Change for the environment gets underway

The first-ever “Change for the Environment” got underway in Belleville and Quinte West yesterday (thur).

It’s a campaign to have residents donate their spare change to help clean up the environment.   Officials have predicted 80-thousand dollars could be raised during the four-day blitz, Thursday to Sunday.    Donation bins are located at 13-places in Belleville and seven in Trenton and Frankford.   Quinte Conservation and the Lung Association of Quinte will share the funds.

Hastings County prepared if swine flu occurs

Hasting County emergency officials have been co-ordinating efforts with agencies across Canada and around the world to combat the spread of swine flu.

Director of Emergency Services, Doug Socha, says he’s been teleconferencing with the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Mexico, and United States Homeland Security about the swine flu.    And, Socha says,  the local dispatch centre uses a new “screening process” on calls to help protect paramedics and first responders.   If the caller has been out of the country or shows signs of the flu,   paramedics will wear masks and other protective clothing when answering the call.   None of these precautions has been needed in Hastings County so far.

Hastings County wants federal $$ for roads

Hastings County is making a bid for some of the federal government’s stimulus funding for road work this summer.

The applicaton total to the the federal and provincial governments is one-point-two million dollars. Administrator Jim Pine says most of it is for former Highway Two and the Bayshore Road in Tyendinaga Territory..   The county is also applying for a 50-thousand accessibility grant to make buildings more accessible for the disabled.

Teacher of the Year for 2009 in Quinte

Quinte’s Education Week committee has announced the winner of the 2009 Educator of the Year.  The honour goes to David Reed, a music teacher at Centennial Secondary in Belleville.  Reed has been at Centennial for 10 years and is behind the “Arts Offstage Program” and the “Canadian Vocal Music Project”.  He also coaches the Chargers football team.  Reed will receive the Sir Mackenzie Bowell Award at a reception Tuesday at the Bay of Quinte Country Club.

Quinte area Job Fair Next Week

Belleville and Quinte West are teaming up for the third year to help businesses find some good employees. Belleville’s Manager of Economic Development, Karen Poste, says most companies find the people they need during the one-day event. Poste says businesses usually report they’ve interviewed about five candidates for any specific job.   The Belleville - Quinte West Job Fair is being held next week, Thursday, May 7-th, at the Quinte Sports Centre.

Wellington’s Midtown Meats to be Rebuilt

The vast majority of the 146 hourly employees at Midtown Meats have already filed their papers with Employment Insurance.  E.I. staff came to Picton on Tuesday and around 100 employees showed up.  MIdtown meats burned down after an accidental fire on the weekend.  A union spokesman says Employment Insurance is co operating to get benefits out quickly by putting all of the claims into one file.  Meanwhile, Midtown Meats’ owners say they’ll have any pay and vacation pay owed out to workers as soon as possible.  It’s believed the industry will be rebuilt.

Centre Hastings Budget is Set

Centre Hastings Council set it’s 2009 budget.  The municipal budget totals 2.7 million dollars, one and a half percent more then last year. That will mean ratepayers would pay 2 dollars a month more if they paid 15 hundred dollars in local taxes last year. Council lowered it’s mill rate, as overall assessment in Centre Hastings went up an average of 9 percent.  Large capital projects include the replacement of the McCumber bridge, and the purchase of a new fire pumper.

Brass Knuckles Seized at Belleville Disturbance

A set of brass knuckles was seized at a disturbance on Belleville’s west-hill overnight. Officers responded, at 10:15, and a 17 year old was arrested after causing damage to the home. When arrested, a set of brass knuckles was removed from his pants pocket. He’s been charged with Mischief to Property and possession of a prohibited weapon. He’s beeing held for a bail hearing today.

Knife Wielding Man Arrested at QW Domestic

A 44-year old Quinte West man is being held for a bail hearing today after a knife was used in a domestic assault overnight.  Quinte West OPP responded to a County Road-2 home, at 10:30, and arrested the man and seized the weapon.  The woman wasn’t seriously injured. The suspect is charged with three counts of assault and assault with a weapon.

Elementary Teachers Get a 10% Raise

Elementary teachers are getting a 10-percent raise in their newly ratified four year deal. The tentative contract, which includes raises of 2-percent in each of the first two years and three percent over the final two years, was ratified by the 610 teachers yesterday after being agreed to earlier in the week by the Hastings Prince Edward School Board. The deal also includes enhanced vision, dental and hearing care benefits. The deal is retroactive to September 1st of last year.