Havelock Man Sentenced To 45 Days In Jail For Child Porn

A 45-year-old Havelock man has been sentenced to 45 days in jail for possessing and making available child pornography. 

Darin Hayward will serve the sentence intermittently followed by a one year probation.  He will also be added to the National Sex Offender Registry for 10 years.

Hayward was busted as part of a province-wide investigation into child porn.

JDI Pleased With Province's Move To Cut Natural Gas Prices

Mary Keith with JDI is pleased that the province is looking to lower natural gas distribution rates.

She tells CHSJ News it has been very difficult for businesses and residents alike under the Enbridge monopoly because the cost of operations for Enbridge in the province has been 4 times higher than other places.

Keith hopes the Energy and Utilities and Board will take a close look at Enbridge's cost of operations.

Earlier this year, JDI's Atlantic Wallboard plant had to shut down every 3 months because of escalating energy costs.

Liberals Charge The Tories Have Broken Another Campaign Promise

The Opposition finance critic says there is a no doubt that the Premier has broken another campaign promise by not freezing property assessment for seniors.
Instead, seniors can defer future property tax increases so they could stay in their homes longer under amendments to the tax act.
Donald Arsenault tells CHSJ News seniors contribute so much to our province and should be treated with respect.

He says David Alward lied to them during the election and told them to expect a certain thing and they are now getting something else.
He calls that a lack of leadership and very irresponsible for the premier to do what he did.

Arsenault adds the province is also playing around with the budget calling it creative accounting and he won't be surprised if the Tories raise the HST thereby breaking another campaign promise.

Saint John Community Loan Fund Gets Huge Federal Investment

The federal government writing out a cheque for almost 220-thousand dollars for the Saint John Community Loan Fund.

Loan Fund President Louise Béland says the money will be used for their Excel Program, a support system for graduates of the Enterprising Women program.

She says the funding will last for three years and will provide a staff member that can offer ongoing advice and networking opportunities with other female entrepreneurs

She says it's important for entrepreneurs to get help even after their business has been launched.

Meanwhile, Sharon Raeburn is a graduate of the Loan Fund's Enterprising Women program and opened a hostel on Newman Street back in April.

She says it's important to be able to network with fellow  female entrepreneurs because business can tend to be a boy's club.

Mayor Says Missed Deadline Will Not Affect Budget

Mayor Ivan Court says missing the deadline won't result in any issues with the budget.

He tells CHSJ News the city missed the deadline because it's doing its due diligence -- the documents need to be translated to French and the city wants to be sure that the wording is correct so there cannot be any challenges in the future.

He says the city anticipated that the pension issue may not be dealt with until the spring sitting of the legislature.

Seniors Can Defer Future Property Tax Increase Under New Ammendment

Seniors will be able to defer future property tax increases so they could stay in their homes longer under amendments to the Real Property Tax Act introduced by the provincial government.

Premier David Alward had promised to freeze property tax rates for seniors when he was campaigning.


Seniors 65 or older, who own a principal residence and receive the Residential Property Tax Credit, could be eligible for this new program that would allow those who are experiencing financial difficulty to apply to defer their annual increase in property taxes.

The deferred taxes with interest would be payable to the provincial government upon change of ownership of the property.

Questions Raised Over City Missing Pension Dealine

The city has missed the deadline to get its pension plan reforms passed before the provincial legislature wraps up before Christmas.Without those changes being enacted, the pension plan's deficit will grow ever larger. 

John Campbell, who has already announced he will be seeking a seat on Common Council in the next municipal election, is flabbergasted.

He questions why the deadline was missed and what effect will it have on next year's city budget. Mayor Ivan Court maintains it will have no effect.

Campbell predicts Common Council will be hardpressed to maintain the tax rate where it is now.
 
Common Council has scheduled a special closed door meeting tomorrow morning to talk about what is termed a financial matter.

Health Department Proposing Changes To Allow Election of Board Members

The Alward government proposing changes to the Regional Health Authorities Act to allow the election of board members to the regional health authorities. The proposal is intended to increase the accountability and transparency of the management of health authorities.

In a release, Health Minister Madeline Dube says communities have clearly indicated that they want a voice in their health authorities and this change would give them that voice.

Under the proposed changes, each board would have 15 members, 8 would be elected and 7 would be appointed.
Elections would be in conjunction with municipal elections.

Power is Returning To Some

Over 5400 NB Power customers may be eating out otherwise dinner will be cold because their lights are out.

A nasty wind and rainstorm today knocking out power to many including over 1000 homes in Fredericton and over 400 in Sussex.

The lights are back in time for dinner in Rothesay, earlier 600 homes did not have electricity.

Another Name Comes Forward For 2012 Municipal Election

The municipal election is not until next year but we have another name being thrown into the political ring.

36-year old paramedic Ray Strowbridge has announced he is running in Ward 4, which is in East Saint John.

Strowbridge tells CHSJ News he always felt a strong calling for social responsibility and wants to restore accountability and transparency to local government.

He says one of the first things he would do if elected would be to push for a full audit of the city's finances.

Strowbridge joins John Campbell as another candidate on the ballot.  Campbell is running for the at-large position.

NDP Leader Knows Why Charges Are Not Being Laid

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy says he knows why no charges were laid against Windsor Energy for its seismic testing in Sussex without the town's permission. He blames the previous Liberal Government for negotiating leases with no provisions for enforcement.

He says otherwise it's just an extended love letter to a company and his call to Minister Northrup and the Premier is to give the province a Christmas present by not letting Windsor Energy back in here.

Cardy also tells CHSJ News he got a phone call from the President and C-E-O of Windsor Energy, Khalid Amin threatening him with legal action if Cardy continues his criticisms.

Fleury's Visit Next Month Is Timely

The January visit of the former NHLer who was a victim of notorious coach Graham James couldn't be more timely.
In court yesterday, James plead guilty to charges involving Theo Fleury and will be sentenced in February.
Fleury is the guest speaker at the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation Gala dinner next month.
Dinner chair Nathalie Godbout tells CHSJ News they first approached him back in the summer.

At that time she says he was sought after then but no more than he is now in the light of sex scandals at Penn State and Syracuse universities and the guilty plea from Theo Fleury's abuser.

Everyone attending January's event will leave with an autographed copy of Theo Fleury's book "Playing With Fire".
For more info on the event, click here

Police and Canadian Tire Want You To Use Winter Tires

If the blast of winter weather taught us anything two weeks ago, it's that winter driving can be a dangerous thing.

City police and Canadian Tire holding a winter driving safety session today with a focus on using winter tires.

Mike Feener is the owner of the Canadian Tire on the west side and he tells CHSJ News there is no no added expense to buying winter tires because your summer or all-season tires will last longer.

He saysregular winter tires work better on pavement that studded ones.

He adds another aspect often overlooked is the fact winter wipers should be installed because they are less likely to break down in freezing conditions.

St. Martin's School Closing At 12:30pm

Due to a power outage, St. Martins School will be closing at 12:30pm.
Buses will arrive at 12:30 to deliver students home.

Vacant Home Fire In Codys

A fire in a vacant home in Codys keeping crews busy when the call came after 5am this morning.

The owner of the home on the Salmon Creek Road is working out of province.

Hampton RCMP tell CHSJ News the cause of the blaze appears to be accidental.

No word on the extent of damage to the house.

Another Successful Bare Necessities Campaign

It's a milestone year - and - an effort that will see some less fortunate women some little but necessary personal care items.   
The Board of Trade's Women in Business Forum is wrapping up its 10th annual Bare Necessities campaign by delivering 45-boxes of toiletries to 24 organizations like women's shelters and food banks.
Last year - the group wrapped and delivered 40-boxes to 22-organizations.   
Each year the group collects the complimentary items like shampoo - soaps - and - lotions found in hotel rooms then boxes them up for delivery in time for the Christmas season.
This year - volunteers from the business women's group received some help from students at Loch Lomond Elementary and Brownies who sent along gift tags for the boxes.

Self Serve Gas Is Up But Diesel Is Down

If you fill up with self serve regular, it will cost you slightly more this morning after the weekly setting but diesel is a bit cheaper.

Self serve is being sold in the city for $1.21.1 a litre while diesel is at $1.35.1.

Heating Oil has decreased in price from $1.19.2 a litre to 116.9 while propane remains the same with a listed price of $1.17 a litre.

Group Opposed To Shale Gas Not Surprised At Latest Development

One of the grassroots groups that opposes the establishment of the shale gas industry is not surprised that the Alward Government is moving forward with making it a reality.

The provincial Tories used their majority in the legislature to defeat a Liberal amendment calling for a moratorium and a committee study on shale gas.

Carl Wolpin is with Hampton Water First and he tells CHSJ News he's not surprised the vote in the legislature went the way it did and it appears the province will steam-roll anyone in its way.

He says despite this latest set-back, groups like his will still continue to oppose the shale gas industry in New Brunswick.

Mayor Wants Less Cabs In The City

Mayor Ivan Court says the overabundance of cabs in the city is making it hard on those who drive one full-time.

The taxi by-law is undergoing revisions, such as introducing metered fares, and he says he wishes he could help the drivers trying to make an honest living by getting rid of those who only drive during busy periods or on weekends.

Court says he would like to see a limit on how many taxis there are in the city but that power falls under the province.

Saint John Drug Dealer Sentenced

A 42 year old man who peddled cocaine in the city has been handed two years behind bars. 

Timothy Bostwick was charged as part of the undercover drug investigation "Operation Portland" but then took off out west when he was supposed to appear in court.

Bostwick spent two years on the run before returning to Saint John and turning himself in to City Police. He pleaded guilty to six charges, the most serious of which were two of trafficking. 

Bostwick wrote a letter to the court in which he claims to have a new outlook on life and is a changed person.

Bostwick told the court he's a working man and disputed those parts of the pre-sentence report which claimed he didn't work for a living.

A two year sentence also handed a 24 year old Saint John man David Andrew Breau for breaking into an apartment and removing a baby's diaper with a steak knife. The baby was not hurt.