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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1985-12-04, Page 15o4 PER COPY Two drinking drivers get Fourteen -day jail terms were hand- ed out to two drivers who appeared in Exeter court, Tuesday, for drinking and driving offences. Judge Gary Hunter directed that each could serve the sentence on an intermittent basis from Friday through Sunday so the duo could con- tinue to hold their jobs. It was the second offence for Barry J. Clark, RR 1 Thorndale, and Walter John Westlake, RR 1 Hensall, and that now carries a mandatory jail term. Clark was charged with impaired driving on April 4 after being found asleep behind the steering wheel of his vehicle which was parked on the shoulder of Highway 81 east of Grand Bend. A breathalyser test gave a reading of 250 mgs. He had a previous convici- tion on July 11, 1983. ' Westlake was stopped by police on November 16 after he departed from a licensed establishment in Exeter. A breathalyser test gave a reading of 280 mgs and he was charged with driving with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit. His previous conviction was on Oc- tober 31, 1981. In addition to the jail sentences, the two received automatic license suspensions. A fine of $500 and an automatic license suspension was handed out to Robert James Minderlein, 128 Well- ington Crescent, Huron Park, after he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with a blood alcohol codtent over the legal limit. TOP CITIZEN' -Marshall Dearing, left, was named Exeter's citizen of the year, Thursday, during the town's annual appreciation night banquet. Mayor Bruce Shaw congratulates the winner, who is involv- ed in a number of local organizations and senior sporting activities. Young, old sports get town accolades Two young men embroiled in the heavy hitting of the professional hockey world and another man who has been a driving force for less com- petitive and arduous sporting ac- tivities were recognized for their achievements at Exeter's annual Ap- preciation Night banquet, Thursday. Marshall Dearing, who has provid- ed leadership in the local lawn bowl- ing club and getting older members back into the fray at the local curling rink, was named the town's citizen of the year. - A former member of th Lions, he helped org nize shuffle oard for seniors at th rec centre nd was a member of a Sportsfest mittee this past summer. The 403 Carling St. resident is a past president of the South Huron Big Brothers and Big Sisters Association, sits on the local senior citizen ad- visory committee and is a member of the nursing home committee. Mayor Bruce Shaw. in announcing the winner. also referred to the reci- pient as a "rabble-rouser" who represented the residents of his street in their perennial battle to have coun- cil come up with a solution to their basement flooding problem. "i'm glad to see we did get some results. Dearing remarked on the latter issue. Admitting that he was speechless over the award, Dearing said he was also very humbled and explained that most of his energies expended on get- ting sporting activities for seniors were self -rewarding. "i do it for my own pleasure." Also recognj)zed at Thursday's event were Petry and Paul Pooley, twin sons of Audrey and Bob Pooley. who are currently performing with Sherbrooke in the American Hockey League. Last season they helped that team win the Calder Cup. The two signed professional con- tracts with the NHL Winnipeg. Jets after successful careers at Ohio Stale where they were both members of the All-American academic team. Paul was rookie -of -the -year in the division and was runner-up for the top American College player award in his final season. He established all-time scoring records at Ohio. The twins helped Exeter captuie novice, pee wee, bantam and junior Ontario championships before mov- ing on to the Junior "A" level with the Kingston Canadians. A plaque extolling their skill, dedication and excellence in hockey circles will be erected at the rec centre. "They're a good pair of boys and Exeter is proud of them," Shaw ad- vised after Pooley told the audience he would convey the thoughtfulness and consideration of the community to his sons who were unaware of the award. Shaw, Reeve Bill Mickle and Deputy -Reeve Lossy Fuller introduc- ed members of the variouis commit- tees and their spouses who were on hand for the appreciation night. Shaw said that the role the various people play is "very important" to the community. Among those were the economic development committee, nursing home committee, cemetery board, rec centre board of management, BIA, PUC, plan advisory committee along with the town's representatives on the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, Huron board of education and the town's department heads. Given plaques or special accolades on the occasion of their retirement from duties on some of those bodies were Councillor Don Winter, rec board members John Pym, Brian llardeman, Caroline Merner, Tom Tomes. plan advisory committee member Harold Patterson and BiA president and economic development committee member Bob Swartman. Following the formal activities. the audience members were entertained by the Paul Brothers and Shirley. • ARTHRITIS CAMPAIGN COMPLETE Lou Vince of the Canadian Ar- thritis Association accepts a cheque of Si ,951 .34 from Centralia Col- lege campaign co-ordinators Ted Kennedy and Lisa 'Barr. CCAT students canvassed Exeter, Huron Pork. Crediton and Centralia on October 3. • T -A photo. Could hit '4 million The value of building permits in Ex- eter could hit the four million dollar mark by the end of the year. . Permits approved in October totall- ed 8332.360. bringing the 1985 total to 83.655.749. The corresponding total for the first 10 months in 1984 was 82.043.868. Four new houses were included in the October list. They were valued at 8230.000. t There were 15 permits for residen- tial renovations and additions at $59.250. three commercial at 816.910, two institutional for 85,500 and one commercial at 88.000. The final five permits were for tool sheds, sun - decks, carports and garages at $12.500. Two temporary and two permanent sign permits were also approved by chief building official Brian Johnston. He was charged on October 18 in Stephen Township after being stopped because his vehicle had only one operating headlight. Abreathalyser test gave a reading of 130 mgs. He was given 90 days in which to pay the fine. David Stilson, RR 2 Lucan, was fin- ed $400 after pleadiggg guilty to a charge of public migchief. He told police his vehicle had been stolen, but admitted later that it had not andin fact he toad been driving it when it was involved in an accident. He was also given 90 days in which to pay the fine. A fine of 8100 was levied against Michael Venner, King St., Hensall, on a charge of careless storage of firearms. He was charged on November 10 after his unattended and Imes Serving South Huron, North Middlesex / & North Lambton Since 1873 f4 -dap 1.11 terms unlocked vehicle was found in Hay Township with two loaded rifles in it, The•guns were %eized by police and he claimed them later, saying he didn't know the rifles were loaded. _ He was given 30 days to pay. James W. cable, 195 Columbia Drive; Huron Park, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a narcotic and was fined 8250. A search of his vehicle on November 8 revealed $26 worth of cannibus and a hash pipe. He had been given a discharge on a previous charge of possession in Sarnia in September, 1984. A conditional discharge with six months probation was given to Robert C. Adair, RR 4 Parkhill, who plead- ed guilty to a charge of possession of a -narcotic on November 2. His vehi- cle was stopped in Huron Park for a traffic violation and a search un- covered a small vial and a hash pipe. Suspended sentences were granted to, two people who appeared in court forsentencing following prior convic- tions for fraud. Susan Marie Gregus, 411 Main St., Exeter, was placed on probation for 12 months and ordered to make restitution of 883.05 within six months. The court learned she had already spent 12 days in jail awaiting bail on the five fraud charges laid against her. William J. Ambrose, 154 Church St., Ailsa Craig, was also placed on pro- bation for 12 months and ordered to make restitution of 8193.12 for the goods received by issuing NSF che- ques to area businesses. One Hundred and Thirteenth Year EXETER, ONTARIO, December 4, 1985 Price Per Copy 50 Cents Court hearing sch.duled over loyal group homes - The disposition of two group homes for the mentally handicapped propos- ed for the north-east section of Exeter could be known on December 17. That is the,date set for a judicial hearing in Supreme Court of Ontario in London. - James A. LeBer, of Lerner & Associates, London, acting on behalf of 60 residents opposing the group homes planned by the South Huron Association for the. Mentally Han- dicapped, has applied for the hearing. The hearing had originally been set for November 26, but was remanded until the later date at the request of the town's solicitor, Mike Mitchell. The applicants are asking for an in- terpretation of Exeter bylaw No. 30-1978 and the granting of an injunc- tion restraining the town from issuing a building permit for the construction of the homes in an area zoned for in- stitutional use, claiming it would be in contradiction of zoning bylaw Santa comes on Saturday Santa Claus makes his first official visit to Exeter on Saturday to par- ticipate in the annual parade which has become known as one of the best in Western Ontario. Three bp,nds will headline the .. parade. They include the Mitchell Legion Hand, the popular Main St. Jug Band and the SHDHS band. The latter, just organized this year, will be making their first appearance. Lions committee chairman Glenn Kells reports a good number of area businesses and groups have indicated they will be entering floats this year. The parade gets underway from its Huron St. E. staging point at 1:00 p.m. and travels up Main and Victoria. to the rec centre. Santa will be providing free soft drinks and potato chips and there will be tree skating as well. Tuckey Beverages Ltd. will be donating soft drinks and the skating. The parade is organized by the Ex- eter Lions under the auspices of the Exeter BIA. A pleasant rate shock Exeter customers will pay an average rate increase in 1986 of only 1.5 percent on their hydro bills, effec- tive January 1, a very pleased Hugh Davis informed. the November meeting of the Exeter PUC. "It has been a long, long time since we have had such a small increase", Davis said. Tile manager of the Exeter utility cited a number of reasons con- tributing to the phenomenon: a modest 3.9 percent increase from On- tario Hydro on the 1986 power charge, a slight reduction in working funds because major expenditures such as a new truck and the line to Canadian Canners were paid for this year and no large capital projects are schedul- ed for 1986, a reduced profit margin. and good management by the Commission. In response to a question, Davis assured Commissioner Harry DeVries that there is ample reserve electric capacity at the nursing home to allow the addition of extra beds in the future. Turning to the water department, Davis reported the line to the curling club had been completed. but with great difficulty and more expense than originally estimated. The project, expected to cost bet- ween 81,500 and 82,000, ended up costing 83,659 because --of terrible weather and cave-ins. Davis noted that expected revenue will amount to 8657 per year. Davis said all fire hydrants had received their annual servicing. The Commission then called a com- mittee of the whole to discuss a pro- perty transaction. They meet again on December 30 at 3:30 p.m. 30-1978. An affidavit placed before the court by the applicants contends that bylaw No. 30-1978 does not define a group home, nor does it list a group home as a permitted use in an area zoned for institutional use, and clearly limits the uses permitted to non- residential type uses. It further argues that council pass- ed a subsequent bylaw t No. 27-1985► knowing that group homes were not Three-year-old dies,.. two sisters injured A three-year-old London boy was killed in a crash of two vehicles Thursday morning on Highway 23. Philip Derek Knight was pronounc- ed dead at the scene 3.7 kilometres north of highway 7 by coroner Dr. Robert N. Green of London. The youngster was a passenger in a vehicle driven by his mother Nan- cy Knight that hit a patch of ice and slid into the path of a pickup truck driven by 32 year-old Francis G. Heenan, RR 3, Granton. He was returning from the stockyards in Denfield. Mrs. Knight and two daughters, two-year-old Meggie and five-year- old Erin were taken to University Hospital in London. She has been released, but, the two girls remain in hospital being treated for facial cuts. Heenan suffered a head cut and concussion. He has also been releas- ed from hospital. Constable Pat Dale and Sgt. Bob Erskine of the. Lucan OPP detach- ment were the investigating officers. They have indicated no charges will be laid. Both vehicles were travelling at normal speeds. The Knight vehicle contained a child restraint seat and two booster .chairs. They have been turned over to Accident Research of Engineering at the University of Western Ontario. Coroner Dr. Green said a decision on an inquest has' not been made. The deceased boy is the son of Phil and Nancy Knight of 703 Windermere Road in London and grandparents are Harry, Clarice Hern, Woodham; Pat Tory Knight,Exeter, grandparents Mrs. Gladys, !fern, Exeter; Mrs. Kathleen Ross, Waterloo. Mr. and Mrs. Dan Knight, London. listed under institutional and that if - a group home were to be built in an institutional -area, an amendment to the bylaw was necessary and that ap- pears to be the reason that bylaw pa. 27-1985 was passed. That bylaw was . subsequently rescinded by council. The affidavit was signed on behalf of the north end residents -by Len Veri. It is claimed that the effect of the course of action taken by council rescinding bylaw No. 27-1985 "is that • my fellow citizens of the Town of Ex- eter and i have been denied the oppor- tunity of making submissions to the Ontario Municipal Board in opposi- tion to the p' s iig of Bylaw No. 27-1985 as set out in our Notice of Ap-' peal and have been forced to come before this Court to attempt to enjoin an activity which in our view is clear- ly in contravention of the original bylaw. Council must have thought so . too or it would not have thought it necessary to add 'group home' to the permitted uses in the institutional zone." The affidavit notes.that Le Ber has spoken to the town's solicitor and has been advised that the town has receiv- ed an application for the_issuance of a building permit to allow construc- tion of a group home in an institu- tionally zoned area and that the town Please turn to page 2 r e rtasr..i,r •.a ,. xisCs tars *, BOOK FAIR AT STEPHEN CENTRAL A three day Book Fair at.Stephen Central School proved to be successful. Above, librarian Diane Rath talks to potential customers Nancy Nutt and son Doug. • Increases for many Assessment diwaging Many Exeter property owners can expec assessment increases early in the ne year following a decision by council s week to change the base rate from a 1975 market value to 1980 figures. it's the second time that Exeter has made a change in the market v alue figures and John Garrett of the regional assessment office advised that the changes won't be as severe as in the last re -assessment. As in that last re -assessment, some property owners will enjoy a lower figure. but the majority will see and increase although most will he minor according to the two officials from the assessment office in attendance at council's Monday night session Garrett explained that the re- assessment removes some of the in- equities in properly_ value that have been experienced since the last change due to rezoning and the minor improvements made by some owners. Some are reduced because properties have been devalued by market conditons or the lack of maintenance by the owners The bottom line. as explained to council. is that another $4:,.(itto will be added to the tax collections through the re -assessment. although that figure could tx' reduced through suc- cessful appeals by owners Owners of vacant land. in par- ticular. will see increases, while owners of older multi -unit facilities will enjoy slight decreases. "Does anyone not accept i re- assessment , . " Mayor Bruce Shaw asked. Garrett advised that some municipalities have delayed the pro- cedure but he suggested that there was little validity in not moving to the new base. noting that any such delay merely creates greater inequities "It's long overdue", commented ('ouncillor iten Hoogenbootn. noting that the six-year old study should he upgraded. despite the fact there will be some unhappy people. Garrett - predicted the changes would result in more assessment ap- peals than in a normal year. but noted Please turn to page 2 1