Tent Fire at Occupy SJ Encampment

A peaceful protest getting a little heated on Saturday night---and we mean that literally.

Two tents in the Occupy Saint John encampment caught alight at roughly 4:29am on Sunday. A passing driver noticed the fire and called city fire department.  

The tents that went up in smoke weren't "occupied"--and there were no injuries. Fire officials aren't sure what caused the blaze. City Police are also investigating how the fires started.

(Photo Courtesy Of Ashley Dow)

Construction Site Arson in Clair, NB

Police are looking for the culprit in an arson case in Clair, NB. Fire and RCMP responding to the call around 3am yesterday at a construction site. They found a dump truck totally consumed by fire, and evidence of a few smaller fires.

Someone had tried to ignite several utility trailers nearby, but didn't succeed.

The fires were set on purpose, say officials. Anyone who knows anything about the fire should contact the RCMP or Crimestoppers.

Community Supper at Occupy Saint John

Just days after the Occupy Halifax  protest was expelled from their protest site, the Occupy Saint John movement is attempting to drum up support for its efforts.

A community supper will be held at the tent village in King Square at 6pm this evening. It's taking place with the support of local veterans and business owners. Habib Kalisi will be in attendance--the local chef says that he's looking forward to providing sustenance and support for the protesters.

There will be a general assembly at 5:30pm, after which they will present the mission statements of the movement. Following the presentation, supper will be served. Anyone interested in the Occupy movement can attend.

More Cuts Could Be Coming To Moosehead

The recent 27 job cuts at Moosehead Breweries may not be the last.

Councillor Bill Farren, who works at the company, tells CHSJ News there could be layoffs in the packaging and uncasing department once the 20 million dollar expansion is complete.

He says it's because the new gear would require less manpower.

Given the labour dispute earlier this year, the layoffs, and the death of Moosehead family member Richard Oland, he says things have been tough but everyone will persevere.

He says if the cuts were to happen, they would most likely occur in May.

Single Car Crash in Dipper Harbour

A man was injured in a collision on Route 790 in Dipper Harbour yesterday evening.  Fire Department in Musquash responding to a single car crash in Dipper Harbour. 

Firefighters assisted ANB Paramedics in removing one person from a car which had left the road, landing on its wheels in the ditch. He was transported by ambulance to hospital.

Mustache Run to Raise Awareness of Prostate Cancer

A long-running prostate cancer fundraiser is getting a new look this year.

Dr. Tom Whalen tells CHSJ news that this year's One Mo' Run could get a little...hairy:

As a tie-in to the popular mustache-minded charity event, Movember, this year participants are encouraged to grow a 'stache or sport fake facial hair.

The event aims to raise awareness of prostate cancer, which effects up to 1 in 6 men.

Participants can walk for 5km, or run for 1km. After the run, a hot lunch will be served. The event will be held near the Bill McGuire center in Rothesay. Registration starts at 10am on Sunday.

Proposal For Lower Minimum Wage For Servers Denounced

An attack on workers..........That charge being levelled by the Common Front for Social Justice about the proposal to pay those workers who get tips a lower minimum wage.

The Common Front's Linda McCaustlin tells CHSJ News It will be women who will be adversely affected the most if they goes ahead.

She points out it's not the employer or the government that pays the tips so why the fuss and why financially penalise workers just because they receive tips.

Meantime, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business reports business optimism in the province is still sputtering.

Road Closures As Of 4:00 PM In City

Several roads are closed because of flooding caused by the heavy rainfall.......

Rothesay Avenue between Ashburn Lake Road and Russell Street.
Glen Road at Brown Street and Golden Grove Road.
And McLaren Boulevard at Sandy Point Road.

In addition, caution signs have been put in several locations.......

Rothesay Road at the highway underpass.
Rothesay Avenue, portions of which are down to two lanes.
And Ashburn Lake Road at Foster Thurston Road and Rothesay Road.

Fairville Boulevard is now open to traffic.

City Police say some drivers are going around the barricades which is a violation and subject to a fine of over $152.00.

Close But No Cigar For The Bay Of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy misses out as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

The bay had been the only contender from Canada and one of a group of 28 finalists that included the Galapagos Islands, the Grand Canyon and Mount Vesuvius, all of which did not make the list.

The Great Barrier Reef, the Dead Sea, the Amazon River and Mount Kilimanjaro were among the sites that did make the cut.

All of the publicity generated by the campaign is believed to be worth something like 8 million dollars in advertising for the Bay of Fundy.

Remembrance Day Ceremony Brings Out Thousands

Saint Johners paying their utmost respect to our war veterans as thousands made the wet trek to Harbour Station for this year's Remembrance Day ceremony.

The army, police, and fire were just some of the groups taking part in the parade and ceremony.

89-year old veteran Gill Kenny fought in the Battle of the Atlantic and he tells CHSJ News he's happy to be here and enjoy the freedom that he and his friends fought for.

He says respect for veterans has grown over the years because veterans have begun to open up and share their stories.

To see a video of the ceremony, click here.

 

Police Remind You To Lock Your Car Doors

It may seem like common sense but police are sending out a familiar reminder -- lock your car doors and take your valuables with you.

Police say there have been recent thefts in the city but the majority have been in the Fundy Heights Area.

If something has been taken from your car, you're being encouraged to still report the crime to police or if you see any suspicious activity.

Home Invasion In French Village

No one hurt in a home invasion last night in French Village.  Police got the call around 7 o'clock -- police say up to 3 suspects went into a home armed with a handgun and stole a large amount of cash.  A man and a child were home at the time but no one was hurt.

Police believe that the crime was not random.

Vets Will Remember Tomorrow

Young and old will remember the efforts of many to secure the freedoms Canadians enjoy in many services throughout Greater Saint John tomorrow.
The Harbour Station service begins tomorrow morning at 10:30am.
Randall Hope of the Merchant Navy says you share a bond with your shipmates that never leaves you.

He says sometimes you have a convoy and it gets torpedoed and the guys are on lifeboats and you have to run over your own men.

Hope joined the Merchant Navy in 1944 when he was working at sugar refinery.
For more information on the service, click here

Wastewater Treatment Facility Opens In Red Head

The Harbour Clean-Up Project is that much closer to finally being complete as the Eastern Wastewater Treatment Facility in Red Head is now officially open.

Director of Municipal Operations Paul Groody says the 100 million dollar clean up project is about three-quarters complete and everything should be finished by the end of 2012.

The 57 million dollar plant will collect all of the wastewater in East Saint John, the south central peninsula, the Chesley Drive/Douglas Avenue, and some spots north of the throughway, which makes up about 40-45 percent of the sewerage flowing into the harbour.

Consultant Says The City Was Boxed In

A labour consultant with the police union is putting the additional pension reductions on the shoulders of the province.

Bob Davidson says the first reform package agreed upon by everybody was sound but because the province felt it was too risky, the employees and retirees had to pay the price.

He says that manifested into the retirees having their indexing suspended and he's not sure the MLA's know that because they won't talk to the media or the council.

He says you can't put the blame on the city as they were boxed in and forced into approving the new reforms.

Court Says The Province Must Justify A Second No

The Mayor of Saint John says with the pension changes passed this week, they have taken the necessary steps and it will soon be across the Premier's desk.
 
Ivan Court tells CHSJ News should the province says no again they will have to justify that position adding they spent a lot of time working with the government officials assigned to them to come up with a plan and they now have that.

Court says they can't see how the province won't support this.

City Police And School District 8 Differ on Bullying

The goal is the same but City Police and School District 8 don't necessarily agree on what is the best approach to bullying.

Police would like schools to be more consistent in how they deal with it but the new superintendent in School District 8 Micheal Butler says schools can differ in their makeup and therefore so does the response so a cookie cutter approach he doesn't believe would work. 

The school district says the number of reported incidents of bullying is down and it's happy with the way the staggered start to the school year went with the grade nine students, many of whom are subjected to hazing.
 

A new programme has been introduced in elementary schools called WITS which is about walking away and talking it out but it's too soon to say how it's working out.

Conservation Council Worried Over Cuts At Environment Canada

There will be cutbacks to Environment Canada and the Provincial Conservation Council is wondering what sort of effect there will be on the oversight of fish farms in the Bay of Fundy.

Despite recent charges initiated by Environment Canada over illegal pesticides, Fundy Baykeeper Matthew Abbott tells CHSJ News the monitoring that goes on now leaves much to be desired with the industry pretty much self regulating.

Abbott says by the time you get into enforcement then something has gone wrong.

He adds Environment Canada is the only agency that doesn't have a mixed agenda with Fisheries and Oceans along with the province promoting aquaculture as well as monitoring it.

Satisfaction With Latest Student Scores In District 8

Judging by the latest assessments, School District 8 is moving in the right direction with gains in literacy. 

Reading, writing and math scores were higher than the provincial average with the exception of reading in grade 2. 

District 8 Superintendent Micheal Butler says you can never be totally satisfied.
 
The big area of concern is french immersion where reading and writing were well below the provincial average. No reason has been determined for that. 

The assessments have also shown there has been a decline in writing among grade 10 students over the last couple of years both in Saint John and provincially.

School District 8 Hears From Police On Bullying

The number of reported cases of bullying in School District 8 is down. 

The District Education Council heard from Community Policing officer Sergeant David Hartley-Brown who says schools are still a bit inconsistent in how they deal with such incidents.

He believes a more consistent approach among the schools would reduce the number even more.

Hartley-Brown also reminded members of the District Education Council bullying can be a criminal offense if the perpetrator is over the age of 12.