Bell Aliant Offering Facebook App For TV Customers

Bell Aliant customers with FibreOp TV and Internet service will have a new way to access the ever popular Facebook website.

The social networking site can now be accessed on your TV screen while still letting you watch shows at the same time.

Bell Aliant spokesperson Andre LeBlanc tells CHSJ News it's a natural pairing as three-quarters of internet users are watching TV while doing something on the internet at the same time.

He says many people like to talk about a show on social media while it is being broadcast.

Deer Skeleton Stuck In Lake

You may get a bit of a nasty surprise when you're walking around the trails at Lily Lake and Fisher Lakes.

According to city personnel, the skeletal remains of a deer are currently laying on the ice at the popular city park. They says the animal fell through before the ice was solid, and now it's too risky to send someone to remove it.

Folks who are sensitive to that kind of thing may want to look the other way while using the trails.

Heavy Equipment Stolen In Three Areas

After a spree of heavy-equipment thefts in the tri-city region, police looking for tips from the public.

From December 29th to January 22, several trailers and mini-excavators have been stolen from locked compounds and work sites in Hanwell, Moncton, and Saint John.

All together, the thefts total more that $250-thousand. Anyone with any information is asked to contact city police or Crimestoppers at 1 800 222 TIPS.

Ashely Smith's Mother To Tell Her Story

500 women in Moncton will gather next month to hear the heartwrenching tale of Ashley Smith as told by her mother.
Coralee Smith will describe her daughter's ordeal and death in on Ontario prison in 2007.
Women & Wellness Event chair Audrey Vaughn tells CHSJ News even though she is considered to be mentally ill she was never diagnosed.

Vaughn says she was identified as having behavioural issues but never properly diagnosed for having mental health issues.

Smith's troubles began with her receiving probation for throwing crabapples at a letter carrier which led to a breach of probation and 100 additional charges.    Before her death, she was transferred 17 times between different facilities in five different provinces.
The Canadian Mental Health Association event is coming up February 4th at Bernice MacNaughton High School.

Minister Of State For Seniors Holds Pre-Budget Talks

The Minister of State for Seniors Alice Wong meeting with locals MP's and senior advocate groups today in Quispamsis as part of federal pre-budget consultations.

Wong says the province has some unique challenges when it comes to caring for seniors, which includes young New Brunswickers leaving the province to find work elsewhere.
 
She says the federal government has a a role to play in preventing this by providing a strong economy and creating jobs.

She says suggestions made by the senior interest groups include preventative health care for seniors and more practical research.

Premier Welcomes the Blunt Talk From His Finance Minister

Provincial Finance Minister Blaine Higgs has not been holding back in his blunt talk about election promises costing too much money, politicians interfering at NB Power and healthcare dollars being spent poorly.

Premier David Alward is not put off by his candor saying Higgs is provoking dialogue and getting people to think which is a good thing and what you see is what you get.

The Premier is also defending the cost of his campaign promises and the government's decision to stick with Canadian Blood Services in the face of criticism that going along with moving blood production to Nova Scotia is a broken campaign promise.

City Police Release Description Of Man In Attempted Robbery

City police releasing a description of the man who tried to rob a North end convenience store.

The Major Crime Unit is looking for a man who is about 5 foot 10 with a medium build wearing a light blue jacket and light blue jeans with faded spots and black gloves.

The attempted armed robbery took place at 12:49 yesterday afternoon at Friendly's convenience store on Millidge Ave. 

No one was hurt and the man took off on foot.

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

Cullen Says Blood Production Move is a Done Deal

You're entitled to your opinion, but we're moving anyway.

Amanda Cullen of Canadian Blood Services telling CHSJ news the organization isn't budging on its plan to move the blood production lab from Millidgeville to Dartmouth. That in light of harsh criticism from Mayor Ivan Court and other politicians who predict grave consequences for health-care in the province.

She says that CBS has a plan to supply a safe and secure supply of blood, and they stand behind that.

Cullen tells us that CBS will go ahead, despite threats of legal action. If the move happens, we will be the only province--apart from PEI--without its own blood production lab.

Quispamsis Councillor Says Idea Of Congestion Tax Already Having Effect

Quispamsis councillor Gary Clark says the idea of a congestion tax that was floated by Saint John Council months ago is still hitting a sore spot for residents in the valley.

Clark tells CHSJ News although nothing is official, the mere idea has upset residents and Saint John is already suffering the consequences.

He says valley residents have told him they have cut back on spending money in Saint John as a way to protest.

He believes Saint John Council needs to publicly take it off the table as he doesn't want any businesses in the city to suffer.

Mayor Ivan Court has stated he doesn't believe the tax would ever get off the ground and it was only brought up as a possible idea to generate revenue for the city.

Fire Forces Couple From Home

Fire gutted the interior of a home on Bridge Street in Minto leaving a couple temporarily homeless. The two weren't home at the time of the blaze and there's no word on a cause.
 
Meanwhile, three people were taken to hospital after a head on collision involving two cars on the New Maryland Highway. The RCMP closed the highway for about an hour and a half. 

They say road conditions were wet at the time of the collision.