Fire Ban

A fire ban was reinstated yesterday afternoon for Belleville by the Fire department.

The ban was reinstated after two grass fires broke out on the east end of Belleville.

According to the intelligencer one leaf burning fire resulted in the loss of two sheds after it burned out of control.

Conditions are expected to stay dry until this evening.

Teen dance turns ugly

A teen dance turned into a girl fight last night after two sets of fights broke out over the night.

One 14 year old girl was arrested on charges of assault and was later released when a parent came to pick her up from the station.

In the second fight a girl was taken to Belleville General Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Charges are still pending in the second fight.

Big Cottage Burns

A 6000 square foot cottage on an island on Stony Lake in Peterborough was in flames Thursday morning.

Emergency Services arrived at the island to find the entire structure ablaze. Firefighters were only able to control the grass fires and hot spots as the building was demolished by the fire.

Estimated damages came in around $950,000, and the cause is still being investigated but is not labelled as suspicious.

Residents say NO WAY to tower

A hall in Ameliasburg was packed last night as residents wanted their voices heard on a proposal to build a communications tower on the shores of Roblin Lake.

Prince Edward County councillor Diane O’Brien says Xplornet had plans to build a tower at the lake to provide high speed internet service to some residents of the County and Belleville.

Councillor O’Brien says the residents were clearly against a tower being located near the lake. Bell already has a tower near the lake.

Xplornet left the meeting saying they’d be more than happy to look at other locations for their tower.

The issue will go to council soon.

House fire in Brighton

Fire destroyed a 135 year old home in Brighton overnight.

Firefighters were called out after 11 o clock last night to a fully involved 2 storey duplex at 35 Division Street, near downtown Brighton.

The home was gutted. Brighton Fire Chief Lloyd Hutchinson says it appears the fire started at the back of the house.

The cause is under investigation, but is not considered suspicious.

The occupants were home at the time, but there were no injuries.

The Cramahe Township fire department assisted with the fire.

Meanwhile, the Brighton fire department also dealt with a car fire and a medical call last night.

Fraud involving credit cards

A Prince Edward County man has been charged with fraud.

Belleville Police began investigating credit card returns at a business on College Street East this week.

It was learned the company had been defrauded of just over 17 thousand dollars over a 3 year period.

35 year old Jeremy M. Jones faces one count of fraud over 5 thousand dollars.

He is in court May 10th.

Golfers only please

Hospital parking is always an issue, this time with a local golf course.

Earlier this week, Quinte West’s Corporate Finance committee voted to recommend that 10 parking spots on King Street be reserved only for those playing at the Trenton Golf Club.

Apparently, some going to the Trenton hospital next door to the golf club have been parking next to the club early in the morning, forcing duffers to find spots elsewhere.

Some staff at the Trenton Golf Club have the power to issue municipal parking tickets.

Quinte West council will have the final say on the matter.

Bulls need goals!

With offence at the top of the list, the Belleville Bulls are expected to select a forward in the first round of tomorrow’s OHL draft. Belleville has the 10th selection in the first round. The Bulls have picks in every round except the 8th.

The busiest team will be the Kingston Frontenacs. They have 4 of the top 22 selections including two of the top nine. The draft starts at 9.

Rebels in drivers seat

In the playoffs, goaltending isn’t the only thing, but it’s close. Despite being outshot 40-21, the Campbellford Rebels escape Alliston with a 4-2 victory and a 2-0 lead in their OHA Junior “C” semi final.

Cole Mahoney was the difference in goal. Levi George scored a goal and 2 assists with singles by Darryl Thompson, Ryan Crowley and Nick Orton. Game 3 is in Campbellford tomorrow night at 7:30.

Boswell bail hearing again postponed

The bail hearing for a 28-year-old Toronto man charged with attempted murder has again been postponed.

Gilbert Boswell’s bail hearing has been moved several times and he remains in custody for charges stemming from a shooting that happened at a Bayside home in March.

He is due to appear in Belleville court via video link on April 12.

Three shots were fired: witness

Witnesses are testifying at the trial of Myles Hughes in Belleville.

Among this morning’s testimonies was that of Sarah Tucker, a tenant in the same building as the accused, who says she heard three gun-shots the night of the alleged murder and saw a dead body lying in the driveway.

The 23-year-old Hughes is charged with second degree murder, attempted murder and possession of a loaded handgun in the shooting death of Roy Mays Jr. and wounding of Mays’ cousin, Justin Coughlin.

Drugs seized from Tamworth home

Officials with Project Roundup have made a drug bust north of Napanee.

Police seized 1500 g of marijuana and 16 plants during the bust at a Tamworth home yesterday a seizure worth an estimated $17,000.

Charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and other charges are 31-year-old Jason Morey and 22-year-old Jessica Trickey, both of Tamworth. They’re due in Napanee court in May.

Loyalist College to launch alumni group

Loyalist College is launching a local chapter of its alumni association.

The Quinte & District Alumni launch will happen next Thursday 5:00 – 8:00 at the Belleville Club.

All graduates are invited and complimentary hors d’oevres will be served, along with a cash bar.

College president, Maureen Piercy, says the creation of the group is an important milestone in the school’s 45-year history.

Murders costing Prince Edward County

Murders are costing Prince Edward County in more ways than one.

Besides the emotional impact on the community, the Police Services Board has added nearly $70,000to its budget to deal with homicides.

Board chair, Robert Quaiff, says the OPP have added $69,537 to their reconciliation statement due to overtime related to homicides, especially the Dean Brown murder trial.

County council has yet to finalize its 2012 budget.

Marmora & Lake budget passed

Marmora and Lake council has approved its 2012 budget, and there’s some mixed news for taxpayers.

The total budget for the municipality is $5.4 million, but expenditures are about $5000 lower than last year.

Taxes will rise 2.3% – which, for a property valued around $143,000 – amounts to just under $1.50/mo.

The Special Capital levy has also gone up to $35, with that money going towards the cost of a new sidewalk sweeper.

Council has also identified about 14 different projects it wants to undertake this year.

Scooter stolen in Belleville

All crime is bad, but some incidents are worse than others.

Belleville Police are reporting that someone stole an electric scooter used by a handicapped person yesterday afternoon.

The Serenghetti Rhino 2 wheeled scooter was stolen outside the Dollarama store on Millennium Pkwy.

If you have information on the incident, you’re asked to call the Belleville City Police.

Belleville council donates to college

Belleville looks on it as an investment not a donation to Loyalist College, as it made a 2012 budget fundraising decision .

Loyalist College asked the city for a million dollars over three years toward its Skills Centre equipment campaign. It got half that.

Councillor Jack Miller told council yesterday it’s similar to the doctors’ scholarship program. He says it will help young people become skilled tradesmen and stay in the region.

Councillor Jackie Denyes voted against it, calling it another download from the province. She says ratepayers here already pay some of the highest education tax in the province.

The 500-thousand dollars will come from the Veridian dividends and won’t have an impact on taxes.

Belleville budget is done

Belleville has approved a $103 million operations budget for 2012 after two days of deliberations.

City Council cut close to $1 million from the estimates, keeping the tax increase between 0.23 – 1.99%.

Mayor Neil Ellis says the budget includes summer students to clean up the downtown, a communciations person, and a million dollars toward a future police headquarters.

For an average house assessed at $195,000, it means an extra $58/yr for urban, Cannifton-urban $56, Cannifton-rural $29 and rural just $5/yr.

Green bin program to expand in Belleville

Belleville has put $300,000 in its 2012 budget to continue and expand the curbside composting program.

Councillor Tom Lafferty says Belleville, Quinte West and Prince Edward County will meet later this month to issue a Request for Proposals for the waste management program, including the Green Bin project. Lafferty says a lot depends on the price of the proposals that are received.

The 700-household pilot project ends in June but the plan is to continue it, and expand the project to another 5000 eventually, not all of them this year.

New park for Wooler??

Something is going to happen to the old Wooler Hall and the property it’s on, but it’s not clear just what yet.

Last night, Quinte West’s Corporate Finance committee asked staff for a report on options on dealing with the property.

They include selling the property and building outright, or selling part of it, and creating a small park and memorial.

The over century old Wooler Hall isn’t used much anymore, and would cost up to 500 thousand dollars to bring up to modern day building standards.

Quinte West saving more

Quinte West council has been putting more money into reserve funds lately, and it’s showing.

A report to Quinte Wests Corporate Finance committee shows that at the end of 2011, the city had 24.3 million dollars in various reserves.

That is 1.5 million dollars more than at the end of 2010.

Council has decided to put more money into reserves, and there were savings in Social Services and OPP costs that helped boost the total as well.

OPP make arrest in Subway robbery

Quinte West OPP have made an arrest in a robbery that occurred on March 27 at the Subway Restaurant.

The suspect had fled the scene, but yesterday, OPP searched a residence on Flindall St. in Trenton.

There they arrested 32- year- old James Allen Patrick.

He was charged with robbery, possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes and disguise with intent. He appears in court today.

MPP addresses legislative red tape

The MPP for the riding of Prince Edward Hastings says he’s taking care of the #1 concern of Belleville chamber of commerce members.

MPP Todd Smith says chamber members who completed a survey stated red tape reduction was their top concern with the provincial protocols.

Smith says he’s tabled a private member’s motion to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses.

The motion calls on the province to reduce by 1/3 the almost 400,000 items that slow down processes for small businesses and therefore the economy.

Sinclair fails to obey court order

Jim Sinclair has again disobeyed a court order.

In March the Belleville businessman was ordered to provide documents to the county of Hastings outlining his assets, with a deadline of March 28.

Hastings County treasurer, Sue Horwood, says that didn’t happen and a new court date is pending.

The long-drawn-out battle over $752,000 in fines, owed to the county by Sinclair, stem from environmental charges related to the former Bakelite property in Belleville’s east end.

CUPE objects to budget cuts

More provincial budget drama as CUPE representatives are now coming to the defence of the social assistance program.

CUPE representatives today exclaimed their disdain against freezing the amount of the social assistance program, which, they claim, is already under funded.

Alexandra Bell, a local representative for CUPE says that this will not only hurt the people this money is providing for but our public sector as well.

A current freeze in this sector would only save the Ontario government $90 million dollars which comes out to about 0.1% of the budget.

CORRECTION: Alexandra Bell is a local social justice worker and advocate who is choosing to partner with CUPE and OCAP to work to bring a poverty-reduction strategy, not a CUPE representative.

Belleville welcomes staff to new posts

The city of Belleville has promoted two staff members from within.

Rod Bovay will now  be the director of engineering and development services and Ray Ford will be the deputy director/manager of engineering.

Mayor Neil Ellis says the promotion of internal staff shows the high quality of the people who work there.

Museum to show off new features

The Naval Marine Archives Canadian Collection in Picton has some exciting events coming up.

Director Paul Adamthwaite says the museum on Main Street will host the Canadian Society of Marine Artists exhibition on May 5 as well as an annual conference at the Waring House on the May long weekend with this theme: The War of 1812.

Adamthwaite says the museum also has a new reading room on the second floor, an expanded library and more art work in its collection.

The museum is privately funded and is located in Picton’s former Canada Post building.

Myles Hughes trial gets underway

The first day of the Myles Hughes trial has begun in Belleville.

Crown Gerry McGeachy told the 12-person jury, he believes the evidence will show Myles Hughes is guilty of the crimes of Murder, Attempted Murder and Possession of a Loaded Hand Gun.

He says Roy Mays Junior attended a party on Saint Patricks day 20-10, a party he wasn’t invited to… and allegedly punched one of the party goers.

The Crown added Mays was shot twice in the back, and his cousin, Justin Couglin, was shot as well.

Belleville Constable Eric Hadley was the first respondant to the home 153 Victoria Avenue, a home where the accused Myles Hughes allegedly lived.

Hadley told the court when he asked bystanders at the time who had shot Mays, Hughes admitted he did it, adding it was in self defence.

Board of health to aid welfare recipients

There was no mention of it in the budget, but the Prince Edward Hastings Health Unit is asking the province to pay people on welfare more money.

The local health unit board has formally endorsed a resolution from Kingston asking that another 100 dollars a month be paid to those on social assistance to help pay for healthy food.

In their recent budget proposal, the provincial government said it planned on holding social assistance payments at the same level as they were last year.

The provincial budget has not been passed yet.

Belleville budget discussions in Day 2

It’s Day Two of Belleville’s budget deliberations.

City Council still has to make some tough decisions including a request from Loyalist College of a million dollars over a number of years toward its equipment fundraising campaign.

Loyalist Board Chair Stewart Wright told council yesterday the $16 million Skills and Technology Centre on campus serves the trade and manufacturing sector in the Quinte Region.

His words were backed up by officials from the Quinte Manufacturing Association, Bioniche, and Kelloggs who apeared before council as well.

The college hopes to raise $6 million toward high-tech equipment for the centre.

Cheese festival to span June weekend

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival has announced it’s expanding to span two days.

The fledgling event in Picton was only one day last year.

Over 100 cheeses from across Canada will be on site at the festival’s Artisan Cheese & Fine Food Fair at Crystal Palace June 2 & 3.

Turkey breaks through big rig window

It seemed to be a scene right out of WKRP in Cinncinnati, but in Brighton.

Northumberland OPP say a wild turkey flew into the passanger window of the 18-wheeler on the 401 westbound.

The truck driver safely pulled over and contacted police.

The driver of the truck was unharmed, the cannot be said for the bird.

Most 8-Wing workers safe from cuts

8-Wing Trenton is a good news story as far as civilian layoffs at the Department of National Defence are concerned.

President of the Union of National Defence Employees, John MacLennan, says there’s only 3 civilian positions effected by layoffs at CFB Trenton.

Meanwhile, across the country, it’s expected around 1100 civilian workers will be let go.

MacLennan says he hopes those laid off elsewhere will have a shot at any jobs opening up at the Trenton base.

The 3 layoffs at 8-Wing Trenton involve their Alternate Dispute Center and Dental department.

Holocaust survivor addresses Belleville students

One of the worlds few remaining survivors of the Holocaust gave an eye opening talk about bullying in Belleville yesterday.

In 1944, Eva Olsson and her Hungarian family were stuffed in a box car and taken to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland.

The 87-year old talked to Loyalist College students and others at Maranatha Church, about hate, intolerance and bullying.

She says younger generations in Canada are blessed and they don’t even known it.

She has spoken to more than one million people worldwide.

Sheep hidden away

OPP and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are wondering where 31 rare sheep are.

The Stropshire sheep were spirited away from a farm near Hastings in Trent Hills sometime Sunday night or early Monday morning.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency was planning on taking the herd away to destroy it on suspicions of it having a disease known as “Scrapie”.

However, the sheep weren’t there when they arrived, and a group calling itself the “Farmers Peace Corps” claimed responsibility for moving the sheep.

That group says the sheep are being kept in safekeeping until there’s an alternative to killing the sheep, or there’s absolute proof that the herd contains the disease.

The incident occurred at the Wholearth Farm Studio. Many residents supported the move to save the sheep from being culled.

Belleville council continues slog through budget

Belleville City Council spent yesterday going through the 103-million dollar 20-12 budget line by line.

So far only three small cuts totalling 74-thousand.

Councillor Taso Christopher said it was “an insult” that the insurance company, which the city pays 800-thouusand dollars a year, wanted a third-party inspection of parks and playgrounds for safety when staff could do it.

Poice Chief Cory McMullan reported on the 23 officers on the 100-thousand dollar Sunshine list… she said major cases, overtime, and specialty officers account for it.

The 14-million dollar police budget – still before council – represents a nearly nine-percent increase, but only one percent without the one million for a future new police headquarters.

The budget debate continues today (wed).

Belleville fairgrounds property discussed

Plans for maintenance work at the Quinte Exhibition and Raceway site raised some concerns during Belleville’s budget deliberations yesterday.

The 10-thousand dollar item to upgrade some of the buildings raised some questions use of the site. Council was told the horsemen use it everyday and it is used by soccer players as well. Staff reported that the city was not getting any revenue from this.

Councillor Jack Miller says the city had planned that the site would become residential after the Ex moved to the proposed Bell boulevard site, and since that isn’t happening then it’s time the leases were reviewed. He says the city needs to know what it’s liable for.

The 10-thousand dollars for maintenance was approved but council called for a staff report on the Quinte Ex lease situation.

Stolen sheep a hazard to industry

OPP issue curfew reminder

Killaloe OPP are reminding the public about a province-wide curfew for minors.

The provincial police detachment north-east of Bancroft issued the reminder after a string of incidents in the town.

The police outlined parts of the Child and Family Services Act as well as the Parental Liability Act which say children under the age of 16 are bound to a curfew between the hours of midnight and 6:00.

Fire + copper = arrests

Provincial police have issued an arrest warrant for a 33-year-old Peterborough man.

Police say Adrian Joseph Gervais is wanted for possession of property obtained by crime over $5000.

OPP got a call from firefighters after they attended the scene of a suspicious fire on Pleasant Point Rd. last Thursday.

Firefighters reported to police their belief that Gervais and another man, 24-year-old Matthew Wittekoek of Peterborough, had been burning the plastic casings off pieces of commercial-grade copper.

The investigation continues.

Wine bill gathers country-wide support

A parliamentary committee in Ottawa is set to hear from supporters of a private member’s bill that would eliminate a 1928 rule about wines.

Prince Edward County winemaker and Wine Council of Ontario board member, Caroline Granger, says passing the bill into law is an important step in a complicated process.

A British Columbian member of parliament has gathered enough support for Bill C-311 to possibly amend the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act prohibiting cross-provincial wine sales.

(With files from the Canadian Press)

Safe and sound at Harmony Public School

A letter will be going home from school with students of Harmony Public north of Belleville.

A school board spokesperson says the letter will explain the details of an incident that happened at the Corbyville school this morning.

A suspicious man was spotted in a parked car during the school’s morning bus arrivals and a witness reported seeing the man with something that looked like a camera-phone.

The letter states all students were accounted for this morning.

The suspicious character was traced by police through his licence plate number and the school determined that they knew the man.

The school board says the issue has been resolved.

Building stats steady in Prince Edward

The building stats in Prince Edward County are about the same right now as they were at this time last year.

The county’s chief building official has released his monthly report.

Andy Harrison says the number of permits is just one less this year than at this time last year.

The value of those permits is down from $7,831,640 last year to $6,353,100 total so far for this year.

Alleged Bancroft fraudster charged

OPP have charged a  man after an investigation involving fraud on a local committee.

Last summer, members of the Concerned Citizens of Bancroft contacted Bancroft OPP about financial concerns.

On March 17, OPP arrested 42-year-old Peter Plumely of Pembroke.

He was charged with 15 counts of uttering a forged document and making a forged document.  He was also charged with theft under $5000.

He is due in Bancroft court on May 8.

Tyendinaga seeks railway compensation

Tyendinaga Township Council is looking for cash from CN and VIA Rail.

The municipality is currently the centre of a major upgrade to the railway and officials say the number of trucks making their way through the area are destroying some roads.

CAO Steve Mercer says so far their cries have falled on deaf ears, however Council is pushing staff to stick with their concerns for compensation.

Council is also taking aim at both CP and CN to better share costs of crossing maintenance, which currently sits at a 50/50 split.

Bulls lose series against Ottawa

The Belleville Bulls left everything on the ice, but it wasn’t enough as they lost 2-1 in Game Six to the Ottawa 67′s.

Garrett Hooey scored the lone goal, while Malcolm Subban was stellar in net making 35 saves.

It was a tough night for three Bulls: Jordan Mayer, Adam Payerl and Luke Judson, who played their last game in black, red and gold.

Captain Luke Judson was emotional looking back the teams efforts.

Coach George Burnett says Adam Payerl will continue his season moving onto pro hockey, but it’s unknown where that will be yet.

The team now will get set for Saturday’s OHL Draft.

Quinte West OMHA champs honoured

People crowded into city council chambers last night for the awarding of certificates to 3 minor hockey teams. Photo by Jennifer Lester Mulridge.

Quinte West has honoured its top boys hockey teams.

City council last nightgave certificates of recognition to three teams that took top honours this season.

Those teams were: Scaletta Group Novice “A” Hawks, the 413 Wing Minor Bantam “A” Hawks and the Frankford Legion Branch 387 Juvenile Hawks.

The teams each nabbed OMHA 2012 championships in their divisions.

Solar panels going up in Quinte West

It’ll take ten years to see a profit, but the city of Quinte West is forging ahead with plans to install solar panels on two municipal roof-tops.

City council voted last night to go ahead with pursuing an Ontario Power Authority contract to generate solar energy on the rooves of the YMCA and city hall.

Council had to reconsider its plans after the Ontario government last month released its findings of the Feed-in-Tariff programme review, which resulted in much lower prices paid per kilowatt hour on any future contracts.

The city’s return on the million-dollar investment will be about $750,000 after the proposed 20-year contract is up.

Farm warehouse fire in Quinte West

4PM UPDATE: The investigation is now in the hands of the OPP.

Fire Chief John Whalen is calling a blaze on Second Dughill Rd. last night suspicious.

Quinte West Fire crews were called to a warehouse just south of Walmart, where a blaze destroyed a portion of the 7000 sq. ft. building.

Chief Whalen says police are constantly removing trespassers from the property.

Special meeting on Integrity Commissioner report

The recent Integrity Commissioners Report on the workings of Brighton council seem to have had an effect.

Last night, Mayor Mark Walas praised staff, and councillors Martinello and Kerr agreed to meet to iron out personal differences.

Those were problems cited in the Integrity Commissioners Report.

Mayor Walas believes it was a good and necessary report, and one that won’t be ignored.

Brighton council will hold a special meeting on the Integrity Commissioners report for Wednesday, April 11th.

Brighton Cenotaph project gets support

Brighton council is making sure the job gets done and done right as the community moves to build a new cenotaph memorial downtown.

Last night, Brighton council voted to loan the Memorial Park cenotaph organizers 33 thousand dollars to make sure the project is 100 percent complete.

The loan is to be paid back by the fundraisers.

The cenotaph and landscaping is expected to be done well before Remembrance Day.

Mini storage debate in Belleville

There wasn’t much on the agenda last night, but there was lots of debate at a meeting of Belleville’s planning committee.

The subject was a re zoning of land from industrial to commercial north of St Paul Street near the sewage treatment plant on Belleville’s waterfront.

Peter Kempenaar of Taskforce Engineering wants to build a medical clinic on the property, along with some kind of mini storage facility.

Members on planning were unanimous in not wanting unsightly outdoor storage on the property, which would create an eyesore on the waterfront.

In the end, planning recommended the re zoning, with the stipulation that outdoor storage would NOT be allowed.

They’ll happily take pennies!!!

“a penny for your efforts” will come to life tomorrow night in Trenton.

Fundraising continues for a new track and field facility at Trenton High School.

Teacher Duncan Armstrong says Trenton high athletes will be going door to door after practice tomorrow.

They’ll be asking for any extra pennies you might have lying around gathering dust.

So far, about 375 thousand dollars of the 500 thousand dollar goal has been raised. Work on the main track is expected to start in June.

Botterill tries for former Beaver Dam location

A well known Belleville businessman hopes to operate a restaurant on the city’s waterfront.

Former CFL player and owner of the Bellevegas Boardroom, Mike Botterill, is applying for a liquor license at the location formerly known as the Beaver Dam, on the harbour near the Travelodge.

Recently, Belleville council gave its approval to the application.

The business will be known as the Cove Waterfront Patio and Grill.

Unlike the Beaver Dam operation, Botterill is NOT planning any large concert-like events.

Sleep and be charged

Man gets sleepy and man gets arrested.

Prince Edward OPP got complaints of a vehicle blocking a laneway on McFaul Road, east of Consecon, early yesterday evening.

Upon investigation, OPP found the driver was passed out behind the wheel.

The driver smelled of alcohol and would not provide a breath sample.

Facing charges is 23 year old Ivan Wannamaker of Hillier ward.

Drunken Domestic in County

Some people just don’t know when to stop drinking.

Prince Edward County OPP dealt with an angry drunk on Walmsley Road, near MIlford early last night.

OPP say a 53 year old man became upset after running out of booze and began smashing things in the house and assaulting his 52 year old wife.

She suffered minor injuries.

The man faces charges of assault and domestic mischief.

Punched in Trenton

A young Trenton man faces several serious charges after another man was punched in the face yesterday morning.

Quinte West OPP say a man and woman were walking on North Murray Street when a man walked up and hit the male in the head.

23 year old Andrew Depape of Trenton has been charged with assault, uttering death threats, possession of a firearm while prohibited, possession of a firearm, and failing to comply with an undertaking.

He appears in Belleville court today.

New ID for CAS begins today

Executive director of the new Highland Shores C.A.S., Mark Kartusch, addresses a crowd in front of the Belleville office. Photo by Jennifer Lester Mulridge.

Highland Shores CAS is effective starting today.

The newly amalgamated Children’s Aid Societies of Northumberland and Hastings counties begin using their new identity today including the new name, a new Web site and a new logo.

Executive director, Mark Kartusch, says clients really won’t notice any other big differences.

Kartusch says the next step is going to be creating a new culture in the workplace, taking the best practices from both Northumberland and Hastings counties.

Local burn bans updated

The ban on open-air burning has been lifted in several locales and remains in others.

Those places where the burn bans have been lifted include Prince Edward County, Madoc and Belleville. Open-air burning is now allowed if certain conditions are met including permission from the fire department.

Burn bans remain in effect until further notice in Greater Napanee and Tyendinaga Township.

Centre Hastings today imposed a partial restriction, which means controlled burns are only allowed 7pm to 7am daily.

Fire causes $250,000 in damages

There’s an estimated $250,000 worth of damage following a fire at a Prince Edward County factory.

Universal Fan and Blower on Bloomfield’s Stanley Street had a fire on Friday that took fire crews the entire afternoon to extinguish.

Deputy chief Rob Rutter says it was a “textbook save”. He says damage could have topped $2 million if the blaze had happened in the middle of the night. Rutter says the fire is not considered to be suspicious.

Speeding charge laid on highway 62

It was a bad start to the weekend for an Ameliasburgh resident, after losing his license and car for a week.

On Friday night Prince Edward OPP stopped a car going over 130 km/hr in an 80 km/hr zone on Highway 62.

51-year-old Richard Osterhout has been charged with Stunt Driving.

Richmond Landfill opponents win appeal

The Concerned Citizens Committee of Tyendinaga have won a tribunal decision against Waste Management and the Environment Ministry.

The group last week won the right to appeal seven conditions set out by the government on the closed landfill near Napanee.

Richard Lindgren is representing the Concerned Citizens and says the group wants to see the most stringent safety conditions possible.

Waste Management says according to the government, their landfill is the most highly monitored capped site in Ontario.

The Citizens and Ministry will be part of public hearings, which are yet to be scheduled.

Belleville council pores over budget

It was a busy weekend for Belleville Councillors as they pore over hundreds of pages of this year’s operating budget.

Councillors will begin debating the draft multi-million dollar budget tomorrow morning.

Police, fire and emergency services are a large portion of the funding, coming in around 20%.

The draft estimates sit at about a three percent tax increase for urban residential, but that is expected to be trimmed during the two days of deliberations.

Brighton council to meet

Brighton Council will talk about the Integrity Commissioners comments last week, a new cenotaph and hiring of a new staff member.

Council was called dysfunctional after the Commissioner investigated issues that had come up in and away from chambers.

Officials will look at welcoming an Environmental Services Manager when their meeting kicks off at 6:30.

Tyendinaga budget debated

Tyendinaga Township could soon be joining the solar farm game in a big way.

According to officials, an unnamed company is looking to build a 10 MW farm somewhere in the municipality.

CAO Steve Mercer says he’s not sure if they’re looking for township or private land, however a project that size would need about 50 acres.

Township Council will discuss the proposal tonight at 7:30. Councillors are also expected to pass their 2012 budget.

Hockeyville budget TBD

Now that Stirling has been named Kraft Hockeyville, the town will have to get to work on what to do with that $100,000 worth of arena upgrades.

Hockeyville organizers hoped to see the money used for a new entrance to the building as well as dressing room renovations, including the addition of a girls dressing room.

Along with the cash, Stirling was awarded an NHL Exhibition game between Toronto and Columbus, which is expected to be played at Belleville’s Yardmen Arena.

Health course offered in Quinte

If you’re one of the many of us thinking we should be leading a healthier way of life, there’s a special program to get you heading in the right direction.

The Belleville and Quinte West Community Health Center is offering a free 6-week course on healthy living.

Dianne Coyle of Volunteer Information Quinte explains what programs will be offered.

The healthy lifestyles program starts april 11th at the Belleville and Quinte West Community Health Center.  For more information, call Volunteer Information Quinte in Belleville.

Canada Newswire apologizes for Hockeyville mistake

The President and CEO of the CNW Group, commonly known as Canada Newswire, says Saturday’s early release of the Kraft Hockeyville results is not being taken lightly.

CEO McGill says the error was the fault of an employee in conjunction with a new system operating on a 24 hour clock, a change from past practice.

She says the employee involved remains devastated by the mistake. That person will not be disciplined.

Canada Newswire released the Hockeyville results 12 hours early, causing letdowns at celebrations in Stirling-Rawdon, and in the 4 other communities involved.

CEO McGill says the mistake was a big one, but one that occurs very rarely,  and she will be publicly apologizing to all of the communties involved in the Kraft Hockeyville final.

Belleville building statistics

A relatively quiet month for building activity in the City of Belleville last month.

There were 51 permits issued for a construction value of just over 2 and a half million dollars.

Last year, for the month of March, there was 5.6 million dollars worth of building in Belleville.

Construction value for the first 3 months of this year totals just over 9 million dollars, way down from over 43 million dollars for the same period last year.

At that time, huge projects were involved at Prince Charles school and at the Belleville Hospital.

Man killed cutting down tree

There was a tragic accident north of Madoc Saturday. 59 year old Jim Morrison was killed when a part of a tree fell on him.

Mr Morrison and others in his family were clearing brush from a tree damaged in a wind storm.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident happened on Empy Road.