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Hd a ll i ARS ss al ut EE i HC nt ot SESE RERENE TH aud i aki i FE PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday. January 27, 1987 -- § Viewpoint ® * by John B. McClelland JUST A MATTER OF TIME It's just a matter of time before somebody is killed. That's what'1 keep hearing from a lot of local peo- ple who have ventured out onto the Lake Scugog ice on the weekends. Every winter, Lake Scugog suddenly Becomes a 'speedway for all kinds of motor-driven vehicles -- snowmobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain machines, cars and trucks. There has already been a'few collisions out on the ice this winter. Fortunately, the injuries have been of © a minor nature. The Durham Police have laid numerous charges, and I for one, hope the Police continue to crack 'down on anyone who breaks the law out there. But with the amount of traffic on the lake and the speed at which some of the drivers insist on hitting, it really is just a matter of time before a tragedy strikes, no matter how vigilant the Police are. Unfortunately, as with most things, the majority of people driving on the lake are not the ones causing the problems. But in every crowd there is always one foal, and it's that fool who is going to kill an innocent perso A couple of weekends ago, I stood at the end of the Port Perry dock and watched two snowmobilers race back and forth. They were going flat out, side by side, hardly more than an arm"s length from each other. I simply could not believe my eyes. They zoomed past the end of the dock, and seemed completely oblivious to the fact that there were other snowmobiles in the area and a fair number of people (including young children) walking on the ice as well. It was a disgusting sight. "Like I said, the vast majority of people out on the Lake Scugog ice are sensible and caretul. Snowmobilers, ice fishermen, cross country skiers or just people out for a winter's walk on a Sunday after- noon, they are taking their lives in their hands because of the: stupidity of a few. I hate to say it, but from what I' ve seen and from - what people are telling me, the chances are pretty good _ that before this winter is through), this paper will be run- ning a story about a tragedy on Lake Scugog. CASE CLOSED? I've never met Philip Vince (not that I would care to meet him) and I suspect I never will (which is just fine). He's 29 years old and last week, he pleaded guilty to two charges of first degree murder and was sent to jail for the next 25 years on both charges. He'll be 54 before he is even eligible for parole.-And in 25 years, T hope the parole board will turn down any application by this guy for his freedom. Philip Vince, pleaded guilty to two heinous crimes. Just about two years ago, he put a shotgun in the face of a 16 year old Toronto girl and pulled the trigger. Her body was dumped in the bush near Highway 12 and Taunton Road. Then in March, 1985, he and a couple of ac- complices, forced a Toronto man to drive to the Picker- ing area. The man, 36 years old, married and the father of a young girl, was led into the forest, forced to kneel in the snow where Philip Vince put a shotgun bzhin his ear and pulled the trigger. - The victim's name was Michael Crispin.'And that's the reason I have taken more than just a passing in- years ago, Michael Crispin and I were neighbours, kids growing up on the same block in the same small town in the Ottawa Valley. We grew up and went separate ways and 1 never heard of him again, until two years ago, when his name and photo were in every paper and on the TV news as a murder victim. At first I could not believe it was the same Michael Crispin, but the photo in the papers showed the undeniable resemblence to the kid'I kneW so long ago. When the news of his murder came out in the papers a couple of years ago, I'wrote a column about how most of us go through life reading and hearing about grisly crimes and how most times we never know a thing about the victims. Michael's murder touched me because I knew him, his brothers and sisters, his parents. It was so hard to believe that the skinny, happy-go-lucky kid I knew so many years ago would meet such a gruesome end at the hands of one Philip Vince. So the case on Philip Vince is closed. The police files are put away, the courts go on to other business, and Philip Vince becomes just another number doing a dou- ble life term in the slammer. His name will quickly fade from the public memory. But it won't quickly fade from my memory, and I'm sure that for Mike Crispin's family and friends, the case will never be closed. I hope that in the 2012 when Philip Vince is 54 years old and looking for parole that somebody has the presence of mind to recall that he murde.ed two peo- ple in cold blood. As far as I'm concerned, he should never see the outside of a prison cell. terest in the Sordid life of Philip Vince. Once, many Ny >. Lt TEES NE Yesterday's Memories Wed. January 24, 1917 Mrs. John Burham has returned home after spending the past three months in Calgary, Banff and Winnipeg. - Corp. W.C. Jackson of the 182nd Battalion, has been transfer- red to the Royal Flying Corps and expects to proceed over-seas in a couple of weeks. W.H. Andrus, who left here as a private with the Second Con- tingent, has been promoted to rank of Sergeant. The Seagrave Dramatic Club went to Manilla and presented a play © "Diamonds & Hearts' before a well filled house. ry YEARS AGO Thurs. January 22, 1942 The Fourth Charter Night Anniversary of Port Perry Lions Club was held in the Sunday School Rooms of the United Church. Short addresses were given by District Director Bonsell and Lion W. J.H. Smith. Rev. Mr. Smyth was presented with a briefcase in apprecia- tion of his active work as a member of the Lions Club. Mr. Fleetwood Beare, Greenbank, was elected as a school trustee at a meeting held in the school house on Saturday. 30 YEARS AGO Thurs. January 24, 1957 Approximately 65 teenagers attended a meeting held in the base- ment of Taylor's 5c to $1.00 store. Through the generosity of Mr. Hastings, the teen town are being allowed to bowl for one-fifth of the actual costs. No. 41 Port Perry High School Cadet Corps won the Strathcona Shield in General Proficiency for 1956. . W.H. Harris was elected Non. Regent at the annual meeting of the Scugog Chapter, 1.0.D.E. 20 YEARS AGO Thurs. January 26, 1967 . Gale Forder was chosen Queen of Port Perry High School at one of the social highlights of the Centennial year, the 19th annual "At Home." : Peel's new hatchery west of Port Perry was officially opened on January 24 by the Hon. Wm. A. Stewart, Minister of Agriculture and Food. It is estimated that the new hatchery will produce 150,000 chicks weekly. Merrill VanCamp, Reeve of Cartwright Township has been elected Warden of the United Counties of Durham and Northumberland. - 'Ronald Deeth of Port Perry took the lead in the Metropolitan Miami Fishing Tournament last week when he entered a 32 1b. Cobia in the Light Tackle Division. A Sunday afternoon fire destroyed the barn of Mr. A.C. Hoftizer on the Shirley Road. All of the cattle had been removed but three sows and seven baby pigs, were lost. 10 YEARS AGO Wednesday, January 26, 1977 Aileen and Jack Kane, and Claudette and Bill Brock were award- ed life memberships in the Lake Scugog Historical Society for their outstanding efforts and devotions to the organization. Thomas Jermyn was re-elected chairman of the Durham Region Board of Police Commissioners. a I Letters Rape of fairgrounds to be opposed To The Editor" It is with some dismay that I have watched the saga of the School Board's drive to get a site for. a much needed Primary School in Port Perry. It is fully apparent that the School Board failed to plan for the needs of this community and now have resorted to expropriation asa means-of- getting the-pteee-of-~ land that to them is "the only site suitable." I strongly disagree with the Board in it's choice of site. Not because the site 'is not suitable, but because other sites would be as suitable and not require the disruption of the - fairgrounds. The lard beside Flam- ingo Pasteries (Vachon Plant) is said to be unsuitable because it is not serviced. Doesn't the Board recognize the Pumping Station at the end of MacDonald St. and the manhole on Simcoe St. as the need- ed access to sewers to service that site? As for being too close to other schools; as a taxpayer I would welcome the cost savings of not hav- ing to build another track for our youngsters to train on. Also, most students are bused to school so the . centralization of the schools would facilitate the efficient use of the . transport system. When we talk of tracks, we should not forget that to recreate the Fair Grounds will require a considerable sum of money. As was pointed out . to us when the Council raised the Building Permit Fee; Council has the Discretionary use of only about 20 cents of every Tax Dollar col- lected. To me it would seem that if Council is to subsidize the School Board purchase of the Fair Grounds by spending $300,000 to relocate the Fair Grounds then Council will have to raise $1,500,000 in tax money Even if Council uses 'other money" two things are apparent. $300,000 plus the School Board's purchase price of the Fair Grounds is one hell of a lot of money to pay for 7 acres of land; parkland that may one day be central to our town will have been used for less worthy purposes (the *'Scugog Council Land Development 'Company" plans to subdivide the Fair Grounds to make a 'bundle' to pay for all the "progress' we are going to get). If the 'Land Develop- ment Company' is so hot to develop a residential land they would be bet- Tot ugh fines nee To The Editor: A one hundred dollar fine should await anyone who parks in spaces reserved for wheelchair parking, the current fines are not enough, if at any time a vehicle ever gets ticketed. Besides a stiff fine, I recommend that the reserved wheelchair spaces become automatic vehicle-tow- away zones for all but those who have the wheelchair symbol on their licence plates. ; l I am also recommending tough, new fines to protect the specially reserved parking spaces because | am "disgusted" that able-bodied motorists are using them. The prac- tice of using the specially marked wheelchair spaces seems to in- - crease as the winter weather grows worse. People should be more con- siderate and realize that the disabl- - ter to use other sites and perhaps at their own risk and expense. God knows few politicians are elected for their acumen in land development. The Fair Board is being hung out (Turn to page 6) ed have these special parking spaces because of their special needs. It is as dispicable as stealing a persons - wheelchair. I can not believe people are so insensitive as to park in "'No Parking Wheelchair Parking Only" spaces because of their special needs. We cannot legislate consideration, courtesy or common sense. It seems to me, the only way to + discourage this type of illegal park- ing is with penalties that are so severe, the motorist never forgets and consequently, will never do it again. Happy Motoring in Dirham Region. Yours truly, Roy Walker Smith, Port Perry, Ontario. . "ts Letters to the Editor ....our policy It has always been the policy of this newspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare to the editor. occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must continue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer. oe---- »y o>] A Et Crt ERE C Rees