Rothesay Regional Police will conduct spotchecks over the Holidays

Rothesay Regional Police will be stepping up their spotchecks between Christmas and New Year's looking for impaired drivers.
Sargeant Evan Scott tells CHSJ news they encourage people to call 911 if they see a possibly impaired driver on the roads.
Scott add they will be doing random checks and in the past they have apprehended drunk drivers at all hours.
Sargeant Scott believes the Provincial Conservatives have a good idea in proposing that the license suspension when a person blows a warning level after a breathalyzer be increased.  It's 24-hours now and the new amendment would increase it to five days.

Chief Coroner Calls For Inquest

The death of Randy Nelson Trenholm will go under the spotlight during an inquest to be held in the new year between Feb. 22nd and the 26th. It was back on June.2nd of 2007 that Trenholm was unresponsive while in the custody of RCMP. Emergency medical services transported Trenholm to hospital where he was pronounced dead.


Presiding coroner John Evans and a jury will publicly hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses in order to determine the facts surrounding the death. The jury will have then make recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths under similar circumstances.

Premier Firm Hydro Deal Will Pass

Premier Graham is sidestepping questions about his political future.
When asked by CHSJ News if he would resign if the deal fails to clear
the Legislature - Graham responded it will be approved by the
Legislature by the March 31st deadline.
But - the Premier was more vague about his future if his party loses
the fall election - he does say his government won't be coasting in
the final year of it's mandate.

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Final Mass H1N1 Clinics Go Today

Today is the final day for the mass H1N1 immunization clinics. Chief Medical Officer of Health Eilish Cleary says 62 per cent of people in the Province have been vaccinated since the campaign began Oct. 26. When the clinics finish up, vaccine will still be available to anyone wanting a shot through smaller clinics, your family doctor and the VON.


Today's clinics are at the Bill McGuire Center between one and seven o'clock and in St. Stephen at the Public Health Office until seven tonight.

Record Cold Up North

It has been unusually cold over the past few days with the wind-chill and so cold in one part of the Province, they have set a new record. Environment Canada tells us the temperature dipped to -18.3 yesterday in Bathurst which shatters the old mark of -14.8 set back in 2000.


It should begin to warm up over the weekend. A full look at the three day forecast is coming right up.

City Police Stepping up Patrols Over the Weekend

With a week left to go until the big day and Christmas parties ramping up, the City Police Force is stepping up patrols this weekend. They will be working with the Provincial Vision 2010 Committee to conduct roadside checks starting today and running until Sunday.


Officers and committee members will conduct roadside and random vehicle checks.

Multi vehicle Crash in Grand Bay-Westfield

The RCMP in Grand Bay-Westfield are investigating a two vehicle crash that happened last night around 8 in the intersection of River Valley Drive and Epworth Park Road involving involving a Van and S-U-V. A young boy was taken to the Regional Hospital for observation for undetermined injuries. Total damage to both vehicles is estimated at 12 thousand dollars.

Saint John businesses offer help to North End Famillies

Restaurants in Uptown Saint John are going to help out the North End famillies burnt out of their homes just before Christmas.
Margret and Axel Begner of Opera Bistro have started a fund to donate to the famillies.
They challenge all the uptown dining establishments to support it.
All proceeds will be distributed through the proper personnel on behalf of the uptown restaurants and social establishments.
If you would like to help call, 642-2822.

Update on Point Lepreau

With the future of NB Power still up in the air......an update today on how the refit at Point Lepreau is coming along. Several inspections by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited have taken place since 380 calandria tubes were removed and officials have given the reactor a clean bill of health and that it is good to run for the next 25-30 years.


Workers are now in the process of putting the reactor back together and work also continues on the installation of 760 upper feeders. As far as the turbine and generator is concerned, the rotor has been re-installed and final assembly activities are underway. AECL announced back in September, the project is 16 months behind schedule and isn't expected to go back on-line until February of 2011.

Second Wind Farm Up and Running

The Province's second wind farm is now operational. Turbines are turning at Caribou Wind Park about 70 kilometers northwest of Bathurst. The 99 mega watt facility will provide all of its power to NB Power to fulfill a 20-year power purchase agreement with the utility.


The turning of the turbines is producing enough electricity to supply electricity to 30,000 homes. It will provide about 2 percent of the electricity needs in the province. The Kent Hills wind farm in Albert County has a capacity of 96 mega watts which went on line back in the spring.

Grade 7 Student raises money for other kids in need

A Grade 7 student at Rothesay Park elementary understands the reward of giving back at Christmastime.
12-year-old Becky Dempster was part of a sponsored family just four years ago and decided this year she wanted to give back. She put on bake sales during the lunch hour at her school and with other donations raised $584 dollars.
The K.V. fire department gave her the names of two 3-year-old girls from different famillies who are in need. Dempster went shopping for the little girls she sponsored and bought them Barbies and other toys, clothes and slippers.
She says she would like to do this every year.

Chimney Falls on Man in Lepreau

One man is at the Regional in serious condition after a bizarre accident in Lepreau this morning. The Musquash Fire Department arrived at the man's home to find both his arms pinned by a brick chimney. Officials believe the man was trying was removing layers of bricks when the weight of the chimney caused it to slide straight down which in turn pinned his arms.


One firefighter used a crowbar to try and lift as much of the chimney off the man's arms before paramedics arrived.

Canadian Red Cross Reminds Everyone to Be Prepared

In the wake of yesterdays fire that left thirteen people homeless the Canadian Red Cross is continuing to spread the message of preparedness.

Red Cross volunteer Deborah Stewart was in the North End yesterday for the fire, and says when arriving on a scene you have to keep the families occupied.
Stewart says to be ready for an emergency people need to be prepared for 72 hours. She says one thing people rarely think of when getting preparing for an emergency is cash. Stewart says people often forget when the power goes out, bank machines no longer work.

Unusual Robbery in South End

City Police investigating an unusual theft in the south end. They tell CHSJ News a man walked into Sam's Variety on Carmarthen Street and made off with a bag of milk. A store employee gave chase down the street but backed off when threatened with a knife. The suspect then fled.

Gas Prices Drop After Weekly Setting

Drivers in the Saint John area are getting a price break with gas after the weekly setting. The maximum price for self serve regular is 96 cents a litre. That's down more than 4 cents from last night but a caller to our 648-3000 newsline tells us it's selling for 92.4 cents a litre in Grand Bay-Westfield and 93.4 at most stations in the city. The maximum price that can be charged for diesel is 103.4 which is more than 2 cents lower than yesterday and furnace oil is also less expensive at 86.3, down from 88.4 this past week.

Water Break Closes Part Of Germain Street

City crews are working to repair a water main on Germain Street this
evening.
The break has left a number of multiple-famly units without water and
has forced the closure of Germain between Duke and Horsfield Streets
until further notice.

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Local Artist Hits Vancouver Olympics

(Jackson with his latest painting - photo by Gary MacDonald)



Saint John artist Norm Jackson is at it again -- he will be off to Vancouver over the holidays to present another of his paintings to the Olympics Committee.
The painting is called "North to the Olympics" featuring a northern scene complete with Inukshuk -- and -- Jackson tells CHSJ News it caught the eye of one of the Olympic torch relay members during a recent stop in the province who started the ball rolling.
The painting will be on display at Print 3 in Brunswick Square until Christmas -- prints are also available for sale.

District 8 Superintendent Reaction

[District 8 Superintendent Susan Tipper----File Photo]

District 8 Superintendent Susan Tipper tells CHSJ News, the district is concerned about the provincial assessment results, but there is more to it than just test scores.

Tipper says she's happy that Bob Manning addressed the District Education Council with his concerns, but he needs to get all the information first.
Tipper says there isn't a quick fix to increase all test scores.
Tipper says there are many schools in district 8 which caters to poverty areas, and many classrooms have many students who require specialized curriculum. She says those issues are not taken into consideration on provincial assessments, and every student learns differently.

Concerns Over Provincial Assessment Scores for District 8

[Enterprise Saint John Chair Bob Manning----File Photo]
The chair of Enterprise Saint John wants to know how District 8 provincial assessment scores can be improved.
Bob Manning spoke to the District Education Council, as a representative from Enterprise Saint John and a parent.
Manning tells CHSJ News, low education scores can negatively affect someone from moving to the city.
Manning says the scores are better in the districts just outside the city, and wonders if that has something to do with more people migrating to Greater Saint John rather than inside city limits.
He says it's getting to the point of crisis.

North End Fire Update

Thirteen people from two North End famillies are temporarily homeless after a fire late this morning.


Firefighters called to Bryden Street just before noon to find flames shooting out of the house. Laura White, her four kids and boyfriend live there and she tells CHSJ News, she heard a loud bang upstairs, smelled smoke and got out. District Chief Peter Saab says considering the wind and cold, they are lucky the flames didn't jump to neighbouring homes. The Red Cross is providing assistance to the displaced famillies.


The cause of the blaze is under investigation.