Kingston News, October 28, 2016

VIA Announcement

Improvements to VIA Rail service in Kingston will be announced today by the President of VIA Rail.  Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen and Mayor Bryan Paterson will be on hand for a news conference this morning at the VIA Rail station on John Counter Boulevard.

Mayor Bryan Paterson announced in May….VIA plans to introduce a new dedicated track for passenger trains and Kingston will become the Southeastern Ontario service hub for trains with new service expected in the future for early morning and late at night.

Joynt – Guilty on Two Charges

The 75 year old Kingston man who was on trial in Napanee for sexually abusing teenage boys has been found guilty on two charges and not guilty on a third.

The jury delivered its decision in the case of Neil Joynt yesterday.

He was convicted on two charges of indecent assault for an incident that took place in 1962 and another that took place in 1973 or 1974.  The jury found him not guilty of sexual assault from an incident in the early 1980’s.

Joynt is free on bail.

A date for his sentencing will be set after pre-sentence reports are presented to the judge at the end of January.

Meth Driver

A 26 year old man from Amherstview has been charged with driving while impaired by a drug after police stopped an SUV and found crystal methamphetamine.

Police stopped the vehicle around 1am yesterday.  The man behind the wheel was a suspended driver who is already before the courts on seven charges including possession of crystal meth…failing to stop at the scene of a crash…impaired driving by drug and possession of a prohibited weapon.

He’s facing additional criminal charges of possession of a controlled substance and breach of recognizance.

10 Year old Suspect – Theft

A young boy is the suspect in the theft of valuable hockey cards from the Original Hockey Hall of Fame at the Invista Centre.

Kingston Police say video surveillance shows a boy around 10 years old breaking into a display case with a mini hockey stick.  The theft took place around 8:30 at night on Saturday, October 8th.

Police believe the boy may have been at the arena with family to watch one of several hockey games.  He was wearing a distinctive grey MIT t-shirt with red lettering…a blue hoodie…dark shorts and shoes.

Anyone with information on the theft is being asked to contact Kingston Police or Crime Stoppers.

Purple Scarf Campaign

Kingston Interval House is taking part in a campaign to raise awareness of gender based violence called Wrapped in Courage.  It is selling purple scarves for $15.  It says the purple scarf is the symbol of the courage it takes for a woman to leave an abusive relationship.  Kingston Interval House says the issue impacts 1 in 3 women and is the number two reason for emergency calls to police.

The purple scarves are available from Kingston Interval House (613-546-1833 x 32) and it will be selling them Saturday at the Women’s Expo at St. Lawrence College.  It runs from 9am to 6pm.

It’s encouraging people to wear the scarf…take selfies…and post them on social media with the hashtag:

#WrappedinCourage.

November is Woman Abuse Awareness Month.

Fort Fright

One of Canada’s Creepiest Halloween Places will be a busy place this weekend.

Fort Fright is open from 7:00 to 10:00 pm and wraps for the season on Sunday night.  Fort Henry’s award winning haunted event was featured on the Rick Mercer Report Tuesday night.

Corn Maze

One of the most popular fund raising events of the fall season takes place tomorrow after being rained out a few weeks ago.  The Wolfe Island Corn Maze for Easter Seals is being held from 10am to 4pm tomorrow.

There will be a shuttle on the island meeting people who take the 12:30 ferry from Kingston.  It will shuttle people back to the 3:30 ferry to Kingston.