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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-01-06, Page 9THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6,1999. PAGE 9. Court handles several impaired driving cases Several drivers pled guilty to impaired charges in Wingham's provincial court, Dec. 17. Warren Hayes of RR5, Brussels was sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to having over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. He had been stopped by police in Grey Twp. on Nov. 10, and having shown visible signs of impairment was taken for breathalizer read­ ings, which were both 160, said Attorney for the Crown Frank Cameron. Judge Garry Hunter was told that Hayes had been arrested in the past for similar charges. As this was Hayes first appear­ ance, Duty Counsel Alan Mill said he had advised Hayes to have the matter adjourned for one month so that Hayes would not have to spend Christmas in jail. The accused chose to proceed. Besides going to jail Hayes is prohibited from driving for three- years. Ken Hopper of RR5, Brussels also pled guilty to over 80. Cameron said that on Sept. 27, police observed a pickup in Brus­ sels that was swerving. Upon stop­ ping the vehicle they noted an odour of alcohol coming from the driver who also showed signs of being impaired. Breathalizer readings were both 160. Defense counsel said the 44- year-old farmer was a first-time offender. He asked Hunter to con­ sider the three-month driving prohi­ bition regarding farm machinery. Hopper was fined $750 in addi­ tion to the 12-month suspension. Steven Fogal of Wingham pled guilty to a charge of over 80 from Oct 7. Cameron said that on that day an officer had seen a vehicle strike a pedestrian in Wingham. While investigating the officer noticed an odour of alcohol. He had Fogal take a roadside test, which he failed. Breathalizer readings were 159 and 152. It was also discovered that the vehicle was not insured. Mill said the accused owns two vehicles and had assumed his wife had paid the premium. He hadn't driven that par­ ticular vehicle in quite awhile, Mill said. Hunter fined the 41-year-old $750 for the over 80 charge, in addition to the mandatory 12- month driving prohibition. On the charge of no insurance he was fined $500. NARCOTIC POSSESSION A Clifford man was fined $100 after pleading guilty to possession of marijuana. Jason Metcalfe was arrested Oct. 21 in Wingham after police saw him throw something over a fence, while they were checking a car wash. The bag contained 21.7 gm of marijuana, said Cameron. Metcalfe has no record. UNPAID FINES The judge showed some Christ­ mas spirit giving two men with unpaid fines a reprieve. Rod Adams who owes $505 to the court will appear Jan. 21. Hunter warned him that if the fine was not paid by then, he would be going to jail. Michael Riding received a simi­ lar warning after Hunter was told that he owed $205 on a fine issued June 19, 1997. When he said that he had been unable to pay the fine, Hunter asked him if he smoked. Further inquiries prompted Riding to admit he spent about $15 per week on cigarettes. "So you can afford cigarettes but can't pay the fine?" Hunter asked. Riding then responded that the fine had "slipped his mind." Hunter adjourned the matter to the February court. "I expect pay­ ment in full or at least a substantial payment by that dale. You know the result if it's not paid." FRAUD A Londcsboro woman pled guilty to fraud and failing to appear in court. Cameron said Mary Brooks deposited a cheque in the amount of $2,150 through an ATM machine in early May. Over the course of the next few days she made several withdrawals totalling $1,500. On May 20 the original cheque came back to the bank indicating that the account had been closed for two years. Mill said that $657.55 was out­ standing on the fraud, which the accused's mother said would be paid that day. Sentencing was held over until the January court. Mill asked Hunter to consider time served on the fail to appear charge as Brooks had been in jail since Dec. 14. DRIVE WHILE DISQUALI­ FIED A Lucknow man will be sen­ tenced Jan. 21 after pleading guilty to driving while disqualified. Defense Counsel Charmian Hills asked for the delay in sentencing so that Terry Harcourt could spend Christmas with his family. Harcourt was arrested June 24, after an officer saw him driving and believing him to be suspended ran a check on the license. Crimestoppers reports numerous thefts BREAK AND ENTER On Dec. 21 the owners of the Heywoods Restaurant on Cone. 1, Biddulph Twp. noticed that the receipts from the previous day were missing. Unknown persons had gone into a cabinet in the backroom and stole approximately $3,000 in $20 bills. Also a small amount of U.S. currency was taken. RINGS STOLEN Qn Nov. 18 a resident on Winnipeg Street in Vanastra reported three rings missing. The rings valued at over $12,000 were lost sometime between 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. the three rings include: a wedding band, gold in colour; an engagement ring, also gold in colour; and a yellow gold lady's diamond ring flanked by two blue sapphires. GENERATOR STOLEN On Nov. 25 at about 5 p.m. a generator was stolen from a residence on Cone. 12, Ashfield Twp. The stolen generator had just been purchased and was still in the box when thieves entered an unlocked garage and stole the item. Taken was a 500-watt Coleman generator, model 5000 with a 5 HP engine. The generator was green in colour and was valued at over $1,000. TRAILER STOLEN On Nov. 27 a theft was reported by McGavin Farm Equipment in Walton. Sometime in the previous two weeks a 16-foot by eight-foot trailer was removed from the yard. The trailer has an Ontario plate #S41725 on it with a vin #2S9U7W62XV 1057486. This dual trailer is blue in colour and has 16-inch high sides. If you have information about Stuck with a spare tire around the middle? these or any other crimes call Crime Stoppers of Huron County, 1-800-222-8477 and you could receive a reward of up to $1,000. Remember crime doesn't pay Crime Stoppers does. Huron OPP seek applicants The Huron Ontario Provincial Police Detachment is now accepting applications for Auxiliary Officers. The application forms can be picked up at any OPP offices. This is a volunteer position. To qualify individuals must be prepared to commit the time and effort requited, which includes a minimum of 10 hours per month of patrol time and four hours a month of training time. The position requires the officers to work with full time members in a structured environment and to maintain a high standard in the policing profession. The role of an auxiliary member is to assist full-time officers in a variety of functions. The minimum qualifications for an OPP auxiliary member include being at least 18 years of age, a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, have a valid CPR and first aid certificates, be mentally and physically able to perform the duties of the Auxiliary member position, be of good moral character, possess a valid Ontario driver's licence and have a good driving record and to successfully complete the interview process. Anyone interested who can devote the time required, contact the local detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police and obtain an application for the position of Auxiliary OPP Officer or contact S/Sgt. George Lonsbary at Clinton OPP Detachment, 482-9626. Leave the car at home and walk. Sharing a Healthier a OJ Future> panncipacTionff® Up TO Morris sees savings The advantage of shared services was presented to Morris Twp. council at the Dec. 15 meeting. Road Superintendent Lloyd Michie reported a savings in road maintenance costs of $18,184.26 due to service sharing with Turn­ berry Twp. With regards to policing, council sent a letter to the county advising that an informed decision could not be made without a costing which includes Wingham. Council plans Continued on page 19 DHC forwards recommendations Continued from page 1 sary medical-legal safeguards. •Integrating the Ministry’s annual Health Professionals Recruitment Tour with the job fairs of the medi­ cal teaching centres. •Conducting a review of the Min- istry’s Underserviced Area Pro­ gram to ensure that it continues to have a positive impact on the sup­ ply of physicians in rural communi­ ties. “The Ministry’s Undcrserviccd Area Program was established almost 30 years ago to assist with the recruitment of physicians to isolated northern communities,” said Jim Whaley, DHC executive director. “It’s obvious that the pro­ gram needs to be overhauled to meet the physician distribution problems of southern Ontario.” The DHC says the recommenda­ tions it is putting forward to the minister address only part of the physician recruitment and retention challenge. The government, it says, also needs to look at basic supply issues such as the number of physi­ cians graduating from medical schools and the number of foreign- trained physicians allowed to prac­ tice in Ontario. In terms of retention there is also a need to focus more attention on the factors that have caused physi­ cians to leave rural areas such as unrealistic on-call schedules, lack of specialist back-up and lack of support to cover vacation and con­ tinuing medical education. According to DHC figures, both Wingham and Clinton areas arc two physicians short of the nine they should have. South Huron and Zurich and area have recently applied to be designated as medi­ cally underserviced. Huron has 1,281 people for each physician while the average for Ontario is 1,093. The southwestern Ontario average is 1,313. r I I I I I I I I I $in50■ W# a year Off the newsstand price Having a subscription to CitizenTheNorthHuron saves you money Newsstand price - 750/week Subscription price - 540/week Yes -1 want to save money. Enclosed is $27.00 for a 1-year subscription. I I I I I I I I I Name:.................................................................................... Address:............................................................................... Town:............................................Postal Code:................