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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

We Get A Break From Sweltering Temps Soon

As another heat wave blankets the region, some areas are struggling with smoke from forest fires.
 

Environment Canada meterologist Claude Cote tells CHSJ News people in the Moncton area and in Chaleur are seeing the plume and smelling the smoke.

He says another fire in Restigouche county is sending smoke drifting along the Maine-New Brunswick border and in the Saint John River Valley.

While we search for a cool basement to hide from a humidex in the mid-30's today, we are in for a break with highs up to 27 inland tomorrow but highs near 21 for Thursday and Friday.

Campus Harbour Connection Officially Opens

Cyclists can now make cross-community treks as the city announces the opening of the Campus-Harbour Connection.

The route, which spans 4.5 kilometres, links the UNB Saint John campus, Tucker Park Collaborative and the Saint John Regional Hospital with the uptown area.

The Saint John cycling club will bike on the route this Thursday evening during an inaugural ride starting at the Red Rose parking lot.

Maine Man In Trouble Again

A year and a half after his daughter disappeared -- a man from Waterville, Maine is in the news again.

Portland Police say 26-year-old Justin DiPietro is charged with domestic violence assault after an officer watched him grab and push a woman on July 6th.

Police say the woman, who is DiPietro's ex-girlfriend, was not hurt and the two were arguing when the incident happened.

DiPietro has since been released on bail.

Back in December 2011, 20-month-old Ayla Reynolds was reported missing from her father's home.

Police confirmed Ayla's blood was found in DiPietro's basement, but no charges were ever laid in the child's disappearance and she was never found.

Passengers On The Carnival Glory Get Great Weather


It's a busy hot day in Uptown Saint John with high temperatures and potentially thousands of extra people visiting on the Carnival Glory cruise ship.    

The ship is in port until 7pm.


FRSWC Facilities Need An Upgrade


Composting and recycling facilities in the province are suffering from 15 years worth of wear and tear...and they'll need 9 million dollars worth of upgrades in order to bring them up to speed. Mark McLeod of Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission explains the blue bins are basically rusting out and have been repaired to the point they have to be replaced...and that's not all.

He says the compost buildings are 15 years and an engineering report suggests they should replace the buildings in 2015.

McLeod says with no money to be made in recycling both the recycling and composting program are subsidized by tipping fees....which will need to go up to cover the cost of the upgrades.

Mandate Of Fundy Regional Services Commission Is Limited

Mayor Mel Norton sees greater regionalisation as a way to save money and turn the local economy around but will he be able to persuade the other members of the Fundy Regional Services Commission to go along with that. 

Norton wants to see data on what, if any money, can be saved from greater regionalisation.

Grand Bay-Westfield Mayor Grace Losier who chairs the Commission points out its mandate is limited to solid waste collection along with building and planning services for the local service districts.
 

She says beyond that, it's collaboration but does expect recreation to be talked about at the Commission. Losier failed to persuade people in the local service districts around Grand Bay-Westfield to help pay for the upkeep of the River Valley Community Centre.

RRPD Investigate Armed Robbery At Cochran's


Rothesay Regional Police are looking for three robbers who got away with some cash after an armed holdup at Cochran's Country Market on Hampton Road early this morning.

It happened about 1:30 with two employees were being tied up but otherwise unhurt.

If you know anything about this crime, contact Rothesay police at 847-6300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Fuel Spill Across From Harbour Passage

Cleanup crews are mopping up a fuel spill that took place near the lights on Bentley Street as you make your way up the hill towards the Reversing Falls Bridge.

Mayor: Greater Regionalization Doesn't Mean We Don't Support Our Cops

At last night's meeting of common council, the mayor and council appeared to want to drive home to the public their support for Saint John's police force. The motion came in light of the largely unsuccessful bid to win support for greater  regionalized policing.

Mayor Mel Norton explained he sees regionalization as an opportunity for the region to save money and catch up with the pack--and that goes for waste management and other sectors as well as police. In no way, said the mayor, does investigating regionalization mean the city feels the current services are sub-par.
 

Further, he said we need to look into whether we have more facilities and equipment than we know what to do with, and whether the status quo is actually giving us the best police service.


Grand Bay-Westfield Mayor Grace Losier has said that a study on greater regional policing would be a waste of time, given the complete lack of interest from the outlying communities.