Transit Union Wonders If Common Council Considers Bus Service A Priority?

Saint John Transit is limping along and the President of the union local, Tom McGraw is worried whether the new Common Council considers bus service to be a priority. 

McGraw is saying this because of all the money that will be spent on surveying Saint Johnners and holding public meetings in the four wards. 

McGraw tells CHSJ News if the city spent 15 thousand dollars, there could be bus service on the three statutory holidays remaining in this budget year. Only four buses are run on a stat and it costs 5 thousand dollars for the day.

Councillor David Merrithew estimated the cost of the public ward meetings at 40 thousand dollars and fellow Council member Susan Fullerton objected to spending 22 thousand on sending out booklets and surveys to Saint Johnners so soon after the election campaign.

Parents Confused Over New School District

School districts 6, 8 and 10 are now the Anglophone South District, but confusion is building since their old district websites are still running.

Superintendent Zoe Watson says parents have stopped her while shopping because they're unsure of what district their children are now in. She says a website for the new district is in the making, but until then the older websites are still active.

Watson says the school district will have to go through the web, newsletters, and media to explain more specifically what changes have been made.

LBR GM Torn Over Expansion Idea

The chance of renovating the L-B-R to an Olympic size rink is growing smaller.

L-B-R General Manager Dave Nicholson tells CHSJ news the expansion would mainly affect the speed skating community, but he doesn't think there's enough money to go ahead. He says the complexion of the rink would also change completely and lose half it's seats (and ticket sales) from ice expansion.

Nicholson adds it's a subject that's been talked about for years. 

Common Council received a report last month estimating a cost around $3.5 million if the reno took place. The issue was referred back to the Leisure Services Advisory Committee.

A Second Home Destroyed By Fire

A second home has been destroyed by a fire this weekend.

The KV fire department battled a blaze that engulfed a mobile home at 9 Sitka Lane around 9:30 last night.

Assistant Deputy Chief Alick Taylor tells CHSJ News there was no one in the home at the time of the fire, but they were worried the fire was going to spread to other homes.

Taylor adds they had to call the Hampton and Nauwigewauk fire departments for help. No word yet on what caused the fire.

Patrol Stop Finds Stolen ATVs

For city police, it was being in the right place at the right time.

Two men in their early twenties were arrested last night after being caught with two stolen ATV's.
Saint John City Police tell CHSJ news while doing a patrol on Harbour Bridge they stopped a truck driving a utility trailer. When police checked the two ATV's they were towing they discovered they were stolen.

One man has since been released with a later court date while the other is being held.

Acadian Closure An Opportunity?

One organization sees the closure of Acadian Coach Lines as an opportunity in disguise.
The Ecology Action Centre and Atlantic Canada Sustainable Energy Coalition see this is a chance for the maritime provinces to come together to form a new public maritime transit agency.
EAC's Wayne Groszko tells CHSJ news they would start by having a round table discussion with provincial leaders to explore the idea. He says with moderate investments and with getting service standards for a towns depending on their size, he believes they could run better than Acadian Lines.

Groszko says Saskatchewan is a good example of public transit that works, which he believes New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI could easily adapt.

The only inter-city bus service stops rolling on November 30th.

House Destroyed By Fire

A house on Golden Grove has been destroyed by a fire.

The fire investigator and the major crime unit are now on scene trying to determine what caused the fire early this morning.

City Police, KV Fire and Saint John Fire Department have been on scene at 2720 Golden Grove Road since 3:00 am.

Saint John Fire says three KV firefighters were on the second floor deck when it collapsed, leaving one firefighter hanging and sending two others to the ground -- suffering minor injuries.

Police say the owners were camping in Sussex at the time of the fire. Police add there are no neighboring houses near the blaze.

There's no word on what caused the fire.

Lawyer Argues Transparency Is Key in Oland Case

Media lawyer David Coles arguing that transparency is essential when it comes to law enforcement; this, after closing arguments to unseal warrants in the Richard Oland murder investigation. 

Coles says the documents already released were so heavily censored the process seems almost meaningless. 

He says transparency in the legal system is how we make sure police and judges are doing their jobs. Coles says there's little risk of police being misled by false confessions, considering the investigation is so focused on one person.

Giant Flea Market Underway In Sussex

Bargain hunters won't want to miss this one....what's being billed as the largest outdoor flea market in Atlantic Canada is underway in Sussex. As many as 1000 tables will be selling home furnishings, collectibles, auto parts and more at Princess Louise Park.

The giant sale runs from 8am until 8pm today and from 8 until 3pm on Sunday. There will also be a Show 'n' Shine from 9am until 3pm.

Admission is $5 for the day and kids under 16 are free with an adult.

West Side Church Comes Down

A long vacant west side church that was standing this morning was gone by the afternoon.

City fire crews got the call to Church Avenue West about 4:30am and building inspectors later determined the structure was unsafe.

The road was closed and demolition equipment was brought in and the church was knocked down.

The cause of the fire is unknown and no one was hurt.

Governments Give Cash To Upgrade St. Andrews Wharf

Get ready for the Cruise Lines!
 
New upgrades for the wharf being announced today in St. Andrews in order to bring in more traffic from cruise ships.
 
Charlotte-Campobello MLA Curtis Malloch tells CHSJ News when he took on the responsibility of MLA he wanted to see our communities become closer.

He says it's very exciting to see it take off and he expects to see big things from it.

A combined federal, provincial, and municipal investment of approximately $900,000 will be used for improvements and upgrades to the wharf.

Oland Hearing Continues

With several heavily-censored search warrants and related documents released yesterday in the Richard Oland murder investigation, the hearing continues this afternoon.

The media lawyer, David Coles made the argument to open up the warrants, pointing out the last of them was executed in November 2011 and no physical evidence remains to be seized.

Under cross examination, Constable Stephen Davidson testified while the police force has zeroed in on a single suspect which they believe to be the right one, new evidence is being received all the time.

Davidson further testified his opinion on the case differs from that of his chief, Bill Reid.
The constable stated while he respects Reid's opinion, he does not see charges being laid in a short period of time as Reid has said.

The cross examination of Davidson and the arguments will conclude today; however Provincial court judge R. Leslie Jackson will decide how much more can be revealed at a later date.

Chief Says Church Will Come Down

Because its a danger, a church on the west side damaged by fire, will have to come down. 

Fire Chief Kevin Clifford tells CHSJ News no one was hurt in the blaze on Church Avenue early this morning.

He says after an examination, it was determined that the building needs to come down and demolition equipment will be brought in.

The cause of the fire in the old Pentecostal church is under investigation.

The building had been vacant for some time.

LBR Won't Suffer With The Vito's Departure

The LBR is losing the Major Midget Vitos hockey team to the qplex but they don't expect feel it financially.
 
General Manager David Nicholson tells CHSJ News it will depend on what Saint John Youth Hockey, who pay for the ice time, decide to do with the Vito's old Saturday afternoon slot.

He says the triple A bantams might use it or the minor midgets and the canteen shouldn't suffer too much.

Nicholson says it wasn't a big surprise that the Vito's left as there were rumours they might go to the valley back when the qplex was in the early stages.

He adds a lot of the players are from the KV.

Taxpayers Federation Targets Government's Private Plane

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the Alward government to sell its private plane which is used to take the Premier and cabinet ministers around the province. 

The Federation's Atlantic Director Kevin Lacey calls it the "gravy plane" because of the cost involved at 15 hundred dollars an hour. 

Lacey tells CHSJ News the plane could likely fetch something like three million dollars if sold. He points out both Nova Scotia and B-C got rid of their private planes.

The provincial government's private plane has been a source of controversy for years but Lacey maintains times have changed because of the 200 million dollar plus deficit and debt of 10 billion dollars.

Saint John Native Wants Leadership Of The Greens

There will be an actual race for the leadership of the Provincial Green Party next month. Roy MacMullin, who was born in Saint John and raised in Fredericton is running to be leader after being the party's candidate in Moncton East.

 MacMullin tells CHSJ News there should be some sort of alliance with the provincial NDP when the next provincial election rolls around so they don't split the vote.
 
MacMullin doesn't believe the status quo is sustainable and he doesn't see a dime's worth of difference between the Liberals and Conservatives both of whom, he charges, represent that status quo. 

David Coon of the Conservation Council is also running for the Green leadership. Ironically, MacMullin is President of the Southeast chapter of the Conservation Council.   

City Police Officer Cross Examined At Oland Hearing

More arguments are being made today that additional information from search warrants in the Richard OIand murder investigation should be released.

Under cross examination by media lawyer David Coles, Constable Stephen Davidson says while the police force is confident they have the right suspect in mind, new evidence is coming in all the time.

Coles points out the most recent warrant was issued in November 2011 and there is nothing further to be seized in connection with the murder.

Davidson says they wish to keep hallmark evidence under wraps because it could result in false confessions.

New Cruise Ship Terminal Is On Time And On Budget

Some local politicians and others getting a sneak peak of the new Diamond Jubilee Cruise Ship Terminal going up at lightning speed on Water street.

Saint John Port Authority President and CEO Jim Quinn says the project is on time and on budget.

He says they budgeted up to 18.5 million and now they are sitting at about 16.5 million so they are on time and on the low end of the budget range.

The new Cruise ship terminal which can accommodate the new 340 metre ships is due to welcome it's first vessel on September 5th.

Fire Department To Unveil New Vehicle

The City fire department will be showing off a new toy later this morning.

They will be demonstrating the Argo, the department's new special operations off-road vehicle.

Fire staff along with the City's Recreation and Neighborhood Support Service are joining forces to clear brush in the Emera Trail.

It's happening at 10 this morning on the Emera Trail at Lou Murphy park next to the baseball park.

Fire At West Side Church

City fire crews called out to a church fire early this morning. 

It was reported shortly before 4:30 at the old Pentacostal church on Church Avenue West. That building has been vacant for a number of years.

There was already heavy smoke in the area and flames coming 
from inside the building  through the roof when firefighters arrived.

 There are street closures to tell you about because of the fire.......Main Street West at Walnut and Main at Orange along with Church Avenue from Main Street to McKeil.

(Photo courtesy of Andrew Sanojca)