HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-12-15, Page 1HONORED BY TOWN — Gwyn Whilsmith, right, accepts a citizen-of-
the-year plaque from Councillor Lossy Fuller. Mrs. Whilsmith was cited
for her work as a writer, town hall proponent and church leader.
Telephone debentures
approved by council
Judge W.G, Cochrane by Jack Doerr
One Hundred and Fifth Year
EXETEiI, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 15, 1977
Price Per Copy 25 Cents
Approval was given in October Report not in press package
Huron heads get pay boosts to 14.4 percent
Citizens of year 'keen and enthusiastic
0
•
A woman who advocates the
use of prayer for success and
happiness, and a man who
stresses physical conditioning for
the same purpose, were honored
this week as Exeter's citizens of
the year.
The recipients, named at
council's annual dinner for the
community's appointed officials,
Monday were Gwyn Whilsmith
and Ron Bogart.
They brought to nine the
number of people honored in this
way in the past three years,
In a meeting that was delayed
one day due to the storm, Hay
township council authorized the
issuance of debentures in amount
of $200,000 for improvements on
the Hay Municipal Telephone
system.
An underground conduit
system is to be constructed in
Grand Bend so as to allow for the
Stephen permits
over $2 million
At a meeting Monday night,
Stephen township council ac-
cepted the tender of BP Canada
toopply gasolipe, diesel fuel and
furnace fuel to"the municipality.
The contract price for gasoline
will be 60.95 cents per gallon; 47.9
cents for diesel fuel and 45.9 cents
for furnace oil.
Clerk Wilmer Wein said the ac-
cepted quotations included
discounts but not provincial and
federal taxes.
Council learned from the
Goderich engineering firm of B.
M. Ross Limited that only three
of nine bridges appraised in a
survey ordered by the Ontario
Ministry of Transportation and
Communications needed repair.
The report said five of the
structures with a span of over 20
feet were in excellent condition,
Needing minor repairs were
bridges on sideroad 5-6, Con-
cession 5; sideroad 20-21, Con-
cession 5; Lot 22, Concession 4-5
and the Devil's Elbow.
Building inspector Arnold
McCann made his annual report
to council. During 1977 a total of
153 building permits were issued
for a total value of $2,143,914.
A grant of $75 was made to the
Huron Park Local Association to
be used for Girl Guide purposes.
The resignation of drainage
inspector Lorne Dietrich was
accepted and applications will be
called for a successor,
One of the township pound
keepers Russell King submitted
his resignation. A replacement
will be named at the first meeting
in January.
A tax rebate to William Averill
was approved. He was wrongly
assessed in the police village of
Crediton when the property is in
the township.
The 1977 agreement with the
police village of Dashwood for
fire protection was renewed for
next year at the same terms.
The retainer fee is three mills
of the assessment of the property
covered by the Dashwood
department. In addition they
receive remuneration for actual
fire calls,
Colleagues honor
Dr. M.C. Fletcher
The Glenn Sawyer Long Ser-
vice Award of the Ontario
Medical Association was
awarded to Dr. M. C. Fletcher
shortly before he died.
His untimely death made it
impossible for the Huron County
Medical Society to present the
award to Dr. Fletcher.
The award is one 'of the
highest honours which may be
bestowed on a physician in
Ontario by his colleagues for long
service to his community.
The framed certificate was
presented to Mrs. Fletcher by
members of the South Huron
Medical Society posthumously on
Thursday, necember 8, 1977.
The two 1977 recipients were
described as "keen and en-
thusiastic" by Mayor Bruce
Shaw, who noted the awards were
presented to recognize people
who do something extra beyond
the call of duty for their com-
munity.
Referring to Mrs. Whilsmith as
a very gifted writer, Shaw noted
that she was a member of the
Exeter Heritage Foundation and
was one of those responsible for
making the old town hall what it
now is.
placement of new feeder cables
when the village and outlying
areas expand.
Council accepted a petition
from the residents around the
Datars-Merner drain on con-
cessions 12 and 13 that requested
that the upper portion of the
drain be cleared out. Prior to the
commencement of work an
engineers report will be con-
ducted along with notification
being sent to the Ausable-
Bayfield Conservation Authority.
In other council news, an ap-
plication for a tile drainage loan
from Grace Merner for $12,000
was approved.
Authorization for the repair of
the lower end of the Forrest-
Thompson drain was passed.
A motion from the township of
Sandwich West 'calling for
alterations in the Highway
Traffic Act to allow the owner of
a motor vehicle to be charged
when violating school bus safety
procedures was approved.
Hay concurred with a
resolution from the Zurich and
Area Fire Board that specified a
fee of $1000 should be paid by
Hay and Stanley to the village of
Zurich as compensation for the
housing of the tank truck.
He also noted she was the first
of the nine honored citizens to be
other than a member of Exeter
United Church. Her work as a
member of Caven Presbyerian
Church was one of the reasons for
her award,
She has been extremely active
in the church and community
affairs and wrote a religious
column for this newspaper for
several years, Mrs. Whilsmith
was one' of the founders of the
Christian Women's Club and also
helped with the organization of
Women Together. Her com-
munity interest runs from
children through to Senior
Citizens, with an emphasis on the
"forgotten" or under privileged.
The mother of four children has
been one of the most popular
By SHIRLEY J. KELLER
Huron County's department
heads have been granted salary
increases for 1978 which range
anywhere from 7.5 percent to 14.4
percent. The increases were
approved at the October session
of county council without any
question, county administrator
Bill Hanly said this week.
speakers in the area for several
years and has had several of her
journalistic efforts printed in
national publications.
"I'm sure I haven't done
anything the rest of you haven't",
she commented in accepting her
plaque on Monday. "I love to
write and am happy to have the
opportunity to do so."
She said she was very pleased
to receive the award "and I
accept it as an honor."
Bogart, who was also taken by
surprise by the award, said he
didn't particularly want to come
to the event because he felt his
practice with the Exeter Hawks
was more important.
"In the back of my mind,
maybe I think it still is," the
dedicated coach of Exeter's
For the first time ever, the
department heads negotiated
their salary adjustments as other
county employees. Negotiators
for the department heads were
deputy clerk-treasurer Bill
Alcock; planning director Gary
Davidson; and social services
administrator John McKinnon.
They met with a special corn-
Junior hockey team said.
In describing the SilDHS
physical education department
head, Shaw said he was a man
who doesn't hesitate to make
waves when he feels waves need
to be made. The Mayor said some
people have been capsized in
those waves, although Bogart's
manner was directed to common
good,
His efforts as finance chairman
of the South Huron Recreation
Centre committee were extolled
as Shaw suggested Bogart was
"certainly the driving force for
raising money for this building."
In the past year, Bogart also
coached the Exeter Hawks to an
Ontario championship, His
football team at SHDHS also
reached the conference final.
Bogart is a member of the
Exeter Lions and is president of
the Exeter Minor Hockey
Association.
Noting that he was an ex-
tremely busy man, Shaw said
many people could look at what
Bogart does when they feel they
don't have time to undertake
extra work.
In reference to his activities as
chairman of the fund raising
committee, Bogart said it was a
great deal of hard work but he
was extremely proud of the rec
centre.
"When you see the facility, it
makes it all worthwhile," he said,
adding that he was accepting the
award on the part of all members
of his committee,
Commenting on his coaching
stint, he said he would like to
bring the community another
Junior "D" championship,
although he jokingly pointed out
that his career may be in
jeopardy because the previous
holders of the job had their tenure
terminated at Christmas time.
mittee chaired by Warden Doug
McNeil and comprising the
members of the executive
committee and the chairman of
all other county committees.
According to the printed report
of the special committee,
decision was reached to allow
each department head an in-
crease in salary of $75 every two
Clerk honoured
Council also chose the occasion
of Monday's event to honor clerk
Eric Carscadden, who will be
retiring at the end of January.
He started working for the town
as the assessor in 1948 and then
weeks or $1,950 per annum.
"This increase represents an
average increase of 3.8 percent
for this group of employees," the
special committee report stated.
The following salaries were
approved by council: clerk
treasurer administrator Bill
Hanly, $27,820 representing a 7.5
percent increase; deputy clerk-
treasurer Bill Alcock, $24,310 or
8.7 percent; development officer
Spence Cummings, $17,836 or 12.2
percent; planning director Gary
Davidson, $25,012 or 8.4 percent;
social services administrator
John McKinnon, $18,434 or 11.8
percent; museum curator Ray
Scotchmer, $15,470 or 14.4 per-
cent; county librarian Bill
Partridge, $19,006 or 11.4 per-
cent; and Huranview ad-
ministrator Chester Archibald,
$21,242 or 10,1 percent.
In a telephone interview this
week with Hanly, the ad-
ministrator said the increases
A fuliner mayor of Exeter,
William G. Cocheare, has been
appointed a provincial ecert
judge in the criminal division kr
Huron.
The appointment was an-
nounced Friday by Attorney-
General Roy McMurtry.
Cochrane, a native of Exeter,
has been working in the Huron
legal system since 1946 when he
opened a law office in Exeter. He
graduated from the University of
Western Ontario in 1938 and
Osgoode Hall in 1941. He served
in the army from 1942-46 in
England where he was an in-
structor in an officer battle
school. When he returned to
Canada he opened a legal office
in his hometown and in 1962 was
appointed crown-attorney. At
that time he moved to Goderich
where he has lived since then.
Cochrane said the ap-
pointment takes effect im-
mediately but explained that he
cannot act as a judge until he is
sworn in. He said the tentative
date for the ceremony is January
11, 1978.
The duties of the crown-
attorney will be temporarily
handled by George Patterson,
former crown-attorney in
Walkerton, and others appointed
by the regional crown-attorney's
became "everyone's friend" as
tax collector, In 1964, he was.
named clerk-treasurer on the
retirement of C,V. Pickard.
Reeve Si Simmons and Deputy-
Reeve Don MacGregor presented
Eric and his wife, Margaret, with
were within the Anti-Inflation
guidelines "as printed".
"This is what the guidelines
say," said Hanly. "The overall
increase of the group is 3.8
percent. No one has received
more than $2,400."
Hanly admitted the increases
were made possible since a new
medical officer of health and a
new engineer had been hired
earlier in 1977 at considerably
less money than had been paid to
the former employees, Dr. Frank
Mills and Jim Britnell,
When he left the county's
employ, Dr. Mills was being paid
$37,024 per annum. Dr. Brian
Lynch, the new MOH was hired at
$32,000 and when he has com-
pleted his public health course in
Toronto later this year, he will be
raised to $36,000 per annum.
Jim Britnell, the former county
engineer, was receiving $32,578
per annum when he resigned. His
successor Bob Dempsey, was
office in Guelph.
Cochrane said he had sub-
mitted his name for con-
sideration for the office when
former provincial court judge H.
Glenn Hayes passed away. He
said up until Hayes' death he had
not considered seeking a seat on
the bench.
The former crown-attorney
said he was looking forward to
the challenge of the new post
adding that he really didn't think
it changed his responsibility that
much. He said his duties as the
crown required him to view both
sides of a case to decide if there
was evidence enough to merit
taking it to court, He said he felt
his responsibilities as the crown-
attorney were heavy pointing out
that as a judge he will have
similar duties except with more
finality.
Cochrane said the duties of the
crown in Canada were not to seek
a conviction but merely to put all
the evidence before the court in
an attempt to ensure that justice
is done. He said many Canadians
get confused with the crown's
duties because of their television
understanding of the American
legal system in which the district-
attorney, the American
equivalent to the crown-attorney,
is more conviction minded,
two chairs on behalf of the
community.
In his brief remarks, Care
scadden said his work had been
interesting and enjoyable. Ile
paid tribute to his wife's support
in his endeavours.
hired at $25,000 and will receive
an increase of $1,500 January 1,
1978.
Hanly agreed that in effect, the
money saved on the salaries for
the MOH and the county engineer
was divided among the depart-
ment heads, holding the overall
increase to the "ounty taxpayers
at 3.8 percent. The increases are,
however, subject to scrutiny by
the AIB and it is still not known
whether or not they will be
allowed.
By way of explanation, Hanly
said that in 1975, county council
had apporved similar increases
for the county department heads
for 1976, but the increases were
rolled back by the AIB because
they didn't meet with the criteria
set down in the guidelines. This
year, Hanly maintained, the
increases do fit the terms of the
guidelines.
Hanly expressed some surprise
Please turn to page 3
"It's said the crown-attorney
never wins or loses a case," he
explained.
Cochrane said he always en-
joyed practicing law in rural
areas because he felt the legal
system in less populated areas
worked more efficiently than in
cities. He said in cities the
volume of work and the greater
number of lawyers in court didn't
allow judges to take the time in a
case that it possibly should get.
He said in Huron County there
are only 24 members of the bar
association and the members
know each other better than
lawyers in cities and because of
that familiarity seemed to have
more trust for one another. He
said that plus the low volume of
cases permit judges to take more
time in court and thoroughly look
at a case.
Cochrane has been involved in
municipal life in the county
serving in Exeter as a town
councillor, a reeve of the town
and as its mayor. He also was
chairman of the South Huron
District Hospital Board and of the
Exeter Public Utilities Com-
mission, He is a past president of
the Exeter Lions Club and past
master of the Masonic Lodge. He
is married and has three
daughters.
No crashes
in blizzard
Despite hazardous driving
conditions due to the blizzard this
week, the Exeter OPP report
only four accidents. There were
no injuries.
None of the collisions occurred
on Friday, when visibility on area
roads was cut to nil at times.
On Saturday, a ministry of
transportation and com-
munications dump truck driven
by Gerald Wurm, Exeter, struck
a parked car on Highway 84,
about 1.5 km west of Highway 4 in
Hensall.
The parked vehicle, owned by
David McAdams, Windsor, was
completely covered with snow.
Damage was listed at $600 by
Constable Bob Whiteford,
There was one accident,
Sunday, it occurring when Robert
MacGregor, RR 2 Dashwood, lost
control of his vehicle on the
Credition Road east of Highway 4.
Damage, in that crash was
estimated at $350 by Constable
Bill Lewis.
Two accidents were reported
on Monday, the first involving
vehicles driven by Joseph
Robichaud, Huron Park, and
Michael McCann, RR 8 Parkhill.
They collided on County Road 21
west of Highway 4 and damage
was set at $2,500 by Constable
Don Mason,
The other collision involved
vehicles driven by James
Girling, Grand Bend, and James
Murphy, RR 1 Grand Bend. They
collided on Highway 83 just east
of Huron Road 2,
Constable Jack Straughan
investigated and listed total
damage at $500.
During the week, the Exeter
.detachment officers charged two
people under the Highway Traffic
Act, one under the Criminal Code
and three under the Liquor
Licence Act.
Only one breakin was reported,
it occurring at Daymond Plastics
at Huron Park over the Weekend.
Nothing was taken, although $10
in damage was caused by the
forced entry.
CITIZEN AWARD — Mayor Bruce Shaw presented Ron Bogart with
one of the two citizen-of-the-year awards this week. Bogart was
finance chairman for South Huron Rec Centre and coached the Exeter
Hawks to an Ontario championship this year. His ability to grbw a
mustache was not considered in the award. Staff photo
CLERK HONORED BY TOWN — Eric Carscadden,who will retire at the end of January after serving the
town for 29 years as assessor, tax collector and then clerk-treasurer, was honored at Monday's civic ban-
quet at the rec centre. Deputy-reeve Don MacGregor and Reeve Si Simmons presented Eric and his wife,
Margaret, with two chairs on behalf of the community. Staff photo
Former mayor named
as Huron's new judge
Serving South Huron, North Middlesex