Barrie Police are investigating a theft of season tickets for the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Police say someone was selling Gold seats at various restaurants and bars – at a reduced price.  While the tickets are legit, they have been reported stolen.  Several victims have been identified and have come forward, however there could be more out there who don’t know they’re Leafs tickets are hot.  Barrie Police are asking anyone who has purchased tickets in the Gold section for games scheduled in February, March, or April of this year to get in contact with them.

Barrie Police are alerting the public about a rash of what is being called “distraction thefts.”  So far, police are looking into nine separate reports dating back to October 27th of last year.  The thefts follow a similar pattern – a group of at least three people enter a large grocery or big box store and seek out senior women who keep their purses in their shopping carts.  One person will then distract the victim while one goes through the purse for credit cards while a third keeps watch and even blocks the aisle with a shopping cart to prevent witnesses from getting close.  The suspects immediately leave the store and use the stolen credit cards to buy gift cards from other stores.  Police are continuing to investigate.  In the meantime, shoppers are urged to keep their purses and wallets on them at all times and to never leave either one unattended.  Anyone with information is asked to call Barrie Police Detective Constable Grant at 705-725-7025 ext 2171 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

(Constable Toni Dufour)

Kids do the darndest things.  OPP responded to a call from the Wasaga Beach Public Works Department about a two year old boy walking along Highway 26 by himself.  Officers arrived to retrieve the little guy and began searching for his home.  It was eventually found on 73rd Street.  Apparently he had managed to leave his home and just started walking until the public works employees stopped him.  He has since been reunited with his mother.  The Huronia West OPP are reminding all parents that kids do unexpected things, and it’s a good idea to keep an eye on them at all times.

The jobless rate in Barrie in January fell 0.8 per cent to 9.5 per cent. Still too high, says Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman. Across Canada, unemployment more than 25-thousand people were 'officially' looking for work, just 2,300 found it. The national jobless rate rose 0.1 per cent to 7.6 per cent. Economists had been expecting a bigger increase in the number of people working, figuring the mild weather would have meant more work for the construction industry.

Super Bowl this weekend, got a party planned with copious quantities of snacks and beverages of a social nature? You know you’re going to feel it afterward. And those calories. A public health professor in New York says you’d have to play catch football non-stop for more than one hour to burn off the effects of three pig- in-a-blanket. To work off six bottles of your favourite brew you’d have to do the wave - 4-thousand times. And to burn off three fried mac and cheese balls, he says you’d have to run the length of a football field - 249 times.

A number of Simcoe County communities will be trying to make the best of winter this weekend. Named one of the top 100 Festivals in Ontario Winterfest in Barrie kicks off tomorrow morning. Community Events programmer Arin Donnelly says the dog sled race will be a last minute decision due to conditions and they’re working on a contingency plan for the polar bear dip due to the thin ice, but there are a there are a lot of other things to keep you busy. More than 25-thousand people took in the events downtown last year.  

February Blues continues in Barrie, Innsifil, Bradford and Midland 

Winterama continues today in New Lowell

Midland’s Winterfest kicks off today with lumberjack shows, puddle jumping and a model railway show and more.

It's also Winterfest weekend in Port Carling.

The 22 victims of the huge pornography investigation we told you about yesterday have been identified and taken to Boost, a child counseling organization that will give them the support and the help they need. Police believe more victims will come forward now that the case has been made public. Sixty men are facing charges, including one each from Barrie, Collignwood, Penetanguishene, McDougall and Newmarket.

A 16 year old Aurora youth has been charged with personating another teen on Facebook. Police say a false Facebook account was set up using names and pictures of someone else, then used to send disparaging remarks to the victim’s friends. Police won’t get into specifics but compare it to cyber-bullying. It’s believed the site had been active for 11 months.

A large quantity of pills and pot have been taken off the street in Essa Township.  It started January 31st with an OPP traffic stop on Mill Street in Essa.  Officers arrested a 61 year old man for trafficking his own oxycontin prescription – his pills were seized along with some cash.  Police then searched the man’s home where they found more pills and made more arrests – a 66 year old woman and a 22 year old man who was wanted on an outstanding Barrie City Police warrant.  OPP went on to search another residence yesterday, also in Essa Township, and seized more pills along with some marijuana.  A 29 year old man and a 24 year old woman were arrested there.

It’s being called the largest child pornography bust in Canadian history.  22 victims identified, over 60 arrests – some young offenders.  In all, over 200 charges laid.  Locally, suspects have been arrested in Barrie, Collingwood, Newmarket, and Penetanguishene.  OPP says there could be more arrests made in the coming days.

Police are looking for a stolen truck.  Huronia West OPP say sometime between 6:30 PM Tuesday and 7 o’clock yesterday morning a 1999 Dodge RPC pickup truck was stolen from a parking lot at the Airport on Anne Street North, Springwater Township.  The truck’s license plate number is 2097 XK, ID number 1B7MF336XXJ566723.  If you know where the truck is or who has it – call the Huronia West OPP Detachment at 705-429-3575 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

One person has been charged while another remains at large following an incident on Highway 11 this morning.  Barrie OPP say one of their non-emergency vehicles was passed by two WV Rabbit’s – one black one silver.  Both were traveling fast, passing and cutting off other vehicles.  The silver Rabbit was stopped at Booth Street near Line 11 of Oro-Medonte – the 19 year old driver is charged with stunt driving.  The black Rabbit has not been located.  Police say it did come into contact with a white Hummer H2 on Highway 11 and damaged the Hummer’s grill – this happened around 8:45 this morning.  Police are requesting the public’s assistance in finding the second vehicle.  The driver is described as a younger male with brown hair – somewhere in his late teens or early 20’s.

May be a no-brainer this year. Wiarton Willie arose from his winter slumber just after 8 o'clock this morning and did not see his shadow, forecasting an early spring (though some will argue winter has yet to begin). His cousins, Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam and Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil are split. Sam did not see his shadow; Phil did, meaning 6 more weeks of winter in Pennsylvania. 

Have an eye. Barrie OPP officers are searching for two snowmobiles and a their trailer. They were taken yesterday from a residence near Highway 12 and Bass Lake. The two snowmobiles and trailer are described as follows:

#1 2012 Skidoo snowmobile, 500ss MXZ, Licence 3AE292, black in colour with red, white, and yellow accents.

#2 2008 Skidoo snowmobile, 800 E, Licence # 986942, yellow and black in colour. The victim's name appears in decals on windshield, racing number appears on both sides of hood fender "888A"

#3 2005 Northland, snowmobile trailer (double, enclosed, black in colour)

Anyone with information on the location of these items is asked to call Barrie OPP at at 705-726-6484 or Call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477).

Winterama kicks off today in New Lowell. This is the 36th year for the popular event. It starts this evening with a spaghetti supper at the Royal Canadian Legion on County Road 9. After that, you’ve got fireworks, movie nights, a parade, and plenty of activities for the kids. However, the snowmobile radar run has become a casualty of the off and on winter season – it will not run. Winterama ends on Sunday.

It may be one of Canada’s largest porn-related busts. Police from 20 departments across Ontario will give us details this morning on raids yesterday that led to the arrest of more than 50 people and the laying of more than 200 charges.

A made-in-Oro-Medonte movie is making its debut on the big screen in Toronto this weekend. The film was named after a residential neighbourhood in the township and is the first theatrical feature by Orillia-born director Sean Cisterna. It is about two friends who embark on a wild road trip with an electric wheelchair and a wagon in order to track down a girl one of them had a crush on in public school. Parts of the film were shot at Fern Resort and about a dozen students from St Mary’s Catholic School in Barrie will make appearances in the movie, as well as a ten-year-old child actress from Tottenham, Camden Angelis, who plays the role of the young Sarah Cherry. Moon Point opens in Toronto on Friday, February 3rd for a one-week run at AMC Theatre at  Yonge and Dundas Streets  in Toronto. There will also be a Q & A with filmmakers and cast on Feb 3rd, 4th and 5th.  For more information or to see the trailer, click here.

Paula Brancati (Degrassi & Being Erica) stars in Moon Point as “Kristin”. Laura Hampshire from Rock 95 News spoke to her about the film.

If you’re in the market for a family pet, the Orillia SPCA will have a few more dogs up for adoption.  Seems a group of dogs were surrendered to the SPCA after the OPP found them on someones property and expressed some concern for their safety.  Spokesperson Brian Dewer says the dogs need a checkup first before you can think about taking one home.  Some of the dogs are undergoing treatment, though no specifics were given.  You can contact the Orillia SPCA if you’re interested in adopting.

The Simcoe County District School Board is receiving a sizeable cheque for its energy conservation efforts.  Innisfil Hydro presented over 99 thousand dollars to the school board to help with lighting upgrades at Nantyr Shores Secondary School and Alcona Glen Elementary School in Innisfil.  The upgrades are expected to save the board around 77 thousand dollars every year.  This is all part of a Province-wide program called the saveONenergy RETROFIT program, which is funded by the Ontario Power Authority.  It provides the opportunity to receive financial incentives for replacing inefficient technology.

Post secondary students from all over Canada are participating in a National Day of Action.  Stephen Tremblay, President of the Laurentian Student Union in Barrie, says many of the students he’s spoken to are are looking for a reduction in student debt and tuition fees and an increase in education funding.  Students will gather throughout the day at Queens Park to demonstrate.  Tremblay says those in attendance are hoping for a direct response from the Provincial Government - adding he's hoping for negotiations with the opposition parties as well given that it is a minority government in Ontario.

A very unique job fair is happening in Barrie tonight.  The Barrie Area Physician Recruitment task force and the Royal Victoria Health Centre Family Medicine Teaching Unit are hosting their very first family physician job fair.  Co-Chair of the Physician Recruitment task force Doctor Stuart Murdoch says about 30 thousand people in our area still don’t have a doctor.  The aim is to promote Barrie as the place to be to set up a family practice.  Around 20 family doctors will be taking part – all have expressed an interest in setting up shop here.

There's a suspicious online bank survey making the rounds. Dufferin OPP hearing several complaints of an email offer of $350 for completing the survey. A red flag raised over the requirement to provide a debit card number in order to receive the cash. Police with a reminder that banks and other financial institutions do not request private client information online, and to ensure your computer settings are configured to block junk emails.

Barrie OPP have charged a woman with various offences after a domestic dispute in Oro-Medonte. Police were called to a residence Tuesday morning after a 40 year old man complained he had been assaulted by his spouse. Officers say they were confronted by an aggressive female on their arrival. A 36 year old woman has been charged with several counts of Assault, including Assaulting Police and Assault To Resist Arrest.

A Barrie high school teacher, suspended by the Catholic board in 2008 over allegations of sexual abuse of a former student, has been found guilty of misconduct by the Ontario College of Teachers. The Barrie Examiner has obtained a copy of the College decision against Amy Mullins, who was a teacher at St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School. The decision talks of testimony from students about movie nights at the teacher’s home and the sharing of hotel rooms on school sports trips. Disciplinary action has yet to be determined, but in similar cases a teacher’s certificate has been revoked. There are also civil lawsuits pending in the matter.

We can’t repeat this enough. The ice on local waterways in not a safe place to be with this latest dose of mild weather. Barrie firefighters were called out to five potential water rescues in the last couple of days. As a result, he fire service has issued a number of ice-related safety tips:

Ice should be:

15 cm thick for walking or skating alone

20 cm thick for skating parties or games

25 cm thick for snowmobiles

Clear blue ice is the strongest, white opaque ice, formed by wet snow freezing on ice, has half the strength of blue ice and

grey ice indicates the presences of water and is UNSAFE . If it’s grey, then stay away!

Going on Ice

Check with your local ice hut operators before heading out onto the ice. ALWAYS avoid going out on ice at night and

never venture on ice alone. If someone falls through the ice, call 911 immediately.

Know what to do if you hear the ice crack:

1. Lay down on the ice.

2. Call for help loudly and clearly

3. Crawl or roll back to land.

Self-Rescue Steps:

1. Float on your stomach facing the shore.

2. Reach forward onto the ice - do not push down on it.

3. Kick your legs to slowly push your torso onto the ice.

4. Crawl or roll away from the hole.

5. If you can’t climb onto the ice, float in the water and call for help loudly and clearly.

6. Get medical help immediately.

Assisting someone who has fallen through the ice:

1. Do not attempt to go on the ice.

2. Push or throw a stick, branch, rope or floating aid to the victim

3. It is important to get help fast

4. Call 9-1-1 for expert assistance

You don’t tug on Superman’s cape. You don’t spit into the wind. You don’t mention 'bomb' while flying. And best you don’t tweet about ‘destroying America’ before your planned trip to the U.S., even if it is British slang for 'party hard'. A British couple was interviewed for five hours and held in custody by Homeland Security for 12 more upon landing in L.A. before being put on a plane home. They'd been singled out for investigation by a suspicious activity tipline.

Barrie Police have made an arrest in a string of household break-ins in the east end. A 26 year old man is facing charges. A number of stolen items have been recovered and returned to their owners. And Huronia West OPP have picked up two 15 year olds in connection with a break-in Saturday at Stayner Collegiate.

Sign of the times. A new casino is opening in Atlantic City, many people will be employed, but only short term. They can have the job for between four and six years, then have to reapply. Casino owners say it will help “attract the most highly professional people who are inspired by a highly competitive work environment”. Opponents say it’s nothing more than an excuse for the casino to take advantage of desperate job seekers.

Bus riders in York Region will get a two-month free ride when service resumes this weekend. More than 9-million dollars were saved during the three-month strike by drivers, York Region giving it back to riders. Regular fares will resume April 1.

Two teenagers are facing charges following a school break in.  Huronia West OPP responded to an alarm at Stayner Collegiate Institute on January 18th.  An investigation resulted in the arrest of two 15 year old Clearview Township boys.  They’re facing break and enter related charges.

Barrie Police are releasing some more information on that lockdown at two local schools.  Officers received a report of a suspicious male who was possibly carrying a firearm.  A teenager was located and after an investigation found no weapon was involved and no criminal behavior occurred.  As a result of the investigation, both W-C Little and Bear Creek schools were placed in lockdown just before the noon hour.  Those lockdowns were lifted after about 40 minutes.

A Bradford man is facing charges in connection with an alleged hate crime in Newmarket.  York Region Police say since last September officers were called to an address on Hodgson Drive for four separate reports of property damage or threats – three of these incidents resulted in damage to the victims’ home and vehicle.  Officers managed to track down a suspect – who had apparently had a previous relationship with the female victim.  The 63 year old suspect was arrested yesterday and charged with mischief, uttering threats, and criminal harassment.  The Newmarket Crown Attorney’s Office will be looking at the legal definition of hate crime as the case moves forward.

An elementary school was placed in lockdown and a high school placed in a hold and secure following reports of a suspicious person in the area.  W-C Little and Bear Creek have since been released after about 40 minutes in lockdown after Police found no safety risk to the students.  Officers are continuing to investigate and will release more information on this incident as it becomes available.

A local company is expanding – and needs more workers.  Munro Ltd is looking at a staff increase of up to 60 new employees, adding to the current workforce of 300 employees.  Munro Ltd is a concrete and steel manufacturer for the infrastructure sector.  Mayor Jeff Lehman says the City has been meeting with Munro since its last expansion in 2011.  Lehman says the announcement by Munro comes at a time when jobs are foremost on the minds of citizens.  He says the City has been working closely with Munro to find the skilled workforce the company is looking for – adding those workers are right here in Barrie and the surrounding area.  Those wanting to submit their resume can do so via email – careers@munroltd.com

Huronia West OPP have issued a list of safety tips for hiking after a woman and her children became lost on a trail off Power Line Road. This happened late Saturday afternoon. The woman used her cell-phone to called police who found them a half hour later. The cell-phone a good idea, so is telling someone the trail you’ll be travelling on. Police say hikers should follow these safety tips when heading out - even within the relative safe confines of the municipal trail system: 

1) Tell someone the trail you are travelling on.

2) Get a trail map of the area.

3) Carry a charged cellular device that you can use to call for help.

4) Dress appropriate to the weather conditions.

5) Wear proper foot wear for the terrain.

6) Carry some food and water with you, in case your trek is longer than expected.

7) Consider carrying a compass or GPS device.

8) If lost, call for help (item #3) and stay in one location, until directed not to. Walking in circle will not help searchers locate you.

9) Carry a small first aid kit, in case an injury occurs.

10) Know your physical limits when trekking trails and do not go beyond them.

The entire medical floor at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital has been put off limits to all visitors over the gastrointestinal outbreak that came to light last week. The number of cases on the floor has increased; the hospital hoping to keep the illness from spreading any further. Visitation in the rest of the hospital has not been affected, but you will be required to use the hand sanitizer provided when entering and leaving the hospital, as well as patient’s rooms.

James Bond preferred his martinis shaken, not stirred but New Scientist Magazine says stirred is better. And it's best to use a thin piece of wood, not one of those long, metal cocktail spoons. Researchers say metal spoons warm the drink too much and by shaking, you risk bruising the alcohol with the ice. That little action is believed to have originated when Vodka was made from potatoes, which left an oily aftertaste if not shaken vigorously.

Something’s lurking at the bottom of the deep blue sea - the deep blue Baltic Sea. Treasure hunters using sonar have discovered a strange-shaped object - as big as a 747 - at the end of a churned up track of sea floor, suggesting it hit bottom at great speed and skidded to a stop. There's all kinds of speculation about what it is, from UFO to Russian space ship. Adding to the intrigue is its shape, from above, some say it looks like the Millenium Falcon from Star Wars.

Right then, you spend your time on that long flight chatting up the good-looking individual sitting next to you. Starts out as innocent talk, then it turns flirtatious, but you forgot to get a phone number before you leave the plane. No worries. A new website helps you reconnect. Called We Met On A Plane you enter your flight number, year, month, date, destination and origin. The search results show stories from other passengers on the flight and you can also share your story in the hope the object of your affection feels the same way you do and has logged on. More than four-thousand people a month are checking it out. 
          

A local skydiver needs some help getting home.  20 year old Peter Kuzawinski of Barrie broke his back in a skydiving accident in Arizona just over a week ago.  While he will recover and no paralysis is reported, he has no health insurance and therefore cannot afford rehab or the medevac flight home – which can cost anywhere from 25 to 35 thousand dollars.  Therefore, his skydiving buddies have set up an account for donations to bring Peter home.  Skydive Toronto is accepting the donations.  Operations Manager Joe Chow says if you’d like to make a donation, give them a call at 705-458-9339.  Skydive Toronto is located on 3065 4 Line in Cookstown.

An Essa Township company is expanding its workforce. For the second time in less than a year, Munro Ltd, a concrete and steel manufacturer, is adding 50-60 new employees at its factory north of Barrie. “This is fantastic news for all area communities,” stated Mayor Jeff Lehman. “Munro‟s continued growth provides opportunities for quality industrial jobs with a world class organization. Munro‟s recruitment efforts benefits residents in Barrie, Essa and our region.” You can send a resume to: careers@munroltd.com

Collingwood/Blue Mountains OPP are looking for a stolen snow blower.  The incident happened January 19th, though police only received the call this weekend about a storage container being broken into on Harbour Street in Collingwood.  Whoever broke in made off with a Honda 724 TCD snow blower – serial number 1043714.  If you know anything about this, call the Collingwood OPP at 705-445-4321 – or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

The medical floor of Collingwood General and Marine Hospital has been completely closed to visitors, so it can deal with a gastro-intestinal outbreak. It was declared last week, but officials say due to an increase in the number of cases, no visitors will be allowed on the floor until further notice.

An 8 year old boy is accused of assaulting his child youth worker. Barrie OPP were called to a home in Warminster west of Orillia on Saturday night, after the boy allegedly assaulted the worker, who was treated in hospital for minor injuries. Police say the 8 year old was also taken to hospital for a mental health assessment and admitted, but he won’t be charged, due to his age.

Charges have been laid in connection with a crash on Highway 400 in Oro-Medonte. Police say around 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon, a southbound tractor trailer rear-ended a Volkswagon Golf near the 6th Line, when it hit the centre median and rolled onto its roof. The driver of the car was not injured, but the driver of the tractor trailer, a 50 year old Etobicoke man was taken to hospital with minor injuries. He has since been charged with Careless Driving.

Women have often been stereotyped for having a lack of skills behind the driving wheel, but a new study finds the female sex is actually better at parking! 25-hundred drivers were caught on camera in 700 parking lots across the United Kingdom and the study found women were better at parking than men. Researchers say the results were close, but women tended to do more “shuffling” back and forth, to end up in a more accurate final position.

A 40 year old Orillia man has been arrested in connection with a bank robbery. A man entered the TD Canada Trust on Coldwater Road at Peter Street on Thursday, January 19th and demanded cash. After receiving some money, the suspect fled the scene on foot. Police took a man into custody yesterday on Oxford Street and he will appear in court for a bail hearing today.

The first trains have left the station - the new Allandale Waterfront GO station in Barrie. The station was officially opened yesterday with a free ride to Bradford and back. Nearly two-thousand people made the trip. The new station features heated shelters, a 6-bay bus platform, parking for 150 cars, as well as bike parking. Here are the morning departure and evening arrival times.

Barrie Police were called to a Cook Street home Sunday afternoon. Sounded like a fight, said the neighbours. And it was. Two elderly men, who had been drinking together, argued over an unpaid debt. One was hit with a metal object, the other with a cane. A 67 year old man suffered a fractured skull, a 64 year old was treated for a broken arm. Both have been charged with Assault Causing Bodily Harm.

A Pittsburgh woman wanted to draw attention to the merits of breast-feeding. And artist Jill Miller is getting a lot of attention, driving around in an old box tuck with a huge pink breast on top...and a red flashing nipple. She says young mothers need help and encouragement to breast feed their babies and she wanted to do something funny on a serious issue.

University of North Carolina researchers say an ultrasound zap to the testicles could be a new form of male contraception. Two, 15 minute doses found to significantly reduce the number of sperm-producing cells in rats. It still needs human testing. Any volunteers?

Unaffected by the lack of snow is this weekend’s Royal Distributing Cup National Snowmobile Races at Georgian Downs. You may have seen the dumptrucks filled with snow pulling into the track this week - 400-500 of them. It's the 18th year for the event in Barrie. There are 40 classes of racers, some as young as four. For more details, click here.

The York Region Transit strike has ended! The more than 44 thousand commuters who have been affected will be back on buses by next weekend. Yesterday afternoon Miller Transit workers were 80% in favor of a 5 year deal that includes a wage increase and benefits. Officials say routes affecting the North York region will gradually be restored over several weeks starting next Saturday. It’s not being offered yet but there is a plan in place to give all riders at least a month of free service.