Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1979-11-07, Page 1 (2)• Area firms announce layoffs for 200 Two of the area's largest employers have announced layoffs which will see almost 200 workers idled. Dashwood Industries Limited vice-president Al Rankin told this newspaper Monday that 105 production workers have been laid off at the Centralia plant. Rankin said the layoff was the largest ever in his association with the com- pany and the November 2 layoff date was the earliest in the company's history DIL usually lays off in mid November, he said. RETIREMENT GIFT Esther Ruu, who retired recently after teaching 11 years with the Hu,ion-Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board. was honored Friday night at- a trustee•teacher banquet held at Pineridge Chalet, Henson. Mrs. Roo, a long time teacher, was with Precious School, Ex- eter during the post I 1 years She was presented with a gift by board chairman. William Kinahan of lucknow. Photo by Oke Zurich area man badly cut in crash A Zurich man suffered severe facial and head lacerations in one of six accidents investigated by the Exeter QPP this week. Four other people sustained minor injuries in those accidents in which total damage amounted to almost $l7,000. Robert Farquhar, Zurich, was hurt when he lost control of his vehicle on concession 2-3 of Stephen on Saturday and struck a culvert. The accident occurred north of sideroad 20. Constable Wally Tomasik investigated and set total damage at $4,500. In another Saturday collision. a vehicle driven by Thomas Finlay. Stratford. Madness hits again "Midnight Madness", the popular promotional program staged by Exeter merchants, hits again this week. The majority of stores in the community will remain open until midnight this Friday, November 9. The merchants will be offering extra ,values during the hours from 6:00 p.m. to midnight as an added in- ducement to shoppers to stay downtown for the extra opening period. A full list ,of the stores involved in the promotion and their specials are con- tained in the pages of this week's T -A. rolled over on Highway 21, resulting in damage of $1.000. The driver andl-a passenger, Barbara Altenburg. Stratford. suf- fered minor injuries. Con- stable Jim Rogers investigated. - There was one accident on Thursday. it occurring on Highway 84 just east of Zurich, involving vehicles operated by Wayne Smith, London, and Barrie Gandier, Zurich. Smith sustained minor injuries and damage was set at $5.000 by Con- stable Don Mason. On Friday, a car driven by Peter Vanhooydonk. Parkhill, drove off Victoria. St. in Centralia and struck a culvert Damage was estimated at $1.500 by Constable Bill Osterloo. No injuries were reported in the only crash on Sunday, involving vehicles driven by Danny Preszcator, Exeter, and Martin Traquair, RR 3 Exeter. They collided on Usborne sideroad 15 at concession 2-3. Damage was listed at $2.300 by Constable Jim Rogers. The other accident of the week occurred last Monday when vehicles operated by Benidict Costello, RR 5 Mitchell, and Louis Masnica, Crediton. collided on High- way 4 at the junction of Huron Road 21. Damage was estimated at $2.500, by Constable Bob Whiteford. Masnica sustained minor injuries in the crash. In 1975 the company laid off 99 workers from a smaller staff, Rankin stated. Employees may be called back to work in stages in either late January or early February Rankin said, but cautioned it was dependent on their winter sales push. He attributed the large number and early date of the layoff to recent hikes in the country's intrest rates. Rankin said this has hurt his company in both sales to dealers and to home manufacturers. While not completely off- setting the loss of business due to the higher borrowing charges, Rankin said there is a greater tendency to renovate existing housing. The federal government's , mortgage deductibility scheme would have little or no impact in the near future Two barns hit by fire A late Friday evening blaze which destroyed a barn near the. Usborne-Biddulph line is under investigation by Ontario Provincial Police. The barn which was owned by John and James Scott, was completely engulfed by flames by the time firefighters from the Exeter fire department arrived on the scene. Peter McFalls of the department said no cause for the blaze had been established. The barn which is situated on concession 11 was empty and was not hooked up to hydro. Firemen stayed on the scene for one and a half hours to ensure the fire did not spread to a nearby corn field. An antique threshing machine which was situated at the rear of the barn was also destroyed. The loss was partially covered by insurance. Half of a barn was saved from fire Saturday when three local fire departments worked together. The barn belongs to Morley Eagleson on Lot 17 of Stephen township near Greenway. Grand Bend fire depart- ment was called at 8:30 a.m. Saturday ani later Dashwood and Parkhill departtnents were called in to get the blaze under control. Grand Bend fire chief Prosper VanBruaene praised the work of Eagleson who got all his cattle safely from the barn. About 75 cattle were sold and -shipped that day, and another 100 were taken to a friend's barn near Thedford. Parkhill and Exeter firemen left the scene in the morning, but Grand Bend firemen stayed on to make sure the other half of the barn didn't burn. Chief VapBruaene cited blowing straw and hay as the major problem. Firemen stayed until 5:00 p.m. and then returned at 6:00 p.m. to water down glowing embers. They stayed with the fire until early the next morning fearing that wind might re- ignite the building. There were no injuries and no equipment lost in the fire. The barn was partially covered by insurance.• STERN DISCIPLINE — During Friday's Pioneer Days of Exeter Public School, principal Jim Chapman levies old-time discipline to Miriam Von Essen and Isabel Perry. T -A photo on DIL's production, he said. in other Dashwood plants across the country Rankin said 16 productionpersonnel have been layed off at Mt. Bridges while small scale layoffs have taken place at their Winnipeg plant. In Vancouver production has slowed but no layoffs are anticipated.. • The layoffs follow a period of turmoil in the ft ont office of DiL which saw their president and senior vice- president resign. Michael G. Shurety of Toronto, general manager of Krueger Pulp and Paper Limited has been named president following the October - resignation of Jerry Finnen. Gerry Parsons of Exeter who has been with DIL for the past 10 years left the company at the end of September. Parsons accepted a management position with Ford Dickison Industries of Brodhagen. Assuming the posifftIn of director of finance is Tony Hall who has been with DIL for two and a half years. The other major blow to the area's economy is the laying off of 80 workers in the modular home- plant of Bendix Home Systems Limited of Hensall. John Gillespie of the Canada Employment Centre in Exeter said the layoff effectively shuts down production of the plant which produces single wide and double wide mobile housing units. Bendix told Gillespie that the layoff was a result of a lack of orders and a high inventory. A tight money situation was also cited as a reason for the shut down. The layoffs may be cyclical in nature with the firm recalling workers when brders are received. Some workers may be called back in about two weeks time officials told Gillespie. No major layoffs are anticipated at the company's mobile home plant in Hen - sell. A Bendix spokesman had no comment on the layoff situation. Layoffs in.' smaller area industries have totalled Considering 'jaws' At the request of the OPP and Hoffman's Ambulance, the Exeter and Area Fire Board members have agreed to have Chief Gary Midd- leton obtain prices on power tools to help free victims in car accidents. Reeve Si Simmons told Exeter council this week that prices will be secured on a type of hydraulic jack, known as the "Jaws of Life" that can be used to pry open cars and free trapped vic- tims. He said the firemen would be trained in the use of the equipment and could be available when called for such emergencies. Exeter Police Chief Ted Day said the equipment would be very beneficial. Simmons said one of the problems would 'be in working out some arrangements with in- surance companies to have theni pay, for the fire - department call. The board has also recommended that Chief Middleton's base salary be increased to $2,000 per an- num in 1980. Ames Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One hundred and Seventh Year between 65 and 70 people. Meanwhile, registrations at the employmept centre have more than tripled in less than a week with the local office now having 300 on file compared to; 90 on Wednesday. He said it was not unusual for their registrations to double at this time of year. All is not doom and gloom for the overall employment situation in the area with Gillespie citing -examples of several firms who have increased or stabilized their work force. compared to a year ago. Gillespie termed 1979 "u not• a particular severe year" compared to the employment situation a few years ago. In certain fields such as construction there are still jobs available, he said. GOVERNOR VISITS — One of the honoured guests at the Exeter Lions Club meeting Thurs- day wos district governor George Teather of Thomesford. Chatting with Teather were current president Gerry Prout and post -president Glen Kells. T -A photo dvocate & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, NOVEMBER 7, 1979 Price Per Copy 25 Cents RECEIVES HIGH SCOUTING AWARD — Jim Rose (left) of the Exeter scout pock received one of the highest scouting honours Monday. Presenting the gold chain to Rose was district commissioner for Huron Walter Thomas of Goderich. The chain is a result of Rose com- pleting 10 proficiency and efficiency badges Staff photo Litres or gallons cheaper? FueI fires hot discussion Picking the lowest tenders for most items is usually a simple matter, but there are exceptions as Exeter council found out. Monday. *son.. game about when lbey-_opened-bids4rom- five local fuel oil dealers and found there were two dif- Negotiation will change After several years of consideration, Exeter council agreed this week to establish one central com- mittee to negotiate contracts with all town departments. in the past, each com- mittee has dealt with its respective employees and Mayor Derry Boyle said "maybe this is the year to make -changes." Councillor Ted Wright quickly endorsed the suggestion, noting he has felt strongly for years that one committee should do the negotiating. While council passed the motion to have one com- mittee undertake the ► negotiations, that comjnitt'ee make -tip -was not stipulated In the motion. There was also some question whether the rec centre staff would be handled through that committee. ferent measures used (litres and gallons) as well as five different tank wagon prices and five different discounts offered. •_.-Fhe .problem then was tb' .conyert _the .gallons -to - thee& and the litres to gallons for comparative purposes,- as well as to determine if the best price was from the dealer offering the lowest tank wagon price or the one offering the highest discount. Councillors Don Cameron and Jay Campbell argued that the contract should go to the dealer offering the highest discount. while others contended it should go to the lowest tank wagon price offer. While deputy -clerk Brian Parsons worked on the metric conversions, a -motion was presented to accept one of the bids. although it was subsequently defeated when Mayor Derry Boyle had to break a 4-4 tie. Parsons was then asked to compute the prices and he returned with an itetnized sheet indicating that in fact the dealer favored in the original motion was not the lowest bidder. A motion was. then presented giving, the con - „tract to-ArC hole Fuels who offered fuel oil at a current price of 15.3 cents per litre with nine -tenths of one cent discount. , Parsons worked that out to a final price of 14.4 cents. compared to the 14.41 cents that the dealer a the original motion waspffert g. Crosswalk suggestion sent back for study A suggestion by the police committee that funds be set. aside in the 1980 budget for a legal crosswalk on Exeter's Main St. became entangled in procedural problems, Monday. There was a motion, an amendment to the motion and then an amendment to Me amendment before the whole issue was tossed back at the police committee for further study. That prompted committee chairman Don MacGregor to suggest that a tunnel under the street was the best way to handle the situation. Reeve Si Simmons strongly opposed the idea of a legal cross walk, suggesting it would tie up traffic more than it is right now and he warned at the end of the debate that it could lead to the ministry considering a bypass around Exeter. "Take that into consideration," he suggested. The procedural problems arose when Councillors Don Cameron and Jay Campbell presented the suggestion. that the planning board should have some input into the discussion. Cameron said it was a planning matter. although Mayor Derry Boyle thought it should be left strictly up to council as they were responsible for traffic safety. The matter became fur- ther urther clouded when Bob Swai man, president of the -Business,irnproVemont Area said the downtown mer- chants would also be prepared to offer some input. With the motion, amend- ment and amendment to the amendment becoming even more confusing, councillor Ted Wright presented yet another motion that the matter be referred back to -the committee for further cost study and that other loca: groups be asked for their input. Borrowing is costly Exeter council .passed a bylaw this week authorizing the borrowing of $242,000 upon debentures towards the cost of the west -central storm drain and the sanitary sewers recently installed on William St. and along High- way 83 West at the north end. The total interest to be paid over the 20 -year period will be 5396,562.50. bringing the total repayment cost of the loan to $638,562.50. The interest rate is 113 4 percent. Bell Gouinlock. agents for the debenture issue. in- dicated it "speaks very well of the credit" of the town to be able to obtain such a low rate when the prime rate was at an historic high of 14 percent (now 15 percent) and at a time when a number of institutions are not investing• in' loiig tefd liond3' " However, before that could be considered. the other mot -ions and amendments had to be cleared and the movers and seconders adhered to a request from Boyle that they withdraw them. Simmons said he had seen the problems created with crosswalks due the the "games" played by some school students'and'said he could envision the same problem here. noting quickly that if.he was of that age he would probably be involved himself in some of the antics that keep traffic tied up. ..We don't need that problem." he said. Cameron also suggested the crosswalk could slow traffic and noted that the committee , should be studying methods whereby it -can . f speeded up and not slowed down Council did approve several other regulations in the committee report establishing no parking areas in several sections as follows: • Parking for 10 minutes only on the north side of Sanders between Main and . Andrew to enable people to pick up mail or stop at the police office for a short timg. The angle parking in front of South Huron Hospital will be discontinued and replaced with parallel parking. • No parking on the north side of Gidley between Main and William and also`on the 4.we4t.ssde:of A tdr wbeIctreen James and Huron. A HALLOWEEN PAINT JOB - - Halloween night in Exeter wos marred by o couple of youths going ono painting spree. One of the cors attacked by the so-called painters wos owned by John Breen, Old Mill rood. T -A photo Nine cars attacked Three go on painting spree A 15 -year-old juvenile and two Usborne youths will face 13 charges each arising from a spray painting spree on Halloween. Nine cars. including 'one owned by Police Chief Ted Day, were painted in ad- dition to a camping trailer, one stop sign, the office door at the clerk's office, a' Bell Telephone booth and g(lg, garbage conlaitler. Chief Day said at least two of the cars were so badly sprayed that they will require complete repainting. The names of the persons charged are not being released at this time and they are scheduled to appear in court in Decetpber. The boys and their parents have already visited some of the victims to either clean up the paint or make plans for ,restitution for the damage. Among the car owners victimsed_were John Breen, 'Old M{IRoad; Dale Black- burn, 150 Main; Francis Varga, Chatham; Donald Fahner, 176 Sanders; Al Roberts, Huron St.; Barb Bowerbank, 415 Main, Mike Caldwell. 130 Waterloo; T.G Lavender, 127 Mill; Ted Day. 127 Mill. The trailer was owned by Bill Jones, 113 Main. Chief Day said most of the cars were white and they were sprayed with black and red car paint. The three were arrested at their homes by Constable Kevin Short, who was assisted in the in- vestigation by Constable Jim Barnes. The painting took place between 9:00 p.sn. and midnight and Chief Day said the total damage could amount to 12,000 to $3,000. The men's washroom at the town hall was also painted. but the three youths charged in the other in- cidents claimed they were not responsible for that. The only other damage reported on Halloween was a smashed truck window. The truck was owned by Algoma Tire and was parked near the residence M Walt Tiedeman at James and Edward St.