Belleville special constable faces charge

Victims of Brighton raid seek help

Clients of a Brighton fertility clinic that was raided by the RCMP have been seeking help elsewhere.

Sally Rhoads-Heinrich runs Surrogacy Canada out of her family’s farmhouse in Londesborough, near Goderich.

She says when the Canadian Fertility Consultants in Brighton was shut down and had its assets frozen earlier this month, it stranded surrogates who are pregnant as well as “intended parents”. She says they’ve been coming to her for help, but she says all she can do is offer them support.

She says many of them are complaining of having unpaid bills and unanswered questions.

Surrogacy Canada is one of only four such companies in Canada.

MMA coming to Belleville

A major mixed martial arts event is coming to the Quinte Region and should have a big impact on the community.

Discipline MMA will hold its inaugural event at Belleville’s Yardmen Arena on April 27.

At a press conference this afternoon, Discipline President Dave Mair announced $5 from each ticket sold will be donated to the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial Fund in Quinte West.

Bay of Quinte Tourist Council President Ryan Williams says the economic spin-off for the region could amount to about a million dollars.

Tickets are available from the Yardmen Arena Box Office or www.bellevillebulls.com.

Kings to take on Canadiens alumni

The local team has been chosen and the players are gearing up for the game of their careers.

The Prince Edward County Kings will take on a team featuring alumni from the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens this Sunday.

Coach Ron Norton says the local team is made up of men from Prince Edward County especially for this occasion.

The Kings will have their first practice together tomorrow night.

The hockey game is a fundraiser by the municipality for the new arena in Wellington.

Tickets are $20 and are still available at select outlets including the Parks and Recreation office in Picton.

Shoppers may yet rise in Picton

Shoppers Drug Mart may yet come to Picton.

The national drug store chain demolished five buildings at a site on the corner of Main and Washburn Streets about two years ago and since then the lot has remained vacant.

Shoppers spokesperson, Tammy Smith, says the reason for the halt in development was the economic climate in 2010, as well as the provincial drug reform.

Smith says for those reasons, the corporation clawed back its capital spending.

Smith says Shoppers has applied to the county for an extension of its site plan approval in order to build a Picton store in the future.

The county’s planning commissioner says that application is being processed.

Purse strings drawn tight at QHC

Quinte Health Care will have to be even more stringent than expected with next year’s operating budget.

The Local Health Integration Network told QHC they would have to work with a 0% increase for the 2012/13 budget.

CEO Mary Clare Egberts says it’s actually like working with a decrease since inflation goes up 2% annually.

QHC was hoping to work with a 1% increase, but will look to comply with the request.

Arena fees may increase

Arena fees in Prince Edward County may be going up.

Council last night passed a motion to have staff draw up a report on rental rates of neighbouring municipalities.

Mayor Peter Mertens says it’s one of the final items to clear up before council finalizes its 2012 budget.

Picton boardwalk moves forward

The former Tip of the Bay Motel in Picton could soon have a publicly accessible boardwalk.

The owners of the property, Sandbank Homes, in collaboration with One Development Corporation, have been working with county officials to create the new feature.

Mayor Peter Mertens says it’s the right thing to do.

The purpose is to create more recreational opportunities for people of all ages and physical abilities, which falls in line with the county’s strategic planning goals.

Wellington development closer to reality

A proposed subdivision for Wellington is another step closer to becoming a reality.

Prince Edward County council last night approved a draft plan of subdivision from Country Club Investments Ltd.

The plan would see 260 acres of now-vacant land on Belleville St. developed into 451 residential units as well as a golf course.

Mayor Peter Mertens says the idea is to have a mix of housing options available to meet the needs of the community, because options will include detatched, semi-detached. townhouses and apartment dwellings.

The Commissioner of Corporate Services has reported to council that the impact on existing ratepayers would be an annual profit of about $28,000.

DocFest goes this weekend

Belleville’s first-ever documentary festival features 30 films: international, Canadian and local.

Event coordinator, Gary Magwood, says one of the local films is Michael Brethour’s “Faces of Cancer” based on his recent calendar.   And “Juggling Around the World,  is a six minute film by Dustin Martin.

A film about a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan “If I should Fall” runs on Saturday afternoon.    The films are being screened at The Empire, the Belleville Public Library and the Core Centre.