Police Looking for Information on Missing Man's Vehicle

Do you remember seeing a light green 2004 Cadillac SRX between December 2nd and 5th? If so, Rothesay Police want you to let them know. The vehicle belongs to missing Rothesay man Scott Taylor-- and it might offer some clues as to his whereabouts.

The license plate of the crossover SUV is GTZ 331. It would likely have been seen on the East Side. It was found on Ellerdale Street--without any sign of Taylor.

Taylor, 23, has not been seen since the morning of December 2nd. He was acquitted in 2008 of second degree murder after a botched robbery attempt at his apartment.

Christmas Tree Sales A Little Slow

A little slow--that's what Christmas tree retailer Laura Folkins says about the retail side of business this year. She and her husband Raymond operate L&R Evergreens outside of Sussex.

She says the lack of snow on the ground has not been a huge factor: older people tend to get artificial trees these days but people in rural areas tend to just go out and do it the old fashioned way.
 
Folkins says business has been good on both the wholesale and retail side of things and their numbers are similar to what they've had in the past. 

She adds as artificial trees become more and more popular, the number of people looking for real evergreens has gone down over the years.

Grand Lake Reverend Looking To Help Attawapiskat

A Grand Lake woman with ties to Attawapiskat says she wants to go back to help the people there.

Reverend Marie Martin tells CHSJ News she spent time in the community a few years ago as a motivational speaker and she tells CHSJ News more work needs to be done.

She says the people in the community need to be taught they are good people and can move forward through dark times.


She adds the plight they are going through can have a huge effect on morale and health and she is looking into ways of getting out there.

Attawapiskat declared a state of emergency in the fall over a lack of suitable housing.

Saint John MP Suggests Pension Fund Should Be Invested In Water Utility

Saint John MP Rodney Weston says the two major issues facing the city in 2012 -- the pension deficit and finding funding for drinking water infrastructure -- could be solved together.

Weston tells CHSJ News the pension fund could be invested in the water utility which would create a stable rate of return.

He says he floated the idea to the Mayor back in 2008 but he was not too receptive to the idea.

Weston adds such a move will also give security to those who fear that control of city's water will be lost in a public-private partnership.

A Green Christmas Is Likely This Year

Saint John will more likely have a wet Christmas that a white one.
Weather Network meterologist Patrick Cool says it's not very snowy across the country and hard to say if it will be green or white on Sunday.

He says it's a tough call this year with not enough snow on the ground in Saint John right now.
 
He says a perfect white Christmas must include at least two centimetres on the ground with snow falling on Christmas day. 

Cool says the southern prairies will be green but the northern prairies will be white along with parts of Nova Scotia and Northern Ontario.

One Person Dies In North End Fire

Just days before Christmas, one person is dead after a City house fire.

The man was found inside a home at 374 Mount Pleasant Avenue north.

The fire call came just after 1pm yesterday when neighbours could see black smoke coming from the home.

Police and fire officials are still looking into the cause.
City fire crews also working with staff at Irving Tissue on Mill Street to put out a fire in a electric motor.

Tax Rate For Quispamis Remains Steady For Third Consecutive Year

Good news for residents of Quispamsis.

The tax rate will remain the same for a third consecutive year at $1.20 per hundred dollars assessed.

Quispamsis council approving the 21-million dollar budget for 2012 and Mayor Murray Driscoll tells CHSJ News the town has some big projects in store for the new year, like the new $6 million dollar library it is building with Rothesay.

Driscoll says despite 6 percent increases to both fire and policing costs, growth in the tax base allowed them to maintain the tax rate.


Sewer rates will remain the same at $368 per unit and and water rates will also remain at the 2011 pricing.

The town's 2012 budget came in at about 21 million dollars.