Charges Laid In Uptown Fire

Charges being laid to 3 people in the Charlotte Street fire.

Judge Anne Jeffries dealing out charges of intentionally and recklessly causing fire and damage.

20-year old Roger Chiasson being remanded to jail until a bail hearing on April 30th.  He elected to be tried by a provincial court judge.

19-year old Samuel Nolan being put under house arrest and will be undergoing a mental health evaluation to determine if he is fit to stand trial.  He will be back in court for a follow-up on May 10th.

A 15-year old, who cannot be named under the Young Offenders act, was put under house arrest.  He is due back in court on June 4th.

Demolition Scene On Charlotte Street

Three Arrests In Charlotte Street Fire

A third person, a 15 year old, is facing charges in the Charlotte street fire that City police tell us was deliberately set.

Two young men, ages 19 and 20, were arrested earlier and all three are due in court this afternoon.

Fire crews got the call just after 3am yesterday to the blaze which destroyed an old appliance store and the Korner Grocery.  Fire officials insisted due to safety concerns the building had to come down.

New Brunswick Food Banks Need Help

A major campaign is underway to replenish the supplies of food banks around the province.

The President of the Provincial Association of Food Banks Glenn Rioux tells CHSJ News demand is up by 22 per cent but donations have not kept pace.

He says most of the people seeking help these days are the working poor with alot of young families and the elderly. That's why the request is out for such things as baby food and accessories, cereal, oatmeal, canned fish, meat and soup, beans, peanut butter, jam, fruit and vegetable juice along with personal hygiene products.

Rioux says you can drop off non-perishable food items or make a cash donation at any Superstore until May 5th.

Saint John Airport Looking For Friendly Ambassadors

The Saint John Airport is looking for volunteers to join its Meet and Greet team.

The program lets you greet incoming travelers and provide them with information such as directions and entertainment ideas.

Director of Marketing for the airport Colleen Kemp Mitchell tells CHSJ News it is a very flexible program for those who want to take part.

She says the volunteers really enjoy the socializing with visitor and becoming ambassadors for our city.

Michell says it is an important role as the greeters are the first impression a visitor gets of the city.

For more information or to sign up for the program, call 506 638 5584 or email cmitchell@saintjohnairport.com

NB Power Going Mum On Lawsuit

NB Power downplaying allegations made by the group of insurers it is suing over delays in the refurbishment of Point Lepreau.

The utility launched the lawsuit back in February.

NB Power Spokesperson Kathleen Duguay says the company is ready to dispute allegations by the the defendants relating to damage incurred and delays associated with the calandria tube activities.

Duguay says no further comments will be made about the case since it is now before the courts.

Demolition Of Fire Ravaged Buildings Continues

A Significant Drop In Price Of Self Serve Regular

Drivers who use self serve regular are getting a big price break after the weekly setting. 

Self serve regular dropping in price by over 6 cents a litre in the city to $1.31.9. 

Diesel also dropping in price but not by as much to $1.34.3 a litre around town. 

Heating oil is listed by the Energy and Utilities Board at $1.18.4 and propane is at $1.04.3 a litre.

Man Jumps From Roof In Valley To Elude Police

Rothesay Regional Police had to deal with an unusual incident when a disgruntled former employee came to the McDonalds and began uttering threats. 

He had been drinking and made his way to the roof. After seeing police arrive, he tried to get away by jumping off the roof and taking off but was arrested. Police tell us he will be be appearing in court at a later date.

Police in the Valley also arresting a group of young people after a spate of vandalism along Vincent Road. 

Election signs were thrown into the middle of the street, town benches were overturned and there was also some lights damaged.

The young adults, as they have been described to us, had been drinking as well.

Arrest Made In Robbery

City Police telling us about a robbery in the Waterloo Street area just before 7 last night. 

An 84 year old man was taken to hospital to be treated. 

A 36 year old woman was arrested and will likely be facing a pair of changes when she appears in court.

Norton Speaks On Poverty Issues

At a recent forum on poverty, mayoral candidate Mel Norton saying it's the simple things that change the quality of life in priority neighbourhoods.

Mayoral candidate Mel Norton tells CHSJ News morale can be improved by appealing to the youth.

He says investing like the Teen Resource Centre for Youth and by actually providing opportunites for teens giving them a creative outlet to feel good about their community.

Norton says each neighbourhood is different so there are no pat answers--solutions will only come by consultation with members of each community.

Salvation Army Feeds & Comforts Firefighters and Victims

The Salvation Army lending a hand at the fire scene at Charlotte and Princess streets.

The group's Community Response Unit responding less than two hours after the fire began.
 
Darren Wiseman tells CHSJ News it provides a source of food, beverage and comfort.

He says they have been able to give them someone to talk to and point them in the direction they need to go.

Wiseman adds they have been providing to the emergency responders, the displaced and bystanders.

Arrests Made In Uptown Blaze

The Major Crime Unit of the City Police Force says the massive fire at 127 Charlotte street was set on purpose.

A 19 year old and a 20 year old are due in court tomorrow to faces charges and Police tell us a third arrest is expected.

Charlotte Street Fire Gallery

CHSJ News had a bird's eye vantage point on top of the Beatty, where reporter Tamara Steele shot these images.

Demolition Continues At Charlotte & King Street

Fire crews and heavy equipment remain on the scene of a demolition at Charlotte and Princess Streets.

The building must come down as the Saint John fire department has deemed the situation a threat to public safety.

District fire chief Eric Garland tells CHSJ News the power is cut to the burned out structure, the Lantern House and another building next to it.

Piles of bricks and other debris can be seen on the ground on Charlotte Street and Princess Street where crews have knocked down part of the building.

A crowd has gathered in the area to watch it unfold.

Candidate Goes High Tech With Campaign

Tonight you can get some virtual face time with mayoral candidate Matthew Thompson. The rookie politico is attempting to improve his name recognition by connecting with voter via an online coference from 7-10pm. 

Thompson tells CHSJ News it works like this: a few hours before the virtual conference he'll post a link to his Facebook, Twitter and website. Simply click on it and follow the instructions.

Thompson says you can simply create a screen name then fire away with questions, who will be visible via webcam. 

Visit Matthew Thompson's Facebook with a link to the webcast site

here.

The link will be posted a few hours before the Q&A, and will go live at aproximatly 6:50. Thompson encourages people not to be intimidated by the process because even his grandmother plans on logging in.

Post-Fire Demolition to Begin Soon

Onlookers are gathered near the scene of an early morning blaze on Charlotte near Princess street. 

A small crane is preparing to knock down the structure.

The home of the old Lyric Theatre, Korner grocery and an accounting office destroyed by fire this morning.

Saint John district fire chief Eric Garland tells CHSJ News it's not usual for a building this damaged by fire to come down the same day it burned.

A View Inside Burnt Out 127 Charlotte

Photo for the extinguished fire taken from the roof of the Admiral Beatty.

Demolition of Burned out Buildings Set to Begin

Crews ready equipment to tear down the burned out shell of 127-141 Charlotte Street.

Provincewide Study On Cancer Released

When it comes to cancer, where you live matters. That, according to a provincewide study carried out by Inka Milewski of the Conservation Council.

Milewski tells CHSJ News some people might be surprised where Saint John stood which is at the edge of being high. Caraquet and the Gargetown area were among the lowest.

Milewski cautions the cancer types she studied may not be the cancers that are prevalent in Saint John.

Dalhousie, Belledune, Minto and Harvey were highest on the list. Those communities with higher rates of cancer were more industrial and the men in those places were stricken with cancer more so than women.

Starlight Children's Foundation Receives Entertainment Unit

The Starlight Children's Foundation donating a Fun Center entertainment unit to the Child Life Department at the Saint John Regional Hospital. This entertainment unit is valued at approximately  $4,500 and will provide endless distraction for pediatric patients with a DVD, monitor and gaming systems.

Young Mom and Baby Killed in Crash

A woman and her baby daughter have died as a result of a two vehicle car crash in Carleton County. The crash in Glassville claiming the life of 21 year old Kaitlyn Nicole Denny, who was driving when her car was struck by a transport truck hauling lumber.

Her 7 week old daughter, Brianne Rowan, was also killed.

According to RCMP it appears the car entered the intersection crossing directly in the path of the truck. The truck driver sustained no injuries.

Some Uptown Streets Closed To Traffic

Due to the Charlotte street fire, some Uptown streets are closed to motorists and pedestrians.

Charlotte Street is closed from King Square to Horsefield Street and  Princess Street is closed from Sydney Street to Germain Street>

The Saint John Fire Department tells CHSJ News the foam being used to fight the fire is biodegradable, non-toxic and will dissolve.

Rothesay Avenue at the train bridge has been reopened to traffic after being closed to flooding.

Burned-Out Charlotte Street Buildings Will Be Knocked down

An early morning blaze that gutted through the top stories of 127 to 141 Charlotte Street will be leaving a huge gap in the neighbourhood.

A fire broke out around 3 this morning and Fire Chief Kevin Clifford tells CHSJ News the entire building will have to be demolished.

The nearby Lantern House did suffer some damage but it will not be torn down.

22 people have been displaced because of the fire and the Red Cross is providing assistance.

Fire investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze.

Clifford says it was a significant fire because seven to eight units had to respond.  He says for a typical structure fire, a four unit response is typical.

Rainfall Record Set

If you thought we received alot of rainfall earlier this week you were right. On Monday, we recorded 44.3 millimeters of rain breaking the previous record of 26.6 millimeters set on April 23rd of 1986 and then yesterday we got 39.1 millimeters breaking the record of 20.1 millimeters set on April 24th of 1970. Since Saturday night, Saint John received 116 millimters of rain, the highest in the province.

Candidates Tackle Big Issues at South End Q&A

The mayoral candidates and 4 of out 6 candidates for councillor at large gathering at Saint John the Baptist School for a Q&A session. Mayoral candidates Mel Norton and Shirley MaAlary emphasized the need to regain respect around the council horseshoe, while incumbent Ivan Court defended himself as a team player.

Former UNB Dean of Business Shelley Rinehart is running for councillor at large.

She tells CHSJ News Saint John needs to revamp its image in order to attract new investments, and rebranding will mean extensive consultation with the community.

The pension issue, clean water, and jobs also up for discussion:  MacAlary and Matt Thompson emphasized the deficit needs to be dealt with before those things can happen.

Major Uptown Fire

City Fire crews on the scene of a stubborn fire which broke out in a boarded up old appliance store on Charlotte Street. 

It then spread to the adjacent boarded up old theatre where fire was coming through the roof. Fire crews are attempting to stop the flames from spreading to the Lantern House on Princess.

There is a fear the roof of one of the buildings in the block down to Princess could collapse. 

Traffic is blocked off around the block from King Street to Princess and down to Germain. 

Smoke could be seen billowing over the uptown and it set off a smoke alarm in the nearby Admiral Beatty. There's no word yet on whether anyone has been injured.

Callahan Says Education Will Eradicate Poverty

He's one of two politicial newbies seeking to be the Mayor of Saint John.
Joe Callahan is also a newcomer to the Port City getting his citizenship 6 years ago.

Callahan tells CHSJ News fixing the pension problem will mean more money will be available to fight poverty.

He remembers when former premier Shawn Graham said you can build these trails but can't make people use them and Callahan adds older people don't want to be out there with bears and coyotes.

Callahan just become a Canadian citizen in the last decade and he believes education is the key to eradicating poverty adding schools should implement more of a challenge for graduation.
 
Our feature on the candidates for mayor in Saint John continues tomorrow with Mel Norton.

Province To Study Flood-Proofing Measures For Perth-Andover

The province is looking into into flood-proofing measures for the village of Perth-Andover in the wake of a ice-jam flood that devastated over 200 properties on March 23rd.

A working group consisting of the province, federal agencies, NB Power, and the village will be looking at things such as the known and anticipated risks of ice-jam flooding in the area and what structures could be built to recent such a disaster from happening again.

According to Environment and Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch, the group will have a report ready by August 30th.

You're also being reminded that if you have yet to apply for Disaster Financial Assistance, the deadline is May 15th.

Liberals Demand Moratorium On Shale Gas Exploration

The Alward government is turning aside calls for a moratorium on shale gas exploration.
The opposition Liberals have been pushing for the moratorium and full scale public consultations -- but -- during debate in the Legislature - Environment Minister Bruce Fitch says the government is moving slowly on the issue.
Fitch says work is underway on drafting regulations for the industry and a phased in Environmental Impact Assessment will require public consultations.
Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup says there will be seismic testing over the next two to three years with the possibility some exploratory wells will be drilled during that process to determine to find out if the natural gas exists in the rock beds.

Incumbent Mayor Goes On The Campaign Offensive

Incumbent Mayor Ivan Court opening up his re-election headquarters today as he tries to win a second term as mayor of the city.

Court told his crowd of supporters that economic growth is a chief priority and he will create an industry task force if re-elected.

But Court also taking the gloves off on the other councilor and mayoral candidates -- he says there are some in the running who want to sell the city out to special interest groups.

However, Court refused to name any specific candidates.

Court added that being a mayor is a full-time job and does not believe candidate Mel Norton, who plans to continuing working even if elected, will be able to honour both commitments.

SWN Resources GM Disputes Water Usage Fears

While the GM of SWN Resources Canada is pleased to see UNB researchers weighing in on the shale gas debate, he doesn't agree with all of the reaction.

Tom Alexander tells CHSJ News he doesn't buy the Conservation Council's theory that a thousand gas wells drilled in a year would use the same amount of water as two cities the size of Fredericton.

He says it's a stretch for them to start talking about a thousand wells when he says we are years from drilling a dozen wells.

Alexander says this province does not have the infrastructure to dispose of wastewater right now adding it is safe and in Arkansas they are recycling 99 per cent of the wastewater there.

Finance Minister Says Credible Reports Are Welcome On Shale Gas

Finance Minister Blaine Higgs says the Alward government is committed to protecting the environment -- this response in the wake of a critical report from a group of UNB professors on fracking.

The professors want the government to not use water for fracking unless the wastewater can be disposed of safely.  They are suggesting the use of liquefied propane gas or carbon dioxide.

Higgs tells CHSJ News he has no problems with critical reports and as long as they are credible, nothing is off the table.

He says Natural Resources Bruce Northrup is serious about protecting the environment.

Report on Shale Gas By UNB Researchers Gets Thumbs Up

Stephanie Merrill of the Conservation Council is calling the report on shale gas prepared by researchers at UNB positive, especially their concern with how much water would have to be used for fracking.

She claims a thousand gas wells a year would use as much water as two cities the size of Fredericton which raises the question what effect that would have on rivers, lakes and streams where it's taken from.

As for waterless fracking which uses carbon dioxide and liquified propane gas, Merrill says the big barrier to that would be economics and how much it would cost companies to use that technology.

She isn't holding out much hope that regulations to be unveiled soon by the Alward Government will safeguard the environment because they haven't anywhere else.

Resumption Of Work On Harbour Bridge Is A Go

The way is clear for work to resume soon on the Harbour Bridge upgrades and One Mile Interchange project.
Contractor ConCreate U-S-L was placed in receivership last month - but - an Ontario court ruling prevents receiver Grant Thornton from having anything to do with the jobs or seizing the performance bonds.
In an earlier interview with CHSJ News - Transportation Minister Claude Williams indicated those bonds are protecting taxpayers from additional costs.
The court ruling means the bonding company can o-k the hiring of replacement contractors to complete the jobs.
The Bank of Nova Scotia petitioned the Ontario based company into receivership  claiming the company owes almost 35-million dollars.

Four People Face Charges In Welsford Bust

Hampton RCMP using a police dog for a drug bust in Welsford.

Police entered a home and arrested four individuals last Friday.

A quantity of drugs was seized including marihuana and prescription medications.

All four people were released but a 59-year-old woman is scheduled to appear in Hampton Provincial Court in July to face drug related charges.

Province Remains Committed To Water Treatment

Even as the Alward government struggles to control the provincial deficit -- in an exclusive interview with CHSJ News - the Premier remains committed to the city's proposed multi-million dollar water treatment plant.
Premier says it's been a priority from square one and it remains a top priority for his local government M-L-A's.
Premier Alward says he's committed to working with both the city and the federal government to put a funding package in place for the project.