Hurricane Strands Saint Johnners In New Orleans

A couple of Saint Johnners stranded in Louisiana are giving CHSJ News the scoop on their experience in New Orleans, as the city hunkers down in preparation for Hurricane Issac. Today also marks the 7th anniversary of catastrophic Hurricane Katrina--although this storm is expected to be much less severe. 

Janelle Flanagan and her husband Gary live in the North End. After saving for their vacation all year, the Flanagans say they never expected their New Orleans experience to include a hurricane. She tells CHSJ News the atmosphere is a little tense, with people stocking up on supplies, boarding up their homes and businesses, and closing up shop for the day.

At 12:20 p.m. Eastern time, Isaac had sustained winds of 75 mph. That's a mile above the speed needed for a Category 1 hurricane. Hurricane Katrina was a Category 3 hurricane on landfall.

NB Man Wanted On Canada-Wide Warrant

A man who once lived in New Brunswick is wanted on a Canada wide warrant: Phillip Lyon's parole was suspended when he walked away from a halfway house in Kelowna, B.C. in May 2012.

He lived in Doaktown prior to moving to the Okanagan a few years ago. 36-year-old Lyons is known to have contacts throughout New Brunswick leading police to believe he may be here. Lyons is described as white, 5'10, 223 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo on his left forearm of a cross and tribal symbol surrounding an eye 'FTC'.

Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Phillip Lyons is asked to contact their local police or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
 

Deadly Crash Near Belleisle Creek

One woman is dead after a crash yesterday, when she was hit near East Scotch Settlement Road in Belleisle Creek.

The 32-year-old woman from the area was traveling with her family when their RV ran out of gas.  She was standing next to their vehicle, which was parked across the road from the RV, when a car passed between their vehicle and the RV and hit her. She died at the scene. An RCMP re-constructionist is aiding the investigation. It was dark at the time of the crash, and road conditions were dry.

The name of the victim has not yet been released.

Expect Warmer Temps This Autumn

The dog days of August are here...and it looks this summer's warmer temperatures will continue for at least part of the autumn.

 Meteorologist Dayna Vetesse tells CHSJ News we'll still see the usual fall rain despite the trend--which hopefully won't be too late to help out farmers who have been struggling all summer with near-drought conditions.

Vetesse says it's still hard to predict whether the warmer temps will result in increased tropical storm activity in the Maritimes.

In For A Penny, In For A Pound On Peel Plaza

In for a penny, in for a pound--that's the message from Common Councilor Ray Strowbridge about the public park area of Peel Plaza. Strowbridge tells CHSJ News finishing off the remaining infrastructure might cost upwards of a million dollars, but the park is the only thing people actually want. 

He says even those who have protested the build have agreed the green space is key--- because it's accessible to the public.

Council voted to go ahead with the green space despite the cost, saying that it makes no sense to have a brand new building surrounded by dirt roads and piles of gravel.

"Out Of Destruction Comes Creativity"

The Provincial Young Liberals are feeling good about the party these days after the devastating election defeat two years ago.

Communications Director Sandenn Killoran tells CHSJ News it's time for an aggressive approach to train young people and, hopefully, keep them from moving by attracting 21st century industries to the province. He cites research and development, information technology and environmental development as emerging economic opportunities.

Killoran says better training for young people in the province is essential because having just having a high school education doesn't cut it anymore arguing a Bachelor's degree is seen as being the equivalent of what a high diploma once was.

Over 800 People Without Power

845 people are without power in the Oromocto and Douglas Harbour area area due to an unplanned outage. According to the NB Power site, customers should have their power restored between 1 and 2pm.

Air Show Delayed By One Day

Saint John Airport just announcing that because of the weather, the flying portion of the air show has been changed.

After getting permission from Transport Canada, the air show, itself, will be staged tomorrow from 2 to 4 in the afternoon when the skies will be clear under a canopy of blue.

You'll be able to see the aircraft up close from 2 to 4 this afternoon in a static display with another one being held tomorrow from 4 to 7. 

Some Of The Planes In Saint John For Air Show

Another Dodgy Fire On West Side

A pickup truck that was destroyed in a fire on the west side had been reported stolen. 

Acting Platoon Chief Marc Carey says the truck was ablaze near Bayshore Beach in a ravine between Sea Street and City Line. 

The cause is suspicious with both the fire department and City Police investigating.

No one was injured.

New City Bus Transfer Policy & Family Rate

Saint John's transit woes are no secret...but there could be a few fixes coming soon. Vibrant Communities recently presented council with the results of a study on how to best deliver the services bus users need.

SJ Transit has announced they will now honour transfers for up to an hour of travel in the same direction, instead of just the next bus. As well, up to 3 kids under 5 will now ride free with an adult.

The survey asked 525 people, 90% of whom said they needed the bus to get around, about their main issues and asks for the transit service.
Some other solutions including nixing property tax on transit buildings, making fares cheaper, and improving the transfer policy. Barry Galloway of Vibrant Communities tells CHSJ News the next step is getting the province on board.