iN A RPA PNAC I TRIO RN ET 12 WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2024 Hockey team- owning deputy mayor resigns after arena outburst GREG COWAN =~ The deputy mayor of a rural com- munity who also owns the local Jr. C hockey team has resigned from politics following a watchdog’sre- port into arena staff’s harassment complaints. Brockton council — which gov- erns a Bruce County community of 9,500, including Walkerton — accepted the resignation of James after politicians received an grity commissioner's report into alleged conduct at the Walk- erton Community Centre by Lang, é0-owner of the Jr. C Walkerton Capitals. The report by integrity commis- is Jeffrey Ab: d Jani “Following a Capitals’ game, the deputy mayor wentraging through the arena - yelling, name-callin; and using profanities — aggressive- lykicking and vibleatly slamming a steel fire door and generally displaying an outburst of anger. towards the staff working that night,” the integrity commission- er’s report states. When the matter was discussed at a June 18 Brockton council meeting, Lang denied the alle- gations he kicked and punched doors, calling those assertions “childish” and told colleagues he askeda staff: member “howstupid can he be?’ Said eS bas I said was wrong. Itwas wrong. I’v tothat and ae said that now four times. I’m not a criminal.” The integrity watchdog asked Lang to submit a written state- readmitted | Early uprising lifts Mets over Royals A bat-around, four-run first in- ning was more than enough for the Mitchell Mets to turn aside the visiting Wroxeter Royals 10-3 | in Huron County Fastball League action in Mitchell July 17. ic Moore hit a two-run double tocap the outburst while Matt Mc- Gill also doubled to give the home side the ee lead they never re- linquished. Brian Eat had three hits in the os) De. Craig Elliott delivers a pitch for the Mitchell Mets against the visitin; MITCHELL ADVOCATE Wrox- eter Royals in Huron County Fastball League action in Keterson Park July 17. The Mets won 10-3. awpy BADER capped the scoring in the bottom while striking out nine. ment during the i process. He instead asked for a meeting with them, which never terialized. “I feel like I’ve been dragged rere. the mud with this,” said The report states that "in the past, there have been issues in re- gard to the deputy mayor, in rela- tion to his involvement with the Capitals. It has been challenging for civic a ‘ation to manage the conduct ofthe deputymayorin this regard, given his hands-on ap: proach tohis role with the: Capitals Be his strong personality.” hi. ‘coll March, Atwood from the firm Principles Integrity detailed allegations made by arena employees from the evening of Dec. 16, 2023:-The Cap- itals were playing host to the Kin- cardine Bulldogs, another team in the Provincial Junior Hockey League;-The report alleges Lang’s behaviour toward arena employ- ees included yelling, name-call- ing, In banned Lang from the Walkerton Community Centre for one year, before the allegations of Dec. 16, 2023, were fully made public. The ban has been shortened to nine months, ending Jan. 1, 2025, and now allows him inside while ac- companying his children. The Capitals playin the 60-team PJHL, a Jr. C see tates play slamming doors, kicking and against teams from commu- nities as di ile: eens angrily;-Abrams and At- Wingham and Goderich. state they found the Bese Brockton is governed by a sev- Biistituted h ‘ing a eda local politician cannot “remove their hat” as an e! elect ed official note that even if he were not in a councillor for tote years, from | 2018 to 2022, and became deputy mayor in 2022. Coun. Kym Hutch- winwl inside- me park homerun, singled and scored tworuns to pace the of- fence. Kevin Ward’s RBI-double ofthe fifth mer- 2 a le. Pitchers Don Scott and Craig El- liott allowed just six hits in the win to travel to Goderich July 22 with details unavailable, and will host Monk- ton July 24 at 8:30 p.m. Work begins to enhance St. Anne's track and infield CLINTON The Huron-Perth Cath- olic district school board has an- nounced that work on a $1.3-mil- lion project to improve the track and infield playing surface at St. Anne’s Sea school in Clinton has begu: The real trackhas served the school community for more than Fol years, and is used by schools ‘oughout the Huron-Perth dis- et as well as by the community. “This project represents a sig- | nificant investment by the board for St. Anne’s, Huron-Perth Ath- letics and the County of Huron,” said director of education Chris 1. Roehrig. | strong communit The project will replace the ex- | isting track with new asphalt, in- ude: a rubberized surface coat- ing. D: 2 sassy Work has begun to enhance the track and infield at Clinton's St. Anne’s Catholic school. The came work MRE new meee a ribperized ate surface coating, and a new field house. junction with the track upgrade, a as wellas local orpeneatae have facilit to » properly store equipment. ry excited for the St. Anne’s Track rebuild happen- ing this summer,” said St. Anne’s vice-principal Laura Blackmore. “The track at St. Anne’s is used by students across Huron and sur- rounding counties as well as mem- _ off the local communi a politi balece civilly and respectfully to- ward staff and patrons eon has been appointed the new the soccer bead- elementary H Pert] P’ they will fill Hutcheson’s now-vacant seat. i dressed at the game time. In con- Athletics, invitational track meets Members of our canines: can be seen daily walking the track to improve their health and fitness. By investing in the track soba and inner field upgrade, fut generations will have access 4 high-level training facilities which will enable rural athletes to com- pete and find success at the pro- vincial and/or national level. We look forward to its completion in the fall of 2024.”