The Citizen, 2012-05-24, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012.M-T woman gets probation for OSPCA charge
Serious business
Devin Bridge was not joking around during his chance at
the running long jump during Brussels Public School’s
annual track and field competition on May 15. (Denny Scott
photo)
Morris-Turnberry residentMargaretha Thiessen was foundguilty of the Ontario Society for thePrevention of Cruelty to Animals
(OSPCA) charge of permitting an
animal to be in distress in Wingham
court on May 17.
Judge R.G.E. Hunter imposed six
months of probation on Thiessen as
a result of the April 20, 2011 charge,adding that she will not be allowedto own or care for an animal duringthat period.
Crown Attorney Laura Grant said
the incident began when a witness
was driving along Harriston Road in
front of Thiessen’s home just north
of Bluevale and several puppies
were loose and walking around theroad. Grant said the person went toThiessen’s home and told her aboutthe loose dogs around the road,
concerned for their safety.
Thiessen acknowledged the
comments, Grant said, and then
went into the house and came out
with a white cat, which she then held
by its neck, causing it to cry out.
Grant said after the cat cried out
that the dogs came running back to
Thiessen’s house in response.
Thiessen then let go of the cat,
giving it to the dogs, Grant said, at
which time the cat was then “torn
up” by the puppies.
After the incident, an OSPCA
investigation was launched and a
representative was sent to the
Thiessens’ farm several days later
and the corpse of a cat was exhumed,
Grant said.
Phil Cornish, Thiessen’s lawyer,
said Thiessen has acceptedresponsibility for the incident, butclaimed the events were not exactlyas Grant had explained.
Cornish said Thiessen had been
away for a few days prior to the
incident and over that time the dogs
had made their way out of their
enclosures and killed the cat.
Cornish said the incident witnessed
by the passersby was of the dogs and
the cat’s already-dead carcass.
Cornish said the Thiessens have
historically kept cats on the property
because they live in a rural area to
kill rats and mice on the property.
Cornish said that a picture
submitted as evidence in the case
was of a cat that had been killed by
the dogs while Thiessen was away.
He said Thiessen accepted
responsibility that the cat’s death
was her fault, even though she
claims she hadn’t been there.
Thiessen had no criminal record,Cornish said, as Grant pushed for 12months of probation and an animalprohibition during that period where
Thiessen would not be allowed to
own or care for any animals.
Cornish acknowledged that
Thiessen still had animals at the
home and did have some cats for
pest control on the farm. He said the
Thiessens would work with the
OSPCA to find suitable homes for
the remaining animals.
Hunter reduced the suggested
sentence to six months of probation,
during which time Thiessen will not
be allowed to own or care for any
animals.
NO INSURANCE
Robert Grotenhuis of RR1,
Clifford pled guilty to one charge of
driving while disqualified and one
charge of driving without insurance,
Continued from page 1
had set it up as her last action as
president.
Armstrong said he felt a mixture
of emotions when he found out the
Fund would be featured on such a
prominent, national stage.
“I was overjoyed, but I was
stressed at the same time,” he said.
Armstrong was happy, but he
knew there would be a lot of work to
follow.
He said some major
improvements to the Fund’s website
had to take place before the program
aired.
“There were a lot of things I knew
needed to get done,” he said.
The Fund has placed 15
defibrillators across Ontario and
will be placing another five soon,
with three of them scheduled to be
placed within Huron County.
So much of what the Fund does is
centred locally, Armstrong said,
with the Dave Mounsey Memorial
Fund Run Around the Square in
Goderich that took place earlier this
month as one example. Other
fundraisers for the Fund are
Dancing with the Stars of the OPP
and the annual motorcycle ride,
which are both Huron County
events.
More information on the Dave
Mounsey Memorial Fund can be
found at the Fund’s website, at
www.davemounsey.com
Continued from page 1
Rob Thomas in Clinton, who
Mueller said would stand behind the
loss in property values due to wind
turbines.
Councillor Larry McGrath said
council needed to bring the experts
Mueller spoke of, as well as
witnesses and homeowners to court
in order to help prove the case
against wind turbines.
MacLellan said a similar argument
over property values was brought
against a wind turbine company on
Wolf Island, but the residents lost in
court.
Deputy-Mayor Joe Steffler said
such a bylaw could be opening up a
can of worms in a municipality with
a lot of industry and agricultural
business. Under such a bylaw
neighbours would have an avenue to
complain about property values due
to any industry.
“You’ve done your homework,”
Steffler said to Mueller, “now we
have to do ours.”
MacLellan, however, said that
with such a bylaw in place, any kind
of adverse effect from a business,
not necessarily a wind turbine
company, could be brought back to
the bylaw and the company would
be responsible.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable,”
MacLellan told councillors.
Chief Administrative Officer Brad
Knight, however, said council would
have to watch what they did with the
bylaw, however, because Mueller
was talking about what could be
happening on his private property
and council should only be dealing
with issues on municipal property.
If a bylaw was to be examined,
councillors said, it would have to be
generic and that way Huron East
could not be accused of going after
one company specifically with
it.
Councillor Bill Siemon suggested
that council request legal advice on
the issue, however no official motion
was made.
PUBLIC MEETING
The Council of the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry
will be holding a public meeting, to review proposed
“Options for Fire Service” for the Municipality.
All are welcome to attend.
Location:North Huron Wescast Community Complex, in the Wingham
Knights of Columbus Centre, 99 Kerr Drive, Wingham, ON
Date:Thursday, May 24th, 2012
Time:7:00 pm
Presentations and Comments:
The members of the public will be given opportunity for
presentations, which must be booked at least 1 week prior
to the meeting, by Thursday, May 17th, 2012 at 5 pm.
Please call the municipal office and request
to be added to the agenda.
Comments from the general public are encouraged and will be
received at the meeting.
Volunteers:
The Council are asking that persons interested in a role as a
“Volunteer Fire Fighter”, to advise the Municipality.
For further information, please call the Municipal Office 519-887-
6137 or email: mail@morristurnberry.ca
Published by “The Council of the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry”
dated the 3rd day of May, 2012.
REPRINTS
OF PHOTOS
taken by Citizen
photographers are
available to purchase.
ALL ARE IN COLOUR
4x6 - $4.00
5x7 - $5.00
8x10 - $8.00
Phone to order ~
519-523-4792
or 519-887-9114
BUNGALOW TOWNHOMES
with accessibility features
Saturday, May 26 10 am - 3 pm
YOU are invited to aYOU are invited to a
519-335-3156
www.howickhomes.com
SPECIAL OPEN HOUSE
792 Sports Dr., Brussels
SPECIAL OPEN HOUSE
792 Sports Dr., Brussels
Featuring
Furniture by
$199,500from
Fund earns $15,000
Council could investigate bylaw
Continued on page 18