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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1996-10-02, Page 1Sports Preview of hockey action in Morenz division. See page 6 Graduation SDHS Commencement honours local graduates. Sete pages 8 & 9 Letters Local ratepayer witnesses.flooding in proposed subdivision site. See page 4 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 — Seaforth, Ontario Briefly Santa Claus coming to town in November The Scaforth Lions Club will once again be holding its annual Santa Claus Parade on Friday, November 29 at 7 p.m. The theme for this year's parade is "Christmas in Song." For more information in• participating in thc Santa Claus Parade, please call parade chair Mike Hodgins at 527-2103 (work) or 527- 2885 (home). Kippen barn destroyed by fire Wednesday A barn on a Kippen arca feedlot was destroyed by fire last week. ,1�' The Karn, Ioctaed on a fecd- kit owned by John Bender, at RR 2, Kriprn, contained hay and stilot but no livestock, said Hensall Fire Chief Jim Hyde. Hyde said the Hensall department battled the blaze from 9:15 p:m. Wednesday, September 25 until about 7 a.m. the following morning, making sure thc fire didn't rekindle or spread to other buildings. ,Bruceficld and Exeter Fire Departments sent tankers to assist on.tho call. Hyde did not place a dollar estimate on the loss, but said the barn was completely destroyed. OPP doing spot checks this Saturday in area Provincial police here in Huron, along with 230 police forces across Canada, will be doing spot checks Saturday. It's a one -day enforcement and education exercise called "Operation Impact" aimed at drivers considered high-risk for collision. "The goal is to reduce thc number of practices such as following too closely, failing to obey a stop sign or signal, driving while licence is sus- pended and impaired dri- ving." according to a press release from the Goderich detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police. "Police will be performing stop - checks in several locations in Huron County on the first Saturday in October, as well as hosting an educational event." "Operation Impact" origi- nally promoted scat belt com- pliance from 1991 to 1995 at a time when Transport Canada reported only 68 per cent of Canadians used scat restraints. The compliance rate was considered 91.6 per cent by the end of 1995. Correction Contrary to the story which appeared in last week's Expositor, there will he a $10 charge .for vaccinations at the Rabies Clinic today (1-5 p.m.) and Saturday (8 a.m. - 12 noon) at thc Scaforth Veterinary Clinic. October 2, 1996 $1.00 includes GST PHOTO BY GREGOR CAMPBELL CRANE HELPS CLOCK GET CLEANED- Workmen were using a big crane on Seaforth's Main Street this week as Cardno's Clock got a facelift and a new coat of paint. Zero per cent increase ratified BY MICHELE CREENE SSP News Staff Local separate elementary teachers agreed to a zero. per cent increase in salary and benefits in.a one-year agree- ment recently ratified. They also negotiated a way to earn back losses caused by the New Democratic social con- tract. Gates Blanchette, superin- tendent with the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board, said the teach- ers and the board agreed to a one-year deal. "There have been a number of years they have got noth- ing. The public has the per- ception they keep getting increases [in salary -and bene- fits] but they haven't," he said. Blanchette explained the social contract prevented boards from paying out two increments to local. teachers. Increments are annual raises based on teachers' education and years of education. As a result of the social contract, local separate teachers are two increments behind. For example, a teacher with seven years experience is being paid the rate for a teacher with five years experience. The board and teachers agreed to some concessions allowing teachers to get caught up without increasing costs to the board. One incre- ment represents $166,000. Savings from a number of changes will raise thc money to "buy back" the iticrements. Also, the number of vice - principals was reduced from three to two. The $7,000 allowance normally paid out to the third vice-principal will help "buy back" one incre- ment. Also, early retirement pack- ages were developed. "When you rehire it's peo- ple .at the lower end of the grid [who make less]," said Blanchette. Teachers also. gave up their one day of paid planning time. The savings will be con- tributed to buying back incre- ments. They will continue to have 150 -minutes per week in planning time. The retirement packages and the reduction in planning time will remain in effect for five years or until the incre- ments are bought back. The reduction in vice -principals is permanent. Blanchette said the board wanted a one-year contract because there is too much unknown. Meanwhile, the board and its secondary teachers contin- ue to negotiate a new con- tract. No More Stops on Bus Run There will be no bus stops added to the separate school bus run through Mitchell. On Monday night, Mitchell and area Trustee Dennis O'Reilly urged trustees to reinstate a bus stop at the cor- ner of Fisher Rd. and Feltz St. (technically in Fullarton Township) and to add a stop along Frances and Arthur Streets. Terry McKone and Jerry Fuhr, of Mitchell, asked the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board's man- agement committee to make these changes on Sept. 9. CONTINUED on page 3 Dispute continues Too far for kids to walk BY MICIFIELE GREENE SSP News Staff Seaforth parents opposed to the change in walking dis- tance for students continue to meet with board officials. At its August Roman , Huron -Perth Roan Cat Separate School Board trustees refused to make an expetnption to its new policy. It requires students to walk at least 3/4 mile before being elgible to ride the bus to school. The distance was increased front 1/2 mile walk- ing distance. Seaforth Trustee Gerry Ryan told trustees children affected by the cheese will have to cross the train tracts and walk though an industrial area. It especially dangerous for children walking and worth an exemption, he said. Two parents left the meeting angry - Gerry Thuss, superinten- dent of business and finance, said the parents met with two trustees, a priest and ... to consider their sant Thuss described it as a good meeting that let us go through the concerns with more detail." This morning (Wednesday). This planned to travel to the area at 6 a.m. to witness the, activity of the trains. A report on the meeting Will be prepared and present- ed to the management com- mittee on Oct. 21. Woman released from hospital Man charged in stabbing at Square SCOTT HILGENDORFF SSP News Staff A 27 -year-old Goderich man was remanded in custody after waiving his bail hearing in Goderich on Monday. Jodi R. Carter was charged with attempted murder and two counts of breach of pro- bation after a 30 -year-old Goderich woman was stabbed in the neck with a pocket knife in front of Elizabeth's Art Gallery on The Square last Thursday afternoon. At about 2 p.m. a woman working in the gallery heard a loud hang as something.hit the front of the store. She looked and saw a woman had fallen and was struggling with another man while a third man tried to pull the woman's attacker Sway. As she Galled the police, an officer arrived and arrested the man. The sidewalk was covered in blood and the -gallery employee said the officer helped the injured woman until the ambulance arrived. She said attendants wrapped the woman's neck in bandages before taking her to the hospi- tal. Police 'Chief George Lonshary said they were told the attacker had been working on the_roof of _the Legion, around the corner from the' incident. Before Constable Sharon Johnston arrived. -two men suhdued the man 'while a third woman helped care for the woman. Johnston secured the man jn her cruiser and also helped with first aid until the amhu- lance arrived. Initially, some passers by thought there had been an , accident involving a cyclist, Lonshary said'the attacker did have a hicYele:with him. Goderich police are contin- - uing .their investigation into. the incident. The woman was released from 'hospital on Sept. 30. Carter makes his first appearance in Goderich Criminal Court on Monday. Oct. 7 at I I a.m. New Canadian Tire store in works for Goderich Canadian Tire Corporation. Limited has finally gained approval to build a new store in Goderich Township adjacent to the Zehrs plaza. Construction on the relocated store will begin this month and while the physical structure will be completed by February 1997. the new facility won't open to the public until late April or early May.. The new store will he 41.000 square feet. more than tripling the retail space of the existing store from 5.980 square feet to 21. 500 square feet. The facility will feature eight auto service hays and a coffered garden centre. The new store follows a growing list of new big box retail ventures in and around Goderich and associate dealer. Kerry Leroux said.the project speaks to the company's commitment to the community. "I am very excited about this project hut moreso for the staff and our customers.; he said. "The concept behind the big box operations is to offer more product on the floor so that you're servicing the customers and not CONTINUED or) page 3 PHOTO BY CARLY PRICE 1996 SEAFORTH FALL FAIR AMBASSADOR - Erin McNaughton, right, was crowned 1996 Fall Fair Ambassador by last year's winner Susan McLachlan at a special evening and dance Saturday night at Seaforth Community Centre. Lisa Gingerich, left, was named Miss Congeniality. The other finalists were Jen Gallagher, first runner up and Jill Dolmage, second runner up.