SJFD Discuss Cause Of Union Street Fire

After two weeks of investigation by the SJFD, the cause of the blaze that destroyed much of the corner of Waterloo and Union may remain undetermined.

Divisional Fire Chief Mark Wilson tells CHSJ News it was almost impossible to collect evidence on the cause of the blaze due to how rapidly and quickly it spread.

Wilson says they're interviewing the people affected by the fire, but there are limits to what they can know, and the specific cause of the blaze isn't clear at this point, nor is it likely to be.

A Suspicious Car Fire, Resisting Arrest, And Other Tales From The Police Blotter

The Major Crime Unit is investigating after a 2000 Dodge Caravan was engulfed by flames on the corner of Victoria and Elgin in the North End.

The fire looks suspicious and the van was taken in for forensic analysis.

As well, a 22 year old arrested on an outstanding warrant is facing charges after taking a gamble with his life on Chesley Drive. Police got that call late on Friday about someone walking in the middle of the street, with traffic, wearing dark clothing and listening to an Mp3 player and clearly posing a danger to himself and to drivers.
 
Police checked the man out and determined he was wanted on an outstanding warrant; however, when they tried to arrest him he refused and started fighting with police. He was taken into custody until his court appearance on charges of resisting arrest and breaching probation.

Gallant Speaks On Hope and Fear

A full house at the Delta to hear the Liberal leader give a speech to the Board of Trade with the theme of hope versus fear.

Brian Gallant tells CHSJ News he is someone who is focused on hope.

He says people in the province don't focus on instilling pride in themselves enough but if we work together we can get our province back on track when it comes to the economy and jobs.

Gallant re-iterated his pause stance on a shale gas industry adding there are two major studies coming out this year and he thinks government should wait to see what they say.

Concern Over Release Of Sex Offender In Sussex Area

People who live in a small community north of Sussex are up in arms after learning a convicted sex offender is returning after serving his time, albeit with a list of conditions. 

54 year old Terrance Leger was convicted on three charges of sexual interference involving young boys. 

Dave Mantin is Director of the Sexual Abuse Network of Canada and tells CHSJ News where Leger plans to live is too close for comfort with a school bus stop and church nearby. He claims Leger will be violating the conditions of his release everytime he walks out his front door and wonders if the RCMP ever checked where he was going to reside.
 
The Parole Board concluded Leger was at high risk to reoffend. According to Mantin, 68 per cent of sex offenders who have a preference for young boys reoffend. 

A public meeting on this will be held tomorrow night at the Millstream Recreation Centre starting at 6:30.

Woman Facing Coke Dealing Charges

A 29 year old woman is looking at charges of dealing coke after an operation involving RCMP and the Fredericton police.

Last Wednesday, Laura Karen Burton was arrested facing two counts of trafficking cocaine and one count of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

She was in court the next day and will remain in custody until her next court appearance tomorrow.

Police Commission Chair Concerned Over Escalating Policing Costs

The escalating costs of policing are an issue facing municipalities across the world, and newly-minted Saint John Police Commission Chair Jonathan Franklin tells CHSJ News the expenditures in some areas are simply unsustainable. 

He says if we built high rises and concentrated the population of Saint John into a smaller area, we could cut our policing budget by half, but the fact is that we're spread out and that makes policing more complex.

Franklin had been scheduled to present a report on policing costs to common council, but the request was withdrawn after commission members raised concerns the report didn't represent their views. 

He emphasized the report wasn't personal, it was just a look at the facts, and there needs to be more discussion of the options.

Man Arrested With Weapon

City Police tell CHSJ News they were called to an uptown bar early this morning after a man was threatened. 

Two other men were arrested, one of whom was armed with a weapon.

Counsellor Delivering Workshop On Sexual Ethics

Most of us get our sexual health education in high school, but New Brunswick Community College counselor suggests we may not be learning enough. 

Kris Trotter is giving a Valentine's Day presentation in the Port City on sexual ethics, something she says isn't really covered in our educational system. Trotter tells CHSJ News teachers and parents tell her that young people are learning about the hardware, they know about biology and sexual acts, but there hasn't been enough in terms of managing what she calls the software.

Trotter says it's largely about being able to accurately read someone's body language and checking in if you're unsure. The workshop is being held on Friday, February 14 at 7pm at Saint John High School and is being offered through UNB Saint John Leisure Learning Courses. For more information contact pce-saintjohn@unb.ca or call 648-5962.

Warning About Deer Attracting More Coyotes

There's a lack of acknowledgement about the presence of Lyme Disease in the province.....So says Anne Downey of Model Farm Road whose dog "Gus" was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. 

She likens dogs to canaries in the mine shaft because once a family pet is afflicted, it's just a matter of time because it spreads to people. She also warns the growing number of deer are attracting coyotes that see the deer as lunch.

Downey's husband, Robert tells CHSJ News they also have a real problem with deer on Darling's Island, Millidgeville and Deer Island.
 
Downey also says just one deer eats a ton of food a year and for every one you see, there are six others roaming about. He blames the Bambi syndrome for inaction thus far but would like to see people fined for feeding deer and special permits issued to bow hunters.

Cabinet Minister Says Province Is Doing Teachers A Favour

Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs wants legislation passed during this session of the Legislature to change teacher pensions to the shared risk model.
 
Higgs maintains the government can’t continue to make special payments that have averaged $83 million annually over the last 10 years. 

Provincial Attorney General Ted Flemming tells CHSJ News there's been a lot of fear mongering on the part of those who want to keep the status quo.
 
Flemming says the change means teachers will have to contribute more to their pension plan, if they decide to retire in their mid fifties then they'll get less than if they worked longer and cost of living increases will depend on how well the fund performs.

He also argues the government is actually doing the teachers a favour if you look at what is happening elsewhere. Flemming points out even a city such as San Jose, California in Silicon Valley, no less, is on the verge of bankruptcy because of unfunded pension liabilities.

War Amps Of Canada Mailing Out Key Tags

War Amps Canada beginning this year's Key Tag campaign, mailing out 250,000 tags to New Brunswickers. 

The tag has a confidentially coded number on it linked to your name and address so if you ever lose your keys, the person who finds them can drop them in a mailbox or call the number on the back of the tag and a courier will drop them off on your doorstep.

The service is free, but any donations the group gets from the key tag campaign goes to fund artificial limbs and programs for adult and child amputees across the province.

Over 300 New Brunswickers getting their lost keys back last year thanks to the tags. Click here for more information on the service.

Woman Who Had Autoimmune Disorder Encourages Blood Donation

A woman who had a rare autoimmune disorder requiring 32 units of blood after having a liver transplant where her spleen was also removed.

While Kristin Wheaten supported blood and organ donation before, she is a vocal supporter now.

She tells CHSJ News a third of the population is undecided when it comes to donating blood, so she encourages people to really think about it and if they do decide they want to give plasma, to let their families know about their decision.

Wheaton, who works at the Loch Lommond Villa foundation, tells us she chooses to believe that 32 different people took an hour of their day to donate and help save her life and she couldn't be more grateful. To book an appointment to give blood, call 1-888-2-Donate.

Firefighters Battle Golden Grove Road Blaze

Fire crews responding to a fire in a basement on the East side.

Smoke could be seen coming out of the building at 2623 Golden Grove Road. Crews knocking down the fire shortly after it broke out.

It appears everyone made it out safely.

Arson On Elgin Street

A firebug causing property damage in the North End of the city. 

Saint John Police investigating an arson on Elgin Street just after 2:30 this morning. City Fire telling us it was a van fire.

More details to come as they become available.

Hanwell Fire Destroys Auto Repair Shop, Vehicles

Photo Courtesy Of Fredericton Firefighters Association

An auto repair shop on the Hanwell Road just outside of Fredericton being completely gutted by fire. 

Fredericton Fire Department Platoon Captain Mike Mizner tells CHSJ News about seven vehicles around the building were also destroyed. There were several explosions as firefighters were battling the blaze, which sent fireballs 30 to 40 feet in the air. 

The New Maryland, Oromocto and Upper Kingsclear Fire Departments were called in to assist, and crews were on the scene for about eight hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

BREAKING: Major Structure Fire In Hanwell

Fire crews in the Fredericton area asking drivers to steer clear of the scene of a large structure fire in Hanwell. 

Flames and thick, black smoke can be seen coming from a building on the Hanwell Road and there are reports of multiple, small explosions. 

You can see pictures of the blaze on the Fredericton Fire Department's Twitter account.

Warning About Olympic Scams

Buyers, beware: the Maritime Better Business Bureau is sending out a warning to shoppers who want to show their support for the Sochi Olympics. Ccounterfeit goods and scams are all over the place.

A recent eBay search turning up a fake Olympic Torch for Sochi 2014 at a cost of $7,000.

And if you or someone you know plan on heading to Sochi...the Olympic Committee is sending a similar message about tickets saying if you plan on buying them on a website other than tickets.sochi2014.com, they strongly reccommend you make sure they're authorized to sell them---otherwise, you could end up buying fakes then then getting turned away at the door.

Saint John Chef Cast On Reality Cooking Show

A Saint John chef will soon be cooking up a storm on your television screen. 

Jesse Vergen of the Saint John Alehouse and the Smoking Pig Real BBQ will be appearing on Top Chef Canada. Vergen tells CHSJ News for his audition he cooked wild black duck with periwinkles, foraged sea greens from the Bay of Fundy with cattail salad.

It seems he's not too concerned about the speed factor, telling us he's been trained to work fast and tells us anyone who works in the restaurant or hospitality industry knows you don't just walk to a table, you walk briskly.

The show premiers on March 10 on the Food Network. You can check out Vergen's audition tape by going to their website.

Health Canada Updates Safety Info For Bipolar Drug

If you or someone you know is taking lithium, Health Canada wants you to be aware of new safety information and treatment recommendations for the drug.

Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder, however, taking it can cause high levels of calcium in the bloodstream which may or may not be accompanied by an increased level of parathormone, also known as hyperparathyroidism.

Health Canada is now working with companies to update the product labels for the drugs. If you're on lithium, the federal department says do not stop treatment unless you've talked over the benefits and the risks of your treatment with your doctor.

Seven medications containing lithium are available in Canada.

UNB Students Officially Lose March Reading Week

The University of New Brunswick Academic Senates giving the official green-light to the cancellation of the March Reading Week as a way to make up for time lost due to a more than two week long faculty strike last month, according to reports.

No exams or tests will be held during that time, and a reading day for students has been added the day before the start of exams. Thee deadline for payment of fees for this semester's term courses being extended to this upcoming Friday.

You can find a link to the revised Academic Dates Calender for undergraduate students by clicking here. According to UNB, additional details including academic dates for graduate students will be circulated by email as soon as they are finalized. Follow more updates as they become available by clicking here.