Russian aircraft arrives at CFB Trenton for flight across Canada

A Russian Federation aircraft has arrived at C-F-B Trenton, preparing to conduct an aerial observation mission over Canada.

The Tupolev T-U-154M,  which touched down at the base yesterday, will be given its legal right of unimpeded observation overflight of Canadian territory in fulfillment of Canada’s obligations as a State Party to the Treaty on Open Skies.

The Russians, using onboard imagery systems, will be able to observe and verify facts of interest, such as military installations, industrial complexes, populaton centres and transportation facilities. The flight, the fifth time another Treaty nation has conducted an observation flight in Canada, will have Canadian military escort and technical personnel aboard to ensure compliance, and is set for this Saturday to Monday.

Belleville road voted fourth worst in Ontario

No surprise to the people who regularly drive on Palmer Road North in Belleville.

The C-A-A’s 20 Worst Roads in Ontario survey has found Palmer got the fourth most votes across the province for the bumpiest ride.

Ten-thousand people in Ontario voted in the annual poll this year, and it is believed to be the first time a local street has made the top 20 list of bad roads.

The worst road in the province, finishing at the top of the list, is Steels Avenue in Toronto.

Crowe Valley Conservatin Authority Board gets look at projected 2010 budget

The Crowe Valley Conservation Authority has some work to do to reduce a projected 7.2 per cent levy increase to its member municipalities.

The board reviewed the 753-thousand-dollar 2010 draft budget, which includes a municipal levy of 338-thousand dollars, an increase of 22-thousand from last year.

Authority General Manager Tim Pidduck says the budget is up mainly because of wage adjustments for core staff and a projected six-month contract to help the authority investigate fundraising opportunities.

The ten authority municipalities will be asked to comment on the budget before it is given final approval.

Stray Cut Strut in Madoc

Could Madoc be going to the cats???  Last night, Centre Hastings Council, reacting to complaints about stray felines in the urban area, asked staff to report on options to deal with cats.  Quinte West passed a stray cat by-law recently allowing the animal control officer to take action when residents felt there were too many feral cats running around.

Influenza-like Outbreak at Belleville General

There’s a lot of extra cleaning going on in the Q5 unit at Belleville General Hospital. In a press release issued last evening, QHC spokesperson Kim Kattouw says an influenza-like illness has been declared on the fifth floor at BGH and aggressive infection control procedures are underway. Tests to confirm the nature of the illness have been sent ot the lab, but, have not been released yet. Visiting hours remain unchanged but the public is encouraged not to visit patients on the unit espcially if they have flu like symptoms.

H1N1 Flu Clinics are Popular Across Quinte

Hundreds of people carrying their kids and unbrellas lined up for hours to get first dibs on the H1N1 flu vaccinations in Quinte yesterday. Day one of the public health clinics in Belleville, Trenton, Picton, Madoc and Bancroft were very popular…especially in Belleville where more than a thousand people received the shot. Manager of Clinical Services for the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit Bill Sherlock says the lengthy lines are likely a sign of things to come…..yesterday’s clinic were for the “high priority group”. He expects an even larger turnout when the vaccination is available to the general public. Sherlock says with the steady turnout he’s a bit concerned about staff “burning out”…noting several more long days are ahead.

Today, high priority clinics will continue..from 1 till 7……at the Thurlow Community Center…the Centre Hastings Municipal Office in Ivanhoe, the Picton Legion, Quinte West City Hall and the Bancroft Professional Building.

“Crunch Time” for Adopt-A-Child Program in Quinte

The final drive is on to get the last of nearly 12-hundred Quinte-area children outfitted for winter in the Adopt-A-Child program. and, according to spokesperson Nancy Zeppa, with about 150-kids left to adopt….the phone lines are open early this morning at Quinte Broadcasting. The number to call is 969-5555. All the snowsuits need to be purchased Monday and the winter clothing will be distributed between November 16th-and-18th. Adopt-A-Child is a partnership between Belleville and Stirling-Rawdon Police and OPP Detachments in Prince Edward, Central Hastings and Napanee.

Another Canadian Casualty in Afghanistan

Prime Minister Harper is praising the latest Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan. Twenty-six-year-old Lieutenant Justin Boyes was on foot patrol southwest of Kandahar City yesterday when he was killed by a roadside bomb. Boyes was raised in Saskatchewan, based at C-F-B Edmonton, and leaves behind a wife and three-year-old son. Harper says the “dedication, bravery, and remarkable commitment” of Canadians like Boyes “will bring safety and stability to the people of Afghanistan.” Two other Canadian soldiers wounded in the attack are listed in good condition.

Former C-F-B Trenton sailor found not guilty of sexual assault

A former navy serviceman at C-F-B Trenton has been cleared of a sexual assault charge.

Retired Petty Officer First Class Robert McDougall was convicted in a 2007 court martial of raping a female Canadian Forces Captain, but a Department of National Defence spokesperson says he was found not guilty at Eight Wing at the conclusion of his appeal yesterday.

McDougall, who left the military in 2008, was sentenced to a year in jail after the first trial, but remained free pending the appeal.

The complainant claimed McDougall sexually assaulted her while both were on a training exercise in Bermuda in November, 2006.

Quinte Health Care Chief of Infection Control rebounds from H-1-N-1

Quinte Health Care’s Chief of Infection Control is back at work after five days sick with the H-1-N-1 flu.

Doctor Michael de la Roche says he and his daughter, who also got the same strain of the flu, had a cough, fever, sore joint, and sore throat.

He says it’s important the message gets out, but it has to be presented accurately, since H-1-N-1 is not that virulent, but is more prevalent than what normally happens in a flu season .

Doctor de la Roche says some staff at Q-H-C have come down with H-1-N-1, which he says is a reflection of what’s going on in the community.