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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-03-20, Page 1 (2)1• 4 • One Hundred and Second Year EXETER, ONTARIO, MARCH 20, 1975 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Petitioners fail to move council, Andrew St. trees coming down Despite being presented with a petition bearing 402 names and hearing from spokesmen on behalf of 25 ratepayers who at- tended their session this week, Exeter , council voted unanimously to follow an earlier decision to cut down the trees on two blocks of Andrew St. After the delegation left, council debated the matter for only a few minutes before agreeing to proceed as originally planned. The trees on the block between Sanders and John will be removed immediateLy, while those between Jhmes and John will probably be spared for another year until reconstruction takes place in that section. The number of trees to be removed apparently isn't known exactly, but all those that are "in the way" of construction will come down. That will probably mean all trees located outside the present sidewalk, totalling 13. The public debate over the trees started last Tuesday, when members of the town works crew arrived to start the job of sawing down a tree in front of the Residence of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Tuckey — — — Mrs. Tuckey managed to get the work halted temporarily and was joined in her battle to save the trees by Mr. and Mrs. Chan Livingstone. The two couples were later invited to discuss the matter with the road committee and were given time to present their complaint to the entire council. Thursday,. a petition was cir- culated at the post office and 402 people sided with the residents in urging council to save the trees. Monday night, spokesman Chan Livingstone urged council to save the trees, noting that the beauty of trees should al be forefronted aid not the movement of cars or the prospect of providing all -day parking. He discounted the opinion that many of -the trees would die during excavation, pointing .out that trees on many other streets had survived under similar treatment. -- Livingstone also asked council not to follow the practice of large cities in removing trees or to accept- engineers' proposals "because they look only at the projects and not the adjacent properties". "We can't accept the statement ways that you've looked at all the alternatives," he added. The delegation spokesman told council that two school children had also circulated a position to help save the trees. "They're interested in ecology, whether you are or not," he said. It was reported that Bruce Shaw Jr. had been one of those signing and also one of the children of Councillor Lossy Fuller. However, he also explained that one of the ladies who signed the petition circulated at the post A VAIN EFFORT — Although some 406 names were signed on the petitions, the 10 trees along Andrew Street will be coming down. At the Exeter Post Office Thursday with the petitions were those who wanted to keep the trees as they are. They said they found few who would not sign the petitions. Collecting the names were Mrs. Chandler Livingstone, Mrs. Robert Fletcher and Mrs. Ross Tuckey. Above, one of the persons sign- ing the petition points to one of the trees in question. T -A photo Unemployment hits 800 at area manpower office Unemployment in southern Huron County is the highest since the opening of the Canada Manpower Centre at Huron Park. According to councillor John Gillespie just under 800 persons are registered for employment at that office. - Mr. Gillespie said that for- mulas are used to determine the percentage of unemployed in larger areas, but because of the small area. no formula is available to determine the percentage unemployed here. But he did reaffirm that the number without jobs is higher this season than in others. He said to calculate the per- centage of unemployed persons in this area, a survey would have to be done. A combination of the weather and the auto industry are what Mr. Gillespie attributes to be the greatest factors for the county's unemployment_ Start petition to save police Two Exeter ratepayers advised council by letters this week that they favor retention of the local police force rather than having the OPP take over policing. Jerry Mathers said he found the suggested "disturbing", noting that the present police force "does a darn good job." He said they had made young people an important part of their work. The other letter was from Dalbert Robbins, who questioned if the OPP could provide as pompt service as the local police. Noting the small difference in cost, he asked, "why change?" Members of council indicated they had been approached by seveal ratepayersurging that the local police force be retained. Councillor Bob Simpson said a petition was being circulated in the community to gather support for the local force as well. He said the comments of Chief Day in last week's edition of the T -A had apparently sparked the petition. House damaged in district blaze A fire late Saturday evening did about $2,000 damage to a house owned by Floyd Todd. The building is located a mile and a quarter south of Dashwood. The Dashwood fire brigade responded to the call and managed to control the blaze. The damage was reported to the interior of the home. While Mr. Gillespie said it wasn't the fault of the auto in- dustry for the unemployment, he said it has "gone really bad and has reflected itself here." Several- industries of the southern Huron County area are related to the auto industry in some way or another, said Mr. Gillespie. Other major unemployment comes from the construction industry. He said he has heard from contractors they don't have as many building requests this year, but that may not be any indication for the future. He said with the coming of spring there may be more con- struction in the area, but at this point it was just speculation. The councillor said factory work usually isn't seasonal but did have seasonal implications this year. They are due to the auto and construction industries. For an example he used Fleck Industries at Huron 'Park. He said they make wiring harnesses which are used in refrigerators and stoves that are put into new homes. Since there are fewer homes being built, work at Fleck has been slower than usual . But as previously stated by Mr. Gillespie, spring may change the construction trend. Mr. Gillespie said the Huron Park Canada Manpower office has been contacted by employers looking for workers. However, unskilled labourers are not yet in demand, he said. About the only jobs presently open, he said, are for those with special experience, or skills, not for production workers or the unskilled. Workers needed are mechanics. machinists, car- penters, plumbers, supervisors, farm equipment mechanics, and commission salesmen. It is the belief of Mr. Gillespie that with the coming of spring, the agriculture industry would start and supply jobs for the unskilled workers. The southern Huron area covered by the office at Huron Park is roughly from Hensall south to the Mt. Carmel Road, from Highway 4 west to Lake Huron, according to Mr. Gillespie. To commence tax sale proceedings Tax sales proceedings will be started against six Exeter property owners who are in default of taxes of over three years. However in one of the cases, council members will make the plight of one ratepayer known in the hope that a service club may come to his assistance. The ratepayer has been in poor health for the past three or four years and this year was out of work for 10 weeks due to a stay in hospital. He advised council of his predicament in a letter, saying he waakwaiting a paytttent fromf1 i Unem tsyment Insurance Commission to help pay off some of his back taxes. "It's a sad situation." com- mented Reeve Derry Boyle. "It may be a good spot for a service club to come to the aid of a citizen," Councillor Tom MacMillan suggested. While council decided to proceed with the tax sales, Mayor Bruce Shaw urged members as individuals to make the situation known regarding the one case in the hope that a service club would come to his assistance. Okay $10,000 grant, buy new greenhouse Exeter council have agreed to provide a grant of $10,000 to the cemetery board this year to enable the latter to purchase a new greenhouse. Councillor Ted Wright, a member of the board, said the present greenhouse had been outgrown and the board could no longer provide the services and the flowers they have in the past without a new facility. The board recently travelled to St. Catharines to view greenhouses and have chosen a 21' by 50' unit that will cost $7,000. It is a knock -down glass type that can be assembled by the cemetery workmen. The present greenhouse is a small unit with only 360 square feet and Wright said it is "stacked from top to bottom." Councillor Tom MacMillan wondered if the board had con- sidered the benefit ofowningtheir own greenhouse as opposed to buying plants from commercial growers. "The interest on $10.000 would buy a lot of materials alone.' he suggested. "1 think you'd be staggered by the cost (of buying plants Wright replied. "1 think we may be staggered by the cost of owning and operating a greenhouse to - MacMillan replied. Mayor Bruce Shaw also suggested the hoard do a study in this regard. figuring out the capital and operating costs against the cost of huymng flowers. However, Wright said flowers would not always be availahle when required under that scow. adding that "the benefits of owning our own are many." The motion to provide the grant of $10,000 to the hoard (last year it was slightly under $2.500 was finally approved, with only MacMillan voting in opposition A CHAT WITH HURON'S MPP — Jock Riddell, Huron's representative in the Ontario Legislature was in Ex- eter Saturday morning to talk to constituents. In the above picture ore John Webster, Rollie Williams, Jack Riddell and Emil Hendrick. T•A photo office had called to say - she wanted " her name removed because she had been told by a councillor that if too much fuss was made over the tree situation, the reconstruction work on. Andrew St. wouldn't be un- dertaken. Livingstone said this was similar to a youngster saying he'd take his ball home if the others didn't play the way he wanted to. Councillors were told that the delegation was not against having the street repaired, but were olaTosed to indiscriminate cutting of trees. It was - suggested council consider having parking on one side of the street- only to save some of the trees. Before concluding, Livingstone asked council that in the future, ratepayers be notified of any changes taking place adjacent to their properties before work crews commence. Ile said this communication would do away with the need for special meetings and petitions. Councillor Ted Wright turned out to be the main spokesman for council, saying at the outset he congratulated the people for caring about their town. However, he said many of those who signed the petition had "back -tracked" and questioned if the petitioners had presented the facts. "We stayed here (special meeting with road committee) for an hour and a half and didn't get any facts, not one," Livingstone replied. 11'right continued that some people had signed the petition only to get rid of the petitioners and added that other people had called him to urge council not to make the street as narrow as at the other end of -Andrew St. He also said that the town had to provide parking space for rlral people, hut denied having "suggested that a)1 the trees in town would come down as streets were reconstructed. Wright said it was "the day of the automobile", although he — Please turn to page :3 Area student gets UWO presidency A graduate of South Huron District High School in Exeter was named president of the student council at the University of Western Ontario in London. Friday. John Knight. son of Ellen Knight. Exeter and Clarence Knight. Ilay received slightly more than 50 percent of the 3.200 votes cast by students at' Western. There were five other candidates. John has completed his fourth year at' Western in honours Geography and will be away from studies for one year to handle the position of president. After his term expires he may continue studies in law. BALLET BUNNIES — These five bunnies, were part of the performance Friday at the graduation of the ballet classes at SHDHS. These are the youngest group, the four -year-olds. From left are Karen Hoffman, Brenda Balsdon, Dawn Taylor, Kim Hoffman and Heather Westlake. T -A photo Will ask to name OHC units inrnemory af-Helen-.lermyn If the Ontario Housing Cor- poration approves, the new senior citizen apartments nearing completion on Sanders St. East may be named in memory of former Exeter deputy -reeve Helen Jermyn. Mrs. Jermyn, active in many community activities and a teacher at Exeter Public School for 18 years, was the first woman to be elected to sit on council. She became deputy -reeve two years ago and resigned in 1974 due to ill health. Mrs. Jermyn died on Saturday. An obituary notice appears elsewhere. At Monday night's council meeting, Mayor Bruce Shaw asked members to observe a moment's silence in her memory and then asked them to consider doing something appropriate in memory of her long service to the community. Five injured in collisions Five people were injured, none seriously. in accidents in- vestigated by the Exeter OPP this week. One of the.eacidents.•inv0lved one of the detachment cruisers and resulted in three injuries. The mishap occurrcl at 8:50 p.m.. Sunday. involving the cruiser driven by Constable Frank Giffin and a car driven by Mrs. Alexine Dietrich. RR 3 Dashwood. on the Crediton Road just east of County Road 21. Mrs. Dietrich had been west- bound behind two other cars and applied her brakes when the lead car Mowed to make a left turn. The Dietrich vehicle skidded sideways into the eastbound lane in front of the cruiser. Constable Giffin. Mrs. Dietrich and her daughter. Michele. all sustained bruises and bumps Damage to the two vehicles was listed at $3.700 by OPP Cpl Ray Brooks. The three injured people were taken to South Huron Hospital and released after treatment. On Tut..day at 1:35 p.m.. a pickup truck operated by Wayne 13 Shapton. RR 1 Exeter. went out of control after hitting a ridge of gravel on sideroad 20 near the intersection of conces- sion 14-15 of Stephen. The truck skidded into the north ditch and came to rest on its roof Two passengers in the vehicle were treated for cuts and bruises. They were David Cooper. Exeter. and Paul Ritchie. RR 1 Centralia. Damage to the truck was set at $2.500 by Constable Don Mason. Damage was listed at $1.000 by Constable Larry Christiaen on Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. when a car driven by Thomas Pridham. Exeter. struck a parked truck owned by Campbell Soup Co Ltd.. Atwood. on Highway83. There were three accidents on Friday. the first at 12:10 p.m.. when cars driven by Donald Rueger. RR 4 Clinton. and Ruby Triebner, RR 3 Kippen. collided on Mill Street in Hensall. — Please turn to page 3 Reeve Derry Boyle said he had already considered the matter and suggesed council write the OHC to see if a plaque could be placed in the senior citizen apartment recreation room in her memory. "She did a lot of work on that project and we have to give her most of the credit for it," he said. Councillor Tom MacMillan quickly agreed, however adding that if the OHC names such HELEN JERMYN ..dies after illness buildings, this could be con- sidered as well. "She initiated the study for the building) and followed the project right through." he noted. "That's a real good suggestion." Councillor Ted Wright stated. He noted Mrs. Jermyn had been interested in all residents of the community - from the young to the old. Later in the meeting. council agreed to have the flag at the town hall flown at half-mast on Tuesday. the day funeral service was held. Members of council acted as an honor guard at the funeral and were joined by several members of county council. The Tuesday session of county council was adjourned early so members could attend the funeral. Her service to the community was extolled by Rev. Harold Snell and Rev. Glen Wright, who conducted the service from Exeter United Church. "She had a real dedication to her community, church and school," Rev. Snell noted, adding that she loved life and took great joy in living life to the fullest. Rev. Wright told the large number in attendance that Mrs. Jermyn was a person who could look at a situation and conclude "there must be a better way of doing that." He remarked on her great courage during her illness and spoke of the legacy she left in faith, responsible citizenship, warmth and goodness. Tentative okay for Dashwood water Preliminary approval for con- struction of a water supply and water distribution system for the police village of Dashwood has been received. Stephen township cjerk Wilmar Wein told the T -A shortly before press time Wednesday that he received word from the Ontario Ministry of the Environ- ment okaying the project. Engineer Burns Ross of Goderich will now do a detailed study. After the study is com- pleted a Dashwood meeting will likely be held and approval sought from the Ontario Municipal Board.' Cost of the project including 100.000 imperial gallon standpipe will be $914.550. This includes piping the water from a Lake Huron pipeline connection at Lots 20. 21 at Concessions 18 and 19. Riddell vs Stewart election possibility Jack Riddell vs the Hon. William Stewart in the next Ontario election? That's a suggestion being made following the decision of the province's electoral boundaries commission to abolish Mr. Stewart's Middlesex North riding. The northern part of Middlesex will be added to form the new riding of Huron -Middlesex. while the balance will go into one of three London ridings and a Middlesex riding. The Stewart farm. is located in London Township. which will be in the Middlesex riding. Opposition to major changes in the new Huron -Middlesex riding resulted in the commission making some alterations. Strathroy was removed, while Seaforth and the Township of -Tuckersmith were put back into the riding. The Huron -Middlesex riding will now include all of Huron except the townships of Ashfield, Colborne, East Wawanosh, Grey, Howick. Hullett, McKillop, Morris. Turnberry, and West Wawanosh, the town of Wingham and the villages of Blyth and Brussels. Those municipalities will join Huron -Bruce riding.now held by Liberal Murray Gaunt. Joining the balance of Huron in the Huron -Middlesex riding will be the townships of Adelaide, Biddulph, East Williams, McGillivray. Parkhill, Ailsa., Craig and Lucan. Mr. Stewart has indicated he does not know what he will do in the next election. although he has announced he will not contest the Middlesex riding held by Bob Eaton. That leaves him the alter- natives of retirement. a try' at a London seat or a try at the new riding of Huron-Middlsex. — He is expected to come under pressure from his party to seek the latter. County taxes up 20 percent A $7,244,142 budget for 1975 — an increase over the 1974 budget of nearly 20 percent — was adopted Tuesday by Huron County council. The county's 26 municipalities will have to contribute $2.528,000 of which $1,507.000 will be used for general purposes and $1,021.000 for highway purposes. The levy is 8505,000 more than that faced by the municipalities in last year's nearly $6 -million budget. An additional 119.931 will be raised by special levies. the county's share of new assessment in all municipalities. This falls outside the normal levy struc- ture. Provincial and federal grants, fees, rents. -miscellaneous sources and a 1974 budget surplus of $132.124 will produce the remainder of the revenue. Major increases in ex- penditures occurred in public works and highways at $2,561,000 (up from $2,129,000 in 19741, general administration at $354,925 (up from 8272,360), in- terest rates and financial reserves at $302,700 (up from 8196,160) and social services at 82.815,842 (up from $2,245,673). The budget calls for an estimated surplus of $99,990. Huron County's municipalities will be levied their 82,528,000 share of the budget through an apportionment formula based on a total county equalized assessment of $78.787,167. Based on the forumula, the following levies will be charged (with previous year's levy in brackets). Towns: Goderich, *351.149 ($280.226); Clinton. 8116,142(95,2701; Exeter, 8155,844 ($119,831); Seaforth. $82.278 ($63,427) ; Wingham *119,612 ($107,9571. Villages: Bayfield $34,391 ($25,279); Blyth, $30,205 ($23,4231; Brussels. $35,215 (826,570); Hensall, $45,600 ($36,039); Zurich, $30,401 1$24,197). Townships: Ashfield, $106,597 (890,600); Colborne, 871,856 (858,969); Goderich, 8112, 923 (882.587); Grey, $91,094 ($74,442); Hay. $121,091 ($103,9191; Howick, $124,496 ($100,096); Hullett, $87,398 (867,4831; McKillop, $79.108 (865,659); Morris $71,828 ($56,7941; Stanley, $89,830 ($76,550); Stephen, $172,434 ($144.238); Tuckersmith, $134,765 ($102.7201; Turnberry, $60,576 (846,8361; Usborne $80,499 ($67,1401; East Wawanosh, $53,531 (843,791); West Wawanosh. 849,327 ($38,957).