Fatal collision in Algonquin Highlands

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February 10, 2022

The Minden fairgrounds was the place to be Feb. 5-6 as Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs Ontario Region ice racing returned to the frozen oval. The Minden Kinsmen Club had the track in perfect condition for two days of racing. Fans lined the snowbanks.

Ice racing director, Brad Elkins said, “the racers are extremely happy to be back at the fairgrounds ice racing. It’s a fun and exciting activity that helps break up the long winter months. There was a good turn out of competitors throughout all 12 classes of rubber to ice and street stud cars. It was encouraging to see a large number of rookies willing to give ice racing a try. It was good to see our local fans returning to watch.”

He thanked The Minden Kinsman Club, The Township of Minden Hills, the staff in the food booth and all the Peterborough Motor Sports Club volunteers that help make the event happen.

Each weekend is run by a different member club of the Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs Ontario Region.

PMSC hosted the Feb 5-6 weekend and will also host the CASC CO-OP Feb 12-13. The British Automobile Racing Club takes its turn Feb 19-20; the Twin Lakes Motor Club Feb 26-27 and the Toronto Auto Club Mar 5-6.

“We continue to run for the next four weekends subject to suitable weather conditions. Hoping our friendly groundhog was right,” he said about a projected later start to spring.

Covering the fringe

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February 10, 2022

Half-a-dozen readers complained about our Feb. 3 edition – in particular, a story about two local truckers who attended the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa, and a small group of protestors rallying against a mask mandate at a local elementary school.
“While I am a firm believer in freedom of speech and the freedom of the press, two articles this week went too far,” one wrote.
She wanted to know how in good conscious we could give a platform to the man, whose co-truckers, she said, were carrying Nazi and Confederate flags?
As for the school, she conjectured some of the protesters were vehement anti-vaxxers without science-based information. She wanted to know if we’d interviewed them and asked the right questions.
Another wrote, “how disappointing to see a whole-page spread for an anti-vaccine protester and also an article with a picture of the four anti-mask people protesting at one of our local schools. It seems you are having trouble coming up with some real news stories.”
We appreciate feedback and it gives us pause to ask the same questions of ourselves.
At The Highlander, we believe it is important to present as many sides to a story as we can, and hopefully enough information so that the reader can make up his or her own mind about anything.
In doing so, we also feel it holds up a mirror to our community, to reflect what is going on. We know there is a divide over COVID-19 and its handling. The majority back public health measures. A fringe does not. Does that mean we simply ignore the fringe? Pretend it’s not going on?
We don’t think it’s an option. It would be like not covering a People’s Party of Canada local candidate because the majority has discounted this candidate’s views. Censoring that person, or the Freedom Convoy-types in our community only opens the door to us being accused of suppressing the news, being part of the conspiracy, fuelling more fire for their social media platforms. We feel it is best to have it out in the open, rather than tiptoe around it.
Another reader told us it was “refreshing” to see another side presented. Another applauded the truckers for taking part in the Ottawa protests. Yet another said while it was unfortunate we had to cover these things, at least we’d done it well.
Is it uncomfortable covering so-called fringe groups? It sure is. I attended the local Freedom Convoy gathering outside Kawartha Dairy Saturday morning because, like it or not, it was news. There was a large crowd gathered. I was the only one wearing a mask. Did I agree with them? No. Was I doing my job? Yes.
And if you read these stories, for example the protestors outside the elementary school last week, you’ll note we quoted them and then followed each quote with contradictory information from reputable sources. In our opinion, that is good journalism. We are not simply offering a platform to the fringe, but challenging their beliefs. Could we do a better job. Of course.
And, let’s not forget, nearly every week we provide a platform to Dr. Nell Thomas via her COVID corner.
We know how divisive this issue has become. It has separated some of us from family, friends, acquaintances and co-workers. We don’t agree. We don’t have to. But we have to respect our rights to have different opinions. And it wouldn’t be prudent for local media to allow their personal biases to stop them from covering viewpoints that they don’t necessarily agree with.

Storm return to action with win

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February 10, 2022

In their first meeting this year, the visiting team from Parry Sound and our own Highland Storm played a fast and furious game in Haliburton Saturday afternoon, Feb. 5.

The rafters were shaking and the game started out fairly even. Midway through the first period though Callum Merritt dangled a few slick moves and lit the light, completing a beautiful individual effort to make it 1-0 Highland Storm.

He did it again a few minutes later for a two-goal lead. The solid defence of Katie Lavalle, Jordyn Braun and Koen Kerkhof, including our all-star Goalie Moss Davis, kept Parry Sound at bay for the entire first period.

The second period was more of the same. Some solid play up front by Evelyn Mardus, Bently Bull and Olivia Rickard resulted in a well-earned goal by Rickard to make it 3-0 Storm. It could have been 4-0 as Bull went bar down only to have the puck deflect on top of the net.

Parry Sound began to push the play into the Storm’s end more often. Several great saves by Davis kept the score at 3-0.

Our team was fortunate to have a new spark-plug suit up. He didn’t disappoint. Wyatt Braun potted two third period goals and it was 5-0 Storm.

To their credit, Parry Sound never gave up and scored two in the third period to make the game closer.

Credit to the Haliburton Storm. The team was shorthanded and only had eight skaters. This was a well-deserved win, and the first of the year.

Saini lighting up OJHL, sets sights on NCAA

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February 10, 2022

Haliburton County Huskies vs North York Rangers — NORTH YORK, ON - OCTOBER 10: Patrick Saini #75 of the Haliburton County Huskies follows the play during the third period at the Herbert Carnegie Centennial Arena on October 10, 2021 in Ontario, Canada (Photo by Ray MacAloney / OJHL Images)

Haliburton County Huskies forward Patrick Saini is focused and keeping his skates firmly on the ground after impressive play this season put him on the radar of several top-tier NCAA hockey programs.

The 18-year-old Toronto native is enjoying a breakout season in the OJHL, putting up 24 points in 20 games for the blue and white. He’s earned a spot on the Huskies’ top line, and is often rolled out in powerplay and penalty kill situations.

He has been referred to as “Mr. Dependable” by coach Ryan Ramsay, who said he can always rely on Saini to make a difference.

Saini admitted he’s come a long way since playing AA in the city. After developing with the Ted Reeve Thunder during his early years, he made the jump to AAA with the North York Rangers as a 15-year-old, suiting up in 33 games in 2018/19 and registering 33 points. His play earned him a spot with the Rangers at that year’s OHL Cup.

Heading into that competition, he was excited to share the ice with top NHL prospects Shane Wright, Brandt Clarke and Zachary Dean. He was named as one of ‘50 Players to Watch’ at the tournament by Prospect Pipeline.

“That was definitely an eye-opener to what hockey is like at the highest level. It was really cool to be a part of that. It was a big deal. There were lots of fans there, and scouts. I really enjoyed it,” Saini said.

Shortly after, following the 2019 OHL Priority Draft, Saini received a surprise call from Barclay Branch, then general manager of the Flint Firebirds.

“They selected me in the ninth round, which was pretty cool. I had never been drafted into anything before that, so there was definitely some emotion there. A proud moment, for sure,” Saini said.

While the prospect of playing at the OHL level was tantalizing, Saini has always dreamed of playing NCAA hockey. With his father, a university professor, instilling in him from a young age the importance of education, Saini has his sights set on achieving his goal. He has talked to several schools, but is yet to make a firm commitment. Saini said he plans to study law wherever he ends up.

There’s much he hopes to accomplish before then, though. With the Huskies currently sitting second in the East Division, Saini said the team is focused on making the playoffs and being competitive once there.

“Rest of the season, I just want to lead by example. I always try to be the hardest working kid on the ice … and it really resonates when you see a guy giving everything he has. We have a great team, but we just need to take things one game at a time and keep our focus,” Saini said. “If we do all the little things right, I think it can be a really good year for us.”

Huskies win in big return, drop next two

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February 10, 2022

The Haliburton County Huskies returned to winning ways Feb. 4, recording a late 3-2 victory over the Lindsay Muskies as the OJHL returned to action.

Making the trip down Hwy. 35, the Huskies looked like a team with something to prove during the opening period, running a high-pace, physical game that the Muskies struggled to match.

The team’s top line of Oliver Tarr, Patrick Saini and Christian Stevens saw lots of minutes as they kept the Muskies penned in their own end. Jack Staniland went close to giving the Huskies a deserved lead at the mid-point of the first, with a drive from the point striking the post.

As the period drew to a close, Muskies defenceman Logan Maunder threw a hit on Huskies forward Nicholas Athanasakos. The pair exchanged words and dropped the gloves, with Maunder getting the better of the exchange. With Athanasakos prone on the ice, his helmet having come off, Maunder threw another haymaker to the back of his head. Rushing to the aid of his downed teammate, Sam Solarino received a game misconduct for third man in, a rule designed to prevent other players from interfering in a fight. All three players were ejected from the game, while Solarino was handed an additional three-game suspension.

Feeling aggrieved, the Huskies roared out of the gate in the second. Bryce Richardson gave the team the lead at 4:55, a scruffy powerplay marker after a scramble around the Muskies net. Oliver Tarr doubled the blue and white’s advantage at 16:37, tipping a Payton Schaly shot five-hole past the impressive Ethan Fraser.

A moment of madness from Christian Stevens to start the third, blatantly slashing Muskies forward Jack Falkner gave the home team a path back into the game. Boyd Stahlbaum scored on the powerplay just three minutes into the period, bringing the Muskies back within one.

Two minutes later and Stevens found himself back in the box, this time for tripping. Almost a carbon copy of his first goal, Stahlbaum fired the game-tying tally past a helpless Christian Cicigoi at 6:36 of the period.

The Huskies looked tired as the home side took control. Stahlbaum went close to completing his hat-trick before dogs’ defenceman Jonah Cochrane took centre stage. With less than three minutes on the clock, he picked up a puck from fellow blueliner Isaac Sooklal, steadied himself and fired past an unsighted Fraser, giving the Huskies an important two points.

“It’s a pretty big moment. Being a new organization this year, I think most people thought we were going to be a bottom end team, but we’re shocking a lot of people with the way we’re coming out and playing. We have skill, and we’re getting results,” Cochrane said. “I think we showed again tonight that we’re a team that can’t be taken easily.”

Dogs drop pair of games

The Huskies suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Wellington Dukes on their return to S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena Feb. 5, despite outshooting their opponents 36 to 15.

Goals from Graham Dickerson, who scored twice, and Corbin Roach were enough to give the third-place Dukes a win over their East Division rivals.

Travelling to Toronto Feb. 7 for a tilt with the Jr. Canadiens, the Huskies found themselves on the wrong side of a 4-2 score line.

After falling behind to a pair of quickfire goals at the beginning of the second period, recent acquisition Simon Rose and Stevens dug the Huskies out of a hole with goals six minutes apart across the second and third frame.

While the dogs threatened to bite again, it was the Canadiens that got the all-important third goal, four minutes from the end of the game, before adding an empty-netter late on.

The team remains in second place in the East Division, with 40 points in 32 games. They welcome the Toronto Patriots to town Feb. 11, with puck drop in Minden at 7:30 p.m.

County convoy about ‘hope’

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February 10, 2022

The leader of a Haliburton County convoy said his decision to start an online group that attracted 125 vehicles to a rally Feb. 5 was more about hope than science.

Scott Danilko and his wife Penny went to Ottawa Jan. 29 to see for themselves what was going on with the convoy there. They took their children, aged nine and 11, and a four-year-old grandchild, and Danilko said “I felt as safe as anywhere.”

Walking through the crowd gathered around Parliament Hill, he added, “it gave me reassurance that there’s hope. It was exhilarating.” That prompted him to start a local Facebook page to see if anyone was interested in a convoy from Minden to Haliburton.

It attracted more than 125 vehicles and they are planning to do it again this Saturday, Feb. 12.

“To show support for the convoys in Ottawa and Toronto and other cities around Canada,” Danilko said of his motivation in an interview.

Asked about his beliefs, he added, “I believe everybody should have freedom of choice and not be mandated to be vaccinated.”

It was pointed out that people can choose whether or not to be vaccinated but that choice comes with consequences such as vaccine passports.

“I’m against that,” he responded.

He was then asked about agencies such as Health Canada and the Centre for Disease Control in the U.S. saying vaccines, masks and other COVID-19 regulations are working.

He said it was “bull crap … because the numbers went higher this winter than they were even at the start of the pandemic. We were into the thousands and thousands and people were vaccinated and wearing masks.”

The Highlander asked what science he had to the contrary of Health Canada and the CDC. He did not have any.

He then went on to say he did not support children having to be masked, saying he did not have to wear a mask when he was in school. He added it is counterproductive since they remove their masks to eat their lunches. He doesn’t agree with children having to be vaccinated against COVID19 either. When Danilko was in school there was not a pandemic. Asked whether his children were vaccinated against other childhood illnesses, such as chicken pox, he said they were. However, Penny noted it was one vaccine, not two and a booster with the possibility of more to come.

Danilko said while he did not have scientific facts, he simply was able to get a group going online, a group that could probably be labelled “a fringe minority,” he conceded.

“It makes some people feel good about everything that has gone on in the last two years. It’s been all doom and gloom. It gives them some hope. It brings a small fringe of people a little bit of happiness. I feel good about it. And it is to support the ones in Ottawa and at Queen’s Park, to just let them know they are not the only ones being a part of this.”

Maple Lake United Church slated for closure

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February 10, 2022

Maple Lake United Church (MLUC) will be closing after members voted on Jan. 30 to disband the congregation effective Feb. 28.

Rev. Max Ward and the church’s trustees, in a letter to members, adherents and friends, dated Feb. 7, shared the news “with regret.”

Ward said all church matters after Feb. 28 would be administered by the trustees with the support of the East Central Ontario Regional Council.

He added there would be a final closing church service “perhaps in July 2022 as COVID-19 restrictions permit, and will be held indoors and/or outdoors on the church lawn.”

Ward said Highland Hills United Church (HHUC) has invited anyone to be part of their worshiping community and welcomes all to transfer their membership. A new members and adherents service will be held Sunday, Feb. 27 via Zoom. Memberships will be transferred automatically unless people advise otherwise by Feb. 20. “Many other area churches would welcome your presence in addition to HHUC,” he said.

Items in the church are being catalogued and a new home, or homes are being considered.

Ward said they also need to decide what to do with the land and building at the corner of Hwy. 118 and Stanhope Airport Road.

“The MLUC Trustees are currently exploring options and working with the East Central Ontario Regional Council to finalize matters,” he said.

The closure comes after the church put out an SOS in November.

At that time, Rev. Ward said they were hopeful that with a bit of awareness, the church might be able to continue for many years to come “but the current outlook isn’t good without an infusion of more people to help with the volunteer work and financial support needed to operate the church.”

A few years ago, Zion United Church, Minden United Church and MLUC were in talks to amalgamate. Maple Lake opted out at that time, but Minden and Zion did amalgamate. The Zion church and property were sold. The Maple Lake United Church was erected in 1901.

Council defers decision on firefighter pay

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February 10, 2022

Algonquin Highlands fire chief Mike French proposed new firefighter renumeration rates to council Feb. 3, calling for an increase in pay for experienced members and a decrease for new recruits.

Currently, all volunteer firefighters in Algonquin Highlands make $20.51 per hour. This is the highest rate in Haliburton County, French noted. In his report to council, he proposed increases to members holding down the positions of acting captain (up to $22.01), captain ($23.51) and district chief ($25.01), while recommending untrained new recruits be bumped down to $16 per hour.

French also asked that firefighters be paid a minimum of two hours’ pay for each callout.

The changes would represent an increase of $9,294.50 in the fire department’s budget in 2022.

Deputy Mayor Liz Danielsen wasn’t a fan of the proposal. She said she wouldn’t support a pay decrease for new recruits, and called on Algonquin Highlands to be “local leaders” in establishing fair pay for volunteer firefighters.

“I’ve suffered two house fires in my life and have firsthand experience of how much our firefighters do for us. At risk of upsetting the budget applecart, I have an issue with a reduction here,” Danielsen said. “In the city, firefighters get paid almost $50 per hour. I understand all firefighters have to maintain the same level of training, that’s a big spread for me.

“I’d like to see us be leaders and do more beyond what is being recommended here,” she added.

CAO Angie Bird noted firefighters have typically received a cost-of-living increase from the municipality, after being asked by Danielsen. French’s proposal would see that annual review maintained.

Given the request to change the minimum callout pay, Bird asked that council defer making a final decision until she’s able to calculate how much that would cost, and how big of an implication it would have on the 2022 budget. The issue will be coming back later next month.

Legion and rinks get provincial money

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February 10, 2022