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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1985-10-16, Page 32Times -Advocate, October 16, 1985 WIN 'B' TITLE — The Crediton Cowgirls won the Huron -Middlesex Ladies Fastball 'B' championship by defeating Strathroy. Back, left, Robert Pertschy, Karen Bowerman, Kelly Phillips, Karen Williams, Fay Schenk, Sue Muller, Debbie Lord, Lori Devlaeminck and Pauline Brannon. Front, Tammy Regier, Brenda Wilds, Kathy Gielen, Kate Steeper, Brenda Iredale, Wendi Schwindt and Marilyn Smithers4Missing was Cecile Muller. T -A photo Hydroratesup4% in 1986 Hydro should keep its rate increases tial targets. However, Hydro believes below the forecast inflation level,' a that its 1986 revenues will be adequate target we have set for ourselves for to meet the interest charges on its the balance of this decade," Chair- debt and to meet its debt repayment man Tom Campbell said. plans. "Since we made our initial forecast The increase will also reduce the in January, the outlook for revenues proportion of Hydro's assets that are and costs is less favourable, so a 1986 _ debt financed, continuing a trend that rate increase slightly higher than has been underway since 1982. Hydro previously predicted is required. expects this trend to continue into the However, we believe an increase of future as further progress towards its 4.0 percent instead of the 4.9 percent financial target is achieved. recommended by the Ontario Energy The average increase to Ontario's Board will help the economy and be 316 municipal utilities will be 4.0 per - more responsive to customer needs," cent, and to the 103 large industrial he added. customers 4.3 percent_The increase-___ Hydro's Board_was_aware -that— - to individual -utilities and industrial many of our customers have been liv- customers will vary depending on ing with price and wage increases local use and supply conditions. lower than inflation and we feel a par- Hydro's 800,000 rural retail titular responsibility to them." customers will receive increases In arriving at its recommendation averaging 3.8 percent which includes the OEB emphasized the need for a the effect of rural rate assistance. The higher level of net income which increase will also vary from customer. would have the effect of moving to customer depending on classifica Hydro more quickly toward its finan- tion and use. Ontario Hydro will increase elec- tricity rates an average four percent, effective January 1, 1986, the utility's Board of Directors decided today. Rate increases to municipal utilities will be the lowest in 20 years, while increases to direct industrial customers will be at the lowest level in 14 years. The new rate increase is lower than the 4.9 percent recently recommend- ed by the Ontario Energy Board but higher than Hydro's original 3.6 per- cent proposal announced in March of this year. "After careful consideration of the OEB recommendation, Hydro's -Boardof- -Directors—decided That Atlas out next week Premier David Peterson can't make it and neither can minister of citizenship and culture Lily Munro, but the biggest publishing event in Huron County will be launched anyway. Huron County council learned at its October 10 session that the 1985 historical atlas is nearing the day when it will reach the public. And the launching will take place at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23 either inside or outside the court house in Goderich, depending on the weather. Atlas co-ordinator Bev Brown said those wishing to pick up atlases can do so from 10 a.m. on Oct. 23 every week day until November 6. After that day, copies of the Atlas may be picked up inside the court house or by delivery after paying $6 per copy to cover shipping and handling. Refuse work, lose welfare If those on welfare in Huron Coun- ty turn down a job, they do get their benefits stopped, says social services administrator John McKinnon. He told the October 10 session of county council that there are jobs in the county for those willing to work. Hay Township Reeve Lionel Wilder was upset that there are people in the county who are healthy, but unwilling to work. Ile knows of farmers in the south end of the county who recruit workers from Quebec, France and Jamaica. "All year we are terminating peo- ple if they refuse a job," said MacKinnon. There was good news in the adr ministrator's monthly report. The welfare caseload has gone down by over 22 percent in the past year. MacKinnon said agriculture related employment in the summer and dur- ing this time of year has helped reduce those numbers. Improvements planned for Port Franks area Port Franks Conservation Area, located within the hamlet of Port Franks, is the subject of a long-range master plan prepared by the Ausable- Bayfield Conservation Authority. Technical approval for the plan has been announced by Natural Resources' Minister Vince Kerrio. The plan provides for the develop- ment of more dockage, the addition of utility services to docks, the con- struction of an utility building that would house public washrooms, and the upgrading of existing access and parking facilities. These im- provements and additions to facilities at the Conservation Area would be completed during the next five yars at a total estimated cost of $167,650. Kerrio noted the favourable loca- tion of Port Franks Conservation Area near the Highway 21 "Bluewater" tourist corridor and the past popularity the Conservation Area has had with boating enthusiasts. He was also especially pleased to see that the master plan provides for cooperation between the Conserva- tion Authority and the Township of Bosanquet in jointly managing and developing the Conservation Area. Technical approval of the master plan qualifies the A.B.C.A. for a total of $33,825 in basic provincial grants over the next five-year period. in developing the master plan for Port Franks Conservation Area, the Conservation Authority emphasized the development of recreational uses compatible with the Conservation Area's floodplain environment and the cooperation between the A.B.C.A. and Bosanquet Township in manag- ing the property. it is hoped that this cooperation will serve as a model for economic stimulus for the rest of the communit The Minister added that the "ap- proval would allow the Conservation Authority and the Township of Bosan- quet to jointly continue providing high quality recreational experience to On- tario residents And tourists during their visits to Port Franks Conserva- tion Area. MS Read-a-thon begins for pupils in H -P schools Beginning October 15, the fall 1985 Multiple Sclerosis read-a-thon pro- gram kicked off another season in Huron/Perth. Of the 13 elementary schools taking part, 2,784 students will be reading books to raise funds for the 50,000 Canadians afflicted by MS. The fall 1984 MS Read-a-thon had 1,852 Huron/Perth students who read 19,915 books and raised $19,779.86 for the research of this crippling disease. The read-a-thon program, not only raises funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, it also encourages children to read. Students become "mystery sleuths" by reading books and obtain- ing sponsors from among parents, friends and relatives. Door to door solicitation is not encouraged. This fall, children will be reading books from the day of their assembly presentation (scheduled between Oc- tober 15 and 25) to November 15, in the hopes of solving the mystery of MS. Multiple Sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system which may cause Toss of coordination, tremors, double vision, extreme fatigue, even paralysis. MS usually strikes young adults between the ages of 15 to 50. As yet, there is no known cause or cure. \ta/Os ra USBORNE OPEN HOUSE -- Darlene Passmore and son Rob talk to teacher Bob Laye at a recent Open House at Usborne Central School. T -A photo Drinking, driving EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third and final article on alcohol. 'fake an average day in Ontario. Two people die in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents. In 1983, there were 508 fatal ac- cidents involving drinking or im- paired driving ministry of transpor- tation and communications most re- cent statistics state. Another statistic - in 1983 there were 619 drivers killed in motor vehicle ac- cidents. Of that, 51 per cent or 316 drivers only had been drinking or were impaired. in 1982, over 42,000 drivers in On- tario alone were charged with im- paired driving. Nameless, faceless statistics. but what can be done to make sure you don't become a statistic. "The first step is awareness then there are people clamoring for things to be done," said Dr. Evelyn Vingilis of the Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario. Some groups have made attempts to make.people aware of the problems of excessive drinking - particular!) drinking and driving. The province has been running an extensive advertising campaign to warn of the hazards - the big one be- ing death - of drinking and driving. There are the radio commercials where people talk about the loss of a loved one. These are aired close to long weekends. There's the one that warns against driving home from the cottage with several drinks under your belt. An effective television commercial shows the remorse of a drunk driver who has just killed a Young child. Admittedly there is no hard data to prove' these commercials work says Dr. Vingilis. However, she does know the results of other research. • There are three different .ap- proaches for those drinking and those dunking=and driving:—the-first— is education, the next is legal and the third is rehabilitation. "The advertising itself is not sue - sad statistics cessful in changing behaviour" said the doctor about the government ad progratn. "However it does make people more aware and receptive and that's an important component to other counter measures," she says. Those other counter measures in- volve increased enforcement, good laws and a good rehabilitation pro- gram." said the foundation spokesperson. She did say studies have shown that Ontario has the lowest rate of fatal motor vehicle accidents at Christmas time as compared to other provinces. Dr. Vingilis did note though that spot checks in Ontario are also prevalent at Christmas time. Now, the summer months are the worst time for alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents, said the doctor. She said the cumulative effect of advertising, education, tougher laws and a good rehabilitation might show in 10 years time. Based in Toronto, she commented on a phenomenon that she noticed recently at the drive-in theatre Noting it had been 20 years since she had been to' the drive-in, she was amazed at all the drinking going on around her. "What struck me most was the driving after the drinking." There were about 200 cars at the drive-in, she said. About 80 per cent were drinking and for the sake of argument she said about 20 per cent of the drivers could be impaired. "That's 40 cars with chunk drivers on the highway," said 1)r.. Vingilis. When asked about gravel runs, she did say she has heard of them. A gravel run is when a group of people 'take off in the car with booze and drive up and down country roads. Besides being popular in this area, its also a popular form of entertain- ing in the western provinces. "It's frightening," said the doctor. Do you know what Nut' arc doing'' Huron schools to receive $200,000 to replace roofs Almost a quarter of a million square feet of roof is up for replace- ment at Huron County schools. The roofs along with a couple of boilers and an elevator on the Huron County board of education's annual list of items that need replacing. The list gets sent to the ministry of educa- tion for approval and funding. The 1986 list includes the replace- ment of 248,991 square feet of roof at seven elementary schools for four high schools. Director of education Robert Allan said the London office of the education ministry has inform- ed him that Huron has been allotted $200,000 for roof replacements. --Not-only-'Will that na—t cover the costs for all the roofs, but the local school board doesn't get the chance to choose which roof jobs need to be done first, says Mr. Allan. The Lon- don office does that. For next year, the school board would like to see a new boiler in Seaforth public school and Vanastra Public school. Mr. Allan said over the past 10 years, the ministry has ap- proved about four or five new boilers for Huron schools. Something new for the school board is to be applying for an elevator for Victoria public school in Seaforth. The director said the elevator will be beneficial in this two-storey school so that children in wheelchairs or others can get to the second floor. This is a' particular need at this school with the library on the second floor. It will be some time before the board learns if the items have been a'.roved. s A HEARTY DINNER — Judy Mills, principal Pat Soldan and Marion Sharrow serve up Thanksgiving din- ner to kindergarten students and their porents at McCurdy -Huron Hope School Friday. Tony opens o ens at Grand Pioneers of America. They have also donated two TTD's, Telephone Devices with monitors known as visual ears, for use in the theatre. Also in place for the first perfor- mance of Children of a Lesser God will be a hearing impaired system consisting of transmitters that will amplify the action on stage to receivers, available to patrons at the Grand Theatre Box Office prior to curtain. There will be no cost for this service; however, an identification United States by the Telephone deposit will be requested. Children of a Lesser God, the ex- performance. traordinary play by Mark Medoff that The Grand Theatre has been took Broadway by storm in 1980 cap- preparing to serve the deaf cAmmuni- turing three Tony Awards, will open ty with the generous assistance of the at the Grand Theatre on October 25 as London Branch of the Telephone the second production of the 1985/86 Pioneers of America, who have season. Michele George will direct a donated a "TTY" or Telephone seven member cast, featuring David Teletype Devise that can accept calls Ferry and deaf actress Debbie at the Box Office from home Bosworth in the powerful husband telephones also using the same and wife roles that dominate the play. device. The TTY network for the deaf Children of a'Lesser God will run un- began in 1965 and has been sustained til November 16. and enlarged across Canada and the This compelling work by American playwright Mark Medoff takes us in- side the world of the deaf, revealing the artful communicaiton - and frustration - of those who cannot hear. It is the story of a fiercly independent deaf woman and her marriage to a hearing man, both determined to share a life together as they bridge the gap between their two souls. Author Mark Medoff wrote the award-winning play When You Com - in' Back, Red Ryder? as well as The Wager, Firekeeper and The Hallowe'en Bandit. Children of a Lesser God began in the Playwright's Lab at New Mexico State University where Mr. Medoff is Dramatist in Residence and Chairman of the Drama Department. When it premiered on Broadway it won both the Outer Critics Circle Award and Tony Award for Best Play. Director Michele George has work- ed extensively as an actor as well as a director. As a funding member of Peter Brook's international Centre for Theatre Research in Paris, she travelled worldwide for nine years. Last spring Miss George directed Sam Shepard's Fool for Love at Toronto Free Theatre and, most recently, performed in Oedipus Rex for New York's La Mama Theatre. She is currently appearing in the film Agnes of God. The Grand Theatre's Consultant on Deafness and interpreter is Michael Vorontsov, a professional sign language interpreter, one of a hand- ful of certified interpreters specializ- ing in artistic interpreting in Canada. Vorontsov consulted with the CBC on the Judge series, worked recently as a consultant and actor with TV On- tario and was involved with the film version of Children of a Lesser God, in addition to his work during the Grand Theatre's rehearsal process, Mr. Vorontsov will interpret the 8:00 p.m. performance on Monday. November 4. Deaf persons requiring sign language interpretation are en- couraged to attend this special Mary's Musings After a brief foray into the worka- day world, I'm back to being a full- time Mom and part-time writer, dividing my hours between the laun- dry hamper and the typewriter. For the past month i was working in public relations at Centralia Col- lege of Agricultural Technology. And while it was an interesting and challenging position, I decided that I was just missing out on too nauch at home -- that "loo much" being my nine month daughter. You know the kinds of things i was missing out on -- 1 was missing out on watching her pudgy little hand come down ker-splat in the middle of the bowl, sending strained carrots flying in all directions around the room. 1 wasn't home to watch her get ready to stick a tiny finger into an electrical outlet. I wasn't there to watch her tip over a wastebasket and scatter the con- tents across the room, or grab a magazine off the coffee table and yank the cover from it. I wasn't there each day to see her shred the newspaper, emerging with black smudges all over her pink velour sleepers. Nor wis 1 on hand when she first reached up for the roll of toilet paper and gave it a good tug. I was missing out on many of her cute tricks -- pulling on the living room drapes, fingerprinting the cof- There is nothing to compare to her fee table. She was learning things t hearty laughter as she kicks in her everyday -- like how to swing those hath tub. brass candle holders around and Some might call the extra work a gouge a nice piece of wood out of the nuisance -- Chelsey and 1, we call it bookcase. fun By Mary Alderson Of course, if 1 wasn't on hand to give her her morning bath, 1 forgot how much fun it was sopping up all the puddles after water was splash- ed around the room. There are many other things 1 should also mention -- such as her con- tented little "Mmmmm-mmmm" noises she makes' when those spoonsful of strained carrots get to her mouth instead of being splattered around the kitchen. And then there's that little glance she gives over her shoulder just before she tires to put her finger in the now -covered electrical outlet, waiting for someone to say"No!" Much more interesting are her gig- gles of delight when she finds a noisy piece of cumpled paper in the wastebasket ()r watching her crinkle her nose with glee as she joyfully tears the cover from a magazine or waves the newspaper in the air. it is truly delightful to see her face light up when she discovers that if she pulls on the edge of the toilet paper, a whole long strip will follow. Curtains and clean coffee tables take on less importance when you see her satisfaction at pulling herself to a standing position. You can only laugh at her intensity and seriousness as she studies a new object, such as shiny brass candle holders.