Volunteers Needed For Rally in St. Croix Valley

You can almost hear the motorcycles revving!

The "Rally in the St. Croix Valley" is making progress as a biker festival in St. Stephen and Calais for this summer.

Canadian Chairman Bob Hamel says they are looking for creative individuals to volunteer, and help with a number of things such as lodging, entertainment, traffic control, vendors, sales during the event, ride escorts, and fundraising.

There will be a public meeting held at the Calais Motor Inn, Jan 31st, starting at 7pm, 6pm US time.

The Rally is scheduled for July 1-8, 2012.

CEO of Canadian Blood Services Says Province Made The Right Move

The CEO of Canadian Blood Services Dr. Graham Sher says remaining with CBS is the best option for the province.

He says by staying with a national system, patients and the medical community in the province can be assured of a safe and secure blood supply.

The province has announced it will be forming a watchdog group with various medical and advisory groups to ensure that safety will not be compromised.

CFIB Wants Government to Cut Through Red Tape

Grab the scissors and start cutting through red tape--that's the message from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses. The federation's Leanne Hachey says that reducing red tape is more difficult because many people aren't clear on what it means.

Sitting on the phone for hours at a time, getting two answers to the same question, mounds of unnecessary paperwork, and lengthy questionnaires are a burden on business owner's time, which could be better spent doing things that would help their businesses.

She says that because most businesses in New Brunswick are so small, it's generally one person that's left to jump through all the unnecessary hoops. 

The CFIB is getting to word out about the negative effects on red tape on business in the province with a new video series on their website starting Monday. 

You an check out the red tape video diaries at www.cfib.ca

New Road to St. Andrews Aquarium

No more sharp turns and winding hills to get to the Fundy Discovery Aquarium or the St. Andrews Biological Station.

A new road has been constructed leading directly to the Highway 127.

Brandy Cove Road, which brought traffic from the town to the Aquarium, via the Algonquin Golf Course, is now closed.

The new road is nameless for the time being.

A contest on the new name is being held by the Town of St. Andrews, Sir James Dunn Academy, and Vincent Massey Elementary.

What is The Future of School District 10?

A lot of commotion, raised voices, and emotion behind closed doors.

District 10 holding an Education Council meeting last night in St. Stephen, after hearing word the provincial government is cutting the 14 school districts in New Brunswick to 7, with 75 to 100 job losses.

Districts 6, 8,and 10 will be combined, from St. Stephen to Sussex, including Saint John.

District 6 Chair Roger Nesbitt isn't worried about the change, and says it won't affect the quality of education for students.

However, mixed emotions in St. Stephen.

District 10 Chair Joni Donahue says nothing is etched in stone until the province starts moving, and it will be very hard on district staff.

Vice Chair Wayne Spires says we need to be ready when the changes come.

SSHS In Canada's Spotlight

A special kind of report card bringing national attention to our local high school.

In November we reported St. Stephen High School conducting a "Student Health Report Card", testing students on issues like nutrition, blood pressure, cholesterol and self-esteem.

The Initiative is now reaching nation-wide attention, as they are the first to compare to affects of Body Mass Index or BMI in regards to the students' grades.

Nurse Practitioner Yvonne Bartlett says it's not a strong statistic, but they found the higher the BMI -- the lower the students' grades.

SSHS Guidance Counsellor Don Walker says "We're under the gun. Canada is watching."

Walker says SSHS has been flooded with emails and calls from schools across Canada, and health officials wanting to learn more about the project.

He says they are now in the intervention stage, helping students who discovered risk factors for heart disease and obesity improve their health.

Dive Teams to Search For Missing Child

It's Day 26 in the search for a missing toddler from Maine.

The Maine Department of Public Safety says the State Police and Warden Service will be sending dive teams to search several bodies of water today in Waterville.

20-month-old Ayla Reynolds was reported missing from her crib in her father's Waterville home on Dec 17th.

There is a $30,000 reward being offered for information on her whereabouts.

Anyone with information is asked to call Waterville Police at 207-680-4700, or the Maine State Police in Augusta at 207-624-7076.

Taxes Going Up In St. Stephen

Can St. Stephen afford the Garcelon Civic Centre?

This question being raised with the release of the town's 2012 budget, and news that taxes have risen.

Infrastructure taxes within St. Stephen are up 1.5 cents to $1.58 per $100.

Town Manager John Ferguson says, frankly, we cannot afford not to build this new facility.

Ferguson adds, St. Stephen is a great community, we must reverse the downward spiral of our social economic problems, including deviant behavior in certain segments of our population.


He says we must reverse population reduction and the exodus of young people.
Ferguson says based on projections today, the tax rate will remain where it is, at least until 2015.

Flemming for Mayor of St. Andrews

A candidate for Mayor of St. Andrews putting in his 2 cents.

Chris Flemming offering for the position, after serving 3 terms as councillor between 1984 and '91, and a term of mayor between 1998 and 2001.

He says two things he will concentrate on to help St. Andrews develop in new ways, is creating a good government by good governance, and encouraging economic development.

The municipal elections will be held in May.

Eastport Bikini / Speedo Run

It's time to find that bikini or speedo.

Registration forms are now ready for the Eastport Hearts Warming Hears Bikini and Speedo Run. This annual run will be held on Valentines Day and will raise money to keep neighbors warm in winter. The event is sponsored by Jeff and Lesley Starling, owners of the Happy Crab Restaurant. Rules and Pledge Sheets are available at the Happy Crab or by calling 207-853-9400

RCMP's Traffic Violators of the Week

The RCMP have released their traffic violators of the week

The top violator was stopped on January 6, 2012 by a St. Stephen RCMP officer. The vehicle was pulled over on Milltown Boulevard  for having expired registration plates. The vehicle also had a fictitious inspection certificate. The driver was issued a ticket for no insurance and has been fined over $1200 dollars The driver has also been ordered to appear in provincial court at a later date.

The top speeder was stopped on December 31 by a St George RCMP officer traveling on Route 1, in Pennfield. The vehicle is said to have been traveling at 142 km/h in an 90 km/h  zone. The driver received a fine of about $300.

Police reminding the public that risky behaviors like speeding, driving while impaired, and not wearing a seatbelt can result in serious charges and even jail time.

Lost Mom and Child Rescued from Woods By Boat

Scary times for a mother and her 6 year old son lost in the woods outside of Prince of Wales--but they made it home safe.

The pair found themselves lost off a hiking trail after dark last night. The lady called her husband, who got some friends together and went in to find them. By the time they did, however the mother was too cold and weak to make it out on her own.

At 8:30pm RCMP contacted the Musquash Fire Department, asking for a boat to remove the people via the water. A small boat made its way from the Prince of Wales wharf to where they were located.

The mother and son were transported to hospital by ambulance for treatment.

This was the first non-fire related rescue for  Musquash Fire Department, after deciding in December that it would respond to off-road, boat and water-related incidents.

3 Car Crash At Lunchtime In St. Stephen

A three vehicle crash re-routing traffic this afternoon in St. Stephen.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight with District 1 RCMP says two vehicles were stopped for a red light in front of the Atlantic Susperstore around noon, when a third vehicle failed to stop.

The center car was hit from behind, forcing it into the rear of the van in front of it.

Two people in the center car were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

MacKnight says the driver of the third vehicle, that started the crash, admitted to being distracted.

No Impaired Drivers Over The Holidays!

Thank You Charlotte County for drinking responsibly!

District 1 RCMP responding to a number of traffic collisions, 911 calls, and complaints of possible impaired drivers between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.

But Sgt. Bob MacKnight says not a single driver was found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol over the holiday season.

He says only minor injuries were reported from traffic collisions, and none of the drivers involved were impaired.

Police Say Foul Play In Case of Missing Maine Toddler

The Waterville Police Department in Maine believes foul play is involved with the disappearance of a toddler.

Police Chief Joseph Massey says the case of 20-month-old Ayla Reynolds, has evolved from a search for a missing child, to a criminal investigation.

The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit now taking the lead role.

Ayla was reported missing from her crib December 17th.

Man Gets Arm Stuck in VLT

A sticky situation at an uptown Saint John pool hall--fire officials had to rescue a man who got his arm trapped in a VLT.

Fire department getting a call from Dooly's on Prince Edward Square shortly after noon saying that a man was stuck to the elbow in a video lottery terminal.

According to District Chief Joe Armstrong, it took over an hour of hard work to cut the machine apart and free the man. He wasn't injured--but he probably won't be doing that again any time soon.

Police Looking for Tips in Macdougall Lake Arson

NB Crime Stoppers and the St. George RCMP are asking for your assistance into the ongoing investigation of a possible arson in the Macdougall Lake area.

Between the 20th and 28th of December 2011, individual(s) set fire to a warming shack recently installed near the Victoria Lake Pit by the Charlotte County Snow Cruisers. The structure was valued over $2000.

They're asking any one with knowledge of the offence to please contact Crime Stopper. They're offering up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Compensation for Agent Orange Victims at CFB Gagetown

The federal government has decided to approve more payouts under the compensation program for those people affected by the spraying of Agent Orange at C-F-B Gagetown.

The Canadian Press has learned approximately 30 people will now receive payments for exposure to the defoliant in the 1960s.

They were eligible for funds but filed an application too late.

Government sources say the rules were reviewed after it received several complaints when a number of families went public with their bureaucratic battles.

Air Miles Will Now Have Expiry Date

Air Miles is imposing an expiry date on reward miles starting today. It says participants in the Air Miles reward program will be required to use their existing miles before December 31st, 2016. 


Reward miles earned after New Year's Eve will only be valid for five years after they're first posted. 

Until now, the miles never carried an expiration date.

911 Hoax Gets Mispec Teen in Hot Water

Don't fool around and make false emergency calls.

That message from the RCMP after an extensive search in Mispec was prompted by a hoax. A teenager who claimed to be wounded at a camp is now facing a charge of making a false 9-1-1 call. 

Corporal George Parisella tells us this is no joke, and that 911 is only to be used for emergencies.

The RCMP say the youth called 9-1-1 and sounded very agitated when he claimed to have injured himself while cutting wood and was not able to give clear directions to where he was.
The teenager was eventually located none the worse for wear in a camp off West Beach Road.