest is scheduled for April at the Sydney Street Courthouse where Chief Coroner Gregory Forestell and a jury will hear evidence from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding the international students death.

The jury will then take that information and make recommendations so a situation like this well never reoccur.

Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels---Or, Suspcious Fives

Your mama always warned you not to take any wooden nickels....and if you're in Charlotte County you might also want to watch out for counterfeit fives.

District 1 RCMP is investigating four incidents where counterfeit $5.00 Canadian bills were passed...... two at grocery stores and a pub in St Stephen, N.B. and in the elementary school cafeteria in St Andrews.

All the notes were 1986 series with the same serial number.Police have interviewed at least one person suspected of passing the counterfeit money. If you think you've received a fake bill contact the police or Crime Stoppers.

A Stark Message About The Provincial Economy

The provincial economy is not bouncing back from the recession of 2008 with New Brunswick at the bottom of the scale in economic growth. That message delivered by Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs at his first pre-budget consultation meeting.

Higgs heard from alot of union members at the first of his pre-budget consultation meetings with the message from them being it's time to tax the rich more. Higgs says if you tax small businesses too much then more people won't be hired.

Peter Woychuk, who teaches skilled trades at Simonds, fears the province is failing its students even though Higgs pointed out student enrollment is falling but costs are still rising.

The leader of the provincial Green Party David Coon advocated personal income taxes be raised and a new tax created on junk food.