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Sunday, May 23, 2010

Harbour Bridge Agreement In Limbo Even As Repairs Progress










(Saint John M-P Rodney Weston)
               (File Photo)

More than 30 million dollars worth of repairs may have started on the Harbour Bridge but there's still no long term solution yet on financing for future maintenance. Saint John M-P Rodney Weston tells CHSJ News the last federal offer, worth 40 million dollars, would allow the Harbour Bridge to become debt free so the ball is in the provincial government's court. He points out the bridge, as we speak, is 57 million dollars in debt. Weston calls the federal offer, which would also fund half of the cost of the refurbishment, the largest commitment any level of government has ever made towards the Harbour Bridge.

SeaDogs Head Coach takes home award



(File Photo)

SeaDogs Head Coach Gerard Gallant is the top dog in terms of coaching.

The Canadian Hockey League has named Gallant the CHL Old Dutch Coach of the Year for the 2009-2010 season.

In his first season as Saint John's Head Coach Gallant led the SeaDogs to a record 53 wins, 109 points and 309 scored goals.

Gallant also won the Ron Lapointe Trophy as QMJHL Coach of the year in March.

Also considered for the award was Mark Holick of the Kootenay Ice, and Dale Hunter of the London Knights.

Car hits moose



(File Photo)
A word of caution- the moose are also out for the long weekend.

City fire crews responded to a call just before one am last night that a car had struck a moose on highway seven.

Two people were in the Honda Civic when they struck the animal just after highway one ends.

They were both taken to hospital with only minor injuries and the moose died. Saint John police are investigating.

Impaired drivers on city streets

The Saint John Police Force is raising concern after a night full of violations.

Sargent Robert Buck with the Force says they caught 6 to 7 impaired drivers at a road check on Loch Lomand Road last night. 

Buck says four people were also given twenty-four hour suspensions after failing roadside breathalyzer tests.

Canadian Hockey League to get new team websites



(File Photo)

This year's hockey season may be over, but the SeaDogs are all ready re-vamping themselves for next year- starting with their website.

The Canadian Hockey League, which includes team from the Quebec-Major-Junior-Hockey-League, the Ontario-Hockey-League and the Western-Hockey-League, has announced that all 60 of their teams' websites will be getting facelifts.

Before the puck drops this fall, fans will see schedule and ticket locations on every website, as well as new news and video features.

The new CHL network will be the largest online sports network in Canada.

Quispamsis and Rothesay solve fire issue


(Mayor Murray Driscoll addresses council)
                    (File Photo)

Quispamsis Council is withdrawing arbitration against Rothesay now that the town has agreed to hire another firefighter.

Rothesay was originally against the idea saying the fire department's budget needed to be cut by 100 thousand dollars, but changed their minds based on a recommendation from the new chief.

Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll says, now that the issue has been resolved, arbitration is no longer needed.

He says a new firefighter will be hired before the end of the year.

Saint John Theatre Company unveils new season

The Saint John Theatre Company has unveiled its Main Stage series to mark its 20th anniversary.

Three plays will be staged.

Artistic Director Stephen Tobias says one of them is called "Black Comedy" that will run from March 17th through the 19th.

The other productions are "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde which will run from November 25th through the 27th and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" by Tennessee Williams from May 19th through the 21st of next year.

For the first time, smaller scale productions will be staged at the Theatre Company's newly renovated building on Princess Street.

More about that will be announced in the next few months.

Airport upgrades to start soon



(Saint John Airport)
    (File Photo)

The Saint John Airport is close to getting work started on it's taxi way and apron lighting.

Authority President Bernie Leblanc tells CHSJ News, both were installed in the early 1980's and are in need of an up-grade. 

Leblanc says a contract has been awarded to a consultant for the initial engineering design with the work contract to be awarded by next month.

The project is expected to get started in August and finish up in October.