Blood Services Task Force Appointed

2009-04-07

16:45:47

Premier Shawn Graham has named the members of a task force for keeping the blood services distribution centre in Saint John. Minister of Post Secondary Education, Donald Arseneault and Saint John Fundy MLA Stuart Jamieson will join opposition members Rothesay MLA Margaret-Ann Blaney and MLA for Tracadie Sheila Claude Landry.

The task force will meet with experts in the community along with Canadian Blood Services to have the decision to move the distribution centre to Halifax reversed. The task force is the result of a unanimous vote in the legislative assembly last week urging all levels of government to work together to preserve the CBS operations in Saint John.

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Flooding Keeps Residents Away from Their Homes

2009-04-07

15:50:59

Several people have still not returned to their homes near the Nashwaak River bridge after they were evacuated due to flooding caused by an ice jam.  Karl Wilmot with the provincial Emergency Measures Organization tells CHSJ news homes were touched by the water and inspection teams have been sent in to ensure structural integrity.

Meanwhile, a portion of Route 107 in the Naashwalk area is completely impassable due a washout from flooding. There are also ice jams at the Durham Bridge and Marysville bridge--but so far only minor flooding. Wilmot says a storm surge is expected in the Saint John and Grand Bay-Westfield areas during high tides which could lead to flooding.

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Petitcodiac Gets Federal Funding for New Community Garden

2009-04-07

13:29:19

The village of Petitcodiac will be getting a new garden thanks to federal funding under the New Horizons for Seniors Program. Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore has announced nearly 10 thousand dollars for a community garden to be created and maintained by seniors.

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No Arrests In Grand Bay-Westfield Street Brawl

2009-04-07

14:20:33

R-C-M-P are still piecing together information on a street brawl in Grand Bay-Westfield last night.
Police responded to the Bayview Road around 8 after calls about up to 30-youths with baseball bats - rocks - and - knives were duking it out.
The combatants disappeared shortly before the Mounties arrived on the scene -- they tell us a father and son who lived nearby were taken to the Regional Hospital to be checked over. The son apparently went to check out the action and somehow ended up with a concussion and his father was struck in the head when he tried to break up the fight with his son. They have been released from hospital.
The Mounties also say one vehicle was damaged by a rock -- but -- they tell us no arrests have been made.

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Three On Three Hockey Tournament Set

2009-04-07

13:08:13

Now that the snow is gone, visions of ball hockey are dancing through the heads of MindCare New Brunswick.
Their second annual World Three on Three Hockey tournament is coming up May 2nd and 3rd on Long Wharf -- chair John McAloney says,they already have inquiries from 18 countries.
Close to 60 teams took part in last years inaugural tournament and the goal is to raise $80,000 dollars this year for Mindcare projects between Sussex and St. Stephen.

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Suburban Seniors Get Federal Cash

2009-04-07

11:10:23

Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore making a stop in Quispamsis today with some federal funding -- $12,000 dollars has been set aside for the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
Close to 50 seniors are enrolled in the program which will wrap up for the summer soon and pick up again in the fall.
The program helps seniors with exercise programs.

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Mounties Still Sorting Details Of Brawl

2009-04-07

11:07:24

Still no arrests made after a fight involving up to twenty people last night in Grand Bay Westfield.
RCMP say details are still limited over what triggered the brawl, and what charges need to be laid.
The fight broke out around eight o'clock on the Bayview Road, and the RCMP say there are currently two people in the hospital with unknown injuries.

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Trucker May Have To Move If River Ferry Is Permanently Docked

2009-04-07

11:03:59

(Belleisle Ferry is one of three on chopping block - file photo)

Add another voice to those concerned about the loss of the Belleisle, Hampstead and Gagetown ferries at the end of the month.
Donald Paterson lives in Hampstead and hauls wood chips with his father from Sussex to Saint John.
He estimates with-out the ferry in Bellisle, he'll lose one thousand dollars every week.
Paterson tells CHSJ News, it's a two driver truck and with the current log book laws, they can't change the amount of time he and his father can be behind the wheel -- and -- he says if the ferries are taken off the water, he may be forced to move from his home as well.
The Save the Ferry group is currently putting together idea's to bring to the Province before the end of the month when the vessels are due to be tied up permanently.

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Tenders at the Regional Hospital Awarded

2009/04/07

09:20:57

Foundation and steel work on the expansion of the Regional Hospital will begin shortly now that the tenders have been awarded.
Avondale Construction is getting the $4.6 million dollar tender to expand the emergency department.
The $40 million dollar renovations at the hospital is currently on schedule, which include a nearly 4000 square metre addition.
The project should be complete by fall of 2010.

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Visitor at Dorchester Arrested

2009-04-07:

04:50:34:

A visitor to the Dorchester Prison quickly found themselves on the other side of the bars after a weekend visit. Officials tell us a quantity of dope was seized from someone visiting the prison Sunday. The value of the drugs is close to $11,000 dollars.

No word on what specific charges have been laid but RCMP continue to question a suspect and no name has been released.

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Break and Enter in the North End

2009-04-07:

04:49:30:

Two teenagers have been released to their parents after a home was broken into in the North End last night. City Police tell us they were called to an apartment on Main and Albert Streets at seven o'clock to find two people that don't live there inside.

No word on charges but they will appear before a judge in the coming weeks. 

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Huge Fight in Grand Bay-Westfield

2009-04-07:

04:48:36:

We should find out later this morning what happened in Grand Bay-Westfield last night. Reports indicate there was a huge fight on Bayview Road where RCMP were called around eight o'clock. Up to 20 people were at the scene and word is some had baseball bats and knives. City Police were called for back-up but sent back to Saint John before they reached the area.

We did speak with the RCMP dispatch in Fredericton who tell us more details on what happened should be available later this morning.

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Flood Watch Continues

2009-04-07:

04:47:27:

The first major evacuation of the spring flood watch happened last night in Perth Andover. Over two hundred people were asked to leave their homes as the St. John River swelled with ice jams and the heavy rain. The level dropped by eight feet as of three this morning and residents will be allowed to return home today. The situation is similar along the Nashwaak River with an ice jam near the bridge which has forced the evacuation of several homes. Andy Morton is the Director of the Emergency Measures Organization and tells CHSJ News, there are risks that go along with living near the water.

Morton adds they will keep their river watch going 24 hours a day to make sure the public is kept up to speed about water levels around the Province. 

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