Times Advocate, 1995-09-06, Page 3IN THE NFW.S
Times -Advocate, September 6, 1995
Page 3
In view of the number of thefts from vehicles, do you always lock your car?
Anew
Bob Connolly
- Ottawa - visit-
ing Zurich
"I think you
should always
lock your car at
night."
Steve Jaques
- Usbome Twp.
"I don't. i live
outside of Exeter.
There have been
car's stolen near
our place.
Whether they
would have been
stopped if the
cars were
locked, 1 don't
know. Locking in
town...that's a
good idea."
Angelica
Metzger -
Dashwood
"I don't think
you should
have to do it in
your own drive-
way."
41.
John Be-
bingh - Watford
"I lock my car
at night. At the
office it's not
locked.."
Left, Paul Music Right, Justin
Stever- Exeter
"Yes... so that nothing get broken
into and nothing gets stolen."
Tlnka Ber-
voets - Zurich
"The police
gave me a
warning sheet
that my vehicle
was open. It's
a good idea
really. He
came by
twice."
Jan Barnes,
Dashwood
"I lock my car
and I don't let
anybody drive
my car. 1 don't
usually have
much in it...1
became more
aware of peo-
ple stealing."
Zella Gibson,
Exeter
"Yes, always
because thefts
are so com-
mon...lf you
cause tempta-
tion you're
equally as re-
sponsible... 1
usually lock
parcels in the
trunk."
Jim McQuillan,
Grand Bend
"1 usually lock
my car for insu-
rance purpos-
es. I'm for safe-
ty too."
New OPP officer
hired in Exeter
Brenda Burke T -A staff
EXETER - Constable Joanna Van Mierlo is the newest member of the
Exeter Ontario Provincial Police detachment.
Van Mierlo began work Aug. 21, just one weekend after graduating
from the Provincial Police Academy in Brampton. Her training included
17 weeks of practice in firearms, defensive tactics, police vehicle opera-
tions and physical fitness as well as provincial and federal law.
"You are hired by your police service before you go to school," she ex-
plained, adding new officers' work area preferences are also taken into
consideration.
Her favorite aspects of police training included firearms and police ve-
hicle operations.
"i'd never shot a gun before. It's a very powerful tool and it's very in-
teresting," she said. "Police vehicle operations was fun because we got to
drive someone else's car and squeal the tires...We had to learn how to
drive fast."
r,,,, What she liked least about her training was 5:30 a.m. fitness which in-
volved taking a 'tour of the grounds' - in other words, an hour and 15
minutes of jogging plus 700 jumping jacks, 175 push-ups and 175 curl -
ups.
"It was tough hut...it ended up being good team building," she said of
her training, most of which was carried out at the Ontario Police College
in Aylmer.
Minimum requirements for police officer applicants include CPR and
First Aid training as well as a high school diploma.
"I think because competition's so high they're really looking at post sec-
ondary education," she said of prerequisites for the police training course
that runs in year-round sessions. •
Van Mierlo graduated from the Engineering and Managerial Institute in
Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Administration in 1988.
She realized she wanted to do police work while she was an employee at
Victoria Hospital in London from 1991 until last April.
"I worked in human resources and it wasn't enough," she said. "I guess
it really comes down to hands-on and reacting more with people."
Although the female population of the O.P.P. is still under 20 per cent,
Van Mierlo was ensured she was not hired solely for employment equity
purposes. Recruitment numbers are high due to a shortage of officers.
There were 105 students in her class and the next class promises to be
bigger.
"You have to meet the standards," she said. "If I'm not a good officer
then don't hire me for quotas."
Although it's too early to tell if she must face any special challenges as
a female police officer, Van Mierlo is certain most people don't classify
her according to her gender.
"I think for the most part people think if you're a police office you're a
police officer, not a male or female officer."
"These guys," she said, referring to her co-workers, "they seem to be a
really good crew. I think I'm going to have an opportunity to prove my-
self as an officer."
She admitted however, there are some social advantages to having one
of the detair?hment's three female officers on every shift. Searching women
in custody, for example, will be handled by female officers.
Van Mierlo lives in St. Marys with her husband, Tony, and their five-
year-old daughter, Carlynn. Her interests include fitness, home renova-
tions and gardening. Her job involves general police responsibilities such
as tending to occurrences and patrolling the road.
"I'm really looking forward to working in Exeter," she said. "I think I'm
a very fair person."
Joanna Van Norio, Exeter's new OPP officer.
Your Views
Letters to the editor
Quiet Labor
Day long
weekend in
Grand Bend
1200 sign petition
"If you agree with this petition,
please take a stand and help
make our streets safer."
Dear Editor:
Re: Petition to keep sex offenders and dangerous
criminals locked up.
I would like to take this opportunity to say
"Thank You" to all the people that have taken a
stand and made a commitment in signing the above
mentioned petition. I would also like to extend .my
thanks to the local businesses that gave their support
in promoting the petition in their stores.
To date there are 1200 signatures. With 13 more
petitions to be picked up from local businesses and
an extra "push" which will include "door-to-door"
calls, I am confident that we can double the already
existing names.
The signatures will be sent to B.C. c/o Mr. Steve
Carpenter. Mr. Carpenter's daughter, Melanie. was
murdered in Surrey, B.C. last January by a man who
had a previous criminal (sex offense) record. As a
result of this terrible tragedy. Mr. Carpenter started
a petition and will be presenting 1110 Parliament in
September along with others including Exeter's
with the hope of having a Bill passed aimed at keep-
ing these serious offenders off the streets and away
from society.
1t seems to take a tragedy in order for something
to he done to "correct" the problem. Unfortunately.
terrible things do happen and we arc not immune
just because we live in a small town.
If you agree with this petition, please take a stand
and help make our streets safer. It is time people
took control of the issue that we find important and
demand action from our legislators!
Petitions will he left at Oscars Video and Greeting
Card World until September 16, 1995.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Anne Gould -Sullivan
Reader responds to letter
There are many other students
out there in exactly the same po-
sition..
Dear Sir.
With regards the article written about. and the let-
ter written by Rebecca Day and her application for a
student loan. I am not aware of any place on the
OSAP Application Form where a medical history is
asked for. I'm sure her heart condition is extremely
debilitating, but it is not relevant to a loan applica-
tion of this type. She may well be an excellent stu-
dent, but once again, nowhere on the OSAP Appli-
cation Form are you asked for your academic
record. These are simply not relevant facts when re-
questing a student loan.
I was always under the impression that OSAP
Loans were disbursed on a needs basis. As Rebecca
was denied a loan, it would appear that due to her.
and her parents' incomes, she is, at this point in
om student
time, not eligible for one. There are many other stu-
dents out there who are in the exact sante position.
Few parents will be a position to pay 56.000-
$10,(XX) out of their cheque hooks for tuition, resi-
dence, meals and hooks for the student going away
to university or college. I assume that most families
when they are in this position must make some sac-
rifices it they want to help their children. This may
mean the cashing of RRSP's. savings bonds, or tak-
ing out a bank loan.
Why should any exception he made in the case of
Rebecca and her family? What about all of the other
extremely worthy students who have applied for
loans, been turned down and have managed to ac-
quire the funds through other means.
No person should expect the government to sup-
port them. There are countless ways for students to
raise the funds necessary to finance an education.
Explore thein all. hut i don't personally feel that the
pages of the local newspaper is an appropriate place.
. Sincerely
Barbara Robertson
People
receive minor
injuries in
accident
STEPHEN TWP. - Daniel
MacKinnon, of Kitchener, and
his passenger received minor
injuries after losing control of
his vehicle and rolling over
into a ditch Saturday.
The accident occurred on
Hwy. 83, west of Stephen Twp.
Road 6-7.
Bank of
Commerce
damaged
HENSALL - During August van-
dals caused $500 in damages to the
Bank of Commerce.
Pressure
washer and
cord stolen
EXETER - A Kacher pressure
washer and 100 foot yellow exten-
sion cord were stolen from a garage
on Andrew Street.
Stolen trailer
recovered
USBORNE TWP. - A 27 foot
Westwind travel trailer stolen from
Camrose, Alberta was recovered in
Usbornc Twp. Aug. 23.
Also seized was a 455 John Deere
riding lawnmower along with 20
steel gates. a stock trailer and 66
horses.
Ownership of the horses has yet to
be established.
GRAND BEND - Grand Bend
OPP reported a "relatively quiet"
Labor Day long weekend. A total
of 139 charges were laid during the
period of August 28 - Sept 4 with
most of the charges (86). being is-
sued under the Liquor Licence
Act.
As usual, the Grand Bend OPP
detachment jail cells were full of
party goers sleeping off the affects
of their weekend beverages. Twen-
ty-one people were lodged in cells
mostly for being intoxicated in a
public place.
Compared to the 492 charges laid
on the first long weekend of the
summer. OPP were braced for the
worst.
"The first long weekend [Victor-
ia Day] is always the busiest and
the last long weekend is usually the
second busiest, but this year it was
one of the quietest," said Sergeant
Gord Bruce.
Bruce estimated there were 240
charges laid last Labor Day week-
end. This year the crowds seemed
to he family oriented and no unu-
sual occurrences were reported. He
pointed out Motorplex had a major
event at the dragstrip during the
day and evening that was well pro-
moted and it drew a large number
of people away from Main Street.
"We were prepared for a heavy
long weekend but we were pleas-
antly surprised," Bruce said.
Pedestrian
struck in
Hensall
HENSALL - Elsie Kaupert was
treated for minor injuries at hospi-
tal and released after she was struck
by a vehicle along Hwy 4 on Aug.
27.
Bud's Driving School
St. Marys, Ontario
PRE -REGISTRATION for Evening Classes
Beginning September 12 at St. Marys D.C. Sr V.I.
& September 13 After School Classes at S.H.D.H.S.
NEW DRIVERS OF ALL AGES
25 Hours Classroom, 10 Hours In -Car •iraining
Private or Group In -Car Available
D.S.A.O. Insurance Certificate and reduction Level 1 to 8 Months
upon Successful Completion of Full Course
To Register Call (519) 284-3348
In
Tb Lot
Parking
Seip's
Witt
Show & Shop
'95
Tuesday Sept. 12
Raindate Sept. 13
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
50-50 Draw * Bar BQ Food
Proceeds for the S.H.R.C. Warm Room
D.J. Mise- 50s & 60s * Fantasy Hair Show
CRUISE NIGHT INSTORE SPECIALS
Hwy. 4 & 83 EXETER ,