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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1970-01-08, Page 1LOCAL CHILDREN ENJOY THE MUSICAL STORYMAN - Children of the district turned out in great numbers early this week at Emmanuel Baptist Church to listen to Frank Wellington, the musical storyman. Due to the overflow crowds, the program will be held at South Huron District High School tonight and Friday night. Mr. Wellington, who is the world's foremost children's evangelist is shown above with his puppet, Uncle Cy and Robbie Mellenger, Terry Heywood and Brenda Edwards. Below is shown a portion of the large crowd that attended Tuesday's meeting. T-A photo GIVING MORE THAN HIS SHARE OF BLOOD -- Gerald Prout of Usborne Township was one of the 128 blood donors that attended the clinic at the Exeter Legion Hall during the holidays. Above, Prout is having his blood pressure checked by Red Cross nurse Isabelle Willis of London. After the usual pint of blood was taken from Prout's arm he decided to give a little more that went splashing over his shirt. T-A photo NEW YEARS BABY ARRIVES A DAY LATE - The first baby born in 1970 at South Huron Hospital arrived in the late afternoon hours of January 2. The first arrival was Kenneth Parke who will reside at RR 1 Varna. Kenneth, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ken Parke is shown above with his mother but is having trouble keeping awake. Exeter may increase tax interest, incentive APPoINT POSTMASTER AT CR EDITON Early last week ,Bob Bushfield took over officially as of for the Police Village of Crediton. Bushfield is shown above signing in under the watchful eye of 1-16vey C. Pfaff, district post office supervisor. T.A photo. Okay agreement with police. Exeter council this week approved a .contract with the recently formed Exeter Police Association - comprised of Cpl. Harry Van Bergen, Constables Jim Dingwell and George Robertson. The contract was studied at Monday's meeting, with police committee, chairman George Vriese reading it section by section. The contract covers hours of work, overtime, holidays, benefits and sick leave, Most contentious of the issues was the fact the policemen asked for a 40-hour five-day week, as opposed to their present work week of 45 hours. Councillors Don MacGregor and Ross Taylor opposed the shortening of the hours, both noting that other town employees would want the shorter work week as well. "This will cost the town a tremendous amount," claimed'' Taylor. "I'm interested in keeping costs down, and I don't think you can do in 40 hours what you did in 45," he added, also opining that the move would result in the department requiring an extra policeman. Taylor said the police budget was going sky-high. Councillor Helen Jermyn, who sat in at a meeting with the police representatives and Reeve Boyle and Vriese, argued that the force was being run more efficiently and said she was prepared to pay for this efficiency, "All we heard. were complaints in the past - and now all we hear are compliments," she added, gaining support in that from Councillor Ross Dobson. A vote on the ,40-hour work week was approved, with only Taylor and MacGregor opposing There was also some opposition from the two men in a —Clause which called for an officer to receive a bont4 of $50 if his marks were equal or better than the class average at the courses offered at the Ontario Police College. Taylor said this was "bribery" and argued that the men should attempt to do as well as they could without any extra incentive from council. He and MacGregor lost a motion to have this clause deleted, but an amendment changing the bonus to a fee of $1.00 per day for expenses was unanimously approved. Some of the benefits provided in the new contract are as follows: -- Members receive credit for one day sick leave each month and can accumulate this to a maximum of 90 days. In addition they receive full salary for six months if injury or sickness is incurred in the performance of their duties. - After one year's service, members receive two weeks' annual vacation and .three weeks after eight years' service. • They will receive seven statutory holidays. - Overtime will be paid at their regular rate, but a minimum of two hours overtime will be received when called back to work while they are off duty. -- Court time and inquests will be regarded as overtime if the officer is off duty or on vacation at the time he is required to appear. -- The Chief of Police can allot time off in lieu of overtime credits. - A member will receive service pay of $5 per month after five years on staff and $10 per month after 10 years. No salary increases were involved in the new contract, although a salary schedule has been set. To qualify for a move to a higher category, a member of the force must pass a written test compiled by the Chief of Police. Ninety-fourth Year EXETER, ONTARIO, JANUARY 8, 1970 Price Per Copy 15 Cents County board set new policies; seek advice on education aims e No major accidents over holiday period To call tenders for major purchases Despite heavy holiday traffic and concession roads made slippery from packed snow, the Exeter OPP detachment report no serious accidents over the two-week holiday period. There were 10 accidents and damage was of a minor nature in most. Two persons received minor injuries as well. There were three accidents prior to Christmas, the first on December 23 when a car driven by James Frederick Becker, Dashwood, went into the ditch on Highway 83 about three miles west of Dashwood at 6:00 p.m. Mr. Becker sustained a cut right cheek and damage was listed at $800 by Constable D. A. Lamont. A fence owned by Russel Fisher, RR 1 Dashwood, was also damaged. Welfare officer resigns position Welfare continues to be a problem for Exeter council, and it became even more so this week when welfare officer Bill MacLean tendered his resignation. He said the job requires a person with more time and better qualifications. Members of council agreed with this comment, noting this is one of their prime arguments in the attempt to have Huron County council assume all welfare matters. This matter is expected to be broached again at the January session of county council, although indications are it will have difficulty getting majority support. Council accepted the resignation with regret and asked the welfare committee to attempt to find a replacement. MacLean said in his letter he had enjoyed the work in the past years, but added that it was becoming more and more complicated and required more time than he could devote. Later in the meeting, council endorsed a resolution from the District of Parry Sound calling on the Ontario goVerrirnent to have all forms of welfare and children's aid work placed under one administration body. The resolution noted this Would end the duplication which takes place in the various fonts Of welfare which presently exist at all levels of government, There were two accidents the day before Christmas, the first at 1:40 p.m. involving vehicles driven by Joseph John Kenney, Lucan, and Henry Albert Wilds, RR 3 Dashwood. They collided at the intersection of No. 20 sideroad and the fourth concession of Stephen and damage was listed at $800 by Constable W. G. Glassford. At 3:05 p.m. a two-car collision was investigated by Constable Glassford on Fried St. in Dashwood. Drivers involved were Hazel K. Dowson, RR 1 Varna, and Mil ton Daniel Haugh, Dashwood. Damage was set at $165. A hit and run accident took place Saturday at 11:00 p.m. when a parked car owned by Richard Raymond Fisher, RR 3 Zurich, was struck by an unknown vehicle on Highway 84, just east of Zurich. Damage was set at $150 by Constable D. A. Lamont. Damage was listed at $1,000 in a single car crash on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on No. 10 sideroad, half a , mile west of Highway 4. Involved was a vehicle driven by Robert Craig Chapman, Sarnia. Constable J. A: Wright investigated. GIRL HURT The final crash of 1969 occurred at 8:45 p.m. on December 31. Three cars were involved in the collision, on Algonquin Drive in Huron Park. Involved were a vehicle driven by Murray Alexander Paquette, Empress Ave.; a parked vehicle owned by Henry Bieber & Son, RR 1 Clandeboye; and a third vehicle, also parked, owned by Not in court, but in hospital Lloyd G. Salter, of RR 3 Kippen who was convicted on an indecent assault charge December 30 and was to have been sentenced in Goderich Monday, did not appear in court. Crown Attorney William Cochrane said Salter was examined by a jail doctor January. 2 and was admitted to Beck emorial Sanitorium in London the same day. Ask parents for suggestions Parents of public and secondary school children in Huron are being given an opportunity this week to express their views of the educational requirements for the county. The first meetings will be held tonight, Thursday at two locations at JAD McCurdy public school at Huron Park and the Stephen Central School. Tuesday of next week, the Exeter public school will be the meeting place and Thursday, January 15, Usborne Central school will host the meetings. Hensall and Zurich public schools and South Huron District High School will hold meetings at the same time on Wednesday, January 14. Bulletins were sent home this week with South Huron students outlining some of the subjects that could be discussed. These topics are suggestions only and an open discussion of any topics regarding educational goals and objectives should come from the meeting. Some of the topics listed on the SHDHS bulletin are as follows: French instruction, Sex Education, Religious Instruction, Vocational Education, Music Education, Community use of schools, reading improvement, outdoor education, summer school, guidance, athletic programs, homework, examinations, report cards, development of the arts. Auxiliary services, secondary school organization, disciplinary procedures, remedial or opportunity classes, work experience, attendance counsellor, pre-school education program. The ideas put forth during the informal discussions will be considered by the Huron County Board of Education in formulating future policies. All meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m. council to hold some discussion on this matter, Monday, noting that some means would be needed to get taxes in earlier to meet the new requirement that municipal councils must make levies to the county school .boards four times each year. This year, most municipalities waited until December to pay their levy and this created problems for the school boards in that they had no funds. Carscadden suggested the prepayment bonus could be raised to six percent, as opposed to the present rate of about three and a half. "Will that tempt people?" Councillor Helen Jermyn questioned. "We hope so," Carscadden replied. He also informed council that steps were being taken to have it permissible for municipalities to charge one percent per month interest on overdue taxes. At the present time, the prepayment bonus and the tax arrears penalties are much below current interest rates and the number of people who prepay taxes is declining annually. In addition, some people find that not paying taxes is cheaper than having to borrow the money in view of the high interest rates charged by financial institutions and the low charges which councils can Make. Councillor Tom MacMillan asked if better results could be -Please turn to page 8 Policy set down by the Huron County Board of Education Monday evening requires that tenders will be called when the potential cost of the item or group of like items could be in excess of $2,000; when the potential cost of the same type of service across the whole school system could be in excess of $5,000 (for example, insurance); or when under any circumstances, the best interests of the board will be served. Policy also dictates that the board shall invite quotations from a minimum of three eligible suppliers when purchasing services or items when the potential cost is likely to be between $500 and $2,000. Of course, the exception to this rule will be where there is only a single eligible vendor available because of copyright or franchise rights. As well, the board is seeking' the advice of the solicitor, Elmer D. Bell QC regarding a proposed policy to refrain from releasing the names of unsuccessful tenderers and/or the amounts of any tenders not accepted. Dan Murphy, a Goderich lawyer, questioned the board's right to withhold such information and urged that an official ruling on the matter be obtained from the board's solicitor. New policy adopted by the board stipulates that each office employee, at time of hiring, shall sign an acknowledgement of the confidential nature of some aspects of the operation that he or she will see or hear during the performance of duties., Vice-chairman Robert Elliott pressed for a clause warning that dismissal or disciplinary action could result following a violation of secrecy, but could not obtain board support for his motion. Board policy was also formulated concerning supervision of pupils at school but not in the classrooms. It will be required that teachers be on hand to supervise students at least 15 minutes before the beginning of classes in the morning;at least 15 minutes after the end of classes in the afternoon; during the entire The matter of parking meters was mentioned at Exeter council again this week, and may be on the agenda for the next meeting. Deputy-Reeve Mery Cudmore broached the subject and indicated he would have more information for council's next session. He mentioned meters in reporting to Chief Day that one local businessman appears to have his vehicle parked on Main St. for longer than the authorized two hours. Cudmore noted the merchant had a rear entrance and suggested there was no reason for him taking up the parking spot for long periods. Chief Day indicated he would take the matter up With the merch ant. The matter of parking was lunch period when any pupils remain at school for lunch, otherwise 15 minutes before the beginning of classes in the afternoon; during any morning or afternoon recess; and at any school activity attended by pupils. The board was informed at Monday evening's meeting that the principal and staff at Clinton Public School are experimenting with' a plan to have the lunch period from 12 noon to 1 pril. rather than from noon to 1:30 p.m. as previously. Fire claims barn, cattle Fire of undetermined origin completely destroyed a large barn and shed on the farm of Hoffman Brothers, RR 2 Dashwood, in the early hours of Boxing Day morning. Also lost in the fire, were 21 head of purebred Hereford cattle and a pony Rex, which was a family favorite. Another seventeen cattle that were housed in the shed were saved by the efforts of Bill Hoffman who lives on the farm and an unidentified young man from the Windsor area, who was passing by at the time. The fire alarm was turned in at 4:50 a.m. by Dick Manore of Grand Bend who called the, Dashwood volunteer brigade from a pay phone in the village. At about the same time the Windsor man was attempting to wake Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hoffman. When the Dashwood brigade arrived on the scene the fire was burning savagely in the upper portion of the 47 by 50 foot barn. The cattle apparently died from the extreme heat and suffocation because firemen said they never heard any noises from the cattle. The barn and shed were attached by a door but the door wouldn't open which apparently was a help in containing the fire and allowing the cattle to be saved. brought up later in the meeting when a letter was received from Mrs. Jim Hennessey asking council's consideration for two-hour parking in front of her hair dressing business on Ann St. She noted that employees at Tuckey Beverages and the hospital parked in front of her home for long periods and her customers had to walk considerable distance because they could not get a parking space. Mrs. Hennessey explained that she deserved the same consideration as business people on Main St. where parking is restricted to two-hour periods. The matter was turned over to the committee investigating the possibility of turning Ann into a one-way street between Main and William. Fon Wells, Empress Ave. Injured in the collision was Barbara Bieber, Huron Park. Damage was estimated at $350 by Constable E. C. Wilcox. Constable Wilcox also investigated the first crash of 1970, it taking place at 2:45 a.m. on January 1 on Usborne sideroad 5, just east of Highway 4. Involved was a vehicle driven by Pamela Rose Sereda, RR 1 Centralia, and a parked vehicle owned by David John Kells, Mitchell. Damage was set at $600. On January 4 at 2:00 a.m., a car driven by Fred K. Parsons, Stratford, skidded off Highway 83 about a mile west of the Staffa Road. The car hit a small tree and damage was set at $300 by Constable Wilcox. Two cars were involved in a crash at the intersection of Highway 4 and the Kirkton Road on Monday at 8:25 a.m. The vehicles were driven by Robert H. Kerslake and Whitney Coates, both of Exeter. Damage was listed at $100. - Please turn to page 3 Exeter residents may pay higher penalties for overdue taxes - and at the same time those who prepay taxes may receive a greater bonus. Clerk Eric Carscadden asked Indicates intention to discuss meters i I 1