HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1971-08-12, Page 1Price Per Copy 15 Cents EXETER, ONTARIO, AUGUST 12, 1971 Ninety-sixth Year
Barns, livestock, crops destroyed
Fire losses over . $150,00
FIRE HITS LARGE BARN — Lass was high in a fire that destroyed a large barn on the farm of Harry
Van Osch in McGillivray Township, east of Mount Carmel, recently. Some of the 140 cattle that were
saved are shown in the above picture taken at the height of the blaze. T-A photo
Ask defeated candidate
to fill vacant GB seat
•
GRAIN FIELD ABLAZE — Quick action by three fire departments brought fire under control on the
farm of Ross Forrest east of Hensall, Monday afternoon. The fire destroyed about eight acres of seed
barley. Above, smoke is shown enshrouding the farm buildings. T-A photo
A delegation represented by
Jack Wilmore, Mrs. L. Welch and
Paul Schram, vigorously
protested continuance of the
closing bylaw within the village.
The bylaw, effective since June
23, requires business places to be
closed between the hours of 2:30
and 5:00 a.m.
Spokesman Wilmore presented
a petition to council containing
about three pages of signatures of
those in opposition to the bylaw.
Councillor Jackson, after pur-
suing the petition, observed that
his twelve-year-old daughter's
signature was included on it.
The substance of the remarks
made by the booth operators was
that council should more ef-
fectively enforce bylaws already
on the books, to control noise,
littering and loitering, rather
than perpetuate the closing
bylaw.
Speaking as an individual
citizen, Douglas Martin
suggested to council that the
closing bylaw matter should "be
settled at the polls."
next year." The councillor
pointed out that most other
resorts do not have a staff of
lifeguards but confine their
lifesaving services to the placing
of lifepreservers at strategic
locations along the beaches and
swimming areas.
"We'll have to give serious
consideration to discontinuing
this service", the chairman said.
DesJardins also told council
that the Bath House, currently
open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.,
is operating in the red. In order to
eliminate some of the overtime
presently paid he said working
schedules of Bath House per-
sonnel would have to be
rearranged.
Council approved the $417
tender for roof repairs to the
village hall by R. Dobson of
Exeter. The contractor has
promised the repairs will be
qindertaken, "within ten days."
At the latest meeting of Grand
Bend council, a decision was
made on what system would be
used in filling one vacant seat on
council.
In a prepared statement, which
she read to council, councillor
Sylvester pressed for use of the,
"defeated candidate system", to
fill the council seat left vacant by
the June resignation of councillor
Ivan Luther.
After considerable discussion
council carried a motion to in-
struct the village clerk to
despatch a letter to William
Cochrane, inviting him to fill the
vacant council seat.
Councillor David Jackson who
tendered his resignation recently
has agreed to continue in his
present position.
In his report to council
lifeguard committee chairman
Murray DesJardins said"We may
not be able to afford lifeguards
ship, a mile and a quarter east of
Henson.
The Hensall fire department
was first on the scene. With the
blaze burning on a wide front,
Hensall fire chief Dave Sangster
called for help from the Exeter
and Brucefield brigades.
Sangster said about eight acres
of seed barley was destroyed.
The fire started when a faulty
hydraulic line on the combine
sprayed oil over the manifold.
The combine was being
operated by Monty Plumb, an
employee of the owner of the
farm.
The Hensall chief said the fire
was threatening to spread to the
farm buildings and to neigh-
bouring fields, He estimated total
damage at $1,500.
Tuesday night of this week, fire
caused by lightning struck two
barns at about the same time and
in each case a large number of
pigs were destroyed.
More than 450 pigs were lost -at
the Bev Hill farm, a mile west of
Varna and at the farm of Cor-
nelius Dorssers, south-east of
Seaforth.
Brucefield volunteer fire chief
Stewart Broadfoot said the Hill
barn was only recently
remodelled to house more than
400 pigs and he estimated the loss
at $25,000 on the building and
$10,000 on the lost pigs.
The Brucefield department
was aided by a tanker from
Bayfield.
At the Dorssers farm, a total of
450 pigs were lost with total loss
probably in the same range as at
the Hill fire.
Property losses will probably
total more than $150,000 in fires
that struck five district farms
during the past week.
Two of the fires occurred in
McGillivray township, two more
in Tuckersmith and one in
Stanley township.
The first was early Friday
evening, July 30 when a large L-
shaped barn on the farm of Harry
Van Osch was completely
destroyed.
Mr. Van Osch listed his total
loss at somewhere in excess of
$55,000. Spontaneous combustion
is blamed for starting the blaze.
Van Osch and a son came close
to getting the blaze under control
at one point but it broke out
again. Fire brigades from
Crediton, Dashwood and Exeter
answered the call.
While a large amount of hay
and 20 acres of straw were lost,
the family and neighbours were
able to free another 10 pigs and
140 head of cattle that were
housed in the barn.
The Van ,Osch loss was par-
tially covered by insurance. He
expects to begin rebuilding in the
near future.
Another large barn, also in
McGillivray, just east of Corbett
fell prey to fire Sunday morning,
August 1. The newly painted
approximately 30 x 60 barn was
owned by Morley Hodgins and it
is suspected that combustion was
again the cause. Mr. Hodgins
estimated his loss at about
$20,000.
Monday noon, fire broke out in
a barley field on the farm of Ross
Forrest in Tuckersmith town-
Water hearing set
for Stephen area
from the OWRC will be $38 for
year-round residents and $28 for
summer residents.
At the latest meeting of council,
the tender of Hunking Haulage of
— Please turn to page 3
The Ontario Municipal Board
will hold a hearing at the Stephen
township hall in Crediton on
Thursday, August 19 at 2 p.m. on
a proposed water system for the
north-west portion of the town-
ship affecting mostly summer
property owners.
• A hearing a year ago turned
down a bid but township officials
were able to get the hearing re-
opened.
If the present proposal is ap-
proved, a land owner with an
average assessment would be
• charged a total of $73.71 per
annum for a term of 30 years for
all installation, frontage and
assessment charges.
Due to increased government
grants during the past year this
figure has dropped from $96.
Annual cost of the actual water
Theft rash
continues
Area men
Use firm s tools
to smash safe
Thieves escaped with more
than $300 in cash in a break-in at
Graham Arthur Motors,
Tuesday, August 3.
The thieves pried open a
window at the service station to
enter and opened the safe in the
back shop with tools from the
garage.
Exeter police are continuing
their investigation into the
matter.
GRADUATE
Janice Bonthron, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. H. Bonthron, grad-
uated recently from Fanshawe
College in Early Childhood Edu-
cation program. She plans to
attend London Teachers' Col-
lege, on her return from England
where she has been employed
for the summer months.
A Hensall area man, Donald
Waite, was sentenced to 14
months in jail on a charge of
possession of stolen property.
Gordon Kadey, RR 1 Exeter,
was sentenced to 15 days on a
similar charge,
They were charged following
• the investigation into theft of
goods from vacant farm homes
owned by Floyd and Glen
Stewart, as well as goods stolen
in the Seaforth and Sebringville
areas.
Auto burns
after crash OFFICIALLY INTRODUCED — The two Irish doctors now operating the Grand Bend Medical Centre
were officially introduced to a large crowd, Sunday afternoon. Above, Dr. Liam O'Connor and Dr. Sean
Trapp are at the microphone. In the background are Huron MP Bob McKinley, centre chairman Bill
Sturdevant and Huron MPP C. S. MacNaughton. T-A photo
sent to jail
Doctors busy at ceremony
The Exeter OPP investigated
only three accidents during the
past week, with property damage
being high in two of them.
On Saturday, a car driven by
Ronald Sweitzer, Stratford,
rolled over on sideroad 11 in Hay
and caught fire.
The Zurich fire department
'responded to the fire and ex-
tinguished it. Damage was set at
$1,500 by Constable Bill Lewis.
Philip Davis, a passenger in the
car, sustained bruises.
Six members of a London
family received bruises when
their car left Highway 84 between
Hensall and Zurich, Tuesday
night,
The vehicle, driven by Johann
Retzer, hit a hydro pole.
He and his wife and four
children were shaken up and
damage was listed at $1,000.
The other crash occurred
Saturday when cars operated by
Ronald Day, Hensall, and Donald
Keller, Blyth, collided at the
intersection of Highways 21 and
83.
Constables Dale Lamont and Al
Quinn investigated and set
damage at $80.
During the week the detach-
ment officers charged 12 persons
under the Highway Traffic Act
and issued warnings to another 19
drivers.
There were three charges
under the Liquor Control Act and
three under the Criminal Code.
Approve permit
for new house
Several building permits were
approved by Exeter council at
their August 3 meeting.
J. R. Ducharme was granted a
permit to erect a new house at 253
Sherwood Crescent in the Dow
subdivision.
Other permits issued were as
follows: The Times-Advocate, to
renovate a ceiling and repair
front deck; Tom Arthur, to erect
a kitchen and bedroom at the
rear of his house; Don Stephen, to
excavate part of basement;
William Baker, to erect a fence
and a patio at 160 William;
Gordon Smith, to erect a fence;
Craig Kerr, to extend a sun-
porch; Roy MacDonald, to re-
side a house.
Mrs. Tom Dinney, to repair
back porch; Al Flynn, reshingle a
roof and roof extension; Tom
Humphries, to build a sundeck;
Gerry Mathers, shingle porch;
Bill Rowe, re-side Exeter
Electric; Ed Skinner, fix
verandah; Alvin Chapple, tear
down building on Wellington St.;
Roy Hunter, renovations; Acme
Signs, to place a sign over Gould
& dory's; Burkley Restaurant, to
build a garage.
Bend Medical Centre opens
The rash of thefts in the area
continued this week with the
Exeter OPP investigating a
number of incidents.
A high powered telescope was
stolen from a Highlands No. 1
cottage and a small amount of
change was taken from the soft
drink machine at the Huron Park
IGA store.
A rear wheel was taken from a
pickup truck parked at the Grand
Bend airport and about 17 gallons
of gas was taken from the farm of
Stephen farmer, Hugh Brant.
An Oakwood Park cottage
occupied by Dr. L. D. Wilcox,
London, was entered and liquor,
camera, lawn darts and frozen
foods were taken. Value of the
property was $125.
Police are also investigating
the breaking of some 54 windows
at two ODC buildings at Huron
Industrial Park, Damage was
listed at $160.
Several items were recovered
in the area by police.
Two bicycles were located
when Jack Blair, Stephen,
started cutting grain. One of the
bikes had been stolen from Huron
Park on June 26 and the other
reported lost in Exeter a few days
ago.
A quantity of materials were
found along Highway 81 in
Stephen. Police are looking for
the owners. Included were a
coffee table, lawn chair, TV
table, portable radio and fan
heater.
A car, stolen on July 11 in the
Algonquin Park area north of
Bancroft was located by Con-
stable Ed. Wilcox in the Dash-
wood area.
More than 200 Grand Bend and
area residents turned out Sunday
afternoon to see a long-time
dream come true.
The $30,000 Grand Bend
Medical Centre was officially
Huron MP Bob McKinley, Huron
MPP and Ontario's Minister of
Transportation and Com-
munications Charles S. Mac-
Naughton, Middlesex MP James
Lind and Lambton MPP Lorne
Henderson.
Eric Mcllroy, a long-time
resident of Grand Bend and
strong supporter of the medical
centre was master of
ceremonies. Vice-chairman Mac
MacLaren introduced the doctors
to the crowd.
Grand Bend Lions club
president Prosper Van Bruaene
turned over the land deed to
chairmanBillSturdevantwho also
received the medical centre keys
— Please turn to page
opened with the two new Irish
doctors in attendance for at least
part of the ceremonies.
Before the time for the ribbon
cutting ceremony had rolled
around Dr. Sean Trapp was
called away on an emergency
call and Dr. Liam O'Connor
handled the ribbon holding with
contractor George Kadlecik. A
few minutes later Dr. O'Connor
attended a patient at the Centre.
Handling the scissors for the
long-awaited ribbon cutting were
Centre chairman Bill Sturdevant,
secretary Jack Mennel and
building chairman Harry
Hamilton.
All area members of
parliament were in attendance
and all spoke briefly. They were
Judge's funeral
shortens court
Tuesday's court session in
Exeter was an abbreviated af-
fair. Court officials left to attend
the funeral of Owen Sound Judge
Stewart and only guilty pleas
were heard.
All contested cases were ad-
journed until a later date.
Fines of $10 each were handed
out to two members of a
motorcycle club who were
camped on a Hay Township farm
on July 4.
Police raided the site and
charged several members of the
club for offences ranging up to
possession of firearms.
Appearing in court were
Anthony Knopfler, Belle River,
and Joseph Laporte, Toronto.
Each paid $10 after pleading
guilty to having liquor in a place
other than their residence.
Both said there were tents set
up and they considered the site
their residence.
David Kirk, Stephen, was fined
$10 for being intoxicated in a
public place.
Randy F. Specknell, London,
paid $25 for following another
vehicle too closely.
Paying speeding fines were:
George F. Downham, Strathroy,
$20 for a speed of 65 in a 50 zone;
Beth Thompson, Londesboro, $20
for 55 in a 40 zone; and Rose
Marie Auger, Huron Park, 70 in a
60 zone, $20.
Heavy damages
in town crashes
Damages were high in two
accidents investigated over the
past two weeks by the Exeter
* police department.
The first mishap occurred
Sunday afternoon, August 1 when
vehicles driven by Pearl Robins,
1236 Florence street, London and
Michael Huggins, 128 Brunswick,
Stratford collided at the in-
tersection of highways 4 and 83.
Mrs. Robins, 12 year-old
Robert Bell and 7 year-old Cathy
Bell, both of 771 Quebec street,
London were slightly injured in
the collision.
Chief Ted Day, the in-
vestigating officer estimated
total damages at $1,400.. • Early Saturday evening
vehicles driven by Murray Peter
Moore, 1512 Wellington, Exeter
and Roy Kenney, RR 2, Crediton
were involved in a collision on
Main street, near Wellington,
Damages Were listed at $1,200
4 by Constable Ardell McIntyre.
Okay tender
for sewers
Exeter industry
featured on TV
A portion of tonight's Mid-Week
Magazine program on CFPL TV,
London will be devoted to the
mobile home industry.
Some of the film to be shown
was taken in recent weeks at the
Exeter plant of Custom Trailers.
The program starts at seven
o'clock.
Area pole burns
causing failure
Although the area escaped
most of the wrath of Tuesday
night's severe storm, many
residents in the Exeter, Dash-
wood and Grand Bend areas were
without Hydro service Wed-
nesday morning.
The power failed at 7:30 a.m,,
and after being restored shortly
before 9:00, went out again later
in the morning.
Ontario Hydro crews were
unable to locate the problem until
Vincent Glaab, Exeter, reported
seeing a pole on fire on the farm
of Carf Cann.
It is believed the pole, carrying
a feeder line to the area, may
have been hit by lightning.
Nicholson Construction,
Sebringville, has been awarded
the contract for the sanitary
sewer work planned for Edward
and Gidley Streets.
The firm submitted the low bid
of $11,746.40. It was the lowest of
three bids.
Completion date for the project
is September 15.
Tenders will be opened Monday
night for the resurfacing of Huron
St. West and paving portions of
Carling and Gidley Streets.
It was also learned at last
week's council meeting that a
Breslau firm was interested in
displaying their oil treatment to
combat dust on streets.
Works superintendent Glen
bells said he had been ap-
proached by the firm to do a
sample treatment on William St.
where the sewer had recently
been installed.
The firm agreed to do the work
at a reduced charge of ap-
proximately $240 to $250.
Council members agreed to
have the work undertaken to
compare it with other methods of
dust control.
The oiling is expected to be
completed within a week.
Members of eouneil have been
Most unhappy with the dust layer
treatment on other Streets this
year. On many streets, it created
more dust than it settled.
SEPIVE 'FIEPRESHMENTS All visitors at the official opening of the Grand Bend Medical Centre
Sunday afternoon were treated to coffee and donuts, Above, chairman 13ill Sturdevant and vice-chairman
Mac MacLaren are getting refreshments from Mrs. MaeLaten, Mrs. Prosper Van Bruaene, Mrs. Harry
Hamilton and Mrs. Jack Mennel. 't,A photo
tore during Monday
T-A photo
YES, WE LIKE TO WADE — During the last week of extremely
warm weather the wading pool at Victoria Park has been a busy
spot. A large group of youngsters are shown
afternoon's playground session,
p