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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1972-12-21, Page 13Ninety-Eighth Year Find candidate on third attempt A third nomination for the township of McGillivray has resulted in at least one person filing papers for one vacant seat on council. At the regular nomination held in November only Jack Dorman and William Allison qualified for two of the three council seats, A second call for nominations failed to bring any response. The third nomination closes at 5 p.m. today, Thursday but Returning Officer Bill Amos reported Wednesday he had received nomination papers from Ellison Whiting, a former member of the McGillivray school board, As a result of the first • nomination, Reeve Gerald Wright and deputy-reeve Ben Thompson were named to their positions by acclamation. • Reeve John Payne, also a member of the Public Utilities Commission reported to Grand Bend council Monday night that a total of 562 properties were serviced in 1972 by the Grand Bend water system. This is an increase of about 90 • users from the previous year. Payne said the estimated cost of water for this year was $29,000, but the actual cost was only a little more than $19,000. He suggested the lower usage of 41. High school students from Grand Bend and Bosanquet township who are presently attending secondary schools in Forest and Petrolia may well be affected if negotiations between the Lambton County Board of Education and the secondary school teachers are not concluded satisfactorily before January 1. About 487 of the 537 teachers, vice-principals and principals, or about 90 percent, in the county's eight high schools have sub- mitted resignations effective December 31 to back contract demands in the dispute. All resignations have been accepted. The resignations were sub- mitted after talks between the board and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation broke down. The main item of dispute is working conditions — primarily the number of teachers to be employed by the board, The teachers want assurances that they will be consulted and will have a say in any reduction of the teacher complement in county high schools because of declining enrolment. They want such an assurance written into the new agreement. The board has said it is willing to give the teachers a "letter of intent" on the matter, but voted at a special meeting to back its negotiating committee in its refusal to put the question into the written agreement. , The board was told by its negotiating committee that it will "lose control" of its budget if the matter is included in the written agreement because it would make working conditions a Delegations petition board discussion, decisions tabled Five more delegations ap- proached the Middlesex Count)! Board of Education at their Monday evening meeting with regards to the "seven to thirteen concept" proposed for North Middlesex. District High School, Parkhill. Four of the delegations, representing the townships of McGillivray, East Williams, West Williams, and the village of Ailsa Craig offered to the Board TO YOU, OUR READERS EXETER, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 21, 1972 Price Per Copy 20 Cents Exeter, council this week ap- proved pay increases of 16.75 percent for the police depart- ment, practically without comment, Reeve Derry Boyle presented the contract for the Exeter Police Association, which takes in all the department members except Chief Ted Day. He said the policemen had been asking for 24 percent pay boosts and told council the contract had already been approved. There was some hesitation on the part of members as to whether the figures quoted for pay levels should be mentioned at the meeting and they were finally approved without comment, The press was not given a copy of the agreement and Reeve THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS — The Sunday School pupils of Trivia Memorial Church really found out what Christmas was all about when they performed their Christmas pageant at the church last Sunday evening. More than 20 children took part in the play, supported by a 25 voice choir. Here they are shown gathered around the cradle. T-A photo signed petitions which asked two questions: 1) Are you in favor of improving conditions in the existing elementary and secondary schools? and 2) Are you in favor of moving the grades seven and eight students from the feeder elementary school to. North Middlesex District High School? Director of Education for the County, John Gumrnow, said that those people who had signed the negotiable item each time a new agreement was to be worked out. At the meeting, the board also decided to keep the schools open after the Christmas break even if the teachers do not return to the classroom. The board has received assurances from the provincial ministry of education that it will not lose any grants over the dispute — even if the schools should be forced to close, The ministry also said the loss of time would not force any student to lose his year. No details have been released, however, on plans for staffing the schools if teachers do not return. Parental volunteers have been asked for, and the teachers themselves are prepared to tutor Grade 13 students for free if the current stalemate lasts beyond January 1. "We want to do everything possible to lessen the damaging effects on students," said John Clarke, local president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation. Mr•. Clarke also said the teachers have prepared an "enrichment program" for students in grades 9-12 as part of their emergency program. In addition, qualified elementary school teachers in the county have been informed that they could be asked to teach in the high schools, if necessary, and that if they refuse to do this, it will be considered a breach of contract. Director of Education for Lamb ton County, Norval Cheeseman said, however, that no action will be taken to reduce the efficiency of the system. water was due to the extremely wet year. Council passed a motion to rebate the municipal portion of 1972 taxes to the Grand Bend branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. A Legion delegation had made a request for financial help at an earlier meeting, The •application for a Legion tax rebate is now on a yearly basis. Councillor Murray Des Jardins suggested that the Legion meet with the new 1973 council early in the new year to discuss the arrangement. In answer to a request from council to operate the Brewers Retail outlet at Grand Bend on a six day week, council were told by a representative of the Ontario Brewers Retail by letter that the situation would be reviewed in the spring. The store at present is closed on Tuesdays throughout most of the year. Hours are extended in the peak summer months. Reeve Payne said he felt the facilities should be available to visitors at anytime. Council agreed in principal with one suggestion put forth by councillor Murray Des Jardins who said, "Let's save money in the future by not joining any outside Associations and at- tending their functions." He was referring specifically to the Ontario Good Roads Association and the Ontario Mayors and Reeves Association. — Please turn to page 2A Boyle advised after the meeting that because it was a "union contract" it could not be revealed. The Reeve said if the pay was cited publicly, the officers would have cause to register a grievance against council. Last year, the policemen received pay boosts of 10 percent, bringing the pay of a first class constable to $7,700. The 16.75 percent pay boost this year would bring the pay for a first class constable to $8,989. It was not indicated whether Chief Day was on the list which members Of council had before them at Monday's meeting. Last year he received a pay boost of - 1,500, bringing his salary to $10,000. petitions were "over- whelmingly" in favor of im- proving conditions in the schools, and "overwhelmingly" opposed to moving the senior elementary school pupils to the secondary school, Mr. Gummow stressed, however, that much less than 50 percent of the ratepayers of these townships had signed the petitions. The fifth delegation, with spokesman Bob Sharen, Parkhill, presented a brief to the Board supporting plans to transfer senior elementary students to the secondary school, The Board ran out of time to discuss the presentations, however, and Mr, Gummow said that discussion and decisions on the presentations and on the sketch plans would be tabled until the January 8 meeting of the Board. However, he said the firm's application in Goderich had taken three years for approval. McIntosh told council that the firm would provide 10 TV channels and 10 FM stations, covering most of the major Canadian and American net- works, Their application calls for a monthly rental rate of $5.50 for the service, but they indicated the price "quite likely" will be only $5.00. Noting the enthusiasm being shown by local residents, council members ' assured the firm's representatives they would give early consideration to the necessary bylaw and agreement. Mayor Jack Delbridge said it could be approved at a special meeting before the end of the year. "We'll get at it as quickly as we can so you can get in here as quickly as you can," he told the two men. McIntosh told council the cable setup would include one local channel with a studio in the area preparing a local program for the firm's intended coverage in the Exeter—Huron Park-Centralia area. They have a couple of tentative sites for an antenna but did not indicate where they were. New industry coming here? is ,Exeter to get a new in- dustry? There was a hint at Monday's council meeting that a firm is interested in locating here.. During a discussion on traffic speeda, Mayor Jack Pelbridge indicated that the speed would have to be reduced so a firm interested in locating here could get an access onto the highway. No further discussion was held regarding the industry -or where it proposes to locate. Many enjoy festive event In spite of the weather, there were very few empty chairs in the small gym at SHDHS last Friday night for the performance of J. H. Maunder's "Bethlehem" by the Huronia Singers. After an initial nervousness, the choir of about 50 men and women gave a moving per- formance which covered the Christmas story from the revelation, the journey of the shepherds to the stable and the wisemen across the desert, and finally the nativity. The group made use of lights to enhance their program, both to single out soloists and small groups of singers and to suggest change of scene and the passage of time. Special credit is due Mrs. Marianne McCaffrey, who both conducted the choir and took the solo part of the Virgin Mary. It was evident that they have put a lot of time and effort into the program (about three practices a week since October). Other soloists taking part were Anmarie Hoffman as the young shepherd, "Pat" Skinner as. the old shepherd, and Douglas Martin, who was the prophet's voice; the three kings, Balthasar, Norris Webb, Gaspar, Donald Finkbeiner, and Melchior, Gordon ,Johnson, and a solo in- vitation by Susan Moore• There was also a quartette of Anne Baynham, Susan Moore, Donald Travers and Allan Elston, Tender call means saving Exeter council's decision to seek tenders for fuel oil supply may save up to $1,000 in the coming year. The award was won by Seldon Fuels who submitted a price of five and a half cents per gallon below the market price. However, the firm indicated that if the price increases, so will the basic price to the town although the discount of five and a half cents will be maintained, The present price to the town is 18.4 cents. At the outset, some members felt this was not a particularly good deal when in fact some of the other bidders who were only a half cent or more above the Seldon price had submitted firm prices per gallon for the entire year. But council members finally decided to accept the Seldon bid. It is estimated the town will use between 16,000 and 20,000 gallons per year in the eight burners it operates at the town hall, library, arena, fire hall, cemetery, etc. The Seldon price does not in- clude maintenance and members felt this should be farmed out. Many of the bidders submitted a price one cent above their tender bid if service was to be included. Went wrong way has leg fractured A Kirkton area man sustained a fractured leg in a recent snowmobile accident at the Kirkton fairgrounds. Robert Wilhelm, RR 6, St. Marys, was acting as a starter for a race between some snow machines and was standing on the track when the vehicles made their first trip around, He was struck by one of the machines driven by David Swan, Kirkton. Wilhelm had attempted to jump out of the way, but un- fortunately jumped the same way. as Swan turned to avoid him, The injured man was taken to St, Marys Hospital. OPP Constable Ed Wilcox investigated. OPP charge snowmobilers Seven persons were charged with infractions under the motorized snow vehicle act this weekend. OPP Constable Bill Glassford and an officer of the Goderich detachment were operating the two OPP snowmobiles in the area. Most of the charges were laid due to operators having no licences for the current year. in addition, 10 warnings were handed out. A total of 35 snow vehicles were checked. EXECUTIVE OF RETARDED ASSOCIATION NAMED - At Wednesday's annual meeting of the South Huron Association for the Mentally Retarded a new executive was elected. They are, back, left, Mrs. Noreen McCann, Louis DeKort, Case Van Raay, Doug Riddell, Bill Gilfillan and Mrs. Don Purdy. Front, Mrs. Harry Klungel, Mrs, Lawrence Wein, past president Mrs. Gerald Godbolt, newly elected president Rev. Andrew Blackwell, Mrs. Nonie Hemmingway and Mrs. Carf Cann. Missing was Mrs. James Kneale. T-A photo According to members of Exeter council, local citizens are breathlessly awaiting the arrival of cable TV. In fact, Mayor Jack Delbridge said one citizen had asked if it would be installed before Christmas. The enthusiasm was welcomed by two officials of Bluewater Cable TV who appeared before council this week, Ron McIntosh and Bruce Davies. McIntosh said the arrival of cable TV would depend entirely upon the CRTC, the federal governing body. He said if approval is received early enough the service could be ins tailed in time for next Christmas. Resort last stop for Santa Claus One of Santa's last stops before heading back up to the North Pole to fill up his sleigh will be at Grand Bend Saturday afternoon. Sponsored by the Grand Bend businessmen, the jolly old elf will be riding a float down the main street between 2 and 2:30 p.m. Treats for the children will also be available at the Bank of Montreal. Schools in Lambton may be without staff GB water users up, cost of system down Boost pay for police figures not revealed Cable start depends on CRTC, will feature local programs This season, it is our wish that your spirit be moved by the inspiration and hope that distinguished the first Christmas. Arid that its meaning then . . . of peace and good will toward men . . . will be its meaning now for you and your loved ones. The Publisher, Staff and Correspondents Of The .14! .1,g! .14) rkcgowcozcgiumtrs*oAc.ouowccccccccok,..owowo*tt:oLowowcccok:,ccctiwcotcc*cozo Next edition January 4, 1973 HAPPY NEW YEAR