Trent Hills Mayor Hector Macmillan Succumbs to Cancer

Northumberland County Councillor and Trent Hills Mayor Hector Macmillan passed away earlier today at his residence in Campbellford following his brave battle with cancer. 

In addition to his roles as Mayor of Trent Hills for four consecutive terms and County Councillor, Councillor Macmillan served two terms as Warden of Northumberland County.  

Beyond his considerable success in office, Councillor Macmillan is also recognized for his tireless advocacy on behalf of pancreatic cancer patients. 

With unwavering determination and renowned tenacity, Councillor Macmillan successfully petitioned the Ontario government to expand access to the Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) treatment - also known as NanoKnife—for those suffering from pancreatic cancer.  

After travelling to Germany to receive this treatment, Macmillan made it his mission to ensure that all pancreatic cancer patients have the same opportunity and access to this life extending technology. 

He welcomed news in February of this year that the province would launch a three-year clinical trial. 

Even as his illness progressed, he remained steadfast in fulfilling the responsibilities of office, right up until his final days. 

Under his leadership, the County achieved many significant results for the community, including significant improvements to local road and bridge infrastructure, advancements in paramedic first response, development of a Long-Term Waste Management Master Plan, including expansion of Northumberland’s recycling program, and milestones such as the development of a successful bid to host the first-ever inter-municipal set of Parasport Games. 

One of the projects that was particularly important to him was securing a new river crossing for Campbellford.  

The County made significant progress on this initiative, and announced just this past summer that it would be proceeding with design and construction of the new two-lane bridge, following approval by the Ontario government of the Environmental Assessment study. 

County Warden Mark Walas said Macmillan believed in standing for what was right even when it might be unpopular but was open to changing his perspective if he felt an opposing argument made sense. 

Deputy Mayor Robert Crate of Trent Hills remembered his practical side and strong feelings about ensuring that infrastructure be upgraded and regular maintenance plans be put in place. 

For memorial arrangements and details regarding the public book of condolences, please visit: www.TrentHills.ca. 

OPP Weekly Report

The Northumberland Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) dealt with a variety of incidents this past week, here are some examples: 

Oct 2:

-      The owner of a Maplewood Av home in Brighton reported the theft of several tools from the house which is currently under renovation. The items were stolen between Sept. 26-30th and include a Ryobi Skill saw, Mastercraft Oscillating saw and a Craftsman Chop saw with laser level. Investigation ongoing.*

-      A traveller who stopped at the Port Hope ONroute around 12noon reported his black iPhone 6S stolen from his table when he momentarily looked away. Serial #355398083724525. *

-      An officer conducting radar enforcement on Hwy 401 in the Port Hope area measured a westbound grey Chevy Cruze travelling at 154 km/h. The 33-year-old Oakville, Ontario woman was found to be driving while her licence was under suspension. She was charged with Stunt Driving – Excessive Speed and Driving while under suspension. The rental car she was driving was towed from the highway and impounded for a seven-day period. 

Oct 3:

-      A Campbellford senior reported receiving a phone call from someone identifying themselves as from ‘Publisher’s Clearing House’ indicating that she had won $5 million and a car. She became suspicious and called police. The officer determined that the phone number used was an untraceable internet based phone line and advised her this was a scam. No money was lost.

-      An officer on general patrol in the area of Proctor Park in Brighton cautioned four young males for trespassing at night when the park is closed. No charges resulted. 

Oct 4:

-      Police responded to a disturbance at a Colborne home that resulted in a 34-year-old male being arrested and charged with two counts of Assault against two other residents. He was released with an impending court date. Name withheld to protect the identity of the victims.

-      A 35-year-old Brighton man was arrested and charged with three counts of Breach of Probation after he was reportedly near a Cramahe Twp home contrary to a court order. He was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody at the time of this release. Name withheld to protect the identity of the victim.

-      An officer on general patrol on Bull’s Mill Rd in Alnwick-Haldimand Twp located a fallen tree across the road. Noticing the police in the area, a nearby resident attended and assisted by removing the tree. 

Oct 5:

-      A grandmother was backing out of a Port Hope driveway as her grandson was in the process of opening the gate. The youth unexpectedly bent down to tie his shoe at which time the vehicle’s wheel ran over his foot. He was taken to a hospital where it was determined he had received minor injuries. No charges resulted.

-      A Roseneath area resident on County Rd 18 reported an aluminum boat washed up on shore (Rice Lake). The boat is described as having an outboard motor, two life jackets and an anchor. Anyone missing a similar boat is asked to contact the Cobourg OPP Detachment at 905-372-5421.

-      A resident on Lakeshore Rd (near Willow Beach Rd) in Port Hope reported a break-in to a shed between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm today. The culprit(s) forced entry through a back window and stole a wallet, iPad, Laptop and a quantity of cash. Evidence was collected at the scene and the investigation remains ongoing.*

-      A homeowner on Waverly St in Bewdley reported a break-in that occurred sometime between Sunday Oct. 1st and today. The culprit(s) entered the residence through the front door and removed a large flat screen TV plus other items yet to be determined by the owner. Police are looking into the possibly that a report of two suspicious persons on Beech St two days earlier might be related. Both of those persons had thick foreign accents and were operating a black Kia 4-door car without a rear licence plate. The driver is described as a Caucasian male in his 20’s with a stalky build and shaved head wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt. The passenger is described as a Caucasian male wearing a red hooded sweatshirt. Investigation ongoing.*

-      A homeowner on County Rd 2 in the hamlet of Salem reported a break-in sometime between 5:00am and 5:00pm. The culprit(s) entered the residence through a west side sliding door stealing jewellery and a safe containing a quantity of money. Investigation ongoing.*

*Northumberland OPP is asking for the public’s assistance with these ongoing investigations and would ask that anyone with information on these crimes call their nearest OPP detachment. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Peterborough/Northumberland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000 and not have to appear in court. 

Northumberland OPP officers investigated five accidental 911 calls, nine motor vehicle collisions, 56 traffic related complaints and conducted 12 RIDE programs during this time period.

Port Hope Police Report

Scam Alert

Port Hope Police are warning residents never to give out information when solicited via phone or internet to person(s) unknown.  On the 4th of October a Port Hope man received a phone call from someone purporting to be a representative from RBC.

The person advised the man his credit card had been compromised and convincingly gave information to legitimize the call. The Port Hope man then gave his four-digit password to the male. Once given, unauthorized transactions were made on the card. The victim became suspicious when the same man called again and asked him to wire some more money to South Carolina.

RBC compensated the man and froze his credit card. Police advise Bank Officials will never ask for such information when credit cards are compromised and further advise for residents to be wary when receiving such calls.

Theft of school computers

Port Hope Police are investigating the theft of numerous lap tops from the Ganaraska Trail Public School. The theft is believed to have occurred over the summer. The lap tops were stored in an area apart from the school.  Taken were ten Dell Chromebooks.  Anyone with information is asked to call Port Hope Police or Crime Stoppers

Assault charges laid as a result of a family dispute

A 25-year-old Port Hope man was arrested Friday afternoon after Port Hope Police commenced an investigation into a complaint of family violence. Police received information that the man allegedly assaulted children living in the home between April and September 2017. 

The man, who is held in custody for a Show Cause Hearing, is facing 3 counts of Assault and 3 counts of Criminal Harassment.  Police will not release his name to protect the identity of the victims.

Salmon Run Dedicated Patrols

Final stats for the September 2017 Salmon Run.

Dedicated Foot Patrol: 110 hrs

Charges Ontario Fish Regulation:  32  

Liquor Charges: 4

Bylaw Cautions: 15  

Calls regarding illegal fishing: 50.  

Missing Person: Lillian Titus

The Peterborough Police Service is looking for assistance in locating missing person, Lillian Titus (71 years). Titus was last seen in the area of Hilliard Street and Philip Street in Peterborough at 4:50 pm on Saturday. 

Titus is described as being 5’5 inches tall with bushy white hair.  

She suffers from some medical conditions and is unfamiliar with her surroundings.  

If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Titus, please contact the Peterborough Police Service at (705) 876-1122.

Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre Receives Grant

Northumberland-Quinte West MOP Lou Rinaldi announced a grant of over $32,000 to the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre for the purchase of an automated liquid filling and bottling machine.

This will allow agricultural entrepreneurs to increase production of agricultural products for market.

The Centre has been described as the Silicon Valley for agricultural food development and processing.

Attending at the announcement was Northumberland County Warden Marc Wallace, Cramahe Mayor Mark Coombs and Port Hope Mayor Bob Sanderson.

Fire Prevention Week

Fire Chief C. Ryan Edgar is urging Port Hope residents to practice their home fire escape plan as part of Fire Prevention Week, which runs October 8th to 14th.

This year’s theme is “Every Second Counts: Plan Two Ways Out!”

The Chief warns that fire and smoke move fast and there may not be time to figure out how to escape your home after a fire starts.

His advice is to practice an escape plan so you can get out safely.

In recognition of Fire Prevention Week this year, the Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services Department is hosting Open Houses across the Municipality at the three fire stations located in Port Hope, Welcome and Garden Hill on October 10th at 6:30 p.m.

Each fire station will have activities, fire safety information and free food and drinks - an evening of fun for the whole family. This year, the inflatable fire safety house will be located at the Garden Hill station.

In a fire, there may only be seconds to safely escape from the home. Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services Department urges residents to prepare in advance with these simple steps for home fire escape planning:

Assess the needs of everyone in your home.

Identify anyone who requires assistance to get out of the home safely, such as small children or older adults.

Make sure that you have working smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside all sleeping areas.

Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm.

Identify all possible exits (doors and windows) and make sure they work.

Identify two ways out of all areas, if possible.

Everyone must know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds.

Assign someone to help those who need assistance. Identify a safe meeting place outside. Call the fire department from outside the home – from a neighbour’s home or a cell phone.

Practice your home fire escape plan at least twice a year.

Have everyone participate. Make changes to your plan if necessary.

For more information, contact the Municipality of Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services Department, 5325 County Road 10, Port Hope, 905.753.2230, www.porthopefire.ca

Marathon Man

Ken Stubbings, a 30-year employee at Northumberland County, is known for running the roads in Cobourg, Port Hope, Hamilton Township, and Alnwick/Haldimand.

Stubbings, 55, is also somebody who sets goals to keep himself motivated.

In 2002, he ran his first marathon of 42 km in Massey, Ontario.

Over the years he, his wife and in-laws achieved a goal to complete a marathon in every province and territory.

After achieving a goal of 50 by age 50, last year he ran his 90th marathon.

Last Sunday he hit his 100th milestone when running the Prince Edward County Marathon with a finish time of just under 3 hours and forty minutes.

Stubbings says his next goal is to help his wife in completing her 100th half marathon in the next two years.

Joint Forces Operation

The Port Hope Police Service, Cobourg Police Services and the Ontario Provincial Police conducted a Joint Forces Operation termed “Project Backwood”.  The project was a 4-month drug investigation concentrating on the trafficking of illicit substances including Fentanyl, Methamphetamines and opioids.  

The investigation centered in the Grafton area and extended into Cobourg, Port Hope and other parts of Northumberland County.  

Early Friday morning, the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, Community Street Crime Unit, Tactical Response Unit and Emergency Response Unit executed simultaneous warrants in the Grafton and Colborne area.  

At the Grafton residence, Police seized approximately 9 ounces of individually wrapped packages suspected to be cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal meth and fentanyl, 360 grams of marihuana, 366 assorted prescription opiates and $3,100 cash.  Officers also located on the property a large marihuana grow operation of 221 mature plants that was being guarded by two individuals in a tent who were in possession of a 20 gauge shotgun and a 22-caliber rifle.   

10 people were taken into custody.  Five were held for a bail hearing, two were released on a promise to appear and three were released unconditionally with no charges. 

The estimated value of the drugs, not including the value of the plants that were eradicated from the property, was $36,000. 

Charges include possession of controlled substances for the purposes of trafficking, unauthorized possession of firearms, production of marihuana, possession of a prohibited weapon, and possession of property obtained by crime.   

No names have been released as the investigation is ongoing.