Hawkesbury, ON

Shop owners and residents in Lachute and Hawkesbury are being advised by their respective police forces to be on the lookout after three instances in two weeks in which businesses have reported customers attempting to pay for purchases using counterfeit $100 bills.

According to Sûreté du Quebec Sgt. Gilles Mitchell, the counterfeit bills are isolated to the Canadian Journey Series, which have been in circulation since 2004.

The Best Western L'Heritage along County Road 17 just outside Hawkesbury is set for an expansion, following council's approval for the local business to proceed with its plans on Monday, January 30.

Town planner Manon Belle-Isle said owner Raj Patel submitted plans to expand Hawkesbury's only hotel in October 2011. She said he plans to expand the hotel's existing building by 651 square metres.

The dismay of two councillors wasn't enough to stop council from approving an unbudgeted expenditure of $24,800 to give the Town of Hawkesbury five minutes of fame.

At the regular meeting of council held on Monday, January 30, council approved a recommendation to seek $24,800 from the Hawkesbury Industrial Strategic Planning Association for the potential to garner a five-minute spot on the American television show "Inside Financial," which is partially hosted by former football pro Terry Bradshaw.

With bingo revenues on the decline, Long Sault Bingo is hoping the addition of electronic bingo games will not only make its facility more modern, but may help boost revenues for charitable organizations as well.

At the Hawkesbury council meeting held Monday, January 16, clerk Christine Groulx presented a report noting the owner of the local bingo hall is interested in participating in the eBingo Gaming initiative launched by the Ontario Ministry of Lottery and Gaming (OLG).

The Hawkesbury detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have initiated an increase in patrols and enforcement on County Road 17 in order to promote road safety.

The increased enforcement initiative is in response to the fatal collision that occurred on County Road 17 on Wednesday, January 11. The three-week initiative continues until Wednesday, February 8.

Citing the undermining of voters, a lack of discussion, and a bylaw that was "obviously directly copied" from another municipality, Hawkesbury councillors Johanne Portelance and Michel Thibodeau adamantly shot down a bylaw proposed by Mayor Rene Berthiaume to change the deputy mayor position.

At the meeting held Monday, January 16, council members discussed a bylaw sent to them and clerk Christine Groulx via e-mail for their consideration.

After more than a year of waiting, family and friends of Danny Trineer are hoping for some closure this week.

The sentencing hearing for 27-year-old Rodny Wiss Ceasar, of Hawkesbury, will take place at 3 p.m. today, Wednesday, January 18 at the courthouse in L'Orignal.

Ceasar was charged with first-degree murder following an early morning fight outside Déja Vu restaurant and bar in which Trineer, 32, from Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, was fatally stabbed on September 4, 2010.

A 76-year-old female has died in hospital following a two-car accident that forced the closure of County Road 17 for several hours Wednesday night.

Ontario Provincial Police officers were called to the scene about 500 metres west of the Highway 34 overpass, between Hawkesbury and L'Orignal, on Wednesday, January 11 at 3:15 p.m.

According to police, the initial investigation suggests that a 2003 Kia Rio, driven by a 33-year-old female from Hawkesbury, was traveling eastbound on County Road 17 when the driver lost control of her vehicle and crossed into the westbound lane.

Results from the Ontario Provincial Police's Festive RIDE program across eastern Ontario indicate the number of charges related to drinking and driving has doubled compared to the previous year.

The OPP says the RIDE program, which ran from November 25, 2011 to January 1, 2012, "has wrapped up with some sobering results."

Police did not track the number of vehicles or drivers checked this year, as it has previously, but the OPP says it is concerned about the number of charges compared to the same time period in 2010.