Two bank employees on their lunch break suffered minor injuries when a car smashed into the back of the TD bank on Clarence Street in Port Colborne yesterday afternoon.

They were struck by flying debris and cabinets in the lunchroom of the bank  when the accident occurred in the parking lot around 12:20 p.m. The driver was not injured.

Police say $200,000 damage was caused to the building.

No charges are anticipated.

The unmarked cemetery that was discovered under Point Abino Road three weeks ago has revealed the remains of at least eight males who may have died 200 years ago.

All the remains have been found under the travelled portion of the road and  provincial authorities may order an investigation of the neighbouring private land.

“It’s all up to the registrar of cemeteries,” said Mayor Doug Martin.

The area within 10 metres of any of the interments may have to be investigated to determine the perimeter, he said. continued . . .

An error by town staff has added insult to injury for at least one Ridgeway resident and has reopened controversy over the streetscape of the town’s $7 million Ridge Road reconstruction project.

Four properties on the east side of the street near Dominion Road will have 2.6 feet sliced off to allow for widening of the sidewalk.

It’s not unusual for municipal works to encroach on private land, but the encroachments on Ridge Road weren’t noticed until work was well underway in July.

“It was an oversight,” public works director Ron Tripp told council in August.

The error was not caused by rushing the job. “It happens sometimes,” he said. continued . . .

Development charges worth $58,000 for the construction of a community centre for residents of the Ridgeway By The Lake subdivision will be deferred for three years and will likely be waived. continued . . .

A controversial policy that will result in the removal of privately-installed culverts along roadways in Fort Erie was enacted into bylaw Monday night.

Not all culverts will be targeted — only those that interfere with proper drainage or are in the area of a municipal construction project on the road allowance. continued . . .

Firefighter Rob Puttick received high praise from Mayor Doug Martin for his exemplary actions in saving a car crash victim’s life. continued . . .

A Fort Erie firefighter is credited with saving the life of a woman moments before flames engulfed her vehicle after it crashed into the ditch on Sunset Road Saturday night. continued . . .

Fish and turtle study puts drain upgrade in limbo

Fort Erie town council denied the approval of a draft plan of subdivision in Ridgeway because councillors felt it would cause more flooding of Beaver Creek.

At issue was a 30-home plan on 2.8 hectares (6.9 acres) north of Nigh between Ridge and Gorham near the bend and bridge over the stream.

The proposal known as Creekside Estates was opposed by residents in the rural-type neighbourhood. Drainage was one point of concern. continued . . .

Hockey, figure skaters could save $25 each in registration fees

Youth sports organizations in Fort Erie may get a break on user fees for arenas, fields and other sports facilities to make up for an eight-per cent hike caused by the Harmonized Sales Tax.

Town council endorsed Sandy Annunziata’s idea to subsidize the additional cost that the new tax imposes for 2010 and to revamp the fee schedule bylaw. continued . . .

Human remains found at Point Abino are thought to be those of a pioneer family in the area.

Archaeologist Martin Cooper said the evidence indicates the remains are of European descent and there is no sign that they are part of a Native burial site.

Two skeletons were unearthed after workers discovered several bones Tuesday afternoon while excavating for a natural gas line on Point Abino Road south of Erie Road.

Cooper said the interment was indicative of a Christian burial with the bodies positioned in an east-west direction. Buttons and other artifacts that were found at the site will also provide more information. continued . . .

Archaeologists are studying the site where the remains of two people were found during minor excavation on Point Abino Road this week.

Investigators from the coroner’s office, including an anthropologist, concluded yesterday that the remains are from a very old burial rather than a more recent crime.

A team from Archaeological Services Inc., which has extensively studied Fort Erie, is being lead by Martin Cooper, an expert in the cultural remains of the Point Abino area.

Investigators from the Niagara Regional Police and the Coroner's office sift through soil Wednesday evening to find evidence related to the discovery of human remains while workers were excavating to install a natural gas line on Point Abino Road near Poverty Bay.

Investigators from the Niagara Regional Police forensic unit and the coroner’s office will likely continue to sift through the soil beneath Point Abino Road on Thursday and possibly Friday to uncover evidence about human remains that were found during installation of a natural gas line.

Workers discovered several bones on Tuesday afternoon in front of 683 Point Abino Road South between Erie Road and Poverty Bay.

No other information has been released pending the outcome of the investigation.

Several human bones were found Tuesday during excavation to install a natural gas line on Point Abino Road.

Detective Constable Lynda Hughes of the Niagara Regional Police in Fort Erie said the remains were found about 500 meters south of Erie Road.

No other information is available pending further investigation, she said.

A small fire at Walmart in Fort Erie early Wednesday morning set off the sprinkler system causing water damage.

Fire chief Larry Coplen said a welding blanket caught fire while a construction worker was welding inside the store around 1 a.m.

The fire was extinguished quickly and fire fighters assisted with clean up for a couple of hours.

The Walmart manager was “meeting with associates” when called about the incident Wednesday.

TORONTO (August 10, 2010) – Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today released the results of his latest special investigation, calling on the province to improve the accountability and transparency of Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) across the province. continued . . .