Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1993-12-01, Page 1PUBLISHEP IN LUCKNQW, ONTARIO Wednesday, December 1, 1993 55e Q.S.T. Included Andy Burgess assumes new police duties Senior Constable Andy Burgess has been assigned as the Community Services Officer for the Walkerton and Kincardine Detachment areas. Constable Burgess replaces Senior Constable G. Gaelor of the Walkerton Detachment who retired today. The mandate of the community services program is to promote police and community interaction by providing safety education, initiating crime prevention strat- egies, promoting police and media relations and fostering good public relations. Constable Burgess brings 30 years of experience in general law enforcement and as a community police officer to the office of community services. He will be participating in the Values Influences and Peers pro- gram within area schools. Constable 'Burgess is co-chair of the sub -committee of the Family Violence Prevention Committee in Grey/Bruce which is established to maintain a shelter and police working agreement for responding to wife assault. He will also be working with the Bruce County Board of Education and other police services in an effort to establish policy and plans to deal with violence in schools. Constable Burgess will be involved .with the Child Abuse •turn to page 2 Twenty -two-month old Kylie Garnmle was one of many children and adults who part cipated In Lucknow's annual tree lighting ceremony last week. The huge Christmas tree she helped to decorate was a joyous wonder for little Kylie, who rocked back and forth during the carol singing. KylleIs the daughter of Kristi and Jeff Gammie. (Pat Livingston photo) Board of Education fires teacher by Pat Halpin CHESLEY--In an unusual move, the Bruce County Board of Education held a special meeting November 22 to fire a teacher. Trustees started the 3 p.m. meeting late, but took only minutes to terminate the permanent contract of Grade 6 teacher William (Bill) Caswill. - - The-motion-cited"conductincom— patible with his dluties as a teacher" as the reason forr the firing. Later, Director of Education Paul Martindale said the wording of the motion was carefully chosen, but declined further ' comment on details. Caswill has been a teacher for 29 years, 19 o with the Bruce Board. He been a Grade 6 teacher at Amabel-Hepworth Central in Hepworth since the beginning of this school year. Previously, he taught various grade levels at Port Elgin-Saugeen Central, Elderslie Central in Ches- ley, and G.C. Huston in Southampton. Caswill was present for the special meeting. Later, he said he is .innocent of what he called rumors about alleged statements. "I didn't say the things I'm ac- cused of," he said in an interview. • Reading from a prepared statement, Caswill said he will do his own investigation into the al- legations through the Children's Aid Society and local police departments. He also warned that the board's decision to fire him will be a costly one. Caswill wants compensation lowed Caswill through four schools for slander, and will file a over 14 years. grievance. He expects that process to take 18-24 months. "Assuming that fails, wrongful dismissal (proceedings)•will begin," Caswill said, adding that before the whole process is over the board "will owe me four years salary, retirement gratuity, sick leave com- Tedford said there is no allegation of physical or sexual abuse, but there were "verbal" problems affec- ting the classroom atmosphere. No outside investigation was launched, according to Tedford, because parents who went to, pensation;-relocation-expenses -and—Children's--Aid andpolicewith an undetermined amount for, complaints were told the matter was damages to my family name, whicnot within those jurisdictions. will be considerable." Tedford denied Caswill's charge Chair Don Tedford confirmed that the board failed to conduct any Caswill's statement that the board offered to "buy out" the remainder of his contract for this school year if he would resign. Caswill refused the offer. In an interview, Caswill said hi`s problems began on the first day of school last year, when he was at Port Elgin-Saugeen Central. He said a student alleged he made remarks with sexual overtones. Caswill denied the charge, but rumors persisted. "You can't, stop the rumors," he said. A transfer to Amabel-Hepworth was suggested as a way to solve the problem, said John Collins of' the Bruce, elementary teachers federation. The transfer was made this school year, but didn't end the rumors. , "The first day of school (in Hep- worth) the rumors were dug up," Caswill said. Tedford was reluctant to comment on what he called a personnel mat- ter, but said problems have fol - investigation through its own chan- nels. Collins said there were notation of problems in Caswill's teaching record, but he assumed they had been corrected. When asked if he has a "clean record"' on his behavior as a teacher, Caswill said, "Behavior? I'd have to be careful of that, but there -are -no se-xual-complaints." He also disputed the board's claim that it has documented its case. •turn to page 2 Enjoy an Old Fashioned Christmas and see Santa Santa and Mrs. Claus have scheduled a stop in Lucknow on Friday evening. As guests of honor they will take part in the annual evening Santa Claus parade, that gets underway at 7:15 p.m. Spon- sored by the Lucknow and District Kinsmen, this evening parade has proven to be a favorite with area residents - young and old alike. Businesses and individuals are welcome to enter their floats in one of three categories - or- ganization, commercial or open. Floats are to assemble on the north end of Havelock Street and horses at the south end of Havelock. Following the parade, Santa and Mrs, Claus will meet with children at the arena and bags of goodies will be handed out, courtesy of the Chamber ,of Commerce. Free skating will also take place. Area businesses are promoting their Old Fashioned Christmas this week. In addition to their advertisements in this week's Sentinel, you will fmd a calendar of events sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. It, lists all of the special pre -Christmas • events taking place locally. Downtown businesses will remain open until 9 p.m. Friday nights starting this week. The week prior to Christmas they will remain open each night, ext:lusive of Christmas Eve, until. 9 p.m. Please remember to shop local- ly where friendliness and service are top priority. Hospital board briefs by Mike Robinson Pay equity has been reached with most groups at the Wingham and District Hospital. Hospital CEO Lloyd Koch said agreement has been reached by all but one group. The board tater went in -camera to discuss further details of the pay equity agreements which had been reached. Pensions. Up Hospital pension plans are due to take a larger chunk out of the hospital budget. Koch explained costs for the Ontario Pension Plan are going up 33 per cent for employees and up 49 per cent for employers -- without providing additional coverage. He said this will have an, impact of $125,000 to the hospital next year; this year's impact will be about one-quarter of that amount. Recycling Effective Dec. 1, the Wingham and District Hospital will join fine paper recycling efforts with F.E. Madill Secondary School. • Environment There are no real answers awaiting small community hospitals looking for cost-effective ways to sterilize instruments. The board was told at its recent meeting that the Canadian Hospital Association is trying to deal with federal government regulations dealing with CFCAs. Mary Lou Thompson-Westman said it is an expensive problem for the sterilization of medical equipment. Options include disposable equip- ment which isn't environmentally friendly, a costly process utilizing gamma radiation, or contracting out. She said the CHA is trying to deal with Environment • Canada to work out something small hospitals. can afford. Telephones To absorb costs incurred, the Wingbam and District Hospital will replace its telephone system for administration and for patients. Patient phones (one per bed) will be —done on--a-cost=recovery basis •turn to page 2 Cook gets tender for snowplow ASHFIELD TOWNSHIP - Graham Cook was awarded the tender for rental of a snowplow and sander truck when. council met Nov. 16. Mr. Cook's tender was the only one received. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hogan dis- cussed the issue of housing cattle in the village residential zone at Kingsbridge. An undertaking, to be signed by Mr. Hogan, will be drafted regarding the possible future removal of the cattle if requested by council. Council approved an amendment to increase the tile drain loan ap- plication of Henry Sloetjes, and subsequently the rating bylaw was passed. Council will meet on Dec. 1 rather than Dec. 7 due to a conflict with the date of the Huron County Warden's election.