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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-12-13, Page 1Don't Drink and Drive Serving South Huron, A. Inside Christmas shopping Off to a slow start? page 5 Easy entertaining Holiday recipes from CCAT pages 6, 7 '. Skate-a-thons Minor hockey and figure skaters raise funds page 21 Holiday greetings Personal messages - for Christmas page 31 Long ago Pioneer Christmas spirit at Lambton Museum page 32 Old Mud Road to be used at "own risk" USBORNE - Drivers will use the "Old Mud Road" at their own risk during the winter months. Road superintendent Ken Parker told the December 5 council meet- ing of Usbomc township council that the road has been posted with "No winter maintenance" signs. The road starts across from the George Tryon farm, and goes to Lucan. An offer to purchase approxi- mately five acres from Lawrence and Ruth Selves as a buffer zone for the Kirkton landfill site has been drawn up. The effective date will be April 15, 1990. Applica- tion has been made for a provin- cial grant next year to cover some of the cost. Council decided a second blue recycling box will be given to those who have lost or irreparably damaged their first box. A third replacement will cost S5. Home- owners are reminded to put their names on their boxes so they can be identified and returned if car- ried away by wind or hit by a plow. Adding another layer of tar and chip to Concession 2-3, and apply- ing more asphalt on Huron St. will be' among the items consid- ered for the 1990 road budget. Council will meet next on De- cember 19 at 1:00 p.m. One town mishap EXETER - Officers of thc Exet- er police department investigated two motor ychicle accidents this week. On Wednesday, December 6, vehicles operated by Linda Rich- ardson, Paisley and Wanda McCann of Crediton collided on Main street A vehicle driven by Tim Nether - con of Exeter was pulling out of a parking spot at the Hasty Market when due to snowy and icy condi- tions it struck a vehicle owned by Wayne Kelly. The mishap oc- curred on Sunday. Two accidents EXETER - Only two motor ve- hicle accidents were investigated this week bby officers of the Exeter detachment of the Ontario Provin- cial Police. On December 7, vehicles driven by Milan Radenkovic of Alberta and Gloria Decker of London col- lided on Highway 83. A vchicic owned by Ben Tctp- stra of R.R. 3, Brussels was struck by an unknown vehicle while it was parked at Centralia. on De- cember 3. Damage was light. The local detachment reports RiDE spot checks are out in full force: "Don't drink and drive." p North Middlesex & Lambton Since 1873 ilk ' Gaiser- ea1e Insurance Exeter 235-2420 Grand Bend 238-8484 Hensall 262-2607 Clinton 482-9747 Wednesday, December 13, 1989 75 cents High -flying students raise funds for Christmas bureau 3 r �• 41 .* Floating in mid air - Actually Rob Wonnacott, is not defying the laws of gravity, he is taking part in the annual Trampbline-a-thou; at South Huron District High School last week. Over $1,200 was raised for the Christmas Bureau of Huron County at Exeter United Church, from the 11 hours of bouncing. Wonnacott is watched by his spotters from the athletic council. Report upsets sapporters EXETER - Precious Blood prin- cipal Margaret Nelson met with a member of the Times Advocate editorial staff on Thursday to voice her objections to what she termed "sensationalized report- ing". She was referring to the news item about a report from the Huron County Public Inspection panel. The story was carried on the front page of the December 6 edi- tion under a bold headline that in- cluded the name of the Exeter sep- arate school. Precious Blood was among a number of institutions visited by the inspection panel in November. The school was criticized specifi- cally for the condition of the girls' and boys washrooms, and in gen- eral for its "unkcpt" [sic] appear- ance. Nelson feels the panel was "looking at esthetics" rather than starching for conditions .that could endanger public health or safety. She pointed out that the wash- rooms arc part of the original school, built in 1962. One soap dispenser did leak, but the soap was cleaned up daily. The mirrors are being replaced. Even more worrisome to Nelson was the effect the publishing of the report would have on the Responses on page 9 school's custodian. "Brian Hodgins works twice as hard as could be expected of a cus- todian. He is a former barber who chose this job... He takes pride in his work. That report, and the placement in- the paper, have de- stroyed that man's good feeling about himself... A couple of words can tarnish a man's reputation. "Unkept' slanders us," Nelson said, adding that the TA had been fair to the school in the past. Another of Nelson's concerns was that "the individuals given this task arc not qualified to do it". The panels are composed of peo- ple who have been called to jury duty. They arc randomly selected by the Sheriff's Office. Inspections are carried out each spring and fall. Panel members are paid the same as those who serve on juries - $10 per day plus lunch and mile- age. "There is nothing we can learn from this. What really happens to that report?" Nelson asked. The completed inspection report was sent to the Honorable FG Cart- cr, Judge of the District Court of Ontario held in Godcrich. A call to the judge's secretary ascertained that the report goes on to the sher- iff's office. From there, it is to be sent to each institution visited, and - to thc relevant school boards. William Eckert, director of edu- cation for the Huron -Perth Separate Please tum to page 9 The true spirit of Christmas . $ <#. 4.�)'+�, t f, � i •'11 . r . t.. f ' iR.. :.:.o Adopted grandparent - Students from Precious Blood School have been teaming up with residents at the Exeter Villa for the past three months. The students from Glena Tripp's grade 7-8 class were at the Villa on Monday fora gift exchange and carol singing. Rose Passmore and Kevin Cool - man go over the selections in the songbook together. 4 Grinches give Christmas back EXETER - The Grinches may have stolen Christmas, but they gave it back. An article in last week's On the Street column noted the disappear- ance of Christmas decorations from several Exeter homes the orions weekend. The perpetra- ts of the theft were termed "Grinches" for their efforts at spoiling local Christmas spirit. It would seem, however, the guilty parties saw the error of their ways .and turned in the missing decorations and lights ta the Exet- er Police station last week, where many of the owners were able to claim them. A letter of apology from the anonymous Grinches was sent to the Times Advocate for publish- ing. It reads as follows: On Saturc4ay December 2, 1989 several people had their Christ- mas lights, flood lights and Christ- mas wreaths taken from them. We would like to formally apoli- gize to these individuals. We are sincerely sorry and fully regret our thoughtless actions of last Saturday night. In retrospect we don't think there could be a worse way to lower the Christmas spirit and the seasonal tone of peace and goodwill to all. It was a senseless prank that was taken too far. We didn't think of . the seriousness or consequences of our behaviour or actions. We had no intentions of damaging property or causing any harm. ' We've returned all the decora- tions to the Exeter Police Station where you can identify and claim them. We are sorry for the nui- sance and hope you accept our sin- cerest apologies. • Any senior citizens in Exeter needing assistance taking down Christmas decorations, we would like to help. If so, please call 228- 6305 any time after 4 p.m. Monday to Friday between January 2 and January 12, 1990. We would be glad to help. County prohibits smoking CLINTON - As of the first.day in the New Year all public educa- tion buildings in Huron County will become smoke free. At the Huron County Board of Education's last meeting of 1988, trustees voted unanimously that "ALL Huron County Board of Ed- ucation buildings become smoke free, effective January 1, 1990": The Board's motion is a reaction to Bill 194, the Smoking in the Workplace Act, passed.by the On- tario legislature to restrict smok- ing in the workplace in the new year. Bill 194 offers -provision -for employers to provide designateu smoking, areas, but the Huron board's motion docs not offer this possibility. Newly elected board chairman Joan Van- Den Brocck, said trus- tees' discussion of the smoking is- sue was unambiguous. "It's an issue of the times. It's hard to come out in favor of smoking." The chairman said the board did have concerns with the smoking legislation, such as that students prevented from smoking on school grounds may go onto pri- vate property to smoke and cause a disturbance or nuisance, which will have to be dealt with. She added that the board passed the motion in the spirit of show- ing that the Huron County Board of Education supports anti -tobacco initiatives, without having to rely on the provincial government to take criticiser which may• come with this decision. Van Dcn Brocck said the no - smoking regulations will apply to board buildings even after school hours. The board also considered its re- sponsibility in promoting smoke cessation •programs for students and employees. There are initia- tives for students to receive help quitting smoking through educa- tional programs and individual counselling. Employees have ac- cess to a number of programs which arc offcrcd by various carp -- crating agencies. The board anticipates that he - cause Bill 194 covers all- work- places and not just government buildings there will be more ces- sation programs offcrcd in the near future. .The board's executive committee is looking into further programs to support smoking ccssal km pro- grams. Smoke-free hospital EXETER - South Huron Hospi- tal will no longer have to deal with the apparent contradiction of being a hospital dedicated to im- proving the individual's health while 'still allowing its staff, pa- tients and visitors to engage in a known health hazard. Effective February 14, 1990, South Huron is going smoke free. Our motto will be "Give your Heart a Break - Stop Smoking". South Huron Hospital is pres- ently a restrictive smoking envi- ronment and meets the new regu- lations. However, it is time to be a leader and restrict further the smoking privilege."' The details of the no smoking policy have been turned over to the Public Relations Committee for final consideration and devel- opment. There arc many people who believe the hospital should be totally smoke free, but others who feel there are situations that call for a more flexible policy. Fairness to patients and visitors during high stress situations, and. patients confined to hospital with special needs and problems are just two questions that will be ad- dressed by the committee. The so- lutions•to these problems arc in- deed difficult, especially when dealing with such an emotional and volatile subject. If there are enough employees interested in a stop smoking pro- gram, thc hospital will make this available and perhaps this pro- gram could be expanded,into the community. It will also be the committee's responsibility to keep the public informed so that innocent occur- rences of smoking at the hospital are avoided..To this end, look for more details to follow. between now and February 14 for the bet- ter health of our community. Sesquiceflteflflial in Stephen set for199 CREDiTON - The township of nial year will be " Three times" if - Stephen will be 15f1 years old in ty, Stephen's nifty:" The winning 1992. entry was suhmited by Irene A Sesquicentennial committee Haugh of Crediton: headed by co-chairmen Allan it is expected to start Stephen's Walper and Karen Tiernan " has Sesquicentennial celebrations with been holding meectings for the a Icvy on January' I, 1992. Neigh - past six months bouring townships from Usbornc A tentative schedule has been and McGillivray will be invited to set up with at least four major join in with this New Year's cele - events arranged for the gala year. bration. Other events are exp ccted to be This will be followed by a St. added later. , ' Patrick's - Day dance sponsored The slogan for th9 Sesquicenten- Please turn to page 3 A 41