Kingston News, May 30, 2017

Napanee Death – Father

A Napanee father is on a mission to make sure no more deaths take place like the one that claimed the life of his 15 year old son.

Dave Mills’ son Garrett died on May 12th when a soccer goal he was doing chin-ups on fell on top of him.  The crossbar fractured his skull killing him instantly.  The goal net was located in King Street Park in Napanee.

It wasn’t anchored to the ground and there’s no regulation in Ontario requiring the nets to be anchored.  Prince Edward Hastings MPP Todd Smith is promising legislation to require all nets to be properly anchored.

Mills says he’d also like to see a strip of checkered duct tape placed around the left goal post on soccer fields everywhere as a reminder of the danger and to remember his son.

Napanee Pot Plant

It sounds like medical marijuana is turning into big business in Napanee with a multi-million dollar investment and major expansion.

ABcann Global Corporation has announced an agreement with Cannabis Wheaton Income Group for $30 million to fund construction of 50,000 square feet of marijuana cultivation space in Napanee.  That’s on top of 100,000 square feet being built the Napanee marijuana producer.

ABcann says it intends to be the first company to provide standardized medical cannabis to the world.

Picton Hospital

The South East Local Health Integration’s Board of Directors has approved a proposal to redevelop Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital in Picton.

The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care has already approved the plan.

The Health Integration board approved the first stage of redevelopment yesterday.  The next phase will include an evaluation of the current site, investigation of site options and the cost estimate.

Minimum Wage

Premier Kathleen Wynne will be announcing an increase in Ontario’s minimum wage today, as well as some changes to the province’s labour laws.  The government will outline the timetable for raising the $11.40 minimum wage to $15 an hour, reveal measures for making it easier for workers to join unions…and made three weeks paid vacation mandatory for anyone who has worked in the same job for five years or longer.

Park Closed – Flooding

Presqu’ile Provincial Park near Trenton is closed until further notice due to flooding.  The park is shut down after the record high water levels on Lake Ontario flooded roads, campsites, trails and the beach at Presqu’ile.

Chase a Dream

The first annual Chase a Dream – Neuro Half Marathon and 5K race raised just over $26,500 for the Kingston General Hospital Neurology and Neurosurgery Department.

Kyla Tozer and her mother organized the fund raising event that took place May 7th as a way for Tozer to say thank you for saving her life.

She had a softball sized tumor removed from her brain.

Tozer made the check presentation yesterday.

Drinking Stolen Booze

Kingston Police say a 39 year old man and 37 year old woman were arrested after they stopped to drink stolen booze across the street from the liquor store.

The couple was captured on video at the Division Street liquor store putting a bottle of Vodka and other booze in shopping bags.  They were arrested sitting on the grass across the road from the store drinking the stolen alcohol.

Both have been charged with theft and they’re no strangers to the justice system…the man faces charges of breach of recognizance and breach of probation and the woman has been charged with breach of an undertaking.