An Emergency Area Order has been issued for an area north of Montreal River. The order was issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources earlier today — it’s a precautionary measure that involves the area around a wildfire burning southeast of Wawa. This means that roads may be closed to prevent people from moving within emergency areas. People may also be asked to leave an area, should fire management personnel believe the fire poses a risk to the public. The MNR reports that there are have been 252 fires that have burned in the province to date, blackening almost 45 hundred hectares. There are 27 fires currently burning in Ontario.

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The Sault Police Service is asking for the public’s help with regards to an accident last night. The two vehicle collision happened around 7:00 p.m. at the corner of Churchill Avenue and People’s Road. Police are looking one of the vehicles involved — a newer model black GMC or pickup or Chevy Avalanche made between 2007 and 2012 with damage to the front right corner. Police say the driver of the second vehicle received minor injuries — anyone who has any information on this incident is asked to call the Sault Police Service Traffic Division at 705-949-6300, extension 295.

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City police news release…

Please be advised there has been a bear sighting in the East end in the area of Birchwood Park. Schools in the area have been notified. We are requesting that members of the public be cautious when walking in the area.

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Three NDP northern Ontario MPs will be promoting their party’s ‘Keep the 10 Ridings’ campaign here in the Sault this morning. It’s a campaign looking to ensure that the number of federal ridings in the north remain at 10 after the electoral boundaries are re-drawn. Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes will be joined by MPs Charlie Angus and Claude Gravelle at the corner of St. Mary’s River Drive and Bay Street for a news conference at 9 this morning.

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More communities east of the Sault have issued fire bans. The Township of MacDonald, Meredith and Aberdeen Additional and Laird Township have fire bans in effect — this as the entire Northeast Fire Region is under a Restricted Fire Zone. The MNR’s restriction takes precedence over the ban. Should the restriction be lifted, the fire ban would remain in effect until further notice. Meanwhile, it’s an early start to the forest fire season in Ontario — and the Ministry of Natural Resources has released the numbers to prove it. More than four thousand hectares have burned so far because of 233 fires to date. 26 fires are still burning in the province. The MNR says many of the blazes so far have been set near populated areas with humans responsible for many of them. People wanting to report a fire occuring in the north can do so by calling toll-free — 310-FIRE (3473). With all of the fire bans being enacted lately, it’s surprising that a fire will be set that is intended to be useful. This is a ‘prescribed fire’, which is intended to promote biodiversity, while ensuring the health of the boreal forest. A one thousand hectare prescribed fire is scheduled to happen between now and May 22nd in Pukaskwa National Park at Tip Top Mountain, weather permitting. Information and updates on this event can be found www.parkscanada.gc.ca, under the ‘What’s New’ section.

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Calls for a meeting between northern municipal leaders and the province about Ontario Northland are finally being answered. Al Spacek — the president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities — expressed cautious optimism. He says he takes the meeting with Infrastructure Ontario officials as a positive, that it will be an opportunity to get the best deal possible for the North and northeners. The meeting comes not long after FONOM vice-president Tom Laughren made a plea to Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne to get her colleagues ‘back to the bargaining table’ to work with the northern reps about the ONTC. Laughren says someone from the McGuinty government must have listened.

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RCMP news release…

(Sault Ste. Marie, ON – May 17th, 2012) – A 10 month joint forces investigation, by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), has resulted in the arrest of five individuals. This investigation targeted cocaine trafficking between Sault Ste. Marie and the North Shore of Lake Huron, including Iron Bridge and Blind River, Ontario.

As the result of this investigation, the following people have been charged:

Keith Larry HURON, 41, of Iron Bridge, Ontario is facing two counts of Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, one count of Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine, one count of Possession of Clonazepam for the Purpose of Trafficking, one count of Possession of Morphine, one count of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, and an additional eleven charges relating to Firearms Possession, Possession of Stolen Firearms, and Careless Storage of Firearms.

Dayna Renee CRONIN, 22, of Iron Bridge, Ontario is facing two counts of Possession of Clonazepam for the Purpose of Trafficking, one count of Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking and Possession of Morphine.

David DERRY, 42, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is charged with Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, and two offences relating to the Possession of a Restricted Firearm.

Michael Walter MATUSZYK, 56, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is facing two counts of Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, one count of Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine, one count of Possession of Cannabis Resin for the Purpose of Trafficking, one count of Possession of Cannabis Marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking, one count of Possession of Oxycodone (Percocet) for the Purpose of Trafficking, one count of Possession of Cocaine, two counts of Failure to Comply with a Recognizance, and two counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

Lorraine Brigette MATUSZYK, 53, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is facing one count of Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking, one count of Possession of Cannabis Resin for the Purpose of Trafficking, one count of Possession of Cannabis Marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking, one count of Possession of Oxycodone (Percocet) for the Purpose of Trafficking, and one count of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

“Our main objective is to ensure the safety and security of our communities” stated Sgt Michael Fenchak (NCO i/c of the RCMP Sault Ste. Marie Detachment) “together with our partners we are getting drugs and guns off our streets and out of our communities”.

The RCMP would like to also thank their policing partners from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and the Anishinabek Police Service for assistance they provided during this investigation.

Police are reminding the public to continue to report any suspicious activity that they observe to their local police service or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

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City police news release…

Bail Court Appearance Arrests/Charged Persons with Court Appearance Dates:

33 year old Peter Miller of 346 Albert Street West was arrested at 4:45 p.m. and charged with one count of assault. It is alleged that the accused attended at a business in the 600 block of Queen Street East and after a disagreement with the business owner assaulted him by punching him. No injuries were reported as a result of the assault. Mr. Miller is to attend in court June 18th.

A 15 year old male was arrested and charged with one count of assault. It is alleged that the accused assaulted another male youth by grabbing him, throwing him to the ground and punching him. No injuries were reported as a result of the assault. The accused is to appear in court on June 19th.

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Trustees with the Huron-Superior Catholic School Board heard the recommendations that were suggested from an Accomodation Review Committee report. Those suggestions are that St. Theresa school consolidate with the current St. Basil site around 2016 and that St. John consolidate with Our Lady of Lourdes school effective 2014. Both moves would be conditional pending enrolment and adequate capacity. When asked about a weekend protest in Sudbury regarding school closures and the way they were carried out, board Director of Education John Stadnyk responded that their process was successful because there was actual participation and ideas from the parents — that resulted in the recommendations. A final decision on the recommendations will be made by the board at their June 13th meeting.

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Wednesday night was a special one for St. Mary’s French Immersion student Patricia Diotte. The Grade 7 student was awarded a certificate for representing the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board on the Minister of Education Student Advisory Council, which consists of 60 student members. Diotte has already participated in one meeting this year and will represent the board in 2012-2013 through virtual meetings and participating in at least one regional forum. The council provides ongoing student perspectives, advice and recommendations on ministry policies, programs and practices. The group provides feedback on student-focused communication strategies and benefits from leadership and skills development and experience from forming policy related to education.

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