A Woodstock man is one of six people arrested by the RCMP after an investigation into a $300,000 scam.

Peter Snyder, 51, faces a charge of Fraud Over $5,000. An arrest warrant has been issued for  Richard Hughes, 56,  of Kitchener. The other four arrests involve people from the Greater Toronto area.

The RCMP investigation dubbed "Ocorners" alleges that two companies known as Carlant Holdings Ltd. from the British Virgin Islands and Themed Technological Innovations (TTI) of Toronto were used to defraud over $300,000 from two local area investors.

According to police, victims thought  they were investing in the development of entertainment centres. To entice the investors, they were promised a high end return of 40% in a few months. It is believed that the funds were then diverted to the personal use of those charged.

First appearance for the people charged will be October 12th  at the London courthouse. (bd)

Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League

Guelph vs. Listowel

Brantford vs. Owen Sound

Cambridge vs. Stratford

La Salle vs. St. Mary's

Major League Baseball

Tampa Bay vs. Toronto

Minnesota vs. Cleveland

Baltimore vs. Detroit

NY Yankees vs. Texas

Canadian Football League

Calgary vs, Edmonton

 

Schools in Listowel are on lock down this morning as a security precaution as police search the town for an armed man. Perth County OPP say they are looking for a suspect in an incident involving a firearm about 5:45 this morning in the Royal Street area of Listowel. The OPP's Emergency Response, Tactical and Rescue and canine units are looking for 19-year-old Joshua Drummond. Several road blocks have been set up in the area and residents are being asked to stay away. Police say the suspect should be considered armed and should not be approached. Anyone who has seen Drummond is asked to call 911. Police say he was wearing a grey jacket, grey pants and a grey ball cap. He was walking a pit bull dog.

Police in St. Thomas are investigation a rash of thefts from vehicles. Thirteen thefts were discovered after police were called about a suspicious looking man in the area of Oriole Lane early Thursday. Police were unable to locate the man who was described as wearing dark clothing and carrying a tool kit. Police say vehicles on seven streets in the area were targeted. Items stolen included GPS devices, I-pods, wallets, purses, c-d's and loose change. Police say some of the vehicles entered had windows smashed out because items were left in plain view.

Anyone with information on the thefts is asked to contact St. Thomas police at 519-631-1364 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Canada's unemployment rate rose last month, even though the economy actually created nearly 36,000 new jobs in August. Statistics Canada says the jobless rate rose one-tenth of a point from July to 8.1 per cent due to an increase in the number of people looking for jobs last month.

The London-area bucked the national increase in unemployment as London's jobless rate in August fell to 9-percent from 9.9 in July. The unemployment rate in Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge climbed to 9.5 percent from 9.1. The Brantford-Hamilton area had a half-percent increase to 8.5 percent. Windsor's rate dropped slightly from 13.5 to 13.3 percent. The Simcoe area, which is included in the Niagara-St.Catharines region, recorded a 10.8 percent jobless rate, up from 10.4 in July. For Ontario, the provincial unemployment rate increased from 8.5 to 8 8 percent in August.

An $8-million target has been set for this fall's London and Middlesex United Way campaign. At Thursday's campaign launch, officials announced that they have already raised $1.3-million. The record $8-million target is $300,000 more than what was raised in last year's campaign. United Way CEO Andrew Lockie says the need for services funded by the agency is at an all-time high.

Woodstock Mayor Michael Harding has made it official.

He is seeking a third term in the city's top job. He filed his nomination papers Thursday afternoon.

Harding will be facing current City/County Councillor Pat Sobeski and local businessman Jim Bender in the Cctober 25th election.

The deadline for filing nomination papers is Friday at 4 p.m. (bd)

There are two confirmed cases of E.coli in Oxford County that authorities have linked to the  contaminated burgers recalled by Leadbetter's Foods.

During the third week of August two people experienced illness after eating  Leadbetters Cowboy Beef Burgers sold frozen in 2. 27 kilogram cartons.

An investigation was conducted by Oxford County Public Health and over the past few days it was confirmed that the two  had consumed the same frozen burger product as two other cases in Ontario. As a result, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency initiated an investigation and product recall.

Orillia-based Leadbetters Foods has recalled the product, which is distributed across Ontario.

Oxford County residents are asked to check to make sure they do not have this product in their homes: Leadbetters Cowboy Beef Burgers in 2.27 Kg (5 lb) cartons containing 20 X 113.5gr (4oz) burgers bearing the UPC 8 73587 00003 5 and code 20169. People who have purchased this brand of frozen burgers with this lot code should not eat the product but should discard the product as it may contain E. coli. (bd)