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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-07-30, Page 1• Be�11 Aer "This is not one of our happier days in. Grand Bend," commented .Ted Bartlett in reading an announcement yesterday afternoon that the Bell Aerospace plant at Grand Bend was closing. Bartlett, director of operations at the plant almost since its opening, was making the announcement at a press tKonference on behalf of Robert A. Norling, president of Bell Aerospace Textron. Only nine employees remain at the plans at the former air force base and were given the news as well Tuesday. Bartlett is one of the nine adversely affected by the closing. Bell Aerospace Canada Textron (BACT) was established in Gratia Bend in early 1971, assisted by t Canadian government to participate, in the development and manufactur ing of heavy haul air cushion -0: vehicles. Of the 31 units jointly built by BACT' and the U.S. parent operation, one isg in service by the Canadian Coast; Guard at Montreal and 26 by the U.S.I; Army. The Canadian operation was the leader in research and development in air cushioned -technology. - Norling cited U.S. defence budgetary restraints a disappoint-, ment in the Canadian market as key factors in this decision. Bartlett said that severence con- siderations are in discussion with the nine remaining employees. Employ- ment peaked at the plant with 120 fac- tory, engineering and office personnel. Bartlett indicated that the 52 acre property and buildings will be sold immediately and the effective date of the closure is October 31, 1986. One of the major disappointments for the firm and perhaps the final blow was'the fact that the Canadian Coast Guard this year placed a order, for hovercraft with British Hover- craft and didn't even ask Bell Aerospace to bid. spare closing When asked what his reaction was ' He said the firm was disappointed to that, Bartlett told reporters, "You by.the lack.of use of their craft by the really don't want to know". • Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada. The last of the hovercraft was built Please turn to page 3 1 ZURICH FAIR QUEENS — Sheilp Denomme was crowned Queen of the Zurich Fall Fair Friday. She is shown in the centre of the above picture with first runnerup Shelley Skinner at the right and second runnerup Lori McNutt at the right. _ e'ff/gyp ua :• Y'{"iiiT>.�Q -YF \)"! .ff iiSaiJ•i't?L-: ': -'::y :Lj;�}r:SS;::: ,�` 'S.. .L if t .:i%.: LOTS OF PIE FOR CONTEST — Horst Bornoth of Country Bakery sup- plied the pies for Thursday's pie eating contest at Sidewalk Sales Days. He is shown here with Darryl Kingma who was celebrating a birthday. T -A photo Ina WATERMELON CHAMPS -- Jenny McLean and Janice Sanders are shown as watermelon eating champs at Thursday's contest at Sidewalk Sales Days. T -A photo Mosaic virus light in rutabaga fields Ideal growing conditions for rutabagas, coupled with unfavorable conditions for aphids, has resulted in little damage to this year's rutabaga . crop by the mosaic virus that wiped out much of last year's crop in the area. "We've been extremely lucky." commented Tom Lowery, in assess- ing the damage to the crop. Lowery, co-ordinator of field research for the rutabaga mosaic virus task force established by the Hon. Jack Riddell last winter at Cen- 4110 College of Agricultural Technology. cautiously added that while crop damage to date has been light. the situation could change. However. he foresees no major problems. Ironically. the low numbers of aphids that transmit the virus has hampered the research team in some of their investigation, although it is a problem with which they are happy to contend. Some area farmers have applied an oil cover to their rutabagas at the sug- It gestion of crop experts, but in hind- sight, Lowery said that may not have been necessary due to the favorable weather conditions which reduced the aphids and speeded the growth rate of the crop. Low levels of aphids were found in untreated fields. However, it has been recommend- ed that the crop be covered with the oil substance for another week or two until the fall eanola has been harvested. Lowery said that the cost of the oil application has been around $100 per acre, and while that is relatively high, it is much better than the severe losses suffered by rutabaga growers last year when the virus destroyed some entire fields. • Researchers have not ascertained the precise nature of how the oil prevtrnts the spread of the virus from the aphids, but Lowery hopes that in the future a mix of oil and insecticides may be found to combat the problem. The researchers will continue to monitor the situation to help devise schemes for farmers next season. Serving South Huron, North Middlesex • .....4pcy One Hundred and Fourteenth Year T -A photo & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, July 30, 1986 Price Per Copy 60 cents DashwQod teen, London tot killed in two district crashes A Dashwood area teenager and a London youngster were killed in two separate motor vehicle collisions in the area this week. Lisa Hunt, 18, RR 2 Dashwood, died on Friday after her vehicle was in- volved in a collision north of St. Josephs around 8:00 a.m. The Dashwood driver apparently - missed a turn she had planned to make on the west side pf Highway 21 and was in the process ofmaking a U- turn 2.6 km. north of Highway 84 when her vehicle was struck by another Lay charges over breakins A number of people have been charged following investigation by Exeter OPP into several area thefts. Those charged, most from out of this area, will appear in Exeter court on August 26 to face 15 charges related to 12 break, enter and theft incidents. The charges were laid during the past week, along with 61 charges under the Highway Traffic Act, 13 for liquor violations, two for impaired driving, two for failing to provide pro- of of motor vehicle insurance and two for false pretences. New stops are in place A new four-way stop intersection has been created in Exeter at the cor- ner of Victoria and Andrew St. Traffic proceeding east and west on Victoria will novo be stopped at An- drew. The Andrew St. traffic has already beep stopped at Victoria and that will continue. ' The signs were erected on Monday and Police Chief Larry Hardy ex- plained that it was done so motorists will become accustomed to the new stop prig to _the opening of school. He indtcaled members of the department will be patrolling in the area to ensure the new signs are obeyed. GIVING DIRECTION - The children toking'part in the money scramble at the Zurich Fair had lots of advice from the sbelines. Fair president Norm Eckel was in charge of the event. 1 • • northbound vehicle operated by Michele Adair, 23, also of RR 2 Dashwood. The area teenager was pronounced dead at South Huron Hospital by cor- oner Dr. Charles Wallace, Zurich. The other driver was treated at Clinton Hospital for a broken finger and bruised knees and released. Damage to the two vehicles was listed at $8,000. The other fatality occurrpd on Highway 4 at Clandeboye on Friday night and claimed the life of four- year-old Chelsey Goodhand, 657 Ladybrook Crescent, London. She was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her aunt, Linda Whitt, 30, also of London, as they were return- ing from a trip to the Witt's cottage near Clinton. The southbound car collided with a northbound truck driven by David Swain, 38, of RR 4 Durham. The lat- ter has been charged with driving with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit. He is still in University Hospital in London with major in- juries as is the other driver. Another passenger in the Witt vehi- cle, six-year-old Amber Goodhand, a sister of the dead girl, was released from hospital on Sunday after being treated for cuts on her legs and face. The St. Josephs area fatality was one of four collisions investigated dur- ing the week by the Exeter OPP. On Monday at 5:00 p.m., a car driven by Harry Denhartoc, Strathroy, went out of control and struck a hydro pole on Highway 81 in Stephen Township. A passenger in the vehicle, Otto Vanderwerf, also of Strathroy, sustained minor injuries, and total damage in the accident was estimated at $5,000. There were two collisions on Wednesday, the first occurring at 5:15 p.m., when a vehicle driven by Irene Schlenker, Crediton, collided with a tractor driven by Joseph icks, RR 3 Zurich. The mishap w s on Huron Road -2 ear Zurich. here were no injuries dam was listed at $3,000. At 8:00 p.m., a car driven by Local firm - given aid A $100,000 export support loan has been approved by the Ontario Development Corporation for Dan - Brie Moulded Plastics Ltd. of Exeter, it was announced today by Jack Rid- dell, Minister of Agriculture and Food and MPP for Huron-Middlesilc, and Industry, Trade and Technology Minister Hugh P. O'Neil. "The money will finance annual ex- ports worth over $600,000 and help create 17 new jobs over the next five years," O'Neil said. The loan will provide DanBrie Moulded Plastics Ltd. with a revolv- ing line of credit to finance its export sales. The company manufactures plastic products mainly for the farm- ing community. VOSMWROMURISOMMISIORMOIMORRIN WE'LL BE LATE • Due to the holiday, Monday, the Ex- eter Times -Advocate will be publish- ed one day later than usual next week. It will be printed Wednesday night for Thursday morning delivery. Margaret Dinney, Grand Bend, struck a curve and drove onto a lawn in Grand Cove Estates. Two shrubs were damaged as well as a cement step. There was no damage to the vehicle. WHITE WONDER UNVEILED — Exeter's White Wonder alias Andy DeBoer was unveiled at Sidewalk Sales Days Friday night. Here he is shown with Exeter's BIA manager Karen Pfaff. Osborne confirms grant to ice groups At their initial July meeting, Usborne Township council members confirmed they would be providing financial assistance to township youngsters enrolling in minor hockey and figure skating at the South Huron rec centre this season. Funds were set aside in the budget for some assistance and that was outlined to the representatives of two groups who appeared at the meeting. Representing Exeter Minor Hockey Association were Tom McCann and Frank Kints, while Francis Kints and Mary Jane McDougall appeared on behalf of the Exeter Figure Skalime Club. Council approved motions detailing that once the registrations have been held for the groups this fall, grant money will be forwarded on behalf of participants from Usbotie. Acting clerk -treasurer Sandra .r.Strang•reperted this week that the mechanics of the grant assistance have not yet been worked out. In another recreation related mat- ter, council supported a resolution presented by Councillor Pat Down, a member of the rec centre board. in- structing the clerk -treasurer to write MPP Jack Riddell asking him to re- quest the government to maintain the status quo and not allocate funds from Wintario to ministries other than recreation. The government has indicated that Wintario proceeds may be used in future for health and other social agencies. When the lottery was established, all funds raised were to be used for recreation only. A letter was received from Jim Pinder of the ministry of the environ- ment pointing out the regulations per- taining to abandoned. wells when buildings are demolished. - Council originally intended to amend the township demolition bylaw to include the provision that wells be filled in and covered over. but decid- ed that it would suffice to make residents aware of the provincial regulations in that regard. In other business, council: Asked the acting clerk -treasurer to acquire a quote from the Rural On- tario Municipal Association for coverage on the entire township in- surance package. Authorized the attendance Of John I3atten and Floyd Cooper at the train- ing workshops for the transportation of dangerous goods being conducted by the ministry of transportation and communications and the enrolment of Paul Kerslake in a grader and .backhoe upgrading program con- ducted by the Ontario Good Roads Association. Agreed to name a committee of Gerald Prout. Margaret !tern and John Batten to look into the Energy Conservation grant program in rela- tion to repairs to the road department garage in Elimville. Accepted the hid of $357 from Morley Farms for the township's 1974 Dodge truck. It was the only tender received. Learned that one building permit valued at $15,000 had been approved tfy the building inspector during the previous month. Forwarded a complaint regarding the Ausable River drain to the drainage superintendent. Agreed to support a proposal from Dennis Rowe to renovate the former Winchelsea school house under the province's convert -to -rent program. . Decided to have Mosey and Mosey provide employee group insurance benefits for Usborne staff. •