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Thursday, July 15, 2010

City Police Seek Suspects In Indecent Acts

Saint John police are looking into three indecent acts that took place in Millidgeville and Uptown.
The incidents occurred near University Avenue and Mahogany Terrace and at Wentworth Street and King Street East near homes and apartments.

One suspect is between 25 and 35 years old with a large build with greying brown hair and unshaven.
The man was wearing a red sports jersey and had his light-coloured pants open.

The other suspect is white, in his mid-40's around 5 foot 10 with salt and pepper medium length hair, about 220 pounds with a broad face wearing blue jogging pants and a blue shirt.

If you have any information, contact police at 648-3311.

Saint John's Bell Aliant Contact Centre May Close


Bell Aliant is talking to its employees in Atlantic Canada about cost-cutting measures since a collective agreement was turned down last month.
Alyson Queen of Bell Aliant tells CHSJ News that some of those measures include increasing the numbers of contractors and closing contact centres.
Queen says no decisions have been made about what contacts centres will close and that includes Saint John.
Queen adds they will take time over the coming weeks to determine those details and work with their employees once those decisions are made.

City Man Gives Guilty Plea on Two Break and Enter Charges



Hampton RCMP arresting a Saint John man soon after he tried to break into a Damascus home.  The 19-year-old was trying to pry open the door of a home yesterday when he saw a woman inside and fled.

Justin Keith Johnston was in court today and entered guilty pleas on 2 counts of break, enter and theft and one of attempted Break, Enter and Theft.
Two of the charges relate to Damascus while the other was in French Village.


RCMP tell CHSJ News that all of the stolen items have been recovered.

Saint John Family Physician Dies

A well known Saint John doctor is being mourned with word that Dr. David Craig has died unexpectedly. He served as President of the Saint John Medical Society and also served as team physician for the Saint John Flames and the Sea Dogs. A funeral service will be held this Saturday afternoon at 2:00 in the Main Street Baptist Church. His three brothers are also doctors.

City Manager Addresses Concerns Over Peel Plaza On Tax Rate


One of the big worries among many Saint Johnners is what sort of impact will constructing the new police headquarters building at Peel Plaza will have on the tax rate. City Manager Pat Woods says the likely scenario is the tax rate will be anywhere from $1.79 to $1.81 by 2013 but there could very well be new housing constructed as part of the Peel Plaza development.
 Woods says during the development design phase there has been unsolicited walk-up interest in places like the Jelly bean houses and the synogogue and other community based groups for arts purposes.
Council members have been warned they will have to restrain spending.

Meeting In Glen Falls On Flooding Tonight


Some decisions will soon have to be made about what should be done about the flooding in Glen Falls. A system to divert water away from the neighbourhood won't come cheap. Mayor Ivan Court says an alternative would be to buy out the people who are flooded out continually.


Court says some people in Glen Falls won't want to move and others may want to relocate and he says there are opporotunities for relocation or for doing something else to protect other homeowners.
The residents will have a chance to see a presentation and then have their say in Exhibition Park starting at 6:30.



Hampton RCMP Nab City Man Attempting to Break and Enter



A 19-year-old Saint John man has been arrested after trying to break into a Damascus home.
The man tried to pry open a door but, took off when he saw a woman inside.


A Hampton RCMP officer nabbed him nearby and noticed items in his van seem to come from other break and enters.
The man appears in court in Sussex today on the attempted break and enter charge and two other break and enters in Damascus and French Village.

Gas Prices In Saint John Up Slightly

A small increase in the price of gas following the weekly setting. Self Serve regular is being sold in the city for 97.9 cents a litre, a rise of one and a half cents. Diesel increasing by almost two cents to $1.00.2 a litre while propane remains listed at a dollar a litre and heating oil is 87.3 cents a litre.

City Fire Crews Respond To Fuel Spills and Two Crashes

There were three fuel spills yesterday afternoon which required action by city fire crews. Acting District Chief Joe Armstrong says the largest one happened on Reading Crescent with up to 10 litres of oil having to be cleaned up. Sand and peat moss were spread on the road. The Environment Department was also notified. There were other smaller spills along Bayside Drive and at 1 Golden Grove Road. Fire crews were also called out to a pair of two vehicle collisions on City Line West and on Rothesay Avenue at the exit ramp from the highway. There were injuries but none was serious.

Common Council Decides Fate Of New Police Headquarters










(Peel Plaza Development)
          (File Photo)

Common Council has voted by an 8 to 3 margin to approve spending 19.2 million dollars to build the new police headquarters at Peel Plaza. The province is contributing more than 2 and a half million dollars to the project which brings the cost down. Councillor Gary Sullivan voted in favour saying he has first hand experience of unsafe it is to have the police department located in the city hall building when he came in contact with a person who had threatened him and his family.
Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase, as expected, voted against saying it's not the right location and not the right time. Councillor Bill Farren also voted against saying he is concerned the city can't afford it. Councillor Peter McGuire voted in favour saying there is already interest being expressed by housing groups in developing the area after decades of inactivity. Mayor Ivan Court cautioned any further delay and the price would just rise as it has over the past four years.
Council was told more than 20 possible locations were looked at by the Police Commission.

Police Chief Beaming After Vote On New Headquarters Building











(Saint John Police Chief Bill Reid)
               (File Photo)

Chief Bill Reid says he is elated by Council's decision to approve construction of the new police station as part of the Peel Plaza development, promising the new facility will result in better policing.
The Chief calls it historic and also rejects the suggestion that the new headquarters, across from the Chipman Hill parking garage on Union Street will resemble the Taj Mahal claiming it will be merely functional. He's hoping they'll be able to start operating out of the new building in less than two years time.

Conservation Council Opposes Report On Development Next To Rockwood Park












(David Thompson Of Conservation Council)
                     (File Photo)

A consultant's report has come out on what should be done with the land next to Rockwood Park.
The Province's Conservation Council is very alarmed that land in or neighbouring the park may be sold or developed.
David Thompson tells CHSJ News the public's concern were brought forward in consultations earlier this year and he hopes the Mayor and Council realize how important this park is. Saint Johners have until August 31st to send in their opinions to Common Council on the possible sale or development of Rockwood Park. The Conservation council has started a hotline to find volunteers to help them do research on Rockwood park. The number is 650-5849.

Traffic Disruption In The K-V

A road closure and detour for the Kennebecasis Valley today. The Vincent Road between Parkwood Drive and Quispamsis Road including the Vincent Road Extension will be closed to thru traffic from 7 this morning until 7 tomorrow night.
Eastbound traffic from the Vincent Road will be detoured to the Quispamsis Road via Parkwood Drive and Brandon Street.
The Quispamsis Road will be reduced to one lane of traffic from Alma Lane to Brandon Street from 7 this morning until 9 tomorrow night.
The road closures and detours are required to permit the construction and installation of new sanitary sewer.