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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1996-08-14, Page 44 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, August 14, 11196 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 • TERRI-LYNN DALE - General Manager & Advertising Manager MARY MEILOR - Sales PAT ARMES Office Manager DIANNE McGRATH - Subscriptions & Classifieds DAVE SCOTT - Editor GREGOR CAMPBELL - Reporter BARB STOREY - distribution A Bowes Publishers Community Newspaper SUBSCRIPTION RATES LOCAL - 32 50 a year, in advance. plus 2 28 G S T SENIORS 30 00 o year, m advance, plus 2 10 G S T USA & Foreign 32 50 o year in advance, plus $78 00 postage, G S T exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES Published weekly by Signal -Star Publishing at 100 Main St , Seoforth Publication mail registration No 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not 1 be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services of a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold Advertising is merely on offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliv- erable copies ore to be sent to The Huron Expositor Wednesday, August 14, 1996 Editorial and Business Offices - 100 Main Street.,Seaforth Telephone 1519) 527-0240 Fax 1519) 527-2858 Moiling Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaford', Ontario, NOK 1WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association and the Ontario Press Council Letters to the Editor User fees `embarrassing' (Editor's hole: This letter originally appeared in the July 31 edition of the Clinton News Record) . ,Dear Editor: A story regarding user fees for the Bayfield Arena for out -of -`town hockey players •was published in the Huron Expositor on July 17. This was so ehnbarrassirig to rpc as 4 Byfield taxpayer and as a parent on the team they are Calking about. Last year was the first year Bayficld'had a girls (ages 12- 19) hockey' team. If not for girls outside of Bayfield we would not have had enough players and the team would have folded. We all E aid our dues, practiced hockey, played hockey, travelled to places as far as - West Lorne, Sarnia, etc., had lots of fun' and kept these girls occupied and off the streets and into organized sports two to four times a week. The coaches volunteer, the trainers volunteer and the par- ents volunteer just like any other hockey team. And let's not forget the wonderful sponsors we ,get so we can have sweaters and equipment since minor hockey is always struggling - just like any- where else. I have understood in the past we 'do charge a user fee or at least ask for a donation from,the two neigh- boring townships, Goderich and : Stanley. What is the charge per child and was Seaforth informed last year of a fee? Two Bayfield children play in-line hockey in the Seaforth arena during the summer. Is Bayfield going to pay a user fee to them? Some Bayfield children are playing in Exeter, London, Hensall and likely more places - are we going to be charged user fees? Would it not be in thc best interest to ask for a donation instead of a users fee? We are only a small community and need children from out -lying communities to make up teams. 1 think. council has stirred up a hor- nets' nest. More time and tax- payers' money is going to be spent trying to figure out who is playing hockey where and when and swimming where and when. Next thing it will be baseball, soccer. etc. Maybe this is the time to stress to taxpayers of the vil- lage of Bayfield. You own the arcna. Do you know where your money is going? Not just during hockey season but all the other times. I understand it costs approximately $65 an hour to run the arena when the ice is in. How much does it cost when the ice is out? Should not the cost of running an arena be an average year round? i know the arena is running in thc red just like many other arenas. People are talking around town that certain poor plewant the arena closed. That's becausewe run a deficit. Are you going to ask what portion and how much bf your taxes go to the arena? I don't even know myself but I am becoming concerned when rumors start going around about the arcna clos- ' ing. Maybe someone can pub- dish the exact facts for year round expenditures and make taxpayers more aware of how the.arena is run. Maybe more interest would be generated and another arena tloaid could be started. I'm just as much at fault for not looking into facts and figures, but I'm starting to. At one recreation board meeting the figure skating club and hockey presidents asked the recreation board to approach council and ask them not to raise hourly ice time or at least make it a small increase. I asked at a council meeting that if an increase was needed please do it gradually (similar to Goderich). - The r'ext thing I know is that our ice time rate for minor hockey jumped from $35 an hour to $50 an hour. This has been too much•of an increase. 'I suggested an increase, but over three years. Now we don't know if we are going/to have a figure skating club this year and if parents are going to be able to afford the increase in hockey regis- tration. I also believe $50 an hour is too steep for Bayfield Minor Hockey. Clinton's minor hockey is $53 an hour and they have a larger ice sur- face. Maybe we can have the figure skating club and hock- ey club publicize their views. This $I5 an hour intrease will help offset the cost of running thc arena but at who's expense? The children's. I heard one councillor say "taxpayers are sick of being taxed higher because of the arena." Well, taxpayers, you own the arena. Maybe more people can now take an inter- est, put our heads together, get the facts, and help reduce the deficit. Maybe if every- body took an interest' now we wouldn't have to contend with people that want to close our arena later. Thc arena and community centre is to be used by young and old so if anyone has any ideas, approach council and the recreation hoard. Maybe if the arena ran at a full capaci- ty we wouldn't be in the red. Um just a concerned citizen and taxpayer. i love my vil- lage. and 1 believe our arena is an important part to adults and children alike. Marie Fitzsimons Bayfield Bayfield will have to ask all I want a ticket to Mars councils nationsor Contrary to recent rumours circulating after the announcement of the Toronto Sun employee -led buyout which ultimately affects Bowes Publishers and The Huron Expositor, we aren't going to be running Sunshine Girls on page three. (Or Sunshine Boys which usually appear further into thc daily editions of the Toronto Sun. Although Gregor offered to show us his tan -line). We could try to blow up our headlines to take up the entire front page like the Sun docs most days of the week, like this: - RIOT ON MAIN STREET • Six injured as wild hull chases rabid skunks through town. • Hundreds of shots fired. , • For gory, furry photo, see inside. But I'm afraid we won't be running front pages like that (unless, of course, it happens). In totally unrelated news. I just happened to sit down at the table of the eventual Lions Club Elimination Draw winners Saturday night at Seaforth Community Centre. We joked that I might have to take a picture of Barb and Rob Core if they won. And they did. So I'm starting a .new -lot-1 tcry-,winning service. You , can invite me over on a Saturday night to watch the 6/49 draw and i'II bring my camera with me. (There will he a small fee or cold refresh- ment in lieu of payment). it was great seeing every- body come over and congrat- ulate the winners. It would have made for some great candid photos if I hadn't left my camera sitting up at the draw table. Yes, there were congratula- tions galore, except from the noticeably absent Jeff and Marijo. (i was paid $4,000 to say that. Okay, maybe just a beer). in more unrelated news evidence of life has been found on Mars, according to NASA scientists. Some traces of micro-organisms were found on meteorites that smashed into Earth a while ago from Mars which sug- gests that at one time there was water on the surface of the red planet. (And maybe a Club Med. And guess where the Martians drank? - At the Mars Bar). And in closing, in keeping with the style of our Sun owners, we will be carrying thc first interview with ,a Martian when they land in Kippen (in April 1997). (Editor's note: This letter appeared in the August 7 edi- tion of the Clinton News Record) Dear Editor: This letter is regarding the letter Marie Fitzsimons wrote to the Clinton paper last week. Thanks for making me more aware of what is going on. It's okay to ask for dona- tions but Bayfield council will have to ask a councils. Clinton, Hensall and Goderich have players play- ing in Bayfield. They have not been asked fora user fee or donation. is this not dis- crimination? What's done for one has to be done for all. Also after. asking, I under- stand that only approximately $50 of my village taxes offset the arena deficit. i pay about 52,00(1 a year in taxes to Bayfield. i don't consider this a burden. We need our arena and community centre. i don't' have any children attending the arena but I'm willing to - volunteer some of my time now since I'm aware some- what of what's going on. I'm proud of my village -also. and the Bayfield Community Centre and Arena are part of it. D. Sath Bay field Bayfield bills Seaforth for kids in programs .. Minor hockey presidentsays it's `ludicrous' Dear Editor: , in response to the letter from Marie Fitzsimons, i would like to sa'y that i am in full agreement. imposing user fees is one thing but billing neighboring munici- palities for their children par- ticipating in our prograrrlfi such as minor hockey and figufe skating which tion-, trillruto-tci-the arena's -tote" revenue is' ludicrous. After all, they are paying their dues. • - Village council. "it seems", believes they are subsidizing these children. while in actu- ality these programs would not exist without the contin- ued participation of these children. It seems to me that this is some members of council's plan to decrease participation in these pro- grams so as to make it easier for them to close the doors completely. This rumour has been surfacing for some time. It seems to me ridiculous to close an arena that only 17. e years, agh your service clubs and citizens of the village and. neighboring townships ' worked so hard to completely ;rebuild with, the heclp of tae, .c sasae l perople-ahe condition the building and its programs and functions have steadily improved. Why would' any- one want to close what i5 rec-, ognized as the pillar of any community? Every other community is proud of their arena and work' together to keep it functioning. Getting back .to user fees, Marie proposed to council that increases be spread out over three years. Their reply was, ,wasn't in the taxpay- ers' best interest. I believe that this was an excellent idea. if a public meeting was ever held, the majority of tax- payers of the' village and neighboring townships who, by the way; contributed great- ly toward rebuilding the 'arena would not want to see a "paid for" asset closed •off' even allowed to deteriorate. They would likely also agree that pricing ourselves out of 'the market is bad business. - After all, very few people would want to move to a place where there is nothing for their children or for that matter anyone else to do. What would happen to 'prop- erty values? I would, like' to see an average per taxpayer dollar figure for maintaining the arena for one year. I am very afraid that the increased rates, will make it impossible to maintain already function- ing programs and discourage participation in any new ones. Wait until Bayfield Council receives invoices from their children's partici- pation in neighboring com- munity centres. hall parks. and swimming pools. )i won- der what the balance sheet will look like then'' ' Fdr years taxpayers have Fomplained -about vandalohs acts of our young people. Think what' will happen if our arena is,closed and no longer keeps these children occupied in the winter months. "Idle hands are the devil's helper." Robert Pellow President, ,- Bayfield Minor Hockey Man killed by lightning at flax mill FROM THE PAGES OF THE HURON EXPOSITOR AUGUST 21, 1896 'KILLED BY LIGHTNING - Mr. John Waugh, a well- known resident of. Seaforth, met with his death in a, very sudden and tragic manner on Saturday evening last. During the severe thunder and light- ning storm which prevailed, he was standing in the office of the flax mill. conversing with several other men who were there. Mr. Waugh was standing in thc open door- way. with his right hand on the top of the door. The bolt came down the side of the building, striking the door jam against which he was standing. knocking off the top hinge and striking him on the side, killing him instantly. Mr. John Paul. manager of the flax mill, and his brother. Fritz, were also stunned. the latter somewhat severely, but both soon recovered. Mr. Waugh was a retired farmer. He came to Seaforth about three years ago from the township of Logan, county of Perth, and engaged in money lending and conveyancing. He ,was a genial, sociable man, and a most worthy citi- zen; and was highly respected by all who know him. He had been a school teacher in early life, and was a man of more than ordinary intelligence. His sudden and tragic death was a shock to the entire community, and much sym- pathy is felt for his bereaved family and friends. He leaves a widow and large family, most of whom are grown up. The remains were taken to In the Years, Agone NIENNielussmilissmolommie. Mitchell on Tuesday and interred in the cemetery there. AUGUST 19, 1921 PROPOSED 'HYDRO EXTENSION An effort to obtain hydro power for the village of Bayfield and the townships of Stanley and Tuckersmith, to the east, is under way, and a meeting of ratepayers of these munici- palities gill be held at Varna on Friday of this week to dis- cuss the situation. Chief Engineer Gaby and other officials of the Ontario Hydro Commission will' be present to explain the possibilities. The proposal is to erect a power line westward to the lake from Egmondville, just south of Seaforth. All three municipalities would presumably be eligible for participation in the Government's plan of sharing equally the expense of con- structing rural transmission lines. THE WEATHER Il`I JULY The month of July was the hottest July on record in Canada. The mean average temperature was 78 degrees. The highest mean average before was 76 in July 1916. On no day between June 19 and July 31 was the maxi- mum temperature below 80. The highest temperature, however, did not reach that of July 3, 1911, when it was 103.2 degrees. - AUGUST 23, 1946 With half the canvassing time gone, officials in charge of the Legion 'Memorial drive, reported that donations in excess of $2.000 had been received as of Wednesday night. Seaforth canvassers have -covered 75 per cent of the town. but have a large. number of call-backs. Tuckersmith is well under way with $800 reported by Chairman Harold Finnigan, while McKillop north end has been 70 per cent can- vassed and with the south part of the township to be covered by Chairman W.C. Bennett and his canvassers. BROKEN ARM - A new pair of roller skates presented by relatives with whom she was visiting in Hensall, proved troublesome for 10 - year -old - Dorothy McClinchey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Garnet McClinchey. of Seaforth. Trying the skates on the Main Street of Hensall Saturday night, she fell and received a severely fractured arm. The fracture was reduced at Scott Memorial Hospital, Seaforth. ••• Free Trips to Britain for champion tractor plowmen will he an outstanding feature of the international Plowing Match, to be held at Port Albert Airport, in October, according to Gordon McGavin. President of the Ontario Plowmep;s Association. Elimination contests in preparation for this event will be held .at some 70 branch plowing matches to be conducted throughout the Province. The grand prizes will be tsps to Great Britain for first and second prize winners. accom- panied by a coach -manager. AUGUST 26, 1971 , Savings of at (cast $10,(0X) are forecast by county school board officials vIith the intro- duction, when,schools open. of an integrated bus system to service pupils in McKillop Township and in parts •of Grey. Morris and Hullett Townships attending both public. separate and sec- ondary schools. First raised by Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School board more than, a year ago. the new system reflects continuing discus- sions between officials of that board and of the Huron Board of Education extend- ing over many months. 1 ,• • * Thc curtain came down on more than one hundred years of history and tradition on Saturday as three one -room schools in McKillop Township went under the Auctioneer's call. ,Four more schools are scheduledto be sold Saturday. Sold last Saturday were S.S. No. 2 McKillop located on Concession 4. 1 1/4 miles East of the Hullett town line. S.S. No. 4 (Duff's) School. also on Concession 4 and • S.S. No. 6 (Wheatley's) on the 8th Concession.