Three members of a Montreal family are looking at life in prison after being convicted in Kingston yesterday of four counts of first-degree murder each.
Mohammad Shafia, his wife Tooba Yahya, and their son Hamed were convicted of killing the family’s three daughters and Shafia’s first wife, and all face an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Prosecutors alleged the daughters died because they defied the family’s rules on dress, dating, socializing and going online.
Judge Robert Maranger called their actions cold-blooded and honourless.
Kingston police are reminding drivers to take it extra slow and to leave extra space between vehicles on area roadways today, following a number of accidents in the city over the past couple of days.
One accident yesterday, saw a vehicle collide with the Popeye’s restaurant at Gardiners Road and Taylor Kidd Blvd, causing damages to the building.
Police are still searching for the driver who failed to remain at the scene.
Federal Green party Leader, Elizabeth May, will visit Kingston tomorrow.
May will be in Ban Righ Hall from noon until 1:00 p.m., and will talk about the life of a one-person party in the House Of Commons, and is expected to speak about Canada’s performance during recent climate talks in Durban.
May will also speak about areas where MPs have individual rights, making amendments, submitting petitions and engaging in debates on all legislation.
Windstream Energy has signed a deal with three local companies for its 300 megawatt Wolfe Island Shoals offshore wind power project.
Anchor Concrete Products Ltd., George A. Wright and Son Ltd. and M. Sullivan and Son Ltd. will provide on-site maintenance and concrete for the project and will build the dock and shore facilities within Kingston.
A recent study conducted by Windstream estimates approximately 1,900 jobs will be created in Ontario during the first five years of the project’s construction.
“Kingston has a talented pool of labour, and companies with the high tech skills needed to complete these complex jobs. Today’s announcement strengthens the Kingston community by finding quality jobs for our students and encouraging them to establish roots in our community. Kingston is looking forward to being part of the first offshore wind power project in North America.” stated Mark Gerretsen, Mayor of the City of Kingston.
OPP are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing Trenton man, last seen at his residence on Sunday morning.
Peter Vesterfest, is described as a mentally-delayed 63-year-old, between 115 and 120 pounds, with short grey hair. He was last seen wearing a long grey winter coat with blue jeans, and black shoes with holes in the toes.
Police say it is not uncommon for Vesterfest to leave for a day or two, however, he normally keeps in contact with his residence.
Vesterfelt is known to frequent local churches, along with the Salvation Army in Trenton and Belleville.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
Community members, parents, students and staff in Kingston’s east end are being asked to vote on the list of names chosen for the region’s new school.
The Limestone District School Board is asking residents to vote for their favourite name, which has been narrowed down to 12 possibilities.
Voting can only be done online and residents have until this Friday at 4:00 p.m. to vote, before results will be sent to the Kingston East Integration Committee next Tuesday.
The committee will then send LDSB Trustees the names of 3-5 finalists in early February.
An International project at Queen’s received a huge boost from the Federal Government today.
This afternoon it was announced that 1.3-million has been awarded to an initiative, aimed at strengthening maternal, child health and disability programs in Bangladesh.
The project is one of several launched under the Government of Canada’s Muskoka Initiative on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH).
Under the Initiative, established in 2010, Canada has committed $1.1-billion in new funding for maternal, newborn, and child health.
The three-year project will wrap-up in 2015.
The city is asking residents to comment on the proposed changes to John Machin Sports Fields Park in the east end.
Proposed improvements include a permanent park washroom building and an artificial turf soccer field with sports lighting.
You can comment on the plan by visiting the city of Kingston website or in-person at a meeting Feb. 15th at LaSalle Secondary School.
Tickets are now on sale for next month’s Oldtimer’s Hockey Challenge at the K-R-C.
The February 13th game between police officers and former N-H-L players is in support of the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics.
Hall of Famer Ray Bourque will captain the Bruins alumni team that will also feature Rick Middleton and Terry O’Reilly.
If you have used batteries or old cell phone’s lying around, the City of Kingston is offering to properly dispose of them, free of charge.
New battery-shaped collection bins have been placed in the lobbies at City Hall and the Invista Centre, for spent batteries or small electronics, such as cell phones.
Officials are reminding people that spent batteries are considered household hazardous waste, and should not be put out with your weekly garbage.
The office at the Kingston Area Recycling Centre, on Lappan’s Lane, also accepts items when the Household Hazardous Waste facility is closed.
The Canadian PGA Tour will be coming to Smuggler’s Glen Golf Course in September.
The announcement was made today at Glen House Resort in the Thousand Islands.
This is the first time the Canadian men’s PGA tour will hold a tournament in our region.
The event, is expected to be held September 6th through to the 9th, 2012.
Local groups and individuals in Kingston will be presenting their ideas tonight, in hope’s of winning a $1,000.00 grant from the Awesome Kingston Chapter.
A pitch party will be held at the Four Points Sheraton in the Old Stones Bar and Grill from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. for the five finalists chosen to pitch their idea.
“As trustees, our goal is greater than distributing $1000 each month to an awesome idea” says Awesome Kingston Trustee Darcie Kelly. “We also want to help build awareness and profile in Kingston for all our grant applicant’s projects and hope the example of our generosity inspires other Kingstonians to make personal contributions of time and talent to any awesome idea!”
The foundation for the Arts and Science, distributes a series of monthly $1000 grants to projects and their creators in the city, and has awarded two, $1,000.00 grants since it was founded in November 2011.
