401 Crash

Traffic is moving again on the 401 east of Gananoque after it was closed for about 32 hours following a multi-vehicle collision and chemical spill.  The highway reopened shortly before 10 last night.

The driver of the tanker truck carrying the toxic chemical died.  He has been identified as 45-year-old Ian Melville of Hamilton.  The cleanup is continuing and the Ministry of Environment will be working with the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority to assure there is no contamination to groundwater.

Fatal Crash

A single vehicle crash on Wolfe Island has claimed the life of a 36 year old woman.

Courtney Whyman died when her vehicle crashed on County Road 96 early Sunday afternoon.  It’s believed Whyman was on her way to the Wolfe Island Ferry terminal when she lost control of her vehicle and it crashed.

Human Trafficking

Kingston Police have charged an 18 year old man from Quinte West with recruiting two 16 year old Kingston girls as escorts.

Police say one of the girls actually ran off with the man after he offered them lots of money, shopping trips, clothing, dinners, alcohol and marijuana.  She was found in Port Hope after contacting her mother saying she wanted to get away from him.  He now faces charges of sexual assault, forcible confinement and procuring persons under 18 for sexual services.

Child Pornography

An 18 year old Kingston man has been charged with three counts of possession and distribution of child pornography.

Kingston Police executed a search warrant in Kingston on March 10th and seized several devices they say contained images of child pornography.

Amherstview – Domestic Abuse

A disturbing case of domestic abuse has been uncovered by Kingston Police.

Police say a 70-year-old man from Amherstview has been charged after investigators uncovered 40 years of domestic abuse.

Kingston Police started their investigation on March 2nd.  They say the man abused his wife and children on many occasions and the abuse often involved him holding a knife at their neck or chest.

The man was arrested at police headquarters on Tuesday of this week and charged with three counts of assault, assault with a weapon and uttering death threats.

Obit – Lavallee

The sports community is remembering a tough hockey player who also had a love of baseball.

Garry Lavallee died last Saturday while he was on vacation in Florida.  Lavallee would have been 72 later this month.

He’s being remember for playing on Kingston championship hockey teams in the 1960’s and his work with the Kingscourt Baseball Association.

Hockey historian Mark Potter says Lavallee was known for being as tough as nails and it would be hard to find any other local hockey player who won as much as Lavallee did.

A celebration of his life is being planned for this spring.

Farm Equipment – Ferry Battle

A court battle is in the cards over Frontenac County lifting restrictions for farm vehicles on the Howe Island Ferry.  The County announced yesterday it would stand by its decision and will defend it in court.

A group of residents on Howe Island wants a judicial review of the decision to allow farm vehicles on the ferry between 6:30 and 8:30 in the morning and 4 to 6 p.m.

The County says it made the decision because of government legislation that prevents restrictions on farming and food production – but the group filing for a judicial review says it was made without proper public consultation.

Water Safety

The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority is warning people to stay off ice on area waterways despite the recent cold snap.  It says ice conditions remain poor throughout the region and it is asking people to stay off ice on streams and lakes.

Filed under: 401 Crash, Amherstview, Child Pornography, Domestic Abuse, Farm Equipment, Fatal Crash, Ferry Battle, Human Trafficking, Lavallee, Obituary, Quinte West, Water Safety