Goderich Signal Star, 2017-03-22, Page 13Wednesday, March 22, 2017 • Signal Star 13
Suspect arrested and charged in structure fire in Clinton
Damaged
buildings to
be torn down
Justine Alkema
Postmedia Network
On Saturday, March 18
shortly after 5:30 a.m.,1 luron
County OPP were called to a
structure .fire by Central
Huron Fire department.
The fire affected a row of
connected buildings
between Highway 8 and
town hall in Clinton after
starting in the most northern
building in the row.
Fire departments from
Clinton, Se.aforth and
Goderich were on the scene
and responders fought the
fire until Saturday evening.
Criminal Investigators
from the Huron County OPP,
West Region Criminal Oper-
ations, and OPP Forensic
Identification Services Unit
are treating this fire as arson
and have reason .to believe
that the fire was set
deliberately.
As a result of further inves-
tigation by police a male
party has been arrested and
charged.
A photo of the aftermath of the fire
buildings on Albert Street.
47 -year-old Ronald Davis
of Central Huron has been
charged with arson - disre-
gard for human life and fail
to comply with probation
order under the Criminal
Code. He was held for a bail
hearing on Sunday, March
19.
Highway 4 (Albert Street)
between Highway 8 and Rat-
tenbury Street in Clinton was
closed for several days after
the fire. Central Huron Fire
Chief Dave Renner said the
buildings were unsafe, so the
roads were closed for the
safety of pedestrians and
drivers.
Several of the buildings
are damaged beyond repair
that wrecked several
and will have to be torn
down in the near future. At
the time this story was writ-
ten, exactly how many build-
ings would have to be
demolished was not yet
determined.
Fire fighters were able to
keep the flames from hitting
the historic town hall next to
the fire, although the build-
ing did suffer extensive
smoke damaged and is
closed until further notice.
Huron County OPP are
asking that any person
that may have been in the
area in the early morning
hours of March 18, 2017 or
that may have any infor-
mation regarding this
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Firefighters battling flames early
incident to contact them
at 1-888-310-1122 or (519)
524-8314.
Saturday morning on March 18.
Should you wish to remain
anonymous, you may call
Crime Stoppers at
Photos courtesy of Judy Renner
1 -800 -222 -TIPS (8477), where
you may be eligible to receive
a cash reward of up to $2,000.
J.N. MacDonald - In Memoriam
When one thinks of life in terms of a half -century ago, it's not hard to associate a sense of
ancient history to it. And yet, for me and my siblings, the date March 19, 1967 is as fresh as
last week ... because that was the day our father passed away. Our
lives changed forever in that instant, and set us each on a path not
of our choosing.
J.N. MacDonald - his name often colloquially shortened to 'Jan'
by many of his friends - was a good man; a hard-working man.
He was smart and capable, and admired by many of the Goderich
townsfolk of that time.
A proud Cape Bretoner, he was a tall and hefty man, and he could
certainly get rowdy. Our Dad loved to whistle a tune as he walked
along. He loved hearing the bagpipes - two of my brothers played
them quite well. He also loved kitchen ceilidhs, Celtic dancers, and.
music from the `40s.
On his more serious side, he contributed much to his beloved
community of Goderich, serving with distinction for many years in
a variety of volunteer capacities: on the senior executive of Canadian Legion Branch 109; as
President of the Goderich Community Credit Union; and as a long-time member and eventual
Grand Master of the local chapter of the Masonic Lodge.
For 22 years, he was the Superintendent of Maitland Cemetery, and oversaw the meticulous
grooming and maintenance of the final resting place for many hundreds from in -and -around
the Town - many of whom were close friends - until he, himself, was quietly interred in the
Veterans' Plot there.
As a father, he was our hero. He had been a Sergeant in the Army, and saw combat overseas
during WWII. When he returned from the war and moved to Goderich to begin raising his
family, he instilled in us a strong sense of duty, honour, and loyalty. We were proud of our Celtic
heritage, and of our mighty Dad. It seemed to us there was nothing he could not do. So on that
fateful Sunday morning 50 years ago this week, we were stricken with shock and disbelief that,
after only a brief illness, his life was suddenly over. The days that followed were a blur, and as
we tried to stay courageous, we leaned heavily on that determined Celtic Pride.
And now, so impossibly quickly, it's 50 years later. We all eventually found our way, raised our
own families, got on with our lives. And it all tumed out okay, after a bit of an uncertain start. So
on this half -century anniversary of the last day we ever spent with you, we salute you, Dad. We
pay tribute to the many sacrifices you made for us. We honour the wisdom you shared with us.
And we celebrate the rich heritage you passed on to us. In our hearts, you're still a giant of a
man, and we hope we've made you even half as proud as you made us.
Until we meet again ... Randy, Charlie, Joe, and Lily -Ann MacDonald