Head-on Collision on Route 790

(A Car involved in a collision on Route 790)

(photo courtesy of Andrew Sanojca)

Route 790 is back open to traffic after a head-on collision between a car and a pick-up truck.
The jaws of life were required to remove one person from the car.
The nature of the injuries are unknown but, the occupants of the vehicles were taken to hospital.
The roadway was closed between Highway 1 and Lepreau Village road for more than an hour.

Saint John MP on hold up for funding for Harbour Bridge repairs

(Saint John MP Rodney Weston)

Over 30 million dollars in repairs to the Harbour Bridge are stalled, while the Authority waits on the Federal government.  They have secured a lender for the money but, require Ottawa's approval to move forward.

Saint John MP Rodney Weston tells CHSJ News that Transport Canada has asked for more information.

He says they want to know who the lender is, what the interest rate will be and what the cost will be to Saint Johners. Harbour Bridge Authority general manager Ken Anthony has said a speed reduction and lane closures are possible in the future if the repairs are not made.

More Construction Slated For Park Entrance

Tenders close Wednesday afternoon for work on the second phase of the upgrade to Rockwood Park's main entrance.
The work will include a realignment of Mount Pleasant Avenue in the area of the entrance to the park as well as two new parking areas.
The project is expected to cost just over 3-million dollars with the Saint John Horticultural Association kicking in 1.2-million to help with the costs -- the city has included its share in this year's capital budget approved Monday night.

Home Show Invades Harbour Station

(Floor Shot of the Home Show - CHSJ News Photo)
     

Another edition of the Saint John Home Show is alive and well with-in the confines of Harbour Station. With over 250 exhibitors, the publicist for Master Promotions Denise Miller tells CHSJ News, there is plenty for home-owners to go over.
Miller adds the spring like weather is a huge bonus for the show as it gets home-owners in the mood to think about renovations and new additions. The doors are open until nine tonight, between ten and nine tomorrow and Sunday eleven til four.

Explosion at New Brunswick Community College

A student and instructor had to be rushed to hospital after an explosion Wednesday night at the NBCC Campus in Saint Andrews. It happened during a scheduled training activity for the Hospitaility and Toursim program.


Principal Terry Dempsey tells CHSJ News, the instructor continues to be looked over and the student could be released from hospital today. Dempsey adds this is a very unfortunate incident in spite of all the experience and safety precautions. No word on what caused the explosion and Worksafe NB has been called in.

Provincial Pharmacists Upset with Blue Cross Comments

A recent request by Medavie Blue Cross to it's clients has the Provincial Pharmacists Association seeing red. Before a deal was struck, Blue Cross cards were not going to be accepted at certain pharmacies. Blue Cross recommended clients find a new pharmacy that did accept their cards. Executive Director Paul Blanchard says pharmacists are most effective in their role when they have known clients for a period of time.


There is also new evidence which shows many people are already confused about their medication and long term health suffers as a result. With negotiations between several pharmacies like Sobeys and Superstore to get started with Blue Cross soon, the Pharmacists Association is concerned those needing medication will be caught in the middle.

Gagetown Soldiers In Saint John

Saint John is providing the back-drop for military training this weekend. Don't be suprised if you see soldiers and their equipment from Gagetown around the metro up until Sunday. They are using the NB Power parking lot at Coleson Cove, the Saint John Airport, the Aberdeen RV Lot on Rothesay Road and the former Downey Ford parking lot on Crown Street.


No ammunition, either blank or live will be used during the training.

Arrest Made In Uptown Holdup

No one was hurt and no details have been released yet on how much money was taken after a robbery in the uptown yesterday afternoon.
CHSJ News has been told someone walked into the King Street East Variety store at 3:30 brandishing a knife and demanded cash from the clerk. City Police say they have arrested a suspect who is expected to be formally charged this morning in court.

Home Building In Saint John Off To Sluggish Start

The year isn't off to a good start for house builders in the Saint John area -- the latest survey from Canada Mortgage and Housing shows the number of new units started in the first two months of this year down by almost 24-percent compared to a year ago.
By comparison -- the number of new housing units started in both Moncton and Fredericton are up over the previous year.
And more bad news for house builders -- Stats Canada is reporting the price of new houses here in Saint John as well as Fredericton and Moncton dropped 0.2-percent in January.