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.

Canada's unemployment rate has gone up. According to Stats Can, the jobless rate rose slightly to 7.6 per cent last month. That’s up from 7.5 per cent in December.  23-hundred jobs were created in January, but  at the same time, officials say there were 23,700 more Canadians looking for jobs, which accounts for the climb in the jobless rate. Even the construction industry suffered job losses, despite the warmer-than-normal winter season.However, for the second consecutive month, the jobless rate in Barrie has gone down almost a full percentage point. It fell from 10.3 per cent in December to 9.5 in January. Mayor Jeff Lehman tweeted that the number is still too high, but a good start to 2012.

A Canadian senator has created controversy by a comment he made this week about murder convicts, but the idea is also gaining support. Conservative senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu suggested  providing rope to killers in their prison cells so they could decide whether to hang themselves. He apologized for what he said, but says he has since received 500-600 messages of support for the plan in less than 24 hours. The senator became a victims' rights advocate after his daughter was raped and murdered in 2002.

If you plan on pigging out at a  Super Bowl party this weekend, you might want to put some of those extra calories into perspective. A public health professor in New York says  if you eat three pigs in a blanket, you would have to play catch football non-stop for 68 minutes. And if you drink six bottles of Budweiser beer, you would have to do ``the wave'' more than four-thousand times, while three fried mac and cheese balls contain more than 500 calories each , so that means you would have to run the equivalent of 249 football fields to burn off those calories.

A few local men are among the 60 people, who have been arrested in a massive child pornography investigation . They include: a 36 year old Barrie man, an 18 year old man from Collingwood, a 25 year old Penetanguishene man, a 59 year old Newmarket man, as well as a 36 year old man from McDougall Township near Parry Sound.  The OPP released details of the bust yesterday and say three 16 year olds were also charged. During the investigation, 76 search warrants were executed by 18 police departments, including Barrie police, resulting in 213 charges being laid. Police say 22 victims of child exploitation have also been identified and taken to a child counselling organization. Investigators believe there are more victims and are hoping they will come forward.

An Aurora teen is facing charges, after he allegedly created a fake Facebook account. According to York Regional police, the accused is believed to have created a false account using the name and pictures of a teenage male victim, then sent disparaging remarks to the victim’s friends and family. The 16 year old has been charged with personation with intent and faces a future court date.

It’s expected to be a busy day at lottery retailers. Tonight’s Lotto Max jackpot is 50 million dollars, with 10 additional Maxmillions prizes up for grabs of one million dollars. The OLG says to put the money  in perspective, by winning the jackpot you could:

• Stay for a lifetime in a premier suite at any one of Ontario's luxury hotels

• Buy a pair of top-notch snowshoes for 167,000 of your friends

• Treat the entire population of Ontario to a hot chocolate and a donut

Players can purchase tickets at authorized OLG retailers until 9 p.m.

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.

It’s Groundhog Day, but the furry weather forecasters just can’t seem to agree!  Wiarton Willie made his annual  weather prediction shortly after 8 o’clock this morning and did not see his shadow. That means an early spring! Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam made the same prediction today, but Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil “did” see his shadow,  so that means 6 more weeks of winter, at least south of the border. Most of the province has experienced a milder-than-normal winter so far.

One person has been taken to hospital, after an early morning crash on Highway 400 southbound. Police say a taxi cab veered across all lanes and struck a concrete barrier south of Highway 7 this morning and the driver wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. He was taken to hospital with head injuries. Investigators are reportedly looking at whether alcohol and fatigue were possible factors in the crash.

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).

It's being called the largest child pornography bust in Canadian history. Officers from 23 police services across the province, including some in our region,  have reportedly arrested 50 suspects accused of accessing child pornography online and have laid more than 200 charges. A news conference is being held in Vaughan this morning, where more details about the massive bust are expected to be released.

A ferry carrying 350 people has sunk off Papua New Guinea’s east coast. Rescuers have so far plucked more than 200 survivors from the water, while an airplane from Australia, three helicopters and six ships continue to scour the search area. The latest tragedy comes just weeks after an Italian cruise ship  topped off the Tuscan coast, leaving 17 people dead and 15 others missing.

Former Price is Right host Bob Barker is mad; this time about horses, instead of elephants.  He is furious with his former game show for giving away a prize yesterday of a trip for two to the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede. Barker calls the Stampede an example of inhumane treatment of animals. Just last summer, two horses died during the chuckwagon races. However, the Stampede argues that a lot of progress has been made at the event when it comes to animal safety. Last year, Barker also lobbied to get the elephants moved from The Toronto Zoo, because of our cold climate.

Winterama kicks off today in New Lowell.  The annual event includes: a spaghetti supper, fireworks, movie nights, a parade, and plenty of activities for the kids.Clearview Township Councillor Debbie Bronee says they are not at all concerned about the mild weather as most of the events can run with or without snow.  Winterama ends on Sunday. For more details, click here.

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 the film as “Kristin”. Laura and Daryl spoke to her on the Kool FM Morning Show today.

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.

A Barrie high school teacher has reportedly been found guilty of misconduct by the Ontario College of Teachers. According to documents obtained by the Barrie Examiner, the college found that former St. Peter's Catholic Secondary School teacher Amy Mullins began a sexual relationship with a 17 year old student in 2001. She was also accused of hosting home movie nights where alcohol was involved and sharing hotel rooms with boys. No criminal charges were laid, but the victim, who is now 27, has a civil lawsuit pending against Mullins, the principal of the school at the time, as well as the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. Mullins was suspended by the board in December 2006, and is expected to lose her teacher’s certificate.

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. 

Starting today, it’s going to cost more to use Highway 407. Toll charges will depend on the distance travelled, the time of day and part of the highway travelled.  For example: rates will jump by as much as 1.6 cents per kilometre for drivers using the busiest stretch of the highway during rush hour. Transponder lease fees are also going up a quarter to $3, while the video toll charge, for cars without a transponder, will rise five cents to $3.65 per trip.

Have you ever wanted to be able to read other people’s thoughts?  Researchers at the University of California are currently on the verge of inventing a telepathic machine that can read your mind just by looking at a scan of your brainwaves, and then it repeats back to you, in an electronic voice, exactly what you were thinking. The technology could be a breakthrough for people who suffer from Lou Gehrig's disease, or people made mute through paralysis or locked-in syndrome.

A 26 year old man has been arrested in connection with a series of break and enters in Barrie’s east end. Police say several stolen items have also been recovered and returned to their rightful owners. The accused is facing multiple counts of break and enter, and theft. Police say he is also wanted for similar crimes in other jurisdictions.

Barrie Fire and Emergency Service has issued a number of ice safety tips, after responding to five 9-1-1 calls in 24 hours for potential ice water rescues. A warning had been issued this week about unsafe ice conditions due to the mild weather.

Whether you’re snowmobiling, ice fishing or skating with your family, here are a few things you should know about ice safety before venturing on to any ice.

Whether you’re snowmobiling, ice fishing or skating with your family, here are a few things you should know about ice safety before venturing on to any ice.

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!

-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

Remember reach, throw…but do not go!

Protests are planned across the province today to mark the National Student Day of Action.  They are protesting the fact that Ontario has the highest tuition fees in Canada. The head of the Canadian Federation of Students says they’re especially upset the McGuinty government broke what they say was a campaign promise to slash all undergraduate tuition by 30 per cent. Students say the grant implemented last month excludes two-thirds of all students.

Police have charged two teens in connection with a break-in at a school in Stayner. Officers responded to an alarm at Stayner Collegiate Institute around 11 o’clock on Saturday night. Two 15 year old boys from Clearview Township are now facing charges.

Some pumps have been shut down for a few days at a Mississauga gas station after reports of contaminated fuel. Water leaked into the unleaded tank at the Esso Station on Glen Erin Drive on Monday. Officials say if the contaminated gas is left too long, it will prevent cars from starting.

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.

January is typically the coldest month of the year, according to meteorologists at Environment Canada,  but today could turn out to be the WARMEST day of 2012. The high is expected to reach plus 6 degrees by this afternoon with a mix of sun and cloud. It was 5.5 degrees back on January 6th, but the seasonal high for this time of year is minus 4.  With the warmer-than-normal temperatures we have been experiencing this winter, once again, Barrie Police is reminding area residents to stay off the ice until it is completely frozen.  They say ice has begun to form on portions of Lake Simcoe, but lakes and streams are not frozen and although waterways are snow-covered, they are NOT SAFE. Police say you are risking your life by even walking on newly-formed portions of ice.

The 2012 Municipal Budget for the City of Barrie has cleared its final hurdle.  City Council unanimously decided to ratify the financial plan at its meeting last night. That means Barrie residents should expect a tax increase of approximately 3 per cent,  which is in line with the national rate of inflation.  Mayor Lehman says the quick passage of the budget shows the high level of co-operation among the council members. In addition to the tax increase, water rates are going up 15 per cent, so the average homeowner should expect to pay about 186 dollars more this year. Highlights of the budget include: the Painswick Library Branch (which is scheduled to open next month), five new police officers, 20 new firefighters, and a new $1-million fund for road reconstruction.

Canadians are being urged more than ever to start saving for retirement. A Bank of Montreal report says  pensions are coming under growing pressure and more retirees don't have a guaranteed level of retirement income. Experts say Canadians must rely on their own ability to save and invest. The report was released as the Harper government considers changes to government pension programs. Prime Minister Harper told the Commons yesterday that changes are needed because the aging population threatens the viability of the programs.

Some new wines have been made, especially for hockey fans. The NHL Alumni Association and Diamond Estates Estates Wines and Spirits Ltd., launched Hat Trick Red and Hat Trick White yesterday at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Officials say the wines are a natural fit for hockey fans and their food pairings. Hat Trick White is listed as a perfect fit with ``BBQ peppercorn steaks, Italian Sausages or Meat Pizza.'' Hat Trick Red, on the other hand, is suitable with ``Chinese takeout, Hot Buffalo Wings or Nachos piled high with chicken and vegetables.'' The wines are currently being sold at LCBO stores across the province for $12.95 a bottle.

Barrie police are checking surveillance video for suspects, after 8-thousand dollars worth of copper wire was stolen from a local business. Police say 750 feet of 600-22 gauge copper wire was stolen from a business on Churchill Drive over the weekend. Anyone with information is being asked to contact police. At 705-725-7025

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 or click here for more details.

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.

The OPP has issued some tips for hikers, after a woman got lost in the trails in Wasaga Beach. The woman managed to call police on her cell phone on Saturday afternoon, after losing her way with her children and dogs near Power Line Road. It took officers about half an hour to find the group, but they were all safe and sound.

The members of the Huronia West OPP would like to remind all would be hikers to remember the following safety tips while venturing into the wilderness, even though it is in the Town of Wasaga Beach:

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 (as above).

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 then 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.

Is a crashed UFO at the bottom of the Baltic Sea? A group of treasure hunters based in Stockholm has found a strange disc-shaped object on the floor of the Sea between Sweden and Finland. It’s almost 200 feet in diameter and using sonar from above, the object looks a bit like the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars. Media has been speculating about everything from UFO’s to Russian spaceships, but experts say they still need to explore the wreck to determine what it is exactly.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Some winter weather to contend with on the morning drive.  A Snow Squall Warning is in effect for North Simcoe County including Orillia and Midland, while a Watch has ended for South Simcoe  County, including Barrie. Environment Canada says squalls continue to head north off Lake Huron and Georgian Bay today, but up to 10 cms is possible in some areas, before they come to an end later this morning. Blowing snow and white-outs are expected, and motorists are being told to prepare for dangerous winter driving conditions. 

The first “official” train begins rolling this morning at the new Allandale Waterfront GO Station in Barrie. It left the station at Gowan Street and Essa Road at 522am. It will be followed by four more every half hour and then the first train heading back to Barrie is scheduled to leave Union Station in Toronto just after 4 o’clock this afternoon. The new station has 12-car rail platforms, heated shelters, a pedestrian tunnel to access the north and southbound platforms, a 6-bay bus platform, passenger pick-up area, bike parking, and about 150 parking spaces.

Two elderly men have been charged with assault after a day of drinking got out of control. Barrie police were called to a noise complaint yesterday afternoon on Cook  Street, where a fight had broken out between two men about an unpaid debt, after they spent the day drinking together. Police say a 67 year old man struck his 64 year old friend with a cane, after he was hit with a metal object. The older man suffered a fractured skull, while the other man has a broken arm. They have both been treated in hospital and face a future court date.

It’s back to work today on Parliament Hill. The six-week holiday break is over for federal politicians and the next session is expected to focus on government spending cuts and pension reform. Prime Minister Stephen Harper hinted at changes to pensions last week when he spoke in Switzerland during the World Economic Forum.

If you’re commuting to Toronto, prepare to see more police officers on the roads. Starting today, Toronto police will be initiating a one-week zero tolerance enforcement campaign called "Operation Safe Commute." It will focus on aggressive drivers, traffic signal violations and illegal parking. Police say about 1.2-million vehicles commute in and out of Toronto every day and high traffic volumes contribute to  increased driver frustration, commute times, and congestion.

It’s a new form of contraception, but not many men are expected to volunteer for the procedure. U-S researchers say an ultrasound zap to the testicles could be a new form of birth control. University of North Carolina researchers say a study on rats found that two, 15-minute ultrasound doses ``significantly reduced'' sperm counts to levels that would cause infertility in humans. But don’t worry guys, far more tests are required before it could be used.

Officials are investigating a series of deadly crashes on a popular route used by Canadian snowbirds.  At least 10 people were killed and 18 others injured in yesterday's 18-vehicle pileup on a stretch of Interstate 75 south of Gainesville, Florida. Reports say the interstate had been closed for a time before the accidents because of a mixture of fog and heavy smoke from a brush fire that may have been intentionally set.

The LCBO has fired one of its employees for allegedly selling alcohol out of the back of a truck near Musselman’s Lake, just north of Stouffville. The employee is accused of using a female accomplice to pose as a Ukrainian diplomat to order the alcohol before selling it between April 2005 and last December. Reports say the scam involved more than a million dollars of fake liquor sales to fictitious diplomats.The LCBO has a program that allows official diplomats to buy alcohol without taxes and duty, which could save as much as 40 per cent. The accused is due in court to face fraud charges on Wednesday.

As many as 2-thousand people 'Got on the GO' for the first time this afternoon at Barrie's new Allandale Waterfront GO station. GO took them on a free ride to Bradford and back to officially open the station. Full GO train service begins Monday morning (see schedule below).; buses started rolling in and out of the station Saturday. As a result, there will be minor modifications to train schedules at Barrie South Station and at the downtown Barrie bus terminal. The new stop, off Gowan Street, is equipped with 12-car rail platforms, heated shelters, a pedestrian tunnel to access the north and southbound platforms, a 6-bay bus platform, passenger pick-up area, bike parking, and about 150 parking spaces.

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.

The new Allandale Waterfront Go Station is offering a free ride today to mark the start of train service. GO Transit officials and dignitaries will be on hand for an official ceremony at 1 o’clock and the train will depart Allandale station off Gowan Street shortly afterwards (1:30pm). It will head south to Bradford GO station and back about an hour later. Plus, GO Bear, the mascot, will be there to meet the kids. The new stop will be equipped with 12-car rail platforms, heated shelters, a pedestrian tunnel to access the north and southbound platforms, a 6-bay bus platform, passenger pick-up area, bike parking, and about 150 parking spaces.