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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-08-08, Page 22 Times—Advocate Wednesday, August 8, 2007 Imeson search ends with arrest in Eastern Ontario Continued from front page Church. The OPP and Windsor Police Service investigators appealed Aug. 1 for any public information "concern- ing the tragic trail of events leading to his arrest on Tuesday, July 31." A police release said investigators have determined that the Regiers' distinctive silver GMC Sierra pickup had been abandoned in dense bush in the Whitewater Region before the OPP was first summoned to the vic- tims' Mount Carmel -area farm at 1:30 p.m. July 23. Detective Inspector Dave Cardwell of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, who leads this homicide investigation, is "anxious to share the accurate chronology of events as the investigation moves for- ward," says the release. "It is critical that potential witnesses are aware that the vehicle was moving across Ontario before the Regiers' bodies were discovered at their farm hi south- western Ontario. It's now apparent Imeson was driving across Ontario in the Regiers' pickup truck in the late hours of Sun., July 22, or the early hours of Mon., July 23. "Any information concerning this vehicle should be given to police." The four -door truck has some distinct features including Z 71 stickers on rear sides of the box, full stainless steel "tube style" running boards, front and rear molded mud flaps, a tinted bug deflector on the hood, tinted window visors above all four doors and an HMP `Exeter' licence plate holder. A special homicide Investigation TIP line (1-877-584- 8477) has been set up for this case. A strictly anony- mous report can be made through Crime Stoppers at 1 -800 -222 -TIPS. Imeson was also subject of a report on the television show, "America's Most Wanted," which visited Exeter last week. Police begin scouring the Renfrew area shortly after the pickup truck was found by a resident walking along a trail to the Ottawa River on property owned by Jim Tripp. Shirley Mcleese, who lives just up the Kerr Line from where the vehicle was found, said two armed police officers came to her door about 11 p.m. Monday, warned her to keep her doors locked and asked to search her barn. However, it wasn't until Tuesday morning that police explained publicly why they were taking the discovery of the truck so seriously. They then warned the public not to try and apprehend Imeson, as he was consid- ered armed and dangerous. Police cordoned off the trail to the truck, keeping about 12 media members and curious onlookers at bay. An OPP forensic team arrived about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday to closely scrutinize the vehicle. As word of the fugitive's possible presence in the area spread, police began investigating a growing number of leads. Police began checking reports of break-ins to area cottages on both sides of the river, as well as a break- in at a nearby store, which netted the thief a few snacks and pornographic magazines. Reports that a person resembling the suspect had been seen hitchhiking and riding in a car on Highway 60 just outside of Renfrew sparked the sweep by the OPP ERT along the Highway 60 toward Douglas. The large number of heavily armed OPP ERT mem- bers, supported by police dogs and aircraft equipped with heat -seeking devices, was an eye-opener in the normally placid Whitewater and Admaston-Bromley countryside. Police also concentrated their search on the Quebec side as the truck was found nearby a train bridge across the Ottawa River and just upstream from the Chenaux Bridge. The police set up a base just up the hill from where the truck was found, at Hillside Farm owned by Eugene and Jeannie Kargus. After Imeson's arrest, the OPP and the Windsor Police Service publicly thanked the public, the media and the Surete du Quebec for their assistance. Bluewater council to decide on proposed sewer project Continued from front page is done. As residents were told Saturday, if Bluewater opts out of the Grand Bend and Area Sanitary Sewage plan now, it is out forever and will be on its own in the future for any sewer projects in those areas. Answering a question from the public about what would happen if Bluewater doesn't get involved in this project but years down the road is forced by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) to install sewers in Dashwood, Boussey said the Ministry has "no mercy" or "sense of humour." He said the province prefers "communal" plants involving more than one municipality and, with Lambton Shores, Bluewater and South Huron involved, the chance for a grant is greater than if one of those municipalities should go on its own. He said if Bluewater had to eventually build its own sewage treatment plant it would cost at least $7 million — going in with Lambton Shores and South Huron on the Grand Bend plant will cost about $4.6 mil- lion. Boussey estimates a future sewage collection system in Bluewater for the lakeshore areas would cost $5.1 million, while hi Dashwood it would cost $1.6 million, for an approximate cost per lot of $19,000 on the lakeshore and $26,000 in Dashwood (figures include con- nection charges). Simply buying into the capacity for the plant would cost about $3,800 per lot, Boussey said. There were many comments from the public during the two and a half hour meeting. Many seemed to agree that Bluewater should buy into the sewage treatment plant, but many Dashwood residents said the vil- lage doesn't need sewers. Asked if there was anything wrong with the current lagoons in the Grand Bend sewage sys- tem, Boussey said "lagoons are dinosaur technology" and they would be replaced with the mechanical plant. Because the proposed project is mostly north to south and very narrow west to east, Boussey said a traditional gravi- ty system wouldn't work for most of the area, so a low-pres- sure sewage system is being proposed which would see each home have its own low-pressure grinder pump (Dashwood, on the other hand, is proposed to have a gravity system, although that could change. Boussey said low-pressure systems are cheaper than gravity systems and if Dashwood switches to the pressure system, costs per lot can drop to under $19,000). Resident David Edwards, who said he used to work in con- struction, asked Boussey why the sewage pipe couldn't go down the beach instead of Highway 21. Boussey said "it is my understanding the MOE wouldn't touch that with a 10 - foot pole ... I don't have a good feeling about that." Other residents wondered why Bayfield, Zurich and Hensall weren't involved in the project. Boussey said they are too far away and including them would cost too much. One resident asked why Dashwood has been included in the proposal. Boussey warned residents that if there are sewer problems in Dashwood in the future and the village has opted out of this project, "you're on your own." Because Dashwood is shared by Bluewater and South Huron, both municipalities have to reach a consensus on the vil- lage. Several from the lakeshore spoke in favour of the project, citing the importance of pre- venting pollution from entering Lake Huron. Crediton's Drew Robertson, who also owns property on the lakeshore, pointed out that Crediton said no to sewers 20 years ago and was eventually ordered by the MOE to install them. He said this project is a necessity. Paul Mennill of the Bluewater Shoreline Residents' Association (BSRA) urged Bluewater to buy into the project. While he said there are differing opinions among lakeshore prop- erty owners, there are many residents, "per- haps a majority, who are strongly in favour of buying capacity now and hooking up to the system some year in the future." Mennill said the BSRA has taken a strong stance on environmen- tal issues and there are three elements in the area that need to be improved — septic sys- tems, faulty lagoons and agricultural run-off. He said the proposed sewer project addresses the septic system issue. REGIONAL WRAP UP Climate change and global warming conference GODERICH — A conference Saturday at the Columbus Centre in Goderich will highlight climate change and global warming, explaining the difference these global processes will have on our lake, our local water- sheds and our health. The fourth annual "It All Ends Up" in the Lake conference features keynote speaker Dr. Kirsty Duncan who will talk about "Canada in a Warmer World." Duncan is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto where she teaches medical geography. Duncan's talk explores what warmer temperatures in Canada will mean to our ecosystems, human health threats, such as emerging and re-emerg- ing diseases, human settlements, and water resources and what we must do to be prepared. Another highlighted speaker is Dr. Todd Howell, from the Ministry of the Environment, who will report on his work on the Lake Huron off the Eighteen Mile River. The conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door. "Joining a modern sewage treatment system is part of the answer," Mennill said. "This will be a sewage treatment system that can be improved as required to deal with future standards ... Missed opportuni- ties of the past have come back to haunt us — (a) water line to Bayfield, (the) sewer in Crediton." Mennill said connecting to the sewers will benefit the whole community, raise property values and help economic development. Answering a question on whether or not ratepayers will be allowed to pay for the project over time, Dowson said council hasn't decided yet, but in the past the municipality has allowed ratepayers to spread their payments out over time. Arnold Kester of Dashwood said Bluewater should go ahead with buy- ing into the sewage project. He said residents need to think about the future. A few residents thanked Bluewater for having the meeting and allowing for public input, while others, including Dashwood's Tracey Whitson-Bahro, criticized the municipality for holding the meeting on a holiday weekend. She said she's concerned Dashwood residents won't be able to afford a sewer system and wonders if some will have to sell. Whitson- Bahro's family is from Newbury and she said when sewers were installed there, many couldn't afford them and were forced to sell. Tim Steele of Dashwood said Bluewater should buy into the treatment plant, but added Dashwood does- n't want or need sewers. He said he doesn't know of any septic problems in the vil- lage. Dowson compared buying capacity in the plant to buy- ing insurance. South Huron Mayor Ken Oke also spoke, saying South Huron is in favour of the project and wants all three municipalities involved because it's the most cost efficient. For now, he said the designs for the project can include Dashwood, but sew- ers won't necessarily be installed in the village. However, Oke added it's only a matter of time before the MOE forces sewers into Dashwood. 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