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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 46 Issue 42
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.10% 3 Year GIC - 2.41% 5 Year GIC - 2.95% Daily Interest 1.55%
Friday, October 18, 2013
Council approves new alcohol and revenue sharing policies
Appeal - Wellington County OPP held a press conference last week to renew an appeal for public information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the driver who hit and killed Lucas Shortreed five years ago. A similar appeal was made by his mother Judie Moore, right, and grandfather Gerald Shortreed, left, who stand with OPP detachment commander Scott Lawson in front of a trailer bearing the image of the youth and information about a $50,000 reward in the case. BELOW: Moore spoke of the personal impact the tragedy has had on her family. photos by Kris Svela
Family, OPP launch new appeal in Lucas Shortreed hit-and-run case
by Kris Svela MAPLETON - Family members and police have made an impassioned appeal for information about the driver who hit and killed Lucas Shortreed five years ago. Shortreed, 18 at the time of his death, was hit and killed while hitchhiking from a party in Alma to his home in Fergus late on Oct. 10, 2008. No arrests or charges have been made in the case, which remains unsolved despite Wellington County OPP tracking down several leads as well as a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Shortreed’s mother Judie Moore led the call for more information at a press conference held five years to the day her son was killed and hosted by the OPP a short distance from where he was killed on Wellington Road 17 east of Alma. “My biggest [concern] is that person (the driver) doesn’t have a conscience,” Moore told the Advertiser after making an emotional statement at the press conference. “Are they out there driving a vehicle today? So what’s to say it doesn’t happen again?” Shortreed’s death and the lack of an arrest in the case have left their mark on the family, Moore added. She said family members rarely get together because of a reluctance to have the topic come up at gatherings. “Five years later I didn’t
expect it to be so hard,” she told the Advertiser. “There’s an overwhelming feeling of emptiness; it’s difficult.” Moore admitted that over time memories of her son are fading, but she stressed he is not forgotten. “Every year you realize you’re losing a little more of those memories,” she said. The family still clings to the hope the driver will come forward and confess - or that police will receive information that leads to charges and a conviction to help bring some sense of “closure” for the family. “We realize Lucas is gone and we’ll never see him again,” Shortreed’s grandfather Gerald Shortreed said at the press conference. “All we ask is for someone to come along and give that lead to bring closure to the family.” OPP detachment commander Inspector Scott Lawson offered his condolences to the family at the press conferMain St. W. Palmerston
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ence and said the investigation remains active, with a detective assigned to check on all leads. He released few details about the investigation, but noted police had received information the day before the press conference. “We feel very strongly there’s people out there who have information,” Lawson said, adding the reward remains in place. Lawson also appealed to garage mechanics, shop owners and scrapyard owners to come forward with any information they might have on the suspect vehicle, believed to be a white 1995 to 1997 Neon which police said sustained damage to its front, passenger side, windshield or the passenger door. Police brought out a replica of the vehicle at the press conference and parked nearby was a transport truck bearing the image of Lucas Shortreed and information about the reward and how to contact police. Gerald Shortreed paid to have the image put on the truck as it travels around the province. “All we can hope for is that the person who did this to Lucas, or someone who knows about it, comes forward,” he said. Family members thanked police for their ongoing investigation and also appealed to the community for help. Anyone with information about the case can call the the OPP at 1-888310-1122.
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - New alcohol and revenue sharing policies for events held at municipal facilities have been implemented by the township. The province’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission recently approved Mapleton’s application for a permanent liquor license for six facilities: Maryborough Community Centre, PMD Arena, Moorefield ball diamonds, Drayton ball diamond, Moorefield Park pavilion and Centennial Park pavilion. The new policy, effective Nov. 1, requires at least one township employee bartender for all alcohol-related events, including fundraisers, weddings and stag and does. For events sponsored by chartered service clubs, the township will permit club members who are Smart Serve certified to serve as bartenders. Under the new revenue sharing and donations policy, service clubs will share in the bar revenues if they provide bartenders for the event. “This is a win-win for both the township and the service clubs,” stated CAO Patty Sinnamon in a report to council at the Oct. 7 meeting. Councillor Neil Driscoll asked how this would affect service clubs that sometimes provide bartenders for events such as weddings in return for a donation to the club. Driscoll also asked how the policy would affect major events like last summer’s Mapleton
Rodeo. “Those are a couple of the things that we want to address,” said public works director Larry Lynch, who noted allowances for service clubs to be engaged to tend bar by third parties could be addressed in a future amendment to the policy. “It should be clarified – I think we have to try to cover that off,” agreed Mayor Bruce Whale. “The rodeo is a whole different scenario - we will sit down and work out a plan on something like that,” added Lynch. For hall rental events where no cost-sharing arrangement is in place, township employees will manage and operate the bar and $3 per drink will be charged to the event sponsor, renter and/or ticket seller. For fundraising events, where revenue sharing is in place, the policy takes a twotiered approach. For most fundraising events, including stag and does, township employees will manage the bar and $4 per drink will be charged, with 80 cents per drink going to the fundraising organization. However, when the event involves a service club or other organization designated under the policy, Mapleton will provide a cash donation of $1.80 per drink sold to the fundraising organization. In these cases the township will manage the bar by providing one “supervising bartender.” The service club
or designated organization will be required to provide all additional bartenders, who must to be Smart Serve certified. The policy recognizes seven organizations as eligible for the larger revenue sharing split: Drayton Kinsmen, Drayton Rotary, Maryborough Optimists, Maryborough OptiMrs., the Optimist Club of Alma, the Mapleton Arena eXpansion (MAX) Committee and the Palmerston Hospital Gala Committee. Lynch noted the policy is based on a similar alcohol and revenue sharing policy that has been successfully applied in the Town of Minto for quite a few years. At the Oct. 7 council meeting, Lynch noted the township had a short time frame to prepare for the Nov. 1 implementation of the policy. However, he pointed out all arena staff have been trained, in addition to some other staff. A total of 12 staff members have received the necessary training and he expects a total of 15 trained staff will be in place. “A lot of service clubs already have members trained,” Lynch added. A resolution to accept the alcohol and revenue sharing policies was approved by council, with no opposition. However council noted future amendments were anticipated to deal with some of the issues raised. “There’s probably going to be some fine tuning,” said Whale.
Petitioners seek improved floral display by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - The township is looking into potential solutions after receiving a petition signed by 60 residents about the state of flower planters in Moorefield. In a letter to council, petition organizer Nancy Stanners stated the citizens “are disappointed in the lack of thought put into choosing our hanging baskets.” The letter states the flowers provided “no impact whatsoever,” and asked council to take a different approach for next spring’s planting. “We appreciate the lovely barrels and beds planted by the horticultural society but the most impact for citizens would be large colorful hanging baskets. We hope next year you will give more thought to the flowers for Moorefield.” While agreeing the plant-
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ing done this year provided “no impact,” public works director Larry Lynch reminded council at the Oct. 7 council meeting “direction from council was they preferred the ground level planters as opposed to the hanging baskets.” Lynch also said part of the problem was with the supply of plants available locally. He said staff followed council’s direction in trying to purchase locally. “I believe that part of our problem there was trying to accommodate a lot of different directions. We don’t have a big greenhouse in the community. The reality is you have to have a greenhouse to grow these plants that early in the year,” Lynch explained. Councillor Mike Downey said he understood there had been concerns expressed about flower planting from Alma resi-
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dents as well. Lynch said he would meet with local horticultural groups in both communities to try and come up with solutions for next year. Councillor Neil Driscoll suggested meeting with local business owners, who had offered to assist in planning for spring planting. “Several of the businesses who signed the letter said ‘let us help you with the planning and we’ll look after them,’” said Driscoll. Downey suggested the municipality consider non-floral decorations. “I suggest you look into the cost of putting banners up. They’re out there and they’re non-maintenance. We’ve argued about these flowers before and it’s a frustration for everyone,” Downey said. Continued on page 3
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