They Were Both Great Kids. But when two Timmins teenagers took their chances with a mysterious little red pill, they curtailed their young lives, leaving those who knew them reeling with pain. The Timmins Police Service are still investigating the deaths of Daniel Drouin, 19, and Andrew Tessier, 17, who are believed to have died suddenly after consuming pills containing time-release morphine. At least one other teen was treated at hospital, police said. Police were investigating how the pills were distributed at several high schools Friday. [continues 153 words]
Local News - Timmins police are remaining quiet about organized crime activity in the city, even as investigators outside the area acknowledge those arrested in a giant raid this week are known to outlaw motorcycle gang investigations. OPP Detective Staff Sergeant Scott Mills, supervisor for the Northeastern Ontario biker division, said the names of those facing charges after Wednesday's raids turned up drugs, weapons, armour, explosive devices and cash, are well known to his division. While he said he didn't know if any were members of any particular gang, he said outlaw biker gangs such as the Hells Angels frequently have a role in narcotic dealings. [continues 378 words]
Police say a tremendous armoury guarded a cache of drugs and cash in Timmins area homes, as a frightening local link to an international drug cartel was detailed at a press conference Thursday. In Montreal, law enforcement officials released further information on a series of drug raids that took place in Ontario and Quebec Wednesday morning. Of the 25 arrests made during the raids, six suspects were from Timmins. Eric Blais, 27, Michael Lacroix, 30, Marguerite Lessard, 43, Denis Pelletier, 42, Jesse Jacques, 23, and Maurice Servant Jr., 35, were still in custody yesterday, facing numerous drug and weapons charges, as well as money laundering, fraud, possession of property obtained by crime and gangsterism. [continues 274 words]
Education Is The Best Deterrent To Drug Abuse. It's the message parents are getting from Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer Sue Bouffard of the Timmins Police Service. She is introducing parents to the subject matter Grade 5 students receive during each of the two 17-week DARE courses presented in city schools throughout the school year. "For the DARE program to work, it has to be a team effort between teachers, students, parents and community policing," Bouffard said. "A lot of parents have never seen illegal drugs before, so it's good for them to see the drugs first hand." [continues 227 words]
Local News - The DARE Is Out There -- Try Tim Hortons' New Smile Cookies. The double-sized double chocolate fudge cookies featuring a smiling face go on sale today at five Tim Hortons locations across the city for $1 each. All proceeds from cookie sales will be donated to Timmins Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) programs. "It's the third year of this partnership," said OPP Sr. Const. Paul Harrison, the regional DARE co-ordinator. "In today's tough economic times, raising money can be tough. Programs like this really help. Businesses like Tim Hortons should be commended for this." [continues 176 words]
Local News - A person who is caught in Timmins with under 30 grams of marijuana may not be charged immediately, but will eventually face a penalty or jail time. Until the confusion about recent court rulings is cleared up by the federal government, police will not lay charges for possession under 30 grams of pot. However, a person could face jail time and a criminal record later on, if the government rules the old guidelines are still in force, said Timmins Police Chief Denis Lavoie. [continues 244 words]
Local News - Legislation introduced by the Liberal government to decriminalize possession of marijuana does not go far enough for some. Justice Minister Martin Cauchon hopes to push the bill, introduced Tuesday, through parliament by year's end which would reduce the offence for possession of 15 grams of marijuana or less to a minor offence, as opposed to a criminal one. That would mean fines ranging from $150 to $400 for adults and $100 to $250 for youths. Robert Laperriere, who organized a march in Hearst, does not feel the proposed bill goes far enough. [continues 263 words]
Local News - Officers in the South Porcupine cluster of the Ontario Provincial Police met nearly every goal their detachment commander set out for 2002. "It was a good year for us," said Mike Jordan detachment commander of the South Porcupine cluster. "Most of our incident numbers were consistent with last year (2001)." Jordan said in 2002, officers laid 6,650 charges under the Highway Traffic Act compared with 5,035 charges laid in 2001. "We had more officers on the road at peak times which led to more visibility at peak times and an increase in charges," Jordan said. [continues 298 words]
THE Issue: The City of Timmins has decided to support the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) in their stance against the decriminalization of marijuana. WHAT You should know: Timmins Police Service, the Timmins Police Service Board and the city agree marijuana use should remain a criminal offence. Timmins Police Chief Denis Lavoie maintains marijuana is a gateway drug to harder narcotics. Lavoie believes, by not decriminalizing the drug, it helps protect future generations from drug abuse. Efforts are afoot to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level for medicinal purposes. [continues 382 words]
THIS IS A letter about a front page article in the press entitled "Police Chief Against Decriminalizing Pot". First of all, my stand is that pot should be decriminalized. Even though I have not imbibed in the use of marijuana since I was younger, I feel it should be decriminalized because having a joint is no more harmful than having a couple of beers. I do not drink much either. Because pot possession is a criminal offence, people with minor amounts of pot are being charged and given a criminal record for something that shouldn't be illegal. [continues 174 words]
Youth Against Drug Abuse (YADA), recently celebrated its one year anniversary of existence. On May 31, we wrapped up our first year with Yadapelouza. On behalf of YADA, I would like to thank everyone who helped us make this event a success. A special thanks to the Kinette Club of Timmins, the City of Timmins, the TYNA Management Committee and Steering Committee, the many volunteers, sponsors, T.H & V.S. performance class, the bands who participated in the Battle of the Bands, Soul Phoenix and all who took part. [continues 160 words]
RE: KAP OPP seize over $200, 000 in illicit drugs, June 1. Our drug laws make no sense whatsoever. Not only are they an affront to the constitution, not only do they send crime rats into the stratosphere, not only do they hurt users rather than help them, they also fail the test of logic. If drugs are banned because they are harmful, why don't we ban tobacco and alcohol? These laws are nothing less than a state sanctioned, Hitler-like program designed to divert our attention from more important issues by ruining the lives of the innocent few who happen to use or sell certain drugs. [continues 257 words]
Timmins got its fix in the second presentation of the 56th annual Quonta Drama Festival. There were more than just chuckles coming from the audience of more than 300 gathered at William Dawson Theatre at Timmins High and Vocational School Wednesday night for HigH Life, produced by Gateway Theatre Guild of North Bay. The play, set in a Canadian city in May, 1989, centres around a group of morphine addicts trying to get their next fix. Most of the production takes place in the home of Dick, a character who's trying to convince three other addicts to take part in a "job" that will get them so much money, they will never have to worry about getting their next morphine fix. [continues 295 words]
Youth Against Drug Abuse has plans for local students in the next few months. Thursday at the Porcupine Health Unit, the YADA executive launched its media contest. "All youth in the community are invited to send us a television commercial, radio spot, newspaper article, poem or short story," said YADA chairwoman Danielle Rocheleau. "As long as the submissions follow the criteria, everything will be considered." The submissions for the contest must address two questions -''What does YADA mean to you?' and 'How do you stay connected with life?' [continues 207 words]
We're community policing, hear us roar! "This is community policing at its finest," said Const. Paul Harrison, North East region D.A.R.E. co-ordinator, as the Tim Hortons stores of Timmins, Cochrane and Iroquois Falls donated $3,159 to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, Friday. Harrison and the D.A.R.E. mascot, a lion, accepted the cheque from Tim Hortons staff Friday afternoon. "The D.A.R.E. program is a co-operative education program using the resources of the police, school boards and the community at large," Harrison added. [continues 403 words]
The OPP got creamed by the Flying Fathers Saturday night. Literally. The world renowned Flying Fathers hockey club used every means necessary, including pulverizing their opposition with whipped cream pies, to pull out a 22-6 victory over the Ontario Provincial Police Association Choir Boys at the McIntyre Arena before a crowd of more than 1,300 people. It was the first time in more than 10 years the Flying Fathers played in Timmins. Several players on both teams were hit with the pies and even the referee and linesmen were left white faced and sticky following bad calls. [continues 615 words]
Staying connected with life: that's the goal and motto for Youth Against Drug Abuse (YADA). The groups goal is to decrease drug abuse and its harmful effects by helping youth make healthy choices and stay connected with life. I'm really against drugs, said YADA member Cora-Lee Morin. You lose out on the natural high and joys of life. You don't see the world in the right perspective, but with a dazed mind. Morin is one member of a core group of 12 Timmins teens supported by seven agencies concerned with the well being of youth. [continues 349 words]
Another marijuana plantation in Northeastern Ontario has been shut down by police. This time, 620 marijuana plants, with an estimated street value of $629,000, were uprooted from vacant land just off Clark Road on the outskirts of Monteith. Following up on information, an aerial search by police confirmed the existence of the plantation. Thursday, officers of the South Porcupine detachment of the Ontario Provincial Polices crime unit and emergency response team, working together with officers of the Iroquois Falls detachment of the OPP, entered the area. [continues 174 words]
A bird's eye view gave police a leg up on marijuana growing operations in the Timmins area this week. Four outdoor marijuana plantations were shut down this week by detachments in the South Porcupine Cluster of the Ontario Provincial Police. In total, police seized 2,037 plants, with an estimated street value of more than $2 million. The seizures were part of Project Chopper, a joint operation in Northeastern Ontario involving officers from the OPP, North Bay Police Service, Greater Sudbury Police Service and the OPP Helicopter Section. [continues 173 words]
The first Camp Meeting in Timmins came to a rousing conclusion Sunday night, after four successful days at the Senator Hotel. People recovering from childhood abuse and addiction to alcohol and drugs gathered for healing and continued wellness through the word of God, testimonials, prayer, song and the company of those who have come through those experiences and healed. Attendance peaked at 250 Saturday. I don't know what the police thought last night, organizer Reverend Ernest R. Linklater said jokingly. It shows we can get drunk on the Holy Spirit and wake up with no hangovers or black eyes. [continues 201 words]
Change is good. For some people, change is essential for survival. Camp Meeting 2001, which opens today at the Senator Hotel, offers change for the addicted and abused through the word of God, testimonials, prayer, song and the company of those who have come through those experiences and healed. Organizer Rev. Ernest R. Linklater knows first hand the benefits of such meetings. Lots of (participants), like myself, are delivered from alcohol, said the pastor of the Full Gospel Aboriginal Ministries of Timmins, a congregational church at 29 Spruce St., which is hosting the free event. Ive been delivered from alcohol for over 24 years and its through these kinds of meetings. [continues 375 words]
The Issue There is, as periodically happens, a push on to decriminalize marijuana, something that appeals to some of those who idealize the 60s. Now, an Alliance MP has introduced a private members bill removing criminal penalties for possession of pot and replacing them with fines of up to $1,000. What you should know: Marijuana, also called Cannabis sativa or pot, is more carcinogenic than tobacco. No only does it injure smokers more seriously than tobacco does, it also injures those who are exposed to it as second-hand smoke. The Canadian Police Association which represents 30,000 officers across Canada, says decriminalizing marijuana would increase drug usage and consequently increase crime. [continues 327 words]
The provincial governments decision to make drug testing mandatory for welfare recipients has some wondering if they're under the influence themselves. It's one of the most backwards things they could do, said Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson. Its disgusting. The provincial government resurrected a controversial plan recently to test Ontario's welfare recipients for drug and alcohol addictions. The Tories tried to introduce the plan last year. The measure will force addicted recipients to submit to treatment in order to get their cheques. [continues 203 words]
The Hells Angels may not have a chapter in Timmins. But the biker gang has had an inroad into Timmins drug market for several years now. It's always been Hells Angels dope coming into the city, said Const. Joe Romualdi, of the Timmins Police drug unit. In the last two weeks, the gang has expanded into Ontario, starting up 11 chapters. The North hasn't been excluded. There are now chapters in Thunder Bay and Sudbury. With the Hells Angels working to take control of Ontario's drug market, some observers say the province should brace itself for a cheaper, more plentiful supply of illegal drugs. [continues 201 words]
A&P in Timmins is helping to fill the void in drug abuse education program funding left when the federal government stopped it in 1993. On Wednesday the Timmins store and all A&P stores in the province began donating profits from the sale of THE MAGAZINE not for adults to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police for drug abuse program funding. The monthly magazine for seven-14 year olds is very popular, with 50,000 paid subscribers across Canada, and reaches about 60 per cent of its target group. [continues 172 words]
TIMMINS - Hemp activist Marc Emery drew a crowd of about 200 people in front of the Timmins Police station Saturday, baiting police to arrest him while he distributed his magazine and puffed on the occasional joint. ``We are fully entitled to smoke and sell and grow marijuana because marijuana is fabulous,'' Emery said to the applause and cheers to those who showed up for a free, signed copy of his magazine. Timmins Police did not arrest him. At times waving his hands about like a street-corner preacher, the 42-year-old Emery called pot smokers the ``most persecuted culture'' and at one point led those around him in a chant of: ``Grow more pot! Grow more pot!'' [continues 442 words]
TIMMINS - A magazine the Timmins Police Service say is illegal to sell or distribute will be for sale in front of the police station for $1 by its publisher on Saturday. Not only that, but Marc Emery, publisher of Cannabis Culture, says he plans to file a lawsuit against both the Timmins Police Service and the City of Timmins seeking punitive damages and loss of revenue. Three weeks ago, the Timmins Police Service asked area convenience stores to voluntarily turn in their copies of drug related magazines, including Cannabis Culture, after a local elementary school student was found with one almost one year ago. [continues 243 words]
Drug-Related Magazines Have No Place In Schools, Nor The Shelves Of Convenience Stores. Two such magazines were seized from a student at R. Ross Beattie School in January by a teacher and turned over to Principle Mickey Pirie. "(The magazines) don't belong in any school and they certainly won't be (allowed) in our school," Pirie said. Pirie contacted the Timmins Police Service who have spent almost nine months investigating the magazines. The investigation, which is nearing completion, has revealed the magazines were purchased at a local convenience store. [continues 196 words]
The designer drug ecstacy has been in Timmins on occasions, but on a lower scale than other cities throughout the province. We do get an influx (of ecstacy) to some degree, but then it disappears, Const. Joseph Romualdi, investigator with the Timmins Police Service drug enforcement unit, said Tuesday. He said there havent been any local seizures of the drug, which is also known on the street as E, X, Adam, Love Doves and MDA. Ecstacy is a club drug that alters a number of brain chemicals including serotonin, which affects many functions, and increases heart rate and blood pressure. [continues 106 words]
A highly addictive drug once associated with major cities is slowly moving into the country's smaller cities and rural areas. Experts in addictions say there has been a huge increase in the use of crack cocaine in small communities across Ontario. That doesnt exclude Timmins. There has been evidence of crack cocaine use in the city, said Timmins Police Const. Joseph Romualdi. I've seen a steady increase, he noted. While crack use is increasing, the officer said it hasnt developed into a major problem in the city. [continues 336 words]
