Kingston News, May 31, 2017

Sexual Assault Charge

A senior Canadian Armed Forces officer has been charged with a sexual assault in Kingston involving a case dating back to 1999.

Lieutenant-Colonel Stephan Popowych currently works at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.

The charge relates to a reported assault against a civilian in Kingston while Popowych was a student at the Royal Military College of Canada in the fall of 1999.

Kingston Pen – POH – Future

It’s being called “the recommended vision”.

The final vision for the future of Kingston Penitentiary and the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour site will be revealed tomorrow during two public open houses at the Olympic Harbour.

The vision has been refined from a series of four proposals presented to the public over the past year.  All of those proposals call for high-rise and townhome developments and removing the majority of the wall around Kingston Pen.

The sessions take place starting at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m on Thursday.

Train Station Hearing

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada will be in Kingston today to hear from individuals and groups interested in the future of the Outer Train Station on Montreal Street.

The Save our Station Kingston group is opposed to moving the station from its current location.

Developer Hank Doornekamp wants to move it to Cataraqui Street, next to the Woolen Mill.

CN Rail is asking for permission to sell the station and allow its relocation.

The hearing is taking place at the Residence Inn by Marriott between 2 and 4 p.m. and 6 and 8 p.m. today.

Wage Increase

Workers in Ontario are celebrating the news – but some business leaders say it’s the beginning of the end for many small businesses.

The Ontario government has announced the minimum wage will increase to 14 dollars an hour next year and 15 dollars and hour by 2019.

The government is also promising sweeping changes to labour laws including equal pay for part-time employees and increasing vacation entitlements.

The Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce says there will be “unintended consequences” such as job losses and rising consumer costs.  It’s part of a coalition of groups calling for an independent third party analysis of the reforms before they’re implemented.

Paramedic Services Week

Frontenac Paramedics are inviting the public to find out more about their jobs at Springer Market Square today.

It’s Paramedic Services Week and an ambulance will be set up in Market Square between 11 this morning and 5:30 this afternoon.

Frontenac paramedics say they’ll have all the tools of their trade on display and will be happy to answer questions from people about the work they do in Kingston and Frontenac County.

Napanee – Crash Investigation – Update

The officer investigating a serious crash involving a motorcycle and pedestrian in Napanee is asking for help from the public.  Anyone who may have witnessed the collision on South Shore Road in Napanee around 7:30 on May 16th is being asked to contact Constable Andrew Gibbons.  Gibbons is particularly interested in hearing from anyone who had been riding a motorcycle in the area.

The 47 year old man from Kingston driving a 2012 Harley Davidson lost control of the motorcycle and it hit a 53 year old woman who was walking her dog.

Both suffered critical injuries.

Tragically Hip – Marijuana

Fans are already coming up with new product names after the Tragically Hip announced it is teaming up with medicinal marijuana producer Newstrike.

The Kingston-based rock band has made an investment in the company and says it will contribute creatively to the company’s efforts.

Fans are suggesting Hip-related marijuana products could be called “Tragically Hemp,” “Chronically Hip” or “Tragically High.”

Out for a Rip

Maybe it was the fireworks the passenger was shooting off out the window of the pickup truck that tipped off the OPP on Highway 15 in Portland at 8:45 a.m. Saturday.

The OPP pulled over the northbound pickup truck.

25 year old William Ubdegrove of Elgin has been charged with impaired driving and driving while under suspension.

A 23 year old man from Lyndhurst has been charged under the Environmental Protection Act for discharging the fireworks.