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The Huron Expositor, 1996-09-25, Page 14 Plowing Match Local Queen of the Furrow and plowmen come up big at IPM. See page 18 Fall Fair This year's eight contestants for Fall Fair Ambassador appear inside. See page 10 Sports Preview of `96-'97 Centenaires line-up. Season starts Friday. See page 6 Your. Community Newspaper Since 1860 --- Seaforth, Ontario Increase in Alzheimer expected by 2001 Huron MPP Helen Johns was at the Huron Adult Day Care Centre in Clinton Friday for the Alzheimer coffee break promotion.• "It is estimated by the year 2011 there will be a 90 per cent increase in the number of Alzheimer patients, and by the year 2021 the number will increase by a staggering 150 per cent," a press release from the MPP states. "It costs Canadians approximately $4 - billion dollars each year to care for these patients." Johns is also arliamentary assistant to IR Ontario's minister of health. Os, wrong date The next meeting of the Seaforth and Area Heritage Preservation Committee is on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the second floor council chambers of town hall, not Oct. 10 as was reported in last week's paper. Goderich threatening action against Seaforth board SCOTT HILGENDORFF SSP News Staff The Goderich Police Services Board arc ready to take legal action if they have to against the Seaforth board. The board is refusing to pay the full amount of its share of the police dispatchers' separa- tion package. The communi- cations system, of which Seaforth was a member, dis- banded earlier this year: Clinton and Seaforth, the only remaining towns still receiv- ing dispatching services from Goderich at the time of the disbandment, were sent bills for their share. Seaforth was billed $14,110.36 but is only willing to pay a portion of that amount. Luc Gagnon, the town's treasurer, told council at a recent meeting, there were three areas Seaforth disagreed with in the bill. Seaforth is only paying for two weeks worth of bcncfits instead of the requested two - years. It will only pay half the requested cost of training and are basing their percentage of the severance package as if the original five towns were a part of the dispatch system. The town is requesting a larger percentage because at the time of disbandment, Clinton and Seaforth were the only towns whose police were dispatched from Goderich. Seaforth is also refusing to pay for any of the legal costs for the disbandment. The Goderich Police Services Board decided last week to send a letter to the Seaforth board requesting full payment. If they refuse, the board is being asked to send its response in writing with the name of its lawyer. Goderich Administrator Larry McCabe said if it reach- es that point, the town's lawyer will begin communi- cating with Scaforth's lawyer regarding the matter. September 25, 1996 --- 75 Cents Plus GST PHOTO BY DAVID SCOTT GREAT DAY FOR RUNNING - Students at Seaforth Public School held their anhial Terry Fox Run early, on Friday in the sunshine. They had better weather than the official run day on Sunday. Happy to be out enjoying the good weather was Becky Brugger, along with Shaun Brooker, Michael McClure and Reilly Rightmyer at right. Control of local schools could be removed along with boards BY AMY NEILANDS SSP News Staff Control of local schools could soon be taken away from Ontario's school boards possibly dividing the respon- sibilities between the province and municipal coun- cils. Provincial Minister of Education and Training John Snobelen made the announce- ment last Thursday that the province may take over the responsibility for school. funding and curriculum development and make municipal councils responsi- ble for things such as busing and school construction as early 4 this fall. While no concrete plans have been presented by the ministry, Huron County CONTINUED on page 3 U. S. recruits in area Focus on keeping doctors in Huron, says Dr. Woldnik BY DAVID SCOTT Expositor Editor A Seaforth doctor would prefer to see Huron recruit its own doctors rather than local doctors being recruited to the United States. Dr. Mark Woldnik, chief of staff at Seaforth .Community Hospital, was reacting to a meeting hosted by the Huron County Medical Association last Wednesday in Benmiller that was co-sponsored by a recruitment firm that special- izes in placing Canadian physicians in the U.S.. , "It sends a signal, td nurses, ,health care professionals and patients that the option they're (Huron doctors) con- sidering is leaving, instead of staying in a system that's changing rapidly," said Woldnik. None of the eight doctors on staff ' at Seaforth Community Hospital and Seaforth Medical Clinic attended the 'U.S. recruitment. meeting. Woldnik says that's because for his staff, going to the U.S. is "not an option." "If I was a patient and my doctor was thinking of going to the States, I'd be mad," he said. "When (Seaforth doctors) were recruited here we, went after people who could sense this was their home - where they could settle. We looked at personality and work habits and how doctors fit together as a group. We have been the most successful hos- pital in the county for recruit- ing," says Woldnik. Of the eight doctors on staff, seven PHOTO BY GREGOR CAMPBELL RIBBON CUTTING AT SEAFORTH LIBRARY - Officials cut the ribbon to mark the official re -opening of the Seaforth • Library on Friday afternoon. The cost of various improvements was about $400 -thousand and this was shared by local, provincial and federal levels of govemment.From left: Gerry Delange, GDL Construction; Jim Holdsworth, architect/project manager; Leona Armstrong, Chair of Huron County Library Board; Huron Warden Bill Clifford (with scissors); Huron MPP Helen Johns; Seaforth Mayor Irwin Johnston. Bruce Potter, engineer. • have come to Seaforth in the past six years. Six physicians are doing obstetrics. "We do our share of call with no outside help." . Woldnik knows changes are coming and a "group can withstand it more than single practitioners." But a group can also break down, as Mitchell for example, he said. The third doctor in the. past year recently announced he's leaving the Perth County town. Woldnik says having the strong backing of the com- '.munity and the hospital board helps, "We won back the support of the ' community.' We recruited female doctors, brought in a mid -wife and we're in close contact'with the nursing staff and nursing homes." .No One Asked About U.S.. Woldniksaid neither he nor any Seaforth physicians were askcd about the merits of having a U.S. recruiter speak to Huron's medical associa- tion. He thinks emphasis should be placed on recruiting locoI- ly and working together with other hospitals. "I would have proposed a teaching/learning session on how to recruit, how to work together, cut costs, and improve our lot instead of the option of leaving. We have H expertise here 'in uron County to improve the busi- ness of medicine." Seaforth has benefitted by forming strong partnerships with Stratford. "We have support from Stratford. We've brought sub -specialties to Seaforth like orthopedics, pediatrics. We're closely affiliated. It's a good back up." Woldnik has travelled to Wingham to offer some recruitment and reorganiza- tion information. Wingham recently got approval to start building a new medical cen- tre where doctors can work out of. ' in London Paper Woldnik says when the issue of American recruit- ment shows up in the London paper it gives an impression of a negative situation in Huron County. Many new doctors receive their training in London. "They see St. Thomas has problems and Huron County has problems. I believe we can deal with our problems internally and help each other out." Hey, where did this paper come from? If you don't normally get The Huron Expositor, don't he surprised. We're blanket- ing our readership arca for two weeks as part of our annual subscription drive. Take advantage of our spe- cial rates as our newsstand price will increase to $1 beginning in October.