Several Crack Ups in Sussex over the Weekend

A busy weekend for Sussex RCMP.

On Friday evening around 6 o'clock a 48 year old Sussex man followed a 41 year old man from Clover Hill on Route 121 and crashed into him.
The two men are known to each other, and the driver of the vehicle that struck the other will be appearing in court at a later date to face Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle charges.
Then around 9:30 a 17 year old driver lost control of his vehicle and rolled on Route 124. The driver and two occupants were wearing their seatbelts and remained unharmed.
And around 4 o'clock in the morning a 17 year old driver from Picadilly ended up in a ditch. The youth is facing failing to remain at the scene of a collision charges after someone called the police after hearing the commotion. The teenager turned himself in late yesterday morning

Costco Continues to Gear Up For Big Opening

With just under two months before the doors open, staff at Costco continue to get Saint John and area residents familiar with what it has to offer. Marketing representative Cathy Ward tells CHJSJ News, the membership blitz is underway:

Ward adds they are still on track to open May.27th but are still in the process of going through resumes to hire staff, some-where in the area of 160 people, 57% being full time.

Transition Housing Benefiting Homeless

You may have seen the storefront "Outflow" on Waterloo Street by Union which started serving a large meal once a week and now serves more than 150 people who are struggling to get by, many of them homeless. Mark Leger of the Greater Saint John Homelessness Steering Committee tells CHSJ News not all is doom and gloom despite the need for more social housing.
Leger does point out there's no emergency shelter for women and children who are homeless and not victims of domestic violence but just don't have enough money for rent. The average rent for a two bedroom apartment these days is 644 dollars a month.

Fight Against Poverty Top Priority for MLA

Supply and Services Minister Ed Doherty says the ongoing battle against poverty will remain his top priority in the Saint John Harbour riding.

Doherty is re-offering in the September 27th provincial vote -- and -- he tells CHSJ News poverty reduction is crucial in the riding:
So far two people have indicated they want the the Conservative nomination in the riding -- west side volunteer John Campbell and councilor Carl Killen -- former councilor Carl White is also said to be considering a run for the Tory nomination.

Another Councillor Considering Provincial Politics

To go along with his already busy schedule, councilor Donnie Snook has a decision to make. He has been approached as a possible candidate for the Conservatives in Saint John Harbour. Snook tells CHSJ News, he really enjoys his work at City Hall:

Snook says he is still focused on his municipal duties and doesn't expect the party to hold a nomination meeting until May.

Feds Not Rushing to Approve Harbour Bridge Loan

Despite all the pressure and criticism from the provincial Liberals, Saint John M-P Rodney Weston is standing firm on the federal government not rushing to give the go ahead to the Harbour Bridge Authority to borrow 35 million dollars for repairs. Weston tells CHSJ News he's well aware the Saint John Board of Trade considers those repairs to be urgent.

Weston points out 18 million dollars was borrowed to build the bridge in 1968 and there's still a debt of 22 and a half owing and he doesn't want to see the same thing happening.