Trailblazers' groomer goes through ice (new information)

Sault Ste Marie OPP have issued a warning today to snowmobile operators about a safety hazard on the Goulais River.

Yesterday, the Sault Trailblazers advised that its trail groomer broke through the river ice.

It happened near the Bailey bridge.

"Members of the organization had put out a variety of warning symbols and warning tape around the groomer but someone keeps removing the warning devices," Constable Bill Mackan said in a news release.

"Keep a close eye out for the groomer and work crews in that area as they attempt to get the machine freed from the ice."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Since this article was written, SooToday.com received the following note from Paul Foisy, president of Sault Trailblazers:

************************************** Wanted to let you know that the Sault Trailblazers' groomer was quickly removed Tuesday morning within a few hours of it getting stuck.

The Sault Trailblazers Snowmobile Club does not operate groomers on the Goulais River.

The groomer inadvertently took a wrong turn during a snowstorm to unfortunately find itself on the river where it broke through close to shore near the Goulais River Bailey bridge.

The remaining hazard is the broken ice on the river where the groomer was. Constable Mackan's intent is to let people riding snowmobiles on the river know about the danger, but fails to point out that riding snowmobiles anywhere on the Goulais River should be discouraged.

All riders should be aware that not only is there a danger of broken ice in this area, but that there are other areas of the river that are not frozen and are dangerous.

Riders should check on local ice conditions before venturing out on any ice.

******************************* More hot news

In other news, the Sault Ste. Marie detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police is reporting another home-heating theft.

"Yesterday at about 3 p.m., a resident of Goulais River arrived home to find that someone had stolen a 100-pound propane tank and the two regulators from the side of his house," Mackan says.

Police believe the tank was dragged from the side of the house to a driveway, where it was loaded onto a vehicle.

On Tuesday, OPP reported that ten armloads of firewood were taken from a home on Bar River Road in Echo Bay.

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