Sheep case heads into preliminary inquiry phase Wednesday, September 24, 2014 by JOE CALLAHANAt a judicial pre-trial meeting last Thursday in Peterborough, dates were established for a preliminary inquiry into the Linda (Montana) Jones sheep trial case.According to Alura Moores in Crown Attorney Damien Frost’s office, Justice Lorne Chester will preside over the inquiry scheduled to run from Feb. 17 to March 2 at provincial courts in Cobourg, Lindsay and Peterborough.Jones, from Hastings in Northumberland County and Michael Schmidt from Durham County, along with Robert Pinnell of Grey County and Suzanne Atkinson in Northumberland County face charges of conspiracy to commit obstruction of a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officer, to transport or cause to transport an animal under quarantine, and conspiracy to defraud the public of a service over $5,000 under the Criminal Code.Jones is also charged with obstructing a CFIA inspector under the Health of Animals Act and Pinnell faces a further charge of attempting to obstruct justice and another for obstructing a police officer, both under the Criminal Code.The charges are connected with the disappearance in 2012 of sheep from Jones’ Northumberland County farm.Prior to the livestock’s disappearance, Jones, a Shropshire sheep breeder, was embroiled in a dispute with the CFIA over its decision to quarantine her farm and destroy her flock following a positive test for scrapie, a federally reportable disease that is fatal to sheep and goats.The missing sheep were recovered later on a farm in western Ontario.The Law Society of Upper Canada says on its website that the purpose of preliminary inquiries is “to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to require a person charged with an indictable offence, to stand trial on that or any other indictable offence arising out of the same transaction.” Scheduling the preliminary inquiry follows a June ruling by Judge Chester dismissing Crown Attorney Damien Frost’s application to have Jones’ and Schmidt’s lawyer, Shawn Buckley, removed as counsel for the co-accused because of his alleged conflict of interest.The charges against Jones, Schmidt, Atkinson and Pinnell were first laid in December 2012. BF Marketing board proposes name change, adjustments to advisory committees Good-bye to a major supporter of Ontario agriculture
Early Career Research Award supports two Guelph research initiatives Friday, July 4, 2025 The was presented to two University of Guelph researchers at the recently held Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) symposium. Dr. Kelsey Spence received $40,000 towards her work in on-farm biosecurity research, and Dr. Sam Workenhe was awarded $60,000 to further his... Read this article online
Grape Growers 40th Annual Celebrity Luncheon has Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser Friday, July 4, 2025 The Grape Growers of Ontario’s marks the opening of the by showcasing Canadian personalities and celebrating the annual grape harvest. This year, in partnership with Meridian Credit Union, Ontario’s largest credit union and the third largest in Canada, the Grape Growers of Ontario... Read this article online
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Calf Auction Raises Funds for Youth Monday, June 30, 2025 Wyatt Westman-Frijters from Milverton won a heifer calf named Ingrid through a World Milk Day promotion by Maplevue Farms and a local Perth, Ontario radio station. Instead of keeping the calf, 22-year-old Westman-Frijters chose to give back to the community. The calf was sent to the... Read this article online