HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1997-01-15, Page 2TMP
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News and Views
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PHOTO BY ANDY BADER
INSPECTING THE DAMAGE - Bruce Dow (left) takes a look at what's Tett of his family fans house last Wednesday, a
day atter the century old building was burned to the ground. The fire, which was believed to have started in the chimney,
was spotted when daughter Leanne Jackson - in the house with her three -month-old daughter - "heard the wall crack-
ling." High winds escalated the fire, and it was totally engulfed by the time Mitchell & District Firefighters arrived.
Bug g
ildin was engulfed by time firemen arrived
CONTINUED from page 1
called 9-1-1, shepherded the
family house cat and left the
house. While outside, she
called her parents from a cel-
lular phone in her car.
The call can in officially
at 10:59 a.m.
By the time the Mitchell &
District Fire Department
arrived, the blaze engulfed
the entire home and all that
could be done was protect the
neighboring buildings, such
as a nearby storage shed and
a barn.
Fire Chief Bill Elliott said
strong winter winds acceler-
ated the fire. The initial call
was that the chimney was on
fire, Elliott said. and when he
attempted to call back to
Leanne minutes later and
inform her that poor visibility
and blowing snow was ham-
pering the firefighters' drive
to Cromarty, the line was
already dead.
"She's lucky she got the
call in," he said.
The fire appears to have
started in the woodstove and
chimney, Elliott said,
although officially it is unde-
termined.
"That's what was called in
so we have to go by that," he
said. "There's not much else
to go on because there's noth-
ing left."
Dow, who with wife Joan,
son Rick, daughter Leanne
and son-in-law Bud were still
picking out rubble from the
charred remains, confirmed
that nothing's left.
"We lost everything. The
clothes we've got on is what
• •
we ended up with," he said.
"People have already brought
clothes and other things.
They've been really good."
To aid in the Dows recov-
ery, a bank account has been
set up in the family's name at
the Mitchell branch of the
CIBC. People can make
donations in CIBC branches
in Dublin, Seaforth,
Monkton, Hensall, Exeter
and Stratford. Donations
were also collected at St.
Patrick's Church in Dublin
and St. Vincent de Paul
Church in Mitchell this past
weekend.
"You hear about people
losing their homes in a fire,
but you don't realize the
amount of damage until you
see it," said Jackson as he
and Rick picked out silver-
ware, coins, pots and keys
from what was the kitchen.
The Dows, who besides
Leanne have four sons, the
oldest Mike still living at
home, haven't decided if they
will rebuild at the site, where
they've resided since 1979.
"We haven't made any
decisions," Dow said.
"It's too fast," added his
wife.
Although their home has
been levelled, both were
happy that no one was
injured in any way.
Nevertheless, after personally
battling through illness last
year, Bruce and Joan noted
that a new year hasn't offered
any trace of hope.
"We thought 1996 was had,
but 1997 hasn't started any
better," he said.
Budget decisions made difficult by recent changes
CONTINUED from page 1
He said Seaforth is also
now down about $10,000 in
business assessment com-
pared to last year.
TAX TIME
Council is at the beginning
of this year's budget delibera-
tions and notices usually start
going out in about two weeks
time.
But budget decisions are
made even more difficult for
towns like Seaforth this time
around, the clerk added,
because Ontario hasn't yet
decided on a formula for per-
haps funnelling more money
hack to municipalities
through education or business
tax reform.
"Whining about it doesn't
do anything. We still have to
function."
"There are not a whole lot
of options left, agreeable or
not," Deputy -Reeve Bill
Teall said.
Ontario cabinet minister Al
Leach said "no municipality
will have a grant reduction
that exceeds 9.5 per cent of
the municipal levy", but
acknowledged "that munici-
palities, like the provincial
government, have had to
make some tough funding
decisions recently" in his cor-
respondence with Seaforth
announcing this year's reduc-
tion to its 1997 municipal
support grant entitlement.
ENORMOUS DEFICIT
"in last year's budget, we
took the necessary actions,
including thc reduction of
transfer payments to our
major partners, to help cut an -
enormous provinc'al deficit,"
Leach's letter states.
"Municipalities, more than
ever, need to restructure
themselves to reduce costs
and rationalize services. We
are committed to helping you
do this. We are changing leg-
islation to give you more
flexibility and control over
services you deliver and we
are eliminating red tape and
duplication that costs you
time and money.
"The work is not over.
Wide-ranging reforms to the
organization, management
and financing of local ser-
vices are proposed by the
Who Does What panel. These
reforms are directed at
. increasing accountability,
eliminating overlap and
duplication, improving quali-
ty of services and enhancing
value for taxpayers' money.
We value the input received
from municipalities in this
exercise, and will be making
decisions shortly based on
recommendations from the
panel," the Ontario cabinet
minister concludes.
County grants down
Huron County's municipal
support grant from Ontario is
down 21 per cent this year, a
decrease of $798,850, to
roughly $3,200,000 from
$3,801,000 in 1996. The year
previous, the transfer went
down about 23 per cent, or
$ I ,122,000, from $4,923,000.
Huron's total budget in
Savings of 12 to 18 % `reasonable'
cr in -camera meeting the
next day to confirm plans for
presenting this preferred
option to the public.
Last week's press release
notes the hospital task force
expected another option from
the eight hospitals in the two
counties yesterday (Jan. 14),
and representatives from this
group will be invited to a
portion of the Jan. 21 meet-
ing.
"Task force members are
looking forward to receiving
the option from the hospitals
and will consider their
advice before selecting a pm -
fated restructuring option."
The Hospital and Related
Health Services Study Task
Force has determined it
would he unreasonable for
the two counties to reduce
spending by more than 18 per
cent, according to its press
release Friday.
"As a result thc task force
has indicated a savings of 12
to 18 per cent would be rea-
sonable," consistent with the
three preliminary options pre-
sented near the end of 1996.
The task force says it has
re -affirmed its commitment
to select a preferred restruc-
turing option by next
Tuesday, Jan. 21, with anoth-
1996 was approximately $27 -
million.
Tuckersmith Township's
grant was reduced by
$56,396 or about 14.1 per
cent, to this year's figure of
$342,199.
McKillop Township's
provincial. grant is about 12
per cent less for this fiscal.
year, down $37,599, from
$307,000 to $269,401.
The province's transfer to
Clinton was cut 22.8 per
cent, or $112,070. Clinton's
total grant this year is
$379,854.
Mitchell's municipal grant
was cut 24.9 per cent, or
$105,861, which works out to
9.5 per cent of the town's
total levy.
Hibbert Township's grant is
January 8
Expositor
Exposed!
The Ex -Files:
Spotted Mistakes:
1) Page 6 - "L.M.
McGrath" should be "I,.
McGrath Plumbing &
Heating" - Ina McGrath
2) Page 1 - "The cause of
the fire is undermined" -
should be "undetermined" -
Judy Lamont
3) Page 7 - "four" instead
of "for" - Marg Henderson
January 1
Expositor
Exposed!
down 14.99 per. cent, $36,894
to $209,190 for 1997.
The Hullett Township
office said it did not have the
most recent municipal entitle -
Spotted Mistakes:
1)' Page 4 - "One day she
spotted as an ad" - should be
"One day she spotted an ad" -
Ina McGrath
2) Page 5 - "council coun-
cil" - Ethel Walker
HEALTH ON THE HILL
• Review eractivities .i
SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION Once agair the Hospital
Auxiliary comes through! The garlands and wreaths adorning the
Hospital halls over the Christmas Season did not go unnoticed.
This is just one sampling of their dedication and commitment to
Seaforth Community Hospital.
The Hospital Auxiliary, Board and Staff are very grateful to the
community for their support of the Tree of Lights.
08 PRE -ADMIT CLINIC if you are an expectant Morn 34-38
weeks pregnant and planning to deliver at Seaforth Community
Hospital, you are encouraged to attend for sharing of admission
information on Thursday, JANUARY 16 at 7:00 p.m. in
BOARD ROOM. Pre -registration requested 527-1650 Ext. 219.
Information will be also available as to how Karen Searle,
Breastfeeding Facilitator can provide breastfeeding support and
problem solving if required. If you require further or immediate
information, please contact 527-1650 Ext. 219 or 522-0409.
PERINATAL INFORMATION SESSION( Thurs. JAN. 16th
at 7:30 p.m. in BOARD RM. TOPIC: TOUIt OF BIRTHING
ROOM Dr. Janet Zettel and Kay Maiitoux, Reg. N. will be avail-
able to answer questions of concern. Pre -registration requested
and appreciated. 527-1650 Ext. 219.
Enjoy a meal at the following restaurants that
are going smoke-free for the day.
Clinton • China Palace • New Orleans Pizza • Dixie Lee •
WIngham • Jag's Roadhouse (karaoke excluded) •
• Frosty Queen • Donut Delite • Riverview Drive -In •
• Maitland Restaurant • Great China House •
Seaforth • Wong's Grill • Commercial Hotel •
Exeter • Ranch House & Saloon •
Goderich • Donut Defile • La Brassine • Candelight Restaurant •
Pearrs Chinese & Canadian Food Restaurant • Zoni's Restaurant
• Murphy's Landing • Runway Lights • Rooney's Restaurant •
Bayfield • Jigger's Place • Little Inn • Albion Hotel (dart night excl.) •
Londesboro/Blyth • Hillcrest Restaurant • BJ's Cate -
Brussels • Brussels Country Inn • Walton • Walton inn •
Fordwlch • Fordwich Handimarl •
We wish to thank those restaurants that
provide smoke-free dining 365 days a year.
Exeter • McDonald's • Tasty Nu Bakery • Tim Horton's •
• New Orleans Pizza • Kentucky Fried Chicken •
Goderich • Benmiller Ini. • Pizza Hut • Subway • Pizza Pizza •
• McDonald's (Wal-Mart) • McDonald's (Bayfield Rd.)•
• Cooker's Mercantile • Tim Horton's • VanDety's •
Bayfield • The King's Bakery & Tearoom • Brucefleld • Millington's
Wingham • Kentucky Fried Chicken • -
Seaforth • New Orleans Pizza • Tasty Nu Bakery •
Zurich • Myrtle's Pantry •
Huron County
Smoke-Froe Coalition
ANNOUNCEMENT
From left to right: Cliffe Donaven (Service Manager), Pat Phelan (Automotive
Technician), Len Teatero owner), Jeff Ball (Automotive Technician).
Len would like to welcome Jeff Ball to the Service Department
of TMP.
Due to the overwhelming success of TMP, we have had to
expand our Service Department. In order to serve you better we
now have 3 -full time mechanics.
We welcome past Canadian Tire customers to visit our Service
Centre at 220 Main St. South, Seaforth or call 527-2291.
We offer *extensive customer service
•complete warranties •evening & weekend appointments
•courtesy cars •match all competitors prices
220 Main St.
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