Monday, April 19, 2010

Highway Website

With the summer months quickly approaching, those leisurely Sunday drives can quickly become a pain with lots of road construction going on around the province.

Well the provnicial government is launching a website to help alleviate those concerns.

Transportation Minister Denis Landry says the tool will allow commuters, tourists and businesspeople the opportunity to take a look at all road work being done aroudn the province to help plan their trips.

The website will feature a project map, with icons giving information on current construction, future projects, as well as recently completed jobs.

For More Information http://www.gnb.ca/0113/Projects/proj-list-e.asp

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Forest Fire Season Starts Tomorrow

Forest fire season around the Province gets started tomorrow and runs until Halloween. Charles Beaulieu is a wild-fire prevention officer and tells us, grass and brush fires started by home-owners are a huge problem.

Last year, 251 hectares of wooded area were lost because of 195 forest fires but Beaulieu calls that a slow year due to all the rain. To find out if your in an area that does allow burning, you can call 1-866-458-8080.

Deadline for Taxes Quickly Approaching

The end of the month is a little less than two weeks away -- and -- that should ring a bell.
We have until April 30th to file our tax returns -- and -- Roger Haineault of Help 4 Taxes tells us  the home renovation tax credit is proving to be a popular deduction this year:
Haineault says about half of the 25-million Canadians who should file an income tax return will do so over the next two weeks.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Teen Convicted Of Murder Sentenced

A 16 year old girl from the Hampton area has been given the maximum sentence allowed under the Youth Justice Act for second degree murder. She stabbed 78 year old Frank Tonge in the neck with a butcher knife in his Damacus home and has been handed 4 years in jail followed by 3 years of supervision in the community. Prosecutor Lucie Mathurin says the girl, whose name can't be released, will undergo intensive rehabilitation.The programme costs 100 thousand dollars a year but defense lawyer Dave Lutz maintains she's worth it. He goes on to say she has led a traumatised life thus far but he's confident she can turn things around.
Mr. Justice Hugh McLellen acknowledged the victim shared marijuana with her and engaged in inappropriate sexual touching but he added the law does not condone the idea that people who feel victimised can kill those who have wronged them.

Body of Missing Fisherman Found And Identified

Friends and family of Scott Jeffrey Pineo are mourning his loss. The 23-year old Quispamsis man has been identified as one of two fisherman who fell into the Nerepis River when a boat overturned and drowned. The other man in the boat managed to swim to shore Thursday afternoon but neither was wearing a life jacket. Pineo's body was found close to where the boat capsized late yesterday afternoon.

Friday, April 16, 2010

National Volunteer Week April 18-24

New Brunswickers volunteer more than 50 million hours a year. They work 24,000 full-time jobs without pay for causes they care about.
National Volunteer Week pays tribute to these dedicated individuals who donate their time and energy toward helping others. Across Canada, about 12 million volunteers devote themselves to charitable work and non-profit organizations.

Missing Man feared drowned durning a fishing trip

No name is being released after a 23-year old man is missing and may have drowned during a fishing trip in Grand Bay Westfield.

RCMP was called to the Nerepis River this afternoon just after twelve o'clock to find an over-turned boat.

One of the men in the boat managed to swim to shore but the 23-year old is believed to have drowned.

Officers says the initial investigation shows neither man was wearing a life jacket.

Saint John Man guilty of attempted Murder

A Saint John man will be sentenced next month on three charges including attempted murder.
55-year old Adrienne Lepage had already pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and abduction.

The attempted murder charge was handed down this afternoon by Judge Henrick Tonning.

The charges stem from when the Barnwood Pub in Quispamsis was robbed in November of last year.

Sargeant Craig McDougall is head of major crime with Rothesay Regional Police and says this is one of the most serious crimes he has seen.

Judge Tonning called Lepage's actions cold and calculated.

He duct taped 22-year old Jessica Michaels hands and legs, threw her in the back of a van, drove her to a gravel pit in Lepreau, duct taped a bag over her head and left her.

Sentencing will take place in Hampton on May.27th.










(Adrienne Lepage Escorted From Hampton Court)

(Photo by Jim Hennessy)

Prescribed Burn in Baring Maine

The Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge will conduct prescribed burns today and Saturday April 16 & 17.

Motorists on the Charlotte Road in Baring Maine will need to be aware.Warning signs will be posted to advise drivers of an hazardous conditions.

If people spot smoke within the Moosehorn Refuge and you're not sure it's the prescribed burn call the refuge's office at 454-7161. The speed limit on the Charlotte Road within the refuge area is posted at 45 miles-per-hour.

For more information on Fire Management on National Wildlife Refuges visit www.fws.gov/fire/

Calais Regional Hospital Participates in Flags Across America for Donate Life Month

April is National Donate Life Month. To recognize the month, Calais Regional Hospital is participating in Flags Across America, a Donate Life America initiative.
A Donate Life flag will be on display at the hospital during the month of April to honor and celebrate the hundreds of thousands of donors and recipients whose lives have been affected by organ, eye and tissue donation.

The Flags Across America initiative is meant to encourage the public to designate donation decisions by registering their wishes in their state donor registries.

Calais Regional Hospital is proud to support organ and tissue donation efforts. To register or learn more about organ and tissue donation visit www.donatelife.net or contact Barbara Clark, RN at Calais Regional Hospital at 454-7521.


Thursday, April 15, 2010

It's Paddlefest Time once again...

The 16th annual Paddlefest Music Festival will be held in Saint Andrews from Friday, May 7th until Sunday, May 9th. For the first time Paddlefest will be held in the town square.

Originally organized by Periwinkle Productions' Jamie Steel and passed down to local business owner Kevin Simmonds and music promoter/adventure recreation alumni Stacey MacLean.

Paddlefest continues to be a highlight in the small town, and its first true sign of spring.

Over the years Paddlefest a major attraction to people from across the province and beyond.

This year's event features a wide range of music, both from local performers and acts from across Canada, with a mixture of outdoor activities, a Saturday songwriters circle as well as a Farmer's Market.

Paddlefest corresponds with the yearly Town Wide Yard Sale as well.

For more information http://www.standrewspaddlefest.ca/

Corporte Food Challenge to be held in June

The St Stephen Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a golf tournament at the St Stephen Golf Club to raise funds and food for the Food Bank on June 4th.
In addition to the Golf Tournament there will be a silent auction held on the 4th with bidding between 12pm-5pm.  There will be a BBQ for golfers starting at 5pm and prizes will be awarded to all golfers who participate.

In the weeks leading up to the tournament there will be a Corporate Food Challenge which will have some St Stephen businesses competing against each other to see who can collect the most food to donate to the cause.

If you are interested in competing in the corporate challenge could you please contact Danielle Sullivan at 506.466.5055 or danielle.sullivan@cbdc.ca before April 28th. The challenge will run May 3 - 28.

Governor Signs Order to Put Maine in Better Position to Access Federal Education Funds

Governor John E. Baldacci issued an Executive Order to put Maine in a better position to compete for a portion of the $4.3 billion in federal Race to the Top education funds.

The order directs the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education to establish a stakeholder group to review potential models for evaluating teacher and principal performance, a critical requirement of the federal competitive grant program.

The federal standard for Race to the Top requires that school districts be able to use student achievement as one of a multiple of elements in teacher and principal evaluations.

Maine needs to have a process for developing the models well underway by June 1 to meet the application deadline of the federal government.

High School Students attend 17th annual Job Fest

Students from St. Stephen to Sussex are getting a chance to test their job-hunting skills as the 17th annual Job Fest today at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre.
The Job Fest is an initiative of the Government of New Brunswick, J.D. Irving Ltd. and school districts 10, 8 and 6.

These presentations cover subjects such as how to write résumés and cover letters; and how to participate in job interviews effectively.

Law Week

A new informative website is among the initiatives that will help mark Law Day, today in the province. Law Week events will be held in New Brunswick from April 11 to 17.

To celebrate Law Day and promote access to a range of public law-information services at http://www.familylawnb.ca/

Man receives 1.3 million dollar fine for contraband tobacco

A Moncton man has been ordered to pay fines of $1,330,600 in connection with a major seizure of contraband tobacco.
Trevor Howie Dow was stopped in 2008 and caught with more than two million contraband tobacco cigarettes.

Gas Prices Cheaper today....

The price of gas is cheaper this morning after the weekly setting. Self serve regular is down a couple of cents at 102 a litre. Diesel is also lower at 103.9. Furnace oil is listed at 91.7 and propane is 103.5 a litre.

Meanwhile cross border gas is selling for .81 cents and litre Canadian.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Arrest Made in False Bomb Scare at SSHS

St Stephen RCMP have arrested a youth, under the age of 18 that admitted to making the false bomb threat that was received at the St Stephen High School on Monday. The youth was released on conditions and will be appearing in court at a later date..

RCMP Safety Presentation

The RCMP and St. George Elemantary Home and School have teamed up to offer a Parent Internet Safety Presentation.

This event will help Parents and children learn to protect themselves while on the internet.

The presentation is set for this Thursday at The St. George Elementary school at 6:30... All Parents and student of District ten are encourged to come.

Pink Shirt Day

We hear in the news often to much! Bullying... when will it stop.
Locals here in Charlotte County will be doing their part to raise awareness about bullying by wearing their Pink Shirts Today .You 'll see them at Scotia Bank, Just for Kids the Courier and the Boys and Girls club just to name a few.

School District Ten will be participating in Pink Shirt Day along with School Districts across the Province.

Local Business will also be doing their parts around the town to promote the awareness against bullying...

Reports confirm that bullying is starting at younger ages and is far more frequent and aggressive than ever before.

Make sure to send your pictures to the tide.ca of your groups do your part to curve bullying in our area!

For More information on Pink Shirt Day .... http://www.pinkshirtday.ca/