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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1985-08-28, Page 1New -CCAT research farm opened Two Ontario Cabinet Ministers were at Centralia College of • Agricultural Technology to officially - open a new research and demonstration farm Wednesday afternoon. The 15k acre farm recently pur- chased bylhe Ministry of Agriculture Government Services- is located on Concession three of Stephen township about two miles north of the Centralia College location. Participating in the open ceremonies and ribbon cutting were Minister of Agriculture Jack Riddell and Minister of Government Services Elinor Caplan. The 150 acre fano recently pur- • A GIFT -- Julia Finlay, Zurich, accepts a free balloon from one of the clowns who circulated among the crowd at the 20th annual Zurich Bean Festival. Huron 'school total decreases slightly A slight downward trend in pro- jected student enrolment figures won't mean any significant changes in Huron County schools f says superintendent of program 4rnold Mathers. Last week. Mathers said lh • only . area showing an increase • is • t the_ schools tor the. trainable mintally retarded. This fall there are expected to be 83 pupils in such school, com- pared to 68 last fall. • "They're almost all directly i}elated to the fact that developmentally han- dicapped students are• comiig' on stream." said the superintendent. Previously, these students 'tame under the jurisdiction of the ministry of community and social services. There are 5.990 students expected this fall in Huron's elementary schools. last September, there were 6.065 students•in the Kindergarten to Grade 8 classes. ' The student number changes ex- pected are spread throughout the county and no one schopl is experien- cing a great drop in eikrolment. • WE'LL BE L4ITE Due to holiday. Monday: the Exeter - Times -Advocate will be published one day later than usual next week. It will he printed Wednesday night for 'Thursday morning:delivery. "There are no particular trends in • the enrolment figures," said Mathers. He did say the projected enrolment figures at J.A.D. McCurdy, Hensall and Vanastra public schools don't change much. These schools recent- ly went through accommodation reviews. The school board agreed to keep them open. Hensall is expected to have four more students while the other two schools are predicting small decreases. However, Mathers said Vanastra and McCurdy are located in areas where there are a large number of rental units which makes predic- tions difficult. Enrolment at the secondary school level will remain virtually the same. Last year there were 3,789 students and 3,782 are expected this Sept. 3. One high school which the board has been watching closely for declin- ing enrolment over the past number of years, F.E. Madill secondary school in Wingham, is actually predic- ting an increase in 20 students. A planned enrolment change will effect Central Huron secondary school in Clinton. Starting this September, all basic level students will be taught in their home schools. This means that Goderich basic level students who have been going to Clin- ton will be returning to Goderich District Collegiate Institute. French immersion adds to SS figure The French immersion program in Goderich and Stratford Catholic schools has resulted in an overall enrolment increase of 118 students for (he ('atholic system. but means smaller English kindergarten classes. Jack Lane. the Huron -Perth Roman 'Catholic separate school hoard's superintendent of business and finance. said cnrolinent in the board's 18 schools is expected to total 2.7:1(1 - girls and Isms on September 4. The first day of school. Seplen►ber 3. is a professii►nal development day for the Catholic system's leachers and thus a day off tor the students. The projected enrolment 012.730 is more than the 2.612 sttidents in Catholic schools in Iluron and Perth at the end of .lune. The school board Damage high in lone crash Damage was estimated at $8.000 II'nlm ;I tyvo-car collision in Exeter Saturday morning. Drivers involved were Gary Howard. Kippers. and Arthur But - chart (rand Bend. !toward was making a lett turn on Wellington St. to go north on Main ►vhen he collided with the southbound- (:rand Bend vehicle. Both shivers escaped injury and 1low-ard has been charged with fail- ing to yield. also has one less school in its jurisdic- tion after the quiet closing in June of Ecole Ste. Marie at St. Joseph's. Lane said the enrolment increase is directly attributed to the French im- mersion program because exactly; the same number of Grade 8 students left in June as there are kindergarten students coming in September. i There are 62 kindergarten French immersion students registered for Goderich and 59 for Stratford. The first year of the immersin program has been opened up ki Grade 1 and 2 students. Lane emphasizedd. that the exact enrolment figures won't be known un- til the first day .of school. The superintendent did say that French immersion has resulted in the kindergarten class al St. Mary's separate school in Godrich being combined with the Grade one class. The kindergarten teacher will re- main on staff at the school, but in- stead of teaching half-time will be teaching :10 per cent of a full day. Lane said there were nine teaching positions in the Goderich school last year. There will be 10.9 teaching posi- tions this faILThreeof those positions are in the french immersion program. None of the kindergarten classes at the four Kindergarten to (:rade six Catholic schools in Stratford will he combined or lost. said Lane. The French immersion program is of- fered at St. Michael's. the Grade seven -eight school in Stratford. CAME CLOSE - - Any area residents who may have doubted that a menacing funnel cloud passed through Usborne Township on August 25 will find this picture erasing those doubts. It was token by Esther Hillman, while she and some friends were playing golf at Ironwood Golf Course. The golfers watched the funnel snake through the area to the east of them where some minor damage was reported. chased by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food is located on Concession three of Stephen township about two miles north of the Centralia College location. Chairman Dr. J.C. Rennie. an assistant deputy minister said Cen- tralia College continues to be a ma- jor contributor to primaryagriculture and agri-business. He added, "We feel research of this kind should take place where crops are ultimately grown." In his address, Agriculture Minister Riddell said Ontario is a major in- vestor in agricultural research and each year all over the province scien- tists are looking for newer, better and more efficient ways to grow crops and produce food. Riddell continued. "These research efforts are backed by $30 million a year, in resear'•h funds from the government, the largest research budget of any province in Canada. Investment in this farm is not only a major one. but a good one. Studies at the University of Guelph show that on average each dollar invested in agricultural research in Ontario pays back $40." In 1975 the agronomy research pro- gram at Centralia College began with the leasing of 12 acres of land. At that time the staff consisted of one resear- cher and one assistant who spent about halt their time with crops on this land. Now there are about 50 projects in research programs with a staff of two researchers - and three technicians along with a farm crew leader and four summer students. - On this subject Riddell continued, farm concentrates in one 'ova- tion research that was previously done al seven locations. ('lose to 90 percent of the College's agronomy research will now be done here. This consolidation will mean marked im- provement in efficiency in leans of set-up time and the use' 01 equipment." Please turn to page 2 OPEN RESEARCH FARM WITH RIBBON CUTTING — The new research farm of Centralia College located on Concession three of Stephen township was officially opened, Wednesday. Cutting the rib- bon from the left are Dr. J.C. Rennie, Rev. Robert Donnan, Stephen Ames - Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One Hundred and Twelfth Year reeve Allan Walper, Minister of Government Services Elinor Caplan, Agriculture Minister Jock Riddell, Huron warden Paul Steckle and Robert MacLaughlin of the Ministry of Agriculture. T -A photo dvocate & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, August 28, 1985 Price Per Copy 50 Cents Planning student details truck, retail suggestions A planning student, hired by Exeter complaint received about a truck for summer duties, has detailed parking at a residence, there were at several possible solutions to the least the same number stating that town's current problem with corns the vehicle causes no problems at all in the area," he commented in his recommendation on the situation. Findlater noted that the current zoning bylaw is ineffective because most of the vehicle owners have legal non -conforming status and therefore the bylaw "affects only 10 percent of the vehicles in question and will resolve only a small portion of the problem." He also suggested that if vehicles are prohibited from using certain streets, that the town and the owners should find suitable alternative park- ing accommodation for the trucks. Asked also to undertaken study al mercial vehicles parking in residen- tial areas and has also warned that commercial space in the town could be nearing the saturation point. Stewart Findlater, a student at the University of Western Ontario, recommends that council either revoke the current bylaw prohibiting commercial vehicles to park in residential areas or to pass a traffic bylaw to prohibit vehicles over cer- tain weights from using designated town streets. The former solution would work w favor of Exeter's current 25 commer- cial vehicle owners who park at their residences, while the •latter would deny them access to the roads leading to their residences ail favor those op- posed to commercial vehicles parking in their neighborhoods. Before any further action is in- itiated, Findlater writes in his 122 -page report. council should make a decision as to whether the parking of commercial vehicles in residential areas is, in fact, a real problem or whether it is the case that the only time complaints are registered is when personality conflicts arise bet- ween neighbors. "it appears as though for every bids opened Construction of Exeter's new nurs ing home could get underway in ;Minn 10 days. . Kr & L. Construction. London. sub- mitted the lowest of the bids opened in Exeter on Thursday afternoon by - home owner Tom Kannarnpuzha. Ile was assisted by architect Eric Smith and home administrator Irwin Johnston. Sea fort h. Mayor Bruce Shaw said the London firm submitted a bid of $1.8 million. which was • about $300.000' over the estimated cost of the hone It was indicated that Kannampuzha and his architect will ix• negotiating with the London contractors in an ef- fort to reduce the price nearer to the budget figure. The only area firm chosen from the sub -contractors is,JMlt Electric Ltd. who will be doing the electrical and mechanical work on the new home to be built on John St. E. Kannampuzha has already receiv- ed approval from the ministry for the preliminary plans and Smith told local officials that construction would probably f,roceed prior to the final approval: Approval has been received for a 70 -bed unit. including 30 nursing care beds which are being transferred from Kannampuzha's present nurs- ing home in Seaforth. Smith indicated that the hone could expand to 120 beds in total. The developer hopes to get the footings in and as much construction completed as possible before winter sets in. The facility will be ready for occupancy some time next year the Exeter trade area, the UWO stu- dent noted that the trade area popula- tion growth is much smaller than the provincial average and that .Itie population is also aging. While Exeter merchants capture 8:1 percent of the convenience shopping. they get only 60 percent of the business from those shopping Inc department store type merchandise (D.S.T.M. 1 items such as shoes. fur- niture. clothing. electrical appliances. jewellery and hardware., Some of that business 116.5 percent i goes to neighboring sniall com- munities. while the majority i24.5 percent) goes to London. Those inost likely to shop in London are those peo- ple between the ages of 20-34. while those over 59 tend to shop in Exeter. "These figurs suggest (here is neon for improvement. vis-a-vis attracting younger customer's and this is what the BIA should be yvorking on." he claims. • Predicting a relatively small in- crease for more commercial floor space in the next 10 years. he said that "Exeter's retail expansion may he near its substantial capacity." His recommendations, in addition 10 the campaign to attract younger _shoppers. include: a call for stricter enforcement of the Iwo -hour parking. limits and 10 -minute limits at special designated parking spots at bunks and variety stores: careful considera- tion for expanding the core commer-. cial area so development does not Please turn to page 2 QUEEN CONTESTANTS Shelley Finnen, (centre front), sponsored by the Bayview Tavern, was crowned 1985 Zurich Bean Festival Queen. Other entrants were Kelly Kirk, Startime Video (back left); Lisa Ducharme, Oakwood Inn; Jody Hoy, Zurich Fair Board; Lisa Bedard., Show's Dairy Store; Tammy Lesperance. Turkheim Printing; and (front) Lori McNutt, Hensoll Co-op; Kim Deline, Schilbe's Hardware: Irene Dietrich, Merners Meat Market; and Vanessa Knox. The Advance. teacher out of class due to assault charge Exeter Public school leacher Michael Soldan. charged with (he sex- ual assault of a 16 -year-old girl. will not he in the classroom when school opens on Tuesday. Directti .of educal Robert Allan tiaid that the :37 -year-old Soldan has been asked to report for special duties at the hoard office in Clinton. Allan said he took that action alter learning of the charge against Soldan and added thkit the hoard may have a statement on the situation following their initial pall meeting on Tuesday Soldan. of 159 Thomas Sl.. Exeter. appeared in Goderich court. Exeter. He was represented by local lawyer K.1. McLean. acting as agent for I.on don lawyer Norman -A. Peel. Q.(' The case was set over for plea un- til September 16. information contained' in the charge read before Judge Gary Hunner was that the sexual assault nt the girl loop place between March 1 and March 31 of tf1is rear. Soldan was ober of three arta men to appear before ,fudge Hunter on Monday Daniel Steeper. 24. nt I1B 1 Parkhill. appeared on three charges nl commit ting an indecent act by exposing his private person The charges charges were I.,id follow ing in - vestigation by the Exeter town police and the (►1'1' Steeper was charged with nnc nt fence stemming from alt incident on Algonquin Drive in pluton Park on .lu ly 19 and one on Canada Ave in 1itrron Park on .luh 29. The third charge related to an of fence on Andrew St. in Exeter on Ju 1y 23 when 0 pian exposed himself to women and young girls in the mini ty of the Exeter swimming pool. Duly- counsel Tom Murphy. acting for Exeter lawyer Randy Evans. ask- ed that the matter be set over one month for plea and election. Judge Hunter set September 19 tor plea in Exeter vq, in . • . Also snaking an appearance in Goderich was Cornelius Verkerk. '1 Andrew St. N. who has been charged with attempting to murder his 2:1 -year old wife. Gcrrigjc Verkerk The 77-yetn--old Exeter man was charged following an Incident on .10 ly la when his wife was -severely beaten and tie was pre►iou,Iy remanded in custody to the 1.nn11nf l Psychiatric Hospital for a :to da\ assessment Verkerk has been released on his own reeot,nvance and has been 0 pa tient in Alexander General and 11arine Hospital In Goderich :\ preliminary hearing has leen set for September 11 6