LTCs…they got good marks

The two Hastings County long term care facilities have received provincial accreditation.

County Council learned today that this comes after two years of work to meet “world wide” standards. Administrator Jim Pine says it’s necessary to meet the highest standards to ensure the quality of care. He says that’s important for the residents but also for the taxpayers as well. The accreditation covers Hastings Manor in Belleville and Centennial Manor in Bancroft.

Another look @ Marmora power project

Hastings County council has thrown its support behind the proposal to build Ontario’s largest “pumped storage” power project at the old Marmora mine site.

Council made the move after hearing Northland Power spokesman John Wright outline the plan to build the 660-million dollar facility which would pump water from the mine up to a reservoir and send it back down creating power. Administrator Jim Pine says along with jobs it will create a great environmental site. He says it was once considered for a landfill site…but that won’t be considered anymore. Wright told council the money-making return would be regulated by the province.

The sign’s up but money needed

Another step in the work to make the former Irish Hall in Belleville into a new archives facility today.

Representatives of the three partners…the Hastings County Historical Society, Belleville, and Hastings County, were on hand as a sign on the Church Street building was uncovered. Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis says the centre is important to the city for preserving its history, but also in a legal sense as well, for instance in terms of property records. Mayor Ellis says the new sign on the building is a way of raising public awareness that the fundraising campaign is still ongoing. The councils and the society have donated a total of more than 800-thousand dollars but another 400-thousand is needed to complete the archive centre.

Tweed park posted this weekend

Tweed Park on Stoco Lake is off limits to swimmers this holiday weekend.

The Hastings-Prince Edward Health Unit says water samples taken this week came back with high levels of e-coli bacteria. The park is posted to warn swimmers about the unsafe conditions.

Picton Doctor named to Order of Canada

A member of the Prince Edward Family Health Team has been named to the Order of Canada.

Doctor Robert McMurtry was named a member to the order in the field of health care by Governor General David Johnston today, one of 50 people appointed to the Order. McMurtry was nominatd for his leadership and vision in helping to strengthen health care delivery in Canada.

THS Trackquest Half Way There

They are another step closer to a new synthetic running track at Trenton High School. The Trackquest campaign was handed a 10-thousand dollar cheque from Intact Insurance yesterday. Committee co-chair Paul Whitley says the half-million dollar campaign is gaining momentum…adding with the City of Quinte West pledge of $150,000 they are about half-way to their goal.
Whitley hopes to raise the total by the end of the year and get the project to tender over the winter months and possibly have a shovel in the ground by next spring.

Pastor Running for Military Kids

An Uxbridge pastor is running to “Heroes Camp” in Prince Edward County. Pastor Joe Schaefer began his run from the Central Ontario town on Tuesday and will arrive in Bloomfield during the height of Canada Day celebrations tomorrow. Executive Director Floyd Steenburgh says the Heroes Camp is for children aged 11-to-15 with parents currently serving in the military.
Pastor Joe will be greeted in Bloomfield by a group of kids for the final 5km to Wesley Acres Camp on West Lake. To make a donation go to www.wesleyacres.com.

Used truck dealership owner acquitted

The owner of a Belleville used truck dealership has been found not guilty of fraud and stolen property-related charges.

The charges against Terry Albert of Performance Sales and Leasing were laid by Belleville City Police after an S-U-V sold in 2008 was seized under the suspicion it might have been stolen. The officer who stopped the vehicle discovered irregularities with its documentation, including two separate sets of vehicle identification numbers. However, Albert was acquitted at his trial in Belleville Superior Court. The reason for the finding of not guilty wasn’t immediately available.

Stirling woman sentenced to 14 months

A woman charged after two people were hit by a car north of Stirling has been sentenced to 14 months in jail..

Twenty-two-year-old Megan Bursey of Stirling had pled guilty on April 20th to two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm and one count of failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing bodily harm. She was charged by Stirling-Rawdon Township Police after 54-year-old Danny Pitcher and his stepmother 73-year-old Barbara Pitcher were struck and injured while walking after leaving a family reunion at a home on Mount Pleasant Road on September 18th of last year. Both were treated in hospital. Besides the jail sentence, handed down in Belleville Provincial Court yesterday, Bursey will be on probation for 12 months and will be prohibited from driving for five years when she is released from custody..

Tall ship in Deseronto

A tall ship will be part of the Canada Day weekend festivities in Deseronto.

Festival events take place at the bottom of Mill Street, by the Deseronto Flea Market tomorrow and Saturday. A new feature this year will be the Saint Lawrence II Brigantine tall ship. It is expected to leave celebrations in Kingston earlier in the day and arrive in Deseronto at around five o’clock tomorrow afternoon to offer tours of Lake Ontario. A fireworks display is planned at dusk and music, and other activities and the boat tours will continue on Saturday.