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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-09-20, Page 3Official opening - Taking part in the official opening of the OPP's Extended Service Office in Zurich were Sgt. Don Mclnnes, officer in charge of the Exeter detachment, Superintendent MurrayPeer, Hay township reeve Lionel Wilder, Zurich reeve Bob Fisher, Constable Rick Borden, the officer as- signed to the Zurich office and Sgt. Wayne Burke of the Exeter detachment. Police office officially opens Continued from front page parked outside, "their" policeman is available. Borden reports, an excellent re- sponse from the community, which he describes as "pretty law-abiding". "Zurich is one of the nicest little communities around. There are not too many major problems here," he notbd, singling out speeding on the main stzeet and underage drinking as two of the most common. •Borden was in town for this year's Bean Festival. He and a fel- low officer stayed for the dance, and Borden didn't leave Zurich un- til early the next morning. One person attending the dance told Borden how comfortable he felt walking in and seeing two uni- formed OPP officers. The only incident Borden had to deal with during the Bean Festival was a young person who deliber- ately drank a beer in front of him. Borden is getting to know the individuals who live in the com- munity. And they are getting to know him. One lady, discovering that he was fond of raspberries, regularly brought in boxes of his favourite fruit. The fact his wife Carol grew up in Zurich helps, -Fostering a partnership between the police and the public is a main goal of community policing, ac- cording to Superintendent Murray Peer, the officer in charge of the 15 OPP detachments in District 6 who police Grey, Bruce, Welling- ton, Perth and Huron counties. Peer was among the officials tak- ing part in the official opening of the Zurich ESO on September 14. The senior OPP. officer stressed the importance of this partnership in his remarks. "It is obvious we need the partic- ipation and assistance of the pub- lic. With this assistance our job becomes less difficult, crimes are solved or prevented, and everyone benefits," he said. Peer went on to explain that each detachment is divided into geo- graphic zones, and a constable is assigned full time to each. Each zone is represented by a committee of interested citizens, who are to pass on the wants and needs of their community, and the type of police action they would like to see. OPP Sgt. Don McInnes, in charge of the Exeter detachment which has jurisdiction over the Zurich office, said new communi- cations equipment "has allowed us to tie this all together". He em- phasized the necessity for commu- nity and police to work together. The police have neither the finan- cial nor human resources to do it all themselves. Fair displays for extra day During entertainment interludes a member of Homecraft Queens and Princesses will becrowned along with thetop exhibitors in the school fair division. Fair president Adriaan Brand said he expects the Saturday morning parade to "be superb": Brand contin- ued, "I hear special effects are being made for some exceptional floats using the horse theme." . The parade which gets underway at 11 a.m., Saturday leaves from Phone book correction The after-hours number given in the 1989 T -A home phone book for the Lucan detachment of the OPP is for Huron County residents, and puts the caller in contact with the Mt. Forest OPP. Middlesex County resi- dents wanting to contact the Lu - can OPP after hours should dial 1-800-265-7191. Please make this correction in your phone book. We apologize for the error. two starting points. Children will leave from the Exeter United Church packing lot while adult floats will gather at the South Hu- ron District High school parking This will be capped off with a heavy horse pull. Homecraft division president Ca- thy Seip reports that the ladies will be "horsing around" and she says lot. the "Focus on Uorses " has been incorporated into every class." The "Paddock" will be open for food and refreshments and demon- strations on western cooking and riding attire. A new feature this year will be a Toddlers Trotter Race scheduled for Adriaan Brand expects lost of 1:30 p.m .on Sunday afternoon. horses in the parade. He added, This race is for toddlers three "Bring along your horses, we will years of age and under. It's open to have a wheelbarrow and scoop fillies and colts. shovels available to take care of In the school fair section, presi- any litter." dent Ruthanne Negrijn and her , Other Saturday activity include committee also have many catego- horseshoe pitching for all ages, ries which go along with the main face painting clowns and 4-H calf fair theme. and horse club competition. They include cowboy hat decora- The president who is an enthu-' tions, models of horse farms and siastic horse owner, trainer and 4-H making horses from paper rolls. leader hhs lined up no less than Fair directors are also selling five horse shows during the up- tickets on the annual lucky draw. coming weekend. Prizes include a quarter of beef, a Saturday shows include an open quilt, a side of pork, a knitted light horse competition, an Arabi- child's sweater, merchandise from an show and a combined Haflinger Campbell's Soup, an afghan, a tur- and heavy horse show. key, a dried flower wreath and a Sunday it will be an Appaloosa case of oil. show along with a light horse Come to the Exeter Fair this show sponsored by the South Hu- weekend and join in on all of the ron All Breeds Horse Association. "horsing around" activities. Adding to -the parade with music will be the Seaforth high school band and the Mitchell Legion band. Lots of humour and action will be provided by the Stratford on the Avon Shriners mini -cars. Times Advocate September 20 1989 Pape 3 Variety of charges in court EXETER - Four theft charges were among the cases dealt with in provincial court in Exeter on Sep- tember 12 with Judge RGE Hunter presiding. Wendell J. Hodder, RR3 Exeter, pleaded guilty to stealing $60 from Don Essery on August 24. He had taken the money while boarding with Essery. Restitution was made on September 5. Hodder was given a conditional discharge, and placed on probation for 12 months. Bruce J. Dietrich, RR2 Dash- wood, was fined $100 for stealing a wallet containing $10 and cards from the car of Peter Lebreche at a party in Hay township on June 16. Possessing property between June 1 and 26 (cigarettes) he knew were obtained by a criminal of- fence, and failing to comply with a probation order made on May 23 to keep the peace and be of good beha- viour cost Leslie H. MacDonald, RR2 Crediton, 60 days in jail, an- other 30 consecutive, and probation for an additional two years. The accused had purchased three cartons of cigarettes over that period of time at the Hasty Market, paying $5 per canon instead of the $29 value. A certain employee had - agreed to this arrangement. Mac- Donald was also ordered to make restitution of $87 within 60 days. Mike Smith, 66 William St. South, Exeter, pleaded guilty to stealing money from Thruway Muf- fler and Brake Centre. He had made out shop deposits for December 15 and 16, intending to make the de- posits on Monday. On Monday he was told December 20 was his last working day; he was being fired. Smith went to police on March 2, 1989 and returned Visa receipts and cheques. The cash value of the deposits was $217.80.He had kept the deposits on being told he wouldn't receive his last week's pay or his vacation pay, totalliing $349.01. He told police he intend- ed to keep the money until Thru- way paid him. He has since gotten his money through the labour board. No restitution has yet been made to his previous employer. Smith was given a conditional discharge and 12 months probation, and ordered to make restitution within 30 day. Two people pleaded guilty to driving with BAC levels over 80. Jeannise Marie Dixon, Parkhill, was fined $600 and had her licence suspended for 12 months after being picked up on June 2 and blowing two breath samples giving readings. of 120. Lawrence T. Pole, RR1 Dash- wood, was given an identical sen- tence for having a BAC of 160 after being stopped on August 26 in Hay township. Sharon Louise Caner, RR3 Exet- er, pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics. Police found a 20" poued cannibus plant at her residence. She said she thought growing mari- juana was legal unless the plant was over a certain height. She was giv- en a conditional discharge and placed on six months' probation. Mathew John Miklovic, RR1 Dashwood, was prohibited from handling or owning firearms for two years after pleading guilty to handling firearms in a careless man- ner. His -wife had gone to police on August 21 saying her husband had threatened to kill himself. The ac- cused was found sleeping with the gun beside him. Firearms were seized. The accused is to get coun- selling for alcohol abuse. Exeter stalis said the operating costs may drop Hall forwarded his motion to over the years due to the increased start with blue boxes in January or number of participants, new materi- soon thereafter, but councillor Dor- als for recycling, and higher returns othy Chapman said she wanted to• for goods. hear more about the plastic bag Councillor Dave Urlin wanted to "kitchen sink" method offered by know how long it would take Exet- the Bewzse Company. er to get blue boxes, but Hall skid the main concern was a three-month delay for the Associatin to order a third collection truck. Reeve Bill Mickle wanted to know if Exeter was a potentially valuable client to -the Association. "You don't think Exeter. would Public support_ get any special consideration, eh?" joked Mayor Bruce Shaw. Fuller cited the London city engi- neer who suggested the city's land- fill would be saved only five day's capacity over ten years. Shaw said Exeter's "slowness" in getting into recycling was because they had been looking at more than one alternative, but the mayor said he thought the under -sink method should be given one more look be- fore jumping into the blue box sys- tem. EXETER - Councillor Morley , Hall made a recommendation to Ex- eter xeter council Monday evening that the town join the Bluewater Recy- cling Association's blue box pro- gram, but the motion was tabled until next month when council can weigh it against a second presenta- tion by proponents of the "kitchen - sink" recycling proposal. Hall told council he had faith in the Bluewater's ability to market their goods.for recycling because of their quality control systems.. He also pointed out the cost of blue boxes themselves has fallen to" less than $5 each due to bulk pur- chasing. Councillor Lossy Fuller took is- sue with the Association's budget forecast. "Look at the money that man (Francis Veilleux) is losing each year...it'll take 10 years before it even becomes viable." Fuller was told that with the re- traction of government grants, mu- nicipal costs are projected to rise over rho` next: few years, but Hall "I . agree we should be doing something about recycling, it's a given," said Shaw. -- Urlin said one benefit of the blue box system was - it was already proven, especially for gathering Bruce Melner from that operation has informed council, his method now has ministry approval and he is willing to return to council next month. "The blue box is limited to the kinds of things it will take at this-- moment," his•moment," said Chapman, asking for Hall's motion to be tabled until the second meeting in October. Hall did, however, gain council's go-ahead to continue with promot- - ing the blue boxes at the Exeter Fair. Several sites for homes for aged GODERICH-- Several sites are under consideration in parts of northern Huron County for the pro- posed new 81 -bed home for the aged, one of two facilities which will replace Clinton's Huronview. Huron council agreed to take out options on two properties in Brus- sels and two in Morris Township. Least expensive would be land on an extension of Elizabeth Street in Brussels, optioned for one dollar purchase price. An 8 -acre site in Brussels would cost $50,000, as would a 7 -acre site under consideration on Morris Township's 6th concession. The fourth site, also in Morris on County Road 12, was optioned for $30,000. County council also agreed to hire the architectural firm of Gail E. Lamb to design the two facilities, at a fce of 6 percent of construction costs. The decision was made after the Huronview Committee of Man- agement toured rest homes in Brant- ford, Niagara -on -the -Lake, Waterloo and the Lamb -built Royal Terrace in Palmerston. That tour was criticized at -the council session, when former Hu- ronview committee chairman Los- sey Fuller asked why such a study should be made when the commit- tce last year also toured Ontario, with interested members of county! council also on the bus. "I think it's a real waste of tax- payer's money... How many times are we going to do this before we come up with an answer?" she asked. "You have toaccept that com- mittees change," said Warden Dave Johnston, who also advised that the tour had already taken place and the decision made. Myra Schiff Consultants have also been hired to complete the functional program, prior to archi- tectural drawings, and will be paid. up to $ l 8,650 to do so. Two facilities are being built over the next several years to re- place Huronview. In addition to the 81 bed home in the north, a 122 bed facility will be built in the central part of the county. No facility has been approved for the south. Huronview administrator Wayne Lester told council it's still unclear whether. both homes will be built at the same time, until the provin- cial government gives final ap- proval of the estimated $10 mil- lion project. But Lester said his choice would be to build at the same time and make both moves within a month. The provincial government, which must still agree to the final plan for an 81/143 bed split north and south, has approved funding for 1990/91. initiation ommen s tow in. a er one -own Dear Sir: that nothing would ever be done to endanger anyone's welfare at this has ultimately done, is put Thank you for taking the Dan Weigand,' Council President 1989-90 I would like to thank Mr. Beattie for his letter to the editor T.A. Sep- tember 13, 1989. I share his concern. The things outlined in the letter to Grade 9 students are certainly not "FUN". They appear much closer .to moral and sexual harrassment and abuse. We have a teenager who has just started Grade 8 but is already expressinv apprehension for the Grade "v affirifiteelitlge of this so called, "Fun Week" of initiation. Two years ago in September I witnessed a grade 9 student tackled by three others as they waited-forthe buses to pull in. His shirt was torn . 'off and these fellow students proceeded to cite all over him with mark- er as he tried to fight them off. Fun in the nave of initiation? Closer to assault! Where are the principal and guidance councillors in all of this? Their leadership is questionable if these activities are allowed. There are constructive ways of welcoming the young people who en- ter Grade 9. These young people deserve respect. Their moral values and self-esteem must not be sacrificed. To the Student Council at South Huron, I would say - it is time to clean up your act and show leadership. It's what you were elected for. It is a great responsibility. Sincerely, Margaret Hem Letter sent to Parents and Guardians . • of Grade Nine Students It is lapparend that much undo attention has been drawn .h' *��•=- '�^^ •�►^��•'< -- - ..•,unit fiLi on. 'rv'i . i ui it was a letter from the Stu- dent Council or the anxieties of the students themselves or a combina- tion of both which prompted some parents to contact the school, is anyone's guess. The majority of the parents, who did read the letter, however, either realized that it was grossly exaggerated and meant to be humourous or at least recognized the positive aspects the lcuer brought out. The initiation activities are meant to familiarize the first year high school students with their surroundings and their fellow classmates, through activities which are meant to be fun. That in itself, is the rea- son for Initiation, or De -Grade Nine Week, or whatever other title you want to put on it. I think most Grade 9's would understand that now, after a successful assembly on Monday morning. It appeared that the majority, if not al} -of the students enjoyed their time on stage, whether it might have been breaking whipped -cream filled balloons, feeding pudding to a partner with blindfolds on, or getting their hair styled with gel. Believe it or not, in the end, the student will feel more a part of South Huron. The students who did opt to stay home and miss the fes- tivities, will likely regret doing so in later years. This is not meant to be a terrifying time, but a time to reflect back on when they are older and to remember what the student body did for them to welcome them into the school. It was thought that in this small community, a letter with humourous intent would be taken as such. We all know full well school. Unfortunately, what this 'mini -scandal" a damper on the rest of the week's activities. time to read this and for your co-operation. Student Dear Editor. South Huron. District High has received several letters and phone calls from concerned parents of Grade Nines and adults who do not have children attending this year at all. It is the latter which have caused so much anxie- ty within the Student's Council and the school itself. A letter which ap- peared in last week's T -A, and another very disturbing letter which I read on Monday morning, which will appear in this week's T -A, have added much fuel to the fire. The whole problem has arisen from a letter which was distributed to par- ents of Grade Nine students. Had that letter never been written, there would have been no controversy, our events would have been held regardless, and a few people who wrote icucrs to the President of the Student Council, could have saved their time and energy. Where were these people when the assemblies and the dances and the pizza parties were being held? Not in this school, let it be known. If they were so concerned, why did they not come to the school in perrion, to see for themselves. Why use the Times - Advocate as a "battleground" for this T.. ‘"Cuurn:irj provided a calendar of events for the Welcome Week activities. In it, many things were overly exaggerated and at times we may have misused hyperbole (exaggeration). The letter was sent out with humorous intent - humour that only the students themselves and their respective parents could possibly understand. No one else. When people from outside the school accuse us of bordering on moral and sexual harassment and abuse and have no idea of what really goes on in this school, you really begin to question on whose behalf these people are speaking. One woman tells the Student Council to "clean up our act" and then goes on to write about the garbage that accumulates on neighbouring lawns. Sorry but that's a little out of our jurisdiction. She cites an example of a student being tackled to the ground at our school by three other students, two years ago and that his upper body was covered in magic marker. I would reckon that those students inflicting the abuse on that student were dealt with very strictly. Now if she is implying that this year's Student Council is provoking this type of activity, then the Student Council has obviously proven her wrong. It was made perfectly clear at an assembly on Monday morning during the week in question, that conduct of this sort would not be tolerat- ed at all, and subsequently it wasn't. We had staff members, including the Principal and Vice -Principal, Pre- fects and teachers roaming the halls and disbanding any group that looked suspicious, and that meant taking milrk'ers away as well. The balk of the Degrade Nine week activities were carried out by the Students' Council. On Monday we held an assembly with the entire student body in n - dance and put the various Grade 9 home rooms through activities witch could be found at any family reunion. Everyone had fun and that is not an exaggeration. On Tuesday, many students wore pyjamas over -top of their school rtothoc for nroec.-„n Day .The student was given a choice of whathe/ she could wear or bring to school. A student vtc c;wtu%g ti t u; u, . -up, could have brought a teddy bear and slippers. There were alternatives to nighties and pyjamas.- - _ _ - . • On Wednesday, Grade Nines brought a lunch -box lunch, and sat in re- served seats in the cafeteria where everyone could see them. On Thursday, the niners stayed after school to watch a movie and have all -you -can -eat pizza, compliments of the Student Council, Ange- los and New Orleans. Following the smorgasbord supper, the student body danced to a live band in the large gymnasium. Things went with- out a hitch and the dance was a huge success. On Friday, our Kangaroo Court proceedings, which again would have resembled a family reunion, were cancelled due to many students play- ing school sports. So as you can see, all the hype about Degrade Nine week, which in itself is a pun (Degrade Nine Week - The Grade Nine Week) is nothing but the creation of people who took the information leuer literally and were not directly relatei_with this school • .-- 1.:-.;;;;�.�u.imnc., i ogicC, tures and morals should never be set aside. I promise you that they weren't, during the week's proceedings. Ask any Grade Nine and they will tell you what really happened last week - they had fun. Like it says in the letter below, the medlings of some people when they have no inkling of what is going on at all, Can sure put a damper on the initiation week, and they did. Had the Student Council not held a formal initiation at all, it is likely that certain students would have taken matters into their own hands, and the situation would have become abusive. Another point is that the Student Council had no control over what happened on the buses, but we warned the students about their conduct. That again is out of our jurisdiction. Initiation has become a custom here at South Huron and it has always had pleasureabie results. It is almost like a tradition passed on from year to year, to welcome the new students. Anyone directly involved, knows that it does introduce them to the school and their fellow students. Not only is the Student Council elected to show respect and leadership, it is also our duty to welcome new students in this tradition. Finally, it is our view that South Huron is an awesome school, with awesome students, and although not perfect, it definitely does not have to be cleaned up as has already been suggested. It was our hope, at the beginning of the year, to improve relations between the community and the school. This incident however has been a major setback. Dan Weigand for South Huron District High School Student Council.