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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1974-01-24, Page 1NO. 4 FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1974 SCENE OF ARMED ROBBERY - This is the Bank of Montreal branch in Dashwood, which was robbed of close to $10, 000 on Monday afternoon by a lone armed robber. Two women employees were locked in a small washroom at the rear of the bank. As a result of the robberty, a charge has been laid against a London man, Norton Irwin, who was arrested a couple of hours later in the Hensall Hotel. STORM TAKES TOLL - The severe sleet storm which hit this area on Sunday played havoc with many trees and toppled branches to the ground. A Zurich resident, Harold Thiel, looks at the damage caused to two cars in his driveway when large branches of a tree came toppling down during the storm. 15 CENTS PER COPY 1.1.14.12.7.10.11111, Arrest suspect in Dashwood robbery A former resident of this area, Norton Irwin, 32, of London, wa arrested and charged with armed robbery in connection with a Monday afternoon theft from the Bank of Montreal in Dash- wood. He was scheduled to app- ear in Goderich provincial court Wednesday morning for a bail hearing. Irwin was arrested about two hours after the robbery, in the Hensall Hotel, 10 miles north- east of Dashwood. Police said a man entered the small branch right at its 3 p.m. closing time. He approached one of two women teller, the only person in the bank, and asked about cashing a cheque. He then pulled a long -barrel- ed handgun and forced Mrs. Helen Edwards and Miss Dianne Holt, both of Exeter, into a small washroom at the rear of the banl<. The women escaped by crawl- ing through a window and call- ed police. They said the man spoke with a "refined accent. " Police said the man carried the money in a brown paper bag to a car and drove west on High- way 83, with a half-hour police road -blocks were set up on all major roads within 35 miles of the scene of the robbery. Original estimates said bet- ween $5, 00 and $7, 000 had been stolen. Ray Gannon, loans officer for teachers centre Boar �..,�,approves 1971 storm. The above items were included in a long list of suggested measures that would be useful. The board authorized the Administrative staff to meet with the parents of Kindergarten children and local trustees in areas where Kindergarten enrolment is likely to be fewer than ten pupils. W.D. Kenwell, one of the board superintendents, thought it possible there might be two schools in this position, however, it will not be known until after the survey is completed in Feb- ruary, he said. To encourage outdoor programs the Board approved the purchase of snowshoes and other required equipment for one class at a cost of approximately $600. These could be borrowed for use by different schools and the pup- ils would be given instruction and practice in the use of them (continued on page 12) (by Wilma Oke) from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. where The Huron County Board of the teachers would be able to Education meeting in Clinton meet to share ideas and read Monday approved the establish- the materials supplied. ment of a Teachers' Centre in In the event children are Huron for elementary teachers. snowbound at the school during The centre would move from the winter, they faced this oils - one area of the County to moth- is during the crippling snowstorm er, remaining in a school, poss- that hit southwestern Ontario in ibly for one month at a time. 1971, the Board approved,, in The schools suggested were principle, inclusion of the J.A.D. McCurdy, Hensall, following items of equipment Victoria Public in Goderich in the 1974 school budgets: All and Wingham, with supervision school water tanks should have provided through the principal a drainage tap at the bottom; of the school where the centre a supply of plastic containers, is for that month. spoons, cups, juice containers, Miss Mary Taylor, primary can openers, kettle, large pot, consultant at the Regional Off- Bev-a-Redy (or similar product) ice, has provided a list of mat- should be kept at the school, as erials and equipment which well as battery operated transis- would be necessary to make tor radio and flashlights or lant- the Centre useful, the initial erns. cost would be approximately The recommendation for these $250, with a yearly budget of were the result of a meeting bet - $1, 000. The Centre would be ween D.J. Cochrane, director open on a trial basis on Tues- of education, and principals of days, Wednesdays and Thursdays four schools affected by the the bank's main branch in Exet- er, said he could not revdal the exact amount of money taken. "It was more than we estim- ated, " he said. "It was around the $10, 000 mark." Mr. Gannon said bank offic- ials examined the money seized by police Monday night. "There is no doubt in our minds. The identification bands attached to the bill bundles say it originated at Exeter Monday morning. It was then taken to Dashwood The Dashwood sub branch of the bank is open three days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The bank operates a second sub bank in Crediton which is open Tuesday and Thursday. Mr. Gannon said it was not normal bank practice to have women alone in an office. "It has been our practice to have male officers on the prem- ises, " he said. The bank robbery, believed to be the first in this area of Huron County in many years, is being investigated by the Exeter detachment of the Ontario Prov- incial Police, along with finger- print experts from the Mt. For- est detachment. Late Monday night police were, seen on the 14 concession of Hay Township, lolking for what they described as "items related to the bank robbery" in the ditches along the road. No further particulars were available. I�G .tall Leo Meidinger was installed as president of the Zurich and District Chamber of Commerce at the first dinner meeting of the organization last Thursday night in the Dominion Hotel. Mr. Meidinger operates an electrical, plumbing and heat- ing business in Zurich. Other officers who were instal- led at the same meeting are, first vice-president, Douglas Armstrong; second vice-presid- ent, Ray McKinnon; secretary, John Consitt; treasurer, Josef Risi. Past President of the organ- ization is Herb Turkheim, who has completed a two-year term in that capacity. Chairman of the executive council is George Haggitt, while other members of the council are Rev. A.C. Blackwell, Charles Eckel, Gary Gingerich, Oscar Greb, Fred Haberer, Ken Gingerich, Bill Baechler, Jack Hamilton, Bob Johnston, Ken McCarter and Harvey Hohner. At the same meeting chairmer of various committees were named by the new president. They are as follows; agriculture, Jack Hamilton; program, Gary Gingerich; membership, attend- ance and finance, Oscar Greb; health and welfare, Cleve Gingerich; industrial and plan- ning, Herb Turkheim; public relations and public affiars, Ray McKinnon; retail merchants, Gary Gingerich; special events, Glen Thiel; community better- ment, Fred Haberer; tourism, Gerald Gingerich; nominating committee, Leroy Thiel; audit- ors, Doug Armstrong; bulletin and publicity, John Consitt. One of the first presidents of the organization, Albert J. Kalbfleisch conducted the instal- lation of the new officers. The members agreed to hold Their executive meetings on the (continued on page 9) 0 hits ea A severe sleet storm took it's toll throughout this area on Sunday as hundreds of trees were crashed to the ground and hydro service was disrupted for sever- al hours. The storm hit the area early Sunday morning and within an hour or two all roads were turn- ed into sheets of glass. By noon all trees, hydro and telephone lines were carrying a thick coat of ice. A brisk wind soon caused hydro lines to fall, and by mid-afternoon power was off throughout the entire area. Power was returned to a port- ion of this area between six and seven o'clock, but then a few hours later another break took place and the area was plunged into darkness for another hour.