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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Musquash Home A Total Loss After Blaze

21 firefighters and a whole lot of equipment battling a blaze in Musquash today.

Musquash Fire Chief Wayne Pollock tells CHSJ News the house at 531 South Musquash Road is a total loss and no one was hurt as the building was empty at the time.
Crews spent some time protecting some outbuildings on the property.

Chief Pollock tells us the call came in just before noon and crews just left the scene at 4 o'clock today.  They got some help from the Black's Harbour Fire Department.

18-Year-Old Facing Charges In Robbery

An 18-year-old is facing two charges relating to a robbery last week at a North end convenience store.
The robbery occurring at the Needs Convenience Store on Wellesley Ave on July 14th.

Officers from Major Crime arresting John William Douglas Daley yesterday and he was in court facing charges of robbery and committing an indictable offence while masked.  Daley will remain at the City jail until Monday when he's back in court.

The City and NB Power Try To Keep Expansion Project Alive

Mayor Ivan Court says he doesn't want the expansion of American Iron and Metal to go down the tubes.

The deal is at risk because the city and NB Power are trying to figure where to lay down power lines for the project without interfering with west side residents as well as sorting out land-ownership issues.

Court tells CHSJ News talks are continuing with NB Power and even residents who were concerned about the power lines want the deal to happen as it would mean millions to the local economy.

He says it would be a tragedy if the deal fell through and hopes power arrangements can be made.

Crews Battle Musquash House Fire



Crews from the Musquash Fire Department responding to a fire in the community around noon today. 

The blaze at 531 South Musquash Road.
There are reports the house was empty at the time of the fire.

(photo courtesy of Joseph Comeau)

City Honours 5th Mayor of Saint John

The city paying respect to one of its former leaders with the unveiling of the restored gravestone of Lauchlan Donaldson at Fernhill Cemetery

Donaldson was the fifth mayor of Saint John and introduced the city's water supply.  He was appointed to the mayor's seat twice, serving from 1829 to 1833 and from 1843 to 1847.

Nan Hagan Gormon is the great, great granddaughter of Donaldson.

She tells CHSJ News she's proud that her great, great, grandfather has left a legacy in Saint John.

Gormon is following in his footsteps -- she is currently the mayor of Hazard, Kentucky.

To see a video of the unveiling, click here.

Buskers On The Boardwalk Is Underway


Lumberjacks are a part of the 21st annual Buskers Festival on the Boardwalk on now until Sunday.
Market Square's Stephanie Peterson tells CHSJ News this year's edition includes a 63 foot dragon and the log-roller demonstration you can try.

She says people are coming in from all over the world including some shows tonight at part of Alpine Country Star.
Peterson says Brad the Balloon Guy created a dress that will be modeled.
Events run all weekend long and are taking place at the Coast Guard site, on the Boardwalk stage and in Loyalist Plaza.   For the busker schedule, click here.

Drunk Driver Gets More Than 6 Years Behind Bars

35-year-old Vincent Eric Reid of Wright Street will serve six and half years in a federal penitentiary for his involvement in a fatal two-vehicle crash on the Golden Grove Road over the Victory Day long weekend.

Reid earlier plead guilty to five charges including impaired driving causing the death of Gerald Troy Bridges.

On May 22, both trucks were returning from the same event in Barnesville when Reid swerved over the yellow line and collided with a blue Tahoe head-on.
 
Officers say his blood alcohol level that night was four times over the legal limit.
 
Bridges' girlfriend, Teresa Ryans, was injured in the accident and read a victim impact statement to the court. 
 
She says when she closes her eyes she either sees Bridges' eyes or the headlights of a Dodge truck coming towards her.
 
Reid is also facing a 20-year driving ban.

A Two Tiered Minimum Wage Has Its Supporters

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business likes the idea of a two tiered minimum wage which the provincial government is going to examine.

Acting Atlantic Director Erin McGrath-Gaudet tell CHSJ News workers who serve liquour and receive tips would get less than the minimum wage along with those school leavers with no experience who get hired for their very first job and receive a so called training wage for a three month period.

She maintains small to medium sized businesses might be more willing to take them on. This system, she tells us, is working well in other jurisdictions including Nova Scotia.

Not Much Change In What You'll Pay At The Pump

The weekly setting sees gas prices remaining virtually unchanged.

Self serve regular increasing by less than a cent to $1.28 a litre with diesel being sold in the city for $1.30.9 a litre.

 Propane is listed at $113.2 a litre which is a bit cheaper.

House Fire In Sussex Area

Police and fire responding to a fire at a Smith's Creek home Tuesday night.

The call came in just after 9:00.

Sergeant Andy O'Connell of the Sussex RCMP tells CHSJ News no one was hurt in the fire at 97 Knightville Road.

The home did sustain smoke, fire and water damage but police describe the cause as accidental.