Written by Nick Birnie
UPDATE: 1:50pm
The search is still on for a missing Kapuskasing couple and their helicopter.
The couple, Jody and Nicole Blais, were last seen leaving Sudbury around 6:45pm Monday headed for their destination of Fauquier.
Local search party leader Gilbert Mondoux says they have met with the Mattagami Fire Department, who are offering help via volunteers on snowmobiles as well as supplying food and coffee for those volunteering in the search.
Mondoux wants to thank people for the support in their search and a big thanks to the Mattagami First Nation for their help.
UPDATE: 11:30am
Do not do an independent search for the missing Kapuskasing couple.
According to OPP Constable Stephanie Belec, the JRCC is still flying over the area and the police are consistently fielding calls and following up on any pertinent details.
However, belec says independent search parties are not being encouraged by police,
Further details and updates will be provided as they come in.
UPDATE: Friday, 10:41am
A cell phone signal may have the search party in luck.
According to local search party leader and friend of the family Gilbert Mondoux, as the fourth day begins with Jody and Nicole Blais missing, he claims a cellphone of one of the missing is being tracked.
Mondoux says on a Facebook post to update local residents that the search crews are headed for Watershed and Gogama, the site of where the signal has come from.
He says they were leaving the Timmins area roughly an hour ago to search via snowmobile. Mondoux also says they have a crew searching south of Kapuskasing.
Mondoux stresses that anybody doing a search between Fauquier and Timmins should not go alone and should also make sure they alert someone of where they are headed and bring a GPS.
Again, Mondoux asks people to remain positive and pray for the Blais family at this time.
UPDATE: Friday, 12:08am
As the day comes to an end local search party leader and friend of the Blais family Gilbert Mondoux says they are hopeful of finding the couple still.
Mondoux posted on Facebook an update for his followers and worried local residents that the search parties will be heading for a new location tomorrow morning after receiving some new information that they cannot confirm as of this evening.
However, Mondoux continued in his post by asking residents to remain positive that Jody and Nicole are currently waiting to be found.
OPP Constable Stephanie Belec has already reported that the OPP have currently joined up with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre or JRCC and also the OPP Emergency Response Team in the search and rescue operation.
UPDATE: 11:08am
As the search for a missing helicopter carrying a Kapuskasing couple continues, the weather has certainly not been a help.
According to Environment Canada Warning Preparedness Meteorologist Peter Kimbell, the temperatures since Monday have been cold between Timmins and Kapuskasing.
Kimbell says in Timmins the low Monday was -23, Tuesday saw a low of -31, and Wednesday a low of -27 with a low of -16 forecast tonight.
He says in Kapuskasing we have seen lows of -23, -28 and last night a low of -23 with a forecasted low tonight of -16 as well.
Therefore Kimbell says the temperatures have not been kind over the past few days since the helicopter first went missing.
At this time the OPP have currently joined up with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre or JRCC and also the OPP Emergency Response Team and local residents and friends of the Blais family to help track down the helicopter.
The search for a missing Kapuskasing couple and their helicpoter is on.
The OPP say the flight which saw Jody Blais and his wife Nicole take off from Sudbury on Monday, was set to arrive at a hangar in Fauquier around 6:45pm.
Constable Stephanie Belec says the OPP Emergency Response Team has joined up with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre from CFB Trenton.
Local residents and friends of the Blais family such as Gilbert Mondoux have posted on Facebook stating they’re working hand-in-hand with the OPP to help track down the helicopter.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.