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Bathurst city councillor Graham Wiseman is looking a little worse for wear these days, and it has nothing to do with hearing from citizens with complaints about potholes.

He suffered various cuts and bruises, including a serious gash to his head, after his pick-up truck went off the road while travelling the Renous Highway a couple of weeks back.

Graham said he was travelling towards Miramichi after a meeting in Plaster Rock that involved his job with the construction workers union.

He said the conditions were slippery and he had reduced his speed accordingly, but his vehicle suddenly started to slide and he smashed into a large and icy snowbank.

Climbing from the truck and bleeding from his head wound, he was fortunate that a house was in walking distance. An ambulance was called and he was taken to the Miramichi Regional Hospital and treated and released.

Graham said he considers himself very lucky, given that the truck (which was a vehicle he had through his job) is believed to be a write-off.

SO LONG, BUFFER

"He was one of our greatest volunteers and we're going to miss him."

Those were the words of Mayor Stephen Brunet last week as Bathurst city council paid tribute to Alfred (Buffer) Chamberlain.

Buffer passed away March 15 at the age of 77, and he will be missed. I first met him more than 20 years ago, when the Liberals (who were in Opposition at the time in the New Brunswick legislature) organized a meeting here to hear concerns regarding the Workers Compensation system.

I dealt with him over the years on seniors issues, and most recently in relation to his efforts towards beautification. He was hard to miss, peddling about on his bicycle and painting city fire hydrants bright colours other than red. We always got along as he was easy to get along with, even though he always spoke his mind which I greatly respected.

At council last week, the mayor noted that among his many endeavours, Buffer was caretaker of the St. Mary's graveyard and looked after pruning the flowers in Bosca Buraglia Park.

He had received a special Fire Hydrant Award from the current city council, and was a recipient of a New Brunswick Merit Award.

Coun. Blair Doucet asked that council observe a moment of silence in Buffer's memory.