Local News Channel

Drug Bust in Central Elgin

Shannon Wise — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:07:00 GMT

There's been a major drug bust in Central Elgin.

Elgin County OPP have arrested two people after over $800,000 in marijuana plants were seized.

Police searched a residence on James Turvey Place -- the New Lynhurst Area -- and uncovered a large indoor marihuana grow op.

22 year old Shayne Kennedy of Central Elgin and 21 year old Amanda Prabphane from Kitchener have been arrested, both facing a number of trafficing charges.

Police also seized magic mushrooms and two prohibited weapons.

Arson Charges Laid in Connection With Bus Fire

Shannon Wise — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:15:00 GMT

Charges have now been laid in connection with the suspicious fires in a parking lot area of Wonderland Road North that happened on the weekend.

Police responded to a 911 call early Monday morning that a school bus and a transport truck were engulfed in flames. The damage was estimated at 250-thousand.

The Arson Unit have charged 18 year old Jordan Marotta of London with two counts of arson.

It is alleged that the accused had ignited a firework in the school bus. The bus subsequently caught on fire, which spread to the transport truck parked next to it.

Two other 18-year-old males of London have been charged with discharge consumer fireworks in a dangerous manner.

Elevator Maintenance On Strike

Shannon Wise — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:58:00 GMT

If the elevator in your apartment or perhaps the building where you work isn't working -- it could be some time before it's fixed.

Elevators in at least two London apartmnent buildings aren't working because of mechanical problems and they aren't going to be fixed any time soon because of a strike by elevator maintenance workers.

14-hundred maintenance workers with the four major elevator manufacturers have walked out and are answering emergency calls only -- but the requirement for an emergency call is that ALL the elevators in a building have stopped.

To make matters worse, if an elevator comes up for a regular maintenance check it will be shut down if the license isn't renewed.

This has already caused major problems -- four people were trapped in an elevator in a North Bay medical building and all were eventually rescued and the same thing happened to a 16-year-old St. Thomas girl in a seniors building in Aylmer for three hours on the weekend.

If a deal isn't reached soon a union spokesman says the potential is there for the situation to only get worse.

Police Make Second Arrest In Tim Bosma Murder

Lynzee Barnett — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:56:00 GMT

Minutes after an emotional memorial for 32 year old Tim Bosma, Hamilton police announced have made a second arrest in the case.

During the news conference today held at Hamilton police headquarters police said while the memorial for Tim Bosma was happening, they made the arrest.

Police have said 15 search warrants have been issued in the case so far. The second suspect arrested in the Tim Bosma case has been identified as 25 year old Mark Smich from Oakville. Smich is facing the First Degree Murder charge from police, police added that Smich is known to police - he'll be in court tomorrow morning at 9:30.

Police also said that a dark blue yukon was seized during their investigation, and it belongs to Millard. The Yukon was the vehicle seen following Bosma during the test drive.

A Toronto man, 27-year-old Dellen Millard, was charged more than a week ago with first-degree murder, forcible confinement and theft of a vehicle.

New Breast Cancer Fighting Hormone Identified

Lynzee Barnett — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:40:00 GMT

A Western University researcher has identified a breast cancer fighting hormone. Transformative research has identified new hormones in the body which may suppress breast cancer and stimulate the regression of breast tumors.

Western biology professor John P. Wiebe has led the findings that have been published by Breast Cancer Research.

Of the nearly 1.4 million new cases of breast cancer diagnosed each year, up to half are characterized as hormone receptor negative, meaning they lack estrogen receptors (ER) and/or progesterone receptors (PR).

According to Wiebe, cancer patients with receptor-negative tumors do not respond to current steroid hormone-based therapies (such as tamoxifen) and can only be treated with chemotherapy or radiation.

"They generally have significantly higher risk of mortality compared to patients with tumors that are ER and/or PR positive," says Wiebe. "What causes these receptor-negative cancers has been little studied and was not understood and there are no therapies other than chemotherapy or radiation treatments."

The new findings also provide the first explanation for the cause and potential regulation of receptor-negative breast cancers.

Hundreds Gather to Remember Tim Bosma

Lynzee Barnett — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:09:00 GMT

Hundreds of people have filed into the Camen Banquet Centre in Hamilton to pay their respects to Tim Bosma. Bosma, a 32 year old Ancaster man went missing on May 6.

His charred remains were found a week after he disappeared. An industrial incinerator was recovered from a farm owned by 27 year old Dellen Millard, charged with first degree murder in Bosma's death.

Yesterday, CBC reported that more remains were found on the farm by law enforcement, not specifying if they were human or animal. Hamilton police issued a statement saying no remains of any sort had been found.

In Toronto, police say they've been watching surveillance video from homes around the residence of Millards father. The home where he lived until his death in December of 2012 which had been ruled a suicide. Police say they are now taking another look into his death.

Toronto's homicide squad is also investigating the disappearnce of a former girlfriend of Dellen Millard's, Laura Babcock.

Timken Items to be Sold Today

Shannon Wise — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:56:00 GMT

Most of the contents of the closed Timken plant in St. Thomas will be auctioned off today.

Up to 800 items are up for sale including storage cabinets, air compressors, indoor cranes and other machines.

People toured the plant yesterday to see what goods will be offered.

The plant closed in April.

Sex Offender On The Loose

Shannon Wise — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:55:00 GMT

Police are warning people about a violent sex offender that is on the loose.

They've issued an alert to watch out for 45 year old Kenneth Froude who was convicted of sexually assaulting a London woman in her home in June 2004.

Ontario's ROPE squad issued an alert yesterday for Froude who also disappeared once before, about a year ago.

Froude was serving time at a halfway house in Kingston, but is known to frequent the London and Toronto area.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch for London

Lynzee Barnett — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:38:00 GMT

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for London, and most of the surrounding area.

High heat, mixed with humidity today were the perfect ingredients for a storm to be created.

Environment Canada is saying the storm that will start late this afternoon will carry on into the evening.

Geoff Coulson who is with Environment Canada says Londoners should be on the look out for high gusting winds, and large hail.

Huron-Perth and Waterloo-Wellington are under a severe thunderstorm warning.

TVDSB Director To Join Western University Faculty

Lynzee Barnett — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:43:00 GMT

Looks like retirement will be busier than expected for the retiring Director of the Thames Valley District School Board Bill Tucker. Effective September 1, 2013 Tucker will join Western University's Faculty of Education as a Visiting Appointment at the rank of Associate Professor.

In a press release issued this morning, “I couldn't be prouder to be a part of Western's Faculty of Education," says Tucker. "As an educator I am aware of the high degree of respect in which this faculty is regarded. I am just thrilled to be a part of it and of the exciting changes taking place under the leadership of Dean Vicki Schwean."

According to the University Tucker will teach in the Educational Leadership Program, conduct research as part of the Faculty of Education's Children's Mental Health initiative along with its partner the Child and Youth Network, serve as an inaugural fellow of the doctoral Educational Leadership program, and work as a provincial liaison for the Faculty of Education.

Tucker is set to retire as Director of the Thames Valley District School Board on August 31, 2013 after serving in that capacity since 2008. Prior to accepting the position as Director, he was Superintendent of Education. He also held supervisory positions in Special Education and School and Community Services.