Opposition Urges Government to Save School Support Jobs

There is optimism that some school support jobs that were cut earlier this year can be saved. Both the New Brunswick Teacher's Association and the Provincial opposition are urging Education Minister Roland Hache to use the province's Innovative Learning Fund to save some positions.

Haché recently froze the 3.4 million dollar program, initially budgeted at 5 million dollars. Opposition Leader David Alward says the frozen funds won't reverse all of the education cuts but is insisting they be used to relieve some of the damage.

Six People Sent to Hospital in Highway Crash

Six people have been sent to hospital following a two-vehicle collision on Highway One near Pocologan this morning. The Highway was closed in both directions for about an hour while crews cleared debris off the road. Three people from one vehicle were sent to the Charlotte County Health Centre and have since been released--and--two adults and one child from the other vehicle were transported to the Saint John Regional Hospital. The two adults are in serious but stable condition and the child was uninjured.

RCMP say it appears a car heading East bound went over the yellow line and struck the side of a vehicle heading West bound.

ATV Fatality

A 49 year old man from the Bathurst area is dead following a single off-road vehicle crash near the Red Pine Shelter in California Lake. RCMP say Jacques Godin, from Tremblay, died at the scene. It appears he lost control of his four-wheeler and hit a tree.

RCMP Investigate Suspicious Fires in St. Stephen

St. Stephen RCMP are investigating a rash of suspicious fires that have occured over the past three days. The latest was a car set ablaze this morning in the town curling club parking lot around 3:30am. This is the 14th car to be set on fire since Canada Day. Fire crews responded to a fire on Route 127 in Waweig on July first where a vacant building was completely destroyed. A second fire the same day resulted in 12 cars being destroyed at a garage in Tower Hill, and then a vehicle belonging to a member of the Rollingdam Fire Department was stolen and later found burned-out in Elmsville.

Last night a structure at Camp Waweig was completely destroyed by fire. RCMP believe all five fires are connected. Mounties are asking for the public's help with any information about the suspected arsons.

RCMP Stop Contraband Cigarette Shipment

Two people will appear before a judge in September on charges related to the trafficking of contraband cigarettes. The RCMP Customs and Excise Section of St.Leonard intercepted a large shipment of contraband smokes believed to be headed for Sussex last week. Officers says they stopped a vehicle on Highway 2 in the Edmundston area and two people, including one youth, had nearly 109 thousand contraband cigarettes.

They were arrested and are due in court September 9th.

Local Filmaker Wins Award

A first place win for a man from Saint John at this years Commwealth Vision Awards. Filmaker Greg Hemmings took home the hardware for his piece which examines the effects of climate change and cultural transformation in a small community in the northeastern Quebec region known as Nunavik.

Hemmings has been producing documentaries for more than 10 years in many parts of the world.

New Liquor Store for St. Stephen

There has been talk about it for quite some time and today we have more details. St. Stephen is getting a new liquor store which will set up shop in the Charlotte Mall adjacent to Sobeys. NB Liquor spokes-person Nora Lacey tells CHSj News, this new set-up will have 7000 square feet which brings it in line with new stores opening around the Province.

Lacey says one of the great features of the new store will be a walkway which hooks up with Sobeys. The store is expected to be open by January of next year.

Gay Pride Week is Cancelled

Many are sure to be disappointed when they hear this year's Pride Week Celebrations has been cancelled. The Board of Directors decided to pull the plug because there are just too many events not yet confirmed. Mack MacKenzie is the Director and tells CHSJ News, next year will be bigger and better with 13 months to prepare.

MacKenzie says he isn't concerned their growing support will go away if the Festival is missed this year. Next years celebration will co-incide with Saint John's 225th birthday.

Gas Prices are Down......Slightly.

It's down......but you could probuably use an eye-dropper to fill up your tank with the savings it is showing on the big board. The Energy and Utilities Board has released it's latest price schedule which shows the maximum price for a litre of self-serve is going for 99.8 which is down percentage points from last week. Most stations in the metro area still have a litre selling for just over a loonie.

Diesel has held the line coming in at 97.6.....furnace oil is down percentage points to come in at an even 79 cents and propane is down almost a penny at 85.8.