All posts by SHLF

UPDATE: Two arrested after stolen U-Haul van crashes into Barrie house

Police arrested a man and woman after a stolen U-Haul van crashed into a house on Hurst Drive July 20.

Barrie police say the 29-year-old man and 31-year-old woman fled on foot after the 7:30 a.m. crash but were found in the neighbourhood a few minutes later and arrested.

The man has been charged with impaired driving by drug, dangerous driving, possession of stolen property, failing to remain at the scene of a collision and driving without a licence. The woman is charged with possession of stolen property.

Michael Burlock, who lives three doors down from where the crash occurred, said he briefly spoke to the couple when they got out of the wrecked van.

“I asked if they were OK. They said they were, then they just took off,” he said. “I didn’t expect them to take off. They looked pretty shook up and the dude had no shoes.”

The U-Haul truck, which was travelling north on Hurst Drive just south of Golden Meadow Road when it left the road, ran over two trees and crossed two driveways before it crashed into the house. The homeowner was not home at the time.

Burlock said he was drinking his morning cup of coffee when he heard a “huge bang” so he went to investigate.

That’s when he saw the man and woman just outside the truck.

Burlock said he called 911 to tell police as soon as the couple left the scene of the crash.

“I walked down the street a bit to see if I could find them, but they weren’t around,” he said.

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said it’s a miracle no one was killed or seriously injured.

“There’s always someone jogging or walking down that sidewalk,” the woman said.

Barrie police continue to investigate and have yet to release charges.

Guilty plea in Wasaga Beach stabbing death

A North York teen pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the stabbing death of another teen in Wasaga Beach on a long weekend two years ago.

Austin Zambrano-Peterson, now 20, of North York, was 18 when he was charged along with two of his teen friends with the second-degree murder of Francesco Molinaro, 18, of Bolton. In court Friday, July 20, he stood in the prisoner’s box and pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

He was sentenced to five years in prison for manslaughter as well as robbery.

Court heard that Zambrano-Peterson was not the one who brandished the knife but played a role in the death.

The two men bumped into each other on the night of May 21, 2016, outside of the Pizza Pizza in Wasaga Beach and began punching each other.

Two of Zambrano-Peterson’s friends, 18 and 19, allegedly joined in the fight and started punching Molinaro. One of Zambrano-Peterson’s friends pulled out a knife and stabbed Molinaro seven times in the back and side, court heard. As he lay mortally wounded, the three men ran off.

An ambulance arrived almost immediately, but Molinaro died on the way to the hospital.

Police had all three teens under surveillance before they were arrested. Unaware that police were watching him, two weeks after Molinaro died Zambrano-Peterson wore a disguise and robbed a man in Oshawa.

In court, members of Molinaro’s family wept and read victim impact statements expressing their grief. He was described as a man with a wonderful smile and a big heart.

His mother told the judge she has received a life sentence and nothing will bring her son back.

Standing in the prisoner’s box in handcuffs, wearing a blue dress shirt, his neck covered with tattoos, Zambrano-Peterson was asked by the judge if he had anything to say but quietly declined to comment.

Justice Cary Boswell said there is no sentence that can take away the pain and grief that the Molinaro family is suffering.

“They are permanently scarred,” said the judge. “A young man lost his life. It doesn’t get worse than that.”

Two other accused are charged with second-degree murder and their case is still before the court.

Accused teen killer in court

A Barrie man made a brief appearance in court to face a charge of first-degree murder of a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death 12 years ago.

The man, now 28, was 16 when he allegedly killed the teen in a wooded area of Barrie March 9, 2006.

In 2010 he was found guilty of murder by a jury and sentenced to life in prison following a three-month trial, but the Ontario Court of Appeal struck the verdict and ordered a new trial.

The high court stated the youth was wrongfully arrested and not given his rights according the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The court ordered the case back for a new trial.

The victim’s mother sat in court and saw the man accused of killing her son, now a grown man, for the first time in several years.

There is a ban on publication on all identities as both the victim and accused were youths at the time.

No trial date has yet been set.

 

Bradford murder

A Bradford man charged with murdering his wife made a brief appearance in court Thursday, July 19.

Jose Fernandes, 57, stands charged with the first-degree murder of his 49-year-old wife, Maria Fernandes, in November 2015.

Police arrested him at his home on Colborne Street where they found his wife stabbed to death. He is expected back in court in August.

What’s Going On Here: 110 Fairview Rd. in Barrie

You can see the construction crane towering over Fairview Road from Highway 400.

But that site, located at 110 Fairview, will eventually be home to the Barrie-Simcoe Emergency Services Campus. Once complete, the facility will house the Barrie Police headquarters, County of Simcoe Paramedic Services and Barrie Fire and Emergency Service dispatch communications.

Here are the latest details on the project:

• Last month, a portion of the south slab was poured. Foundation walls and verticals are complete for the first level. And crews are working toward completion of underground mechanical and electrical services. Bulk excavation of the site was complete in April.

• Upcoming priorities for crews include the completion of backfilling and the preparation of second floor formwork for the south slab.

• Officially called Phase 1, the groundbreaking for the $103.3-million project was held in November. The campus is being designed with the flexibility to accommodate the community’s needs for the next 25 years. This first section will include a 179,200-square-foot administrative centre and a separate police vehicle repair garage.

• A second phase, which includes a 48,500-square-foot firearms range and police and fire training centre, was postponed indefinitely by city council as a cost-saving measure last year.

• The first phase of the project will be complete in 2020, with staged occupancy of the finished building occurring through the first few months of the year.

For more, visit .


Tom Guthrie — Penetanguishene councillor

Born and raised in Midland, I attended Midland Secondary School. Thirty-seven years ago I moved to Penetanguishene to get married and raise a family. I have three grown children and five grandchildren. I have worked in Manufacturing for 37 years and currently hold a lead hand position. Over the years I have been involved in contract negotiations and  currently sit on a pension and benefit committee.

The reason I am running in this upcoming election is that I would like to see a change with new direction and fresh ideas.  I believe we need to improve on the services we offer to the residents of Penetanguishene and prepare for the future. Some of the issues that I would like to work on if elected include:

Infrastructure: I would like to see additional funds put toward our road network. I would like to see a plan in place to see more funds allocated to resurface more roads that are not scheduled for major reconstruction in the next 15 to 20 years.

Affordable Housing:  I would like to see the town invest in housing for seniors and residents whose income doesn’t allow them to find alternative housing. Penetanguishene’s population is aging and people who live here may want to downsize from their current home to something more manageable but allow them to retain their independence.

Transit: I first off want to commend our current council for the implementation of the transit system. I would like to ensure that this program is a success and that we build on it for the future by reaching out to the ridership to find out where we can improve.

Parks and recreation: Address any safety concerns, adding new playground equipment to dated or under serviced parks.  Set aside funds for future ice rink.

These are some of the main reasons why I seek a position on council.

Tom Guthrie




RECALLS: Children’s jackets, slime kits, flashlights, plus more on this week’s list

Here is our weekly round up of current product recalls. For more details on each, please click on links. Don’t forget to check back next week for new items.

CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS

Calikids Inc. recalls — The jackets range from size 2T to 6Y, and are available in blue, pink, red and yellow. Drawstrings on children’s outerwear can become entangled or caught on playground slides, hand rails, school bus doors or other moving objects, posing a significant entanglement hazard to children. The recalled products were sold from March 2016 to July 2018 in Canada.

Genius Premium Craft Boxes recalls — Health Canada has determined the Do-It-Yourself Slime Kits Flubber Slime, Chalkboard Paint Slime and Alien Slime do not meet the Canadian toy safety requirements related to boric acid content. Boric acid can be toxic to children if licked or swallowed. Children are more sensitive to boric acid toxicity than adults. High levels of boric acid ingestion may have long-term effects on a child’s development and their future reproductive health. The recalled slime kits were sold from March 2018 to August 2018.

OTHER

Koehler-Bright Star recalls — The flashlights are missing an encapsulation on the circuit board component which could allow the flashlight to ignite in an explosive environment, posing a burn hazard and risk of personal injury to the user or bystander. The recalled products were sold from January 2017 to May 2018.

The Uttermost Company recalls Various Types of — The hanging hardware can break, causing mirrors and wall décor to fall from walls, posing an injury hazard to bystanders. The recalled products were sold in Canada between June 2017 and March 2018.

Neo-Image Candlelight Ltd recalls — The recalled products do not have proper hazard labelling as required by the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, 2001 under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. Improper labelling could result in unintentional exposure to these products and lead to serious illness, injury or death. The recalled products were sold from June 2014 to August 2018 at various retailers.

Jimmy Hack Golf, LLC recalls — The orange ball can detach from the trainer while in use, posing an injury hazard to the user and bystanders. The recalled products were sold from Nov. 2, 2017 to Feb. 1, 2018.

Empack Spraytech Inc. recalls — The products were designed and labelled for professional/trade (GHS) requirements and should have only been sold to industrial clients. The professional grade product, which lacks consumer labelling information, including appropriate warnings, may lead to serious injury or property damage. The affected products were sold from September 2015 to January 2018.

Seabreeze International Corp. recalls certain — In the event of a fault, the safety cut-offs may not operate and allow the heater to rapidly overheat, posing a fire hazard. The recalled products were sold between August 2015 and May 2017.

Ontario Cold Case: Who murdered Ray Venerus?

More than a decade later, the murder of Milton man Ray Venerus is still unsolved.

The cold case remains prominently featured on the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) website under and continues to ask anyone with information to contact the HRPS homicide unit at 905-825-4747, ext. 8760 or Crime Stoppers at 1-877-222-TIPS (8477), by text message to 274637 (CRIMES) or .

Police made a public appeal for information on the anniversary of the now 11-year-old homicide investigation in February 2017. However, Det. Alistair Watt, of the Halton police homicide unit, said nothing was generated as a result from it.

“The homicide unit recognizes that there are still families and communities seeking answers and resolution to those murders that remain unsolved,” police had said about their ongoing efforts to solve cold cases.

“Families of homicide victims will never forget the loss of their loved one, regardless of the passage of time and hope to one day receive news that a perpetrator has been identified and arrested.”

Venerus, a 55-year-old local businessperson, was found shot to death outside his Dublin Line home on Feb. 21, 2007. His body was on the ground, next to his idling vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee — discovered by a passerby.

An autopsy had revealed the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.

“We don’t believe it was simply bad luck,” said Halton police Det. Sgt. Peter Hodgson, back in a 2007 interview with the Milton Canadian Champion.

Since then, police have followed up on a number of leads over the years, but none led investigators to any suspects or a killer.

When the case had already become a year old, efforts turned to publishing to try and garner any new clues and information from the public.

Another in 2016 and also published online and shared on social media in an effort by police to jog someone’s memory or get someone to have a change of heart and come forward with information.

“There have been leads, which have obviously been followed up. Some didn’t really have any legs to begin with,” Halton homicide Det. Alistair Watt told the Champion back in February 2017.

Venerus’ murder was one of several cold cases Halton police listed during , which it had stated generated a tip, but would not say to which case specifically, at the time.

In 2009, Halton police even for information for another year in hopes of netting some new tips.

Despite it being years of investigating the Milton man’s death, Halton police has said it isn’t giving up.

“We never give up,” Watt said in a previous story, adding he wants nothing more than to bring closure to Venerus’ family and those who knew him.

— with files from Catherine O’Hara and David Lea, Metroland Media

Barrie fraudsters suck the cost out of Dyson vacuums

Two suspects are wanted after at least two distraction frauds at a Barrie Canadian Tire store.

Barrie police say the suspects made off with two Dyson vacuums valued at about $800 each for an incredibly low price.

The suspects were seen on surveillance camera May 22 and June 4 in the vacuum area of the Bayfield Street store.

The first male applies a sticker bar code from a cheaper item on the Dyson box. He returns the item to the shelf and leaves the store. A short time later, the second male enters and selects the incorrectly labelled Dyson. 

He goes to the cashier, where he lifts the item so it can be scanned and then distracts the cashier from looking over the item.

After reviewing the store’s inventory numbers, investigators believe the fraud has been going on for some time. A full review of video surveillance will determine how many items were taken, police say.

The first suspect is described as:

• Male, white

• Thin build

• 45 to 55-years-old

• Short brown and grey hair

• Wearing black jacket, blue jeans, brown shoes and black shirt

The second suspect is described as:

• Male, white

• Wearing brown shoes, blue jeans, blue plaid shirt, black baseball cap and black jacket

Anyone with information is asked to contact Const. Guy Peters  at 705-725-7025 ext. 2761 or [email protected]. Any information can be provided anonymously to  at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave an anonymous tip online at 

Jeff Bumstead — Tay Ward 2

For accountability, community involvement, dedication and future thinking — vote Jeff Bumstead!

I was born and raised on Concession 6, now Newton Street, south of Victoria Harbour and am very happy to be living in the same area. My wife Wendy and I raised our two children here and we are proud they experienced many activities and opportunities offered locally. Our children, now young adults, are currently pursuing career ambitions through university studies and summer employment. As an active member of the community, for over 40 years, I am very excited and eager to join municipal council and make positive decisions that affect Ward 2 and Tay Township.

My municipal employment experience includes bylaw enforcement for Tiny Township, fire prevention and community emergency management for Tay Township, and as emergency planning manager for the County of Simcoe, which provided me with valuable knowledge of municipal laws and requirements, council procedures and planning processes.

Volunteering 15-plus years as a firefighter, captain and training officer with Tay Township Station 5 Victoria Harbour Fire Department, along with volunteering, direct involvement and support of the Rotary Club of Midland, Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre, Hospice Huronia, Huronia Communities Foundation, Georgian Bay General Hospital, Muscular Dystrophy Canada, Royal Victoria Hospital Radio for Cardiology, Princess Margaret Cancer Research Centre, Midland Minor Hockey, North Simcoe Girls Hockey, Victoria Harbour Minor Ball, Tay Soccer, Victoria Harbour Lions Club, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 523, St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank and the Tay Canada Day committee have helped me understand the needs of the township, its residents and the importance of volunteers and community organizations.

Currently employed as an occasional teacher with the Simcoe County District School Board and a civil servant with the Ministry of Community Service and Correctional Services, my schedule is very flexible, allowing me time to attend council meetings, committee meetings and be very involved in improving and promoting Tay Township on behalf of the residents and businesses of Ward 2. Vote Jeff Bumstead for a better Tay for everyone!

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SUV crashes through new Innisfil pizza store

A 41-year-old woman is recovering from her injuries after being injured after a vehicle crashed into an Innisfil pizza store.

South Simcoe Police Service were called around 8 p.m. July 28 after an SUV crashed through the front window of the Pizza Nova store on Innisfil Beach Road.

Officers heard the driver was attempting to park, but accelerated into the restaurant, hitting the 41-year-old woman inside. She was taken to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre for treatment.

Police are still investigating the incident.

Bryan Harris — Barrie Ward 4

Raised in Barrie, my roots are firmly planted here in Ward 4, where my parents settled to raise our family, including my five siblings. My father, Arthur (“Art”) Harris of Harris Flowers and my mother, Blanche (Green — a farming family from Ivy Township), along with all of my grandparents, invested heavily in the City of Barrie, beginning in the 1800s. Their legacy of a focused, energetic, hardworking ‘roll up your sleeves’ attitude, integrity and accountability continues in me today.

I live in Barrie and worked at Honda for 17 years, after which I chose the path of local entrepreneurship, owning four businesses at the same time (where I employed 60 Barrie-area residents) for 10 years in the City of Barrie.

Raised with a hardworking mindset of listening and learning, I know that actively listening, continuously learning, and functionally communicating in person, with all stakeholders on behalf of the people I represent — you, the residents of Ward 4 — is the key for anyone to succeed in the role of councillor to effectively represent you.

To that end, I am the sole candidate for Ward 4 who will be treating this role as my full-time job.

I, Bryan Harris, submit my name ‘for the long haul’; if I am elected, and if you are happy with your vote for me, I intend to run for the following two elections after that.

I believe that it is my time to give back to the City of Barrie that has taken care of me, my family, and our future. That time is now because I want to be a part of the growth that is now happening in this city, and I want to work with the legacy of the incumbent, whom I respect for his past service.

My interests are: Community safety, controlling taxes, preservation of parklands and our heritage. Voice your interests. Visit my website. Support me with a lawn sign and your vote.

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