Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 21, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba A10 Canada / world Winnipeg free press monday june 21, 2004 stable owners mystified by Pony Tail thefts by James Clarke Parksville . ? Cecil and Joan Mercer have watched mystified and More than a Little disturbed As the tails of their ponies have been chopped by a thief with an Uncertain motive. The pair have run the Tiger Lily petting farm in this Oceanside Community for six years including offering Pony rides for children. But Over the last month 14 of their 17 ponies have had their floor length tails chopped away. I be never seen anything like it Cecil Mer cer marvelled from beside the new pen they be set up for the ponies. Ramp investigators Are equally stumped and Are asking for Public help to catch the thief. It started May 12, then subsided May 16. They stayed away for about a month and just recently started coming Back again said Oceanside ramp const. Kathryn Macleod who said this is the first such incident she a come across. Its a rare one she said. We be explored All the avenues and frankly we just Don to know the reason while a full horse Tail often used As an Exten Sion for show horses is Worth upwards of $300, Tail clippings Are not in big demand. But the mercers also have horses and Only the ponies have been targeted. One theory is the culprit is using or Selling the hair for artistic purposes but that seems unlikely. News of the clippings has spread through local horse circles. Cecil said he recently got a Call from the owner of a tack shop in Vancouver who said the selective nature in the clipping raises the possibility they Are earmarked for alternative Medicine or perhaps spells. The word witchcraft came up said Joan. Cecil Mercer said he a sat out in the Bushes for four straight nights hoping to catch the clip per but he never showed. Oceanside ramp have also staked out the area where they know the thief is entering the property from to no Avail. The mercers have tried to capture the culprit on video but the Only shots they have Are shadowy images of a Man luring the ponies to the Fence of the Corral ? situated a stones throw from their House ? with food. Joan who has been keeping a log said the thief has made 13 visits to their farm one of those in Broad Daylight. As for the Little steeds without their full tails they have no Way to swat flies so they Are being sprayed with a repellent daily. ? Canadian press . Firm auctions off Canadian patents Ottawa invested $4.5m in High tech company by Michael Tutton h Halifax ? after investing $4.5 million Over 12 years in a new Brunswick High tech firm a Federal Agency will watch from the sidelines this week As the com Pany a highly regarded patents Are auctioned off by a . Multinational. The machinery created by Micro optics design corp. Of Moncton n.b., was touted by the Federal government As an example of a successful investment made under the $700?million Atlantic innovation fund announced before the 2000 election. According to Federal documents the Atlantic Canada opportunities Agency described the company a Ultra lab eyeglass manufacturing system As positioned to become a world but the Agency which invested in the company Between 1991 and 2003, stood by when Sola International inc. Of san Diego calif., secured a Lien on its intellectual property through a one time $2-million loan. Last june after Micro optics collapsed under $18 million in debt and sought bankruptcy Protection Sola took control of the patents. Marc Savoie the Moncton Engineer who developed the Ultra lab system said losing control of the technology to an american firm is sad for Canada and his Hometown. Its frustrating to see that happen especially when you know it does to need to be that Way Savoie said in an inter View. The government could themselves have released that Security had they put the $2 million on. It want a lot of Money considering the amount that was invested the Micro optics machine which uses a computer con trolled Diamond tipped Cutter is capable of replacing an Assembly line of optical lab workers. The technology was considered so Clever the smithsonian Institute added it to the museums collection. The new Brunswick government offered the company a $6?million line of credit while act equity Atlantic inc., which is backed with Federal funds provided $2.7 million. However none of the Public sector partners secured the intellectual property rights. Ralph Meechan an Ottawa based spokesman for the fed eral lending Agency said Alcoa does to secure its Loans because it wants companies to use their intellectual property to generate More investment. Micro optics made a business decision to go and use the intellectual property they had to secure some funding from Sola Meechan said an interview. If we secure Loans Well hinder companies from securing direct foreign investment. Its something companies have been very positive Savoie said the Agency should review that policy. If the government is going to support this kind of technology they should try to maintain that technology in the area he said. That is something that governments should be looking More carefully Sola a control of the patents thwarted a recent bid to revive the company said Dave Wilson a vice president of act equity Atlantic one of the largest investors. His Halifax based venture capital group had assembled a group of former employees including Savoie ready to restart the firm. But Sola was unwilling to sell the technology. It is a shame Wilson said. We believed it was Worth the most to us because we had All the employees and we were going to execute on the company a Ron Dutt a spokesman for Sola said the firm Hopes to auction off the intellectual property by june 25. We just want to sell them to whoever wants to buy them he said. ? Canadian press on now until sunday june 27th save 40%-50% women a fashions by mantles Melrose neg re collection Alfred Dunner Alia Togo Mac & Jac All women a Liz Claiborne fashions. Includes petites. Buy 3 or More save 35% buy 2, save 30% buy 1, save 25% buy 6 or More save 40% buy 3 or More save 35% buy 1 or 2, save 30% ? pantyhose by Silks secret Hanes and wonderbra ? Mcgregor socks excludes 3 for sock programs. Save 45% boxed bras and briefs by wonderbra and Warners petites & above average. & style co selected styles in save 30% save 30% save 25% men a fashions boys and girls sleepwear Henckels by Tommy Hilfiger Polo Ralph Lauren socks & underwear excludes jockey. 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