Kingston News, April 29, 2016

LOCAL

Napanee – Fatal Sentence

A man convicted in connection with a multiple-vehicle accident that claimed two lives has been handed a 15-hundred dollar fine and a one-year driving prohibition.

Twenty-one-year-old Tyler Isaacs of Napanee was found guilty on February 26th of careless driving and was sentenced yesterday in Napanee Provincial Offences Court.

Isaacs and two tractor trailer drivers were charged with careless driving after two people in a pickup truck — 62-year-old Marc Gouzopoulos and his 69-year-old wife Gloria of Southgate Township — were killed in a crash on Highway 4-0-1 in Napanee on July 14th, 2014.

A trial for one of the other drivers continues next month while the trial for third is scheduled to start in June.

Ministry of Natural Resources – Sued

The Ministry of Natural Resources is being sued by a township resident for $25,000 over its part in approving a floating dock at the Ivy Lea Club.

Douglas Mackintosh, who owns a marina next to the club, claims the ministry sent out a misleading notice to neighbours informing them of the club’s plans and that he was subsequently deprived of his right to appear at a public hearing about the dock and make his objections known.

He also feels he suffered tangible damages from the 547-foot dock which was built in June of 2014! His claims says the dock obstructs the channel that he and his marina clients use to get out on the river.

None of Mackintosh’s allegations have been proven in court. The regional Ministry of Natural Resources office in Kemptville has until mid-May to respond to the lawsuit.

SANDY PINES WILDLIFE CENTRE

Spring has sprung which means a busy season for the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre and they are asking for the public’s help.

The centre needs a variety of items including a new industrial washing machine and as a songbird incubator among other increasing costs.

Sandy Pines supports many bird and mammal patients but they are currently in the midst of an unprecedented influx of orphaned squirrels after several litters were brought in as the result of tree work that was being done in the area.

As a result of the centre’s increasing needs they have planned several fundraisers with the first taking place this Saturday at the Royal Kingston Curling Club. Details and tickets for the “Chili-Tastic Nite for Wildlife” fundraiser can be found at www.sandypineswildlife.org as well as additional information on the centre.

Tree cutting Fatality – Peterborough

An elderly man has died in a tree-cutting accident northeast of Peterborough.

Provincial police and emergency crews were called to an address in Douro-Dummer Township on Wednesday evening after an elderly man was found dead.
The man had gone out earlier in the day to cut wood, and family members became concerned when he didn’t return home by supper time.

Eight-six-year-old Alan Garbutt of Douro-Dummer was found pinned under a tree with no vital signs. (Canadian Press)

Gananoque Arrests
Two men from Gananoque face charges after town police searched a home Tuesday. Officers located and seized a generator that had been reported stolen from a local business as well as an undisclosed amount of crystal meth.

Shoppers Theft

Kingston Police say a couple who used a distraction technique on a Shoppers Drug Mart employee is being sought after they allegedly stole thousands of dollars’ worth of perfume. The incident took place Sunday at Shoppers at Princess & Baggot. Anyone with information is asked to contact Kingston Police or Crime Stoppers.

PROVINCIAL

Child Exploitation

Provincial police say more arrests are expected in a massive, multi-force investigation into child sexual abuse in Ontario.

Eighty suspects aged 74 to a youth have already been arrested and are facing a total of 274 charges — most for sexual assault, child pornography and exploitation.

The arrests span the province from Ottawa to Windsor, including 3 people in the Kingston area.

OPP Chief Superintendent Don Bell says the wide range of ages and jurisdictions shows how pervasive and devastating the problem of child sexual abuse is.

Twenty alleged victims have been referred to community supports for help. (The Canadian Press)

Electric Cars – Charging Stations

Ontario is planning to build 500 electric vehicle charging stations at more than 250 locations in the province next year.

Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca says it will cost 20-million dollars.

Del Duca says they will be set up along highways, in cities, and at workplaces, condominiums and some public places.
There are an estimated 58-hundred electric vehicles on Ontario roads. (The Canadian Press)

NATIONAL

Bombardier

The head of Bombardier says despite a 5.6-billion dollar deal with Delta for as many as 125 of its C-series jets, the Montreal-based aerospace manufacturer still needs a billion-dollars U-S in federal assistance.
CEO Alain Bellemare says the federal cash infusion is necessary to allow Bombardier to keep investing in aerospace in the future in Canada.
Bombardier will hold its annual general meeting today. (Canadian Press)

Trump Tower – Suspicious Powder

Police have determined a suspicious white powdery substance mailed to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign office in New York is harmless.

A campaign staffer discovered the powder after opening an envelope and immediately called police.

In March, an envelope that contained a non-hazardous white powder and a threatening letter was mailed to the apartment of Trump’s son Eric Trump, warning if his father didn’t drop out of the race “the next envelope won’t be a fake.” (Canadian Press)

Italy Terror Arrests

Italian police have arrested four people suspected of planning attacks against major targets in Italy.

Authorities say the suspects intended to join the Islamic State terrorist group.

The arrests come just days after the U-S director of national intelligence said there were dormant Isis cells in Italy, Germany and the U-K. (Canadian Press)

Prince – Death

A week after his death, investigators are now looking into whether Prince died from a drug overdose.

Police are also reportedly investigating whether a doctor was on a plane that made an emergency landing in Illinois less than a week before the music superstar died at the age of 57.

An autopsy has been conducted, but toxicology reports aren’t expected for a few weeks. (Canadian Press)