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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-04-15, Page 1Eastez - In -More Specials Cash & Carry • COUNTRY flOW kS Exeter Serving South Huron inside /lame Show Optimist event still going strong page 2 Annexation Wean reeve disturbed by London's expansion page 3 Gym Wet SHDHS students rally for school spirit page 10 Health Club Closure leaves customers out in cold Second front* Irish Tied with Mitchell in .playoffs page 14 Torah run OPP getting fundraiser organized - page 16 Ag Exoursion Local students sample CCAT facilities page 24 South Huron graduate press secretary for Chretien OTTAWA - Leslie Swartman, an honours graduate of South Huron District High School, has been ap- pointed press secretary to federal opposition leader Jean Chretien. Swartman, who also graduated from McMaster University, has been an active Liberal supporta since high school. She worked on both the Paul Martin and David Pe- terson campaigns. Swartman is the daughter of Bob and Anita of Kippen. Exeter music groups oelsbcating Canada's 125th :EXiM -Canada's 125th birth- day m.1t $o unnoticed in Exeter this year. Most of the town's musi- cal groups are getting together to create a festival of Canadian music on May 6. The large gymnasium of South Huron District High School will be the scene of a free concert at 7 p.m. that evening which will include the sponsoring New Huronia Singers, the high school concert bend, choir, and jazz band, the Legion Community Band, and the primary choir from Exeter Public School. "It's a good year to do something for Canada. This is the year to do it," said Huronia choir director Su- san Graham, whose husband Ric will also emcee the evening of mu- sic. The event is being sponsored by Canada 125, the federal agency promoting the nation's 125th anni- versary since Confederation. A large flag for the music festival, which will only include music of Canadian origin, will be made at the high school in the next few weeks. GGa Insurance Expel Value 235-2420 Geiser- �� Since 1873 Wednesday. April 15. 1992 Si million composter confirmed for Hensall By Adrian Harte and Ray Lewis HENSALI Vii; Milt composter is now officially in the works for the village of Hensall. The $1 mil- lion project is being touted as a so- lution for the village's problems with grain screenings from the three local elevators that use the municipal landfill for such dispo- �al. With the remaining capacity of the landfill in TLckersmith Town- ship quickly disappearing, Hensall council sought a means to compost the grain screenings, which make up the bulk of the village's yearly waste. last Wednesday, an an- nouncement from MPP Paul Klopp's office on behalf of environ- ment minister Ruth Grier, con - fumed that $440,970 has been set aside by the province to help set up a central composting system at the 1 Exeter artist Harry Bu►ke unveils his collection of portraits of former Exeter people at a Huron Historical Society meet- ing at the Old Town Hall Thursday evening. The portraits, drawn from old photographs of Victorian Exeter, mostly from the collection of the late Marion Bisset, are expected to go on permanent display in the hall in the future. Some of the subjects of the portraits are famous former Exeter residents, others have yet to be identified. Burke began the se- ries after drawing a portrait of Exeter's first reeve, Isaac Carling three years ago, but he says his collection is "by no means complete". 'Stage is set' for policing costs showdown, says mayor EXETER - Although he would like to believe problems with the town police budget can be solved, Exeter mayor Bruce Shaw says he cannot see how a shoW'down between the police and council can be avoided. "I think the stage is set for a confrontation," said Shaw, noting that the police force has not been able to trim $80,000 off the 1992 budget that is above last year's half million dollar policing costs. The $80,000 increase represents about a 16 percent hike and Shaw ac- knowledges most of that is because of higher wages and employee 'bene- fits in the budget proposal. In 1991, wages and salaries made up $330,240 of the planned 5500,387 budget. Shaw said capital expenditures of about $16.000 for a new cruis- er, and another $5.000 toward the county radio communications system also help push up the 1992 increase. "I don't think well be able to cut any more," said Shaw. Other town departments were given a mandate to turn in zero -increase budgets for 1992, and Shaw said most have done well to meet that mark, even with wage increases for staff included. But a 16 percent increase for policing, may not sit well with a council that is still smarting from the province's mandatory installation of a police services board. That move in January effectively took control of the town's police away from council and put it in the hands of a provincially elected board. Council now can- not reject a police board budget, but can only appeal it. Consequently. Shaw said the possibility exists that council may choose what reeve Bill Mickle described last week as "alternatives" for policing the town - quite likely disbanding the town police force in favour of OPP coverage. Mickle has not said whether he knows if such OPP policing is available or what such a contract might cost the town. The presentation of the police budget is planned fo(( next Wednesday evening's council session. Anyone interested in attending the public ses- sion should know the meeting is at the town hall (beside the Bank of Mon- treal) and starts at 7:30 p.m. Grand Bend eyes casino GRAND BEND - At least one businessman from this resort community is hinting there is a possibility Grand Bend will be the site of a new gam- bling casino. Although he would not disclose any details, realtor Bob Sharen said a public announcement will be made at the end of the month. The idea of a casino comes from the provincial government which wants build six casinos. Proposed cities are Sarnia, Windsor, Metro Toronto, tilt Ste. Marie and Ottawa. Businessmen in the border city of Windsor, are hopeful it will be one -of the sites chosen. According to the Windsor Stas , Premier Bob Rae hu aaagaapaed he will hold a mystery meeting with members of the Windsoralid8eaex County Councils in early May. However, the reason for his visit has not been dis- closed. It is estimated the province could generate up to $150 million in revenue from the casinos which would help to take a bite out of its $9.7 billion def- icit. 1 landfill. The province is paying one third the cost of constructing the system, with the throe grain ele- vators - the Hensall Co -Op, Cooks, and W.G. Thompson -contributing the rest. The province is also fund- ing the first year of operation for the unit, as well as some of the de- sign costs, site preparation, moni- toring and testing. The total coast of brie project is es- timated at $975,000. Chris Lee at LH Resource Man- agement in London, the firm which is heading up the design of the composter, confirmed that the sys- tem can be expected to divert up 10 _6 SOo cubic rims of spam screen- ings away froth the f{ensal11andfill site, possibly extending the land- fill's life by 15or20years. Lee said he also expects sur- rounding municipalities to take ad- vantage of the extra capacity of the system to compost other organic wastes, including those from the commercial sectors like grocery stores and restaurants. Lee agreed that a million dollar ministry pilot project is an unusual thing for a village like Hensall to have, "but it's rather extraordinary for a village of that size to produce that amount of waste." The project will involve the con- struction of a concrete bed "like a shallow bunker silo" for breaking down organic wastes into usable compost within 10 days. Lee said the composter moves the waste over the bed, is automatically turned every day, and is aerated from underneath. He compared fueling the composter to feeding cattle. "When you feed cattle you're not feeding them, you're feeding the bugs in their stomach," he said, not- ing the compost bacteria will heat the mixture up to 50 or 60 degrees oelsius .aaasksart tied on page 3 Sidestreets the key Traffic count to decide need for new light at Victoria or Wellington EXETER - Engineers for the town of Exeter are going to oversee a traffic count some time in May, works superintendent Glen Kelis reported to council last week. The count will help determine if another set of traffic lights is warranted in town, either at the inter- section of Main and Victoria Streets, or further north at Wellington. Concer.s about traffic in that area of town arose after the announcement of the large Royal Bank building now under construction. Kelis said engineers B.M. Ross will oversee the traffic count on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thurs- day. unless one of those days is next to a long week- end. Traffic would be counted manually by seven peo- ple (likely students) on the one day, three at each of the intersections with one extra to relieve counters. Kells told council that if enough sidestreet traffic is observed then the Ministry of Transportation will help fund a new set of lights, but the amount of traf- fic on Highway 4 has no bearing on the issue. "There's no problem knowing there's enough traf- fic on Highway 4. It's the traffic on the sidestreets that is the problem," said Kells. Without MTO support, Exeter could go ahead and install traffic lights, but solely at the town's cost. $70,000 study first step toward $ multi-million sewage expansion EXETER - Town council has tak- en a small first step on the way to what could eventually become a very expeatlive capital works pro- ject for Exeter. Council agreed last week to apply for a provincial grant to help fund a study to examine the capacity of the town's present sewage treatment system and what needs Exeter will have in the future. The study; which will cost be- tween $70,000 and S75,000 accord- ing to town engineers, would be subsidized up to 59 percent by the Ministry of the'Environment. Town administrator Rick Hundey explained to council that even if an expansion of the sewage system is not needed, there are advantages to having such a study done anyway. "This would be the first step in it anyhow," agreed works superinten- dent Glen Keds. Councillor Ben Hoogenboom said he understood the study could determine if heavy rains affect the capacity of the lagoon system "by putting unnecessary water into the Continued on page 3 Job search may be tough for students By Ray Lewis EXETER - With summer vaca- tion drawing ever closer for the stu- dent population, along with it comes the straining search for sum- mer employment. Unfortunately,, this year like last, is beginning to produce a grim forecast. The Canada Employment Centre for Students opened last Monday in Goderich with Donalda Thompson as supervisor, and she too offers a cautious prognosis. "I guess the best advice would be to tell students to start looking ear- ly," said Thompson. Last year, the centre along with its Exeter counterpart and satellite offices in Scafcirth and Clinton placed over 1,250 students. But with Canada in the midst of reces- sicuristudents may have to be more resourceful this year. Once again,' the agricultural and service 1C appear to offer the me, 'ties, but Laura Over - ho Canada Employ- ment Centre, cites the manufactur- ing industry as one of the hardest hit. "Many of the university and col- lege students between semesters, relied upon the higher paying jobs in manufacturing," said Overholt. "But it doesn't appear this year that there wilt be much of a demand for student l in that field." As last mmer, many are finding employment in endeavors such as student painting groups, which again appear to be popular this sea- son. "I think you may see many more students trying to start their own businesses this year, because there aren't the opportunities there once were," said Overholt. Potential employers have just be- gun to register with the centre while staff will soon be busy can- vassing local employers for student employment opportunities. Some grants are available for businesses to subsidize student wages, but as of yet no totals are available. At present time, the employment centre in Exeter is preparing for a move which will take place April 24. The office, which is located in the Centre Mall, will relocate to 271 Main St., the former site of Mac's Milk. "Well be more accessible to stu- dents and well be back in view on Main St. which should help us pro- vide a better service," confirmed Overholt. The Employment Centre for Stu- dents is expected to be in full swing by the first week of May.