the
Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 47 Issue 37
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.08% 3 Year GIC - 2.27% 5 Year GIC - 2.70% Daily Interest 1.45%
638-3328
Friday, September 12, 2014
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Police still seek suspects involved in vehicle chase
Fun run - Sunny skies were a pleasant change for the 2014 Alma Optimist Roadkill Race on Sept. 7. This year the race was moved ahead by over a month. The annual race raises funds for the fight against multiple sclerosis. While the fun run took place in Wallace Cumming Park, the other races were along nearby sideroads with the assistance of the Wellington OPP. Additional photo on page 4. photo by Mike Robinson
by Community News staff DRAYTON No arrests have been made in connection with an Aug. 22 police chase through Mapleton Township that caused minor damage to public and private property. Wellington OPP offered no additional details on the case, when contacted recently by the Community News. “There is an ongoing investigation,” stated Wellington OPP media relations officer Bob Bortolato in a Sept. 5 email. Sergeant Pat Horrigan said the OPP are urging anyone with information about the incident to call Wellington OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 (TIPS) or submit a tip on-line at www.crimestoppersguelphwellington.com. On Aug. 22, a vehicle ripped through the Drayton Memorial Park and tore down the cenotaph flagpole. The vehicle, which had led police on a chase starting in Moorefield, ran directly through the park’s archway at
the corner of Wellington and Wood streets, narrowly missing the stone pillars on each side. Described by police as a small beige pickup, the vehicle then ran into the flagpole to the left of the cenotaph, ripping it to the ground, and coming within feet of the cenotaph itself. From there the truck travelled behind the Studio Factor building on Wood Street, running into a shed and causing some other minor damage before eventually heading back out the way it came. “As the truck entered the downtown intersection attempts to stop it were discontinued in the interest of public safety,” the OPP stated in an Aug. 26 press release. As evidenced by the trail of oil around the scene, reports indicate at some point the vehicle was damaged - likely as a result of the collision with the flagpole - and began to lose oil. The vehicle eventually stopped on Wellington Road Continued on page 3
Festival spreading out from Mapleton roots FERGUS - Fergus will be among the stops on the 2014 Underground Railroad Music Festival tour on Sept. 26, 27 and 28. The blues and roots festival, which began in Mapleton, will also be held in St. Catharines and Toronto. The first two festivals were held in Glen Allan, which was
considered a main terminus of the Underground Railroad, the term for a series of safe houses and individuals who helped black slaves reach Canada from the United States in the early 1800s. The event was moved to Drayton’s Centennial Park in 2011, where it was also held in 2012. It was originally con-
ceived as a way to recognize the history of the Underground Railroad and the black pioneers of the Queen’s Bush settlement. Blues performers and festival organizers Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley describe the festival as soulful and unique. Continued on page 3
Kieswetter recognized by Alma Minor Ball ALMA - Alma Minor Ball celebrated the 2014 season with a wrap-up barbecue on Sept. 5. Alma fielded 83 players on five teams: T-ball, Mixed Mites, Atoms, PeeWee and Midget Girls. Although no championships were won this year, the teams celebrated many of their own successes with sportsmanship, skill building and camaraderie, organizers report. The ball association thanked all of its volunteers who coached or participated on the executive committee. One executive volunteer, Trish Kieswetter was presented with the Tim Hahn Memorial Award, given to the individual who has dedicated exceptional time and effort for the benefit of Alma Minor Ball. New volunteers for coaching and positions on the executive are welcomed. Contact Scott Northfield at scottnorthfield@xplornet.com.
Powerful winds- Two silage wagons in a field off Wellington Road 8 near Goldstone toppled over on Friday during the severe thunderstorm that struck Mapleton and the surrounding area. The storm left much of the township without power for varying periods. In some cases power was not restored until Saturday morning. photo by Caroline Sealey
Land rezoned to allow existing business
Exceptional volunteer - Trish Kieswetter receives the Tim Hahn Memorial Award afrom Robert Held, president of Alma Minor Ball, at the organization’s wrap-up banquet. submitted photo
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MAPLETON - Council has agreed to a zoning amendment to allow the continued operation of an existing welding and machine shop on a 3.5-acre property on Wellington Road 10. “The purpose of the amendment is to rezone the subject lands to allow a welding and machine shop including sales and service of agricultural equipment,” states a section of a bylaw passed at the Aug. 26 council meeting. “The applicants currently operate this business from this
Weekly Wag
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location and have applied for this amendment in order to bring the use into compliance with the zoning bylaw.” The application also includes a request to allow the processing of organic feed and construct a dwelling in the future. The property is currently designated prime agricultural in the Official Plan and zoned agricultural. “Staff have no concerns with the rezoning application,” stated Wellington County senior planner Linda Redmond in a report to council. She also
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noted the proposed rezoning conforms to the Official Plan and is in keeping with applicable provincial policies. “The uses are directly related to agriculture and are providing a service to the agricultural area.” Christopher Keffer of Harriston applied for the rezoning of the property which is owned by Deborah Keffer, also of Harriston. Redmond explained in her report that the application was originally before Mapleton council in June of 2012. Continued on page 6
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