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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-04-26, Page 1Science winners Local students star at Science Fair Return engagement Beth Anne Cole back with own show See page 5 See page 26 Hi-tech library Computers coming to Blyth, Brussels libraries „See page 27 Board of Education hikes tax bite by 10% The bottom line of the Huron County Board of Education’s bud­ get meeting of April 24 means an approximate 10 per cent increase VOL. 5 NO. 17 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1989. Taking a direct hand in looking to the environment’s future, Boy Scouts and Canada sees the Scouts help the environment by planting trees while at the Beavers from Blyth spent Saturday morning planting trees on the farm of same time raising money for Scout work by taking pledges. Norman Vincent near Londesboro Saturday. The program called Trees for Wa/ton standoff brings suspended sentence Barry Comeau, charged with careless use of a fire arm and possession of a prohibited weapon in connection with a four-hour standoff at a Walton house last June, received a two-year sus­ pended sentence in Provincial Court in Wingham Wednesday. Judge R. G. E. Hunter also put Mr. Comeau on probation for the two years and, in connection with the prohibted weapons charge (for a “butterfly knife”) fined him $100. He was ordered not to own. possess or handle any weapons for five years. The sentensing follow'ed the after the inclusion of special pro­ jects. This will mean a raise in taxes of about $40 on the average residential property. reading of a pre-sentence report prepared after Mr. Comeau had pleaded guilty March 22 in the same court. Mr. Comeau had become involv­ ed in an argument with his wife and a boarder in the house over relations between the two. He threatened himself and his wife with a .410 gauge shot gun that later turned out to be empty, then, after letting them go, he refused to leave the house and threatened to kill himself. The O.P.P. was called in and the Tactical Rescue Unit from London was called in. After four hours Mr. Comeau gave An allocation of $500,000 has been set for these projects, which HCBE Director of Education Bob Allan says are “projects that make himself up. A search of the house turned up nine rifles and shot guns, two revolvers and 23 knives includ­ ing the gravity-operated, “butter­ fly” knife. The pre-sentence report showed that Mr. Comeau is now employed in Walton and is separated from his wife of that time. He is supporting three children from that marriage and two children of the women he is currently living with. The couple is expecting another child. Mr. Comeau’s lawyer said it didn’t appear anyone would gain from him being sentenced to jail. He said police had indicated in the sense and are vitally required.’’ He states they have been decided upon in a thoughtful way and can not be seen as extraneous. Prior to the 45 CENTS report that they hadn’t had any difficulty since Mr. Comeau moved back to Walton several months ago. Alan Mill, acting Crown Attor­ ney, said the accused had come from a troubled background but seemed to have his life together at the moment. He said he wouldn’t “be wildly against” the suspended sentenced recommended by the defence. Judge Hunter agreed, noting that the pre-sentence report show­ ed Mr. Comeau had had accidents in the past with guns, wounding himself and that he would be better off without weapons in the house. funding of special projects, the consolidated taxes were up 7.1 per cent. A $44,000 average residential assessment would be $427.24 up from last year's taxes of $398.91. Following a motion by Trustee Bea Dawson it was decided that the administration should make the suggested decisions on what the priority projects will be, then submit their analysis to the Board members at a future meeting with another list pointing out those projects eliminated or postponed, leaving the final decision to the Board of Trustees. Ms Dawson pointed out during a discussion concerning the motion that this was in her estimation the best way to arrive at the priority projects. “It is far too difficult for 16 people to decide. There are many schools in this County that I have not even been inside. 1 know what my priorities are but someone else from another municipality may have strong feelings in another direction,” she said. “I feel the administration is in the best posi­ tion to handle this.” The Board resolved that these estimates for 1989 be established and the mill rate set. The treasurer is authorized to make payment of all budget monies for school pur­ poses and for promoting school interests. Mr. Allan paid tribute to those who have done the committee work and to the staff of HCBE, who have in his estimation done the best they could to stay within the stringent guidelines set. A letter was read by Mr. Allan confirming that capital allocations from the Board’s 1989 capital Expenditure Forecast were an­ nounced for Usborne Central, $40,000 for heating; Central Huron Secondary School, $111,000 for heating; Goderich District Colle­ giate Institute, $198,000 for roofing and Howick Central $217,000 for roofing. The announcements of these allocations does not constitute ap­ proval. The request is subject to full justification of need. Mr. Allan speculated that following the usual trends funding for the project could be approved this year but actual work will not commence until the following year. Henschels remanded again Klaus and Kristin Henschel, jointly charged with 10 counts of theft over $1,000 and nine counts of fraud over $1,000 in connection with the collapse of Brussels Stock- yards Limited were remanded for plea until May 17 when they appeared in provincial court in Wingham Wednesday. Judge R. G. E. Hunter had set Wednesday to hear the plea of the couple but John Schenk, duty council, explained that he had been contacted by Fletcher Dawson, counsel for Mr. Henschel, who asked, on behalf of Wally Libis, counsel for Mrs. Henschel, that the date for plea be put off for another month. “What's going to happen in a month?” Judge Hunter asked, but Continued on page 3