News
From the heart of Prince Edward County, I’m Patrick Lewis with your County FM
News.
House Fire, InQuinte – We have an update on this mornings house fire in Belleville.
Belleville Firefighters had responded to the scene of an active house fire in the 200 block of William Street (near Queen Street) around 5:30 this morning. Firefighters removed one person from the house while two others were able to escape on their own. Two people were taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. No word yet on the extent of the damage or the cause.
Bust in Belleville, InQuinte – Three people were arrested in a drug bust yesterday in Belleville when Members of the Belleville Police Drug Unit executed a Controlled Drugs Substance Act search warrant in the city’s east end with the assistance of the Belleville Police K9 and Emergency Response Unit. Police seized: about a gram of Crystal Methamphetamine, more than 150 grams of Cocaine, trafficing paraphanalia and under $500 in cash. As a result the trio were charged with a host of posession and traffiking charges.
Federal Dismissiles, CTV – The federal government recorded more than 2,600 cases of employee misconduct and wrongdoing last year, resulting in at least 145 terminations and 783 suspensions without pay. The misconduct and wrongdoing allegations run the gamut from sleeping on duty to sexual harassment, racial discrimination, workplace violence, privacy breaches, timesheet fraud, inappropriate social media posts and the theft of government property like computers and cellphones. While termination was the most severe consequence, public servants were also subject to 705 written reprimands and 1,048 other disciplinary or administrative measures, including demotion, rejection of probation, mandatory training and financial penalties.
***Plane Slide, CBC – Passengers aboard a Porter Airlines flight spent an extra 2 1⁄2 hours on the plane last night after it slid into the snow after landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.
The flight, which was travelling from Toronto, landed amid heavy snow conditions.
Samuel Gaboury was aboard the flight and said it landed fine, but started to slide on the runway. Eventually, crews were able to bring the stairs to the plane and passengers disembarked and boarded buses that took them to the terminal. There were no reported injuries.
Korean Leadership, AP – South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers today that it believes the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is close to being designated as the country’s future leader as he moves to extend the family dynasty to a fourth generation.
The assessment by the National Intelligence Service comes as North Korea is preparing to hold its biggest political conference later this month, where Kim is expected to outline his major policy goals for the next five years and take steps to tighten his authoritarian grip.
Alberta Separatists, Reuters – Separatists in Alberta are ramping up a petition campaign aimed at triggering an independence vote in the western province that has long complained its economy is being held back by the rest of Canada.
Volunteer canvassers are hoping to collect by May 2 approximately 177,000 signatures, or 10 per cent of the province’s registered voters, the threshold required to launch a citizen-led referendum on separation from Canada.
Recent polling shows separatist sentiment is not backed by the majority in Alberta, with 71 per cent of residents polled wanting to remain in Canada. But nearly one in five people support the idea of Alberta becoming an independent country, according to polling this month by Leger.
Sports
Canadian freestyle ski star Mikael Kingsbury has won a silver medal in the men’s moguls event at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The 33-year-old from Deux-Montagnes, Que. sailed to his fourth Olympic medal, just behind Australia’s Cooper Woods. Japan’s Ikuma Horishima won the bronze with an 83.44 score. It’s the fourth Olympic medal for Kingsbury, who won gold in Pyeongchang in 2018 and silver in Sochi in 2014 and Beijing 2022.
Canada’s Eliot Grondin claims silver in a tight mens olympic snowboard cross final. Grondin’s second-place finish against Austrian Alessandro Haemmerle marks a repeat of the gold-silver results at Beijing 2022.
Back at home The picton pirates will host the Amhurstview Jets tonight at the PEC Community Centre. Puck drops at the usual 7:30. The Jets and Pirates are in 4th and 5th place respectively with a two point spread.
The North York Rangers will be in Wellington tonight to take on the Dukes. Puck drops at the Lehigh arena at 7:30. “That’s your County FM News, I’m (Patrick Lewis) – With news from across the County and Around the World on the Voice of the County – 99.3 County FM”
