B.C. Views ‘Vocational school’ back in style. p6
Ridge a leader in natural gas theft. p3
THE NEWS
Arts&life Arts Studio Tour on the weekend. p17
www.mapleridgenews.com Wednesday, May 7, 2014 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · Delivery: 604-466-6397
The captioned photograph was originally posted by Australian comedian Kevin Bloody Wilson and has been shared more than 100,000 times.
O’Connell criticized for ‘R’ word post Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Aqua-man John Stewart of Ocean Sales cleans a window with the AquaBLADE during a demonstration at the Ridge Meadows Home Show on Sunday. See story, p4.
Man follows teen from school Police investigating “suspicious occurrence” by Mo ni s ha M a r tin s staff reporter
A teen from Maple Ridge is warning others about a man who stalked her on her way home from school a week ago. In a post on Facebook, the teen said she was followed by a man in a black GMC 4x4 truck on April 30 around 4:30 p.m. The middle-aged man tried to talk
to the 15-year-old, stared at her and kept pace in his truck as she walked along 232nd Street. He continued to tail her even when she tried to detour down a side street and cross the road. “I was so frightened that I totally did not think of the licence plate, even though that is the most important thing,” she wrote. The girl eventually sought help from a senior who witnessed the man following her. As she was dialing police, the teen said the man in the truck threatened the senior who was helping her, saying he would simply tell police he
AC TREE C
RE
Call Bob - Your Certified Arborist FREE ESTIMATES - FULLY INSURED
BOB FITZ-JAMES ....... 604-467-0333
thought the teen was his ensuring she was safe, daughter. asking the passerby for “Thankfully that old help, and calling police man stayed with me till immediately,” said Cpl. that man finally decided Alanna Dunlop. to leave,” wrote the teen. “Unfortunately we The senior accompanied were not able to locate the girl until she reached a the suspect vehicle. We Shell gas station and went take these types of reports inside to report the incivery seriously and follow dent to police as her cell up on any informaphone was nearly dead. tion victims or witnesses Cpl. Dunlop Ridge Meadows RCMP are able to provide, such did not issue a public warning until as licence plates, vehicle descripmedia inquired about the incident tion, and description of any people on Tuesday. involved.” See Suspicious, p5 “The teen did the right thing by
Index Opinion Letters Regional Mother’s Day Arts&life Sports Classifieds
Pitt councillor shared what she thought was a joke by M on i sh a M ar ti n s staff reporter
A veteran city councillor from Pitt Meadows is being criticized for a post on Facebook with the word “retard.” Unaware that her newsfeed could be seen by the public, Coun. Gwen O’Connell shared a meme on Sunday. It featured a pair of gorillas in repose having an imagined conversation. One asks: “Why did you unfriend me?” The other replies: “Because you’re a [expletive] r--ard.” The captioned photograph was originally posted by Australian comedian Kevin Bloody Wilson and has been shared more than 100,000 times. O’Connell, who has served on city council for 15 years, was shocked that people were offended with what she sees as an innocuous Facebook post. See ‘R’ word, p8
View from Deck
6 7 13 14 17 21 24
4 years old, 6 bedrooms, 5 baths, 1 half bath, gas fireplace, triple garage.
Sonja Jones 1,088,000
$
13773 Blaney Rd., Maple Ridge
604-377-6646 sonja@sonjajones.ca www.sonjajones.ca
independently owned & operated