Durham Police are looking to the public for help in tracking down 2 male suspects in connection with a home invasion in Ajax. Officials say on Thursday, two men armed with handguns forced their way into a home on Atherton Avenue, assaulted 2 residents, and fled with the victim’s cell phones and jewellery. Police do not believe it was a random act and the investigation is continuing. Both suspects are described as black, one standing about 6’2 with a muscular build and wearing dark clothing, while the other stood about 5’9 with white running shoes and black sunglasses. Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crimestoppers.
Laboratory results are in, and have indicated the pill found inside a muffin and seized for analysis was not a narcotic. Officials say back on August 14th, a 40 year-old Oshawa woman reported that she was eating a muffin and discovered a pill hidden inside. The exact contents of the pill are not known yet, but the substance doesn’t appear to be dangerous. The investigation is continuing, and Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact police or Crimestoppers.
Many consider this the unofficial end to summer and it’s a last chance for families to get to the cottage before kids head back to school, or to take that last minute road trip. But with 200 plus deaths on OPP patrolled roads this year, police are asking everyone to keep safety top of mind. Sergeant Dave Woodford says many tragedies could be prevented if people would just buckle up. And as OPP target seatbelt infractions and aggressive drivers, Durham Police are also encouraging safety. They suggest doing a once over of your vehicle before hitting the road, checking lights, seatbelts and fluid levels. Once on your way, officers ask that you slow down.
There are plenty of closures to expect on Labour Day Monday. A number of stores and services will be closed or shut down for the holiday. All LCBO and beer stores, government offices, banks, libraries, Canada Post and most grocery stores and supermarkets will be closed. While most shopping malls will be closed, Vaughan Mills, the Eaton Centre and Square One will be open. Transit services across the GTA, including the TTC, GO transit and Durham Region transit, will also be operating on their holiday schedules.
Investigators have arrested an Aurora man in connection with numerous residential break and enters in North Durham. The break-ins took place from April to June of this year in the Brock, Uxbridge, Milton, Newmarket and Wellington county areas. 30 year old Justin Wiscombe is now facing twenty-three charges, and eleven of them are directly related to rural break-ins in the North Durham area.
The Durham Works Department is reminding residents in Oshawa and Whitby of some changes to curbside Blue Box collection for Labour Day Monday. Normal pickup scheduled for Monday, September 6th, will be moved until Tuesday, September 7th, and that switch will be in effect for everyday throughout the week until Friday’s collection is picked up on Saturday, September 11th. All residents are reminded to have waste materials at the curb by 7 a.m. on the day of collection. For more information on the changes to Blue Box collection, contact the Works Department at 905-579-5264, or email waste@durham.ca.
The Canadian International Air Show will take flight this Labour Day long weekend. The show features the Canadian Forces’ Snowbirds, stunt pilots and military aircraft.The shows take place from 12:30 p.m. To 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, weather permitting. The snowbirds are celebrating their 40th anniversary season and if you plan on checking out the show, GO Transit is adding extra train service on the Lakeshore lines from between Durham region and Toronto. Extra morning and evening trips have been added to and from the CNE. On holiday Monday, GO Transit will operate on a holiday schedule, but with the additional service for the air show.
Good news for bad transit riders. GO Transit is making it easier for people nabbed with minor transit infractions to appeal their fines. Before, if you were caught riding without a ticket, you were fined $110 and made to spend to day in court to fight the charges. Soon, riders will be able to appeal the fines by email, phone, or at a new office in Union Station which is expected to be up and running by mid-October.
About 35,000 4 and 5 year olds in Ontario are gearing up for the first year of all-day kindergarten classes. On Tuesday, nearly 600 schools across the province will offer the program including 16 public schools and 6 catholic schools in Durham region. Superintendent of Eearly Learning at the Durham District School Board Lisa Millar says starting children off on the right foot is critical to future success. Millar says taking time to read with your child is a great approach for parents to get kids comfortable with the school environment.
A new policy at all Trent University Campuses, including Peterborough and Oshawa, will ban the sale of single-unit water bottles, by fall of 2011. The change was initiated by student leaders, who also conducted a poll of close to 600 students along with roughly 200 staff and faculty, and found that 80 percent were in support of the idea. President of the Trent Central Student Association, Sheldon Willerton says the implementation of this policy, shows what can be achieved when students and the University work together on a common goal.