The lights are back on in the North End

The Power is back on in the North End.   The lights were out for a short time along Adelaine Street between Main Street and Neuman Street.  Employees and shoppers were impacted at the Eddie Bauer Call Centre and Zellers until emergency power kicked in. The source of the problem was a pole near Cunard and Bridge streets in the lower North End.  Saint John Energy is taking care of the problem.

Body positively identified as Bonnell

A body discovered in woods near Tracadie-Sheila has been positively identified as 16-year-old Hilary Bonnell.

The postitive identification was made through dental records.
Autopsy results to determine a cause of death are expected to take several weeks.
RCMP announced Friday that they have a supect in custody.
The teen went missing in early September near her home on the First Nation commonly known as Burnt Church.

Doherty Will Administer Shots Today

Supply and Services Minister Dr. Ed Doherty will be putting on the lab coat this afternoon to administer H1N1 vaccination shots.
Dr. Doherty will be giving the swine flu shots at the St. Rose School clinic and says he volunteered for the spot to help give the front line workers a bit of rest.
The clinic runs from 1:30 to 4:30.

No Vaccines Wasted in New Brunswick

[Health Minister Mary Schryer---Photo by Dave Briggs]
No H1N1 vaccination shots have been destroyed in this province according to the Health Minister.

Mary Schryer says the swine flu vaccine has a short shelf life, but to her knowledge there hasn't been any shots go to waste in New Brunswick.
This comes after nearly 80 doses of the vaccine was discarded in Halifax, and nearly 475 doses in Toronto.
Schryer says so far there has been over 150 thousand people vaccinated so far in the province, and expects 40 thousand more by the end of the week.

Province Invests in Eye Health

The provincial government is giving St. Joseph's Hospital a $300 thousand dollar shot in the arm to improve eye health care.

The money will go towards purchasing new retinal surgery equipment, and a new prescription drug available for the leading cause of blindness in Canada.
Canadian National Institute for the Blind spokesperson Duncan Williams says this equipment will allow New Brunswickers to get retinal surgery that they previously would of had to travel to Halifax to receive.
Williams says it also boosts Independence for those with sight issues.
Williams says vision loss costs this province $426 million dollars a year, which will be significantly reduced because of this investment.

Stabbing in the Kennebecasis Valley

The weekend in the Kennebecasis Valley finished up on a violent note. Rothesay Regional Police tell us one person was stabbed last night. They were called to Scott Avenue just after 8:30pm and quickly took one person into custody.

The person stabbed is going to be alright and another person has a date with the judge to answer to charges later today.

Holder Talks About Top Issue for Fall Sitting

(Saint John Portland MLA Trevor Holder)
                (File Photo)

Saint John Portland M-L-A Trevor Holder says the proposed deal between NB Power and Hydro Quebec is going to be the hot topic at the opening of the Legislature tomorrow. Holder tells CHSJ News, his government is responsible for holding the Graham Government accountable for the deal.


Holder adds the sale should be up to the people either in a referendum or a general election.

Saint John East MLA Given an Honor

A familiar face will be the mover of the Throne Speech at the opening of the fourth session of the 56th legislative assembly tomorrow. Saint John East M-L-A Roly McIntyre is receiving the honour and Premier Shawn Graham says there is no one more suited for the task.


Graham tells CHSJ News, this shouldn't be considered McIntyres "swan song" because he's certainly going to have a lot to say during the session of the house.

Ward One Winter Meeting

If you have concerns about snow removal this winter, or wondering about any changes to on street parking, the city will try and clear everything up with a meeting tonight. In the first of 5 ward meetings, residents of Ward 1 will receive a presentation from Municipal operations.

The meeting will outline the citys Winter Management Plan and discuss any changes made to by-laws regarding on street parking and the strategies for keeping snow and ice off streets. Things get underway at 6:30 at St. Marks Church.

Maintenance Work at LNG Terminal

Some scheduled maintenance at the Canaport Liquified Natural Gas Terminal gets started today. It's expected to last the entire week and will result in partial suspension of operations at the terminal.

When operations resume, flaring will occur and will be visible for a few hours.

Wishing All the Best to Our Troops

                 (Holiday Card for the Troops)

                  (Photo by Jim Hennessy)

Time is running out for you to add your personal Christmas greeting on those big cards which will be sent to our troops in Afghanistan. Local artist Norm Jackson is behind the effort -- and -- he tells CHSJ News people have been adding some very personal and touching greetings.


He says Saint John M-P Rodney Weston is contacting the Defence Minister to make arrangements for delivery of the cards. The cards are located at the Newstand in Market Square and the Marr Road Shell in Rothesay.

Heart and Stroke Foundation Bus Pull

How do you think you and 19 of your friends would do pulling a Saint John Transit bus 100 feet? We ask the question because the Heart and Stroke Foundations first annual bus pull is set to go in two weeks on the 29th. They hope to lock up twenty teams of ten to drag the forty foot limos and raise cash to buy Automated External Defibrillators to install in area high schools. Spokes-person Terry Wagner tells CHSJ News, they hope to raise ten thousand dollars.

If you want to get involved, you can call Terry at 634-1620.

Hampton Teen to Carry Olympic Torch

A 15 year old Hampton High Student will carry the Olympic Flame through his town. Antoine Clark will carry the flame about 300 metres starting along Main Street and ending at the Whistle Stop Diner.
Clark was asked by the school to be the torch bearer, and will do so on the 24th just after three in the afternoon.

57th Annual Santa Claus Parade a Hit

Big crowds and lots of smiles for last night's 57th edition of the Saint John Santa Claus Parade. The weather was picture perfect with clear skies and mild temperatures. The CHSJ/Wave hot chocolate and cider stand raised $400 dollars for Romero House, plenty of coats for coats for kids were collected and the city outside workers filled up trucks of food for Romero House as well.

There are two parades next weekend with the West Side edition in the afternoon followed by the Kennebecasis Valley Santa Parade that night. The winners for last night's Saint John Parade will be awarded their hardware at a future common council meeting.

Winning Entries:



Chairperson’s Choice Olivier Soapery


Best in Parade Boys and Girls Club


Best Commercial Entry Sobeys


Best School Simmonds High School


Best Cheerleaders Carleton Community Centre


Best Band #9 Rodney Band


Best Association/Church St. Mary’s St. Bartholomews




Honourable Mentions:


Kenebec Manor


Maritime Greyhounds


North End Community Cheerleaders


City of Saint John – Mayor’s float


Saint John ATV club


560 Moncton RCAC

Alward Says H1N1 Clinic Logistics Needs A Tune Up

[Tory Leader David Alward----File Photo]
The leader of the Provincial Tories says he is concerned over the logistics involved in the H1N1 vaccination clinics.

David Alward tells CHSJ News, there have been difficulties regarding communications.
Alward says every province has faced problems with how the clincis have rolled out and the Conservatives have been briefed on the issues. He adds he is concerned about the logistics of getting people through the line ups and getting care to those who need it the most.

Rothesay Mayor Reacts to Provincial Tax Assessment

[Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop---File Photo]
With budget deliberations already underway around the Province, there will be some hard number crunching in municipalities in the coming weeks. This after the Province announced municipalities lower their tax rates including Rothesay by ten cents. Mayor Bill Bishop tells CHSJ News, the biggest complaint he hears from home-owners is the increase year after year on property assessments:
Bishop adds in the past when tax-payers got an increase on their bill, municipalities would say it is because of the assessments. Now the Province is looking to turn the table by saying if taxes go up, it is the municipality that did so.

Quispamsis Mayor Says Tax Reduction Number Too High

[Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll---File Photo]
11 cents is the number the Province would like to see the Town of Quispamsis cut it's tax rate. Mayor Murray Driscoll tells CHSJ News, his town cannot operate the way it is now with that big of a cut to the tax rate.

Driscoll adds he and staff will crunch the numbers but would be very suprised if they can get it near an 11 cent reduction.

Grand Bay Westfield Reacts to Provincial Tax Assessment

[Grand Bay Westfield Mayor Grace Losier----File Photo]
Grand Bay Westfield isn't running scared by the numbers proposed for it's tax rate by the Province. Mayor Grace Losier tells CHSJ news, the nine cent decrease on the tax rate for her town is where the Province believes the rate should be.
Losier adds assessed property values in Grand Bay Westfield are up 47% over the past five years which they understand is a hardship but your home is an investment as well. The current tax rate in the town is $1.37.

Province Suggests Property Taxes Should Be Lower

The numbers are in and the provincial government is recommending Saint John lower it's property tax base rate by about 5 cents. Finance Minister Greg Byrne announced the recommendations for all municipalities across the province under the governments new property tax accountability mechanism.
The rates are determined by a formula using the tax base of communities from the previous year, plus new construction and a market value increase of up to inflation.
Saint John's current rate is 1.78, and the province suggests it should be at 1.73.
Around greater Saint John---Rothesay is suggested to be 10 cents lower, Quispamsis by about 11 cents, Grand Bay Westfield by 9 cents, and Hampton by 8 cents.

No Injuries in Accident Last Night

Three people may be purchasing lotto tickets after a car crash last night.
City police tell us just before 9 o'clock a vehicle carrying three people rolled onto it's roof on Hillcrest Road.
The car appeared to be destroyed when police arrived, but all three passengers were able to escape injury.
Police say it's not exactly known how the car flipped, it seems the driver just lost control.