He's a 34 year veteran of the Saint John Fire department and now he's the Deputy Fire Chief.
CHSJ News asked Joe Armstrong about the changes he has seen in firefighting over the years.
He says the first night he worked they didn't have air packs for the holiday relief firefighters working on the trucks. He says the equipment has come a long and everything is very modern now.
Armstrong says he's excited to work with Chief Kevin Clifford and the Mayor and council adding exciting things are happening in the city.
City police confirm the inmate who died at the jail on the Old Black River Road is 39 year old Adam Lee Steven Prest.
He was found unresponsive in his cell about 1:20 yesterday.
The Major Crime Unit has determined there is no foul play involved in his death and no criminal offences occurred.
Prest was charged last Wednesday with 2nd degree murder in Rothesay in the death of his common law partner 33 year old Tanya Shand.
With Donnie Snook pleading guilty to all 46 charges against him, Crown prosecutor Karen Lee-Lamrock pointing out at least the victims will be spared the ordeal of a long trial.
Lee-Lamrock tells CHSJ News the magnitude of the Donnie Snook case is the most severe she has ever dealt with in terms of the number of victims.
Snook also faces an extortion charge, which Lamrock explained has to do with acquiring pictures through the use of threats. The benefit of the guilty plea is that the families will be spared the ordeal of a long trial.
The wolves are at the door everyday.......That's the situation facing all too many workers according to the new President of the Provincial Federation of Labour.
Patrick Colford of Miramichi tells CHSJ news the clock is being turned back with a huge gap between the rich and the rest of us. He says there are workers with fulltime jobs who are having a tough time providing for their families. Despite that, he's optimistic about the future, believing the Harper Government will pay a price for its reforms to Employment Insurance.
Colford is a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and ran federally for the NDP. Ron Oldfield of the Saint John and District Labour Council also ran for the Presidency but lost out to Colford.
Former Common councillor Donnie Snook pleading guilty in court to 46 charges involving 17 children.
The charges involving 17 boys between January 2001 until Snook's arrest in January of this year.
Most of the victims were from the Saint John area and range in age from 5 years old to 15 years old at the time of the offenses.
They include 13 charges of touching a child for a sexual purpose, 9 charges of producing child pornography and 2 charges of sexual assault.
The 41 year old Snook is due back in court on June 25th at 9:30am to set a date for sentencing.
Anyone with further info on this case is asked to contact City police or Crime Stoppers.
For City police call 648-3333 or contact NB Crime Stoppers online at crimenb.ca at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Officers seizing marijuana plants and drug paraphernalia as they dismantled a grow-op in a home near St. George late Monday night.
The RCMP arrested a 33-year-old man who will be in court at a later date. The Mounties say it's possible a second person will face charges.
Donnie Snook's lawyer Dennis Boyle says his client is in a good state of mind.
Boyle says he is probably somewhat relieved that this matter has taken the first steps towards correction, rehabilitation and perhaps healing.
Boyle would not say where Snook is being jailed.
Donnie Snook's former friend was in court today and didn't like what he heard.
Darrell Bastarache tells us he was upset when he saw Snook in court today.
He says didn't look to remorseful and he thinks that is pretty sad.
Bastarache says parent's have to be cautious and don't fall for every little nice gesture.
He says the kids trusted them and no one ever saw this coming.
Bastarache's own children were part of the children's charities that Snook was involved in.
There were audible murmurs in the courtroom as former Common Councillor Donnie Snook pleaded guilty to a total of 46 charges involving 17 victims dating back to 2006 including threats of extortion.
He had originally been charged with 8 charges of child exploitation.
Snook entered the courtroom with buzzed hair looking thin, tired and dishevelled.
The prosecution is asking for a 2 week adjournment to set a date for sentencing.
Repaving is taking place along Rothesay Avenue between McAllister Drive and the Thruway starting today and also on Millidge Avenue between Tartan Street and University Avenue.
Somerset Street will be closed to traffic from Thornborough Street to Barker Street and Wellesley Avenue will be closed from Montgomery Crescent to Cranston Avenue for street reconstruction and sewer work.
We should find out this morning if more charges will be laid against former Common Councillor Donnie Snook who has been charged with 8 counts of child exploitation.
Since he was arrested with his laptop in early January at his home on Martha Avenue, a special task force has been investigating.
Police Chief Bill Reid has said more allegations have been made since then and this has led to an expectation of more charges being laid.
Snook has not made any pleas yet on the charges and decided to remain in custody.
We now have a better idea what the upgrade of the Rothesay Common will look like as a concept plan was unveiled at an open house.
It includes a rock lined brook, a display fountain, a piece of sculpture, 2 reconstructed basketball courts,an oval skating loop, rubber surfacing for the playground that will not be enlarged and a new nature play tot lot.
Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop tells CHSJ News there will be an artificial rink for use in the winter. The open house was told the chiller for that ice will be inside a building to reduce the noise level. It's estimated to cost 10 thousand dollars a month to main an artificial ice surface.
Bishop says there will be no splash pad.
There has been concern about parking around the Common but Bishop says the fire chief has told the town fire trucks will be able to make there way through without being impeded.
When domestic violence escalates, the results can be tragic. But what if police could predict when to intervene?
That's the idea behind a family violence risk-assessment tool being researched by UNB Saint John professor Dr. Mary Ann Campbell. She tells CHSJ News making arrests isn't the entire solution, because putting someone in handcuffs doesn't mean they won't become violent again.
Campbell says police could use the tool to refer high risk families to a special unit that could follow up and provide services and support.
She tells us there's currently a lot of discussion about the right risk tool to use in Saint John but, generally, people seem to be leaning towards a willingness to adopt one.
