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The Huron Expositor, 1995-11-01, Page 5Coiuiuunity Goderich-Exeter Railway Local train traffic increases BY DAVID SCO'IT Expositor Editor If you think you've been hearing more train whistles through Seaforth lately, you're right.' And according to Goderich- Exeter Railway general man- ager Arlene Parker, there's not much that can be done to avoid the situation. By law, trains must sound a "14-L," which is two longs, one short and one long whistle every time they approach a crossing, 24 hours a day. This also is the busiest sea- son for the local short -line railroad. "It's because of corn harvest and bcan harvest and wheat harvest all happening at once. Generally, Seaforth and Mitchell support the railway because they are farming com- munities so they understand we're all contributing to the health of the rural county," says Parker. The biggest,customers for the Goderich-Exeter Railway in this area arc [.AC (London Agricultural Commodities), W.G. Thompson (Dublin) and Mitchell Co-op. The railway company also has a line that extends south through Hensall's- various mills to Centralia. Another factor in scheduling is that Godcrich-Exeter trains have to be at the CN inter- change in Stratford at a certain time of day to exchange cars. "To do that we have push customers back 12-18 hours before (the CN interchange). Right now because we're doing such a hugh volume (of busi- ness) that's why we're out 24 hoursa day." Engine problems have also been a reason for the late-night runs. "If we have engine problems, we have fewer engines to pull the cars which means we have 4-H LEADERS MICHELE GREENE/MITCHELL ADVOCATE Two 4-H leaders were honored foPtheir long-term service to the club last Thursday night. The Perth Federation of Agriculture pre- sented plaques to Doris Jeffrey (left), 26 years service, and Elvy Brodhagen, for 31 years service. Bigger not better, Catholic trustees say BY MICHELE GREENE SSP News Staff Bigger is not better. This theme ran through a recent meeting of the Huron - Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board. The provincial government announced many board amal- gamations which will take place in time for the 1997 municipal elections. It would amalgamate the Huron -Perth board with the Grey -Bruce Roman Catholic Separate School Board and the Perth County Board of Education with the Huron County Board of Education. The Huron. Perth and Huron -Perth boards are fight- ing these amalgamations by informing the government how the three boards work together mdre efficiently than a plan for amalgamation. Just in case the amalgama- tion plan move ahead, separate trustees asked Dr. James Brown, director .of education, to outline options and a "back up" plan. "The only reason they would want to join with a separate board would be because we are so efficient." said Trustee Gerry Ryan. of the Seaforth area. This wasn't the only time the idea that bigger isn't Netter came up. The separate board received a letter from the Metro Separate School Board, which is planning to begin sharing with its co -terminus boards. It offered to hold seminars for boards across the province on how they can do this, too. This letter received laughs from the trusties because the Huron -Perth, 111,10n, and Perth boards are alre.uiy sharing in the ways outlin.. t by the Metro Separate boar( which hasn't yet begun to share. Stratford Trustee Michael Dack suggested the Huron, Perth board would be more qualified to hold the seminars than the Metro Separate board. He said, tongue in cheek, that the Huron -Perth board could become consultants on sharing and generate revenue. The subject came up again when Stratford Trustee Ron Marcy told trustees that the hoard's insurance premium from Oct. 25, 1995 to Oct. 25, 1996 is $58,873 from Frank Cowan Insurance. This premi- um was lower that the 571,318 premium offered by Ontario School Boards' Insurance Exchange (OSBIE) which requires a five-year committ- ment. Marcy pointed out that insur- ance is one area where the Huron -Perth board would face increased costs if amalgama- tion took place. If the Grey - Bruce board purchases insur- ance from OSBIE, the Huron - Perth would be required to be covered by this company, and its higher premium, once its own incurance ran out. Approximately 600 people have signed letters, prepared by the board, opposed to amal- gamation. They will be sent to John Snobelen, minister of . education and training; John Sweeney, chairperson of the Ontario -School Board Reducation Task Force; Premier Mike Harris; Perth MPP Bert Johnson; and Huron MPP Helen Johns. Farmland increased in value Farmland . across Canada averaged an 8.7 per cent increase in value in the past year, according to figures released last week by the Farm Crcdit Corporation. In the first six months of 1995 the farmland averaged a 4 per cent increase nationally, although the FCC says the size of the provincial increases (based on dollar value per acre) fh varies considerably reflecting trends in the agricultural economy. Alberta had the largest increase in the last six months at 5 per cent, and Nova Scotia, where no change was detected, the smallest. Ontario ranked seventh with a 2.8 per cent increase. No statistics were available for Newfoundland. to make more trips and go on a 24-hour rotation," says Parker. She admits there have been engine problems lately bat that "its starting to get better now." Train scheduling also depends on the size of the customer's track. "At LAC we can only spot four to five cars for them. So if they're really busy, they may need two switches a day," says ' Parker. The switching process involves taking the cars from right beside their building, moving them to the other end of the yard and then bringing more in. "The signals are on during that because the tracks are right in front of the crossing. We just shortened the circuit on the crossing. They were circuited for 50 miles per hour. We circuited them shorter so they won't go on as much." Teacher charged for explosives The Barrie Emergency Tac- tical Unit removed and detonated explosives found in the locker of a recently suspended science teacher at Walkerton District Secondary School on Oct. 20. Various police explosive units later arrested the 55 -year- old teacher, Charles Morgan, at his residence where they seized "a large quantity of explosives". TIN HUAON I menrOII• NeVambor 1.04-6 The Ministry of the Solicitor. General together with the Seaforth .Town Council and Police Services Board are pleased to announce that the Ontario Provincial Police will be providing police services to the Town of Seaforth commencing at 7:00 p.m., October 30th, 1995. After that time, all calls for police service should be directed to the OPP Telecommunications Centre in Mount Forest at, the following number: 1-800-265-2525 Persons who wish to contact 'the office regarding an administrative matter, or those wishing to speak to a specific officer, are asked to call the Seaforth OPP office at 527-0904. The Seaforth OPP office is located at 68 Main Street, Seaforth. Residents are encouraged to visit the office and meet the officers on duty. Theywill be pleased to explainlai n the OPP philosophy of CommunityPoli in . B. E. BALDWIN, Staff Sergeant, Detachment Commander with every lire Purchase cAnAoian TIRE PR*MIUM ltAiieSIIAPON RADIAL A799 each,. up Motanaster SE P155/80R13 79S MOTOMASTER The Best Deal & Quality Work UARANTEED! 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