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39 Renfrew Ave.W., W., Unit Raglan St. S.1, 39 342 Renfrew Ave. Unit 1, Box 100, Renfrew K7V 4A2 Renfrew K7V 1R5 P.O.P.O. Box 100, Renfrew K7V 4A2 Pager Pager 1-888-717-9181 Pager1-888-717-9181 1-888-717-9181
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Inside Year 142, Issue 26
Thursday, January 3, 2013 • 28 pages
www.yourottawaregion.com
Green light for amalgamation of Arnprior and Renfrew OPP Sabine Gibbins sabine.gibbon@metroland.com
This boreal owl is among the area’s most attractive, finefeathered friends identified in Jim Ferguson’s column. – Page 21 –
Admaston-Bromley Township pays tribute to several of its community leaders. – Page 25 –
The Town of Arnprior received an early Christmas present. Arnprior council gave the green light Dec. 20 to integrate its police services with the Renfrew OPP. Renfrew Staff-Sgt. Colin Slight answered questions from councillors during a special council meeting, indicating to them it would be beneficial for cost-savings reasons, but they would have to determine the type of police presence they require in the community. Currently, Arnpriorʼs OPP detachment is classified as a 5.1 non-contract policing operation. Amalgamating it with the Renfrew OPP would mean the sharing of key services and finding efficiencies. “Weʼre really at your mercy,” said Staff Sgt. Slight. Mayor David Reid noted finding the right amount and level of service is of great importance to the town. Coun. Ted Strike asked if there were any costs the public should know about beforehand in regards to the maintenance of Arnpriorʼs current detachment building. “For our people, are we
prepared to pay X number of dollars for this level of service?” he asked. “We should have a good feel for that cost.” Councillors were also concerned with a $10,000 phone bill, which CAO Michael Wildman said they would look into to find savings. The total cost of having a detachment office sits at $37,600. Council noted it would be difficult to find another tenant for the building if they were to not keep it for policing purposes. Coun. Lynn Grinstead said they wouldnʼt be doing the police any service to get rid of the building. In the end, councillors agreed to keep the building, but noted the costs of operating it should be reviewed annually. Another question that arose was the sharing of officers and the reassurance Arnprior would have their own officer on duty at all times. Slight told councillors the detachment would always ensure the safety of the community by having officers present. Additionally, if an officer were called for back-up in another region (such as Cobden), a replacement would
replace that officerʼs time and patrol Arnprior. “Weʼre going to meet the needs of the community,” Slight told council. “I can guarantee that.” He said the total number of hours a full-time officer works during the year amounts to 1,467. In the end, mayor Reid told council amalgamating with Renfrew is the way to go, adding it makes better economical sense to integrate their services with the OPP like many other smaller detachments have done. “There are efficiencies there,” he said. “The province is heading in that direction. But we need to make sure to have continued OPP presence in the community.” Reeve Walter Stack said integrating services was all about being good neighbours to one another. “To me itʼs a no-brainer,” he said, adding it was still important to have an effective OPP presence in the community with regular school visits.” “If we can save $350,000 a year, thatʼs great.” Slight told council it would be a good idea for Arnprior to join the Police Advisory Committee to ensure its voice is heard on policing matters.
70th-anniversary commemoration Tara Gesner tgesner@perfprint.ca
Dog-sled rides are being offered this winter over the rolling terrain of the Calabogie Highlands Golf Club. – Page 20 –
150 RAGLAN STREET
Thirty-nine names, including 14 from the Renfrew area, were spoken Thursday evening, Dec. 20, in Almonte – the names of angels so desperately missed, and so deeply loved. Mississippi Mills Coun. Denzil Ferguson, Marilyn Snedden and Cliff Bennett identified
the men, women and children who were killed as a result of the Almonte train accident on Dec. 27, 1942. A single white candle was lit for each victim, among them 11 from Renfrew, and one each from Admaston Township, Calabogie and Mount St. Patrick. See WE PRAY, page 3
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Adam Warren (foreground) is among the employees doing the last molten-iron pour at the H. Imbleau and Son Foundry Feb. 10. The Renfrew business closed its doors and thus its reputation as one of Canada’s oldest familyowned businesses.
Highway deaths, drought, prison sentence & Olympics Just some of the headline stories in 2012 Steve Newman steve.newman@metroland.com
There was an abundance of headline stories in 2012. The summer drought ravaged farmers and other rural residents whose wells were going dry, while Renfrew residents saw the increased manganese in the low-water waterways turn drinking water into a dark cloud, even though
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the water was still perfectly healthy. But it was totally unexpected tragedy that rocked many communities in the Ottawa Valley before the year had barely begun. Renfrew Subway employee Michelle Berndt and her mother, Guylaine Lepage, died in a two-car collision New Yearʼs Day. See LOSS, page 5,
Drop in and BUY WHOLESALE AND SAVE check For all your paper products and more, shop and save with Scott Wholesale in Downtown Renfrew. WE NOW SELL ALL CASH out our Products for all of your winter activities, fishing derbies, carnivals, and more. REGISTER AND INTERAC Foil products, pie plates, napkins, knives, forks, Styrofoam cups, plates, bowls. PAPER FOR ALL MAKES AND selection TOLL FREE 1-888-432-3641 | WWW.SCOTTWHOLESALE.COM MODELS OF POINT OF SALE
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