MRPM News - Feb 17, 2012

Page 1

Health Care Keep looking for health care solutions. p6

Pitt council backs off NL connector. p3

THE NEWS

Gardening Getting back to basics on pruning. p25

www.mapleridgenews.com Friday, February 17, 2012 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · 50¢

‘Shannon combined alcohol, E’ Friend testifies teen ‘screamed for 25 minutes’ by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s staff reporter

Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS

Metal heads (From left) Tyler Blad, Olivia DiFant, Emily Blad and Chloe DiFant of Alouette elementary will be helping their parents collect scrap metal on March 31 to raise money for new computers, sound boards and a new playground for their school. See story, p13.

Record payout A Pitt Meadows nursery that had its trees killed by a toxic fertilizer was awarded part of what is believed to be the largest product liability settlement ever awarded to a Canadian company Wednesday by an Oregon state civil court. See Fertilizer, p11

A Maple Ridge teen was unresponsive hours before a woman charged in connection with her death called for an ambulance. Ashley Dunn, a friend of Shannon Raymond, testified she heard her scream. “It was probably the toughest day yet,” Julie Raymond, Shannon’s mother, said following Dunn’s testimony in court Thursday. “Ashley testified that Shannon let out a blood-curdling scream and her screams continued for upwards of 25 minutes. It would give the appearance, from her body movements, that Shannon was in full seizure. How could anybody sit and watch that and not call 911? I can’t understand that. How could you do nothing?” See Raymond, p5

Two more years for fraudster Marj Lovatt was set to testify against Douglas Clark, but surprised by sudden guilty plea by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s staff reporter A 65-year-old man who bilked more than 40 people, including his family, for almost $2 million dollars will spend two more years in prison. Douglas Archie Clark was handed the sentence Wednesday in Port Coquitlam Provincial

DEBBIE SHEPPARD

Court on the second day of his trial after entering guilty pleas to 11 counts of fraud, admitting to scamming 11 victims. Clark faced a total of 22 fraud charges and one count impersonating a peace officer. The remaining charges were stayed. The former Pitt Meadows resident portrayed himself as a member of the Canadian military, often indicating he was

either currently employed or retired from the navy. Clark sometimes wore a military uniform. R i d g e Meadows RCMP’s serious Clark crime unit began investigating Clark four years ago and believe he defrauded more

than 40 people for about $2 million, although charges were only approved for 22. Some complaints date back to the 1980s. Marjorie Lovatt was set to testify Wednesday afternoon but received a phone call advising her that Clark had pleaded guilty. “I think he knew that as soon as I went in, his goose was cooked,” said Lovatt, who sold Aunt Margie’s Fudge at the PNE for 55 years. See Fraud, p5

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