One of Windsor-Essex’s three non-emergency medical transport services has shut down.

Joe Hebert, the 61-year-old owner of Care Medical Transportation Services, said he shut down his business Wednesday night after nine years of accumulating debt.

“People don’t care if they pay you or not,” he said.

Hebert said around 70 per cent of the patients his business transported to and from medical institutions wouldn’t pay for the service. He’s still collecting payments from last year and said he had to halt everything Wednesday after Revenue Canada shut him down for being unable to pay taxes.

“I’ve quit chasing money. I’m done,” he said.

Hebert said the problems included people giving him fake phone numbers and credit card numbers that didn’t work.

“I tried to make something happen that’s needed here very badly for the aging population — and you can’t collect for what you do,” he said.

Joe Hebert has packed it in with Care Medical Transportation Services after he claims many of his customers simply refuse to pay March 6, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

His business ran 24 hours a day, seven days a week — including holidays. He had 24 employees operating nine vehicles, which accommodated wheelchairs and stretchers. They transported patients to and from Windsor Regional Hospital, Leamington hospital, nursing homes, and doctors’ offices.

“Today, I meet my employees and tell them there’s no paycheque,” Hebert said Friday. “Twenty-four people expecting to get paid for the last two weeks’ work aren’t getting paid today.”

That leaves Crown Medical Transportation and Patient Transfer Service to provide transportation for non-emergency patients in the Windsor-Essex area.

Windsor Regional CEO David Musyj said the hospital hasn’t been locked to one transportation company and will be using others to fill in. “It’s unfortunate, clearly, but it should not impact anything.”

Musyj said there had been talks about using only one transport company but, “if we go to one and something happens to that one — then you don’t have an alternative.”

Leamington hospital will also be moving to other services. “Certainly, a reduction in services affects everybody,” said hospital spokesman Bill Baker.

“These are unfortunate common business practices,” Baker said of Hebert’s difficulties with service payment. “I think partially because of the way our system is, people think they’re totally covered under everything.”

PTS owner and driver Jason Rivard said people not paying is also an issue for his business.

“There’s not much you really can do,” Rivard said. “A lot of these people aren’t even capable of speaking a lot of times and there’s really no information to take. And these patients still have to move from different facilities.”

PTS has been in Windsor since 2003 and has six vehicles and eight staff members under Rivard’s business.

Rivard said the gap in service created with Care Medical’s closure should be filled within a week or two.

jrankin@windsorstar.com or @_jay_rankin

The region’s home-care provider — still grappling with a deficit — is looking to hire 100 volunteers to help deliver services to patients.

The Erie St. Clair Community Care Access Centre released its annual plan this week and outlined the direction the organization hopes to go in the next three years.

The primary goal will be to balance its budget by 2016.

“I would never call it a reduction,” CEO Lori Marshall said about the new plan. “We’re talking about being more efficient.”

CCAC hopes to fill nearly 100 volunteer roles to work with administration, to learn from patient experiences and deliver patient and family friendly care. This is part of a strategy to work more closely with the community, Marshall said.

The volunteers, called patient and family advisers, would be used to help patients navigate and understand the system.

“I would invite members of the community who have had recent experience with us within the last few years as either a patient or a family member caregiver to contact us,” Marshall said.

Marshall said the role of a PFA would require a commitment of approximately three to four hours a month and would entail working with staff.

Currently 15 volunteers are being trained.

“There’s already one example they’ve made a difference,” Marshall said.

In November, CCAC received $4.1 million in funding from the Local Health Integration Network to address a $5.9-million shortfall in funds. Last month, CCAC home-care co-ordinators spent 16 days on the picket line before returning to work Feb 17, after opting to send their dispute to arbitration.

Part of CCAC’s new strategy is to reduce the impact of chronic disease in the hospital by reducing hospital-based care and reducing time from referral to required care.

The strategy cites an increased use of telephone check-ups and monitoring for these types of patients and greater access to electronic health records by care providers.

Marshall cited one pilot project being integrated at a Chatham-Kent hospital that will notify CCAC when one of their patients enters an emergency room.

Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj said there is currently a similar process in place for when a CCAC patient enters a hospital emergency room but an electronic system or resources specifically targeted to that could improve response.

“What needs to happen is they need more intense services at home, I guess, and that’s the reason they’re coming to the emergency department,” said Musyj, who likes the provision for tracking statistics.

“It’s an ambitious plan,” he said. “And you can’t manage what you don’t measure.”

rdawes@windsorstar.com or @dawesmedialife

Essex County 911 services have been restored.

The 911 phone service began experiencing disruptions Friday night and was not restored until late Saturday morning.

Tecumseh Fire said a derailed train carrying crude oil just North of Sudbury caused the 911 disruption in Essex County.

LaSalle Police Service said its area’s services may have been disrupted, while Essex OPP said the entire area was experiencing service disruption — meaning EMS, fire and police services were affected.

“Some calls take between 9 and 12 rings before being picked up, others get dropped altogether,” City of Windsor spokesperson Jason Moore said in an email Saturday morning.

Windsor Police Staff Sgt. Dave Kigar said early Saturday morning the issue had something to do with Bell Canada’s 911 service network.

“They said it could be minutes or it could be days,” Kigar said. “I’m not sure how they track the problem … but we haven’t heard anything.”

rdawes@windsorstar.com

Twitter.com/dawesmedialife

— with files from Jay Rankin

The Star’s photographers covered the city and county on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8. Check out the gallery.

Windsor’s Jamie Lewis, left, brings the puck up the ice while being defended by Oshawa’s Hunter Smith during OHL action between the Windsor Spitfires and the visiting Oshawa Generals at the WFCU Centre, Sunday, March 8, 2015. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor’s Sam Povorozniouk brings the puck up the ice while being defended by Oshawa’s Chris Carlisle during OHL action between the Windsor Spitfires and the visiting Oshawa Generals at the WFCU Centre, Sunday, March 8, 2015. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor’s Anothony Stefano, left, scrambles for the puck in front of Oshawa goaltender, Ken Appleby, during OHL action between the Windsor Spitfires and the visiting Oshawa Generals at the WFCU Centre, Sunday, March 8, 2015. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor’s Sam Povorozniouk brings the puck up the ice while being defended by Oshawa’s Chris Carlisle during OHL action between the Windsor Spitfires and the visiting Oshawa Generals at the WFCU Centre, Sunday, March 8, 2015. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Col. W.R. Martin, left, Helen Martin, Col. Kevin Bertoia and Honourary Col. Phil Berthiaume attend the Battle of Hochwald Dinner Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the Tilston Armoury. The evening honoured the 70th anniversary of the battle. (RICK DAWES/Windsor Star)

Retired LCol. Hardy Wheeler, left, Jane Wheeler, Martha Robinson and retired LtCol. Michael Robinson attend the Battle of Hochwald Dinner Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the Tilston Armoury. The evening honoured the 70th anniversary of the battle. (RICK DAWES/Windsor Star)

MP Jeff Watson, left, and Second World War veteran Ralph Mayville attend the Battle of Hochwald Dinner Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the Tilston Armoury. The evening honoured the 70th anniversary of the battle. (RICK DAWES/Windsor Star)

Silver Cross Mother Theresa Charbonneau, left, and her sister Connie Fitzgerald attend the Battle of Hochwald Dinner Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the Tilston Armoury. The evening honoured the 70th anniversary of the battle. (RICK DAWES/Windsor Star)

Second in Command for Delta company Mary Baruth, left, Tim Ternosky, Rev. Olav Kitchen and First Officer commanding Delta company Joe Ouellette attend the Battle of Hochwald Dinner Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the Tilston Armoury. The evening honoured the 70th anniversary of the battle. (RICK DAWES/Windsor Star)

Korean veteran Bill Moss, left, Capt. Alison Amos, Patti Brause and LCol. Morris Brause attend the Battle of Hochwald Dinner Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the Tilston Armoury. The evening honoured the 70th anniversary of the battle. (RICK DAWES/Windsor Star)

Cpt. Eric Willson, left, Chaplin Greg Lutz, Ruth Gilliland and Padre Kim Gilliland attend the Battle of Hochwald Dinner Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the Tilston Armoury. The evening honoured the 70th anniversary of the battle. (RICK DAWES/Windsor Star)

Major John Hodgins, left, Major Mark Douglas, Col. Kevin Bertoia, Honourary Col. Phil Berthiaume and Honourary LtCol. Dave Woodall attend the Battle of Hochwald Dinner Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the Tilston Armoury. The evening honoured the 70th anniversary of the battle. (RICK DAWES/Windsor Star)

Saxaphonist Cameron Cullers of the Detroit Heavy Hittaz performs at the Black Excellence Award Show Saturday, March 7, 2015, at the University of Windsor CAW Student Centre. The event was hosted by Sistas Taking Action for a new Direction. (RICK DAWES/Windsor Star)

Saxaphonist Cameron Cullers of the Detroit Heavy Hittaz performs at the Black Excellence Award Show Saturday, March 7, 2015, at the University of Windsor CAW Student Centre. The event was hosted by Sistas Taking Action for a new Direction. (RICK DAWES/Windsor Star)

The Black Excellence Award Show took place Saturday, March 7, 2015, at the University of Windsor CAW Student Centre and featured 13 different awards for students. The event was hosted by Sistas Taking Action for a new Direction and food items were donated to the Downtown Mission as part of admission. (RICK DAWES/Windsor Star)

Chief Tim Berthiaume of the Amherstburg Police Service speaks with Amherstburg resident, Reg Bush, during a public meeting to discuss the proposed 2015 budget at St. Peters A.C.H.S College School, Saturday, March 7, 2015. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Amherstburg mayor, Andy DiCarlo, centre, speaks with residents during a public meeting to discuss the proposed 2015 budget at St. Peters A.C.H.S College School, Saturday, March 7, 2015. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Newly elected councillor, Leo Meloche, speaks with Amherstburg director of engineering and public works, Antonietta Giofu, left, during a public meeting to discuss the proposed 2015 budget at St. Peters A.C.H.S College School, Saturday, March 7, 2015. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

A public meeting is held to discuss the proposed budget at St. Peters A.C.H.S College School, Saturday, March 7, 2015. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

John Hindi, centre, store manager at The Zehrs Great Food Store at 7201 Tecumseh Rd. East, is pictured with Liam Oke, 5, left, and Fatemah Vadim, 5, Saturday, March 7, 2015. Each were presented with a $20,000 grant from the President’s Choice Children’s Charity which will provide each family with a new wheel chair accessible van. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Fatemah Alhassamah, 5, who suffers from cerebral palsy and bilateral vocal chord paralysis, is pictured at the Zehrs Great Food Store at 7201 Tecumseh Rd. East, Saturday, March 7, 2015. Fatemah was presented with a $20,000 grant from the President’s Choice Children’s Charity which will provide her family with a new wheel chair accessible van. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

WINDSOR, ONT.: (3/7/15) — A Windsor Police officer takes notes at a crime scene near the corner of Wyandotte Street East and Langlois Avenue, Saturday, March 7, 2015. Staff Sgt. Dave Kigar said police were investigating a shooting and that one person was rushed to hospital. (RICK DAWES/The Windsor Star)

WINDSOR, ONT.: (3/7/15) — A Windsor Police cruiser blocks off a crime scene at the corner of Wyandotte Street East and Langlois Avenue, Saturday, March 7, 2015. Staff Sgt. Dave Kigar said police were investigating a shooting and that one person was rushed to hospital. (RICK DAWES/The Windsor Star)

“I’ve got something to show you,” Amherstburg municipal clerk Paula Parker told resident Graham Hobbs when he went to the town hall several weeks ago.

She took him to the council chamber.

“What do you think?” she asked.

He was shocked.

Hobbs, who goes to all the council meetings, had written a letter to the town asking it to move the chairs that block the spectators’ view of the councillors and to improve the sound in the room.

It was done. In a week. And more chairs were added for the audience.

“There’s already a feeling around town that things are cosmically different,” Hobbs wrote in a letter to The Windsor Star.

“They’re on our side,” he told me of the new mayor and council, which includes four new councillors. “Everything that comes out of the mouths of these people seems to be for the benefit of Amherstburg. I’m having trouble absorbing it all.”

He has more suggestions, he said, “but things are going so well you don’t want to rock the boat.”

People come up to deputy mayor Bart DiPasquale in the grocery store and tell him they’re so happy about everything council is doing.

Councillors are no longer afraid to speak out, either.

There’s an extreme makeover going on in Amherstburg, the town long troubled by scary finances, downright nasty politics and secrecy. And they’re not wasting any time. People can’t believe it’s the same place. Voters who turfed most of the last council must have had their faith in democracy renewed.

“The amount of positive feedback we got on that simple improvement was amazing,” Mayor Aldo DiCarlo said of the changes to the council chamber.

“My number one approach is deal with it, don’t put it off,” said DiCarlo, a 47-year-old physics lab coordinator at the University of Windsor. “I like to see results.”

He likes the changes in the council chamber, too. “I like to look around the room and gauge peoples’ responses,” he said.

It’s only one of a flurry of initiatives. As bad as Amherstburg’s finances are, people were equally unsettled about the secrecy. That’s changed.

The town has changed its rules to give people more time to register to speak to council. And if you just show up, councillors will waive the rules and let you speak anyway.

“If they feel it’s very important, we don’t want to turn them away,” said Coun. Diane Pouget.

The meetings are also being recorded and put on the town’s website so “if you can’t get out, you can feel like you’re part of the process,” said DiCarlo.

In another first, several open houses on the budget have been scheduled across the municipality because “you just get more participation from the community” at an open house, said new chief administrative officer John Miceli, a former executive director for the City of Windsor. The budget is also on the website, with an email address for people to send their thoughts.

No one knew the town’s policies before; now they’re all on the website. (And they’re all being reviewed.) Here’s another novelty: regular, detailed reports on the town’s affairs. Amherstburg has entered the digital age, too; it’s on social media. Miceli tweets all the time.

“We’re trying to engage the community,” he said.

Amherstburg is also, finally, confronting its $46-million debt. To put that into context, Windsor’ debt is $105 million but the city is 10 times bigger.

The proposed budget includes a whopping 9.26 percent tax increase. That includes a three per cent increase in the budget and two special levies of three percent each for capital and reserves. The levies would be for one year, but Miceli wants them repeated for the next five years. It will be a difficult decision for councillors, some of whom promised a tax freeze, he conceded. But the town faces a $17-million infrastructure gap and nearly depleted reserves.

The reserve funds, raided and left bereft, have now begun to be funded and are being monitored. What’s in the bank now matches what’s on the books – “a huge step forward for the town,” said Miceli.

The town has also adopted a pay-as-you-go system. Last year, the budget included a plan to issue $3.2 million in long-term debt. Now, the goal is no more long-term debt.

Amherstburg has also implemented more than half of the 41 recommendations made by Deloitte, sent in by the Ontario government to review the town’s financial practices. Miceli wants all the recommendations implemented by this summer, one year early.

“We’re doing a lot of stuff,” he agreed.

“We just knew we needed a big change,” said Pouget.

ajarvis@windsorstar.com or @WinStarJarvis

Gregory and Tammy Moore aren’t naive about the sexualized world their sons are growing up in, but Ontario’s new health and physical education curriculum makes them feel powerless to influence how quickly the innocence of their sons’ childhoods are being chipped away.

In an attempt to retain some control, the Moores are exploring private schooling or withdrawing their children from certain aspects of the curriculum.

“I feel it’s not appropriate for every child at the same time,” said Tammy Moore, who has four boys at Amherstburg’s Stella Maris Catholic Elementary School. “My four boys, they’re all so different. My 11-year-old in Grade 6 isn’t ready for some of this. My younger boys, I’m going to have to talk to them sooner. You know your own child best.”

The new curriculum, unveiled two weeks ago, remains a divisive topic.

Tammy and Gregory Moore talk about Ontario’s new sex education curriculum on March 4, 2015. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

A poll released last week by Forum Research found 49 per cent of Ontarians approve of the new curriculum while 34 per cent disapprove. Seventeen per cent of the 996 people contacted by phone had no opinion.

“There are a lot more people concerned about this then people think,” said Tracy Walls, who has three sons in the public system. “They don’t speak up because they don’t think their voice matters. We know this is going to be implemented, but as parents we’re looking for options.”

Greater Essex County District School Board principals are regularly getting calls of concern or inquiry about the curriculum, said spokesperson Scott Scantlebury. Mike Seguin, a superintendent of education for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District Board, said principals are receiving some calls but not what he considered a significant number.

The area’s two largest school boards are trying to reassure families they have options.

Sharon Seslija, the GECDSB teacher consultant for health and physical education, said the first step for parents is to talk to the school principal.

Letters warning when sensitive material will be taught will continue to be sent home.

“We’ve seen that in the past,” said Seslija of parents’ withdrawing their children from classes teaching sensitive material.

“If you’re not comfortable, you have that option or sometimes alternative material can be offered.”

Seslija said teachers will also take into account what they feel their students are prepared to handle.

“Some students aren’t ready for some things and some have seen a lot more,” Seslija said. “Teachers can tailor the examples they use to fit their class while still meeting the expectations.”

Seguin said a similar policy is in place at the WECDSB.

“A lot of what’s in there is already delivered through our Fully Alive program, which is taught through a Catholic lens,” Seguin said. “We’re fully confident we can implement this curriculum in a Catholic classroom. If parents are insistent, we certainly will make accommodations.”

Ally Carter said she and her husband had already been contemplating private schooling for their children, but the new curriculum has helped them make up their minds.

“We don’t disagree with what it is teaching,” said Carter, who has sons in the kindergarten programs at Belle River Public Elementary School.

“We disagree with the perspective and what is age appropriate. My six-year-old isn’t ready for this.”

Carter said they plan to transfer their sons to a private Christian school next fall.

Even though she knows the curriculum is taught in all certified schools in Ontario, Carter said she’s more comfortable with the presentation in that setting.

“We don’t shelter our kids. But we teach them and show them based on our values, not the government’s,” she said.

Kyle Oates, a youth worker at Amherstburg Community Church, said schools are trying to perform a very difficult balancing act.

He admits, in his experience, some children are ready and need the information being taught while others will find the curriculum is clearly beyond their ability to grasp.

“My concern is for the ones where it’s too early or they’re too young,” Oates said.

“It does fall on parents to teach about sex. It starts younger because it’s in the media.

“Some kids, even aged nine, they need to see this stuff (in the curriculum).”

dwaddell@windsorstar.com or @WinStarWaddell

The Windsor Star’s award-winning photographers covered the city and county Monday. Check out the gallery.

Holy Names High School’s Ahad Shah guards Eastern High School of Commerce’s Kadre Gray during OFSAA basketball action at the St. Denis Centre in Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Holy Names High School’s Ahad Shah guards Eastern High School of Commerce’s Kadre Gray during OFSAA basketball action at the St. Denis Centre in Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Holy Names High School’s Isiah Familia guards Eastern High School of Commerce’s Delom Jemmott during OFSAA basketball action at the St. Denis Centre in Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Holy Names High School’s Isiah Byrd guards Eastern High School of Commerce’s Narcisse Ambanza during OFSAA basketball action at the St. Denis Centre in Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Holy Names High School’s Isiah Familia tries to block a shot from Eastern High School of Commerce’s Narcisse Ambanza during OFSAA basketball action at the St. Denis Centre in Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Holy Names High School’s Noah Pio is hit hard by a charging Eastern High School of Commerce’s Dwight Dixon during OFSAA basketball action at the St. Denis Centre in Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Holy Names High School’s Noah Pio guards a driving Eastern High School of Commerce’s Khosheem Simpson during OFSAA basketball action at the St. Denis Centre in Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Holy Names High School’s Alston Gayle looses the ball to Eastern High School of Commerce’s Khosheem Simpson during OFSAA basketball action at the St. Denis Centre in Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

University of Windsor president and vice-chancellor Alan Wildeman delivers his UWindsor 2.0 plan in the Ambassador Auditorium at the University of Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. The plan, which outlines the future of the university, will be unveiled over the next three years. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

University of Windsor president and vice-chancellor Alan Wildeman delivers his UWindsor 2.0 plan in the Ambassador Auditorium at the University of Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. The plan, which outlines the future of the university, will be unveiled over the next three years. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

University of Windsor president and vice-chancellor Alan Wildeman delivers his UWindsor 2.0 plan in the Ambassador Auditorium at the University of Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. The plan, which outlines the future of the university, will be unveiled over the next three years. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

University of Windsor president and vice-chancellor Alan Wildeman delivers his UWindsor 2.0 plan in the Ambassador Auditorium at the University of Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. The plan, which outlines the future of the university, will be unveiled over the next three years. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

University of Windsor president and vice-chancellor Alan Wildeman delivers his UWindsor 2.0 plan in the Ambassador Auditorium at the University of Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. The plan, which outlines the future of the university, will be unveiled over the next three years. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Faculty members listen as the University of Windsor president and vice-chancellor Alan Wildeman delivers his UWindsor 2.0 plan in the Ambassador Auditorium at the University of Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. The plan, which outlines the future of the university, will be unveiled over the next three years. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

University of Windsor president and vice-chancellor Alan Wildeman delivers his UWindsor 2.0 plan in the Ambassador Auditorium at the University of Windsor on Monday, March 9, 2015. The plan, which outlines the future of the university, will be unveiled over the next three years. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Windsor police work at the scene of an industrial accident on Shepherd Ave. between Bruce Ave. and York St. involving a worker from Enwin Utilities, Monday, March 9, 2015. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

WINDSOR, ONT., (09/03/15) — Windsor police work at the scene of an industrial accident on Shepherd Ave. between Bruce Ave. and York St. involving a worker from Enwin Utilities, Monday, March 9, 2015. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor police work at the scene of an industrial accident on Shepherd Ave. between Bruce Ave. and York St. involving a worker from Enwin Utilities, Monday, March 9, 2015. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

A man rides his bike along Windsor’s riverfront, Monday, March 9, 2015. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Windsor firefighters are shown at accident Monday, March 9, 2015, in the eastbound lanes of E.C. Row expressway near Lauzon Parkway. The accident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. and the driver of the car was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

Twins Karlie and Thomas Wilkinson, 1, had their winter gloves Monday, March 9, 2015, but they didn’t need to wear them as a hint of spring-like weather hit the region. They were enjoying a walk along Watson Ave. in Windsor, ON. with their nanny. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

A couple of runners enjoy the spring-like weather on Monday, March 9, 2015, along the riverfront trails in Windsor. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

People enjoy the spring-like weather on Monday, March 9, 2015, along the riverfront trails in Windsor. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

A couple of construction workers got a break from the sub-zero temperatures on Monday, March 9, 2015, along Erie St. in Windsor. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

L’Essor’s Jean Francois Brule scores on Riverside goalie Derion Ducedre during their game Monday, March 9, 2015, at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ont. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

L’Essor’s Matthew Keegan, top, and Riverside’s Jason Hawes collide during their game Monday, March 9, 2015, at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ont. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

L’Essor’s Stephen Holland (L) and Aaron Daudlin collide with Riverside’s Tyler Beneteau during their game Monday, March 9, 2015, at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ont. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

L’Essor’s Stephen Holland (L) and Riverside’s Devon Magone battle for the puck during their game Monday, March 9, 2015, at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ont. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

Riverside’s Alexs Stankovic stick handles during a game Monday, March 9, 2015, at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ont. against L’Essor. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

Riverside’s Jake Pickersgill (L) and Cameron Pickersgill celebrate a goal during a game Monday, March 9, 2015, at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ont. against L’Essor. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

Darlene Meloche addresses Amherstburg town council Monday in regards to her petition to keep the Amherstburg Police Service.
(Julie Kotsis/The Windsor Star)

Andre Lariviere had to adjust his massive snowman as warmer temperatures melted away a portion of the Woodslee attraction Monday March 9, 2015. Plans are to disassemble the snowman later this week. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Andre Lariviere had to adjust his massive snowman as warmer temperatures melted away a portion of the Woodslee attraction Monday March 9, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Woodslee community activist Donna Roubos created “Name the Famous Snowman’ contest as hundreds have visited Andre Lariviere’s massive snowman Monday March 9, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Andre Lariviere had to adjust his massive snowman as warmer temperatures melted away a portion of the Woodslee attraction Monday March 9, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Andre Lariviere had to adjust his massive snowman as warmer temperatures melted away a portion of the Woodslee attraction Monday March 9, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Dantee Nadeau of Windsor Catholic Central controls the ball against Hunter Okubasu of Upper Canada Blues in OFSAA AAA basketball from Catholic Central gym Monday March 9, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor Catholic Central Comets Malique Calloo handles the ball against Upper Canada Blues Aidan Power in OFSAA AAA basketball from Catholic Central gym Monday March 9, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Catholic Central Comets Najee Brown-Henderson looks to make a pass against Upper Canada Blues in OFSAA AAA basketball from Catholic Central gym Monday March 9, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor’s neighbours are ready to talk about and study regional transit, Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara told reporters following a lunch-time meeting of local municipal leaders Tuesday.

But when asked how much of their closed-door gathering was devoted to talk of extending city bus services into the county, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens was blunt: “Nothing.”

The Willistead Manor luncheon was the first opportunity for new, and newly elected, local mayors to discuss common issues and find out where to collaborate to best serve the region as a whole.

One area in which all the mayors agreed to work together was lobbying senior government for a bigger share of available funds for such big-ticket items as infrastructure and public housing, said Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain, who is also Essex County’s warden.

Asked why he felt the local region was not getting its perceived fair share from the province, Bain said it was the lack of a voice in government.

“We don’t have an elected MPP that sits in government,” said Bain. “When we had them locally, we’d bang on doors and meet with them in their offices.”

Asked to cite an example of where Windsor and Essex County might be losing out, Bain said Northern Ontario is probably five years ahead of Southern Ontario when it comes to providing high-speed Internet for residents.

The closest Liberal MPP is in London. Bain said having all the local MPPs sitting on the opposition benches since the last election means “our message doesn’t get out there.”

Dilkens and Bain said the mayors agreed to begin speaking as one in lobbying the province for a bigger share of funding, as well as to seek out ministers directly.

On Thursday, McNamara — in his capacity as head of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario — meets with Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Ted McMeekin, and he’ll also formally invite him to visit with local mayors.

“We need to work collectively to get our fair share, but it’s difficult when you don’t have a representative in government,” said McNamara. Windsor and Essex County might not have the Liberal seats, but he said it deserves more attention from government because of its sizeable contribution to the Ontario economy.

Dilkens said he didn’t bring up regional transit during the luncheon because he’d been advised in advance that there’s “not an appetite here” for such talk. He said Windsor is working with Lakeshore on a potential transit link between the city and Belle River.

“If we have to go through Tecumseh, perhaps we can pull Tecumseh into the discussion,” he said.

Dilkens said it was frustrating that regional transit discussions haven’t been advancing at a time when a local call centre employer advised his office that it’s looking for hundreds of new employees but that public transportation to get them to work is essential.

“Nothing hurts me more than knowing we have the highest unemployment rate in Canada, and I’ve got an employer saying there’s hundreds of jobs available, and we can’t get (workers bused to the workplace),” he said.

McNamara told The Star there has been “some talk with administration” and that Tecumseh and Windsor will look further in the next few weeks and months on regional transit.

“I think what we’ve done right now is open the door,” said McNamara. Scheduling and cost “have to make sense … affordability is critical.”

Windsor and six of the seven county municipalities were represented at the luncheon. Missing was Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos, whose wife Stephanie gave birth to twins on Friday.

dschmidt@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/schmidtcity

Area mayors John Paterson, left, Ken Antaya, Ron McDermott, Rick Masse, Gary McNamara, Tom Bain, Aldo DiCarlo and Drew Dilkens meet at Willistead Manor in Windsor on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. The meeting represented the first time since the last election all the mayors have met. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Provincial police are looking for the driver of a red pickup truck who took off early Tuesday after crashing into a fence.

Essex County OPP responded to the crash around 4:15 a.m. Police said the truck struck a fence on Camelot Avenue in Leamington then drove away west on Oak Street East.

The vehicle was a late 1990s or early 2000s red pickup truck. It was damaged on the passenger side.

Anyone with information can call Leamington OPP at 519-326-2544. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-8477 (TIPS).

Two Lakeshore teens are facing multiple charges after they were caught speeding early Sunday morning.

Ontario Provincial Police said officers clocked a black Dodge travelling 30 kilometres over the posted speed limit on County Road 22 near Wallace Line in Lakeshore around 1:20 a.m.

Officers talked to the three occupants of the vehicle and learned one of the passengers was in breach of conditions from a previous criminal charge.

They also found open alcohol inside the vehicle.

A 17-year-old Lakeshore man was charged with three counts of failing to comply with recognizance.

The driver, an 18-year-old Lakeshore man, was charged with speeding and driving a vehicle with an open container of alcohol.

Just how much more transparent is the reformed Amherstburg Town Hall? Enough that the municipality’s CAO has personally taken to Twitter to inform the public of council activity.

Town of Amherstburg CAO John Miceli. (Julie Kotsis / The Windsor Star)

“As much as we can, we’re trying to put it out there,” said John Miceli, Amherstburg’s chief administrative officer.

“We’re trying to be open and transparent. That’s what people in the community wanted. We heard that loud and clear in the last election. We’re just trying to do our part to communicate.”

Miceli started his Twitter account — @amherstburg_cao — in mid-February. Since then, he’s been using it to provide blow-by-blow, minute-by-minute coverage of Amherstburg council meetings on Monday nights.

From what motions were passed to how councillors voted, Miceli’s tweets attempt to document the town’s municipal doings in 140-character bites.

“We’ve got a lot of people in our community that want to know what’s going on at town hall,” Miceli said. “But we do have limited space here. We’ve got about 50 seats, and every council meeting seems to be packed.”

“We want to be able to get out the message as much as we can, as quickly as we can.”

Miceli said he had no previous experience with social media before he started the account. Now he’s feeling like he can compete in online activity with his three youthful daughters.

“They tweet all the time,” he said. “They actually think it’s pretty cool that their dad is tweeting. And they’re actually helping me, at times.”

However, social media isn’t just one-way communication. Interactivity is the name of the game — and it isn’t always pleasant.

Miceli said he has yet to encounter any anonymous online hecklers or trolls. But he’s been thinking about having a policy to deal with them when they come.

“I guess we’re going to find out when we run into that,” Miceli said good-naturedly. “We’re still building our policy right now. I’ve just been very happy with the feedback so far … So far, it’s all been a positive experience.”

Miceli said he does try to respond to anyone who asks a legitimate question or has a real request for information.

“At least it starts a dialogue. Twitter is a great conversation-starter,” he said.

“I don’t see many other CAOs in other communities doing this. But it’s all about citizen engagement.”

Amherstburg CAO John Miceli (R) and treasurer Justin Rousseau (L) at a town council meeting on Feb. 26, 2015. (Julie Kotsis / The Windsor Star)

The Windsor Star’s award-winning photographers covered the city and county yesterday. Check out the gallery.

Essex County mayors John Paterson, left, Gary McNamara, Tom Bain and Ron McDermott chat before meeting with other mayors at Willistead Manor in Windsor on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. The meeting represented the first time since the last election all the mayors have met. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Area mayors John Paterson, left, Ken Antaya, Ron McDermott, Rick Masse, Gary McNamara, Tom Bain, Aldo DiCarlo and Drew Dilkens meet at Willistead Manor in Windsor on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. The meeting represented the first time since the last election all the mayors have met. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Penny Dixon, left, and Beatrice Gerard work on puzzles with the help of Lauryn Fraser at the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County in Windsor on March 10, 2015. Seniors with early symptoms of dementia take part in puzzles and games to help keep their minds in shape. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Beatrice Gerard works on a puzzle at the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County in Windsor on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Seniors with early symptoms of dementia take part in puzzles and game to help keep their minds in shape. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Lauryn Fraser (right) helps Beatrice Gerard work on a puzzle at the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County in Windsor on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Seniors with early symptoms of dementia take part in puzzles and game to help keep their minds in shape. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Beatrice Gerard works on a puzzle at the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County in Windsor on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Seniors with early symptoms of dementia take part in puzzles and game to help keep their minds in shape. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Beatrice Gerard works on a puzzle at the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County in Windsor on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Seniors with early symptoms of dementia take part in puzzles and game to help keep their minds in shape. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Lauryn Fraser (left) helps Beatrice Gerard work on a puzzle at the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County in Windsor on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Seniors with early symptoms of dementia take part in puzzles and game to help keep their minds in shape. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Beatrice Gerard works on a puzzle at the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County in Windsor on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Seniors with early symptoms of dementia take part in puzzles and game to help keep their minds in shape. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Adam Vasey, director of the Pathway to Potential organization speaks Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at the Caboto Club in Windsor, ON. during a “living wage” recognition event. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

David Melo, left, a project manager from Elite Roofing sizes up a new roof along with Elite’s Frank Ondracka in Lakeshore, Tuesday March 10, 2015. Melo spoke with reporter Anne Jarvis concering living wage. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

David Melo, a project manager from Elite Roofing signed up another customer for a new roof in Lakeshore, Tuesday March 10, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor, ON. March 10, 2015 — Rachelle Hartigan and children Layla, 10, left, and Maggie, 6, have a laugh while painting coffee mugs and saucers, Tuesday March 10, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Rachelle Hartigan is a single mother of 2 who receives a “living wage” from one of five companies that was recognized today. In photo, Rachelle poses with children Maggie, 6, and Layla, 10. For story by Anne Jarvis. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor Express guard Tony Bennett locks the arm of Mississauga’s Omar Strong during NBL of Canada playoff action at WFCU Centre, Tuesday March 10, 2015. Bennett broke free and scored an uncontested layup. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor Express Ryan Anderson moves the ball against MIS Power Jordan Weidner in NBL Canada playoff action at WFCU Centre, Tuesday March 10, 2015. Bennett broke free and scored an uncontested layup. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor Express Tony Bennett breaks away from MIS Power Omar Strong, left, and Jordan Weidner in NBL Canada playoff action at WFCU Centre, Tuesday March 10, 2015. Bennett broke free and scored an uncontested layup. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor Express Quinell Brown, right, falls away from the hoop against MIS Power Marcus Capers in NBL Canada playoff action at WFCU Centre, Tuesday March 10, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor Express Ryan Anderson sets up a play against MIS Power Jordan Weidner in NBL Canada playoff action at WFCU Centre, Tuesday March 10, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor Express Quinnel Brown leads the play against MIS Power Marcus Capers, left, in NBL Canada playoff action at WFCU Centre, Tuesday March 10, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

The mayors of Essex County came out of their annual private luncheon with the mayor of Windsor this week wearing big smiles and claiming they agreed on nearly everything.

The truth is the nine of them agree on very little. More disagreement divides them today perhaps than ever before. But we’ll get to that after we discuss the things they really did agree on.

The mayors agree on the no-brainer stuff, such as wanting more handouts from senior governments. That, and the terrible condition of the region’s roads.

It’s spring in Canada, and as usual the roads are a mess of crumbling concrete and asphalt, with potholes big enough to swallow a Fiat 500. It’s not a political issue, per se, because the roads are bad all over Windsor and Essex County. They’re even worse in Michigan.

“The tough winters we’ve had the last two years have caused a lot of heaving in the roads, and we know that, and we’re going to have to tackle that,” Essex County Warden Tom Bain said when I asked him about the problem.

“We have a problem of about $440 million in the county … that’s what we’re going to need to spend to bring everything up to par.”

The $440-million inventory of work was tallied before this winter’s vicious freeze-thaw cycle, which Bain says was obviously much worse than in years past because sustained lower temperatures drove the frost that much deeper.

“Take a look at the Belle River Road, and County Road 46, Fairview in Essex – they’re like roller-coaster rides.” Don’t forget the Arner Townline, Tom: it’s hurting my teeth.

Dilkens agrees on the need to fix roads. That’s why he made an election pledge to spend $268 million on infrastructure over the next four years. His plan could be derailed by the new members of city council, however, most of whom think the city needs more community centres first.

But the local mayors disagree on almost everything else. They must have decided to present a unified front after their meeting at Willistead Manor because they all refused to answer questions about the conflicts that went on behind closed doors.

“We’re not going to kiss and tell,” Dilkens said with his disarming laugh when we asked. Who were the combatants, I asked? The laugh grew hollow as Dilkens and Bain exchanged glances. Neither would say, which was an answer in itself.

They disagree on economic development. A few years ago, it was the county towns which felt they were getting stiffed by a city-centric development commission. The county threatened to pull out of the 50-50 funding arrangement.

Today, Hilary Payne leads a faction of Windsor council which threatens to cut off the $1-million-per-year city taxpayers fork over to Sandra Pupatello & Co. at the reconstituted WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation. Windsor wants better answers about how much the body accomplishes with its $2-million annual budget.

They disagree about property taxes. Most of the county keeps raising them, while Windsor hasn’t for six years, which makes the county politicians look bad. So some in the county are now claiming that regular increases are better for taxpayers.

They disagree about policing. Windsor is willing to at least talk about amalgamating its police service with anybody else’s to help spread costs. Most county politicians would prefer to keep paying big bucks to the OPP for policing, and in Amherstburg somebody has started a petition to block any attempt to share.

They disagree about development fees, which have been turned into an economic sword. Both sides have been wielding it against each other in a competition for new housing and commercial construction.

But most of all – and most damagingly to taxpayers – they disagree about regional public transportation. They disagree on that one so badly, Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara declared Tuesday that all the mayors agreed on the issue during the meeting.

Dilkens said flatly that wasn’t true – that he’d been told not to even bring up regional transportation because the county boys didn’t want to hear about it. Okaaaaay.

The public transportation issue is the most important regional issue of them all. We learned last week that two local call centres could hire 800 more people if Essex County had a workable transportation system between Windsor and Leamington and Kingsville.

The call centres have done their research and already know there are more than enough unemployed people on benefits in the south end of the county who could fill their staffing needs.

The fact local politicians aren’t even trying to fix this situation is not a mere failing, it’s a crime. Last fall, I wrote that election promises to create more public transportation were just hot air — that the pols and the bureaucrats don’t really want regional transportation.

The non-results of Tuesday’s meeting proved that point, yet again.

cvanderdoelen@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/winstarvander

School buses are cancelled in Essex County this morning.

Heavy fog has cancelled school board provided transportation in the county this morning, but buses are expected to be operational this afternoon.

All school board provided transportation in the City of Windsor is operational.

Provincial police are still looking for a man who hasn’t been seen in a week.

Jeffery Orlando, 32, from Leamington, was last seen March 3 around 8 p.m. in the Kingsville area.

Essex County OPP said he is about five-foot-11 and 120 pounds with a skinny build. He has dirty blonde brush cut hair and brown eyes. His left ear is pierced.

Orlando was last seen wearing ripped blue jeans, a white bomber-style jacket with a hood, a blue and black Detroit Tigers baseball cap and black DC running shoes. He was also wearing a black T-shirt with red writing on it. Police said the writing might be a Sons of Anarchy logo.

Anyone with information can call the OPP Communication Centre at 1-888-310-1122.

You can also make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

The Windsor Star’s award-winning photographers covered the city and county Wednesday. Check out the gallery.

Kirk Miner, grandson of Canadian conservationist Jack Miner, is pictured on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. (DYLAN KRISTY/The Windsor Star)

Smoke rising from the Detroit area is seen from Malden Park in Windsor on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. A truck fire on the I-94 near Dearborn closed the road. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

WINDSOR, ON. MARCH 11, 2015. — Matt McShane and Gabe Valente (right) are photographed in front of a new development at the corner of Dominion and Grand Marais in Windsor on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Myles Kushman, 22, has established himself as one of the top rappers in Windsor. (DAN JANISSE / The Windsor Star)

Catholic Central’s Eriq Jenkins shoots a jumper during OFSAA AAA basketball against Cathedral High School in Windsor, ON. on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

Catholic Central’s Raekwon Fazekas-Elliot (L) and Cathedral High School’s Paulo Linguenhe battle for the ball during OFSAA AAA basketball in Windsor, ON. on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

Cathedral High School’s Mohammed Gaafer (L) pressures Catholic Central’s Malique Calloo during OFSAA AAA basketball against Cathedral High School in Windsor, ON. on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

Catholic Central’s Eriq Jenkins and Paulo Linguenhe (L) battle for position during OFSAA AAA basketball against Cathedral High School in Windsor, ON. on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

Catholic Central’s Dominic Johnson looks through the legs of high flying Kareem Collins-Samuels of Cathedral High School during OFSAA AAA basketball on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

Catholic Central’s Raekwon Fazekas-Elliot gets fouled by Cathedral High School’s Oneil Stubbs during OFSAA AAA basketball in Windsor, ON. on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

The New Beginnings organization is preparing for their annual “Say Yes to the Prom Dress” event. The group collects gently used or new prom/formal dresses and displays them and allow girls in the community to come in, browse, try on and take them home free of charge. Kristin Durham, (L) and Kim Gratto of the organization pose with some of the dresses on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, in Windsor, ON. (DAN JANISSE/ The Windsor Star)

President of the Amherstburg Food Bank Lucille Thrasher is photographed at the food bank’s current location in the Amherstburg Community Church on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. The food bank is searching for a new location. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

President of the Amherstburg Food Bank Lucille Thrasher is photographed at the food bank’s current location in the Amherstburg Community Church on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. The food bank is searching for a new location. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

President of the Amherstburg Food Bank Lucille Thrasher is photographed at the food bank’s current location in the Amherstburg Community Church on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. The food bank is searching for a new location. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Police take a man into custody at the corner of Reedmere Road and Wyandotte Street in Windsor on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Early reports suggest the arrest was related to a report of shots fired in the Drouillard Road area. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

A damaged vehicle is seen at the corner of Reedmere Road and Wyandotte Street in Windsor on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Early reports suggest the arrest was related to a report of shots fired in the Drouillard Road area. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

Gerold Prentice, 27, left, was shaken after his double pane front window at 908 Albert Road was broken with a hole about the size of a golf ball Wednesday March 11, 2015. Windsor Police attended the scene but no evidence of firearms was found. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Developer Peter Valente visits building sites on Gatwick Street in East Riverside Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Developer Peter Valente visits building sites on Gatwick Street in East Riverside Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Gerold Prentice, 27, was shaken after his double-pane front window at 908 Albert Road was broken with a hole about the size of a golf ball Wednesday March 11, 2015. Windsor Police attended the scene but no evidence of firearms was found. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor Catholic Central Comets celebrate after winning OFSSA AAA championship over West Humber at Kennedy Collegiate Institute Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor Catholic Central Comets celebrate after winning OFSSA AAA championship over West Humber at Kennedy Collegiate Institute Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor Catholic Central Comets celebrate after winning OFSSA AAA championship over West Humber at Kennedy Collegiate Institute Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Catholic Central Comets Eriq Jenkins guards West Humber Vikings Keith Laryea in OFSSA basketball final at Kennedy Collegiate Institute Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Catholic Central Comets Najee Brown-Henderson controls the play against West Humber in OFSSA basketball final at Kennedy Collegiate Institute Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Catholic Central Comets Eriq Jenkins guards West Humber Vikings Keith Laryea in OFSSA basketball final at Kennedy Collegiate Institute Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Catholic Central Comets Donald Mehsah battles for rebound against West Humber in OFSSA basketball final at Kennedy Collegiate Institute Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Catholic Central Comets Eriq Jenkins draws a foul by West Humber Keith Laryea late in the OFSSA basketball final at Kennedy Collegiate Institute Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Catholic Central Comets Malique Calloo draws a foul by West Humber Fathi Mohamoud late in the OFSSA basketball final at Kennedy Collegiate Institute Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Windsor Symphony Orchestra members Iris Krizmanic, left, on french horn, Julie Shier on bassoon, Margaret Gillie with clarinet, Liesel Deppe on flute and Faith Scholfield, right, on oboe, perform in front of a full house at Windsor Star News Cafe Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

A full house applauds during OFSSA basketball final between Catholic Central of Windsor and West Humber Vikings at Kennedy Collegiate Institute Wednesday March 11, 2015. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

The Jack Miner Migratory Bird Foundation is suing the Detroit Tigers to get back Ty Cobb memorabilia it says was removed from the grounds of its Kingsville sanctuary and sold illegally to the team.

The foundation, with charitable status in Canada and the United States, has launched court actions on both sides of the border. The actions name Kirk W. Miner, Jack Miner’s grandson and former foundation president, as the defendant.

Detroit Tigers’ Ty Cobb posing in his uniform and holding a bat in 1915. (Howard Muller/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

According to court documents, Kirk Miner sold the Tigers a bat and ball signed by Cobb, as well as two letters the hall of famer penned. The foundation learned of the sale by accident in January, when proof of a $24,000 payment to Kirk Miner was sent to the non-profit group. It’s not known how much the Tigers paid for the items, but the court documents say the $24,000 wire transfer to Kirk Miner was one of two payments he received and that additional payments remained due.

According to the foundation, those items, and others removed by Miner from the Kingsville sanctuary, belong to the charity.

The foundation is careful not to say the items were stolen by Kirk Miner. “Kirk Miner has wrongfully retained possession of, and wrongfully exerted dominion over, property belonging to the foundation,” the U.S. lawsuit states.

Kirk Miner was served Wednesday with copies of the U.S. lawsuit as well as documents including a preservation order filed in Windsor.  He appeared in a Windsor courtroom where a Superior Court judge ordered him to make a list of every item he removed from the sanctuary property, even things he believes are rightly his.

The foundation’s list of missing items include two Ty Cobb baseball bats, two baseballs signed by Ty Cobb, at least seven handwritten letters to Jack Miner’s sons from Ty Cobb, two letters from Ty Cobb Jr. to Jack Miner and his son Manly Miner, an antique baseball glove, a binder of letters to and from Jack Miner and Manly Miner to and from heads of state from around the world, a Queen Elizabeth coronation figurine and 6,500 migratory bird leg bands.

The leg bands are worth $50 to $100 each, the U.S. lawsuit states. One of the exhibits filed along with the lawsuit is a news story about another Ty Cobb bat selling for $253,000.

The foundation’s list was derived from an account written by Jack Miner’s eldest son Manly, found tucked away in a box of papers last year, said Mary Baruth, executive director of the foundation. Staff set about cleaning out every “last cubbyhole” in the site’s various buildings before coming up with the list of missing items.

Some of the items can be seen in old family photographs also entered as court exhibits in Wayne County state court.

“These are irreplaceable,” Baruth said.

In an interview after court in Windsor Wednesday, Miner was reluctant to discuss the missing items. “I don’t want to say too much about this,” he said. He did however, give a detailed account of his family’s history and how, in taking over as foundation president from his Uncle Manly, he rubbed elbows with America’s business elite. He once met Ted Turner at the Detroit Economic Club. “He liked my tie,” Miner said.

Kirk Miner, grandson of Canadian conservationist Jack Miner, is pictured on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. (DYLAN KRISTY/The Windsor Star)

Miner, 66, said he was wintering in Arizona when he discovered Monday his bank accounts had been frozen. He flew back to the area Wednesday morning at 6 a.m. and was in court in Windsor four hours later.

“I wasn’t planning to be back until April,” he said. April 1 is the soonest he can move into his trailer in Colchester for the season, he said.

Miner used to live on the sanctuary in the house his grandfather built in 1922. He was evicted from the home by the foundation’s board of directors in August 2012 after being fired as foundation president in March of that year.

“Unfortunately, Kirk Miner failed to act in the best interests of the foundation and began abusing his position as president through financial improprieties, misfeasance, and neglect,” the U.S. lawsuit states.

Miner sued for wrongful dismissal and settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

Kirk Miner told The Star he built up a $5-million endowment fund. The investment income covered the foundation’s operating costs, he said.

Canada geese are seen at Jack Miner’s Sanctuary in Kingsville, Ont. in this 2011 file photo. (JASON KRYK/The Windsor Star)

Jack Miner founded the sanctuary in 1904 and soon began corresponding with the Royal family and other prominent people around the world to garner support for his conservation efforts. Sanctuary visitors included Marilyn Monroe and Kellogg’s founder Will Keith Kellogg. Jack Miner counted Henry Ford among his closest friends.

Ty Cobb called on Jack Miner one day after reading about him in outdoors magazines. A fast friendship grew. Jack and Manly Miner would invite Cobb on hunting outings and Cobb would reciprocate with tickets to Tiger games. In his autobiography, Cobb wrote that knowing Jack Miner was “one of the finest things that happened to me in the wonderful world I found away from baseball.”

According to the U.S. lawsuit, Jack Miner left his home and its contents to his wife – property that transferred to Manly upon his mother’s death.

Manly was the foundation’s second president. His nephew, Kirk, was his successor.

Manly, in his will, bequeathed his chattle to the foundation, with the exception of silverware and a set of Royal Crown Derby dishes he left to his daughter Wilhelmina. Manly Miner’s will features prominently in the lawsuits on both sides of the border.

As charitable foundations, Jack Miner’s was established in 1936 in the United States and 1931 in Canada. This April marks the 150^th anniversary of Jack Miner’s birth and a celebration is in the works.

ssacheli@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/winstarsacheli

He went before the cameras a seemingly desperate man intent on finding his wife’s killer.

More than nine years after Scott Quick offered a reward to find the perpetrator of his estranged wife’s horrific and very public murder, police made the stunning announcement Thursday they finally closed the case by arresting him.

Quick is charged with first-degree murder for the 2006 hit-and-run death of 40-year-old Nancy Galbraith-Quick.

At a police press conference Thursday, the victim’s sister-in-law Gloria Galbraith spoke of the “deep pain and sorrow” that still endures. She also wanted to send a message to Galbraith-Quick’s children, who now face the painful reality that their father is accused of murdering their mother.

“Our thoughts are with Nancy’s two children, now beautiful and vibrant young adults whose worlds were torn apart nine years ago and with today’s events whose lives are in turmoil and deep pain,” she said. “We want them to know how much they are loved and cherished. We want them to know that we support them with all of our hearts.”

Essex County OPP said they are not looking for any other suspects in the case. Quick allegedly ran down his estranged wife on Feb. 23, 2006.

Det. Insp. David Hillman,with the OPP criminal investigations branch, said Quick-Galbraith left her Tecumseh home around 8:20 a.m. She dropped her children, 11-year-old Evan and eight-year-old Julia, at their Tecumseh elementary school.

Then the part-time teaching assistant, known affectionately as Miss Nancy, headed to work at St. William Elementary School in Emeryville. At around 8:40 a.m., she parked her PT Cruiser in her usual spot near the church.

Hillman said she was crossing the street when a minivan that had been sitting in the church parking lot sped toward her. It slammed into her with such force that she was thrown several metres through the air and her head struck a tree.

A group of horrified young children saw it happen.

The van, which was stolen minutes before, then sped off. Hillman said witnesses saw the driver abandon it on I.C. Roy Drive and quickly walk away.

Quick-Galbraith was immediately transferred to Detroit Receiving Hospital, where she was listed under an alias for her safety. She slipped into a coma and died five days later without ever regaining consciousness.

After her death, Scott Quick invited The Windsor Star to his house to offer a reward for anyone with information about the killer.

“I just want this resolved so that I have time to grieve,” he told The Star in 2006.

But Quick didn’t say how much money he was offering, and after the media interviews, didn’t publicly mention the reward again.

He eventually gained custody of the children, left his job at Chrysler and moved them to Brighton in eastern Ontario.

From the start, Quick was a person of interest.

“He certainly later became a suspect, but from the very beginning I’d say he was a person of interest,” said Hillman.

Despite having several witnesses, police couldn’t find enough solid evidence to make an arrest. The investigation hit a wall.

In 2007, police created a re-enactment of the murder to show on television. Over the years, Crime Stoppers and Galbraith-Quick’s family offered rewards. In June 2014, the OPP announced a $50,000 reward. Nothing seemed to work.

Then on Wednesday at 3:06 p.m., police suddenly arrested Scott Quick, 48, at a business in Belleville.

Police are refusing to reveal what new information came to light. But Hillman said the $50,000 reward offer didn’t yield any new information leading to the arrest.

Looking tired and sporting a five o’clock shadow, Quick made a brief appearance Thursday in Ontario Court. Dressed in a black button down shirt and blue jeans, Quick stood in the prisoner’s box and conferred briefly with his lawyer Pat Ducharme who waived arraignment.

He did not speak to the court.

Ducharme asked for a four-week adjournment in order to prepare an application for bail.

Justice of the peace Maureen Ryan-Brode set Quick’s next appearance in Ontario Court for April 16. The court also agreed with a stipulation from assistant Crown attorney Elizabeth Brown that Quick not associate with eight members of Nancy’s family, four of whom attended Thursday’s proceeding.

Outside the courtroom, Ducharme said he’ll enter a plea of not guilty.

Quick retained Ducharme by phone Thursday morning.

“He sounded tired to me,” said Ducharme. “I asked him did he get any sleep and he said ‘no not really.’”

Ducharme represented Quick “eight or nine years ago” in relation to the case. At the time, the matter dealt with records seized by the Crown. He said he hasn’t had contact with Quick since.

Ducharme did not have any details about the case against his client.

“I’m just like everybody else. I want to know,” he said.

Ducharme agreed the process moving forward will carry a significant emotional impact for everyone involved, particularly Quick’s children.

His comments echoed what police said earlier in the day.

“This case has no happy ending,” said Hillman. “Two children lost their mother to a tragic and violent set of circumstances in 2006. And these same two children are now faced with the fact their father is accused of committing that violence act against their mother.”

twilhelm@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/WinStarWilhelm

Watch the full press conference below:

Despite receiving “final” rejection for a licence to operate a medical marijuana operation by Health Canada, it appears a Lakeshore-based company will proceed with legal challenges against both the federal and municipal governments.

CEN Biotech has been officially notified by the federal government they will not get a licence to operate what the company touted as Canada’s largest medical marijuana operation.

The company last month received “notice of intent to refuse” from Health Canada and days later in response launched a court challenge requesting a judicial review of the federal government’s decision.

CEN Biotech had 20 days after receiving the initial notice to provide information in writing to change the health agency’s decision under the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations.

But according to a Health Canada statement released late Wednesday: “The Department has today notified the company that the decision to reject the application is now final.”

Health Canada spokesman Sean Upton indicated there was nothing further to add.

CEN Biotech had been under the spotlight for months after completing construction of a multimillion-dollar facility at the intersection of Manning and North Rear roads to produce medical marijuana. The company was one of more than 1,000 applicants across the country.

The company erected high-security, barbed-wire fencing, retrofitted two buildings and made other property preparations — which some have described as a prison-style facility.

CEN Biotech in court documents has claimed to have pumped $14 million into the proposed facility and a second nearby location to be used for “research and development.”

Essex lawyer Joe Byrne is a CEN Biotech investor and spokesman who signed the federal judicial review application. He did not respond Thursday to a message from The Star.

An email to the head office of Creative Edge Nutrition — the parent company of CEN Biotech — also received no response.

Aside from the judicial review application, the company launched an Ontario Municipal Board challenge against the Town of Lakeshore. The town in November passed a bylaw that requires any medical marijuana facility to be located on industrial-zoned lands unless it receives a waiver.

CEN Biotech is located on agricultural lands.

Windsor lawyer William Sasso, retained by Lakeshore for the OMB challenge, has been told verbally by a company lawyer the matter will proceed despite the licence denial.

“I have suggested to them it makes no sense for either Lakeshore or CEN Biotech to spend time or money to bring in experts to argue over the zoning bylaw when they have no right to conduct their business anywhere,” he said.

“I suggested to suspend any proceedings unless CEN Biotech is successful overturning the decision of Health Canada. Their response is they intend to continue with all legal proceedings.”

Sasso believes that includes the federal judicial review challenge. As does Windsor lawyer Bruck Easton who was retained by residents with homes near the CEN Biotech property who feared potential neighbourhood impacts from the operation.

“These guys are left trying to find some basis for a court to overturn the Health Canada decision — and the Lakeshore zoning decision,” Easton said. “A Hail Mary pass occasionally works, but I’d rather be in the position where it’s the other side that needs the Hail Mary.”

Residents he represents near the CEN Biotech site are “certainly pleased that Health Canada has formally closed the door,” he said.

But the site’s ominous condition does remain disturbing to the residents and he has been asked to explore whether the barbed-wire fence does indeed meet town bylaws.

“It was far down the list of priorities,” he said. “But with the (licence refused), that’s something we want to take a look at.”

dbattagello@windsorstar.com

• Health Canada rejects CEN Biotech’s application to produce medical marijuana
• Proposed Lakeshore medical marijuana plant still needs services, approvals
• CEN Biotech boss angry over allegations of wrongdoings

Plenty of chain link fencing topped with barbed wire and tight security at the CEN Biotech medical marijuana facility located at 20 North Rear Road at the intersection with Manning Road Tuesday September 2, 2014. (NICK BRANCACCIO/The Windsor Star)

Tecumseh OPP are investigating the death of a man found dead in a Centennial Drive residence Thursday afternoon.

Emergency crews were called to 307 Centennial Dr. around 2:44 p.m. Police discovered a deceased male inside.

Police are not releasing the man’s identity nor the cause of death.

The coroner was on the scene for more than an hour and detectives were going door to door in the neighbourhood.

People appearing to be family members of the man came and left the home, which had one vehicle in the driveway.

Police erected yellow crime scene tape around the well-kept, multi-level brick home.