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. _
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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. •