Brighton preparing for Canada Day festivities

They’re busy in Brighton today, making last minute preparations to celebrate the country’s 142nd birthday.

Mayor Chris Herrington says Canada Day activities get underway at Proctor Park with the Kinclub Pancake Breakfast, with the opening ceremonies at eleven o’clock.

July first in Brighton also includes a free historic bus tour, a soap box derby, a petting zoo, free birthday cake and lots of attractions for people of all ages.

Quinte Healthcare smoke-free policy moves outdoors on July first

Put out that cigarette once you’re on hospital property in Belleville, Trenton, Picton and Bancroft, starting tomorrow.

Spokesperson Kim Kattouw (kattell) says Quinte Health Care’s no-smoking policy, which has been in effect inside the four hospitals, will be expanded to include the grounds, parking lots and vehicles in parking lots.

She says there will be no fines for people found smoking on hospital property, but they will be asked to leave if they refuse to butt out.

Picton Murder Trial Starts September 21st

Picton courthouse will be the scene of the community’s first murder trial in many years this September. 25-year old Bradley Miller and 20-year old Daniel Thompson, both of Picton, are charged with the stabbing death of 21-year old Kevin Monroe last September at a King Street apartment. The men are charged with second degree murder. Meanwhile, a manslaughter charge against 19-year old Holly Blondin of Kingston was dismissed this spring.

Belleville Vehicles Impounded

Belleville Police hauled a couple of vehicles off the road last night. A 38-year old Stirling man was pulled over when officers noticed the tail lights on the boat trailer he was pulling didn’t work. Further investigation revealed the man was a prohibited driver for a previous impaired charge. He’s been charged with driving while prohibited and his truck was impounded for 45-days.

Meanwhile,a 39-year old Belleville man had his vehicle seized for 3-days after blowing a warn on the road side alcotest.

Senior Cyclist Struck by Car in Belleville

A senior cyclist in Belleville received minor injuries after being struck by a car on a busy city street. City Police responded to North Park Street where the 61-year old woman was hit, at 1 o’clock yesterday, and it was discovered the motorist was a prohibited driver for an earlier impaired conviction. A 31 year old Demorestville man is charged with driving while disqualified and failing to yield to traffic. He appears in court in August.

Construction boom continues at CFB Trenton

Contracts for two construction projects worth almost 18.5-million dollars have been approved at C-F-B Trenton.

The Eight Wing Engineering Officer, Major Phil Baker, says the largest is the 16.2-million-dollar construction of the northwest ramp by Dufferin Construction of Oakville.

It will become the launching area of future construction for hangars, just to the north of the south end of the runway. Major Baker says another contract, for 2.16-million dollars, was awarded to Gordon Barr Construction of Kingston to realign a major utility corridor and Yukon Road to prepare for the construction of the new Tactical Air Transport Training Centre.

He expects another 300-million dollars in infrastructure tenders at the base to be tendered over the next year, in addition to the 100-million already approved.

Trial in November for woman charged with arson

A trial is set for later this year for a Belleville woman, accused of setting a fire that heavily damaged a house near Foxboro..

Sixty-two-year-old Mary Hamilton was charged by Belleville Police with arson, break and enter and mischief in connection with a blaze that gutted a bungalow on Old Madoc Road in May, 2008.

Her trial will be held in Superior Court in early November.

Local Projects Get Funds from Senior Government

Over 10-million dollars in Federal and Provincial funding is on its way to a number of communities in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties. Prince Edward County receives over two million for the Community Centre Rejuvenation, the Youth Park in Picton and the Wellington baseball diamond. Belleville receives 1.2 million for the Mary Ann Sills Park change rooms and parking lot and the Zwick’s bandshell-pavillion. Mayor Neil Ellis says its great news for supporters of both projects. The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte recieve a million dollars for their Sports Complex Project. Centre Hastings is getting half-a-million for its recreation complex. Stirling-Rawdon is getting over 200-thousand dollars for arena repairs and upgrades to the ball diamond and Henry Street Park.

The money is part of 380-million dollars being spent across the province in the RINC Fund.

New Sex Charges Against Coach Sanderson

Police in Toronto believe there are more sexual assault victims still to come in the ongoing case of a Belleville hockey coach and power skating instructor. The statement comes after a second round of charges were laid against 52-year Wayne Michael Sanderson over the weekend in Toronto. Police say a 45-year old Toronto woman reported she had been assaulted in Toronto when she was 16. She came forward shortly after the first set of charges were laid against Sanderson in May. The allegations stem from the mid-80′s when Sanderson was a figure skating coach in the GTA. Police believe there may be other victims in Belleville, Orangeville, Uxbridge, Ajax and Pickering.

Carlton U Has Bright Ideas for Batawa

A group of architecture students from Carlton University spent some time in Batawa recently… studying the village and thinking of ideas to turn it into a model of design and sustainability. Sonja Bata says after working with residents and studying the area… the students came up with some great ideas.  Some of them included an observation tower at the top of the ski hill and a series of splash ponds… which would introduce some new water to the area.  Bata says she is looking at holding an exhibition in Batawa for Quinte residents to come and see all of the plans the students have for the village.