NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN
www.pentictonwesternnews.com
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news
VOL. 47 ISSUE 91
13
9 page
WEDNESDAY, November 13, 2013
entertainment Many Hats tries on
Squabble over tourism dollars continues
Reynen named to Top 40 list
touching drama for size
18
sports Vees return home with five out of six points
SAFETY CONCERNS DELAY HEARING Kristi Patton
NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN
DAVID WESLEY BOBBITT emerges from a sheriff’s van during an earlier appearance in provincial court in Penticton. A dangerous offender hearing and sentencing for his assault of a woman in 2011 could be moved to Kelowna after security concerns were raised in court here Tuesday. Western News File Photo
Western News Staff
Sentencing and a dangerous offender hearing for a man who pled guilty to a vicious attack on a Penticton woman two years ago may be moved to Kelowna due to security concerns. David Wesley Bobbitt pled guilty earlier this year to aggravated assault, two counts of unlawful confinement, aggravated sexual assault, two counts of uttering threats and assault with a weapon. It was during the August long weekend in 2011 that a 22-year-old woman was severely beaten and confined to a bed in Bobbitt’s second-hand store that was located on Ellis Street. Her toddler son, who was with the woman throughout the assault, was unharmed. On Tuesday at the Penticton courthouse, Justice Geoff Barrow indicated the sheriffs were concerned about security for the sentencing and dangerous offender hearing scheduled to take place over four weeks beginning June 2, 2014. Bobbitt’s initial appearance in court after he was arrested was referred to by sheriffs as a “circus.” Bobbitt mouthed words to the packed courtroom of the victim’s family and friends and one man stood and yelled obscenities at Bobbitt from the gallery. This continued later as sheriff’s escorted Bobbitt from the jail lock up outside to a waiting transport vehicle. The area is caged in by a tall fence but it didn’t stop the father of the toddler who was witness to the assault from charging it. Bobbitt yelled out to
the man, “I’ll get you later.” During the preliminary inquiry in June 2012 those entering the gallery had to walk through a metal detector. Sheriffs told attendees they would not tolerate any outbursts. One man was warned he would be escorted out of the courtroom if he continued to stare and smile at Bobbitt. Justice Geoff Barrow said on Tuesday that sheriffs would have to transport Bobbitt through public space at the courthouse three to four times a day should the hearing take place in Penticton. The court house lock up is located on the ground floor and Bobbitt would be moved privately upstairs but then would have to walk across a public hallway to Supreme Court. Between securing that area and potentially another metal detector set up, it could leave the sheriff’s office short-handed. Currently there are five staff members that oversee three courtrooms, transport prisoners from six RCMP detachments to the courthouse and to correctional facilities outside of the South Okanagan. Crown Counsel Deb Drissell expressed concern about the witnesses expected to be called for the dangerous offender hearing who are “very fragile” and moving the hearing to Kelowna would be an inconvenience. As well, it would mean witnesses and their families attending would incur travel costs to Kelowna. Justice Barrow put the issue over until Monday. He said he would like to hear more about the lawyers concerns before making a decision. -With files from Percy N. Hebért/Western News
Treliving and Melville named business laureates Steve Kidd
Western News Staff
Penticton may not have been the site of the first Boston Pizza, but it was ground zero for the two men who turned the small chain into an international operation. Now Jim Treliving and George Melville, chairmen and owners of Boston Pizza International, are being honoured by Junior Achievement of B.C. for their outstanding business achievements, enduring contributions to the province and country, as well as deep commitments to community. “George and I are very honoured to be
nominated for the Business Laureates B.C. Business Hall of Fame” said Treliving. “ It is a remarkable list of business people who have previously been inducted as Laureates and we are proud to be recognized among such an accomplished group.” It was 1964 when Gus Agioritis opened his Boston Pizza and Spaghetti House in Edmonton. By 1968, the growing popularity of the small chain attracted the attention of RCMP officer Treliving, who chose Penticton as the site for his first franchise. Penticton is also where Treliving met George Melville, a chartered accountant who
managed the local Peat Marwick office. “Penticton played a big role in our early business ventures. It is where I obtained my designation as a Chartered Accountant in 1968 while Jim was opening the very first Boston Pizza franchise,” said Melville “It is also where we became partners in 1973 and started our restaurant expansion across BC. The lessons that we learned in those early days helped shape the Boston Pizza brand and ultimately led to the success that we enjoy today.” Starting from that single restaurant franchise, the pair’s business grew into the massive T&M Group, with operations throughout
North America in the retail, manufacturing, real estate and service sectors and annual sales exceeding $1 billion. That includes the Boston Pizza chain, which Melville and Treliving purchased in 1983. At that time, the partners owned 17 of the company’s 44 restaurants. Three decades later, the chain has grown to almost 400 restaurants across North America. Their drive to succeed has benefited communities across the province as well.
See LAUREATES - Page 3
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