Irving Calls $2 Million Gift "The Right Thing To Do".

New research that help keeps workers safe and healthy will be happening in Saint John.
 
Dalhousie Medicine NB will have the first endowed occupational medicine chair in the country.
 
Jim Irving of JDI says it's common sense to ensure you have a healthy safe workforce.

He says it's not just their folks but those who work at others businesses and it will be progressive helping them manage healthcare costs. 

Irving says it will also make them more competitive and its the right thing to do.

JDI is giving $2 million dollars to endow the first chair of this kind at DalMed NB.

Country Superstar Coming To Saint John

Reba McIntyre will be performing in Saint John next month. Harbour Station announcing the Country legend will be at the Station on Friday, October 18th. 

Opening for Reba will be Gord Bamford who won big at the Canadian Country Music awards.
 
Tickets for the Reba Concert will go on Sale this Friday at Noon at the Harbour Station Box Office.

Crime Stoppers Wants Help Solving 2011 Campobello Crime

The Mounties and Provincial Crime Stoppers trying to find out who trashed a Campobello Island school more than two years ago.

Between May 2nd and 3rd 2011, one person or a group of people caused thousands of dollars in damage by breaking 16 windows and more.

The damage to the school was very upsetting to the community and police are asking anyone who might know anything to come forward and help identify whoever did the damage.

You can earn up to $2,000 from Crime Stoppers if your information leads to the arrest of those responsible.

You can call anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS or visit  www.crimenb.ca.

View the Crime of the Week by clicking here

Another Open House On Pipeline

The people in Kings County have a chance to ask questions about the proposed Energy East pipeline tomorrow, where another open house is being held. 

This one will be taking place from 4 to 8 in Hampton at St. Alphonsus Hall on Church Street. 

Tim Vickers of the Atlantic Coastal Action Programme tells Tide News we still don't know a lot, and there are a lot of unanswered questions.
 
He goes on to say there are also concerns about what effect, if any, a pipeline would have on water crossings and will it offset any of the rail traffic with oil coming into the city, reduce the amount of tanker traffic in the Bay of Fundy and how much of the Alberta crude will be refined in Saint John or is most of it being shipped elsewhere for refining.

Transition Camp Helps First Year Students Adjust

Transitioning from high school to university can be scary for many students, but a boot camp offered by UNB this past summer is designed to make the move as smooth as possible. 

The assistant Dean of Engineering, Frank Collins, tells Tide News incoming engineering and science students had the opportunity to take UNBetween, which is basically a week-long simulation of university life. The experience can help the students get over some of their fears and apprehensions before classes actually begin.

Classes at both UNB campuses started on Thursday.

Asthmatic Students Vulnerable To Attacks In Sept.

It's a dangerous time of year for asthma-sufferers, especially if you're a student. 

President of the Asthma Society of Canada Dr. Robert Oliphant tells Tide News about a quarter of the yearly hospital admissions for asthma happen in a two week period called the September Asthma Peak.

Oliphant says the students are especially vulnerable to attacks at the beginning of the school year because of the mold and dust mites that have collected in the schools due to them being closed up during the summer months. It's also because many of the students are still in vacation-mode and not taking their medication regularly, and thirdly, because of the common cold going around.

To keep it under control, Oliphant suggests a asthma action plan. He says students should be keeping a diary of the kinds of things they need to do to control the condition, including taking their medication every day, usually twice a day. He says regular use makes the lungs less susceptible to an asthma attack.

Car Collides With City Bus

Emergency crews and paramedics checking people for injuries after a crash between a car and a city bus. 

Platoon Chief Barry Oickle of the Saint John fire department says it happened just after 10am yesterday at 55 Union Street. 

No word on whether or not anyone was hurt.

Man Arrested For Drunken Boating

A man slapped with handcuffs after driving a boat drunk. The 56-year old was arrested and charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle. 

Sergeant Glenn Hayward of the Saint John Police tells us the way he was driving on the water at Tucker Park first drew attention to him from swimmers. Once he anchored the boat on shore he started throwing empties in the water and insulting the people on the beach, who then called the police to the Royal Kennebeccasis Yacht Club.

The city fire department was also called in to tow the man's boat to shore.

Overhaul Of Lorneville Cemetaries Now Finished

It's a restoration project that's been 12 years in the making, but the Lorneville and Seaview Cemeteries' facelift is finally finished. 

When it started in 2001, the cemeteries were overgrown, stones were tipping and the overall condition was deteriorating rapidly. 

President Philip McCavour says they started the project in 2001 by clearing all the brush and brambles from around the perimeter and built some roads throughout the cemetery to make it more accessible. He tells CHSJ News some seniors hadn't been able to visit their family plots for several years. 

They fixed approximately 150 of the gravestones, filled in the sunken graves, planted new grass and sod, planted 120 trees around the perimeter, installed a water system and built a visitors centre, among other things.

The cemeteries date back almost 200 years. With the improvements, McCavour says they're now a much more fitting tribute to those who have passed away.

Today is Cemetery Day, which marks the official opening of the cemeteries. The grounds will be open until 5pm today for touring.

32 Positions Eliminated At Hospitals Across NB

32 nurses across the province losing their jobs.

On Friday, Horizon Health Network gave layoff notices to the full-time and part-time registered nurses working in the Charlotte County Hospital, Sussex Hospital, Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital, Oromocto Public Hospital, Upper River Valley Hospital, and the Moncton City Hospital.

The health authority says the layoffs are because of changes to their standardized models of care and staff skill mix on their 22 family medicine units.

President of the New Brunswick Nurses Union, Marilyn Quinn says, their goal is to ensure Horizon finds work for all those affected.

Biker Group Donating Toys, Cash To Sick Children

They're bikers with big hearts...the Saint John Harley Owner's Group is donating toys and cash to sick kids as part of the Annual Lana Sherwood Memorial Toy Run. 

The donations go to support the medical needs of children facing illness and hospitalization at the Saint John Regional Hospital. This year marks a 20-year partnership between the biker group and the hospital's pediatric program.

The presentation is happening at the hospital cafeteria at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

Two Hurt In North End Collisions

Two people taken to hospital after two separate car crashes in the North end.

Acting Platoon Chief Brian Wilson of the Saint John fire department says one person was brought to hospital after a motorcycle and a car collided on the corner of Adelaide and Metcalfe, while the other was taken to hospital after a collision on McLaren Boulevard. 

Both people have minor injuries.

Woman Arrested In Seven Year Old Robbery Case

Saint John police making an arrest in a seven year old robbery case. 

They say they've arrested a woman in connection with the 2006 robbery of the Garden Street Irving. They've also nabbed a man for a robbery that took place in East Saint John last Tuesday. 

Both are scheduled to appear in court today.

Man Arrested In Convenience Store Robbery

 Saint John police making an arrest in the armed robbery of a convenience store in the South end. 

On Friday morning, a man came into Shawn's Variety on Broad Street with a weapon and made off with some cash. 

He's scheduled to appear in court today.

Why Weren't Charges Laid Against Donnie Snook Earlier?

With the revelation in court that complaints had been filed by minors against Donnie Snook as far back as 2007---but no charges were ever laid--many in the community have been asking "what happened"? 

Police Chief Bill Reid tells TideJ News the force did complete the investigation but the Crown determined there wasn't enough evidence to lay charges.
 
Reid says it's very easy to when one doesn't have all the facts to assume investigators were somehow neglecting their responsibilities--but at the end of the day Saint John Police did their diligence looking into the matter.

Man Who Threw Money At Tim Hortons Clerk Found Guilty For Assault

Throwing money at a clerk could result in jail time for a 48 year old man. 

This happened at the Tim Horton's on Millennium Drive in Quispamsis when 48 year old Roy Edward Gilmore from Pennfield got angry because he didn't have enough change on him for a medium double-double. 

The 22 year old clerk was struck in the face and shoulder with the coins.
 
Gilmore has been found guilty of assault and the prosecution is calling for jail time because he was on probation at the time. Gilmore is back in court on October 15th for sentencing. 

Rothesay Regional Police were able to make the I-D after posting video of the incident on their Facebook page.

Bacchus Club President In Court

The President of the Saint John chapter of the Bacchus Motorcycle Club making a brief court appearance. 

Sentencing for 44 year old Brian Schofield of Public Landing on charges of possession of meth and marijuana for the purpose of trafficking has been adjourned to November 5th. 

Two former Bacchus members were also in court. 39 year old Ryan Wallace will also be sentenced on November 5th. 39 year old Blaine Beddow will reappear September 26th after he gets himself a lawyer. 

The three were among six people arrested last month after a 6 month police investigation. 

Simultaneous raids were carried out at Nature's Way in Saint John, Shamper's Bluff Road in Kingston and Route 102 Public Landing where meth, pot, prescription pills, guns, bullets, brass knuckles and 4 thousand dollars cash were seized.

MLA Wants Minister Of Transportation To Come Clean To Islanders

The Liberal MLA for Charlotte-The Isles calls it another broken promise by the Alward government.
 
Rick Doucet tells Tide News the people of Deer Island were promised a 24-car ferry and he has heard many rumours they will continue with an 18-car vessel.

He says the intent was to provide a 24-car ferry like the Deer Island Princess so they would have two new ferries which he says would make a big difference for the Islanders.

Doucet maintains the people and the ferry were consulted and they wanted a 24-car ferry, adding there isn't a lot of difference in price going from the 24 to 18 car ferry.

Doucet is calling on the Minister of Transportation to lay everything on the table for the public and be clear with the government's plans for Deer Island.

Will We Get More Information From Oland Warrants?

This morning, another hearing took place in Saint John provincial court on whether to make public more information in the Richard Oland search warrants.

Media Lawyer David Coles tells Tide News it seems to him that the blacked-out portions of the search warrants are somewhat arbitrary. Further, he says, considering that police suspect only Denis Oland in the case, the nature of their investigation in relatively self-evident.

Various media outlets have continued to petition for the release of more information.

Further arguments will be made tomorrow, and a decision from Judge R. Leslie Jackson is expected in the first week of October.

Refuge Open At Night For Hunters' Permits

Local hunters looking to get their permit over the river can do so tonight.

The Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge in Baring, Maine opening their doors tonight and tomorrow from 6-8pm Eastern for those who want a refuge hunting permit.

Officials tell Tide News they are looking to reach out to those who can't make it during daytime hours.

Hunting is allowed on almost 300 of the 545 National Wildlife Refuges across the United States.

The refuge office is located at 103 Headquarters Road in Baring, you can also call the refuge office at 1-207-454-7161.