HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-07-10, Page 3ii"f1. "r ri-Iii 7k T `' t' A S Times -Advocate, July 10, 1991 Page 3
Lions, COAT team up to create new
uter course for Exeter students
Gary Bean - Convinced children can make better use of computers at home.
By Adrian Harte
EXETER - Many families have a personal
computer lurking in the den or library, some
even share space in the living room. And
most families reasoned that the purchase of all
that hardware and software would be justified
in how it would help their children with
schoolwork and education.
Unfortunately, many children don't learn
more about the home PC than how to load up
video games and plug in the joystick, but Gary
Bean of the Exeter Lions is convinced that
once children become familiar with what com-
puters can offer them, they will make more
use of them.
That is why the Lions and the Centralia Col-
lege of Agricultural Technology are teaming
up to bring a computer "camp" to Exeter.
Called Exeter Computer Kids, the Lions will
provide most of the funds and their Youth
Centre, and the College will bring along the
computers and instructors.
The week-long course is aimed at 10-13
year olds, but organizers are concerned that
registration is a little slow.
"We've got room for 15, so it would be nice
to have a few more coming out," said Bean. "1
suspect there are a lot of computers at home
that are not being used by the kids...aside from
playing games."
Nevertheless, Bean says there is a lot more
that kids could be doing with home computers.
"It's something that I think we're going to
use more and more as years go by," said Bean,
explaining that the course will emphasize the
utility of word processing, graphics, and offer
an introduction 1.0 spreadsheets.
"If you know this can be done on the com-
puter...then you find ways of doing it," said
Bean, stressing that awareness is the key to
making use of computers.
A private donation to the Lions Club has
paved the way for this program, enabling them
to keep the cost "cheap" at only $30 per stu-
dent. Centralia College will be providing the
high-powered lap -top computers.
"They'll be able to do everything.they would
on a normal IBM compatible computer," said
Bean, pointing out that with today's similari-
ties in software the course will provide a back-
ground for use of any brand of computer.
This is the first year for this program, and
Bean says he would like to hear some feed-
back from parents and the community as to
whether or not programs like this should be
better developed in coming summers. He says
there is no problem finding money or facilities
for such "camps" and that they are only limit-
ed by imagination and public awareness of
what is possible.
The computer camp will be running from
July 29 to August 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Centralia College will even be coaching the
students in preparing their own lunches each
day.
Anyone interested in the camp can contact
Centralia College directly or call Gary Bean at
235-2231.
Mickle criticizes grant structure
By Fred Groves
GODERICH - Local government
versus provincial government.
Thursday at Huron County
Council, Exeter reeve Bill Mickle
made his opinions known about the
higher level of government.
The best form of government
we've got, is the local govern-
ment," said Mickle.
"The provincial government is in
debt and they're going to transfer it
to us. The people arc going to have
less say of what's going on," he
added.
Mickle's comments stemmed
from the Ministry of Municipal Af-
fairs conditional granting of funds
to aid the county in its county
study.
The ministry has advised the
county that $36,150 or 50 percent
of the project, whichever is the
lesser, has been approved for the
county with an additional payment
of $18,075 to be provided shortly.
Mickle pointed out that prior to
receiving the grant the ministry
wanted the county to address the
following:
-the issue of reducing or elimi-
nating joint servicing arrangements
-the need for boundary adjust-
ments or amalgamations
-the need for a significant change
in service delivery between upper
and lower tiers of government.
He felt the ministry had no right
to lay out the conditions.
"In receiving this money, we put
ourselves at a position of being in-
terfered with, I'm not saying it's go-
ing to happen," said Mickle.
Gary Davidson, of the county
planning department which is ini-
tializing the study, did not agree
with Mickle.
"We've been operating on a grant
structure like this for 20 years and
we've never had any problems,'
said Davidson.
He added that the ministry has no
involverhent in the study.
At least two county councillors
felt if the ministry was not satisfied
with the recommendation of the
study, they could withhold the addi-
tional funding.
"If they demand the money.back,
we'll give it to them," said Tom
Cunningham of Nutlet Township.
John Doherty of Goderich said
Bruce County had a study done and
it was funded by the province and
in Doherty's opinion it was a
"farce".
"If push comes to shove, we can
always give it back to them," said
Doherty.
The remainder of the prpvince's
grant, $18,075 would be available
to the county upon adoption of the
study by the county and submitted.
to the ministry by January 31.
"The worse that I think can hap-
pen is we'll get the first cheque, the
ministry won't like our recommen-
dations and we won't get the second
cheque," said Huron County clerk -
treasurer Nigel Bellchamber.
Tires to be recycled
LUCAN - Bring out your tires.
Monday, September 4 from 9
a.m. to 9 p.m. residents of Lucan
will be able to bring their discard-
ed tires to the works department
for disposal.
ACME Waste Management will
be picking up the tires at a cost of
$2 per tire, $5 per medium truck
circ and $8 per large tire.
Monday night during its regular
meeting, Lucan council debated
the idea of having a permanent de-
pot.
"This guy (ACME) wants to set
up a permanent depot for tires. I
suggest we contact Larry Lewis,"
said reeve Larry Hotson.
C.H. Lewis holds the contract for
New benches - Although you can't see them here, the Exeter Lawn
Bowling Club now has nine new benches lining its greens. The
benches were donated, at $200 apiece, by several organizations
and private donors, some of which appear here. Seated, from left,
are Optimist Brian Taylor, Garnet Hicks and his wife Olive from the
Rebekahs, Dave Frayne from the Legion, and Peter McFalls. Behind
are Oddfellow Dan Smith, Tula Len kgs from the Burkely Restaurant,
and Debbie Cohan and Phyllis Humphreys both from Stedman.
garbage collection in the village.
"I would still like to try ours for
one day," said councillor Bryan
Smith who supported ACME com-
ing in for a single day.
-For those who ordered compos-
ters, they can now be picked up.
Also, 15 blue barrels have been or-
dered.
Reprieve for
sidewalk
sale
EXETER - The annual Exeter
sidewalk sale, the largest promo-
tional event organized by the BIA
(Business Improvement Area), has
been granted a reprieve from cer-
tain disaster.
The sale, planned for July 18-20,
was threatened by the possibility of
it conflicting with a major repaving
project planned for the town's Main
Street. BIA members asked coun-
cil if some arrangement was possi-
ble to save the sale.
Works superintendent Glenn
K,eIIs announced at last week's
council meeting that the contractor
has agreed to avoid those dates and
will likely postpone work until af-
ter that weekend.
Usborne &
Hibbert Mutual
Fire Insurance
Company
Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S1
(Established In 1878)
Provides Full Insurance
Coverage
tor Farm Properties
New Applications aro
Welcomed
DIRECTORS a ADJUSTERS
Jed( Uw$Qan RR 3 Lucen.._ 227.4306
Larry Gardiner. RR2, Saha 341.2173
Lloyd Morison, RRI St. Marys 22t 4277
Lorne Fs rney,l►NdrsU 314117
,nodi Hodson, RR t Afton23 4153
Joseph Glafla, R Rs 1.111pI s l .3444701
AGENTS
Ross MedOan, Essw...._231,!310
Aft Mete%
Joseph Who, M.Iaftsl 3419012
HsetiOnc., blew ...................._ _236.0010
A r.fund from surplus was
declared dor all policy hold-
ers who qualify ere on
record and In good stand -
Ing as at December 31,
1990
Mickle hinted the county could
be reaching the point of regional
government and said he firmly be-
lieved that if the provincial govern-
ment continued to put conditions
on their grants towards county stud-
ies, Huron would lose its autono-
my.
utono-
my.
The county study is a comprehen-
sive long term review of the provi-
sion of governmejit services and
the structures that deliver them to
county residents.
County council is involving local
municipal councils, local staff and
the public in all aspects of the re-
view.
An information meeting about
the study will be held in Exeter on
July 17 from 5-8 p.m.
$350,000. grant to
boost local economy
in Huron County
TORONTO - Three municipali-
ties in Huron County will receive a
total of $350,000 in PRIDE grants
to help boost economic develop-
ment and improve local facilities
and services, Huron MPP Paul
Klopp announced last week on be-
half of Ontario Municipal Affairs
Minister Dave Cooke.
The Village of Blyth will receive
$195,000 to help upgrade its main
street, including improved sewer
and water services. The Village of
Brussels will use its $62,000..
PRIDE grant to revitalize the com-
mercial core by upgrading water
services and the local library. And
the Township of Tuckersmith will
receive $93,000 for street resurfac-
ing and other improvements in the
Hamlet of Egmondville.
The grants are part of $13.4 mil-
lion being given to 69 municipali-
ties under the province's Program
for Renewal, Improvement, Devel-
opment and Economic revitaliza-
tion (PRIDE).
"The economic spin-off that wilt
result from these grants is impor-
tant," Klopp said. "Jobs will be
created, and, over the long-term,
the communities will be able to at-
tract new investment."
PRIDE grants help municipalities
enhance their local facilities and
services. Eligible projects include
improvements to social and recrea-
tional facilities such as parks, li-
braries and community centres, as
well as upgrading watermairis,
storm and sanitary sewers and hy-
dro services.
Municipalities are matching the
province's PRIDE grants which
cover 50 percent of the total ap-
proved capital costs.
PRICE BREAKTHROUGH
Introducing the = __ A _ =:
THE NEWEST ADDITION
to the = = $ : �K Collection
• 10' Mesh Dish
• Electronic Package
• _-q•-- =_= Satellite Receiver
• Installation
$2895 .00
Allen $fubb2.:
••• Fitst 9w egtestkamitegt
THEDFORD
296-5565
„
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a member of me P•odo
•
Exeter Public
Utilities Commission
379 Main Street South,
E1teW, Ont.
NOM 186 231.1350
M.A. Citsene, Commissioner
H. D.Vties, Chairman
M.L. Devi., Manager
B.F. Shaw, Commissioner