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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-09-02, Page 1lack to school on time for Exeter, Osborne students * Last lap for Huron election candidates ,...3 * 6rigadoon star feels at home 7 * Mrs. Tetreau hits 402nd birthday 10 * Sandcastles washed out 6A 1SA * Two companies ltAwill be back to school on Tuesday, September 8 for all students of Exeter and Usborne Central public schools. Despite extensive damage at both schools early Thursday morning by outbreaks of fire, arrangements are being made toeobtain accommodation for all classes. While repairs on the central core of the building at Exeter may take several months it is hoped that por- tions of the building can be returned to service in the very near future. At Usborne Central School, repairs began Friday and are continuing this week. Most of thedamageexcept for smoke damage throughout the school was confined to the kindergarten class at the southeast corner of the building. Principal Bill Stevenson said Mon- day morning, "The cleaning process. is incredible. Rooms in the senior wing will certainly be ready by Septembel:.8 and we will be using a spare room to house the kindergarten class. Principals at both schools have resumed full-time duties. and are available for detailed information as required. Officials at the Huron Education Centre in Clinton are quite grateful for demonstrations of com- munity support and the manner in which technical support for commen- cing the major repair projects has been given. Classes for students of Exeter Public School will be open at six dif- ferent locations. . Seven classes for grades one to four - will be opened in the banquet hall at imes the South Huron Rec Centre. Dividers will be tised to separate the classes. The morning and afternoon kindergarten clicsses will be housed in the new hall at Trivitt Anglican Church. The Sunday School rooms at Exeter United Church will be the scene for two grade five classes. Two classes of grade sixers will be finding a home at the Exeter Pentecostal Church. Because of the distance to the church at the south end of town transportation will be provided. Principal Al Taylor added, "Students will be picked up by bus at the Rec Centre each morning at 8:45 a.in. and will be returning at 3:30 in the afternoon. We would ask students to please take lunch." Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One Hundred and Sixteenth Year Senior students of grades such and eight along with a special learning needs'class will be finding space at South Huron District High School. Taylor expects his students will be using the alternate accommodations for anywhere from two to four months. All text and library books will have to be rehabilitated or replaced. The principal said the ()SR cards whichrecord a student's progress through public school suffered smoke damage, but were virtually okay. Music teaching aids gathered by teacher Joan Perri over a period of 23 years were destroyed along with French teaching aids belonging to teacher Helen Biemans. Space is also being made available in the Rec Centre for Prihcipal Taylor and his secretary. The regular phone number for Ex- eter Public School 235-2630 has been connected at the Rec Centre and Taylor asks any new students who have registered or wish further infor- mation to call Thursday or Friday. He added, "The same goes for parents who have questions or concerns. New registrations will also be accepted Thursday and Friday of this week". Talor went on to say that he wishes to thank members of the Exeter fire department and chief Gary Middleton for their co-operation and congeniali- ty in "allowing us in the building to assess the losses. The same thanks go to the churches and many members of the community in general. So many Please turn to page 2 VOC & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, September 2, 1987 e Price Per Copy 60 Cents Two schools, fertilizer plant hit by arson Officers of the Exeter town and the Ontario Provincial Police forces are continuing investigation into the fires at the Exeter District Co -Op fertilizer plant Wednesday morning and Exeter and Usborne Central public schools early Thursday morning. Exeter chief , Larry Hardy said Tuesday morning, "We have one of- ficer from each force working joint- ly to track down leads, plus all other resources of both departments. Assisting the local forces are Dan Magda from the Ontario Fire Mar- shall's office in Kitchener and the OPP identification unit from Mount Forest. The first of the the three fires was reported at 8:20 a.m. when Co -Op employees found the fertilizer plant office on fire when they arrived for work. Exeter fire chief Gary Middleton said the fire in the office was smouldering and had, pretty well burned out when his men arrived. Also set on fire was a terragator li- quid fertilizer machine. Total damage was estimated at in excess of $20,000. - The call for Exeter firemen to the Usborne Central School fire came at 1:35 a.m., Thursday. It took.firemen less than an hour to bring the blaze under control. Two separate fires were set. One was in the principal's office and the other in the kindergarten room at the southeast corner of the building._ It wasdeputy chief Don Wells who first -spotted the Exeter school fire when he was returning from Usborrie at about 2:30 a:in. It is believed the Exeter fire was set first as Wells said he smelled smoke when he left for Osborne earlier. • The Exeter blaze also appears to be set in two locations. One was also the principal's office. At both schools, the fires were started in areas at the hack of the buildings away from the streets and lights. The Hensall volunteer brigade was called in by Middleton for aFsistance about a half hour after the fire was detected. Some of the Exeter firemen re- mained at both scenes until well into Thursday afternoon to assist Magda from the fire marshall's office. Windows and doors were smashed to gain entry at all three locations. Magda said four separate fires were set at the fertilizer plant which is located in Stephen township. about a mile and a half southwest of -Exeter. • Chief Middleton says he does not believe any of the fires were set with any flammable materials. Drapes or furniture materials were used to get the blazes going. Total damages have not been finalized, but are expected to run to close to a million dollars at the Exeter School and over $50,000 at Usborne. It is believed the three fires are related along with one a week earlier which destroyed a small garage and automobile on John street east in Ex- - eters just east of Anstett Jewellers. Those responsible for the fire at the Co -Op left a note which read. "First . the garage. Now this and next the world." .r".: • WHO DID THIS? - Exeter police chief Lorry Hardy asks if anyone recognizes the writing on this note left at the Co -Op fertilizer plant to call 235-1236. USBORNE DAMAGE day's fire. This shows the kindergarten room at Usborne Central School shortly after Thurs- idriC STAFF CLEANUP — The staff of Exeter Public School returned to help clean up the -terrible aftermath oflast week's fire. Kindergarten teacher Bernice Thompson and teacher's assistant Jo -Dee Desjardine put smoke -damaged toys in garbage bogs. Ninety percent of the kindergarten supplies had to be thrown out. A HOT SEAT Principal Al Taylor surveys the damage at Exeter Public School. Town co-ordinates Acting mayor Reeve Bill Mickle called a meeting of town officials on Thursday for a round -table discussion on dealing with the recent outbreak of suspicious and costly fires in Ex- eter and neighbouring -Usborne Township. Included were the police chief, the fire chief, the public works superintendent, the municipal clerk and the councillors who chair on the police committee and Public Works Department. After reviewing all that has taken place so far, Police Chief Larry )lar- dy was nominated to coordinate all future -action to protect the communi- ty and apprehend the person or per- sons responsible for the fires. Both Hardy and Fire chief Gary Middleton have received special training in deal- ing with arson. "Hopefully, all bases have been covered." Mickle said. Mickle said "super cooperation" to his office has been received from the OPP. the Ontario fire marshall's office. the DROOPING LIGHTS The fluoriscent lights were melted in Thursday's fire. at Exeter Public School T -A photo COMPLETE RUBBLE Exeter public school vice-principal Larry Block uses a flashlight to find his way around his room Friday morning. Alio Hensel) fire department, and agen- cies such as the PUC. "It's comforting to know what is be- ing done in such a professional man- ner." Mickle said, adding that out- siders will see "this is a closeknit community that looks after itself". Police Chief Larry Hardy said all five fires which have broken out in the last two weeks are believed to be related. Several suspects are being investigated. Hardy said the police appreciate the public support they have receiv- ed. Citizens are asked to report anything suspicious by calling 235-1236.- "There is no such thing as foolish information." Hardy said. adding that some seemingly unimportant bit of information might be the key that unlocks this whole case. Hardy is still hopeful the matter will be resolved "as quickly as possible." Youth mischief charge A 16 year-old youth will be appear- ing in Godet ich court this week for a bail hearing concerning an incident in Exeter in the early hours of Saturday morning. Chief Larry Hardy said the youth can not be identified under the Voting Offenders Act. Ile was charged with break, enter and mischief. The break and enter was involved with a storage shed on Sanders street and the mischief charge evolves from a small fire started on the roadway of Albert street, just south of Sanders street. The area was cordoned off by police from the time of the call repor- ting'the incident at 2:58 a.m. until 12:30 Saturday afternoon. - ' ('hief Hardy 'commented Monday morning. "11 appears to be an isolated incident with no connection to the school fires a few days earlier". Establish hot line A 24 hour Hot Line phone iine has been established by the Exeter police department for anyone having infor- mation concerning the recent out- break of fires. Police chief Larry llardy said the WE'LL BE LATE Due to the holiday, Monday, the Ex- eter Times -Advocate will be publish- ed one day later than usual this week. It will be printed Wednesday night for Thursday morning delivery. phone will be manned in person and calls will not be taped. information will be taken in strictest confidence. Ile added, No names are necessary, just the information you may have to give us leads to go on." On the same subject. acting reeve .Bill Mickle said, "If you see anything suspicious, call the hotline number. No information will be considered in- significant. every piece of infortna- tion will be tracked down." The hotline number to call at anytime of day or night i 235-1236. •