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A school bus trip turned tragic yesterday when an 11-year-old girl on a school ski trip died following a ski accident at Calabogie Peaks ski resort. Nicole Wren of Perth struck a tree while skiing early Thursday afternoon. She was transported by air ambulance to the CHEO, where she died of her injuries. OPP say she was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Grief counselors will be available in the school for students and staff. 

Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean gave 47 people bravery decorations Thursday, including a Carleton Place .11 year old Kelsey Roy of Carleton Place was just eight when her mother fell through the ice and into the frigid waters of Mississippi Lake while trying to rescue the family dog. Kelsey crawled along the thin ice on her stomach, grabbed her mother and pulled her to safety. She said she learned the technique by watching Television. At yesterday's ceremony Kelsey said, she knows what it's like to lose someone who is close to you, saying her grandpa died and great-aunt died, and she just knew she couldn't let her Mom go under. 

The race to fill Bob Runciman's seat is under way. Both the Tories and Liberals will hold nominations meetings in Brockville on Saturday to choose candidates. Brockville mayor Dave Henderson has all ready said he is running. Merrickville-Wolford mayor Doug Struthers, who is preparing to seek re-election as mayor, is expected to make his decision known Friday. Former Brockville mayor Steve Clark has yet to announce if he is running. Insiders say he’ll announce his decision at news conferences today at 4pm. Former Liberal candidate Stephen Mazurik will try again. Farm activist Shawn Carmichael has announced he will go after the seat. Another farm activist, Eleanor Renaud, is also considering joining the race. Riding President Neil Kudrinko will be running for the Green Party. Steve Armstrong will for the N-D-P. 

By-elections will be held March 4th in Ottawa West-Nepean and Leeds-Grenville. The by-elections will fill vacancies created in the provincial parliament. They will replace former Liberal cabinet minister Jim Watson in his riding of Ottawa West-Nepean; he quit last month to run for mayor of Ottawa. Leeds Grenville MPP Bob Runciman was appointed to the Senate last week.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has given the city of Ottawa tithe O.K. to hire trappers for two months to address public safety concerns following reports of coyotes in the Osgoode area. A coyote was spotted near Greenboro Community Centre last Sunday. Coyotes have also been spotted this week near a Manotick school and a Carp farm. Residents who spot a coyote in their neighbourhood are asked to contact the city at 311. 

The Lanark County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to remind cottage and home owners who use "bubblers" around their docks and boat houses of their responsibilities.
On February 1, 2010 Lanark County OPP received a report of a dangerous condition on Christie Lake where a device was being used to keep ice away from a boat house. This device commonly known as a "bubbler" can cause large areas of open water which causes a safety concern, especially if the Lake is frequently used by hikers and snowmobilers.
Under Section 263 (1) of the Criminal Code states: Every one who makes or causes to be made an opening in ice that is used or frequented by the public is under a legal duty to guard it in a manner that is adequate to prevent persons from falling in by accident and is adequate to warn them that the opening exists.
Under the penalty section 263 (3) it states that everyone who fails to perform the above duty is guilty of manslaughter if a death results or is guilty of causing bodily harm should one be seriously injured.
The OPP is committed to keeping our lakes safe all year around and want to ensure people are aware of this duty. 

After serving one term as Mayor of Brockville David Henderson plans to seek the nomination of the Progressive Conservative Party in Leeds and Grenville. Yesterday Henderson confirmed he will seek the position held for nearly 30 years by Bob Runciman, who was appointed to the Senate on Friday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The local nomination meeting is scheduled for March 4 at C.J.'s Banquet Hall in Brockville.

The search for a missing Pakenham area woman has been called off. Tina Smithson has been missing since Jan. 26. Lanark OPP officers and the OPP Eastern Region emergency response team conducted an extensive search of the area surrounding Smithson's home. They were not successful in locating the woman. An investigation revealed that she left her home on foot and police believe she likely fell through the ice into a creek near her home. 

Lanark County has an Olympic win. The Canadian Olympic Foundation announced the County won in its population category for fundraising for the "Own the Podium" campaign. The campaign raised money to help Olympic athletes cover training costs. Lanark County received an Olympic Flag signed by Canada's competing athletes. It will be on display at various locations around the county. 

For weeks now a coyote has been hanging around an Ottawa South area. On Sunday one was spotted prowling around the Greenboro Community Centre playground. Ottawa Councillor Diane Deans has requested an immediate assessment by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resource .The ministry is currently undertaking the development of an incident database in order to collect data for purposes of mapping and identifying potential problem areas in the city. City Staff have said the best approach to dealing with coyotes appears to be one of public awareness and education of residents. 

A Russell County man was fined $1,000 this month after over a dozen wild boars escaped from his property On August 12, 2008, a conservation officer visited a property near Embrun, where Heinz Evermann owned numerous wild boars. An investigation revealed that 16 wild boars had escaped but the owner had not advised the ministry. The animals were all eventually killed by vehicle collision, predators or hunters with the owner’s consent. Escaped animals such as wild boars can cause tremendous ecological damage to native ecosystems because of competition for habitat, food and the possibility they might introduce disease into native wildlife populations. 

Convicted murderer Jamie Giff will not be going before a panel of the National Parole Board in April. The 42 year Giff has withdrawn his application for unescorted passes from prison and parole to a half-way house. Giff was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Heather Fraser .The 16 year old Smiths Falls girl was raped and murder 25 years ago today. He was 17 at the time, but was tried as an adult. Giff is serving his sentence at the minimum-security Pittsburgh Institution in Kingston. 

The next step in establishing a YM-YWCA recreation centre in Smiths Falls has been taken by the town. Councillors retained DMA Planning and Management Services of Toronto to conduct feasibility and market research .To establish the facility in the town the YM-YWCA requires a minimum 3,000 members to justify locating in Smiths Falls. Locating a ‘Y’ facility in the town is seen by many as one of the most important attractions for new residents.  The facility could also be used by people who cottage in the area. The study will cost just under $70,000.