Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-10-24, Page 1pct turns out o be salesman • Reports that a upped wanted in connection* . , the death of a'nine--year old Toronto rl was seen in Goderich proved false police:cblef Pat King reported Monday, Police were on the .alert Friday after two store clerks reported they' saw a man fitting the description of Dennis.Melvyn Howe, 44, in the town's, ooze area. Howe is wanted 'in conneetion with the death of Sharin Morningstar Keenan who was found in a refrigerator..February 1983 in a roominghouse in Toronto, ten days after she was reported missing from a playground near her home. While two local store clerks were positive they had seen Howe a travelling salesman from Stratford reported' to the London OPP detachment Monday after reading a report in the London Free Press, The saleman said his car matched the description in the paper. The man, who asked that police not reveal his mime, believed 'he may have been mistaken ,dor Howe. late admitted to visiting several stores on The Square Friday and oWhed a station wagon, with a dent, that matched the description supplied by the clerks. Chief King told the press Monday that the matter was a case of mistaken identity. "The matter was cleared up Monday morning: A salesman read the article in ioaeric 136 YEAR -43 1 the paPer, contacted the OPP in London and was stwe he was the man the women saw In town," he said, "He was in Goderich Friday, visited several stores and bears a resemblance to Howe. He owned an ae, pamarine station wagon and was starting to grow a beard." The death of Keenan. in February 1983 launched a massive manhunt for a suspect, Howe. Ati'nost 22 months later police are Oti1l looking for the suspect and have recently re -issued wanted posters of Howe and every television and police station in the province has a copy of a videotape of the suspect that asks for public assistance. A Canada -wide warrant has been issued for the arrest of Howe on a charge of first- degree murder and Toronto police have offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Chief King said two women reported seeing a man that fit Howe's description in the core area Friday afternoon. They had seen pictures of the suspect on television and were positive he was in Goderich after reviewing police videotapes at the station. The women gave police a description of the car -a greenish blue station wagon with a dent in the rear -and the information was forwarded to the OPP and local municipal forces. The Metro Toronto Police Force has Turn to page 5 • BEET ALL ROUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA [Circulation CIes53500- 4500) C.C.N.A. Better Newspaper .competition 1984 NAL -ST GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1984 50 CENTS PER COPY Christmas Country Fair Peek-a-boo. This baby had a perfect view of the many crafts featured at Colborne Township's 18th annual Christmas Country Fair held at Saltford Valley Hall last Wednes- day, Saturday and Sunday. The Fair was sponsored by the Blue Water Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, No. 284, Goderich. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) Polio force gets good rating in inspection The Goderich . Police' orce is a meld of persons dedicated to se g • the citizens of Goderich a services p icer with the On- tario Police Co in an annual inspeetito , :: -port. In an report to the G,erich Police Com- mission, I.C. Alexander, Services Officer with , the OPC concluded that both the police and civilian .personnel of the Goderich Force had a'keen interest in the community. That interest translated into a smooth and efficient department. Members of the Goderich Police Commission recieved the report and commented on the good rela- tionship that existed between the chief and the department. "The report found things in good stan- ding," Alvin McGee told the commission. u.• 4`ft spealta. well of„the.•.c,Xrief,.and the force.,,, Ol he1 dread these hi'sj coons. But it(the report) speaks well. of the small force and the management of it." Formalized inspections are conducted annually of municipal police forces in ac- cordance with policy established by the OPC. In the report, Alexander suggested that relationships within the board were good and that "the chief's relationship with the n (OPC) reported Wooden toys for boys and girls were featured at Colborne Township's 18th annual Christmas Country Fair held at Saltford Valley Hall last Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Here, one of the many people attending the Fair, checks out a doll house on display. (Photo by Joanne board is very good." "I was impressed with the interest shown by both board members in the management of the police force," the report read. A report with respect to interviews o both civilian and uniform personnel read: "Morale is very good. An excellent rapport exists betweenmembers. Negotiations between the Association and the Board proceed amicably." Alexander found that Chief King has delegated areas of responsibility to each uniform member of the force and it is up to the. officers to ensure their area is operating effectively and efflfiently. Mayor Eileen Palmer said she was pleased the report stressed "the relation- ship between the chief, the board and the men. It shows mutual respect and that. Brier f cur icetiort:'areopen.'" McGee commented that the communica- tion in Goderich was not found in many departments across the country. Alexander did make two recommenda- tions to the commission in the annual report, namely; the adoption of a records retention schedule exclusive to the Goderich Police Force and the adoption of a three-part property receipt -tag and pro- perty procedures. PUC projects $316,000 for 1985 capital costs The Goderich Public Utilities Commission has approved a projected capital expenses budget of $316,000, for the 1985 fiscal year. Approval for the projection, which includes an estimated $200,000 for replacement of the Picton Street sub -station, was given by commissioners at their October 18 meeting. The projected budget, which PUC Chairman Herb Murphy emphasized is not an approval for specific projects, will be passed on to Ontario Hydro, for rate structure assessment. The commission has reserve funds, on term deposits, totalling 196,400, which with further interest and additional installments, will total over $200,000, by January, 1985. It's is from these reserve funds, that the money for the Picton Street sub -station will come. "So it (the sub -station) will not have an effect on our rate structures," said Murphy. "Electrically, the station is antiquated and should have been replaced about two years ago," said Gary Graham, PUC line superintendent. The proposal for the substation includes upgrading the transformers, which Graham said, are overloaded and converting the protective structure around the equipment from a box -style, to bungalow -style structure. Other major items on the projection include $30,000 for upgrading of sub -station transformers and $5,000, for office equipment purchases. NEW VEHICLE In other business, the commission approved purchase of a new vehicle, for use by meter readers and for out-of-town travel by commissioners and PUC employees After soliciting tenders from local automobile dealers, the commission accepted a tender from Goderich Auto Sales and Service, a local Nissan dealer. The dealer submitted the lowest tender, of $8,498 for a Nissan mini -pickup truck, with King Cab. The vehicle is a replacment for a the 1981 Acadian, owned by the PUC, which was damaged in an accident about two months ago. The commission originally planned to replace the vehicle with a mini -van, but the cost proved prohibitive. Insurance on the damaged vehicle will pay $5,400 twoard the purchase of the new vehicle. Commission wants OPP to do breathalyzer work The Goderich Police Commission will continue to prevail upon the services of the Goderich Detachment of the OPP rather than train a local officer in breathalyzer duties. The commission made the ruling at its regular meeting Tuesday after Chief Pat King suggested Constable K. Brownlee at- tend a two-week breathalyzer course at the Forensic Science Centre in Toronto. In a report to the commission, Chief King said the Goderich force does not have an officer trained in such procedures and that the local OPP are experiencing problems in handling Goderich cases. Chief King said he was asked by Sgt. Donatis of the OPP if the local force could have a man trained for breathalyzer duties. The OPP have three trained of- ficers but Chief King said two of the men are seeking relief from that duty. Commission members felt that Con- stable Brownlee would be taken from nor- mal duty too often if he was involved in breathalyzer duties. "The OPP are at our disposal and we could make a mistake by having a man available," Alvin McGee said. "If the of - as well. They (OPP) have more manpower 4 and money and we should use their exper- tise and cost." While all members of the Goderich force are trained on the portable roadside ALERT marchines, breathalyzer tests must be taken at the OPP station south of town. Mayor Eileen Palmer suggested that breathalyzer duties would leave the force vulnerable. "If Constable Brownlee is doing breath tests it could leave us vinerable," she said. The commission did approve four train- ing courses for personnel in the coming year. Sergeant Gerry Hilgendorff will attend a three-week crime prevention course at the Ontario Police College to assist the chief in crime prevention progams. Clasina Bondrager will attend a three- week police' communicators course at the Ontario Police College. Bondrager is the new chief dispatcher. Chief King will attend a senior officer training seminar for four days at the On- tario Police College and Constable M. Af- fleck will attend a three-week advanced training course in Aylmer. The course is designed for officers who have not receiv- year period. 4 Turn clocks back one hour While the weather the past few weeks has not held any promise of the cold, blustery weather that usually invades this time of year, the calendar has signalled an end to Daylight Saving Time. Officially, Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, October 20 at 2 a.m. Readers are dutifully reminded to tufitd their clocks back one hour Saturday evening or Sunday morning before going to bed. The return to Standard Time means it will he getting dark by 6 p.m. each evening. With the end of Daylight Saving Time, can the bleak and blustery days of winter be far behind? Petition on death penalty available here The recent deaths of several policemen in Ontario has prompted many Canadians to ask the federal government to reconsider its stand on the death penalty. More -and more people are urging government officials to either reinstate capital punishment or to hold a public referendum on the issue. Subsequent to the unfortunate shooting death of OPP Constable Jack Ross outside a Woodstock home recently, a petition has originated in that city that petitions the House of Commons to either hold a free vote of its members on the issue of reinstating capital punishment for the murder of police officers, prison guards and other peace officers, or to hold a public referendum on the issue. The petition suggests that a referendum would ensure that the will of the majority of Canadians would be expressed. The Goderich Police Association has received a number of the petitions and they will be placed in many business in the core area aas well at town hall and the police station on West Street. The petition, which is addressed to the clerk of the House of Commons, ask for a signature, address and phone number. The petition will be forwarded by the Goderich Police Association. Star features special section Over the past decade, consumers and homeowners have been duly conscious of energy conservation. Escalating prices of fuel oil, gas and electricity have led people to be more energy conscious and efficient. Getting {b9u e§, ready. int t, d,otlslaught oL.winter,is• -- a job that should considered seriously within the next few weeks. The temperature has been warm enough lately for homeowners to complete weatherstripping and caulking chores to seal homes. Those warm days may be numbered however. This week the Signal -Star is pleased to feature a special 12 -page supplement dealing with energy conservation in the home. The tabloid edition deals with such timely topics as solar heating, tips on home energy savings, articles on home energy management and home energy planning systems, tips on draftproofing, stories on the use of heat pumps and much more. INSIDE THE SBWNAL-STAT 1 Senior girls win The GDCI Senior girls Vikings basketball team racked up another victory in Huron - Perth action this week, beating Exeter South Huron by a convincing 59-24 tally. Story and Photo in Recreation. Hockey action Minor hockey competition continued on several fronts in Shamrock League play this week. Displayed in the Recreation sec- tion are stories from games in several divi- sions and photos of action in the Atom