Maple Ridge News, August 17, 2012

Page 1

Swimming in arctic No ice in sight. p6

Effort to name field after Olympian. p39

THE NEWS

Food bank Constant fight to keep shelves stocked. p5

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Murder plot charge laid Landlord Jack Athwal arrested Friday by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s staff reporter

NEWS FILES

Jack Athwal appeared in court Thursday.

A well-known Maple Ridge landlord was charged Friday with planning a murder. Jagdev ‘Jack’ Singh Athwal was arrested last week and faces one count of counselling a person to commit murder and

an assault in June. “This is quite a unique case that involves serious allegations against Mr. Athwal,” said Ridge Meadows RCMP Insp. Dave Fleugel. “The investigation uncovered evidence that led to charges surrounding a disturbing threat of a serious criminal nature.” Athwal, 71, has been released with conditions: that he not go within a two-block radius of Gordon Towers, located at 11980 – 222nd St. in Maple Ridge, and not contact four local residents, in-

cluding a man who manages the building. Athwal is also prohibited from possessing firearms, an imitation firearm or explosives of any kind. He owns six apartments in Gordon Towers. Fleugel said RCMP are keeping an eye on Athwal. “As in all cases where an accused is released under strict court-ordered conditions, Ridge Meadows RCMP officers will be watching for any violations of the order. Our primary goal is to ensure public safety and the safety

of the victims and witnesses in this case,” he said. Investigators have also spoken to residents of Gordon Towers. “We do believe that by having the community aware of Mr. Athwal’s conditions, it increases the safety of the people involved in this case,” Fleugel added. Athwal owns more than 30 rental units in Maple Ridge. He was the former owner of Northumberland Court, a rundown townhouse complex. See Athwal, p4

Wild fire risk climbs to high Maple Ridge one of the most vulnerable areas by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s staff reporter

Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS

Story time

Maraya Gehring, 4, and Taylor Gehring, 6, with tambourine, listen to Cree elder Lorre Gibson, a storyteller for the Maple Ridge Public Library, Tuesday in Memorial Peace Park. Gibson told How The Rainbow Came To Be, of how the people of the world start fighting but grow together to form a rainbow.

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Index Opinion Health Letters As we age Faith Real Estate Classifieds

6 6 7 19 21 25 43

High temperatures scorching B.C. have elevated the wildfire risk from low to high in Maple Ridge, putting the fire department on alert for any activities that could set tinder-dry brush ablaze. The district expects the rating to hit extreme next week, which will activate a ban on all open fires in Maple Grootendorst Ridge and the surrounding provincial parks. “When the rating is high, we are a lot more careful,” said fire chief Peter Grootendorst. See Fire, p8

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