Amherst Island – Ice Rescue

 

A man ice fishing on the south shore of Amherst Island had to be rescued when the piece of ice he was on broke away and drifted into the open water of Lake Ontario. The man floated on the piece of ice off the west end of the island for almost two hours on Saturday morning.

A search and rescue helicopter from CFB Trenton was called out around 10:30 a.m. Saturday.  The man was hoisted onto the helicopter and it landed in the pasture at Topsy Farms on Amherst Island where he was transferred to medical care.

 

Terrorism Update

 

The youth facing terrorism charges after being arrested in Kingston last week will make a video appearance after being formally charged on Friday.

The suspect is charged with knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity and counselling someone to use an explosive or other lethal device to cause death or serious bodily injury.

Police say no actual device was ever planted and no specific target was identified.  But there was an explosive device.  It was found at a home on Macdonnell Street and was detonated by police.

A 20-year-old Syrian refugee arrested at the home on Macdonnell Street was released without being charged.

The R-C-M-P say as many as 300 people contributed to the investigation that resulted in the youth in Kingston being arrested on the terrorism charges. Agencies assisting the R-C-M-P in the case included the F-B-I, Kingston police, the OPP, the Canada Border Services Agency and the federal agency that tracks suspicious financial activities.

 

Budget – City of Kingston

 

It’s budget time for Kingston City Council.

City staff has prepared the budget for 2019.  It is recommending an operating budget of $338 million and a capital budget of almost $52 million.

The report from City Treasurer Desiree Kennedy says the budget for this year maintains council’s guideline of a 2.5 per cent tax increase.

Utilities Kingston is also asking for approval of an operating budget of $36 million as part of a four-year, $154-million plan and a four year capital budget of $69 million.

Council is scheduled to meet tonight, tomorrow night and Wednesday night to finalize the budgets.

 

CMHA – Kingston Fund Raising

 

The Kingston office of the Canadian Mental Health Association is celebrating its 40th anniversary – but says it need to raise $40,000 to continue providing services.

It has launched what’s called Campaign 40 to try and raise the money from corporate sponsors and community members.  CMHA Kingston gets 27 per cent of its budget from the United Way but has the raise the rest.

It says one out of every four people has mental health issues.

You can donate online at www.cmhakingston.com

Former board member Jessica Bayne Hogan has pledged to match donations up to $25,000.

 

 

Filed under: Kingston, terrorism