Georgian College boasting a huge increase in first year enrolment this fall. More than 5-thousand new students have signed up -- a six per cent increase over last year and well above the provincial average of two per cent. Overall enrolment is nine per cent higher at more than 10-thousand students.

Provincial Police think the driver of a white, North American made van may be able to help them in their investigation into the disappearance of an Orangeville woman. The van can be seen driving near the town hall in Orangeville around 3:55 Monday morning. Police think the driver may be able to help them with the timeline of events leading to the disappearance of 42 year old Sonia Veraschin. Her car, a white Toyota Corolla with blood stains on it, was found late Monday morning in an alley near a downtown park in Orangeville. Blood stains were also found at her townhouse. Police said this morning they do suspect foul play.

The coroner is investigating the death of a 51 year old woman in Barrie. Her body was discovered at a townhouse complex at 549 Yonge Street. No other information will be released until after the coroner's office has completed its investigation.

As U.S. President Barack Obama says it’s time to turn the page on Iraq and focus on the U-S economy, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has called the mistaken belief that Saddam Hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction an "understandable error". He says he could not have imagined the nightmare that unfolded in Iraq, but does not regret joining the U-S led invasion. He makes the comments in a memoir published today in the U.K. The war in Iraq claimed more than 100-thousand lives, most of them civilian.

The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board is feeling some Wi-Fi heat now. A group of parents of students at Monsignor Lee Catholic School in Orillia is asking that the wireless technology be abandoned and that computers be 'plugged' in. One parent, whose four year old starts kindergarten next week, says she’ll consider home-schooling if the board doesn’t ditch Wi-Fi. Some studies have suggested the technology causes health problems. Health officials and governments - including the Public and Catholic school boards in Simcoe County - maintain that Wi-Fi is used at safe and acceptable levels in schools.

A 38 year old Barrie man, another from Brampton and a Toronto woman have been charged in a 'return' scam. Midland Police say items that had been stolen from clothing and home improvement stores along the Highway 400 corridor were taken to stores in the same chains in Midland and Orillia for credit. Some of the suspected stolen items have been recovered.

Provincial Police say they believe 42 year old Sonia Veraschin of Orangeville has met with foul play, based on the forensic evidence they’ve collected. Veraschin was reported missing Monday. Her car found in an alley near an Orangeville park with blood stains on it. Traces of blood were also found at her townhouse. Police tracking dogs, a helicopter and officers on all terrain vehicles have been searching a wide area in and around Orangeville.

Barrie Police are hoping to chat with anyone who’s been in contact with 15 year old Hannah Robertshaw, also known as Alex, who left the family home in June and has not been heard from since. Foul play not suspected and there are no medical issues, the family just wants to know she's okay. Hannah has been known to spend a lot of time at Centennial Beach and in the downtown area. She's 5' 4" tall, 107 pounds with a fair complexion and naturally blonde hair that may have black or red streaks or may have been dyed. She also has a piercing over the left side of her lips. Anyone with information is asked to contact Barrie Police at 705-725-7025.

Barrie Police say a Good Samaritan found a two year old kid in traffic on Cundles Avenue Tuesday evening.  The little gaffer only had a diaper on.  Police searched the area for the parents, found the father about an hour later.  He told police the child had been left with elderly grandparents as they were in the process of moving.   The case has been handed over to the Children's Aid Society.

Barrie Police investigating a second armed robbery in the south end in three days.  They say a man armed with a hand gun robbed the Little Eleven Variety store on Yonge Street shortly before 8:00 p.m. Tuesday.  Officers spotted him running from the scene just as the alarm call came in.  They chased him into a ravine, two canine units joined in the pursuit but he got away.  Police think he may be the same thief who it another convenience store on Sunday night.

Provincial Police are treating the discovery of human remains yesterday on Morrow Road in Bracebridge as a homicide. They’ve determined the victim was a white male, but that’s all. An autopsy will be performed tomorrow.

Helicopters have been flying over Orangeville, police officers are on the streets en masse and a portion of Alexandra Park has been cordoned off. A blood smeared car, with its doors and trunk open, was found in an alley near the park. Police say belongs to 42 year old Sonia Veraschin, who was reported missing yesterday. She has not been seen since Sunday. Police say blood was also found at the woman’s home. She has yet to be found.

It’s been described as "closing time chaos", what’s happening in downtown Barrie after last call at the bars, especially at the weekends. Much has been made of the fights that have broken out and the damage done to public and private property, so city council is looking at stricter enforcement measures and how it can have greater input in the licensing process. It's looking into launching a liquor licence review committee that would oversee applications for new liquor licences. While the Alcohol and Gaming Commission has the final say on who gets a licence and who does not, a similar review committee set up to address the same kinds of problems in Kitchener has met with success in opposing some applications and ensuring specific conditions are added to others. Barrie Police Sergeant Robert Allen told KOOL FM NEWS that from a police point of view the problem isn’t getting worse, although there are specific times of year when police are busier when the bars close. In terms of enforcement, he says police work in tandem with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission on inspections and points to a number of charges laid against several bars late last year for liquor licence infractions.

A six year old boy, pulled from Georgian Bay near Collingwood last Thursday, has died at hospital in Toronto. Jonathon Reddy was swimming with his older sister and friends at Northwinds Beach Park when they were overcome by a large wave and pulled under. His sister recovered on her own, Jonathon was revived at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and airlifted to the Hospital for Sick Children and placed in critical intensive care. He died Friday night.

Nottawasaga OPP are looking for the public's help intifying those responsible for damaging three schools in Tottenham in the last three weeks. Vandals broke into a portable at Tottenham Public School on August 13, causing extensive damage to the inside and outside of the building. Last Friday, someone tosed a rock through a window at the school. On August 23, windows were smashed at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and at F. X. O'Reilly Catholic School. Anyone with information is asked to call Nottawasaga OPP at 705-434-1939.

A 37 year old Newmarket man was killed in a single vehicle rollover in Springwater Township. Huronia West OPP say the vehicle was southbound on Crossland Road (County Road 29) around 4:30 Monday afternoon, when it left the road and rolled into the ditch north of County Road 92. The driver was ejected from the vehicle. The victim's name has not been released. A autopsy will be performed Tuesday to determine a cause of death.

The Barrie Colts are back on the ice this week. Training camp started today, scrimmages begin tomorrow. The Blue-White game is Thursday at 7 p.m. and their first exhibition game is Sunday afternoon in Owen Sound. The Colts confirmed today they have dealt first round pick Kerby Rychel to Mississauga in exchange for a second round pick in each of the next two seasons and a third round pick in 2014. They also get a first round pick next season as compensation for Rychel failing to report to training camp. Rychel is the son of Windsor Spitfires General Manager, and former NHLer, Warren Rychel.

Huntsville OPP are probing a collision between two boats on Lake of Bays at the weekend. It happened near Langmaids Island Sunday afternoon. Two small boats, heading in the same direction, had to change course to avoid a personal watercraft that was on the water. They turned toward each other, unaware of the other’s position. A 48 year old Orillia man was hurt when the other boat ran up and over his.

More evidence that Ottawa’s new compensation system for military veterans may be shortchanging veterans with families and those who are the most severely disabled. A study commissioned by the Veteran’s Ombudsman, and obtained by the Canadian Press, found that senior officers benefitted the most from the new system and that the lower the rank, the worse off soldiers become. It also found war widows and orphans are better off under the news system. The study was given to Veterans Affairs Canada last year but it has yet to respond to the findings. The old policy handed out guaranteed lifetime pensions. Under the new system, there are lump sum payments and qualified benefits.

A Barrie man suffered some severe stab wounds early Saturday morning over a contentious drug deal. Barrie Police say they were called to the Royal Victoria Hospital where the victim told them about the incident which happened in the Barrett Crescent area of town. Police subsequently arrested a 17-year-old Barrire man and charged him with aggravated assault. Police asking you to call them if you have any information on this case.   

With the new school year set to start at places like Georgian College, some homeowners may be tempted to make some money by renting out space to students. If this sounds like you, make sure you're aware of this international scam: the prospective renter gets in touch and says he or she would like to move in. They send send what appears to be a legitimate money order, hoping you'll cash it. A few days later, they cancel their rental plans, and ask you to send money back to them. Bottom line; if you're going to be a landlord, don't rent to a tenant you've never seen before. It's best to make the deal face to face.

It was 5 years ago today that Hurricane Katrina blasted through New Orleans. In the aftermath of this devastating event, 1,600 people died. At one point, 80% of the city was under water. American president Barack Obama is in Louisiana today talking about what's been done to help restore the situation and what still needs to be done in terms of rebuilding.  

Over 3,500 soccer players and fans are at the Barrie Sports Complex in Midhurst today (Sunday) for the annual all-star challenge tournament. Besides enjoying the competition, it's your chance to learn more about the potentially deadly disease meningitis. If heading out to this tournament, look for the Take A Shot at Meningitis booth. Four Canadians per week, mostly kids and teens, are infected with this disease, which can progress dangerously fast.

Barrie Police report a massive brawl Saturday night at a downtown nightclub that left several people with injuries. Police say they were called to the VIP section of the establishment where they found a number of people with head injuries as a result of being struck with beer bottles. So far, two 35-year-old Toronto men have been arrested and charged with causing a disturbance. The investigation continues with police actively searching for suspects. If you have any information on this incident, call police.

Back to shopping for school -- and the annual backpack issue. Medical experts say that when buying a backpack for your kids, don't automatically purchase the cheapest one you can find. Look for quality. Look for wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back. One with a waist-level strap is an even better bet. These types of backpacks take some of the weight off the upper back and shoulders. 

It's been a horrific summer for the forests of British Columbia. Because of many fires, more than twice the average amount of forest has gone up in smoke and flames. Alyison Couch, the province's fire information officer, says B.C. is more than double its 10-year average in hectares burned. In a matter of weeks, slightly more than 3,000 hectares were consumed by the ferocious flames -- that's more than half the area of P.E.I. Recent cooler weather has helped the situation in B.C. although a few evacuation alerts remain.  

There could be new, tougher alcohol rules on tap for downtown Barrie. City Council will this Monday think about some ideas on how to battle what councilor Jeff Lehman calls "Barrie's closing time chaos." Lehman would like other councilors to support his plan of asking the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to lay a heavier hand on bars that over-serve. Lehman also wants the city to consider establishing a local license review committee.

Hundreds of government employees, many of them handling unemployment insurance claims, will soon find themselves unemployed. Service Canada, trying to balance its budget, said on Friday that it's nixing 600 jobs across the country. These are in addition to the 600 employees who were let go three months ago. The Canada Employment and Immigration Union, which represents the workers, was told Friday afternoon that even more cuts may come this January. Service Canada said in a statement that all of the employees affected by the announcement were aware that their jobs were temporary. 

Barrie man has been fined $3,500 for hunting without a licence and making false statements to a conservation officer. Robert Fumo has also had his hunting licence suspended for two years and must complete the Ontario Hunter Education Course before he can get it back. Court was told Fumo and another man shot and wounded a deer that had become trapped inside a fenced area at the Carson Hills Estates subdivision in Springwater Township, then left the deer for dead. Conservation officers were alerted to the situation by a caller to the MNR TIPS line (1-877-TIPS-MNR).

A fourth suspect has been arrested in connection with a terror plot uncovered by the RCMP. CTV News reports the arrest was made today in Ottawa. The Mounties say the accused were in possession of plans and parts to build improvised exlosive devices and posed a real and serious threat to national security. More arrests are expected.

It's another sign summer is coming to an end, but so soon? The leaves on some trees have already started to change colour, but tree experts say it doesn't mean we're in for an early fall. There could be a number of reasons for the early show of colour, including damage to the tree's roots, insect infection, even spells of hot, dry weather. The fall colours are expected to be particularly resplendent this year because the weather has been good to the trees. Simcoe County and Muskoka likely to be at their most colourful by the end of September.

Problems with the rear axle has Ford recalling 575 thousand Windstar vans in Canada and the United States. Ford says corrosion may cause the axle to fracture on 1998 to 2003 models. A design flaw allows road salt slush to collect in the axle leading to rust. There have been two minor crashes in the U.S. as a result. Owners will be contacted to make arrangements to have the axle inspected.

An 47 year old Alliston horse trainer has been charged with a number of sexual assault related offences dating back to 1991. York Regional Police say the victim, who was 12 at the time, was assaulted over the course of five years at a barn on Huntington Road in the City of Vaughn. She was a student of the accused. Police believe there may have been other victims.

The gates open on the 157th Barrie Fair at 10 o'clock this morning. It's being staged this year at the Georgian Bay Steam Show grounds in Cookstown. Free shuttle buses will be running every hour, on the hour, from the old Barrie Fairgrounds at Essa Road and Highway 400. The first bus leaves at 10 a.m. Return trips will leave Cookstown on the half hour.

The Barrie Baycats came out on the wrong end of a 4-0 score with Brantford for the second game in a row. Not only did they lose game six of the Intercounty Baseball League final on Thursday night, they also lost a chance at the championship. The Red Sox claimed the title, winning the series four games to three. It's the second year in a row the Baycats have bowed out to the Red Sox. Last year they were defeated in four games straight.

A six year old Barrie boy, rescued late yesterday afternoon from Georgian Bay, remains in the critical care unit at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He and a number of other children were splashing in the water off North Winds Beach, near the Town of Blue Mountains, when a large wave swept him and a young girl underwater. Both were unconscious when they were pulled from the water. The girl recovered on her own, the boy was revived at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital then flown to Sick Kids.