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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Q-Plex Planning Double Celebration For Canada Day

The Q-Plex in Quispamsis has a double celebration tomorrow with it's official opening and Canada Day activities.
Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll tells CHSJ News since the complex has been open for a while, the feedback is very positive.
He says the Q-Plex is a great thing for the community with the ice surface, pool and walking track busy with activity.  The celebrations begin at 11am tomorrow and run until 4pm.
Events include a cake cutting, inflatables for the kids and lots of entertainment.  For more information on the events, click here

"Priority Neighbourhood" Not A Stigma

The term "priority neighbourhood" does not appear to have a negative connotation within the Saint John community -- that from the Human Development Council's Randy Hatfield.

He's responding to a recent comment by a Toronto councillor who said the term "priority neighbourhood" is stigmatizing.

Hatfield tells CHSJ News it was the residents who chose that term over the word "vulnerable" when asked to label the area.

He says the word has brought the challenges faced by those communities into focus.

Local Government Needs Overhaul

Municipal financing needs to drastically change -- that from the President of the Union of the Municipalities of New Brunswick.

David Hanson tells CHSJ News all property taxes, like the surcharges on secondary homes, should go back to the cities.

[CLIP]...the roles necessary (14 secs)

He adds local service districts should also have an elected representative in order to have a legal voice when dealing with other levels of government.

61 Drivers Caught Speeding Through Construction Zones

One driver in the Pennfield area given a $600 fine for driving at 160 kilometres an hour in an 80 kilometre an hour zone.
RCMP handing out 61 speeding tickets in just over three hours in a construction zone on Highway 1 in the Pennfield area.

Fines for speeding through a construction zone in the province are doubled.
Police enforcement in construction zones will continue throughout the construction season.

Smith Family In Shock As New Chief Coroner Gets The Case

A new coroner has been appointed to preside over the inquest into the death of a young woman in an Ontario prison.
Ashley Smith, a 19-year-old from Moncton choked herself to death in a Kitchener facility in 2007.   Lawyer Julian Falconer says Smith's family is in utter shock and disbelief to learn that Dr. John Carlisle has been assigned to take over from presiding coroner Dr. Bonita Porter.

He calls it an extraordinary development that means weeks of motions may be lost. He adds its shocking considering the size of this case that a chief coroner would ever been assigned who was not available after November.
The inquest started on May 16th and heard just three days of evidence before being adjourned until September. The Office of the Chief Coroner says Porter wouldn't have been able to complete the inquest when it resumes because of her pending retirement.

Gas Is A Bit Cheaper Heading Into The Long Weekend

It's like a little present for the long weekend--gas is cheaper.  Regular self-serve gas is down a bit going for 122.6 a litre at the weekly setting.  Self-serve diesel is down a couple of cents to 127.2 a litre.

At one city pump, regular and diesel are even cheaper, with regular gas going for an even 120 a litre and diesel for 124.6.
That BBQ won't cost any extra this weekend as the cost of propane remains the same at 114.2 a litre.

Duffers Raise Nearly $110K For Neo Natal Unit Program

Everyone is feeling pretty good about this...a great day of golf bringing in nearly $110, 000 for the Regional Hospital's Neo Natal Unit Intensive Care Unit.

Golfers raising the money at the Randy Jones Foundation annual Golf for Kids Sake tourney yesterday at Riverside Golf and Country Club.
The money will be used for the Breathe Easy program of the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit.

Hundreds Form Giant 7 To Promote Bay Of Fundy

Over 500 people turning up at the Coast Guard site to form a giant human seven in support of the Bay of Fundy. The Bay is the last remaining Canadian entry in the New7Wonders of Nature Competition.

Terri McCulloch with Bay of Fundy Tourism tells CHSJ News she was delighted by the turnout, with people coming up from Hopewell and St. Andrews to take part. She says people are always amazed when they hear about the Bay of Fundy's tides, which are five to ten times higher than anywhere else.

The Bay of Fundy is one of 28 sites left in the competition, and is up against places like the Grand Canyon and the Dead Sea. To vote, go to www.votemyfundy.com or text FUNDY to 77077 ($0.25 per text vote).