Peterborough Paramedic Chief Randy Mellow Announces Retirement After 37 Years

After 37 years of service in paramedicine, Chief Randy Mellow of Peterborough County-City Paramedics (PCCP), Senior Director of Emergency and Shared Services and Deputy CAO is retiring at the end of 2024, announced on Monday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“It has been an indescribable pleasure and rewarding experience to have worked at the County of Peterborough and to have served Peterborough County and City as Chief,” said Mellow. “I have watched with pride as this service grew with the support of Canada's best Paramedics, leaders, and support staff. I look forward to continuing to proudly support PCCP, the new Chief and the leadership team throughout the coming year in my Senior Director/Deputy CAO role.”

Chief Mellow had tendered his retirement with a year's notice according to a press release.

Mellow served as the Deputy Chief of Peterborough County-City Paramedics (PCCP) from 2007 – 2011, as the Chief in Essex-Windsor from 2011 to 2014 and again as Chief of PCCP from 2014 - present. He also served as the President of Paramedic Chiefs of Canada from 2015 - 2023.

Mellow’s successor will have an opportunity to train directly with him. The succession plan is in its final stages and will be launched imminently according to Peterborough County. A new Chief is expected for early next year.

During the transition period, Mellow is continuing his role as Senior Director of Emergency & Shared Services/Deputy CAO with Peterborough County throughout 2024.

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Winter Weather Travel Advisory Issued For Peterborough Until Tuesday Morning

A winter weather travel advisory is in effect for Monday night, issued by Environment Canada.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The advisory is in effect from this evening into early Tuesday morning.

Peterborough could expect snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 cm, possibly higher. Drivers could face reduced visibility in heavy snow and local blowing snow with icy and slippery road conditions.

Environment Canada predicts that rain showers are expected to quickly change to snow this afternoon or evening as colder air moves into southern Ontario. Snow could become heavy at times during the evening or overnight. Increasing northwest winds gusting to 50 km/h may result in localized areas of blowing snow in exposed areas.

Travel may be hazardous due to sudden changes in the weather.

Environment Canada reminds drivers to be prepared to adjust your driving to changing road conditions. Turn on your lights and maintain a safe following distance if visibility is reduced while driving.

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Police Warn Public of TikTok Challenge Causing Mischief Surfacing In Peterborough

The Peterborough Police Service wants to raise public awareness of a TikTok social media challenge as continued calls of residential doors and garage doors being kicked or knocked with perpetrators running away shortly after.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Known as the ‘door-knock challenge,’ people knock or bang on garage doors and/or kick the front doors of homes and run away while filming the process. This typically occurs later at night or in the early morning hours.

Peterborough Police Service continues to receive calls about these types of incidents including two in December in town.

The Service is concerned about this type of activity because it is aggressive and unnerving for unsuspecting homeowners, leading to more extreme situations in other municipalities, according to a press release.

Anyone with information on this activity is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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Peterborough Petes Steamrolled By Rival Oshawa Generals, 5-1; Easton Rye Makes Team Debut

Peterborough could not keep up with rival Oshawa Generals and fell on the road 5-1 at the Tribute Communities Centre on Sunday night. Petes goalie Easton Rye made his OHL debut when he was substituted into the game late in the third period.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

Oshawa started the scoring as former Peterborough Pete Connor Lockhardt beat Liam Sztuska on a sharp-angle shot that ricocheted in for a 1-0 lead. Peterborough countered as Johnathan Melee took a shot from inside the faceoff circle and Jax Dubois pounced on the rebound for a tie game.

Unfortunately, it was all downhill for Peterborough from here as late in the period, the Petes turned the puck over in their own zone and Oshawa capitalized and scored on a rebound shot from Dylan Roobroeck for a 2-1 lead.

The Generals got a pair of goals in the second thanks to Beckett Sennecke and Calum Ritchie and extended Oshawa’s lead 4-1 going into the third period.

The home team kept pouring it on as Stuart Rolofs scored 10 seconds into the period off a one-timer and it was 5-1 Generals. Just under eight minutes into the period, Sztuska was pulled from the game and Rye filled in, playing 12:12 of the final frame. He stopped all seven shots faced in relief.

The Petes are on their holiday break and return to action on Dec. 28 to visit Kingston and fae the Frontenacs. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Leon’s Centre. The Official Road Game Watch Party is at Shoeless Joe’s Peterborough on Lansdowne Street.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring Stu Harrison

PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

About 22 years ago I started compiling local business news for a weekly feature called the Business Beat. It came from a deep appreciation for small business people and what they go through to start a business and what they contribute to our community and it gave me the chance to stay connected to the media, a life-long love of mine.

But one morning, just a few Wednesdays ago, I woke up with a feeling that it was time to pass it on. I say Wednesdays because every Wednesday for 22 years I've spent about four hours researching, compiling, writing, recording and posting The Business Beat. I usually cover four stories a week, about 48 columns a year and 22 years of that adds up to just over 1,000 Business Beats, 4,000 businesses and about 500 eight-hour days of volunteer time. And yes, this is a volunteer thing I do, I don't get paid and no, you don't have to pay to appear in the Business Beat – I just wanted to clear up a few misconceptions...

I want to say thanks, to my wife Signe for putting up with all those Wednesday evenings with me at my computer and to those thousands of businesses who took a run at their dream. Many reached out after they appeared in this column to tell me what a difference it made, proving the power of the medium.

I'm very glad to tell you that Joel Wiebe, Vice President Government Relations at Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce has agreed to take over The Business Beat so this little kick-start for local businesses will continue. Joel is a journalist and I know he'll continue to snoop out good stories every week. The next couple of Mondays are Christmas Day and New Years Day so Joel will fire up his version of The Business Beat the second week of January.

And That... is the Business Beat for this week… From my family to yours, Happy Holidays.

“Like” StoosNews page on Facebook here!

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Central Smith Creamery's Third 'Fill the Truck' Campaign Collected 8,000 Pounds of Food and $8,000 For Kawartha Food Share

The third year of Central Smith Creamery’s ‘Fill the Truck’ campaign brought roughly 8,000 pounds of food and $8,000 cash donations for Kawartha Food Share (KFS) on Friday.

Central Smith Creamery Staff with Ashlee Aitken (far right). Two delivery trucks were need to collect and haul all the donations to KFS. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The campaign had approximately 40 local businesses and organizations collect non-perishable goods and money from their respective communities since it was announced in late November. Goods and cash were collected from Nov. 27 to Dec. 14.

Central Smith had two delivery trucks collect the donated items on Friday and deliver them to Kawartha Food Share on the same day.

The list of drop-off locations for the ‘Fill the Truck’ campaign. Photo courtesy of Central Smith Creamery.

While the annual campaign is young, being in its third year, the participating businesses inquired about the campaign being run again before Central Smith had announced it according to Ian Scates, Central Smith president.

“They're already letting us know that they were keen and excited about contributing this year,” he said.

The excitement was a mutual feeling from Central Smith and its employees as well.

“It's the most fun day,” said Shannon Meagher, Central Smith inventory control coordinator. “We all really look forward to it. Everyone wants to participate.”

KFS typically sees an uptick in demand during the Christmas season and the extra donations help stretch that into the early months of the year says Ashlee Aitken, KFS general manager.

“Post-pandemic, we're feeding anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000 people a month, sometimes in the winter, that goes up to about 15,000,” she said. “We'll do what we can and hope to alleviate some pressures for some families.”

Aitken concluded that KFS is always looking for volunteers especially during the holiday season.

“We need about 100 volunteers doing various jobs,” she explained. “We're always looking for help so if anyone's ever interested, just give our warehouse a call and we'll find a position that fits you well.”

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City of Peterborough To Acquire Calvary Pentecostal Church For Second Police Facility In $15 Million Deal; Deal to Close In February

The City of Peterborough is purchasing 1421 Lansdowne St. W. for Peterborough Police Service administrative offices, with the sale closing in February for $15 million, announced on Friday afternoon.

Pastor Michelle Mercer of Calvary Pentecostal Church (left), Chief Stuart Betts (Middle) and Mayor Jeff Leal (right) at one of the Peterborough Police Station’s conference rooms with the announcement. Calvary Pentecostal Church will remain in the new facility for up to five years as per the sale agreement. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Most police operations will remain at its downtown facility at 500 Water St., according to Stuart Betts, Peterborough Police Chief.

“I strongly believe the presence of a police facility in the downtown area is a must,” he said. “There is no intention to leave the 500 Water Street location.  The current location at 500 Water St. will continue to be the base of operations and investigations.”

The former Johnston & Johnston Medical Products facility with the administrative offices and police training could include other future uses, such as the City of Peterborough municipal facility needs.

The property acquisition is a long-standing need to meet growing space requirements for policing in the community that is fiscally responsible and strategic according to Mayor Jeff Leal. He adds that his new facility aligns with his campaign slogan. ‘Building our Tomorrow Together.’

“A new police station was estimated to cost $68 million in 2017. The property and construction costs would be much higher today. With the former Johnston & Johnston property acquisition, we’re able to maintain the downtown police station on Water Street for police operations, add a second police facility for administrative and support services and have additional land and building space for other municipal needs,” said Leal. “Even with the future renovation costs, this is the most financially responsible path, addressing a critical need.”

“With the City of Peterborough purchase of this property, the Peterborough Police Service will have two locations. This is important as the city is growing and will continue to grow,” said Betts. “It is also the most fiscally responsible solution and is intended to meet the needs of the Police Service for decades. It’s expected that the costs of the renovations will be significantly less than the cost of a new-build facility. Securing this property and being respectful of financial constraints was important to me and the Police Services Board."

Renovations are expected to occur over the next few years, subject to City Council approval. They will also occur at the downtown police station, according to Betts. Estimates on facility renovations will be the subject of future reports and budget requests to Council according to a press release.

“Through the joint City-Police facility review process, the thinking on how to meet the need for a new facility for the Police Service evolved from where it started, which was to focus on one new building,” said Betts.

Calvary Pentecostal Church owns the 13.3-acre property with a building with about 106,000 sq. ft. of space.

“Calvary Church is pleased with the recent sale of our church property and is looking forward to how it will benefit all parties involved including the greater community,” said Calvary Church Pastor Michelle Mercer. “It has been a very positive experience working with the City of Peterborough and the Peterborough Police Service through the negotiation process. We look forward to bright days ahead for Calvary Church and those overseeing the development of the city we are called to serve.”

The Church will use part of the building for up to five years as per the sale agreement while they transition into a new property (which has yet to be determined).

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Kenner Student Charged With Making Threats With a Knife During School Dance

A 14-year-old Kenner student faces several charges after an incident at a school dance on Thursday evening.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 7:30 p.m., staff chaperones at a Kenner Collegiate Vocational Institute winter dance discivered that a student had threatened several other students with a knife on a nearby trail.

The faculty located the students and took the suspect to an office; however, the boy refused to put the knife down. An officer arrived and asked the male to put the knife down. He did not comply until the officer pointed but did not discharge their Conducted Energy Weapon at the suspect. Officers were able to take him into custody without incident.

As a result of the investigation, a 14-year-old Peterborough male was arrested and charged with:

• Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose

• Uttering Threats - Cause death or Bodily Harm

The accused was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 8.

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Peterborough Petes Lose Close Battle With 3-2 Loss to Kingston Frontenacs

The Petes did not end the weekend as they wanted by taking a 2-1 loss despite 40 shots on net to the Ottawa 67’s at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Sunday.

The Peterborough Petes are 1-6 in the last seven games and have dropped to third in the East Division. Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen Photography and the Peterborough Petes.

The Petes were first to hit the scoreboard as Samuel Mayer quickly wristed it off the faceoff draw and Mason Vaccari for a 1-0 lead, 5:10 into the period. Kingston special teams would get them the lead as both Ethan Miedema and Jacob Battaglia scored on the power play each for a 2-1 lead. Peterborough would tie the game late in the first as Jax Dubois forced a turnover in the offensive zone, centred it for Johnathan Melee, who one-timed it home for a two-point night and a 2-2 game.

With no scoring in the second, both teams were trying to get the go-ahead goal in the third frame. Just less than three minutes in, Kingston peppered Zach Bowen and on the third rebound, Matthew Soto was able to chip it it for a 3-2 lead. The Petes outshot Kingston in the third period 11-9 but could not find the back of the net and lost six of their last seven games.

The Petes played their last game before their Christmas break and have two road games before returning to the ice on Dec. 28. They play the Guelph Storm on Friday and the Oshawa Generals on Sunday before their holidays.

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City of Peterborough Launches New Holiday Display Map

The City of Peterborough has launched a new interactive Holiday Display Map to celebrate the festive season with the community with outdoor lighting displays and decorations on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Community members and visitors are invited to explore neighbourhoods lit up for the holiday season using a guide created by the City’s Geomatics and Mapping program area.

Whatever holiday or celebration you are marking with your display, the City encourages everyone to share their festive spirit with the community.

Residents and businesses can submit their addresses to be included in the 2023 Holiday Lighting Map by uploading at least one photo and associated requested information through an online form.

Displays must be visible from a public location such as the street or sidewalk. Submissions to the map will be accepted until Jan.1.

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