Bored youngsters take blame for vintage truck damage

July 14, 2017 Headline News

BY KIM LANGEN

Children have admitted to being the culprits in damaging a number of vintage farm truck windshields and windows at the local Flywheel Club.

Turtle Mountain Flywheel Club member Linda Blixhavn said that the club members were a little shocked to find out what had happened on June 30 – the day before Canada Day – so soon.

“It was three boys,” she said. “There were two 11-year-olds, and one seven-year-old. One was local, and the other two were from out of town. They had been staying at the campground behind the Flywheel Club. The parents took them to the police earlier this week, after hearing the kids talking about what they had done. We were quite amazed that it came together so quickly.”

After attending the local Killarney RCMP detachment, the police called Flywheel Club member Rick Green, who had discovered the disappointing damage on the late afternoon of June 30.

The parents, the three children, and police then met up with Green at the Ag Grounds, she said.

“Rick asked them what they thought they were doing,” said Blixhavn. “The kids said they had walked through from the campsite to the back of the Flywheel Club grounds. They said they were bored, and they thought it was an abandoned farmyard.”

The children admitted to breaking the truck windshields and windows using rocks and broken cement.

But being underage means that charges of mischief or damage can’t be laid, she added.

“They’re way too young to be charged,” said Blixhavn. “We don’t know what the parents are going to do at this point. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Meanwhile, the annual Prairie Pioneer Days, which followed on the weekend of July 8 and 9, saw a marked increase in numbers – and some hefty donations to help repair the vintage farm trucks’ window damages.

“It was good,” said Linda’s husband, Flywheel Club member Tom Blixhavn. “We had about six or seven new exhibitors, and a number of different tractors. And we had 100 more people through the gate than usual. We had 535 people through over the weekend. And we don’t usually fundraise, but we did this year, and we received $1,250 in donations, which was for glass only.”

Plus there were extra plates set down for the big Saturday night supper, said Linda.

“It went up,” she said. “We had 95 adults, and some kids, and the supper was delicious. It was roast beef with all the trimmings, and three kinds of cake. Sherri McLennan organized it, and her family did all the work, and did a wonderful job.”

The revved up Car and Truck Show attracted an impressive 45 entries, and parade entries totalled up to 85, say organizers. Eleven drivers hauled up for the Tractor Pull, and 30 Toy Show tables were taken.

FIVE FARM TRUCKS VANDALIZED – The Turtle Mountain Flywheel Club decided to showcase the five vintage farm trucks vandalized on June 30 during last weekend’s Prairie Pioneer Days. Around $1,250 was donated to help the club try and replace the broken windshields and windows.

CURT STRUTH/KILLARNEY GUIDE

Prairie Pioneer Days car show winners

Best Ford: Karley Sutton, ’67 Mustang; Best GM: Dean Foote, ’51 Chevy; Best Mopar: Chuck and Kim Wilson, ’47 Desota; People’s Choice: Glenn Johnson, ’53 Pontiac Chieftan; Best Show: Joan and Keith Kemp, ’41 Diamond T; Classic Restored: Dean Foote, ’55 GMC 1 ton; and Classic Unrestored: George Legare, 1949 Chev Skyline Deluxe.

CHILLING OUT BY A COOL CHEVY – Elmer and Henrietta Mauws of Killarney stretch out beside their perfectly kept 1967 Chevy Stepside at the Prairie Pioneer Days’ Car and Truck Show held on Sunday. Forty-five cool rides made it to the hot show.