Submitted photo

HEATHER BOA Bullet News ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH – Amiera Black is covered in crazy socks today.

The seven-year-old has ankle socks designed to look like animal faces with black eyes on the shoulders of a t-shirt that reads: Shower me in love. Every colour of the rainbow is in the slew of socks that hang from her waist in a clash of Argyle, stripes, and circles. Each has a bright flower sewn at its base. And on her feet is a pair of yellow knee socks with a bootlace pattern, topped by ankle socks.

Goderich’s deputy reeve, John Grace, is ready to help celebrate International Down Syndrome Day today.

Amiera is ready to celebrate International Down Syndrome Day today, March 21. Down syndrome is a genetic disease in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. In Down syndrome, the most common single cause of birth defects, a person has an extra 21th chromosome, which affects development of the body and brain.

Amiera’s mother, Jennifer, has delivered crazy socks to Goderich’s town hall in the hopes that councillors will help to raise awareness.

“March 21 is a day for us to celebrate Amiera – and all that her diagnosis has added to our lives – in a very public way. As well, it’s a chance for us to educate the general public about Down syndrome and let the world see that individuals with Down syndrome are worth celebrating,” she said.

Amiera’s schoolmates at St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School will help celebrate by wearing crazy socks too. As an added bonus, Amiera will receive a Great Gains award during a school assembly.

“We’re also going to visit some of the businesses in town that are participating and thank them for their support,” Black said.

Black said crazy socks were picked for today because they’re fun and unique and because they are conversation starters.

“We should all embrace our uniqueness and be free to have fun with it. I like to think the crazy socks represent that freedom.
 Be ourselves and accept others for who they are without stereotypes and fear,” she said.

Amiera’s sister, Sadie, brother, Gracin, and father, Wayne, will also help to celebrate today.

ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH – A man from Ashfield-Colborne Wawanosh faces four charges after police were called to a domestic dispute.

The man. 44, was charged after Huron County OPP responded to a 9-1-1 call for assistance just after 1:30 p.m. yesterday.

A 30-year-old woman suffered minor injuries after being threatened and assaulted by her common-law partner, police say.

The man has been charged with two counts of assault, one count of uttering threats and one count of forcible confinement.  He remains in custody with a court date scheduled for March 18, 2013 at Ontario Court of Justice - Goderich.

ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH – Two snowmobilers were sent to hospital after crashing into a tree south of Lucknow late Saturday night, Huron County OPP report.

Just after 11:30 p.m. Huron OPP officers, Lucknow Fire Department and Huron County paramedics were dispatched to a single snowmobile collision involving two injured people.

Emergency personnel found the injured pair near a snowmobile trail north of Hawkins Road and west of Lucknow Line. Preliminary investigation revealed a Polaris snowmobile left the trail and crashed into a tree.

The driver, Johnathan Caldwell, 23, of Goderich, was transported by air ambulance to London Health Sciences Centre in London with non-life threatening injuries. He remains in hospital this afternoon, listed in fair condition, which means his vital signs are stable and he is conscious, although he may uncomfortable.

The passenger, Terry Riddiough, 29, from R.R.7 Lucknow was transported to Alexandra & Marine General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

SPEEDER’S VEHICLE IMPOUNDED

ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH – On March 10, 2013 at approximately 6:35 p.m., a Huron County OPP officer conducting RADAR patrol on Amberley Road near Donnybrook Line observed a grey Oldsmobile sedan speeding along at a high rate of speed.

The officer locked the vehicle speed at 147 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone.

A 23-year-old man from Waterloo has been charged with racing a motor vehicle as a result of speeding at least 50 km/h over the limit. He has a court appearance scheduled for Provincial Offences Act Court - Goderich on May 7, 2013.  His driver’s licence has been suspended for seven days and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

DRIVER CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF DRUGS

HURON EAST – A RIDE program located on Turnberry Street at Raymond Court in Brussels yielded a criminal charge on Saturday night.

Just before 9 p.m. a green Chevrolet Blazer entered the RIDE checkpoint.  The driver produced a quantity of an illegal drug when was questioned by the officer at the checkpoint.

A South Huron man, 46, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance.  He is scheduled to appear at Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich on April 22, 2013.

VANDAL DAMAGES CRUISER

BLUEWATER - A Huron OPP cruiser was the target of a mischief this past weekend.

While OPP officers were completing foot patrols inside the Hensall arena somebody was outside tearing both antennas off the rear of the cruiser.  This crime took place between 12:30 a.m. and 1:45 a.m. on March 9.

No witnesses have come forward to assist police in the investigation.

CHEVY PICKUP STOLEN

HURON EAST - Huron County OPP officers are investigating the theft of a blue 2001 Chevrolet S10 pickup truck stolen from Winnipeg Road in Vanastra.

The owner reported his truck was stolen from his laneway sometime between 8:30 p.m. on March 9, 2013 and 9:30 a.m. on March 10, 2013.   Inscribed in the back window is ” I love my mommy” with a picture of a heart.

The truck was unlocked and the keys were left in the ignition.

BREAK & ENTER TO SHED

BLUEWATER - Huron OPP officers are investigating a break, enter and theft to a small garden shed located on Richmond Street North in Bluewater.  The suspect entered through an insecure window and left with a chainsaw and a ratchet set.

The chainsaw is an orange and white Stihl model MS230 with an orange case valued at $425.  The ratchet set is valued at $100.

Police believe this crime took place between 7 p.m. on March 7, 2013 and 6:45 a.m. on March 8, 2013.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact the Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH - Huron OPP officers are investigating the theft of a webcam stolen from the Goderich Municipal Airport.

The camera provided a live- view feed of the weather and runway conditions. The camera was stolen from an interior window. The value of the camera is estimated to be $250.

Police believe the theft happened shortly after 5:15 p.m. on March 1, 2013.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

NO INSURANCE IS EXPENSIVE FINE

HURON EAST - A traffic stop on Turnberry Street in Brussels may prove to be costly for a West Perth resident.

On March 7, 2013 at 9:41 a.m. a Huron OPP officer stopped a blue Dodge sedan to check on the insurance status of the vehicle.  The driver, who was also the owner of the vehicle, was unable to produce a valid insurance certificate.  Further investigation revealed the insurance coverage on the vehicle had been terminated.

As a result, a 52-year-old man from West Perth has been charged with operating a motor vehicle without insurance. His motor vehicle was also towed from the scene.  He has a court appearance scheduled for Provincial Court - Goderich on May 7, 2013.

If convicted of this offence, the penalty carries a minimum fine of $5,000 and a possible driver’s licence suspension of one year.

BLUEWATER - Huron OPP officers are investigating a break, enter and theft at an Airport Line residence. The property owner returned home after a vacation to find someone had forced entry into the front porch.  Those responsible also tried to get into the residence however were unsuccessful.  The thieves stole an older model white Kenmore dishwasher, a large black wire dog crate, a large red dog bed and three foot by three foot water colour painting of a country scene setting. 

The owner reported this crime took place sometime between the end of August 2012 and February 26, 2013.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

LAPTOP STOLEN FROM RESIDENCE

HURON EAST – Huron County OPP officers are investigating the theft of an Acer laptop computer stolen from a Jarvis Street North residence in Huron East.  Police believe the theft took place sometime between 10 p.m. on March 1, 2013 and 3 a.m. on March 2, 2013.

The homeowner returned home and found the front door to his residence left open. Upon checking the residence the laptop was noticed missing.  The grey Acer laptop is valued at approximately $500.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

GENERATOR STOLEN FROM SNOWMOBILE SHACK

ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH – Huron OPP officers are investigating a break, enter and theft at a snowmobile shack located on Glen’s Hill Road.

Those responsible cut the padlock off the door and once inside they stole a red and black Honda gas powered generator with a white gas tank.  The generator is valued at $1,500.

This crime took place sometime between February 1, 2013 and March 1, 2013.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

DRIVER CHARGED WITH IMPAIRED AND OVER 80

BLUEWATER - A 66-year-old female driver has been arrested and charged by Huron OPP following a RIDE checkpoint stop.

On March 1, 2013 at approximately 9:40 p.m. a black Ford Explorer entered the RIDE checkpoint that was situated at the intersection of Parr Line and Mill Road.  Officers detected the driver had been drinking alcohol; further investigation revealed she was displaying signs of impairment by alcohol.  The driver was arrested for impaired driving and was transported to the Huron OPP detachment for breath tests. She provided two samples of her breath; both were over the legal limit.

As a result, the Bluewater woman has been charged with impaired driving and driving a motor vehicle with over 80 milligrams of alcohol.  She has a court appearance scheduled for April 8, 2013 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.  She received an automatic 90-day driver’s licence suspension and her motor vehicle has been impounded for seven days.

Anti-wind turbine supporters rally outside Goderich’s courthouse.

HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – Shawn and Trisha Drennan have a reasonable fear that their health will be harmed by 12 industrial wind turbines proposed to be built within two kilometres of their home just north of Goderich, argued lawyer Julian Falconer in superior court today.

He asked Justice A. Duncan Grace to dismiss a motion by K2 Wind Project and the provincial government, represented by the Ministry

Shawn Drennan.

of the Attorney General, to either dismiss or stay a bid for an injunction that would stop the K2 Wind Project from proceeding until a $4 million lawsuit is dealt with. If the judge were to stay the motion, the lawsuit would not proceed until all administrative processes are exhausted, including the Renewable Energy Approval process in which the director of the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) reviews a mandated list of about a dozen reports and public comments before deciding whether to allow a project to proceed, and an Environmental Review Tribunal, which could be triggered by a concern that the project will cause serious harm to human, plant or animal health or to the natural environment.

“No Canadians, including the Drennans, have to wait to be injured by the state before taking steps,” Falconer said, saying the couple’s rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms have been breached because the wind energy company isn’t required to prove that its project won’t cause adverse health effects. He argued on the basis of the precautionary principle that states when there’s a possibility of health risks and no scientific evidence, the burden of proof that it won’t be harmful rests with whoever is taking the action or establishing policy.

He said the Drennans are seeking recourse through superior court now because the harm to their health begins with the REA process, what he called the “on-ramp” to wind turbines being built. No wind energy project has been shut down during the administrative process.

“It’s pretty good odds that it’s going to happen, that the REA is coming down the pipes,” he told the court.

Spectators filled the courtroom, even sitting in jury chairs at the invitation of the judge, after complaints that an inadequate sound system made proceedings difficult to hear. Earlier, anti-wind turbine supporters rallied on the courthouse steps, carrying signs that read: ‘Stop the Wind Turbines’ and ‘Health Studies Before Wind Turbines.’ A woman carried a homemade replica of a wind turbine, with a mangled bird hanging from its blade.

Justice Grace has reserved his decision until he has reviewed a foot-high stack of written submissions and about five hours of verbal arguments from lawyers.

Hart Schwartz, counsel for the Ministry of the Attorney General, argued the Drennans’ challenge should take place within the REA process, rather than taking up time in superior court. He said the MOE director has to consider the question of harm before deciding whether to deny, approve or approve with conditions an REA. As well, the same questions of law and arguments about whether it’s unconstitutional can be made to the Environmental Review Tribunal, and on appeal in divisional court.

“The Drennans can make their arguments to the director, to the tribunal, and to the divisional court on appeal of the Tribunal,” he said. “There is adequate remedy.”

He said the first decision to emerge from an Environmental Review Tribunal, which was the 200-plus-page decision in Erickson v. Director, Ministry of the Environment with regards to the Kent Breeze wind project was comprehensive.

As well, he said it is “hypothetical” and “premature” to claim harmful health effects at a time when the wind turbines haven’t been approved and aren’t yet operational.

Christopher Bredt, counsel for K2 Wind Ontario Inc., and K2 Wind Ontario Partnership, agreed, saying the Drennans’ claim is “speculative.”

“The claim is premature and should be struck in its entirety on that basis,” he said.

Bredt said the project could be altered along the way or may never go ahead, depending on what happens during the REA process. As well, he said the plaintiffs will have to suffer the harm they allege will occur.

“There are about eight ‘ifs’ before we get to the potential harm, which is the wind turbine,” he said.

In an interview outside the courtroom, Falconer said, “I think it’s not an overstatement to say this is frankly where the buck stops on the ability of citizens to fight back against wind turbines. Unfortunately these kinds of proceedings are very difficult for the plaintiffs because they’re novel.

“The Drennans are trying to empower themselves by getting control of the process, by taking steps that are novel, by attempting to fight back,” he said.

The K2 Wind Project is a partnership of Capital Power Corp., Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada ULC and Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. and includes 140 2.3-MW Siemens turbines, a substation and a transformer station on land leased from 90 farmers in Ashfield-Colborne Wawanosh. However, only four will operate at full nameplate capacity while the remainder will be factory de-rated to ensure the provincially regulated noise thresholds aren’t exceeded at people’s homes.

The project lies north of Kingsbridge I, a 39.6-MW project that went into operation in 2006. The project area is bound by Hwy. 21 to the west, County Road 86 to the north, Golf Course Road and Blyth Road to the south, and Halls Hill Line with a diagonal jog eastward between the Dungannon Road and the Blyth Road to the east.

The partnership, K2 Wind Ontario Inc., has a power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority, which was signed in 2011 separate from the Feed-In Tariff program. On Feb. 15, 2013, the MOE posted the proposed renewable energy approval for the project on the Environmental Registry, starting the 45-day public comment period. The project is currently under technical review, according to a listing of renewable energy projects on the MOE’s website.

HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – The volunteers who have methodically restored the rail bridge over the Maitland River have just one more project to complete.

Since 1990, the Menesetung Bridge Association has converted the old CPR rail bridge to a walking trail and repaired concrete piers on the bridge, which was built in 1907. It has also maintained 3.2 km of trails on land it leases from the Town of Goderich and Township of Ashfield-Colborne Wawanosh.

“Over the years we have repaired and reconstructed the aging concrete components of this structure to allow for the safe passage of the hundreds of users, of tourist visitors who walk, cycle and ski in this facility all season,” Rod Lafontaine told Huron County councillors earlier this month. He asked councillors to consider a $10,000 donation to help repair the fifth concrete pier on the bridge, which lies at the high water mark and serves at the boundary line between the town and the township.

The work is estimated to cost more than $89,000, which will be offset by a $39,000 federal grant.

“This is the last major structural requirement on the restoration program for the bridge that our volunteer committee will be undertaking,” he said.

Deb Shewfelt, who is a county councillor and the mayor of Goderich, told council the bridge is a tourism draw for the entire county.

“It shocks me. It’s thousands of people that come from all over and it’s one of the things that’s starting to get people to stay over to see other things in the county. It’s not just a Goderich thing,” he said. Goderich is expected to contribute $15,000 to the project.

Huron County councillors referred the request to its 2013 budget deliberations, which are currently under way.

The county’s CAO, Brenda Orchard, is currently creating a policy on how council will handle requests for grants from local organizations.

Shawn Drennan, middle, takes part in a protest at a K2 Wind Project open house this past summer. File photo.

HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – The developers of a 270-MW wind energy project north of Goderich are asking the court to dismiss an attempt by a local couple to stop its project.

On Friday, March 1, K2 Wind Ontario Partnership is scheduled to ask the court to strike a request for an injunction that was made by Shawn and Trisha Drennan, landowners in the proposed K2 Wind Project slated for Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, according to a press release issued by the couple’s law firm, Falconer Charney LLP, of Toronto.

The couple is supported by SWEAR, Safe Wind Energy for all Residents.

The Drennans filed a statement of claim Nov. 14, 2012 for more than $4 million in damages from Her Majesty the Queen, Agatha Garcia Wright, who is the director of the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), K2 Wind Ontario Inc., and K2 Wind Ontario Partnership. It also calls for an injunction to prevent the MOE from issuing a renewable energy approval that would allow the project to proceed.

According to the statement of claim, one wind turbine is expected to be built within 600 metres of their home, with another 11 within two kilometres. In addition, a 270-MW substation is slated to be built less than 500 m from their home. The couple claims wind turbines built less than two kilometres from their home will cause serious health concerns such as sleep disturbance, health disease and chronic headaches as a result of audible and inaudible noise and shadow flicker caused by the blades.

Anti-wind turbine supporters plan to muster outside the court house at 8:30 a.m. and continue to rally outside throughout the court proceedings in front of Justice A. Duncan Grace, which are tentatively scheduled for 9:30 a.m.

“We can no longer afford to be complacent. If you don’t want the turbines to be built here then you must help mobilize people in our community before it is too late. Come out and show your support for the cause and your objection to the turbines,” urged an email from CHAT – Central Huron Against Turbines – that circulated today.

The K2 Wind Project is a partnership of Capital Power Corp., Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada ULC and Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. and includes 140 2.3-MW Siemens turbines, a substation and a transformer station on land leased from 90 farmers in ACW. However, only four will operate at full nameplate capacity while the remainder will be factory de-rated to ensure the provincially regulated noise thresholds aren’t exceeded at people’s homes.

The project lies north of Kingsbridge I, a 39.6-MW project that went into operation in 2006. The project area is bound by Hwy. 21 to the west, County Road 86 to the north, Golf Course Road and Blyth Road to the south, and Halls Hill Line with a diagonal jog eastward between the Dungannon Road and the Blyth Road to the east.

The partnership, K2 Wind Ontario Inc., has a power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority, which was signed in 2011 separate from the Feed-In Tariff program.

West Street in Goderich during the rebuild after the tornado. File photo.

HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – The disaster relief committee set up in the aftermath of a tornado that ripped through Goderich and area on Aug. 21, 2011 is telling the provincial government it needs to provide better coverage to tenants and farmers as it prepares to close its books on $6.2 million of paid claims, its chair told Goderich council this week.

Allowing tenants who have lost their belongings in disaster to buy sheets but not pillow or beds but not mattresses are just a few of the “silly things” in the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP), said Duncan Jewell, who chairs the Goderich and Area Disaster Relief Committee.

“Tenants do not receive enough money,” Jewell said. The Goderich and area committee “worked the rules” to provide tenants with $500 each to buy clothing. “When you read the program, there are things missing that just make absolutely no sense whatsoever.”

The committee will recommend compensation for woodlots destroyed in disaster. More than 225 acres of woodlot in the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh and the Municipality of Central Huron were destroyed in the tornado and ineligible for compensation under the program. The Goderich and area committee tailored the rules to provide $400 an acre.

“That’s grossly unfair when a residential person could get $2,500 for one stump to be removed from their property,” he said.

It will also recommend uninsured cash crops ruined by disaster also receive compensation, bringing it in line with policies for business owners.

“So a farmer who has a loss of income because it’s a cash crop can’t get covered but a businessman who has a loss of income can get covered when loss of income’s not supposed to be covered,” Jewell said.

The committee has reviewed 373 files to pay out $5 million with another $1.2 million committed by the end of summer, in order to pay eligible claimants 90 per cent of their claims. Jewell said a few files remain that may have a right to appeal.

ODRAP contributes up to $2 for every dollar raised locally, to an amount necessary to settle all eligible claims, up to 90 per cent of all eligible costs. A local fund-raising campaign led by Tom Jasper, Ken Dunn and Matt Hoy raised more than $4 million, and the province provided about $2.16 million to settle the claims.

“We won’t need the two-to-one funding for a variety of reasons. Mainly because people had good insurance in Goderich and area,” Jewell said, noting 27 per cent of potential claimants had sufficient insurance.

The province paid all administration costs.

Deputy Mayor John Grace thanked the committee for its contribution to the rebuild efforts.

“Congratulations, Duncan, to yourself and the rest of your committee. I think you’ve done an outstanding job for the community,” he said. “Thank-you on behalf of myself and my family.”

The committee completed a report as a charitable organization for the Canada Revenue Agency and a report with recommendations on any changes to ODRAP for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

The following is a report from the committee:

The Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP) is a program established by the Provincial Government following a disaster. Following the August 21, 2011 F3 tornado, volunteers were appointed by the three affected municipalities to the Goderich and Area Disaster Relief Committee to operate the program. ODRAP is a source of financial aid for costs or damages to essential private property incurred as a result of a disaster event and not covered by insurance. The purpose of the program is to restore, repair or replace homes/buildings to pre-disaster conditions using guidelines established by the Province of Ontario. It does not provide total replacement costs or the full cost of many expenses that have been incurred because of the tornado. Some losses are not covered at all, such as damages to a vacation property, which is not a primary residence, an insurance deductible, vehicles, personal injury damages, landscaping or the loss of income.

One of the responsibilities of the Goderich and Area Disaster Relief Committee was to raise funds from the community to assist the claimants. The Province of Ontario committed to contribute up to $2 for every dollar raised locally, to an amount necessary to settle all eligible claims, up to 90% of all eligible costs.

The Goderich and Area Disaster Relief Committee has now completed its review and adjudication of all files received by the application deadline of November 25, 2011.

The Disaster Relief Committee office at the Goderich Town Hall is permanently closed.

Statistical Information

Applications:

Number of files received by the application deadline of November 25, 2011 373

Number of files approved for financial assistance: 236

Number of files closed because financial assistance was not required: 102

Number of files ineligible: 35

Expended and Committed Funds:

Claims paid as of February 15, 2013: $5,006,406.55

Funds committed to claimants but not paid as construction has not commenced: $1,202,788.58

Total funds required to pay all claims: $ 6,209,195.13

Fundraising:

Total amount of money raised by local volunteer fundraisers: $ 4,017,602.32

Interest earned on deposits: $ 34,183.41

Total available from fundraising: $ 4,051,785.73

Contributions from the Province of Ontario:

Under the up to 2:1 matching formula, the Province is committed to contribute $2,157,409.40

Note: All money raised through fundraising is used exclusively to pay eligible claims as the Province of Ontario is responsible for all the administration costs associated with ODRAP.

Thank You!

The Goderich and Area Disaster Relief Committee expresses its sincere thanks to the thousands of people who donated to the Disaster Relief Fund, the many volunteers who assisted with fundraising, the staff of the Disaster Relief Committee for their service in helping to rebuild, renew and restore our communities, the administrative staff of the Town of Goderich for its support and the Province of Ontario for its financial and administrative support.

SOUTH HURON - Huron OPP officers are investigating after thieves stole more than $20,000 in smart phones during an early morning break in at McNain Communications in Exeter on the weekend.

On Feb. 9 at 6:02 a.m. police were dispatched to the business when a motion alarm was tripped.  Officers arrived to find the front door forced open, but the thieves gone.

The stolen phones were new in the box.

Some of the stolen phones include:

• Nine iPhone 5s;
• Six (6) iPhone 4s;
• Six HTC Windowss;
• Four Samsung Galaxy S3s;
• Three Nokia Lumia 920s; and
• One Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

An older model, dark coloured Chevrolet Trailblazer or GMC Yukon with tinted windows was seen in the area just before the theft.

YAMAHA APEX SNOWMOBILE STOLEN

ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH – A broken down snowmobile was stolen from the edge of St. Helen’s Line on Saturday.

The owner was out for a snowmobile trail ride near the village of St. Helen’s when his machine broke down around 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 9. He left his snowmobile on the edge of St. Helen’s Line while he went to go get a tow vehicle.  When he returned an hour later his snowmobile was missing.

The stolen sled is described as a black and white 2006 Yamaha Apex TRL, 1000 cc engine, red and chrome windshield, with an after-market Bender racing exhaust system.  Written across the windshield is Mad Max.  There was a 2013 OFSC trail permit affixed.  The sled is valued at $9,000.

TOOLS AND AUTO PARTS STOLEN

MORRIS-TURNBERRY - Huron OPP officers are investigating a break, enter and theft that occurred at a home based automotive supply business located on Cranbrook Line.

Sometime between the late hours on Feb. 8, 2013 and the early morning hours of Feb. 9, 2013 those responsible entered into the detached garage through an insecure rear window.  Once inside the thieves stole approximately $10,000 in tools and automotive parts.  Some of the stolen items are listed below:

• Four Snap-On impact guns;
• Fifteen Interstate car batteries;
• Forty ACDelco brake discs sets;
• Twenty ACDelco brake pads;
• Twenty CAN-PRO wrenches;
• Ten Shell 5W40 20L pails of motor oil; and
• Collection of various hand tools.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact the Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.