April Fools’ Story

Kingston City Council has voted 11 to 2 in favour of imposing a $2 fee for people using the city’s dog parks.
The fee was decided on after a report from Animal Control Officer Bill Barker complaining about people not adhering to poop and scoop laws and not respecting the rules of the dog parks.
Yes, this is an April Fools’ Day story and user fees will not be charged for using dog parks.

City priorities

Kingston city council has wrapped up its priority planning sessions.
Here are the six broad areas of priorities this council will concentrate on over the next three and a half years (not necessarily in order):
–    create a smart economy
–     advance a vibrant waterfront
–     plan a liveable city
–    invest in infrastructure
–    foster an open government
–    green the city.

Council will now discuss how to try and keep property taxes under control and complete the priorities. Chief Administrative Officer Gerard Hunt outlined tax increases of 3% or more for the next four years.
Council will discuss future tax increase during a meeting on April 20th.

Sexual Assault/Violence Policy

St. Lawrence College has finalized its stand-alone policy and protocol on sexual assault and sexual violence.
The college issued a news release yesterday saying the policy and protocol is now publicly available on the college’s website.
College President Glenn Vollebregt says it builds on existing policies and practices and it is essential to continue working on raising awareness about sexual violence.


Drug Bust

A Kingston man is facing charges following a large drug seizure.
Kingston Police say they found $212,000 worth of marijuana and $7,000 worth of cocaine in a vehicle that was abandoned in the Montreal Street and John Counter Boulevard area around 2:30 Saturday morning.  Police had tried to stop the vehicle in the area of the 401 and Montreal Street.
A man was arrested about an hour later in the woods near Belle Park Fairway.
32 year old Nicholas Carr has been charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, along with dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.

Man Jailed – Fatal Crash

A 30 year old man from Rockport is going to jail for 10 months after a head on crash that claimed the life of Sarah Yuille of Lansdowne in 2012.
Vincent Bennett was sentenced yesterday and faces a five year driving ban after being convicted for dangerous driving causing death.  28 year old Sarah Yuille died when Bennett’s pickup truck hit her vehicle head on near Ivy Lea on the Thousand Islands Parkway in October of 2012.

Hazardous Waste

Kingston’s household hazardous waste facility will open for the season tomorrow.
It will be open on Thursday and Saturday through November.
It’s open from 8am to 5pm on Thursdays and 8am to 4pm on Saturdays.

Queen’s Student – Carley Allison – Obit

A moment of silence was held last night at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto for a Queen’s University student who lost her battle with cancer.
Carley Allison had touched people’s lives when she launched the Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer campaign in Toronto last summer.  She sang the national anthem and couldn’t get some of the words out because of her cancer.  Broadcasters and former NHLers Glen Healy and Nick Kypreos were there to help promote the event.  The next day Allison was asked to sing the national anthem at the Air Canada Centre for Hockey Fights Cancer night.  She had been a first year student at Queen’s but was off this year for treatment and passed away yesterday.  Carley Allison was only 19.