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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1982-07-28, Page 1Helicopter destroyed after fittingwires Pilot walks from �rasf tunately in tbsopposite direc- tion to the !0 People who were on hand for the demonstration. The 38 -year-old Edgeworth said the crash was his first. Crop spraying is a regular part of his business. His com- pany, Edgeworth Helicopters Ltd. of London, owned the machine which he said was a "writeoff". It was fully insured. A crop spraying demonstration nearly ended in tragedy early Monday afternoon when a helicopter clipped hydro lines on the farm of Jim and Howard Kerslake a mile south of Ex- eter and crashed into a bean fiSJ. lot Jim Edgeworth had completed part of the demonstration and was just taking off again from beside the barn on the south-east cor- ner of Highway 4 and the Kirkton Road when the machine caught the hydro wire and came plummetting down to earth in a ball of fire. Edgeworth managed to SHORTLY BEFORE CRASH - The helicopter piloted by Jim Edgeworth is shown spraying a. bean field minutes before crashing on the farm of Jim and Howard Kerslake. T -A photo. Friedsburg features entertainment for all Annual Friedsburg Days activities• are on tap this weekend in Dashwood with a wide varlet yy of entertainment to please visnots of all ages. The big event gets under- way at 6 p.m. Friday when the grounds at the Dashwood Community Centre open. The always pbpttlar GNwiatl ftletin including sauerkraut, sausage and schnitgel will be on sale Friday evening and Saturday from 12 noon until the grounds close late at night. Friday's program begins at 8 p.m. with a magician and the Men of Accord, a top notch barber shop quartette - providing the entertainment. Dancing to the music of Downs Group Five will start at 9 p.m. and about an hour later Miss Friedsburg Days 1982 will be crowned by last year's winner Sally Ford. Saturday's events start with judging of the parade floats at 11 a.m. The parade will leave the ball park grounds at 12:30 touring along village streets ending up at the Community Centre grounds. Dashwood and area youngsters will have a chance to participaie in three events Saturday afternoon. The pet show with a wide variety of categories will tart at 2 p.m. All. entrants ;>itire asked to ;iegister a half -ism' before the set starting time. At 3:30 sports chairman John Becker has lined up tricycle and: frog races for boys and girls followed by arm wrestling for the younger set. c The popular • tests of strength fa adults will follow the children's sports pro- gram. At about 4 p.m. con- testants in the various weight categories in arm wrestling will compete in the preliminary rounds and the annual tug-of-war competi- tion is set for 5.p.m. The finals for arm wrestl- ing and tug-of-war are set for after supper at 7 p.m. - The defending arm wrestl- ing champions Val Minhin- nick and Larry Skinner are expected back to take on all comers. A craft show will be held in the Dashwood Community Centre Saturday afternoon. Anyone wishing to get further information should contact Nancy Rader at 237-3412. Dancing to The Atlantics Saturday night will conclude the two day event. Don Bender is overall . chairman of the Friedsburg i)ays committee. escape from the fiery crash with only a small burn on one atm while about 20 people on hand for the demonstration watched and rendered assistance. Several had been standing only a few feet away. ' Exeter firemen responded to the call and quickly dous- ed the flames. Damage to the bean field was minimal: The helicopter, valued at between $75,000 and $100,000 was reduced to a burned -out shell. Edgeworth said he knew Damage high in collisions Damage was again close to $20,000 in area accidents this week and three people sus- tained injuries. The first of -the collisions in- vestigated by the Exeter OPP occurred on Friday when a vehicle driven by Yvonne Ducharme, Mitchell, went out of control on concession 12-13 of Hay Township north of Highway 83. The vehicle flip- ped over in the ditch and damage was listed at 17,000. The driver suffered minor injuries. • Also on Friday, vehicles driven by Mark Willert, RR 2 Grand Bend, and Mark Laur, Parkhill, collided on Highway 81 just south of Grand Bend. Damage was set at $1;500. The other three collisions of the week occurred on Satur- day, the first involving a vehi- cle, operated by Gerard Gielen, RR 2 Crediton. It went out of control and into a ditch on concession 8.9 of Stephen Township north of the Crediton Road. Damage was estimated at $7,050. Two passengers, Fred Vano4ch, Rlit 2 Crediton, and JohnBilcke, Hensel', sustain- ed minor Injuries and were taken to South Huron Hospital. A vehicle driven by Dennis Little, RR 2 Lucan, went into a ditch on the Crediton Road west of concession 6-7 of Stephen on Saturday when the driver fell asleep and lost con- trol of the vehicle. Damage in that one was estimated at $600. The final crash of the week occurred in the Ridgeway subdivision in Hay Township and involved vehicles operated by John Siddall, Forest, and Trevor Donald, London. Damage was $2,500. Heritage Days profit $3,000 Exeter's first annual Heritage Days activities have raised approximately $3,000. Committee chairman Mike Williamson said the money will be held in trust to be us- ed for an as yet undecided community project. "fn light of the economic conditions in the country and the fact this is our first at- tempt at staging a community -oriented family event, the amount of money raised is a positive indication future Heritage Days events will be bigger and better," Williamson said BALLOON RACE - Laura Hardemann and Bill Bickell get their ammunition for the water balloon event from Cliff Thomson at Sunday's Frog 'n Loggin' day in Kirkton sponsored by the K -W optimists. T -A photo. Overcome bad June weather Area crops rebound A sunny, warm July has compensated to some extent for the unseasonably wet weather which plagued area crops the previous month. According to Len Veri of Exeter Produce the pepper plants which should have been set out in June were kept in cold storage for awhile in- stead, setting them back. The quality is excellent, but the quantity will be down this year. Exeter Produce has been cutting cauliflower for over a month, and digging potatoes since July 5. Rutabagas and red and green cabbages are also doing well. All the wheat has been com- bined; it has not yielded as much per acre as Veri an- ticipated, but he says the barley looks good. On the whole, Veri said, his crops are normal or better in yield and quality, although they could use some rain - and higher grain prices. Jack Urquhart, manager of the Canadian Canners, Ex- eter plant, said the pea pack will continue until August 15, and is expected to be an average season. The early peas were just average, cur- rently the yield is excellent, but rain is needed for the late peas. Urquhart says the corn "never looked better", and expects to begin processing that vegetable on August 10. Giving an overall picture of the county, Huron ag rep Don Pullen said early reports in - Please turn to Page 3 where the hydro lines were located when he took off from the cement pad at the Kerslake farm, but thought his was far enough Wider them to avoid touching them. However, a gust of wind car- ried him upwards into the lines. One of the lines was cut and the other frayed by the rotor blade. Part of the,blade flew over 30 feet into the field, but for- The pilot appeared unusual- ly calm as he surveyed the scene of his near disaster. "I'll feel it later on. It takes a while to "sink in." Many of those attending the demonstration had cameras and the audience included "a news team from CFPL-TV. The demonstration was be- ing put on for Exeter District Co -Op and several area farmers. BATTLE FIRE - Exeter firemen were quickly on the scene after being called to the site of a helicopter crash south of town, Monday. The plane was demonstrating crop spraying when it hit hydro wires and crashed to the ground in a flaming inferno. The pilot managed to escape with only one small burn. NONE THE WORS1 London helicopter pilot Jim Edgeworth, right, is shown get- ting into a police cruiser to relate th. circumstances surrounding his croft's demise, Monday. OPP Constable Ed Wilcox, confers with. fireman Norm Tait at the scene. ,..%. THE REMAINS - There's not much left of the $75,000 to $100,000 helicopter which crashed in a field just south of Exeter early Monday afternoon. Exeter firemen ex- amine the remains after extinguishing the blaze which destroyed the machine when it came down after striking hydro wires. >�a Seivhig South Huron, North Middlesex tt voca & North Lambton Since 1873 One Hundred and Ninth Year EXETER, ONTARIO, July.28,1982 Price Per Copy 50 cents VOCAL WINNERS — Taking first prize in the vocal division of Wednesday's Kirkton Garden Party juvenile competition were Jill Burgin, Liso Butters and Maureen Mockler. Staff photo New Miss Universe will attend ect , Exp 200 000 at match agriculture." McNamara told about 100 people gathered at a community involvement meeting at. the Lucan Com- munity Centre. "Notwithstan- ding tough economic times. i still think people will attend." Last year's match in Barrie was less than a financial suc- cess as heavy rain mired competitors and about 90,000 visitors in ankle-deep mud. Bob McMahon. secretary - manager of the Ontario Plowmen's Association of the Ontario Plowmen's Associa- tion, said after the meeting he hopes this year's\show will gross about $650.000. Any pro- fit will be plowed back in to offset last year's losses. This year about t',(K) farm building and machinery ex- hibitors will show their wares in it tented city erected on 46 hectares 1115 acres) of farmland west of Lucan. As well, nearby farms will be dug deep as 130 competitors Please turn to page 3' Organizers of this year's In- ternational Plowing Match are praying for two things good weather and good atten- dance for the first competi- tion to be held in Middlesex County since 1928. Jack McNamara, chair- man of the planning commit- tee. said Sunday he expects about 200.000 people to attend the five-day event beginning September 28. "We're in the heartland of No relief in area from breafhalizers Area police are still order- the new Charter of Rights and ing drivers to blow into Freedoms enshrined in the breathalizers, despite a re- new Canadian constitution. cent provincial court ruling But police view restrictions that the tests' are on breathalizers as a serious unconstitutional. blow against their fight to Huron Crown Attorney stop drivers from drinking Gary Hunter told the T -A this and are continuing to use the week "we're carrying on as machines as grounds for usual" in reference to requir- charges. ing breath tests. He explain- Exeter OPP Cpl. Dave ed that the recent judgement Woodward said \the local handed down in a Kitchener detachment would continue to court doesn't bind other use the machines. courts. The Kitchener ruling is be- "We'Ii still be prosecuting," ing appealed, he explained. he added, but noted that no Supt. D.L. _ Dowser of the WE'LL. BE LATE cases had come to Huron provincial police traffic in- Due to the holiday, Monday. courts since the ruling. vestigation beanch in Toron- The Exeter Times Advocate The constitutional con- to said the force will continue will be published one day troversy over breathalizers - using breathalyzers "like we later than usual next week. It devices that measure the did before. it was a lower will be printed Wednesday alcohol level of a person's court decision so we don't feel night for Thursday morning blood based on a breath sam- bound by it. if it goes to a delivery. ple - arose on July 15 when higher court we would give it Advertising deadlines will provincial Judge Maurice more credence. From a law be extended to Tuesday. The Charles ruled that breath enforcement point of view we display advertising deadline tests used as evidence violate wouldn't want to see any will be 2 p.ni. and the deadline an accused person's right not roadblocks in the protection for classified advertisements to incriminate himself under of life and property." will be 4:00 p.m. Kirkton Garden Party eontinues to be psipular The annual Kirkton Garden Party continues to draw large crowds and provide excellent entertainment on an amateur and professional level. .Wednesday's 38th edition was no exception as more than 2,500 spectators were thrilled by 16 numbers in the juvenile contest and an hour of topnotch professional entertainment. Kate Young of CFPL radio was the adjudicator for the juvenile portion of the show and said, "I was amazed with the poise and calmness of all of the contestants appearing before such a large crowd. They were great. In the vocal division. three Townships get grants Six townships in Huron County have received com- munity planning study grants totalling $56.847 to help them prepare comprehensive zon- ing bylaws, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Claude Bennett announced this week. The grants are provided by the Ministry of Municipal Af- fairs and Housing 'to en- courage local governments to actively participate in com- munity planning. - The following is a list of recipients and grants: Col- borne Township $10.445. Stephen Township $10.445. Goderich Township 510.445. Howick Township 58.504. . Grey Township 58.504. Usborne Township $8.304 Kirkton area girls Lisa But- ters, Jill Burgin and Maureen Blacklj singing, "Three Lit- tle Minds- from School- are'- We" won first prize. Next came'Jamie Westman, RR 1, St. Marys_ and Peggy Sleegers, London. • The Country Cowgirls from Clinton comprised of Wendy Watson and Sherri and Shan- non Preszcator were judged best in the specialty section followed by Carter's Cloggers of ListowelanddiminutiveAn- drew Wilhelm. RR t. Stratford. - Winners in the instrumental division were Paula Babb and Suzanne Stacey. RR 2. St. Pauls: Joanne Verlinde. Hen - sail and Patti Wilhelm, RR 1. Stratford. Heading the professional section of the entertainment was the Leahy Family from the Peterborough area. The Leahy family, consisting of seven girls and five boys are known as Canada's No. 1 variety act. Most Members of the fami- ly are involved in step danc- ing. singing. fiddling and playing the accordion. drums and piano. They range in age froni six to 18'years of age: The second half of the pro- fessional show .inc luded The Magic Company and the Great Pretender Gerald Patti was master 01 ceremonies for the amateur contest. Lee Paul hosted the professional talent and Grace Ross. Donna Paynter and Marc I1i'ickler were the corn- niittee arranging the juvenile contest Burns Blackler is president of the Kirkton Com- mttrlity association. r The Association and the ac- companying Garden Party were established in 1945 by ttheilate Dr. C:A . Caaitpbell: Proceeds of the popular event are used to support a number of Kirkton and area organizations. In the past donations were made to the library, Aber- deen Hall, the Women's In- stitute and skating rinks. Presently help is being given to ball teams. community - groups. the agricultural socie- ty. 4-H club barns, street lights for Kirkton and Woodham and the Kirkton ball diamond. The Association has also given substantial assistance to the K -W Community Centre and the swimming pool. Thieves get a little cash Thieves made off with only a small amount of cash in breakins at the Ontario Development office at Huron Park and the Huron Park post office. The breakins were discovered Saturday morning. Some damage was sustain- ed by both buildings in the. breakins. which are being in- vestigated by the Exeter ()PP. A vehicle stolen in the area on June 27 was recovered in the Stratford area this week. The vehicle was owned by Richard Reaburn. RR 2 Dashwood. and was found in a damaged condition. GET YOUR GOAT - Melanie and Sylvia Bentson Granton Fun Day parade, Saturday. joined their pettgoat Gabby in the T -A photo