CJCS 1240 Radio - Local and Community Events in Stratford Ontario

On Thursday, February 2^nd, a motor vehicle parked at the Festival Market Place Mall was entered. The driver had left the vehicle unlocked. When they returned they noticed that the motor vehicle was entered and several rings valued at $4000 had been taken. There are no suspects at this time. The Stratford Police Service reminds citizens again to lock their motor vehicles and to keep valuables out of sight.

Robert Rivet has been sentenced to five years in prison for the death of his one-month old daughter, Skyla Rivet.

Rivet entered the Stratford courtroom Friday afternoon and nodded "Howdy" to a small, seated audience. He quietly and quickly addressed the crowd before hearing from judge

The judge recounted testimony from Skyla's mother and Rivet's former common law partner, Amanda Buck, recalling the night in January of 2010. The baby was crying, and the couple took turns trying to calm her. Rivet was the last person to be with her alone before she started gasping for air.

Skyla later died of injuries stemming from blunt force trauma to the head.

Prior to sentencing, the judge addressed the court and explained that if Rivet had admitted to the crime and showed remorse, it would have been a "significant mitigating factor" in sentencing.

Rivet was charged with second degree murder and pleaded not guilty. He was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter in December of last year. He now will serve a five-year term, and must submit a DNA sample.

The Ontario government has confirmed that American-based heavy equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. will close its Electro-Motive plant in London. Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid says he has heard Caterpillar  will close the locomotive plant in London, where 450 workers were locked out January 1st.

Duguid says he just received the news and has no other details, but said his thoughts were with the workers who will lose their jobs.

Just two days ago, Premier Dalton McGuinty criticized Caterpillar, although not by name, during a speech in London, saying the company was not living up to Ontarians expectations.

Electro-Motive had demanded pay cuts of up to 50% when it locked out the employees, who are represented by The Canadian Auto Workers.

Locals feared Caterpillar always intended to move the locomotive manufacturing from Electro-Motive to a facility in the United States.

United Way staff and volunteers will be traveling to 12 communities across Perth and Huron Counties to garner support for the final leg of their 2011 campaign.

The Caravan of Hope will hit the road on February 8th to 9th to raise support for 22 member agencies, and its divisions and projects: 211, The Social Research and Planning Council, The Youth United Council, The Local Community Food Centre, PF Solutions Perth Huron (Employment Practice Firm), and Volunteer Connections.

The organization is hoping to bridge a gap of $70,000 in their campaign through donations of $11 in the 11th hour. The Caravan of Hope's schedule is as follows: