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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Mispec Beach Is Looking Cleaner

People from Fredericton, Quispam and Grand Bay-Westfield coming out to help clean up Mispec Beach.
 
The clean up last Saturday was spearheaded by the sandy spot's neighbour Canaport LNG.

Ward 4 Councillor Ray Strowbridge tells CHSJ News about 40 people took part.

He says everybody worked hard collecting garbage including an old spare tire and an old fencing.

Strowbridge is hoping the problems at Mispec will be taken care in 2013 and the beach will have working washrooms again.

Canaport LNG is doing landscaping work now and is committed to more work next year.

Tattoo Shop Owner Sentenced In Pitt St. Shooting

The Saint John President of the Bacchus Motorcycle Club is facing 10 years in federal prison, a lifetime ban from owning firearms, and a mandatory DNA sample after sentencing today at City Hall.

Matthew Thomas Foley had been charged with manslaughter in the July shooting death of Micheal Schimpf. Originally, the charge was second-degree murder; it was reduced after Foley wrote a letter expressing remorse and helped lead police to the weapon.

The standing-room-only crowd heard a statement from Tara Hill, Schimpf's ex-girlfriend, describing him as a loving father and lamenting the impact his death will have on his children's lives. Foley was described by his defense lawyer as an independent businessman who beat substance issues to start his successful tattoo business in 1985. According to Foley he didn't know Schimpf---but he wanted protection after Schimpf threw bricks through his window, allegedly to settle a longstanding score with the Bacchus.

CHSJ approached several people in Bacchus insignia for comment, but they would only say "Nobody talks" and "What trial?" in response. 

Photo: Stickers on storefront door of Foley's tattoo shop, Wizzard's.



Changes Could Be Afoot For Lincoln

The local service area of Lincoln could be upgrading its status to a village...currently, studies are being conduction to figure out whether the switch would benefit the community. 

According to a release from Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch, there are a number of factors to consider including boundaries, name, and the effect the designation would have on property taxes.

Local residents will be a chance to weigh in at a series of regularly scheduled town hall meetings.

Thefts At Three Car Dealerships

City Police are looking for your help in identifying people for break, enter and thefts into storage containers at Rothesay Avenue car dealerships.

A substantial amount of new and used tires and wheels were stolen from Tristar Mercedes-Benz (July 16 & 29), Kia Saint John (August 3) and Aberdeen Motors (July 13).

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Saint John Police Force at 648-3333 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477.

City Police Officer Found Guilty On Two Charges

An 11 year veteran of the Saint John Police Department has been found guilty of common assault and engaging in threatening conduct. Constable Chris Messer will be sentenced on September 7th.

Mr. Justice Hugh McLellen found Messer not guilty of assault causing bodily harm and uttering a death threat but says the police officer was profoundly unprofessional and in a conflict of interest by investigating a breakin at his home on Westfield Road in September of 2010. 

He condemned that as a breach of trust that could bring the administration of justice into disrepute.  

The judge couldn't understand why Messer was allowed to question Brett McAdam by the side of the Canadian Tire Store alone after suspecting McAdam's car may have been involved in breakins along Westfield Road.

The judge also finds it baffling why Messer was allowed to transport Randy King from the west side to the detention area when he suspected King had broken into his home.  

While finding Messer guilty on the two charges, the judge made clear the credibility of his two accusers was weak.  

Mr. Justice McLellen called an email sent by Messer to his fellow police officers to be on the lookout for a car matching the description of the one driven by McAdam as "hostile".

VIDEO: Mill Rats Announce New Head Coach

The Saint John Mill Rats announcing their new head coach today!

David Cooper is hired for the 2012-2013 NBL Canada season. Previously the teams VP of Marketing and Assistant Coach, Cooper tells CHSJ news he'll be focusing on development.

He adds the hardest part going from assistant to head coach is now you have to have the final say on decisions. Cooper says it's always been his dream to be a head coach one day.

The teams General Manager Ian McCarthy says what makes Cooper great is when other coaches get frustrated or negative when things go bad, Cooper stays positive and enthusiastic.

Cooper has been involved in coaching over 30 AAU teams for over 10 years. He's played in Division 1 NCAA basketball, the USV1 National Team and three years for the Mill Rats.

The previous coach for the past two season was Jaren Jackson, who's moved with his family to Indianapolis, Indiana.

The first home game is November 30th at Harbour Station.

Ferguson Awarded Lump Sum Payment

Former common councillor John Ferguson was found innocent of defamation against the city's pension board after a marathon 55-day trial, has been awarded $600,000 to be paid by the pension board. 

Mr Justice William Grant pooh-poohing the pension board's claims it was suing Ferguson on principle, saying that means a lot less when you're doing that with someone else's money. 

Justice Grant further called both parties "stubborn and willful" saying their attitudes became more entrenched as the trial went on. Lawyer Matt Pearn tells CHSJ News it's up to Ferguson whether he accepts that.The case incurred more than $2 million dollars in legal costs.

Saint Johners Celebrate Acadian Day

Did you wonder why King street is adorned with red, white and blue streamers and balloons today?

Acadians and others in Saint John are celebrating their culture today on National Acadian Day.

Jennifer Mitton of Settlement Services tells CHSJ News they are a variety of events happening in the City today.

She tells us their is a yard sale, a canteen and more and at noon there was a people parade that went down King street to City hall.

Mitton says it important to celebrate all the sides of our culture in a diverse province like this.
A flag was raised at City hall and more events continue at Samuel Du Champlain today.

City Police Officer Found Guilty

City Police officer Chris Messer has been found guilty of engaging in threatening conduct as well as common assault.

He has been found not guilty of assault causing bodily harm and uttering a death threat.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 7th.

City Getting A New Splashpad

A new splashpad has been approved at the Carleton Community Center...and common council is saying money spent on recreation for kids is money well-spent. 

Councillor Donnie Snook says if the splashpad at Rainbow Park is any indication, another one on the West Side is a great use of funds.

Now word yet on an exact timeframe; however Snook says there are some who would like to see a splashpad in every area of the city. A ball hockey court and ice rink were also considered.


Mounties Probe Construction Site Damage

RCMP want to know who trashed a construction site in Welsford causing thousands of dollars in damage to heavy equipment.

It happened sometime between last Friday and yesterday when equipment and a building on Route 101 were damaged.
Windshields were smashed out of a bulldozer and an excavator and paint was sprayed onto the machinery and a porta potty was overturned.

If you can help with information, contact the Mounties  at 506-757-1020 or Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS.

E-Waste Donation Program Expanding

A trial E-waste donation program that started in Saint John is expanding throughout the province.

The Diabetes Association's e-waste program collects your old electronics, ships them to a recycle facility in the states, and is then reimbursed with proceeds going into diabetic research.

Operations Manager Derek MacFarlane tells CHSJ news the 8-month trial in Saint John saw about 100,000 pounds of e-waste collected, all of which would normally go into the landfill.

MacFarlane says the Clothesline is the main way they receive donations, so collecting electronics was a natural fit.

For more information on the recycle company, Greentec, click here.

To call for your electronics to be picked up, call 1-800-505-5525 or you can drop off e-waste at their center, 229 Bayside Drive.

Border Jumper Arrested By Rothesay Regional Police

Rothesay Regional Police making the arrest of an American wanted by the RCMP and Canada Border Services after entering the country illegally at St. Stephen. 

An alert was issued after a man driving a car with Pennsylvania plates was denied entry to Canada but then shut his lights off and ran the border.

The car was later seen on the highway by Rothesay Regional Police who pulled it over, arresting the driver without incident and turned him over to the RCMP.