INSIDE: Un-happy Valentine as lunch dispute ends in violence Pg. 4 T H U R S D A Y
February 20, 2014
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Another Corner coming down Irwin Block will fall under the wrecking ball BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com
The judge called it something akin to the infamous Hatfield and McCoy feud when Ryder Lake neighbours found themselves unable to co-exist and things eventually turned to violence—a spraypaint can to the head
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B.C. Provincial Court judge has imposed a $1,000 peace bond on a 60-year-old Chilliwack woman to try to break up what he described as a Hatfield-McCoy-style “hillbilly feud” in Ryder Lake. Lynn Lutz was charged with assault with a weapon last spring, after she hit Mike Maskall, a friend of her neighbours, on the head with a spray-paint can during an altercation between her, her husband Dave Lutz and Maskall near the Lutzes’ Wincott Road home. On Friday, Judge Richard Miller found her not guilty of the charge, saying the evidence did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she had not acted in self-defence. He also concluded, however, that both Lutz and her husband had
told “bald-faced lies” in court last week about their animosity towards their neighbours, the Baineses. During the three-day trial, the court heard how the two families had feuded over a shared driveway for the last 10 years, with the Lutzes claiming the Baineses and their friends sped past their house and endangered them and their dogs, and the Baineses claiming the Lutzes infringed on the easement with their debris to the point that some of their vehicles couldn’t get through. The families also conflicted over their dogs, with the Lutzes saying Baines dogs had mauled their dogs on several occasions, including a Yorkie two years ago that had died after being mauled by a shepherd cross owned by the Baineses. “This case involves neighbours of the worst sort,” said Miller, chastising both the Lutzes and the Baineses in his ruling Friday.
testified they had been “upset” and Two visual manifestations of the neighbours’ animus were a red and knocked on the Baineses’ door. When no one answered, they white sign on the Lutz property that read “assholes neighbour” and four returned home, changed clothes and went back outside to measure gloves arranged on poles with their and spray-paint the borders of the middle fingers sticking up. contentious driveThe Lutzes called way. these displays “gar“This case involves At that point they den art,” with Dave Lutz telling the court neighbours of the said they heard a pickup truck they were intended worst sort.” accelerating up the to “look cute.” driveway. The feud between Judge Richard Miller Dave Lutz said the two families he stepped in front boiled over on of the vehicle to March 23, 2013. protect his dog, which he said had That morning, the Baines family been in the middle of the driveway (with RCMP on hand to ensure in danger of being hit. peace and good order) removed a The truck skidded to a stop, number of items, including cinder Dave Lutz said, and the driver blocks and landscape ties, from a yelled, “What the f--- are you doing, part of the driveway near the LutzDave?” es’ property. A physical altercation ensued The Lutzes had been away from home, but when they returned See NEIGHBOURS, Page 19 and found the items missing, both
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BY CORNELIA NAYLOR cnaylor@chilliwacktimes.com
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ore buildings will be levelled in downtown Chilliwack as part of the next step in the city’s plan to revitalize the core of the city. In what Coun. Ken Huttema called “a bold step forward,” city council unanimously voted Tuesday for a plan to “deconstruct” the Irwin Block and the two city-owned Yale Road buildings to the east. “Council might be voting to deconstruct,” Coun. Jason Lum said, “I really think this building was long ago demolished by neglect.” Demolition is slated to begin on Feb. 24 with a temporary park or an “interim courtyard” to replace the site by April. As part of city hall’s plan to assemble a 1.5-acre chunk of land bounded by Young Road, Yale Road and Princess Avenue, the city initiated expropriation of the Irwin Block at Five Corners in late 2012. The city took ownership of the property on Dec. 27, 2012 from previous owner Xing Chen. By then, the city owned 10 properties in the block in question. In 2013, the city negotiated purchases of five more properties in the block, meaning the municipality now owns 15 properties needed for the plan. Two of those properties, 46110 and 46116 Yale Rd. will be demolished with the Irwin Block at 9282 Young Rd.
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