What a day

Mother nature gave motorists all they could handle on the worst weather day so far this winter.

Snow, ice, and freezing rain fell over the past 24 hours causing dozens of accidents, some of them major.

A tractor trailer jackknifed by the Shannonville gravel on the 401, while in Cobourg a jeep hit the median, then flipped into the ditch.

There was also another accident at the Wallbridge Loyalist and Moira Street West intersection. A car rolled and one person had to be extricated.

This morning, the weather could be much the same, making roadways very slick.

Shorter waits in Brighton

Crews are set to begin work on a railway crossing in Brighton.

A story in the Brighton Independent says CN and the Municipality are working together to improve wait times at railway crossings at Prince Edward and Ontario Street.

The report says there could be some slow downs from the work in the new year and its expected to take a few months to complete.

Operation No Drunks

It’s the final night for Operation Red Nose for another year.

The Quinte Chapter has driven tens of thousands of kilometres and taken hundreds home all in an effort to make local roadways safer.

Chair Rick Watt says people appreciate what they do.

You can make a donation if you receive a ride this evening.

They’re also looking for volunteers for tonight, as it’s one of the busiest nights of the year.

The number again… 962-43-34

Freddy Vette and the County

If you are still unsure what to do for New Year’s Eve, the town of Wellington has a solution.

Freddy Vette and the Flames will ring in 2012 with a bash at the Essroc Centre tonight.

The party is being thrown by the County, as a fundraiser for the Wellington Rotary Club.

Bulls take 3 of 4

The Belleville Bulls left Northern Ontario with three points after a 4-3 overtime loss to Sudbury Friday night.

Belleville hosts Brampton New Year’s day and you can catch all the action on CJBQ beginning at 1:50pm

401 reopens at Shannonville

New Year’s Eve looms in Quinte

Many of us have New Year’s Eve on the brain, and the Quinte region has lots to offer.

Events are scheduled around town at places such as the Belleville Fish and Game Club, the Bellevegas Boardroom, the Bay of Quinte Golf and Country Club and the Stockdale Mill in Frankford.

Freddy Vette and the Flames will ring in 2012 with a bash at the Essroc Centre in Wellington tomorrow night.

The performer says it’ll be quite a show.

The party is being thrown by the municipality of Prince Edward County as a fundraiser for the Wellington Rotary Club.

VIA Rail schedule changes bittersweet

The changes planned by VIA Rail for Trenton Junction are bittersweet for community advocates.

Eric Hanley has been an activist for the small train station and maintaining passenger service there.

Hanley says his group could never convince VIA to stop train number 650 in Trenton. He says while that newly added stop is an improvement, he’s disappointed to hear the Montreal-bound evening train won’t be stopping in Trenton anymore.

The changes made the news earlier this week and will take effect on Tuesday, January 24th.

A detailed list of changes by community is available on the VIA Rail Canada Web site.

Punching out to ring in 2012

Peterborough County won’t be the same after this new year’s eve.

OPP say four officers are retiring and will go off duty for the last time on Saturday.

Officers Rob Therrien, Curtis Little, John Hobbins and Robert Lafreniere retire with over 130 years of experience between them.

401 closure at Shannonville

2pm UPDATE: Police reporting the road is still closed. There are also traffic hurdles in the eastbound lanes due to an earlier collision.

Provincial Police now say the westbound lanes of the 401 have be closed at Shannonville Rd.

The closure comes after a tractor trailer jack-knifed around 8:30 this morning.

Eastbound lanes are moving freely, but westbound traffic is being directed off the highway.

There are no details on the cause of the crash, although weather is likely a factor.

Authorities estimate the highway to be closed at Shannonville Rd. for about 2 hours.