The price of gasoline went up 3 1/2 cents in the past week to an average 1-02.5 a litre across Canada. Its about to get a whole lot more expensive in Ontario, as of tomorrow, as an extra 8 per cent will be added with the imposition of the HST. In anticipation that some motorists might try hoarding gas and creating a ‘run’, we’re heard of at least one company limiting gas sales today to $50. In Sault, Ontario the going rate will jump from $1.01 to $1.09 a litre.

In responding to an accident last evening in Elliot Lake, OPP ended up arresting and charging a 57-year old Elliot Lake man with two counts of assault and dangerous operation of a vehicle. Police were called to the Westview Campground and on the scene they were told that the accused was advised not to put items into a dumpster which led to the assaults reportedly involving two other males. Charged is Robert Laronde.

The Chairman of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors has expressed strong opposition to a decision made yesterday by the Michigan Gaming Control Board regarding the licence of the Greektown Casino. After more than 2-years in Chapter 11 reorganization, the board transferred the licence of the casino from the Sault Tribe to another group of investors. It is anticipated that ownership of the casino will be legally transferred to the group next week. Speaking on behalf of the board, Chairman Joe McCoy says the decision was made after a relatively abbreviated background check of the new owners. McCoy claims the board ignored concerns raised by State Representative Gary McDowell and Northern Congressman Bart Stupak and abandoned its own rules and the process it has used over the years to licence casino owners.

The Chippewa County Health Department is reporting that the Sherman Park beach in Sault, Michigan is closed due to high bacteria levels in the water. Residents there are being advised to avoid body contact with the water surface at Sherman Park and the surrounding area. The department is also issuing a no body contact with the water advisory for the north shore of Sugar Island with Lake George Channel because of high E.coli levels in the water there. The area from 55 North Westshore Drive to 1175 North Westshore Drive should avoid the waters of the St. Mary’s River at this time. The health department will notify the public when the no body contact advisories are lifted.

City Police arrested 28 year old Kimberly Rankin of no fixed address for breaching probation and possession for the purpose of trafficking when found with 21 packages of crack cocaine. A 38 year old male was also nabbed with a small amount of pot and charged with possession.

43 year old Lore-Lei Gabow of Poplar Avenue was arrested yesterday on a number of charges including shoplifting at Canadian Tire. A 16 year old boy was arrested for shoplifting at Sears.

Breakins were reported at homes in the 100 blocks of Walnut, Park Place and Grace Street yesterday with electronic items and a bicycle reportedly stolen. There was an attempted breakin on Atwater.

Construction equipment was damaged in the 1100 block of Old Goulais Bay Road. And more vehicles were reported broken into around town.

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The International Lake Superior Board of Control is out with its numbers for the month of June. The board reports that Lake Superior levels rose by 10 centimetres this month, while Michigan-Huron levels went up by 13 centimetres. The lake levels usually rise by an average of 6 and a half centimetres during June. Despite the increases, the lake levels remain well below the levels that were recorded at this time a year ago. Lake Superior’s levels are down 16 centimetres lower than in June 2009. The levels of Lakes Michigan-Huron are down 19 centimetres below where they were at this time last year. The board expects Lake Superior to rise in July, but Lakes Michigan-Huron should remain stable.

The Greyhounds had the 38th overall pick in today’s import draft and with it they selected Egor Omelyanenko from the Moscow Spartak Russian Under 17 team. He’s a 6-foot 175 pound forward.

The Hounds also made a trade today shipping defenseman Marshall Fox to the Barrie Colts for a couple of draft picks. The draft picks involve Sarnia’s 3rd round pick in 2011 and Barrie’s 7th round pick in 2012.

A public information session will be held tonight on St. Joseph Island concerning garlic mustard. Garlic mustard poses a long term threat to sugar maple and hardwood forests. Presentations will be made on the identification, biology, inpacts, management and disposal of this invasive plant. The session is scheduled to get underway at 7 tonight and continues until 9 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Richards Landing.

City Police arrested 18 year old Thomas Agawa of no fixed address – around 1:30 this morning, after a rock had been thrown through a window at the Mac’s on Gore Street . He was also found to have what’s believed to be ecstasy in his possession and breached four conditions of an earlier probation.

34 year old Alliette Marin of MacDonald Avenue was charged with assaulting another female at her home yesterday afternoon.

18 year old Cameron Hurly of Denwood Drive was charged with assaulting a person by placing a burning item against his skin, on two occasions – and then stealing his ballcap last night.

A breakin was reported to a home in the 400 block of Queen Street West – where some electronic items were stolen.

There were more vehicles entered with items including electronics and car parts stolen.

And a window was broken at a home in the 100 block of Gladstone Avenue.

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Members of City Council were given the latest information last night regarding the Huron Central Rail line. Bill Theriault addressed council about the situation — he is confident a ‘provincial territorial agreement’ will be signed very soon. Theriault says the lack of a funding agreement or funding mechanism earlier is the main reason why a long-term deal hasn’t been finalized before now. When asked if there was any potential for the ‘green’ or tourism sectors as a result of the potential long-term deal to keep the line open, Theriault was not confident that would happen at this time. Groups such the Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains had been hoping tourism and the environment would be included in any future rail line plans. But Theriault says the line would be better off being a corridor for steel, forest and mining goods between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. He also mentioned that long-term leases are being worked out by Canadian Pacific and Huron Central — no dollar amounts were mentioned, but Theriault did say that any lease would have to be for at least five years. Theriault says the agreement that would allow 30 million dollars in funding from Ottawa and Queen’s Park for infrastructure for the rail line could be signed as early as this week.