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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1996-12-04, Page 3Pol News and Views ice crack down on drinkingdrivers recent studies show that 42 injuries went down dramati- ving without insurance, or per cent of all drivers killed cally where such programs permitting it to happen, also in our roads had been drink- have been put in place and became far more severe at the ing, making alcohol use the the same law is already in start of November, leading factor in fatal crash- place in Nova Scotia and The minimum fine for a es. Manitoba. It was challenged first offense increased to • "More than 23,000 drivers in court and found constitu- $5,000 from $500, and to are convicted of impaired dri- tionally valid. • $10,000 for a second offense. ving charges every year. Of There is an independent tri- The maximum fine for the those 65 per cent are for bunal for appeals. Drivers offenses is now $25,000 for a repeat offenses." can appeal for one of two first offense, and $50,000 for ON THE SPOT grounds: mistaken identity or a subsequent. .The administrative suspen- inability to.provide a breath sion allows suspension upon sample for medical reasons. notification by police the dri- The tribunal's decision is ver's blood alcohol concen- final and can't be appealed to tration was over the legal the courts. limit of .08 or the driver Drinking and driving costs refused to provide a breath Ontario $1.3 Killion every sample. The sentence will be year and more importantly served by police after a road- the toss or injury of loved side screening test and two ones, the government fact breath tests by a trained sheet states. police technician. NO INSURANCE? The Ontario government Meanwhile. the conse- quence release says deaths and quence of getting caught dri- Times are toughest yet for both un -insured and drinking drivers in Otuatio. Getting caught driving without insurance became very expensive atthe start of November. And the government passed another law last week giving police power to take drinking drivers off the road immedi- ately and suspend their dri- ver's licenses automatically for 90 days. That law went into effect. Friday at midnight and 303 drivers had their licences sus- pended because of it on the weekend. It's called an administrative driver's license suspension. "The fact is, losing their licences right away will make people less likely to drink and drive," states a govern- ment press release. "Most A new offense - of possess- ing, using or selling, giving or distributing a false insur- ance card has also been creat- ed under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act; The minimum penalty for this is $10,000 for a first. offense and $20,000 for sub- sequent,. The maximum penalty rose to $50,000 for a first, and :$100,000 for a sub- sequent offense. DHC options 'turf protection,' not common sense The hoard Of Clinton Public Hospital decided Nov. 25 to release funds to assist efforts to keep the facility operating as a viable hospital, after it didn't figure into the three restructuring options unveiled by the Huron Perth District Health Council (DHC) the week before. The hoard also agreed an economic impact study. should he done 'to -show how Clinton and area might he affected by their 'hospital's closure. "We're going to have to come up with a good plan and it's going to cost money," said board member Marg Makins, who also sits on the DHC hospital and related ser- vices task force that came up with the options. She outlined • how the options were reached in a story.in the Clinton News - Record and said she ques- tions the process. Each task force meritber was given three blue dots and asked to place them on the options they would like to _Clinton hospital's executive see: director Alan Halls told the board meeting he hadn't seen "Which to me is saying _ any' rationale to explain why support your own hospital," the task force picked she said. Goderich as Huron's main Makins added she suspects hospital. -" and has reason to believe, Groups also consider the according to the newspaper 'options flawed and are wor- ried about economic implica- tions in Exeter, St. Marys and Wingham, whose hospitals don't fulfill traditional roles in the three options the DHC "it had nothing to do with put on the table a' a "starting community input 'or common point" Nov. 22. :sense. ➢t came right down to ' turf protection and dollars," she continued. report, some members destroyed all but one of their dots, and others put all their, dots on the same options, $180 -million Bell upgrade will improve service CONTINUED from page 1 obsolete technology is sched- uled for completion' to mod- ct'n digital switching in the third quarter of the conning year, 1997. Bell press release states: "The modernized 'services will provide customers to rural and medium-sized com- munities with telecorhmuni- ,cations services of similar quality to those available in major urban areas. "For example, all customers will have access to excellent, , reliable telephone service; access to more reliable 9-171 service (where municipalities chose to provide it): and access to SmartTouch calling features such as Call Waiting, Call Display and Call Return for a low monthly fee. $180 -MILLION • "In the past, basic service prices varied considerably from,- one conimunity to another, with the' lowest prices charged.where service' costs. were highest." Bell customers were'divid- ed into 19 rate _groups, new structure ,tliminates price differences between eight of these; reducing the number of groups to 11. , The CRTC agreed with Bell that rate changes were need- ed to reducecentury-old sub- sidies that kept local and , rtiral phone rates lower. Most of the 269 exchanges to he upgraded in the $180 - million modernization will offer improved service by the end ofnext year. The increase averages $1.11 a month for residents in rural and remote communities, as well as cottage owners. Sw c) pg_machines route calls and of Bell's 7. -million customers, 490,000 ipclud- ring Seaforth are still served by the old electro -mechanical switching units. Another 2.5 - million rural customers who will be getting the rate increase already have the bet- ter service. - `If anybody has a better idea, bring it forward' CONTINUED from page I communities. "Thirteen people can't do it all," said Carnochan. "These arc the suggestions. if any- body has a better idea. bring it ' forward: Don't just say save them all." The resolution was ,approved without changes and will be forwarded to Premier A preferred option will be Mike Harris. Minister of chosen by mid-December, in Health Jim Wilson. Huron early January a tabloid news MPP Helen Johns and the • paper will he circulated to Huron -Perth District Health inform residents about• the Council. preferred option, and from To inform residents of the Jan. 9 until Jan. 21. more open three options established by houses will be held to further the task force. and to obtain talk about the preferred option feedback. open houses are and to obtain feedback from scheduled from Dec. 2 until the public. Dec. 11' in 10 communities In late January, the task across Huron and Perth. force will select a final option and begin planning for the , implementation of the restruc- tured configuration of hospi- tals in the county. Tuckersmith rejects custom fire truck for Clinton Tuckersmith Council unani- gation from the Clinton Fire mously rejected. the Clinton Department that discussed Fire Board's recommendation the fire fighters' position to purchase a new custom cab with regards to the proposed fire truck for $237.598.63 new truck. Steve Cook, act - (plus taxes) at the township's ing fire chief and Dave November 19 meeting. Renner. fireman, advised Although Tuckersmith has council of the proposed pro - indicated it is interested in cedure that would be imple- purchasing a new truck, the mented at the fire hall if a township doesn't want. the custom cab model of fire board to purchase the Hub truck was purchased. custom cab. Council forward- No More Restructuring ed a letter to the fire board Tuckersmith Township stating that the fire depart- recently advised Huron ment "has provided a satis- County Council that it did factory service to the area not wish to be involved in with a two -person responding any other restructuring talks vehicle." or have any portions of The township is also con- Tuckersmith considered for corned that the fire hoard restructuring with any other isn't recommending the low- group. except the present one est tendered truck to member including the Townships of municipalities. and that the Hay and Stanley and the lowest tendered truck will Villages of Hensall, Zurich carry a minimum of five peo- and Bayfield. plc. Of the four companies which recently submitted quotes to the Clinton Fire Arca hoard for both custom cab and regular freightliner Lire trucks, the lowest tender for both types was from Dependable Emergency at $225,599 for a custom cab and $177,525 for a freightlin- er. Tuckersmith council.passed its motion following a dele- e Tuckersmith isn't happy about the state .of repair of Highway 4. Township Council support- ed a resolution at its November 5 meeting from the Village of Bayfield con- cerning the maintenance of highways in Huron County, - in particular Highway 4 which passes through Tuckersmith. " « f « Tuckersmith council also agreed at its November 5 meeting to donate the Vanastra Recreation Centre hall to the Country Singles for the reunion dance with the proceeds for the benefit of Dustin Court. 3. of Vanastra, who is suffering from a rare form of cancer. Tuckersmith has placed a freeze on hiring and capital expenditures. At its November 5 meeting. township council passed two motions concurring with the Municipal Reform Committee's recommenda- tions to freeze the hiring of any permanent full time or permanent part time staff and freeze capital expenditures (excluding water and sewer capital expenditures) during the restructuring review. « « « Tuckersmith council passed a resolution November 5 from the Clinton Hospital Group requesting that "the citizens of Huron County care about their hospital . and thereby employ the Honourable Jim Wilson. Minister of Health to give consideration to ensure that the reductions to health care not result in the closure of any hospital in the county. CORRECTION NOTICE. We wish to draw your attention to the following in our current 'Chnstmas Made Easy Sale' Ryer. Page 15, Item 2, #44-2262-0 Koss Digital AM/FM Stereo Cassette Player, incorrect illustration. Copy shows product #44-2266X. • We wish to draw your attention to the following in bur current .'Scrooge's Best Buys' flyer. • Page 18 - Wall Mount TV Shelf, 45-0675-8. This product is no longer available. Page 16 - York Weight Bench, 84-Q189. Copy reads: 2 in 1 Bench. Should read: 3 in 1 Bench. We sincerely regret any ' inconvenience we may have caused you. enote349-96 s0(Onty6(Ont) November 27 The Ex -Files: Spotted Mistakes: I) Page 1 - "there will no service" - "be" missing after "will" - Ethel Walker 2) Page 4 - "they they'' - Ina McGrath Allan Carter, Broker • Home • Auto • Commercial • Farm 522-0399 Seaforth 1-800-265-0959 Strathroy gg[m ©2z© Grooming Salon 81 Main Street South, Seaforth 527-0319 Mon. to Fri. 8:30 to 5:00 Sat 8:30 to Noon by appointment Flea Baths and Moisturizers Reasonable Rates • Christine Craven Over 6 years experience REMINDER NOTICE TO' THE RESIDENTS OF GREY.AND MCKILLOP TO.WNSHIPS The co -collection of garbage and recyclable materials by the Bluewater Recycling Association will commence January 9th, 1997. Only statidard size bags, cans or•bundles that weigh no more than 45 lbs (20 kgs) and beanng a "bag -tag" will be collected. The S2.U() bag tags are available at the following locations GREY TOWNSHIP NIcKILLOP TOWNSHIP Molesworth Convenience Jen's Variety & Corner Cafe (Ethel) Cranbrook Library Walton Tea Room & Country Store Grey Township Municipal Office Winthrop General Store Dublin General Store Walton Tea Room & • Country Store Wilson Auto Service • (Seaforth) McKillop Township Municipal Office Please.uhtize your blue box recycling potential to its maximum. The more you recycle, the less you pay:. The Walton Landfill site will be -open on December 7th and 21st. in 1997 fees will apply to all waste m:3ter,als that are landfilled. The tees will not apply to scrap metals (excluding refrigeration units) or to wood and clean wood by-products. The landfill site will be open on the Saturday immediately after the Bluewater pickup and every Saturday for the months of June to August inclusive. The first day the landfill site Will be open in -1.99,7 is Saturday, January 11th. 1997 Walton Landfill committee E'RE MOVING! December 7th TheTooking Glass (former Futures Hair Design) will be opening its doors at our new location. Main St. South , , (beside Culligan) Our new location will be providing ,n you with a number of services • Reflexology • Manicures • Hairstyling Ito** Private full waxing services • Tanning • Retail cosmetics. perfumes, hair products Now until Dec. 31st Pay Dear Customer, We are pleased to e you to .our nein introduce store located at 4 Main St. South. The former Futures IIctir Design will be glad to you at "The Looking help s" where all your Glass toe new services favouri are available. drop in Please feel free to the new shop. We to y Ze f� poloor any a inconvenience. ?)SinCerely, > Shelly McMillan NO TAX at our new shop. We Welcome our new staff member Cindy Champagne Formerly of New Wave - Dublin 4 Main St., Seaforth