Cause of K-V Blaze Under Investigation

Fire investigators are trying to pinpoint the cause of fire early this morning that destroyed a Quispamsis home along with two nearby cars.

The call about the blaze came in at about 2:30 Sunday morning. The fire levelled the home at 16 Devonshire Crescent home in a short period of time leaving just a wall standing.

 The family. including three children, got out safely but they lost everything. 

10 year old Alex Russell, who lives across the street, is being credited with first seeing the flames and alerting her parents who called 9-1-1.          

(photo courtesy by Dave Duffy)

Quispamsis Extends Contract With KV Fire

The Kennebecasis Valley Fire Department will be administered by Quispamsis a little longer.

Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll tells CHSJ news council agreed to keep their partnership an extra six months in the new year.

Driscoll says the extension request will give the KV fire department more time to decide who will administer them next.

Their contract was set to expire in December.

Property Sale Doesn't Change $200,000 SPCA Needs

The sale of the former SPCA peacock property to the Joshua Group is a huge benefit for both the animal shelter and the kids charity... but there's still more work to be done for both organizations.

SPCA President Melody McElman tells CHSJ news the property sold for $202,000, but the Joshua Group still needs to raise around $60,000 to cover the rest of the cost. McElman says the sale means they can pay down their mortgage and jump start their capital campaign.

McElman says the sale is a huge help for the shelter, but it doesn't change the $200,000 they still need for daily operating costs.

Since last week more than $52,000 has been raised for the SPCA to keep it's doors open.

Government Needs To Create Jobs Says Critic

Job creation is not high on the agenda for the provincial government according to opposition critic Chris Collins.

Collins, the Liberal M-L-A from Moncton, tells CHSJ news in the past two years the government has lost 1,500 jobs, whereas the previous government created that many. He says he sees young people leaving the province in droves to work elsewhere.

Collins believes the Alward government needs to make a plan by meeting with workers in various industries to figure out how to create jobs.

Last month unemployment rose in the province from 10% to 10.4%.

Three People Homeless After Fire

A house fire in Fredericton has left three people without a home.

The Canadian Red Cross says no one was injured or home at the time of the blaze that happened around 11 am on Saturday.

Red Cross volunteers found a place for the woman and her teenage daughter to stay. The two rented half of the duplex at 32 Simpson Court.

VIDEO: Future Sculpture SJ's Planned

What looked like just a ton of granite a month ago is now shaping it's way into public art.

Sculpture Saint John is in it's sixth and final week at the Coast Guard Site, where artists from around the world have been sculpting giant granite art pieces for Greater Saint John.

Chair Diana Alexander tells CHSJ news the artists -- many who've been to over forty symposiums -- say it's the best event they've been too. On Saturday, September 15th from 1:00pm - 4:00pm  they'll be having a big reveal called "Rock On The Dock", where you'll be able to touch the pieces and talk to the artists.

Alexander says this isn't the real end of the sculpture symposium. The event has been so successful, they're planning symposiums every two years until 2020. She hopes pieces from future symposiums can be created for towns from Saint Stephen to Sussex.

Ashburn Lake Road Closed For Weekend

A portion of Ashburn Lake Road is closed to traffic from now until Monday at the railway crossing near Rothesay Avenue.

The closure is for NB Southern Railway to complete rail crossing maintenance. Access between Highway 1 Exit 128 and Rothesay will not be open and drivers are advised to use alternate routes.

If you live in the area access on either side of the closed section of the road will remain available.

SPCA En Route To Recovery

There's hope for the SPCA, thanks to the help of people in Greater Saint John.

Between personal donations, fundraisers and business support, the Saint John SPCA has raised $42,000 in a week.

As well it was confirmed yesterday by Joshua Group founder Bobby Hayes the kid's charity has bought the former SPCA building on Taylor Avenue.   SPCA President Melody McElman says they need to raise $200,000 to stay open.

72 Hour Gaming Convention In Town

It doesn't matter if you're a level 12 elf or you've never rolled a D20 before... all levels of gamers in Saint John are together for the 11th annual Impossible Realities gaming convention.

For 24 hours a day, all weekend long, gamers are playing everything from role playing games like Circus Imperium, Dungeons & Dragons and Call of Cthulhu to classic family board games. Organizer Dana Betts says players come from all walks of life, some even from the US, Nova Scotia & PEI. He says it's now "chic to be geek", with popular shows like Big Bang Theory & Community. He says most people who are big into role playing games are usually pretty low key, so this convention gives them a chance to come out and enjoy the company of other people who love gaming. Betts says if you're new to gaming, there's staff there to help you learn.

There will also be a number of artists and vendors from the Maritimes, including Sandy Carruthers (illustrator, "Men in Black"), André Myette (creator of "Humbug!"), and local artist Chas Goguen (creator of "Dotman").

The convention runs until 6:00pm on Sunday at the Chinese Cultural Centre at 24 Coburg Street in uptown Saint John. It's $10 for a day, $20 for the weekend and all ages are welcome.

(Photo courtesy of Impossible Realities)

Two Arrests In B&E Overnight

Two men are in police custody after two separate break and enters that happened in Saint John overnight.

City Police say one B&E attempt by a 26-year-old man was in the west end on Lloyd Street while the other was by a 29-year-old man in the north end on Clarendon Street.

Both incidents happened around 3:00 am.

Big News For Joshua Group

It's a happy day for the both the SPCA and the Joshua Group....Joshua Group founder Bobby Hayes announcing they've managed to buy the former Peacock property to use as a permanent headquarters for the kid's charity. 

Hayes tells CHSJ News there's still much that needs to be done to assess the cost of renovations and make sure the building is safe for the kids to use.

No word yet on how much the building went for, or when the group is expected to start using it.

City Police Officer Sentenced To Jail Time

3 months in jail the sentence handed a city police officer who was found guilty of common assault and engaging in threatening conduct after a breakin at his home on Westfield Road.

Mr. Justice Hugh McLellen cited a New Brunswick Court of Appeal ruling in sending 39 year old Constable Chris Messer to jail. The Court of Appeal ruled when police break the law, a conditional discharge is woefully inadequate.

The judge also rejecting house arrest when Messer's lawyer expressed concern over his safety in jail.

Messer was told he was convicted largely on the basis of his own evidence. The police officer suspected Randy King of breaking into his home and admitted to punching him three times in the back of the head outside the detention area after transporting him from the west side.

The judge also telling Messer he was in a conflict of interest by investigating a crime committed against himself but no one in the police department prevented him from doing so. Mr. Justice McLellen says Messer doesn't seem to understand he was in a conflict of interest which is a breach of trust.

Chance Harbour Man Sentenced For Sexual Assault

Hard drinking will destroy your support network of family and friends........That advice from Mr Justice Hugh McLellan, handing down a sentence of 2 years in jail, plus 3 years probation, to 25-year-old Bradley Scott Wilson.

Wilson was found guilty of sexual assault in connection with a January incident at a West Side pub.

In a statement to the court, the victim of the assault said she quit her job out of embarrassment and is haunted by the pain of the incident every day.

Wilson's defense pointed out while his client had a prior record, his offenses were all alcohol-related, but the judge said he simply needs to learn to stay sober.

Wilson was also entered on the sex offender registry and required to submit a DNA sample.

His mother and father have told CHSJ News they don't feel justice has been served.

No Worries For Hurricane Leslie

We don't have much to worry about when it comes to Hurricane Leslie.

The Canadian Hurricane Centre of Environment Canada saying the tropical cyclone's influence in the province is very low at this point.

Jobless Rate Up

Canadian employers added 34,300 jobs to the economy during August.

That's well ahead of the 10,000 economists had expected, but the gains were all in part-time work.

In Saint John unemployment rate went up from 8.6% in July to 9% in August.

In the province unemployment was up from 10% to 10.4%.

At the Bank of Montreal, economist Doug Porter is saying the August report is a little better than expected, but underwhelming.

The latest jobs report is nearly a complete reversal of the picture in July, when the economy shed about 30-thousand jobs.

Boil Water Order For Hillcrest Trailer Park

If you live in the Hillcrest Trailer Park you'll have to boil your water until Tuesday.

The boil water order went into effect yesterday.

Arguments Heard At Sentencing Hearing For City Police Officer

A 39 year old city police officer will be sentenced later this afternoon. Constable Chris Messer was found guilty of common assault and engaging in threatening behaviour after his home on Westfield Road was broken into.

The prosecution cites breach of trust in calling for jail time of 3 to 6 months even though Messer's presentence report was favourable. Messer, though, maintains his innocence.

 Defense lawyer Brian Munro calls it the best presentence report he has ever read and he's arguing for a conditional discharge.

Munro calls Messer a devoted family man who, up until this, had no blemishes on his record as a police officer. Munro telling the court Messer felt his family had been violated by the breakin but the public interest would not be served by a jail sentence.

For his part, Messer apologised to his family for what he has put them through.

Mr. Justicie Huge McLellen delivers his verdict at 4:00.

RCMP Nab Arena Robber

One man has been arrested and police and looking for a second inconnection with a break and enter in St. Andrews.

RCMP arrested a 21-year-old St. Andrews man for a break and enter at the W.C. O'Neill Arena Complex on August 24. He will appear in St. Stephen Provincial Court in October.
They are still looking for another man who may have been camping in the St. Andrews area in late August.

Anyone with information regarding this incident or any other property crime is asked to contact District 1 RCMP at 506-755-1130 or Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (2477).

Mill Rat Player And Family Out Of Danger

The Saint John Mill Rats and the Africa to Canada Committee announcing Modibo Diarra, his wife Mariam and three year old daughter, Cindy, are currently on a flight heading to our city. 

The family will be arriving at the Airport early Sunday morning between midnight and 12:30.
 
This arrival to Canada marks a successful result in getting Diarra and family to Canada to escape the ongoing conflict in Mali, Africa.

West Siders Have Their Say On The Golden Mile

A movie theatre, family style restaurant, more stores, proper landscaping and a roundabout at Simms Corner. Those are some of the suggestions West Siders are making about what the future of the Golden Mile should look like. 

Ward One Councillor Greg Norton likes the new direction because there's alot of potential for new investment and will give residents in that part of town the option of going east or west to shop.
 
The other Ward One Councillor Bill Farren says the light industries now located along Fairville Boulevard are already planning for the transition by buying property in the industrial park.
 
Chief City Planner Ken Forrest says it's hoped if there is more retail along the Golden Mile, it could ease some of the traffic congestion out east as well as drawing people to the area from Grand Bay-Westfield and parts of Charlotte County.