Mounties Nab Drugs In Sussex Corner Bust

RCMP nabbing quite the drug haul in Sussex Corner on Friday.

The mounties seizing 34 grams of crack cocaine, 174 grams of marihuana, several types of pills, and 400 illegal cigrettes from an apartmetn on Green Valley Drive.

43 year old Clayton Jeffrey Smith is facing several charges including trafficking.  He will be in court for a bail hearing on August 11th in Sussex Provincial Court.

A 43 year old female was also arrested and will be charged at a later date.

Horizon Health Network Review Could Mean Job Loss

Job cuts could be on the way for Horizon Health Network.

Spokesperson Leslie Reid tells CHSJ News they are undergoing a review in an effort to find efficiencies and save on the bottom line.

But Reid says layoffs remain to be seen and patient care will not be affected.

She says Horizon Health Network is the Atlantic region's biggest health authority and is mandated to balance their budget for the fiscal year.

Tender Call For Toll Plaza Demolition

The provincial Transportation Department is gearing up to remove the former Harbour Bridge toll plaza.


The department has issued a tender call for removal of the plaza late last week with the deadline a week from Thursday.

A Transportation Department spokesperson told us earlier this year the goal is to have the toll plaza removed with resulting changes in the traffic flow by next month.

Three People Temporarily Homeless After Two Fires Today

Three people are without a home for now after two early-morning fires.

A mobile home in Briggs Corner north of Chipman was gutted by fire about 4:30 this morning on Route 116.
A man living there wasn't hurt and he will be living with family for the time being.

A home on Main Street in Florenceville was extensively damaged by fire this morning but a woman in the home at the time was not hurt.  The Red Cross providing assistance to all three people.   No word yet on the cause of either fire.

Memorial Cup To Visit CFB Gagetown

The biggest prize in junior hockey will be making an appearance this Wednesday at CFB Gagetown.

Sea Dogs President Wayne Long tells CHSJ News the cup and team has close ties with military so it's an honour to bring it to them.

It will be at the base for a meet and greet and photos from 12pm to 2pm.

The Memorial Cup was re-dedicated to all fallen Canadian Forces members in 2010.

More Big Brothers Needed

A fundraiser leaving Big Brothers-Big Sisters with $3500 to help pay for a campaign aimed at recruiting more Big Brothers.

Executive Director Laurie Collins says 130 boys are waiting to be matched.

She says guys don't have to worry about not connecting with their little brother, because volunteers are paired with kids based on personality.

Collins says men may be reluctant to volunteer because they're unsure of what's involved, but there is a training program that the big brother, the child, and child's parents take part in.

Collins says there are about 30 girls waiting for a Big Sister right now, but women seem to step into that 1-to-1 nurturing role a little easier.

Gay Pride Week Officially Underway In City

Gay pride in Saint John will be on display for the rest of the week. It officially got underway with the Rainbow Pride flag being raised outside City Hall by Common Councillor Chris Titus followed by the cutting of a cake.

Mack McKenzie of P-Flag Canada says the situation for gays and lesbians in Saint John has gotten better but those who are younger should thank gay seniors who didn't have it so good and there's still more progress to be achieved with transgender issues.

Despite the progess since the first Gay Pride parade in 2003, MacKenzie says there are still alot of young people who are afraid to come out and be who they truly are.

Rev. Don Uhryniew of Centenary Queen Square United Church tells CHSJ News his is the only one in the province that openly accepts gays as part of the congregation. He calls that appalling and says God is weeping at the sight of religion being used to justify homophobia.

Gay Pride week culminates with the annual parade next Saturday afternoon.

A City Firefighter's Actions Key In Saving A Teen's Life

It's a great argument for having a security system after it's early warning helped to save the life of a Millidgeville teen trapped in a fire. The teen was sleeping upstairs at 66 Westminster court when the blaze began about 2:30 Saturday morning.



Firefighter Al McLeod tells CHSJ News throwing the boy over his shoulder knocked his mask off so he inhaled the same amount of smoke and carbon dioxide as the teen.

He says it's toxic gas and you only get a few breaths of that before it will kill you.

McLeod, another firefighter and the teen were all treated in hospital and released. The home is owned by a retired firefighter who was able to tell rescue crews exactly where his son was in the house.

Premier Denounces Vandalism

Emotions over shale gas exploration are running high these days. Some of the seismic equipment used to determine whether there's enough natural gas underground was vandalised late last month at Cumberland Bay.

Premier David Alward, who's in favour of shale gas development, is concerned about what he has heard.

Alward says such vandalism is not acceptable and is not a reflection of who we are as a people.

The Premier supports shale gas development and maintains regulations can be put in place to safeguard the integrity of drinking water which is the main concern of those who are opposed.     

Highway Of Heroes

The waters are being tested to see what you think about having a Highway of Heroes in the province to commemorate fallen soldiers.

The President of the Canadian Army Veterans Motorcycle Unit Trapper Cane tells CHSJ News the original Highway of Heroes is in Ontario but B.C. recently dedicated a freeway as well.

He says both Highways 1 and 2 in the province would be fitting for such a commemoration.

Cane says New Brunswick is a natural fit for a Highway of Heroes because of the soldiers at C-F-B Gagetown.
 
He adds no one wants to commemorate a sad event, but people do want to recognize the sacrifice made by soldiers.

Older Students Have Easier Time Finding Work

A new Labour Force survey showing younger students had a harder time finding summer jobs this summer than older students.

The unemployment rate among students aged 15 to 16 in July was 32.7 per cent. For 17 to 19 year-olds, it was fifteen percentage points lower at 17.6.

The older age group also faired better this summer than they did in 2009 during the labour market downturn. The unemployment rate that July was more than 2 per cent higher.

Cabinet Minister Expects Movement Soon In Revitalisation Of Crescent Valley

Conservative MLA and Cabinet Minister Trevor Holder indicating the province could be moving forward with Crescent Valley revitalization this fall.

He tells us while there isn't a definitive announcement today, things are moving along so stay tuned.

Holder says the grass roots efforts need to continue in Crescent Valley such as the Storytent project helping kids discover a love of reading and the Alward government is on board with seeing the community prosper over time.