Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-11-02, Page 1About 35 ratepayers hear council hopefuls Only 35 ratepayers showed up at Wednesday’s public meeting to hear* the eight candidates seeking spots on Exeter council for the next term. While the five new can­ didates used much of their time to introduce themselves to the public, there were a few suggestions for programs that the newly elected coun­ cil should consider. Speaking first was incum­ bent Lossy Fuller, who after noting the many changes SPOOKER — One of the youngest participants inYOUNG Tuesday's Hallowe'en party sponsored by the Grand Bend Lions club was Luke Laye. T-A photo PUC denies request to join fire brigade The Exeter Public Utilities Commission Tues­ day denied the request of an employee to become a member of the Exeter volunteer fire department. Decision on the request made a month ago was held up until a report on fire statistics was received from fire chief Gary Middleton. No issues for No issues are at stake between incumbent Deputy- Reeve Don MacGregor arid challenger Ben Hoogen- boom, or at least neither mentioned any at last week’s public meeting. MacGregor said it had been an honor and pleasure serving Exeter for the past two “very busy years”. ' He commented briefly on the reserve fund set up for a new fife truck by three of the participating municipalities in the Exeter Area Fire Board, of which lie is presently chairman, and concluded by thanking the administration staff and the ratepayers for their cooperation. Hoogenboom outlined no issues either, saying that he would like to think his past experience would assist him in getting his message across. “I wish Don well, but not as well as I hope to do (on election day)” he said. WATCH OUT AMERICAN GRAFFITI — While the 1980's are now closer than the 1960's there seems to be a renewed interest in what happened a few years back. “Hanging Out" on a 1962 Cadillac Friday at South Huron District High School's “Greaser Days" were (left-right) Mark Creces, John Bilcke, Jean Paukea, Brad Baynham, Jo-anne Ondrejicka, Sandra Kraft, Barb Armstrong, Jeff Fuller, Bonnie Westlake and Doug Willard. T-A photo FTITTl that have taken place in town with the building of the rec centre, the restoration of the town hall and the un­ equalled commercial and residential giowth, suggested it may now be time for citizens to turn their attention to providing more facilities for senior citizens. She noted that some type of accommodation was re­ quired in Exeter so seniors could continue to live among their friends and not have and relatives to be shunted Middleton’s report said about 90 percent of the fire calls during 1977 came dur­ ing working hours between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. In making the motion to deny the request, Com­ missioner Chan Livinstone said, “That would be too many working hours.’’ Mayor Bruce Shaw Agreed saying, “Right now it’s in our best interest to do this.” Manager Hugh Davis ex­ plained that one man and a truck already is in atten­ dance at all fires in town. The fire chief’s report said that 29 fire calls in 1977 were far below the average of 42 of the 39 hours spent on calls, 27 were 'for out-of- town fires. In his manager’s report Hugh Davis said he expected the hydro increase for Ex­ eter users would be about six percent. He added, “There shouldn’t be too much flak from customers over this.” Davis said their will be an increase in the charge of power from Ontario Hydro to municipalities of 9.8 per­ cent but that would be lowered to about six percent- because of an excess revenue credit ordered by the Anti-Inflation Board. Commission chairman Murray Green added, “Thq,t sounds good for next year, but, I’m not looking forward to 1980. That’s when the price increase will likely hit us the hardest.” off to Huronview or homes in Hensail or Zurich. Mrs. Fuller said that statistics show that the number of seniors will in­ crease dramatically in the next two decades “and we should plan now” to look after their needs, “not only of the present seniors, but those of us who are getting there sooner than we would care to admit”. As chairman of the social services committee, she ex­ plained that the committee had initiated a recycling program for glass and newspapers, and said this would cut down on the use of the local dump and save tax dollars “if you citizens take the time and effort to put items out for collection”. “I’m not given to speaches,” commented in­ cumbent Harold Patterson, who remarked only that he was the liaison with building inspector Doug Triebner and that permit values would hit almost $3 million this year. ‘ ‘That’s a lot of building, ’ ’ he commented. Veteran councillor Ted Wright, who was first elected in 1962, outlined the town’s road and sewer programs and said the town’s public works employees “are serving you very well”. He said that the new coun­ cil would have to decide whether they would follow the priority set by the pre­ sent council for the con­ struction of a west-central storm drain. Wright refuted suggestions that local ratepayers don’t get much for their tax dollars, saying people with that opinion ob­ viously don’t look about them or have short memories. He told the new can­ didates that council work is a complicated business with many serious decisions to be made. He said he always tried to get the most for the most people and said he would not make a prediction that taxes won’t rise “because they will”. The veteran member said the dollar doesn’t go vejy far now, and the budget is nearly $2 million while it was still in the thousands when he started. “We still have to progress, but keep taxes competitive with other municipalities,” he concluded. Mayor Bruce Shaw, who chaired the meeting, then called on the only female among the new aspirants, Marilyn Williamson. She said that while Williamson was a new name in Exeter, she was not new to the community, having been raised here and graduating from SIIDHS. She said her main concern was that Exeter attract in­ dustrial growth which the meeting was told “would be very beneficial to all tax­ payers”. “We have a lovely town and it has great potential to be even better,” she con­ cluded. Jay Campbell, who an­ nounced his intention to run a couple of weeks ago, out­ lined four main concerns he had, the first of which was the need to resolve any out­ standing conflicts with the new official plan. He said plan changes would be made in the future and council members would have to have the ability to perceive those changes and the im­ pact on the town. The former meteorologist said council had to be confi­ dent in the way business was conducted and this could be achieved through being com- jjjjjrETiRm Si HF TT3 "WW •Tn •tow petent. It should also businesslike, honest and open. Noting that vandalism was a growing problem, he suggested the town should look into a study undertaken in Mississauga in this regard. His fourth concern was about committees, and he suggested he had seen no other place that had such civic vitality and he would like to see this harnessed and carried on. Another local businessman seeking a coun­ cil seat, Ron Cottrell said that while past councils have done a commendable job, he envisioned the need for a more professional at­ titude to cope with future decisions. He outlined the need for council to consider the long and short term implications Please turn to page 3 One Hundred and Fifth Year imes - Advocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1978 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Vandalism nears epidemic Vandalism in the Exeter area is reaching staggering proportions, and this week’s list was no exception, being augmented by the number of Hallowe’en escapades. The number of incidents investigated by the Exeter OPP has climbed steadily in recent months. OPP Cpls. • * Dave Woodward and Bill Freeth have both advised the T-A that they have never seen as Footballers badly hurt Football injuries have been running high among SHDHS junior and senior teams this year, the. most serious occurring in Tuesday’s game with Goderich. Steve Beer, a grade 13 stu­ dent, sustained a broken left leg when he was tackled on a play. His mother, Mrs. John Beer, Hensail, said he would probably be in traction for the next two months. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in London and had surgery on Wednesday. Another senior footballer, Sean Walden, Huron Park, was also carried from the field in the hard-hitting con­ test. He sustained some in­ ternal injury at the end of the second half and is in South Huron Hospital for observation. While coach Ron Bogart has watched his senior foot­ ball team weakened by the injuries, they have also proven costly to the Exeter Junior Hawks, whom Bogart also coaches. Beer plays goal for the team, and another member of the team, Brian Mercer, has yet to hit the ice lanes due to a broken wrist he suf­ fered in a football game earlier in the season. HALLOWE'EN AT NURSERY SCHOOL — Students at the Sunshine Kids nursery school en­ joyed a Hallowe'en party Tuesday morning. From the left are Eugene Boersma, Jason Laurin, Eric Breman, Karen Robinson and Mark Keller. T-A photo much vandalism in any of the areas in Ontario "that they have served. This week, the two-legged vandals were joined by a four-legged one. On Sunday, Jack Snell, a resident on Highway.4 just north of Exeter, reported that a dog broke through a fenced pen on his property and killed 35 exotic and DRAW WINNERS — The $1,000 prize in Crediton's elimination draw held Friday was shared equally by Mrs. Maurice Beaver and the Exeter Kinsmen club. Above, Alf Smith presents the monies to Kinsmen member Eric Finkbeiner and Russ Beaver who accepted for his mother, The draw was sponsored by the Crediton parks board and volunteer firemen. T-A photo Bayfield reeve battles for total immunization Bayfield reeve Ed Oddleifson sees no reason why a complete series of immunizations shouldn’t be required for children en­ tering public, separate and private schools in Ontario and questioned the health committee of Huron County council when it recom­ mended Friday that council not support a resolution suggesting complete im­ munization. The resolution was made by the Peel Regional Board of Health and sent to county council for support. The Peel health board requested the province require, as a condition of entry to primary school, that all parents produce a satisfactory certificate of immunization except in cases where, upon medical advice, im­ munization is not advised. The Peel group claimed that only 75 percent of children of school entry age have been satisfactorily immunized against com­ municable disease posing a threat to the general public by the remaining 25 percent. Oddleifson told council that no child or person should be able to pose a threat to the general public by the remaining 25 percent. Health committee chairman Paul Steckle told native pheasants he breeds. He said the value of the birds was over $900. The dog escaped after creating its havoc and leav­ ing a trail of colorful birds in its wake. Mailboxes continued to be a prime target for vandlas, as six were twisted off their posts in Usborne Township over the weekend. committee committee council that his committee did support the resolution but did not recommend council support it. “It says do not concur,” said Oddleifson referring to the health report. “The strongly recommends that people take immunization shots but does not want to force it,” said Steckle. “Do we want to legislate people to do everything? There are ways of containing the diseases and as long as that is possible we have no need to force immunization.” “Are we not going a step too far when we legislate people to act against their conscience or religious convictions?” he asked. Oddleifson said he respected personal beliefs as much as possible but didn’t feel an individual cOuld threaten society for any reason. He told council that as a child he had been “in- noculated against all kinds of things” and had never had a major disease. He said government had an obligation to protect society as a whole. The Bayfield reeve said the recent polio outbreak that sent the country into emergency polio im­ munization was an example of the protection he was talking about. He said that Similar raids by vandals have been carried out on several- area concessions during the past two months. Eric Finkbeiner, RR 1, Crediton, reported that someone had used a screw­ driver to scratch all the win­ dows and some of the material on his truck capper ■ and the grille on a fender was ripped off a 1979 situation was unique because it was immigrants that had brought the disease into the area but pointed out that if immunizations had been thorough the emergency measures would not have been required. “You did mention the disease can be contained,” he told Steckle. “It should not have been allowed to start.” developer Leh Veri was Vern Olson of Project Planning Associates. A shoppers questionnaire concerning the business area can be found elsewhere in the paper. T-A photo PRESENT DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLANS — Exeter residents had the Opportunity Monday evening to take a look at possible downtown business improvement in 0 study spon­ sored by the Downtown Business Improvement Association. Talking things over with local with minor injury A Hensail area youth es­ caped with only minor in­ juries after his motor bike was involved in a collision with a car around noon, Sun­ day. Paul Elder, RR 2 Hensail, had been riding his machine in a bush and came out onto concession 3-4 of Hay in front of a vehicle driven by Zofia Stasik, RR 2 Hensall. The youth was treated at South Huron Hospital. Damage in the accident was listed at $125 by Constable Frank Giffin. Daniel Turkheim, Zurich, escaped with minor injuries on Saturday at 7:00 p.m., when he lost control of his vehicle in fresh gravel on concession 10-11 of Stephen. The vehicle went through a ditch, rolled over and came to rest on its wheels in a field. Constable Wally Tomasik investigated and set proper­ ty damage at $2,800. Last Monday, a tractor be­ ing towed by a truck clipped Thunderbird parked on Larry Snider Motors lot. A water fountain was pull­ ed off the wall at the Stephen Central School and a beer bottle tossed through one of the school windows. Damage in that incident was listed at over $200. On Friday night, a softball in a plastic bag was tossed through the front window at Duttman’s Bakery in Hen- sall, resulting in Damage of .5350. . .. , .... On Monday night, a quan­ tity of blue paint was splash­ ed over the verandah and Murphy quits post at Huron Playhouse James Murphy, artistic and managing director of the Huron Country Playhouse, has announced his intention to resign at the conclusion of the coming Summer Season. Mr. Bill Amos, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Playhouse, accepted the resignation with regret at its year-end meeting on Oc­ tober 30,1978. Murphy, who along with Bill Heinsohn, founded the Playhouse in 1972, has served as Artistic and Managing Director since that time, Heinsohn served as Ex­ ecutive Producer for three seasons and has remained active in the Board of Trustees since that time. The Playhouse started in 1972 as a small tent opera­ tion and has developed into the largest summer theatre of its type in the Province, with physical assets valued at $350,000 and an annual operating budget in the area of $250,000. The 1978 season achieved an 80% capacity with a $30,000 increase in ticket sales over the previous season. Murphy told the Board he was leaving the Playhouse for personal reasons. He said he has enjoyed his seven years of “complete a hydro pole in Hensall, resulting in damage of $800. The truck was being driven by William Hay, RR 1 Zurich, and the tractor was owned by W.G. Thompson and Sons Ltd. Constable Jack Straughan investigated. He also investigated an accident the previous day in­ volving vehicles driven by Joanne Minderlein, RR 3 Zurich, and Stewart Turner, Zurich. They collided on Highway 84 west of Zurich and damage was estimated at $500. On October 20, a vehicle driven by Terry Pickering, RR 2 Dashwood, collided with the rear of a gravity box being towed by a tractor driven by Joseph Barrett, RR 1 Crediton. Pickering was attempting to pass when the accident occurred and damage was listed at $1,000 by Constable Jim Rogers. Pickering sustained minor injuries. walls at the Dufferin Hotel in Centralia, while on the same night, Ken Nutt, RR 2 Thamesville, reported that an outside mirror and aerial had been pulled off his truck while it was parked in Crediton. A front tire was also deflated and damage to the vehicle was $100. The rear window of a van was also smashed in Cen­ tralia when someone threw a flower pot through it. The vehicle is owned by Richard Demary, RR 2 Bluevale, and damage was listed at $80. and total involvement” with the Playhouse and looks forward to the 1979 season which he hopes to announce shortly after the New Year. The 1979 season opens dur­ ing the week of June 23rd and will offer five produc­ tions, each running two weeks. Authority hires resources head The Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority has announced the hiring of a new resources manager. William Mungall, a native of Dundas succeeds Don Pearson who assumed a position with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority in September. Mungall who will begin the resources manager job in two weeks time is presently completing his master’s" degree in resource management at the Univer­ sity of Manitoba in Win­ nipeg. Prior to returning to school, Mungall was employed by the ministry of natural resources as a plan­ ning co-ordinator for the Owen Sound district.