Traffic Note

A section of Sidney Street between Bridge Street West and Catharine Street in Belleville will be closed to traffic until September 7th for the Quinte Exhibition.

Fire Investigation In Greater Napanee

Napanee O-P-P are asking the public’s help in their investigation of a house fire on Glennelm Road, northeast of Deseronto.

Police say the house burned to the ground sometime between 8 Friday night and 10 Saturday morning.

A neighbour discovered what was left of the home on Saturday morning.

Police say the home had not been occupied in over a month.

Anyone with information can call the Napanee O-P-P or crimestoppers.

New Contract For Quinte West Firefighters

The City of Quinte West and its professional fire fighters have come to terms on a new three year contract.

The signing of the deal this afternoon represents the end of a long arbitration process that started over two years ago.

The new contract will give firefighters a 3 per cent wage increase over the next three years, retroactive to January 1st, 2005.

Other features of the deal includes an increase in training allowance and new base wage rate differentials for the various ranks in the department.

Avalon Motel expansion plans go to Ontario Municipal Board hearing

A Belleville motel’s plans for a large expansion will go to an Ontario Municipal Board Hearing in October.

The Avalon Motel on North Front Street has reached an agreement with six property owners on North Park Street to sever part of their backyards for the addition.

However, another neighbour, concerned about a new building being so close, has appealed to the O-M-B, and a meeting is set for City Hall on October 15th.

Belleville’s Manager of Approvals, Spencer Hutchinson, says the land to be severed would also have to be rezoned from residential to commercial before the work could begin.

New VIA Rail Station for Belleville

Belleville’s getting a brand new VIA Rail station. MP Daryl Kramp and VIA officials announced, this morning, that a new 7-million dollar station will be constructed at the Station Street property. Kramp says today’s announcment will create new jobs to stimulate the local economy and allow VIA to provide better service to its customers in Belleville. The new building will be aestetically pleasing and will be built adjacent to the current train station…a heritage building…constructed in 1856.

Tweed rally to raise funds for education of young Afghan children doesn’t go well

A big disappointment for the woman who organized a car rally in Tweed to raise money for the education of young Afghan children.

Co-ordinator Wendy Vermeer says Saturday’s event attracted only nine participants in two vehicles, so there wasn’t any money left after expenses were paid.

She says she may try to organize a similar fundraiser some time in the future.

It was in conjuction with an armed forces’ non-profit charity that builds schools, and provides school equipment and drinking water wells.

Man arrested after misbehaving in Marmora

A long list of charges against a man from west of Toronto in connection with an incident in Marmora.

Central Hastings O-P-P responded after a driver refused to pay for gas, and found his vehicle, which had been stolen from Halton Region, on Highway seven.

They tried to stop it, but the man took off, and was caught after a short pursuit. His passenger jumped from the vehicle and ran, but was arrested a short time later by the O-P-P canine team.

A 23-year-old Halton Region man was charged with impaired and dangerous driving, flight from police and other offences.

CFB Trenton aircraft search for missing man on Sudbury area lake

Two Search and Rescue Aircraft from C-F-B Trenton have joined  Greater Sudbury Police, looking for a young man missing in a Sudbury-area lake.

The man was one of five young men in a canoe that overturned on Parkin Lake at about midnight last night.

Four of them were able to swim to shore.

The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Eight Wing was contacted a short time afterward, and sent a 4-2-4 squadron C-130 Hercules airplane and a Griffen helicopter to the scene.

Another Quinte West Doctor Coming

Quinte West is getting ready to welcome its newest doctor in a couple of weeks. Councillor Sally Freeman says renovations at the medical centre in Trenton will be “almost” completed by then…the work includes an expanded waiting room and new nursing station.   Freeman says much of the work has to be done in the evenings. The city gave the medical centre 75-thousand dollars for the renovations.

Brighton Considering Railway Options

Brighton is still awaiting the next report in the ongoing study into whether the municipality should undertake a 35-million dollar railway overpass or underpass. Consultants doing the railway level crossing safety analysis are expected to report at  the next Brighton council meeting in September.  Councillors already have the environmental assessment. But as Mayor Chris Herrington says, not all of council or the community are supportive of a change, and there’s Via Rail’s new plans for high-speed service to consider.