The Ontario Provincial Police, SD&G O.P.P detachment responded to over 30 traffic related calls for service over a 24 hour period during Monday’s adverse weather conditions.
The calls ranged from vehicles in the ditch to moderate personal injury collisions.
The most serious collisions originated on Highway 417 with the remainder spread throughout the rest of the United Counties.
January 29…This week in The Leader
The South Dundas Novice B Lions started a very busy week with an amazing effort last Monday night but, unfortunately, they didn’t get rewarded for their efforts against the first place North Dundas Demons who claimed a 4-2 victory.
The big cats were on the prowl in Upper Canada Minor Hockey League East Division Novice C play on the weekend, with first the Novice C1 Lions downing the Kemptville C2 Panthers in Morrisburg on Saturday, and then the Kemptville C3 Panthers claiming a 3-1 victory in their barn on Sunday.
Pick up your copy of the January 29 issue of The Leader at various new stands throughout South Dundas
Upkeep of dams, weirs, built channels and erosion prevention structures within its drainage basin is one of the ongoing priorities of South Nation Conservation.
“It’s in part basic housekeeping,” said Sandra Mancini, SNC Team Lead, Water Resources. “But proper maintenance and repair is essential to avoid long-term damage to erosion and flooding. As dams age, risk can increase.”
That’s why SNC – with the help of provincial Water Erosion Control Infrastructure (WECI) – is implementing safety reviews and upgrades of retention structures at Chesterville and Crysler. The structures in question are the Chesterville Dam, the Crysler Dam and the Crysler Dyke.
“There are some outstanding projects to be undertaken at the three structures that won’t impede flow or cause any other inconvenience and the time is right to get them done,” Mancini explained.
“Our objective is to ensure the structures don’t pose unacceptable risk to public welfare, property, the environment and cultural resources.”
Mancini noted that provincial guidelines and approvals are in place that owners must adhere to when operating and managing their water retention structures. To financially assist conservation authorities with upkeep, the Ministry of Natural Resources devised WECI, a 50 per cent cost-sharing program.
Since WECI was launched 10 years ago, more than $825,000 has been allocated to maintain and improve SNC’s seven eligible structures, generating thousands of dollars in local economic activity.
In the upcoming round of upgrades at Chesterville and Crysler, close to $100,000 will be spent on an assortment of projects.
The existing Chesterville Dam was constructed in 1978 as part of an extensive South Nation River flood control and low flow augmentation project. The structure manages a total drainage area of 1,050 square-km.
An audit recommended that operational procedures and safety measures around the dam be reviewed. The same study indicated that, while protection devices at the dam are acceptable, the presence of a nearby school and park popular with local children “increases the risk of dangerous actions such as jumping from the dam.” Different options for adequately fencing the site will be assessed.
Moving down river to Crysler, that dam controlling a drainage area of about 1,300 square-km underwent significant modification and reinforcement in 1975.The audit pointed out that the dam’s north abutment is cracked and the upstream portion of the north retaining wall also appears to be in poor condition. Mancini said $63,000 has been set aside for the necessary repairs.
Other projects include a review of public safety aspects at the Crysler Dam, and an integrity assessment of the Crysler flood control dyke built in 1984.
A resident of the Morrisburg area, Edward Mark passed away at Winchester District Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. He was 82.
Edward was born in Cornwall, on April 15, 1931, to his parents David and Dorothy Mark (nee Hayes). He spent his childhood in Belleville, and Williamsburg.
Times being what they were, Edward left home by the time he was 14, traveling about doing various jobs, including working on the freight liners.
It was in Toronto, having finished his employment on the St. Lawrence River that his brothers introduced him to the love of his life – Mary Clements and they were married August 25th, 1954.
Together they had five children Darlene, Diana, Douglas, Dorothy and David.
Edward worked at Ken Bell Signs until moving to Morrisburg in 1977, where he took a job as a labourer for Eckel Industries, building sound proof rooms.
He enjoyed his retirement years with his wife and grandchildren doing the things he loved which were fishing and hunting, the occasional trip to Ottawa and spending time with the people he loved most, his family.
Edward is survived by his wife Mary and his children Darlene (Rick Lascelle), Diana, Douglas, Dorothy (John Kooy) and David (Buff).
He will be lovingly remembered by his grandchildren Cathleen, Douglas, Christa (Jeff), James, Tera (Richard), Ashley (Mark), Ryan (Sarah), Sarah (Stuart) and Alexandra, and by his great-grandchildren Austin, Emjay, Harrison, Ben, Lincoln and Jacob.
He was dear brother to Dover–deceased (Sue), Eileen MacDonald (late Joe), Douglas-deceased (Peggy–deceased), William (Betty), Hilda Casselman–deceased (Clare), Joyce, James (Susan), Kenneth (Patricia), Archie (Evelyn), Ruth (Wellington) Casselman, Gloria Casselman-deceased (Stewart), Steven (Sherry), Robert and Allen.
He was a loving uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Friday from 7-9 p.m. Funeral Service was held at the funeral home on Saturday, January 25th at 2 p.m., with Edward’s granddaughter Pastor Cathleen Getchell officiating. Interment followed at New Union Cemetery, Williamsburg.
Pallbearers were Ryan Getchell, Doug MacDonald, Jeff Lott, Richard Lascelle, Stuart Staal and John Kooy.
Donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Winchester Hospital would be gratefully acknowledged by the family. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com.
Although the Morrisburg Junior Lions have long been out of the St. Lawrence Division playoff picture, their much improved play of late is causing a bit of havoc in the standings as four teams continue to jockey for the second through fourth place positions.
This past week, the Lions defeated the third place Winchester Hawks, not once, but twice, and then forced the Alexandria Glens into overtime for their 3-2 win.
After the Casselman Vikings at 67 points, (first place locked up weeks ago position), it becomes pretty much anybody’s game…with the next four contenders all within four points of each other for the next three spots.
The Rebels are holding the edge with 43 points in 34 games, while the Hawks (in 35 games) have 40 points and Akwesasne (34 games played) and Alexandria (37 games played) are tied with 39 points.
To say there will be some interesting games in the next two weekends (regular season ends February 9) is an understatement, and the Lions, with two upcoming games against Akwesasne (closing weekend) and one against Char-Lan (Saturday, February 1 at Char-Lan), could possibly play a major part in the outcome of it all.
The Lions got rolling on their best stretch of hockey this season on home ice last Tuesday night, when they downed the visiting Hawks 8-4.
They held the pace, Friday night, January 24, again to double the Hawks, this time by a 6-3 count right in Winchester.
Sunday on home ice, they held the Glens to a 2-2 tie in regulation time and lost in overtime.
The Lions kicked off their week with the 8-4 victory over the Hawks on home ice last Tuesday night, January 21.
After a scoreless first period, Shawn Simms put the Hawks on the scoreboard 3:42 into the second, and at 8:52 the Lions Justin Lefevbre evened it with help from Eric Evans and Liam Morrow.
Two more Lions goals, from Isaac Brownlee at 14:47 and Morrow at 19:56, put the Lions in command of the game, 3-1 at the end of the second period.
Just under two minutes into the third period, the Hawks Bryden Van Kessel cut the gap to 3-2, but that was it as the Lions came charging back for four in a row to make it 7-2.
Cole Blanchard started it off on the Lions power play, then Justin Rutley scored while the Lions were short-handed at 5:46.
William White made it 6-2 at 8:32 and Drew Veenstra counted the Lions seventh goal at 11:34, unassisted.
The Hawks came back for two from Brodie Braun and Shawn Simms, but that was it.
Justin Rutley (from White and Michael Paquette) scored his second of the game in the last minute of play for the 8-4 Lions win.
John Gilmer was in the Lions net for the win and Nathan Bowness saw action for the Hawks.
The Lions sat out seven minor penalties and a 10 minute misconduct, while the Hawks were assessed nine minors and a misconduct.
The two were back at it Friday night in Winchester, and finally after 15 minutes of action in the first period, Justin Rutley (from Justin Lefevbre) got it started for the Lions with a goal at 15:34.
Chris Pearson, with help from Rutley, made it 2-0 Lions at 15:34.
The 2-0 Lions lead held until 13:06 of the second period when Drew Veenstra (from Steven Savage) upped it to 3-0.
The second period came to an end with a flourish of goals, three scored in just over one minute.
Austin Roth and Bryden Van Kesssel both put the puck past Lions goaltender Brandon Chilton, while Drew Veenstra counted once against Hawks goaltender Jeremy Wright, to give the Lions a 4-2 advantage heading into the third period.
Steve Savage put the Lions up 5-2 at 6:23, and at 8:24 Kyle Richardson cup the gap to 5-3.
That would be all for the Hawks and the Lions would count one more from the stick of Chris Pearson (assisted by Justin Rutley) for the 6-3 win.
The Lions were assessed seven minor penalties, while the Hawks drew 12 minors, a double minor, a five minute cross checking major, two 10 minute misconducts and two game misconducts.
Saturday night, on home ice, the Lions lost a heart-breakers to the visiting Alexandria Glens, 3-2 in overtime.
Chris Pearson, on the Lions power play, put them one up at 15:35 of the first period with help from Steven Savage.
That lasted until 5:55 into the second period when Brandon Barillao beat Lions goaltender John Gilmer to even it a 1-1.
Again the Lions came charging back, this time with a Liam Morrow goal assisted by Kieran Devine at 7:09.
The Lions advantage lasted until 12:24 when Adam Cooke beat Gilmer to even it 2-2 and that’s the way it ended.
Eric Verville counted the overtime winner for the Glens.
The Lions sat out six minor penalties, a five minute fighting major and a game misconduct. The Glens were assessed five minors and corresponding fighting and misconduct penalties. The Lions were outshot 49-33.
Coming up this week the Lions travel to Casselman for a 7:30 p.m game Thursday night, January 30. Saturday, February 1, they are on the road to take on the Char-Lan Rebels.
Their final home game is Sunday, February 9, when the Akwesasne Wolves are in town for a 2:30 p.m. match.
For the February 9 game, the Lions are inviting all kids from South Dundas and South Stormont to come to the game. All youngsters wearing their team hockey jersey will be admitted free to the game. The Lions encourage you to bring a non perishable food item to be donated to the local Food Bank.
The Morrisburg Lions understand the dedication and commitment of the minor hockey players involved with playing Canada’s pastime and would like to reward those that play this wonderful game with a free afternoon of Junior hockey.
Within the next six months, the municipality of South Dundas should have the ability to hand out parking tickets, and collect fines from parking infractions.
South Dundas council and staff are in the midst of reviewing a bylaw that will regulate parking on all of South Dundas’ municipal roads and municipally owned property including the parking lots at the Iroquois and Morrisburg shopping plazas and waterfront areas, as well as parks across the municipality.
South Dundas council and staff members, including Donald Lewis, manager of planning and enforcement, Dan Tessier, building inspector and bylaw enforcement officer and new department hire Brent Mattice, went through the bylaw, line by line, with council at a special meeting held January 20, at the South Dundas Municipal Centre in Morrisburg.
With this bylaw, will come a major sign purchase to properly mark nearly 40 areas where parking will be prohibited or restricted.
The bylaw also sets out designated fire access routes.
These routes include areas around South Dundas’ three fire stations, fire reservoirs, and most notably, areas of the Morrisburg and Iroquois Plazas.
The area near the Morrisburg clock tower of the mall, has long been an area where vehicles stopping has long been an issue as they impede proper traffic flow at a busy intersection.
Stopping will be prohibited there and along the roadway in front of the Mac’s store in the Iroquois Plaza.
This bylaw will finally give the municipality the power to ticket, and possibly even tow those stopping there illegally.
Generally, the bylaw states that motorists parking at the plazas, must park between the lines in a designated parking space.
This bylaw will give South Dundas the authority to ticket those illegally making use of designated wheelchair accessible spaces.
While most of the 35 parking fines outlined in the first draft of the bylaw are $25 or $35, the fine for illegally parking in an accessible space is $300.
The bylaw outlaws any heavy truck, trailer or bus to be parked on any municipal road within the municipality of South Dundas. Those doing so could face a $50 fine, once this bylaw comes into effect.
Other standard parking rules such as not blocking driveways, intersections or fire hydrants, or parking that interferes with snow removal, will become ticketed offences, once the bylaw is enacted.
The process to enact this bylaw is longer than others because it must receive provincial approval, which can take up to six months. It becomes law after the third reading, which takes place after provincial approval has been granted. The bylaw has not yet had first reading at the South Dundas council table. Some changes that arose from discussions at the January 20 meeting are being implemented before the document is made available to business organizations and the public.
“What we are going to need is a common sense application of what we are doing here,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds. “There’s a reasonable explanation to every rule here that we want to put in place.”
The number of fatal crashes in the East Region of the Ontario Provincial Police jurisdiction is on the decline.
Fatal crashes in eastern Ontario were reduced by 27 per cent in 2013, compared to 2012. Last year, 50 people died in 45 fatal crashes. The year before 73 died in 62 crashes.
Also down are three of the contributing factors to a fatal crash; seatbelt infractions are down by 25 per cent, ejections are down by 50 per cent and alcohol related fatal crashes are down by 20 per cent.
“Although the OPP take this as a good sign, there is room for improvement,” says OPP Sgt. Kristine Rae.
The OPP in East Region will continue to focus enforcement on: distracted driving, seatbelts, aggressive driving and impaired driving.
Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak announced his upcoming Million Jobs Act, to be tabled at Queen’s Park when the Legislature reconvenes in February.
“The Million Jobs Act is an important first step in returning Ontario to growth” – said Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MPP Jim McDonell. “We offered the Wynne Liberal Government to clear the legislative calendar in order to focus on a true jobs plan for the Province. We have seen no willingness by the current Government to change course from their failed policies, so we are tabling our own jobs plan that will secure a better future for us and our children. It is time to act to create jobs and attract businesses to Ontario – our Leader, Tim Hudak, will introduce this Bill as soon as we return to Queen’s Park in February”.
The Million Jobs Act builds on the foundation laid by the Ontario PC Caucus White Papers published over the course of the past two years. It will include provisions to end costly subsidies in the energy sector to bring down the cost of power, immediate trade and apprenticeship reform to create 200,000 jobs in the skilled trades, bold steps to tackle the Province’s debt and a clear path to reducing the $11 billion annual cost of red tape by at least a third.
“Only by attracting job-creators and preserving Ontario’s financial health can we build a prosperous Province” – MPP McDonell concluded. “My constituents’ concerns have been heard loud and clear – we need affordable energy, a vibrant enterprise environment and a leaner, more efficient public sector. The Million Jobs Act, when passed into law, will kick-start the recovery that will return our Province to its rightful place as Confederation’s leader in innovation, manufacturing and growth”.
Ontario is helping high school students eat more nutritious meals to improve their health and help them learn more effectively.
Through the province's new Healthy Eating in Secondary Schools program, high schools and school boards can apply for one-time grants of up to $50,000 to support innovative projects that encourage students to eat healthier. Projects will begin rolling out this September and can include partnerships with postsecondary institutions or non-profit organizations that promote healthy eating.
Examples of projects that could be eligible for funding include:
Improving student health and well-being is part of the Ontario government's economic plan to invest in people, one of the three pillars of the province's plan to build modern infrastructure and support a dynamic and innovative business climate. The province is investing a total of $2.2 million in the Healthy Eating in Secondary Schools Grants.
Ontario is helping about 5,000 more students with the cost of postsecondary education by expanding eligibility for the 30% Off Ontario Tuition Grant.
Students in their final year of a five-year co-op program and students attending private career colleges and other private postsecondary institutions that are eligible for financial aid through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) will now be eligible for the 30% Off Ontario Tuition Grant. Students who apply for aid through OSAP will automatically be considered for the grant without a separate application, including those who have already applied this year.
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