Demolition – Springer Project

The Springer Group has agreed to delay demolition of a building at the corner of Princess and Wellington Street to allow for more consultation with a heritage consultant.

Officials will try to work out the details of the proposed new Bank of Nova Scotia building on the site.  Plans call for a modern stone and glass building – but one that will fit in with the heritage of the area instead of the current stucco building.

A report on the project is scheduled to go to Kingston City Council next Tuesday.

Graphic Anti-Abortion Protest

Some people in Kingston got a shock and say they were offended by graphic signs being used during an anti-abortion protest.

The Show the Truth Canada campaign returned to the area yesterday.

Members of the pro-life group raised eyebrows by carrying large posters that contain graphic images.

People complained that children had no choice in being exposed to the images and took to Facebook to criticize the campaign.  Supporters say the pictures provide the visual evidence that abortion kills a child.

TI Park

The federal government has announced it is spending $7.7 on improvements at Thousand Islands National Park.

Work will be done to improve day use and visitor facilities.

Thousand Islands National Park welcomes more than 55,000 visitors every year and over 80% are return visitors and stay an average of more than five days.

Fire Chief Retiring

Kingston’s Fire Chief is retiring after being on the job in the Limestone City for 2 and half years.

Rheaume Chaput announced his retirement yesterday.

He’ll be officially leaving on August 31st.

Chaput took over as chief of Kingston Fire and Rescue in January of 2013 after being the chief in Belleville for five years.

He started his career in emergency services in Pembroke 33 years ago.

The city says it will appoint an interim chief before the end of August and the process to hire a new chief will begin soon.

Murder Suspect – Woman Arrested

A 20 year old Kingston woman has been arrested on a warrant after failing to appear in court on an attempted murder charge last month.

Kingston Police issued an arrest warrant for Sara Smith and last week issued a request for the public to help track her down.

Police say they got a tip from the public and arrested Smith in a wooded area near a campground on Saturday.

She’s now behind bars and faces additional charges of breach of recognizance and failing to attend court.

Smith was charged with attempted murder following the stabbing of an 18 year old woman on Compton Street in December of 2013.

ATV Fatal

A 53-year-old man from Oakville has died in Kingston General Hospital after an all-terrain vehicle accident near Northbrook, in the Township of Addington Highlands.

The man driving the vehicle lost control on a curve and rolled over twice on a trail Saturday morning.

His 14-year-old son was following on another ATV.

The man was airlifted to Kingston where he died.

The OPP says there have been 10 deaths involving off road vehicles this year in Ontario…the highest number since 2009.

Soccer Field Lights

The soccer field at St. Lawrence College will be open for use later in the evening thanks to the installation of new lights.

The $265,000 project was made possible with contributions from the student government, Churchill Foundation and Kingston Women’s Soccer Club.

City council has granted the college a noise bylaw exemption that will allow whistles until 9 p.m.

It will mean the soccer field at St. Lawrence will be available for use later in the evening during the spring and fall.

Graffiti – Amherstview

The OPP is hoping the public will be able to help it track down a graffiti artist who used spray paint on an electrical building at the soccer field in Amherstview.

A six foot image of an alien was spray painted on the brick building on Amherst Drive.  A new release from the OPP says it believes the vandalism took place at 1:54 a.m. yesterday.

Anyone with information on the person responsible for the graffiti is being asked to contact the OPP.

A news release from police says, under the Parental Responsibility Act, parents are financially responsible for property loss, damage or destruction intentionally caused by children who are under 18 years of age.