KEDCO

The Kingston Economic Development Corporation has failed to reach its targets for the final year of its existence in its current form.

The chair of the KEDCO Board, Shay Dubey, told its annual general meeting yesterday it attracted $18.6 million dollars of investment and 80 new jobs in the past year.

That far short of bold predictions it made of attracting 1,000 jobs a year and investments of $100million a year for five years.

KEDCO is being split into two organizations – one for tourism – the other for economic development after City council approved a report of the committee reviewing the agency.

Fire Investigation

Investigators say they’re confident they’ll find the cause of a fire that claimed the life of a Loyalist Township firefighter.  The Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Napanee OPP and the Coroner’s Office.  Firefighter Patrick Pidgeon died from injuries he suffered in the fire on Saturday evening.

The apartment complex has been evacuated while the investigation is ongoing.

CRA – iTunes

Attention – the Canada Revenue Agency does not accept iTunes gift cards for payment.

Police say a 63 year old Kingston woman was duped into buying almost $14,000 in iTunes cards after getting a threatening phone call from someone claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency.

They had been redeemed by the time she realized she was the victim of fraud.

It’s not the first time it has happened in Kingston.

In May…Kingston Police reported a woman was talked into buying $3,000 in iTunes gift cards by a man claiming she owed $90,000 in back taxes.

Kingston Schools – Fix Up Cash

The Ontario government has announced $21 million in funding to repair schools in the riding of Kingston and the Islands.  The announcement yesterday is additional funding over the next two years for things like roof repairs, updated HVAC units, electrical and plumbing systems.

The money is going to both the Limestone District School Board and Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District Board.

Lock Closing

Boaters won’t be able to use the Kingston Mills Locks after 2 p.m. today because repairs are needed.

Crews will begin repair work on a gate at the locks after the last boats go through this afternoon.  The closure will not affect the bridge or traffic on Kingston Mills Road.

Howe Island Ferry

The County operated Howe Island Ferry is going out of service for two hours this morning.

The ferry will be undergoing regularly scheduled maintenance for 2hours starting at 9:30 this morning.

History File

From Tony’s today in history file…It was ten years ago today that 15 year old Jenna Lambert became the first woman with a disability to swim across Lake Ontario…coming ashore in Kingston.  Lambert was born with cerebral palsy and couldn’t use her legs for the swim.

Filed under: CRA, Fire Investigation, History File, Howe Island Ferry, iTunes, KEDCO, Kingston Mills Locks, Kingston Schools, Lock Closing, Napanee, Patrick Pidgeon