Train Derailment

Bath Road remained closed on Thursday morning at the rail crossing near Armstrong Road after the second freight train derailment this month.

The CN train jumped the tracks during noon-hour yesterday.  All of the rail cars remained upright and there was no spill of any chemicals or liquids.

CN Rail has advised it they hope to have the crossing open to traffic by ten this morning – but it could be later.

 

COVID – Kingston – Ontario

Three new cases of COVID 19 were reported in Kingston yesterday and KFL&A Public Health says two of those cases involve health care workers at Family Health Teams in Kingston.

Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, says they had 30 to 40 close contacts…but minimal contact with patients at the Family Health Teams.  Both people are in self-isolation.

Ontario reported 100 new cases yesterday bringing the total to 688.

There is now a total of 3,409 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada.

 

Looking for Hospital Space

KFL&A Public Health is looking for hospital space as the number of COVID-19 cases grows.

It will be visiting facilities at Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College today to determine if dorm rooms can be used for additional hospital beds or as negative pressure rooms for isolation of COVID-19 patients.

Dr. Kieran Moore says they have also requested the use of facilities at CFB Kingston and CFB Trenton for inmates in federal prisons who get the coronavirus.

 

Making Personal Protection Equipment

Queen’s University has partnered with St. Lawrence College, the local library and Kingston residents to used three D printers to make masks and shields for healthcare professionals.

The equipment is not being used to replace current masks and shields.  The prototypes have been approved and will act as a reserve if current supplies run out.

 

Travelers – Quarantine

Travelers who fail to self-isolate for 14 days after crossing the border into Canada face fines of up to 750-thousand dollars and six months in jail under new federal restrictions.

The federal government says the mandatory isolation is vital to protect the health and safety of Canadians.

 

Kingston – Property Tax

The city of Kingston says it is offering property tax relief to property owners.

But – you won’t be getting off the hook for actually paying.

The city says it will waive the April 1st and May 1st monthly penalty and interest charges on tax arrears.

And… if you request it…the city will defer April 1st and May 1st property tax installments to November 1st and December 1st.  The city’s ten-month installment plan for property taxes doesn’t normally include payments in November and December.

 

Arrest – Fire

A 20-year-old man has been arrested following a fire at 559 Princess Street.

Kingston Fire and Rescue was dispatched to the former Ontario Addictions Treatment Centre late yesterday morning.  Police say there were people in the empty building at the time the fire started. They escaped without being injured.  There is now word yet on what charges the man will be facing.

 

Conservative Leadership

The Conservative MP for Hastings, Lennox and Addington is one of four leadership candidates who has met the deadline to run for the leadership of the Conservative party.

Derek Sloan got the three-thousand signatures and paid $300,000 to have his application approved by party officials by the yesterday’s deadline.

The three others who will be running to replace Andrew Scheer are Peter MacKay, Erin O’Toole and Toronto lawyer Leslyn Lewis.