Man Charged In Assault That Left Victim In Critical Condition

A 36-year old man has been charged with aggravated assault following an incident last Tuesday on the Kingsclear First Nation. A 53-year-old man being sent to hospital with critical injuries--he is currently in stable condition.

Rodney Sacobie, of the Kingsclear First Nation, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. He is scheduled to appear in court to enter a plea on November 13.

Further charges against other individuals are possible.
 

Key Industries Gets Over $45,000 In Funding

Over $45,000 dollars going towards making Key Industries more accessible. 

Saint John MP Rodney Weston making the funding announcement, calling it one of the things we can do to enhance the work done by the organization, which provides services to adults who have disabilities. 

President and CEO Christine Evans says they have already upgraded the floor and the door, and they will continue upgrading the elevator so getting around is much easier for those who work and visit the building. Evans tells CHSJ News it's important they retain their dignity and feel a sense of independence.

Sarah Woolven, who teaches IT in the building, is in a wheelchair and says the upgrades mean she doesn't have to ask someone to help her if she wants to go upstairs or downstairs.

Pair Charged In St. Stephen Drug Bust

RCMP executing a search warrant at a residence on Milltown Boulevard in St. Stephen seized a quantity of unidentified pills, cash, and a taser.

A 25-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman, both residents of the home, were arrested at the scene.  Both are scheduled to appear in St Stephen Provincial on January 14, 2014.

Charges relating to possession for the purpose of trafficking are pending.

Should The Premier Be Concerned About The N.S. Election Results?

For the first time in 131 years in Nova Scotia, voters gave the boot to a provincial government after just one term.

New Brunswickers will be voting next September and the public opinion polls don't look good at the moment for the Alward Government. 

Former Conservative and now the Independent M-L-A for Fundy-River Valley Dr. Jim Parrot tells CHSJ News no government is really thinking about what are we going to do in the second term.

Dr. Parrot says there's a lot of uncertainty among the electorate about what direction we're going in.

Young Kids Left Alone In East Side Residence

Police, an ambulance and the Department of Social Development were called to the Park Place apartments on Hickey Road around 1:30 this afternoon after two young children under the age of 5 were found left alone in what could be described as unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

A neighbor called police after hearing the children screaming in the apartment. They were found without proper clothing--one with a dirty diaper--and were taken to hospital to be examined.

The Family Protection Unit is on the scene and investigating.

Dunn Says Minimum Wage Hike Would Create Economic Disaster

There's a fine balance you have to strike when setting minimum wage...too little and employees can't afford to live, too much and businesses shut down. 

Richard Dunn of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses says even a 10-percent hike would result in a loss of a thousand jobs across the province. That word in reaction to the suggestion made by the Randy Hatfield, the Executive Director of the Human Development Council, who says 15 to 17 dollars an hour is a reasonable living wage.

Dunn says only increasing the base line will cause more people to pool at the bottom of the wage scale...instead of creating jobs and growing the economy so it can eventually pay everyone more money. The current rate for minimum wage in the province is 10 dollars per hour.

Police Searching For Missing ATVer

The RCMP is looking for help finding a 31-year-old man from Lepreau, N.B.

Todd Bent was last seen on Sunday at about 2:00 p.m. when he went for a ride on his yellow 2005 Honda ATV.  Bent told his family he would be back shortly, but didn't come back.

Despite searching the ATV trails in the area, police have not been able to locate Bent. They've concluded there is a possibility he may be in the Saint John area.

Todd Bent is described as being Caucasian, measuring about 5’ 8" (173 cms) tall, and weighing approximately 180 lbs. He is of medium build, with blond hair and hazel eyes.

Anyone with information about Todd Bent is asked to contact RCMP at 506-755-1130, or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Not Everyone Supportive Of Extended Sunday Shopping

Although the business community seems to be largely behind the idea of extended Sunday Shopping hours, a local retail worker and concerned community member tells CHSJ News the change isn't guaranteed to offer any benefit to the economy. 

Joshua Thomson tells us he gathered a petition with almost 200 signatures from people who think Sundays should still be a day of rest.

Thomson says the countries in the world that are consistently rated happiest have restrictions on Sunday Shopping---and a day of rest and relaxation where shopping isn't an option is beneficial to everyone.

Hurray--It's Flu Shot Season Again

It's that time of year again--folks who are elderly, have young kids or are susceptible to illness will want to go to their local pharmacy and get a flu shot. 

Paul Blanchard of the provincial pharmacist's association tells CHSJ News there are some people who should definitely get the shot, which is covered if you suffer from a number of conditions including COPD, immune deficiencies, and diabetes.
 
Blanchard says now is the best time to get the shot--which protects against the most common strains of the flue virus. Call ahead to your local pharmacy to see if you can schedule a vaccine with your pharmacist.

Lots Of Ideas On Reducing Poverty

A good turnout at the Carleton Community Centre to come up with ideas on how to reduce poverty over the next five years. 

The Human Development Council and Vibrant Communities are trying to formulate what a living wage should be. The Executive-Director of the Human Development Council Randy Hatfield tells CHSJ News from 15 to 17 dollars an hour is not unreasonable in this day and age.The minimum wage right now in the province is 10 dollars an hour. 

Barry Galloway of Vibrant Communities says we're in a crisis now with the state of the economy being what it is but it's at times like when the best ideas come to the surface. The poverty rate a few years ago was 20 per cent but that was before the big financial meltdown of 2008.

Hatfield says besides higher wages on the low end, there should be working income tax credits and subsidies for childcare. Both Hatfield and Galloway agree a growing problem in Saint John is finding safe, affordable housing.

Marigold Planting Being Recognised Worldwide

The planting of all those marigolds last June is receiving worldwide recognition with a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. 

More than 56 hundred young people planted marigolds at more than 50 locations from Sussex to St. Stephen in June. That far surpassed the previous record which had been set in China by 12 hundred people.