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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1987-03-11, Page 1�.-.' .ba.r1��-h•r+'b�a. u ,µ.ii.-+.n-r.h ESTABLISHED IN 1873 "THE SEPOY TOWN" ON THE HURON -BRUCE BOUNDARY Pi lBUSHED IN LLICIasiOW., ONTARIO 20 P . es 4o PER COPY -W;stia MOO In February, some classes at Brookside Public School received the opportunity to learn about children in Peru and the work the children of this country do to support themselves and their families. In the process., they also, through chores done at home, raised $82.17 which will be forwarded to the Canadian Save the Children Fund which works in Third World Countries. With every donation, a heart was put .on the schools "Valentine Tree". Some students 'who took part in the project include, from left, Brian MacKenzie (Grade 1), Kyle Brown .(Grade 3), Robin Hoggarth ( Grade 3), Caroline Sleeker ( Grade 2), Crystal Hickey (Grade 2) and Katherine Alton (Kindergarten) . (Man Rivett photo) Controversial article draws mixed reactions By Alan Rivett The fallout came as expected from the highly. controversial London Free Press article of February 16 which criticized both council and the county administration at the March meeting of Huron County. The article drew mixed reactions from ./cD cil members, some reacting with anger while others displayed a sense of humor to the accusations in the article. But, most of all, council expressed a will- ingness to put the incident behind them. Huron County Warden Brian McBurney, in opening remarks at the meeting, said he hoped the article in the London daily won't result in strained relations between coun- cil and the local press who have been "more 'than fair" in their reporting of - county affairs. _ "I hope you'll remain open with them and honest with them," said Warden McBurney. As for the unnamed county department head who went on record in the article as stating the administration was "anachronistic" and belonged in the "'40s and '50s", Warden McBurney said he has talked to all the department heads who have assured him that the statements "were not attributed to them and not made by them" and the Free Press reporter must have "partook a person to be a department head". Some council members took a humorous view of the article, especially a comment by Goderich Reeve Harry Worsell who said only approximately eight councillors participated in meeting debates while the rest "might as well take a cushion and have a sleep." Several councillors brought cushions to the meeting and one councillor, Hullett Reeve Tom Cunningham, brought a bag of yarn and proceeded to knit for a few minutes during the meeting. Retorted Councillor Worsell to the barbs: "I see by some of the cushions that some of you read the article. All I can say is, if the hat fits, then they should wear it." Exeter Deputy Reeve Lossy Fuller said she has received numerous calls and let- ters about the article with local residents "deeply concerned about what's happen- ing in Huron County". She recommended the county should fully investigate all the "internal and external" problems in the county and find a solution. "Maybe we have been lax in our respon- . sibilities. We must represent the Huron County taxpayers as best we can and also be a team working together in the towns, villages and townships. The past cannot be changed, but we can't move into the future with someone asleep at the switch," she said. Warden McBurney said there are no plans for an official response from the county regarding the article. 'II didn't feel the story was factual enough to warrant a response,'he said. Colborne Reeve Russell Kernighan, who had been on a vacation to southwest Asia, said he was immediately confronted with the article when he returned. He claims he is happy with the county situation as it cur- rently exists. Les Petter in "I wouldn't change a thing, not even the press," said Mr. Kernighan, He said his travels in Asia gave him a perspective on the situation happening in the county, with the troubles in Huron County paling in comparison to the daily news which comes out of Asia. "Every day in the newspapers you read about someone shot or assassinated by a group,," he'said. Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston said the nature of being in public office leaves politicians open to public scrutiny and criticism, but he took elcception to the ac- cusations aimed at the county administra- tion in the Free Press article. "I'm quite sure we've made mistakes in the past and I'm sure we'll make some in the future. But, in the 4'/2 years I've been on council I've never seen an employee vote nor tell me how to vote. We ask for ad- vice, but that's only natural. If there is criticism, it should be directed at the politicians and shouldn't be levelled at the staff and employees. That's totally out of line. It's a personal vendetta against the county," said Mr. Johnston. Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling said the press have an important role to play as long as they display fairness when Turn to page 3 business 35 years I,ucknow businessman Les Petter, the owner of Les Petter Shoes in Lucknow, marked his 35th anniversary in the shoe business on March 2. Mr. Petter says he started in the shoe business on March 2, 1952 as a partner in a shoe business in Kincardine i tater called Kilty Shoes ► and seven years later took over the business. He moved to his Lucknow store 15 years ago in September, taking over from Rathwell Shoes which had been in business in Lucknow for three generations. In summing up 35 years in the business, Mr. Petter says Lucknow has been "very good to me" and says he owes a lot to his employees who stayed with him when he took over the Rathwell business. Sewer project Village council won't budge on grant The Ministry of the Environment has recently advised Lucknow of a sewer grant allocation of $1,265,000 in the ministry's 1987-88 budget, but Lucknow Reeve Herb Clark says the village will not accept the grant, pending the results of the re- submitted proposal for the entire village. "They're still talking about (funding for) the core area of the village, and we're not accepting that," said Reeve Clark. "We're still waiting to hear from them about the re -submitted proposal." In January, Lucknow council received word from James Bradley, the Minister of the ,Environment, asking the village to re- submit their grant application for the sewer project, taking into account the en- tire village: Council had met with the minister in November of last year to discuss Lucknow's need for , a .sewage system for the entire.village. The new grant proposal for the sewers • project was re -worked by B.M. Ross and Associates, the village's engineering firm, soon after the announcement. The pro- posal would be re-evaluated by the Ministry's Priority Rating Committee which would consider the new application. Since that date, no word has been receiv- ed from the Environment Ministry regar- ding the re -submitted sewers proposal, says Mr. Clark. • The .Environment Ministry has . estimated the core area project at $2.7 million with the ministry picking up 85 per cent of the cost with estimates for the core area going as high as $4 million, says Reeve Clark. If a sewers. grant was ap- . proved for the entire village, the village's share would be approximately ,$600,000. Presbytery The Lucknow UCW had the pleasure of hosting the 25th annual meeting of the Bruce Presbytery on March 2 with ap- proximately 200 UCW members. SEE PAGE 2. Prayer Service Also this week, the Christian Reform- ed Church in Lucknow and the St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church hosted the World Day of Prayer services for local churches. SEE PAGE 5. Sports In sports this week, the 19th annual Legion Tyke tournament was held in Lucknow on March 7 with the Tykes from Belgrave taking the Championship trophy. SEE PAGE 15. Kinlough Kinlough correspondent May Boyle reports on mmany activities in her com- munity in this week's Sentinel. A resolu- tions meeting of the Holyrood WI and the World Day of Prayer Service at the Presbyterian Church were the major events this week. SEE PAGE 10.