On January 22, 2026, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the North Bay Police Service (NBPS) notified the North Bay OPP of a recently stolen pickup truck. Information provided indicated the vehicle had been taken from a business on Lakeshore Drive and was last seen travelling southbound.

Officers from the North Bay and Powassan OPP detachments responded to the Highway 11 corridor. With assistance from NBPS and an onboard vehicle-tracking system, officers received ongoing updates on the vehicle’s direction of travel as it moved through Callander and toward Powassan.

While attempting to locate the vehicle, officers observed it travelling a high rate of speed, including rapidly accelerating on rural roads and cutting though snow‑covered ditches.

OPP officers tracked the vehicle to a location behind an outbuilding at a rural property on Genesee Lake Road in Powassan. The area was contained by frontline officers, and OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Canine Unit members attended to assist. Officers approached the vehicle and safely took one individual into custody..

As a result of the investigation, Shaun Hebert, 48 years of age, of Whitby, has been charged with:

·        Theft of a motor vehicle

·        Dangerous operation

·        Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

·        Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000

·        Operation while prohibited under the Criminal Code – five counts

·        Theft under $5,000 from a motor vehicle

·        Operate vehicle for which permit is suspended – two counts

·        Use plate not authorized for vehicle

The accused was held for a bail hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice in North Bay.

The post Driver Faces Several Charges After He Was Driving A Stolen Vehicle In Powassan appeared first on Muskoka411.

Larry, a retiree, has been playing the lottery with OLG since the days of WINTARIO. He enjoys a variety of games, including LOTTO MAX, LOTTO 6/49, and DAILY GRAND. He typically plays twice a week, using OLG’s Quick Pick feature to make his selections and adding ENCORE to all his tickets. Now, his dedication has paid off in a big way, as he’s celebrating his first major win!

“I bought this ticket as part of my regular weekly routine,” Larry said, while visiting the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to collect his windfall. “A couple of days after the draw, I went to the store and scanned my ticket using the ticket checker. Suddenly, I saw a prize of $100,000 on the screen. I scanned my ticket again, just to be sure it was real. In that moment, I was shocked and very happy.”

Larry returned home and shared the incredible news with his wife. “I showed her the validation slip, and her jaw dropped in disbelief,” he recalled with a laugh. “She was just as surprised and excited as I was.”

With his winnings, Larry plans to save for the future, invest, and share with family. “Being a winner feels great!” he concluded with a smile.

ENCORE offers 22 ways to win and can be played in conjunction with most lottery games for an extra $1. There are two ENCORE draws every day.

The winning ticket was purchased at MacEwen on Seymour Street in North Bay.

The post Powassan Resident Celebrates $100,000 Encore Win appeared first on Muskoka411.

The first occurrence, on December 1, 2024, two individuals unlawfully entered the Powassan landfill while it was closed. The individuals were captured on surveillance footage stealing various items, including donation bin contents and discarded electronics.

The second occurrence, on the evening of December 19, 2024, the chain on the landfill’s locked front gate was cut and the property entered using a vehicle. Once inside, individuals stole discarded electronics. Surveillance footage recorded an image of their vehicle, which is believed to be an older style Chevrolet extended cab truck, hard flip-up tonneau cover, equipped with a back rack and rear-facing flood lights, and a partially burned-out left taillight.

Investigators believe these two incidents may be connected and are releasing images of the persons of interest and the vehicle of interest to assist in identifying those responsible.

If you recognize these individuals or this vehicle, or have any information relating to these cases, please contact the North Bay OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- 8477 (TIPS) or visit www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

Reference occurrence: E241598833.

The post OPP Request Public Assistance In Identifying Persons Of Interest In Powassan Landfill Thefts appeared first on Muskoka411.

On July 13, 2024, shortly before 5:00 p.m., the Powassan Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called to a collision involving an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) on Genesee Lake Road, Powassan.

Through investigation the driver, a 27-year-old of Powassan sustained life threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Powassan Ambulance and Powassan Fire Department attended the scene. The investigation is on-going with the assistance of the OPP Traffic Incident Management Enforcement (T.I.M.E) Team.

Under the direction of the Office of Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, a postmortem examination will take place at a later date.

The post OPP Investigating Fatal ATV Collision In Powassan appeared first on Muskoka411.

On January 11, 2024, just before 6:00 p.m., an officer from the Powassan Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was patrolling Highway 11 in Powassan and stopped a motor vehicle for speeding.

Upon speaking to the driver, it was determined that they had consumed an alcoholic beverage.

The driver was arrested and transported to the North Bay Detachment of the OPP for further testing.

As a result of the investigation, Vernon Hamelin a 65-year-old from Midland was charged for the following:

·        Failure or refusal to comply with a demand

·        Driving while under suspension

·        Speeding 1- 49km/h over the posted limit

·        Fail to surrender permit for motor vehicle

·        Operate motor vehicle without insurance

·        Use plate not authorized for vehicle

·        Fail to notify change of address

·        Drive vehicle or boat with cannabis readily available

·        Possess unmarked cigarettes

·        Driving motor vehicle with liquor readily available

·        Fail to apply for permit on becoming new owner

·        Fail to surrender licence

The accused was released and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in North Bay on January 30, 2024.

The accused was also issued a 90-day driver’s licence suspension and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

The post Midland Resident Faces 12 Charges After Traffic Stop On Hwy 11 in Powassan appeared first on Muskoka411.

The northbound CMV left the paved portion of the highway, broke through the cable guardrails, and rolled down a steep embankment. The lone vehicle occupant suffered serious injuries and was transported to hospital by ambulance.

Police are continuing the investigation and more information will be provided when it becomes available.

The post Serious Injuries Reported After Collision On Hwy. 11 In The Powassan Area appeared first on Muskoka411.

ENCORE offers 22 ways to win and can be played in conjunction with most lottery games for an extra $1. There is an ENCORE draw every day.

OLG supports safe play and wants to keep the fun in the game. That’s why OLG is proud to be a leader in promoting responsible gambling with our globally recognized PlaySmart program.

The winning ticket was purchased at Powassan Kwik Way on Main Street in Powassan.

The post Winning Lottery Ticket Worth $100,000 Purchased In Powassan appeared first on Muskoka411.

On January 7, 2022, at 9:38 a.m., members of the North Bay OPP, the Parry Sound District Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the Powassan Fire Department, Station One and Two, responded to a report of a collision involving a train and a farm tractor on Highway 522 in Trout Creek.

The occupant of the farm tractor, Larry Ciglen, 80 years-of-age of Trout Creek was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The investigation is on-going with the assistance of the OPP Traffic Incident Management Enforcement Team (TIME).

The post Fatal Collision Involving A Train Claims The Life Of Trout Creek Resident appeared first on Muskoka411.

The most recent awards are for $526,562 for an HVAC upgrade project at Argyle Public School in Port Loring and a $490,000 award to upgrade washrooms and PA systems at Mapleridge Public School in Powassan.

These tenders are the most recent of several investments in infrastructure in schools throughout NNDSB. This school year, with support from federal and provincial government funding, more than $20.5 million has been invested into several buildings across all areas of the board.

Board Chair Jay Aspin says, “Our board is grateful for the significant amount of federal and provincial government support to assist us in modernizing our facilities to keep our students and staff safe during these challenging times. Our firm commitment is to provide the best learning environment to promote student well-being and success in all regions of our board.”

Much of the infrastructure investment was for ventilation upgrades, and more than $6 million was provided to NNDSB following a rigid application process. NNDSB staff conducted thorough needs assessments then applied for funding to offset costs of upgrades to improve educational spaces throughout the board.

NNDSB’s Superintendent of Business Seija Van Haesendonck, says, “Through the support of the federal and provincial governments, the board has planned upgrades to ventilation systems at many schools across the region to provide enhanced air quality, in coordination with the HEPA filtration units purchased with federal and provincial funding. In addition to the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream – Education Related Projects (CVRIS-EDU) funding received as part of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, the Board has directed Ministry of Education School Condition Improvement and School Renewal allocations to ensure the upgrades are completed, and to support other projects within our schools such as washroom upgrades.”

James Coventry, NNDSB’s manager of facilities and operations, says the board’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) and the board’s core purpose – student achievement and well-being – has been helpful in guiding processes and making decisions.

Many projects have focused on ventilation systems and helping to optimize air quality of schools and supporting healthy and safe learning environments for students and staff.

Other infrastructure projects will help NNDSB provide students with a 21st century education by creating innovative learning spaces.

“NNDSB’s 2021-2026 MYSP outlines our key strategic priorities, one of which is Excellence in Innovation,” says Coventry. “Exciting upgrades in schools will allow our students to engage in future-oriented learning experiences that promote excellence in achievement and well-being. We are constructing learning commons and completing upgrades to libraries, classrooms (both indoors and outdoors), and technology shops,” he says.

“These projects will support our current programming as well as allow our students new opportunities,” adds Coventry.

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