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Friday, July 10, 2009

Major Crimes Unit Looking For Public Help

City police are hoping the public can give them a hand identifying two men involved in armed robbery's.The first incident took place Wednesday night at the Grove Lounge on Golden Grove Road. The man was armed with a hand gun and demanded money.He is described as 5 foot 9, about 170 pounds with dark hair and a goatee and moustache, wearing a dark green hooded sweatshirt and baggy pants.
The second incident happened last night when a man entered Doolys on McDonald Street with a hand gun and demanded money.He is described as 6 feet tall, husky build with a buzz cut and dirty blonde hair.
There were no injuries during the incidents, and anyone with any information is asked to contact city police at 648-3333 or Crime Stoppers.

Two Vehicle Accident Sends 5 to the Hospital

An accident on Highway 100 last night sent five people to the hospital.Around 8 o'clock a two vehicle crack up at the intersection of Darlings Island sent four adults and one child to the hospital with minor injuries.The accident occurred when one vehicle stopped to make a left turn onto Darlings Island Road and the second vehicle slammed into the back of them.Charges are pending.

Update on Highway 1 Crash


[The Scene of the Crash-----Photo by Mark McGraw]

RCMP are still working on determining what caused the three vehicle crack up on Highway One yesterday morning.Sgt. Steve Gourdeau tells CHSJ News, it's suspected to have been caused by human error, but the results of the reconstructionists report will not be available for a few days.The accident near the Dolan Road Irving yesterday was between a cement truck, a tractor trailer and a car, and sent one man to the hospital. His injuries are not believed to be serious.The scene required the Mounties to be on site for nearly 10 hours after the crash cleaning up debris.

Local Take on General Motors Bankruptcy

A business professor at the University of New Brunswick says the General Motors soap opera is about to begin.
Barry Boothman tells CHSJ News, GM has been able to emerge from bankruptcy protection much faster than anticipated, but is unsure what the public is going to think about it.
Boothman says eliminating brands now, and experimenting with greener automobiles is coming a little late. He says brands such as Pontiac should have been phased out 10 to 15 years ago.Boothman says it's going to be hard for GM to pay back their government loans quickly because their debt was in the area of $172 billion dollars including assets.

Penobsquis Man Faces Assault Charges

Charges are pending against an 18 year old man from Penobsquis after an assault on a 21 year old woman from Kars yesterday. RCMP say the attack took place in a parking lot off Main Street in Sussex but the victim did not need medical treatment. The man and woman apparently know each other. The man is due in court at a later date.

Fair Taxes First Calls on City to Better Handle Spending

The Group Fair Taxes First says the city is using too much of it's annual budget on capital projects--and not enough on core services. The group says major projects will eat up 70 per cent of the annual budget leaving only a third for services such as snow removal, garbage collection, police, and transportation. Spokesperson Brian Stone tells CHSJ news many Saint John taxpayers are on fixed incomes and it's clear they cannot afford any tax increases.

Stone says common council must be fully aware a tax rate increase is inevitable if they continue down their bumpy road
.

Union Applauds Education Cut Reversal

The Union representing Educational Support Staff is applauding the provincial government's decision to reverse 2.9 million dollars in cuts to school libraries and intervention programs. Sandy Harding of the Canadian Union of Public Employees tells CHSJ News this is a start but it still doesn't go far enough.

The initial cuts to the school districts meant the loss of about 300 library assistants, teachers assistants, and behavioural intervention workers, while close to 300 more would have seen their hours reduced. Harding says she's working with government to see how the reversal of some cuts will work out by September.

Saint John's Unemployment Rate Drops

Statistics Canada says Saint John's unemployment rate dropped to 5 per cent last month from 5.8 in May. The change comes as both the provincial and national jobless rates climbed in June. New Brunswick's unemployment rate jumped to 9.2 from 8.8 per cent last month--and-- Canada's unemployment rate rose to 8.6 per cent last month from 8.4.

The reason the national unemployment rate rose two-10ths of a point is that more Canadians began looking for work last month. But the labour market survey was less rosy as 47,500 full-time jobs disappeared in June as workers turned to part-time work and self-employment.

APEC Releases Report on Seniors

The latest report card by the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council is suggesting seniors incomes are at risk in the coming years.Senior Economist David Chaundy tells CHSJ News, seniors are seeing declines in the value of their pensions and retirement savings, and that may have a negative effect on the economy because they will be spending less.

Chaundy says seniors are delaying their retirement, and that people between the age of 65 and 69 are staying in the work force. He says the number of seniors still working has doubled over the past several years.

Police Investigate Armed Robbery

The Dooley's in Loch Lomond Mall on McDonald Street the scene of an armed robbery last night. Saint John police say one main in his late twenties walked in around 11:30pm with a weapon demanded cash from the bar. He made off with an undisclosed amount of money and walked out the door.

So far, police have no suspects.

Highway Back Open After Major Crash

Highway One near the Dolan Road Irving is back open this morning after a crash involving a cement truck, tractor trailer and car yesterday morning. An accident reconstruction team from Moncton was on scene until around nine o'clock last night--nearly 10 hours after the accident happened. The cement truck was knocked on its side leaving a huge mess to be cleaned up.

One man was taken to hospital, but his injuries are not believed to be serious. So far, no word on the cause of the crash.

Saint John Man Gets Leadership Award

The Executive Director of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation has been awarded the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy Canada Leadership Award. This national award recognizes Tim Cameron for his outstanding contribution to the community, institution and fundraising profession.