The man charged with burning the Blue Moon Motel being given another court date.
The defense asking for more time in St. Stephen Provincial Court this morning so Gordon Lankisch from St. Andrews, and another man from Saint John may review disclosure in the case.
The Blue Moon Motel was mostly destroyed by fire in 2010.
Judge David Walker setting the matter over until February 25th, when both men will enter a plea and elect to be tried by judge and jury, or judge alone.
A three-month police investigation leading to the arrest of four people and the seizure of nearly 35 pounds of pot and $16,000 in cash.
RCMP say in October, a 46-year old man and a 45-year old woman both from Saint John were arrested and two and a half pounds of weed were seized from a home in Carter's Point.
Two vehicles were intercepted in Lincoln last week and 15 pounds of marijuana were seized along with more than $14,000 in cash. A 58-year old man and 60-year old woman both from Woodstock being arrested and the 45-year old woman who was arrested in October was arrested again. A search of a residence in Woodstock turned up 18 pounds of marijuana and $1500 in cash.
All four are expected to appear in court at a later date.
Donnie Snook gets an extra three months in jail on three sex charges stemming from when he was living in Newfoundland.
The jail time is in addition to the 18 year sentence he received in Saint John for crimes against children.
Snook appearing in a City courtroom today looking thin, with a goatee and a shaved head.
There were four charges originally but one was withdrawn because the victim was 14 at the time. Snook's lawyer Dennis Boyle says his client's participation in this was minimal adding it was his first sexual experience as an adult.
The Crown wanted Snook to get a year for each of the new charges to which he pleaded guilty.
It might not entirely quell their fears about the Shared Risk Plan--but retirees who had been receiving pensions under the Public Service Superannuation Act could receive a cost-of-living increase in 2014 equal to 100 per cent of the inflation rate under the new plan.
The cost-of-living increase will depend, however, on how well the plan is funded, but in a release Finance Minister Blaine Higgs claims the new plan is designed in such a way that the likelihood of providing annual cost-of-living increases is very high. Effective Jan. 1, 2014, retirees' pensions will increase by 0.96 per cent based on the average change in inflation.
Higgs says if a shared risk model had been adopted 20 years ago, the cost-of-living increases retirees received would have been the same as what they were under the former plan.
A special operation known as Operation Sweep 2 has been bitter news for the local criminal element.
Sergeant Jay Henderson of the Saint John Police Department explains they reassigned officers from their regular detachments and formed a special unit to undertake Operation Sweep 2.
In total, 29 people from all over the city were arrested and charged with over 103 criminal charges including weapons offences, drug dealing, and assaults.
A few items from the police blotter today--a 26 year old man was arrested on Broad Street after breaking into a home and passing out on the couch. He's being held in provincial court to answer to charges.
Threats on social media are nothing to be taken lightly, as a 17 year old girl from one of the uptown high schools has learned.The teen was been arrested after making threats via Facebook. She will be appearing in youth court at a later date.
And at around 4pm yesterday police received a call to the Trade and Convention Center area about some teenagers who had been sprayed with a pepper-spray like substance. When they arrived, several teenagers were showing symptoms of having been sprayed and made their way to the hospital.
Police say this wasn't a random act and they have a suspect in mind.
City Police cordoned off an area by the train bridge on Chesley Drive late yesterday afternoon as you turn left off Hilyard Street towards the former Acadian Lines bus station. Yellow police tape could be seen.
Searchers who were out looking for 17 year old Gavin Adams came across a body late yesterday afternoon.
Police have now confirmed the body is that of the teen who was reported missing late Sunday afternoon.
Adams was last seen Saturday night in the area of Chesley Drive. Police don't suspect foul play but are awaiting the medical report on cause of death.
Common Council will be voting tonight on the 2014 city budget with revenues essentially unchanged and spending going up by one half of one per cent. The tax rate will remain stable at $1.79.
Councillors are being asked to spend 6.75 million dollars on roads and 1.25 million on sidewalks. Councillor at Large Shirley McAlary is in favour of spending as much as possible on roads just to get them up to where they should be.
The police and fire departments will each be getting a million dollars more. City Transit will see an increase of 183 thousand dollars. 300 thousand dollars will be earmarked for redevelopment of the former Coast Guard site and improvements to Harbour Passage. 450 thousand dollars will be spent on upgrades to to the Trade and Convention Centre.
The city will also be looking for a private partnership to install artificial turf at Shamrock Park.
City Police cordoned off an area by the train bridge on Chesley Drive as you turn left off Hilyard Street towards the former Acadian Lines bus station.
Searchers who were out looking for 17 year old Gavin Adams came across a body late yesterday afternoon.
Police have not confirmed if the body is that of the missing teen.
Adams was reported missing late Sunday afternoon. He was last seen Saturday night in the area of Chesley Drive wearing a tan jacket, black hoodie, jeans and black sneakers. An appeal was released by City Police yesterday for help in finding him.
A 29 year old man described as a serial fraudster and compulsive liar is off to jail for almost 2 years.
Darrell MacAuley pleading guilty in court today to a laundry list of 22 fraud and fraud-related charges including cheating a man dying of cancer out of money for home renovations.
He also stole truckloads of tools from a senior and cheated other people out of cell phones, musical equipment and more.
Judge Jamie LeMesurier also ordered MacAuley to pay his victims back.
A 65-year-old great grandmother with 9 thefts and 3 breaches of probation on her record has been sentenced to house arrest after stealing a shrub from Kredl's in Hampton.
Shirley Hazel Rogers originally gave police a fake name when police came to her door, but eventually admitted to the theft which she says was the result of a compulsion she can't control.
Judge Jamie LeMesurier saying normally repeat shoplifters get jail time but he would take into account her age.
In addition to the house arrest she's prohibited from going to any stores unless accompanied by her common law husband.
Over 9 million dollars combined from the Feds and the Province to help build the new North end Y on Churchill Boulevard. Tourism Minister Trevor Holder says its about having a world-class, first-class accessible YMCA facility in our community.
Holder says in 2013 it's very reasonable for a community of Saint John's size to expect that.
Juanita Black of Vibrant Communities Saint John tells CHSJ News it means a lot to see a big investment in the Old North End, Crescent Valley and Anglin Drive.
She says it opens the Y up for people to be able to walk there adding they don't need to be worried about transportation.
Y President & CEO Shilo Boucher says they expect to break ground next spring and the building should be open in the late fall of 2015.
Lots of folks rely on the inter-city bus service to visit family, get to school, and find work--but according to Transportation Minister Claude Williams the pilot project connecting Bathurst, Campbellton, Miramichi and Moncton has less than half the passengers and packages it needs to be sustainable.
MLA Bill Fraser says there needs to be jobs in order for that to change.
As it currently stands, Maritime Bus is looking for business and community partnerships to support the route until it starts turning a profit.
It was a rather busy weekend for the Saint John Police Department.
Over the weekend, two men ages 38 and 42, and a 32-year-old woman were arrested after a bar fight. They were released without charges once they'd sobered up, but a 35 year old was also charged with assaulting a peace officer.
As well, Sergeant Jay Henderson of the Saint John Police Department says fire officials are investigating a suspicious fire uptown on Charles Street. In what might be called a poorly-thought out move, a 24 year old man who was going to see his probation officer at court was found to be in possession of cocaine. Police found the cocaine during a routine scan as he was entering the Law Courts at Peel Plaza. He has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.
The city has declared an overnight parking ban on streets in the South-Central Peninsula to allow for snow clearing.
The ban will be in effect from 11 tonight until 7 in the morning. Any vehicles parked on the street during that time will be towed. Six Parking Commission lots can be used by those drivers who normally park on the street between 6 tonight and 7 tomorrow morning. Those lots include 1. Corner of Princess and Charlotte Streets 2. King Street East 3. Peters Street 4. Carmarthen Street at the Vineyard Church 5. Mecklenberg Street at Wentworth 6.Corner of Charlotte and Queen St. (at Key Industries)
The new parking garage will be offering a 5 dollar rate between 6 tonight and 8 tomorrow morning.
The Alward Government has been attacking Provincial Liberal Leader Brian Gallant for what they say is his wishy-washy stance on shale gas.
Gallant tells CHSJ News his call for a moratorium on shale gas development is based on evidence, and there are too many unanswered questions about the environmental and health risks involved in the process.
Gallant argues there are still too many unanswered questions about the effects of fracking on the environment and human health.
