New Program Aims To Keep Seniors Home Longer

No one wants to see mom or dad go into a nursing home or hospital and a new program called Home First is designed to keep seniors at home longer.

The idea behind the program is to make hospital admissions, lengthy stays and transfers from hospitals to residential facilities more last resorts rather than common practice as they are now.

The plan is based on feedback from seniors and health care professionals.

The province is investing 7.2 million in the first year of the program.

To learn more about the program, click here

Extra Two Weeks To Report Flood Damage

If you were impacted by the spring flooding, you now have an extra two weeks to report property damage to the province. 

Flood damage is estimated at more than 14 million dollars with most of that in the Sussex area.

According to the Public Safety Minister Bruce Northrup, they have decided to extend the deadline until May 30 because over seven-hundred people have already filed reports over the past month and they are getting new reports every day.

You can report flood damage by calling Service New Brunswick 1-888-298-8555, or online by clicking here.

Exploring Increased Licenses To Thwart Deer Problem

The Department of Natural Resources is suggesting an increase in hunting licenses to deal with the pesky bambis.

Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop tells CHSJ News DNR has decided to cut the zone in half with Rothesay/Quispamsis/Hampton being one and Fundy National Park being the other.

He says when they look at Rothesay and Quispamsis as a district they do see an overabundance of deer and they do want to try an increase the harvest or culling of the deer in that area.

DNR is suggesting the town's give the names of residents who would be willing to see increased hunting on the properties. 

The town of Rothesay will not be doing this as they have nothing to do with granting licences and are not experts on the safety of hunting like DNR is.    

The town of Rothesay will send a letter to DNR stipulating they are open to further discussion.

Stabbing Death Now Being Treated As Homicide

A fight at Lancaster Street and Tower Street on the West side leaving one man dead, one man seriously hurt and two men in police custody.

Sergeant Jay Henderson explains a 23-year-old man and a 61-year-old man with serious injuries were brought to the Regional Hospital by ambulance but the younger man, who had been stabbed, later died. 

 A funeral service will be held on Saturday morning at 10 for Spencer Eldridge at Brenan's Bay View Funeral Home on Manawagonish Road.

The older man, who was run over by a vehicle, is being treated.

Two men ages 22 and 28 have been arrested in connection with the incident. Henderson says all of the men involved know each other.

City police are now treating the 23 year old's death as a homicide.   A 28 year old man is due before a judge in the morning and a 22 year old man is being held in custody.

Meantime, A 19-year-old man also being arrested in connection with a cab robbery on Orange Street, and as a follow-up to a situation involving two 16-year-old girls at Harbour View High, Henderson says one girl received a minor stab wound to the leg but they're calling the incident horseplay.

The Great Battery Roundup Is Underway

Now's your chance to safely get rid of those old batteries from cars, trucks, campers, motorcycles and boats you have hanging around. 

Gary Howard of the Canadian Automobile Association tells CHSJ News for the next week until the 21st, you can drop them off at Coast Tire. 

Almost everything in a battery can be recycled and 60 to 80 per cent of new batteries are made up of reclaimed materials.
 
Howard warns if batteries are dumped in landfills, their caustic materials can contaminate soil and groundwater.

Prince William Street Building To Be Demolished

A turn-of-the-century brick office building on Prince William Street is slated for demolition in the near future.

It's located beside the convenience store kitty-corner to Saint John High School. Common Councillor Bill Farren described 167-171 Prince William as being in dire shape on the inside, despite not looking bad on the outside.

He also acknowledged the hole it will leave on the street. 167 Prince William was once home to the Atlantic Insurance Agency, while 171 once belonged to Reid Middleton.

Potholes Aren't The Only Problem

Potholes aren't the only spring hazards on the roads in Saint John.

Our caustic winter combination of salt and sand has also ground most of the lines off the roads and left-over sand that can result in skidding for walkers and bikers. 

Common councillor Donna Reardon says she thinks an oil-based paint should be permitted for painting the lines on the roads.

Bill Edwards of Transportation and Environment Services says to their knowledge they use the best paints on the market for the job.

Some drivers and pedestrians are complaining without clear lines painted on the road it's much harder to navigate. Once the street-sweeping has been completed, the line-painting trucks can get out there and do their job.

Senior Provincial Government Official Acquitted In Court

A senior provincial government official in the Aquaculture Department, Peter Andrews has been found not guilty on a charge of obstructing an investigation involving the brother of Deputy Premier Paul Robichaud on the Acadian Peninsula. 

This turned into a political controversy after an anonymous letter was sent to the Opposition Liberals, prompting an RCMP investigation. 

Donat Robichaud did guilty to violating the Aquaculture Act and was fined 576 dollars.

Vandalism In Valley

Kennebecasis Valley Police appealing for information after construction equipment was damaged to the tune of thousands of dollars. 

They say this happened sometime over the weekend at the pit in French Village between 2:30 last Saturday afternoon and 7:30 Monday morning.

Man Is Dead Following West Side Incident

(Clothing on road at crime scene
Photo by Doug Epton)

A 28 year old man is under arrest after a 23 year old man is dead following what unconfirmed reports indicate a fight on Lancaster Street near Tower Street.
    
Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the scene shortly after ten last night and found two victims. One apparently hit by a car while the other had been stabbed.
    
Two ambulances followed by a police cruiser rushed the victims to the Regional Hospital. We're expecting more details from police later this morning.