Peterborough police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating missing person 31-year-old Heather Luxton.

She was last seen at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Monday (August 10) in the area of King and Aylmer Streets in downtown Peterborough.

Luxton is described as a Caucasian female, 5’3″ tall and 115 lbs, with auburn hair. She was last seen wearing a blue dress with a white design and Birkenstock sandals, with her hair in a bun.

Ayone with information is asked to call the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at stopcrimehere.ca.

The Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) has a new mission to further improve internet access in rural Ontario, this time by proposing a $1.6 billion private-public partnership that would deliver ultra-fast gigabit internet to homes and business in the region.

EORN, a non-profit organization created by the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC), works with governments and community organizations to improve and leverage broadband access to fuel economic development and growth.

The latest EORN proposal was prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has highlighted the crisis in rural internet access for businesses, student learning, and health care and government services.

In a media release, EORN says an internet speed of one gigabit per second (“gig”) would provide seamless and reliable connectivity to meet growing demand and would also support the real-time data sharing needed for smart technologies.

“This would be a game-changer for eastern Ontario to attract and retain businesses and residents and to compete globally over the long term,” says EOWC chair Andy Letham.

The EORN Gig project would serve a geographic area that, in the greater Kawarthas region, includes the City of Kawartha Lakes and the counties of Peterborough, Northumberland, Haliburton, and Hastings, as well as eight other counties in eastern Ontario.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has declared 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload internet speeds as a minimum basic service level. Currently about 63 per cent of homes and businesses in eastern Ontario have access to 50/10 Mbps service.

Without additional public investment, EORN states, it is unlikely that parts of eastern Ontario would reach these service levels before 2030. EORN estimates it would cost between $500 million and $700 million to provide 95 per cent of eastern Ontario with 50/10 Mbps service, and $1.2 billion to $1.6 billion to provide gig service instead.

“Demand for broadband is growing exponentially,” says EORN chair J. Murray Jones. “Half-measures and baby steps won’t get us there. We need a long-term solution. The EORN Gig Project is a lasting investment in our prosperity.”

EORN is seeking to fund the project through a combination of funding from the federal and provincial governments, loans from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, and the private sector. As gig service generally involves a fibre optic or cable connection, EORN is looking to improve the region’s internet infrastructure with a fibre optic backbone.

“Asking rural customers to settle for the minimum level of service when urban residents and businesses currently enjoy far greater speeds is just not acceptable,” Jones adds. “Our residents and businesses need to be on the same playing field as those in towns and cities.”

Among others, the EORN Gig project is supported by Fleming College, Loyalist College, Northumberland Hills Hospital, and the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations.

From 2010 to 2014, EORN helped to improve broadband access to nearly 90 per cent of eastern Ontario — providing 423,000 homes and businesses with access to internet services providing up to 10 Mbps download — through a $175 million public-private partnership.

EORN is currently working on a $213 million project, funded by public and private sector partners, to improve and expand cellular services across the region. Building on that project is expected to begin in early 2021.

For more information on the EORN Gig project, visit eorn.ca/en/projects/broadband-phase-2.aspx.

A 22-year-old Quinte West man is facing attempted murder charges after a stabbing incident in Brighton on Sunday evening (August 9).

At 10:55 p.m. on Sunday, Northumberland OPP received information that a person at a Brighton address was suffering from stab wounds and was possibly dead.

Officers went to the address where they discovered a person with life-threatening injuries. The officers administered first aid and secured the scene, and Northumberland Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to the hospital.

While police were at the Brighton address, they received information that the suspect had fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle.

At 11:08 p.m., an officer with Quinte West OPP was conducting radar enforcement on Carrying Place Road in Quinte West and observed a vehicle travelling 113 km/h in a posted 50 km/h zone. The officer conducted a traffic stop for the offence of stunt driving.

The officer detected the odour of an alcoholic beverage on the driver’s breath and conducted a roadside screening for alcohol. During this process, the officer became aware that the driver was currently wanted on an arrest warrant from the Ottawa area, and was subsequently placed under arrest.

The Quinte West officer then received information that the driver currently under arrest was also the suspect in the attempted murder in Brighton.

Shane Hamilton, 22, of Quinte West was arrested and charged with attempt to commit murder, theft of a motor vehicle, failure to comply with release order – other than to attend court, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, and aggravated assault.

The accused man attended bail court on Monday (August 10) and was remanded into custody for a three-day hold pending investigation.

Downtown Peterborough is about to get its second legal cannabis store.

According to a media release on Monday (August 10) from parent company Friendly Stranger Holdings Corp, Happy Dayz at 291 George Street North is set to open on Thursday, August 13th — although the store’s signage hasn’t been updated and a sign still reads “opening soon”.

Friendly Stranger Holdings Corp has acquired three cannabis-related brands — Friendly Stranger, Hotbox Shop, and Happy Dayz — and plans to open 15 licensed cannabis retail stores by the end of 2020 with five more by April 20, 2021, according to the media release.

“We started this year with a strong growth mindset and the goal of being one of the largest cannabis retail players in Ontario,” says Friendly Stranger Holdings Corp president James Jesty. “We opened three new Friendly Stranger cannabis retail stores in the first half of the year and, despite setbacks from COVID-19, continue to expand.”

Founded in 2007, Happy Dayz has been a family-run business offering cannabis accessories. When it opens, Happy Dayz’ downtown Peterborough location will become the area’s second cannabis retail store.

Growers Retail, located just down the street at 225 George Street (across from No Frills), opened on April 1st.

A Happy Dayz location in Barrie opened on August 1st.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the northern areas of the greater Kawarthas region for Monday afternoon and evening (August 10).

The watch is currently in effect for Haliburton and Hastings counties only.

Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms on Monday afternoon and evening that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain.

The main threats are strong damaging winds up to 100 km/h and torrential downpours.

Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Intense lightning is likely with any thunderstorm that develops. Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.

Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!

Environment Canada issues severe thunderstorm watches when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.

The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.