A Hamilton man is facing an impaired driving charge after two off-duty police officer came across a motorist slumped over
in his stopped vehcile.

Two Hamilton Police officers were on their way to work at around 5 o'clock Sunday morning when they pulled up behind a vehicle on the Lincoln Alexander Parkway off-ramp at Upper Wentworth.

A female officer got out to investigate and found a man slumped over the steering wheel.

He appeared to be highly intoxicated.

The man in his twenties was arrested and charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle.

His name hasn't been released.

Halton Regional Police are trying to identify two men they think may be sexual predators.

Police say that on Thursday, two 15-year-old boys were approached by a man in a car who held up a package of cookies and offered them one.

Two days earlier, a man in a parked car struck up a conversation with a 15-year-old girl at a bus stop near a Burlington high school.

Police are asking anyone with information to give them a call.

They didn't get zapped -- but they did get cuffed.

Two men are facing charges after they were spotted stealing copper wire from poles near Gage Park yesterday afternoon.

Police allege the two were in possession of wire taken from poles on Rothsay Avenue and Lawrence Road.

A 33 and 48-year old man have been charged.

More than one-and-a-half million dollars worth of marijuana has been seized from a home on the east mountain.

Officers searched a place on Ninth Avenue last night and found a sophisticated grow op inside.

Just shy of 15-hundred plants in various stages of growth were rounded up, along with a quantity of processed marijuana.

Investigators say hydro leading to the house was compromised and it has since been cut off by Horizon Utilities.

The man inside the home at the time has been arrested.

Twenty-six-year-old Jim Rong Tan of Hamilton is charged with cultivation and possesion of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, as well as theft of electricity.

The investigation is ongoing.

Police aren't getting much cooperation from the victim of a beating in the east end.

Around 1:30 this morning, a man was walking along Britannia Avenue near Tragina when he was approached by two men.

Police say the suspects assaulted the man -- causing him serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The 25-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment.

However, investigators say he has not been cooperative.

Fire officials in Hamilton, and across Canada for that matter, are reminding residents to be extra cautious with Victoria Day fireworks.

Fire services are recommending people attend public fireworks displays rather than putting on their own light show.

The Dundas Driving Park on Cross Street is hosting its annual fireworks show on Sunday at dusk.

But if you're planning your own display, fire officials are urging you to carefully follow the directions on the packaging.

Officials say a water hose or pail of water should be kept close by when discharging fireworks.

If you're making a run for the border this long weekend, you can expect a lot of company.

U-S Customs officials say border points will be busy for the next two weekends.

Americans will celebrate Memorial Day next weekend.

To cut down on delays, border officials are reminding you to make sure you have the proper documents.

Travellers are also being advised to check traffic conditions at border crossings.

The first long weekend of the summer driving season is upon us, and that means an increased police presence on the roads.

OPP are out in full force over the Victoria Day weekend looking for aggressive, impaired and distracted drivers as well as unsafe vehicles.

Police will be using a combination of marked cars, unmarked cars, motorcycles and aircraft to patrol the roads.

RIDE programs are also scheduled.

Hamilton and Burlington will shut down a number of venues and services over the Victoria Day long weekend.

HAMILTON

All City of Hamilton administrative offices will close on Monday, May 21, 2012 and will reopen on Tuesday, May 22, 2012.   For emergencies involving roads, water mains, sewer systems, public health and safety issues, call 905-546-CITY (2489).

Additional Services

Garbage and Recycling Pick Up

Green cart, blue box and garbage pickup: There is no green bin, blue box and garbage pick up on Victoria Day.  Pick up will be one day later than usual. Up to 3 containers of garbage for pick up are allowed on your day during the week after Victoria Day. Community Recycling Centres and Transfer Stations: Closed on Victoria Day. For more information, visit www.hamilton.ca/waste. 

HSR Bus Schedules

The HSR will be operating on a Sunday/Holiday Schedule for Victoria Day. Please call HSR information at 905-527-4441 for more details.

ATS-DARTS

DARTS will be operating normal service hours on Victoria Day, Monday, May 21st. All subscription trips on DARTS, except for dialysis, are cancelled for May 21. If passengers need to travel on this day, they must make an advance reservation to do so.

ATS Reservations for DARTS will be closed on Monday, May 21st, and seven day advance reservations normally taken on Monday will be taken on Tuesday, May 22nd.

Recreation

Recreation centres and arenas will be CLOSED on Victoria Day, Monday, May 21st. Visit www.hamilton.ca/recreation for locations and schedules.

Hamilton Civic Museums

All Hamilton Civic Museums will be CLOSED Victoria Day, Monday, May 21st. For operating hours and events, visit www.hamilton.ca/museums.

Public Health Services

For Public Health matters concerning:

• Reports of suspected reportable diseases, food poisoning call 905-546-2063
• Reports of environmental spills, fires or other events that may be a health hazard or safety issue call 905-546-CITY (2489)
• Reports of rabies animal exposures call 905-546-3500
• Safe Water Program issues that may be a health hazard call 905-546-2489 or visit www.hamilton.ca/safewater  

Ontario Works

All Ontario Works offices will be CLOSED on Victoria Day, Monday, May 21st, reopening on Tuesday, May 22nd. The City of Hamilton’s Employment Resource Centres located at 181 Main St W (Career Development Centre), 2255 Barton St East and 1550 Upper James will be closed on Victoria Day. All three centres will be open to assist you with any employment service needs on Tuesday, May 22nd at 8:30 a.m.

Animal Services

Animal Services Offices will be closed on Sunday, May 20th and Monday, May 21st. For 24 hour Animal Services emergency issues, please call: 905-574-3433. 

Property Tax Payments

All Municipal Service Centres and the Citizen Service Centre will be closed on Victoria Day, Monday, May 21st. Payment of property taxes and parking tickets may be submitted into a drop box at the rear doors of City Hall, 71 Main Street West or in a drop box at your nearest Municipal Service Centre as follows:

• Ancaster: 300 Wilson Street East
• Dundas: 60 Main St.
• Flamborough: 7 Innovation Drive, Suite 117
• Glanbrook: 4280 Binbrook Rd.
• Stoney Creek: 777 Hwy. 8

Payments may also be made anytime by mail to: The City of Hamilton c/o Tax Department 71 Main Street West Hamilton, ON, L8P 4Y5

Parking Violations

Online payments can be made at: www.hamilton.ca. Payment of Parking Violations can be made by mail to the pre-printed address indicated on the parking tag or dropped off into the drop box at the nearest Municipal Service Centre (see addresses above) or Taxation Division (noted above). The Hamilton Municipal Parking System office at 80 Main St. West, at Summers Lane, also accepts payments for parking violations at its drop box.

Traffic Violations

Online payments can be made anytime at: www.hamilton.ca. The Provincial Offences Administration Office at 45 Main St. East, 4th Floor, Suite 408 (John Sopinka) Court House   will be closed Victoria Day, Monday, May 21st and will reopen Tuesday, May 22nd.

BURLINGTON

Holiday hours will be in effect for City of Burlington programs and services on the Victoria Day long weekend. City Hall will be closed on Monday, May 21, 2012 and will reopen on Tuesday, May 22, 2012.  During this time, a number of city administrative services will not be available.

Activities at parks and recreation facilities including city pools, arenas and community centres vary over the Victoria Day long weekend. Call your local pool/arena for specific swim/skate times.

Burlington Transit operates a Sunday service schedule on statutory holidays. The administration offices, including the downtown transit terminal will be closed on Monday, May 21. Call BusLINE 905-639-0550 or visit www.burlington.ca/transit for more information.

Roads and parks maintenance will provide regular service over the Victoria Day holiday; however, the administrative office will be closed on Monday, May 21. For questions about roads and parks maintenance please call 905-333-6166 during regular hours of operation of 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Parking: Free parking is available in the downtown core at all meters, municipal lots and the parking garage on Monday, May 21. The Waterfront parking lots (east and west) do not provide free parking on statutory holidays.

A complete listing of hours of operation, phone numbers for city facilities and services available can be found on the city’s website, www.burlington.ca.

Another first for Hamilton.  

Our city is home to the country's first male midwife.

Otis Kryzanauskas is graduating today from McMaster University's midwife program.  

Most women have been accepting so far and Kryzanauskas is close to delivering his 100th baby.

He’s joining the Community Midwives of Hamilton on Main Street West, after writing the national registration exam next week.

Hamilton is already a pioneer in midwifery, creating the country’s first university program at McMaster in 1993.