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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Merit Awards Recognize City Contributers

Some of Saint John's deserving citizens taking home merit awards in recognition of their hard work.  The Mayor handing out awards in eight categories including arts and culture, public service, sports and business. 

Glen Fillmore receiving a merit award for his work developing the Junior Police Academy, a program that pairs at risk youth with police officers.

Fillmore says he's absolutely surprised to be receiving an award.  He says the program exists thanks to the hard work of many people working behind the scenes.

Meanwhile, Sgt Don Cooper taking home an award for his volunteer work with minor football in the city.  Cooper says he got involved with football when he was in high school and this fall will be his fortieth year coaching.

Cooper says it's all about the kids.  He says he enjoys coaching, and that's why he does it.

American Iron And Metal Confident That Expansion Will Happen

The President of American Iron and Metal Herb Black says the expansion of the metal shredder at the port should be going forward as planned.

The port, NB Power, and the city held an emergency meeting yesterday and have worked out a tenative plan to get power to the project after the company threatened to take it elsewhere.

Black tells CHSJ News since there seems to be a solution, he won't be abandoning Saint John.

He hopes the power issue is the last hiccup in the plan and says he looks foward to prospering with the city.

Details about how the expansion will be powered will be dicussed at the next council meeting.

Kids N' Kops Academy Underway

City police are training some junior partners this week -- 12 children from Big Brothers Big Sisters are taking part in the Kids N' Kops program.

The kids are involved in a week-long academy where they learn about law enforcement.

Big Brothers Big Sisters spokesperson Deanna Gamble tells CHSJ News the kids gain a new respect for the law and the people who put on the uniform.

The cadets will be graduating this Friday in a ceremony at Rockwood Park.

Local NDP Candidate Says Party Will Forge Ahead Despite Leader's Illness

Political foes are offering their best wishes to N-D-P Leader Jack Layton, who has revealed he's fighting a fresh bout against cancer.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he's ``deeply saddened'' to learn of the new illness while Liberal Leader Bob Rae applauds Layton's courage.

Layton is taking a leave of absence as party leader in order to fight the disease.

Rob Moir ran for the NDP in Saint John during the last federal election and came in second for the party's best showing ever. He doesn't think this will curtail the party's momentum as there is a lot of strength in the party with a lot of young people eager to learn.

The N-D-P's federal council could choose an interim leader on Thursday.

New Police Headquarters Won't Finish On Time

There will be a delay in the completion of the new police headquarters at Peel Plaza.

Project Manager Bill Edwards says the contractors are estimating the project will be finished by April of next year but he feels that is an aggressive timeline.

Hsays costs are being kept in check but did not give a date as to when he thinks the headquarters will be completed.

As for the parking garage, he says that project is coming in on time and will be completed by February.

Father Drowns While Rescuing His Children

A weekend trip to Grand Lake to get some relief from the heat turned into tragedy with the drowning of a 43 year old Fredericton man identified as Mitch Clarke.

He disappeared under the water after helping to rescue his two young children. They got into difficulty after getting caught up in the stronger winds and waves that developed.

The two, who had life jackets on, were being pushed further out into the lake when Clarke went into the lake to get them safely back to shore.

He worked as Vice-President of Wilkins Building Supplies and a funeral service will be held Thursday morning.

Option Reached For Metal Shredder At Emergency Meeting

After three hours of discussion behind closed doors, Mayor Ivan Court says an option has been hammered out that would allow power to reach a metal shredder on the city's west side.

Court says the details of the option can't be released yet because the costs still have to be worked out.

Court says more information on the option will be available by next Monday when Common Council will vote on the issue. Court would not comment on whether the plan involved an alternative power route or underground transmission lines.

Meanwhile, President of the Port Authority Jim Quinn says he thinks the meeting has put them in a much better place than they were. Representatives from the province and NB Power were also in attendance and Quinn says the new idea takes into account the concerns of everyone involved.

Quinn says it's clear everybody wants the company to receive the power it needs to operate in Saint John.