EMO Says Lots Of Rain, But No Major Flooding

There's no doubt Hurricane Sandy is making a mess of Charlotte County.


But, our local Emergency Measures Organization says there's not much of a threat for major flooding.

Director of the NB EMO Greg MacCallum tells Tide News he understands people's concerns for flooding -- especially in the Boney River and St. George areas. He says, "We're not saying this won't be a wet and rainy event with a lot of water moving around quickly, but there is no cause for great concern the capacity of the ( Magaguadavic ) river being able to move the water away.

MacCallum says the EMO is keeping a close watch on rivers -- especially the Magaguadavic -- but he assures residents that major flooding is not much of an issue.

MacCallum says to keep your own home from flooding, make sure eavestroughs and culverts are clear and your downspouts are free so water can flow away from your property. He says the best thing is to do a walk around your property to make sure everything is working properly for drainage.   MacCallum tells Tide News that a power outage may be an issue with high winds tonight. He says it's just common sense how to prepare your home, make sure you have food that can be cooked without electricity, lots of water, batteries and flashlights or candles on hand. He adds, something many people don't think about until it is too late, is make sure you have enough medication to last you a few days.

Health Report Cards Project In 3rd Year At SSHS

St. Stephen High School is getting ready for a different kind of report card.


This is the 3rd year the school has participated in testing Grade 10 students on their health.

Today, students were tested on things such as Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure, cholesterol levels, as well as self-esteem and mental health. They should receive their health report cards by the end of this week or next.

Educational Champion and Vice-Principal Krista Amos tells Tide News health and education go together. Amos says we know what the research says, we know that kids have to be healthy, alert, sleeping well and eating well in order for education to have results. We have 10% of our kids who can't be learning.

Amos says they will provide interventions to students during school hours after the report cards are issued.

She says she feels very passionate that if they can help look after the student's bodies, health, and mental health, that numeracy and literacy ratings will go up.

Nurse Practitioner Yvonne Bartlett tells Tide News they want to stear the kids away from unhealthy dieting.


Bartlett says we want to talk about weight discrimination and what happens. She mentions one thing they found over the past two years was that as BMI -- or Body Mass Index -- goes up, self-esteem goes down. She says this is something these students will carry their whole life and we must be very careful with how we work with them.
Bartlett says last year, they found that 10 % of the students, aged 15, already have 5 or more risk factors for coronary heart disease.

She adds that everything is completely voluntary.
( Picture - left: Nurse Practitioner at SSHS Yvonne Bartlett, right: Vice Principal at SSHS Krista Amos )

Keep Storm Drains Clear For Sandy

The Town of St. Stephen issuing a release while we bunker down for Hurricane Sandy.


Rain and high winds are expected to affect St. Stephen, and to prevent flooding, residents are being asked to keep storm drains around their homes free and clear of debris.

Also, residents are being asked to put away or secure any garden furniture or other items that could blow away in the storm.

The Town says to make sure you have extra batteries and food on hand.

Local Police Looking For Youth In Stolen Pickup

St. Stephen RCMP are looking for a stolen 2000 Ford Pickup that is blue/green in color.


The Mounties tell us the suspect is a youth, 5'9, with a thin build, brown or dirty blonde hair, with acne on his face.

Cst. Dave McClarty tells Tide News the truck has New Brunswick plates CJD 091, however, McClarty says they could be removed or altered.

Any suspicious vehicles are asked to be reported to local police or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crimestoppers will pay up to $2000 for information leading to an arrest.

Case Adjourned For St. Stephen Man With Gun Charge

A brief appearance this morning in St. Stephen Provincial Court from a man charged with careless use of a firearm.


Judge David Walker adjourned the case until the lawyer for 22-year-old Michael Kenneth Hanley could be present.

RCMP say in the wee hours of September 12th, they received a report of gunshots being fired in the direction of a car with people inside on Spring Street.

Hanley was arrested and charged later that same day.

Hanley returns to court November 8th.

Heavy Rain & Wind Expected From Sandy

The Canadian Hurricane Centre says heavy rain and gusty winds is what we'll get from Sandy. Forecasters say southern Ontario and western Quebec will get the brunt of the storm.

We could get more than 50 millimeters of rain and gusty winds late Monday night and throughout Tuesday. The centre adds at this point rainfall amounts are still hard to predict.

Maine & NB Join To Promote Vacation Destination

New Brunswick and Maine are working together trying to boost tourism in both areas.

Dubbed the "Two Nation Vacation", it's focus is promoting the great outdoors and nature to city-dwelling New Yorkers. Tourism Minister Trevor Holder tells Tide news he recently travelled to NYC to speak with travel writers about what we have to offer. Holder says those tourists are already visiting Maine, but this advertising is hoping to pull them further north into our province.

With a website already up and running, Holder says they're just in the beginning stages of drawing those tourists, and will now be looking at new ways to market the "Two Nation Vacation".

Holder says they've been working on this plan for years, and adds this would be a new source of revenue for the province.

To visit the website, click here.

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.