Marine telephone reporting in place at Morrisburg Dock

A three year old, a lighter and disabled smoke alarms are a recipe for disaster, but luckily that disaster was averted by a local family this weekend.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a mattress fire, Saturday morning, shortly before 8 a.m. When they arrived, they found the occupants of 65 Augusta Street in Morrisburg, outside wrapped in blankets. The fire, located in the second floor bedroom, was extinguished and firefighters removed the burnt mattress and debris.

“I spoke with the tenants of the home and the grandmother said that she smelled smoke and discovered the  second floor bedroom on fire,” said Chris McDonough, fire chief of South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services. “She woke her son and got her three year old grandson out of the bedroom.”

“As it turns out, the three year old boy had set fire to the bedroom with a lighter that was in his father’s pants next to the bed,” said McDonough. “This could very easily have been a fatality.”

According to McDonough, the smoke alarm on the second floor had been removed and the battery had been removed from the smoke alarm on the main floor of the home.

A $235 charge will be laid for not having working smoke alarms in the home.

“I would like to remind everyone that you must have a working smoke alarm on every storey of your home and that they should practice their home escape plans,” said McDonough.

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Hi. I am a very thoughtful lady, but I am sad. I didn’t think that when I got away from my home in Morrisburg that I wouldn’t be able to find my way back and would end up at the South Dundas Animal Shelter. According to that nice lady who took my picture, “I am just beautiful, although I do need a grooming.” I am a collie mix, about four years old, and compact in size, which is perfect for snuggling with my best friend(s). I have beautiful black, gold and white colours. The picture lady was so nice, that when she offered me a treat, I offered her my paw and showed her what a loving pal I can be. I am not sure why she was sad and had tears in her eyes when she left, but I am hoping the picture she took helps me to get a nice home. I’m a real tail wagger when I am happy. (This loving little dog was picked up in Morrisburg two weeks ago with a chain still dangling from her collar. She can be reclaimed (or adopted by a new family) by calling 613-543-2980.)

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“We thought that perhaps many children aren’t really being taught bike safety, even though more and more kids are out on bikes these days,” said Marja Smellink, a member of the Optimist Club of South Dundas, organizers of the Bike Safety Rodeo held at Matilda Hall on Saturday, June 1. “And we thought that it was important for our local kids to get some proper training before the bad habits set in. Canada is a little behind in this area. In Europe, bike safety is strongly emphasized.”

The 23 members of the Club, under president Peter Biemond, called on the O.P.P. and the RCMP (club member Hugo Desrochers is a member of the force) for help in putting the rodeo together. 

Constable Darren Hawkins and corporal M.J. Homsy of the RCMP, along with O.P.P. constable Theresa Lauzon and acting sergeant Bryce Fournier, with the SD&G Auxiliary, were all on hand to assist. 

Several volunteers on site helped with the training and with the food (milk was donated by the Dairy Farmers of Ontario.) The Iroquois Branch of Scouts Canada also came out to lend support. Traffic signs were loaned by the Snowmobile Club.

The bike course was laid out to teach young riders how to use hand signals and to safely manoeuvre through intersections. Youngsters saw a training film and were able to take a short written test (which gained them points towards special gifts) as they learned the rules of the road.

“We had over 20 kids go through the training this morning,” said constable Lauzon. “We really believe that education is the key to safety, especially when it is presented in a fun way like this. I expect some of the parents here are also picking up some information.”

Hannah Biemond and Ella Desrochers were the lucky winners of two bikes donated to the rodeo by Morrisburg Canadian Tire. Canadian Tire also donated bicycle bells for every participant.

A real highlight at the Bike Rodeo was the arrival (with Hawkins and Homsy) of two recently retired members of the RCMP Musical Ride. Horses Sherif and Rocomo drew many young admirers, at the same time reminding everyone that horses were around even before bikes.

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