| Vol. 1 No. 13 1999-12-17 | |
Bell Island Community Policing Newsletter Community Policing - Everyone’s Business |
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| CONTENTS
Be Safe and Enjoy |
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By Sgt. Wayne Hebb I guess by the time you read this you will have heard enough about the dangers of impaired driving. It is an important issue and it is important to repeat it over and over so that the message gets through. What may not get aired enough is the importance of family. Christmas is a family time of the year and many experiences during the holiday season form life long memories. I have worked many a Christmas over the past 26 plus years and some of the memories I’ve seen formed come well short of something you might call good. A father in a drunken rage beats his wife while the children stare wide eyed as the police arrive to take away the father. "Deck the halls with boughs of holly," Another drunken father throws a baby crib (thank God it was empty) out a second story window. " T’is the season to be jolly...." A little five year old girl falls in the river and is swept under by the current and drowns. "Fa, la, la, la, la..." A 10 year old boy falls out of the back of a moving pick up truck and bashes his skull on the pavement dying instantly. " La, la, la,la." I can go on with other examples but I think you may get the idea. I can only say it affects the way you spend Christmas when things like this happen. It’s pretty difficult to leave everything on the job when you finish your shift. All I can say is that during this holiday season, make safety a priority for you and your loved ones. More importantly enjoy their company...they are your future.
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by Sgt. Wayne Hebb I came across this story on the internet and I thought it was appropriate for this issue. The author is unknown. The Doll and a White Rose I hurried into the local department store to grab some last minute Christmas gifts. I looked at all the people and grumbled to myself. I would be in here forever and I just had so much to do. Christmas was beginning to become such a drag. I kinda wished that I could just sleep through Christmas. But I hurried the best I could through all the people to the toy department. Once again I kind of mumbled to myself at the prices of all these toys. And wondered if the grand kids would even play with them. I found myself in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy about 5 holding a lovely doll. He kept touching her hair and he held her so gently. I could not seem to help myself. I just kept looking over at the little boy and wondered who the doll was for. I watched him turn to a woman and he called his aunt by name and said, "Are you sure I don’t have enough money". She replied a bit impatiently, "You know that you don’t have enough money for it". The aunt told the little boy not to go anywhere, that she had to go get some other things and would be back in a few minutes. And then she left the aisle. The boy continued to hold the doll. After a bit I asked the boy who the doll was for. He said, "It is the doll my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it". I told him that maybe Santa was going to bring it. He said, "No, Santa can’t go where my sister is....I have to give the doll to my Mama to take to her". I asked him where his sister was. He looked at me with the saddest eyes and said, "She was gone to be with Jesus". My Daddy says that Mama is going to have to go be with her. My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked at me again and said, "I told my Daddy to tell Mama not to go yet. I told him to tell her to wait till I got back from the store". Then he asked me if I wanted to see his picture. I told him I would love to. He pulled out some pictures he’d had taken at the front of the store. He said, "I want Mama to take this with her so she don’t ever forget me". "I love my Mama so very much and I wish she did not have to leave me". "But Daddy says she will need to be with my sister". I saw that the little boy had lowered his head and had grown so very quiet. While he was not looking I reached into my purse and pulled out a handful of bills. I asked the little boy, "Shall we count that money one more time?" He grew excited and said, "Yes, I just know it has to be enough". So I slipped my money in with his and we began to count it. Of course it was plenty for the doll. He softly said, ""Thank you Jesus for giving me enough money". Then the boy said, "I just asked Jesus to give me enough money to buy this doll so Mama can take it with her to give to my sister". "And he heard my prayer." "I wanted to ask him for enough to buy my Mama a white rose, but I didn’t ask him, but he gave me enough to buy the doll and a rose for my Mama". "She loves white roses so very, very much". In a few minutes the aunt came back and I wheeled my cart away. I could not keep from thinking about the little boy as I finished my shopping in a totally different spirit than when I had started. And I kept remembering a story I had seen in the newspaper several days earlier about a drunk driver hitting a car and killing a little girl and the Mother was in serious condition. The family was deciding on whether to remove the life support. Now surely this little boy did not belong with that story. Two days later I read in the paper where the family had disconnected the life support and the young woman had died. I could not forget the little boy and just kept wondering if the two were somehow connected. Later that day, I could not help myself and I went out and bought some white roses and took them to the funeral home where the young woman was. And there she was holding a lovely white rose, the beautiful doll, and the picture of the little boy in the store. I left there in tears, my life changed forever. The love that little boy had for his little sister and his mother was overwhelming. And in a split second a drunk driver had ripped the life of that little boy to pieces.
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by Sgt. Wayne Hebb The RCMPolice Bell Island Community Policing Office responded to 35 requests for service during the month of November . The following are a few of the calls received: On 99-11-02, a quantity of cable connectors were turned over to the police. They were found in a ditch by a person on an ATV. Investigation determined they were found to be the property of a construction company which had been working in the area. The storage building where these items were stored had been broken into about a month previous to this however, it was not reported to the police at that time. On 99-11-03, police received a report of damage to a residence on Quigley’s Line. Two children under the age of 12 years were found to be responsible for this matter. In light of age of children, no charges were laid. On 99-11-07 a 40 year old Bell Island man was arrested for breaching his probation. He will appear in court on 99-12-15. On 99-11-19, a 36 year old Bell Island woman was arrested as a result of a disturbance at a Bell Island residence. As a result the woman was charged with two counts of assault, three breaches of probation and one count of mischief. She will appear in court on 99-12-15 to enter a plea to these charges. On 99-12-22, police were called to the scene of an assault at a local establishment. A 17 year old youth was apprehended and will face legal action as a result. On 99-11-25, a report was received from the Monsignor Bartlett Arena regarding damage to some vehicles which had been parked on the parking lot. The aerials of the vehicles had been bent. On 99-11-26, police seized a 1987 Kawasaki motorcycle. The vehicle which was in very poor mechanical condition was being operated by an 18 year old Bell Island man. He was charged with operating the vehicle with no licence, no registration and no insurance. The vehicle will be held until the man’s court date in January 2000.
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by Cst. Boyd Decker On December 4th the R.C.M.Police Bell Island Community Policing Office and the Masonic Lodge held their fourth annual Kids Christmas party at the Wabana Boys and Girls Club. The 225 children who attended the party were entertained by Whitey the Clown and treated to hot dogs and drinks while they waited for Santa to arrive. Santa finally came and in a flurry he passed out candy canes to all the children present. Santa then drew tickets and a number of children received gifts from Santa. Before Santa left, he drew the names for the R.C.M.Police/ Masonic Christmas draw. The winners were: First prize - $150 gift certificate from Clarke and Clarke Home Hardware - Lorena Fowler Second prize - A T-shirt signed by Patrick Roy - John Pendergast Third prize - A video - Jingle All the Way - Mandy Squires The Bell Island office of the R.C.M.Police would like to thank the following for their assistance and donations which made this event a success: The Masonic Lodge, Slade’s Foodtown, Clarke and Clarke Home Hardware, McDonalds, Hollie O’Brien, Tom Spracklin, Whity the Clown, Leona Ezekiel, Isabelle Walsh and Joan Pitts at the Boys and Girls Club and Lori Hann from the Bell Island Human Resources and Development office.
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Wabana Volunteer Fire Department Report EMERGENCY#488-2900 P.O.BOX 575BELL ISLAND,NFLD. A0A 4H0 by Chief Jim Pendergast Make fire safety part of your Christmas. In the past some of the Christmas festivities have been marred by fire. Very often the cause is related to the Christmas tree, decorations, overloaded electrical circuits or improper use of a fireplace. Here are some tips on how to make the holiday season safer: Christmas Trees -Get a tree that is freshly cut because it will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard. A tree with a high moisture content is safer. Here are a few ways to determine that content: If small branches snap easily between your fingers chances are the tree is dry. Don’t buy it. Stand the tree up and tap the butt on the ground. If an abundance of needles drop it’s a sign that a good part of the tree is dry. Needles that bend and that cannot be pulled easily from the tree are a good indication that the tree is fresh. That’s the kind you want. Keep tree outdoors with butt in snow or water until you are ready to set it up. Select a location for the tree that is away from drapes, curtains and heating sources such as registers, radiators ,fireplaces and television sets. Do not block doors or windows which might be used to escape in an emergency. Use a tree-stand that has widespread legs for balance and a large water reservoir in which to immerse the tree butt. Maintain the water supply in the reservoir, check daily. The cooler the room the longer the tree will stay fresh. Gift wrapping paper and boxes should be collected as soon as the gifts are opened and discarded with the garbage. Do not burn in the fireplace. Remove the tree to the outdoors as soon as possible. Always keep an all purpose (ABC) dry powder fire extinguisher handy. Christmas Tree Lights - Use only C.S.A. approved lights . Use the proper lights for the environment. Indoor lights should not be used outdoors because they lack weather proof connectors. Some outdoor lights burn to hot for indoor use. Inspect all lights before use. Replace immediately any burned out bulbs because the other bulbs that are operating might over heat. Do not use electric lights on metallic trees. A faulty system could energize the tree and shock or electrocute anyone coming in contact them. Illuminate with colored floodlights placed at a safe distance. Inspect all rooms and turn off all tree and display lights before leaving or going to bed. Fireplaces -Gift wrappings ,boxes, cartons, and other types of packing should not be burned in the fireplace. They burn too rapidly and generate far too much heat for that type of structure. Never empty vacuum cleaner bags in the fire place. A dust explosion could result. Under normal use the chimney should be inspected at least once a year(more often if under heavy use)for soot and creosote buildup, loose linings, cracks and proper draught. Always use a screen in front of the fireplace to protect against flying sparks. Extension Cords and Wall Outlets - There is often a tendency to overload wall outlets during the holiday season because it is only "temporary".This is a very unsafe practice and should be avoided even for short duration. use only the number of connections for which the outlet was designed. In order to accommodate the holiday decorations extension cords are used a great deal Here are some suggestions for eliminating hazards. Inspect all cords before using look for loose connections frayed or exposed wires. Use only cords which have a CSA approval. Insert plugs fully into outlet. poor contact can cause overheating or produce shock. To avoid possible overheating do not coil or bunch an extension cord which is in use and do not run it under carpets or rugs. Place extension cords so as not to present a tripping hazard. A home smoke detector and an all purpose dry powder ABC fire extinguisher make excellent Christmas gifts.. The members of the Wabana Volunteer Fire Department wish you a safe and fire free Christmas.
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Policing Stories from the Past by Sgt. Wayne Hebb Police officers often have to make decisions within seconds and just hope that they have made the right one. There was one Christmas Eve I remember in particular. It was my first Christmas as a police officer and I was junior person at the St. Lawrence detachment. That meant I got to work Christmas Eve. I didn’t mind too much because I was away from home and I was a bit lonely so it was better that I worked. At least it would keep me occupied. Oh, I had met some very nice people(my girlfriend (later my wife) and her family) who were more than accomodating but it wasn’t the same as being home. At any rate, when it was time for my lunch break, I stopped in at my girlfriend’s house and had a bowl of her mother’s wonderful beef and barley soup. It was a tradition in their family to have a bowl of soup after mass on Christmas Eve. I left there with a full stomach and a lot less loneliness. It was getting kind of late when I turned the police cruiser onto the dirt road to Lawn. Lawn is about 8 kilometers from St. Lawrence and about halfway there you pass a place called Little Lawn beach. As I drove by here I noticed a flash in the sky which kind of spiraled down towards a small clump of trees just a short distance from the road. I got out of the car and started to walk carefully towards the trees. As I rounded the trees I was startled to see a red sleigh which was attached to a number of dog tired reindeer. I saw a big red rear end sticking up out of the bog a few feet away. I froze and then I heard this big baritone voice say, "Just don’t stand there. Get over here and help me up." Hesitantly, I walked over to him and helped him up. When he finally stood up, I could see that he was dressed all in red and he had a big white beard and a face that was more red than his clothes. He was pretty fat and when he shook the dust off his clothes, his belly jiggled. Startled as I had been, I couldn’t resist a little giggle myself at this jolly old soul who I knew right away was Santa Claus. "Now, son there’s no time for laughing. We’ve got work to do." I sputtered that I couldn’t leave my post because I was on duty. "Never mind that. God will take care of the area while you’re gone. I’ve been delivering gifts to the children all night and I only have a few houses on the eastern part of Newfoundland left to do. My reindeer are too tired to finish up so you’re going to have to help me." He commanded. "But...but..." I tried to say. "Never mind your but’s. Get these presents over to your police car." said Santa in a cheerful but demanding voice. "There are children out there who haven’t got their Christmas yet and by gar we’re going to give it to them." he added. I was only just a fresh recruit and I took orders from just about anybody so I picked up one of the bags and carried it to the car. Once the car was loaded he told his reindeer to rest up and that he would be back for them. He then squeezed his rather rotund figure into the front seat of the car. I started to drive and he said, "This won’t do." He opened the window and motioned with his hand. A sparkling cloud flew from his hand and surrounded the engine of the police cruiser. My heart was in my throat, when a moment later the car rose from the road and into the sky. "Ho, Ho, Ho, my boy. Don’t be afraid. It Christmas Eve and your flying with St. Nick." he laughed. It took some doing but it wasn’t long before I got the hang of it. It wasn’t much longer before, I was landing on roof tops and passing the gifts out to the chubby little fellow. While I waited for Santa to deliver the gifts, I couldn’t help wondering what my boss would say if he knew I was landing on roof tops and flying around the province during my shift. I’d say his face would probably be as red as old St. Nick’s. I wasn’t so sure if I was going to tell him or anyone for that matter. We continued on through out the night until the presents were delivered to the last house. Then it was back to Little Lawn and the reindeer. When we arrived they were well rested and able to continue on to the North Pole. Santa thanked me and with a smile and a hand shake he was on his way. As I walked back to my police car, I heard him say. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas and to all a good night. I traveled back to the barracks and fell exhausted in my bed. The next day I awoke and thought "Wow what a dream." I didn’t give it a thought again until later that day when I went to the police car to get my clipboard. I reached in the front seat only to see a red glove on the passenger side of the car. It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t be. I looked inside the glove and there were the initials S.C.
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2410 RCACC Bell Island Cadet Report by Capt. W. Fitzgerald The final parade for Cadets for 1999 will be December 19th, usual time. Cadets reopen on January 9th, usual time & place. So far the 1999/2000 cadet year has gone well, with both Cadets and staff learning much and having a good time while doing so. November 12/13/14 the cadets held a Bush Craft/Field Craft weekend at the West Dam & St. Michael’s School. A total of 26 cadets attended, learning how to survive in the woods. Over the Christmas season, we will he holding a skating party for the cadets at the Bell Island Arena on December 28th, between 12 noon & 2 PM. Everyone involved with cadets are invited to attend. (No cover charge). On December 22nd, Cadets will be holding their annual Christmas Tag in the local businesses. If you see a cadet in uniform, in the store, please give generously, this is one of our few fund raising events during the year. All money raised goes into the operation of the cadet program. Once again, I would ask you to encourage your children, between the ages of 12 & 18, to join the cadet movement. We help youth to develop their potential. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the sponsors and staff of 2410.
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by Mary Murphy CHRISTMAS! The time of year, when despite the blatant advertisement on TV and in FLYERS that tries their best to have us think that to have a happy joyous Christmas depends on how much money we spend, most of us are still able to know the true meaning of Christmas. It’s the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. A time to be with family at home and for most of us, a time to talk to family members away from home, exchanging news, expressing pleasure at gifts given and received and to shed a few tears because we can’t be with them on this most special of days. It’s also a time of sharing, of peace and good will toward man. Since the Food Bank opened its doors in February 1999, I’ve seen many examples of people sharing with those less fortunate then themselves. Since we opened the Food Bank, the Board of Directors, staff & volunteers have worked very hard in assisting people on limited incomes when needed. Although we have enjoyed the goodwill of people in other parts of Newfoundland and in Ontario we also want to thank the people of Bell Island for their continued support. For people who have donated money or merchandise, and who have given countless hours of their time, you’re kindness and generosity is invaluable. On December 2 and December 3 we assisted THE SALVATION ARMY with Christmas Hamper Registration. Both THE SALVATION ARMY and THE FOOD BANK wanted the focus on CHRISTMAS. Sandwiches, sweets, tea and coffee were served. Christmas Music was played and as a special treat for children, Santa Claus was there both days. PLEASE NOTE: CHRISTMAS HAMPER PICKUP HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM ST. MICHAEL’S PARISH HALL TO WABANA COMPLEX (TRADE SCHOOL). PICKUP TIME WILL START AT 10:00 A.M on 99-12-22 DECEMBER 22 WILL BE THE ONLY DAY FOR PICKUP. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT CHRISTMAS IS FOR EVERYONE. WE WILL NOT DISTRIBUTE CHRISTMAS HAMPERS TO ANYONE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. Our Christmas Tea, Bake and Craft Sale was very well attended and we look forward to doing a Christmas Craft Sale every year. Our twice monthly card games which are held at the Wabana Boys & Girls Club will resume on January 9, 2000. The Board of Directors, volunteers and myself would like to extend to all of you the warmest of good wishes for a Happy, Family oriented Christmas and a Truly Wonderful New Year as we head into the next Millennium.
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Author unknown
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St. Michael's High School News Greetings again from St. Michael’s - seems just yesterday when we did our November last insert - must be the "hustle and bustle" of getting ready for Christmas! At the time we’re preparing this insert, things are getting very hectic here. Our first annual diploma night is only days away (Monday, December 20 at 7:45 in our gym) and of course on Tuesday, December 21 at 1:00 pm we dismiss for the Christmas holidays. Needless to say, the "boys and girls" are getting a tad restless! FIRST ANNUAL DIPLOMA AND AWARDS NIGHT We are ecstatic with the excellent response from the many organizations and businesses on Bell Island and "on the mainland" to our request for donations for various scholarships to be awarded next Monday night. The night is meant to pay tribute to our 1999 graduates and we look forward to a good turnout. If any 1999 graduate has not been contacted by our school secretary (and there were a number we could not reach), we ask him/her to call us at 488-2828 for specific details about the night. ST. MICHAEL’S WELL REPRESENTED IN THE BELL ISLAND CHRISTMAS PARADE Our thanks to our Student Council for organizing our participation in the annual Christmas Parade. In particular, we had a Nativity Scene put together by Student Council members Jackie Carroll, Chad Fitzgerald, Jennifer Hurley, Christy Foley, Stephanie Kent and Ken Kavanagh. Our cheerleading squad made up of Stephanie Kent, Jackie Carroll, Jennifer Curnew, Christy Foley, Selena Brazil, Heather Fowler, Mary O’Rourke, Jolene Bickford, Amanda Byrne, Angie Reid, April Clarke, Amanda Fowler, and Jennifer Hurle also participated in the parade. Thanks also to Mr. Wayne Harding of Clarke’s Home Hardware for driving the truck with our Nativity Scene on it. And the students and teachers say thank you to Mr. John Connors for his organizational skills in overseeing our participation. REMEMBRANCE DAY CONTEST WINNERS Congratulations to the following winners in the annual Remembrance Day Literary Contest sponsored by the Bell Island Royal Canadian Legion:
The actual awards will be done at our Christmas Assembly on Tuesday, December 21. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS Tuesday, December 21 - Tuesday, January 4 inclusive. We return to school on Wednesday, January 5 - Day 2 on the 14 Day Cycle. SEMESTER 1 EXAM PERIOD The tentative date for the Grade 9-Level 3 exam period is Wednesday, January 19 - Friday, January 28. We hope to release the reports to students on Friday, February 4 and parent-teacher meetings would be held on Thursday, February 10. REGIONAL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT HELD AT ST. MICHAEL’S A regional wrestling attended by 5 schools from the Avalon region was hosted by St. Michael’s on Saturday, December 11. Our students did quite well with the following placing in the top three in the respective weight division:
HIGH SCHOOL TO HOST PROVINCIAL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT On the weekend of May 5, 2000 St. Michael’s will host the High School Federation provincial wrestling championships involving approximately 120 student wrestlers from around the province. Planning is well underway for this major sporting event and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first high school tournament hosted on Bell Island in recent times. The logistics of such an event are rather demanding and we are now in the process of looking for billets to house all these wrestlers. If you are able to billet a student that weekend, please call us at the school (488-2828) at your earliest convenience. We would really appreciate your helping us out.
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by Sgt. Wayne Hebb He was laying on his side facing away from me as I entered the room. The sheet had slipped towards his chest and the open johnny shirt did little to cover the angry red sores that covered his back. Cancer. I read about it in newspapers, books and saw shows about it on television and even was involved with fund-raising efforts to raise money for research but I never really had to see it. Oh, I knew people who had it but I always met them on a social scale and physically they appeared fine to me. I realized the seriousness of this disease but I guess it’s like watching news reports on war. Yes, it’s horrible but if it gets too uncomfortable you can always change the channel. I hesitated, contemplating whether or not to turn and leave. Really, I didn’t know him all that well. It was my co-worker who had introduced us and we had occasionally gone there on our night break for a cup of tea and a biscuit. We would have a few laughs and enjoy our lunch and then we’d be on our way. Besides, I had to be on my way. Besides, I had a lot of problems of my own and I wasn’t dealing with them too well at the moment. So, what did it matter. If I left now, he would never know I had been there. I was in St. John’s on business and no one knew that I was stopping here for a visit. I started to move but it was towards the bed. His chest rose evenly as I rounded the bed and saw his sleeping face. It was pale and haggard and even though he was sleeping he looked to be in a great deal of pain. I touched his shoulder and it felt cold and thin as I shook him gently. His eyes opened slowly and when he saw me he smiled. That smile.....He was by no means a pretty face nor were his teeth even and white but that smile was one of the most powerful things I have witnessed in my life. It sort of startled me at first and then it tore though my fear and uncertainty to the very core of my being. Then, I couldn’t help myself.....I smiled back. We talked and joked for a little while, and I almost forgot where I was. I’m generally not too good in hospitals. Perhaps it’s because I feel helpless, perhaps it’s a fear of being a patient, I don’t know, I’m just not that great in there. I always recommend that people go to the hospital if they have a medical problem and I go if I require some testing or what have you but I don’t stay any longer than I have to. It’s just a quirk of mine, I guess. But that night, I stayed longer. That smile, it made me forget. It made me change. After all, if a man with the tremendous pain that he had could smile at the drop of a hat then really, what did I have to frown about. He died a few months later but I never forgot that time we spent together. Now, I’m going to ask you to humor me a little bit and try a little experiment. Stand up (please if you are driving do not try this experiment) and start laughing....yes, a good hearty laugh. Now while you’re laughing I want you to try and be angry. That didn’t work? Okay, keep laughing and try to be sad. Still not working? Well keep laughing and try to be mean to someone....anyone. We could go through a wide range of emotions but I think by now you may get my point. Try the same experiment with a smile on your mug and I believe you will see the same thing. No doubt there are some intelligent people who could explain the reasoning behind this and about the endorphins that are released when you smile or laugh. All I know is smiling and laughter have a positive effect on your mental and physical well being. They are contagious. Just smile at someone later today for no reason and nine chances out of ten, they will smile back. It’s sort of like a trigger....a switch to change our emotions. There are times when anger, fear, sorrow and other emotions are necessary for our development as human beings but we shouldn’t let ourselves be overwhelmed by them. I guess, that’s what humor is for. It’s the switch we need when things get too much to bear. Perhaps it breaks the momentum of the anger and makes us look at why we were angry in the first place. Maybe it is what helps us go on despite the trouble in our lives. I don’t really have an end all answer but I do know that it works. When on occasion, I have doubts about this, I just think of the smile on the face of my not so pretty friend.
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BRAVE - Bully Resistance and Violence Education by Cst. Tony Griffiths As part of the ongoing cooperation between
the R.C.M.P. Bell Island Community Policing Office and Immaculate Conception
School a new program has begun with the idea of prevention, education, and
awareness. The B.R.A.V.E. (Bully Resistance And Violence Education) Program
was developed by CST. Dale Girling of the Prince George Detachment of the
R.C.M.P. in British Columbia. It was featured in an article in the R.C.M.P.
magazine, "Pony Express." Upon reading about the aspects of the
program, it was discussed with the faculty, staff, and school council of
Immaculate Conception School. Although bullying or violence is not a problem
at the school, it was believed that students everywhere often endure some
bullying at the hands of other students. In the light of Community Policing
it was decided to take a Proactive approach to try to educate students about
alternatives for conflict resolution and avoid any possible future problems.
It was seen to be a good idea to run the program to educate students rather
than try to pick up the pieces after an incident. Bullying is a common concern in schools throughout Newfoundland and Canada. It is something we all remember going through but it should not be ignored. The program focuses on students, teachers and parents getting involved in putting a stop to bullying by all agreeing to report and deal with it. This gives students a new confidence, the ability to help themselves and others, and helps in changing the attitude of bullies. A high percentage of bullies, if left unaided, may end up with criminal records or other social problems later in life. It is hoped the program can help all parties involved in bullying in bettering their lives and at the very least, the situation where bullying arises. It is with the spirit of students, teachers, parents, and the community coming together that will make our community better both in and out of school. The program began on November 29th with the principal of the school, Francis Fitzgerald, guidance counsellor, Rodney Mitchell and the program’s R.C.M.P. coordinator, CST. Tony Griffiths visiting a number of classes. The outline of the program of eight lesson plans was introduced and begun. It is hoped all classes and students within the school will have exposure to the program and make positive changes in their school lives. Again, it is in a proactive and educational light the program is under taken. The school has proven to be a healthy learning environment for our youth and this program will only better that atmosphere. Should anyone have any questions or comments on this program please do not hesitate to contact the Bell Island R.C.M.P. Community Policing Office.
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by Kristine Howell Stettler, Alberta On Thursday, Dec. 2, a new energetic group of young people from all across Canada arrived in Bell Island! These young people are here with the Canadian Young Program called Katimavik. First, let me introduce them: First, there’s me: Kristine Howell from Stettler, Alberta! (Yes it’s just about as small as Bell Island). Also from the west we have Dorian Thistle from Kamloops, B.C., Ryan Dobos from Red Deer, AB, and Erin Nordin from Yorkton, Sask. Then there’s our girls from Ontario! Jillian Peplinski is from Toronto and Corinne McKeown is from Hamilton. Then we come to the three Francophones in the group. Sophie Hatin is from the Laurentides region north of Montreal, Quebec, Alex Poupart is from Saguenay/Lac St. Jean, Quebec, and Veronique Chiasson is from the Magdeline Islands! And, last but not least, we have Steve Gauthier from Kensington, P.E.I.!! So, that’s our group!
Our journey here was one that we shall never forget. We stated at 3:00 a.m. in Montreal, got to the airport and checked in our luggage, walked through security only to hear that our flight had been cancelled due to bad weather in Halifax. Three of us got on a plane at 12:20 p.m. while the rest of us finally got on one at 1:15 p.m. Let me just say that the landing we experienced was not only bad for the first time flyers, but for absolutely everyone else on the plane as well. Then we waited in the Halifax airport until 9:00 p.m. before we got on a plane for St. John’s. We spent the night there, and caught the ferry to Bell Island the next morning!
Even though we just got here, we have already experienced some fond memories of Bell Island that will stay with us forever. On Saturday we saw our very first whale in the wild, we participated in the Christmas parade on Sunday, we toured all the scenic sites of the island and met some very interesting people along the way.
We are set to start work on Monday Dec. 6, and we are very excited for that. There were so many work sites to choose from that everyone managed to find something they really liked. As for the rest, we really don’t know yet. With Christmas and the year 2000 on the way, we’re starting to brainstorm ideas of what we’re going to do. In the meantime, we’re just settling in and getting to know the island. We’d just like to thank you for welcoming us into your community and hopefully we’ll see some of you around during our stay.
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by Peter Kent Council wishes to extend a sincere thank-you to all residents who attended The Ferry Service Review Meetings at the CLB Armoury and gave such overwhelming support regarding the issues which we all face concerning our ferry service. A special thanks to all the presenters for their excellent briefs. We feel everything that needed to be said certainly was covered and reinforced. It is now up to Government to raise "Improvements to the ferry service" to the top of their priority list and once and for all address the many issues involved. To the many workers who use the service to get to your place of employment, you need to be commended for your perseverance, patience and determination, especially in light of all the disruptions over the last number of months and years. Keep up your support of the Ferry Users Committee for they are continually working very hard on your behalf as well as all our Ferry Service Users.
The Mayor and councillors would like to remind all taxpayers that 1999 is very quickly coming to an end, which means all outstanding accounts with the town should be paid before Dec. 31st,1999. If you fail to pay your over due taxes before that date, interest will automatically be added to your account. Please try to make a special effort to pay your overdue taxes before your invoices for the year 2000 are sent out. It will be twice as hard to catch up when next year's taxes are added to an already overdue account.
The Wabana Town Council wishes to extend an invitation to all residents to an open house at the Wabana Complex on 99-12-30 between 1:00 pm and 3:00pm. Everyone is welcome to meet the council members and workers. Refreshments will be available. Council would like to extend to all residents a very Merry Christmas and a great 2000, and may the holiday season be an enjoyable event for you and your families. Please keep in mind the saying "Christmas is for children", any small measure or kind deed you can do for children will always be remembered.
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November 14 to 20, 1999 by Cst. T. Griffiths Members of the R.C.M.P. Bell Island Community Policing Office undertook different activities to bring awareness to the dangers of drug , alcohol, and tobacco use/abuse. In conjunction with Penny Moore from the Mental Health and Addictions Service for the island; presentations, displays, assemblies, and games focusing on these problems took place.
At the Immaculate Conception School, a number of presentations by the Police Service Dog member, Cpl Cyril Gorman and his dog, Chris were made. A display was set up in the front lobby during the lunch period. A "Jeopardy" type challenge was held in a number of classes to test the students on their knowledge of the dangers of these addictive drugs. An assembly was held at the end of the school day as arranged by guidance counsellor, Rodney Mitchell. Some students helped in presenting some of the dangers of drinking and driving as Penny Moore and CST. Tony Griffiths narrated scenarios prepared by Rodney Mitchell. A display was set up at the Foodland with pamphlets and information on the topics. It is through education and awareness that we can all take part in making our communities safer and a better place to live. The events were well received and help in educating and preventing drug use/abuse. All those involved are thanked for their efforts as well as the school and principal Fitzgerald for allowing the informative events to take place.
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by Sgt. Wayne Hebb A number of persons were charged with offences which occurred on Bell Island however due to inclement weather on 99-12-15 all Bell Island cases had to be re-summons for another date. These will be reported next issue. There was only one other case to be reported on as follows: On 99-12-09, a 39 year old Bell Island man was convicted on 99-12-09 on charges of criminal harassment, breach of probation and breach of undertaking as a resulting from a family disturbance reported to the police on 99-11-10. The man was arrested on 99-11-11 but was later arrested for breach of undertaking later on 99-11-11. He was held in custody since that time. He was sentenced to a further 30 days in jail.
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Men Don't Cry
by Sgt. Wayne Hebb Part IV His mother was cooking bacon when he woke the next morning and she asked him how many eggs he wanted. As he raised his head, Billy wondered who had hit him on the head with a baseball bat. Without saying anything he went to the bathroom. He found some aspirin and a few minutes after he chewed four tablets the throbbing was reduced to a respectable level. He returned to the kitchen and his breakfast was on the table. She stood across the table from him with that "I know I did something wrong, but let’s not say anything about it" look, only this time he couldn’t pass judgement on her. "I’ll be leaving this afternoon on the bus. I have some things to do back home", she said, while wringing her hands in front of herself. "Yeah", Billy mumbled through a mouthful of egg. They had already spent too much time together. They had nothing to say to each other. What would they talk about anyway. "Remember the time I broke your arm?" He was glad she didn’t stay long and he breathed a sigh of relief when she got on the bus. That night he drank heavily and this time he didn’t fall asleep. Billy just didn’t know how to deal with his mother and the death of his uncle at the same time. Anger seized him and he destroyed his apartment. He had made such a commotion that the neighbours had called the police. He had been locked up that night and when he returned to his apartment the landlord met him at the door. He was sorry he told Billy but he just couldn’t tolerate this type of behaviour. That was the start of a long line of changes in apartments and jobs for Billy. He stared at the image in the broken mirror, "And now at the pinnacle of his checkered life we have Billy Macon, Idiot Extra ordinaire!", he exclaimed as he waved the knife in the air above him. "You stupid freaking halfwit. Make it easy for everyone and do yourself!". He was raving now and he knew it but couldn’t help it. His eyes focused on the knife for what seemed like an eternity and then he sliced it across his exposed wrist. Billy watched at the rhythmical way the blood spurted from his arm and formed a growing pool on the table. When he moved his wrist he could see the deep gouge he had made. It really didn’t hurt that much, at least not like the hurt his mother had given him. That was all going to be over soon. He was going to escape from her smothering clutches. "Coward!! Can’t go whimping to your uncle Paulie now. You little scumbag, I knew you would never make it....Haa..." His mother’s voice crawled over him. He shook his head and look around. He was alone in his apartment. The was a puddle of blood on the floor and he remembered what he had done. Billy knew he couldn’t go through with it. He knew then the only way to overcome this was to live it through. How long had it been since he cut himself? Ten minutes. Half an hour. He wasn’t sure but he had to make it to the phone. His head spun as he rose from the table and his legs buckled as he neared the telephone. He fell, knocking the phone to the floor with him. He was starting to feel cold as he dialled the emergency hospital number. "Emergency", the woman’s voice sounded just as he was starting to lose consciousness. "I need help. I think I’m dying. Can you help me?", he asked feebly. The woman asked him what was the matter and where he was. He told her he had cut himself and gave her his address. He dropped the phone as he heard her say an ambulance was on the way. Billy’s eyes closed and he saw a clown and some children dancing around a big number nine. Their easy laughter made Billy smile weakly as he drifted into unconsciousness. A tear trickled slowly down his cheek. THE END.
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Just a reminder that throughout the holiday season members of the RCMPolice Bell Island Community Policing Office will be conducting checkpoint stations and vehicle checks in an effort to detect impaired drivers. Ten persons have been apprehended for impaired driving offences during 1999 to date. One of these persons was involved in a motor vehicle accident. While no one was injured seriously, the potential for serious injury or death was definitely there. The best rule of thumb is that if you are drinking don’t drive. Use a designated driver or get a taxi. The consequences are just not worth it.
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The Bell Island Junior Blues nabbed two games this past weekend (Dec. 10, 11) over the Southern Shore Breakers. On Friday the Blues bombed the Breakers with a 7-2 win. Still shaky from this blasting the Breakers came to Bell Island. They put up a valiant effort but were overcome by the Blues onslaught. Jeff Pendergast pounded the Breakers net tender with four goals. The Blues won the game 8 - 6. The Bell Island Junior Blues are now tied for third place in the Avalon Division and 5th place overall. Two of the Bell Island Junior Blues are among the top scorers in the league. According to statistics published in the Evening Telegram on 99-12-02, Calvin Power leads the scoring list with a total of 40 points. Dion Durdle is in 5th place with a total of 33 points. The Blues next game is at the Monsignor Bartlett Arena, Bell Island on Saturday 99-12-18 at 7:15 pm against the Mount Pearl Blades. Further information on the Co-operators Junior Hockey league can be obtained from the following web site: Team President, Pat Rose advises the Bell Island Junior Blues make an extra effort to become involved in community activities. He related that the entire team donated their blood to Canadian Blood Services on two occassions this year. One of the players, Dion Durdle was injured last year and has become an active spokesperson for the Canadian Blood Services. Rose encourages anyone who can give blood to get out and do so this holiday season. You never know when you might save a life.
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On Saturday 99-11-20, the Bell Island Minor Hockey association had four games on tap at the Monsignor Bartlett Arena. There were two Atom games and two Peewee games. Both teams played very exciting games and each division came away with a win and a loss each. The Bell Island PeeWees hosted the Southern Shore PeeWees and won their first game by a three to one (3-1) margin. The Southern Shore PeeWees returned the favour by winning the second game by the same score. (3-1). The Bell Island Atoms played the Conception Bay North CeeBees and also won their first game by a score of four to three (4-3). They lost the second game 5-3.
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Here’s a couple of Christmas sites for all you web junkies out there:
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This issue completes the first volume of the Bell Island Community Policing Newsletter. Although it has taken quite a few hours of both my off and on duty hours, I have enjoyed doing it. I would like to thank the general public for without their support this project would have died in the very early stages. I cannot say enough about the support of the members and staff at this office, the district office, Helen Cleary-Escott of Media Relations Section and the Wabana Town Council office has been tremendous which lightened the load a good deal. Let’s not forget the various contributors who worked diligently to put articles in each month. Lastly, I would like to thank the hardworking folks at the mailroom at the RCMPolice Headquarters building, St. John’s for their excellent co-operation and efforts which put this project into mass production. (It would be pretty near impossible to produce 1200 copies from this office every month. If you have any comments, suggestions, or you wish to discuss a personal or community problem, by all means visit our office situated on Memorial Street or contact us at the following: Telephone: 709-488-3312 Fax: 709-488-2311 Email whebb@nf.sympatico.ca On behalf of the members of the RCMPolice Bell Island Community Policing Office, I would like to extend the warmest regards for a safe and happy holiday season to the people of Bell Island. We look forward to serving your policing needs in the New Year.
Everyone is Worthy of Respect
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