Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2002-05-01, Page 82 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, May 16, 2001 SEAFORTH INSURANCE BROKER LTD. 527-1610 • Home • Commercial *Auto • Farm • Out of Province Travel Insurance 41 Main St. S. Seaforth Christ(' Leonhard) Lynn Fleisch, Ken Cardno, Barb Wan and Joanne Williamson 001 dpi CARE IC TUESDAY MAY 29, 2001 10 AMto2:00PM Registered Nurse on site for s ecialty care in CORNS k• CA4USES 416TOENAILS FREE 15 MINUTE CONSULTATION Please call to book your appointment Guardian Keating's Pharmacy PHARM 67 Main St., Seaforth ASSIST 527-1990 Book Signing Meet the Authors of FIT TO BE TIED CASTLES & KINGS Terry Boyle True but unbelievable stories about murder & hangings in Ontario. He's also authored Haunted Ontario & Hidden Ontario. Ron Brown Spectacular old Ontario houses & the story behind each one. He's also authored Disappearing Ontario, Ghost Railways of Ontario & more. Bring your stories to the authors to help their research SUNDAY, MAY 27, 1:30 pm -2:30 pm We special order! NEW & USED 57 Main St., Seaforth 527-2153 News Police going to schools looking for students' help From Page 1 what they say they are. I'm one of the people who calls the police on a persistent basis and nothing happens," she said. Bob Fisher, of Pizza Train, argued that membership of a citizens group could be more dedicated once the investigation is over. "It's a kneejerk reaction now. I think he (Lonsbary) was subtly hinting to stay out of the way," he said. Huron East Mayor Lin Steffler said she wouldn't discourage people from patrolling the downtown on weekends. "The best thing is everyone looking after their own business if you haven't been doing it already. Make a drive late at night," said Steffler. "And, I've had Reople come up to me and say why don't we sit out. ourselves if it takes half the town to police it over a couple of nights. But, we can't be a vigilante group," she added. Steffler told Lonsbary she's been receiving calls from business owners who are very ' concerned and starting to get tired from the strain of the arson situation. "I think we might be running the risk of some backyard justice happening. Someone who's out at night might end up getting a cuff alongside the head because the owners are very tired and angry," she said. Lonsbary asked people to "keep their cool," saying that they'll end up in court, instead of the arsonists if they assault anyone. When the suggestion of a reward for information from the Seaforth BIA was made, Lonsbary said doubling the Crimestoppers reward, which could range from $50 to $1,000, might be a good idea. He said the BIA setting up its own reward would require having a contact that would be willing to take any information he or she received "to the grave." "Some confidentiality comes into play not 4o reveal the identity of the person who calls. We (the police) protect that information with our heart because it's our reputation at stake," he said. While they discussed taking money out of a $6,400 mural fund for the reward, the BIA made no formal decision about a reward at Monday's meeting. Steffler spoke in favour of an enhanced reward. • "I think there's a certain amount of greed out there. We need to give them something to make them open up," she said. Seaforth District High School student council president Jen Delvecchio also expressed frustration at the meeting. Lonsbary had said the Crimestoppers unit had been visiting local schools in the past several weeks and Community Services Officer Don Shropshal told The Expositor on Monday officers had been talking to the student bodies that day, to encourage students to come forward with information they might have. "Nothing's been done in our school. There hasn't been an assembly and last week the whole students' council was here. There are lots of rumours going around school about who has been doing it. Names are being tossed around and it's not going to be kept a secret if it's a student," said Delvecchio. Lonsbary said he'd check with the officer in charge of Crimestoppers after the meeting. Calls to Seaforth schools Tuesday morning by The Huron Expositor confirmed that police have not yet visited SDHS or planned an assembly but assemblies are planned at St. James School for Thursday at 2:30 p.m. for the Grades 4-8 students and at Seaforth Public School for Friday at 9 and 9:30 a.m. Lonsbary also said the police are starting to stop anyone on the street at night. using the Child Reform Act which prohibits anyone under 16 from being on the street between midnight and 6 a.m. without an 18 -year- old who has permission from the parent. "If your children come home and they've been questioned for no apparent reason, it's because we're trying to canvass the community. We've been doing it for a week and a hit and hopefully we can get a handle on who's out at night. There's no reason for people to be out aimlessly doing nothing at 5 a.m.," he said. Lonsbary was asked about surveillance cameras. Areased lighting in town and the possibility -of setting a trap. "We'd set a trap if we knew where to set it. It's like a mousetrap - where do you put it?" he asked. Police target youth in investigation as they seek help from area students By Scott Hilgendorff Expositor Editor OPP are appealing to school children and high school students for help tracking down the person or people setting fires in Seaforth's downtown core following two more incidents this weekend. A fire was set Saturday morning at London Agricultural Commodities Inc on Crombie Street in a garbage dumpster. As members of the Seaforth Fire Department put the fire out, they discovered a set of stairs at the facility had also been set on fire. OPP were on the scene at "Ready for Spring?" NOW IS THE TIME WITH... SPRING SPECIAL We Service All Makes & Models (e. Lawn Mowers & String Trimmers - 7 point inspection le' Lawn Riders - 10 point inspection or Garden Tractors - 10 point inspection Chain Saws - 6 point inspection RIDING LAWN MOWER SERVICE Includes: • 10 pt. inspection • Changereas& fittbearings • Grease all bearings *Complete cleaning ZIL01131016cadmoi FARM EQUIPr,1Eti T LIMITED 1 1/4 Miles N. of Seaforth www.teamvincant.com n99 Parts • Extra about 5 a.m. and around 8 a.m. officers noticed smoke coming from the interior of the building and the fire department was called again to put out another small fire in an interior room of the facility. OPP report no signs of forced entry but said a door was found insecure to the building. About $25,000 in damage was done to the building. That night, an officer came across a fire in a dumpster behind Town Hall with a number of youth around it at about 9:30 p.m. The officer pursued them but lost them near the London Agricultural Commodities Inc building before returning to extinguish the fire, set near a fuel container. The emergency response team and canine unit arrived and followed the path the youths took through two area neighbourhoods before losing the trail. That has prompted police to go to area schools this week seeking help from the students and encouraging them to come forward with any information. "Because it was teens involved, we wanted their assistance," said community services officer Don Shropshall. Meanwhile, police continue to investigate other tips that have come in ,from the community regarding the case. Speed bumps hoped to solve problem of racing youth By Scott HUgendorff Expositor Editor Speed bumps are going to be installed on an emergency road behind Seaforth and District Community Centres that is being used by people to' race around the arena and a small residential neighbourhood. "It's become a little speed ramp for the young kids," said Public Works Coordinator John Forrest. "They come racing in through the emergency road behind the arena to see how fast they can do it," he told council at its May 8 committee meeting. Residents in the neighbourhood are concerned about the high rate of speed cars are travelling the road which is intended to be only an access to emergency vehicles. Forrest said the works department talked about putting up an emergency gate Huron East briefs but he recommended speed bumps because they could be installed in a matter of hours. "We'll put two at each end," he said, adding they will be painted yellow to make the bumps visible to drivers. Creamery agreement reached An agreement has tentatively been reached with the Seaforth Creamery to help cover the costs associated with expanding the sewage treatment plant, partly due to the extra usage of the plant by the local industry. A proposed agreement was on the table at Huron East council's May 8 committee meeting which was mutually agreed to by both sides and supported by council through a "straw vote" as official votes cannot be made during a committee meeting. The agreement allows the creamery a limited amount of The Huron County Community Child Abuse Coordinating Committee Is seeking nominations to its VOLUNTEER BOARD OP DIRECTORS me use of the facility with extra charges if its volume increases. The creamery will also pay for a portion of the expansion of the plant. If the facility moves out of Seaforth before Oct. 1. 2(08. the creamery is expected to pay $53.150 for each year until Oct. 1, 2008. The former town of Seaforth and now Huron East have been working with the Seaforth Creamery for more than a year now to help find a way to cope with the industry's increased use of the sewage treatment plant which. until it expands. restricts future growth in the municipality since the plant cannot handle extra waste. "We feel we have come to an agreement that's in everybody's hest interests." said Public Works Coordinator John Forrest. HCCCACC is a registered not for profit, charitable corporation that mists to: a) promote the wellbeing of children and families; b) improve the quality of life of children and their famNies by the development of and access to non -stigmatizing resources; c) strengthen the capacity of families to relate positively to their children d) reduce the incidence of child abuse; and e) enhance community collaboration in the provision of services tO families. Our programming includes Kids are the Block and Rural Response for Healthy Children. If you are 18 years of age or older, a resident in Huron County and interested in furthering the work of HCCCACC, please submit a letter of interest and resume by May 25, 2001 to: Nominations Committee Box887, Clinton, Ont NOM 1L0