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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-03-08, Page 5Liason officer Constable Carl Ricker takes time to show little Brooklyn Wheeler one of the O.P.P.’s “Good Bears.” Every cruiser is now equipped with the stuffed toy as part of a new concept in dealing with situations that involve children. It is hoped that the bears will help to ease the trauma suffered by a child following an accident or assault. Constable Ricker is with the Brussels Extended Service Office. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY. MARCH 8, 1989. PAGE 5. OPP moving policing back into community BY BONNIE GROPP “Good day, Constable O’Malley. Lovely morning, isn’t it?’’ ‘ ‘That it is, Mrs. Jones and top of the mornin’ to you. How’s that new baby daughter of yours? Sure is a pretty little thing.’’ How many of you remember when a conversation like this was an every day occurrence, when the local law enforcer was as familiar to you as the ‘boy next door’? Sir Robert Peel, founder of the police force in London, England once stated, “The people are the police and the police are the people.” With the co-operation of the On­ tario Provincial Police (O.P.P.) and several soon to be selected area Advisory Committees, this is the type of policing we can hopefully get back. Community-oriented policing was first established in the Barrie area, but the concept had been around for some time before that. It had already proven itself in Au­ stralia and the United States, and the O.P.P. have not been far behind. Wingham Constable Carl Ricker, will be the liason officer for the villages of Brussels and Blyth, and the townships of Grey, Morris, Turnberry and East Wawanosh. His Extended Service Office is located in the basement of the Brussels Public Library and he, along with the appointed members of the Police Advisory Committee, will take the initial step in getting' back to basics - establishing contact within the community. As liason officer, Constable Rick­ er will take the place of the ‘neighbourhood cop’. People will be able to approach him and get acquainted with him. The commit­ tee will meet with him to make periodic reports or offer sugges­ tions on areas of particular con­ cern. This in turn will help him in providing good quality police ser­ vice. A member of the Wingham force for 20 years, Constable Ricker has three children: Valerie, 21, is presently studying at the Univer­ sity of Windsor; Robert, 19, will soon have completed his courses at Mohawk College and Jennifer, 16, is a student at F. E. Madill. Constable Ricker volunteered for the position as liason officer as he knows quite a few people in the area. He explained that he will not be in the Brussels office all the time. “This does not mean that I’m the Brussels constable per se.” Though the hours for the office are as yet undetermined. Constable Ricker pointed out that other officers would have access to it and people should feel free to come in and speak with any of them if they so desire. “If the cruiser is out front the office is open.” The grand opening of the Brus­ sels Extended Service Office will be held on March 22, 1989 between 2 and 4 p.m. at the Library. There will be coffee and doughnuts for everyone and a chance to meet your liason officer. Take the time to get the know the ‘cop on the beat’. Also expected to be on hand for the open house will be Superintendent Murray Peer from the Mt. Forest detachment and Staff Sgt. McKee of Wingham O.P.P. Brussels Council briefs Crackdown planned on parking space abusers A crackdown is planned on those who abuse parking spaces reserved for the handicapped at the Brus­ sels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, Brussels councillors decid­ ed Monday night. Despite efforts to get people to leave the spaces for those handi­ capped people who need them, non-handicapped people keep tak­ ing the space. Council voted to put a notice in this week’s Citizen to warn people to stop the practice and for those who don’t, trespass­ ing charges will be laid by the Ontario Provincial Police.***** Meanwhile the B.M. & G. recre­ ation committee has serious cash­ flow problems and councillors vot­ ed to advance $10,000, (equal to the Brussels share of the budget last year), to the committee, pend­ ing the final approval of the 1989 budget which will set the village share. “They’re in dire straits”, Hugh Hanly, Clerk-treasurer told council. He indicated that as well as being unable to pay its utility bill and will have a deficit from last year. Reeve Gordon Workman agreed the $10,000 should be paid but he thumped the table in displeasure at the lack of effort of present recreation committee members, pointing that in years past, recrea­ tion committee members had vol­ unteered their services at dances and other events to keep costs down. Now all the money coming into the committees coffers comes from service clubs and the catering group, he said.***** Charges being laid against one property owner, will be delayed pending investigation of another and delayed because of ill health of another under the provisions of the property standards by-law, council decided. Council decided to give the one property owner longer to get the work done after a letter from the man’s lawyer and his doctor said that he was not well enough to do the work. Meanwhile council decided to send letters to a number of other property owners because of the condition of their properties. This is the first step toward eventually laying charges. Under the by-law property owners can be fined up to $500 for each day they delay in cleaning up their properties. The good or bad news on the Letters to the editor Mom says thanks to Belgrave's coaches THE EDITOR, Hockey coaches are hard to find, especially good ones. Belgrave has some of the finest. As a parent, with children in­ volved with three different teams, I spend a lot of time in hockey arenas. Most of the time I really enjoy it but at times I get sick of it and start to find fault with things. I am sure that I am not alone in this area but I would speak up and say that our children have some of the finest coaches around and feel that they have done an excellent job in the past and will continue to do so in the future. I hope they will come back next year because with the following men not spending time and energy as well as giving friendship to our children there would not be hockey teams in Belgrave. fiscal shape of the village for 1988 will be revealed to the public at a special meeting with the village’s auditor Monday night at 8 p.m. Council will hold a budget meeting to set the new budget for 1989 on March 28. There is confusion even among council members as to what can and cannot be recycled under the village’s new recycling program, discussion showed. The program comes into effect on April 5. Council will hold a special open meeting on the recycling program on March 29 at which people will be able to get answers to any ques­ tions regarding the program. ***** 1 send a special thanks to: our Tyke coaches, Tom Irwin and Tom Black; Novice, Cam Cook and Jeff Lockridge; Atom, Brian Potter, Arnold Spivey and Robert Gordon; and Pee Wee, Leonard Robinson, Day Centre says thanks for the help THE EDITOR, To Supporters of the Day Centre for the Homebound: Thank you very much for your donations to the centre. Your interest and support is greatly appreciated to assist in providing a social and recreational program for Older Adults living in North Huron and Southern Bruce Counties. The Centre’s other funding sources include: a daily user fee, a grant from Huron County and the Town of Wingham, and 70 per cent Councillor Mary Stretton was named to a new liason committee with the Ontario Provincial Police and their new Extended Service Office in Brussels Library. The committee will meet monthly with Constable Carl Ricker of the Wing­ ham detachment who will be the extended service officer for the Brussels area. Other members of the community as well as represen­ tatives of the surrounding town­ ships will be appointed to the committee. Council will seek new cost esti­ mates from B. M. Ross and Associates, its consulting engi­ Harry Wilson and Bob Dickert. These men spend a lot of time in arenas with their own boys and girls as well as our children and two of our coaches have no children of their own involved but they still of our total budget is provided by the Ministry of Community and Social Services. Fundraising pro­ jects and donations complement these sources in order to balance our annual budget. In the current year we have served over 90 clients who range in age 50-99 years of age. Most of the participants live in their own homes and want to remain independent for as long as possible. Involve­ ment in the Day Centre keeps people in touch with the community neers before it decides what to do about extending sewer service on John and James Streets as well as in the industrial park. There have been several inquiries about build­ ing on the former two streets. Although the property owners will be assessed a lot levy of $2,250 to cover the costs, council must decide if it can find the money in the budget to cover the construc­ tion until the money can be recovered from the lot owners. ***** Building permits were issued to Georghe Danescu for a new house in Krauter Court and St. John’s Anglican Church for repairs to brick work. give their time and friendship to all of our children. 1 am sure that I am not alone when I say Belgrave really have some of the finest. BELGRAVE MOM in order to maintain their quality of living. The Day Centre is one of several agencies that serves older adults in this area. Referrals are welcome. If you know of someone who might bene­ fit from involvement in this pro­ gram, please give us a call at 357-1440. Once again, thank you for sup­ porting the Day Centre for the Homebound. Gloria Workman Director.