Extreme Weather

Rain and wind warnings have been issued as the remnants of hurricane Patricia move across southern Ontario today.  Environment Canada says the Kingston area could get 45 to 55 millimetres of rain and warns that could lead to water pooling on roads and washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.

It says strong wind gust today could bring down tree branches, cause power outages and other damage.

The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority says widespread flooding is not expected as a result of the amount of rainfall being predicted…but says there is the potential of some flooding in low lying areas.

The conservation authority and Utilities Kingston are asking people to clear leaves and debris from catch basins to allow water to drain from streets.

Power Failure

Some people had to do without power until late last night after a widespread power failure hit the area from Kingston to Gananoque and north to Highway 7.

It was caused by a problem with electrical control and protection equipment at the Hydro One substation at Division Street and John Counter Boulevard in Kingston.

The power went out around 9:30 yesterday morning.

Some people had power restored in about half an hour while others waited for most of the day while Hydro One made repairs at the substation.

Utilities Kingston issued a notice yesterday asking people to conserve energy to help avoid other power outages because the system is fragile.

SIU Investigation – Cop Cleared

A Kingston Police officer has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the arrest of a man in a burning house on Crossfield Avenue in January.  The province’s Special Investigation Unit actually commended the officers involved in the arrest of a man and says the officer who decided to go into the home did nothing wrong.

The report says it was a textbook example of the circumstance that permits police to enter a home without a warrant.

Officers went into the home when the man refused to come out.

He was armed with a knife and stabbed himself in the neck when police broke into a bedroom.  He was tasered and taken to Kingston General Hospital.  The 42 year old man was charged with two counts of arson.

Emergency Entrance Re-opens

The entrance to the emergency department at Kingston General Hospital returns to its regular location this morning.

The hospital says construction work on the ramp off of King Street has been completed and it will be open for use starting at eight this morning.

United Way

The United Way campaign in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington has hit the 50% mark.

The campaign thermometer hit almost $1.7 million dollars yesterday…six weeks into the campaign.

The goal this year is $3.4 million and the campaign wraps up on November 30th.