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Times-Advocate, 1999-02-24, Page 21Wednesday, February 24, 1999 inu s} +Advtoca�to r- 21 Winners of McGillivrayt Central Public School's Public Speaking competition include, from left Andrew Appleton, Krista van der Wal, Nicole Vanderhoek and Heather Irvine. Vanderhoek and Irvine went on to place first and second respec- tively in the area competition in Parkhill. POLICE BRIEFS • POLICE BRIEFS Getting tougher Repeat drunk drivers ers are in for a shock when caught. New legislation increases the driver's licence suspension for second, third and fourth time drunk driving offenders. Upon a second conviction a drunk driver will have their licence suspended for three years up from two years. Upon a third conviction, the suspension goes from three years to life with an opportu- nity to reduce the suspension to 10 years. Fourth time offenders will never get a driver's licence in Ontario ever again. Mandatory driver's licence suspen- sions have also been increased for many other Criminal Code driving offences including all drunk driving offences, criminal negligence while operating a vehicle, vehicular manslaughter, dan- gerous driving and failure to remain at an accident scene. Offenders must apply for reducing life- time suspensions and meet a long list of criteria including the new remedial measures program. The remedial measures program is desiQed to reduce drinking and driving by requiring that drivers convicted of an impaired driving offence complete either a drinking and driving education or treatment program. The third time drunk driver isn't off the hook when their licence is reinstated either. Their vehicle will be installed with an interlock as a condition of the licence. Vehicle ignition interlock devices prevent engine operation when alcohol is detected' in the driver. The driver is required to blow into the device each and every time before starting the vehicle. The vehicle will only start if the driver's blood alcohol is below a certain level. The driver will pay to have this device installed in their vehicle and prior to that will have to pay the remedi- al measures program's $475 fee plus taxes. On Feb. 16, the final stage of the new drinking and driving act was imple- mented. Drivers caught driving while suspended for Criminal Code convictions under the Highway Traffic Act's Sections 41 or 42 (drunk driving, dan- gerous driving, vehicular manslaughter, etc.) will have their vehicle Impounded for a minimum of 45 days regardless of who owns the vehicle. A second incident while under suspen- sion will result in a 90 day impound- ment and 180 days for subsequent inci- dents. Tho guilty driver is liable for all cost of towing and storage of the vehicle. 1n addition, fines for driving while sus- pension for Criminal Code driving offences go from $5,000 to $25,000 for first offence and $10,000 to $50,000 for subsequent offences. Jeep stolen from HMP EXETER — Thieves drove off with a vehicle from Huron Motor Products . sometime between Feb. 17-19. London OPP Const. Myra Rusk said the stolen vehicle is an unplated red '96 Jeep YJ with a black hard top. Damage to the door lock should be noticeable, Rusk said. Guns and safe stolen from Biddulph BIDDULPH TWP. — Four long guns and a safe were stolen from a barn office on Coursey Line in Biddulph Township on Feb. 18. London OPP Const. Myra Rusk said the OPP investigation led to the recovery of all stolen items. Exeter vehicle found in London LONDON — A '92 Ford Explorer stolen from Thames Rd. E. in Exeter on Feb. 16 was found in London with a flat tire on Feb. 21. London OPP Const. Myra Rusk said the keys were left in the Explorer before it was stolen. Three charged in break-in EXETER — The OPP nabbed three people during a break-in at a home on William St. in Exeter on Saturday. Ryan Cheyne, 18, of RR1 Hensall is charged with break and enter, posses- sion of break-in tools and two breach of probation charges. Vickie Dawe, 18, of Exeter and a Young Offender are charged with break and enter and pos- session of break-in tools. Dawe has also been charged in con- nection with a break-in at a Richmond St. home in Middlesex Centre on Feb. 15 where electronic equipment and jewelry were stolen. Leaving road nets charges ELGINFIELD — An Exeter man is charged with dangerous driving, impaired driving and driving with over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood after his car left the road on Hwy. 4 south of Hwy. 7 on Feb. 20. Hensall School break-in HENSALL — Someone showed a large lack of respect for Hensall Public School on Feb. 18. Someone entered the school's Gr. 7/8 room from an unlocked window and then urinated in the corner of the class- room. Vehicle damaged LUCAN — The steering column and signal indicator were damaged on an vehicle parked at the Ldcan Arena Feb. 14. ' London OPP Const. Myra Rusk said the vehicle had been left open. • invitation to join `Folk Choir' By Mary Peterson Al IA Pnw� CENTRALIA - Minister Heather Scott led the worship at Centralia and Zion West Un:""d Churches on Feb. 21. She thanked the Manse Committee and Stewards for planning and preparing the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. Letters of thanks were read from Margaret Hern for the bouquet of flow- ers and for the use of the church for the Huron -Perth Presbytery Annual Meeting. During the sermon Minister Scott spoke about a man who lived life to the fullest because of the choices he made each day. Worship included celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion to mark the first Sunday in Lent. Prayers were offered for those in the Community who grieve the loss of a loved one and for those who are ill. Upcoming activities Minister Scott announced that Bible Study during Lent ,will include 'Five Steps to Christian Discipleship' and 'Lentscapes'. For more information call 228-6974. Everyone is invited to come to the Folk Choir at Centralia United Church. The first practice will be Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. The Stewards will meet at Centralia on March 1. Zion will hold the World Day of Prayer Service on March 4 at 8 p.m. Men, women and children from Centralia and Zion are invited to participate and wor- ship together. All children and their friends from Centralia and Zion West United Churches are invited to Vacation Bible -School on Wednesday, March 17 from 1 to 5 p.m. Euchre results The winner of the Hidden Score recently at Heywoods Restaurant was Grace Wurm. Lone hand winners were Mary Latta and Gord Eaton. Marian Thompson and Lillian Baynham were the high point winners for the day. Prayers and pins for the millenium EXETER - Exeter United Church is launching three special initiatives to cele- brate the approach of the Millennium. The first is a testimonial to the power of prayer. The congregation is antici- pating answers to 2000 prayers before the end of • the year 2000. A special banner will be introduced in the church sanctuary on Sunday, March 7 and then hung on the wall of one of the church's public rooms as a living docu- ment that God answers prayer. Individuals, families, church groups and other, faithful are being invited t� write their prayers on symbols which will be attached to the banner. When their prayer is answered, they will replace the symbol with an angel. One of the prayers from the congregation is for a student intern to assist. in its ministry for a year. The Official Board, on behalf of the whole church, is rais- ing money to support this program through the sale of lapel pins. The pins carry a raised design in gold on a red background. The design • incorporates the Millennium cross on a shield bearing the name of the church, with the symbols of Alpha and Omega above it, and the Roman numbers for the year 2000 below the church name. The red background signifies jubi- lation., These pins will be worn as a reminder to celebrate where the church has been, where it is today and where it is going. The third initiative is the creation of several new Christ Candles for the church's sanctuary. These have been made by melt- ing the stubs of old can- dles used in the church. The creation of new can- dles from old will stand as a symbol of Christ's resur- rection and the potential for personal rebirth in Christ. United church launches millennium initiatives EXETER - Many people greet the approach of the millennium with fear, but the United Church of Canada has chosen to make this a time of forgiveness and renewed hope. United Churches across Canada have joined in a global campaign of debt for- giveness for the poorest countries in the world, so that they can have a fresh start as they enter the new millennium. Rev. Cordell Parsons invited members of Exeter United Church to sign a petiotion calling on leaders of the lending nations to take action to cancel the debts of these countries. This is part of the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative inspired by Hebrew scriptures Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 1.5, in which God calls. for a Jubilee every fiftieth year. During this time slaves are to be released, debts for- given and the earth renewed. Copies of the petition are available until March 28, 1999, at the Exeter United church entrances each Sunday morning and at the Andrew Street entrance week- days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. tv i The School Council at Stephen Central Public School held one of its many fundraising events by selling time -saving family meals. Above, busy at work filling orders are Cheryl Pryce, Gwen O'Rourke and Sheona Baker