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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2003 THE NEW TANNER Increase police presence in Acton after rampage at Georgetown fair By. FRANCES NIBLOCK The New Tanner Two eyewitness ac- counts of the terrifying rampage at the Georget- own Fall Fair on Saturday night "shocked and dis- mayed" Halton Police Chief Ean Algar, who, with Deputy-chief Gary Crowell, heard their ac- counts at the Halton Hills Council meeting on Mon- day night. The sound of a crowd chanting "kill the cops -- kill the police" from the park was the first sign of trouble for fairground neighbour, Charles Street homeowner Thomas Trot- ter. He said the night was "nauseating," and a terri- ble "riot." "Never in my life have I been so scared," Trotter said, describing how the crowd ripped up 25 feet of his new wooden fence to use as "javelins," as weap- ons, against police and their cars. "What really hurts is that it happened in my town," Trotter said, asking for a proactive plan of increased security to ensure it never happens again, while also praising the joint police and firefighter response to the incident. Charles Street resident Burke Metcalfe questioned whether police were pre- pared to deal with the large crowd after moving it from the fairgrounds, He described racing cars, fights and intoxicated teens within 35 feet of his home, but no police cars in the area. "T was scared. I was se- riously scared about what could happen -- not what did happen -- and thank God they dispersed, and thank God everything worked out as well as it did," Metcalfe said, asking why there wasn't a stronger police presence at the park, adding he was "afraid" and not naive enough to think it won't happen again. Several councillors, in- cluding Acton's Clark Somerville, complained they weren't given enough information about the in- cident soon enough from the mayor's office. Chief Algar said the mayor was notified by phone Sunday morning, and a press release was is- sued later that day. That release was provided for councillors at the meeting, and they also received an e-mail from acting CAO Bob Austin, with limited information on Sunday morning. Park neighbour, Coun- cillor Maya Johnson, also complained about the lack of information from the mayor's office, and sug- gested years of ignored illegal drinking in the park led up to the incident." Noting that a police heli- copter was used to disperse a large crowd several years ago at the Acton Fall Fair, and that there have been several incidents with large crowds in Acton, Ward One and Halton Council- lor Rick Bonnette asked how police will handle the upcoming Acton fair. "We are now taking steps to visit with the or- Old post office bell is up for auction Saturday Acton resident Ron Holloway alerted The New Tan- ner to the fact that part of Acton's heritage goes to auction this coming Saturday, Sept. 13. The old post office bell, which rang out the hours from the red brick post office tower on the south east corner of Mill and Willow Sts. from 1912 until the building was razed, is being auctioned by Hills Rowland of RR2, Brampton, who acquired it after the old post office was demolished The auction is at the Rowland Farm on Highway 10, about two miles north of Snelgrove, Ron'Holloway notes. He was interested in acquiring the bell but believes it will be beyond the scope of his pocketbook. He hopes some organization or individual may be interested in getting it. ganizers and Town offi- cials, and we will be taking additional measures," Chief Algar said, adding he had a message for youths. "We will be there, and we will be there in pres- ence," he said, adding those "...planning to be mischievous and to misbe- have, that we're not going to tolerate that (behav- iour)." Georgetown and Halton Councillor John Day said the incident is a "wake-up call for us," on youth is- sues, and is a community, not just security issue. Georgetown Councillor Jane Fogal said it should be a wake-up call for par- ents and that teen alcohol abuse is a growing prob- lem at outdoor, evening events designed to attract youth. "Tf there's 500 kids out there, there's a thousand parents (that) should'be asked where is your kid if they were out until 1:30 in the morning," Fogal said, adding the Town owns the fairground and issues per- mits for events and will have to "really tighten it ap Mayor Gastle asked the Chief to thank his staff -- who were "put in very dan- gerous situations by unruly youth of the Town of Halton Hills." "T am confident you will correct it and this kind of incident won't happen again," she said. Outside the council chambers, Chief Algar said there appeared to be a core group of approxi- mately 100 instigators who led the attacks that in- cluded spitting on police and throwing beer bottles and rocks at officers and vehicles. He said the incident be- gan with the re-arrest of a "young lad" who had been previously taken out of the park -- he did not know what for -- who then returned. "The police were called to where that individual was and they arrested him, and is just seemed to gain some momentum with the youth trying to un-arrest the indi- vidual," Chief Algar said. Algar said at future fairs there would be increased police presence and pre- ventative measures, that could include checking backpacks. Foothills [=== VETERINARY SERVICES Dr. M. Wevers, pv, MSc. 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