Vol. No. Vol. 2718No. 8 27
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Wednesday, 13, 2024 2016 Wednesday,January August 21,
PROGRESS: Horsham West and Haven Primary School west campus community reached a fundraising milestone in its campaign to redevelop the west campus courtyard – resulting in the sliming of two staff members. For every $5000 raised, a staff member will be slimed. Teacher Chris Versteegen and education supporter Maddi O’Neil were slimed last week by Ryder Rintoule and Oscar March, who have individually raised the most money so far. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Police on target S
BY LAUREN HENRY
even people were arrested as part of a targeted four-day police operation across the Wimmera.
Horsham District finals preview lift-out INSIDE TODAY
Operation Encompass involved police officers from the Wimmera teaming up with specialist units from Melbourne such as the Public Order Response Team, PORT, the dog squad and State Liquor Unit, to saturate Horsham, Stawell, Ararat and smaller towns across the region. Police also issued 22 penalty notices as part of the operation, from Friday to Monday, mostly related to traffic offences including speeding, drink and drug driving, and failing to wear a seatbelt. A total of about 35 officers were highly visible to the public, detecting and deterring crime and enhancing
public safety. Police executed four search warrants and five firearm prohibition order searches. A Stawell man, 76, was charged for possession of drugs, including heroin, methylamphetamine and cannabis, weapons and cash. The man faced Horsham Magistrates Court on Monday, and was further remanded in custody until September 24. Other arrests included a Gerang Gerung man, 49, for firearm offences; a Horsham woman, 27, for handling stolen goods; a Stawell woman, 30, wanted for an outstanding warrant; an Ararat man, 52, wanted over an outstanding warrant; and an Ararat man, 51, for numerous deception and fraud-related offences. In terms of traffic-related offences, three defect notices were issued to
drivers after safety risks were identified on vehicles, and more than 1300 breath tests conducted. Acting Inspector Brendan Broadbent said specific tasks were in place across the weekend to focus on heavy vehicles, drink-driving, and behaviour at licensed venues. He said covert police were used to check licensed establishments, a police drone used for both traffic and surveillance purposes, and a canine unit used to locate firearms, money and drugs. The State Liquor Unit issued two infringement notices and two official warnings to licensed venues. Act Insp Broadbent said police would continue to focus on drinkdriving, which had resulted in recent car crashes in Horsham. Earlier this month, five people died in a 36-hour
period on western Victorian roads. “We don’t shy away from the enforcement side of road policing when we’re dealing with drink-driving because we understand that people’s lives are at risk,” he said. “Given those high readings that we’ve had, we understand that if we catch one person with a high reading, there’s probably five or six or even 10 others out there that might not be located, but at the same time, we need to send a clear message that it’s not on. “Because we had so many units that focus on public order, we were certainly looking at areas like Nhill, Dimboola, Warracknabeal, some of those smaller towns, and some of the smaller football clubs in outlying areas.” Continued page 3
IN THIS ISSUE • Wimmera farmers lead rally • Gersch to retire from council • Lady Hornets absent from CBL season Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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