CPL. MIKE BARNEWALL IN `GOOD SPIRITS' Making steady progress in rehab MORE HOUSING UNDERWAY IN `07 Boost in population expected OHA HANDS DOWN DECISION Essex 73's coaches facing year-long suspensions See NEWS Page 3 See NEWS Page 6 See SPORTS Page 17 $1.00 "Serving Essex and Community Since 1896" (GST included) Whole Number 6220 Registration No. 08565 Volume 128 No. 2 Phone: 519-776-4268 Fax: 519-776-4014 519-776-4021 32D Arthur Ave., Essex Wednesday, January 10, 2007 http://essexfreepress.reinvented.net OLD-TIME CHORES Kyle Hines, 9, simulates an example of the kind of chores a boy in the 19th century would encounter using a sawhorse to make handles for wooden mallets or spoons. The workshop was one of several activities offered by staff members at John R. Park Homestead last week. The 2nd annual Pioneer Winter Family Program included old-fashioned games, log sawing and blacksmithing demonstrations. Windsor man charged following Essex shooting BY ANDY COMBER Essex Police Service announced the arrest of a Windsor man last week, following an investigation into a shooting incident in Essex on New Year's Day. "We have made an arrest," said Essex Police Sergeant Gary Gamberta, speaking of the arrest of 28year-old Ryan Andrew Durocher of Windsor. Durocher turned himself in to police Jan. 5. Gamberta said Durocher is currently facing three charges on weapons offences, including careless use of a firearm, weapons dangerous to public peace, and unauthorized possession of a firearm. Police allege that Durocher discharged a firearm outside a house on Margaret Brown Crescent in the early morning of Jan. 1, 2007. Essex resident Mike Menyweathers said it was about 1 p.m. in the after- Council to make decision on new arena design BY DANIEL SCHWAB Essex Kinsmen Club fundraising co-ordinator Mark Nikita is hoping town council will approve a new design for a twin-pad arena Jan. 15. Architects Rounthwaite, Dick and Hadley Inc. and MHPM Project Managers Inc. will be presenting the 3-D concept to council during a special meeting. The Kinsmen agreed to head the fundraising initiative for a new ice surface in February 2005 but efforts have been put on hold since the municipal election two months ago, Nikita said. Nikita said the Kinsmen have been anxiously awaiting council's approval on a design before they begin fundraising again. "Without a plan, it's hard to sell," he said. "That's what's killing the fundraising." The Kinsmen made an initial pledge of $100,000 toward the project when fundraising began. They have raised about $700,000 in cash and pledges from the community since then. If council approves the new design, the Kinsmen will be able to continue working toward their goal of raising $1.5 million. The facility's primary rink includes bowl seating for 1,500 fans, administrative offices, dressing rooms, meeting rooms, washrooms, a concession stand, skate shop and a community room for banquets. Town of Essex Director of Parks and Recreation Doug Sweet revealed the design to the Essex Free Press last week. He said the arena steering committee met with architects Rounthwaite, Dick and Hadley Inc. and MHPM Project Managers Inc. Dec. 20 to develop an affordable plan. SEE ARENA, PAGE 2 noon on New Year's Day when he discovered a hole in a downstairs bathroom door. After further investigation, Menyweathers discovered a spent bullet, which had entered the house through the garage door, traveling through the bathroom wall and door, and the side of an oak cabinet. "It was just a couple of feet from my daughter's bedroom," said Menyweathers, who immediately alerted Essex police. A forensic identifications officer with Essex Police Service attended the scene and collected the projectile, which was sent to the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto for ballistics analysis. Witnesses in the neighbourhood told police that they heard three or more shots around 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, and a vehicle leaving the scene. SEE BULLET, PAGE 3