South Porcupine OPP will be out in full force over the long weekend, making sure their presence is felt on roadways, waterways and ATV trails.

Officers are offering the following tips for local long weekend enthusiasts and motorists to reduce collisions and to enhance public safety.

The Victoria Day Weekend is the first long weekend of the 2012 spring-summer season.  Motorists can expect greater traffic flows throughout the region.

Each Victoria Day Weekend , the South Porcupine OPP respond to a large number of calls for service stemming from traffic related issues or calls for assistance ranging from break-ins and stolen property to lost or stranded campers.

With this in mind, the following tips may prove useful and enhance the overall safety of local citizens:

1)    Plan your trip: whenever possible, try to give yourself extra time to reach your destination.

2)     Drive Safely !! Avoid aggressive driving and reduce your speed: speed adversely affects your ability to respond to a sudden need to stop or turn to avoid a collision. This is particularly true for night driving

3)    Have a destination: frequently campers leave the planning to the last minute.  Know where you are going and leave details (destination, # or persons in your party, expected return time) with someone at home.  These details are crucial so that if you do become stranded or overdue, the OPP can effectively respond.

4)    Carry a cell phone, am-fm radio, a first aid kit, extra food and water, and extra fuel.  Campers should plan for the unexpected so that they can tolerate unforeseen events.

5)    Have an alternate plan.  Make arrangements to be dropped off and picked up at a pre-selected location.  Should your primary ride home fail, a contingency plan will serve you well.  Do not drive while impaired under any circumstance.  Do not get into a vehicle with a person you do not know or with anyone under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.  Your safety depends on your good judgment.

6)     Be weary: Know the persons in your party.  Bring your own refreshments and do not accept any beverage prepared by a stranger.  Have one person chosen as the designated driver so that they can be called into action should an emergent situation arise.

7)    Wear proper equipment:  if you are riding on an ATV or motorcycle – wear your helmet.  If you are in a vessel, wear your life jacket.   Emergent situations occur without warning and despite our best precautions.

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By Tom Parisi

HWY 560 has been re opened between HWY 144 and Gowganda.

The South Porcupine OPP declared the road safe to drive on around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

the road had been closed since sunday night following a 400 hectare forest fire burning to the north east.

Although the fire is still burning, the public is urged to drive with caution down HWY 560.

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Bad news just in time for the May run long weekend.

The MNR has issued a fire ban for North Eastern Ontario.

The ban includes municipalities and crown land.


The use of propane stoves and barbecues are still permitted, but there is to be no open flames.

Anyone caught starting a fire can be fined $1000 and face jail time. Anyone found to have started a forest fire could be liable for costs incurred in battling the blaze.

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The Volunteer Service Awards are coming to Timmins tonight.

Over 150 of the cities best and brightest volunteers will be recognized by the province and the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.

Individuals will be recognized for five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 and 60 or more years of service while youth are recognized for two or more years of service to a single organization.

Local MPP’s and MP’s will be on hand for the event along with many members of the community.

The awards will start at 7:30pm tonight and will take place at the Days Inn at 14 Mount Joy Street South.

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By Tom Parisi

Provincial New Democrats say there’s still on big questioned to be answered in the Cliffs Resources deal.

With Cliffs set to process chromite ore in Capreol, the NDP are wondering if they’ll get a break when it comes to hydro rates. Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson said he hopes this doesn’t turn out to be another Xstrata disaster.

“Two years ago Xstrata closed the met site in Timmins because of high electricity rates and the area lost hundreds of jobs. Minister Bartolucci needs to find a way to defy his own government’s policy and offer comparable rates to Manitoba and Quebec.”

Bisson added, the problem is the province looks like their doing something for Northern Ontario but as it’s stands they need to reverse their own policy to attract Cliffs and any other company looking to establish in the province.

Xstrata Copper and Zinc in Timmins was at the time the largest consumer of electricity in the Ontario.

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By Tom Parisi

One hotel leaves town, another is set to take it’s place.

The city is set to sell the old doran’s brewery land on spruce street south beside the bus station, to build a new 101 room hotel.

Director of community development and services Mark Jensen says, it’s been three years in the making with the Rancourt Company investing more than $13 millions in the development.

If approved, construction could take as little as 14 months to complete.

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Highway 560 remains closed as MNR Firefighters continue to battle a 200 hectare forest fire.

The highway is closed between Hwy 144 and Gowganda.

The town of Westree, Morin Village and surrounding rural areas were evacuated last night.

So far there have been no injuries reported.

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As Sunday’s west end fire continues to burn, Timmins Fire have reissued a STRICT FIRE BAN until at least Thursday.

 

Dry, warm conditions across the region have created dangerous forest fire conditions.

 

Timmins Deputy Fire Chief Gerry Sabourin said there is hope the rain in the forecast will help reduce the risk of major fires.

 

But with the potential for thunderstorms to affect the area, they are asking residents to keep an eye out for lighting strikes.

 

An update on the ban will be available this Thursday before the may run long weekend.

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By: Christina Hajjar and Rebecca Fryer

UPDATE: Monday, May 14

In response to yesterdays massive forest fire in the west end of Timmins, City Fire Officials have imposed a strict
FIRE BAN / NO OPEN FLAME until further notice.

Warmer temperatures and dry conditions have created favourable conditions for fires to spread easily.

For questions, concerns, and more information contact Timmins Fire Department

Timmins Fire has handed the reigns over to MNR Fire Management. The fire is considered contained but not under control. Officials will be on sight for the next few days continue dousing hot spots.

Dan Johnson from the MNR said all it would take is one big gust of wind to make things worse.

For now, no homes or properties are in immediate danger.

Sunday, May 13

An evacuation order because of a west end forest fire in Timmins has been lifted.

Residents from the Carrs and Pine Ridge Trailer Parks as well as Wallingford Road can return home.

All area fire crews, as well as the MNR water bomber have packed in for the night.

Deputy Fire Chief Jerry Sabourin said the fire dies down at night as the dew point rises.

“I’ll probably have a few municipal guys on watch to make sure nothing’s happening.” He said.

Sabourin added the MNR is taking over and will return at 6 a.m. Monday morning to make sure the fire doesn’t reignite as the day goes on.

Fire crews were able to save all homes and properties.

Fire crews responded to a call at a residence near Riverside Dr. and Jaguar Dr. behind Stealworks at about 2:50 Sunday afternoon.

At one point, the flames were 200 meters away from Wallingford area homes.

Sharon Litt lives on Wallingford and said the experience was a frightening one.

“We were sitting outside…we looked up and could see a huge cloud of smoke just over my next door neighbours house…and it looked fairly close so I called 911.” She said.

Fire crews arrived in the neighborhood and told the families to begin preparations for evacuation.

Litt said they didn’t realize how close it was until crews started putting sprinklers on top of the houses.

“It makes you realize how close it is. It’s like, what do I grab, what do I take?…It was really upsetting.”

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Release:

NORTH BAY – Northern mayors, assembled in North Bay for the Federation Of Northern Ontario Municipalities (F.O.N.O.M.) annual meeting, announced today they have had enough.

“We have run out of patience, we’re fed up and we have had enough.” Said North Bay Mayor, Al McDonald. “It is clear the liberal government of Ontario, the McGuinty government, is no longer working for Northerners.”

The issue over divestiture of the ONTC has reached the breaking point for Northern mayors who have continually attempted to meet with the premier and senior government officials, only to have every offer rejected.

“We reached out to this government in the hopes they would take an open, transparent and fair approach to the issue. They are not. They have clearly made up their mind on the matter, and in so doing, have left Northerners and the North out of all discussions.” added McDonald.

The timing of the F.O.N.O.M. meeting couldn’t have been better. This annual gathering brings together representatives from across the North to work on issues that affect the North.

“The ONTC issue has direct impacts for all of us.”, said Cochrane Mayor, Peter Politis. “If the government is allowed to get away with bulldozing the north on this issue then they will continue to do as they please, when they please, to whom they please without consultation. We are drawing a line here today.”

The ONTC matter continues to be a sore spot across the North.

F.O.N.O.M. President and Mayor of Kapuskasing, Al Spacek said, “Each of us was elected to represent the interests of our communities, part of doing so means having dialogue with the provincial government and working with the province on solutions that make life in the North better. This government has basically slapped us in the face by refusing to bring northerners to the table to work on the future of the ONTC.” Spacek added,
“We expected more, we have been let down.”

Timmins Mayor, Tom Laughren said, “We have decided to send the provincial government a clear message. We will be flying the Ontario flag at half mast to send a message to Queens Park that they are killing the North. They have no plan, they have provided no direction, they have held no discussions with the very people most affected.”

North Bay Mayor, Al McDonald closed the announcement by saying, “The Northern Communities Working Group, which is currently made up of Northern municipalities, ONTC Union Representatives and the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce is undertaking a campaign to raise awareness and to build regional inclusion. Today we are launching our website, nd4on.ca where information can be found and our campaign can be followed. In the next few days, additional materials will be rolling out across the north. We are inviting all Northern communities and indeed all Northerners to join our efforts. Visit nd4on.ca to find out how.”

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