It's Fundraising... Charlotte County Style

Things are about to get Dirty!


This Saturday, October 20th, the Charlotte County Offroaders are bringing out the big trucks for the 2nd Annual Charlotte County SPCA Mud Bog.

Organizer Aaron Anderson tells Tide News last year's event was a little disorganized. He says the Offroaders have attended "mud-runs" throughout the year and have found many ways to improve this year's event. He says approximately 30 trucks participated last year, and due to a lot of thanks to social media, they are expecting many more vehicles this weekend, some coming as far away as Fredericton.

Anderson says they have a 200 foot long mud bog, which he calls "a see how far you can make it" pit. He says if you can drive the whole way through to the end, you are doing really well and you may get a trophy.
Anderson says he was very surprised to see how much support the community has given to the fundraiser with many businesses in St. Stephen donating prizes and trophies for the participants.

He says if you would like to participate and enter your own 4-wheel-drive, registration ends at 11am on Saturday, with the competition beginning at 1pm. For entry inquiries, you can call Aaron Anderson at 467-1793, or Joe MacFarlane at 467-7242.

Anderson says he is very happy for the support throughout the town and wants to invite everyone to the Mud Bog because they plan on putting on a good show. He says "..it's a blast, whether we break or not, or get stuck, it's just a blast."
Admission for the general public is a free-will money, food, or litter donation to the Charlotte County Animal Shelter.

The 2nd Annual CCSPCA Mud Bog will take place Saturday, Oct 20th, at 1pm at the end of the Cleland Road -- across from the Red Rooster Country Store.

(Picture provided by the Charlotte County SPCA Mud Bog Facebook Page)

Anglophone South Takes On Bullying

The Canadian Red Cross is taking a different approach to bullying, and is including our local schools as they do it.

This week, 13 teachers from the Anglophone South School District are being trained in the "Beyond The Hurt" program, an anti-bullying campaign that looks at more modern resources to deal with the issue.
Guidance Counsellor at St. Stephen High School Jennifer Grant tells Tide News her school has made changes to deal with bullying like re-arranging the locker areas and installing cameras, and they are going on 12 years with their anti-harrassment group. However, she adds, bullting used to be physical and verbal, now it is taking a modern face in the digital world.

Grant says through facebook messages, improper texting, and the fact that many bullies feel safe behind a computer screen, cyber-bullying can create a viscious cycle very quickly. She says bullies are getting braver through cyber-bullying because they don't have to physically see the effects they cause on their victims.

Red Cross Instructor Stacy Coy tells Tide News what they have found is youth need to be engaged in the solutions. She says instead of having an adult deliver bullying-prevention presentations, they have a student deliver the presentations.
Here, they are training teachers within those schools to do the training with the students so those students can then make the presentations to their peers.

Coy says since the program began in 2003, many teachers are saying the kids within their schools seem kinder to each other and they seem understand the impact of their actions.

(Top Picture - Guidance Counsellor at SSHS, Jennifer Grant, Bottom Picture - Canadian Red Cross Instructor Stacy Coy in a training session with the teachers)

CCSPCA On Temporary Quarantine

The Charlotte County SPCA is on a temporary quarantine.


The shelter is currently suspending all adoptions and intake of cats due to a Panleukopenia virus. The virus is a common cat virus, but can be very dangerous to young, unvaccinated kittens.

Evie Gange from the CCSPCA tells Tide News they are doing everything they can to resolve the matter and they appologize for the inconvenience to the community.

Gagne says to keep this problem from happening again, the CCSPCA is looking to increase their list of kitten foster homes, which are temporary safe havens for the animals to stay until they can be vaccinated.

If you would like to be a kitten foster home for a few weeks a year, please call the Charlotte County SPCA at 465-7657, or email at ccspca@nb.aibn.com .

4 / 5 Blooms For St. Stephen

That's 4 Blooms for Chocolate-Town.


The Town of St. Stephen getting a 4 out of 5 Bloom rating and a special mention for Dover Hill during the awards ceremonies for the 2012 National Edition of Communites In Bloom.

Communities In Bloom is a national organization promoting green spaces in community settings.

St. Stephen being one of eight finalists in the 3001-6500 population category, with Sussex being the only other NB contender.

Jasper, Alberta was named the winner of the category.

Get Your Tires Checked This Week For Free

It could be time to get your pressure checked -- and we don't mean your blood pressure.

 Pat McCarthy of Recycle NB tells Tide News it's important to get the pressure in your tires checked regularly, because improperly inflated tires are less fuel efficient and thus bad for the environment.

He says Recycle NB as well as the Rubber Association of Canada are recommending having your tires checked every month. He says to check your tires when they are cold, not after driving down the highway.


Starting today (Monday) through to Friday, October 19th, a partnership between Canadian Tire and Recycle NB means you can stop by any location -- including St. Stephen -- and get your tire pressure checked for free. Your name will also be entered to win a set of winter tires.

Drug Charges For A St. Stephen Pair

Two people from St. Stephen being arrested for drugs.


Sgt. Bob MacKnight of the District 1 RCMP tells Tide News a vehicle was stopped on Route 755, near Tower Hill last Friday, Oct. 12th, 2012.

He says a quantity of prescription drugs, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia were seized, and search warrants were executed at the home of the vehicle owners.

Police say a 42-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man were arrested and later released.

They are due to appear in court in December.

Body Discovered In Long Wharf Waters

City police confirm a body was discovered by a fisherman and removed from the water around Long Wharf in Saint John at 11:55 Saturday morning.

Police spokesperson Sgt. Jay Henderson tells Tide news there is an autopsy scheduled for Sunday to find the cause of death as well as the persons identity and gender, which are all unknowns at this time.

Sgt. Chuck Elgee was on scene and he tells Tide news the body was very decomposed when discovered, so it most likely had been in the water for weeks. Elgee says the body was taken to the Saint John Regional Hospital after it was removed from the waters near where the cruise ships come in. According to Eglee, it's not common to find a body in the water by Long Wharf but it has happened before.

Police were on scene for about an hour. Saint John Police Major Crime Unit with the assistance of the Forensic Identification Unit are currently investigating.

Rescue Boats Sent Looking For Missing Boater

It took just over a two hours for the KV fire department to find a man adrift in his boat the Kennebecasis River.

Deputy Chief Dan McCoy tells Tide news they got the call he was in trouble around 7:30 last night. McCoy says the man had left the peninsula side of the river, had mechanical problems, and was found further down the river. 

The man had left from the Renforth yacht club and was found on his boat in shallow water. McCoy says they were able to find him before external resources like Saint John and Penniusala fire departments arrived on scene. He says the reason it took so long to find the missing man was because the man thought he was in a different location than he actually was.

McCoy says the man was cold and disoriented, but did not have to be sent to hospital.

Historic Name Change For NB Regiment

Members of government and high military officials speaking to a large crowd at the Marco Polo Cruise Ship terminal.

The special announcement marks the official name change of the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment of New Brunswick to it's historic and original title, "The Loyal Company". Being created in 1793, the artillery regiment is one of the oldest in Canada.

UNB's Dr. Lee Windsor tells us the change honours and recognizes the regiments contributions to the War of 1812, World Wars and more. Windsor says "The Loyal Company" is a foundation of our modern Canadian army, and the name change connects us to our past.

The Loyal Company's name was changed in 1975 for multiple reasons, but MP Rodney Weston says in the minds of people here the name never left. Wetson had approached Defense Minister Peter McKay about restoring the name earlier this year.

Lieutenant-Colonel Steve Strachan says the regiment is better equipped than it was 220 years ago, but it's still a citizen army made up of members of the community in Greater Saint John.

Cherry Brook Zoo Might Lose Council Support

One of the only councils that help support the Cherry Brook Zoo is questioning whether it will do it again for their next budget.

According to Mayor Bill Bishop, Rothesay Council was the only municipality to give money to the zoo last year, and the zoo is back asking for financial aid again. When we asked Mayor Bishop if Rothesay is hesitant to donate funds, he said yes he's hesitant himself. Bishop says it looks like the zoo will be going out of business pretty shortly, so putting money in won't improve their desperate financial situation.

Rothesay Council has referred the request to finance.

RCMP Release Video Of Credit Union Robbery

The District 2 RCMP is releasing surveillance video taken on Tuesday during an armed robbery at a credit union in Fredericton Junction is hopes of someone identifying the robber.

The man entered the Citizens Credit Union on Sunbury Drive with a gun around 10:30am An undisclosed amount of cash was taken. No one was injured.

The suspect is described as being of average height, with a medium build. He was wearing a two toned jacket, white and black in colour. To watch a video of the robbery, click here

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the District 2 RCMP at 506-357-4300 or 1-888-506-RCMP (7267) or N.B. Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Active Living Not Always Easy For Seniors

This weekend kicks of Active Living Week for Seniors, with the government encouraging our seniors to remain active through volunteering, social acitivites, and physical activity.

According to Seniors Resource Center President Sherman Palmer, it's not always easy for people to remain active throughout their golden years due to physical conditions, lack of money, and other factors.

Palmer says while there are lots of activities available for seniors, it would be easier for seniors to stay active if there were better city transit, because with 85% of NB seniors living independently many rely on it to get around.

Haz Mat Called In For False Alarm At Lepreau Post Office

A false alarm causing some hassle this afternoon at then Lepreau post Office around 1pm.

A package had broken open and was leaking an unknown substance in the trunk of a delivery vehicle. The Canada Post employee was not injured, but had been quarantined before the fire department's arrival and the Regional Hazardous Materials Unit was called in from Saint John.

The Regional Haz Mat Team donned protective gear before accessing the package--but as it turned out, the contents were not dangerous. They were on the scene until 3:30.

Home Invasion Causing Injuries

Three people are being held for court and facing charges of robbery with violence in Saint John.

City police say a woman and two men were arrested early this morning after breaking into and robbing a home on the east side, which caused minor injuries to the homeowner in his seventies.

The suspects, in their thirties and forties, were arrested a short time later in the old north end after being spotted by a patrol officer.

Bar Fight Uptown Leads To Arrests

Two men are facing a court date in December after a bar fight just before 2 am in the uptown area in Saint John.

City police say the two men in their twenties were arrested after assaulting another man in the Princess and Canterbury Street area.

The victim suffered minor injuries, the two other men were arrested then released.

Senior's Complex Coming To St. Andrews

A big rumour in St. Andrews is proving to be true.


Teneo Properties announcing the much anticipated Victoria Terrace Apartment Complex for seniors ages 50+  is scheduled to open in summer 2013.

The complex site is next door to Kingsbrae Gardens. Teneo says the building will contain 33 apartments with one or two bedrooms, a library, a fitness room, a lounge area, elevators, private balconies, and of course, a view of the ocean.
Teneo says the building is designed to bring people together while encouraging independence.

Teneo will be hosting an Information Expose' at the St. Andrews Royal Canadian Legion (270 Queen Street) on Monday, October 22nd, starting at 7pm.

Education Council Approves Upgrades To Local Schools

Some much needed improvements are in the mix for two of our local schools.


The Anglophone South District Education Council giving the nod for upgrades to the Blacks Harbour Elementary School bathrooms, as well as a portion of new roofing for the St. Stephen Middle School.

Anglophone South District Superintendent Zoe Watson tells Tide News the Council approved the upgrades at their last meeting in September, but a few revisions needed to be made about the cost of the bathroom upgrades, which will be $235,000, as well as which portion of the roof will be done at SSMS.
She says the requests will be sent off to the District of Education, and usually around Christmas time the Council will find out which projects are approved.

Watson says both projects will hopefully take place in summer of 2013.

A Public Inquiry With One Opinion

The glass was more empty than full at the Electoral Boundaries Commission hearing in St. Andrews.


The number of ridings will be going down from 55 to 49 before the next provincial election.

The Commission making a stop at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre to get public input on where the changes should be made, with only one resident showing up to share his ideas.

Oak Bay resident Ed Young brought up the option of combining McAdam with Charlotte-Campobello. He says even though he cannot speak for the people of McAdam, McAdam did ask to be included in the Regional Council. He thinks the Islands ( Grand Manan, Deer Island, and Campobello ) should be left as they are, and that the people of Charlotte County need the two ridings we have now.

Young says what he thinks doesn't matter because things are going to change whether we want them to or not.

The Commission's Alan Maher says hearing from people around the province is essential. He says "..we are looking at a blank slate right now, and that's the whole intent, we want New Brunswickers to tell us what they think we should do in various areas to get the constituencies as close as possible to the electoral quotient of 11,269." Maher explains the quotient is determined by dividing the total number of registered voters in the province by the total number of electoral districts, which will soon be 49, and getting each riding as close to that number as possible is where the changes are needed.

The second round of public hearings during the Commission's mandate will be held in February and March of next year.

Reckless Driver Hits Multiple Police Cars & Signs

A 41-year-old man has a date with court after major fiasco with city police Saturday night.

City police say they spotted the man driving a truck in a reckless manner by Main street and Lansdowne avenue in Saint John. Suspecting he was an impaired driver, police called off the pursuit. Sgt. Tanya LeBlanc tells Tide news the driver was later found in his truck in a driveway after striking two street signs and a car in the driveway. When police approached the truck the driver attempted to drive out of the driveway, causing the police officer to jump out of the way before the truck hit a police car.

The truck then drove towards two more police officers, who also had to dodge out of the way before the truck hit a second patrol car. Police then managed to get the man out of the truck.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor.

Hampton High Attempts To Break World Record

One high school is playing it's part in trying to break a Guinness World Record.

Students and staff at Hampton High School will join other schools across the country by participating in the worlds largest practical science lesson. Grade 9/10 science teacher Susan Cochrane tells Tide news the record attempt will take place in the school's gym on Friday at 2 o'clock. She says the two-part lesson is based on the Bernoulli's principle. Cochrane says one experiment will involve taking straws and water to create mist, while the other will work with water balloons and air pressure.

Cochrane adds Belleisle will also be participating.