St Patty's Uneventful for Saint John Cops

With the green beer flowing throughout the city yesterday, you might think city police had their work cut out for them last night. But according to Sergeant Callan of the Saint John Police force, people were surprisingly well behaved this year.

Callan tells Tide news that although there were drunks everywhere, there weren't any incidents apart from a few fights and one impaired driver pulled over on Garden Street. He says that's basically a regular Saturday night. Other Canadian cities weren't so lucky, with reports of fires and rioting in London, Ontario.

Callan also said that people should always be aware that drunk driving is a dangerous crime whether it's a holiday or not.

90lbs of Weed Seized From Secret Compartment

A man from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia man has been arrested after his pick-up truck was pulled over near Edmundston. Inside a secret compartment in the truck, police discovered more than 40 kilograms, or 90 pounds, of marijuana.

The discovery was made on Highway 2, where the vehicle was seized and 28-year-old Micheal McNaughton was arrested.

McNaughton was charged at the Grand Falls provincial Court and then released on bail and numerous conditions. 

Photo: RCMP

Woman From Blacks Harbour Says She Is Alive Because Of Health Clinic

After a similar situation in McAdam, a woman from Blacks Harbour is telling her story.


Donna Moses says she had a brain aneurysm back in 1999, and she was taken to the Fundy Health Centre to be stabalized, before heading to the Saint John Regional Hospital.

She says her neurosurgeon called her his "miracle of '99", but she believes that that miracle wouldn't have happened if she had not been brought to the Fundy Health Clinic first.
In February, 4 fire victims in McAdam -- who were only 700 feet away from the McAdam Health Centre -- were made to wait over an hour for enough ambulances, because it is against Ambulance NB policy to take patients to a Health clinic, without a 24 hour emergency room.

A spokesperson for Madeline Dube says the Health Minister will be notified of the situation.

That's A Lot Of Lawyers...

The defamation trial of former Saint John Common Councillor -- and current St. Stephen Town Manager -- John Ferguson has been told the Pension Board's legal fees from 2006 to the end of 2010 surpassed 1.8 million dollars.


Pension Board trustee Bill Buckley of the Canadian Union of Public Employees argues not all of those legal fees are because of the lawsuit.

He told the court it was launched to stop what he calls the slander... It's not about money... It's about knowing we're not crooks.

Buckley also argues the city doesn't have a Cadillac pension plan and testified no one suggested reducing benefits or switching to a defined contributions plan and Ferguson's lawyer Rod Gillis pointed out most of the pension board members are receiving or will be getting city pensions.

Local MLA Believes Rural Areas Should Have Exceptions

A local MLA is throwing his support behind McAdam Mayor Frank Carroll in hopes of changing an Ambulance NB policy.

The ANB policy states ambulances can only take patients to destination hospitals, not health clinics.

But, after four fire victims -- including a baby -- were made to wait over an hour for enough ambulances to arrive, while only 700 feet away from the McAdam Health Care Centre, residents want the policy changed.

MLA for Charlotte and The Isles Liberal Rick Doucet tells Tide News the situation at hand, makes it clear "we can't put a round peg in a square hole."

He says, "If someone is in serious condition, and there is a doctor available on call, then let's take advantage of it."

Doucet adds there should definately be exceptions to the policy in rural areas, like McAdam, Blacks Harbour, or the Isles, where a health clinic is all they have.

Information Meeting For French Immersion

Are you looking into French Immersion for your child?


There will be a parent information meeting for the SSMS Grade 6 late french immersion program for 2012-2013.

The meeting is for parents of grade 5 students from St. Stephen Elementary, Milltown Elementary , Lawrence Station Elementary, and Vincent Massey.

The meeting gets underway tomorrow night at St. Stephen Middle School, starting at 6:30.

Lawyer Scoffed At Saint John City Manager

Saint John City Manager Pat Woods maintains criticism voiced about the city's pension plan by former Common Councillor John Ferguson implied something was amiss on the Pension Board.


Ferguson's lawyer, Rod Gillis scoffed when Woods told the court the Pension Board knew what it's doing saying how can that be, considering the city's pension plan is running a deficit of 191 million dollars.
 
Woods also testified benefits have not been reduced but worker contributions into the pension plan have increased.
 
Ferguson also was concerned senior staff who receive city pensions would not recommend cutting benefits. Woods concedes the concern is legitimate but unfair.
 
Ferguson is currently the Town Manager of St. Stephen.

Aftershocks Confirmed In McAdam

McAdam is shaking and quaking.


The Canadian Earthquakes Centre confirming earthquake aftershocks, felt this morning at 3:28 and 3:44am.

The approximate location of the 2.4 magnitude earthquake was 2 kms south-west from McAdam on Saturday.

One resident says the aftershock was strong enough to knock a picture frame and knick-knacks off of her wall.

To see a recent list of all earthquakes in Canada, go to http://www.earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/index-eng.php.

"F" Word Used Often By Saint John Common Councillors

The decorum or lack thereof at Saint John Common Council coming up at the defamation trial of former Common Councillor, and current St. Stephen Town Manager John Ferguson, as City Manager Pat Woods told the jury the language used by Ferguson about the city's pension plan was unusual.

Ferguson's lawyer Rod Gillis quoted Councillor Bruce Court from last night's Council meeting saying alot of the stories about the pension plan are a crock of crap and went on to tell the court Councillors use the "F" word alot in Committee of the Whole.

Gillis used the city's own figures showing 70 thousand dollars was spent in 2000 and 87 thousand in 2001 to send Pension Board trustees to conferences including one in Maui.

Gillis also questioned whether the money was well spent.

Boston Smells Fishy

Fish from the Bay of Fundy are making a fresh impression over the border.

Companies from all over the world are gathering for the International Boston Seafood Show.

Nell Hulse, V-P of Communications for Cooke Aquaculture tells Tide News about the True North Salmon theme this year.

She says when you are talking about fish, freshness is the most important quality, and that is one of the biggest assets from our region.

Hulse also mentioned a chance True North Salmon had to talk with big names such as Premier David Alward and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Keith Ashfield at the show.

She says it was a great opportunity to talk about common issues like how important seafood is to our area,  how many people work in the sector, and how important that both of those sectors remain healthy.

Aftershocks in McAdam

More rumblings being felt in McAdam over night.
Aftershocks are still being felt from the earthquake that happened on Saturday. 
One McAdam residents telling Tide News, it woke them up out of a dead sleep at around 3:30 this morning.

One Year 100 Men hits half way point

Big Brothers Big Sisters launched the One year 100 men campaign back in September to find mentors for the 88 young boys currently on the waiting list.
As of today the program has matched 48 boys with mentors.
Although One year 100 Men is geared toward male volunteers, Big Brothers Big Sisters is still actively recruiting Big Sisters too.
For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit their website.

http://www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/saintjohn/en/Home/default.aspx

Earthquake in McAdam

A shock for residents in the McAdam area Saturday as a small earthquake rolled through the area.

The quake was centred about 2-kilometres southwest of the village - and - Earthquakes Canada says it registered a magnitude of 2.4.
Some residents report pictures falling off their walls while others thought something had hit the side of their house.

Woods Says Ferguson Had An Unknown Agenda

Former Saint John Common Councillor -- and current St. Stephen Town Manager -- John Ferguson did not offer any proof to back up allegations of gross negligence on the part of the Pension Board.

That testimony delivered by City Manager Pat Woods, who's also a Pension Board trustee.


Woods telling the jury he felt Ferguson had some sort of agenda, the objective of which was unclear and his constant requests for third party reviews of the city's pension plan left the impression something was amiss, even fraudulent.

Woods says if Ferguson was told by former Pension Board trustee David Gould of illegal activity then he should have passed that along to fellow Council members or City Police. Woods maintains the Pension Board had to take action in the face of Ferguson's allegations.

Spring Ahead

This is the weekend most Canadians switch from standard time to daylight saving time.
Before going to bed tomorrow night, turn your clocks and watches ahead one hour.
   
The major Canadian exception is Saskatchewan, which is on standard time year-round.

Lawyer Suggesting City Officials Are Behind Ferguson Lawsuit

The lawyer for former Saint John Councillor John Ferguson is suggesting city officials are behind the Pension Board's defamation lawsuit.

Ferguson is currently the Town Manager of St. Stephen.


Rod Gillis went over each of Ferguson's statements asking Pension Board trustee Fred Slipp which words were defamatory. Slipp admitted Ferguson's criticism of the early retirement programme and the the workplace culture was not directed at the Pension Board.
 
Slipp also conceded it's permissible for members of Common Council to criticise city staff and agreed with Gillis there appeared to be a conflict between Ferguson and City Solicitor John Nugent, who's also a member of the pension board.

Financial Skills For Women

Whether you're a woman taking care of elderly relatives or saving for your first home, good personal finance skills are important. A new program called I'm Worth It from the NB Securities Commission is teaching women more about managing their money.


Education Coordinator Marissa Rignanesi says the program is useful to women of all ages and walks of life, because statistics show that many women lack a full understanding of how to make the most of their personal finances.

The free program, which includes interactive worksheets and an online money management guide, is available for download tomorrow.The release coincides with International Women's Day, which is observed on March 8th.

Get your copy of the I'm Worth It materials at www.investinknowingmore.ca

"Who Was Trying To Silence John Ferguson?"

Lawyer Rod Gillis put the question directly to Pension Board trustee Fred Slipp......."Who was trying to silence John Ferguson" as the defamation trial of the former Common Councillor, and current St. Stephen Town Manager continues.


Slipp replied to the question by saying "I don't know".

He was also questioned about whether Ferguson's comparison of what was happening with pension plan in San Diego with the situation in Saint John was defamatory.

Slipp told the jury he didn't know what was going on in San Diego, where there was an investigation into possible fraud, until told by Saint John's former finance commissioner Andrew Beckett.

Slipp couldn't find any direct reference to fraud in Ferguson's statements but still maintains there was the innuendo of wrongdoing.

Damage at the Ganong Nature Park

Crime Stoppers and the St. Stephen RCMP are asking for your assistance in the identification of the person responsable for causing damage to a wooden foot-bridge in the Ganong Nature Park.

Police tell Tide News the person(s) responsible drove a vehicle through the park, then onto the foot-bridge, causing significant damage to the structure.


The incident would have occurred between the evening of the 4th of March, and the earlier hours of the 5th of March.
Any one with knowledge of the offence is asked to contact Crime Stoppers
at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest.

More Testimony From Slipp At Ferguson Trial

“If you're going to make statements, you're going to have to back them up” --that from lawyer Rod Gillis to Pension Board trustee Fred Slipp, who testified former Common Councillor John Ferguson's comments were full of defamatory inferences and innuendo against the board.

Ferguson is currently the Town Manager of St. Stephen.


Slipp testifying comments from Ferguson about three trustees suggested they were creating a paper trail to cover wrong-doing and that harmed the reputation of the whole board.

In an excited back and forth, Gillis said, “Beckett, Nugent and Totten are three members of the pension board--they might also be three members of the YMCA! Are you capable of answering my question?”

Slipp responding Ferguson's comments carried connotations the trustees were quote, "covering their butts", to which Gillis responded it was only reasonable for employees of the city to do that.