The province is supporting a new two-year Home Inspection Technician (Co-op) diploma program at Sault College that is the first of its kind in Ontario. The new program will teach students about residential home construction so that they can assist home builders and conduct home inspections, David Orazietti, MPP announced today. Orazietti says the program will attract students from across the province. Sault College President Doctor Ron Common expressed his satisfaction over the support and the development of the program from TV personality Mike Holmes. The Home Inspection Technician (Co-op) program is a two-year, Ontario College Diploma program that will include a combination of classroom, laboratory and workshop learning so that students are highly qualified to enter the home inspection field. The program also includes a co-op work placement to ensure graduates have work experience to compliment their academic studies.

City Commissioners approved the selection of John R. Riley as the new police chief in Sault, Michigan at a special meeting this afternoon. But the approval was not unanimous — it was accepted by a 4 to 1 vote in favour. City Manager Spencer Nebel told EZ Rock News that Commissioner Bill Lynn voted against, thinking more consideration should have been given to local candidates for the top cop job. Riley moves north after more than 20 years with the police force in Center Line — a city situated between Warren and Detroit. Riley was hired in 1986 as that city’s Public Safety Officer. Other jobs worked while at Center Line include Supervisor of the Detective Bureau and Interim Director of Public Safety.

Dylan Jocko has also been tied in to a weekend incident in which a truck was stolen and became involved in an accident. Early Saturday evening, city police received a report of a Chevy truck that had been left unattended and running in a driveway on Morrison Avenue to warm up, was stolen. 7-minutes later police received a call that a truck lost control and struck the front porch of a home at the corner of John Street and Byrne Avenue. Officers discovered it was the same truck and three occupants had fled the scene on foot. Besides Jocko, police arrested and charged 27-year old Melissa Elkin of Wallace Terrace. There were no injuries reported and the front stairs and some siding of the John Street residence were damaged.

City police issued this statement late this morning…

TO BE RELEASED:

DATE: January 31, 2011

TIME: Immediate

RE: Landlside Road Homicide Investigation Update – Male Charged with Accessory After The Fact To Murder

On the 30th of January 2011, investigators with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service arrested 26 year old Dylan Albert Jocko of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He has been charged with one count of accessory after the fact in relation to the murder of Wesley Hallam. Exactly how it is alleged that the accused is an accessory after the fact to murder will not be released as this is evidence for court.
The accused was remanded into custody pending a bail hearing this morning.

This is an ongoing investigation. Police are continuing to follow up on the tips from the public and continue to interview witnesses. We are still looking for the items of interest previously released to the media. The search at the Dafter dump in Michigan is continuing.

There are no further details to be released at this time.

City Police had a relatively busy weekend – with breakins reported to a utility room on Borron Avenue, to storage lockers on McNabb Street, to a maintenance building on McNabb and to an office of Great Northern Road with items such as tools, golf clubs, TVs, and other electronics stolen.

There were more reports of thefts from and damage to vehicles … a laundry room at an apartment building on Upton Road was also vandalized.

20 year old Anusheh Hyder of Queen Street was charged with shoplifting at the Churchill Plaza Metro store.

Four males were charged regarding domestic disputes.

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Sault Area Hospital is finding itself overcrowded these days – with the Emergency Department in virtual gridlock with a substantial increase in admissions. With 27 fresh admissions they’re taxed to the limit right now and anyone else seeking emergency help can expect lengthy delays. They ask instead that you consider one of several options before heading to Emergency – including your personal physician, The Group Health Centre-Same Day Clinic, the clinics at Station, Cambrian and Market Malls – or as a last resort the Telehealth toll free line.

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A joint OPP/MNR snowmobile patrol was held in the area yesterday – with three charges laid for consuming liquor while out on the ice, fishing.

A RIDE spot check yesterday afternoon in Garden River turned up an suspended driver.

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Algoma University will be presented with the first copy of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Treaty Table Timleine this afternoon, 4:30 in the Doc Brown Lounge – representing the latest phase in the ongoing partnership between the two entities – which involves the establishment of the Nishnawbe Aski/Canada Treaty Research and Education project at the school. Michael Cachagee of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation will be on hand for the presentation.

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Home Renovation guru Mike Holmes will be at Sault College this afternoon – at 2:00 – to officially kickoff their new two year Home Inspection Technician program – the first of it’s kind in Ontario.
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The debate over access to Crown Land continued over the weekend. Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey was in town and met with members of ONT-ora – the group that feels they’re being kept off some areas of Crown Land – for the benefit of a select few outfitters – notably those offering wilderness experiences. Doug Reynolds of the Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association has waded into the debate – saying although members of ONT-ora don’t have a vested financial interest they are pursuing – they do have an ideological one. He says they view all Crown Land as their personal playground. On the matter of road access, it’s his feeling that any road closures are not for the sake of tourism – remote or otherwise … road safety, forest companies withdrawing maintenance, and liability issues all factor into closure decisions. He says the process of allocating access dates back to the Crown Forest Sustainabilty Act of the 1980s – the Bob Rae era.

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