Brian Gallant Voted New NB Liberal Leader

Brian Gallant is the new Liberal leader of New Brunswick.

Gallant won the leadership with 59% of the vote, beating out former cabinet minister Mike Murphy who got almost 38% of the points, and farmer Nick Duivenvoorden who finished third with less than 3%.

The 30-year-old Moncton lawyer says he will meet with members of the party caucus over the next few days. Gallant also told Liberals in Moncton that it was discouraging that the Tories would ridicule the thousands of Liberals who took part in their party's leadership vote, after Conservative Jean-Paul Soucy managed to register his dog to vote.

The party says more than 14,000 people across the province cast ballots in the leadership vote, which began last Tuesday.

M-L-A Vows To Question Air Ambulance Service In Legislature

The issue of Air Ambulance service to and from Grand Manan will be brought to the floor of the Legislature by Liberal M-L-A Rick Doucet of Charlotte-The Isles because people are concerned.

Doucet tells CHSJ News Ambulance NB is in damage control after the latest incident involving a 60 year old man who suffered a heart attack and waited 2 hours and 40 minutes to be airlifted to the Regional Hospital.

Ambulance NB C-E-O Alan Stephen has told Tide News the patient needed care on board the plane that was beyond what could be provided by the Atlantic Charters plane and that's why they waited for the Air Care plane to fly in from dropping off a patient in Halifax.

Doucet says he's hearing so many different stories, it's time to get to the bottom of what's going on and if the system has to be fixed, then get it done.

Police Looking For Dangerous 24 Year Old

City police are looking for a 24 year old man they say is dangerous and has a history of violence.

William Edward Hayward is 6 foot 1, 272 pounds with a shaved head, blue eyes and many tattoos.

Hayward may be in Saint John or Moncton. 

If you see him, you are asked to contact City police or Crime Stoppers at 648-3333 or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Tory Registers Dog To Vote In Liberal Leadership

Is this proof that politics has gone to the dogs... literally?

The executive director of Provincial Conservative party was able to vote using his dog's name for the Liberal leadership.
Jean-Paul Soucy says he registered his dog to vote online.
 
Liberal party president Britt Dysart says verification efforts have been made and the party is confident their voters list is solid.

City Man Faces Charges After Trafficking Ring Bust

A 28-year-old Saint John man is expected to face drug trafficking charges in connection with an inter-provincial investigation by Quebec police.

Operation Coyote targeted a drug trafficking ring believed to be operating between Quebec, Nova Scotia and this province.

RCMP with help from City police arrested the man on September 21st and about 10 pounds of pot was seized at the time.

The man is due in court later to face charges.

Fright Fans Can Check Out A Haunted House

If you like a dark twist on classic nursery rhymes then you might want to check out this Haunted House.

The Simonds Fire Department is hosting its  5th annual Haunted House at 184 Range Road tonight and tomorrow night.

Deputy Chief Bill Peacock tells Tide News you expect to see a different version of the 3 little pigs and more

He says Goldilocks cut the heads off three bears and mounted them and the house has a clown theme as well.

The Haunted House opens at 5pm tonight at 184 Range Road.

Halloween Fun Run Raises Money For Community

Runners of all ages will be getting in the Halloween spirit this morning!

The 4th annual "Creepy Crawl" fun run will be kickin' off at Beaconsfield Middle School in Saint John at 9:30 am. There's a 1 km kids run, 3 km challenge for middle school students and 5 kilometre run/walk for adults.

Organizer Connie Coffin tells Tide news there's lots of fun Halloween decorations along the course and suggests runners wear costumes.

Coffin says every year their run club votes on where the money should go. This year proceeds from the run are split between PRO Kids and the Carlton Community Centre on the west side. Coffin says those two were picked because the centre gives their run club space to meet and PRO kids helps kids in sports and recreation. Last year the group raised just over $1,100. They'll also be collecting non-perishable food items for the food bank.

The run is $10 for adults, $5 for kids and little ones are free.

CUPE Protests At Route 1 Opening

Not everyone in the crowd at the Route 1 Gateway opening was celebrating.


A Protest by CUPE local 963 representing the employees of NB Liquor attending the event at the Pennfield Elementary School yesterday (Thursday, October 25th).
CUPE representative Marcos Salib tells Tide News they are concerned over the privatization being done by the province. Salib says, "..obviously, when you have assets, you should not be selling those assets. That's money that brings tax revenues, money that stays in the communities." He adds, "We are very concerned about those closures and the loss of employment as well."
The provincial government previously announced the closure of NB Liquor stores in St. George and Bristol, replacing them with much smaller agency stores that will be privately owned.

Joanne Murray who currently works at the St. George NB Liquor store tells Tide News after 33 years, she was asked to pick a different store. She says she was given the option to pick between a location in St. Stephen, St. Andrews, or any location in Saint John. Murray says she is not sure what she wants to do, as her husband is sick and at the moment she works only four minutes from home. She says she is worried what the winter months will bring having to travel on the highway so far between home and her job if she chooses another NB Liquor location. Murray adds that NB Liquor offered her another position for the same pay and travel expenses would be paid, but only for the first three months.

CUPE Local 963 President Martha Thompson tells Tide News they are upset over the privatization of taxpayer-owned NB Liquor stores. She says, "I want them (the provincial government) to reverse their decision. The agency stores don't give the customer service, they don't have the product knowledge we have, and the people in those communities deserve a real liquor store."

CUPE is asking the provincial government to reverse their decision to close the NB Liquor locations in St. George and Bristol as the communities need the local jobs.

Route 1 Gateway Officially Open

The new Route 1 Gateway is officially open.


Premier David Alward told the crowd gathered at the Pennfield Elementary School yesterday (Thursday, October 25th), this highway is not just infrastructure -- but a tool. He says, "It is a tool to allow efficient movement and safe movement of goods and services in and out of New Brunswick. The highway is going to allow us to do better business in a more efficient way, but more inportantly, in a safe way for many years to come."

The $540 million project by Dexter Contruction is finished nearly a year ahead of time, and at it's peak created about 700 jobs.

South-West New Brunswick MP John Williamson says his government's top priority is building the economy and protecting jobs. He says, "On behalf of the Harper Government I am very pleased to mark the completion of the Route 1 Gateway Project. It's very rare that large infrastructure projects come in ahead of schedule and under budget, thereby saving dollars from taxpayers that we can use for other projects and initiatives."

Williamson spoke on behalf of Minister Keith Ashfield who is recovering from a heart attack.

Transportation Minister Claude Williams says everyone in New Brunswick can now travel safely on the highway. Williams says, "I join all New Brunswickers in saying thank you to all those involved in making the Route 1 Gateway a safe highway to travel on."

The entire 240 km stretch between St. Stephen and River Glade is now a divided, four-lane highway.

MLA Calls For Change To Air Ambulance Policy

More controversy on Grand Manan about taking patients to the mainland.

Liberal M-L-A Rick Doucet of Charlotte-The Isles tells Tide News a woman who had suffered a heart attack had to wait for a few hours for the Air Care plane to arrive even though an Atlantic Charters plane was nearby.

Doucet says "If the Air Care flight is going to be delayed at a point where they don't understand how long it's going to be, then the doctor should have the last say , 'Look, we're going to get this patient off the island immediately,' and that's the bottom line here."


Doucet is calling on the new Health Minister Ted Flemming to get the policy straight. Doucet says he received an email from a relative of the person who suffered the heart attack charging the system in place now isn't working and quite frankly "sucks".

3 Teens Arrested During Lunch At SSHS

Three teens from St. Stephen High School getting a set of handcuffs for lunch.


Yesterday, (Monday, October 22nd, 2012) during lunch hour, a 17 year old boy, a 16 year old boy, and a 15 year old girl being arrested at St. Stephen High School.

All three teens are from the St. Stephen area.

Police say charges of trafficking marijuana and possession of marijuana are anticipated, and the arrests were the result of information District 1 RCMP received regarding drug use and trafficking around school property.

The Mounties say the teens have been released from custody to their parents.

Sgt. Bob MacKnight says "District 1 RCMP and local educators are commited to ensuring school is a safe environment for students. It's important to disrupt the drug trade influence on teens in our community, as we know that drug use is the root cause of crime."

Two Teens Stabbed On School Bus

The trip to school would have been really scary.

Two teen boys making their way to school this morning got hurt by a 17 year old in a stabbing incident on a school bus.

It happened around 8:30 this morning on Canterbury Street in front of Saint John High School.

Grade 11 student Kyle Soucy was standing outside the school when the bus pulled up and he tells Tide News he saw the bus driver pointing to the back of the bus and he could see fists flying and then someone got off the bus saying someone had been stabbed.

Sgt. Chuck Elgee of the Saint John Police Service tells Tide News the 17 year oldis  in custody.

The two teen victims were treated in hospital and released.

School District spokesperson Debbie Thomas tells Tide News that parents would have received a direct message from the school and they are working directly with the police on the matter.

Speeder Fined Almost $900 In Bethel

Local RCMP say a driver has been charged after speeding more than 50 kilometres over the speed limit.


Last Friday, October 19th, 2012, District 1 RCMP stopping a vehicle on Highway 1 in Bethel for driving 184 km/h in a 110 km/h zone.

St. Stephen Police say after stopping the vehicle, the driver then attempted to escape on foot, but, police say he was quickly apprehended.

RCMP say he was fined $604.50 for speeding more than 50 km/h over the posted speed limit, as well as $292.50 for failing to stop for police.

One Of The Biggest Redneck Fundraisers In Charlotte County

It was one of the biggest redneck fundraisers in Charlotte County.


The 2nd Annual CCSPCA Mud Bog yesterday (Sunday, Oct.21st)  raising $2641.91 and an SUV packed to the brim with supplies for our local animal shelter. This is over double the amount raised at last year's event.

Organizer Aaron Anderson tells Tide News he -- and the rest of the Offroaders Crew-- were worried not many people would come to the mud bog since the event was post-poned on Saturday due to rain. Anderson says he and Vice President of the Charlotte County Offroaders, Joe McFarlane were surprised over 1200 spectators signed in at the entrance with many more coming through a back way.

In total, 19 trucks attempted the 200 foot mud bog. In the competition there were two classes. Class 1 had entries with 35'' tires and under, and Class 2 had entries with tires 36'' and above.

1st place in Class 1 went to Anthony Hatt, who says this was the first time getting his Jeep dirty, since he just finished building it.

1st place in Class 2 went to Billy Fournier with his RAV 4 on 39'' tires.
Anderson says after such a successful fundraiser the Offroaders are already planning for next year.

You may want to clean the dirt off of your calendars.

New Sushi Restaurant Set To Open Uptown

A new restaurant is rolling in uptown, Saint John.

Work has begun to create Ta-Ke Sushi, which will be opening on King Street this December. Tidenews spoke with Glen Lee, who came up from Toronto to help his father Yang open the Japanese restaurant. Lee says his dad has been in the business for over 20 years, opening restaurants in Kingston (Ontario), Toronto, and Charlottetown. They noticed there weren't a lot of Japanese restaurants in Saint John, or even New Brunswick. Lee says his dad fell in love with the city, and that we can expect good food when it opens.

According to Lee they do traditional maki, but also have a variety of unique rolls with names like "Las Vegas."

They'll also be hiring 10 people to work for the restaurant, which is being built in the former Quality Convenience Store location. The name 'Ta-Ke' (pronounced 'tah-kay') means bamboo.

QPlex Winning Active Living Award

The QPlex getting provincial recognition for the healthy changes it's made in Quispamsis.

The facility won the Recreation New Brunswick Active Living Award, which Director of Community Services Dana Purton Dickson says comes from being a very open and accessible facility. The QPlex has a free hour of public skate and swim, as well as a walking track, dog park and community garden.

The QPlex has been open for just over a year and a half.

Irving Tractor Trailer Containing Diesel On Fire

Saint John Fire Department responding to an Irving tractor trailer on fire.

Platoon Chief Mark Wilson says crews were called to the trailer which was at the Seely Street exit, just above Rockwood Court, at the exit of Highway 1. Wilson says crews quickly put out the heavy fire found at the rear of the tractor trailer and cooled the truck.

The rest of the diesel was transferred to another tractor trailer.

Firefighters Save Wheelchair Bound Man From Fire

A 61-year-old man who uses a wheelchair is recovering in hospital from smoke inhalation after being rescued from a house fire in Quispamsis.

KV Fire Department tells Tide news they were called to the bungalow at 695 Hampton Road just after midnight. Smoke was billowing out of the home while they searched for the homeowner. Fire crews managed to put out the fire, which they say was mainly confined to the living room and was crawling up the ceiling.

Rothesay police say they received the call saying a cushioned chair in the home was on fire. Police add his neighbors say the homeowner is a chronic smoker. Police tell Tide news the "KV fire department are the heroes, they're the ones that saved that man from dying."

Author Stephen King Surprises Sussex Students

Students at Sussex High School getting quite a surprise yesterday.

Well known suspense and horror author Stephen King making a special trip into the school on Friday to do a writing workshop.

Teacher Sarah-Jane Smith tells Tide news the students spent the past year convincing King to come to the school. She says they sent over 1,200 persuasive letters, which King read all of. The students also made music and film projects posted to YouTube. Smith says King talked about how to make a story suspenseful, worked with them one-on-one and read their work out loud.

King is from Bangor, Maine and is known for writing The Green Mile, The Shining, The Stand, Carrie, The Dark Tower series and more.

Clean Out Your Closet & Lend A Helping Hand

Those old bikes and sneakers lying around your closet could mean the world to someone else.

The Rotary clubs from across Greater Saint John are joining together for "Boots, Bikes & Band-aids". Rotary club member Grant Kimball tells Tide news they're collecting gently used bikes, shoes, band-aids, hard vitamins and school supplies to ship down to the Dominican Republic. Kimball says they give the items to sugar cane workers who live outside the city and have no water or electricity. He says when they did the fundraiser two years ago it had a huge impact. Kimbal adds cash donations are also welcome.

Collection will be taking place today from 11:00am-3:00pm at Superstores in Saint John, Rothesay, Sussex and Hampton.