ALMAGUIN NEWS, Thursday, April 23, 2009 - Page 3 – The OPP Files – to check on the property and discovered Attack with sledgehammer there were items littering the floor. NOVAR – Police investigated an assault in A computer screen, keyboard, television, Novar around 3 p.m. on April 16 after a man microwave oven, kitchen table and chairs was assaulted at his residence on Florence were missing. An attempt was made to steal Street. a suede sofa but efforts were abandoned Police say the victim reported that a because it did not fit through the door. vehicle containing a man and a woman The incident took place sometime after pulled into his driveway. The man exited April 14. the vehicle and began accusing the resident of various things before throwing him down Thieves make big haul onto the ground, redislocating an already injured shoulder in the process. SOUTH RIVER – A number of items were The victim was able to break free and reported stolen from an Eagle Lake residence entered his house, followed by his attacker, on April 19 around 10 a.m. where a fight ensued in the living room of The door to a shed was discovered to be the home. wide open and the gate to the premises was The victim then fled to the bedroom and broken. the man left the house. A 20-foot trailer, riding lawnmower and According to police the victim then generator were stolen. grabbed a camera and headed outside The break and enter is believed to have where the man came at him with a sledge- occurred sometime overnight on April 18. hammer. They ran through the house once more Dump B&E and the victim fled to a neighbour’s house BURK’S FALLS – The Chetwynd Road dump where he called police from his cellular was broken into sometime over night on phone. April 13. The incident was reported to police His attacker fled in his vehicle and was around 12:45 p.m. on April 14. A toolbox, stopped by police on Hwy. 11 at Katrine. valued at about $100, was stolen. Jared Chapman, 31, of Sundridge was charged with assault, theft under, mischief and being unlawfully in a dwelling. Smoking charge laid He is to appear in court May 12. BURK’S FALLS – The Children’s Aid Society was contacted after police pulled over a Rash of mailbox thefts vehicle during a RIDE spot-check on Hwy. DIP! Joey Doherty dips Cory Boyer, both of South River, in the grand fi nale of their romp around the SUNDRIDGE – A Sundridge man faces nine 520 in Burk’s Falls around 4:45 p.m. on charges after the Almaguin Highlands OPP April 18. dance fl oor at Spring Fling hosted by the Commanda Community Centre on April 18. investigated a number of complaints con- Police pulled over the Dodge pickup cerning mailbox theft. truck being driven by a 43-year-old Hunts- The first complaint came in on April 15 ville woman and charged her under the around 4:15 p.m. from a woman on Strong/ smoke free Ontario act for smoking with Water costs up 20 per cent Chapman Boundary Road who said a $5 a child in the car after noticing a cigarette dollars was stolen from an envelop that she burning in the ashtray. There was a six-year- had placed in her box to purchase stamps. old in the vehicle. for town household bills A neighbour came forward during the A small quantity of marijuana was uncov- police investigation stating they had wit- ered, for which the woman was not charged, Laurel J. Campbell already has one subdivision planned that is nessed the accused going through two mail- though police notified the Children’s Aid being held up because of water issues, and boxes on Brookside Road. Society. POWASSAN – A 20 per cent increase in another is the early proposal stages. Police arrested the accused for theft from water bills for the town of Powassan met Former municipal councillor Rob mail. During the arrest another individual Drunk driver in ditch with resistance from ratepayers during a Passmore expressed his concern over the came forward saying his mailbox had been public meeting held in the municipality’s increased water rate, saying, “I’m going to broken into as well. EAST FERRIS – A 76-year-old East Ferris council chambers on April 7. pay for that future growth. How does future Police were also advised that another woman was charged with impaired opera- “I am not in favour of a rate increase,” said growth benefit me?” mailbox had been rifled through and a tion of a motor vehicle and having a blood- Arlene Murdock in a written submission. “As Increasing the water capacity was also license renewal form had been thrown in alcohol level over the legal limit after a a senior living alone and on a fixed income, necessary in order to address a water the ditch. single motor vehicle collision on April 18 I feel that paying (the current) $283 every pressure shortage that was below provincial The complaints continued to come in around 7:30 p.m. three months is more than enough for the standards for fire protection services, as well to police and 44-year-old Billy-Joe McCabe When police arrived on scene at the amount of water and sewer that I use.” as causing problems for some commercial was charged with seven counts of theft from intersection of Corbeil Road and Lavigne Audrey and Jack Yates also put their businesses, in particular Eastholme Home mail, one count of failure to comply with Road the vehicle was in the ditch and para- concerns in writing, saying, “We strongly for the Aged, which had to install special undertaking, and one count of breach of medics were checking the driver. object” to the 20 per cent increase. “We equipment to pump water into certain areas probation. The woman suffered no injuries as a think a gradual increase would be more of its operation. He is to make his first appearance in Sun- result of the accident. appropriate. We are on a fixed income and Council is hoping to address some of the dridge court on May 12. our pensions haven’t increased. If a water inequities in the new water bills, which are Cruiser versus deer rate increase is necessary, it must be due to currently based on the number of taps and a lack of foresight.” water loading appliances in each location, Lessons from the WWE SOUTH RIVER – An OPP cruiser sustained Similar comments were made by those by having water meters installed for all MATTAWA – Two men were arrested Fri- moderate damage after striking a deer on attending the public meeting, where the users. Cost of the installations has been day night after fighting on the street with Hwy. 11 north of South River on April 14. current economic climate was also cited estimated at $450,000. At the moment two-by-fours. Mattawa OPP responded to a The Huntsville OPP officer was driving as further reason for limiting the water bill council has agreed to pay for the meters complaint of two men fighting on Mattawan southbound in an unmarked cruiser around increase. from reserves but is hoping the project may Street around 11:30 p.m. A 20-year-old man 10:45 p.m. after dropping off a prisoner “It’s unfortunate that the increase has receive funding from the next round of the was charged with Assault with a weap- when the deer was struck. come at this time in the economic situation,” Building Canada Fund. on, possession of a weapon for dangerous said Mayor Bob Young, “but there has to be “What we have now is not a fair system purpose, causing a disturbance, carrying a Bad week for police cost recovery for our water infrastructure if you don’t use a lot of water,” said Keown. concealed weapon and being intoxicated expenses.” “With metering some bills will go up and in a public place. An 18-year-old man was MAGNETAWAN – An 80-year-old Dunchurch A new three-cell water reservoir and some will go down and people wishing to charged with causing a disturbance and man slammed into the back of an OPP SAVE sewer upgrades, in the final stages of conserve water will see a financial benefit.” consuming liquor under the age of 19. Unit truck around 10:45 p.m. on April 15. completion, have cost the municipality close While some residents argued that they The white Ford SAVE Unit pickup truck to $4 million. After deducting payments would rather see the bill for the water had been parked on the side of Hwy. 520 of $1 million received in a grant from the reservoir and sewer upgrades split evenly Mailboxes take beating near Hwy. 510 when the driver of the Dodge province and $200,000 taken from municipal between the users and eliminate the added ALMAGUIN – A number of youths are say- Caravan pulled up behind him. The Caravan reserves, Powassan is anticipating carrying a cost of the water meters, Russell Cameron ing sorry to victims after damaging mail- was only moving 15 km per hour when his loan of about $2.8 million extended over the disagreed. “If we don’t have water meters boxes. brakes failed. next 20 years. Repayment of this loan means you don’t reduce consumption,” he said. From the middle of January to the mid- The driver of the Caravan was charged the water users can expect a 20 per cent “We need the meters to conserve water and dle of March a number of residents in the with driving an unsafe vehicle.