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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-06-03, Page 7Packaging plant growing Company does custom bagging, mixing for 20 products BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff The dust is flying fast and furious north along the tracks in Seaforth this spring, ever since David Smith moved his growing packaging business into a new plant. He's hustling these days, with hardly a spare moment to bag edgewise. Smith Packaging Ltd., across from the empty beer bottle depot where Jarvis Street North is interrupted by the railroad, moved across Seaforth from the south-east end of Birch Street in the industrial park at the beginning of January, where it had been in the old Cornerstone plant across from Design Concrete for the past three years. Smith is already thinking of putting up another building in his new location in town and getting into kitty litter. The company does custom mixing, grinding, bagging and screening of 20 different products for large companies. Most of it involves feed and fertilizer ingredients. It comes in bulk from as far away as Europe and China, gets packaged to specification here in rural Seaforth, then shipped elsewhere across Canada or "all over," for example, Brazil and Ireland. ' Now being right on the railway is the reason for the recent move and new building "with more BUSY BOSS -. David Smith of Smith Packaging Limited recently moved across Seaforth and opened a new plant where the north part of Jarvis Street meets the railroad tracks. He's already got plans to expand there. capacity" along the tracks, tonne rail cars here this year. the owner says. I have found in this A GOING CONCERN business - "you turn work Smith, 35, is from down or find a place to do It Cranbrook near Brussels and in," he says. is very much on the go. The Smith started out working busy Seaforth plant now for a company in Mitchell, handles about 40 per cent of about a decade ago, bagging his expanding business, weekends and after work. He somewhere between 40 and quit, then got into the 50 -thousand tonnes per year. business himself, and "built He has four other,buildings - from there." in Mitchell, Dublin, Vanastra He says high school wasn't and near Fullarton. for him, although he doesn't He expects to package recommend, or like enough stuff to fill 250; 90- advertising dropping out in Funding for busing expected to fall short BY RICK KEW 'Mitchell Advocate Staff Funding for busing will fall short of the Avon Maitland District School Board's needs for next year, the superintendent of finance said during the May 26th meeting. Marilyn Marklevitz said based on the most recent figures (which she stressed were subject to revision) obtained from the Ministry of Education (MET), the board will receive approximately $251,000 less than what the projected budget calls for. She said current projections, based on last year's busing requirements. indicate the transportation budget will be approximately $8.1 million and funds expected from the ministry to be around $7.85 million. The ministry based its funding on 1997 figures less three per cent. said Marklevitz. In addition, she said the ministry made no allowance for the five extra curriculum days mandated by the province. The board contracts with independent operators for service on 129 bus routes in Perth County and 123 in Huron. Noting the hoard operates 30 buses over 27 different routes in Huron County, trustee Atjc Tuyten asked if it was profitable. Director of Education Paul Carroll said the question is one that arises perpetually and the board should be aware of the differences. However. said Carroll, operating 30 buses has tended to act as a counterbalance so contractors would offer the board better prices. School boards can, now, expand bus fleets said Carroll, suggesting that the issue of board or privately owned buses should be updated. Textbook funding remains an unknown The Ministry of Education and Training (MET) said in a memorandum to school boards that funding for "the investment in classroom learning" initiative will be $150 per elementary school students. However, at the May 26 Avon Maitland district school board (AMDSB) meeting, Director of Education Paul Carroll said "We haven't got a clue how much it will be." Carroll made his remarks after being told by a senior administrator at the meeting that one interpretation of the funding was that the province would supply $75 while the remaining $75 came out of existing board funds. Nevertheless, Carroll said the initiative required the board to spend two-thirds of their allotment on text books. in addition, he said ' the texts must be purchased from an approved list of textbooks and be from publishers resident in Ontario. Superintendent Maria Parsons said the government wants school hoards to consult with school councils in' regard to the textbooks selected. However, Parsons said given the tight timelines laid out by the ministry, it would be difficult to have a consultation period. She said the approved list of textbooks is not slated to be released until June 8. On June 15, Parson's said the ministry wants all orders to he compiled at the hoard level for bulk ordering purposes and the orders be in the hands of publishers by June 23, with delivery of the books in time for classes in September. Further underscoring the tight timeline Parsons spoke of was a question from trustee Wendy Anderson, who attended a recent conference that suggested existing texts may not meet the needs of the new provincial curriculum, Parsons agreed they may not. SDHS STAFF AND STUDENTS RALLY IN FIGHT AGAINST CANCER - Seaforth District High School Students' Council began their fund raising efforts by holding hotdog barbeques every Wednesday in the month of May. Donations, equivalent to the cost of the barbeques as well as the profits went to support cancer research. Other groups joined their cause, among them, the PUMPED Group, Peer Mentors and MAID. in total $380. was raised In May. (POWELL PHOTO) Grade 10, like he did. "That's the biggest reason I went into business," he says, because without an education my income potential was very limited." When he got into business he had about $50,000 to play with, in equity and what not, some of it loaned.. "The people I had worked for were really good in helping to set me up," he said. Now one piece of equipment can cost almost as much. He figures these days he puts in about a 90 -hour work week. His customers set up getting the goods to him by bulk, then shipping them repackaged to wherever they're going. Smith Packaging just packs the product to spec. SMALL TOWNS A small town has its advantages in this business, with its strong suit being a good base of workers and a tax base favourable to Smith's size of enterprise. "In the big cities it's tough to find help at a reasonable rate," he says. He says Seaforth officials have been very supportive of his small business, and in particular mentions town Works superintendent John Forrest and PUC manager Tom Phillips. Smith Packaging employs about a dozen people, which includes part-timers. Within a year Smith hopes to expand his Seaforth facility to 22,000 square feet, from its current 9,000, and get into packaging the kitty litter. Moving over from Birch Street in January was crazy at the start," the owner says. "It's a balancing act between cash flow and expansion, that's the toughest part," Smith says. Seaforth & District Community Centres HOCKEY POOL '97-98 RANK STANDINGS Pts. June 1/98 1. One Shot (Dave Scott) 146 2. Bob Henderson 136 3. E.F.D. (Todd Doig) 131 4. The Underdog Queen 130 5. BE LEAF 129 6. Go Red Wings! 127 7. JOE II 125 8. Go Stars! 120 9. Art Strong 118 10. Centre ice 118 11. MINUTE RICE 118 12. Bob McNaughton 42 116 13. Carter 1 114 14: KJ M3 114 15. Regele 02 114 16. Trevor Price II 113 17. Bruce's Best 02 111 18. Watford I 111 19. DLMG N1 110 20. Mery Bennett 03 110 21. RemMurray=ConnSmythe 110 22. Bill Murphy 109 23. Jason Wilson 109 24. Pizza Train 109 25. Tim McNaughton 43 109 26. D.T 108 27. Larry Kelly 108 28. To The Top 108 29.S&R.P. 107 30. Archtes Sery Ctr 1 106 31. Cody McNaughton 03 106 32. Derek Nesbitt 106 33. Parmalat 3 Men (3) 105 34. Giant Tiger 104 35. Trevor Price I 104 36. Chief I 103 37. Flyers '88• - C 103 38. John Wilson 103 39. Murry Townsend 103 40. CDB 013 102 41. JMC 102 42. BBB1 101 43. Colin Young 100 44. DB 026 100 45.KJ01 100 46. Kings All the Wayl 100 47. Laurie 100 48. Bretsky • 1 99 49. Moe Norman 50. Mrs. Klima This ad sponsored by: 99 99 527-0180 42 Qoderleb St. W., Sea forth THE HURON EXPOSITOR, JUNE 3, 191111-7 Board contract mamma The Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board ratified a two-year contract with roughly 60 secretarial staff and educational assistants at its regular meeting May 25. The fall -time equivalents of 34 educational assistants and 26 secretaries are members of Canadian Union of Public Employees, ployees, Local 3615. They receive about a five per cent increase as of this September. 1. which is the second year of the agreement they .xattlRed artier in May, which covers Sept. 1, 1997 to Aug. 31, 1999. Director of education Gaetan Blanchette says the wage increases range from 62¢ to a top end 69rf an hour in the second year. The new contract also contains clarification of language. He says two per cent is a general wage increase, and the additional three per cent is to bring the employees more into parity With their equivalents at other area boards of education. Upon ratification, Ron Marcy, chair of the district Catholic board, said these employees last received a wage increase in 1993. By Gregor Campbell AiaJbaLi oss • rusty bow r ria wit grief Q. My father, mother and husband all died within 15 months. I have been ill ever since. My doctor thinks my problems are emotional and he sent me to a counselor. After six months 1 feel no better. Why isn't this counseling helping me? A. Major losses tend to have an accumulative effect. The grief process is complex and its intensity is multiplied. The counselor's Sob is to help you explore your feelings, to understand them and to encourage you to take responsibility for the work required to complete your individual healing process. The problem usually lies with the patient's unreal expectations rather than with the counselor's inability to help, but of course the latter must also be considered. 'Questions asked during bereavement classes are answered here by the editor of AfterLoss, the monthly grief -recovery HelpLetter For your free copy of AfterLoss or one of our other helpful booklets about gnef recovery, please write, call or stop by. Questions & Answers about grief recovery* Whitney- Rib ey Funeral Home 87 Goderich Street West, Seaforth - 527-1390 A member of The AJterLou Fancily of neural Hemet dedicated to helping thsse they serve with auittanee in grief recovery 01997 AftcrLou Inc. • 800-263-9572 MINOR HOCXEY REGISTRATION The Seaforth and District Minor Hockey Association would like to inform everyone that they will be doing REGISTRATION for the 1998-99 Season on Wednesday, June 17, 1998 Thursday, June 18, 1998 7:00 to 9:00 pm both nights at the Seaforth Community Centres You will deed 2 post dated cheques Houseleague fee dated for September 1, 1998 Travel fee dated for November 1, 1998 The $50.00 Draw Ticket will also be handed out on this night. A LATE FEE OF $25.00 WILL BE APPLIED AFTER JUNE 19, 1998 All players will now have the option of playing houseleague only - travel only - or both Coaching applications are now being accepted. Deadline will be July 1, 1998 Applications can be picked up and dropped off at the Seaforth Arena or the Recreation Office A DAYS Er ONLY ONKYO STARTS WEDNESDAY JUNE 10TH FiRST EVER FACTORY AUTHORIZED SALE RECEIVERS, DOLBY DIGITAL CDS. CASSETTES NEW MODELS, CLEARANCES, TERMS 263 Huron Rd, Sebring -Sue Three Miles From S tatfonl Gage, Cash, Organ. Inters,' (veil & Judy Matheson 1-800-771-6161 FOR 26 YEARS THE BEST LITTLE HI•Fl STORE f•' 1 I /I�-1' ( 1\ \l)11\ \i( "IL I(••