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Barrie's 5 Day Forecast
  • Wednesday, September 08, 2010
    • SIX IN RACE FOR MAYOR'S CHAIR IN BARRIE

      Getting crowded in the starting gate for the mayor’s race in Barrie. Mayor David Aspden said today he’ll seek a second term. That makes six candidates for the mayor’s chair. Aspden has served on council for 13 years, the last four as mayor.



      BALANCING ACT AT RVH

      Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie has finalized its improvement plan in hopes of balancing the budget by March 31st, 2012 while maintaining quality patient care.  There are 22 initiatives, some of which have already been implemented.  Others, such as reductions in overtime and sick time, reductions in length of stay where appropriate and asking that patients bring their own medication in some cases, will be implemented in the coming months.  RVH ended the last fiscal year with a 3-million dollar deficit and it's anticipating expenses to climb three per cent this year.  Government funding may cover half of that.



      BOOTS MAY BE KEY TO FINDING KILLER

      Police investigating the murder of 42 year old Sonia Veraschin of Orangeville think a pair of boots may be the key to finding her killer. Forensic evidence suggests the killer was wearing a size 10 or 11 Wind River or Dakota brand of boot, sold only at Mark's Work Wearhouse. OPP Detective Inspector Mark Pritchard asking that anyone who may have seen someone with unexplained blood on their boots, who may have thrown out a pair of boots or bought a new pair in the last week, call police with that information. Pritchard also says they believe the killer acted alone, is very familiar with the Orangeville area and with Veraschin. Cause of death has not been released. Based on evidence gathered, police do not believe this was a random act.



      BANK RATE RISES

      The Bank of Canada has nudged its trend setting rate another quarter point higher to one per cent.  It's the third hike in as many months, but may be the last for this year.  Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney seems satisfied with the way the recovery in Canada is taking shape, but warns weakness in the U.S. remains a concern and is a actor in the slower than expected recovery here.



      BARRIE DRUG BUST

      The Barrie Police Drug Enforcement Unit executed a warrant Tuesday on a residence on Wellington Street east.  Inside they discovered and seized a quantity of crack cocaine that they say was being sold to street users.  Two people, a man and a woman were arrested at the scene and face multiple drug related charges.


      BP SPREADS BLAME

      British Petrolium says they're not the only company to blame for the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.  They released an internal report Wednesday morning spreading the blame about, saying a sequence of failures, both human and mechanical, involving multiple companies led to the initial oil rig explosion that killed eleven people, and to the leak at the bottom of the gulf that gushed millions of barrels of oil for nearly 5 months.


  • Tuesday, September 07, 2010
    • SCHOOL BUS DRIVER CHARGED WITH SPEEDING

      A school bus driver is among four people charged by South Simcoe Police with speeding through a school zone this morning.  The driver was clocked at 88 kmh in a 60 kilometre an hour zone near Sir William Osler School on County Road 88.  Another driver was caught doing 99 kmh in a 50 zone near Cookstown Public School.  Ten minutes later, the same officer stopped someone going 90 kmh on the same stretch.  A fourth was charged with speeding near Innisfil Central School.  Police say that driver had a radar detector mounted on his dashboard.



      REMAINS FOUND NEAR ORANGEVILLE IDENTIFIED

      Provincial Police say the remains found in Caledon at the weekend have been identified as 42 year old Sonia Veraschin of Orangeville and they have ruled her death a homicide.  Veraschin was reported missing a week ago.  Police believe her car was used to transport her body to the area wherre she was found, then returned to Orangeville.



      ROBINSON SKATES INTO RACE

      Been a buzz about if for the last few days, we can confirm today that six time Canadian figure skating champion Jennifer Robinson has stuck her toe-pick into the race for councillor in Barrie’s Ward 8.  Two others are contesting the seat left by Jerry Moore - Don McNeil and John Webb.



      PARK PLACE: CREATING JOBS, EASING TRAFFIC

      The building permit has been issued and the steel will start rising out of the ground in the next few weeks.  After years of wrangling, Park Place - on the former Molson Park grounds in Barrie - will start to take shape.  Billed as an upscale, open-air shopping experience, Park Place will be home to as many as 100 shops and services - including Bed, Bath and Beyond, Golf Town, Future Shop, Best Buy, Urban Barn and Milestone's - and it's expected to create up to 5-thousand jobs.  Not only that, but North American Develoment Group, has given the city $16-million for road widening along Mapleview Drive and upgrades to the Highway 400 ramps at Mapleview, to help solve existing congestion and ensure traffic flows freely once Park Place is open.  The first shops are expected to be in business by August of next year.



      POLICE SEEK WOMAN IN ORILLIA MURDER

      Orillia OPP are looking for help identifying a woman - a 'person of interest' - in the June murder of 58 year old Robert Evans of Orillia. Evans' body was discovered in his Andrew Street home, by a neighbour, on Tuesday June 29. Police say Evans may have been in the company of this woman on Thursday or Friday of the previous week. She's described as 25-30 years of age, very tall and very thin with long, straight blonde hair. Police say she may have information that would be helpful to their investigation. Anyone with information regarding this woman is asked to police at 705-326-3536.



      WALKING BACKWARDS MAKES IT EASIER

      If you want to get through a difficult task easier, walk backwards.  Prevention Magazine has found people were better able to perform difficult tasks faster by walking in reverse.  Scientists think what they call the ‘ avoidance’ mode of walking backwards helps to focus your thinking (kind of like your focus if you were retreating from a dangerous situation).  They also warn that if you’re going to try it, you slow your pace by about half.  And you might want to practice on a treadmill with rails, using them for support.



      GAS PRICES TO FALL?

      This could bode well for filling up your gas tank.  The price of oil is down sharply in overseas trading thanks to a surge in the American dollar against the Euro.  Benchmark oil for October is down about $1.70 cents to just under 73 dollars a barrel.  The average price of gasoline in the Simcoe County area today is 98.8 cents a litre.



      NOT EVERYONE WENT BACK TO SCHOOL

      The lure of employment and money in their pockets is keeping more and more teenagers from pursuing a higher education.  A Stats Canada survey finds one-in-five Canadian teens is no longer in school -- that’s 20 per cent of those aged 15 to 19, compared with a worldwide average of 15 per cent.



      AUTOPSY TODAY ON BODY FOUND IN CALEDON

      Forensic experts have begun what police say will be a 'very detailed' autopsy on the human remains discovered Sunday near Orangeville.  It will be late today, perhaps tomorrow, before they release the results.  Police have yet to say whether the remains are male or female.  They're also still collecting evidence from the scene in Caledon, about 12 kilometres from Orangeville.  The discovery was made Sunday, almost a week after 42 year old Sonia Varaschin, of Orangeville, was reported missing.  Blood stains were found in her car and her townhouse.



      COLTS DROP PAIR

      The Barrie Colts are winless after a pair of Ontario Hockey League preseason games this weekend.  They lost to the Attack in Owen Sound on Sunday then dropped Mondays game at the Barrie Molson Centre 5-4 to that same Owen Sound squad.  Next up for the Colts is a home preseason date against the Guelph Storm on Thursday.


      POSITIVE JOB NEWS

      The latest Manpower employment survey was released on Tuesday.  It says 27% of employers in the Barrie region plan on hiring new staff in the coming quarter.  10% plan on cutting staff making it a 17% net employment outlook for October through December.  That's down slightly from one year ago, but up 10% from the previous quarter.


      DROWNING VICTIMS NAMED

      The OPP have released the names of two young men who tragically drowned in Huntsville on Sunday.  They say Joseph Silva and Brodie Williamson, both 18 years of age and from St. Catherines were in a row boat with a third young man when it overtuned in the choppy waters of Skeleton Lake.  Their friend made it to shore safely, sadly they did not.  Police say the three were not wearing life jackets.


  • Monday, September 06, 2010
    • McTEMPER!

      Huronia West OPP say they were called to a fast food restaurant on Mosley Street in Wasaga Beach on Sunday morning after getting reports of chairs being thrown and a television being ripped off the wall. Police began their investigation, located a 24-year-old Woodbridge man, and charged him with intoxication in a public place. He'll be in a Collingwood courtroom next month.



      BARRIE MAN'S SUDDEN DEATH CAUSES QUESTIONS

      Barrie Police say they're investigating the sudden death of a 70-year-old man who lived in the apartment building on the east end of the St. Mary's Church property on Amelia Street. A post mortem has been scheduled for today, Monday September 6th. More details to you when they become available from police.



      DOUBLE TRAGEDY IN COTTAGE COUNTRY

      On the last long weekend of the summer, tragedy has visited Cottage Country. On Sunday, early evening, the OPP recovered the bodies of two 18-year-olds who went missing earlier in the day after their canoe tipped in the choppy waters of Skeleton Lake. Police say three paddlers were thrown overboard and that one of them swam ashore and called police when the other two failed to show. Their identities have been withheld until next of kin are notified. If venturing out, especially in a smaller craft, you're reminded by the OPP to always be aware of the waves and winds.


      HUMAN REMAINS FOUND NEAR ORANGEVILLE

      Police can't confirm if the human remains found just east of Orangeville on Sunday morning are those of 42-year-old Sonia Veraschin. A coroner did attend the scene and a Toronto post mortem will be scheduled. Veraschin, an Orangeville nurse, has been listed as missing since Monday Aug.30, when she didn't show up for work. Her blood-stained vehicle was found in an Orangeville laneway, leading police to a trail of blood in and around her townhouse. Police do say that Veraschin's family has been made aware of the discovery of the remains


  • Sunday, September 05, 2010
    • WASAGA NIXES FIREWORKS DUE TO HIGH WINDS

      The Town of Wasaga Beach has cancelled its fireworks show for this evening (Sun. Sep 5th) at Beach 1, due to the expectation of continued high winds.


      LIGHTING A CANDLE OF HOPE FOR SONIA

      Sunday evening at 7, many Orangeville residents will gather to light a candle of hope for Sonia Varaschin. It's been six days since the disappearance of the 42-year-old nurse. Meanwhile, the town of Orangeville has bonded through things like Facebook and Twitter, posting or reading details on the case as they become available. In the last couple of days, officers from the Toronto Police Mounted Unit have been going through local cornfields, looking for clues. Last Monday, police found Varaschin's blood-stained car in an abandoned laneway, leading them to a trail of blood in and around her Orangeville townhouse.



      AUCTION HELPS KEEP WASAGA BEACH SAFE

      If in the Wasaga Beach area and looking for something to do today (Sunday), check out the Back to School Property and Bicycle Auction. It's being hosted by the Wasaga Beach Community Policing Committee at the Huronia West OPP detachment on River Road. Public viewing and bidding for this silent auction starts at noon. There are lots of cool items to bid for, with funds raised going to the Community Policing Committee in its effort to make Wasaga Beach a safer place.



      HOUSE FIRE IN CLEARVIEW TOWNSHIP

      Huronia West OPP say they and Clearview Township fire fighters were needed on Saturday to quell the flames damaging a house on Centre Line Road. The area between the 7th and 9th concessions of Sunnidale was closed to traffic while crews battled the blaze. More details will be posted when they become available from the OPP.



  • Saturday, September 04, 2010
    • COLTS GALLOP INTO PRE-SEASON

      The Barrie Colts start their OHL pre-season play this Sunday afternoon with a clash against the Attack in Owen Sound.  The two teams will then meet on B.M.C ice in Barrie ice for a tilt this Monday evening. Game time for that one, 6 p.m



      HEALING HANDS, BUSY HANDS?

      Somewhat of a scam alert: Orillia Soliders' Memorial Hospital Foundation is warning Orillia businesses about sponsoring a book from Edmonton-based Healing Hands Busy Books. According to the OSMHF, the company is saying it's on a fundraising mission, implying that some of the money raised will be going to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital. OSMHF excecutive director Nicole McCahon say that's not true and that Soldiers' Memorial does not endorse the book or support its distribution.


      SEXUAL ASSAULT IN BRADFORD

      After hearing the story of a woman who said she'd been sexually assaulted in the workplace for the last three months, South Simcoe Police on Friday laid several charges against a 45-year-old Bradford man. He'll be in a courtroom in October to answer those charges.


      BRACEBRIDGE REMAINS NOW IDENTIFIED

      Remains found recently in Bracebridge have been identified as those of a 55-year-old Toronto man. Paul Massland was reported missing last Monday. His remains were found at a public boat launch on Morrow Road later that day. The cause of death has not yet been released but the OPP says he was murdered.


  • Friday, September 03, 2010
    • SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE SEARCH FOR ELDERLY WOMAN

      Foul play is not suspected, but witnesses did find it strange last night when minivan pulled up beside an elderly woman in the Town of Innisfil, three people got out (ten men and a woman) and led her into the vehicle.  The woman was seen walking near Jans Boulevard and Innisfil Beach Road around 6 o'clock last night when the van approached.  She appeared to be carrying a couple of bags with pillows inside.  Once inside the dark blue or purple van, it appeared the woman was given a drink in a clear cup.  She's described as 65-70 years of age and was wearing a blueish/white long skirt, pink tank top and walked stopped over.  South Simcoe Police are looking for the public's assistance identifying all involved.  If you can help, 905-775-3311, ext 1009, is the number to call.



      BARRIE POLICE APPOINT NEW DEPUTY CHIEF

      Barrie Police have appointed a new Deputy Chief.  Bruce Carlson replaces Mark Neelin, who was recently appointed Chief of Police.  Carlson has been with the Barrie Police Service since 1981 rising through the ranks from Auxiliary Constable and Cadet to Inspector responsible for the Criminal Investigation Division.



      NO MORE SMOKING TODDLER

      Remember that smoking toddler in Indonesia?  Two years old.  Two pack-a-day habit.  Would throw tanturms when his parents refused to let him smoke.  He's kicked the habit after extensive rehab.



      DID YOU SEE IT?

      Barrie Police are looking witnesses after a cyclist was struck by a car around 6:45 this morning on Tiffin Street near Ferndale Drive.  The cyclist suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital in Toronto for treatment.  Witnesses are asked to call Barrie Police at 705-725-7025.



      BANK HOLD-UP FOILED

      A man wearing a mask tried, just before 7 o'clock this morning, to get into the TD Bank branch at 534 Bayfield Street in Barrie.  When he couldn’t, police say he waited around the corner for another opportunity, apparently thinking he hadn’t been seen.  He had.  Bank employees called police; there was a brief foot chase.  A 21 year old Barrie man has been charged with attempted robbery and a number of weapons offences.



      NEW INFO IN MISSING WOMAN CASE

      The clues have been few, the extensive searches ongoing, in the disappearance of 42 year old Sonia Varaschin of Orangeville.  An addition to air and foot patrols, the OPP and Toronto Police mounted units have been called in.  Police said this morning that neighbors in her townhouse complex remember hearing noises around 2 o’clock Monday morning - the day she was reported missing.  A beige fitted bedsheet and comforter appear to be missing from her home.  Police also say that her assailant likely had a considerable amount of blood on his person and clothing after the attack, and that his demeanor has likely changed; that he may seem more stressed than usual.  Police are asking again that everyone in and around Orangeville keep an eye out for anything unusual on their properties, articles of clothing, for instance. 



      HIGHWAY 400 FATALITY

      The OPP reporting a horrific fatal accident on Highway 400 around 11:30 pm Thursday night.  They say a car and pick up truck collided in the southbound lanes south of County Road 88.  Both drivers got out to look at the damage, as one returned to his vehicle to turn on the emergency blinkers he was struck by a minivan, thrown right over the centre median and then struck by a northbound vehicle.  The 24 year old Orangeville man pronounced dead at the scene.  There were no other injuries.  The highway was closed in both directions between Highway 9 and County Road 88 and was expected to remain so until roughly 6:30 a.m. Friday morning.



  • Thursday, September 02, 2010
    • BARRIE STUDENTS TEACH BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY

      Are you ready for the back to school rush next week? Never mind the school supplies and clothing,  are your driving skills up to snuff?  Ten Barrie students, members of the CAA School Safety Patrollers team will be on hand tomorrow morning at the Petro Canada station on Highway 400 at Major Mackenzie helping to promote back to school safety.  The ten students were chosen after attending a leadership camp in Oshawa in July.  They’re among one-thousand Barrie students involved in the safety patrol program.



      EARL WEAKENS, BUT...

      Hurrricane Earl has weakened to a Category Three Storm but a hurricane watch has been issued for southern Nova Scotia anyway.  Earl has bounced back and forth between Category Three and Four as it makes its way up the Atlantic coast of North America.  It's expected to pass the Outer Banks of North Carolina tonight and hit the Maritimes Saturday morning.



      NEW SPILL FEARS IN GULF OF MEXICO

      Just as things were quieting down after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico comes this, an oil rig explosion in the Gulf about 300 kilometres west of the BP site.  Thirteen workers on the rig were all found bobbing in their survival suits.  The U.S. Coast Guard says it can see a kilometre-and-a-half long sheen on the water near the well.  The good news is this was a shallow well and any clean-up would be considerably easier than what was experienced with BP.



      NO FOUL PLAY IN TOWNHOUSE DEATH

      The coroner has determined that foul play is not a factor in the death of a woman yesterday in Barrie. The 51 year old woman was found dead yesterday in a townhouse at 549 Yonge Street.



      APPEAL FOR PUBLIC HELP IN MISSING WOMAN CASE

      Provincial Police are appealing to property owners, cottage-goers and others to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary, as the search continues for a missing Orangeville woman.  It might be something as simple as an article of clothing, it could be human remains.  They're also looking for help establishing a timeline of events leading up the the disappearance of 42 year old Sonia Veraschin.  She was last seen Sunday night.  Her blood smeared Toyota Corolla was found late Monday morning in an alley near the town hall.  Anyone with information that can place Veraschin, anywhere, between Sunday night and Monday morning, is asked to contact the Orangeville Police Tip Line at 519-941-2522, ext. 2211.  Police have spoken with a minivan driver they had hoped might be able to place Veraschin's vehicle in the alley early Monday morning.  He said he did not see the car.  Police have also spoken with Veraschin's boyfriend and say he is not a suspect.



      ADULTS TAKE TO TEXTING

      Adults are sending more and more text messages compred to a year ago.  They still lag behind teens, not just in the number who are texting, but also in the number of texts sent.  PEW Research in the U.S. found 72 per cent of adults texting, up from 65 per cent a year ago. Eighty-seven per cent of teens are texting, averaging 50 messages a day.  Adults average 10.



      FEDERAL TORIES AND LIBERALS IN DEAD HEAT

      If a federal election was held today it’d be too close to call between the Conservatives and Liberals.   An EKOS poll gives the Tories 29.4 per cent support and the Liberals 29.1 per cent.  When the summer began, the Harper government had what many considered a comfortable 11-point lead.  What went wrong?  Many of those surveyed pointed to the scrapping of the long form census, saying it costs the country vital data.



      WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN BARRIE TOWNHOUSE

      An autopsy was being performed this morning on the body of a 51 year old woman found dead yesterday at a townhouse complex at 549 Yonge Street in Barrie.  Police expect to be release more details this afternoon.



      VAN DRIVER LOCATED IN MISSING PERSON CASE

      Police in Orangeville were able to talk with the driver of a minivan they thought might be able to help them as the search continues for a missing Orangeville woman.  Police were hoping he might be able to help with the timeline of events in terms of when Sonia Veraschin’s car might have been left in an alley near the town hall.  He told police he had not seen the white Toyota Corolla in his early morning travels on Monday.  Veraschin was reported missing late Monday morning. Police have also spoken to her boyfriend and do not consider him to be a suspect.  Blood stains were found on Veraschin's car and in her townhouse leading police to believe she's been the victim of foul play. 



      THIEVES NABBED IN MIDLAND

      Midland Police called to a local retail outlet earlier this week when staff became suspicious of some people trying to return a whack of merchandise.  They discovered the goods had been stolen from other stores along the Highway 400 corridor.  They believe the thieves would then take the goods to the same franchise outlets in Midland and Orillia and try to exchange them for a credit.  Three people from Barrie, Brampton and Toronto have been arrested and face numerous charges.


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