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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-06-04, Page 1BEST ALL ROUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA (Circulation Class under 2200) C.C.N.A. Better Newspaper Competition 198E PUBLISHED: IN LU,CKNOW, ONTARIO • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1986 20 PAGES 406 PER COPY Chris Stevenson appears to be walking on the bar during a successful attempt in the high jump event. The students at Lucknow Central Public School held their field day on May 26. (Alan Rivett photo) Lucknow Co-op to collect tools for African farmers By Alan Rivett Farmers with used tools collecting dust in their garages or sheds could be making a valuable contribution towards helping the farmers of Africa re -build their crops. To help these African farmers, the Lucknow Co-op and Co-ops across the pro- vince are participating in a program call- ed Tools for Africa which is aimed at col- lecting desperately needed tools to be sent to a number of drought-striken areas of Africa. Tool Collection According to Dave Dawson, manger of the Lucknow Co-op, the stores are hoping to collect tools such as round -mouthed shovels, pick axes, hoes, spades, sickles, sledge hammers, chisels, and hay forks from farmers in the area. "Farmers usually have some tools in the barn or shed that they're not using. Whatever people in this area are willing to give would be great," said Mr. Dawson. He stressed, however, that the tools should be in reasonably good shape when they are turned into the store. "We'd like the tools in good Working order because a lot of financial assistance would be taken away from food and put towards fixing the tools: They don't have to be brand new, just as long as they're in reasonably good condition," said Mr. Dawson. The project, said Mr. Dawson, is being organized by Global Ed -Med Supplies, a Toronto-based charitable organization which has been sending surplus medical supplies to developing countries for three years. Central Distribution The Co-ops became involved in the pro- gram because of their network of stores throughout Ontario with a central distribu- tion centre in Toronto. Mr. Dawson said with 100 stores in Ontario, it would make collecting and shipping the tools to Toronto relatively easy. From Toronto, the tools would be shipped directly to Africa into three regions of Ethiopia which have not received much financial help during the drought because of an ongoing civil war in the country. While the Co-op is spear -heading the Tools for Africa Campaign in this area, Mr. Dawson said he would like to see ser - •Turn to page 3 Wingham hospital to close 16 beds from June to August In an effort to ward off a trend toward a deficit in the operation of Wingham and District Hospital this year, the hospital's board of governors gave its approval last week to a suggestion that 16 beds be "clos- ed" from June to August. Following a lengthy discussion, the board felt it would be more appropriate if the closure were,to be on an unofficial basis and has deided to operate in that nature for at least the next month. The board members agreed that should the unofficial closing not receive the co- operation of those necessary to make it work, the governors will be forced to make the move a'formal one at the next meeting. The closure was recomended by Robert Pike, finance chairman, who said the move could mean savings of as much as $58,000 in the three-month period. Mr. Pike told the meeting that at the end of April — the first month in.the hospital's fiscal year — the financial statement in- dicated an operating deficit of $23,000. At the end of the same month last year, the statement showed' an operating surplus of $54,000. "The trend is there," Mr. Pike said. "Basically, we're running ata deficit." He added that although the board had re- quested an additional subsidy of $100,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Health, there had been no indication that the request would be granted. The board decided at its April meeting to seek the additional funding since a four percent increase allowed by MOH for the 1986 hospital budget was not expected to be enough to offset increased costs associated with greater activity at the hospital. "We have to take some steps in dealing with the deficit," Mr. Pike said. "We can't just sit and let it accumulate until the ministry decides whether or not it is going. to deal with it." He said the summertime is when activi- ty at the hospital is at its lowest, and because of this, "if there ever was a time to do anything about the deficit, now is the time to do it." Administrator Norman Hayes told the board members that the move required the co-operation of the hospital's medical staff in two areas. Wherever possible, earlier dischargeof patients is required as well as keeping admissions down by offer- ing outpatient treatment in a non- emergency situation. "This does not say that we are not going to admit emergencies, because we are," Mr. Hayes said. "That is our priority." Most of the discussion on the issue cen- Lucknow water rates going up As of July 1, the Lucknow water rates will be increased by $1 for residential and commercial users. The new rates were ap- proved at a special meeting of council on May 23. Under the new rate schedule, $7 a month, up from $6,' will be charged to residential customers while commercial customers will be billed $8.20 per month, up from $7.20 per month. 'fhe, Lucknow Public School and Pinecrest Nursing Home will also ex- perience an increase in the water rates from $48 a month to $56. The senior citizens' 20 -unit apartment building will be charged $140 a month from, $120. According to Clerk Bertha Whitcroft, the higher rates are a result of increased maintenance costs coupled with • a $13,000 bill to repair a water pump and the impen- ding inspection and re -greasing of the standpipe started for later this year or ear- ly neXt year: ' The last increase in the water rate oc- curred in October of 1981. tred on whether or not the board should formally close the 16 beds for the three- month period. During that discussion, Dr. Brian' Hanlon, hospital chief of staff, proposed an amendment which would give as the hospital's reason for closing the beds "a lack of funding from the government." Dr. Hanlon said he felt it important that "the public was made aware of this," He pushed Mr. Hayes for a statement to•that effect and asked the administrator if the reasonfor closing was insufficient fun- ding. "Perhaps if the minister of health reads this in the paper in his home riding, he might be a bit embarrassed," Dr. Hanlon added. "I don't think we should be whitewashing the ministry of health." Mr. Hayes, although acknowledging that "if we were paid for what we do, then we. would not have to dig into our own pockets to pay for our expenses last year," stopped short, however, of declaring insufficient funding as the reason for closing the beds. Mr. Hayes told the board the closing was a means of saving some money to offset a developing deficit. Board Chairman Hans Kuyvenhoven asked if other avenues had been con- sidered by the finance committee and Mr. Pike assured him the committee had iden- tified other areas where the budget could be trimmed. "But they are items where we may or may not decide to spend the money; they are not definite," he said. "This is an ac- tual expense which we incur and something that we can act on now." At the end of the lengthy discussion it was suggested that the administrator close •Turn to page 3 Mystery author visits school The students at Lucknow Central Public School had a special visitor on May 29 when mystery author Eric Wilson presented an author's workshop at the school. SEE PAGE 9 We goofed last week Sometimes errors happen and Last week's paper contained a few mistakes. In the picture of the Horticultural Society's Spring Tea, a lady was iden- tified as Lenore Glenn while, in fact, it was Dawna Richardson. Also, a graduation picture had th'e wrong infor- mation under it. The corrected version appears. this• week. The Sentinel regrets these errors.