CARLYLE - I get the fact it’s snowed more already this year in January than it has in years past, and as a snowmobiler you’re excited. That being said, it doesn’t mean you get to rip around in communities with your snowmobile without following the Snowmobile Act.
I’m all for getting out and enjoying the snow with your snowmobile, but if you are driving them in town be sure you are taking the most direct route out of town, abiding by all rules of the road, and being courteous to everyone who lives in the community.
In short this means don’t speed, constantly rev your engine up, or perform stunts while in town or public. Trust me when I say everyone in town already knows how “cool” you are so please just keep the showing off to outside of town limits when you’re alone or with friends.
Also, always wear a helmet and please never drink alcohol and ride.
Traffic
There were 20 traffic tickets issued in the Carlyle detachment area. Three tickets this week were for failing to stop at a stop sign, which carries a fine of $230. These are so much easier for RCMP to prove these days as all RCMP vehicles have a camera recording in them.
On Jan. 18, RCMP responded to a semi that hit the ditch on Highway 13 near Kisbey. Luckily the driver of the semi was not injured in the incident and was sober at the time. The semi was towed out of the ditch and was not damaged.
The next day, RCMP responded to an angry and belligerent customer failing to leave a hardware store in Carlyle. The male was upset as he purchased a snow blower from Home Hardware in Virden and was not able to return it here in Carlyle. He failed to realize that Home Hardware stores are locally owned and operated and are not connected to one another. The man began yelling at employees until RCMP arrived on the scene. RCMP was able to calm everyone down and mediate the situation without anyone being arrested or charged.
On Jan. 21, the RCMP received a call from an intoxicated female who advised that she needed an intoxicated male removed from her residence. RCMP attended the female’s house and it was determined that the intoxicated male had already left the residence prior to RCMP arriving. RCMP also found out that the male was the caller’s husband. “Till death do us part” does not mean call the RCMP and remove my spouse.
The following day, Carlyle received a call of a white car swerving all over Highway 13 near Kisbey. Although no licence plate was obtained, RCMP attended and pulled over two separate white cars. Luckily both drivers were sober.
On Jan. 23, RCMP responded to a deer collision on Highway 13 near Wauchope. The Toyota Corolla that struck the deer was no long drivable and needed to be towed from the scene. Luckily the lone male driver was not injured in the collision.
That same day, the RCMP responded to a house fire on the White Bear First Nations. The fire started in the house and was not suspicious or criminal in nature. The fire extinguished itself when water pipes inside the residence broke. Nobody was hurt in the fire.
On January 24th, RCMP responded to a wellbeing check on a female stranded at the Advantage Co-op cardlock in Redvers. The woman was trying to hitchhike her way to a major centre. She was offered a warm place to sleep in RCMP cells but she declined. The woman was dressed for the weather and was going to be trying to hitch a ride with a truck driver.
Later that day, the RCMP received a complaint about a quad in Redvers pushing snow and the driver not wearing his helmet. Although you should always wear your helmet, it is the law to wear your helmet when you are operating an ATV anywhere other than your own personal property. Helmets save lives and accidents can happen anywhere to anyone.
Scam of the week
This week I’m going to tell everyone about Phishing scams. Someone might pretend to be the government, your bank, your employer, someone that you owe money to, or even an old friend. Scammers use phone calls, emails or fake websites to trick you into sharing your personal information. These tricks are called "phishing".
Then these scammers will use your information to apply for credit cards, bank loans and other kinds of credit. They can take money from your bank accounts and shop with your credit cards. This is identity theft.
If you receive telephone calls from collection agencies or creditors for accounts that you do not have or purchases that you didn't make, you might be a victim of identity theft. Also, your bank or other financial statements might show withdrawals, transactions or transfers that you didn't make.
If you find that someone has used your identity, there are a few things you should do as soon as possible.
•Report the identity theft to the police.
•Contact the financial institutions, credit card issuers, or companies that are involved.
•Report the identity theft to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC).
•Cancel any missing identification.
•Contact the credit reporting agencies, Trans Union and Equifax.
It’s okay not to be okay!
This portion will remain until the current mental health crisis improves. I want to ensure that if someone needs the Suicide Prevention phone number, that it is always available in the paper for them. Mental health calls this week varied from people with dementia, people suffering from drug and alcohol psychosis, to people suffering from depression.
We want to encourage everyone to reach out for help and talk to someone if they can. No matter how bad things may seem, remember that they will always get better. Life can be very difficult to say the least. Please reach out and check in with friends, co-workers, and family see how they are doing.
It’s a perfectly normal question to ask people how they are doing. Don’t let people suffer in silence. If you see someone that you believe needs some help but won’t accept help from you, please let the police or their family know. Help is also available 24 hours a day at Canada’s Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566.
Police Joke
Never trust people who sketch facial composites for police reports.
They're con artists.
