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Huron Expositor, 2000-02-09, Page 44 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, F..uery 0, 2000 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Terri -Lynn Hart - Publisher Scott Hilgendorff - Editor Susan Hunderhnark - Reporter %Bowes Publishers Limited Pot Armes -Office Manager Dove fskGrak Subv.retais/ClossAells ,( t.. Aldo r . ... - 4 1"'t"..Www•. E-mail us at seoforthebowesnef. sUBSCRIP ION RATES LOCAL 32 SO a year, in advance, pito 228 G 5 T ,SENIORS. 30 00 a year. in advance, plus 2 10 G 5 T USA & foreiArt 28 44 o year in advance, plus $78 00 posbge, G.5 T exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES Published weekly by Signal -Star Publishing at x00 Main St , Seafor+h Publication mail registration No 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario Advertising is occep ed on condition that in the event of o typograph"cd error, the odvertising spots occupied by the erroneous item, together with o reasonable oNawonce for signature, will mat be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for the applicable rote In the event of o typogrophical error, advertising goods or services at o wrong price, goods•or services may not be sold •Advertis.ng is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn of any time The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss a damage d unsdicded manuscripts, photas or other mater ds used for reproduction purposes Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliverable copies ore lobe sent to The Huron Expositor Wednesday, February 9, 2000 a/Meel.t .ed aesteeu OMas - 100 Melo $Ir.M.,$e.Istrlb 1Ws'bew 1311) 327.0240 /ax (310) 327-2030 Malt., Address • P.O. nes 60, Seater*, 0.1urb, MOO IWO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper •s; Association, Ontario Community Newspopers Association Publication Mad Registration No. 07605 Editorial Speed a danger at one school crossing New orange pylons being used by crossing guards this week serves as a good opportunity to remind motorists of the care they need to take when sharing the road with Seaforth's children. The pylons are equipped with *a stop sign and are now being used by crossing guards to block traffic in one lane while they stand in the other, stopping traffic with their traditional, hand-held signs to help children safely from one side of the street to the other. The concern is that, without the pylons, drivers in the unblocked lane will proceed once the guard has crossed that part of the street. This endangers any children who come running from behind the guard's sight, catching up to the group of kids almost across the street. Police report no serious problem with this happening in Seaforth but that there have been problems in other communities and this will make crossing the street easier. However, one problem that is overlooked is. the close proximity of Seaforth Public School's crossing with the edge of town and an increased speed zone. While the speed limit remains 50 km an hour at the crossing, it is upgraded to 70 km just a few feet out of town. As a result, drivers leaving town are already accelerating past the 50 km/hr point at the crossover the children are using. It provides an added danger that the extra pylon can only help reduce but one that needs some radar enforcement and possible consideration of backing up the 70 km/hr zone a little farther out of town. That or eliminate it completely and have the 80 km/hr zone start farther out of town. Coming into town would then see the 50 km/hr zone starting more than a block from the school crossing and, assuming all drivers are responsible, would see their speeds reduced before they got dangerously close to the crossing. While the crossing guard is there for what amounts to rush hour for children, there still remains the lure of playground equipment and space to run and play on the school grounds outside the times crossing guards are present. Some enforcement and speed changing might make it a little safer all the time for crossing in that area before something serious happens. Sadly, many of the motorists who could benefit from a warning like this are only sppeePding through town on their way from one place to another. Scott Hilgendorl How to access us Letters to the Editor and other submissions can be made to us by noon on Mondays at: seaforth@bowesnet.com Ali letters and submissions must bo signed and accompanied by a day -time telephone number. All submissions ate subject to editing for both length and content. Dont forget to check out our homepage at: www.bowestieLeozn/expositer/ Opinion Letters A few things to consider about the school board To the Editor: To paraphrase Will Rogers: I don't criticize, I just watch the school board and report the facts. While your readers are contemplating the thorny issue of potential school closure they may wish to consider the following: 1. A little over a year ago. on Dec. 2, 1998, the board's administration, at a public meeting at Mitchell District High School, used a projected revenue of 5124.5 million and•a projected deficit of 52.81 million for their 1998/1999 fiscal year, as the primary justification for a so-called "review of all its schools." In contrast to that estimate, the board's 1998/1999 financial statements, released in late 1999, report an actual revenue of 5129.5 million that resulted in a small surplus, not a deficit. 2. Only nine people can cast votes to close your school. These are the AMDSB trustees. Ontario's Premier, the Minister of Education, Helen Johns, Bert Johnson, nor any other MPP have a vote. It is true that Part IX, Division D. of the Education Act makes it possible for the Minister to assume financial mana"gement of the board if the board runs deficit. This action is not however a certainty under the act and unless the trustees conspire to thwart the Minister's financial management the trustees are not subject to any personal sanctions: no fines, no jail time, no reduction in honorarium or expense allowance, not even dismissal from their position. The act does not place the trustees in any real danger if a vote to keep schools open results in a deficit. It is the administration that is at risk as Part IX, Division D does give the Minister authority to terminate administrative staff. 3. I attended AMDSB's community meetings at Walton Public School. Seaforth Public School and Seaforth District High School. The board's administration made extensive presentations involving school closure "scenarios." It was said that every "scenario" included displacement of students. The possibility keeping schools open was not identified as a possible "scenario." The no -closure option has been ignored by the administration, but . no director's report recommending certain closure has been put before the board to date. no motion has yet been made to vote on school closure and no school closure vote•has been held or carried. 4. The "community meetings" package of information distributed at the Seaforth District High School on Jan. 20, 2000 presents conflicting information. Page 34 shows operation and renewal funding losses of up. to 5211.011 that would result from a board decision to close SDHS. This loss is not included in the "cost savings summary" on page 27. On page 27 the loss is represented as a gain of $4.984.00. 5. The loss of 5211,011 is actually understated: as the board's figures for a closed SDHS show. the Seaforth students as attending both SDHS and their new school at CRSS or MDHS. This same fundamental error is duplicated in the "community meeting" packages provided at the Walton Public School and Seaforth Public School meetings. 6. At the Seaforth District High School community meeting on Jan. 20. trustee Ahhy Armstrong advised the audience. several hundred strong. that the board only received a "little hit" of money from the Province's general revenues to augment the money raised by local property taxes. This "little bit" of money is identified in the director's 1998-99 annual report as 587.038.851 or over 67 per cent of the board's revenue. 7. The 4,000 empty spaces stressed as a problem by the hoard's administration does not represent rhe whole picture. About 1.500 of these spaces are in high schools and 2,4)0 in elementary schools. The transfer of Grades 7 and 8 students to high school buildings across rhe two counties would likely put the hoard in a position to obtain a significant annual new pupil places accommodation grant. Section 38 (11) of funding regulation 214/99 clearly indicates that qualification for such funding for secondary schools is attainable without any impact from empty space in elementary schools.. But the board's current plan is to delay any look at a system -wide Grades 7 and 8 student transfer for three.years or more. 8. The electorate of Huron and Perth Counties can elect new Avon Maitland District School Board trustees in the upcoming Nov. l3, municipal election. This election is only nine months away. The public should also realize that much of the highly vaunted distance education program, now celebrated by the board. was developed over the last several years by the students and teachers of that unrecognized jewel. Seaforth District High School. Charles Smith J ohnsTo the Editor How long must we wait for our local Sr1PPs (Helen Johns and Bert Johnson) responsibility to begin to represent us in the school closure crisis'' Have. they lost their way in Toronto'? Have they lost their is to voters voice'? We need them to start to Think rural education needs not just politics. Their primary responsibility is not to the • premier or the treasury board. or to the conservative party: it is to the students in our schools and to the voters in their rural constituencies. Time is of the essence. Don Morton { Winter storm prevents passage of trains February 19, 1875 The storm of Wednesday again rent the passage of trains. In the years agone... We have not had either from the west or the east since Tuesday. Mrs. Whitney having leased the premises -recently occupied by Messrs. Logan and Jamieson. has removed her tin shop to that store, where she will have largely increased facilities for her business. D. McGregor of Harpurhey. has purchased the store and lot at present occupied by Mr. Garniss, opposite the Mansion Hotel for 5950. Mr. McGregor intends opening a book binding and stationary store. Geo. Forsythe, late market clerk. intends starting in Seaforth, a first class laundry. This is a much needed institution here. M.R. Counter, jeweller, has moved into the new store lately erected by him on Main Street. The lower store will be occupied by M. Counter, while the upper flat will be _used as a Masonic Lodge. The storm of last week was the occasion of a state of things which has not been seen for more than 20 years, in this part of the country. Only one mail was received from east or west, that being carried through by team from Stratford to Goderich. Duncan McMillan of McKillop has sold his farm Lot 23, Con. 14 to Richard Pollars for the sum of 53,000. The farm contains 75 acres with a bout 40 acres cleared. A fire broke out in the dwelling of John. B. Captain of McKillop. The front of the building, occupied as a store by Mr. Tilley, was saved. A.W. Sloan of Hullett has sold his farm near Kinburn for 57,500. This farm contains 125 acres. One hundred acres cleared and in good condition. Rev. Thos. Goldsmith's lecture on "Self Government" in the Presbyterian Church, Kippen, was attended by 300 people and proved a success in every way. - Some few weeks ago, Mr. Hugh Love of Kippen road directed attention to the Kippen Road. The road is gravelled with the exception of about a tribe and quarter on the end near to Kippen. This stretch remains unravelled and in the spring and fall is to such a condition that loaded teams canal pass over it. February 9k IWO The Farmers bating') at Constance is hauling wood aad grain to market before leaving for the great West. An old and highly respected resident of McKillop in the person of John Shea, died at his home. He received a bad cold while getting a coon down out of a tree and suffered a severe chill. Some gasoline leaked from the tank in W.H, Willis' store and caught fire. However. it was soon extinguished by one of the employees. W.D. McLean of the Expositor. is in Toronto this week attending the annual meeting of the Canadian Press Association. D. McLaren of Cromarty recently sold to P. Curtin of McGillivray two shorthorn bulls. two years old for $185: Good sleighing and fine weather is making everything livelier. All the roads are pouring in their loads of saw logs and the mill yard at Brucetield will soon be full, R. H. Ferguson of Walton has purchased a Gerhard Heitnzman piano from Gourlay. Winter and Leemings, Toronto. The choir of Duffs Church assembled at the home of Miss Annie Ferguson. Walton and presented her with an address and a gold watch in recognition of her services as an organist. Henry Chesney of Tuckersmith held a very successful wood bee. The boys with their axes and saws worked like Trojans until supper was announced. The tables were cleared and dancing was engaged in until the wee small hours. February 12, 1925 G.W. Nott of Alma left on a trip to the west, and intends bringing back a load of cattle. Peter Eckert of Manley is busy wrecking some buildings at the Cowan residence. The crumbling walls have to be torn down. Robert McLean of Chiselhurst is busy drawing home the ntaaerial of a barn he purchased' some time ago , and anticipates erecting this summer. G,K. Holland's sale at Beechwood is now on to reduce his stock. lames Carlin of St. Columban will take over tie store in the spring. Fire was noticed in the belfry of the, school at Bayfield. Fire ladders and buckets were procured from 'Town Hall and willing hands worked hard to extinguish the blaze. Mrs. Chas: Brock and Mrs Janet Ross of Brucefield have new telephones in their homes. Mr.. Epps of Varna has installed s radio in his home. It was just learned at time of writing that John McMurtrie's house. northwest 'of -Kippen. had burned and they were trying to save the barn. February 10, 19511 John Gordon Wilson had the misfortune while attending, to his duties as day watchman at the HEPC transformer station being built at Seaforth to severely wrench his shoulder when he slipped and fell. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Tebbutt, residents of Seaforth, quietly marked th 44th anniversary -of their wedding on Tuesday at their home on Jarvis Street. W.H. ,"Butz' Finnegan. Egmondville merchant, left for Victoria BC where he will enter the grocery business. Former Reeve John Armstrong of Hullett was called to the council table at their meeting and Wm. DaJe the present reeve, presented him with a cigarette case and Ronson lighter. Mr. and Mrs. Cha, Felkar were pleasantly surprised when about 2.5 neighbours and friends gathered to mark the 25th anniversary of their wedding. - Walker Hart is in Scutt Memorial Hospital with an injured knee. Roy Bennett has bought the farm across the road from John Steiss. February 12, 1975 A Seaforth Curling Club rink, made up of Grace Campbell, John. and Gwen Patterson and Bill Campbell won the Rosebowl curling competition in Waterloo over the weekend giving them the right to. play in the :ill Ontario' finals in Owen Sound. A quiet crowd of more than 100 people met Ontario's Health Minister Frank Miller when he was. in Clinton Friday night as part of a Huron County tour to get what he called a personal view of health facilities. Difference between Tuckersmith and Seaforth which have been simmering for some time in several areas were not eased Monday night when Seaforth Council considered a Tuckersmith letter concerning assistance to the Seaforth arena to reflect usage by Tuckersmith citizens. The farm of James Armstrong of Wingbam has been selected by the Ontario Plowmen's Association for the site of the 1978 International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Show.