District Eight Implements New Policy

         (District Eight Superintendent Susan Tipper)
                    (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

I'll see you outside after school or I'm going to kill you. Just two of the types of threats that will be evaluated if heard or seen in a note or e-mail at any school in District Eight. It now has a Community Threat Assessment Protocol in place to deal with any issue that may arise in a school. Superintendent Susan Tipper tells CHSJ News, some people may think this is over-kill but they don't.

Tipper adds all school principals have been briefed on the new protocol and students are aware of what is exceptable behaviour and what falls into the questionable category.

SeaDogs Rank Number Two For a Third Straight Week

For a third straight week......the Saint John Seadogs are the number two ranked junior team in the country. This despite a 17 game winning streak and the latest rankings show the Windsor Spitfires at number one riding a 21 game streak with-out a loss. Dogs President Wayne Long tells CHSJ News, it may sound like a cliche, but just showing up in the rankings shows the progress the team has been making.


Long says the team tries not to get caught up in the numbers but he would be lying if he said the players don't take notice of how they rank against other junior teams.

Acadia Broadcasting Grows Again

From the business file -- the parent company of Country 94 and 97.3 the Wave is growing again -- Saint John based Acadia Broadcasting has just received approval from the Canadian Radio - Television - and - Telecommunications Commission to purchase two radio stations in Thunder Bay from Newcap Incorporated.
The proposed purchase was first announced back in July of this year -- and -- with the regulatory approval -- the deal will be completed by the end of the month.
Acadia also has radio stations in St Stephen - Bridgewater - and - three communities in northwestern Ontario.

Early Bird Winner is Announced

  (Francis Fowler and Family with their Winnings)
              (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

You would be hard pressed to find someone with a bigger grin on his today than Francis Fowler. He is the early bird winner in this years Hospital Home Lottery and drives away with a brand new Lexus and five thousand dollars. Fowler tells CHSJ News, he bought a ticket last year but had no plans to do the same this year but is glad his son talked him into it.


Fowler is from Upham and says he is sure to turn a few heads when he rolls through the community in his brand new vehicle. You last chance to buy a ticket is midnight tomorrow.

Legion on Bayside Drive

The Memorial Legion Branch 53 is one step closer to establishing a legion on Bayside Drive.
The Planning Advisory Committee passed the proposal to approach Common Council but not without considerable questioning and concern. A letter of opposition  outlined potential noise levels and late night activities.
Terry Murphy, 1st Vice President of the Branch, told P-A-C the legion has been through some tough times and is trying to get back on its feet.
All P-A-C members voted yes to the proposal with the exception of PAC Chairmen Stephen Horgan, who voted against it.

Fire alarms ring at City Hall

City Hall was a buzz with activity last night, but not the type of activity you would expect. 30 minutes into last nights Planning Advisory Committee meeting, fire alarms began to ring, forcing the committee and citizens to evacuate the building while emergency crews responded. District Chief Peter Saab tells CHSJ News that what turned out to be a false alarm was set off on the second floor by pranksters.
The meeting resumed approximately 15 minutes after the evacuation, but left a new experience for all of those involved.

Support for provincial Liberals plunges

A new public opinion poll shows support for the provincial Liberals is plunging because of the proposed sale of NB Power to Hydro Quebec. The Corporate Research Associates poll was taken from November 9th to the 30th and shows the Conservatives leading by ten points, 46 to 36 per cent.

Robbery charge laid in Hampton

A 55 year old Saint John man has appeared in court for the robbery of the Barnwood Pub at gunpoint earlier this week and abduction of a female employee. AA 55 year old Saint John man has appeared in court for the robbery of the Barnwood Pub at gunpoint earlier this week and abduction of a female employee. Adrien John Lepage was charged with stealing money from a woman who worked there, using violence and making threats of violence. Lepage did not enter a plea and was remanded to jail until his next court appearance December 29th. drien John Lepage was charged with stealing money from a woman who worked there, using violence and making threats of violence. Lepage did not enter a plea and was remanded to jail until his next court appearance December 29th.

Blaney reacts to budget

Election is the word the Conservative MLA for Rothesay uses to describe yesterday's Provincial Budget. Margaret Ann Blaney tells CHSJ News, bringing in a capital and operational budget four months ahead of the fiscal year should really set off alarm bells for everyone.

Blaney she now understands why the Graham Government wants to sell the assets of NB Power to Hydro Quebec.......to try and offset some of the debt they continue to pile up.

Board of Trade on Provincial Budget

  (President of Saint John Board of Trade Imelda Gilman)
(Executive Director of the SJ Construction Ass. Pat Darrah)
                  (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

President of the Saint John Board of Trade gives the Provincial Budget a passing grade. Imelda Gilman tells CHSJ News, her major concern is the ballooning deficit. Pat Darrah is Executive Director of the Saint John Construction Association and tells CHSJ News, he is more worried about what Finance Minister Bryne didn't say in outlining how they plan to pay down this huge deficit.

Darrah adds construction was a big reason the southern half of the province wasn't hit hard by the recession with over 10,000 labourers on the job this year.

Provincial Budget Is Good News for the Port City

If you can get past the looming deficit in the Provincial Budget, here are some of the highlights for Greater Saint John. Over $30 million dollars has been set aside for the Saint John Community College including $19 million for the new center of excellence. There is also $11.5 million for the new Health Center upgrade at UNB Saint John. K-12 education gets a nice boost of 91% from last year, coming in at $95.7 million including $28.7 million in capital projects.

That includes a new K-5 school in the Kennebecasis Valley. On the transportation side.....a new ferry for Fundy Isles will cost $49 million, the Weslford Bypass is $24.2 million and the One Mile Interchange comes in at $30.5. $23 million is going to be spent on the new Justice Complex in the uptown and over ten million is being invested in public housing.

H1N1 Clinics Continue for the General Public

Public Health officials continue with their H1N1 vaccination clinics for general public in the Greater Saint John Area.
The following is a list of clinics between today and Friday:

Marco Polo Cruise Ship Terminal, 111 Water Street, Saint John, December 1 until 9pm

Royal Canadian Legion, 43 Queen St. West, St. Stephen, December 1, until 9pm

Royal Canadian Legion, 43 Queen St. West, St. Stephen, December 2, 9am - 5pm

Hampton Senior Resource Center, 31 Demille Ct., Hampton, December 2, 9am - 7pm

Westfield Elementary School, 147 Nerepis Road, GrandBay-Westfield, December 2, 4pm - 9pm
 (Please be aware public access to the school will not open until after school hours)

Side Court Right (gymnasium) George Forbes Elliot Athletic Centre UNBSJ, 100 Tucker Park Road, Saint John, December 2, 9am - 3pm ** for UNBSJ students and staff only**

Side Court Right (gymnasium) George Forbes Elliot Athletic Centre UNBSJ, 100 Tucker Park Road, Saint John, for the general public, December 2, 3pm - 9pm

NBCC St. Andrews, 99 Augustus Street, St. Andrews, December 3, 9am - 9pm

Rothesay Baptist Church, 30 Vincent Road, Quispamsis, Kennebecasis Valley, December 3, 9am - 9pm

St. George Community Center, 11 J.O. Spinney Dr., St. George, December 4, 9am - 5pm

Carleton Community Centre, 82 Market Place, Saint John (West), December 4, 9am - 9pm

Sussex Elementary School, 25 Duke Street, Sussex, December 4, 9am - 7pm

For more updated information on the clinics go to www.gnb.ca/flu or call 1-800-580-0038.

Suspicious Death in the Border Town

(photo courtesy of Kim Hall)

St. Stephen RCMP are investigating a suspicious death in the town.
Police called to a home on Queen Street on Monday after family members had not heard from a woman for a few days.
Police discovered the body of a 59-year old woman in the house.
The death at this point is considered suspicious and the RCMP’s Major Crime Unit is investigating.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

The woman's identity has not been released.

Dead Monkeys at the Cherry Brook Zoo

The deaths of three infant Callimico Goeldi monkey's born at the Cherry Brook Zoo is being blamed on an incident that happened a year and a half ago. You might remember April, an infant Goeldi monkey was kidnapped and after a city-wide search, she was returned to the front door of the facility. Zoo Director Lynda Collrin tells CHSJ News, they have put back together the original breeding pair and are hoping to re-populate the species.


Collrin says April's brother Charlie became so over-protective after she was kidnapped, that he would hold on to each infant so tight and long, they became to weak from starvation to nurse.

LNG SuperTanker Arrives in Port

After travelling 22 days and 15,000 kilometers, the Q-Flex, one of the largest and most advanced LNG Vessels has arrived in the Port. It is the first LNG supertanker to to arrive on North America’s East Coast. No word on when it will berth at facility because at the moment, it is to windy.

The arrival of the Q-Flex marks the 10th ship to dock at Canaport LNG since it came on line back on June 22.

Update on Robbery in the Valley

A man will appear in court this afternoon in Hampton to be charged with the armed robbery and abduction of a woman yesterday afternoon from the Barnwood Pub. A woman working at the pub, who did not know the robber, was held up at gunpoint and taken to Lepreau before being released a couple of hours later.

Police say the man in his fifties, was nabbed without incident at a home in Rothesay.

H1N1 Clinic at Marco Polo Cruise Terminal

              (Jim Hennessy Getting H1N1 Shot)
                (Photo by Liane Jordan)

It's another day of H1N1 clinics in most parts of the Province as the general public lines up to get immunized. The Marco Polo Cruise Terminal is hosting one until nine o'clock tonight. Marilyn Rankin is one of those who showed up and tells CHSJ News, she is very impressed with how organized everything is.


The clinic is open until nine o'clock tonight and a complete list of the clinics scheduled for Greater Saint John over the next few days is here.

World Aids Day Being Marked

This is World Aids Day -- set aside to remember those who have passed away and those still suffering with the disease.
Julie Dingwell is with Aids Saint John and tells CHSJ News, better access to medication is helping to stabilize the number of people being diagnosed.
Dingwell is asking everyone to touch base with the offices of MP Dominic LeBlanc or Brian Murphy and show your support for bill C-93 which talks about access to medicine.
The bill will be voted on tomorrow in Ottawa.

Questions About Police Presence At Border Town Home

Yellow police crime scene tape surrounds a house on Queen Street in St Stephen at this hour.
So far - the Mounties are tight lipped about why they are at the home -- but -- neighbors say police have been at the scene since around three this morning.

Quispam Council Considers Active Transportation

Quispamsis Town Council will be taking an in depth look into expanding the possibilities of Active Transportation within the community at tonight's council meeting.
Michael Haines, director of Transactive Solutions, tells CHSJ News that there are many different ways for you to use active transportation like skateboarding or cycling.
Quispamsis is looking into the possibility of expanding the town to replicate Fredericton's success of bike paths, walking paths and general use of active transport. Town Council gets started at 7.