Thessalon OPP and an OPP helicopter did their part in helping out with the rescue of a youth who fell 150 feet from the edge of a rock face into a gorge at the Aubrey Falls Provincial Park, which is situated between Thesalon and Chapleau, around 4:30pm yesterday. Ambulance personnel from Chapleau, Sault Search and Rescue and civilian volunteers also helped out with the rescue of the youth, a 14 year old male from Massachusetts. He was taken to Chapleau General Hospital and treated for non life threatening injuries.

Sault Fire Services report there was a fire at a dumpster outside the Metro Store in Churchill Plaza just before 3 o’clock this morning. A fire crew was on scene for an hour. Store staff noticed some smoke coming into a doorway, and Fire Services ventilated the area. There were no injuries or damage to the store. Fire Services suspect vandalism.

On the local football scene, the Sault Steelers clobbered the Toronto Raiders 43-6 in their regular season finale at Rocky DiPietro field last night. That sets up a quarter final playoff matchup against the Sudbury Spartans next Saturday at 7pm at Rocky DiPietro Field. And, the Sault Sabrecats beat Brampton 22-8 to advance in the Ontario Varsity Football League playoffs. They’ll play Hamilton in the Adam Conference semifinal next weekend.

If you’re looking for something different for the long weekend, Fort Wilkins Historical State Park has something to offer on Saturday. The facility at Copper Harbor in northwestern Michigan is offering ‘Fort Wilkins By Candlelight’ — activities start at 3:00 p.m. with a Lady’s Tea and Social, followed by the candlelight, theatrical and dramatic tour of the fort starting at 7:30 p.m. The event also includes a stop at the fort’s newest exhibit — the recreated Post Sutler’s Store — a 19th century shopping experience. Light refreshments will also be served by candlelight in the restored mess hall, circa 1844.

This is the Civic Holiday long weekend — and that means another great opportunity to get out and on the water if you can. But it’s also a reminder to make sure you have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. Cameron Taylor is the president of Boatsmart Canada. He says about half of all Canadian boaters — or about three million people — don’t have their card…and that may be because of misunderstandings those same people might have — whether it be size of outboard motor or age of the operator. Taylor says there is no age limit when it comes to obtaining a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. Operating a power-driven pleasure craft without a card can result in a 250 dollar fine. He adds that women and children should also get a card, even if they are just passengers. He says it’s all about having the knowledge of boating safely. Out of the 40 people that have drowned in Ontario this summer, 17 were related to powerboats, kayaks and canoes. A card can be obtained by going to the Boatsmart website or by taking the course at a participating Canadian Tire store.

This is a holiday for some of us. Yet, a number of businesses are open and some city operations are working on the Civic Holiday Monday. But other operations are closed for the day. Head over to www.ezrocksoo.com and click on Community, under Contests and Events to learn which municipal operations are up and running.

An extension that would benefit families in Chippewa County will be discussed at Monday’s City Commission meeting. 28 families with children would not get the financial support they need from the state as of October 1st for rent, utilities, food, clothing and other necessities as parents continue to look for work or receive additional job skills, according to the Michigan League for Human Services. That is, unless, a moratorium on the retroactivity of a House bill is not approved. The commission will be asked to accept a moratorium that would allow the support to continue for those families for another two years. City Commissioners will also discuss a modification on Monday night to the Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program affecting non-union city employees. Those affected workers would still experience a 5 percent wage reduction for 2011-2012, but if approved those same employees would see part of that reduction in the form of five furlough days — about 2 percent of payroll — in exchange for wages, which would make the remaining 3 percent reduction.

It’s a challenge that was suggested last month. Now, Sault, Michigan City Commissioners may declare their support at Monday’s meeting for the Kids Driving Responsibly challenge suggested by parent Bonnie Raffaele at the July 5th commission meeting. The resolution restricts drivers 18 and under from using a cell phone when they are behind the wheel. The commission may make any changes to the final resolution before any decision is made to support the challenge — one Raffaele is aiming to have become law at the state and federal levels. The City Commission will also consider a request to sell property located near Sanderson Field. The request comes after a land agreement made with Moyle Development a number of years ago fell through after concerns regarding various wetlands issues. Local developer Ishan Atto of Atto USA Development is interested in building a big box business that would create about 500 jobs. Should the city agree to negotiate a possible land sale with Atto, a development agreement would be brought back to the Commission for review. Public hearings would also have to be scheduled regarding the possible sale of the subject land southwest of Sanderson Field.

Police have charged two (2) adults and one (1) young person with 52 firearms-related offences following a joint investigation by the Wikwemikong Tribal Police and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB). On July 28, 2011, members of the Wikwemikong Tribal Police and OCEB Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit, Drug Enforcement Unit, and Biker Enforcement Unit executed a Search Warrant at a Webkamigad Road location within the Wikwemikong First Nation. They were assisted by members of the OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit, Canine Unit, and Emergency Response Team. As a result of the search, six (6) non-restricted long guns, ammunition, and five (5) prohibited weapons were seized. Charged are:

Robert Osawabine Sr. (Age: 49 years)

· Five (5) counts – Unsafe Storage of a Firearm
· 14 counts – Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Order
· Six (6) counts – Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
· Six (6) counts – Possession of a Prohibited Weapon

Abby Osawabine (Age: 36 years)

· Five (5) counts – Unsafe Storage of a Firearm
· Six (6) counts – Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
· Five (5) counts – Possession of a Prohibited Weapon

The unidentified young person Is charged with:

· Two (2) counts – Unsafe Storage of a Firearm
· One (1) count – Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
· Two (2) counts – Possession of a Prohibited Weapon

Robert Osawabine Sr. will appear for a bail hearing in Sudbury court on July 29, 2011. Abby Osawabine was released on a Promise to Appear and an Undertaking and will appear in court in Wikwemikong on September 20, 2011. The unidentified young person will appear in court in Wikwemikong on September 1, 2011.

The province is continuing to build on its investments in health care with the introduction of two new free vaccines for over 140,000 infants and the expanded availability of two additional new free vaccines that will help keep Ontario’s children healthy while also helping parents save money, David Orazietti, MPP announced today. “The province is focused on continuing to improve health care and today’s announcement will help better protect children in Sault Ste. Marie and keep them healthy so they have the best possible opportunity to grow strong and reach their full potential,” said Orazietti. “We have turned Ontario’s immunization program into one of the most comprehensive in Canada, which is imperative for our children and it has the added benefit of saving families money that parents had to pay under previous governments.”The new vaccines, which will be provided by family doctors, nurse practitioners and public health nurses, will be available province-wide by August 8th. These new additions to the immunization program provide better
protection from serious infectious diseases and save Ontario families up to $350 per person. Since 2003, the province has made five new vaccines free, which is saving families more than $1,400 per child. Improvements to the province’s immunization program include:

§ A new oral vaccine to protect infants against rotavirus, which causes severe intestinal infections
§ A second childhood dose of varicella vaccine to enhance protection against chickenpox
§ A new combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine means children will get only one needle rather than two
§ A lifetime dose of pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine for adults age 19 to 64, who often pass this highly-contagious disease to infants and children

As part of the National Immunization Strategy, the federal government committed funding to support new vaccine programs in Ontario including varicella, meningococcal and pneumococcal vaccines. Federal funding for these programs was cancelled in 2006. Since then, Ontario has stepped up to cover the costs of these vaccines to ensure kids and families are protected.