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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1981-07-22, Page 1Walton barbecue The big event in Walton Saturday was a pork barbe- cue sponsored by the Walton Sports Club. The fine after- noon 'weather brought out the hearty appetites, and the Expositor paid a visit as well. For pictures. see pg 7' Bills get, through The payment of PUC bills was one of the main topics at the regular meeting of com- missioners earlier this month. For a report on the meeting see story on pg.. „ i9 Bodtnin sale At the Bodmin Farms annual sale recently 68 head of cattle changed hands. And there, was more, including step dancing and a perfor- mance by Blyth country singer Jim Medd. For a story, and pictures, see pg 15 Trish is bark For those regular readers who missed it last week, Trish Rimmer and her Kids, Teens and In Betweens co- lumn have returned from a brief vacation. Look for it on pg 19 pm—Inside this week BY HERB SHOVELLER The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Auth- ority has identified two flood* areas in the southeast section of Seaforth, and recom- mends improvements to the region be included in the town's new official plan. Tom Prout, general manager of the Authority, outlined the regions to council Monday. The flooding le one area. north of the CNR bridge east of Main St. is the result of the culvert at the overpass- being too small. He cited the small culvert and shallowness of Silver Creek as reasons for flooding in the second area, north or the tracks to George Si. Both the Seafoth planning board and a committee of council, most likely protection to persons and property according to clerk Jim Crocker. will review the Authority's study and suggestions then make their recommendations to council. Mr. Prout said the ideal way to substant- ially ease the flooding would be to widen the culvert and deepen the bed of the creek. Then, said Mr. Crocker. " a special policy will be developed on the assumption that the tunnel and channel will be done, then they (the Authority) would shrink the flood lines." Decreasing the zone would free more land for development in the town. Council is under no obligation to follow the Authority's plans.lt it doesn't consider the recommendations, however, the conservat- ion group could protest the town's official plan before the Ontario Municipal Board. If the town decides to provide for the Authority's recommendation in its official plan. and try to alleviate the problem. Mr. Prout said the cost would be about $200.000. Grants arc available for 85 per cent of the cost (S170.000) and the town and the Authority would share the difference. Mr. Prout said the CNR would not 'perform the culvert work. Mayor John Sinnamon asked what prob- lems would be created for the township (Tuckersmith) if the town didthe work. "You would have to go down to the confluence with the Bayfield River." replied Mr. Prout."Perhaps the township will help pay. You can't go the edge orthe village (town) and stop." Tuckersrmth considers (1, Crozier drairtage • BURNED OUT TRANSFORMER Black smoke .filled the sky early Tuesday afternoon when an old Ontario Hydro, transformer, which was . being cut apart by salvagers, caught on fire. The blaze is believed to have been caused when Oil-soaked components inside the transformer were ignited by a workman's cutting torch. The fire occurred at the rear of the Llydro substation just east of Seaforth. (Photo by Ellis) Flirting with trouble BY HERB SHOVELLER It must just be the only show around. The fire. It may be the dilethma of any small town where, perhaps because of a combination of limited entertainment facilit • ics and unimaginative, thoughtless individ- uals, the sound of the fire siren is the signal for the show to begin. A lengthy procession. led by the town's fire department. heads out to the rural emergency. At the side,, cars line the side of the narrow concession road, reducing it sometimes to one ear's width.' The process- ion, and. the parking both add danger to an already serious situation. "It's just that people have to use common sense." explained Seaforth fire chief Harry Hak Wednesday. "If it keeps going like this. I guess we'll have to ge t working with the OPP to keep the cars away from the fire." The OPP would be needed because the serious danger posed by fire spectators in the country is beyond the jurisdiction of the Seaforth police. In town, explained Mr: Hak, traffic control is not a problem. "They're not thinking." added assistant fire chief Tom Phillips. "They park on both sides of the road. But I don't know whether we carrget the police involved, or if Vs' their jurisdiction. We „have to make people following more awale of the hazard." While Chief Hak is conside ring asking for assistance from the OPP, constable Jim McLeod of the Seaforth detachment of the provincial force has another alternative. "If they'd shut that alarm off, it would solve a lot of problems." he said Wednes- day. ."T,hey just spent $3000 on 'those b'eepers. Goderich eliminated the siren for exactly a'"" rolvIn (to inhibit spectators). I don't think they (Seaforth) ever will." Every member of the 20 person Seaforth department has a beeper which notifies them of a fire, but Mr. Phillips cites several. reasons for continuing to sound the siren. First, he said, if there is a malfunction ' with the base system, which is situated at the hospital, the siren provides a back-9p alarm. Next, he noted, the siren notifies people on Main St. that there is, a fire so they can perpare to let the engines pass. Main St. is the most common route the department uses to exit town. ' ' Finally added Mr. Phillips, the siren at night wakes up older people and they check their.own home. "That could save a life. `That's,important." he concluded. In his ten years with the department. Mr. Flak said there has always been a stream of spectators for fires. In that time, he explained, there had been no serious problem, but his concern indicates the possibility dOlitiiifielo exist. "Sometimes," added Mr. Hak. "there are neighbours there to heti), which makes sense. It's the peqple from the town itself who create the problems:- Agreeing with chief Hak that it is the Spectators from Seaforth who are the problem. Mr. Phillips noted: "In this area - this is the problem - everybody likes to help, but they don't know they are a hazard. I'm not knocking the help, but it can' be a problem. Both fire officials concluded intelligence on the part of the public would be a major step in easing spectator curiosity. I./rivers can be fined $28 for following within 500 feet of the emergency vehicles, p 122nd Year Whole No #5815 SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1981 — 22 PAGES $16.00 a year in advance Single Copy 40 cents nit aeANNg Row4g SeafOrth Pitt Department was salmmoned to three fires thiSweek. including•one at the Ontario -Hydro station wcast of town which hadto be observed for a tete of nine hours. At 7:15 Tuesday morning, the fire department was notified Ontario Hydro was planning to demolish a transformer which had been struck by lightning last year. There were no anticipated problems. but chief Harry Hak said they are required by law to inform the department of any such work so the fireman can be prepared. The transform- er was previously filled with several hundred gallons of oil. said Mr. Flak, and although it had been drained, some oil was left in. When Hydro workers were cutting the transformer. a spark ignited the oil, and started the fire. At 12:45 p.m., the firemen were called to ' the plant about two miles east of Seaforth. Mr., Hak said the fire had spread' to a field. next to the plant and had caught in the dead grass. Hydro officials were concerned the poles would catch fire, and cut off service to Centralia, he said. There was also some danger that lines running to Woodstock would also be affected. Firemen remained at the scene for six hours Tuesday. and one truck was at the plant for three hours Wednesday morning. Mr. Hak said that although the fire kept burning "the thing itself presents no danger. It's wrapped in paper and that's why it keeps burning so long." ' Fault in wiring was the cause of the alarm Thursday, night. A barn on lot 13. concession „uttdel(illovowned by a t4 Mao ry ; can pit on 'fire because of the wiring, but there was no damage,. according to Mr. Hak, The wire had to be replaced as the former, one was burnt off. The fireman were there - for only an hour. Cause has not been determined yet for Sunday's fire at a barn on Concession 8. lot 13, Tuckersmith. and OPP Constable Gary Martin. Goderich, said they "haven't elim- •inated anything." Heather Ross, Seaforth, turned in the alarm. She was travelling along the. Mill Road and noticed the glow. When she arrived at the scene of the fire. "the fire was fairly sustantial. There were a few vehicles and people at the house watching the barn burn down." The barn.owned by Doug -Upshot'. has be,en in .the process of being dismantled for the last three or four months. The main part of the structure was already town down. When firemen arrived on the scene, they could only stay on to control the blaze. The truck was only there for 'an hour, according to deputy chief. Tom Phillips. Constable Martin reported Mr. Upshotl is still out west, so the cause is still under investigation. "We can't find any' natural cause so haven't elminated anything," he said. Mr. Phillips said there were no hydro lines leading tothe barn, so it was necessary to report the incident to the OPP. A brother of the owner had been watering a garden near the barn about 8:00.,. but no fire was being used near the barn, said Mr. Phillips. : , ...sit AMAZING ENTERTAINMENT -,- Several dozen young children., brought centre last Wednesday evening. The show, sponsored by the recreation their parents to see a puppet demonstration and show in the community committee, featured the talents of Toronto puppeteers Ann and David photos on the kids' page. (Photo by Ellis) Powell, who explained The many types of puppets and their origins. More Mixed reattion to farmer aid ......, By STEPHANIE LEVESQUE 2, Auburn said, ""the feedlot Position," Mr...,. ''' Henderson agricultural representativei . general becatiO (the money) minas and ship it at 1,150 The recently announced Jnen are pleased.", :said in , a press release. "In offices shortly. will go hackie the industry in pounds and both would S30 million emergency pro- Agriculture and Food Min- addition, when they sold ' Mr. Stapleton said his some form," said Mt. John- receive $40 per head. It was gran for beef feeders has• ister Lorne Henderson an- their cattle for slaugther, association met the night the stop. • added that the weight gain received mixed reviews from nounced the prograni recent- •they received less than they program was announced and The Perth association felt would be based on the those affected. ly. He and Ontario Treasurer had originally paid for the feeling was the money an upper limit of 1,000 head difference between the pur- Both the Huron• and Perth Frank Miller worked the them." should have been spread should be in place. •There is chase. weight and the ship- ping weight. At present, the Ontario Farm Income Stabilization The president of the Huth 'moneyput many slaughter appear on application forms group, Neil Stapleton of R.R. cattle producers into a loss, which will ,be available at •I Board reviews flooding far town plan Cattlemen's Association wel- program for emergency pay- The payments -will be more fairly to beef produc- no upper limit, but there is a comed the help and George ment of $40 per animal for based on the 1980 sales of ers, minimum limit of 10 cattle. finished cattle and, to quali- "I'm afraid to look into the The payment should be Johnston of R.R. 4, Listowel, slaughter cattle.' _the_president_et,_Th erth____Thehig_k_cost. et grail!! _fy, a:farrner must have sold__ eyes of_nty esi ri gnhou' said calculated _by_ a little more Commission and the, Ontario group said the financial aid and energy, combined with at least 10 in 1980. Mr. Stapleton explaining , sophisticated method, Association are "is badly needed". the high cost of borrowing Details of the program will that his neighbour might' Mr. Johston. It was suggest- disctissing the possibility of a have stockers andhe in a loss ed it be based on a weight beef-calf stabilization .pro- position, but not receive any gain basis rather than .per gram beginning in 1981. grants from the government. head. Mr. Henderson also indi- The Perth association met The example given was . sated that the government is July 13 and Mr. Johnston that one farmer could buy a reviewing a broad range of reported on •the opinions cattlebeast at 600 pounds other programs for Ontario expressed, and ship it at 1,200polinds agriculture. "It (the program) is of help whereas another farmer "I sure hope so," said Mr. to the agriculture industry. in cook] buy an animal at 1,000 Staff . Teton. BY W1LMAVKE Anne Dayman of Egmondville was given Tuckersmitl Township council Tuesday the go-ahead to open a small beauty shop in r • • night spent most of 'the session time the basement of her home on the main street discussing the engineer's preliminary report, in the hamlet. ander requisition of the Crozier Drainage The meeting was adjourned at 1,0:30 p.m. works. Engineer Henry Centenof the Uderstadt Burnside Ltd. firm in Orangeville read the report to council andlo three ratepayers affected--Mr. and Mrs. John Penner and Jim McIntosh. Mrs. Penner said that serious flooding has been occurring only in the past two years on their farmland and both stated they feel they'are being-assessed too much for the drain. The township office in Vanastra will receive a new coat of paint on the, exterior walls andthe trim. Murray Bolger of Clinton will be doing the work at a cost of $830.'75. Emergency phone system ors PUC In a move which is hoped will prot ide the public with swifter service. Seaforth Pablic Utilities Commission (PUC) now has an emergency 'round the clock telephone sy- stem. An answering service now handles calls when the utility offices arc closed, and then will notify PUC employees carrying portable beepers. PM Manager Toni Phillips said Wednes- day the new service is a benefit to both, the public and PUC employees. "Before. they (employees) had to stay at home." he nbied. "They couldn't even cut the grass because they couldn't hear the,phone ring." I rior to the addition of the answering service,' employees on Call were required to stay near a phone all weekend. Now, said Mr. Phillips, they have a bit more freedom. though the PUC wants its workers to stay tvithin a five mile radius of town. The same PUC number. ST7-0530, will be used by the answering service. Mr. Phillips sees onit one potential difficulty with the new system. "Now, it's not for people to call up at 10:30 or 11:00 at night to complain about their bill." he ca utioned.