Police say that on Monday May 6th at about 4pm, the 13-year-old was dropped off by a school bus in the area of West Street in Chatham.

At this time, the boy was approached by four youths approximately 14 to 16 years of age. The youths called the boy names based on his sexual orientation. The verbal assault escalated to a physical altercation as the boy was pushed to the ground and kicked by the youths.

The boy sustained minor injuries as a result of the assault.

Chatham-Kent Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this hate crime to please come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact Constable Gary Oriet at 519-436-6619. Anonymous callers may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Written by the Windsor-Essex Humane Society:

Dooley is an inquisitive and curious three year old cat who loves affection. His favourite thing to do is look at the window at interesting things outside. Dooley is a cat who likes to be in the know about everything that’s going on, but he also likes his quiet time. Come visit Dooley and all our cats & kittens at the Humane Society today.

Visit the Humane Society’s website to find more information on how to adopt a pet!

Can you make culture happen in our community?

The City of Windsor has launched its Arts, Culture and Heritage Funding program and is looking for talented, local, creative individuals and culture organizations to “build a strong and stable creative community that contributes to a prosperous creative economy and to making Windsor an amazing place to live”.

If you’re interested in applying, watch the above video or visit the City’s page on the program.

The Charlie Brooks Memorial Peace Fountain has been installed and presents its light and water show daily from 10am to midnight at Reaume Park/Coventry Gardens, Riverside Drive at Pillette Avenue.

A team of technicians, divers and a crane worked all week to prepare the nozzles and pumps in the only international floating fountain in North America.

The Peace Fountain moves 12,000 gallons of water per minute. There are 150 lights ranging from 500 watts to 1,000 watts that create the water show.

The Charlie Brooks Memorial Peace Fountain was designed by Richard J. Van Seters, Fountain Design Consultant of M.M. Dillon Ltd., and T.W. Szalay, Director of Special projects for Windsor’s Department of Public Works. The fountain is dedicated to the memory of former labour leader Charlie Brooks (1915-1977), an enthusiastic booster of Windsor’s riverfront development.

Also, the Bert Weeks Fountain in Bert Week Memorial Gardens on Riverside Drive East between Parent Avenue and Langlois, is fully operational for the season.

Gone. by cluzot

Take a look at the windsoriteDOTca flickr pool and submit photos of your own for the chance to be featured as our photo of the day!

The OPP and Amherstburg Police are working together to investigate similar daytime break and enters.

Police say that the first occurred in early November 2012. The OPP were called four times to the area of Russell Woods and St. Clair Beach. Police say the suspects seemed to watch as citizens left their homes and then entered the residences, stealing jewelry and valuables within minutes. In the area of Southwind Crescent in Tecumseh, a neighbour saw a strange car circling the block, and noticed a person prying on a neighbour’s window and then enter the residence.

The strange car was noticed sitting with another unknown male at the wheel a short distance away. The witness approached the car and it accelerated away after a brief conversation.

Witnesses also described the vehicle driven by the suspects as being a dark blue Chevrolet Impala, early to late 2000 model.

The male suspect was described as being a white male, approximately 5’6” in height, stocky, with grey facial growth, unshaven, had a round fat face, and was wearing a red wool hat with a ball cap over top of it. Police estimate the age of approximately 62 years. A sketch is below.

The second person seen prying on the window at the rear of the residence is described as being approximately 5’9” tall, wearing a black waist length jacket, black pants wearing a black wool cap.

This week, Amherstburg Police were called to the area of Forest Hill Crescent in Amherstburg where a neighbour saw a strange car circling the block several times. The vehicle was described as a royal blue Chevrolet Impala with a male driver and a female passenger.

The witness further described the parties in the vehicle as being in their later 50’s or early 60’s, smaller in stature with a swarthy appearance.

Police say that the matching description of vehicle and occupants were witnessed being involved in a break and enter where a female suspect was confronted by the homeowner while in the residence stealing jewelry. A struggle ensued but the suspect was able to escape into the awaiting vehicle.

The female suspect is described as wearing a dark jogging nylon-type top, blue jeans and white running shoes. She had dark features, approximately 5’-5’2” with short dark hair, short bangs parted to the side, and frizzy hair with a poor dye job. A sketch of the female suspect is shown below.

Police ask that if you have any information with regards to these crimes, or recognize the persons in the attached sketches, you are asked to contact either OPP Detective Constable Ian Stibbard at 519-723-2491 or Amherstburg Police Service D/C Paul Smith at 519-736-8559.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

The area of the death as seen in Google Earth

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit has been called in to investigate a death in Chatham.

Officials say that at approximately 3:40pm Friday afternoon, Chatham-Kent Police were investigating a man in the area of Richmond Street and Byng Avenue.

Police say the man made his way to the railroad tracks north of Richmond Street and was struck and killed by a VIA train.

The SIU has assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of the incident.

Fire crews were called to the old Grace Hospital (Crawford and University) around 5pm Friday night after several reports of heavy black smoke coming from the building’s roof.

Arriving firefighters found thick black smoke blowing westward from the roof and flames were visible.

Firefighters set up an aerial platform and were able to knock down most of the fire within minutes.

Crews also entered the building from the ground and made their way to the roof. Fire officials say asbestos has been removed from the upper floors of the building and there were no worries for the spread of dangerous particulates in the air. Officials say that most of any combustible materials have been removed from the building due to the pending demolition and there was little risk to the rest of the building catching fire.

The fire originated on the roof and reports say it did not spread. There were no injuries. The actual cause of the fire is under investigation.

Fire investigator John Lee says the materials burning on the roof were not hazardous and the fire has not affected demolition.

Grace hospital pic taken street behind at 530 pm by reader Tamara Berthiaume

smoke from the opposite side of the building by reader Sarah Kaszubik