Police & Fire Respond To Long Wharf

   



Emergency personnel responding to Long Wharf after reports of a body in the water.

Tanya Shand Fundraiser Brings In $12,000

A fundraiser for the daughter of a murdered Rothesay woman bringing in $12,000 on Sunday.

The event at the qplex put together by Terri Kingston and Deanna King both of whom never met Tanya Shand.

The women both empathized with her daughter and family over their tragic loss and the need to shine a light on the problem of domestic violence.

The proceeds will go to fund for Tanya's daughter Cheyenne.

The Law Court Building Opens Today

After a lot of hard work including moving twice, the Saint John Law Courts is open for business at Peel Plaza.   

The opening delayed by nearly 6 months after a pipe burst in late December causing water damage.
 
Sheriff George Oram tells CHSJ News this new facility puts four court facilities, one in Hampton and three in Saint John, under one roof.

He tells us gone are the days where regardless of the offense where someone will have appearances at City hall, Charlotte and Sydney streets.

Oram says as soon as someone is arrested and they enter the underground tunnel in the justice complex at no time with they have an contact with a member of the public.

Saia Brothers Trial In Deadly Home Invasion Begins

Two brothers are in court this morning in connection with a deadly home invasion last November on the lower West side. 

The trial for Bradley Neil Saia and Brandon Saia begins today at the Sydney Street Courthouse. The two are facing charges in a break-in on Prince Street West on November 3 where two young men were stabbed. 

21 year-old Bradley was charged with forcible entry, robbery and having his face concealed while committing an indictable offense. His twin brother Brandon was charged with forcible entry, stealing personal property and having his face concealed with intent to commit an indictable offense. 

18 year-old Andrew Jonathan Dennison died from his injuries.

Report Ready On Whether To Make Feeding The Deer A Crime

Should Common Council pass a bylaw to make it an offense to feed deer in the city?

City Staff are saying no for a variety of reasons. They claim resources for bylaw enforcement are stretched thin as it is and feeding deer would get a low priority. As well, it's felt most people would likely be unwilling to go through all the legal steps necessary to have a charge laid.

Council is being advised to join the effort which is going on in the K-V where the problem is considered worse.

Common Council To Discuss Sex Offenders

Social media is abuzz with word of the release into the community of another sex offender and now the Deputy Mayor would like the city be given the heads up in the future. 

Shelley Rinehart says the community is sensitive and vulnerable especially after hearing psychiatric evaluations and judge's comments about the liklihood of reoffending that she finds troublesome. 

Rinehart would like the city be given information about the severity of the crime, any relevant psychiatric opinion, the potential for rehabilitation as well as the liklihood to reoffend and the assessed danger to the community. 

She also points out the resources for public safety in the city are stretched thin. City Police have tried to remain within budget but not filling some jobs that are vacant.

Norton Man Dies In Crash

Sussex RCMP are looking into a single vehicle crash on Saturday where a 24 year-old man died.

Just before 4pm yesterday, the driver of the vehicle was heading westbound on Church Avenue when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree. Wesley Stevens died at the scene.

A 34 year-old passenger was sent to hospital to be checked out. 

RCMP say alcohol, speed and aggressive driving may be factors in the crash.

Lunch Program That Involved Donnie Snook In Turmoil

A lunch program that gives hot meals to kids could be folding in the aftermath of a scandal involving a former director Donnie Snook.

Judith Arsenault runs the lunch program at Saint John the Baptist School, formerly the Chicken Noodle Club, and she tells CHSJ news they desperately need volunteers and donations, as well as key items like sufficient dishes, despite the $25,000 donation the program recieved from PotashCorp back in December.

She says many people assumed the programs closed after the events of last January but that's not the case and they are still trying to feed hundreds of kids who might otherwise go hungry.

The program at Hazen White St. Francis has already had to close due to lack of volunteers.

Quispamsis Launches Residential Tree Planting Project

If you've ever wanted a tree of your own, a new planting-program in the valley is offering you the opportunity to lay claim to one, all while greening up the community. 

Through Streetscape, you can buy a tree for $30, and it would be planted in the municipal right-of-way this Fall. Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll tells CHSJ News residents are able to sponsor the trees, having one as their own to to weed, feed and take care of.

 You have until June 28 to submit your application. For a list of the types of trees you can buy, click here. For a link to the application form, click here.

Benefit For Daughter Of Murdered Woman Underway

A fundraiser for the daughter of a murdered woman is now underway.

Deanna King and Terri Kingston organized the event for Cheyenne Shand, the daughter of 33-year-old Tanya Shand, who died in May in her Dolan Road apartment. The benefit runs until 5pm today at the qplex in Quispamsis. 

There's a live auction, a silent auction, dog show, a play about ending domestic violence being performed by teenagers as part of the Silent Witness project, and more.

They've set up an account in Cheyenne Shand's name at the TD bank. You can make a donation at any branch.

East Side Shed Fire

A stand-alone storage shed on the east side going up in flames.

The Fire Department's Division Chief Mark Wilson says when they arrived to 2623 Golden Grove Road just before 9pm, the shed was completely engulfed in fire. They were able to keep it contained so it didn't spread to any nearby buildings

How the fire started is now being investigated by fire and police.

Atlantic Red Cross Team Helping Alberta Flood Evacuees

The Canadian Red Cross says a volunteer team from the Maritimes is helping flood evacuees from across Alberta. 

The volunteers are staffing call centres in Saint John, Moncton and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. As of noon on Saturday, 500 calls had been processed at the three operations centres. John Byrne of the group says the centres collect information from flood victims such as where they live and the best way to contact them. 

Several volunteers are on stand-by to be deployed to the flood-ravaged province to manage evacuation and reception centres if need be. 

To support the Red Cross response, you can do so with a financial contribution online at redcross.ca or by calling toll-free 1-800-418-1111 and specifying your donation is for the “Alberta Flood Response.”

Apartment Vacancy Rate Increases - So Does Average Rent

Saint John is posting the highest apartment vacancy rate in the country according to a survey from Canada Mortgage and Housing. 

The survey shows the city's vacancy rate at 10.4-percent at the end of April compared to Edmonton and Calgary where the vacancy rate is 1.2-percent - the lowest in Canada.

As far as average rents are concerned - we appear to be in the middle with an average monthly rent of 703-dollars for a two bedroom apartment.

Vancouver is the most expensive with a two bedroom going for 1255-dollars a month while Saguenay in Quebec posted the lowest average at 560-dollars a month.

Saint John Y Offering Slew Of Summer Day Camps

Whether your child is an aspiring Sherlock Holmes or Picasso, the Saint John Y has a summer day camp for them. 

The Saint John Y is offering 60 day camps this summer The Y's VP of Wellness, Camping and Community Centres, Adrienne Boudreau tells CHSJ News with so many to choose from, no matter what your kid is interested in, there's a camp for them. 

Boudreau says camps are a great way for a child to test the waters of a new hobby, get active and to socialize with other children.

There's an open house at Camp Glenburn on July 6th from noon to 4 p.m. where you can learn more about the program. For a link to the Y's summer guide, click here.

Restauranteurs To Compete In Poutine Cook-Off

It's the ultimate Canadian comfort food, and local restauranteurs will be competing in a cook-off to see who makes it best. 

The first ever Poutinerie Challenge is being held to celebrate St. Jean De Baptiste Day, and the winner of best poutine gets a trophy and bragging rights. Craig Allen is on the Saint John Canada Day committee and tells CHSJ News almost 10 restaurants are competing, and he's looking forward to see what spin they put on the classic Canadian dish. 

It's happening on Monday, June 24. The chefs will start cooking around noon with samples becoming available a half hour later. Allen says it's free, and samples will be given out on a first come, first serve basis.

Three Arrests Made In String of Graffiti

A rash of graffiti in the Kennebecasis Valley leading to three arrests. 

The damage was done to buildings, signs, equipment, and road structures. Two young offenders are facing charges under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and Rothesay Regional Police say they're expecting to make more arrests. 

Police are asking the public to keep an eye out for people doing graffiti, since to get rid of and fix it the damage can cost thousands of dollars.

World Class Martial Arts Master Conducting Clinic

One of the top judo Senseis in the world is in town, here to share and showcase his skills.

Sensei Hiroshi Nakamura is one of three ninth degree black belts in Canada, and he's instructing a clinic on the same day 30 people are tested for their next black belt grade. 

Chair of the Judo NB Grading Board, John Mallory, tells CHSJ News a ninth degree black belt is a lifetime achievement, and Nakamura is recognized as one of the foremost experts in Kata around the world.

The first session is from 10am to 12:30pm and the second is from 2pm to 6:30pm at the Shimpokai Judo Club in the Millidgeville North School. There's no cost for spectators.

Canada Day Flea Market Cancelled

It's a time-honoured Saint John event that won't be happening this year.

We've received word that the Canada Day Flea has been called off this year, with the those behind it citing liability issues. According to organizer Colleen Hatfield, they were unsure if they would be able to comply with the new guidelines set up by the city and so decided not to have it at all.

Hatfield says she's disappointed but she understands. A flea market will be held on Sunday inside and outside of Exhibition Park instead. This would have been the 26th year of the flea market in the uptown.

Fireworks & Music Planned On Longest Day Of The Year

It's the longest day of the year,and Tourism Minister Trevor Holder tells CHSJ News our provincial parks might be great for tourists, but places like Fundy and New River are also something we New Brunswickers shouldn't take for granted.

As well, there are lots of events planned to celebrate the summer solstice....there's music on the boardwalk all night for Market Square's 30th anniversay, as well as fireworks later this evening.

-6pm Aboriginal Drummers
-7pm Tradition
-9pm Nothing But A Necktie 

The fireworks will be after the final band, at dusk.

Morgan Earl Smith Will Not Be Released In Grand Bay

Contrary to popular belief, sex offender Morgan Earl Smith is not going to be released into the town of Grand Bay Westfield. He will be released into an area under the jurisdiction of the District 3 RCMP, which is the detachment for Grand Bay Westfield

Mayor Grace Losier tells CHSJ News even though he's not being released into her municipality, she feels the handling of his case has been a failure of the system.
 
Losier says she can't disclose where exactly he's going to be released--but in the future communities need to be better prepared for the arrival of an offender like this.