Police have identified the two victims of a fatal three-vehicle collision near Kinmount on Wednesday afternoon (April 6).

At around 4:40 p.m. on Wednesday, police and emergency services responded to a collision involving two passenger vehicles and a small pickup truck on County Road 121, south of Gelert Road, in the Township of Minden Hills.

Police originally believed two vehicles were involved in the collision, but further investigation revealed a third vehicle was involved.

The driver and passenger of one of the vehicles were transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, where they later died.

On Friday (April 8), police identified the victims as 79-year-old Victor Disik and 77-year-old Sonya Holliday-Rhodes, both of Minden.

The driver of the second vehicle was transported to a trauma centre with serious injuries. The driver and passenger in the third vehicle did not report any injuries to first responders.

County Road 121 was closed in both directions between Gelert Road and Kinmount for around 10 hours while police investigated the collision.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision and has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact the Haliburton Highlands OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

This story has been updated with the names of the victims.

Cobourg residents will see American flags flying at Victoria Hall when the production company for Ginny & Georgia returns to downtown Cobourg in April to continue shooting the second season of the Netflix series.

G2G Series 2 Inc. was previously in Cobourg during the last week of February to film at Victoria Park, Victoria Hall, and on King Street West.

This time around, filming will take place in front of Victoria Hall at 55 King Street West, as well as inside in the lobby and in the Concert Hall. There will be some street scenes shot on King Street West from Second Street to Hibernia Street.

There will around 120 crew members, 100 background performers, and 40 production trucks in Cobourg during this time. Filming preparation will take place on Monday, April 18th and Tuesday, April 19th, with filming from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Wednesday, April 20th and Thursday, April 21st. Tear down will take place on Friday, April 22nd.

A mother-and-daughter coming-of-age series starring Antonia Gentry and Brianne Howy, Ginny & Georgia tells the story of 15-year-old Ginny Miller, who often feels more mature than her free-spirited 30-year-old mother Georgia Miller.

The production company previously visited Cobourg in 2019 to film the first season of the series, which was watched by 52 million subscribers in the first 28 days after its release in 2021.

During filming on April 20 and 21, there will be intermittent traffic stoppages on King Street West between 9 a.m. until 2 a.m. King Street West between Hibernia Street and Division Street will be closed from around 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Third Street between King Street and Albert Street will be closed from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Local access will be allowed.

Lot and on-street parking in downtown Cobourg will be restricted while the production company is in town, with designated parking areas for film production vehicles paid for by the production company. This includes the lot behind Victoria Hall, Albert Street Lot #6 South, Albert Street Lot #6 North, the McGill Street Parking Lot, and metered parking spaces on the west side of Second Street, the west side of Third Street, McGill Street, Queen Street, Church Street, and various spaces on King Street West.

Cobourg police will be working directly with the production company to ensure safety and traffic control.

With the Peterborough region’s COVID Community Risk Index at “very high” for the positive case rate and PCR test positivity categories, Peterborough’s medical officer of health is urging residents to continue wearing masks in public settings and gatherings.

“I am concerned by what I am seeing with our transmission and risk index,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott during a Peterborough Public Health media briefing held Wednesday (April 6) — the first briefing convened in over a month.

“I am concerned with what I am hearing, especially from our health system partners about the health system’s capacity to deal with what are into already and that is a sixth wave of this pandemic. COVID-19 is not a mild illness. This still is no cold. This still is no flu. The severity is much worse.”

“We are in a concerning phase. None of us want to be here again,” Dr. Piggott said. “I don’t know what the next couple of weeks will bring, but the trajectory we are on is deeply concerning. It’s really critical that for everyone to do their best. This isn’t just about you and your health. It’s about whether people around us will survive this next wave.”

Even more telling regarding the current state of the virus’ presence locally is wastewater surveillance data, an accurate indicator of the presence of the virus in a community at any given time.

“In Peterborough, it (wastewater surveillance data) has surpassed the January peak of omicron,” said Dr. Piggott, adding both Lakefield and Millbrook wastewater surveillance numbers are also rising. The Central East region is on the steepest incline (compared to other regions).”

“If we all come together and take precautions now, we can avoid this situation getting worse and from potentially having a very negative impact, not only on our health care system but our communities.”

As of this past Monday (April 4), there were 210 active PCR test-confirmed cases in Peterborough city and county, Hiawatha and Curve Lake. While that number is down from what was seen back in January, what is rising — and quickly — is the number of new cases being reported weekly.

To date this week, 181 new cases have been detected locally, well up from the 100 new cases reported for the whole week of February 28.

Outbreaks, meanwhile, number six, including those ongoing at Kawartha Heights Retirement Living, Prince Gardens Retirement Residence, and Springdale Country Manor in Cavan Monaghan. An outbreak is also ongoing at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre where there are currently 22 inpatients with COVID.

“Hospitalizations and deaths are lagging indicators that will likely take a couple of weeks to start to increase,” said Dr. Piggott.

“In other jurisdictions, where we have seen preventative measures removed and case rates climb, we’ve seen hospitalizations and deaths subsequently climb. I’m very concerned with where we we’re headed in this region in the next couple of weeks.”

Meanwhile, with the provincial government having announced that those aged 60 and up are now eligible for a fourth shot of vaccine, Dr. Piggott confirmed the local booking system will open Thursday (April 7) for appointments. No walk-ins will be accepted at this point.

“We are still concerned that many people who are eligible for a third dose have not come forward for that,” said Dr. Piggott, adding “This is an important protection against severe disease.”

Local vaccination numbers show just 62.5 per cent of local residents aged 18 and up have received a third dose.

Asked if, in his opinion, the province lifted the mask mandate prematurely, Dr. Piggott wouldn’t commit to an answer. Instead, he reiterated his direction that masks continue to be worn as much as possible.

“We know from the evidence they (masks) will protect not only you but those around you,” Dr. Piggot said, providing a personal anecdote.

“I went to a grocery store one evening this week,” he said. “I was wearing my N95 mask. I was the only individual in that entire store, other than a teenaged kid collecting carts in the parking lot, wearing a mask.”

“That wouldn’t have been the case several weeks ago, so I’m quite concerned that people have changed their behaviour. I’m imploring people to put masks on at least for a little bit longer. It will help stop the spread of this sixth wave.”

The original version of this story has been replaced with complete coverage from the media briefing.

City of Peterborough residents wanting to get an early start on spring cleaning of their yard can once again put leaf and yard waste out to the curb for collection.

Green waste collection began this week and will continue on your regular collection day every week until the end of November.

Green waste must be in paper yard waste bags, bushel baskets, or a garbage bin labelled with the city’s yellow “Green Waste” label. Plastic bags will not be accepted.

Each container must weigh less than 22 kilograms (50 pounds). Brush can be tied in bundles weighing not more than 22 kilograms (50 pounds), with a length of up to one metre (three feet) and a diameter of up to 30.5 centimetres (12 inches). There are no limits on the quantity of green waste you can put out for collection.

Green waste should be put out after 6 p.m. the night before or no later than 7 a.m. the morning of your regular waste collection.

Yellow “Green Waste” labels can be picked up at Peterborough City Hall (500 George St. N.) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, except statutory holidays.

Note that green waste collection on Friday, April 15th (Good Friday) will move to Monday, April 18th (Easter Monday), along with garbage and recycling collection.

The provincial government is expanding eligibility for fourth doses of the COVID-19 to Ontarians 60 years of age and older as well as First Nation, Inuit, and Métis people and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over.

Starting at 8 a.m. on Thursday (April 7), those eligible can book their fourth dose appointment through the COVID-19 vaccination portal at covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.

Appointments can also be booked directly through public health units that use their own booking systems, through Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, participating primary care settings, and at participating pharmacies listed at covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations. Locations and timing for additional boosters may vary by public health unit based on local planning and considerations.

“As we continue to live with COVID-19, we are using every tool available to manage this virus and reduce its impact on our hospitals and health system, including by expanding the use of booster doses,” says Ontario health minister Christine Elliott in a media release. “Vaccines are our best defence against COVID-19 and its variants.”

“Because of our exceptionally high vaccination rates and Ontario’s cautious approach, we currently have one of the lowest hospitalization rates in the country and have performed well throughout this pandemic when compared to other similar sized provinces and states. I encourage everyone who’s eligible to get boosted as soon as you’re able.”

Since December, Ontario had been offering fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to vulnerable populations including residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, and older adults in other congregate care settings that provide assisted-living and health services.

A missing 50-year-old Buckhorn man has been found dead.

Robert Ladoceur was reported missing last Monday (March 28), after having been last seen in Peterborough on March 22.

On Sunday (April 3) at around 11 a.m., Peterborough County OPP responded to the report of a body located in a field off Lakehurst Road near Six Foot Bay Road in Trent Lakes.

Police identified the body as Ladoceur’s. A post-mortem examination has been completed and police are treating the death as suspicious at this time.

The Peterborough County OPP Crime Unit is continuing the investigation, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (nd with assistance from Central Region OPP Criminal Operations and OPP Forensic Identification Services and in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have any knowledge about Ladoceur’s activities leading up to his disappearance to contact the Peterborough County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at stopcrimehere.ca, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.