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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-10-22, Page 1S Serving South Huron, North Middlesex , Ono Hundred and Fifteenth Year & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, Ot'foher 22, 1986 Price Per Copy 60 Cents Wise gives farmers Federal agriculture minister John Federation of Agriculture which told dant Farms where they met behind Wise tourned rain soaked fields in him that "the weather conditions this closed doors for some time before Huron County, Friday, and gave fall have compounded an already emerging to issue statements to the broad suggestions that he would be fragile economic situation which has press. Car prepared to join his provincial resulted in a total financial disaster Wise, flanked by MPs Murray Car - counterpart in providing assistance to to some agricultural sectors." diff, Terry Clifford, Sid Fraleigh and farmers to help them stay in business After dinner in Exeter where Wise Harry Xtrightwell, said that the in the face of mounting croup losses. and the Huron'farmeis were joined by weather had created a "serious situa- Wise flew into the area for a brief four area MPs, the group stopped to tion" but noted that it would be tour at the request of an ad hoc com- examine a white bean field in Hay premature to put any final figures on mittee established by the Huron Township and then moved on to Sou- the amount of crop loss. He said it would be irresponsible to say that some farmers were not deserving of special attention and ex- plained that producers in other pro- vinces had been given financial help in joint federal-provinical programs. Wise said a "reasonable approach" would be for the province to give the federal government a detailed estimate of the crop losses and a sug- gestion on how the two governments could work together to provide assistance. It was explained that on every oc- casion in the past where that had been done by provincial governments, they had been successful in getting federal assistance. Wise also said that the situation in Ontario could even present a larger disaster than what was now apparent and that could trigger a federal- , provincial disaster relief program similar to what was undertaken following the tornado in the Barrie area where a $5 million agricultural component was established. However, the federal agricultural minister indicated it would be up to the provincial government to decide ii on the priority for agriculture and the \province's farmers. "We don't act unilaterally," he ex- plained, adding that the initiative would have to come from the Ontario government, While noting that the alternatives appeared to be for a spot federal-, provincial aid program or using the existing disaster Iegislation, Wise said he felt the former was "the best route to go". ' Under joint aid programs under- taken in other provinces, Wise said most had beer operated on a 50-50 basis with the federal and provincial governments. Before departing, Wise said that the best thing that could happen was for the area to be blessed with four weeks Atsunshine "ora damn good frost'L that would help farmers harvest some optimism of the crops still out in the field. He acknowledged that a turn around in the weather would be of no benefit to some vegetable • growers, such as his Soudant Farms hosts, because their potatoes were already lost. "There's nothing there to harvest," he advised. The Elgin MP explained that the mood of Western Canadian farmers had been the same as that of their On- tario counterparts over recent weather conditions, but he said the west had now been blessed with sun- ny skies and high temperatures and grain farmers working around the clock were expecting to harvest their largest crop in history if the weather continues to cooperate. Wise also indicated he would welcome changes to the crop in- surance program to better reflect the needs of farmers. He and Ontario agriculture minister Jack Riddell have already established a join task force to expedite amendments to bring it up to date so it is more useful. Please turn to page 3 Riddell will se0k some clarification Ontario agriculture minister Jack Riddell said from his Toronto office on Monday he would have to wait un- til he talked directly with federal agriculture minister John Wise before making comments on the latter's sug- gestion that the two levels of govern- ment could_provide assistance to area farmers in the wake of mounting crop losses caused by wet weather conditions. Riddell said he didn't have much of an idea of what -Wise may have sug- gested in his brief visit to the Exeter area on Friday. "I. would like to get it straight from the horse's mouth," he said. - The Huron -Middlesex . MPP sug- gested that what Wise had hinted at was different than guidelines for disaster assistance because items eligible for funding did not include things such as crops which could be covered by insurance. He explained that no crop losses were covered for farmers hit by either the Barrie tornado or the one i4 eh struck in Oxford County a cou- pleiN years pr evieds;to-that. Riddell also termed as "a different situation" the f i eral-provincial pro- gram which ass sled drought -stricken farmers in S skatchewan. Those farmers were given help because they did not have crop insurance available for forage crops needed for their livestock. "1 just want to know if he understands his own guidelines," Rid- dell commented ` in reference to statements made by Wise during his brief tour in Huron. In touring the same area two weeks previous, Riddell had repeatedly noted that crop insurance was available to most of the farmers adversely affected by the weather and opined that many did not have in- surance because they considered their crops as low risks. He turned aside complaints about the crop insurance coverage by ex- plaining to farmers they should have made their concerns known before they experienced devastating losses and not after the fact. Riddell, who had also urged farmers to press their federal jepresentatives faxassiaanca, said Please turn to page 3 EXAMINE BEANS — John Wise, federal minister of agriculture, stopped in o,white bean field in -Hay township Friday afternobn to examine damage caused by the weather. He's shown on his haunches here, along with area farmers and MPs who accompanied him on the tour. Will study feasibility of Huron RC high school The feasibility of establishing a Roman Catholic high school in Huron County will be studied by a steering committee set up at the regular meeting of the Huron -Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board in Dublin, Tuesday night. Trustees Bernard Van Osch of Kingsbridge and Michael Ryan .of Mount Carmel will represent the trustees on the committee. Two priests and two parents will be nam- ed to the seven -member committee at the next meeting while a member of the administration staff will round out the group. The committee is to find out weather enough Catholic students in Huron would attend their own high school and will also consider loca- tions. The group is expected to hold several public meetings on the issue and will present its report to the Board by March. The high school, if established would likely open in September, 1988 The board opened a Catholic high school in Perth County last month. St Michael School in Straford serves grades seven, eight and nine and will expand to grade 10 next fall. The board also 11tas established a joint education liaison committee with the Huron County Board of Education to explore opportunities for shared facilities. services, resources and staff. The group would make recommendations for consideration by both boards. On Phis committee Trustees Dave Durand, Zurich, Bernard Murray, 11113 Embro and John Devlin, Strat- UNWILLING PATIENT Rachael Stoat had problems getting her pet dog to the Perth county rabies clinic of the Kirkton Veterinary Clinic, Saturday. T -A photo ford were named to represent the Catholic board in its meetings with the Huron County board and also with the Perth County Board of Education with which it will hold similar meetings. !nuttier business, Tuesday trustees accepted a $686,000 bid from a Lucan firm, Frank. VanBussel and Sons Limited, for the construction of the addition with alternations to St. Boniface school at Zurich, including the reroofing of the general purpose room. The tender was the lowest of six received. The board has agreed to accept reduction in the liability limits con- tained in the 1986-87 school bus rate schedule to 87 million t from $10 million) effective immediately. The bus contractors previously had been able to secure the higher liability rate but this year, with premium rates so high, they were able to get it. The -.minimum allowed for school busing is $5 million. The board will accept the Risk Management Report as submitted by the Frank Cowan insurance Com- pany and will renew all insurance policies with the company until Oc- tober 26, 1987. The board decided not to join the Reciprocal Insurance Ex- change, The Ontario School Boards' Insurance Exchange. The reason to continue with Cowan is because the board's current policy expires Oc- tober 26, 4986. The board requires coverage for November and December as reciprocal coverage will not be available until January 1, 1987. About 70 percent of Ontario's school boards will band together to insure themselves to counteract soaring liability insurance costs. An exception will be made to board policy to permit a Seaforth area stu- dent who is 14 years old and in grade eight to attend the grade 10 religious course at St. James school in Sea forth. The board agreed to endorse the proposal by the London -Middlesex Roman Catholic Separate School Board to assume the responsibility for the educational component of the Robarts School for the Hearing impaired. CLOCKS GO BACK Area residents are reminded to turn their clocks, hack one hour before retiring Saturday night as Standard Time returns at 2 a.m., Sunday. All church services will be on Stan- dard Time. WISE ARRIVES — Federal agriculture minister John Wise, left, steps from an airplane on his arrival . at Huron Park, Friday. Huron -Bruce MP Murray Cardiff flew from Ottawa with him and on hand to,greet the pair was Harry Brightwell, right, Perth MP. Three-month jail term for two drinking .counts A Huron Park man was sentenced to three months in jail on two im- paired driving charges heard by Judge Gary Hunter in Exeter court, Tuesday. Robert Dean Riley, 282 Algonquin Drive, was also fined $250 on a charge of failing to remain at the scene of an accident and he was prohibited from driving for three years. The first impaired driving charge Riley faced was laid on March 21 following an accident at 11:50 p.m. on County Road 4 at 21 in Stephen Township. A pickup driven by the ac- cused collided with a compact vehi- cle at the intersection. Riley, who had gone to a nearby house to phone police, initially denied being the driver of the vehicle, but then admitted to it. There was an odor of alcohol on' the accused, his eyes were glassy and speech slurred. Police took the 27 -year-old into the cruiser where he became beligerent and tried to kick out a window. After the court learned he had a prior conviction for drinking and driving offence, Judge Hunter impos- ed Atone -month 'jail sentence. A further two-month term was add- ed for the second charge which had been laid on September 20 when Riley was involved in an accident on Algon- quin Drive in Huron Park. He was found at his residence following the collision, standing on his front lawn wilt a beer in his hand. breathalizer gave a reading of 2.50 mgs. and it was noted that could have changed following the accident because he had consumed some alcohol. Riley was fined 8250 for failing to remain at the scene of that accident. Judge Hunter recommended that Riley serve the jail term under the temporary absence program. Kenneth Gordon McLean and Robert R. McKie also appeared to face alcohol related charges. McLean, Blyth was sentenced to 14 days in jail and a six month driving suspension after pleading guilty to a charge of impaired driving. A green Mercury was seen speeding,north on Main St. in Exeter on April 24 at approximately 7:33 p.m. He was pursued for two miles and finally stopped north of the OPP sta- tion. McLean had red eyes, slurred speech and an odour of alcohol. He stumbled from the car and was ar- rested. One breathalizer sample was `,-' taken reading 235 mg but he refused a second one. McLean had already been fined $500 or 50 days on December 21, 1981 for driving with a blood alcohol con- tent over 80 mgs. McKie, 164 Brookside, Kitchener, pleaded guilty to having a blood Plllase turn to page :1 Deer Ione in district A deer waS the Ione casualty on area highways this week as the Ex- eterOPp report only three collisions. The deer was killed on Thursday at 11:45 p.m.. after running into the path of a car driven by Robert Becker. Grand Bend, on Highway 83 near con- cession 18-19 of H9y Township. Damage to the Becker vehicle was listed at $2,000. Another Thursday collision occur- red in Hensall at 10:30 a.m., when vehicles driven by Karen Campbell, Hensall, and Melvin Norton, Grand Bend, collided on King St. Damage was minimal and there were no injuries. • casualty collisions The third crash of the week was- also asalso in Hens/ill, i1 occurring at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday. Vehicles involved were operated by Helen Thompson and Glen Reaume, berth of Hensall. They collided on Wellington near King and damage was listed at *300. During the week, the local detach- ment officers responded to 34 general occurrences. They laid 44 charges under the Highway Traffic Act, five under the Liquor Licence Act, two under the Criminal Code and one under the Insurance Act. � One person was charged with im- paired driving and two others were given 12 -hour licence suspensions.