Tagging In The Valley

KV Crime Stoppers offering a reward of $500 for any information on  graffiti tagging in Rothesay and Quispamsis.

Rothesay Regional Police posting the picture on their Facebook page.
 
If you have any information on this crime, KV Crime Stoppers wants to hear from you.

Call anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Senator Complains "This Is Canada, Not Putin's Russia"

"A show trial"........That's how New Brunswick Senator Jim Munson characterises the goings on in the Senate to suspend Senators Pamela Wallin, Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau without pay because they have become a political embarrassment.
 
Munson goes so far as to call the motion a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms by assuming guilt in advance of a hearing of any kind where the rights of the accused are defended by lawyers. Duffy and Wallin were given all of 20 minutes to make the case why they should not be suspended. 

Munson says Senators have not had a chance to see the Deloitte report on Senator Wallin's expenses and even the residency requirement is not clearly defined because it doesn't stipulate how many days you have to live in that residence in the province where you're appointed from.
 
He suspects the government chose to move ahead on this at a politically expedient time just before the opening of Parliament.

South End Theatre Getting Help From The Province

Some much needed money coming to the InterAction School of Performing Arts at 228 Germain Street. The provincial government is contributing 50 thousand dollars to help pay for upgrades to the theatre building, itself, including a new roof. 

200 young people get their creative juices flowing by attending classes and workshops at the theatre along with performing. The theatre has been around for 13 years.

The President of the theatre's Board of Directors Jeff Sheehan tells CHSJ News this type of training will help them in the work world because it develops creative thinking. Sheehan works in I-T and says some of his colleagues develop software during the day but are involved in the arts during their off hours. 

A fundraising campaign is underway with the goal being 150 thousand dollars to pay for all of the upgrades.

Gallant Wants Alward To Slow Down On Fracking

The Opposition wants Premier Alward to hit the pause button on fracking.

Liberal Leader Brian Gallant says they have repeatedly expressed their concerns about the government blindly pushing ahead with shale gas development without addressing people's concerns in a meaningful way.

Gallant says people in the province do not trust the Premier when it comes to this topic adding he's also ignored the recommendations of the Chief Medical officer of Health, Dr. Eilish Cleary.

He says the Alward government has failed to provide the reassurances New Brunswickers want with respect to the impact of shale gas development on the environment and human health.

Space At Uptown Church For Lease

You may have noticed the big 'For Lease' sign in front Trinity Anglican on Charlotte Street.
 
Reverend Dr. Ranall Ingalls tells CHSJ News space on their second floor is available for lease.

He says they have wonderful tenants for 10 years.   Family and Child Education are now under the Anglophone South School District and have been given space with the board.

Reverend Ingalls says the income generated by leasing the space to outside organizations is helpful to the church but they are not going anywhere anytime soon.

Run Raising Money For JDRF

Runners bringing in more than $3300 in the 1st Annual Peninsula Wine Run on Sunday.

It took place at Long Reach where 40 runners ran 3k, 5k or 8k and with their registration received samples and glasses of vino from two local wineries.

The proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the run was held for JDRF youth ambassador Thomas Fullerton.

Thomas ,his brother and father led the run in a gator.

VIDEO: Skating Competition Brings International Athletes To Saint John

Harbour Station is buzzing with activity as Skate Canada International gets underway.

The venue is a busy spot with hundreds of volunteers, athletes, coaches and international media in town for the event.

4-time Canadian skating champs Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir spoke to the media ahead of a practice this morning.

She told reporters gathering in the media centre that they are very pleased to be in Saint John and are already enjoying the Maritime hospitality.

Athletes are practicing all day today with the competition beginning tomorrow afternoon. The event runs until Sunday. 

For ticket information, click here.

Premier Standing Firm On Shale Gas

Premier David Alward making it clear he has no intention of stopping the testing for shale gas in the province one week after a protest outside the SWN Resources compound near Rexton turned violent. 

Shale gas opponents, meantime, releasing a poll showing people in Nova Scotia support a continued ban on fracking. According to the polling done by Abacus Data, 69% of Nova Scotians strongly support or support a continued moratorium on fracking, unless an independent review finds there's no risk to drinking water, human health, the climate or communities. 

The poll was commissioned by the Nova Scotia Fracking Resource and Action Coalition known, which is also known as NOFRAC, the Council of Canadians and the Sierra Club.