Amalgamation Talk Still On The Table

(Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop)
        (File Photo)

Amalgamation remains on the discussion table for both Rothesay and Quispamsis.


In a letter to Quispam, Rothesay asks if the topic can be discussed and the answer is yes.
Mayor Bill Bishop tells CHSJ News, if a decision is to be made, he would rather have it done on this level than be mandated into it.
Bishop adds it would only be wise for both Town's to do their home-work before there is any pressure from the Province.

Alward Government Is Asked For An Increase

The group Common Front For Social Justice is calling for action by the Alward Government when it comes to social assitance.
Calling it one of the lowest rates in the country, it is looking for an increase as the price of everything continues to climb.
Spokes-person Aurea Cormier tells CHSJ News, their data shows that a walk through the grocery store is no easy task for those on a budget.
Some of the numbers show the price of basic items like eggs went up by 21.9%, cheese 36.7%, rice by 42.6% and flour by 84.9%.
Cormier says the fact thousands of people in this Province go to bed hungry is a shameful result of our political leaders’ inability to govern in the interest of the common good.

Heavy Damage To ATV Trails Around The Province

Thousands of dollars in damage is being reported on ATV Trails through-out the Province.


This after the heavy and record rain-fall over the past few weeks.


Spokes-person Jacques Nadeau tells CHSJ News, in some area's, culverts have been exposed and bridges washed out.
Nadeau adds they made need to get approval from the Province before moving ahead with some of the repairs but hope to have everything fixed soon.

No Cash For Amalgamation Study In Quispamsis

Quispamsis Council has voted down, almost unanimously, setting aside 30 thousand dollars in next year's town budget to study the implications of amalgamating with the town of Rothesay.

Councillor Gerry Maher was the only vote in favour and warns Rothesay and Quispamsis are being targeted for amalgamation by the Province.


Mayor Murray Driscoll says the two towns will talk about merging but he disputes the contention that those who would be directly affected by a merger will do all they can to scuttle the process for their own self interest and preservation.

Driscoll says there's not enough money in his job as mayor to be looking out for it.

Push Is On For SkateBoard Park In Quispamsis

(Skateboard Park Spokes-person James Buchan)
               (File Photo)

A big turnout at Quispamsis Council to show support for construction of a skateboarding park in the Kennebecasis Valley.

Town Councillors were told the need is there with an estimated 800 regular skateboarders in the K-V and that could be low balling the actual number.

Council heard from an active skateboarder, James Buchan who offered his opinion of the skateboard park in Saint John.


The estimated cost of a skateboard park in the Valley is pegged at half a million. It's hoped development can begin in the spring but the town has not committed itself to providing any money yet.

Insurance Bureau Of Canada Backs Alward Government

A 36 per cent reduction in provincial insurance premiums since the $2500 cap on soft tissue injuries was brought in proves it's working.

That from Bill Adams of the Insurance Bureau of Canada who say they will work with the Alward government's review of the controversial legislation.
Critics of the law say the payout is nothing when accident victims are suffering with life-long injuries that require treatment and medication.

Resident Rattled After Home Invasion

Major Crime has been called in to investigate after a home invasion in the South End early this morning.

City Police tell us someone in an apartment was woken up by noise just after two o'clock and called officers to come and check things out.
When they arrived, the person who broke in had already taken off with a few items. No one was hurt.

Peoples Alliance party Leader Elected

(Peoples Alliance Party Leader and Minto Councilor Kris Austin)
                           (File Photo)

The Peoples Alliance Party Leader has a new voice after being elected a councilor in the village of Minto following an unsuccessful bid at becoming an MLA in the Provincial Vote.

31-year old Kris Austin captured 440 of the 920 ballots after coming in third in September's provincial election in the riding of Grand Lake-Gagetown.

Admitting the loss was a tough pill to swallow, Austin says he still wants to contribute to his community and the municipal seat was one that he couldn't pass up.

McKenna Back In Town To Be Honoured

(Former Premier Frank McKenna)
           (File Photo)

Part of the reason former Premier Frank McKenna is being inducted into the New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame tonight before a packed house at the Trade and Convention Centre is because of his continuing efforts at promoting New Brunswick as a place to do business.

McKenna tells CHSJ News he literaly spends part of every waking day doing that and retains a strong attachment to the province which he claims is successful when it is vigorously promoted.

Another reason for that attachment is his involvement with a large business in Shediac, Glenwood Kitchens which has over 100 employees.

McKenna is deputy chair of the T-D Bank Financial Group based in Toronto but adds he tries to spend as much time as he can living in this province.

Mayor Worries About Freeze On Property Tax Assessments

(Saint John Mayor Ivan Court)
        (File Photo)

Mayor Ivan Court is worried about what effect a promise made during the recent provincial election campaign will have on the city's bottom line.

Premier David Alward promised to freeze the property tax assessments of homeowners who are 65 years of age and older.

Court says that could include 40 or even 50 per cent of householders in the city and warns Common Council can't really prepare a budget for next year if it doesn't know what the final numbers will be.

The Mayor also suggests giving a property tax freeze to seniors ignores the fact many young families, who have homes, are struggling and need help but could find themselves paying more.

Former Premiers Honoured

Four former premiers being are honoured with the unveiling of biographical panels outside city hall.

The panels of George King, Walter Foster, John Baxter, and Leonard Tilley recount their contributions to the city and the province.

Lee Ellen Pottie with the Provincial Capital Commission tells CHSJ News it's important to honour our former leaders.

There will also be an interactive digital display at the New Brunswick Museum detailing the contributions of New Brunswick's 31 former premiers.

Testimony Begins At Saint John Murder Trial

A second degree murder trial is underway in the city with 27 year old Crystal Dawn McKenzie charged in the stabbing death of her common law husband 29 year old Patrick Thomas on Alma Street off Waterloo last March.

A jury of 9 women and 3 men has been chosen to hear testimony that will last into next week.

The prosecution told the jurors the two, who had three children together, fought alot, sometimes violently.

They had been to a bar before the stabbing in the early morning hours of March 15th. According to the prosecution, the two began arguing after they got home with McKenzie attacking Thomas with a broom handle before grabbing a butcher knife. He was stabbed in the neck and shoulder.

The jury was told there will be eyeswitnesses testifying they heard McKenzie say " I'm going to kill him". Mr. Justice Hugh McLellen told the jurors the main issue at the trial could very well come down to self defense.

Local Man A Finalist In International Contest

(Champions of Change Finalist Bobby Hayes of the Joshua Group)

A Saint Johnner who works hard to improve the lives of city children is up for a special award.
Bobby Hayes of the Joshua Group is a finalist for the Champions of Change contest.
His sister, Bonnie Phillips, tells CHSJ News he made the top ten last night.

She says everyone in the top ten gets $10,000 for their charity and the overall winner gets $25,000.
To vote for Bobby Hayes and the Joshua Group as the Champions of Change click here.

West Side Company Hiring Hundreds

A West-Side company has been given the green light to begin the process of hiring close to three hundred people.


The Atelka Contact Center at the end of the Manawagonish Road has recently made a major purchase of another out-sourcing company in Atlantic Canada.


Operations Manager Trina Forrest tells CHSJ News, this is wonderful boost for the local economy.
Atelka is a technical support company and Forrest says in a perfect world, they hope to have all of the new staff in place by the end of January.

Student Shuffle In District Six

(District Six Superintendent Zoe Watson)
              (File Photo)

A plan is being ironed out by officials in District Six to find a temporary home for 200 students.


The current K-Park Elementary will be demolished in the fall to make way for a new building which means the students and staff will set up shop at Rothesay Elementary.

Superintendent Zoe Watson tells CHSJ News, the school provides many of the things they are looking for.

Watson says some of the portables currently set-up at K-Park will be moved to Rothesay Elementary but it's too early to say how many.

Suspicious Fire In Penobsquis

Nobody hurt after a fire in Penobsquis last night.


Crews arrived on Route 114 to find flames running through the vacant building.


Fire officials are still trying to figure out how it started.

Red Cross Hands Out Some Hardware

Two ladies will take the spotlight tomorrow night when the Canadian Red Cross hands out it's annual Humanitarian Awards.
Judith Irving is picking up the hardware for her tremendous contributions to charitable organizations, at the local and international level.
The Young Humanitarian Award will be presented to Sussex native Amanda Titus.
She is being honoured for her extensive volunteer work with numerous organizations, including the Canadian Red Cross and the St. Thomas University Holocaust Centre.
Titus is completing her Masters degree at a University in Australia so will accept her award via video. Things get started at seven at the Delta.

Learn and Go Program Takes Next Step Forward

The Learn and Go Group will present it's community projects to potential partners on Thursday.


Co-Ordinator Bobbi Craft tells CHSJ News, some of these proposals for the five priority neighbourhoods, have been in the works for several months.

A few of the other projects include safer streets in the Village of Waterloo, a rent freeze for housing and raise funds and awareness for youth homelessness.

Local School District Considers Anti-Bullying Program

"If it hurt's, it's wrong" is the title of a new anti-bullying program being used in School District 2.
District 8 Superintendent Susan Tipper tells CHSJ News it uses a scientific approach to the problem.
Tipper says bullying will never go away unless it is treated as society's problem and not just something that happens at school.
The District is considering adopting the program.

Mounties Seek Help In Shooting Incident

Evidence is still being gathered after shots were fired at home on the Kingston Peninsula over the weekend.
Without being specific about a time, Hampton RCMP will only say the shots were fired in the early morning hours of Sunday.
No one was hurt but anyone with information is being urged to give them a call at 832-5566.