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Thursday, February 7, 2013

Residents Want Covered Bridge Repaired

Why can't insurance cover it?

That was the buring question at the public meeting in St. Stephen concerning the future of the Maxwell Crossing Covered Bridge.


The bridge was significantly damaged last month after a car crashed into it.

Department of Transporation representative Alan Kerr says they are currently pursuing an insurance claim, but it would be highly unlikely that insurance would cover the entire cost.

Many payment options were discussed including provincial funding and fundraising.

Kerr estimated the cost of repairing the bridge at $500 thousand dollars versus $300 thousand to build a new modular version. 



Members of St. Stephen Town Council were on hand.

Councillor Jim Maxwell spoke on stage saying we know you're not here to tell us you're tearing down that bridge.

Councillor Allan MacEachern says repairing the bridge makes sense adding its worth more as a covered bridge.

Before Local Service District President Vern Faulkner closed the meeting, he handed out parting gifts to each of the government representatives--Covered Bridge potato chips.

Coming Storm Postpones Skate To Care

The coming storm hasn't begun yet but it's already having an impact locally.

The organizing committee of Investors Group Skate to Care has decided to postpone the 2013 event due to the impending winter storm.

Organizers tell CHSJ News the move is out of concern for the safety of fundraising teams and volunteers.

The event was to be held this Saturday but will be postponed to a later date.

City Man Facing Charges For Uptown Crimes

A 47 year old Saint John man is facing several charges relating to recent break, enter and thefts in the uptown area.

The man is being held in custody pending a court appearance.
   
If you know anything about this crime you can contact City police at 648-3333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or click here

Storm Blowing In Friday Night


From the deep freeze to a winter wonderland.... Southern New Brunswick is bracing for a weekend storm.

Claude Cote of Environment Canada tells CHSJ News the snow will start falling tomorrow.

He says when expect about a centimetre of snow during the day tomorrow with conditions worsening Friday night and most of the snow will fall Saturday along with high winds causing reduced visibility.

Cote says the storm's track has changed so they are now predicting 10 to 15 centimetres of snow by daybreak on Sunday.

McKenna To Visit SJ On Monday

Frank McKenna will be back in Saint John on Monday.

The former Premier and current TD bank chairman will speak at a Board of Trade luncheon at the Delta. 

A release says McKenna will connect the dots between shale gas, pipelines and refining capacity leading to a thriving energy sector and more prosperous New Brunswick.

 

Goal Announced For This Year's Dragon Boat Festival

The St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation is hoping to raise 250 thousand dollars at this summer's Dragon Boat Festival. The theme will be "I Can See More Clearly". 

The Foundation's Executive-Director Laurie Flood tells CHSJ News  the proceeds will be used to buy an Ultrasound for Diagnostic Imaging and a Surgical Microscope.

It's expected more than a thousand paddlers will be taking part in this year's event on August 24th.

Flood says the Foundation gets to choose what it will use the proceeds for from a list of priorities it receives from Horizon Health.

New Eye Treatment For Glaucoma Patients At St. Joe's

New technology for the treatment of glaucoma, which was bought with the proceeds from last summer's Dragon Boat Festival, being rolled out at St. Joseph's Hospital in the Eye Clinic. 

It's called the S-L-T machine or gentle laser and is a big improvement on what was used before. The S-L-T activates the pigment cells while the old laser treatment worked by punching holes and the gentler laser treatment can be repeated. 

It takes six weeks to get the full effect and with the new treatment, people who had been using eye drops on a daily basis will no longer have to do so. 

Dr. Chris Symonds says many people forget to take their drops on a daily basis or find it difficult and he warns damage from glaucoma is irreversible.

NB Power Staffers In Shediac And Sackville To Move

That friend or family member you know working for NB Power in Shediac and Sackville may be moving soon.

Staff at those operating centres will be relocating to Bouctouche and Moncton to improve efficiency and productivity.

NB Power's VP for Customer Service Sherry Thompson tells CHSJ News the goal is to save time and money by relocating staff to centres that are closer to the majority of their work.

Work on the relocation will start right away and no NB Power employees will lose their jobs but, the buildings in Shediac and Sackville will eventually be put up for sale.
 

Inmate Dies At Dorchester Penitentiary

An inmate has died at the Dorchester Penitentiary.

46 year old Antonio Roussel was found unresponsive in his cell last night and Correctional officers immediately performed CPR but were unable to revive him.

Roussel was serving a two and a half year sentence for various offences.

The police and coroner have been notified and Correctional Service Canada will review the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Saint John Doctor Facing More Charges

More charges of sexual assault have been laid against a doctor who has practiced medicine in the Saint John area for more than 25 years. 

8 of 9 charges were laid a couple of days ago against Dr. Alan Cockeram, a gastroenterologist who has an office in the north end. 

In response, Horizon Health has announced restrictions will be imposed on Dr. Cockeram when he treats female patients for an undetermined amount of time. No decision has been made on whether his license to practice medicine will be suspended. 

A preliminary hearing on the charges will in June which will determine if there's enough evidence to warrant a trial.

Gas Prices Up Again

You're going to have to dig even deeper into your wallet to pay for gas after the weekly setting. 

Self serve regular is up by just over 4 cents a litre to $1.32 a litre in the city. 

Diesel is higher at $1.44.4 a litre, a rise of a couple of cents. 

Heating oil also more expensive with a maximum price of $1.21.9 a litre according to the Energy and Utilities Board.

North End Crash

One woman taken to hospital with undetermined injuries after a two vehicle collision in the north end. 

It happened early last night at Lansdowne Avenue and Main Street.