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Charge man with Ontario competition Free Press editorial page judged in top three The Free Press received province- wide recognition for the quality of its editorial page in the Better Newspaper Competitions sponsored by the Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association third prize certificate went to the Acton paper in the contest open to all weekly newspapers in The award was presented at the annual convention of the OWNA at Kapuskasing Saturday evening First in the class was the Observer while the Mississauga News took second Both are in higher circulation classes than the Free Press The Free Press sister paper the Milton Canadian Champion also won awards winning a third in the general excellence class for class 3 and taking a first place for best news story among all the entries Kap birthday was chosen for the annual convention this year partly because the town is celebrating its 50th anniversary and newspaper publisher Rene Piche is also mayor It was the furthest north annual meeting of weekly newspaper people and attracted the largest registration ever About boarded a special train in Toronto Thursday morning and returned on the 1200 mile trip Sunday Highlights of the convention were a tour of the huge logging operations of the Spruce Falls Power and Paper Co a bush camp meal and a tour of the company s large paper mill Guest speaker at the closing banquet was Education Minister Bill Davis who is a candidate for premier of the province noncapital murder Find body at Acton home early Friday A STATION WAGON belonging to the found the body of Calvin Gordon Peddle Identification Branch of the Ontario early Friday morning Charged with non- Provincial Police sits in the driveway of the capital murder is Barry James Stevens of McDonald Boulevard home where police Toronto Staff Photo Year No 33 ACTON ONTARIO WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 1971 Pages F Cents Insist on Underground CHRIS SWETMANS poster on dental health the Georgetown Cable TV building Monday took first prize in a county wide competition moming Second was Martin Young Nerval for Grade students Chris attends the and Jim Leslie of Pineview school was third Robert Little school Acton He received an Health Unit dental nurse Mrs Ludzik encyclopedia as his prize in a presentation at made the presentation Staff Photo Acton snow removal second to none Mayor Lea told council Tuesday he was amazed at the impatience of some Acton residents over clearing of streets during the unusual weather conditions of the past few weeks People are so upset they don t realize everyone has the problem of snow removal he said referring to phone calls he received that from people in subdivisions People I talked to agree we invest In more snow removal equipment said Councillor Marks but do we work M boura during an emergency The town crew works a lot of overtime replied Councillor Masales but some of them are not available for a lot of overtime Draw on Manpower Do we ever draw on Manpower tor extra help asked Mans or ever work around the dock We couldn use them under the labor agreement with town employees said At no time declared the mayor does equipment sit idle If it Is needed We do hire outside trucks to remove snow said Reeve but Masales said the big problem Is the lack of trucks available to haul snow Cant get tracks We could have put the snow blower to use several times but we t get trucks the mayor said We need seven trucks to operate the snow blower efficiently Masales said he had driven around Guelph and streets In Acton were In much better shape than their larger city neighbors I not critical of the operation I just wondered replied Marks As far as the mayor was concerned the Acton snow removal program was second to none Saturdays snowfall saw the business section cleared by eight clock and there were other duties for town employees Ice glazes area Friday Last weeks ice storm was considered the worst In memory by some as the town and area was in treacherous ice For the second week In suc cession schools were closed Friday Even the towns public schools closed for a day due to hazardous conditions Boughs and bodies fell hi minor accidents butnothing serious was reported such as opening graves In one case it took two hours to get back into the cemetery I think town workmen have done a magnificent Job declared Councillor Elliott He said if residents saw the amount of work done downtown they be so critical when subdivisions are not plowed early Deputy Reeve G W McKenrie also pointed out the danger to children walking along Main St where sidewalks were covered with snow but was assured by the clerk it was being looked alter McKenzie said he received a call from Tom Watson pointing out the danger to children who cross the tracks on their way to and from school Need nude rpass We need an underpass there it is a very critical area agreed the mayor Councillor Elliott said Increased traffic along the road due to a new industry in the industrial park made it doubly important snow was pushed back far enough so children did not have to walk on the travelled portion of the road Acton Hydro Commission stuck to its guns Thursday night and insisted on Installation of underground wiring for the new home Hulad development on the former Seynuck property despite pleas by developer Joe for permission to use overhead backyard servicing Mayor explained the commission established a program when they Insisted on underground wiring for the final phase of subdivision Commissioner Ted Tyler Sr went on to say the present trend Is to install everything possible underground In the long rut it much safer and less costly too he In dm trie exception Mayor admitted exceptions are made for new industries because of the return in assessment the town receives but maintained most municipalities In urban areas are taking down overhead wiring and going underground Presenting a letter from Ontario Hydro Mr told the commission he had received a cost figure of he would have to bear for relocating a high tension power line Coupled with the added cost of installing underground wiring Mr claimed cost of servicing a home could climb as high as when land cost him only about per lot This is my gripe he told the commission The cost of servicing is double the cost of the land to us This has to be carried by home buyers over a period of time he continued Mr said he felt sure he could sell homes with overhead wiring Putting in overhead wiring won downgrade the subdivision I won get more for a house he said As a compromise Mr suggested persons baying the homes be given a choice on whether or not they want underground wiring Let them take up a petition and pay for it on their taxes over a period of time he suggested Replying to Mr question about why should be charged for installing hydro Commissioner Tyler said If the builder and people buying the houses don t pay for it why should the rest of the people in town have to Commissioner Tyler predicted the town won t make enough out of the houses to pay the school taxes Approve fire hall Ontario Municipal Board approved construction of township new Ore hall at a hearing which lasted only five minutes Monday morning Only two objections to construction of the hall were received by mall and neither objector appeared at Monday hearing The tire hall is to be built ad Jacent to the township offices near and will service the Georgetown fire area of the township Tomorrow Thursday an OMB hearing on the township controversial agricultural holding by law will be held in the township council chamber beginning at 10 in the morning Mayor assured Mr his subdivision would be welcome in town but made It clear costs associated with the development should not be a burden to those in other parts of the town trying to get by on fixed incomes The commission stood firm but the promised commission and council support if Mr approaches Ontario Hydro to question charges for restringlng of a line on Queen Street Cost of the line estimated at was included in the figure for relocating the high tension line All members of the commission felt restringlng of the line was the responsibility of Ontario Hydro Firefighters called twice Overheated pipes on a kitchen coal stove brought Acton firefighters to the home of Paul Wilson Sixth Line of Esquesing north of Highway Saturday afternoon about Firefighters quickly doused the fire A call about a fire on Poplar Avenue received Sunday af about sent firefighters on wild goose chase The truck proceeded to Poplar Avenue but found no fire Following discovery of a body In a shed of a McDonald Boulevard home in Acton early Friday a Toronto man Barry James Stevens has been charged with non capital murder Stevens was remanded in custody without bail until February when he appeared In County Court in Milton Monday Acting as a result of a call from Toronto police Constable Bruce McArthur of the Acton OPP detachment accompanied by Constable Jim Hodgens of Milton OPP went to the home of Mrs Merle Grant 247 McDonald Boulevard about 30 Friday morning They found the body of Calvin Gordon Peddle also of Toronto in the shed attached to the rear of the house According to police Peddle received a single shot in the head from a small calibre firearm A 22 rifle was seized by police at the scene Halton County coroner I A Hunter was called to the house Inspector John of the Criminal Investigation Branch Toronto arrived shortly before noon hour to supervise the investigation Officers from the OPP identification branch also arrived and worked at the house the rest of the day and part of Saturday A guard from the local detachment was placed on the house through until Saturday evening Only and investigating personnel were allowed to enter Reinforcements from Milton OPP assisted Acton police on the weekend on a temporary basis on account of the incident Mrs Grant lived in the white frame house with her seven- yearold son Brian She is an H K Porter employee Police said Stevens had resided recently at a Avenue address in Toronto The deceased address was listed as 325 Leslie Street Toronto He is survived by his wife Pearl son Billy daughter Peggy and mother Hilda Funeral service was held in Toronto yesterday Tuesday afternoon with interment in Prospect Cemetery Investigation is continuing under Inspector MacPherson Council agrees to meet with band After a lengthy discussion on the need for the entire council to meet with representatives of Acton Citizens Band Acton council agreed to set up a meeting for Monday Feb if the date was acceptable to the band Council band representative Norm Elliott explained the band wanted the meeting to spell out plans over the next three to five years in line with the assessment changes coming and also to explain new programs being developed But Councillor Jack Greer couldn t see any reason for the entire council to be involved He said the band was granted a half mill by plebiscite and it would take another plebiscite to change it He felt the regular channels of communication were good enough Want to explain They Just want to explain where the money is going said committee of the whole chairman Earl Mosaics Reeve thought the bands eagerness to meet with council was the result of some talk before the election Some ratepayers thought the grant to the band was excessive others just right They want to prove they have need of a half mill he said Mayor a trifle annoyed said he could see every reason for the band request since individual members of council questioned the bond need In the past I think we should be happy to hear them 1 convinced are coming to us because the band position is not clear Necessary 1 agree said the deputy reeve G McKenzie but is it necessary for the entire council to attend unless Just as a good will gesture They want every member of council to understand their position the mayor declared At previous meetings of council the question had been raised about the band grant Reassessment could raise the value of the mill and the band would receive a larger grant if they continue to receive the half null Slight damage No charges were laid following a minor accident in the Station Hotel parking lot Saturday Kenneth contacted Donald James Hepburn to say the parked Hepburn car had been slightly damaged Damage to the grill was estimated at Three Acton Start filming here for Ontario Place The town industries schools churches and main street are being photographed this week to be eventually shown to the public at Ontario Place at the Exhibition in Toronto With a camera and tripod Robert Little teacher Mrs Gibson has enthusiastic young student volunteers under her direction Oct in group She taking them out in small groups as they snap footage for the short movie The students will be editing and splicing the film themselves Finished length is to be three minutes Mrs Gibson provided the camera Taking part in the project are John Pink Steven Conroy Helen Robertson Tina Harvey Kathy Samson Steve Bennett van der Kooy Arte Vryenhoek David Morris Susan Anker Karen McDowell Robin Marshall Ron Guest Marilyn Kim Wood Dan Webster Sharon Cunningham Judy Pink and Brian They are the members of the school camera club BUSY THIS WEEK making a film on life in Acton to be shown at Ontano Place in Toronto were Robert Little students to r David Morris Susan Arte Vryenhoek and Steve Bennett Staff Photo