HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-12-13, Page 1.1"
A SMILE FOR SANTA — After Saturday's annual Santa Claus
parade, the jolly old fellow spent about an hour with area youngsters.
In the above piCture, Graham Arthur says "hi" to Santa. T-A
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The Exeter Public School entry in Saturday's Santa Claus parade depicting the "Twelve Days of Christmas" was the overall winner
Stiff penalties levied
for driving,mischief
MEETING OF HALL EMPLOYEES — A large portion of the 379
employees who lost their jobs recently at Hall Lamp at Huron Park met
Monday to hear about further developments. The above picture shows
UAW rep Robert Nickerson at the microphone. Others from the left are,
EXETER, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 13, 1973
Huron MPP Jock Riddell, Dwight Strain, Huron MP Bob McKinley, union
local members Ken Kadey, Don Johnstone and Eva Tyler and Ray Funk
representing the NEW party. T-A photo
Judge Glenn Hays handed out
several stiff fines when he
presided over court in Exeter,
Tuesday.
Denton C. Rock, Huron Park,
was fined $350 after pleading
guilty to a charge of failing to
remain at the scene of an ac-
cident in which he was involved
on December 1.
His vehicle struck the rear of a
parked car in Huron Park on that
date, causing total damage
estimated at $1,500.
Judge Hays advised the ac-
cused he considered the charge
one of the most serious in the
Highway Traffic Act.
A fine of $300 was levied
against Joseph Regier, RR 8,
Parkhill, who pleaded guilty to a
charge of mischief arising from
an incident in Crediton on
November 25 when he damaged a
telephone booth by driving his
car against it.
The telephone booth was
knocked over and damaged to the
extent of $500.
The accused stated one corner
of the booth had been bashed in,
but did admit he deliberately hit
the building. Regier told the court
he had advised the telephone
company to send him a bill for the
damages.
Set preliminary
hearing schedule
A preliminary hearing into the
murder of Mrs. Jane Burton
McMurtrie has been set for
January 10.
The 94-year-old widow's naked
body was found in her Hensall
home on October 5. She had been
sexually assaulted and strangled.
Lloyd George Salter, 39, RR 3,
Kippen, has been charged with
non-capital murder in the in-
cident and has been remanded in
custody.
John Goarley
Constable John Goarley will
apparently go through with his
resignation from the Exeter
police department and terminate
his duties Friday.
Mayor Jack Delbridge told the
T-A at press time that Constable
Goarley had not approached
council with any suggestion that
he would withdraw his
resignation,
The Mayor said he didn't know
if the constable had talked with
Chief Ted Day or not.
Constable Goarley tendered his
resignation through Chief Day
and it was accepted on December
3 "with regret" by council,
His letter stated that he wished
to return to civilian life because
there was greater opportunity for
advancement,
Information given at the
meeting was that the officer had
accepted a position at J. F. Farm
Machinery.
When news of the resignation
became known in the community,
a petition was presented to a
special meeting of council on
December 4,
The petition, signed by 141
people — many of them
teenagers — referred to Con-
stable Goarley in glowing terms
and urged council to have him
reconsider.
Council did decide to follow the
request and apparently learned
at this time that there was some
The Judge was critical of the
fact the accused did not contact
authorities immediately after the
incident,
Raymond S. Smith, Grand
Bend, was fined $200 and had his
driver's licence suspended for six
months after pleading guilty to a
charge of driving while impaired,
The court learned an accident
and a police chase were involved
in the November 14 incident.
Testimony revealed the accused
went through a stop light at 66
m,p,h, and later attained speeds
of 95 before his car finally left the
road.
A breathalizer test revealed a
blood alcohol content of 180 mgs.
The accused stated there was
no way his car could go 95 m.p,h.,
but Judge Hays replied that with
such a high content of alcohol in
his blood, it was doubtful if the
accused could see the
speedometer.
Damage to Smith's car and a
fence was listed at $350.
Judge Hays granted a
restricted licence, allowing the
accused to drive between the
hours of 7:00 a,m. and 6:00 p.m.
to travel to and from work.
At the same court, Smith was
fined $28 for having liquor in a
place other than his residence.
Another recipient of a stiff fine
was Eugene Sokolowski, Ailsa
Craig, who paid $150 on a charge
of careless driving.
He was charged on November 8
after his car was spotted
travelling in an erratic manner
on Highway 4, The vehicle was
careening back and forth and at
times obstructing traffic.
It was revealed that the ac-
cused had taken tranquilizers
prior to going to the hospital for
tests and also that he had a
couple of beers with friends prior
to the incident.
In other cases heard at
Tuesday's court session, the
following fines were levied:
Albert Rooseboom, Hensall, $28
for having liquor in a place other
than his residence.
Randall Bedard, Zurich, $28 for
having liquor in a place other
than his residence.
Terry Nelson Phillips, Exeter,
$28 for having liquor in a place
other than his residence.
Gordon Keller, Dashwood, $28
for having liquor in a place other
than his residence.
Barry L. Thiel, Exeter, $28 for
having liquor in a place other
than his residence.
Richard A. Stagg, Exeter, $100
and a licence suspension of payee
months for driving while im-
paired. A breathalizer test gave a
reading of 120 mgs. after the
accused was stopped on
November 26 in Exeter.
Bryan T. Young, Chatsworth,
$40 for following another vehicle
too closely.
Larry E. Baird, Hensall, $100
for having liquor while under the
type of conflict between Chief
Day and Constable Goarley.
The London Free Press
proclaimed in large headlines in
the December 7 issue that
"Exeter police problems blamed
for resignation".
Mayor Delbridge was quoted as
saying "there appears to be a
problem within the organization
— the police department" and
went on to say that "council and a
vast majority of the municipality
are with the police constable".
Mayor Delbridge also inferred
that Constable Goarley had
resigned for purposes other than
those stated in his letter of
resignation, although he did not
elaborate.
Saturday's edition of the Free
Press indicated that Friday's
story had been incorrect in
suggesting a general problem
with the police force.
It boiled down to a personality
problem between the Chief and
Constable Goarley, with Mayor
Delbridge saying council
members were in a quandaryover
the situation and didn't want to
lose either man from the force.
A special meeting of council
was held Tuesday night (closed to
the press) and Mayor Delbridge
said the police situation was
brought up only briefly with no
apparent change in the situation.
He said he didn't think there
would be any change.
legal age of 18. The court learned
the accused had two previous
convictions this year.
Ross J. Alexander, Hensall, $43
for creating unnecessary noise
with his vehicle by squealing his
tires on November 14 in Exeter,
Menota May Smith, Crediton,
$42 for following another vehicle
— Please turn to Page 3
One Hundred and First Year
RAP chairman Gord Baynham
will appear before Exeter council
Monday night to recommend the
hiring of a recreation director.
He will apparently outline
several other steps RAP will be
taking to implement recom-
mendations made regarding
their organization by a three-man
investigating committee.
The decision to recommend the
hiring of a recreation director
and to implement other
recommendations was made at a
RAP meeting last Monday.
The Times-Advocate learned of
the decisions in an interview with
RAP secretary Elizabeth Varley
before the regular meeting this
Monday.
RAP chairman Gord Baynham
skipped over the reading of the
minutes of the special meeting
and later in the meeting asked
the T-A editor Bill. Batten not to
print what had been included in
those minutes.
Baynham said he planned to
take the matter up with RAP and_
didn't want the items from the
minutes printed prior to that
time.
This prompted a debate on
whether the minutes should be
printed in the newspaper and
Baynham then agreed to have
Mrs, Varley read the minutes to
WAIMUMMEM'Ai. •
ascertain what information had
been given to the press.
Members of RAP were ap-
parently surprised at what was
actually contained in the
minutes, because Baynham said
he had no objection to the in-
formation being printed in the
newspaper.
"I thought there would be other
things in it (minutes)", Baynham
explained.
So, in addition to the recom-
mendation that a recreation
director be hired, council
members will apparently be
asked to consider some other
topics of major importance at
Monday's meeting.
Until then, those items will be
kept a deep, dark secret . . . from
the press, public and even the
RAP minute books.
RAP's recommendation for a
recreation director calls for a
person with a type A certificate
or one with a type B certificate
plus a few years' experience,
They estimate that the salary
of such a person will be ap-
proximately $10,000 per annum.
However, it was explained that
salaries for recreation directors
in this district ranged from $8,000
to $12,000.
Among some of the other
— Please turn to Page 3
Negotiations are continuing in
an attempt to reactivate the
former Hall Lamp plant at Huron
Park which was closed down two
weeks ago when the parent
company in the United States
went into receivership.
Huron MPP Jack Riddell said
from TorontoWednesday mor-
ning that two representatives of
Ontario Development Cor-
poration in Toronto were coming
to Huron Park Wednesday to
meet with a group of former Hall
management staff headed by
Rev. Dwight Strain, of Clinton.
Mr. Strain was not available
for further comment,
Riddell said he met Monday
with the Canadian receiver and
he seemed to be quite interested
in any proposals which could get
the plant operating again.
The Huron MPP continued
"Time is of the essence to get the
plant rolling again. The Ford
Motor Company still has
equipment at the plant and I'm
sure American Motors are also
interested. ODC have indicated
they are prepared to supply
substantial loans if a satisfactory
agreement can be worked out."
About 250 employees of the
closed plant attended a meeting
in the Exeter Legion Hall Mon-
day morning to hear the latest
inforwatiflon.t.44.rom..s., government
',ifficials, United Auto Workers,
Canada Manpower, Unem-
ploymeht Insurance Commission
and a group interested in starting
the operation again.
Dwight Strain purchasing
agent at the plant and organizer
of a group to reactivate the
operation drew loud applause
from the workers when he said
"if and when a new company is
formed it would be strictly
Canadian and have no connection
whatsoever with Hall Lamp."
To this statement Jack Riddell
added, "this will certainly carry
Study ways to
acquire complex
Exeter'S RAP committee has
named another special com-
mittee.
This one - to be headed by
member Bruce Shaw - will in-
vestigate all sources of grants
available to Exeter and
surrounding municipalities.
Shaw, who suggested the
special committee, said the idea
is to eventually have a sports
complex in Exeter to serve the
entire district,
One of the points mentioned by
the investigating committee
recent report was the fact that
Exeter should approach neigh-
boring communities to seek
assistance for recreation
programs and facilities because
these other communities had
grants available which at present
are not being used.
The committee named this
week, which also includes Jack
Underwood and Ruth Durand,
will investigate all public sources
of money.
The sports complex being
referred to is similar to those in
Etobicoke and Tillsonburg and
include skating surfaces,
auditoriums, gymnasiums, in-
door pool and similar facilities,
It is expected that people from
other communities will be added
to the committee.
more weight with ODC for loan
purposes if it's a completely
Canadian operation."
One of the main concerns of
workers at Monday's meeting
was in getting vacation and
severance pays. The only relief
they can expect before Christmas
Thieves steal
from retarded
Some thieves stoop very low.
This week, a casette recorder
was stolen from the Huron Hope
School for the Mentally, Retarded
at Huron Park.
The machine was valued at
$90.
Police are also investigating
the theft of a homemade platform
trailer from North Star Boats at
Huron Park, The trailer, valued
at $500, was owned by Tony
Shepherd,
Two casings from hydro
transformers were found in
Stephen Township this week. The
transformers were among four
stolen in September from the
Hensall PUC.
The streets of Exeter were
jammed Saturday afternoon for
the town's annual Santa Claus
parade sponsored by the Exeter
Board of Trade.
Of course, Santa Claus was one
of the featured attractions. The
jolly old fellow in the red and
white suit and long whiskers rode
the parade route on the London
Junior Chamber of Commerce
float a nd then spent more than an
hour at the town hall talking to
hundreds of area youngsters.
Three bands participated in the
parade including the famous
Durham girls' drum and bugle
corps. The other musicians were
Price Per Copy 25 Cents
is possibly a week and a half of
unemployment insurance
benefits.
Bruce Whyte of the Unem-
ployment Insurance Commission
said, "if the applications are in on
time and are filled out properly
there is no reason why some help
should not be received before the
holiday season,"
Tuesday in the Ontario
Legislature on the subject of
severance pay, Ontario Labour
Minister Fern Guindon said the
picture looked bleak. He added,
"you can't get blood from a
stone."
Mr. Hay, a representative from
Canada Manpower answered
several questions regarding job
opportunities in other areas,
He said "last summer em-
ployers were screaming for help.
I'm sure they will take advantage
of this labour force."
Several employees questioned
'the distance a person would be
expected to drive in order to
accept new employment. They
were told in the early part of a
claim they would not be expected
to drive as far as London for an
— Please turn to Page 3
from Zurich and Seaforth.
The longest entry in the parade
won the top prize of $100. It was
the Exeter public school's
depection of the "Twelve Days of
Christmas" complete with
banners and many marchers.
Close to 100 students took part in
the entry.
Second prize of $75 went to
Stephen Central selinnt.
The Oddfellows and Rebekahs
Christmas theme of Wise Men
and Shepherds complete with live
sheep gained the third nod from
the judges and a prize of $50.
"An Old Fashioned Christmas"
presented by the Exeter
AB chairman
bucks change
Chairman Elgin Thompson of
the Ausable-riayfield Con-
servation Authority voiced strong
disapproval of any changes in the
present system of watershed
boundaries and membership at
Wednesday's annual meeting of
the group. •
Thompson said he attended
several Meetings of authority
chairmen and the main concern
was a movement to try to
abandon present watershed
boundaries and establish them on
a political basis and allow only
elected members of councils to
sit as members of authorities.
He also listed a tour of Quebec
as a highlight of 1973 and was
impressed with Quebec's method
of erosion control.
Exeter's representative on the
Authority outlined the work of the
flood control and valleylands
committee during 1973.
He said a major undertaking
this year was flood plain and fill
line mapping of all the water
courses, The mapping is
necessary to assist
municipalities in defining flood
plains and hazard lands for their
Official Plans and Zoning By-
laws.
The plan also allows an
Authority to control development
in the flood plain and on hazar-
dous slopes and to regulate any
alterations to watercourses.
A hydrology study of the
watersheds has been approved by
all governmental departments
and the London engineering firm
of M. M. Dillon will do the work at
a cost of $6,300. The Dillon bid
was the lowest of four received.
The study will calculate
present and anticipated flood
flows under a regional storm
condition for all sections of
streams and rivers.
Salary negotiations between
the administrative committee
and employees of the Ausable-
Bayfield Conservation Authority
have been completed and were
included in the proposed budget
which was presented at Wed-
nesday's full Authority meeting-
Under the proposal salaried
office employees would receive
an increase of $1,000 each per
annum and the raise for the
superintendent would be $1,100.
Hourly rated employees would
receive 20 cents per hour more
plus a cost-of-living increase
based on Canada's consumer
price index of 2 cents per hour for
— Please turn to Page 3
Agricultural Society was
awarded fourth prize of $30 and
the fifth placing and $25 went to
the Exeter Girl Guides.
Five honourable mention
awards of $20 were listed by the
judges. They were in no par-
ticular order, Whiting's Used
Furniture, Exeter Centennial
Soccer club, Beta Sigma Phi
Sorority, Green's Variety and
The Times Advocate.
Dean McKnight was chairman
of the parade committee. Other
members were Jim Hennessey,
Tom Arthur and Ben Hoogen-
boom.
Resignation stands,
despite the uproar
Want rec director
and other things?
Two issues next week
There will be two more issues of The Times-Advocate this
year — both coming next week,
Our regular issue will be published one day earlier. It will
be printed Tuesday night and will be delivered Wednesday.
The Christmas issue will go to press on Friday night and
will be delivered On Saturday.
The first issue.of 1974 will be printed on schedule, Thursday,
January 3,
All contributors and advertisers are asked to keep these
publication dates in mind. Deadlines for advertising in the
Wednesday issue will be 6:00 p.m., Monday, while the deadline
for the Christmas issue will be 6:00 p.m., Thursday.
Trying to reactivate Hall plant,
may get insurance by Christmas
.,st
STEPHEN SCHOOL PARADE ENTRY — Second prize in Saturday's Santa Claus went to the entry from
Stephen Central school. Girls in the above picture preceding the actual float shown below are Lisa Lippert,
Kathy Willard, Mona Hodgins, Cindy Beaver, Cathy Becker, Sandra Kraft, Susan Zielman, Cindy Webb,
Tammy Regier, Suanne Becker, Julie Webb, Lynda Lippert, Barbara Wein and Janice MacDonald.
School kids win again
in Santa parade contest