Heating Unit Recalled Due To Overheating Hazard

A warning from Health Canada not to use a certain type of heating unit because it has a manufacturing defect that causes overheating, which could lead to injury or property damage.

RONA Incorporated issuing a voluntary recall of Uberhaus 1500-W wall-mounted convection heaters with the model number HC09C15 and a product number of 63545004 that were sold between April 2010 and November of this year. An estimated 17,000 units were sold in Réno-Dépôt stores in Quebec and in RONA stores across Canada, including RONA stores that were formerly under the TOTEM banner in Alberta.

Health Canada has received a report of an incident without injury relating to the use of the product. If you own this you're being told to stop using it immediately and return it to a Réno-Dépôt or RONA store. You can also contact customer service toll-free at 1-866-283-2239 for more information.

K-V Fire Chief Reflects On The Past Year

At the end of November, total volume for fire calls is down 14% over 2012 at the KV Fire Department.
 
Chief Bill Ireland tells CHSJ News calls for overall service are up but they are reducing the number of fires in the community. Ireland adds included in the overall numbers numbers would be the medical calls they respond to. He says medical calls represent about 55% of their overall call volume.

Two of the departments big fires occurred on a weekend last May when a home was lost on Alderbrook Crescent in Quispamsis and a forest fire in French Village. Another major blaze was just last month, a garage fire on Iona Avenue in Rothesay.

Ireland says the department did have to deal with a situation early in the year with several people out on long term disability which resulted in some increased costs at the start of the year.

Thousands Still Without Power Across N.B.

It was a cold and dark Christmas for many New Brunswickers, as thousands of homes and businesses around the province still don't have power days after a major ice storm.

There are still more than 18,000 customers who don't have electricity with the hardest hit area being Rothesay with a total of more than 11,000 outages. NB Power saying trees and heavy snow are making it tough for crews to access many areas in order to do repairs, which is leading to more delays. The utility is estimating some customers won't have power back until New Year's Eve.

Saint John Energy says there are outages on Keating Road, James Way, Woodside Drive, Bay Crescent Drive, Chalmers Drive, Station Road, Upper Golden Grove, Kirkpatrick Lane, Bradley Lake Road and Dolan Road. They have no estimated time for when power will be restored. 

UPDATED: Warming centres have been set up in Grand Bay-Westfield at the St. Matthew's Church by Sobeys, the Lighthouse River Centre in Hampton and in Rothesay at Rothesay-Netherwood in Heritage Hall. The Quispamsis Civic Centre above the number 2 fire station on Civic Road will be open until 10pm tonight then will move to the qplex opening at 8am. Click here to see a list of other warming centres across the province.

Christmas Day House Fire In The Valley

A Quispamsis family getting out safely after their house caught fire on Christmas Day.

Rothesay Regional Police tell us it happened at a home on 64 Quispamsis Road around 12:30pm, and while the cause of the fire is not known at this point, it may have been caused by a problem with a generator. 

There is major fire damage to the front of the house and police say if crews had arrived five or ten minutes later the house would have been completely lost.

From 54,000 In The Dark To 25,000

Many families in the region are moving their Christmas dinner and other festivities to the relative's home that has power.

Following last week's massive ice storm,  more than 25,000 New Brunswickers do not have electricity.

The Rothesay cluster has 229 outages impacting more than 13,000 NB Power customers.

That includes Hampton, Grand Bay-Westfield, Welsford, Rothesay and Quispamsis.

In the Sussex cluster, nearly 2700 homes and businesses are without power in locations like Cambridge-Narrows, Norton, Kars and Havelock.

Almost 1200 people living in Ripples, Waasis, Rusagonis and Wirral are off the grid as well.

NB Power says the lights should be back on anytime between tomorrow and in some cases Saturday.

Number Of People Without Power Going Down But Still Substantial

NB Power is making headway in getting power restored with more than 28 thousand homes and businesses around the province without, which is down from the more than 51 thousand yesterday morning.

There are still more than 14 thousand in the Rothesay region. This includes not only Rothesay but Grand Bay-Westfield, Quispamsis, Hampton, Nauwigewauk,  Titusville, the Kingston Peninsula, Nerepis, Rowley, Queenstown and Passekeag.

NB Power is now estimating restoration could be anywhere from late tomorrow night to  Saturday night depending on where you live.

Warming centres have been set up at the Brundage Point River Centre in Grand Bay-Westfield, the Lighthouse River Centre in Hampton, the Quispamsis Civic Centre above the #2 fire station on Civic Road and at Rothesay-Netherwood in Heritage Hall.

Saint John Energy, in its latest update, is reporting power outages on Keating Road, Kirkpatrick Lane, Bradley Lake Road, Dolan Road, Janes Way, Woodside Drive, Bay Crescent Drive, Chalmers Drive, Station Road and Upper Golden Grove. There's no estimate when the power will be back on.

There are more than 75 hundred homes and businesses still in the dark in the St. Stephen region. This includes as well as St. Stephen, Blacks Harbour, St. George, Lepreau, Harvey,  McAdam, St. Andrews, Pennfield, Musquash, Utopia, Oak Bay, Waweig, Yoho, Pocologan, Back Bay, Oak Bay, Little Ridge, Chamcook, Bocabec, Oak Hill and Digdeguash. NB Power is estimating it could be anywhere from tonight before power is restored for a few customers in McAdam but, for most still without electricity, it appears to be late Saturday night now.

Warming stations have been set up at the Civic Centre in St. George and the D-F-O Biological Station in St. Andrews.

More than 31 hundred homes and businesses are without electricity in the Sussex area with NB Power estimating it will be late tomorrow night before over a thousand customers in Jemseg get their service restored but the latest estimate for most is late Saturday night. 

Handgun Reported Stolen

A 27 year old woman, who was on house arrest, is behind bars facing a charge of stealing a handgun from a home off Rothesay Avenue.


Her name won't be made public until she is formally charged in court.

Police Investigating As Baby Is Taken To Regional Hospital

A 10 week old baby boy is in pediatric intensive care at the Regional Hospital and Major Crime is investigating. 

The baby was taken from a home in the north end and the Department of Social Development is also involved in the case. 

Police aren't sure whether the baby was injured by accident or deliberately and are waiting to see the medical reports.

Trees Take A Beating In Ice Storm

Downed branches along Charlotte Street

Bent tree in King Square

Downed tree branches in King Square on Charlotte Street

Broken branches off trees in King Square

Downed tree branch on Kilburn Avenue in East Saint John

Fatal Crash Near Salisbury

A collision between a car and a transport truck has killed two people on Highway 2 near Salisbury.
 
The two, an 81-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman from Sackville, were in the car.
 
The RCMP believe poor road and weather conditions caused the crash to take place.

City Police responding to a three vehicle collision on Westmorland Road by Frenchy's Clothing store which happened around 10:30 this morning.

Power Outage Update

Power lines and tree branches remain coated with ice. NB Power is reporting, as of early this evening, there are still more than 45 thousand customers without power provincewide including more than 18 thousand in the Rothesay region. This includes not only Rothesay but Grand Bay-Westfield, Quispamsis, Hampton, Nauwigewauk,  Titusville, the Kingston Peninsula and Bloomfield. NB Power estimates it could be 11:00 tonight or even midnight before electricity is restored. NB  Power crews have been called in from their Christmas vacations.

Warming centres have been set up at Rothesay-Netherwood in Heritage Hall and at the Quispamsis Civic Centre above fire station #2 on Civic Road along with the Brundage Point River Centre in Grand Bay-Westfield. The town of Hampton has opened up the Lighthouse River Centre as a warming centre where people can also fill jugs with water and charge their cellphones if need be. 

The Church of the Resurrection in Grand Bay-Westfield says it will hold its 4:30 service by candlelight this afternoon despite having no power but its service tonight at 9:30 is cancelled.

Saint John Energy is now reporting power outages on the Westfield Road to Ketepec and surrounding area, Wasson Court, Ray Street, Beach Road, Balmoral Crescent, Green Head Road, Dominion Park Road and area, Lorneville and area, Golden Grove Road, and Upper Golden Grove Road.

There are almost 11 thousand homes and businesses in the dark in the St. Stephen region. This includes as well as St. Stephen, Blacks Harbour, Dipper Harbour, Bayside, St. George, Lepreau, Harvey Station, Harvey, Letang, Bethel, McAdam, Bonny River, Old Ridge, St. Andrews, Pennfield, Musquash, Utopia, Oak Bay and Tower Hill. It could be late tonight or tomorrow morning before the power is back on.

Warming stations have been set up at the Civic Centre in St. George and the D-F-O Biological Station in St. Andrews.

More than 6 thousand customers are without electricity in the Sussex area with NB Power estimating it will be late tonight before they get their service restored and more than 69 hundred in Fredericton.  

NB Power tweeting to its customers that it hopes to have power restored by late tonight or Christmas day but warns some people won't have electricity for four days.

2014 Operating Budget Passed

The 2014 operating budget has officially received the green light from Common Council.

According to City Manager Pat Woods, the budget allows for better roads, improved recreation, a completed North End Community Center, and greater economic growth. Councillor Susan Fullerton, however, was the only dissenting vote: when asked why she voted against passing the budget, she would only say there wasn't sufficient time to go over it thoroughly and there were some items in it she would have liked to see changed.

Mayor Mel Norton also tells CHSJ News council is also putting departments and agencies on notice that future spending will be capped at 2014 levels so that the city can focus on its priorities.
 
The agencies effected by the cap will include police and fire, but other city departments will also be reviewed.

NB Power Appeals For Patience

NB Power urging its customers for patience as they grapple with the negative effects of heavy ice-laden tree branches hitting power lines leaving thousands without power.

The utility taking to Twitter to let people know that crews will be working through Christmas to restore power.

They expect power will be restored by late tomorrow or Christmas day but some folks won't have power for four days.

Under normal conditions, NB Power would get help from its counterparts in other provinces but the massive weather system stretches from Nova Scotia to Ontario so those crews are stretched too.

Some Success Getting Lights Back In The City

Saint John Energy successful in restoring power to parts of the uptown and the West side earlier tonight.

On the heels of that, the lights are still off in parts of the west side following back to back transformer explosions earlier tonight on Lancaster Street and Duke street west.

Over 54,500 In the Dark Due To Ice Storm

Many will be behind in the baking and other Christmas prep thanks to a massive ice storm

In the Sussex cluster, NB Power reports over 8000 are in the dark in places like Norton, Cambridge-Narrows, Havelock and Sussex Corner.

One of the biggest outages has thousands of homes and businesses in Hampton, Kingston, Quispamsis, Grand Bay-Westfield and Rothesay without power.

Hundreds in Fredericton Junction, Oromocto and Hoyt are off the grid too.

140 outages are impacting more than 11,000 people in the St. Stephen cluster which includes folks in Harvey, Lepreau, Blacks Harbour and St. George.

UPDATE: Massive Outage Leaves Many Cold

They just can't get ahead of it. 

A whopping 50,900 people in this province are in the dark tonight after an ice storm leads to a massive power outage.

That includes over 17,000 in the Rothesay cluster which includes Quispamsis, Hampton, Grand Bay-Westfield.

Another huge outage is impacting thousands of people in Harvey, Lepreau, Oromocto, St. George, St. Andrew's and Black's Harbour.


To get the latest numbers, click here

City Crews On Alert For The Storm

The City assuring us their crews will be out in force tonight and overnight working to keep streets safe during the storm.

They suggest motorists avoid travelling during the storm

In a release, they tell us major arteries, highway connections and emergency routes will be cleared constantly during the storm.

Crews are also preparing for the rain and melting snow.

The City also reminding pedestrians to be careful when out walking on sidewalks which could be slushy and slippery.

For more on the City's Winter Management Plan, click here

Many In The Dark In The Port City

Saint John Energy crews are dealing with a slew of power outages as well including Manchester Avenue, Manawagonish Road and Sand Cove Road.

The Dever road and Westfield road are also impacted.

It also includes parts of Millidgeville and in the Uptown, the power is out on Union, King, Canterbury, Charlotte, Prince William and Water Street.

Lorneville road has a partial outage along with Martinon to Ketepec Road.

In East Saint John, they are reporting an outage on the Golden Grove Road.

First Steps Housing Wrapping Gifts For Donations

A local business and non-profit teaming up so you can do good while doing your last-minute Christmas shopping. 

Staff and volunteers from First Steps Housing are at Handworks Gallery wrapping gifts for donations that will go towards buying boots, coats and more for young mothers and their children. Executive Director Sharon Amirault tells CHSJ News the holiday season can be one of the most difficult times of the year for those who use their facility and this initiative will make things easier for them.

Amirault says they have raised almost $700 so far. They will be at the store located at 12 King Street today and tomorrow wrapping gifts.

Saint Johners Are Without Power Too

Saint John is not immune to the provincial power problems.

Saint John Energy now reporting a power outage impacting Manchester Avenue, Manawagonish Road, Sand Cove Road and surrounding area.

The Lorneville Road also has a partial outage and the lights are out from Martinon to Ketepec Road and areas in between.

All of these outages the result of ice building up on tree branches causing them to hit power lines.


 

Over 18,000 In The Dark Now

Over 18,000 people are in the dark across the province with a huge chunk of them in southern New Brunswick.

The numbers have been climbing since about 11 this morning when it was only 10,000.

People are without electricity in many communities including Grand Bay-Westfield, Quispamsis, Rothesay, Clifton Royal, Blacks Harbour, Fredericton Junction, St. George and St. Stephen.

We are also hearing about an outage impacting the Manowagonish Road area of West Saint John.

To see the latest numbers, click here

Wires Are Down In Many Locations

Crews are responding to wires down in the North end on Visart street and there are also 5 wires down on the Dever road.

Earlier crews responded to a transformer fire on the Lorneville road and there are branches down on the Loch Lomond Road on the way to the airport.

SJFD Keeping An Eye On A Fluoride Spill

City fire crews along with the Hazmat unit responding to a small spill of fluoride at the Spruce Lake Treatment Plant.

It happened as a contractor was filling the tank.

The Saint John Fire Department and the City’s Safety Manager were called and began a clean up procedure.
 
The fire department remains on the scene monitoring the situation.

RCMP Investigating Camp Break-Ins And Thefts

Reports of buildings and camps being broken into in the rural area between Coles Island and Havelock have been rolling in over the past three months.

Police are looking into the break & enters and thefts where in most cases, rifles and other valuables were stolen from the properties. These incidents mostly happening along Route 112 and the South Canaan Road. 

The RCMP reminding property owners from the area to remove anything valuable from their camps when possible and that firearms must be secured in accordance with federal regulations.

Anyone with information about these incidents is being asked to contact Sussex RCMP at 506-433-7700 or Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

UPDATE: Some Flights Cancelled, Some On Time

That family member or friend flying in or out today at the Saint John Airport may find their flight is delayed or cancelled.

A few flights from Toronto, Montreal and Halifax  are cancelled today while others for later this afternoon are on time.

It's a good idea to check ahead before heading to the airport today.

You can do that by clicking here 

The Saint John Airport tweeting they are having difficulty with updating flight information on their website.   You can also check the status of your flight here

Man Wanted For Assault With Weapon Arrested

Police tracking down a man wanted for beating another man with a steel pipe in Salisbury.

Andrew Stephen Rees being arrested for assault with a weapon after police received several tips from the public. RCMP had issued a call for information about his whereabouts but warned the public not to approach the 27-year old as he was considered dangerous.

Rees is being held in custody and will be appearing in court.

More Than 10,000 Without Power

For over 10,000 people mainly in southern New Brunswick, it might be best to go out shopping because you can't do much without electricity.

Those people without power are in a slew of communities including Pennfield, St. Stephen, St. George, Kingston, Bloomfield, Grand Bay-Westfield, Rothesay and Quispamsis.

According to NB Power's website, people in those places can expect to get their power back sometime between Noon and 6pm tonight.

To see the latest numbers, click here

Flouride Spill On West Side

The fire department called to the water treatment plant on Ocean Westway after getting a report about a flouride spill outside the building after a line broke. Flouride is acidic. 

Common Council has to be make a decision early next year whether to continue flouridating city water. Saint John and Oromocto are the only two muncipalities in the province continuing to do so.

Saint John M-P Expects More Money For "Y"

The "Y" still needs to raise a lot of money to pay for construction of its new building in the north end because the contributions from the federal and provincial government cover under half of the cost. 

Saint John M-P Rodney Weston tells CHSJ News he has no doubt it will be done and he expects more financial commitments will be forthcoming in the next little while.


Weston says the "Y" has a special bond with Saint Johnners and there's a realy good group of people backing the project.

City Buses Getting Long In The Tooth

More money next year in the 2014 city budget for Saint John Transit but there will only be enough to cover higher costs of operating. 

City Transit buses are older than the national average, 11.6 years compared to 7 and a half to 8 years. Common Councillor Donna Reardon argues Saint John has been playing catchup after some budgetary neglect.

Reardon says they would prefer to have the average age of a bus in the city be 8 and a half to 9 years because it costs more money to keep older buses on the road.

Donnie Snook's Lawyer Speaks Out

The lawyer for disgraced former Common Councillor Donnie Snook is is talking about what the past year has been like for him. Dennis Boyle represented Snook beginning shortly after his arrest January 9th until he was sentenced on the last of the child sexual abuse charges earlier this month. 

Boyle says, for him, it was all consuming but it's also been a hard time for the whole community to try to deal with this and a lot of people were hurt. He's hoping the healing can now begin.

Boyle has praise for how the police acted and treated Snook as well as the jail staff in Saint John and Dalhousie.

Concern Over 2014 City Budget

The 2014 city budget comes before Common Council tonight amid concerns over million dollar increases for the police and fire department. 

Mayor Mel Norton is worried over increasing wage costs at a time when the tax base went down.

West Side Councillor Greg Norton wonders about the city's long term financial sustainability. 

Finance Commissioner Greg Yeomans telling councillors wages and benefits account for 50 million dollars or 34 per cent of the city's budget but do not include police. Councillor 

David Merrithew, who chairs the city's Finance Committee, pulls no punches when he says the wage increases given in the past are not sustainable anymore. 

Common Councillor Susan Fullerton points out a reduction in the city's tax rate from $1.78.5 down to $1.78 would cost 300 thousand dollars or two-fifths of one per cent of the total budget which she doesn't consider that big a deal and a reduction of one cent would cost $600 thousand or four-fifths of one per cent.

More Freezing Rain On The Way

Tree branches and power lines are sagging because of 24 hours of freezing rain which has caused widespread power outages in the southern part of the province. 

Jeremy March of Environment Canada telling CHSJ News we're not out of the woods yet with more freezing rain expected tonight until the system winds down after midnight but Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are looking much better.

March estimates the Saint John area has received 15 millimeters of freezing rain. 

As of 11:00 this morning, more than 45 hundred customers are without power in the Saint John area, most of whom are in Rothesay but also in Quispamsis, Grand Bay-Westfield, Upper Golden Grove, Queenstown, Long Reach, Bloomfield, the Kingston Peninsula and Clifton Royal. 

In the St. Stephen area, there are more than 36 hundred homes and businesses without electricity, mostly in Pennfield, St. George, Utopia and St. Stephen itself. NB Power says some people without electricity may not get their service restored until around 6 tonight.

Another Rexton Court Proceeding

A 36-year-old woman from Elsipogtog First Nation has been arrested after journalists and technicians complained in October their vehicles and equipment had been confiscated while they were attempting to work.

The items were returned later the same day.

The woman was arrested and later released on conditions...she's expected to appear in court on February 26.

RCMP are investigating possible charges of mischief and intimidation....and they're not ruling out further charges.

In a separate incident,  a 50 year old man from Bannon was arrested after cash and meth pills were seized at his home. 

He's scheduled to appear in court in January.

Weather Warnings For Atlantic Canada

 

If you have travel plans, make sure to keep up to date on the weather, that from Jeremy March, meteorologist with Environment Canada. 

"A real mixed-bag of weather today, he says, snow, freezing rain and ice pellet mix."

The freezing rain is expected to continue after midnight. 



March tells us, some areas in New Brunswick will continue to get 

freezing rain tomorrow morning, and ice pellets. He adds, on Tuesday it should be moving towards some sunshine. 

*Photo taken by Tina Durelle

Power Outages Update

About 58 customers are still without power in Rothesay.

 That number going down from over 400 earlier today.

In St. Stephen, 3744 are currently without power. 

Saint John Energy reporting power outages affecting the West Side earlier today. Customers in the lower West side should have power back at this time.

A New Treatment Center Will Be Built For Mentally Ill Teens And Kids

This province is in dire need of new facilities to treat teens and children struggling with mental health issues.
 
No ones knows that more than Maureen Billerman of Dots NB who created a non-profit group after struggling to find help for her child with mental health challenges.
 
Billerman tells CHSJ News the province is seeking request for proposals for a 15-bed treatment centre for children and youth.

She says the facility for children and youth in crisis who need serious help. 

She says they will work intensely and the idea is that they will get back into their communities as quickly as possible.

Billerman calls this move a really good step that will serve a deep need.  

She expects it will be open a year from now.

For more info on Dots NB, click here

Proposed Medical Marijuana Factory In St. Stephen

A business in St.Stephen has put forward a proposal for the building of a medical marijuana factory in the town. 

Darren Marshall is VP of Tidal Health Solutions. The business has applied for a license, under the new Health Canada regulations. 


He tells us the factory will add 15 more jobs and will be regulated under the new Health Canada Rules.

"This whole new system is going to be centered around license producers, so we've made an application to become a licensed producer," he says.

 Right now, patients who use medical marijuana can grow it themselves or can have a licensed producer do it for them.
 
After the new rules take effect on April 1st, growing medical marijuana will only be permitted to licensed producers. 

Marshall tells CHSJ News, "some of the challenges will be educating people on what it is and how it's used, and getting away from some of the stigma that surrounds the product now."

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Or The Most Stressful?

For many of us it's not the most wonderful time of the year, it's the most stressful.

 But the C-E-O of the Canadian Psychological Association has some advice on how to stay calm and collected this holiday season. Dr. Karen Cohen says it's important to set realistic expectations.

"If you're go into the holidays hoping Uncle Jim and cousin Bob are going to get along really well this year, and mom is going to something different, and everyone is going to be happy. We may end up being disappointed because that's not always the way it works out," she says.

She says you should keep things in perspective if something doesn't go according to plan and try not make a mountain out of a molehill. She also says its important to pay attention to your own feelings and ask for help if you need it.

Holiday Fire Safety Tips

As you're decorating your home for the holiday season,
Regional Fire Marshall in Saint John, Jeff Croft, has a few fire safety tips to keep in mind. 

He says, check your extension cords for damage before use.

"Make sure that they're not damaged, or that they aren't running under carpets, or in a high traffic area."

He adds, make sure you inspect your Christmas lights for cuts in the wires before putting them on. Especially if you use them year after year. 

More Than $1.5 Million In Unclaimed Lottery Money

 No one wants to miss out on winning some cash, especially during the holiday season.

 Atlantic Lottery telling us there's more than 1.5 million dollars in unclaimed lottery money. That's just for the month of December. 

Carla Burque of Atlantic Lottery, tells CHSJ News, 

"People have these ticket on their counters, in their wallets, in their purses. They're worth some money." 

She says smaller prizes may not change your life, but they could pay for dinner, coffee or something you may have had your eye on for a while.

After a year, unclaimed prizes are returned to a special fund and offered back to players through some form of prizing.

MADD Canada Launching Project Red Ribbon

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada and Irving Oil launching Project Red Ribbon in Atlantic Canada.
 
The red ribbon is a symbol many of us are familiar with, and is a reminder to never drive impaired. The campaign has been around for 26 years. 

 Dawn Regan speaks for MADD Canada, and tells us impaired driving is the number one criminal cause of death in Canada. 

"It just such a preventable activity there's no reason for this crime to happen. People just need to make the right decision and never drive impaired," she says.

She adds, 1,200 to 1,500 people die in impaired driving related accidents per year, averaging about 4 deaths per day.

Expect Slippery Conditions Tonight

Expect slippery conditions tonight with freezing rain, and ice pellets headed our way. 

 Cindy Vallis is a meteorologist at Environment Canada. She tells us, the worst of the weather is going to be around midnight.

"Periods of rain through the evening hours, then changing to periods of rain around midnight," she says.
 
Expect about 10 to 15 centimeters of ice pellets.  She adds, the weather will gradually improve tomorrow as the system moves.

Two Rexton Protestors Opt For A Trial, One Gets Time Served

 27 year old Coady Stevens of Nova Scotia pleading guilty to five charges dating back to October's shale gas protests in Rexton.

Stevens faces several charges including assaulting a police officer.   He's been in jail since his arrest and was sentenced to time served with several conditions including that he stay away from any SWN Resources equipment, compound or worksite.

20 year old Aaron Francis of Nova Scotia pleading not guilty to 16 changes stemming from incidents on October 17th.
The charges include two counts of assault on a police officer, assault on a corrections officer and eight charges relating to firearms.

21 year old Germain Breau of Upper Rexton was also in court pleading not guilty to 19 charges in connection with his actions on the same day.

Francis and Breau are due back before a judge on December 30th to have trial dates set.

Four People Displaced After House Fire

Four people are permanently displaced after a house fire in the North end.
 
Saint John Fire responding to the call early this morning,  finding heavy black smoke coming from the main door of a two-story building. Police tell us there was significant damage to the home.

A fire fighter had minor injuries, and was treated at the scene. No one else was hurt. 
Crews were on scene for three hours. The fire is under investigation.

"Boot House" Is The Top Gingerbread House

A boot house with laces "wowing" the judges in the 2nd annual Gingerbread Trail contest put on by Uptown Saint John.

Manchester Shoe Salon won for their Boot house complete with licorice laces.   In second place was Fishy Chores with their enormous nutcracker figure and third place went to the Saint John Arts Centre for their replica of the Carnegie building.

15 different gingerbread houses have been on display at businesses throughout the Uptown.