Leona Welcomed in Centre Hastings

Christmas was a little early in Centre Hastings today(yesterday).  MPP Leona Dombrowsky presented an almost 90 thousand dollar cheque to Reeve Tom Deline to buy equipment and furnishings for the new eco friendly arts and culture center in Madoc.

The center is surrounded by a skatepark, tourist booth, and canteen, and a splash pad is in the works.

Verdict in for David Frost

Former hockey coach David Frost has been found not guilty of sexual exploitation.

Frost was charged with four counts of sexual exploitation from his time as a coach of the junior A Quinte Hawks team in  Deseronto in 1996 and 1997.

A judge in Napanee today found him not guilty on all four counts.

During his trial  court heard emotional testimony from young women who dated two of the Hawks players when they were 16.

The women testified that Frost controlled their boyfriends’s sex lives and participated in three-way sex with the young couples when Frost was 29.

The young men in question emphatically denied all of the allegations the women made in court and appeared as witnesses for the defence, which is unusual for alleged victims.

Kramp Appointments from Prime Minister

Daryl Kramp will hold a key post in the governments committee attempting to solve the crisis in the North American Auto Sector.  The Prime Minister appointed the Prince-Hastings MP as Vice Chair of the newly formed “Auto Caucus”.  Kramp will also serve on the Standing Committee on Finance and Public Accounts. He says he looks forward to using his experience as a successful businessman in defending the effective use of taxpayers money.  Kramp was also selected by his colleagues to act as Chair of the Canada-China Legislative Association.

Trenton Murder Case at Preliminary Hearing Stage

A preliminary hearing into the murder of Trenton woman Sarah Martin starts Monday in Belleville. Robert Brickman, who worked with Martin at a Trenton call center, was charged after an 8 month investigation.  Sara Martin’s body was found on Mount Pelion in Trenton in July of last year. Three weeks has been set aside for the preliminary hearing.

Quinte’s Elementary Teachers Standing Firm

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario is in no hurry to settle a contract agreement, despite a provincial government deadline of November 30th on a wage offer. Premier Dalton McGuinty has said if the elementary teachers don’t accept a 4 year deal featuring a 12 percent increase, the offer will be downsized to 2 years with a total 4 percent hike. President of the Hastings Prince Edward Elementary Teachers Federation, Karen Fisk, says the ultimatum from the province is an insult to teachers. Elementary Teachers say, on a per student basis, secondary schools receive over 700 dollars more then elementary schools.

New Plants Could be Coming to Belleville

Belleville is hopeful over 200-jobs could be coming to the city.  Mayor Neil Ellis tells our newsroom the city is in confidential talks with a food manufacturer but stopped short of identifying the company.  He says officials have been in and out of the city over the last couple months asking questions. The Mayor also says an existing city company may add a second plant in the near future.  The Mayor made no mention of the possible good financial news at this morning’s annual Mayor and Council address to the Chamber of Commerce at Ramada Inn.  The Mayor and Councillors Taso Christopher, Tom Lafferty and Garnett Thompson addressed the crowd.

Not Enough Snow for Snowmobilers in Quinte

There’s a bit of snow out there in some parts of Quinte, but the OPP and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs both say it’s not yet time to go out for a snowmobile ride.  Both organizations stress that no snowmobile trails are open, and that terrain conditions are highly unpredictable.  The OFSC is now working to prepare trails for the upcoming season, and many will be blocked by debris.

Re-Elected Hastings Warden wants Broadband Internet

Hastings County has re-elected its warden, Ron Emond, for a second term.  Warden Emond says he’ll push for expanded high speed internet service in the county. He says this is very important for people in rural areas who want to do business from home.  Warden Emond told county council that the effort to get the cost of roads and bridges uploaded to the provincial government will be one of his priorities in 2009.

Another New Doctor in Hastings County

It’s student doctor number eleven for Hastings County. Warden Ron Emond announced today (yesterday) that the county has signed up a new recruit for its student doctor program.  He is Craig Mitchel a second year medical student at University of Ottawa.  Mitchell will begin his  practice in Hastings County in 2013… or 2014 if he takes an extra year of Emergency room training. The county pays the students 150-thousand dollars over six years if they give back five years doctoring here after graduation.

All Courts Should Move into Consolidated Courthouse

Hastings County  wants the provincial offences court to move into the proposed new consoldiated court, whenever it’s built in Belleville, but the Attorney General’s office opposes this. County administrator Jim Pine says putting  the P-O-A court into the new regional building would cut down on court security costs and be more efiecient for Justices of the Peace who would have to move between two buildings.  Recently, Pine brought the issue to the attention of the ministers of Finance and Municipal Affairs who were unaware of the restriction.