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Hamilton Spectator
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
I checked out a section of an ATV trail in Simcoe County. Here is what I experienced
With only an inch to spare at times, Alain Pominville deftly manoeuvres the Polaris Ranger through the trees. The president of the Central Ontario ATV (COATV) Club was taking me through a section of the trail through the Phelpston tract of the Simcoe Country Forest, a windy section that's rated as 'easiest' and perfect for the novice rider. This is his 'Zen place,' he tells me. 'I like to be out in the bush, so it enables me to get out locally and be out in the forest, enjoying the trail,' he said. 'Enjoying the scenery, the animals we encounter … I just find it very relaxing and it's a nice hobby that we can do right here in Simcoe County.' The club is responsible for about 200-to-300 kilometres of trails across the county. Most of the club's off-road trails run through the County of Simcoe forests , winding through stands of hardwood and softwood, and through muddier patches for those riders who want a bit more challenge. We had set off in from the COATV clubhouse at the Wasaga Beach Sports Park , travelling the roads through Wasaga Beach and Springwater (both municipalities permit ATVs on most municipal roads) to reach the forest tract. While the club does start some rides from its base at the sports park off Klondike Park Road, there are parking areas at trailheads throughout the region where ATVers can off-load their vehicles. On another loop of the club's trails in forest tracts around the Phelpston area, this section ranked as 'blue' for more intermediate riders, Pominville takes us through water that sloshes onto the floor of the cab of the side-by-side off-road utility vehicle. He's already warned me to lift my feet before turning the corner and running through the water, which covers a couple of hundred feet of trail. There's a point to creating windy trails, Pominville said. A Polaris Ranger, piloted by Central Ontario ATV Club president Alain Pominville, pushes through water on a COATV trail in a County of Simcoe forest. 'If you put in straight trails, people are going to go too fast,' he said. 'The twisty, windy approach (has) people go a little bit slower, they enjoy the trail a little more, and they spend more time on the trail. 'If you put straight lines, you're in and out in 15 minutes. If you put in a windy trail, you could spend a half-hour, 45 minutes (on the trail).' The local club was created in 1999. Pominville has been a member for about 15 years, and the club boasts around 1,400-to-1,600 members. He said the club enjoyed a boost during the pandemic, when riding an ATV outside was one of the few activities one could take part in. Over the years, Pominville said, the club has developed a close working relationship with the County of Simcoe. 'They allow us to use the forests, and we maintain the trails to a certain level of their choice,' he said. 'We're also serving as their eyes in the forests, as they can't be everywhere, and between the user groups (the trails also get used by snowmobiles in winter, off-road motorcycles, and cyclists) reporting back to the county, they have more coverage of what's happening in their forests.' Before you head out on the trail, here are a few things you need to know: The local club's trails are also part of the Ontario Federation of ATV club's QuadON app, which is a map of all OFATV-affiliated trails in Ontario. The free version also details which trails are open and closed (a paid version, for $5, has features that include tracking your ride). To ride on a COATV trail, drivers must hold insurance, their vehicle must be plated, and carry an OFATV trail permit; the annual permit is $150, which provides access to close to 10,000 km of trails across Ontario. A daypass is $25. For a map of COATV trails, go to . Of that annual permit fee, the local club gets around $65 to be spent on trail construction and maintenance. Pominville estimated COATV spent close to $100,000 in 2024 on trail maintenance. Trail safety is always key, he said. That means helmets, seatbelts if you're in a vehicle that's equipped, and riding to the ability of the slowest driver. 'Our main focus has always been to follow the rules,' he said.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Body Found After Monthslong Search for Man Who Fell Through Ice When ATV Plunged into River
The body of a man who went missing has been found two months after he first disappeared after sinking below the ice on a river in Alaska On Friday, May 23, Alaska State Troopers identified the body of 32-year-old Skye Rench, who was riding in an ATV with four other men when the vehicle fell into the Susitna River Three of the men were able to escape the water and survive, but Rench and Sean Kendall, whose body is still missing, were carried under by a current in the riverThe body of a man who fell through the ice on Alaska's Susitna River in early March has been found, according to authorities. The Alaska State Troopers shared in a Friday, May 23, release that the body of Skye Rench had been located by a private pilot near the mouth of the river on Thursday, May 22. The Alaska Department of Public Safety sent a helicopter to the area, where a rescue team member helped recover Rench's body and bring it to the Wasilla Airport. Rench was identified after his body was transported to the State Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy and identification. The 32-year-old resident of Wasilla, Alaska, first went missing on March 6 with Sean Kendall, who has still yet to be found. "Search teams are working to determine if there are any other areas that should be searched with last week's discovery of Rench," Austin McDaniel, communications director for the Alaska Department of Public Safety, told PEOPLE in regards to the ongoing search for Kendall. The two men had been traveling in a side-by-side ATV with three other adults when the vehicle "broke through the ice" on the river the morning of Thursday, March 6, according to Alaska State Troopers. Rench and Kendall, a 42-year-old Anchorage, Alaska, resident, were carried under the ice by the river's current, while the other three passengers escaped from the water and survived. At the time of the incident, they were traveling in a six-seat Polaris Ranger utility vehicle as part of a five-man crew, according to the Anchorage Daily News, which reported that they had been traveling to Point Mackenzie when the ATV sank under the ice. Rech was engaged to be married at the time of his death, according to a GoFundMe created after he went missing in March. An obituary from Rench's family posted to the GoFundMe says he "was truly blessed when he found the love of his life, Heidi. These two were the epitome of love, truly in sync with one another." The obituary also described Rench as "a devoted protector of those he loved" and "an Alaskan to the core" who "loved to hunt, ride snowmachines and love the outdoors." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Rench was born on Nov. 6, 1992, and graduated from Colony High School in 2011, after which he became an apprentice powerline man, then a foreman. He eventually opened the company Helacomm Communications, according to his obituary. "Skye liked to come across as a tough individual, which he was, but he also had a very tender, warm heart. When you received a hug from Skye, it was the most genuine and meaningful tight embrace," Rench's obituary read. "Skye was a very honest person and had a lot of respect for others." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
1 hospitalized after crash between UTV and SUV in Marshall County
MARSHALL COUNTY, Iowa — A crash involving an SUV and a UTV sent one person to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon. Homeowner describes how his family escaped burning home that left 3 dead According to the Marshall County Sheriff's Office, the crash occurred at about 3:40 p.m. in the 1000 block of 190th Street, northwest of State Center. When first responders arrived at the scene, they found that a Polaris Ranger utility vehicle and a Ford SUV had collided. The sheriff's office said the driver of the UTV was seriously injured and transported to a Des Moines hospital via air ambulance. The occupants of the SUV were not injured. An investigation into the crash is ongoing, the sheriff's office said. No additional information has been released. Iowa News: 1 hospitalized after crash between UTV and SUV in Marshall County Greenfield marks 1 year anniversary of deadly EF 4 tornado Disability Rights Iowa braces for potential budget cuts Man, officers shot in exchange of gunfire in eastern Iowa WHO 13 Farm Report: Wednesday, May 21st Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Louisiana State Police: 3 men die in 2 crashes over Easter weekend in Troop E region
Louisiana State Police handled two crashes over the Easter weekend that resulted in the deaths of three men. The first crash happened early Saturday, just before 2 a.m., after a trooper tried to pull over the driver of a 2014 Jeep Cherokee for improper lane usage on MacArthur Drive in Alexandria, according to a news release. The driver "refused to stop, initiated a pursuit and continued fleeing westbound" on England Drive at a high rate of speed, but the trooper ended the chase after losing the Jeep, it reads. The trooper kept searching, though, and about 50 minutes later, found the Jeep partially submerged in a bayou after it apparently left the road in a curve, reads the release. Neither man who had been inside the Jeep, 30-year-old Brandon Wright of Pineville and 33-year-old Aaron Watson of Amite, were wearing seat belts, it reads. Both had been ejected and died at the scene. An investigation is continuing and, at the time of the release, they had not been able to determine which man was driving the Jeep. 'All they had to do is listen': People protest after shooting death of Alexandria mother Rapides homicide cases: 2 men arraigned in 2024 Easter shooting death of Alexandria man The second crash happened about 9:05 p.m. Saturday in Avoyelles Parish, reads a separate release. Troopers were called to a crash on Sayes Road near La. Highway 115 in the Effie community, finding a 2014 Polaris Ranger utility terrain vehicle that had been driven off Sayes Road and overturned. The UTV was driven by Brian K. Luneau, 47, of Addison, Texas. He was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. He died at the scene, reads the release. A juvenile who was restrained was not injured. According to the release, investigators suspect impairment to be a factor in the crash. Toxicology samples were taken, and the crash remains under investigation. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: 3 men die in 2 crashes over Easter weekend in Avoyelles, Rapides
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'I just want them out': Search to resume for 2 men lost in Susitna River
Apr. 18—PALMER — The search for two men lost after their side-by-side plunged into the Susitna River in early March is set to resume as the ice starts to go out in Southcentral Alaska's spring breakup. The incident occurred the morning of March 6 as a five-man work crew including 32-year-old Wasilla resident Skye Rench and 42-year-old Anchorage resident Sean Kendall rode from a remote job site to Point MacKenzie. Alaska State Troopers said the six-seat Polaris Ranger utility vehicle broke through the ice at the confluence of Fish Creek and the Susitna River. Rench and Kendall were swept under. The three others were able to walk back to a work camp. The men were working for Alaska Directional LLC, a Palmer-based company. The job was part of a Matanuska Telecom Association project installing an underground fiber-optic cable to bring high-speed internet to Beluga and Tyonek, according to a state permit. The Alaska Occupational Safety and Health section last month said it was investigating the incident. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating, a spokesperson said this week. Alaska Directional issued a statement this week saying the company prioritizes employee and partner safety and is "fully cooperating" with the investigation. "Alaska Directional is profoundly saddened by this tragic incident. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and colleagues of those affected," the statement said. "We are grateful for the efforts of everyone involved in the response and for the overwhelming support from the community." Alaska State Troopers looked for Rench and Kendall for two days before transitioning to a "reactive" search, meaning the agency would deploy resources if new leads emerged. Rench's father, Thomas Rench, mounted his own search last month and said he got no outside help. He's been out to the site three times and plans to return this weekend. "What I live on right now, I haven't even taken time to grieve," Rench said. "I understand that I'll never see him again, but I've got a job to do." Stacey Calder, Rench's mother, this week said troopers told her they flew over the area on Monday. Calder said the ice at the confluence with Fish Creek is fairly broken up, but just downriver the ice is holding. "I just want the men out of that water," she said in an interview. "I just want them out. It terrifies me that they're still in there." Troopers conducted multiple flights over the area where the men disappeared to assess ice conditions, including one this week, according to spokesperson Tess Williams. Troopers plan to deploy the Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team when conditions improve, Williams said. The nonprofit dive team is activated by the Alaska Department of Public Safety for water-related emergencies around the state. A team member flew the Susitna River between Deshka Landing and Cook Inlet on Monday, according to a post Wednesday on the group's Facebook page. Several people have sent videos and photos of the area over the last few days. Breakup is "finally starting" on the river but it is progressing slowly, the team said. Once the ice clears, the team will be able to use a boat to search areas they couldn't access due to "very poor ice" over moving water and the lack of a defined search area due to snow and ice covering river channels, the post said. "It is extremely hard to wait to begin a search for loved ones, not only for the family and friends but also for the searchers," it said. "But some times it is necessary to keep another family from experiencing the same tragedy." A representative of the Kendall family said they are grateful for the attention being given to the recovery efforts and the mission to bring both men out. Hundreds attended separate memorial ceremonies held last month. Kendall grew up in Anchorage with two brothers and a sister, all graduates of West High School. He has a 16-year-old son. Rench grew up in Mat-Su and graduated from Colony High School. Both had extensive experience in the Alaska outdoors. Rench ran the Iron Dog snowmachine race for the first time in February. He told his fiance he was concerned about making the trip out on March 6, Calder said. It had rained hard the night before. "He told me that he felt that they should have been using snowmachines," she said. "He knows how to skip snowmachines."
