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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-09-30, Page 11Vandals make disturbing mess in beach washrooms Gerard Creates signal -star staff Call it a crappy situation. Goderich parks superintendent Martin Quinn informed council at their Sept. 21 session that vandals have been regularly defacing the washrooms at the beach. Quinn cited numerous incidences where vandals had been "collecting human waste" in balloons and blowing them up with firecrackers in the beach washrooms. "I don't even want to know how they got it in there," Quinn said. He noted the vandals also clogged the toilets at the beach by cramming them frank with you," he said to council. Clerk -administrator Larry McCabe said enforcement may be a better ap- proach, as vandals can easily disguise themselves for the cameras, especially at night. Coun. Heather Lyons asked if it were possible for council to close the wash- rooms overnight, and open them up in the morning. "It's a policy I would like to review," she said. However, Shewfelt said having the washrooms open 24 hours is a necessity to accommodate those who go walking at late hours. "The small minority are causing these problems," he said. "If people walk at night, we have to have them "You would almost think someone is disturbed," — Deb Shewfelt full of "every piece of pa- per" in the washrooms. "You would almost think someone is disturbed," remarked mayor Deb Shew- felt. Quinn said, the damage was so hei- nous, town staff were literally sick when attempting to clean up the mess. "Is there any specific time this hap- pens?" asked Coun. David Yates. Quinn said it usually took place Fri- day nights, adding he would like to see the area monitored more closely. "I'd love to see a camera there to be open. "Everybody is on different shifts." Quinn noted the washrooms at the beach are usually opened in late April - early May, and stay open until weather prompts the winter shut -down. Coun. Ray Hurd, who attended a con- ference of lakefront communities last week, said he would ask other com- munities how they tackled the issue of vandalism and report back to council Oct. 5. St. Vincent de Paul barbecue raising funds for. CO detectors in Goderich Dominique Milburn signal -star staff The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is hoping that a little bit of barbecue, clowns, balloons and firemen will go a long way in ensuring many families' safety. The St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) orga- nization is hosting a special fundraising event along with the Goderich Fire De- partment this weekend that will help sup- port the purchase of carbon monoxide de- tectors for families in need. The special event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 3 at their storefront lo- cation at 441 MacEwan St. in Goderich, and according to SVDP's Pat Clifford, it's going to be a good one. "It's going to be a full day of fun for the whole family," Clifford said. The main goal of the i. SVDP initia- tive is a simple one, acc., . ling to Clif- ford. "We want to get as many detectors out there as possible, and we're going to make'' this a yearly thing until everyone in the Town of Goderich has one," she said. The SVDP is hoping to raise enough cash to enable the purchase of about 100 carbon monoxide detectors to be distrib- uted to families who rely on social assis- tance funding. She said the cost per unit is a middle-of-the-road $50. "The rent in this town is unreal when you consider the amount of people on fixed incomes," she said. "By the time you get all those costs paid, there's - not much left for things like this." The deadly effects of carbon monoxide were thrust into the spotlight in south- western Ontario last December when a Woodstock family's deaths were attrib- uted to carbon monoxide - an odourless gas created by burning fuel. Carbon mon- oxide leaks in buildings usually occur because of faulty heating equipment or blocked ventilation systems. The family, consisting of a female OPP officer, her husband and two young children, all suc- cumbed to inhalation. "I think some people think it'll never happen to them, but you don't get a sec- ond chance with carbon monoxide," Clif- ford said. "You don't even know you're being poisoned." In a bid to garner as much communi- ty support and participation as possible, SVDP have arranged to feature door priz- es, barbecued hot dogs, sausage and ham- burgers, clowns, face -painting, tot -sized pedal -car rides, and an all -day jamboree at the fundraiser, and to top it all off, fire- men and fire trucks. A donor appreciation board will also be on display to honour those who have lent their support to the organization. To reg- ister a donation and reserve a place on the board, call 519-524-1087. Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - Page 11 Capsized boater sp On September 25, at approximately 8:40 pan., Huron OPP officers wane advised of an overdue boater on Lake Huron. The missing 41 -year-old St. Marys man had been sailing on Lake Huron earlier in the day, but had been due home by 6 p.m. His family called when he was late:- Officers ate.:Officers attended the beach in the area where he had last been seen and found all his belongings on shore. A search was then initiated utilizing nunemus resources. ItCC Trenton assisted with a search boat from Goderich and a searr-a,nd=cue plane from Trenton. Huron OPP marine operators combed the coastline. Huron OPP ATVs covered the beach area. Lambton OPP as- sisted with resources from Grand Bend. The man had been wearing apersonal flo- tation device, but he did not have any safety equipment on the catamanin sailboat. At approximately 1:50 a.m., a very bright flare was released from the Hercules search and rescue plane that could be seen on shore. Soon after, all anxious onlookers ends hours in lake were notified that the man had been located on his capsized boat. Aside from some mild hypothermia, he was fine. IMPAIRED ATV DRIVER ARRESTED. On September 26, at approximately 11:00 p.m. Huron OPP officers were called to a Glen's Hill Road address to a report of a trespassing man on an ATV riding around a residence doing donuts and chasing the family dog. The Fomplainantcomplainant indicated that the driver appeared to be Atapproximately T . y 11:30 p.m. officers ar- rived on scone and found an .=plated ATV stopped tut nailing with a male sitting on top of it. Upon making contact, the officer determined that'he was impaired by alco- hol. The man resisted the officers' attempts to get him to dismount the vehicle. The man was arrested and talo to *the Huron Detachment where he refused to provide two suitable samples of hi$ breath as required by law. The ATV was towed and will .be for 45 days. Smile Cookies are gone, but the smiles they've left in our community will last forever. Thanks to your support, Tim Hortons will be donating the entire proceeds to the Eat and Learn Huron Perth School Nutrition Partnership program. O Tkn Hortons. 2009 •R' 110PC T4ilMd. stn.. wren You, Aisldng Good Mtge