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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-05-25, Page 1Battle resumes at A lull in altercations at the Fleck Manufacturing picket line ended this week as United Auto Workers and OPP engaged in several forays at Huron Park. At the conclusion of the altercations, the UAW workers promised they’d be back in even greater num­ bers. With shouts of “police brutality”, about 80 UAW members from the Windsor riot- were from the Hiram own FLECK BUS ARRIVES — Non-striking workers of the Fleck Manufacturing company found the back entrance to the plant blocked by strikers and supporters Wednesday morning. Soon afterwards, riot equipped police moved the demonstrators away from the entrance, thus allowing the bus to enter. T-A photo ..jg, 'fe'JElKLA 2d -JI Big Brothers plan to run right across the country Big will Big two The South Huron Brothers organization be observing national Brothers week with special activities. The local group with Rev. Glenn Wright acting as president will be holding their annual meeting Tues­ day, June 6 at the old town hall. Rev. Wright said an of­ ficial board of directors will be named at the annual meeting. He added, “we really put ourselves into of­ fice io get Big Brothers go­ ing a year ago”. A fee of $5 will allow anyone to become an associate member and qualify to act on the board of directors. While Big Brothers of Canada are staging a cross­ Take steps to keep HP roadways open Ford plants left the scene after yesterday’s skirmish in which one man was sent sprawling by a jab from a riot stick. The Ford workers had joined the striking Fleck employees at the rear en­ trance of the plant,' awaiting the arrival of a bus and three cars carrying non-strikers to work. Two groups equipped Rob that held Canada run, the South Huron group will have their mini-Canada run. Publicity chairman Grant has announced the local run will be Saturday, June 10. The miniature cross Canada run will go for a dis­ tance of 4 kilometers begin­ ning at the South Huron Rec Centre and criss-cross through Exeter streets and parks. Grant said competitors in the run will be allowed to go around the course four times. In keeping with the Cross­ Canada run, the starting point at the Rec Centre will be designated as St. John’s, Newfoundland with the finish back at the Riverview park area as Victoria, stationed on the runway, and the first, under the direction of former Exeter OPP detachment head Sgt. Norton Rhiness moved to clear a path for the vehicles into the rear doors of the plant. They had advised the pickets to move back, and enforced the suggestion by pushing a couple of pickets out of the way. The injured man was dragged to one side British Columbia. Students from Exeter Public School will be posting Canada city names on poles and trees along the run route. “The national big run for little brothers” route covers more than 10,000 kilometers Please turn to page 3 Fined $500 for narcotic charge A Zurich area man was fined $500 or 50 days in jail after pleading guilty to a charge of possession of narcotic in Exeter court, Tuesday. Judge W.G. Cochrane . levied the fine against Frederick Maxime Denomme and gave the accused 15 days in, which,.to... pay. He had 21 grams of marijuana when ap­ prehended on February 10. Denomme had a previous conviction. by some fellow Windsor UAW members, while the cries of “police brutality” started to echo throughout the ranks. Other picketers shouted “Sieg heil” at the semi-circle of OPP men and women. Another pushing match between one officer and a couple of pickets ensued, but union officials moved their people away from the police before any further trouble broke out. When the injured man regained his feet, he was aided by a handful of pickets and walked back to the policemen to point out his attacker. “You can go home and tell occurred when riot equipped police moved away dem bus carrying non-striking Fleck employees into the plant. and supporters to allow a T-A photo • .. 7 'A'z ■1 WOMEN SUPPORT FLECK WORKERS — Over 400 women mainly from Toronto, were in Huron Park on Thursday to support striking Fleck employees. The demonstration which was put on by Organized Working Women, was peaceful. T-A photo c* • *7 imes - Advocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex .& North Lambton Since 1873 .'/ - EXETER, ONTARIO, MAY 25, 1978 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Put people pride back in core area One Hundred and Fifth Year Businessmen told plaza good prod Huron Park picket line your kids what a good job you did today,” one of the pickets shouted, while another challenged the of­ ficer to “come on down to Windsor without your stick”. Supt. H. T. Garry, who was at the scene, talked to some of the UAW members and the small contingent of press people about the incident. He said the UAW organizers had been advised that the police were obligated to open a path for the Fleck workers. When it was suggested the police had acted hastily in moving in to push the pickets out of the way, he said that such a suggestion was one of hind­ sight. “It’s not hindsight, it’s police brutality,” com­ mented an irate Windsor worker. Buses transporting the Windsor workers arrived on the scene at about 7:30 to take the workers to the community centre in Cen­ tralia. Prior to boarding the bus one UAW member shouted “We can’t win, let’s go back and get Windsor.” By 7:45 the riot-equipped police, who were protecting the back entrance, and a handful of Fleck strikers who had remained on the scene, departed. On Tuesday, striking UAW members that the Walker distillery in Windsor wereatthe main gates of the industrial complex to sup­ port the striking Fleck workers. One violent incident was reported with 56 year old Franz Gabriel of Windsor being struck by a car was passing through picket line. The Gabriel incident place when a Fleck ployee went into the plant to get the company bus to drive the non-strikers to work. H took em- and sup­ man sup- When the bus emerged, a demonstrator hit the window of the bus with a picket sign. Immediately, police ap­ peared on the scene removed the strike porter. As they carried the away, another strike porter launched himself at police and also wound up in the back of the cruiser. Both men were released by police and no charges laid in any of the incidents. A police spokesman did say the three incidents are still under investigation. The president of the Windsor Labor Council accused the police of not being neutral and that they were being used to break the union. The largest demon­ stration, since the visit by Canadian* Labour Congress president Dennis McDer­ mott, took place Friday as over 400 women converged upon the Huron Park plant. Please turn to page 3 1 S'W The township of Stephen is attempting to keep the public roads in the area of Huron Park open during the demonstrations by Fleck strikers and sympathizers. At its latest meeting council authorized their solicitor Kim MacLean of the Exeter law firm of Raymond, McLean and Gray to take the necessary legal steps to stop strikers from blocking the roadways and hindering traffiefto other Industrial Park industries and Centralia College. Clerk Wilmar Wein said he did not know what steps the solicitor would be taking, but, said he was given the okay to go ahead. Council has discontinued their lease with the village of Centralia for use of the Centralia fire hall. All equipment previously housed there is now part of the Huron Park fire department. Council and Centralia trustees feel adequate SHDHS STUDENT COUNCIL —- The student council at South Huron District High School has been named for the 1978-79 school year. Back, left, treasurer Lucy Van Esbroeck, athletic rep Helen Muller and secretary Susan Stretton. Front, vice- president Dave Holtzmann, president Pam O'Brien and social convener Betty Beer. Missing was second vice-president Paul Wareing. T-A photo service is being provided by the Huron Park brigade. The audit report for the year 1977 has been received and it shows a deficit on the general rate of about $15,000. Clerk Wein said the over­ spending came about because of high costs of snow removal. The new board Of directors of the Huron Park Com­ munity Centre was named. Members include councillors Ralph Weber and Allan Walper and John O’Neill, Tom Tomes, Bob Lawrence, Bob Pinter, Alice Watson, Irene Theander and Margaret Lowe. Drainage inspector Ken Pickering was instructed to repair the tile outlet of the Stade municipal drain. Road superintendent Frank Mclsasac was authorized to call for tenders for road crossing culverts at two locations on sideroad 20. Three tile drain loan ap­ plications totalling $31,200 were approved subject to the funds being available. A 15-day jail term was handed out to James Mallon, London, who pleaded guilty to a charge of impaired driving. He was given temporary absence to allow him to continue to work. In addition, the London man had his licence suspended for three months. He had a previous con­ viction over two years ago. A Huron Park man, Fred W. McCormick, was fined $250 or 25 days on an im­ paired driving charge. He had a breathalizer reading of 190 mgs after being stopped by police on May 11. He was given 15 days in which to pay the fine. Suspended sentences were handed out to Dawson R. Keller and Marie Anna Labreche, both of Grand Bend, who pleaded guilty to uttering a forged cheque on August 3. The accused were placed on probation and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $85.22 each with two months. “There is a future in any downtown area in Ontario and Exeter is no exception.” Those were the words of Jack Richardson of St. Thomas speaking Thursday night to the annual meeting of Mainway, the Exeter Business Improvement Association. Richardson who has been chairman for the past five years of a similar group in St. Thomas said, “you can’t be complacent. A plaza is a good prod to get merchants to do something in the downthown core areas. Be enthusiastic and active. Get a plan and get it done.” The St. Thomas man continued, “Let’s put the people pride back in our core area. If you do something visible people will talk about it.” During their first year of operation Mainway businesses spent $3,400 in erecting flower baskets and watering the plants. Richardson referred to the hanging baskets saying, “This was your first act in doing something visible and people are talking about it.” Planning chairman Gerry Gray said the position of the hanging baskets will be altered this year to prevent some being knocked down as was the case last year. Gray said the plants which will be put up about May 24 will be watered this year by a student in hopes of cutting the costs of this to about $300. The watering was done in 1977 by town employees and Mainway wascharged$525.29 Jack Richardson said high school horticultural class students in the Toronto area grow plants for 11 business improvement associations. One of the main concerns of the some 40 business representatives in at­ tendance was the lack of downtown parking. Gray said negotiations were continuing with the Bank of Montreal for parking behind Main Street on the east side. Ted Butler asked how parking provisions on the west side of main street were progressing. He added, “It’s a Number One priority. I can’t see any real problem with the owners involved. Nearly everybody has agreed.” Gerry Gray replied. “We hope to get together with the parking authority on this in the near future. We will have to convince them certain areas are worthy of im­ provement.” Mainway chairman Ron Cottrell added, “It’s a real problem to get the parking authority to do something.” Ted Butler concluded, » “Any businessman who objects to parking behind his property has to have rocks in his head.” Blacktopping and in­ stalling of catch basins in this area were the main concern of Mel Gaiser. In response to a question from Howard Holtzmann asking about publicity of meetings, Jack Richardson said meetings at 7:30 a.m. in St. Thomas were proving to be very popular. Holtzmann said there were several meetings that he did not know about. Jay Camp­ bell said he liked the idea of informing members of meetings by telephone. Richardson said the St. Thomas BIA was the fourth in Canada and was established in 1974. The total across Canada has now reached 77. He continued, “In St. SPEAKS ON BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT — The guest speaker at Thursday's annual meeting of Mainway, Exeter's Business Improvement Association was Jack Richardson, chairman of a similar group in St. Thomas. Above, Richardson, left, chats with Mainway chairman Ron Cot­ trell, planning chairman Gerry Gray and treasurer Earl Campbell. T-A photo Damage in week about $14,000 Two badly hurt in crash Two a:rea men were seriously injured when they were involved in a violent two-car crash early Tuesday morning in Stephen town­ ship. The drivers were Donald Joseph Wilds, RR 3 Dash­ wood, and Sydney Ramer, RR 3 Zurich. They were both taken to University Hospital in London and OPP Con­ stable Don Mason reported their condition as serious. They collided at con­ cession 8-9 at the junction of sideroad 20 around 6:30 a.m. Damage in the crash was listed at $6,000 as both vehicles were wrecked. Damage amounted to almost $8,000 in five other accidents investigated this week by the Exeter OPP. Four of the five occurred during the Victoria Holiday weekend period. Several people were in­ jured, but none seriously. There were two accidents on Saturday, the first in­ Thomas the co-operation with city council is tremendous, but, we had to earn it.” “I’m optimistic that a province-wide business volving vehicles operated by Maxine Miller, RR 1. Dashwood, and Clare Masse, RR 3, Zurich. They collided on concession 14-15 of Hay Township at sideroad 15-16. Damage was listed at $2,- 500 by Constable Bob Whiteford. Minor injuries were reported to the oc­ cupants of the vehicles. The other Saturday crash involved a vehicle driven by Gary Gordon Colwill, Lon­ don. The vehicle flipped onto its roof on Highway 84, just west of Hensail and damage was listed at $1,100 by Constable Whiteford. The drive and three passengers, also of London, sustained minor injuries. Damage of $3,000 was listed by Constable Bill Osterloo in the only accident reported on Monday. The driver involved was Theodorus DeBoer, London. His vehicle veered out of control on the Crediton Road, west of Huron County improvement association will be formed under guidelines of the Ministry of Housing. I see this group as a catalyst to improve the main streets of Ontario towns Road 2 in Stephen Township On Thursday, vehicles operated by Daniel Laporte. RR 2, Zurich, and Calvin Powell. Granton, collided on King St. at Wellington St. in Hensall, Damage was set at $1,200 by Constable Wally Tomasik. The other accident of the week occurred on Thursday when a vehicle driven by Stephen Central School prin­ cipal Don Finkbeiner collid­ ed with a bicycle driven by one of the school’s students. Bernard Wilson, Crediton Wilson sustained minor in­ juries in the mishap, which occurred on the Crediton Road, 1.1 km west of King St. . Damage was listed at $30 by Constable Bob Whiteford. During the week, the local detachment officers charg­ ed 26 drivers under the Highway Traffic Act. They also laid four charges under the Liquor Licence Act and one under the Criminal Code. under 30,000 population, the St. Thomas man concluded. Mayor Bruce Shaw, a native of St. Thomas said he can recall the main street of St. Thomas had 23 empty stores. He continued, “Business expansion in London changed the attitude of main street St. Thomas. The mayor said in the past council looked to the businesses for direction in improvements. Now council is enthusiastic about BIA. Jay Campbell on the local BIA board of directors said three ingredients were necessary to ensure success of the local group. These included com­ munication, promotion of Mainway and earning the trust of council. Dashwood hall addition vetoed A proposal to construct an addition to the Dashwood Community Centre was defeated in a close vote Tuesday night. At a public meeting at­ tended by a large number of Dashwood residents the required support of 60 percent missed by two votes. While 38 persons voted in favour of the addition, 29 voted against. Trustee chairman George Tieman said after the meeting he was disappointed that the proposal was turned down. He added, “I was supporting it but there wasn’t as much interest as some people thought.” Tieman said the idea will probably be dropped unless pressure comes from some other groups. Plans for the hall included an addition 25 feet wide to run the full length of the present building at the south side and 20 by 48 foot ad­ dition to be used by senior citizens. Tieman said the new room would have been ideal for seniors. He added, “Now they use the upstairs portion of the hall and can’t set up on a permanent basis.” Cost was estimated at $100,000 with half of this amount coming from Community Centre and Wintario grants with the balance being raised by Dashwood residents.