Bruises And Cuts But, Otherwise Ok

A Garnett Settlement woman is lucky to be alive after spending a chilly night in the woods.



56-year-old Linda Walker who was reported missing last night was found on a gravel road off the Base road earlier today.


RCMP Sergeant Rick Bernard tells CHSJ News she has bruises and cuts but is otherwise ok adding they are thankful for the help in today's search.

Bernard says a helicopter spotted her and then hovered in the area until crews could reach her by land.   Walker is being checked out in hospital.

Missing Woman Found

A Garnett Settlement woman missing since last night has been found.

RCMP, the Simonds Fire department and York-Sunbury Search and Rescue taking part in the search and locating 56-year-old Linda Walker a short time ago


She was reported missing last night and earlier police us she may be confused or disoriented.

No word yet on if she is hurt but a helicopter was used in today's search.

Green Party Leader Will Not Seek A New Term

Provincial Green Party Leader Jack MacDougall will not be seeking a second term.

He says he took on the role knowing it was for two years and he has decided not to re-offer.


He adds he's proud of what the party has accomplished in the last two years citing a visionary platform and fielding 50 highly-qualified candidates in last fall's provincial election campaign.

The interim leader is semi-retired heath and senior care professional Greta Doucet.  Doucet describes herself as a raging granny leader who is elated to contribute to the growth of the Green Party.

Big Brothers Saint John Tries To Find 100 Men In One Year

The search is officially on for men in Greater Saint John to hang out with a young person who needs a good role model.

Big Brothers Big Sisters launching the 1 Year 100 Men cruitment campaign.
Board member Cindy Millett tells CHSJ News like other chapters across the country they struggle with a long waitlist.
She says this type of campaign has been very successful in Ontario and they thought they would try it in Saint John
Millett says the program has been in Saint John since 1972.
She says it's a simple process to become a big brother and they encourage anyone to come by and talk with them at their office on the third floor of Brunswick Square.

You Can Win Money By Joining The Wellness Movement

You are being invited to join the Wellness movement.


It will run until the end of February encouraging groups, communities, offices and schools to register and complete an online wellness committment.


Wellness Ambassador Darryl Steeves tells CHSJ News he believes this program can make a difference.

He says we need to have the right attitude towards wellness and know that we can have an impact.

Wellness, Culture and Sport Minister Trevor Holder made his own personal committment to walk 30 minutes a day three days a week and he's challenging other employees in the department to do the same. Participants can win grants from $500 or $1,000 to help them organize on-going wellness initiatives.


To join the Wellness Movement, click here

Police Still Seek Suspect In UNB Saint John Indecent Act

City police asking local media to repost pictures of the suspect in an indecent act last month at UNB Saint John.
They tell CHSJ News the incident on August 26th is a priority with the Family Protection Unit and is actively being investigated.

The suspect is a white adult man, about 5 foot 9 with medium build, ruddy complexion, short brown hair, wearing a dark t-shirt, blue jeans, sneakers, blue ball cap with sunglasses. He was wearing a backpack and left the area by bicycle.


If you know anything, please contact the the Saint John Police Family Protection Unit at 648-3284 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Search Underway For Missing Garnet Settlement Woman

A air and ground search is underway for a missing Garnett Settlement woman.
56-year-old Linda Walker was reported missing last night at 8:30 and police think she left her home of her own accord.


The RCMP, Simonds Fire Department and York Sunbury Search and Rescue are all taking part in the search. 
She is described as medium build, 5 feet four inches tall with  blonde hair with brown streaks cut just below the ear.
She was last seen wearing a beige sweater with blue on it, black pants and size 8 white and blue sneakers.
Anyone with any information on Linda Walker's whereabouts are asked to contact police.

Quispamsis Dancer Comes Close To Winning

Close but no cigar for 20 year old Matt Marr of Quispamsis at the "So You Think You Can Dance competition".

After reaching the top six, Marr lost out to Jordan Clark of  Tottenham, Ontario.

Marr was trained at Danceability on the east side and for the past year has been working in Toronto as a professional dancer.

He has also performed in several music videos including Shawn Desmond's single "Electric". Clark won 100 thousand dollars for finishing first.

Two Men Pepper Sprayed And Then Ripped Off

Two men sought help after being pepper sprayed on Exmouth Street but not by City Police who tell us one of them was trying to sell drugs from a car.

The person who came over to buy the drugs was the one who actually pepper sprayed them and then took off with most of the narcotics.

One of the men who was pepper sprayed will likely be facing drug charges.

Chief Says New Headquarters Will Make Policing In City Better

There has been some public criticism voiced over the cost of the Peel Plaza development but Chief Bill Reid argues the new Police headquarters building will make City Police more efficient.

It has been pointed out by the provincial Department of Public Safety their current facilities at City Hall are inadequate.

Reid also tells CHSJ News there has been a 50 per cent drop in armed robberies in the city and a 37 per cent decrease in breakins which he maintains has alot to do with the methadone programme.

The new police headquarters building will take up 110 thousand square feet and is scheduled to open up sometime next spring.

As of the end of 2010, the police department was 31 thousand dollars over budget but there's no word yet on what the numbers will be when the cost of the Richard Oland murder investigation is taken into account.

Mayor Concerned About Rising Costs Of Policing

The city is facing tight budgets year after year and Mayor Ivan Court is worried about the future cost of policing.

He tells CHSJ News the larger municipalities in the province are subsidising the cost of policing in unincorporated areas where the tax rate is alot lower but can no longer afford to do that with budgets tight.

Court acknowledges it will take alot of political courage on the part of any provincial government, regardless of the party in power, to increase the tax rate in local service districts to where it should be in order to pay the bill.
 
The cost of police and fire protection takes up over one-third of the city's budget.

South End Farmers Market A Rousing Success

"Maybe too much of a success"--that from one of the organizers of the Queen Square Farmer's Market.

Jody Kliffer tells CHSJ News the first time event was an unprecedented success with some vendors selling out of their fresh produce.

He says the response indicates a need in the community for this type of event.

Kliffer says they want to get feedback from the community on where to go next adding the response from the neighbourhood was very positive with some asking why this event hadn't happened sooner.

City Church Honours 9/11 With Peace Concert

Tonight, St. Peter's Church in Saint John will acknowledge the anniversary of 9/11 with music.


The Songs for Peace concert is tonight at 7pm and organizers invite everyone to attend and bring a friend.

Proceeds from a good will offering will be given to the Joshua Group.

UNB Prof Says America Played Into Al-Qaeda's Hands

The U.S. response to the 9/11 terror attacks was exactly what Al-Qaeda wanted -- so says Dr. Marc Milner, Director of the the Gregg Centre at UNB.

He tells CHSJ News Al-Queda was successful in alienating America in the Middle East.

Milner adds it turned loose a firestorm of problems around the world and he thinks what followed would be different if the U.S. had treated it as a criminal act and not waged a war against them.
He says the U.S. has had a fortress mentality for the past 10 years and he doesn't see it changing anytime soon.

Council Examines New Style Of Government

It has been years since council looked at becoming a standing committee style of government but the concept is beginning to rear its head again.
Council plans to have an information session on the pros and cons of adopting that method of government, which consists of councillors joining various sub-committees which deal with major city files.

City Manager Pat Woods says one of the big advantages is that it would speed up council meetings.
The switch to a standing committee style of government was last attempted by the previous council but ultimately fell through.

West Side Motel Fire Displaces 5

City fire crews responding to a motel blaze on the west side about 4pm yesterday.


Crews found the fire in the bathrooom of an empty unit in the 9-unit motel at 1121 Manowagonish Road.

No one was hurt but five people living in the other units are displaced as a result and being helped by the Red Cross.
The Saint John Fire Department is looking into the cause of the blaze.

Uptown Farmers Market On Tomorrow

It's a new concept for Uptown Saint John--a Farmer's Market in Queen Square.



The event will feature fresh food, local artisans, music and coffee.


Organizer Jody Kliffer tells CHSJ News the idea came about during a discussion about the challenges facing the south end in terms being able to buy fresh food.

He says he was already kind of thinking about it and they decided to try it and once they started the Facebook page hundreds of people joined saying it was a great idea.

The event begins tomorrow morning at 8:30am and runs until 2pm in Queen's Square.

For more info click here

Bar Fight Leads To Arrest In KV

One man sent to hospital and one under arrest after some fisticuffs at the Ken Valley bar early this morning.

Rothesay Regional Police responding to the melee at KV Billiards just after 1am.


A man was taken to hospital by ambulance to be checked out while another man was turned over to the RCMP because of outstanding warrants.

Expert Says We Lead In Suicide Prevention

Health Minister Madeline Dube says World Suicide Prevention Day is a reminder for those in distress and suffering that they are not alone.


Forensic Suicideologist Gregory Zed tells CHSJ News around the province there are 13 community suicide awareness committees.

He says these committees are actively engaged to creating programs to address awareness and prevention addressing the stigmas and he adds they have made huge gains over the last decade.   For more information click here or call 1-800-667-5005

Bikers And Toys Invade City For Good Cause

There will be a lot of "hogs"on the city streets and it's all for a good cause.

The 18th Annual Lana Sherwood Memorial Toy Run goes tomorrow -- hundreds of bikers will be motoring through the city to donate toys to the Regional Hospital.

Hospital Coordinator Beth MacNutt tells CHSJ News playing with toys can be very therapeutic for children during a hosptial stay.

The gifts are donated by the Harley Owners Group. 

The donation will take place at the hospital cafeteria at 2 o'clock.