We end the week on a wet and gloomy note, but our lead story is a heartening example of humanity at its best and bravest, as two Belleville police officers are honoured for their heroic acts. Primary health care remains a key concern across our area, and two of our stories today, from Cornwall and Prescott, deal with municipalities struggling to ensure locals' access to doctors. In Kingston, police ask the public for help in locating two missing teenaged brothers, while in Brockville the area elects a new United Counties warden. Also from Belleville today, a warning to all about the dangers of radon. Scroll down to read these and other stories from our newsrooms across Eastern Ontario.
|
|
|
The top stories from across our region |
Sgt. Brad Stitt, left, was honoured Thursday in a meeting of the Belleville Police Services Board with a commendation from Chief Murray Rodd for selflessly entering a burning home at 85 Purdy St. and helping two residents escape to safety. PHOTO BY DEREK BALDWIN/The Belleville Intelligencer |
Police officers commended for brave actions on duty
Sgt. Brad Stitt was honoured Thursday in a meeting of the Belleville Police Services Board with a commendation from Chief Murray Rodd for selflessly entering a burning home at 85 Purdy St. and helping two residents escape to safety.
There were two explosions that rocked the neighbourhood in the fire where Stitt first saw black smoke and drove to find the source on Oct. 14. When he arrived, he searched the home for anyone trapped in the blaze.
Footage from his body-worn camera shown to the board and gallery in city council chambers captured the moments Stitt helped the man out of the home and then hunted in the smoke-filled residence for a female resident who was in a wheelchair. |
|
|
Pictured right, Cornwall Coun. Fred Ngoundjo asks Chief of Police Shawna Spowart 2025 budget related questions, as fellow councillors listen, on Wednesday Nov. 20, 2024 in Cornwall, Ont. PHOTO BY SHAWNA O'NEILL /Cornwall Standard-Freeholder |
Cornwall councillor asks about reserve for new police station
Chief of Police Shawna Spowart answered council’s questions on Wednesday pertaining to the 2025 Cornwall Police Service (CPS) budget for 2025, which has an increase of 4.98 per cent. The burning question for some was how planning and budgeting for a new police station, estimated at $55 million, is coming along.
Coun. Sarah Good said there was nothing in the budget related to building a new police station, and asked Spowart what stage the project is in. Spowart said the project is in stage two of five, which includes conceptual design and community consultation. Good asked if there is a possibility of building the new station beside the Cornwall Fire Services (CFS) station that is being built in the north end of the city. |
Cornwall councillors impatient on medical recruitment
A move to place the annual budget for medical recruitment under the economic development department had some Cornwall councillors eager to express the dire need for general physicians within the city. Economic development manager Bob Peters explained the $200,000 the city sets aside to fund its medical recruitment programs used to be a standalone budget line but will now be integrated into the economic development budget. Cornwall currently offers a medical scholarship program and a medical recruitment program, both of which provide money in exchange for agreements those receiving the funds will set up a practice in Cornwall. The explanation gave Coun. Claude McIntosh the opening to unleash some frustration on the lack of general physicians accepting new patients in the area, given another family doctor practising in the city has announced their pending departure. |
The Cornwall Standard-Freeholder newsroom would love to hear from you. To reach just this newsroom, email csf.news@sunmedia.ca. |
|
|
Newly-elected United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Warden Corinna Smith-Gatcke reacts to her colleagues' applause after being sworn in on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 PHOTO BY RONALD ZAJAC/The Brockville Recorder and Times |
Corinna Smith-Gatcke is new United Counties warden
Corinna Smith-Gatcke, mayor of the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, is the new warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
Smith-Gatcke beat out Rideau Lakes Mayor Arie Hoogenboom in a secret ballot among the 10 counties councillors at the inaugural meeting of the new warden’s term on Thursday morning.
When outgoing warden Nancy Peckford placed the chain of office on her Leeds County colleague, history was made, as this is the first time in the United Counties’ 174 years that one woman has succeeded another for the top job. |
South Grenville councils mull supporting family health team MAITLAND – It’s not just physician recruitment that has garnered the attention of local elected officials.
How to help retain the health-care services offered by the Prescott Family Health Team generated considerable discussion at a South Grenville tri-council meeting held at the fire hall in Maitland on Tuesday night. Sixteen of the 17 members of municipal councils in Augusta, Prescott and Edwardsburgh Cardinal attended the session.
The health team operates the only medical clinic in the South Grenville area. In addition to three family physicians, primary-care resources offered at the clinic on King Street West in Prescott include a physician’s assistant and a nurse practitioner as well as a social worker, dietitian and a range of preventative programs. |
The Brockville Recorder & Times newsroom would love to hear from you. To reach just this newsroom, email rzajac@postmedia.com. |
|
|
John Claus,15, and Arthur Claus,14, were last seen by family on Nov. 16 at approximately 3 p.m. in the area of Division Street and Conacher Avenue in Kingston. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KINGSTON POLICE
|
Two teen brothers reported missing in Kingston
Kingston Police are asking the public for help in locating two teenaged boys last seen on Sunday.
Police say two brothers, John Claus,15, and Arthur Claus,14, were last seen by family on Nov. 16 at approximately 3 p.m. in the area of Division Street and Conacher Avenue in Kingston.
Police say the boys are likely in the Smiths Falls area, but that they may also be travelling between there and Kingston. |
Kingston cannabis dispensary raided by police, again Police in Kingston raided an illegal cannabis dispensary for the second time this month, this time seizing close to $200,000 worth of contraband.
Kingston Police say they raided the unlicensed dispensary at the corner of Queen and Division streets on Tuesday, six days after shutting down the storefront and making around $170,000 worth of seizures last week. Police first searched and shut down the property on Nov. 13 but soon after they “received further information” that the dispensary reopened days later. |
The Kingston Whig-Standard newsroom would love to hear from you. To reach just this newsroom, email whig.local@sunmedia.ca. |
|
|
Drs. Dustin Pearson, left, and Aaron Goodarzi work in the Environmental Cancer Research Hub of Alberta's Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute. Pearson was the lead analyst of the Cross-Canada Radon Survey; Goodarzi was the study's scientific lead. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
|
|
|
