Niagara given funds to improve ER care

The province is injecting funds into Niagara to help improve emergency care. The region will receive $817,579 that will fund dedicated nursing hours in order to reduce emergency wait times. The Ontario government is providing funding to 20 municipalities for 300,000 dedicated emergency room nursing hours at 49 hospitals this year. Those dedicated nurses will work exclusively on receiving low-acuity patients from ambulances, which will allow paramedics to respond to other 911 calls in the community, rather than waiting in the emergency room. Patients arriving at hospitals by ambulance with life-threatening conditions will continue to be given priority by hospital staff.

St. Catharines driver charged with stunting in NOTL

A 24-year-old St. Catharines man has been charged with stunting after he was clocked driving 144 km/h in an 80-km/h zone in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The driver, whose name has not been released, was observed by police on Four Mile Creek Road. His vehicle was impounded for seven days and his driver’s licence suspended for seven days. If convicted, stunting fines range from $2,000 to $10,000.

Two arrests in NOTL stabbing

Two people have been arrested following a stabbing in Niagara-on-theLake early Sunday. At 4:20 a.m., Niagara Regional Police responded to reports of a stabbing on Line 2 Road. Initial investigation revealed a female suffered multiple injuries from a stabbing that occurred after an altercation. She was taken to a local hospital and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening. Collea Dubinsky and Barrington Brown, both of Hamilton, are each charged with one count of aggravated assault.

Falling tree branch injures two

Two people were taken to hospital for treatment after a large tree limb fell in Queen Victoria Park, Tuesday afternoon. Four bystanders in the area “came into contact with the falling branch,” said Tony Baldinelli, spokesman for the Niagara Parks Commission. A woman from England and woman from Ontario were taken by ambulance to the Greater Niagara General Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries. NPC forestry staff, which were in the vicinity doing preventive maintenance work, removed debris and assessed the condition of the silver maple. Baldinelli said forestry staff are assessing all large trees at Queen Victoria Park, including other silver maples.