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TUESDAY June 3, 2014 • www.langleytimes.com
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4 222 277 Racehorses killed in stable fire NEWS
ARTS & LIFE
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AS M AN Y AS 1 7 H A RN E S S R ACING STA N D A RD BRE D S DI E I N SU N D AY A F T E RN O O N B LAZ E ON 2 2 4 S T RE E T D A N FERG USON Tim es R epo rt er
At least 17 horses died when a fire completely destroyed a large stable at the All Seasons mushroom farm on 224 Street near 40 Avenue in Langley Township on Sunday afternoon (June 1). They were elite harness racers that competed at the Fraser Downs track in Cloverdale. It is believed to be one of the worst fires involving livestock ever recorded in Langley Township. The blaze was first reported shortly after 2 p.m. At the height of the fight, up to 14 fire trucks and 60 firefighters were on the scene. It took about two hours to get the fire under control. Firefighters had to load water from hydrants down the street and transport it to the blaze, located in an area without direct water service. The stable was com-
pletely destroyed. Two farmworkers were treated for smoke inhalation, but were not expected to suffer any lasting injury. A fire department crew returned to the scene Monday to hose down smouldering hot spots. An excavator was brought in to retrieve the horses’ bodies. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. All Seasons mushroom farm owner Frank Moscone told The Times his understanding is that some of the horses were race horses, but because his company leased the building out and did not handle the day-to-day operation, he was unable to say exactly how many were in the stable at the time. According to the Standardbred Canada website, the majority of the horses stabled in the barn competed in Fraser Downs harness racing.
PENNY HA MB R OOK S p ec i a l to Th e Ti m es
Firefighters battle a blaze that killed at least 17 horses Sunday afternoon on 224 Street near 40 Avenue They were trained by Bill Davis and owned by Rick Mowles of J J J Stables. “Along with the devastating loss of all the hors-
es, Bill and Laurie Davis lost their entire livelihood as well,” said family friend Walter Slopianka. “It was a total loss of ev-
erything they have worked their lives to build,” Slopianka said. “Anything and everything horse racing related
was lost, from water buckets, harnesses … to all of Bill’s racing colours and helmets.” Continued Page 5
Seven and half years in prison for food store robber MICHAEL HEATLEY BROUGHT ALONG GIRLFRIEND’S CHILDREN WHEN COMMITTING CRIMES M ONIQUE TAM M ING A Ti m es R epo rt er
A 28-year-old Langley man has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for robbing seven food stores, mostly in Langley. On one occasion, he took his girlfriend’s two children with him. Michael Heatley, 28, was found guilty by Supreme Court Judge Josephson after a
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trial in New Westminster two months ago. He robbed three Subways, three Booster Juices and one liquor store in Aldergrove. On Thursday, Josephson sentenced him to four years remaining as he has already served the equivalent of three and a half years in pretrial custody (1.5 days for every one in custody). Heatley said the robberies were commit-
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ted to buy drugs, both for himself and his girlfriend. He is addicted to cocaine and heroin. At the time, he and his girlfriend were living out of her car and she drove him to and from many of the robberies. His girlfriend was originally arrested as an accomplice, but she wasn’t charged. The first robbery was on Mother’s Day 2011 at a Langley Subway. He was found
guilty of robbing the Subway with his girlfriend and her 11-year-old daughter waiting in the vehicle for him. In the Mother’s Day robbery, Heatley told investigators that he needed money because his girlfriend’s daughter needed food. He didn’t return with sandwiches for her, but returned with cash, the court heard.
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