Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-12-16, Page 1• 4 "Op education • Old-fmtthloMQ Christman..,.., :..,.,. 3 3 L.ucan ooll 1.4 ,... ...9A. ....:16A Sports Council half -way to goal In her report the the South Huron Rec Board Thursday night, Lynne Farquhar revealed that the Winter Sports Council has raised roughly $16,000 of the $35,000 needed to buy a new ice-resurfacer. Farquhar told the board that many local groups were interested in do- nating, but that the need for money has to be. filled before the New Year. "A lot of the groups would like to donate, but they'd like to donate over a.two or three ycar period," she said. She went on to explain that the Council could only consider the money they have at this moment. The price of the ice machines will increase by 56,000 in 1988, an in- crease Farquhar thinks will kill the project. I'm afraid if it get's to January and it's (the price) another $6,000, that'll be it for the project? Farquhar said the Sports Council is counting on the help of local ser- vice clubs. "1 think a lot is going to hinge on how much the service clubs come up with," Farquhar said. Exetbr Town Council passed a resolution at its last regular meeting to set aside $5,000 from energy conservation monies as a contribu- tion toward the ice machine project, providing the balance of the cost is raised by the Winter Sports Coun- cil. To illustrate the economy of an ice-resurfacer, it was noted by Facil- Imes ities manager Cam Stewardson that the Stephen Township arena staff had shaved the ice surface there only once since the beginning of the sea- son. Stephen has an -Olympia ice- resurfacer, which keeps the ice sur- face thin and even. Stewardson performs the time- consuming task of shaving the ice at the South Huron complex on a regular basis. Oil the topic of the recent Fire Sale held m the Agricultural build- ing at the Community Centre rc- Early deadlines next week Next week's issue of the Times Advocate will be the last one before Christmas and will be published a day earlier than usual. Deadlines for advertisements of all kinds will be moved up to Friday, December 18 at 4 p.m. All correspondents and contri- butors are also asked to adhere to the same deadlines unless other arrangements an: made with the editorial staff. - Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One Hundred and Seventeenth Year Gently, Farquhar told the board ap- proximately $3,500 was raised through sales. Adverti§emcnts and photo -copier charges along with various other charges left a bill for $500 in expenses. Farquhar said the remaining $3,000 would be split equally with the school board, as was originally agrccd upon. Expressing her gratitude to those who helped, Farquhar expressed dis- appointment at the final profit. Board member Dorothy Chapman pointed out that, though the mone- tary return wasn't as great as it was hoped to be, the sale had provided a valuable service to many in the community. dvocate & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, December 16, 1987 Thanks Santa 41111110, '441P" art► .0.w. —• 4,11111* _ 4411111100. *OW 4SP .r 4110 • EXCITEMENT - Fifteen month-old Kristel Westlake can hardly wait to see what is in the present she received at Dashwood Industries' annual Christmas party for over 300 children, held in the Exeter rec centre. PoIice lfor backhoe stolen from St. Joseph's construction site site- -Officers of the Exeter Provincial Saturday at 3.30 a.m., a vehicle known vehicle and driver collided Police detachment arc investigating driven by Andrew Martens, RR 1, with a hydro pole at the corner of the theft of a backhoc in the St. Jo- Dashwood struck a parked vehicle Walnut street and Highway 84 in seph's arca. on Main street of Crediton. The Zurich. Anyone with information is The backhoc, a 1986 Case 580E parked vehicle is owned by Barry also asked•to contact the Exeter de - model was taken sometime during Becker, Crediton. tachemnt. thc early hours of Thursday. It is Damage was estimated at $4,500 During the week, officers investi- owned by Richard Bedard Construe- while Martens and a passenger Scott gated a total of 30 general occur - tion of RR 2, Zurich. Jesney of Hensall were treated at rences.Charges included 35 High - Anyone with information pertain- South Huron Hospital for minor in- way Traffic Act, five Criminal ing to this theft is asked to call the juries. Code, two Liquor Licence Act, one Exeter detachment at 235-1300. Thursday at 5.50 p.m., an un- impaired driver and one for not hav- ing insurancc.Thrce drivers received driving licence suspensions of 12 hours. The OPP RIDE program is in full swing. The motoring public is re- minded to keep up thcir diligence in not drinking and driving. During this busy Christmas shop- ping season, citizens arc reminded to lock their Christmas purchases in the trunks of their vehicles. Also_ if you arc out for the evening lock your house up, leave a light, televi- sion or radio on. Give your house a look of someone at home. BIA on guard against shoplifters tends to go up," Hardy warned and encouraged storc owners to be espe- cially cautious. Thc actual act of theft must be witnessed and the sho- plifter must leave the store before he or she can be arrested.. Hardy said a letter can be sent to convicted shoplifters that they are no longer welcome in the store. This not only protects the store, but also drives home the message sho- plifting is not to be tolerated. The use of convex mirrors in smaller stores is a viable alternative to expensive video camera systems, Hardy suggested. Chief Hardy also showed a video- tape on the subject of robbery pre- vention. He explained that keeping visibility from the street clear with lower aisles and uncovered windows went a long way towards discourag- ing robbers from holding up a store. Hardy did caution the B.I.A. mem- bers to tell their staff to remain calm and follow the robber's in- structions in case of robbery. Hardy decried any acts of heroism in robbery situation as extremely foolish when the possibility of in- jury and the small amounts of mon- ey involved arc taken into account. Shoplifting carries the same pen- alty as theft, and Exctcr retailers are urged to treat the offense in exactly the same manner. Exeter police chic( Larry Hardy spoke at the Thursday meeting of the B.I.A. on thc subjects of sho- plifting and robbery. He estimated the losses to shoplifting in Godc- rich this year as somewhere between three and four hundred thousand dol- lars. He showed a videotape to those present which debunked the myths of shoplifting, such as the chances of getting caught and the penalties involved. Hardy apologized for the tape bcing aimed at the potential shoplifter and not towards the retail- er, but promised to try to locate othcr films which may be of more use to the B.I.A. "Stealing's a crime whether the item is worth 5tt or $500," said Hardy. He gave statistics that whereas only half a dozen young of- fenders were arrested for shoplifting in 1985 in Exeter, the total is up to around 60 this year already. He said the majority of shoplifting prosecu- tions are ,unfortunately, for young offenders. "At Christmas time, shoplifting Price Per Copy 60"Cents Warden forsees harmonious year Tuckersmith Reeve Bob Bell reached the apex of his career as a municipal politician when he was acclaimed as Warden of Huron County on December 8. Bell, who farms at'RR2 Kipper, was first elected as a Tuckersmith councillor in 1974. He served in this capacity for one two-year term before moving up to deputy reeve.. Bell was elected as reeve in 1980, and is presently in his third term. Bell was one of four contenders for the Warden's job in 1985. Paul Stcckle ivas the winner in that elec- tion. The other three - Leona Arm- strong, Brian McBurney, and Bell - ran uncontested in the three suc- ceeding years. The new warden -was very pleased to receive congratulations at the re- ception following his acclamation from some of the people who had signed his original nomination pa- pers in 1974. Bell said his interest in his home municipality first motivated him to enter local politics, and he reached IIIMMINIMIS Sillery makes annual report about authority Ervin Sillery, Exeter's representa- tive on the Ausable-Bayfield Con- servation Authority made his annual report to a recent council meeting. Sillery's report explained the re- cent reduction of Authority directors from 35 to12 and said a limit of three years is being placed on the length of term of any director. In the past each of the 32 munici- palities appointed an individual rep- resentative in addition to three pro- vincial delegates. Under the new system, Exeter and the townships of Usborne and Blanshard will share a representative. As the new system will not take effect until February of 1989, Sil- Icry was named to again represent Exeter for the coming year. Exeter's share of maintenance work on the Exeter and Morrison dams during 1987 amounted to $1,954.25. At the Exctcr dam, about 2,000 cubic yards of material was removed and othcr maintenance included patching of concrete, re -caulking, grate on low -flow level and minor repairs to gabion baskets. Maintenance at Morrison dam in- cluded fence repairs, painting and stabilization of slumping on the earth embankment. Included in proRgsed wbrks in thc 1988 budget estimates arc removal of material accumulated on the north side of the river channel im- mediately downstream of the Exeter dam along with patching and grout- ing of cracks and "spalled" areas on stilling basin retaining walls. This will cost the town of Exctcr $945. Exd.r C.uncil Budget At a recent meeting, Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle said 1988 budget expen- 'ditures must be cut to the bonc and at the most must not exceed infla- tion. Mickle continued, " It's impor- tant that each department budget is targetted at thc inflation level or less. To accomplish a four perccnt or lass expenditure increase and to start replenishment of reserves and reserve funds, capital expenditures will have to he cut drastically." Thc reeve went on to point out that true expenditures had risen from $1,315,657 in 1981 to $2,101,857 this year, an average increase per year of 8.54 perccnt. Ncw taxation received from increased assessment primarily from new development has cut the increase in taxation against spending to an average of 3.61 percent over the same period. According to Mickle, a number of reserve funds have been reduced by $229,500 for 1987 expenditures and the 1988 budget process must in- clude rebuilding the reserve posture so the town can respond to grant savings from the provincial govern- ment; also provide future taxation flexibility and review capital road expenditures so Exeter will qualify for the full potential of government assistance. for the Warden's gavel because "once.you're in long enough, it's a challenge to go to the top". Farming will take second place in Bell's priorities in 1988. He plans to devote his full time and energy to the demands of being warden. His duties include chairing all meetings of county council, being ex officio member of the eight standing com- mittees, department head commit- tees, the special committee on sen- iors, and the salary negotiations committee. A_county warden also has numerous ceremonial and social obligations to fulfill. Being war- den is a full-time job. Bell already knows some of the items that will be on the agenda next year. He hopes the first phase of the rebuilt Huron Muscum will be open by summer. Recommen- dations from the pilot project study on the needs of seniors currently un- derway in Huron by the ministry of community and social services are expected in June. A report on the contentious subject of market as- sessmcnt for tax purposes will be presented on December 23 when the Warden meets with all municipal treasurers in the county. Looking ahead to the coming year, Bell said he anticipates dealing with unexpected issues as they arise. "It's not my way to try to ram big projects through during my term. It's better to be prepared to give leadership as these things come up. Final decisions are made by the county council", Bell commented. He foresees a harmonious year. "Members of county council seem reasonably happy with their ap- pointments, and council has a good working relationship with an excel- lent administrative staff", Bell not- ed. Bob's wife Marlene, who will be included in many of the social func- tions during her husband's year as warden, is looking forward to "making new friends, and meeting people from all over the township, the county and the province". IIP prr GETS COUNTY KEY- Tuckersmith township reeve Bob Bell was na- med 1988 Warden of Huron County recently. Above, he receives the key to the county from retiring warden Brian McBurney. Photo courtesy The Advance. Workman finishes term as Rec Board Chairman Jim Workman, chairperson of the South Huron Recrea- tion Board has chaired his last Rec Board meeting. Workman, who has held a position on the board for four years, finished his two year term as chairperson Thursday night during the board's last monthly meeting. The veteran board member praised his fellow members for their efforts over the past two years, saying that they work hand and get little rec- ognition. Workman noted, however, that things haven't always gone smoothly. "It's been challenging for the four years I've been on the board," he said. "We've had our ups and downs." Workman expressed a sense of frustration caused by an "us and them" mentali- ty that has existed in the past between the board and facili- ties users. He also cautioned "Councils have to remember • that we are volunteers". Workman praiscd the dedi- cation of the • Community Ccntrc staff, saying that they work "above and beyond the ,call of duty" in the face of constant pressure from the public. "They're always in the pub- lic eye," Workman said. "Every time you go into the. Rcc Centre, you sec what they're doing and what they're not doing." Workman also lauded Times -Advocate editor Bill Battcn for the "tough but fair" , coverage he had given the board over the years. The chair will be filled in the Ncw Year at the next reg- ular meeting.