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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-12-11, Page 1"..%,,1.71,1. - P I I II NAIRN 4 1 111 ‘1*- 'Pw 115 :1111111111111110 I 011ie I • ,, aiLis Ob. 111111 1111111111111:11;i 1111 /1# :1•11 165)-0 Exeter to get new plaza The construction of a four store plaza on the old Cann's Mill site on Main street was announced Wednesday by Townhouse Properties of Exeter, Townhouse Properties, which is owned by Mel Gaiser and Jim Kneale, purchased the mill sight from the Exeter Co-op in Sep- tember of 1974. The Co-op had purchased the 'Main Street site from the former owners, Cann's Mill Limited, along with several elevators located on the western side of Exeter near the railway tracks. The plaza will contain ap- proximately 11,000 square feet of store space. One store will be larger than the other three, which will all be of equal size. Steadman's, will occupy the largest store, and Beckers' are the only two tennants confirmed for the new plaza. The other two areas are still being negotiated, Construction was expected to start in May of this year but legal and contractual difficulties held up the start. One of the dif- ficulties concerned Bill Rowe, owner of Exeter Electric, who claimed a right-of-way 12 feet between his building and the new plaza. It was decided during subsequent negotiations there would he a laneway left between the new plaza and Exeter Electric. Both parties feel this is a satisfactory settlement, Construction of the new plaza designed by Haggarty andBuist & Architects is expected to start within 60 days, -:...antampar p, `Zile exelerZinesatwoca One Hundred and Third Year EXETER, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 11, 1975 Price Per Copy 25 Cents THE BEST PRESENTS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES — Lori De Weis, from the Kippen area, rode in Tom Penhale's horse-drawn wagon in the Exeter Santa Claus Parade last Saturday to prove just that point, photo by Bagley SENIOR CITIZEN'S APARTMENTS OPEN — Cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremonies of the Helen Jermyn Apartments, last week were Mrs. A. M. Drummond, oldest resident of the apartments, Mayor Bruce Show and MPP Jack Riddell. Many dignitaries attended the opening and the Hurondale WI served lunch to the guests. The building was named in memory of the late Helen Jermyn, a former deputy reeve of Exeter, Senior citizens apartment building officially opened Fire protection .might end for Hay Township, Jan. 1 • Exeter Rodeo enthusiasts will have to wait until at least January 7 to find out whether there will be another rodeo committee formed to plan the annual Labour Day event. Only a dozen persons turned out for the meeting held in the Exeter Public School library last Wednesday night. Represen- tatives from various service clubs and community groups in town were to come to that meeting to choose a new • executive committee. Bad weather was attributed to some of the poor showing, but Dr. Ecker, chairman of the Rodeo Committee, feared that another reason might be due to plain lack of interest. "I'm beginning to wonder if the service clubs and groups in Exeter really want to keep the rodeo going, although it might have just been the bad weather we experienced that night", Dr. Ecker commented. "If we don't see a better showing in January, that will be it," Several clubs that had pledged earlier support to the cause were not in attendance at the meeting, "Neither the Lions or the Kin- smen were there", said Ben Hoogenboom, who represented the Chamber of Commerce. "The Oddfellows were there but they sent a new person and he wasn't versed in what has been going on the past few months." Several of the present corn- Small turnout dims hopes for '76 rodeo Several arrests made by Exeter police The Ausable-Bayfield Con- servation Authority introduced its proposed 1976 budget Wed- nesday, reflecting an estimated 15 percent increase over 1975. The Authority considered the budget at their annual year-end dinner meeting held at the headquarters on Thames St. W. According to the report, an estimated $655,000. in revenue is mittee members were there, including Norm Whiting, Dalton Finkbeiner, Art Clarke, and Dr. Ecker. According to members of the committee, part of the problem is that the same people have been doing all of the work over the years since the rodeo started. Until a new executive is chosen, there have been no specific plans laid to form another rodeo. Among the items which must be considered is the $600 deficit that showed up after the rain-out last Labour Day. The rodeo has been steadily declining in profits over the past three years due to bad weather. It will be up to the new executive, if formed, to come up with plans to bring financial health back to the event. Ben Hoogenboom feels that at least two improvements are necessary. "It takes about $12,000 to put on a rodeo. I personally feel that we would have to spend more money on advertising if it is going to be a success, There is no doubt in my mind that ,$800 is not enough for advertising," He also felt that the dates of the event should be changed to an earlier time in the summer, perhaps July. At the meeting Hoogenboom told those present that some members of the former com- mittee should remain on the Please turn to page 3 required to cover administrative, maintenance and capital ex- penditures for the year 1976. That sum compares to a $569,000 budget struck last February for 1975, The proposed 1976 budget will not be given final approval until next February and will require assent from both the members of the Authority and the Ministry of Paul McKnight Exeter men earn diplomas Several Exeter men were among those who received their graduation diplomas during the evening of November 28 at Fanshawe College in London. Paul McKnight of Exeter and Ronald Regier of Zurich received their diplomas in marketing. Steve Harwood and Stan Har- wood received diplomas in data processing. Murray MacLean, chief ad- ministrative officer for the city of London, was the guest speaker. He stressed the important inter- relationship between work and study. Dr. J.A. Colvin, president of Fanshawe College, com- plimented the graduates on their success as he handed out the diplomas. Natural Resources. The major budget increases are in the area of. capital projects. The Authority plans several land acquisitions for the coming year and has budgeted some $189,000 for that purpose. Other expenditures under capital projects for 1976 include an estimated total of $111,200 to go for repairs, improvements, and A number of arrests have been made by the Exeter Police Department as a result of in- vestigation into several break, enter, and thefts this week. Three adults and one juvenile have been charged in connection with a theft at the McDowell Ready Mix Plant on Thames Rd. W. in Exeter that occurred back on September 29. The office had been ransacked and a small amount of cash and a transistor radio had been stolen. 'Three adults and one juvenile have been charged in relation to a number of tapes and a microphone which were stolen from the Exeter Curling Club on September 1 'of this year. Three adults have been charged in connection with a number of keys stolen from Tuckey Beverages Ltd. on Thames Rd. E. The keys were to soft drink vending machines and were stolen November 10. Three adults have been charged in connection with a theft of a small amount of cash from Exeter Produce on November 10. Five adults and one juvenile have been charged on an incident of break, enter, and theft at Quality Produce in Stephen Township where some cash was taken. Charges have been laid in connection with the theft of cash from pop machines by using the maintenance of various con- servation areas throughout the watershed, including the Crediton and Parkhill areas. A total of $64,560 had been spent for that purpose by the end of October, 1975. Other increases under capital projects include provisions for renting equipment, including vehicles. In the past, the Authority did not have to budget for these items, receiving the necessary funds through government grants. Under general maintenance, the Authority includes a budget increase of some $3500 to repair a wing wall on the Exeter dam. A total of $5,000 has been set aside for that purpose. Budgeting for administrative expenses includes salary in- creases for personnel and ad- ditional salary for one new full- time employee in the educational department, The proposed 1976 budget is based on a five-year forecast of expenditures that the Authority approved back in June of this year. Although it will not become effective until Febrbary and is still subject to change, it will be used to provide operating ex- penses for the Authority during the month of January, according to Secretary-treasurer, Lila Hume. The Ausable-Bayfield Con- servation Authority is made up of 35 member municipalities. It extends as far north as Goderich Township, south to Adelaide Township in Middlesex County, runs east from Lake Huron, as far as 131anshard Township. Please turn to page keys from 'hickey Beverages. Four pop machines were opened and over $100 in coins were stolen, Two adults have been charged with a total of 28 criminal charges. Constable McMeekin was in charge of the investigation and received assistance from Constable Kierstead and members of the London Police Department. Following an investigation by Constable McMeekin, a St. Thomas man has been charged theft when he was foilAd in' possession of stolen goods from that city. Further investigation of this person was made and he was charged in connection with three Please turn to page 3 Gift drive for needy Once again the Huron County Children's Aid Society is holding its Christmas gift and food distribution program so that all children in the area can have a good Christmas, Molly Burke is heading up the Exeter drive. Toys and food can be dropped off this week at the Exeter United Church. Next week needy families can come to the church and pick out a Christmas gift as well as food and items of clothing. Financial donations are also being received. They will go towards food vouchers for Christmas dinners. "We would like to have some volunteers to help with the distribution" commented Mrs. Burke, who is chairing the program for the second year in a row. "We might have some Reverend Mothers. They have told us that they would be willing to help." Good warm clothing is also being donated to the project. Social workers from Children's Aid are taking note of families that probably could use the extra help and making sure that food vouchers and some of the donated items are distributed to them. "It's a good useful program", Mrs. Burke emphasized. We just want to see that everyone has a Christmas dinner and that each child has a toy," Its not just a program that is happening in Exeter, it is going on in towns all over," OHC began with 36 apartments Mrs. Frances McHale of Ontario Housing Corporation, who addressed the crowd at- tending the opening of the Helen E. Jermyn senior citizens apartments said when OHC first got into the business of building housing for elder citizens a few years ago there were only 36 such units in the province. At this date there are over 23,000 in operation with more than 13,000 under construction in the province. • Larry Condon MP representing the government of Canada at the event advised Exeter citizens to acquire more land for further units. He said experience has shown that once a ,town has one such centre demand makes it necessary to build more, There may be a monster loose in Hay township as of January 1, 1976. '11-e rn. rtocr ,ire ond it couigi bey tx: Iamipant untess the Day," . lire dep y Nvoiship t. differe.lyes, Haw t: lieve the proble. a om- munications gap while Dashwood claims it is one of economics. According to George Tiernan, Dashwood fire,board trustee, fire protection for Hay township will be suspended January 1, 1976 because that township hasn't agreed to retainer fee increases. Dashwood volunteer firemen traditionally cover part of Stephen and Hay townships in addition to Dashwood itself, Until recently the village rented fire protection service to the townships for an annual $1200 retainer fee. For 1976 however, Dashwood intends to charge each township about $3,000 (a 3 mill increase) to meet added maintenance costs, firemen's salaries, and purchase of a new fire engine worth $40- 45,000. Tieman says the present fire truck is 20 years old and inadequate except for in-village use, "About 90 percent of our calls are within Hay and Stephen townships," Tieman adds. "The $1200 we charged for 1975 just covered basic maintenance. We had no way of improving ,equipment on that." Tieman says Stephen township has already signed a letter of intent to agree to the retainer fee increase for 1976. "It's something we don't want to do but it's our feeling the ratepayers in the village can't cover fire protection for the townships, unless we get remuneration," says Tieman, referring to suspension of fire protection in Hay. The Helen E. Jermyn Senior Citizens Apartments were of- ficially opened December 4, when municipal and provincial dignitaries paid tribute to the late Mrs, Jermyn, Exeter's first woman councillor and deputy reeve whose dream it was to have low cost housing for the com- munity's elder citizens, Mayor Bruce Shaw pointed out in his remarks that it was Mrs. Jermyn who first conceived the idea and approached council about it, In presenting a plaque to the complex to commemorate the occasion he said, "Helen worked very hard for these apartments." Others taking part in the event were MP Larry Condon, MPP Jack Riddell, Huron County Warden Anson McKinley, and Mrs. Frances McHale, board member for the Ontario Housing Corporation, In speaking to the residents of the 32 unity $550,000 centres Mrs. Mcliale said, "You deserve our thanks' for your contributions of the past, Although you have retired from your jobs you have not retired from life or from the Lionel Wilder, Hay township councillor says the main problem with negotiations so far has hen meeting with Dashwood representatives. "We haven't met with them since June as far as I know," he says. "We're still open for negotiations but we'll have to wait 'until we can get together with them again." Wilder says he is disapoointed the situation hasn't been ironed out. He says Hay township is in an "uncomfortable" position. The township has no alter- native source of fire protection for constituents now depending on Dashwood, he explains. Besides agreeing to a retainer fee increase for 1976, Stephen township also paid Dashwood extra money beyond the $1200 Jack Riddell, MPP, Huron- Middlesex, has been appointed agricultural critic by Robert Nixon, leader of the Liberal Party, The announcement came through the office of Mr. Nixon last Thursday. "As agricultural critic I will be responsible for new •legislation and amendments pertaining to agriculture that come through the House," he said in a telephone interview with the T-A earlier this week. "I will have to know the acts and the legislation covering agriculture. Part of my job will be explaining problems to the minister as I see •thern and providing criticism of his policies wherever applicable." Mr. Riddell was asked what priorities he felt were necessary community." She told the seniors they had a great deal of ex- perience and know-how to be shared with others, Mrs. McHale pointed out Lucan man is injured A Lucan man received minor injuries Monday when he was struck by a vehicle being driven by Douglas Dubes of Zurich at the intersection of Highway 84 and John St, in the village of Zurich. Michael McEachern of RR 2 Lucan, received the injuries when the Dubes vehicle first collided with a construction barricade on John St. and then struck him. The accident was investigated by Constable McIntyre of the Exeter OPP detachment. On Tuesday, December 9, a vehicle operated by Kenneth Govers of Crediton skidded on an icy road in Stephen Township and then struck a tree. The accident resulted in $400 damage. charged for 1975, according to Tiernan. "Stephen took over the Crediton, Huron Park and Centralia volunteer outfits this year, Tiernan says, "since then they've realized the cost and they've agreed to pay a three mill increase for 1975 provided the contract goes on in 1976 at the same rate." Councillor Wilder says he knows nothing of the Stephen township agreement with Dash- wood. He recommends the Dashwood fire board sit down with Stephen and Hay township officials to exchange information. "We hope something can be worked out before the new year," he adds. in the area of agriculture, He listed the preservation of prime farm land as his first priority. He was also concerned about the lack of a responsive over-all farm income stabilization program. "The former minister didn't give much attention to a farm income stabilization program ,"he said,He cited last year's cow-calf man income insurance program as a start, but considered it an "ad hoc approach" to the entire problem of providing the farmer with enough basic income to offset any losses and guarantee him a fair profit for his labour. Mr. Riddell has an extensive farming background. His 200- acre cattle farm is located near Dashwood. He graduated from the University of Guelph in animal sciences and taught high school in Exeter at one time. governments are getting away from the concept of building homes for the aged on the out- skirts of the city, Such buildings are now placed within town limits, close enough so tenants are able to participate in the community, in the shops, their churches and clubs. However, she drew attention to the fact the complex itself is a smaller community where residents live with friends of the same age who share similar interests. The speaker said the apart- ments were designed to make life as pleasant and convenient as possible with a craft room, a common room for visiting, non- skid Mora, lowered cupboard counter-tops, and garden plots for growing flowers and vegetables in the summer, Members of council presented a wall clock to Mrs. Jermyn's husband, Dick, and family Who in turn gave it to the complex. It was accepted by residents Mr, & Mrs. E. Coombes. Chairman A.H. LeMasurier, executive co-ordinator for the Ministry of Housing presented a Please turn to page 3 11 A.B.C.R.A. considers budget Jack Riddell chosen agricultural critic