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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Uptown Garage Fire

City fire crews are on the scene of a fire at 52 Dorchester Street near Carleton Street and Sewell Street.
The fire started in a garage on Dorchester Street.
City police are assisting police on scene with evacuating neighbouring buildings.



A New Look For Campobello Island

Voters in the Campobello Island local service district voted yesterday to form a rural community.

The unofficial result is 275 (yes) to 167 (no), with a voter turnout of 72 per cent out of 614 eligible voters.

What happens now is once the provincial government has approved the proposal, the Department of Local Government will plan the incorporation date and co-ordinate byelections that will see a mayor, a councillor-at-large and three councillors elected on a ward basis.


It is expected that the rural community will adopt a rural plan and emergency measures plan within two years of incorporation.

NB Power Boss Remains Optimistic About Second Reactor

Nuclear power is alive and well in our province according to the acting C-E-O of N-B Power.
In response to a CHSJ News question -- Gaetan Thomas says the potential sale of Atomic Energy of Canada to the private sector opens up new opportunities for investment in a second reactor at Point Lepreau.
He says the new investors may be interested in developing a second reactor because we are fertile ground thanks to community acceptance and the New England market not too far away.
A consortium of private sector companies and Atomic Energy of Canada has been pursuing the idea of the second reactor -- but -- the momentum has slowed with delays on the upgrade of the existing reactor and Ottawa hanging out the "for sale" sign on A-E-C-L.
Thomas was the final speaker at an energy forum in the city today.

Boys&Girls Club Gets Cheque for McHappy Day

(Boys&Girls Club Receives Cheque for $15, 000-the proceeds of McHappy Day)

Common Council Member Disputes Claim That City Is Bleeding Population










(Common Councillor Bill Farren)
             (File Photo)

Common Councillor Bill Farren is taking exception to the suggestion that the city is continuing to bleed population everytime a difficult decision has to be made on proposed developments. He says the city is getting more and more applications from developers and the 2006 census figure could very well be out of date. He warns if Saint Johnners continue to be negative about their city, it won't move ahead.
Chief City Planner Ken Forrest would like to see higher density housing be built because as he puts it street and pipe are very expensive to build and maintain.

City Gets Plan For Bike Trails

Common Council says it will need funding help from the federal and provincial governments to establish a system of bike trails through the city. Consultant Kevin Brooks of Terrain warns it won't be cheap and some tough decisions will have to be made.
Brooks says the priority project would be a bike trail from Millidgeville to the Uptown. 19 recommendations have been passed along to the city. Brooks also told Common Council the Viaduct, which is unsafe for bike riders with six lanes of traffic, could be reduced to four lanes to allow for more green space but that would be a longer term project, up top 20 years down the road.

Murder Charge Laid Against East Side Man










A charge of first degree murder has been laid against a 30 year old Martha Avenue man in the stabbing death of 28 year old Melanie Getson of Douglas Avenue in a Rothesay Avenue parking lot. Provincial Court Judge Anne Jeffries has ordered an in-jail psychiatric assessment for Jason Getson who returns to court May 20th. This assessment will determine his fitness to stand trial. Police say the accused and victim were in the same car which just happened to pull into the parking lot of a tanning salon yesterday morning after 9:00. City Police are asking anyone who might have information about what happened to come forward. They're still looking for the murder weapon. Getson appeared dazed in court with a couple of scratches to the side of his forehead and was staring into space. Police say the arrest, which was made without a struggle, was made after they heard from a family member following Getson contacting him.

Business Owner Trying to Set the Record Straight

The owner of Miami Tanning on Rothesay Avenue is speaking out about what happened in front of his business yesterday morning.

28-year old Melanie Getson was killed and owner Frank Findlay tells CHSJ News, there are a lot of stories circulating about what happened but the woman who was killed has never been a client and nothing ever happened in his store and the parking lot just happened to be the scene of the crime.


Findlay says his staff have been interviewed by City Police.


According to him, a vehicle pulled into to his business parking lot when everything unfolded and the woman killed has never been a client.

Rothesay Woman Wants to Carry Liberal Banner
















Victoria Clarke is looking to make the leap into Provincial Politics.

The married mother of two and employee with the Regional Hospital Foundation hopes to carry the Liberal banner in Rothesay on Sept.27th.

Clarke tells CHSJ News, she realizes this is a big step but is looking forward to the challenge. The incumbent for the riding is Conservative MLA Margaret Ann Blaney.


Rothesay Deputy Mayor Blair McDonald told CHSJ News a few weeks ago, he has been approached about the nomination as well but hasn't made up his mind.

Also going after the nomination is school teacher Jacques Theriault.

Armed Robbery in St. Stephen











RCMP in St. Stephen are investigating an armed robbery last night.

Officers tell us that just after 10:30pm, they were called to the Riverside Grocery Store on Milltown Boulevard.

The clerk says a man with a weapon walked in and demanded cash. He then ran from the store with a handful of money and no one was hurt.


He is described as medium, slim build, was wearing dark clothes and was wearing a something over his face.



Study Suggesting A Doubling Of Our Power Grid

The provincial government is being told it should be doubling the capacity of some its key power transmission links.

The suggestion is coming from consultant Jeff Barnes of Stantec who recently completed a study on the issue.
He says it's important in terms of developing our energy business to be able to move power through to Quebec and Nova Scotia.
And Barnes says there's a real future opportunity for the province to tap into the central Canadian energy markets with a natural gas pipeline inter-connection through Quebec -- he was speaking to an energy conference here in the city.

Keir Promoting Smart Energy


Energy Minister Jack Keir says our province is in an excellent position to start taking advantage of so called smart energy.

Keir says there are a lot of high tech ideas being floated to increase energy efficiency and he says with broadband soon to be available to all homes in New Brunswick -- it's a solid opportunity to become a living lab for the new ideas.
Keir also told an energy conference here this morning the failure of the Hydro Quebec deal has spurred renewed interest in greater regional cooperation -- he's predicating there will eventually be a regional system operator for our power grids.

Fire Crews Kept Busy

An ATV accident on Seven Mile Lake Road yesterday afternoon sent one man to hospital by ambulance.
The Musquash Fire Department responded to a report of an ATV accident just before 4pm. Firefighters assisted paramedics with one injured man. No word on his injuries.
Meantime, one person suffered minor injuries after being hit by a car at Westmorland Road and McAllister Drive. Fire Crews also had to clean up a minor oil spill at 1360 Manawagonish Road and deal with a minor leak of ammonia on Grandview Avenue.

Armed Holdup On East Side










The Major Crime Unit is investigating after an armed robbery last night at the Irving Circle "K" on Loch Lomand Road before you get to Bon Accord Drive. City Police tell CHSJ News it happened after 10:00 last night. One suspect fled on foot. There were no injuries.

Energy Conference Opens In Saint John













(Provincial Energy Minister Jack Keir)
             (File Photo)

Energy is front and center at a conference at the Delta this morning -- the conference is being hosted by the Energy Council of Canada and will focus on regional cooperation and energy as a competitive advantage for the Atlantic Region.
Provincial Energy Minister Jack Keir is opening the conference which will also feature a speech by acting N-B Power president Gaetan Thomas.
The session is part of a series of energy forums being hosted by the Energy Council of Canada to collect information for the upcoming World Energy Congress in Montreal.

Saint Johnners Get Chance To Find Out About What's Happening To The Harbour Bridge












(Harbour Bridge)
    (File Photo)

You have a chance this evening to have a look at what is taking place construction wise on the Harbour Bridge this year.
The Harbour Bridge Authority is hosting an information session at the Carleton Community Center.
Phase one of the 35-million dollar upgrade is expected to start next week and will mean a summer of traffic disruptions.
The meeting begins at 7:00 with a brief presentation followed by a question and answer session.



Partial Solution For Flooding In Oakville Acres












(Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop)
        (File Photo)

Homeowners in Oakville Acres in Rothesay say they're getting a bandaid for their flooding problem from town council, but not a long term solution. Council has passed a motion for planning to go forward on a pipe that homeowners can connect their drains to. Grace Murphy of Oakville Acres says the bigger problem is the water coming towards her home and she's frustrated planning is still going on for a problem that's 3 years old.
Mayor Bill Bishop says council is sympathetic for the people affected. He adds the council did not cause the heavy rain and is doing the best they can with the money they have. It would cost 3.5 million dollars to fully stop the flooding and the Mayor says the town just doesn't have it. Planning will take 60 days and the town hopes the pipe can then be installed in 3 weeks.

Controversial Housing Development Approved










(Common Council Meets)
        (File Photo)

A controversial housing development in Lakewood Heights has been approved by Common Council. The original proposal called for construction of 130 homes. That has been downsized to 10 duplexes but Peter Waller of Lakewood Avenue says the residents are already having problems with flooding and sewage backing up so why add to their miseries. Waller argues the pumping station, built back in 1980, can't handle any additional load.
Chief City Planner Ken Forrest came out strongly in support of the new housing saying the provision of water and sewage services is expensive and the city has to get the biggest bang for its buck. The residents fear there will be more development later on and Forrest does say these subdivisions were built with the intent to expand down the road.

Tuesday Morning Sports













The Moncton Wildcats will represent the "Q" at the Memorial Cup in Brandon, Manitoba after outscoring the Seadogs 7-4 to take the President's Cup 4 games to 2. It is Moncton's second title in the past four years. The Wildcats will face the host team, the Brandon Wheat Kings, Western Hockey League champion Calgary Hitmen and Ontario Hockey League champion Windsor Spitfires in the Memorial Cup tournament which starts Friday.


Another game seven is in the works for the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs came back to force a deciding game for the second straight series as they edged the Penguins 4-3. Michael Cammalleri scored his 10th and 11th goals of the playoffs and goalie Jaroslave Halak made 34 saves. Game Seven is Wednesday in Pittsburgh. Simon Gagne scored twice as the Philadelphia Flyers beat Boston 4-0. The Flyers avoided elimination for the second straight game and return home for Game Six on Wednesday with the Bruins leading three games to two.


Ice Edge Holdings' plans to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes appear to be in trouble.``Talks have broken off with the city of Glendale'' Ice Edge chief operating office Daryl Jones told the Winnipeg Free Press late last night. Ice Edge did not get an exclusivity agreement with Glendale, which the group required to continue negotiations. The city had been given a Monday deadline to grant Ice Edge exclusivity. If Ice Edge can't come to terms with Glendale, it is possible the NHL will instead move quickly to finalize a purchase agreement with Canadian billionaire David Thomson and move the team back to Winnipeg.


Canada dumped Latvia 6-1 at the world hockey championship.

The Red Sox took advantage of a wild second inning by Brandon Morrow to beat the Blue Jays 7-6. Morrow set a Jays record by walking five batters in one inning and the Yankees lost to Detroit 5-4 as former Yankee Johnny Damon homered for the Tigers. Just one other game in the American League with the Angels getting by Tampa Bay in 11 innings 5-4.


In the National League...... Cincinnati 2 Pittsburgh 1
                                         Washington 3 N.Y. Mets 2
                                         Florida 4 Chicago Cubs 2
                                         Atlanta 8 Milwaukee 2
                                         Philadelphia 9 Colorado 5
                                         L.A. Dodgers 7 Arizona 3


The Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers finished off sweeps to advance to their N-B-A conference finals. Orlando beat Atlanta 98-84 while the Lakers took Utah 111-96. Kobe Bryant had 32 points and Pau Gasol added 33. The Lakers will take on Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns while the Magic await the winner of the Boston-Cleveland series.

























Pictures Taken at Game Six of the Presidents Cup

















 































     (Some of the action at Game Six of the Presidents Cup)
                       (Photo's by Jim Hennessy)

Wildcats Finish Off the Seadogs
















(Wildcats Celebrate Presidents Cup Game Six Win)
               (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

Four goals in the second period helped pace the Moncton Wildcats to a 7-4 win over the Seadogs last night.

They take the Presidents Cup Final 4-2 to claim their second championship in four years.Cats Head Coach and GM Danny Flynn tells CHSJ News, he is very impressed with how his team played through-out the set and points out his players sacrifice a lot to enjoy a moment like this.

 
Gabrielle Bourque was named series MVP and Dogs Head Coach Gerard Gallant even though they came up short in their over-all goal, he is proud of what his team accomplished both in the play-offs and during the regular season but admits, some of the younger players simply ran out of gas down the stretch.


Gallant says Moncton's experience as compared to the Seadogs is what won them the series. The Wildcats now travel to Brandon, Manitoba and begin play in the Memorial Cup this weekend.











Q-League President Pleased with the Final

It was a night of reflection for the President of the Q-League who presented Moncton with the Cup.


Gilles Courteau tells CHSJ News, it has been a tremendous season and the final is one for the record books with great exposure for Moncton, Saint John and the entire Quebec Major Junior League.


Courteau congratulates Moncton on it's commitment to excellence by winning two titles in four years and gives full marks to Saint John for making it to the final in only it's fifth season.



Major Crime Investigating Death









A 28-year old woman is dead after a stabbing yesterday morning in East Saint John.


The woman was coming out of a business on Rothesay Avenue when she was stabbed by a 30-year old man.


He was picked up by police a few hours after the incident and is due in court this morning.


Police tell us the man and woman did know each other.