West Side Crash Slows Traffic

City police and other emergency personnel busy with a two vehicle collision on Highway 1 Eastbound near the Bleury/Catherwood Exit at 7pm tonight.

Police tell CHSJ News one person was taken to hospital to get checked out.
Traffic was moving slow in the area for about 30 minutes.

Wanted Man Is Considered Dangerous

Police are looking for a 24 year old named William Edward Hayward in connection with a recent threats investigation.

Police suspect Hayward is either in the Saint John or Moncton area. He has a history of violence and is considered dangerous.

He is described as 6’1” tall, 272 lbs., blonde hair which has been shaved head, blue eyes and numerous tattoos.
The public is urged to contact the Saint John Police Force at 648-3333 or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 Tips (8477) with any information.
             
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Discount Swims Discussed At City Hall

Most of us could do with a little more exercise...and while walking or running are free, swimming in the Port City costs a pretty penny.

Councillor Donnie Snook says he'd like the city to help fund discounted rates at the Aquatic Center, because he remembers the days where you'd pay a toonie to go swim for an hour on a Friday evening.

Snook says common council has a lot on its plate right now but that doesn't mean we can overlook the needs of kids and families in the priority neighborhoods.

Poppy Campaign Helping Our Veterans

The poppy campaign is well underway throughout New Brunswick and across Canada.

President of the New Brunswick Royal Canadian Legion Paul Poirier tells CHSJ news a lot of people think the money goes towards the legion, but it's only held in trust by them. He says the money goes directly towards helping veterans and their families, being used for transportation, furnace oil and other needs.

He didn't have specific figures, but says a branch can raise anywhere from $3,000 to $20,000.The campaign ends on November 11th.

Councillor Warns Clock Is Ticking On The Pension Plan

If common council is to get the budget finalized before Christmas, the provincial task force had better get a move on with its report on the pension plan.

Councillor Susan Fullerton says she's tired of waiting, since the task force was supposed to report back on the shared risk model weeks ago and it's going to have a major impact on the 2013 budget deliberations.

The Mayor has said they're expecting a report any day now.

A $4 million dollar pension payment is due in 2013.

Storm Flooding Not A Major Worry In NB

It's wet and windy out there, but don't expect the kind of catastrophic scenes you're seeing on the news.

Greg MacCallum of Emergency Measures tells CHSJ news major flooding is New Brunswick is unlikely because the storm will be spread out over a period of days, rather than hitting us in a flash surge.

MacCallum adds drainage is always at issue at this time of year and municipalities need to make sure the storm drains aren't clogged with leaves.

Young Liberal Leader Shows NB Politics Capable Of Renewal

Liberals believe they can get onto their feet and into power with a fresh faced leader with no baggage.

That's according to political scientist Don Desserud, reacting to the NB Liberal leadership race that saw 30-year-old Brian Gallant win the top job.

He says while experience is always better than no experience, New Brunswick has a track record of young leaders getting into power more quickly. Desserud says there are two types of experience. One is having a leader of the opposition that's effective and capable of growing a strong enough profile so the party can move into power. The second is the experience of once you're in power, being able to govern successfully and renew that mandate in the next election.

Desserud says being a leader is more than personality and charm, it's about coming up with a credible policy that marks your part. He says an example of that is coming up with a new way of dealing with old problems, such as the economy, health care, and education.

He finishes by saying people are craving somebody with ideas, not statements, and maybe a fresh approach is the right one.

Woman Approaches Kids In Oromocto

Oromocto RCMP looking into a complaint that three kids were approached by a woman after school on Monday.

The kids, between the ages of 10 and 11, says the woman was driving a navy blue truck on St. Lawrence Avenue about 3:30 in the afternoon.
 
She asked them if they wanted to have a teddy bear she had in the back of her truck, the kids said no and walked away.

Police are trying to find out who the woman is and what she was doing.  
If you know anything, contact the Oromocto RCMP at 506-357-4300.

The Rain Should End In Time For Trick Or Treating

Environment Canada says while it will be windy and wet for Halloween, the wind will die down and the rain will stop in the evening for the trick or treaters.

Hurricane Sandy's impact is weakening but still bringing heavy rain and high winds across the province.
Meterologist Claude Cote tells CHSJ News that Greater Saint John can expect rain today, tonight and tomorrow.

He says the total rainfall amounts for our region should be 40 millimetres just shy of the 50 millimetres that was forecast for us.

Cote says Charlotte County is under a heavy rainfall warning meaning the area could get up to 80 millimetres of rain.   
With the fear of flooding, Cote says officials are keeping an eye on the St. Croix and Magaguadavic watersheds.

Princess Of Acadia Not Sailing

The sailings for the Princess of Acadia have been cancelled today because of the weather and the gusty winds. 

The next scheduled sailing will be departing Saint John tomorrow morning at 9.

$5 Million Needed To Keep Current Bus Service

Ask Saint Johners about city bus service and you get the same answer as you do on roads..... nobody's happy. Common Council agreeing to look at restoring 2012's hatchet job on subsidies for Saint John Transit which currently has no holiday or nighttime service and few early morning routes.

Common Councillor Donnie Snook says the bus is especially important in the urban core. He wants to see the South End have evening bus services extended to 10pm and service restored to other areas as well.

According to financial reports the city would have to pony up at least $5 million dollars just to maintain the reduced level of service we have now, and  Snook says we need to do better than that.

Skateboarders Warned To Wear Helmets

A skateboarder being treated in hospital for serious head injuries after he was struck by a car in the Valley last night.  

The teen wasn't wearing a helmet and was hit on Hampton Road near the Great Canadian Dollar Store. 

It was dark and road conditions were wet at the time. 

Rothesay Regional Police have been told the driver didn't see him.

Future of SJ Transit Hangs In The Balance

If you can't get a bus to work or school on time due to the transit cuts, you'll be interested in what's happening at common council tonight. Depending on whether a motion by Councillor Donnie Snook is passed there could be either more cuts, or restored service.

Amalgamated transit union president Tom McGraw tells CHSJ News the public isn't going to stand for any more cuts.

If it goes through the motion will give $1 million additional dollars to Saint John Transit. Listen in for more details.

Environment Canada Gives Rainy Details On Sandy

We'll start to feel the effects of category 1 hurricane Sandy at midnight tonight, that's according to Environment Canada meteorologist Claude Cote.

Cote tells CHSJ news our drizzle early tonight will turn into rain at midnight. From early Tuesday morning to late Wednesday Greater Saint John will experience brisk winds gusting up to 75 km/hour and a total of 50 millimetres of rain. He says one area of concern in the province is by St. George and St. Stephen, where rain could exceed 50 millimetres.

Cote says rain will be heavy at times, and we could have thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon. He adds we've seen worse storms this time of year, but we still need to be prepared for it.

Since there's a full moon tonight, Cote says we'll have rough seas and high water levels.

He finishes by saying these weather conditions can change at any moment.

Big News For Carrie Underwood Fans

Saint John is about to get "Blown Away", and it's not because of Hurricane Sandy.

The country superstar has announced Saint John has been added to her 2013 "Blown Away" tour.

Carrie will be playing at Harbour Station on April 2nd, with Hunter Hayes as a special guest.

The addition brings her North American tour to over 100 shows. Proceeds of her concerts here in Canada will also be donated to the Canadian Red Cross.

Carrie and Brad Paisley will co-host the 46th Annual CMA's later this week.

Saint John is the only location in the Maritimes for her North American Tour. Tickets go on sale November 16th at Harbour Station.

City Prepares For Sandy

The city is getting ready for Sandy's heavy rain and wind tonight and tomorrow.

City crews are clearing and maintaining drainage paths and preparing barricades to be used in case of flooding. They're advising if you live in low-lying areas or if your home is susceptible to flooding you should prepare for floods.

They're also advising you to clear eaves troughs, catch basins and ditches, secure or store outdoor furniture and be careful on the roads.

An East-West Highway Through Maine Is Not Dead

On the heels of the opening of the Route 1 Gateway project, leaders on both sides of the border are talking about the East-West Highway.
 
It would cut across Maine linking up with New Brunswick.
 
Maine Governor Paul Lepage says the idea is farther ahead now than it was a decade ago and says there is talk of more engineering work next year. 

Premier David Alward says the project is supported on this side of the border adding the Saint John business community is a strong advocate for it to be done.

Common Councillor Wants Action By City On Flooding Threat

Ward 4 Common Councillor Ray Strowbridge wants to know what the city plans to do to ease the threat of flooding in Glen Falls. 

Strowbridge tells CHSJ News the ditches have to be clear to allow for the water not to build up and right now they're getting clogged up with debris, grass and trees because they haven't been dredged for a couple of years.
 
Strowbridge wants to find out if building another holding pond for the excess water is a good idea.

Province Keeping A Close Eye On Vaccine Supply

New Brunswick Health officials say they're keeping a close eye on vaccine supplies in the province.

This comes after Health Canada issued a recommendation not to use the influenza vaccine Agriflu made by Novartis, after discoveries of clumping of particles in the vaccine in Europe.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eilish Cleary says some of the influenza vaccine distributed in the province was Agriflu, but she hasn't received reports of health problems or clumping particles from it. Cleary adds people who've had the influenza vaccine shouldn't be unduly concerned.

Around 50,000 doses of Agriflu have been distributed across the province.

Influenza clinics will continue using the vaccine Fluviral.

Sandy Causing Last Cruise Ship To Stay An Extra Night

Hurricane Sandy disrupting the sailing schedule of our last cruise ship.


The Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, which is now docked at Port Saint John, is staying an extra night in Port City due to the storm. It will now leave tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock.

The Brilliance of the Seas is our 74th and last cruise ship of the season.