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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-12-19, Page 1AID PLAYHOUSE — The Grand Bend Country Playhouse recently received a donation from Victoria and Grey Trust, Above, Exeter branch Manager Ron Cottrell, left, presents a cheque for $250. to Playhouse president Ben Tuckey. T-A photo I A CHRISTMAS LIVING TABLEAU — During this Sunday's service at Coven Presbyterian church, the young people will be presenting a Christmaspageant. Back, left, Catherine Patterson, Starr Jesney, Susan Campbell, Suzanne Patterson, Bonnie Keyes, Elizabeth Bowerman, Michael Burke, Sheila McLeod, oanette McLeod, Brenda Bell, Joanne Jarvis and reader Braden Whilsmith, Centre, Kings Heather Meikle, Sharon Campbell and Mary Easton. Shepherds Chris McLeod, Scott Jesney, Gordon Jarvis' and Steve Jarvis, Front, pages Scott Jamieson, Jimmy Perry and Dennis Meikle. 1-A photo AUSABLE-BAYFIELD OFFICIALS — The winter meeting of the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority was held Wednesday when a budget for the coming year was tentatively approved. Shown above are, back, left, vice-chairman Fred Hearnan and Resources manager Roger Martin. Front, secretary-treasurer Lila Hume and chairman Elgin Thompson. T-A photo Sustains bruises on snow vehicle *Air snowmobile complaints, Exeter council r consider ban Teachers walk out, students stay home Snowrnobilers. came under fire at Exeter council's meeting, Monday, with an indication that most members were prepared to Exeter council won't be buying the present post office building. Purchase of the building for town offices has been suggested on several occasions since the new building was approved. However, council were told they could lease the post office building and if interested, should submit a proposal for consideration, If they wished alterations to the building, they would be responsible for the costs in- volved. Mayor Jack Delbridge one of those who discussed the situation with a public works represen- tative, said council would have to come up with a proposal by mid- January if they were interested, He said there was no set fee for the lease, but hinted that the department may consider something around $1.25 to $1,50 per square foot. The building contains approximately 2,000 square feet so could cost between $2,500 to$3,000 per annum to lease. Reeve Derry Boyle said the figure would still result in a saving over what the town would pay for a new town hall if it had to be debentured. Deputy-Reeve Helen Jermyn agreed it would be cheaper to rent, adding that council would not be prepared to build new A proposed increase in rates by the Hay Municipal Hay Telephone System was vigorously opposed by Grand Bend council Monday night. Councillor Murray Des Jardins and Reeve Bob Sharen led the verbal assault, They claimed Grand Bend residents already pay more than any other ex- change in the area and have the least ' number ' of free eallings available. At the moment summer resort residents can call only Dashwood and Zurich without paying tolls. DesJardins continued, "this is another situation where Grand Bend is being taken, but good." Clerk-treasurer Mrs. Louise Clipperton reported only $38,879.87 of the total 1973 tax roll of a little more than $310,000 was left to be collected. In the same vein a crackdown on tax arrears has brought a reduction in that figure from $55,000 at the beginning of 1973 to the present tax arrears previous to 1973 of $11,900. Considerable discussion took place on the possibility of for- ming a recreation committee in STEAL TREES Two thefts are being in- vestigated by Exeter OPP this week, About 14 gallons of gasoline and five quarts of oil were taken from Martin Transport, Hensall. Officials of the Ausable- Bayfield Conservation Authority report about six or eight Christmas trees chopped down and stolen in Hay Swamp, take action this year to halt the complaints, In recent years, snowmobilers have created many complaints facilities for a few years anyway. "It (post office) would serve our purpose for five or 10 years," she contended. "With the financing (sewers and water tower to cost over $1,000,000) we have ahead of us, it's the cheapest way to improve our facilities for the next 10 years," Boyle added. Councillor Ben Hoogenboom expressed some concern over the fate of the existing town hall, questioning the wisdom of. spending $20,000 to renovate the post office building when it was owned by someone else, "Why not spent the money on this (town hall) building?" he asked. "It would be poor economics to do anything to this building," Boyle replied. When Hoogenboom replied council would receive some criticism for abandoning the town hall and spending money on someone else's building, mem- bers explained the ratepayers could vote them out next year. It was finally agreed to have the property committee of Shaw, Jermyn and Patterson in- vestigate the entire situation and make a recommendation by the first of the year on the feasibility of moving into the old post office. Grand Bend , to operate all sporting activities. The talk began when Griff Thomas, president of the Grand Bend Minor Sports Committee appeared before council and asked for the 1973 grant from council. Thomas said he would be happy to be a member of such a com- mittee if it was formed. He ad- ded, "I previously volunteered to serve and thaeslhe last I heard about it," At the beginning of this year a suggestion by councillor Ted Flint that $1,200 be given to the minor sports group to cover all activities was not actually carried out after Flint resigned from his position. In the meantime $212 has been paid out to soccer and weightlifting groups. Council agreed to pay the balance of $988 to the group headed by Thomas who told council 65 boys are playing hockey this year and 25 girls are participating in figure skating. He said Grand Bend had two official OMHA teams, one group of bantams playing at Parkhill and about 23 "little guys" also taking part in the program. Ice time is being used at Zurich and Parkhill. Council asked that equal distribution of the village grant be made to all recreation groups needing help. Moral support was also given to the Santa Claus parade which will make its way through Grand Bend streets this Saturday. The parade will start at Green Acres at two o'clock in the afternoon. for council members and ,each year the latter. have issued warnings that they will be banned from town unless more co- operation is given. Monday's discussion indicated the warnings may be replaced by action this year. Three members had corn- plaintS about snowmobilers, the first being Deputy-Reeve Helen Jermyn, who noted the machines were buzzing through the flower gardens at Riverview Park, The park is a restricted area and can't be used by One Hundred and First Year Exeter council Monday night authorized RAP to hire a full- time recreation director (program director) but not before a lengthy chicken and egg' debate. While members of council supported the need for a recreation director, the timing of his appointment was of some concern. Some members wanted to wait to see if area municipalities would join Exeter in forming a district recreation council, while other members felt Exeter should hire the director and let him help "sell' a program to the area municipalities. Either way, council members hope that the area municipalities will become involved in a joint snowmobilers until a public announcement has been made that the terrain will withstand the vehicle traffic. Councillor Ted Wright said he had received several complaints over the weekend from residents because snowmobilers were driving over their properties. "They have no right to go on private property," Wright stated. He said he was "no grouch" but indicated he would support action to have the snow vehicles banned unless owners showed more concern for the rights of others. Mayor Jack Delbridge said he received a complaint from one citizen at 2:20 a.m., Saturday, He suggested council print the bylaw regarding the operation of snowmobiles and "if it's not adhered to, we'll have to ban them." "Right," echoed Reeve Boyle, "We have to get tough this year." Others agreed, pointing out that it ' was of little use in repeating warnings. It was agreed to publish the bylaw with the warning that snowmobiles would be banned if co-operation was not received. Organizing carol sing Tired of the Christmas rush? Want to get away and relax and still be in a festive atmosphere? You can, at an old-fashioned Community Christmas carol- sing, sponsored by the Exeter ministerial at the United Church, Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m. This simple and not highly organized event has been arranged, after a lapse of many years, in the hope of bringing all people together, regardless of creed, in a spirit of Christ- mastide. Congregational carol singing Will be featured, and choirs from the Christian Reformed Church and Exeter United Church will contribute numbers, Mrs. Marilyn Zivkovic, noted soprano, will be the guest artist. Mrs. Zivkovic is much in demand as a soloist and the program will be greatly enhanced by her singing, Also appearing will be a mixed trio, The Gospel Custodians, ONE MORE ISSUE The Christmas issue of The Times-Advocate will he printed Friday. It will be the final issue of the year and the next issue will be on January 3. Deadline for greeting ads or contributions will be Thursday noon. The Huron-Perth separate school teachers are one group which resigned enmasse recently and are directly affected by the new legislation. One RC teacher who wished to remain anonymous said "since a mediator has been appointed in the teacher-board negotiations we felt a walk-out at this time could be harmful." At South Huron District High School, staff member Glenn Mickle was delegated by the Teachers Federation to stay at the school and issue a news release. It stated, "Members of District 45 (Huron County) of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation are complying with a directive from the Provincial Executive to protest against Bill 274 by attending a rally in Toronto, Tuesday." "Buses were chartered for this purpose and left Clinton, Exeter, Goderich, Seaforth and Wingham early Tuesday morning in time to arrive at Maple Leaf Gardens for a noon hour mass rally followed by a march to the Parliament Buildings. "Most teachers regard this form of protest as a very un- comfortable necessity but feel that the measures proposed under Bill 274 to be of such a repulsive and restrictive nature that public attention must be drawn to it while there is time for change." The first area snowmobile accident of the season was reported to Exeter OPP on Sunday afternoon. A machine operated by Randy Gridzak, RR 4, Seaforth, collided with guard rails near Morrison Dam east of Exeter, Damage to his machine was listed at $400 and the driver sustained bruises to his leg. Damage of $1,500 was reported by Constable Ed Wilcox on Thursday at 6:15 p.m, when a truck driven by Richard Bren- ner, Goderich, collided with a car driven by Orlando Battler, RR, 3, Zurich. The collision occurred on Highway 84 in Zurich, On Saturday at 12:20 a,tn., a car driven by Patricia Mero, Seaforth, collided with a car driven by Blanche Moir, Employees get raises Several town employees have recently been granted pay in- creases by Exeter council. Monday night, Chief Ted Day was given a 17 percent pay in- crease, bringing his salary to $13,000 per annum. In addition he will receive a $500 per annum car allowance. Chief Day had requested a salary of $13,500 per annum plus $20 per month service pay and an additional $50 per month car allowance. There was some confusion as to whether the Chief would continue to receive mileage payments /or his car in view of the annual car allowance. Reeve Derry Boyle, chairman of the police committee, in- dicated the Chief would not receive a mileage rate for use of his car in addition to the annual allowance. His pay increase is in line with that recently approved for the members of the police depart- ment. Their increase was slightly over 16 percent. A first class constable now receives $10,500 per annum, a second class $9,800 and a third class $9,000. The works department em- ployees also received pay in- creases, although they were not identical, Council approved varying increases ranging from 10 to 18 percent according to road committee chairman Ted Wright, Salaries for the employees range from a high of $4.00 per hour to a low of $3.35. Majority of the men receive $3.60 per hour. Salaries have still not been settled for the works superin- tendent, clerk, assistant clerk or crossing guard. Local author finishes book There's a little blue book hot off the press just in time for Christmas. It's of particular interest to Exeter and area residents, Written by Mrs. Marion Fletcher, wife of Dr. M.C. Fletcher, and illustrated by John Magill of the T-A staff, this engaging children's tale is bound to make story-time a happy time for any small person. Times-Advocate readers will remember the story, 'The Little Horse Nobody Wanted' when it was published for the first time in the 1972 Christmas edition. Now, it is available for everyone in a sturdy hard-back cover. MacMill4n's are handling the book in Exdter. Author Mrs. Fletcher, a popular lady with all age groups, has dedicated the book to her grandchildren and all the children of the world. Proceeds from sales will go to charity. Egmondville. Damage was set at $500 by Constable Bill Glassford. Damage of $400 was estimated in a one-car crash on Monday at 11:00 a.m. A car driven by Mary Dietrich, RR 3 Dashwood, went out of control on the Crediton Road and struck a farm fence. Constable Al Quinn investigated. Two hit and run accidents were reported in the area this week. Richard Bedard, Zurich, reported his car struck while parked on Main St., Zurich, while a car owned by Robert Campbell, RR 1 Exeter, was hit by an unknown vehicle as well. In both cases, damage to the vehicles was listed at. $100. During the week, the local detachment officers charged 30 people under the Highway Traffic Act and issued warnings to another 21. Could only lease post office building GB strongly oppose telephone rate hike recreation program. The municipalities who will be invited to join ,in discussion of a recreational council will be Dashwood, Grand Bend, Usborne, Stephen, Huron Park, Dashwood, Centralia and Hay. Enlisting the support of these communities was another of the major recommendations in the recent study of RAP conducted by a three-man investigating committee. They explained that grants were available to these other communities for recreation programs and even capital projects - but were not being used. Some parts of the report already approved by RAP were presented to council at Monday's Will appoint rep director, want area to amalgamate meeting by RAP chairman Gord Baynhatn. The request for a recreation director and the suggestion to enlist support from neighboring communities were the two discussed at length and ap- proved. After approving the hiring of a recreation director, council agreed to call a meeting of neigh- boring communities' representatives in mid-January. At the present time, council members have no indication of any support for the idea from the area municipalities, although children from each are presently involved in recreation activities in Exeter. Reeve Derry Boyle suggested that when a recreation director is hired, he should be expected to draw up programs for the entire area involved in any joint effort and not be based solely in Exeter. Councillor Bruce Shaw, one of the members of the three-man investigating committee which recommended the hiring of a recreation director, predicted it could be a year before any neigh- boring communities are involved in a recreation program, However Councillor Tom MacMillan replied that residents .of Usborne were enthusiastic towards initiating some type of program and he predicted it wouldn't take more than a month to have them involved if they were interested in the Exeter proposal. A concern cited by Councillor Ted Wright was the fact that with an area recreation group, Exeter's facilities would be crowded. "If we get involved, how soon will demand be put on us to build a new arena or pool?" he asked. Before any answer was received, he noted council had many obligations in other areas - such as sewers, roads, and water towers, RAP chairman Gord Baynham explained a committee had been set up to investigate recreation facilities. Reeve Derry Boyle had visted the community complex in Tillsonburg, reporting it had been built at a Cost of $1,250,000. Of that, the municipality had to issue debentures for $670.000. Twelve full-time employees operate the complex. Confusion reigned in some parts of Ontario as to which schools were being fully staffed Tuesday by teachers or operating under a principal and super- visory personnel and volunteers. Up to 50,000 elementary and secondary school teachers were expected to be away from classes and attending a mass protest march on the Ontario Legislature in Toronto. In the immediate vicinity of Exeter all public and separate schools were open with a full teaching staff in attendance. It, was a different story at the secondary school level. Only 30 students arrived by bus at South Huron District High School Tuesday morning, Principal J. L. Wooden immediately ordered all students to return to their homes. Teachers are protesting the proposed Bill 274 which is emergency legislation in- troduced December 10 by Education Minister Thomas Wells to block mass resignations by 7,860 teachers in contract boards; with 17 Ontario school 41' • READY4fOR.RUIEHOME— Only.30students of South,H4Jran Districti-tith School (Strived by bus for cidgaS''';'-fluriiiti tobritST'Veth'entdry Tuesday morning. Due to the teacher walk-out, classes were suspended -and students sent home. On the teachers under contract to the above picture, principal J. L. Wooden advises Crediton area' girls to hop back on the bus. T-A photo Huron County Board of, Education met in Clinton Friday afternoon and decided to show strong objections to the proposed legislation but agreed to stay with regular classes Tuesday. A check of area schools found attendance normal at Exeter Public, Stephen Central, Usborne Central and Precious Blood separate schools Tuesday morning. Messages were sent home with most students in the above mentioned schools Monday telling parents classes would be under normal conditions. At Biddulph Central school in Middlesex county vice-principal Norm Steeper told the T-A Tuesday morning that at- tendance was "about 50 percent of normal." Monday afternoon, a message from Middlesex Board of Education director John Gum- mow told parents students could be kept home if they wished as they could be sent home soon after arrival. EXETER, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 19, 1973 Price Per Copy 25 Cents