City Tests EMO Plan Today

There was a lot of chatter about a hurricane devastating Saint John but, it was only an exercise.

Saint John's Emergency Management Organization along with City police, fire, Saint John Energy and others are exercising the City's emergency plan.

All talk relating to a train derailment, chemical spill or a hurricane was part of the City's annual test of it's emergency plan.

Province Plans Royalty System For Shale Gas

Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup on the hot seat today taking questions in a shale gas webcast.
One man asked how royalties will be dispersed from the companies doing exploration in the province.

Northrup says in the States landowners own the mineral rights but in Canada and in this province, the government owns them.

He says they want to create a three-tier royalty system with the biggest percentage going to the province to help pay down the debt and to help with healthcare.
 
He says the second tier would see a percentage going to the landowner and the third tier would see money going to the community.

Tourism In Saint John Up A Bit This Year

Excluding the cruise ship visitors, tourism in Saint John was up by 1 per cent this year over last based on hotel occupancy. Its the job of Discover Saint John to sell the city and boost the numbers.

Marketing Manager Jillian MacKinnon tells CHSJ News the number of unique restaurants opening up in the uptown is becoming more of a draw, especially for weekend getaways and considering most of the visitors to the city, 63 per cent of them, come from elsewhere in the province.

Executive Director Ross Jefferson is hoping to see progress in getting the money to upgrade the Trade and Convention Centre because this business is booked a couple of years ahead and the city has lost out on some. Saint John used to be ahead of the game but now finds itself falling behind with newer facilities opening up in Fredericton and Moncton.

Jefferson describes the Trade and Convention Centre as looking a bit tired these days but adds he has been encouraged by the discussions that have been held so far.

Activist Is Youngest Recipient Of The Order of New Brunswick

 The co-founder of a national anti-bullying charity is the youngest person ever to receive the Order of New Brunswick.

Rob Frenette was invested by Lieutenant-Governor Graydon Nicholas and received a certificate from Premier David Alward. 

Frenette says by receiving the Order of New Brunswick, it will not only help promote the importance of Anti-Bullying efforts here at home but across Canada. 

Premier Alward says the recipients including Rob Frenette provide everyone with examples of what can be achieved here with vision, perseverance, and an innovative spirit.

Other recipients include Pat Darrah of the Saint John construction associaton, Dr. Satya Paul Handa of Rothesay and a posthumous honour for Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook.

To see the rest of the list: click here

New Bike Racks In Place Uptown

If you see an eel, a coffee cup or wine glass on the streets uptown, don't panic, they are just new bike racks.

It came about after a Saint John Parking Commission study found the bicycles were being parked against trees.

Anne McShane of the Green Feet committee of Uptown Saint John tells CHSJ News they started asking why don't we do something fun like custom racks.

She says they thought why not do something cool that is interesting to look at and raises the profile of cycling.

You will find the other racks on King, Princess and Prince William Streets.

Police Asking For Help In Nabbing Two Robbers

The Major Crime Unit is asking for your help in identifying the people responsible for a robbery that occurred on October 13th.

At around 7:00 that night, a woman was robbed while waiting for the bus on Prince Edward Street.

Two men were loitering at the corner of Prince Edward Square Mall just prior to the robbery and are described as being in their late teens wearing grey hooded sweatshirts. One is about five feet 8 and the other about five-three.

If you can help out, call City Police at 648-3333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).

Gas Prices Are A Bit Cheaper

Gas prices in the city are down after the weekly setting.

The maximum price for self serve regular is lower by more than 3 cents a litre while diesel is cheaper by less than half a cent.

Heating oil is at $1.17.6 and the listed price for propane is $1.16.5 a litre.

Renowned City Doctor Passes Away

Accolades are pouring in for urologist Dr. Arthur Chesley who has died at the age of 79. He was the very first baby born at the old General Hospital in November of 1931.

Dr. Chesley has been honoured for his efforts at raising awareness of, research into and the early detection of prostate cancer with the establishment of a 1 million dollar endowment fund.

He was also notable for his many inventions. They included a special needle guide for prostatic biopsies when there was no ultrasound available and even used his own money to buy a transrectal ultrasound machine for St. Joseph's Hospital. It was Dr. Chesley who started a prostate cancer support group in the city. 

The American Cancer Society honoured him in 1996 with its National Prostate Cancer Detection Programme Award and he received the Order of Merit from the New Brunswick Medical Society in 1995. 

A private funeral service is planned.