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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-09-24, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, September 24, 1986 Hensall nitrate content constantly_ monitored New resident s.ysw.t•r made Newcomer Delores Prest blames the Hensall's water supply for il- lnesses that struck her and two of her three children within days of her family's move to the village. in an interview with the London Free_ Press, she said her suspicions grew when she received a bill from the public utilities commission two weeks after arriving warning parents not to give town water to infants because of the higher -than -acceptable nitrate levels. "If it's going to affect babies, it might affect my children who are eight and nine," Prest said. She said that her husband Brian and one of her eight-year-old twins did not seem to be affected but her two other children had diarrhea constant- ly during the two weeks. "Myself, I had terrible stomach cramps and pains. I've never had anything like it before". Prest said the difference 'may be that her husband barely takes a sip of water a day but she drinks it by the litre. Since her discovery, Prest said the family has been drinking nothing but distilled water and all symptoms have stopped. otthh the Hensall PUC and the en- vironment ministry have been aware of the nitrate problem for a Humber of years. The substance arouses con- cern because it can turn into nitrite when ingested. In adults only 10 per- cent of ingested nitrate becomes nitrite , but in infants that rises to 100 percent. Too high a: concentration in COMFORTABLE CAR — Hal Walsh, Huron Park, lets Susan Smith try out the seating in the 1930 Dodge he had on display as part of the classic car exhibit at the Exeter Fair. Barbecue company plans put on the back burner A decision on changing the institu- tional zoning designation of the former Ecole Ste. Marie school was deferred at the written request of Rev. John Bensette and Walter Ver- munt, chairman of St. Peter's parish council, when Hay council met for their second regular September session. The readers write Dear Editor: I'm writing this letter to let you know my opinion on the size of the trout they're placing in Morrison Dam each spring. Early every spring I go fishing at the dans and I always catch small fish but when 1 go after the distributing of the trout, the fish are still very tiny, including the trout. I've tried flies, lures and hook and worm, but the results remain the same. When the distributers say 'pan size' fish, 1 wonder what the diameter of the pan is? I'm still trying to catch a nice size trout so I can be proud and take it home to fry. So dear Editor, please note my opi- nion and try to get a better supply 'pan size' trout next spring. June Doggertt 143 Simcoe St. Exeter. Ontario PLAN PMS TALK On Wednesday October 8 from.7-l0 p.m. the Women Being Well Project will be sponsoring a free education workshop at the Clinton Town Hall on premenstrual syndrome. The speaker for the evening will be Dr. J. C. Henderson who has• established a PMS ('entre in Mississauga to evaluate and treat women who sufter with PMS and to carry out research in regard to this disorder. It is also their purpose along with ours at Women Being Well/Women Today to increase awareness of PMS as a physical rather than psychological disorder. If you have been affected by such symptoms as: headaches. bloating ir- ritability, food cravings, depression. forgetfulness, sinus problems etc. you may find some answers at this wor- shop. Dr. Henderson will speak for approximately 1' 2 hours with time for questions following his presentation. if you are interested in registering for this free workshop or have any further questions please call Marg Crane at Women Today 482-9706. Julian Bayley's tender to purchase the property on condition the zoning be changed to commercial had been approved by the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School board on August 25. In a letter to the township clerk, Bayley had outlined plans to set up a headquarters for Pineridge Barbecue Co. Ltd. One classroom would becorhe a commercial kitchen, two others us- ed as storage and the fourth would be converted to accommodate cooling facilities. Long-term expansion would include a separate building at the rear to house cleaning equipment for the trucks and barbecue units, erection of a pavilion and the possibility of con structing an apartment above the school The matter will be decided when members of council meet with Huron County planner Patty Munkittrick on Monday, September 29 to continue the review of the township's draft zoning bylaw. John and Pat Groot and Gerard Eilers attended the meeting to see what could be done to solve the pro- blem of flooding on the west branch of Black Creek. Reeve Lionel Wilder said he believes the source of the pro blem is a too shallow culvert install- ed at the highway years ago when the surrounding land was grass farms. He pointed out that only MTC had the authority to deepen the culvert. and would pay the biggest portion of the cost, but would not act without an engineer's report, and that could not be authorized without a petition for clean-out and repair on the municipal drain. The delegation left with a petition form and the suggestion to get as many signatures as possible. Wilder promised that on receipt of the peti- tion an attempt would be made to pro- vide temporary relief by digging out some of the silt this fall if the area is dry enough to allow a machine to be brought in. Two severance applications from Barbara Whiting were approved. The severances would create tour lots out of two and three on the South Boun- dary concession. 'lwo buildings would be retained on one lot. and the other three would be available as building lots. Keith Lovell's application to sever and retain three acres of land and six buildings was approved provided there is a purchaser for the remain ing 113 acres on lot 28, concession one. Edison Forrest s request to locate a trailer on lot 19, concession seven where a house once stood was approv- ed subject to compliance with all building code regulations. Deputy Reeve Claire Deichert will be asked to bring up the possibility of municipalities obtaining trees from the 1,700 acres of bush owned by Huron County, rather than paying $500 to $750 a year to other agencies, when he attends a county meeting this week. Six crashes for Exeter No injuries were reported in any of the six collisions investigated by the Exeter police department during the week. The rash of crashes started on Mon- day on Main near Nelson St., involv- ing vehicles driven by William Arm- strong, Zurich, and Stephen Bedard, Hensall. Both were northbound and Armstrong was stopped for traffic when hit from the rear by the Bedard vehicle. Damage was set at $2,100. On Wednesday, vehicles operated by Nancy Mills and Wayne Chappel, both of,Exeter, collided in the park- ing lot at the Burkley Restaurant. Damage was $875. There were three collisions on Fri- day, the first at Main and Gidley, in- volving vehicles driven by David DeVries, Exeter, and Frank Goldschmidt, Lucan. Damage was estimated at $500. The second occurred at the in- tersection of Highways 4 and 83. A vehicle driven by Jonathan Denomme, Dashwood, was making a right turn and slid into one driven -by David Feaver, Grand Bend. Damage in that one was set at $250. The other Friday collision was on Main at Wellington, involving vehicles operated by George Regier.. Zurich and John Bullock, Grand Bend. Both were northbound on Main and Regier attempted to pass the other vehicle on the right and struck it. Damage was $850. The final crash of the week was reported on Saturday. Robert Hawke, Dashwood, advised that his parked vehicle was hit by an unknown vehi- cle on Gidley St. Damage was $800. During the week, the department officers laid five charges under the Highway Traffic Act and issued two parking tickets. _ r RACE ENTRANTS -- The Big Brothers on the left edged the Exeter curling club at the right in Saturday's Exeter Fair bed race. T -A photo drinking water can affect babies up to three months of age, having the potential to cause interference with oxygen intake. The medical term is methemoglobinemia, or "blue baby" in layman's terminology] Nitrate contamination of water sup- plies is a growing problem across North America. Agricultural prac- tices in many areas have had a detrimental effect on shallow aquifers or water -bearing zones, as nitrogen from fertilizers and decom- posing organic material leaches into the recharge areas of wells. Both the Hensall PUC and the en- vironment ministry have been aware of the local nitrate problem for a number of years. Previous tests con- ducted by the ministry have failed to pinpoint any specific source. Hensall's water supply comes primarily from a main well on York St. with a recent reading of 6.2 milligrams of nitrate per litre, and a deep well on York with a miniscule 0.01 nitrate content. Only during high demand is the PUC forced to mix in water from a/third well on King St. with nitrate levels exceeding the ac- ceptable level of 10 milligrams per litre. When the nitrate problem was aired publicly in this paper on December 15, 1982, the September nit ete level in the third well had been 12.6. Four years later, the last test in August showed a level of 11 milligrams per litre. A sample taken this week gave a reading of 10.6. Willard Page, the environment ministry's district abatement officer based in Owen Sound, said when the third well's water is properly mixed with water from the other wells the nitrate is sufficiently diluted to pose no health problem. Hensall's water is closely monitored. Samples are tested week- ly if the third well is being used, and monthly the rest of the time. PUC manager Loren Archer said the Prest home is not near the direct line from the third well to the tower where the water is mixed. From January to the present, 16,610,800 gallons were pumped from the main well, 7,909,800 from the nitrate -free well, and 1,922,400 from the King St. well. Hensall Reeve Jim Robinson noted the absence of professional medical diagnosis of the Prest's illness in the Free Press article. her siek He added he would have been very pleased to have had a similar amount of coverage during the village's very successful Centennial celebrations, but coverage at that time by the Lon- don paper hadbeen limited to "a lit- tle blurb and a picture of two men sweeping up horse dung". GETS A RIBBON Starr Hovius gets a red ribbon from judge Barb Wein in Saturday's Exeter Fair parade. T -A photo Aerial maps available The Huron County Planning and Development Department will soon have in its possession updated aerial photographs for approximately 80 percent of the county. Ontario Hydro had commissioned the photo project in 1984 and recent- ly agreed to make the negatives available to the.county at no cost. However, the county would be responsible for the cost of making prints from the 595 negatives, estimated at $1,225 plus provincial sales tax. Huron County Council authorized the expenditure at its regular meeting recently in Goderich. The planning and development department's most recent aerial photos were taken in 1978 and the new photos are expected to provide more accurate information for planning matters. R^' SKATING BAKE SALE — Angela Latta, Julie Jemec and Kim Hickson display some of the goodies at Sunday's lucan skating club bake sale. T -A photo Agripress leaving Hensall Continued from front page diversification of both cur services and markets". The merger announcement was made at Design Associates where several hundred people were invited to join the company in a celebration of its 20th year in business. - Design Associates President Brian Williams, says the merger gives the company's clients even more cause for celebration. "Where clients have primarily come to us for design solu- tions, now we'll have the expertise to offer complete marketing solutions as well as public relations services. Agripress also brings strength in sales management and a computeriz- ed billing system that will significant- ly add to our level of client service," explained Williams. Formed in 1966, Design Associates has long been recognized as a leading creative design and photographic studio. Design Associates lists among its national accounts: D.11. Howden (Pro Hardware), Black & Decker. Canada Trust, Amway of Canada . Air Ontario, EMCO and Scott's Restaurants. The company also pro- vides creative services for a number of London-based retail accounts. Design Associates' new partner. Agripress, has grown to become Canada's largest agricultural adver tising agency over the past17 years. The company offers complete client services in advertising, marketing, and public relations to such major clients as Uniroyal Chemical, The Toronto -Dominion Bank Agricultural Services, May & Baker Canada, Alfa - Laval Agri, King Agro, SeCan Association, and Shur Gain, Division of Canada Packers. Bayley said much of the new com- pany's strength will be drawn from the complementary mix of creative, copywriting, production, account ser- vice and management expertise cur- rently employed by the two existing companies. "We have assured staff members of both companies that there will be no layoffs as a result of the merger," reported Design Associates' Williams. Both companies are now working at maximum capacity and they plan to announce several new ap- pointments in the near future. "In fact, the merger opens up new opportunities for all our employees," he said. "Now we can allow each per- son to specialize in their own area of expertise. For our clients. that will mean a more professional and per- sonal level of service than ever before." A completely new corporate struc- ture with a new name and identity will be created for the company that results from the merger. .while Agripress and Design Associates will continue to operate as specialized divisions of the company. Principal shareholders of the new company are Brian Williams, Peter Butler and Bryon Patch of Design Associates and Adrian Bayley of Agripress. The combined strengths will allow the new company to aggressively seek business growth. accoring to Bayley. "The mix of services will be of great interest to potential new clients. Our financial resources will also allow us to invest in new technology available to the communi- ty industry." "We see it as a ease where two plus two can equal five." explained Bayley. "What each company will gain by the merger is much more than we could expect to achieve on our own." "When you put the comparative strengths of each company side by side, what you get is an excellent fit in everything from the client base to the human and financial resources," Bayley added. "That can only mean good news for our company and our clients." Agripress was founded in Toronto in 1969 by Adrian and Julian Bayley following their emigration from England. Two years later, the brothers moved to Hensall and subse- quently increased staff substantially and gained full production services through the acquisition of Wright - Grant, a Hensall based design group. Work produced for clients has won over 20 awards fromorganizations such as Canadian Agricultral Marketing Association and Printing Industries of America. The company produces a full range of promotional' material including print media. advertising, sales literature, corporate brochures, trade shrtw displays, corporate indentity programs, radio commercials and audio visuals. Agripress was also the founder of a publishing firm now well known throughout the agricultural industry. This affiliate which produces "agri• hooks" was sold to Agri -book employees in 1981 and is now located in Exeter. • The Bayley brothers have also been engaged in several other en- trepreneurial ventures, from satellite communications to video stores. In recent years, Julian Bayley has concentrated his business interests on the Pineridge Barbecue Company.