Winter Storm – Update

Wednesday is a snow day for students.

Tri-Board Student Transportation cancelled all school transportation for today due to the winter storm forecast.  That means no buses for the Limestone District School Board, Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic Board and the Hasting and Prince Edward Board.

Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario also cancelled buses for the Upper Canada Board and the Catholic Board of Eastern Ontario.

Suspicious Fires – More Charges

The two men from Napanee charged with arson after a series of suspicious fires are facing additional charges.

33 year old Robert Pickstock and 40 year old Joseph Pickstock were charged on January 10th with arson, break and enter and mischief under $5000.  Robert Pickstock was also charged with four counts of public mischief.

Joseph Pickstock has now been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and driving under suspension with no valid permit.

Robert Pickstock is now facing an additional charge of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Napanee OPP is asking anyone who bought items from the two men during January to contact them or Crime Stoppers.

Drug Bust

Five people, including two from Kingston have been busted after search warrants were executed by the OPP and Kingston Police.

Police seized crystal meth, cocaine and prescription medication with a street value of $15,000.  They also seized a 12 gauge shotgun, Taser, crossbow, and a stolen Correctional Services of Canada Badge and Identification.

38 year old Donald Lemmon of Picton and Kingston is charged with 18 different offences including trafficking and possession of weapons for a dangerous purpose.

32 year old Jennifer Schinzel of Kingston is charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and unauthorized possession of a weapon.

All five individuals have upcoming court appearances in Picton and Belleville.

Ranked Ballot

Voters in Kingston will decide if the mayor and councillors will be elected by a new voting system during the municipal election this fall.

City council voted in favour of adding a referendum question to the ballot for the October 22nd election.

Voters will be asked:

Are you in favour of using ranked ballot voting to elect the mayor and district councillors in the city of Kingston? Yes. No.

If the majority of people vote in favour of ranked balloting – it will be used in the 2022 municipal election.  If not…the current system of the person getting the most votes winning will stay in place.

Pot – City Council

Kingston City Council has approved a motion to ask the province for some money from cannabis tax revenue for local public health boards and for the extra cost of policing when pot becomes legal.

Councillor Jim Neill proposed the motion last night and it was passed by council.

Climate

The latest update of the Kingston Climate Action Plan shows emissions in Kingston have dropped by 12 per cent since 2011.  The plan is supposed to guide efforts in the region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The target is to reduce emissions by 15% by 2020.

A report to Kingston City Council last night says the city is on track to meet that target but warns additional efforts are needed to achieve a 30% reduction by 2030.

Downie and Glorious Sons

The Glorious Sons have been nominated for a Juno award.  The band from Kingston has been nominated in the best rock album category for the album Young Beauties and Fools.

Amherstview native Gord Downie has been nominated for artist of the year, and best adult alternative album for his solo record, Introduce Yerself, and video of the year.  Downie, who died in October, was also nominated for songwriter of the year with Kevin Drew.

The Juno awards will be handed out March 25th in Vancouver.

Filed under: City Council, Climate, Drug Bust, glorious-sons, Gord Downie, Juno, More Charges, Napanee, Pot, Ranked Ballot, Suspicious Fires, Tri-Board, Winter Storm Update