Christmas craft night at MPS

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has ended its week-long Spring Seat Belt Campaign and the preliminary numbers are in.  

From April 14 to 22, 2012, officers checked vehicles throughout the province and laid a total of 5,585 seat belt related charges.   

The OPP was pleased to see no seat belt related fatalities during the campaign but there were a reported eight people injured in collisions in which seat belt non-compliance was a factor.  

“Despite the fact that seat belt legislation has been around for over 35 years and has saved countless lives, one in four deceased occupants last year (2011) were not properly restrained,” said OPP provincial commander for traffic safety, deputy commissioner Larry Beechey.  

“Not just this week, but every week, motorists can expect a zero tolerance approach to seat belt violations. Buckle up – it takes just a few seconds and one click of your seat belt to significantly reduce your chances of serious injury or death in a crash,” added Beechey. 

In 2011, 71 Ontarians lost their lives in collisions in which seat belt non-compliance was a factor.

Non-use of seat belts remains one of the four major causes of persons killed in fatal motor vehicle collisions along with speeding, impaired driving and driving while distracted.

The motoring public should remain aware that, as part of its Provincial Traffic Safety Program, the OPP will continue to aggressively enforce all traffic safety laws throughout the year, including seat belt legislation.  

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Thanks to the Christmas Exchange and the generosity of the South Dundas community, some 666 people living in South Dundas sat down to a Christmas dinner this year who, due to tough times, might not have been able to afford one.

According to Exchange coordinator, Carol Richer, the 170 boxes provided food for 428 adults, 191 children and 10 infants. An additional 37 boxes were distributed to singles through the Dundas County Food Bank.

“We are actually down about eight baskets this year,” said Richer on Thursday, December 20, as the boxes were being picked up at the Morrisburg Legion.

In addition to the food, just over 200 children received gifts through the local Angel Tree programs along with mittens, toques pyjamas and books donated through various individuals and events in the community.

Once again the Exchange and the Angel Tree programs were generously supported by the community although, Richer said “early indications are that we are done a bit in monetary donations. However, some of our donations come in a bit later, so we are hoping that will put us on track.”

The Christmas Exchange counts heavily on financial donations as much of the food that goes into the boxes is purchased.

“We buy the turkey or hams, along with the fresh vegetables, potatoes and fresh fruit,” said Richer. “Much of the canned vegetable requirements are donated, but the Exchange purchases the large cans of fruit juice, bags of cookies, some of the canned cranberries requirements and occasionally, we have to top up the canned vegetables.”

The Exchange and the Dundas County Food Bank work very closely so that any non-perishable food that is donated, and is not included in an Exchange Food Box, is directed to the Food Bank.

Nothing is wasted.

Richer says that some people may not be aware of just how much food is purchased by the Exchange for the boxes. That is why financial donations and programs like the Top Up program at Valu-mart are indeed very necessary to the Exchange.

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SD&G OPP are looking for the public’s help in solving a mischief that occurred sometime during the night of September 3, 2011 on County Road #1in Iroquois.

The investigation has revealed that a vehicle attended the parking lot and lawn area near the locks where extensive damage was done by someone doing power turns on the property.

The description of the vehicle involved is: black Dodge Dakota pick-up truck (crew cab) with a loud exhaust system.

This type of action is not only dangerous to anyone using our roadways but also wastes resources that have to be used to repair the damage.

Anyone having information on the above crime or any crime is asked to call SD&G OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

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