SAULT STE. MARIE — After a two-day speed training camp, the Timmins Ski Racers mined five medals from the slopes of Searchmont Resort.

Under the direction of head coach Cameron Grant, the Timmins Ski Racers took part in the annual Mealey Classic U14 OCUP race.

The three-day race weekend saw Slalom, Giant Slalom and the highly anticipate Super G disciplines, with Timmins athletes performing exceedingly well.

Traditionally a U14 event, the race was open to U12-U16 athletes from all over the province.

During the Slalom race, Sophie Harterre finished third coming in just a few hundredths of a second from second place, while the Giant Slalom saw Eli Taylor take silver.

Finally, in the Super G speed event both Eli Taylor and Drew Chisholm both took home gold medals, while Sophie Harterre finished third.

“When it comes to a speed event, your technique becomes second nature and you begin to rely heavily on your ability to focus,” Grant said.

“Remaining agile while you reach speeds upwards of 70 to 80 kilometres per hour can prove difficult, but the athletes performed extremely well, and I believe they were all pleased with how the weekend turned out.”

A qualifier for the provincials, results from the Mealey have allowed a few Timmins Ski Racers athletes to travel to Thunder Bay on the weekend of March 7 for the U14 Provincials, taking place at Loch Lomond and Mount Baldy.

Nineteen airport employees — all members of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees Local 75 — have voted overwhelmingly for a strike mandate.

They are in a legal strike position as of Friday though they are mandated to provide 72 hours’ notice if they intend to walk off the job.

“Yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) vote was a very clear message to the City of Timmins that our members mean business and they are very serious. They want a better deal and they’re willing to strike to get there,” Martin Mika, regional vice-president for Ontario with the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, told The Daily Press.

He said while the unionized workers are not planning any immediate job action this week, “As far as next week is concerned, that may be a possibility.

“There won’t be any definite job action but we are currently in the process of meeting with our members and our union to see what options are available to us in the very near future and we’ll make some decisions shortly.

“Our hope in the meantime is the City of Timmins, the mayor specifically, sends the negotiator back to the table with a new mandate, one that recognizes the importance of our members and what they do, instead of denigrating them.”

The unionized workers have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2016, though bargaining has continued since.

What does the prospect of a strike mean for travellers in coming weeks?

David Landers, the city’s chief administrative officer, said management has a contingency plan in place to ensure flights and services at Victor M. Power Airport continue as usual.

“People who have flights booked for March Break should not be overly concerned,” said Landers. “If the union decides to strike and if we experience inclement weather, we will ensure that service levels are maintained during a labour disruption.”

The workers who would be in a position to walk off the job include maintenance technicians, airfield technicians, mechanics, electricians and some administrative personnel.

Mika said these employees provide critical functions, ensuring the safety of aircrafts, pilots and travellers using the airport.

“Our members are critical to the operations of the airport and I would be very curious to see how the employer continues to do this legally and to make sure the safety of the travelling public is not going to be jeopardized in any way.”

He noted all airports are required to meet federal standards.

Both sides expressed a desire to get back to the negotiating table.

Landers said, “From the city’s perspective, we do not believe we have reached a bargaining impasse and we hope to be able to complete negotiations without a labour disruption.”

Mika said, “Strikes are disruptive, and no one is eager to go on strike. It’s tough on our communities — we understand that. It’s tough on our members and their families and we’d love nothing more than to come back to the table and negotiate a fair collective agreement.”

However, Mika said the onus right now is on management to restart talks.

“Right now, the ball is in the court of the employer and we’re hoping they are going to do the right thing,” he added.

At this point, they have no firm date set to come back to the table.

The inordinate amount of snow Timmins has received this year has been a real benefit to organizers of the Eclipse Financial Pro Challenge Snowcross, taking place this weekend.

Angela Vacchino, a former national Snowcross champion from Timmins, who is also the event coordinator, said they have been able to make use of all the snow to create a longer track and a more expansive area for spectators for this year’s event.

The Pro Challenge Snowcross takes place this Saturday and Sunday at the Spruce Street South snow dump.

This is the sixth-consecutive year the event has been held in Timmins.

“The community has really embraced the event, the dealerships love it and I couldn’t ask for a better committee of support that comes together and goes all out and pulls all stops to make it happen,” said Vacchino. “Everyone works together and it’s just amazing.”

This year there will be about 300 racers, the vast majority of them from out of town.

“We’ll have racers from all of Ontario, Quebec and from the United States.”

Vacchino explained the pro racers compete throughout the circuit and accumulate points with the goal of ultimately achieving a national championship.

The pro races, both days, begin at 2 p.m.

Prior to that, from 9 a.m. on, there are kids and amateur races.

Vacchino said they try to make this, very much, a family event.

“Between 1 and 2 o’clock, during the lunch break, we’re going to have some kids activities, a chocolate hunt on the track, there’s going to be free hot chocolate and coffee from Tim Hortons, there’s going to be maple syrup on the snow. “There’s going to be the 120 (cc) kids’ rides that are free for the parents to come with the kids. They’re going to get all suited up by professional instructors and they’ll have a little test track as well.”

With so many visitors from out of town during the two days, the Pro Challenge Snowcross event provides an economic boost to the community, said Vacchino.

“Absolutely, in one weekend this event will bring in around $500,000 to the local community through hotels, restaurants and gas stations.”

Lacey Rigg, the city’s coordinator of meetings, conventions and sport tourism, concurred, noting that typically more than 90% of the people who will be attending the two-day event are not residents of Timmins.

“Definitely our local gas stations, accommodations, and restaurants really benefit,” said Rigg, adding this event tends to draw sledding enthusiasts from across the region. “A lot of times people from surrounding areas — Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Matheson — end up snowmobiling and staying here for the day. You’ll see some spinoffs with the local dealerships … they’ll often see a little bit of an influx of people buying spare belts, oil or sometimes even full new suit.”

Snowcross tickets can be purchased at the gates on race days, or in advance at J&B Cycle, Mikey’s General Sales or Riverside RV.

Disabilities program in Moose Factory cut

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly Wednesday, MPP Guy Bourgouin (NDP — Mushkegowuk-James Bay) urged Premier Doug Ford to halt the closure of the only programs for adults with intellectual disabilities in Moose Factory.

The Ford Government is cancelling Billy Bayou Program funding, leaving the program in jeopardy, according to a release issued by Bourgouin’s office.

“Recently, I had the honour and the pleasure to visit the Billy Bayou, a community-based program dedicated to improving the quality of life of adults and young adults with intellectual disabilities who are members of the MCFN,” Bourgouin said.

“Run by five staff and parent volunteers, the Billy Bayou Program has been financed through a partnership between the MCFN and the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS).

“The participants are all 21 years or older and have no other program available to them. And as their parents age and try to keep up with other responsibilities, Billy Bayou is the heart and soul of their lives.

“Sadly, the MCCSS has not lived up to its funding promises. On Jan. 17, the Ministry informed the program that the contract would be terminated because the Conservative government’s focus is to reduce the province’s deficit.

“This means that as of March 31st the program risks of disappearing.”

Bourgouin invited the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services to accompany him to “Moose Factory to see, with her own eyes, how devastating the closure of the Billy Bayou would be for these high-need people, their families and the Moose Cree community.”

Community theatre hosts actors workshop

Take Two Theatre — Timmins’ community theatre troupe — will be presenting an acting workshop from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Timmins Family YMCA (376 Poplar).

Seating is limited to 16 participants (aged 14 and up).

To register, send an email to TakeTwoTheatre@gmail.com Cost for the workshop is $25 for members and $30 for non-members.

During the course of the workshop, participants will be introduced to the basics of performing live theatre through a mixture of lecture, activities, and demonstration.

The two-hour session will teach the importance of a proper warm-up, include a selection of theatre-based exercises and examples to develop confidence and effective communication skills, and conclude with an Industry question-and-answer session with their workshop facilitators.

The facilitators are professional actors from Toronto: Genna Giampaola and Vince Deiulis.

Giampaolo has both film and television credits including roles in Murdoch Mysteries and Lotus Film’s, “Thank You For Bombing.” She has been teaching/coaching children, youth, adults, and professionals for almost 15 years. She currently teaches for various companies in the Greater Toronto Area including The Travelling Stage, Mirvish and the Randolph Kids Program.

Deiulis recently produced the world premiere of Dave Carley’s new play, Canadian Rajah, and has produced two premiere productions, Gods Like Us and Life Assignment, with Theatre Nidana. Deiulis was also a production consultant for a new site-specific production on Toronto’s Harbour-front called The Boat Show.

“Where’s the string? I only need a piece about eight-inches long. Surely there is a piece of string in this house – somewhere!” I asked a neighbour for help. She didn’t have any string either.

When I was a little girl, we had a ceramic Dutch girl’s head on the kitchen wall. Behind her full cheeks, was a ball of string. The end of the string came out of her mouth, ready for anyone to use. And where did that ball of string come from? Nobody ever went to a store and bought string.

Every merchant once had a large cone of string on or under the counter. The white cotton product was threaded up to a hook in the ceiling and from there it dangled close to the counter – ready to wrap and tie your purchase.

At the bakery, your cakes and cookies were put into a large, white box and after the lid was closed, the box was wrapped in two directions with string, then tied in a knot. The string offered a handy way to carry the box home.

In the meat department of the grocery store, there were no plastic-wrapped trays displaying your meat. Your meat was first wrapped in brown paper, then tied with a string. Quite often, the brown paper had a waxed coating on one side to keep any juices from tainting your other purchases.

If your grocery order was a large one, instead of putting them in paper bags, products such as canned goods, boxes of soap flakes or tall loaves of bread wrapped in waxed paper were placed in a cardboard box. To increase the capacity of the box, the clerk would raise the flaps, then wrap string around and around the flaps to secure them in place.

String made its way to the local drug store too. Those were the days when feminine hygiene products were camouflaged in unmarked, purple paper, tied with string to secure the paper. After all, it would have been an acute embarrassment, if some masculine personage realized those purple-wrapped boxes contained Kotex or Modess sanitary napkins!

If a purchase at a clothing store was too large for their paper bags, items such as coats or jackets were either placed in a box tied with string, or were wrapped in paper, also tied with string.

When the shopping trip was over, all the string was removed and saved. It was my job as a child, to join the pieces together, using a reef knot (it was flat, unlike a granny knot), then rolling it all into a ball. When the ball was large enough, it was put behind the plump cheeks of the little Dutch girl on the wall and the end of the string was fed through her lips – ready to be used to tie up plants in the garden, prepare a parcel for mailing, as a hasty substitute for a broken shoe lace or even to tie up moist food scraps in yesterday’s newspaper. Those scraps would be put in the paper bags, once used to bring home groceries, then placed in the garbage can.

String rubbed through a block of bees’ wax several times made it waterproof and strong enough to securely sew buttons on a winter coat, or hem the edges of hand-hooked rugs.

Many young girls learned to knit, using saved string. These ventures into domesticity most often ended up as dish cloths or pot holders.

The local telephone directory was always pre-punched with a hole in the upper left-hand corner. A piece of string was threaded through the hole, tied, and then the book was hung on a handy hook near the telephone.

Now, let us fast forward to 2019. Plastic bags are everywhere. Paper bags can still be found at some hardware stores and the LCBO. I think only jewellery stores still have boxes with their name on them. Nobody uses string anymore. Scotch tape, Duct tape and packing tape (all plastics) have replaced string. The little ceramic Dutch girls with the plump cheeks can still be found in antique stores as a novelty item, but few remember why they were created in the first place.

The search for my eight-inch piece of string has made me very aware of how we lived 60 years ago. Paper, cardboard boxes and string come from trees and plants – biodegradable, renewable resources. Plastic is neither.

That’s my view from Over the Hill.

Two men and one woman have been arrested following of a comprehensive drug investigation which saw, in a separate series of arrests, five people charged with drug offenses Wednesday.

The latest arrests were made Thursday night.

Timmins Police Service – Drug Enforcement Section officers engaged in a drug related investigation which led to the arrest of three people and the seizure of a quantity of suspected “purp” fentanyl with a street value of $1,560.

Additionally, a total of $8,150 in Canadian currency was seized as evidence in regards to this investigation.

As a result of this incident, Justin Day, 18, of no fixed address, has been charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

The accused was being held in police custody awaiting a bail hearing slated Friday morning at Provincial Court in Timmins to answer to the charges laid against him.

As well, Juvante Hylton, 22, of no fixed address, has been charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

The accused was being held in police custody awaiting a bail hearing slated Friday morning at Provincial Court in Timmins to answer to the charges laid against him.

Additionally, Nelowfer Walizadeh, 20, of No Fixed Address, has been charged Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

The accused was being held in police custody awaiting a bail hearing slated Friday morning at Provincial Court in Timmins to answer to the charges laid against her.

The arrests made in the last two days fall on the heels of three deaths of Timmins residents due to suspected opioid overdose.

“Recent incidents have drawn into sharp focus the detrimental effects of these substances,” the Timmins Police Service stated in a release reporting the latest arrests. “With this in mind, the Timmins Police Service is renewing its appeal for citizens to report any suspicious persons or activity directly to the Timmins Police Service at 705-264-1201 or to report drug activity by means of the Crime Stopper program at 1-800-222-8477.”

To pet owners and bylaw officers: Have you walked on Father Costello Drive in Schumacher?

Every foot you take, you are dodging poop — not just on Father Costello but in backyards.

I cannot have a barbecue and it is unhealthy.

The bylaw needs to be enforced and bigger fines should be handed out.

The snow melts and out comes the poop.

DNA should be taken and owners should be taken and owners should be charged, summer or winter.

Ubald Madore,

Timmins

Six collisions involving school buses occurred in Timmins in the past week, says the Timmins Police Service.

The most recent, a collision involving a school bus at the intersection of Railway and Moneta Friday morning resulted in a minor injury to the school bus operator.

In a statement released Friday, the Timmins Police Service reported also receiving a number of “near miss-traffic complaints by school bus drivers involving allegations of aggressive driving.

“The Timmins Police Service is advising local motorists to be particularly attentive to their individual driving behaviors in relation to situations where the driver is meeting, following, or overtaking school buses — as an extra level of attention is required.

“Passengers of these vehicles are young children and their safety is, and must be, the undeniable priority for area drivers.

“Enhanced traffic safety is the result of a collaborative effort between all drivers to operate their vehicles in a safe and responsible manner at all times.”

Three overdose deaths in two days and eight drug-related arrests within the same time frame have heightened public awareness of a potentially deadly substance called purple fentanyl.

“A large influx of this substance has hit the streets in Timmins,” said Marc Depatie, spokesman for the Timmins Police Service. “It’s resulted in a number of tragedies but it’s also resulted in a number of investigations that have yielded arrests and charges against those persons who engage in that type of criminal activity.”

Fentanyl, a highly addictive pain medication, is an opioid that’s 100 times more powerful than heroin, while carfentanil is 5,000 times more potent. Purple fentanyl is a playdough-like mixture of heroin and either fentanyl or carfentanil.

“To have two significant arrests back to back involving the same type of substance obviously a link can be drawn. It’s not a coincidence these things are occurring,” said Depatie.

“This substance has left a significant impact on a number of families within the Timmins community. We’re sensitive to that. Sadly, there is a significant number of persons afflicted with addiction issues in Timmins and people in the drug trade are taking advantage of these people.”

Reports of fentanyl-laced heroin in this area prompted the Porcupine Health Unit to issue a public alert, warning of the increase in overdoses connected to this substance.

“We would hope it resonates with the entire city,” said Depatie. “We’ve had three tragedies affecting three different families stemming from the illicit use of a dangerous substance. Obviously, we’re hopeful this creates a dialogue within the community so that there’s enhanced attention paid to this type of activity.”

He said it’s hoped anyone who is aware of those selling illicit drugs will report it to police either directly or by means of the Crime Stoppers line.

“We’re counting on the community to provide us with those pieces of information that perhaps we’re not aware of that could strengthen ongoing investigations … or cause new investigations to be commenced.”

The health unit, in its alert, urged anyone who uses illicit substances or even their friends or family to get a free Naloxone kit from any Porcupine Health Unit office or from most pharmacies. Naloxone is a potentially life-saving medication for drug overdose.

The City of Timmins is asking the federal government to ensure Timmins Victor M. Power Airport continues operating in the event of a strike by employees.

Nineteen airport employees — all members of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees Local 75 — have voted overwhelmingly for a strike mandate.

They were in a legal strike position as of Friday though they are mandated to provide 72 hours’ notice if they intend to walk off the job.

The unionized workers have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2016, though bargaining has continued since.

In the meantime, city officials have maintained that if the employees do go out on strike, measures will be taken to ensure the airport continues operating.

The union has obtained a letter, which it shared with The Daily Press, dated Feb. 28. It is signed by Rock Foy, the city’s director of corporate services, and addressed to Patricia Hajdu, the federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.

“We are requesting that you invoke your powers under section 87.4(5) of the Canada Labour Code and refer the matter to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) for a determination on the extent of activities that ought to be maintained to safeguard the safety and health of the public,” Foy wrote in the letter to the Minister.

“We believe that allowing a strike or lockout in this particular circumstance would violate the requirements of section 87.4(1) of the Canada Labour Code. By our assessment, a strike or lockout involving the PSAC (Public Service Alliance of Canada) bargaining unit at the Timmins Victor M. Power Airport would result in an immediate and serious danger to the safety and health of the public.”

In the letter, Foy stated the airport is required to meet set service standards to remain operational and available for use by air ambulance and commercial and private air traffic.

“In order to meet these requirements, which are set out in the airport’s Airport Operation Manual (AOM), the services delivered by certain members of the PSAC bargaining unit must be maintained. These services include, but are not limited to, runway inspections, winter runway condition reporting, snow removal and wildlife inspection and control.

“In order to maintain these services and meet its obligations under the AOM and its license from Transport Canada, we believe that the following positions in the PSAC bargaining unit must be maintained during any strike or lockout: Two full-time field foremen; three full-time airfield maintenance technicians.

“As the failure to maintain these services poses an immediate and serious danger to the safety and health of the public, we ask that you utilize your legislative authority to refer the matter to the CIRB for their consideration and decision.”

Martin Mika, regional vice-president for Ontario with the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, told The Daily Press this letter reveals the critical functions the unionized workers fulfil at the airport and the fact they are not easily replaceable.

“This letter to the Minister goes to show that the city is talking out of both sides of their mouth,” he said. “On one hand they are telling the people of Timmins that the airport will remain open and that their March Break plans won’t be affected.

“On the other hand, they are reaching out to the government at the 11th hour because our members are critical to airport operations. This behaviour is indicative of what we have been dealing with at the table.”

Despite being in a legal strike position since Friday, the union has not announced any immediate plans for job action.

Both sides have expressed a desire to get back to the negotiating table though at this point, they have no firm date set to resume talks.

The union representing 19 maintenance and airfield workers at Timmins Victor M. Power Airport says their members will be walking off the job as of Monday at 6 p.m.

“The Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE), a component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), has issued a 72-hour strike notice for its members who work at the Timmins Victor M. Power Airport,” the union stated in a release issued Saturday.

“As of Monday, March 4, 2019, at 6 p.m. members will walk off the job and form a picket line at the airport.”

The workers, who have been without a contract since December 2016, have been in a legal strike position since Saturday.

Sharon DeSousa, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for Ontario, stated in the release, “The mayor does not seem willing to help negotiate a fair contract, forcing us to take job action to have him recognize the value of these workers who are vital for the safe operations of the airport.”

In the days leading up to this announcement, city officials said contingency measures would be implemented to ensure the airport remains operational.

DeSousa noted a letter was sent from the City of Timmins’ Director of Corporate Services, Rock Foy, to the Honourable Patricia Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour on Feb. 28, 2019, which stated: “By our assessment, a strike or lockout involving the PSAC bargaining unit at the Timmins Victor M. Power Airport would result in an immediate and serious danger to the safety and health of the public.”

Martin Mika, UCTE Ontario Regional Vice-President, added, “These workers are specialists in what they do to keep the travelling public safe. They want to get back to the negotiating table so that they can focus on their work.

“This strike can still be avoided if the Mayor and his negotiator come back to the table and are willing to work to establish a fair agreement. It is now up to the city to fix this issue for the public.”

KIRKLAND LAKE — The Timmins Rock knocked off the Gold Miners 5-3 at the Joe Mavrinac Community Centre Saturday night to strengthen their hold on third place in the NOJHL’s East Division standings — and keep their hopes of grasping second place alive.

While the Rock (33-19-3-0) were skating past the second-place Gold Miners (32-17-3-3), the East Division-leading Lumberjacks (33-16-6-1) edged the fourth-place Powassan Vooodoos 6-5 in overtime at the Claude Larose Arena in Hearst.

As a result, the Rock — who will close out their 2018-19 NOJHL regular season schedule against the Voodoos at the McIntyre Arena Sunday afternoon — now have a three-point lead over Powassan (31-19-3-1).

So, a regulation victory over the Voodoos Sunday afternoon would clinch third place for the Rock and if it were combined with a victory by the French River Rapids over the Gold Miners in Kirkland Lake on Wednesday, it would give Timmins second place in the East Division.

Finishing second or third, of course, would keep the Rock from having to take part in the best-of-three play-in round between the fourth place squad and the fifth place team when Round 1 of the NOJHL playoffs opens later this month.

Following a scoreless first period at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex Saturday night, the Rock scored three unanswered goals in the middle frame to take command of the contest.

Keegan McMullen got the visitors on the scoreboard when he notched his 15th goal of the season.

Owen Shier then followed with his seventh goal of the season to double the lead and blue-liner Josh Anderson made it a 3-0 hockey game when he added a power-play marker, his 11th goal of the season with just 27 seconds remaining on the clock.

The Gold Miners finally got on the scoreboard at the 5:45 mark of the third period when Gregory Trudeau-Paquet notched his 27th goal of the season.

Linden Spencer restored the Rock’s three-goal advantage just over two minutes later when he recorded his ninth tally of the season to make it a 4-1 contest.

Just 54 seconds later, the Gold Miners once again pulled to within a pair of goals when Patrick Murphy netted his eighth marker of the season.

Any hopes the Gold Miners had of completing a comeback were dashed at the 14:56 mark of the third period when Mahingan Decontie scored his sixth goal of the season to put the Rock in front 5-2.

Sam Ellwood found the back of the net for his 12th goal of the season with just 22 seconds remaining on the clock, but it proved to be too little, too late for the home side.

Not only did the 5-3 victory ensure the Rock still have a chance of catching the Gold Miners for second place in the division, it also dashed any hopes Kirkland Lake had of catching the Lumberjacks for top spot in the division.

Rock goalie Tyler Masternak stopped 22 of the 25 shots he faced to pick up his NOJHL-best 29th victory of the season.

Dawson Rodin, who started the game in net for the Gold Miners, blocked 11 of the 13 shots he faced in his 37:38 between the pipes.

Gregory Brassard, who turned aside 14 of the 17 shots the Rock directed his way in his 22:22 in the Kirkland Lake net, was tagged with the loss.

NOJHL NOTES — The three stars of the game were Rock forward Matt Capisciolto (two assists), Rock captain Derek Seguin (two assists) and McMullen … The Rock did not dress forwards Tyler Hutchinson (undisclosed) and Gage Tremblay (undisclosed) … The Rock went 1-1 on the power play, while the Gold Miners were 0-5 with the man advantage … Official attendance at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex was 558 … Saturday’s other action saw the Thunderbirds defeat the Soo Eagles 5-3 in Sault Ste. Marie and the Elliot Lake Wildcats edge the Beavers 2-1 in Blind River … The Rock will close out their regular season schedule when the host the Voodoos at the McIntyre Arena on Sunday, at 2 p.m.

With a strike looming at Timmins’ airport, a mediator has ordered both parties back to the bargaining table.

Talks, under the direction of the mediator, are expected to resume Monday morning.

“At this time, our members fully expect to go on strike at 6 p.m. on Monday unless a final deal is reached,” Martin Mika, Union of Canadian Transportation Employees Ontario Regional vice-president, said in a statement.

City officials have said in the event of a strike, contingency measures would be implemented to ensure the airport remains operational.

However, if there is no resolution in mediated contract talks and the employees do go on strike as scheduled Monday at 6 p.m., the union advised travellers there may be some delays and those who have flights booked may want to arrive at the airport earlier than normal.

“People using Timmins airport should expect that their travel may be impacted by our members peaceably exercising their constitutional right to strike,” said Mika.

The 19 workers set to walk off the job Monday include maintenance technicians, airfield technicians, mechanics, electricians and some administrative personnel.

They have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2016, though bargaining has continued off and on since then.

More than 3,000 spectators were enticed by the sunny and mild temperatures to take in the snowcross races in Timmins Saturday.

Organizers of this past weekend’s Eclipse Financial Pro Challenge expected similar numbers Sunday, despite the cooler temperatures.

It was a realistic expectation judging by the full parking lot on site and long line-up of vehicles parked on both sides of the road leading up to the Spruce Street South snow dump where the races were being held.

“Oh my god, yesterday (Saturday) was amazing,” said event coordinator Angela Vacchino, about 2 p.m. Sunday, shortly before that day’s pro races were scheduled to begin. “It was an outstanding crowd. We had wicked weather, super-fun racing. The kids were out with their parents doing 120 rides. We had an Easter egg hunt for the kids. It was just a full day of great events and excitement.”

There were 300 racers from across Ontario and Quebec, and even some from the United States who competed.

As in previous years, the snow dump on Spruce Street South was converted into a snowmobile racing venue.

Vacchino said with all the snow that Timmins received this year, they were able to double the size of the track.

Last year, with the smaller track, it took pro racers about 18 seconds to make a single revolution. This year, she said, it was about a 40-second track.

“It’s been really good. There was a lot of good snow to work with. All the pros and all the riders have been really pleased with the track.”

Vacchino said it wasn’t just the quantity of the snow but the condition of it that made it possible to create a bigger track this year.

“The snow is easier to move around. In previous years, we’d have a thaw, then it would freeze and it would be just so hard to move,” she said. “We didn’t have that problem this year.”

This was the sixth-consecutive year Timmins has been on the circuit for the Eclipse Financial Pro Challenge Snowcross event.

Vacchino said with the success and continued support the event has received from the city and area residents, they are already looking ahead to next year.

“We’ll be returning for 2020 and can’t wait to make this event even bigger and better.”

A 3-1 loss to the Powassan Voodoos at the McIntyre Arena Sunday afternoon all but guarantees the Timmins Rock will open the 2019 NOJHL playoffs against their arch rivals — the Cochrane Crunch.

Less than 24 hours after upsetting the Gold Miners 5-3 in Kirkland Lake Saturday night to put themselves in position to lock down third place in the East Division standings, the Rock were once again stymied by 16-year-old goalie Joe Vrbetic who was making his third start in two-and-a-half days.

Vrbetic, who made 36 saves while shutting out the Rock 2-0 in Powassan Feb. 22, was nearly impossible to beat Sunday afternoon, as well, allowing just one goal while turning aside 42 Rock shots as the Voodoos closed out their three-game road trip through the North with four of a possible six points.

After a huge win in Kirkland Lake Saturday night, Rock coach Corey Beer was expecting a little more from his charges Sunday afternoon.

“We went down and played these guys last weekend and we outshot them 42-20 and today it was the same thing,” he said.

“We gave up three goals on 12 shots against and that just can’t happen. It’s not just (Rock goalie Tyler Masternak) Masty.

“They (the Voodoos) have a great goalie but you can’t keep feeding him to get him hot. I am not sure what the final shots were, but we had them at 36 through two periods.

“It is just unacceptable. You can’t go out there and make life easy on a 16-year-old goaltender. You need to find ways to get in front of him, challenge him, drive the net, something different.

“We didn’t do it. We had too many perimeter players. That’s why they outscored us 3-1.”

While the Rock (33-20-3-0) have completed their 56-game 2018-19 NOJHL regular season schedule the Voodoos (32-19-3-1) still have one critical game to play at home Thursday night against the French River Rapids.

If the Voodoos pick up a point in that contest against the East Division’s last place team they will secure third place by virtue of a better record in head-to-head meetings with the Rock (4-2-1-0).

Only a regulation victory by the Rapids will keep the Rock from being relegated to fourth place and best-of-three play-in series against the Crunch.

Despite being outshot 19-5 in the opening period, the Voodoos jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to Tomas Yachmenev’s 23rd goal of the season at the 4:01 mark.

The Rock once again outshot the Voodoos, 13-6 in the middle frame, but the visitors expanded their lead to 2-0 on Brett Shawana’s 12th goal of the campaign at the 6:27 mark.

Timmins native Gabinien Kioki’s 24th goal of the season, at the 3:47 mark of the third period then increased the Powassan advantage to 3-0.

The Rock pulled out all the stops in an effort to at least get the game to overtime so they could at least salvage a single point.

When Voodoos forward Seiji Martone was sent off for holding at the 8:21 mark of the third period, the Rock pulled Masternak in favour of an extra attacker to create a six-on-four power play, but they were unable to find the back of the net.

The Rock were finally able to get on the scoreboard at the 12:25 mark of the final frame when captain Derek Seguin’s 34th goal of the season ended Vrbetic’s 135-minute shutout streak against the Rock that dated back to a 4-1 loss to the Voodoos in Powassan on Feb. 5.

Coincidentally, it was Seguin’s 27th goal of the season that started Vrbetic’s streak in that contest.

The Rock once again pulled Masternak in favour of an extra attacker in the game’s dying minutes, but they were forced to return him to his net when blue-liner Josh Anderson took an interference penalty with 1:13 remaining in the contest.

Heading into Sunday afternoon’s contest, the Rock had a simple game plan but Beer was not happy with the way his squad executed it.

“We felt we had to get more pucks to the net and have more bodies there, have a net-front presence,” he said.

“You saw the goal we scored. We had patience from our blue-line. They blocked it and found Segs in the middle.

“If I am being honest, our defencemen were horrendous tonight, absolutely horrendous, and they weren’t much better Saturday night. There is a major problem with that group of late. They don’t want to take ownership right now and it is a terrible time for it to happen.

“We are going into the playoffs and not one of them wants to accept responsibility for mistakes. They think it is OK. They will get back out there, but it’s unacceptable.

“It is something I hope, as a staff, we can tidy up because they were out downfall this afternoon. I don’t usually blame certain groups of players, but our defenceman were the reason we lost this afternoon.”

Up front, affiliate player Rhys Chiddenton continued to impress in his fourth game as an affiliate player with the Rock.

“He has good awareness and good sense for the play,” Beer said.

“He got another assist last night and he is a very talented hockey player. We like having him the lineup and right now he is playing better than some of our veterans.

“We have guys out there buzzing around thinking they are doing stuff, but they are not. Wait until the video comes out on Monday. It’s not going to be a pleasant one.”

The coach felt many of his players were just not willing to pay the price by getting to the dirty areas of the ice Sunday afternoon.

“We deserved the loss,” Beer said.

“It doesn’t matter what the shots were, if you don’t want to play hard and gritty, battle for ice time, easy games don’t exist.”

Despite the loss, there were a few Rock players who caught their coach’s eye during Sunday afternoon’s contest.

“I really liked the Seguin, (Riley) Robitaille, (Keegan) McMullen line, although Mully’s game was off a bit,” Beer said.

“Segs and Robi were unbelievable. They kept pushing the pace on the forecheck.

“Josh Dickson and Riley Brousseau really kicked their games into gear, too.

“I thought Linden Spencer and Darcy Haupt were awesome again.

“There it is. Two guys on one line, two guys on another line, not the full line and that was a major problem.

“Credit to those six, they were outstanding, but the rest were all passengers for the most part.”

While the Rock would like to finish third in the East, Beer feels it doesn’t really matter if his squad faces the Crunch in a best-of-three series or the Gold Miners in a best-of-seven series.

“The top five teams on this side are all so good, it really doesn’t matter,” he said.

“Whoever you draw, you are going to have to beat them and get through the other guys anyways.

“We held our own fate in our hands tonight and we let it slip out of our grasp. We have no one to blame but ourselves.”

Voodoos coach Max Gavin was happy to see his squad end a tough three-game weekend road trip on a positive note.

“That was our goal this weekend,” he said.

“This road trip was not kind to us earlier in the season. You look at it and if we could have gotten two or three points in three of the other road trips we had and we might not have been in this position, but we were and we fought through a lot of adversity.

“Our goaltender was incredible today and he gave us a chance to win. Joe has been a young, 16-year-old goalie learning and he had back-to-back games where he let in a lot of goals, but he stood up and stopped 41 shots tonight.

“In his third game in three days, as a 16-year-old goalie in a hostile environment, that was pretty impressive.”

Even though the Voodoos suffered overtime defeats to the Crunch in Cochrane and the Lumberjacks in Hearst, the single points they earned in those contest were just as important as the two they secure for Sunday afternoon’s victory.

“The way we looked at it, we had to win three out of our last four games,” Gavin said.

“I told the boys going into the third period against Cochrane and Hearst that we had to get points. That kept us in line for today. The boys did what they had to do and that gave us a chance.”

Gavin is taking nothing for granted when it comes to the Voodoos last regular season game on home ice against the Rapids on Thursday night.

“There are no freebees,” he said.

“It gives them something to play for, too. They can be spoilers and that can be dangerous, as well, but I trust our group. Our group will be ready to play. They know what’s on the line.”

There was no shortage of players who impressed their coach in Sunday afternoon’s victory.

“All of our penalty kill guys and our D corps were unbelievable, both the Allairs (Eric and Clark), (Dakota) Woods, (Cameron) Moore, (Jacob Peterson-)Galema and (Matthew) MacDougall were incredible.

“Up front, Shawama, Kioki, Martone, Yachmenev, (Joe) Whittet, all of our guys really, I know it is cliché, but our PK guys were really dynamite.”

Vrbetic’s 41-save performance earned him his 15th victory of the season.

Masternak, who stopped 12 of the 15 shots he faced, was tagged with the loss.

NOJHL NOTES — The Daily Press three stars of the game were Vrbetic, Shawana and Seguin … The Rock did not dress forward Gage Tremblay (upper-body injury) and defenceman Gregory Arnburg … The Rock went 0-3 with the man advantage, while the Voodoos were 0-5 on the power play … Official attendance at the McIntyre Arena was 868.

Altercation results in serious injuries

A man is in custody after an altercation that left another man in hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

On Sunday at 1:33 a.m., members of the James Bay Detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of an assault with a weapon on Wavey Crescent, in the Town of Moosonee.

As a result of the investigation, police have charged Dean Gallagher, 43, of Smooth Rock Falls, with assault causing bodily harm and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

The accused is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Timmins for a bail hearing Monday morning.

In the meantime, police are asking any person with information regarding this incident to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should they wish to remain anonymous, they may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where they may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

Motorist in single vehicle collision charged with DUI

Police have charged a motorist with impaired driving following a single vehicle collision on Bay Road in the Town of Moosonee early Saturday morning.

On March 2, at 4:24 a.m., members of the James Bay Detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) attended the scene of a collision on Bay Road.

No one was injured, but the vehicle had extensive damage.

The investigation revealed the male driver was impaired by alcohol, police said in a release.

Joshua Forster, 22, of Moosonee, has been charged with operation while impaired by alcohol and operating a motor vehicle with a blood/alcohol concentration exceeding 80 milligrams.

The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Moosonee on April 2.

Forcible confinement, threatening charges laid

A Timmins man has been charged with forcible confinement following an incident reported to the Timmins Police Service on Sunday.

Timmins Police Service officers responded to an incident where it is alleged a female victim was held against her will and subjected to threats of violence.

The investigation led to the victim being located by the Timmins Police Service and to the arrest of a city man without incident.

As a result of the incident, Richard Latour, 45, of Timmins, has been charged with Forcible Confinement and Uttering Threats.

The accused person remains in police custody awaiting a bail hearing at Provincial Court in Timmins slated for Monday morning.

Police say pair caught in midst of break-in

The Timmins Police Service has charged a two city residents in connection with a residential break-in which occurred during the early morning hours of Sunday.

Responding Timmins Police Service officers attended at the scene of the break-in while it was still in progress and located two suspects within the Maple Street North residence.

As a result of the incident, Jennifer Labelle, 38, along with Michael Allen, 39, both of Timmins, have been charged with Break and Enter With Intent.

Labelle is charged with an additional count of Breach of Recognizance while Allen is additionally charged with Possession of Break-in Tools.

Both were being held in police custody awaiting a bail hearing at Provincial Court in Timmins slated for Monday morning.

Timmins Public Works Department wishes to inform city residents that crews will be doing night time snow removal on the following days:

• Monday, March 4 starting 9:30 p.m. in the city’s north end on Sixth and Pine North (Fifth to Ross);

• Tuesday, March 5 starting 9:30 p.m. in the city’s north end on Jubilee (Cedar to College) and College (Jubilee to Victoria);

• Wednesday, March 6 starting 9:30 p.m. in the south end of Ward 5 on Wilson and Cameron South;

Day time snow removal is from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

From March 5 to March 8, the public works department will be doing day time snow removal on the following days and locations:

• Tuesday, March 5 starting at 7:30 a.m. in the city’s north end on Cameron North, Ann (west of Cameron) and Vimy (Theriault to Maclean); also in Schumacher on Vipond (Father Costello to Templeton), Battachio, Grant, Aura Lake, and Templeton;

• Wednesday, March 6 starting at 7:30 a.m. in the city’s north end on Rea North (Vimy to Jubilee) and Waterloo (Vimy to Jubilee); also in the south end of Ward 5 on Ogden and First;

• Thursday, March 7 starting at 7:30 a.m. in Schumacher on Boundary and Gold Centre, and the city’s north end on Ninth, Drew, and Tamarack (Ross to Ninth);

• Friday, March 8 starting at 7:30 a.m. in South Porcupine on Legion (Harold to Quebec), Shamrock and Tisdale; also in the city’s north end on Balsam North and Cedar North (Fifth to Ross).