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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Keep the Shovel Close, More Snow Is On The Way


Get ready for the second storm within four days. 

The Saint John area is in for more snow.
 

Environment Canada Claude Cote tells CHSJ News a snowfall warning has been issued for our region beginning with 5 cm's overnight.

Cote says Sussex, Saint John, Kent County and southeast Moncton are looking at 15 to 20 centimetres of snow by tomorrow night.

Following the dig out, Cote says we are looking at a warm spell closer to the weekend.

Case Of Motel Owner Charged With Arson Delayed

The man charged with burning the Blue Moon Motel being given another court date.

The defense asking for more time in St. Stephen Provincial Court this morning so Gordon Lankisch from St. Andrews, and another man from Saint John may review disclosure in the case.

The Blue Moon Motel was mostly destroyed by fire in 2010.

Judge David Walker setting the matter over until February 25th, when both men will enter a plea and elect to be tried by judge and jury, or judge alone.

Four Arrested In Three-Month Drug Investigation

A three-month police investigation leading to the arrest of four people and the seizure of nearly 35 pounds of pot and $16,000 in cash.

RCMP say in October, a 46-year old man and a 45-year old woman both from Saint John were arrested and two and a half pounds of weed were seized from a home in Carter's Point.

Two vehicles were intercepted in Lincoln last week and 15 pounds of marijuana were seized along with more than $14,000 in cash. A 58-year old man and 60-year old woman both from Woodstock being arrested and the 45-year old woman who was arrested in October was arrested again. A search of a residence in Woodstock turned up 18 pounds of marijuana and $1500 in cash.

All four are expected to appear in court at a later date.

UPDATE: Snook Gets An Additional 3 Months In Jail

Donnie Snook gets an extra three months in jail on three sex charges stemming from when he was living in Newfoundland.

The jail time is in addition to the 18 year sentence he received in Saint John for crimes against children.

Snook appearing in a City courtroom today looking thin, with a goatee and a shaved head.

There were four charges originally but one was withdrawn because the victim was 14 at the time. Snook's lawyer Dennis Boyle says his client's participation in this was minimal adding it was his first sexual experience as an adult.

The Crown wanted Snook to get a year for each of the new charges to which he pleaded guilty.

Pensioners Could Get Cost Of Living Increase

It might not entirely quell their fears about the Shared Risk Plan--but retirees who had been receiving pensions under the Public Service Superannuation Act could receive a cost-of-living increase in 2014 equal to 100 per cent of the inflation rate under the new plan.

The cost-of-living increase will depend, however, on how well the plan is funded, but in a release Finance Minister Blaine Higgs claims the new plan is designed in such a way that the likelihood of providing annual cost-of-living increases is very high. Effective Jan. 1, 2014, retirees' pensions will increase by 0.96 per cent  based on the average change in inflation.

Higgs says if a shared risk model had been adopted 20 years ago, the cost-of-living increases  retirees received would have been the same as what they were under the former plan.

City-Wide Crackdown Leads To 29 Arrests

A special operation known as Operation Sweep 2 has been bitter news for the local criminal element.

Sergeant Jay Henderson of the Saint John Police Department explains they reassigned officers from their regular detachments and formed a special unit to undertake Operation Sweep 2.

In total, 29 people from all over the city were arrested and charged with over 103 criminal charges including weapons offences, drug dealing, and assaults. 


Over $102,000 in drugs and cash were also seized.

Threats On Facebook Lead To Arrest Of Teen & Other Crimes

A few items from the police blotter today--a 26 year old man was arrested on Broad Street after breaking into a home and passing out on the couch. He's being held in provincial court to answer to charges.

Threats on social media are nothing to be taken lightly, as a 17 year old girl from one of the uptown high schools has learned.The teen was been arrested after making threats via Facebook. She will be appearing in youth court at a later date.

And at around 4pm yesterday police received a call to the Trade and Convention Center area about some teenagers who had been sprayed with a pepper-spray like substance. When they arrived, several teenagers were showing symptoms of having been sprayed and made their way to the hospital.

Police say this wasn't a random act and they have a suspect in mind.

Police Confirm Identity Of Body Discovered

City Police cordoned off an area by the train bridge on Chesley Drive late yesterday afternoon as you turn left off Hilyard Street towards the former Acadian Lines bus station.  Yellow police tape could be seen.

Searchers who were out looking for 17 year old Gavin Adams came across a body late yesterday afternoon.
 

Police have now confirmed the body is that of the teen who was reported missing late Sunday afternoon. 

Adams was last seen Saturday night in the area of Chesley Drive. Police don't suspect foul play but are awaiting the medical report on cause of death.

Not Everyone Obeyed Parking Ban For Snow Removal

There's been a lot of activity taking place overnight in the South-Central Peninsula with city crews removing snow from the streets. 

A ban on parking was declared yesterday by the city until 7 this morning but apparently not everyone got the word. 

Police tell CHSJ News at least 16 vehicles have been towed and counting.

City Budget Coming Up For Vote Tonight

Common Council will be voting tonight on the 2014 city budget with revenues essentially unchanged and spending going up by one half of one per cent. The tax rate will remain stable at $1.79. 

Councillors are being asked to spend 6.75 million dollars on roads and 1.25 million on sidewalks. Councillor at Large Shirley McAlary is in favour of spending as much as possible on roads just to get them up to where they should be.  

The police and fire departments will each be getting a million dollars more. City Transit will see an increase of 183 thousand dollars. 300 thousand dollars will be earmarked for redevelopment of the former Coast Guard site and improvements to Harbour Passage. 450 thousand dollars will be spent on upgrades to to the Trade and Convention Centre. 

The city will also be looking for a private partnership to install artificial turf at Shamrock Park.