The Lucknow Sentinel, 1993-02-03, Page 1PUBLlSHEp
WCKNQW, ONTAfIIO
tednesda ,,
February 3,1993
50°cm .included
4 Of
ti
�ptus 4,S.T
Farmers demonstrate; block highways with tractors
by Pat Livingston
By as early as 7:30 a.m., Mon-
day morning, at least 40 tractors
and as many farmers
were
detouring traffic where High-
ways 86 and 21 intersect at
Amberley. Many more were
expected once chores were com-
pleted. It was the start of a day
long demonstration spearheaded
by A Line in the Dirt organizers
to highlight the problems of
A Line In the Dirt members staged a tractor demonstration, on Monday, closing Highways 86 and
21 where they Intersect at Amberley. The demonstration was to highlight the problems of farmers
today and put pressure on the politicians, and build momentum for the upcoming rally scheduled
for Lucknow this Thursday. (Pat Livingston photo)
farmers today and put pressure
on the politicians.
Traffic from all directions was
stopped, and unless you were a
school bus, emergency vehicle,
snow plow or sander, you were
directed• to turn around and
travel one block out of your
way. Fred Phillips, who was
directing traffic approaching
from the, north, said, "To half
the people it's not a problem; the
other half don't want to be
inconvenienced. We're really
after our politicians. They don't
want to come to Lucknow to
take any heat. They should be
here to address our concerns."
John Flett, a trucker with T.D.
Smith out of Mount Forest, was
on his way to Michigan. He had
nocomplaints about turning his
rig around on Highway 21. •He
understands the problem. "I
agree with the farmers wanting
to get some help here. The prod-
ucts I haul are all for farmers."
Paul. Frayne, official
spokesperson for the movement,
said, "The reason for the demon-
stration is to draw attention to
the lack of response that we
have had on our upcoming rally
Thursday night." Mr. Frayne.
particularly referred to ",especial-
ly the politicians and media, who
have shown less enthusiasm for
this rally. They are Laid back a
little more (than 1991)
whether they don't think there is
a big concern."
Mr. Frayne said that as of
Monday morning, organizers
were aware of only one politi-
cian out of nine, who were
invited, that would attend the
rally in Lucknow. Noble
Villeneuve, PC ag critic had
confirmed he would attend.
Calling the demonstration "a
wake-up call" for farmers and
members of the community, Mr.
Frayne said, "Another reason
we're holding this (demonstra-
tion) is to build a little momen-
tum for Thursday night. We
want it (rally) to be successful
and of course at the same time
today, we are stressing the main
reasons for the rally. The prob-
lems associated with 1992 and
the problems of the present and
the future are all tied up in a
lack of long-term programs or
national farm agendas."
Mr. Frayne said they expect no
answers at the rally. "Ontario
farmers are directly short, or out
of pocket, $1 billion in 1992,
and we want that addressed. In
our opinion the point of the rally
isn't to look for answers, but to
make known our concerns. They
(politicians) are the policy
makers and they have to come
up with the policies.
Describing themselves as
"frustrated," Mr. Frayne apolo-
gized for the inconvenience the
demonstration might have
caused.
The rally gets underway at 8
pan. Thursday night at the
Lucknow Community Centre. "If
you support us, we hope to see
you there," said Mr. Frayne.
Chamber of Commerce:
the` voice o f .business"
by Pat Livingston
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is a strong effective voice at
Queen's Park speaking on behalf of business people. This was one of the
benefits of the provincial organization expounded by David Walton -Ball,
of Owen Sound, an OCC director.
Mr. Walton -Ball, the immediate past president of the Owen Sound and
District Chamber of Commerce, was the guest speaker at a meeting hosted
by the Lucknow Business Association last week. The meeting, termed as
"important" was arranged to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
organizing a chapter of the Chamber of Commerce, as opposed to being
a Business Association. Six businesses were represented at the meeting.
The OCC is a strong resource centre for small business owners. Having
a local chapter of the OCC would allow access to all kinds of information
that affects business, including interpretation of legislation. Examples Mr,
Walton -Ball touched on were the Retail Business Hours Act, Bill 40, the
Sewell Report and the Ontario Training Adjustment Board. Other dividends
include access to speakers' lists, awards programs and group plan
insurance.
Communication from the provincial organization keeps local chapters of
the OCC up-to-date at a minimal cost. The cost of belonging to the OCC
is $10 per business, and Mr. Walton -Ball said, "The input is invaluable."
Ruth Alton, president of the Lucknow Business Association, was very
disappointed with the Door turnout.
Bruce 'A' fate stresses kids
Suspense around the fate of Bruce
Generating Station "A" is having an
effect on county residents, including
school children.
The uncertainty many families
face as Ontario Hydro reviews
options for Bruce "A" is showing
up in some children as school
performance problems.
Director of Education Dr. Joseph
Waters said the Bruce -Grey
Separate School Board is trying to
deal with the stress students may be
feeling.
"It's a concern for families,"
Waters said at the board's January
26 meeting.
"It has an influence in the
schools."
The fate of Bruce "A" will also
be a "decisive factor" in enrolment
projections for the board. So far,
the separate board has maintained
the steady two per cent annual
growth that forecasts predicted.
This month, the Bruce County
Boardbf Education noticed a slight
decrease in student numbers
compared to a year ago. It's the
first decrease in what has .been
several years that saw higher-than-
expected growth in student
enrolment.
Sees increase in violent crimes
by Ron Wassink "And we've had other cases, not
WALKERTON--Crime is on the • with firearms, but where the degree
rise and Bruce County's Crown of violence, the viciousness I've
attorney is worried. never seen, ever, not only in the
Brian Farmer said he's seen an domestic area, but in other areas."
increase in violent crime, Farmer talked of the stress people
particularly "a tremendousincrease" in Bruce County are experiencing
in domesticviolence. with the uncertainty of the Bruce
Speaking to a crowd of about 100 Nuclear Power Development. He
at a .Grey -Bruce Crime Stoppers said he's been told by social
appreciation dinner in Walkerton workers "there are a lot of people
last Thursday, Fanner said he's also with serious problems out there,"
seeing a. rise in thefts and break-ins adding that he hopes it doesn't get
from retail and liquor stores. worse.
"What distresses me lately is the Crime Stoppers is heTuig ponce
level of violence, the ferocity in and courts in an increasingly
violence, domestic violence." difficult job.
Farmer pointed to a recent case Farmer spoke at length at how the
he prosecuted where a Port Elgin decade -old Canadian constitution
man shot his wife twice with a has made crime fighting more
shotgun. The accused was sentenced difficuli
to five years in prison on the Law making decisions were taken
attempted murder charge. from the legislators and placed M.
• • •
Hospital CEO deliversreport
by Cameron Woods
The inaugural report was one of
mixed news for Lloyd Koch, the
newly hired chief executive officer
at Wingham and District Hospital.
The recent tragedy involving four
Brussels teenagers came just three
weeks after Mr. Koch's first day on
the job. The new CEO told the
hospital board of directors the inci-
dent forced the staff to put their
skills to the test. Many of the pro-
cedures followed on January 25 are
from the hospital's Disaster Plan.
"While the plan did not technical-
ly kick in, in many .ways it was
tested and found to be sound." Mr,
Koch said the staff met last Thurs-
day to review the procedures fol-
lowed on January 25. Thb meeting
"produced a few areas of follow up
and refinement, but, the administra-
tor said, "the consensus is the
response was excellent."
Statistically, admissions were
down over last January. In addition,
Mr. Koch said in his report, the
average stay in hospital is shorter.
The laboratory is much busier this
year, he added, and the reflection in
increased statistics is related to
more efficient collection methods.
"I found the first three weeks
very energizing. The sense I get
from the community -at -large is that
the hospital has excellent support in
the community."
Mr. Koch replaces Norm Hayes
as hospital chief administrator, who
left the institution last summer.
the hands of the courts. Courts have
the power to determine "whether or
not the law or the activity of the
police officer conformed to the
constitution."
Since then, Farmer said, "We've
had some turmoil and some
difficulties."
It all boils down to what he called
a "problem of interpretation."
What frustrates him is Crown
attorneys, must give the defense
everything they know about a case,
but "they have no obligation to give
us anything."
He also said the job of the police
is more difficult in obtaining search
warrants or wiretap orders.
"When the job gete difficult,
you need any and all resources
available to assist you to make it a
little easier,'• he said, referring to
tarn to page 2