By Sue Tiffin

Residents in Minden Hills who heard loud explosions on the evening of Nov. 9 received an answer to the cause of the blasts with an OPP press release.

Jaime Bilodeau was one of those residents. She was outside on her back deck, minutes south of Minden.“It was seasonably warm for the time of year so l was enjoying the mild weather,” she said. “Then out of the quiet stillness a thumping boom sounded to the left of me. I felt it in my chest.”
Bilodeau immediately sent a text to her partner, who was hunting.
“He replied with amazement, as he and others had heard the same thing. Our geographical locations were not really close together, so this was weird.”

About seven minutes after hearing and feeling the first boom, Bilodeau said, another cluster of four booms followed.
After messaging neighbours to ensure everyone was OK, she wondered what she had heard.

Bilodeau posted on her personal social media, and received responses that people from various spots in Minden Hills had also heard the explosions.
Haliburton Highlands OPP reported on Nov. 11 that at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 9, they responded with the OPP Explosive Disposal Unit to a call regarding an unexploded mining charge at a property on County Road 21 in Minden Hills. “Due to the nature of the explosives, the EDU members disposed of them at the scene using approved disposal techniques,” reads the release. “EDU members rendered the scene safe for the property owner and public.”

The OPP reminded the public to call police if they suspect they may have come across what they believe may be explosives.