Weather Conditions Could Lead To Ice Jam Flooding

Ice jam flooding a possibility due to current weather conditions. 

River Watch issuing an advisory saying that Environment Canada has forecasted above freezing temperatures during daylight hours, below freezing temperatures at night and a mix of rain and snow today, a combo that can disintegrate ice covers.

Stream flows are predicted to increase steadily in both streams and tributaries. Residents being asked to keep an eye on water levels and any ice cover movement. They're advising anyone living or working in a place prone to localized flooding to take precautionary steps to safeguard their homes and the things they own.

Uptown SJ Wants To Join Long Wharf and Lantic Sugar Sites Conversation

Uptown Saint John wants to weigh in on how to develop two waterfront sites.

Matt Alexander, the president of Uptown Saint John has written to Common Council saying it wants to become part of the conversation about what to build on the Long Wharf and Lantic Sugar sites. 

Alexander tells CHSJ news that before a development concept gains any momentum, council should consider if it fits within the city's Plan SJ report.

When it comes to development, he tells us that a 4-Plex has been mentioned for the Long Wharf site by Mayor Mel Norton while a potash terminal or trans-shipment terminal has been proposed for the Lantic Sugar site.

Finance Commissioner On Whether The Big Industrial Users Are Paying Their Fair Share

There has been alot of talk recently about water and whether the large industrial customers aren't paying what they should.

The City's Finance Commissioner Greg Yeomans has heard it as well but points out the Irving Oil Refinery is paying bylaw rates for 80 plus per cent of its water. Yeomans says the refinery uses 20 per cent of the city's water which is treated with chlorine and, as such, is the same as that used by homeowners.

Irving Pulp and Paper uses 60 per cent of the city's water and gets it untreated from Spruce Lake.

Gene O'Connor Passes Away

Well-known Saint John country musician Gene O'Connor has passed away.
 
The famous City performer died last night after a two-month stay in hospital.
 
Brenda Bridges of the Grove Lounge tells CHSJ News it's a 
sad day at the bar.

She tell us she met him years ago when he owned Gene's Country palace on Union street  adding he was a great guy who went out of his way for people.

O'Connor was 72 years old.     Comments on Facebook today describes him as spiritual and a character who will be missed.

Bridge says around the bar they will miss his famous cowboy hat and how he was always yodelling.

Employment Insurance Appeals Made Harder According To Organised Labour

A town hall meeting has been scheduled in Sussex next weekend at the Legion on Magnolia Avenue to talk about changes to employment insurance and Fundy-Royal M-P Rob Moore has been invited to attend. 

Serge Landry of the Canadian Labour Congress is warning it's going to be alot harder to appeal if you're turned down for Employment Insurance. 

Landry says, in the past, appeals used to be heard by an independent board but now only one person, appointed by the Harper Government, will make the decision. Landry tells CHSJ News that change is going to make a huge difference.

In New Brunswick, the government appointee is in Bathurst and Landry says interaction will be by phone or video conferencing which is not the same as sitting down face to face with someone.

NB Liquor Wants To Increase Sales To Boost Government Revenue

One of NB Liquor's mandates is to increase sales so the provincial government has more revenue which it desperately needs these days being saddled with a rising deficit and net debt. 

Gary Von Richter of NB Liquor tells CHSJ News they want to increase the number of places where beer, liquor and wine are available and that will be done with agency stores. But what about supermarkets and corner stores? Von Richter says that possibility has been on the table and still is.

NB Liquor's last report showed sales of beer and hard liquor continuing to go down. Wine sales were up but not by enough to offset the declines with beer and liquor.

Railway Station To Be Restored

A railway station is getting a facelift, and the government of Canada is helping foot the bill.

Through Parks Canada's National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program, they've agreed to give up to $99,515 to restore and rehabilitate the McAdam Railway Station in the village of McAdam. Built between 1900 and 1901, the two-and-a-half storey stone railway station and hotel in the village of McAdam was designated a historic site in 1976 because of its ties with the development of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

The dormers, second and third floor windows and the station's waiting room and dining room will be repaired. McAdam mayor, Frank Carroll says the renovations will boost the station's potential to attract more tourists to the village.

Drugs Seized By Warship Built In Saint John

A Canadian frigate that was constructed at Saint John Shipbuilding back in the early 90's has made a major drug bust at sea.
    
The Department of National Defence is reporting the HMCS Toronto has seized around 500 kilograms of heroin from a boat in the Indian Ocean.
    
The drugs were found after a naval boarding party searched the vessel as part of a security operation. The HMCS Toronto is currently part of a international naval task force patrolling the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.   

HMCS Toronto's commanding officer David Patchell is calling it one of the largest heroin seizures in a maritime environment.
 

Man Beaten Up Severely On West Side

City police investigating an assault that took place early this morning at A-J's Lounge on Manawagonish Road. 

One man, in his 40's, was taken to hospital to be treated for the injuries he suffered which are described as substantial.

He's listed in critical condition. So far, no arrests have been made.

Britt's Fast Feet

14 minutes, 3 seconds and 48 milliseconds. That's Barry Britt's time at his 5000 metre heat, and his own personal best.

Hailing from Hampton and competing for Idaho University, the 23-year-old's time is the third fastest ever by a New Brunswick runner on the track, and also ranks the Saint John Club member 3rd in all of Canada.

Gabriel LeBlanc, the Technical Director of Athletics New Brunswick says he has no doubt that Britt will challenge the provincial record in the 5000 metre this year, and be a contender for a spot on the provincial team heading to the Jeux De La Francophonie in Nice, France. He adds that he thinks Britt will be among the elite of Canadian distance running in the upcoming years.

Green Party Will Sit Out Kent By-Election

The Green Party will not run a candidate in the riding of Kent for the April 15th by-election.

A news release says party leader David Coon visited the eastern riding earlier in the week, and he says what he heard when he was there was that people aren't happy with parties "parachuting" candidates into their communities, so the Greens have decided they won't run someone from outside.

He says the party's potential local candidates weren't able to run on such short notice, and because the general election is just 18 months away, they've decided to "wait this one out."

The seat was vacated by former premier Shawn Graham earlier this month, who left politics after he was found to be in a conflict of interest over a $50-million loan guarantee his government gave to Acton, a construction firm with ties to his father.

Class Teaches Students How To Be Leaders

You don't have to be born a leader. You can learn how to be one in the classroom. 

Brynn Aucoin is a grade 12 student at Harbour View High taking Leadership 120 and she tells CHSJ news the course material will help her out later in life; she's learning how organizations run, group dynamics and how to work in groups.

Aucoin tells us the course is part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. The 17 students in the leadership class are paired with young students from another school, and the pairs spend an hour every week together. The class also runs a variety of events as part of the course.

YM-YWCA Donation Could Transform North End

The YM-YWCA got a big donation this week from the MacMurray Foundation and Saint John Portland M-L-A Trevor Holder is hoping a new "Y" when it's constructed will transform the north end. 

He tells CHSJ News the area has suffered ever since the loss of Sears years ago but now believes a new "Y" can begin to turn things around.

Holder says if you look at what has happened across the country, quite often retail and residential development will follow a YMCA.

Saint John On Disney's Radar

The port of Saint John is still on Disney's radar after its experience during last year's cruise ship season. 

That, according to Port President and C-E-O Jim Quinn who tells CHSJ News it took a couple of years of work to get the Disney Magic to stop here and he's confident it will be back in a couple of years time. He says the stop was important because the Disney brand is world-recognized, so having them come to the city was huge.

Quinn says the Disney people were impressed with all the shore excursions that were on offer. He adds, it took a couple of years of work to get the Disney Magic to stop here and he's confident it will be back in a couple of years time.

Cardy Says Prescription Drug Programme Could be Launched Next Year

There's still no word from the Alward Government about funding for a comprehsive prescription drug programme even though it was a promise made during the last provincial election campaign.

Provincial NDP leader Dominic Cardy is trying to get either the Conservatives or Liberals to introduce an amendment to the Budget Motion which would transfer over 17 and a half million dollars from the Economic Development Department, what Cardy refers to as Corporate Welfare, to the Health Department. 

He believes a prescription drug programme could be launched by the end of next October.

Celebration of the Scottish

A day of celebration is coming up for those of you with Scottish in your blood. 

Tartan Day celebrates the heritage of the Scots and the contributions that they've made in the province. Laurie Hossack, the president of the Saint Andrew's Society's tells CHSJ news that the Scots played a major role in the shipbuilding industry and commerce in Saint John.

It dates back to about 1993, when MLA Georgie Day presented a resolution to the New Brunswick Legislature to declare April 6th Tartan Day. It passed unanimously. 

On this year's Tartan Day, they'll raise Scotland's flag in front of city hall in the morning and host a Ceilidh in the evening, complete with piping, drumming, highland dancing and of course, haggis. Tickets are $10 in advance by calling (506) 696-4253 or $15 at the door at the Simonds Lions Auditorium at Loch Lomond Villa, on 185 Loch Lomond Road. 

M-P From Charlotte County Speaking Out About The Right To Speak

Unrest within the Conservative caucus over stiff party control is showing no signs of calming down. 

Three more M-Ps stood in the House of Commons to assert their freedom to say what they want in Parliament, without first being vetted by the party leadership.  

Charlotte County M-P John Williamson was among those defending the right to speak in the House about anything they wish. Ironically, Williams, who once headed the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, also served as Prime Minister Harper's Communications Director at one time. 

The backbenchers have been denounced by other Conservative M-P's as going rogue but they say this is actually a matter about the right of an M-P to represent his or her constituents.

New Date For Inquest Into Death Of Chinese Student

There's a new date for the inquest into the death of 17 year old Yi Fan Wang at the Aquatic Centre in September of 2011. 

It will be held from May 21st through the 24th at the Sydney Street Courthouse. It had been scheduled to start on April 8th. 

Wang was swimming in the pool with some friends when something happened to him. He was taken out of the swimming pool but died two days later at the Regional Hospital's intensive care unit. 

It remains unclear what happened that afternoon which is why the inquest was called to look at the circumstances and come up with recommendations.

Vehicles Broken Into In the K-V

Rothesay Regional Police arresting two teens for breaking into vehicles and stealing whatever they could get their hands on. 

Police say the car prowling happened in K-Park, along Rothesay Road and in sub-divisions off Rothesay Road, Grove Avenue, the Pettingill Road and Oakville Acres. 

If you believe your vehicle has been gone through, police say give them a call at 847-6300.

S-U-V Flips Over After Leaving Highway

An S-U-V leaving the highway and rolling over near the Ducks Unlimited Marsh in Musquash. This happened around 4:30 yesterday afternoon. 

The Musquash Fire Department found the S-U-V on its roof. A mother and her child outside the vehicle. They sustained what appeared to be minor injuries but were sent to hospital as a precaution to be looked over. 

The S-U-V had been going westbound along Highway 1.

(Photo Courtesy Of Andrew Sanojca)