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By Wendy Long A meeting of the Georgetown and District Seniors Association Wednesday afternoon drew over 130 local seniors to vote on a tem- porary location for a seniors recre- ation centre. Association president Les Mellish addressed the crowd at Holy Cross Church’s parish hall, along with executive members vice president Ross Bethel, treasurer Grant Greenaway and secretary ~ Mabel Mellish. “We’re asking for some guidance on the direction you wish us to take,” Mellish said. The Georgetown and District Seniors Association has been in existence since 1988 as a fundrais- ing and lobbying force pushing for a seniors centre. Currently Halton Hills is the only municipality in Halton that doesn’t offer a facility of this kind for its elderly. In Acton, the old fire station on Bower Avenue has been approved as a future seniors centre, but now funding has obstructed the needed renovations. Georgetown and area seniors, an estimated 4800 over the age of 55, continue to crusade for a temporary location until a permanent centre can be established. The town’s long-range capital forecast includes a permanent centre with the twin- ning of the Alcott Arena in 1999, based on financial resources at the time. Town councillors Rob Heaton, Kathy Gastle, Ron Chatten and Al Cook were in attendance at the meeting and listened again as five possible locations were pre- sented. (Earlier in February the seniors made this presentation to all of town council.) The advantages and disadvantages of each location were outlined objectively by Bethel to the attentive audience. Possible locations given were the upstairs of the Alcott Arena, acces- sible only by a flight of 21 steps, the Dominion Gardens once reno- vated, the upstairs of the Georgetown Legion, St. George’s church and Sacre Coeur church. The first vote included all five locations. Dominion Gardens was the overwhelming favorite with 112 votes. Respectively, the Legion received 7, St. George’s received 5, Alcott Arena 1 and Sacre Coeur 0. Seven ballots were spoiled. Another vote was then taken to tule out bias and strengthen the seniors vote before council. The Dominion Gardens choice was withdrawn, leaving the other loca- tions and adding a “none of the above” category. “None of the above” received 87 votes, the Legion 23, St. George’s Alcott Arena 4 and Sacre Coeur Tae estimated cost of a tempo- rary facility, and in particular the Dominion Gardens location, is $60,000 per year. This figure would be offset by the seniors’ member- ship fees and continued fundrais- S 2. It should be noted that capital expenditures in the creation of the Dominion location would be Continued on page 14 Les Mellish, president of the Georgetown and District Seniors Association, addressed a crowd of local seniors Wednesday at Holy Cross parish hall regarding the location of a temporary seniors recre- ation facility. 28 pages SUNDAY BRUNCH we ok 232 Guelph St., Georgetown 873-2254 ‘Your independent voice in Halton Hills’ 50 cents includes G.S.T. Halton Regional policeman faces obstruction charges By Dianne Cornish A message recorded eight months ago on Councillor Pam Johnston’s telephone answering machine will be included in evi- dence next month when a Halton Regional policeman faces charges of attempting to obstruct justice. Charged Thursday was Sergeant Rod Wilson, 46, of Burlington. The charge relates to events which occurred last May, when Halton Hills councillor Pam Johnston, who also sits on regional council, received an anonymous DOWN TOWNER. Did you know a middle age spread is a seniors’ banquet. letter. The same letter was also received by Burlington and region- al councillor Barry Quinn, a mem- ber of Halton’s Police Services Board. The letter alleged a cover-up by the administration of Halton Regional Police Service concerning a domestic assault that occurred. in 1983. The allegations were the sub- ject of an internal investigation conducted by the OPP. The investi- gation concluded in June that there was no wrongdoing by police administration. On June 11 of last year, Councillor Johnston received a message on the telephone answer- ing machine at her Halton Hills home. The taped message was turned over to Halton Regional Police Service and an investigation was conducted by the Professional Standards Bureau. As a result, a Police Services Act charge of dis- pee Sores was laid against Sgt. Wils: A ea lease issued Thursday moming by Sgt. Joe Martin, media relations officer for Halton police, said: “The results of the internal investigation into the matter were turned over to the Regional Director of Crown Attorneys, Mr. L.J. McGuigan, Q.C. The content of the recorded telephone conversa- tion led to a charge (attempting to obstruct justice) being laid under the Criminal Code of Canada.” Responding to questions during a telephone interview about the status of Sgt. Wilson as a result of the criminal charge, Sgt. Martin replied, “He booked off sick yester- day (Wednesday).” Asked if Halton Regional Police has any policy such as suspension with or without pay for members of the force facing criminal charges, Martin said any such action is determined by Police Chief W.1. James Harding. He repeated that Sgt. Wilson is booked off sick. On the OPP probe into cover-up allegations, he said the author of the letter “has never been discov- ered” and the investigation con- cluded that the letter’s content wasn’t factual. Martin also said that an internal tribunal investigating the charge of discreditable conduct hasn’t yet made a decision and, in light of Thursday’s charge, has decided to apply to the Crown Attorney’s office for a stay of proceedings until the criminal charges have been heard. Sgt. Wilson will appear in Milton rovincial court at 9: March 22, to answer the charges: Contacted Thursday afternoon by Halton Hills This Week and asked to comment on the recent develop- ment, Councillor Johnston said, “I Continued on page 5 man who robbed Ge s Guelphview Square Royal Bank on October 31, 1991 was sentenced last week in Brampton court to 13 years in ison. Herman Beier, 52, pleaded guilty to 31 charges including bank robbery and attempted mur- der. He originally faced 118 charges. Beier robbed the Georgetown bank at 9:05 a.m. that Halloween day, departing with almost $14,000 after detonating a smoke grenade to disguise his exit. He made his wa’ im Rockwood, robbed it, and then drove on (in a stolen car) to Guelph to rob yet another bank. In Guelph police caught on to Beier and a high-speed police chase began. Beier gets 13 years During the chase Beier would Stop his car intermittently to stand and shoot at police. The chase took Beier north on Highway 6 and along backroads to an area north of Brampton. Beier’s car was forced into a ditch and Beier was wounded. The final shootout was videotaped from an overhead OPP helicopter. Beier’s list of bank robberies is impressive. Georgetown turned out to be one of his last stops. The Alliston man first robbed an Orangeville credit union in April 1991, followed by a six month spree at banks in Nobleton, Beeton, outer Orillia, and eventu- ally on to Georgetown, Rockwood and Guelph. As well as the 13 year sentence, Beier is prohibited from owning firearms for life. (- \. 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