I do strongly object if you openly disregard the values of this community and then expect the community to support your cause. On Monday we saw something in Kirkland Lake that we don't often see, a protest march. The march was held to support Tripping Daisy owner Darren Delaney in his efforts to sell water pipes, known as bongs and vaporizers. The OPP Organized Crime Bureau executed a search warrant on his shop on February 5, and seized his merchandise. The store owner estimates the cost of the merchandise to be about $25,000. [continues 1000 words]
KIRKLAND LAKE - The protest against the law that allows police to confiscate merchandise that could be used for the consumption of illicit substances attracted about 30 people Monday evening. The protest was being held to support the Tripping Daisy and its owner Darren Delaney after The OPP Organized Crime Unit executed a search warrant on the business Feb. 5, 2015 and according to the owner confiscated about $25,000 worth of merchandise. The OPP have since laid a charge against Delaney. [continues 981 words]
KIRKLAND LAKE - The owner of the Tripping Daisy is taking his fight to the streets of Kirkland Lake. The Tripping Daisy, located on Lebel Avenue had a search warrant served at the premises Feb. 5, and according to store owner Darren Delaney the OPP seized $25,000 worth of his merchandise, including bongs, pipes, grinders, vaporizers. While Delaney claims he sold these items and other supplies for consumption of smoking materials for tobacco or herb use only, unless the person had a prescription for medical marijuana, these items are commonly used for marijuana or other illegal substances. [continues 163 words]
KIRKLAND LAKE - With Canada Day fast approaching the Kirkland Lake Drug and Alcohol Awareness coalition is reminding people who drive or ride in motor vehicles that 'driving high is impaired driving.' Last year KLDAAC in partnership with the Kirkland Lake Road Safety Coalition, the Timiskaming Road Safety Coalition and the Timiskaming Health Unit had one billboard put up on Highway 66 and one as you enter New Liskeard from the north, with the message that 'driving high is impaired driving'. Statistics show that either riding in a vehicle where the driver has been drinking or using drugs or driving after smoking marijuana is a significant problem. [continues 340 words]
A recent national study conducted by the Partnership for a Drug Free Canada has come up with some startling results about what parents of teenagers think. Almost 25 percent of parents of teenagers do not consider driving high while on cannabis, to be as bad as drinking and driving. I just can't fathom that parents would believe that taking any mind altering drug before driving would not impair a person's ability to drive. Marijuana can alter a person's sense of depth and speed, both of which would definitely affect a person's ability to drive safely, as well as their attention span, concentration, it slows reaction time and decreases strength and hand steadiness. How could parents think this is less impairing than drinking alcohol and driving? [continues 712 words]
KIRKLAND LAKE - Kirkland Lake's Property Standards Bylaw has been updated to reflect changes required by the province. One of the big changes required is a section concerning illegal marijuana grow operations. This section states that no person or owner will permit an illicit marijuana grow operation on a property. If a marijuana grow is found on a property the owner must provide a report on the condition of the property, written by experts and reporting on air quality, electrical systems and structural issues. [continues 53 words]
The fight against illegal drug activity in Kirkland Lake is being fought on many levels. People are very aware that the local OPP continues to have success in charging people and taking drugs off the streets. Unfortunately it seems that often they are not always given the support they deserve by our court system. I have heard it said that getting caught, paying the fine or doing the short jail sentence is just the price of doing business. There are two main factors that drive the drug trade. The first is the amount of money that can be made from selling drugs. For the person who is selling and not using it is a very lucrative business. [continues 525 words]
Grow Operations Can Be Dangerous To The Public. The OPP Drug enforcement Section is alerting people to the increasing dangers associated with outdoor marijuana grow operations. The police remind people that every summer people involved in outdoor grow operations head to rural areas to grow and care for, in some cases very large plots of marijuana plants. Typically they are located in swamps, cornfields, wooded areas, along rivers nd rural rental properties with large acreage. Marijuana plants are bright green and grow between three and five feet in height. The leaves have seven jagged fingers and the plants give off an odour similar to that of a skunk. [continues 331 words]
The Kirkland Lake Drug and Alcohol Awareness Coalition continues to make plans and work on developing projects to inform the public about drug an alcohol addiction in Kirkland Lake. A new column will soon appear every other week in the Northern News covering various drug and alcohol issues. As well the coalition is working on getting columns in Francophone and Aboriginal publications. In attempt to keep various segments of the community informed KLDAAC through its OxyContin Task Force has posted very dramatic educational posters in places like the Timiskaming Health Unit, Canadian Mental Health Association, Beaverhouse First Nation Band Office and a number of other locations. The 'Buzz poster' warns: "It starts with just this once, and it can end there. Misuse of prescription pain relievers like OcyContin can kill you. If someone offers you oxy or some other party drug, think twice -because you only die once." [continues 355 words]
KIRKLAND LAKE -Timmins- James MP Charlie Angus wants to set the record straight about his recent comments concerning the use of prescription drugs. Angus said the two youngsters that died from the misuse of prescription drugs were from the Timmins area and the five people that had died from misuse of prescription drugs came from a letter of support that was given the Kirkland Lake group that set up the Kirkland Lake OxyContin Task force. The reason Angus brought up Kirkland Lake while speaking in Timmins about the misuse of prescription drugs is because Kirkland Lake is a success story in terms of taking action to tackle this problem. [continues 181 words]
KIRKLAND LAKE -Recent reports of deaths in Kirkland Lake directly related to the abuse of OxyContin have proven unfounded. In Monday's edition of the Northern News a story from Timmins stated that two youngsters and five people in Kirkland Lake have died following misusing a deadly prescription drug but further investigation by the Northern News found this information incorrect. OPP Staff Sgt. Don Goard said no youngsters in Kirkland Lake have died from the misuse of OxyContin and that currently they are awaiting toxicology reports but none of these are people under the age of 20. The OPP are expecting toxicology results from two people in the 20s, two people in their 30s and three people in their 40s. Because these investigations are still open the staff sergeant couldn't make any further comments. [continues 371 words]
Crime rates in Kirkland Lake for the first quarter of the year are up when compared with the same period last year but at the same time the local OPP continue to have one of the highest clearance rates in province. Kirkland Lake OPP Staff Sgt. Don Goard said drug addicts and pill addicts are responsible for a lot of the property crimes. He said in some cases the addicts break into relatives homes to steal prescription drugs. The number of incidents during the first quarter increased from 171 in 2007 to 238 in 2008. [continues 423 words]
The decision to locate a new methadone clinic in Kirkland Lake continues to raise controversy and concerns. The new methadone clinic was the subject of considerable discussion at Monday's Kirkland Lake Police Services Board meeting. Kirkland Lake's Mayor Bill Enouy, who is also chair of the police services board, is very upset the town was not included in the decisions to locate a methadone clinic in Kirkland Lake and has still received no information about the clinic or who is behind the new clinic. [continues 709 words]
KIRKLAND LAKE - The Round Lake and Area Community Policing Committee hosted a meeting about marijuana grow operations. Kirkland Lake Detective Constable Yvon Godin gave some first hand accounts of encountering both indoor and outdoor grow operations in the area as well as presenting slides from though out the province. The information on how to establish a grow operation is easily available. During the presentation Const. Godin held up a book with all the needed information about how to operate a grow operation and it even had information on how to avoid detection by the police. [continues 752 words]
KIRKLAND LAKE - More than just the product produced at marijuana grow operations can be hazardous to your health. That is part of the message that OPP officers who work on the frontline eradicating marijuana grow operations brought to a meeting of the Kenogami Sesekinika Community Policing meeting. Kirkland Lake OPP Const. Brent Turner, the OPP liaison officer for the Kenogami Sesekinika Policing Committee told the 35 people present that they have the meetings so people in the area can ask questions and raise any concerns they may have so concerns can be taken back his superiors at the Kirkland Lake OPP Detachment. [continues 1001 words]
KIRKLAND LAKE - A Highway 11 motorists is a lot lighter in the pocket book after and investigation by the Kirkland Lake OPP. The OPP seized $119,000 and some marijuana from a vehicle that was stopped in a RIDE check on Highway 11 in Eby Township June 1, at about 2:30 a.m. The local officers were assisted in their investigation by the South Porcupine Canine Unit. Charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 is Martin St. Pierre, 30, of Lemoyne Quebec. He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Kirkland Lake July 26. [continues 171 words]
KIRKLAND LAKE - People who attended Swastika Public School's annual Bean Super not only enjoyed a good meal, they were treated to a demonstration of the OPP's Canine Unit. Const. Dave Wert, who works out of the South Porcupine OPP detachment, brought his dogs, Rome and Chill, to the school to demonstrate how police use the canines to keep communities safe. He explained that he works from Temagami up to the James Bay Coast, and as far west as Hearst. [continues 553 words]
KENOGAMI - Officers from the Kirkland Lake Ontario Provincial Police detachment have seized 35 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of between $4 million and $8 million during a vehicle stop for a traffic violation on Highway 11. The seizure was made at about 4:15 p.m. on Sunday in Kenogami. Due to the ongoing investigation police are not releasing any further details about the vehicle stopped for a traffic violation. OPP Community Services Officer Const. Emile Lamothe said this is the largest drug seizure in the Kirkland Lake area and one of the biggest in Northeastern Ontario. [continues 160 words]
LARDER LAKE -- A major drug operation has brought down key drug players between Northern Ontario and a Montreal crime organization and included the execution of a search warrant at a Larder Lake residence. While no narcotics were found during the Sept. 8 raid in Larder Lake, OPP Superintendent Ken Miller, director of operations, said evidence was found confirming conspiracy to traffic and import. He could not comment on the nature of the evidence. Arrested during the execution of the search warrant was Eric Blais, 27, of Larder Lake. [continues 742 words]
