More Money for Geopark Project in Greater Saint John

Saint John is another step closer to becoming the first UNESCO Geopark in North America.

The Province gave $35, 000 dollars to the project which is an area with both geological heritage and sustainable development.
Chair Bill Merrifield says the investment shows the province sees the significance of this designation for Greater Saint John and the province as a whole.

The Stonehammer Geopark project committee also includes representatives from Saint John Waterfront Development, the New Brunswick Museum and the tourism industry.

Man accused of impaired driving causing death pleads not guilty

A not guilty plea from a 38 year old Lennox Drive man who's charged with impaired driving causing the death of Donna Kennie on Loch Lomand Road on August 1st of last year. Trent Albert Mallet has been ordered to stand trial beginning June 16th. The court has set aside two days foer the trial and was told by the prosecution it expects to present testimony by expert witnesses from Nova Scotia.

Three vehicle accident in Musquash requires the jaws of life

The Musquash Fire Department used the jaws of life to remove one person from an SUV after a three vehicle collision on Highway One this morning.
It happened just after 8am when three eastbound vehicles collided near the Ducks Unlimited marsh in Musquash. Firefighters found one woman still in her vehicle in the median and they removed the roof of the SUV to get her out.
One person was taken to hospital with minor injures.
Fire Chief Wayne Pollock suspects glare from the sun and road conditions may have contributed to the accident.

Cherry Brook Zoo officials like the idea of a new traffic light

Management at the Cherry Brook Zoo welcome the news of traffic lights being put in near their gates on the Foster Thurston Road.
Lyndra Collin tells CHSJ News it's a really bad corner.
She says it's a blind spot and the traffic flies by and in terms of safety it's a good idea.
Collrin adds she's really pleased the city is going to do something about a dangerous area.

Teenager Dies From Injuries

After struggling with serious injuries over the past four days, a teenager from Rothesay has lost her fight for life. City Police confirm that the 18-year old girl who was hit by a vehicle over the weekend on the Rothesay Avenue over-pass has died.
Her name is not being released but she was walking around seven in the morning after ditching her vehicle when she was hit. Officers tell us they don't expect charges.

Harbour Bridge Reacts to Latest News

(Saint John Harbour Bridge)

(file photo)

Two down and one to go.....that is the scenario for the Harbour Bridge Authority as it continues it's quest to lock up repair money. City Hall and the Province have given approval with Ottawa left to give thumbs up. The Authority has a pension fund willing to guarantee the cash and Anthony tells CHSJ News, They would like to have the tenders out by the end of this month and construction started by the first of May.


Anthony has said many times if repairs aren't carried out this year, weight and speed restrictions will have to be put in place for the structure.
The number of vehicles that use the bridge is ten million a year and between 25 and 40,000 a day.

Money for Housing

(Social Development and Housing Minister Kelly Lamrock)
                  (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

450 social housing units in the south-western half of the Province are being repaired and renovated thanks to a team effort from the Federal and Provincial Governments. Total contribution is $3.5 million and includes work on 18 areas including homes on Crown Street, Market Square, Stevenson Tower along with rural and native homes in Rothesay, Kingston, Hampton and Saint John. Social Development and Housing Minister Kelly Lamrock says this is all part of the long term initiative.


The work is expected to get started right away and includes electrical, plumbing, heating and energy improvements. An announcement related to the redevelopment plan for Crescent Valley will happen tomorrow morning at the Somerset Community Center.

Company Receives Award

The A.D.I. Company and it's subsiduaries will have to make some room in the trophy case. They have been seleted as a Platinum Winner in the Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies program. The company was founded in 1945 and among other things, provides design-build services, composting operations and through ADI Systems and Geomembrane Technologies is a leader in wastewater treatment solutions.




The company has experience working on more than 170 projects in over 30 countries around the globe.

Traffic Lights May Be Installed on Foster Thurston Drive

Some good news for travellers of Foster Thurston Drive, new traffic lights may be coming.
Common Council is looking at installing of traffic signals at the intersection of Sandy Point Road and Foster Thurston.

It's estimated a intersection with lights near the Cherry Brook Zoo entrance could cost the city upwards of $150 thousand dollars to design and install.

City Looking To Get A Break On Saint John Transit's Property Tax Bill

(Saint John Transit Bus)

(File Photo)

Common Council is going to be sending a letter to the province requesting it get more involved in public transportation. Councillor Chris Titus is asking the province to provide fuel tax rebates as well as exempt the new Saint John Transit building from property taxes.
City Manager Pat Woods says the estimated assessment on the building is 22 million dollars and that's nothing to sneeze at. Woods says a favourable assessment or removing the property taxes would help encourage the use of public transit.

Water Consumption In Saint John Drops

Less water is being lost in the city's water system because of leaks. The Deputy Commissioner of Saint John Water, Brent McGovern says water consumption at 199 million litres a day last year is 11 per cent less than 2007 and an 8 per cent reduction from 2008. McGovern also credits the spending to make the water system better that has taken place since 2002 for a 14 per cent decrease in watermain breaks last year.

Radio Renovations Week Six

Provincial Conservatives Still Looking for Apology From Liberal M-L-A

(Provincial Conservative Leader David Alward)

(File Photo)

The Provincial Conservative Party is continuing it's call for an apology from the MLA for Saint John Lancaster. Abel Leblanc is expected to return to the Legislature Thursday, a week after losing his temper, flipping the bird three times to the opposition M-L-A's and challenging any of them to meet him outside. David Alward tells CHSJ News, he can't imagine there won't be one.
Alward adds the apology should be to the entire house and in particular to Rothesay Conservative MLA Margaret Ann Blaney.

Rothesay Regional Police Investigate Head On Collision

An 18 year old woman can consider herself lucky to have escaped serious injury after a head on collision along Route 119. Rothesay Regional Police tell CHSJ News she was treated in hospital and released. According to Police, a small car went out of control along the highway and veered into the path of a truck.

City's Pension Plan To Be Reviewed By New Actuary

The same consulting firm that's working with the pension board is now going to be reviewing the city's troubled pension plan.
Common Council approved retaining A-O-N Consulting to take over for Morneau Sobeco. A-O-N is currently the actuary for the pension board which makes Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase think a conflict of interest may occur. Councillor Bruce Court, who sits on the pension board, doesn't think that will be the case. The motion was passed by council with Chase and Councillor Bill Farren being the only nays in opposition.

Harbour Bridge Authority Gets Approval To Borrow Money For Repairs

(Common Councillor Chris Titus)

(File Photo)

Common Council is allowing the Harbour Bridge Authority to seek out a lender to pay for repairs.
Councillor Chris Titus says by approving the bridge's budget, it is essentially allowing the authority to finance the repairs. The Harbour Bridge Authority needs to receive $35 million dollars to perform the Necessary maintenance.
Mayor Ivan Court says the city is not considering closing the bridge and he believes all three levels of government can sit down and figure out a solution.

Harbour Bridge Will Not Be Closed For A Day

(Common Council)

(File Photo)

A Common Councillor's request to ask the Harbour Bridge Authority to close the bridge for a day is being denied. Gary Sullivan wanted to get the attention of the provincial and federal governments. Sullivan says this needs to be done now, as construction season nears.
The request was denied by council for many reasons including safety and creating traffic Congestion at Simms Corner.
West side Councillor Peter McGuire says it's a good idea to try to raise awareness but a bridge closure would be too inconvenient for residents.

A Home In Baxter's Corner Turned Into Olympic House

(Olympic House in Baxter's Corner)

(File Photo)

A home in Baxter's Corner is showing it's Olympic spirit.
Darlene Burns says it came about because she hadn't taken her Christmas lights down yet so she started switching them all to red and white. After that Burns and her husband added a Canadian flag with a spotlight on it. She tells CHSJ News they are definitely proud Canadians.
Burns adds watching Alex Bilodeau wins the first Gold medal won on Canadian soil brought a tear to her eye.