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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-03-19, Page 1Local Junior Farmers at convention, active at home The work and interests of young people today are the keys. to our future and the theme of the weekend Provincial Conference of the Junior Farmers Association of Ontario was to prove this. Members of the South Huron Junior Farmers were among the' 375 delegates attending the convention at the Holiday Inn in London. With over 6,000 members the Junior Farmers group is one of the largest self -led youth organizations in On- tario. A variety of social and educa- tional programs are carried dot by members in their home communities and the South Huron club has been very Instrumental in community bet- terment activities. At Friday's session of the conven- tion, South Huron president Rob Essery presented a cheque for $100 to f president Jim Wert tobe for - with donations from other clubs to the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Association of Ontario. The guest speaker at the convention banquet was Ontario's Minister of Agr'icultur+eJack Ridden. He spoke on 'The future of rural youth". Representing the South Huron group at the convention were presi- dent Rob Essery, delegates Al Rent- ing and Lori Kerslake, Mike Stewart attending as a county alternate and FlorenceRj+an,a member of the pro- einclel executive. pvlitfWe f Louth Huty in ron takes the ap provinci tivities. These Winter and aummer games, workshops, leader- ship camps, a Swing Sing and Culturama. Two club members have been norninated for exchange trips. They are Mark Ryan to the United Kingdom and Rob Essery to West Gentnany. March has been designated as Junior Farmer Month and the South Huron club will be focussing' on a membership drive with emphasis in getting new member's in towns and v4lsges Included in the drive will be a visit to South Huron District High School to solicit new members. For the fifth consecutive year, local Junior Farmers have been in charge of the Usborne township canvass for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. This year they collected $614, which is about $100 more than a year ago. The Junior Fanners are involved in many, other community activities. / JUNIOR FARMER AID — South Huron Junior Farmer president Rob Essery presents a cheque to Ontario president Jim Wert at the pro- vincial convention in Lucan, Friday. The money goes to the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Association of Ontario. ( .T=A photo More praise arrives for White Wonder Exeter's adoption of the white squirrel continues to bring comment from people across the province who heard of "White Wonder" on recent TV shows. As detailed in a previous letter to council from a Woodstock resident, Olney, Illinois, also has adopted the white squirrel as a mascot and a large number of the species live in that community. This week, L.A. Smith of Brantford provided more information on how the white squirrels made their way to Olney. In 1902, he reports, a man imported white squirrels to draw attention to a window display in a store. After a few months, the novelty wore off and the junior sales boy was told to take them to a woodlot, two miles out of town, and turn them loose. The boy put the two animals in a box, went out into the forest, found a hollow tree, and let out the male squirrel first. A fox squirrel come down from the top -most branches and killed the male. The boy had a gun, used it, and shot the fox squirrel. That could have been the end of Olney's white squirrel population, but nature had taken care of the situation apparently when the two animals were on display, for shortly after the female white squirrel was let loose, a nest of baby- white squirrels was observed in the hollow tree. This is written up in a book, Wandering Through Winter, by Ed- win Way Teale. "I hope all of your wild animals can be saved from death by cars, disease and ignorant men with guns, Smith wrote in his letter to council, adding his praise to the town for adopting native animals and preserving a rare breed of squirrel. Reschedule proposal orrltensall apartments A proposal to convert the Elizabeth Court.Apartments at 176 Oxford St. to condominium tenure, which was to have been made at the March 10 meeting of Hensall council, has been reschedujell for the April 14 meeting. The pre. talion will he made by Jack Davis of Jfick E. Davis Holdings Ltd., acting on behalf of owner Don Crich. A delegation representing the cur- rent tenants postponed their ap- pearance before council until the April meeting. The 36 -unit building was first oc- cupied in 1976, and is not under the rent control freeze; rental increases of more than four percent to cover ex- penses are allowed. Hensall clerk Betty Oke said the process of seeking approval for a change to condominiums could take up to a year. The local municipality will be asked Co state whether it ap- proves the move, or does not recom- mend it. Questionnaires will be sent to all tenants to obtain their opinions. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs also receives the application, and renders its judgment based on a number of criteria such as present vacancy rate, availability of other rental accommodation, etc. Even if approval were given after the lengthy process, present tenants would be given a "turnover" period before having to vacate. They will have a chance to find out more at the next council meeting. Ames - Serving South Huron, North Middlesex „-'%, One Hundred and Fourteenth Year dvoc e & North Lambton Since 1873 They operate food booths at the Ex- eter and Hensen fairs, sponsor a car rally, a mid-August breakfast at 'Thames Road, a halloween dance and have two representatives on the Ex- eter fair board. - Their next fund raising project is a. Beach Party dance Friday, March 29 at the Hensen Community Centre. They are also beginning ticket sales on a draw. Prizes are $150 worth of , groceries from A & H and an afghan donated by Noella Triebner. ys 421:4100/0- : sy/' /,. . ili EXETER. ONTARIO. March 19. 1986 Price Per Copy 60 cents Ag•Minister speaks to Lions �ncerned on free trade issue 'Food producers in Ontario have good reason to be concerned over the proposed new bilateral trade agreements better known as free trade with the United States." Those were the comments of On- tario's Agriculture Minister Jack Rid- dell speaking to Thursday's Exeter Lions annual rural -urban night. Riddell continued, "U.S. represent- tatives tell me that the White house is committed to free trade negotia- tions. We are holding a series of meetings with producers, processors and related business people; We want to have, all our ammunition ready should these talks begin. As might be expected there are differing opinions. Some groups are more receptive to free trade than others." He suggested some beef producers favour free trade with the Americans saying "This is understandable since their products already move across the border in a virtual free -trade manner. Others are not so fortunate. t;,anadian pork producers have been hit with import taxes, called counter- vailling duties, that are supposed to protect American markets. So, pork producers could be forgiven if they question the sincerity of Washington's stated support for free trade." The Ag Minister went on to say, "Segments of the horticultural in- dustries are worried aix ut'the cont. petition from areas of the U.S. that ell, joy longer growing seasons. And thery there are the commodities under supply management. Free trade has cast a long shadow of uncertainty over them." • Riddell said, "Supply management with its system of production quotas has brought security and stability to our dairy and poultry industries. An open border between our two coun- tries could have serious consequences for supply managed commodities." "A recent survey shows that more than 56 percent of the egg producing hens in the U.S. were owned by 61 companies. Each of these had at least one million birds. With numbers like these, you can readily understand the concern of Ontario egg producers when you consider it would take only eight or nine of these big American operations to supply all Canada." "Add to this the U.S. Farm Bill. In addition to boosting American food exports by enormous subsidies, the bill proposes to buy up as many as one million dairy cows and as much as 400 million pounds of beef." In summing up the free trade issue. Riddell said, "There are a lot of things to be consideredbefore we climb aboard the free trade 'band- wagbn and Ontario wants to be sure that Ottawa knows what is at stake and what it's getting us into." Riddell went on to talk about recent ;help his government has given to 'farmers saying, "We have had 622 ap- plications from Huron farm families On the OFFIRR program and the 400 'already processed have received more than two million dollars. Then there's the farmers in transi- tion program. This provides advice and assistance to help farmers cope with ifficult decisions about their futu> . This takes the form of counselling and other services to help two groups." "As Minister one of my prime duties is to relay the importance of agriculture -and food production to the 97 percent of Ontario's population which live and work in our cities and towns and have no direct contact with the farm." "From now until November 2 the main exhibit area of the Science Cen- tre in Ontario will be a showcase of food, it's economic importance, nutri- tion, etc. Beginning May 14, m, Ministry will be supporting an out- door exhibit called, "The Farm" and it will be just that. There will be live Please turn le page 3 LUCAN K OF C CELEBRATES The fifth anniversary of the futon Council 7754 of the Knights of Colum- bus was celebrated Friday night. From the left are Lucan Grand Knight Jack Gardner, past Grand Knight Herman Lansink, Navigator of Dormer assembly of London John Palmer, District Depu,ty Arend DeBoer and past Grand Knight Bill Giesen. T -A photo laded days for shoplifting A 33 -year old London \OSmmn was 1'he niona•r of a five-year-old son. Juana plant and a set of weigh scales sentenced to 15 days in jail after Sl. Jean had previous theft convic- were found fn his vehicle, along with pleading guilty to a charge of theft in lions and the court was told they were a two gram.bag of marijuana, a pipe Exeter court, Tuesday due to her involvement with drugs. and rolling papers. She had been handed fines for those The accused admitted the plant had ,fudge Gary Hunter imposed the previous offences. been homegrown and belonged to sentence on Gayle E St. Jean. 1776 In the only other case heard on him. Trafalgar SI ., who was charged in Ex Tuesday's docket, Edward .1. Neeb, 34 Ile had been given a six-month pro- eter on August 7 with stealing a Main St , Zurich, was fined $250 or 15 kation period on a previous conviction cassette stereo and twodimmer swit- (lays after pleading guilty to posses for possession of narcotics in ches from the Canadian Tire Store. sion of a narcotic. September, 1980. The items were valued At $267.95 and Neeb was stopped for a traffic Neebwas given 90 days in which to were recovered. violation on October 4 and a mari- pay the fine. LIONS ENTERTAIN FARMER FRIENDS — It was rural -urban night for Thursday's meeting of the Exeter Lions ch,b. Above, guest speaker Ontario's Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell talks with the Lions presi- dent Doug Jamieson and area farmers Bert Visscher and Keith Lovell. T -A photo After St. Patrick's type sparring council settlesbanking issue For some time Monday night, it looked like Exeter council would be keeping the town's funds in a stocking. The problem arose early in the meeting when the executive commit- tee asked council members to ap- prove a motion that the town of Ex- eter retain banking services at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Com- merce, which has handled the town's account for several years. Perhaps the St. Patrick's Day ses- sion sparked some of the "fighting Irish" spirit, since councillor Gaylen Josephson immediately questioned the fact that the committee recom- mended accepting a higher tender for banking services. The executive committee has ask- ed the Commerce, Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia, Royal Bank and the Clinton Community Credit Union to submit proposals for handling the town's banking services. Standard Trust and Victoria and Grey Trust declined. Altho}igh the bids remain- ed confidential, and seen only by council members, the Bank of Nova Scotia submitted the lowest tender. Reeve Bill Mickle argued that a service tender is different than a community tender, in which the lowest bid is traditionally accepted by ennncil. The reeve said there would One accident in 26 occurrences Only one motor vehicle accident was reported in the 26 general oc- curences investigated this week by of- ficers of the 1✓xeter detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police. Saturday, vehicles driven by Donald Wilds, RR 3 Dashwood, and Gerdld Zielman, RR 2 Dashwood, col- lided on Concession 12-13 of Hay Township. Damage was estimated at $450. During the week 52 highway Traf- fic Act charges were laid along with three charges under the Liquor License Act and one intravening the Insurance Act. Also investigated were two distur- bances at licensed premises, one damage complaint, one theft of money, two impaired driving, two suspended driving,one liquor viola- tion and three on insurance. be a time factor involved in. the changeover to a new bank, so the committee recommended remaining with the Bank of Commerce. But Josephson said he felt council ,rust consider "the whole moral issue of what tendering is about." If coun- cil didn't accept the lowest tender submitted by the banks, he said he was concerned no businesses would submit tenders to council in future. After a brief in camera session, when council members again studied the proposals submitted by local banks, the discussion continued. Deputy -reeve Lossy Fuller sug- gested that in future when confiden- tial information is submitted to a committee, it would make sense for the entire council to attend the com- mittee meeting to hear the discus- sions on tenders. To break the stalemate after a mo- tion to accept the lower tender was lost, mayor Bruce Shaw suggested that council deal with the rest of the evening's agenda before making a decision on the hank issue. When coup, a returned to the bank- ing question m 'ing's end, coun- cillor Ben Hoof. 'm made a mo- tion to maintain ' account with the Bank of Co. but the motion was lost. At this point, Reeve Mickle said, "Well, I suggest that we don't use a bank this year." With the discussion at an impasse, the mayor declared a three-minute recess. When council re -convened, he explained that at least two-thirds of council had to approve a motion to reconsider earlier motions on the banking proposals and warned "we can't leave here without a bank." This time, a motion to accept the Bank of Nova Scotia's proposal, the lowest tender, was approved by a 6-2 vote of council. Ironically, earlier in the meeting, council accepted a Mutual Life In- surance Company quote to insure the town's employees, councillors and volunteer firemen, even though the quote was slightly higher than that submitted by another firm. This inconsistency was criticized by Reeve Mickle who said, '`it disturbs me that we can't be consistent in the operations of this town." He added that he agreed with Fuller's sugges- tion that in the future, discussions of confidential matters be held before the full council. With the town's assets safely taken care of, council adjourned at 10 p.m. to enjoy what was left of St. Patrick's Day. THE MARCH — Jonathan Forrester (left), Kyle Fenwick, Ryan Mor- rison and Charlie Rau skated in the Holidoze on ice presentation of the Zurich Figure Skating Club. t 0 tic